Beside Fang Zhou, Su Xinyan watched him finish his communion with the World Will. He seemed to be lost in a blissful reverie, so she couldnât help but gently poke him. "Fang Zhou," she asked curiously, "did you have a revelation?"
Her voice was low, but everyone present was a High-Tier Professional, so how could they not overhear the whispered conversation between the master and apprentice?
From the distant high platform, Su Tiankuo and the phantasmal Saints all glanced over, their attention subtly drawn to Fang Zhouâs response. They were also curious to see what benefits this outstanding Undead Mage Apprentice had obtained from the World Willâs Attention.
Fang Zhou let out a soft breath, barely restraining the excitement in his heart. He reached out and took Su Xinyanâs slender fingers, saying excitedly, "Instructor Xinyan, I just successfully comprehended the âGallowsâ World Rune."
Su Xinyan blinked, her face twisting into a mask of pure envy and jealousy. She tried to pull her fingers free from Fang Zhouâs grasp, but after failing, she couldnât help but grit her teeth. "I was right all along," she hissed. "You really are the World Willâs illegitimate son!
"Thatâs the âGallowsâ Rune, one of the most practical runes for any Magic Professional! I had to fight tooth and nail on the Human-Demon Battlefield, surviving by the skin of my teeth multiple times before I finally earned the World Willâs Attention and managed to comprehend it. But for you, you brat, it was that easy?!"
She sighed and continued, "Letâs see... âNight Watcher,â âHeart Steel,â and now the âGallowsâ you just comprehended. Youâve already grasped three different types of World Runes, havenât you? Thatâs just ridiculous!"
Seeing his instructorâs vexed expression, looking as though she wished she could take his place, Fang Zhou just grinned and dropped another bombshell.
"Instructor Xinyan, youâre right, itâs three. And whatâs more, just now, they seemed to form some kind of mysterious connection, creating a form of Rune Resonance Iâve never seen before. Iâm not quite sure what its effects are. After the funeral is over, Iâll need to ask for your help in testing it."
Su Xinyanâs expression froze. She involuntarily took two steps back and said in utter disbelief, "Rune Resonance? Are you saying the three World Runes you just comprehended actually created a Rune Resonance? This... this is unbelievable!
"Iâve only seen a Rune Resonance a few times in my entire life! How can you be so lucky? Itâs one thing to casually comprehend three World Runes, but for them to also form an extremely rare Rune Resonance... No, I canât take it anymore. I need to find a chance to dissect you and see how your brain is wired."
Fang Zhou just chuckled at her words, his gaze on Instructor Su Xinyan growing incredibly fiery.
ăOn the distant high platform.ă
Hearing the conversation between Fang Zhou and Su Xinyan, the elderly female Saint gave a soft smile. "Rune Resonance," she said with a hint of emotion. "It is indeed a state every Professional dreams of. Forget that little girl; even us old bones had to go through untold hardships to grasp a mere fraction of its secrets under the World Willâs guidance. This young man only underwent his Awakening a few months ago, yet he has already comprehended three World Runes at the Apprentice Stage and even activated a rare Rune Resonance. My eyes have truly been opened today."
The other Saints didnât speak, but the admiration and curiosity in their eyes were plain to see.
At that moment, Ning Danxin, who was half-squatting with one hand on the Crystal Coffin, opened her eyes. She rose slowly to her feet, a terrifying aura like that of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood erupting from her lithe frame. The aura felt like the culmination of countless battles, each movement radiating a power and determination that could send a chill down oneâs spine. In terms of sheer presence alone, if one didnât count Su Tiankuo and the Saint phantoms on the high platform, Ning Danxinâs was enough to command the entire field.
Fang Zhou couldnât help but turn to look, his eyes meeting Ning Danxinâs directly. Her gaze flickered, and she seemed about to make a move when the elderly female Saint on the high platform simply raised a hand. In an instant, Ning Danxin found herself involuntarily teleported onto the platform.
Fang Zhouâs gaze started to follow, but Su Xinyan tugged on his sleeve, warning him not to be so bold. He averted his eyes from the Saint phantoms, instead offering a smiling nod to Principal Su Tiankuo, whose expression was as black as the bottom of a pot. Then, he turned and took Su Xinyanâs hand in his own.
Whatever was discussed between Ning Danxin and humanityâs strongest experts on the high platform, the funeral soon resumed in an orderly fashion.
After the brief interlude involving the World Willâs Attention, General Ning Feihuâs funeral soon concluded. As the crowd in the cemetery began to disperse, Fang Zhou was about to head back with Instructor Su Xinyan to the Undead Mage Research Group to study the Gallows Rune and the âHarvest Festivalâ Rune Resonance when Instructor Lu Hu called out to him.
"Fang Zhou, wait a moment. Major General Ning Danxin would like to see you."
Fang Zhou paused for a second before it dawned on him. Both Instructor Lu Hu and Instructor Su Xinyan had mentioned this before. As General Ning Feihuâs last living descendant, Major General Ning Danxin was deeply grateful to Fang Zhou for recovering the generalâs remains. With the funeral now over, it was only natural that she would want to meet him.