A three-stroke rune was the easiest rune to carve. Wu Guang had chosen one with qi gathering function, and so as soon it was carved and he infused a bit of qi in it, the rune started shining and gathering qi by itself. Such runes were used to power up other runes, albeit being the easiest and so the weakest one, it could at max supply qi to a single similar class rune. Without any issue, Wu Guang carved an illumination rune on the same slate, and using the engraving pen to draw connect them, the light rune started shining. After a minute, the light dimmed and then the plate shattered. This was something expected, after all, such training slates were only meant as a cheap and disposable item to train one's carving, and could not resist the strain from active qi flow.

In any case, Wu Guang could now consider himself to have made the first step on the path of a Rune Master. He could now enter the Sect's Rune Hall in the quality of an apprentice. He did not intend to do so, but he would still need to visit the hall, after all, his mind was full of advanced runes, and yet he could not carve them. He simply had no material that could sustain one.

Runes were divided into 11 categories, but on the 'Seven Island's Plane,' only the first three were known. These categories were mainly a division of the number of strokes and amount of functions a rune had. With the single-function three-stroke runes being the lowest category, it was still enough for one to be considered an Apprentice Rune Master. One would be considered a fully-fledged master when one learned and could carve five-stroke single function runes. And would be called a Grandmaster when one could carve runes up to eight strokes and two functions. Bai Qi originally did not follow the path of the runes, but he was an accomplished formation master, so he had grabbed a few rune-related skills as well. Just relying on his memories, if Wu Guang got the required materials and resources, he could carve runes of any amount of strokes. He could not add more than three functions or make them mobile as the Rune Saints, but he was definitively close to that level.

Runes by themselves could not serve him much in the current situation, but he had decided to start with their practice as they were a base for both formations and arrays. Granted, he was very accomplished in both of the latter, but the current body had never physically done it, so he decided to err on the side of caution and practice a little before. Plus, rune-carving had very low requirements in cultivation, and even the most advanced runes simply relied on qi to power up the pen.

This experiment confirmed Wu Guang's assumption that the process of reliving his experiences while awakening and fusing the consciousness also made the current him obtain all the skills he previously had. This was apparent by simply looking at the fact that he required only a single try after unlocking the pen to successfully carve a rune!

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The next morning, Wu Guang visited his master in-name Zhen Mang and explained to him about Li Xia's situation and his buying of her property. He did not request any help to deal with it but informed Zhen Mang that he would probably spend a day or two in Blue Tree City to deal with the follow-up. He also told him that an inner elder of the Sect may take action, and so to confirm this assumption he asked for a common inner uniform and badge. Zhen Mang was the Head Enforcer and so obviously had no trouble getting him the required items. He also fully supported Wu Guang's actions. He only added that Elder Du had a 2nd level of the Soul realm cultivation, so Wu Guang should call for help if the latter dared to act.

Wu Guang had already planned for such a case, and his next stop was related to this part of the plan. His destination was nowhere else than the Discipline Court.

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Wu Guang arrived at the Li store three hours after leaving Zhen Mang. He was dressed in a common inner circle disciple robe and had a copper badge on his belt confirming such status. The entrance door was not yet repaired, so he entered directly.

After crossing the store and opening a pair of secure doors, Wu Guang arrived at the residence. This residence was fused to the store, but it would be considered a separate house. It wasn't big, being only a two-story building with four rooms on each floor.

The front door of the house faced another street, but Wu Guang never asked Li Xia for the keys. That being the reason why he used the secure doors from the store, which keys she had given him yesterday.

He quickly located both Li Xia and Lan Yanzhi and made sure that nothing had occurred. He did not tell them much but asked them to go and shop for several things. Li Xia's servant was called Li Chun and was a relative of hers, who after losing all his wealth in a bad deal, was asked by Li Xia's father to look after her. He had regained consciousness and the wound was mainly healed, and although he was a bit weak, he accompanied the girls as well.

Half an hour later, as Wu Guang had expected, someone knocked on the residence's main door. It was a middle-aged woman accompanied by a pair of men that looked like her servants.

Wu Guang was not surprised at all and invited them to enter. He led them towards the room that served to receive guests and after offering the woman a chair spoke up

"I am sorry to be unable to serve as a better host. I have recently bought this property and have yet to contract any servants. In any case, how may I help you, Guild Head Du?" Wu Guang expected her visit and did not hide the fact that it was so.

"You are too courteous. After all, I have arrived without being expected" Du Yang was a woman in her fifties, but she was fairly rich even by cultivator standards and so had access to all the best medicines and methods. The latter did their magic, and so even with no cultivation, she looked a dozen years younger. Today she was dressed in a rich and elegant closed dress, which most probably cost as the entire property itself. And it would be logical, after all, Wu Guang's senses instantly perceived that the dress was also a protective treasure. Granted, it would protect the wearer against attacks below the Soul realm, but even so, such defensive armament was very expensive.

