"Ding! Successfully inscribed a First-Grade Five-Layered Divine Rune. Gained 5,000 experience points and 100 Skill Level."

The experience and Skill Level gained from successfully inscribing this Divine Rune were quite high. After all, the difficulty of Multiple Divine Patterns was self-evident, and the Skill Level awarded was comparable to that of a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune. Thus, aside from wanting to shock everyone, Yi Tianyun also chose it because the rewards were similar, so there was no need to overthink it.

Yi Tianyun’s success left everyone deeply shocked. To be able to inscribe a rune like this meant that even if he wasn’t a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master now, he was guaranteed to become one in the future. In terms of difficulty, it was practically on par, so theoretically, he was already a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master.

However, since he hadn’t actually inscribed a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune, he couldn’t officially be called one—not until he actually did so.

However, Zhu Tianhong and his group knew that Yi Tianyun was, without a doubt, a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master; he simply hadn’t inscribed a fourth-grade one yet.

"Very impressive. You actually succeeded. I thought for sure you would fail." Li Tianlong walked over, picked up the Divine Rune Paper in front of Yi Tianyun, and examined it for a moment before saying with satisfaction, "A very impressive Divine Rune. Its difficulty is indeed on par with a mid-level Fourth-Grade Divine Rune. Although it’s arguably a bit more difficult, I can only award you forty points."

"I am already quite satisfied," Yi Tianyun replied with a respectful smile. ’As long as I win, that’s all that matters. Even if my score for this round is lower than Lin Li’s, I still have enough points overall to beat him.’

’So what if his was a modified Divine Rune? It couldn’t possibly score more than sixty points. He was destined to lose.’

"Your modified Divine Rune is quite good. I’ll award it a score of forty-five points!" Li Tianlong announced Lin Li’s score.

"Thank you, Pavilion Master Li..." Lin Li muttered. Though he expressed his thanks, his face was a grim mask as he glared at Yi Tianyun, his eyes filled with resentment.

’First place, snatched away just like that. The spot for the Celestial Spirit Jade Pool, gone in a flash. How could he not be resentful? Most importantly, as a disciple of the Divine Rune Mansion, failure meant something entirely different for him.’

Soon, all three rounds of the competition were concluded, and Li Tianlong quickly announced the final scores.

"The three rounds of the competition have concluded, and the final rankings for this Divine Rune Grand Competition are now decided. I will now announce the results... First place: Yi Tianyun! Second place: Lin Li! Third place: He Qianhan..."

In any competition, the only one who is truly remembered is the winner—not second place, and certainly not third.

"Patriarch Wang, my apologies, but it seems our Zhu Family has achieved a complete victory this time." Zhu Tianhong naturally wouldn’t pass up the chance to rub salt in the Wang Family’s wound. As rivals, why would he let them have an easy time?

"Hmph!" Patriarch Wang didn’t even deign to reply, turning on his heel to leave. He was utterly dissatisfied with Lin Li this time!

This was a huge loss of face for the Wang Family. For the foreseeable future, they wouldn’t be able to hold their heads high. Their business dealings would surely suffer. He’d be damned if he could find any happiness in this situation.

After the rankings were announced, the reward distribution began. Yi Tianyun received the right to use the Celestial Spirit Jade Pool for five days, along with a Token that would grant him access at the Main Pavilion whenever he wished.

"’Five days in the Celestial Spirit Jade Pool... A fine prize indeed,’ Yi Tianyun thought, nodding in satisfaction as he held the reward Token.

"Ding! Successfully completed Chain Quest: Part 3. Gained 500,000 experience points and 1,000 Skill Level for Divine Rune Mastery!"

The quest was completed perfectly, netting him another one thousand Skill Level. He did a quick check and realized he wasn’t far from achieving Advanced Divine Rune Mastery. He could easily reach it by simply inscribing a few more Divine Runes.

"Do you even know how to inscribe anything besides First-Grade Divine Runes?" Lin Li walked over and said coldly. "No matter how perfectly you can inscribe them, you’re still just a First-Grade Divine Rune Master, not a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune Master!"

"What does that have to do with you?" Yi Tianyun replied calmly. ’What does my rank have to do with him, anyway?’

"It’s a complete insult to me! If you have any real skill, then try and inscribe a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune! What’s so great about only knowing how to do First-Grade ones?!" Lin Li, who already hated him to the bone, felt an overwhelming urge to lash out at the sight of him.

"And if I do inscribe a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune, what’s in it for me?" Yi Tianyun asked calmly.

"If you can inscribe a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune, Pavilion Master Li’s notes are yours!" Lin Li declared, throwing out the reward he had just received. Yi Tianyun, however, didn’t even spare it a glance. ’What use do I have for some notes?’

"Not interested. You can keep them for yourself," Yi Tianyun replied coolly.

"What do you mean ’not interested’? I bet you can’t do it at all!" Lin Li sneered. "If you can inscribe a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune right here, right now, I’ll give you not just these notes, but everything I own!"

He took out a Storage Ring and slapped it on the table. No one knew what Treasures it contained, but the Storage Ring itself was already extremely valuable. It would cost at least several hundred thousand taels of silver, making it an absolutely Rare item.

To Yi Tianyun, however, this Storage Ring wasn’t rare at all. ’It’s not even as spacious as my own inventory, where I can store anything I want.’

He had no interest in the Storage Ring, but he was quite interested in its contents. Lin Li’s fortune was surely substantial, so there were bound to be some good items inside.

"Since you’re so eager to give your things to me, I’d be rude to refuse."

Yi Tianyun snatched a sheet of Divine Rune Paper, took up his Divine Rune Pen, and began to inscribe. The onlookers who hadn’t yet left immediately focused all their attention on him.

"What’s going on? Is he actually trying to inscribe a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune?"

"For real? I thought he only knew how to inscribe First-Grade ones."

"Let’s get a closer look! If he can really inscribe a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune, that would be incredible!"

...

They soon witnessed the result. Yi Tianyun’s speed while inscribing the Fourth-Grade Divine Rune was astonishingly fast. Though not as quick as his work on First-Grade Divine Runes, he was still moving at roughly half that pace. At this breakneck speed, he swiftly inscribed the rune, easily completing the Fourth-Grade Divine Rune in less than an hour!

It was flawless, completed in one smooth, continuous motion! Though it was a low-level Fourth-Grade Divine Rune, it was a Fourth-Grade Divine Rune all the same!

"Oh my god, he actually finished it?"

Their eyes widened. As Yi Tianyun laid down the final stroke, the aura emanating from the Fourth-Grade Divine Rune was unmistakable. Lin Li was shocked—utterly and completely shocked. He had always assumed Yi Tianyun could only inscribe First-Grade Divine Runes; this was yet another heavy slap to his face.

A Fourth-Grade Divine Rune, completed right before his very eyes, and a perfect one at that!

"Y-You... Don’t you only know how to inscribe First-Grade Divine Runes?" Lin Li stammered, his voice filled with shock.

"Who said I only know First-Grade Divine Runes?" Yi Tianyun replied calmly. "I don’t believe I ever said that, did I?"