NOVPUB
Chapter 738: Are Rune Inscriptions Waterproof?
The next day.
5:28 PM.
Yulianton University.
The lobby on the first floor of a building resembling a museum.
At this moment, the hall was crowded with students from various grades, easily numbering in the hundreds.
Qiao Sang entered the white building with a female classmate.
As soon as she walked in, she noticed quite a few people sneaking glances at her.
“There’s actually this many people.” Qiao Sang, holding Yabao in her arms, looked around with mild surprise.
The number of attendees far exceeded what one would expect from a regular club event.
Bafla explained, “Everyone probably came for the dean of the Rune Inscription Department. High-ranking figures like deans rarely give lectures, and when they do, it usually costs a lot of points. This is a rare free opportunity to see the dean and listen to his explanation of spirit inscriptions.”
Qiao Sang paused for a few seconds and said, “If you put it that way, it feels like there aren’t enough people here.”
After all, last time Dr. Dosharila held a class in a lecture hall, there were easily over a hundred people.
That’s only because the time kept changing, and this is technically a closed-door event by the Rune Inscription Club. Probably four-fifths of the attendees are internal… Bafla thought to herself, but smiled on the surface and said, “Maybe most people didn’t get the notice.”
Qiao Sang looked at her.
“Why did you bring me here?”
Bafla froze for a second, but quickly returned to normal.
“Aren’t we classmates? Plus, your Steel Guardian Falcon…”
At that moment, she suddenly remembered that Qiao Sang’s Steel Guardian Falcon had already evolved and quickly changed the subject.
“What’s its name after evolution?”
“Steel-Slash Giant Falcon.” Qiao Sang replied.
Bafla recalled its appearance and remarked, “It really is giant…”
“Oh right, did you register it?” Bafla asked.
Qiao Sang responded, “I went to the Beast Taming Center after school yesterday to register.”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help feeling a little exhausted.
Other people registering their beasts just needed to wait in line.
But for her? They called in a supervisor, led her to a private room, examined the beast, called in more people, re-checked, and filed reports… The whole process took nearly two hours. She ended up missing her scheduled Body Forge Bug treatment and kept Dean Virginia from the Pet Journalism Department waiting all afternoon.
So she really was busy yesterday afternoon… not just making an excuse to refuse me. Bafla looked stunned for a moment.
At that moment, Qiao Sang asked,“Why did you decide to join the Rune Club?”
Bafla quickly composed herself and said, “Because rune inscriptions are also a way to strengthen pet beasts.”
That’s exactly what I thought when I first tried drawing inscriptions… Qiao Sang gave her a glance, inexplicably reminded of her past self.
They chatted a bit more casually.
Suddenly, the surrounding noise surged like a tide.
“Everyone quiet down.” A loud voice called out.
In an instant, the noisy hall fell silent, and all eyes turned to the same spot.
Qiao Sang looked toward the source of the voice.
The speaker stood on stage, a man.
His short black hair was already streaked with white at the temples, his face weathered but with piercing eyes and a tall, commanding build. He looked striking.
A man from Dragon Nation… With just one glance, Qiao Sang was sure he was from her country.
“He’s the dean of the Rune Inscription Department?” Qiao Sang asked.
Bafla nodded.
“That’s Dean Li Dongdong.”
Such a plain name… Qiao Sang looked at the man who exuded presence with every gesture, surprised.
She truly couldn’t associate that name with this person…
The president of the Rune Club took the mic, visibly excited.
“We are honored to have Dean Li attend our event today-”
Dean Li waved his hand to cut off the flattery.
“No need for an introduction. Let’s just start selecting someone.”
“Alright…”
The club president paused, then said, “We will randomly choose one lucky person from the audience to come on stage and have Dean Li personally draw a spirit inscription for them! The selected individual may request any type of inscription!”
“And afterward, they’ll get to have dinner with Dean Li and ask anything they wish!”
The hall erupted.
People had heard that Dean Li sometimes helped with rune inscriptions, but dinner with him? That was completely unexpected!
This was the Dean of Yulianton’s Rune Inscription Department.
How could ordinary students deserve such an opportunity?
All eyes turned to the stage, filled with disbelief, excitement, and anticipation.
