Shi Yu was the only person Lin Xun could not read in the 39th Campground.
Shi Yu was also a core member of his clique but he never displayed any ambition nor made any enemies.
In fact, he had even chatted with Lin Xun several times. Their conversations were mostly related to training and Shi Yu never seemed to have other agendas.
Lin Xun did not know what to make of this.
A few days ago, he had heard Ning Meng mention that Shi Yu was the famous Fortune God Shi’s third son, and Shi Xuan’s brother!
Lin Xun did not know if the other party knew him but since he owed Shi Xuan a debt, Lin Xun would not intentionally do anything which would harm Shi Yu.
……
Lin Xun was deep in thought as he walked out of the canteen. He was racking his brains over how to change his circumstances such that he would at the very least not be eliminated at the end of the month.
No matter how hard he mulled over it, he found that it was very difficult to change anything within a short span of three weeks.
At the very least, Lin Xun did not know where to start.He did not wish to admit defeat here.
Twilight was usually the most comfortable time in the desolate desert. It was neither cold nor hot; the setting sun was akin to a beautiful burning red rose which painted the sky in majestic colors.
Competition was always present in the camp. After dinner, the 39th Campground students returned to their lodgings and began training to improve their cultivation.
Lin Xun’s heart was heavy as he walked along the path to the campground alone.
He suddenly noticed a skinny old man lying on the ground nearby, fiddling with a strange cauldron-like object.
The old man was thin as a rake and had a head of messy, unkempt hair. He mumbled incoherently as he stared at the object in his hands with a deep frown.
Lin Xun could not resist his curiosity and walked over to take a look. The object in the old man’s hands was shaped like a cauldron, about half-a-foot tall, and gave off a dark red glow.
Rune lines as fine as hairs adorned the cauldron’s surface, creating a detailed and complicated pattern that covered the entire cauldron.
In a single glance, Lin Xun identified the object to be an aeth engine, which was a core component used to create ships.
“Damnit, this won’t work either. If paired with this toy, not only will the ship’s speed not increase, but there will also likely be instabilities. The disadvantages outweigh the advantages!”
The old man ground his teeth in frustration and disappointment, “Could my vision be wrong? Is it impossible for the Treasure Light Gold Flame Array to replace the original Moonlight Array? Or does the problem lie in the aeth engine’s material?”
He lay on the ground in a daze, seemingly unable to accept this outcome.
Lin Xun was stunned. He closely examined the aeth engine for a long time before he could not help but ask, “Old uncle, why don’t you try combining the Treasure Light Gold Flame Array and the Moonlight Array?”
The old man sullenly rebuked, “What nonsense! These two arrays are completely different! How the hell do you combine them?!”
He lifted his head and grew increasingly annoyed when he saw that the speaker was just a teenager. The old man coldly mocked as if releasing his frustration, “A boy that’s still wet behind the ears dares to tell me such nonsense? Rune dao is profound and mysterious, and even all the rune masters in the world can only decipher a few of its secrets. How can an immature fool who still smells of milk possibly understand it? Scram!”
Lin Xun frowned, “Just because you can’t doesn’t mean others can’t. Old fart, if rune masters are all as arrogant as you, they will only be able to dream about reaching the supreme rune dao in their lifetime.”
He turned and left, leaving these words behind. Lin Xun could not be bothered to argue with an ill-tempered old bastard.
“Pui! Such a huge ego at such a young age. The new generation is both ignorant and arrogant!” The old man spat on the ground before returning his attention to his newly created aeth engine.
However, there was still no progress when the sky turned dark. Amidst his frustration, he suddenly grabbed the aeth engine as if intending to destroy it.
Lovely bell-like laughter suddenly sounded from far away, “Old Mo, why have you come all the way here? Want to guess what good news I’ve brought?”
A fiery-red figure arrived in front of the old man like the wind. She had eyes which twinkled like stars, a pair of curved black brows, and an oval-shaped face. Her loosely tied hair lazily sprawled over her shoulder and her full lips were red as fire, giving off a sensation of untamable wildness as she slightly pursed them.
She wore a leather jacket and skin-tight leather pants, the tight clothing making it seem as if her bust would burst out at any moment. The clothes did not cover her waist, allowing her to proudly display her fair skin and her slender abdomen.
The leather pants were tightly stretched over her round hips and long legs, accentuating curves which would make any man’s heart beat faster.
She was undoubtedly an extremely seductive, hot, sexy, wild, and pretty woman. The mere sight of her would make anyone’s heart waver and turn their mouths dry.
Anyone who saw her would likely think the words: an extraordinary beauty who could cause the downfall of nations.
