Braised Dragon with Soy Sauce

Chapter 213 Unexpected Effect

Mo Yuming took a look at the rune pattern. It was a set of crack patterns. The pattern was relatively simple, consisting of only a few curves of varying thicknesses, with the lines intersecting to form a simple graphic.

Mo Yuming then picked up the arrow with the runes already engraved on it and compared it with the blueprint to see how the runes on the actual object differed from those on the blueprint.

The arrowhead of the Demon-Slaying Arrow is an equilateral triangular cone, about the size of a thumb, made of refined black iron. The cone handle is hollow, with a magic crystal cut into the size of a peanut embedded inside.

The crackle pattern was evenly engraved on the three conical surfaces of the pointed cone. The lines that formed the rune pattern were as fine as gossamer threads, and each line was very smooth and rounded. It was clear at a glance that the weapon refiner who engraved this rune had a profound skill.

"Does the young master wish to learn rune engraving?"

After arranging the construction work, Old Huo went to the rest room again.

"You carved these runes, Elder Huo, right? They're beautifully done!"

"It is indeed my own work, young master, you flatter me!"

As Old Huo brewed tea for Mo Yuming, he said with a smile.

"Now that the factory has a clear division of labor and high efficiency, there is no need for me to do many things. I usually just help everyone divide the magic crystals when the factory is preparing to produce the Demon-Slaying Arrow. They can handle most of the other tasks, such as carving runes on objects, so I have a lot of free time."

So, in his spare time, he thought of designing a rune to use on the magic-piercing arrows, so that they wouldn't explode if they missed their target. This way, the arrows that missed could be recycled, since magic-piercing arrows are expensive and used in large quantities, and many arrows miss, which would be a waste.

"These arrows can actively identify their targets? These runes are amazing! Has Elder Huo already designed one?"

Mo Yuming said in surprise.

"Hehe, it's not as magical as you think! In reality, no matter how powerful or advanced the runes are, they have no life or consciousness and cannot distinguish who their target is."

The reason why it has the function of identifying targets is not that complicated or profound.

All you need to do is add an extra rune to the explosive rune to control when it triggers.

Moreover, this newly added trigger rune is not a particularly difficult high-level rune; it belongs to one of the most basic and common rune categories.

Once you understand the reasoning behind this, it's actually quite simple and easy to understand. It's not mysterious at all.

When we use the Demon-Slaying Arrow to shoot, the targets we aim at are either enemies or ferocious monsters.

Regardless of the specific circumstances, these goals share two very significant and common characteristics:

First, they are all living beings; second, whether they are enemies or magical beasts, they all contain a certain degree of spiritual power.

Therefore, when you draw your bow and shoot an arrow at them, under normal circumstances, they will definitely try their best to dodge or defend themselves.

Even if they use a sneak attack and fail to notice the arrows flying towards them in time, as soon as the arrowheads are about to touch their bodies, their bodies will react instinctively and mobilize their spiritual power to resist the sharp arrows that are about to penetrate their bodies.

In this way, the conditions required to trigger the Explosive Rune are just met!

The flow of spiritual energy is the condition for triggering this control rune. When spiritual energy acts on it, it is activated, which in turn triggers the explosion rune, causing the Demon-Slaying Arrow to explode.

Even if a demon-piercing arrow misses its mark and hits a rock, the control talisman won't activate because it doesn't sense the change in spiritual energy. Therefore, the explosive runes it controls won't be triggered, and the arrow won't explode.

"That's what Mr. Huo explained."

"This design is indeed very creative, but I don't think it's suitable for the Demon-Slaying Arrows, especially when two armies are facing off. There will definitely be many Demon-Slaying Arrows that miss their targets. If the Demon-Slaying Arrows that are shot at the enemy do not explode, then the enemy will pick them up and use them against us. This is equivalent to handing weapons to the enemy."

Mo Yuming said.

"That's right! How could I not have thought of that? I was only thinking about not wasting the magic-piercing arrows that missed the target, and that I could recycle them later. How could I not have thought that the enemy would also use magic-piercing arrows? I didn't even consider such an obvious point! I was so careless! These past ten days of research have been superfluous! All that busywork."

Old Huo said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Old Huo's efforts were not in vain. This design is excellent, but it cannot be used on the Demon-Slaying Arrow. We can use it on other weapons, and it will definitely have unexpected effects."

Mo Yuming said.

"Young Master, don't try to comfort me. It's just a joke, I won't take it to heart. Let everyone go and have a laugh. Haha..." Old Master Huo laughed heartily.

“I’m not trying to comfort you, but your design is really useful. I have an idea now, and I’ll tell you about it after I’ve thought it through a bit more. It will definitely be a very special invention.”

Mo Yuming said.

"Then let's wait for good news!"

"Elder Huo, are the runes inscribed by our weapon refiners the same as those used by formation masters?"

Mo Yuming flipped through the rune drawings that Elder Huo had drawn and asked a question.

"The runes used by weapon refiners, array masters, and rune masters are all of the same kind in origin. They are all runes passed down from ancient times, totaling seventy-two."

We call it the First Pattern. No one knows who drew it or how long it has been around. Perhaps it was drawn by an ancient sage who comprehended the laws of heaven and earth, or perhaps it was born from heaven and earth itself.

Through countless generations of use and changes, the current three-way division has finally formed, with weapon refiners, array masters, and rune masters each inheriting twenty-four initial runes. Significant differences have arisen in their methods of use and refinement.

The twenty-four initial runes used by us weapon refiners can be improved and superimposed to transform into various advanced runes, which can be engraved on various objects to enhance their performance and quality.

Examples include runes that enhance the sharpness and toughness of swords, the defense and flexibility of armor, and the runes that control the firing of magic crystal projectiles in magic crystal cannons. All of these evolved from these twenty-four primordial runes.

The array master refines and superimposes the twenty-four initial runes they have mastered, then inscribes them on array plates or array bases. These items are arranged and combined according to different array formations, placed in different positions, and then linked together using special techniques. Finally, spiritual power is input to activate them, and an array is completed. Examples include illusion arrays, killing arrays, and protective arrays.

Rune masters, on the other hand, upgrade and reform the twenty-four initial runes they possess, creating runes with various uses. They then inscribe these runes onto specially treated talisman paper, animal hides, wooden plaques, or other pre-processed carriers, thus forming talismanic treasures with various special functions.

These talismans can be activated simply by inputting spiritual energy. Examples include signal talismans, spirit shadow talismans, and teleportation talismans.

"Oh, I see. Is there anyone who is proficient in all three runes? Or a master who cultivates all three?

"