Dinner with him too… Qiao Sang’s mouth twitched.
Ever since she realized why she kept running into various deans, she knew Dean Li had come specifically for her.
In fact, this entire event… might have been held just for her.
Qiao Sang silently complained: Why not just invite me to dinner? Why all the dramatics…
Compared to the others, Bafla looked relatively calm.
Having been tasked by the club president to invite Qiao Sang several times, she had a good idea that this random lucky draw was already predetermined.
“For the lucky draw, we’ll let the Lucky Compass make the decision.” The club president said, pointing at a twenty-centimeter-wide, round-bodied pet beast with a red pointer on its head, it looked just like a compass.
Lucky Compass… Qiao Sang recalled information from her memory.
A high-tier Steel-type General-class beast said to identify the luckiest person in a given area within a short time frame.
At that moment, the Lucky Compass floated into the air, its short and long hands spinning continuously.
Since I’m already predetermined, the Lucky Compass must be rigged… Qiao Sang’s expression grew complicated.
She’d expected a digital spin or draw, not this pet beast doing a whole act.
Still, it looked surprisingly convincing…
“Point, point…”
The Lucky Compass closed its eyes, the pointers on its belly glowing faintly white as they spun.
An invisible wave of energy enveloped the crowd.
After about thirty seconds, the red pointer on its head shifted slightly.
“Point!”
The compass opened its eyes and pointed forward.
“Looks like we’ve found our lucky one!” The club president declared.
Everyone followed the direction it pointed.
“It’s the student holding the Fire Qilu!”
Of course it’s me… Qiao Sang’s face remained calm.
Completely unsurprising.
Of course it’s her… Bafla feigned excitement.
“Ah! Qiao Sang! Amazing! You’re the lucky one!”
You’ve asked me multiple times. Don’t act like you didn’t know… Qiao Sang glanced at her.
On stage, Dean Li smiled for the first time since arriving.
“So it really is her…”
“This isn’t fair! Why does everything go her way?!”
“I heard some chosen ones are born with fortune.”
“But she’s from the Beast-Taming Department! She’s not even in the Rune Club! Why’s she here?”
“Because she’s Qiao Sang…”
As murmurs spread, the crowd automatically stepped aside to clear a path.
Qiao Sang walked up calmly.
“What kind of rune inscription do you want?” Dean Li asked.
“I want one that increases a pet beast’s comprehension.” Qiao Sang replied.
“Which pet? What type of comprehension?” He asked again.
“Ghost Ring King.” She said.
“For Psychic-type comprehension.”
“Xun~”
As soon as she finished, Little Treasure emerged obediently.
That’s right, it was him!
Dean Li examined it and said, “Alright.”
He walked to a long table on stage.
It was already filled with materials for drawing inscriptions.
The audience fell silent again.
Almost everyone here was from the Rune Club or Department. They knew how important absolute focus was during inscription drawing.
Especially since it was the Dean himself demonstrating, no one wanted to miss a second.
“Xun~”
Little Treasure floated to Dean Li’s side and chirped, asking for a beautiful design.
Dean Li said, “Sit here.”
“Xun~”
Little Treasure floated over and sat obediently.
Dean Li poured unknown materials into a small white porcelain bowl and began stirring.
Soon, the mixture turned into a thick, paste-like white substance.
Holding the bowl in one hand and a brush in the other, he approached Little Treasure and began drawing inscriptions with a serious expression.
Even though hundreds were present, not a sound was made.
Qiao Sang was unconsciously absorbed by the solemn atmosphere, carefully watching his movements.
“Xun…”
Ten minutes later, Little Treasure couldn’t sit still and shifted slightly.
“Don’t move.” Dean Li warned.
“Xun…”
Little Treasure pouted, pitifully looking at his master.
Qiao Sang silently mouthed, Think of the computer…
Understanding, Little Treasure immediately stiffened and sat upright.
White lines began flowing under Dean Li’s brush, harmoniously interconnecting with a precise rhythm.
After more than ten minutes, he finally set down his brush and let out a breath.
“It’s done.”
Little Treasure was now covered in mysterious white patterns.
Some people couldn’t help taking out their phones to capture the moment.
Forty minutes later.
Yulianton University.
Yiwei Restaurant.