If the 39th campground students were here, they would immediately realize that besides her clothes and demeanor, this beautiful woman looked like an exact copy of Instructor Xiaoke!
The thin old man called Old Mo was taken aback. Without a change in expression, he first took a good, long look at the woman’s sizable bust before displaying a surprised and happy expression, “Xiaoman, you’re finally back. Quick tell me what that old geezer from Qinglu Academy said!”
Xiaoman glared at Old Mo, “If you dare to take another peek, I’ll smash all of the trash in your nest!”
Old Mo immediately retorted, “What trash, those are treasures! They’re the greatest treasures I’ve painstakingly created over the years!”
Xiaoman clearly understood Old Mo well and could not be bothered to argue with him, “That old fellow said that although your idea about changing the aeth engine of the Violet Hero Battleship is quite out there, it is not impossible.”
Old Mo suddenly felt rejuvenated. He anxiously rubbed his hands together and asked, “What’s his solution?”
He had already been tortured by this problem for several months and was nearly about to give up. He never imagined that he would obtain such good news at this juncture. It was like suddenly finding a ray of light in the darkness which reignited his hope.
“He didn’t explain in detail, but told me you could consider combining the Treasure Light Gold Flame Array with the Moonlight Array.” Xiaoman crossed her arms, propping up her cherished chest.
However, Old Mo completely ignored the captivating sight and cried out, “That old geezer is obviously playing a trick on me. How can these two arrays be combined?”
Xiaoman displayed an expression that showed she clearly didn’t care, “I already brought you the news. If you feel it’s impossible, there’s nothing I can do.”
Old Mo’s expression fluctuated with uncertainty. He had originally thought that there was finally hope, but who could have imagined he would receive an utterly absurd suggestion. Isn’t this basically the same thing that idiot kid said?
Wait a minute!
Old Mo suddenly froze. That kid made the same suggestion earlier. Can the two arrays really be combined?
More than ten days ago, he had sent Xiaoman to Qinglu Academy to seek feedback for a new aeth engine design.
Given his understanding of this old friend, he would never joke on the topic of rune arrays.
After all, this old friend was a rune grandmaster who was the most devoted to the study of runes!
“Fine, I’ll ponder over this again. If nothing works out, I will try the method he suggested.” Old Mo sighed and hurriedly left cradling his aeth engine, displaying an expression that was deep in thought.
“Sigh, I hope he will succeed this time.”
Xiaoman sighed. Although the old man was a little lecherous, he was also a flawless grandmaster in the art of runes.
He had been obsessed over this aeth engine for the past few months, constantly rambling incoherently as if deranged. It was a sight which would make anyone sigh.
She cast a casual glance towards the 39th campground as a nearly unnoticeable hint of loneliness flashed across her face.
Xiaoman shook her hand and turned around to leave. She needed to keep an eye on Old Mo because he was the treasure of Blood Kill Camp and they could not afford to let anything happen to him.
……
“She’s back.”
In the 39th Campground, the fat middle-aged man lifted his head, “Are you really not going to see her?”
A lonely, slender figure was seated at the head of the ship beside him. She was dressed in well-worn military attire, and her short jet-black hair was blown up by the wind to reveal a fair and pretty face.
It was Xiaoke.
She held a wine pot and absentmindedly took swig after swig as if not hearing what the fat middle-aged man had said.
“Sigh, you sisters are so stubborn. Never mind, I’m washing my hands of this matter.” The fat middle-aged man angrily shook his head and turned around to leave with his hands behind his back.
The night cast a shadow on Xiaoke’s face as she dazedly stared into the distance. After a long time, she softly mumbled, “She’s not my sister.”
She jumped off the ship. Her posture was as straight as usual, regaining her previous composure and indifference as she disappeared into the darkness.
The night grew deeper and deeper.
Lin Xun used what time he had to train, his expression solemn and calm.
He had swallowed ten Lengning Pills and hot aeth power was currently coursing through his body.
After six hours, Lin Xun’s body shook as he opened his eyes. Dazzling light shone in his eyes before returning to normal.
“The medicinal power in ten Lengning Pills is indeed enormous. I’ve never felt such fullness before…”
Lin Xun turned his senses inward and was surprised to discover that his cultivation was fast approaching the True Martial seventh layer!
However, before he could inspect more closely, his heart suddenly shivered as he abruptly raised his gaze and looked out the window.
A sexy figure had appeared at some unknown time. Although her features were not clearly visible due to the darkness, she gave off a hazy feeling of enchanting beauty.
“Don’t be nervous, handsome young man, come with your big sister to meet someone.”
All Lin Xun heard was tinkling laughter. Before he could react, he was picked up by a hand and pulled out of the cave-dwelling.