"Leaving the pleasantries aside, what has made the Merchant Guild Head visit my property today?" Wu Guang asked. He maintained a high level of courtesy, but his words were pretty direct. In any case, he was the owner of the property she visited, and his status as an inner disciple made him equivalent to a minor noble, so he could speak as an equal. Still, it was considered a good tone to be courteous to people older than one, and Wu Guang decided to go along that line.

"I have come to discuss a few matters about Miss Li. As well the Li store, residence, and warehouses"

"I see, so, how can I, the owner of this property help the Merchant Head?" Wu Guang asked while intentionally reminding her that he was the owner of it.

Hearing the question, Du Yang did not respond right away. On the contrary, she grew quiet for a minute or so before deciding to lay all the cards on the table. She was an experienced and shrewd merchant, but that did not deny the fact that if Wu Guang wanted, he could throw them out. Yes, she was respected and had power in the city, but even her contacts would not try to act against someone from the Sect without having real and vicious crime proof. In other cases, the Sect most probably would retaliate and even her brother would not have the ability to protect anyone except her.

"I would like to buy the property. Also, Miss Li was recently engaged to my son, and although I know that you are her friend, I hope that the engagement can be continued. Not only I but also my brother, who serves as an inner elder in your Sect would be very appreciative to your cooperation"

"I see... But I will have to disappoint Guild Head Du"

"Disappoint?"

"I am not planning on selling this property during the next year. If it's a matter that can be delayed, I will definitively contact Head Du when I decide to sell it. Well, if there's anything to sell at that time" Wu Guang knew that even though the matter of the invasion was something discussed only between people like the City Lords and even their closest aides knew about it, merchants would always know of such matters. Or at least hear the rumors about it. Playing on this, Wu Guang hinted at the fact that the property, and well, the city itself could be not standing in a year.

"That's very regretful to hear, but if Master Wu will be selling it later, I will definitively like to be the first option to be considered. In any case, my main reason to come is about my son's marriage"

"About that... It's not that I don't want to help your son obtain happiness and marry miss Li, but..."

"But?"

"I have asked around to confirm her words, and no one knows about such engagement. Plus, Miss Li already has a potential husband"

"She has?!" Du Yang could not maintain her composure after hearing this. This meant that Wu Guang's thoughts about Li Xia being the target were correct.

"Yes. And I need to mention that this suitor is a close friend of mine. So if Guild Head Du has no way to confirm that Miss Li is lying about her engagement to your son, I have to believe her words. Especially as I owe my brother a favor, and looking after Miss Li's wellbeing while he is overseas, well, it's something that I must do" One of the reasons why he had sent Li Xia away was to have the opportunity to spin such a story. After all, she was a mortal and her emotions would be easily read by someone as shrewd as Du Yang.

His lie also included that this suitor was his martial brother, which hinted that he was a cultivator. Considering Wu Guang's age and that he has recently entered the Sect, Du Yang would think that this martial brother was from the Sect as well. And she would ask her brother to investigate who of the people that know Wu Guang is currently overseas. This was Wu Guang's plan. If an Inner Elder started snooping around the records for the benefit of a third party, it would be enough for the Discipline Palace to get involved. The latter was something he had already confirmed when visiting the Discipline Court earlier.

"That's... That's very sad to hear. My son fell in love with Miss Li as soon as he saw her, and their engagement was a private matter. He told me later, and I have been trying to make it succeed by all means. Regretfully Miss Li was not faithful to their commitment"

Du Yang made the last attempt but was rebuked by Wu Guang

"As I said before, I am forced to defend Miss Li's name and honor on my martial brother's behalf. If there is nothing else, I will have to ask Guild Head Du to retire now"

Afterward, Wu Guang saw Du Yang and her two silent servants out, before closing the door and starting to prepare for a test with formations. This and the test with arrays was the main reason why Wu Guang wanted to buy a property in Blue Tree City.

After all, if it was to settle Lan Yanzhi, he would be able to do it for free via Xiao Feng or rent her something.

Runes were something common and even if seen or sensed would not arouse any questions, but formations and arrays were a different matter. The former was something lost in time, so how could Wu Guang know of them? And even if he could explain that, why would he know how to create one?

As for arrays, they were simply an unknown area on this plane. Arrays were an individual art and could only be taught or learned by observation. Such knowledge never reached a low-tier plane like 'Seven Islands'. Especially as this plane had no contact with other planes for 87 years if Wu Guang's guess about the Astral Gate not functioning was right.