In a luxurious and magnificent private room, well-dressed pet beasts carefully placed beautifully arranged dishes on the table.
By the window, Little Treasure was holding Black Flower and admiring his reflection in the window.
"Do you have any questions about spirit patterns?" Dean Li asked.
Qiao Sang thought for a moment and said, "How long can the spirit patterns on the Ghost Ring King last?"
"A week." Dean Li replied with a smile.
"But you can come to me after a week, and I’ll help you extend the duration of the rune patterns."
Here it comes, here it comes, he's preparing to recruit me now... Qiao Sang pretended to be flattered.
"Really?"
"Of course it’s true." Dean Li’s tone was gentle.
"From the moment you were pointed out by the Lucky Compass, I knew you were destined for rune patterns."
Qiao Sang: …
"Are you interested in learning spirit patterns?" Dean Li followed up quickly.
Qiao Sang tactfully replied, "I'm afraid I won’t have the time."
"You reached this level of brain domain development at 16. Your lifespan is bound to be long, how could you not have time?" Dean Li wasn’t concerned.
You really want me to say it directly, huh… Qiao Sang said, "I’m an exchange student. After this semester, I’ll return to Blue Star…"
Dean Li waved his hand and interrupted, "Learning rune inscriptions won’t conflict with your return to Blue Star."
Huh? Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. What’s going on? This was completely different from what she expected him to say!
Dean Li said seriously: "You can be registered under my name. After you return to Blue Star, you can contact me anytime via the StarNet if you have questions about rune inscripstions."
The old professors were interested in Qiao Sang because she might have a chance to enter the Interstellar Cup Tournament in the future, but Dean Li genuinely believed she had the talent to learn rune inscription. 𝘯𝑜𝑣𝑝𝑢𝘣.𝑐𝑜𝑚
In the field of rune inscription, what mattered most was a beastmaster’s mental strength.
And mental strength was closely related to brain domain development.
It was no exaggeration to say that Qiao Sang had the fastest brain development he had ever seen.
Originally, he had some doubts.
After all, once she returned to Blue Star, he would have no control, and whether she would ever come back to Chaosu Star was uncertain.
But then he thought, no matter what planet they were on, she was, like him, from the Dragon Nation. So he didn’t hesitate anymore.
High-level beastmasters have long lifespans. Even if they stick to a single field at first, when they hit a plateau, they naturally start learning other skills.
In his opinion, Qiao Sang would eventually reach that stage.
What mattered now was cultivating her interest in rune inscription.
This… Dean Li’s entire approach left Qiao Sang quite baffled.
So… she didn’t even need to transfer to Yulianton University?
"You mean, I don’t have to study at Yulianton University, and I can still be registered under your name?" Qiao Sang confirmed.
"Of course."
Dean Li nodded, then joked, "Dragon Nation folks don’t lie to Dragon Nation folks."
Qiao Sang: …
Dragon Nation folks… Qiao Sang suddenly understood something, and her gaze toward Dean Li became friendlier: "Can I have some time to think about it?"
"Of course."
Dean Li took out his phone and offered, "Let’s add each other’s contact info first."
---
Damn this talent of mine… to think it made the dean willing to go to such lengths for me. After watching Dean Li leave, Qiao Sang turned to the side and looked at Little Treasure, whose white body was covered in mysterious spirit patterns. She was just about to speak.
"Lu Ai."
At that moment, Lubao, who had been quiet inside the backpack, poked hr head out and made a sound, expressing that she also wanted to have rune inscription drawn on her body.
Lubao was usually a clean freak, yet now she was willing to have runes drawn… Qiao Sang was a bit surprised and readily said, "Okay, I’ll take you to Dean Li next time."
Since Dean Li wanted her to be registered under him, he probably wouldn’t refuse this request...
"Lu Ai."
Lubao wagged her two tails slightly inside the backpack, then contentedly curled back in.
Qiao Sang thought of something and looked down to ask: "Yabao, do you want one?"
"Yap yap..."
Yabao recalled how their beastmaster used to draw on him and remembered the humans saying that rune inscription make you stronger. After a moment of inner struggle, he nodded firmly.
Draw it!
They all want one… Qiao Sang took out her phone, opened a search engine, and typed [Are rune inscription waterproof?]
