C39 Transformational Inscriptions

"Really?" Chu Yan furrowed his brow, and the next moment, he yanked at his throat, yelling, "Help!"

After his cry for help, he cocked his head, listening intently. As expected, there was no response, no one came.

The following instant, Lin Liqiang watched in astonishment as Chu Yan's face didn't contort into the anticipated look of terror. Instead, Chu Yan's features lit up with delight, "No one's actually coming!"

"It seems you're truly not heeding my warning. Well then, I guess I'll have to give you a proper lesson, so Young Master Lin Ao won't have to soil his hands." Snapping out of his surprise, Lin Liqiang sneered menacingly. He unhitched a shield the size of a washbasin from his back and positioned it defensively in front of him. "With my fourth-grade Earth Splitting Shield, let's see how you'll get past this obstacle."

"A fourth-grade weapon shield?" Chu Yan appraised the shield, his eyes gleaming. He gauged the heft of his silver scale spear and, in a sudden burst, charged like a cannonball toward his adversary. The spear swept horizontally toward Lin Liqiang.

"Ha! Futile!" Lin Liqiang boasted, "I've already made inquiries; that silver scale spear of yours is a triplex, weighing no more than two hundred kilograms. My Earth Splitting Shield, with its force-reducing inscription, can withstand a force of at least six hundred kilograms!"

But Lin Liqiang's words were abruptly drowned out by the roaring windstorm unleashed by the spear's sweep.

In that split second, Lin Liqiang felt as though he wasn't facing the triplex silver scale spear, but a rampaging wild beast, a powerful tempest.

Instinctively, he hoisted the Earth Splitting Shield to his side.

BOOM!

The sound was thunderous, like a bolt from the blue striking the earth.

The shield's surface flashed once before bursting apart spectacularly.

The massive shockwave from the explosion sent Lin Liqiang hurtling through the air.

His arms shattered, breaking into pieces, and his internal organs were jolted severely. A gush of blood spurted from his mouth as he flew like a shooting star, crashing through a wall some meters away. He vanished into the breach, leaving only his legs dangling from the hole in the wall, twitching helplessly.

"You're in my way?" Chu Yan scoffed, sparing the other no further glance as he strode out of the Lin residence.

The Heavy Equipment Inscription Pattern really did make a difference. Before, the silver scale spear's two hundred kilograms, combined with my own strength, could barely muster a thousand kilograms. Against Lin Liqiang's Earth Splitting Shield, that would leave a mere hundred kilograms of force—hardly a scratch on him.

But now, with the inscription, the spear's weight effectively doubles to four hundred kilograms. Swinging it now, I can unleash a force of over two thousand kilograms. That shield doesn't stand a chance.

Lost in thought, Chu Yan didn't slow his pace. Soon, he had put distance between himself and the Lin Family, finding his way to a secluded alley.

Alone, he stowed the silver scale spear into his echo loop.

The sight of Lin Liqiang's shield had jogged his memory—he still had the triplex dual blades acquired from a servant of the Ye Family. This was the perfect moment to sell them for Spirit Money.

The grade four long blade, though, he'd keep. After inscribing it, it would be his to wield.

With the dual blades in hand, Chu Yan applied a transformational inscription to his face. Moments later, he felt his facial muscles tighten, then relax. Looking at his reflection in the blade, he saw a stranger—a face with a narrow, elongated shape, triangular eyes, and thick lips. It bore no resemblance to his own.

"Not bad," he murmured, pleased with the transformation.

The inscription's disguise had no set duration. To revert to his original face, he'd simply need to massage certain areas, known only to the one who applied the inscription. No risk of being unmasked.

With his new, unrecognizable face, Chu Yan made his way back to the business district of Evergreen Town, which he had visited the day before. After a brief survey, he slipped into an out-of-the-way shop.

Inside, the shop assistant was dozing off. Chu Yan approached, slammed his hand down on the counter, and barked, "Hey! Buddy, you in the market for some blades?"

The shop assistant was jolted from his peaceful slumber by the disturbance, feeling irked but knowing that business is business, he plastered on a welcoming smile. This was particularly necessary given the customer's formidable appearance.

"Of course we'll take it! What kind of weapon are you looking to sell?" the assistant inquired eagerly.

Chu Yan glanced around to make sure they were alone before producing a pair of blades from his robes and slapping them down in front of the man: "I'm selling these for six hundred Spirit Money!"

The assistant scrutinized the blades and chuckled, "My friend, this is a triplex, and it's seen some wear and tear. Six hundred Spirit Money is too steep. I'll take them off your hands for a hundred and fifty."

"A hundred and fifty Spirit Money? You think I don't know what I've got? This is a triplex! Forget it, I'll take my business elsewhere!" Chu Yan cursed under his breath, snatched up the blades, and made to leave.

The assistant, not wanting to lose a hard-won customer, quickly stepped forward, stopping Chu Yan with a reassuring smile. "Please, take a moment to relax. Have a seat, enjoy a cup of tea, and I'll have our shopkeeper come out to discuss this with you, alright?"

"That's better," Chu Yan said, his eyes flicking shrewdly as he settled himself down. "Just so you know, I won't sell for a penny less than six hundred Spirit Money."

"Understood, understood," the assistant said, placating him before turning away with a roll of his eyes and heading to the back.

A short while later, the shopkeeper, a man in his forties, emerged and examined the sabers. He then offered a smile and said, "Customer, the provenance of these weapons seems a bit murky, don't you think?"

Chu Yan's face flushed with anger, and he retorted defensively, "What's it to you? I found them by the roadside and picked them up! Are you buying or not? Because I'm out of here if you're not interested!"

"Let's not be hasty," the shopkeeper said with a soothing chuckle. "Honestly, these sabers aren't worth six hundred Spirit Money. How about I offer you two hundred Spirit Money, no questions asked about their history? If anyone inquires, no one has come by today to sell a triplex. Does that work for you?"

"You really won't mention this to anyone else?" Chu Yan asked, his expression wavering with uncertainty.

"Of course not," the shopkeeper assured him with a smile. "And should you come across any other weapons in the future, feel free to bring them here. I promise you a fair price and, more importantly, discretion."

"Alright then, I'll take the hit. Let's settle on two hundred," Chu Yan said through gritted teeth.

"Agreed." The shopkeeper instructed his assistant to fetch the Spirit Money, then sat down to keep Chu Yan company for a bit.

He was in high spirits; his shop was off the beaten path and rarely saw good business. However, the pair of sabers Chu Yan had brought in were of the triplex quality. With a bit of polishing, he could sell them for at least four to five hundred Spirit Money. This transaction alone would double his earnings. No wonder he was in such a good mood.