Chapter 10: Runes and Source Crystals

Totem drawing is the process of manifesting the inheritance factors you understand onto paper—a process much like architectural design on Azure Blue Star, requiring painstaking thought and contemplation. There can be no random scribbling; otherwise, what you draw will never serve as a foundation for a true totem and will amount to nothing more than idle doodling.

In the midst of this, you must rely on your experience to portray those inheritance factors which cannot be described in words, rendering them onto the blueprint with a peculiar order. It is similar to how modern architects, using natural forms, human biomechanics, and European or Chinese styles, design houses that are both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable to live in.

“I think I might be a bit exhausted these past two days,” Bruce muttered, rubbing his eyes, though the intricate and exquisite patterns on the blueprint remained. His earlier pride and disappointment had entirely vanished, his eyes wide and filled with a myriad of complex emotions, his face as tumultuous as a bottle of mixed flavors, finally settling into a daze.

Charles stood up and bowed respectfully, asking, “Teacher, is my drawing acceptable?” The power of the Modulator was truly monstrous—it had allowed someone who knew nothing of inheritance factors to see through everything with a master’s level of totem drawing.

To use the famous “chickens and rabbits in the same cage” math problem as an analogy: a novice at totem drawing is like a child who has just learned to count, checking the animals one by one. The proficient level is akin to knowing basic arithmetic, able to calculate with repeated operations. But at the master’s level, there is no need for tedious counting or calculation; you set up a system of equations and instantly deduce the answer!

Bruce’s long silence made Charles increasingly apprehensive—had he perhaps revealed too much and aroused suspicion? Still, the notes recorded that the fastest learners of totem drawing reached proficiency in just five or six days. His progress was not outrageous; at most, he was among the ranks of monstrous geniuses.

At last, Bruce nodded with difficulty and uttered a single word: “Good.”

The tension that had gripped Charles’s heart finally eased. He scratched his head in embarrassment and asked, “Teacher, may I begin learning runes now?”

Talent, drafting, and runes—the three foundations of a Soulmancer. Being chosen signified he possessed talent. Now, having ostensibly reached proficiency in drafting, once he mastered runes, he would truly become a Soulmancer! With his first totem, he could finally unleash the true potential of the Modulator!

“You may…” Bruce hesitated, then nodded, sighing deeply. “There are always those whose talent in certain fields is so great that others can only look on in awe. Your gift for totem drawing… is truly terrifying. It means you could easily become a master draftsman and earn your fortune by repairing and studying totems.”

“Do you know that a master draftsman’s monthly earnings surpass your entire family’s yearly income?”

Under that complex gaze, Charles swallowed hard, surprised that this profession was so lucrative—it was practically a money tree. The Maesterlin family owned a small gold mine, producing gold worth tens of thousands of coins each year.

A single gold coin was equal to a thousand copper coins; a copper coin could buy a steamed bun, which in his previous life would be worth about half a yuan; a gold coin, then, was roughly five hundred yuan. That meant the family’s annual output was in the tens of millions, making them one of the wealthiest families in all of Farn County!

This was the source of his father’s confidence—he could lavishly purchase all manner of weapons and rare herbs to arm the family guard, making bandits and marauders think twice before trespassing on their lands.

Now, to learn that a master draftsman’s monthly income could exceed that of a gold-mine-owning family’s yearly revenue—such profits were enough to make him want to jump straight into this field!

Still, he was acutely aware of his greatest advantage: the Totem Evolution Modulator. Its essence lay in enabling totem evolution! As long as he accomplished a single super-evolution, as soon as he possessed his first divine beast, he could seize whatever wealth he desired through sheer power, rather than suffering the whims of others or being targeted because of his riches.

At all times, only the strong can truly grasp their own fate!

Next, Bruce began teaching him the gestures for runes, helping him understand their fundamental components.

“Manifesting inheritance factors into blueprints is like building the skeleton, while runes act as the muscles, animating the structure. However, there’s one key element…” Bruce withdrew a gray-black crystal, handing it to him. “This is the energy source of Soulmancers—a special mineral hidden deep in the earth, called source crystal.”

“Source crystal?” Charles took the crystal and examined it closely.

In his previous life’s games, this material had made an appearance, but separated by a screen, he’d never truly felt its presence or remembered it. In those games, source crystals were mere consumables for spellcasting, akin to mana potions in other games.

Now, holding it, Charles keenly sensed the vast energy within, like a landmine about to explode, filling him with secret apprehension.

It was clear why those able to wield such energy paid no heed to ordinary warriors. Compared to Soulmancers, warriors were like soldiers with cold weapons facing a tank—utterly outclassed. They couldn’t even scratch the armor, let alone harm the person inside.

“You should know that Soulmancers are, by nature, ordinary people who cannot wield supernatural power. Therefore, we must rely on an external energy source—the source crystal,” Bruce explained, producing another source crystal and holding it in his palm to begin his lesson from the basics.

“Teacher, the innate talent you mentioned is the ability to draw energy from source crystals, isn’t it?” Charles asked.

Bruce nodded approvingly. “Yes, that is the essence of a Soulmancer. We are born with an affinity for source crystals, allowing us to harness their energy for our own use.”

“And runes, by channeling this energy and aligning with certain laws, become a truly formidable power—capable of easily killing even the mightiest warrior.”

Charles nodded his understanding, and Bruce then demonstrated the three fundamental runes.

Scan! Analyze! Construct!

Scan each cell of a living being to find the most fundamental elements, analyze the inheritance factors to render them on the blueprint, and construct the basic cellular units that form the totem’s body!

Before learning the three foundational runes, one must first master the drawing of energy from source crystals.

Gripping the source crystal, Charles closed his eyes, relaxed, and cleared his mind of all distractions, striving to sense with his heart.

He did not know how much time passed; just as he was about to drift into sleep, he suddenly heard the roar of ocean waves. He seemed to see a surge of energy turning into rolling waves, crashing and tumbling. Yet as soon as those waves touched him, they became as gentle as birds, intimately circling around him.

Charles opened his eyes, willed it, and strands of gray luminance flew from the source crystal, which he effortlessly manipulated into various forms.

“Very good. Now you can begin to learn the three fundamental runes,” Bruce said with a smile.

“Thank you for your guidance, Teacher,” Charles replied gratefully.

After mastering the three basic runes, Bruce smiled and said, “Now, you need some practical experience. As a small reward, you may personally capture an animal, and I will help you make it your first totem.”

“Yes, Teacher,” Charles responded.

“In addition, your family’s gold mine should yield a small amount of source crystal. You should send someone to collect them and bring them here to be processed for your use.”

Charles blinked in surprise. “Source crystals need to be processed?”

“Of course. Source crystals are special energy crystals formed by the world itself, their surfaces wrapped in a shell to prevent energy from leaking. If you don’t remove this shell, you cannot access their power. Ordinary people can’t cut it; you’ll need specialized tools,” Bruce explained, shaking his head.

Charles understood at once. Source crystals were like crude oil in his previous life—they had to be refined before use. He saluted and took his leave. “Teacher, I’ll have someone search right away and return tomorrow.”

“Go on then, and review your notes and the three basic runes I’ve taught you,” Bruce said, patting him on the shoulder with a smile.

After Charles left, Bruce stood at the basement door, lost in thought, murmuring softly to himself, “Meeting you was my good fortune—what a pity…”

Meanwhile, seated in the carriage, Charles’s expression was icy cold.