Chapter 506 Ascending to the Throne! A Reunion with an Old Friend?!

Wen Yuan's fingertips froze.

He stared intently at the thirteen overlapping Formation runes slowly flowing on the surface of the true dragon bone, his old eyes covered in the light of five-element runes, his pupils reflecting the flickering trajectories of the rune light.

The probing power of his Five Elements Rune Eyes was repelled layer by layer by that Seal...

He attempted to cut into the outer structure of the runes from the perspective of the gold attribute, but the force was repelled by an extremely ancient and overbearing power the moment it touched the edge of the runes; he then tried using the water attribute to penetrate through the gaps in the runes, but the result was that the power surged like a tide, swallowing his Mental Energy probe without a trace.

"Profound... too profound... I have never seen such a technique before... No, it's not that I haven't seen it, it's that it has never been recorded in any volume of rune classics."

His voice became hoarse and low.

It was as if he were talking to himself, or perhaps pouring his heart out to someone.

"Thirteen overlapping Formation runes, the nesting angle of each layer is different, and the attribute transformation of each layer is independent. After seven layers, it was already a subtle technique the likes of which I have only seen once in my life. After nine layers, it exceeded any rune system I have ever known... But there are actually thirteen full layers here! And the flow path of spiritual power between each layer is changing on its own; every change is equivalent to rearranging the structure of the entire rune. This kind of method has already exceeded the scope of rune techniques. This is fusing runes with some kind of living Law."

He abruptly raised his head, his dark brown eyes staring straight at Jiang Yun, his gaze filled with irrepressible shock and curiosity.

"Sacred Student, where exactly did you obtain this true dragon bone? I have seen quite a few ancient relics in my life, but a technique that integrates thirteen overlapping Formation runes with Law Seals like this—let alone seeing it, I haven't even thought of it. The origin of this thing is likely extraordinary."

Hearing this, Jiang Yun's expression remained calm.

He seemed to have anticipated that these two Deans would ask this question...

A treasure of the level of true dragon bone.

Anyone who saw it would be unable to resist asking about its origin.

But the origin of the true dragon bone involved too much, from clues to the Ancestral Dragon's nest to ancient secrets.

None of these were things that could be detailed in this setting.

He shook his head slightly, his tone flat and frank.

"The student only obtained it by chance. It is inconvenient to go into detail about the specific process of acquisition. I hope the Deans will forgive me."

Upon hearing this, Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi stroked his beard and smiled meaningfully.

He turned his head to look at Wen Yuan, who was still immersed in shock.

His tone was filled with merciless teasing.

"What's the matter? Didn't you just swear to me that there were no runes you couldn't decipher? Didn't you say you wanted to open our eyes and let us know what real rune attainments are? Why can't you see the way now? I told you your skills weren't up to par, and you wouldn't admit it. Now you're honest, aren't you?"

A Rare look of extreme embarrassment appeared on Wen Yuan's thin, old face.

He coughed twice and carefully placed the true dragon bone back on the stone table.

His fingers rubbed back and forth on the three runes on it several times before he reluctantly withdrew his hand.

"Cough, this... I admit, I did speak too soon just now."

He scratched his messy, gray hair.

He sighed helplessly.

"If I am not mistaken, the runes on this are the Heavenly Trace Sealing Technique from the ancient era. This is one of the most obscure and difficult sealing technique schools among ancient runes, and it was completely lost as early as the Middle Ages. Today's rune world's understanding of the Heavenly Trace Sealing Technique is limited to a few scattered words mentioned in a few incomplete ancient classics. Its rune structure uses 'traces' as the basic unit, and each trace is directly inscribed on the Laws of Heaven and Earth, rather than being a carrier of ordinary spiritual power. Therefore, this kind of rune is naturally immune to all conventional cracking methods... because the cracking logic of ordinary runes starts from the spiritual power flow path, but the Heavenly Trace Sealing Technique has no spiritual power flow path at all. Its runes are directly embedded into the Laws, using the Laws themselves as carriers. To crack it is equivalent to forcibly dismantling the few Laws of Heaven and Earth that constitute this Seal, and I am afraid there isn't a single Rune Master in the entire Eastern Region who can do that."

He paused, his tone filled with heartfelt awe and honesty.

"I have studied runes for more than sixty years and consider myself well-informed in the way of runes. But the Seal on this true dragon bone cannot be described as just highly skilled... This is a feat that can only be set up after reaching a completely different Realm in the way of runes. To be honest, when I used my Five Elements Rune Eyes to probe into it for three breaths, I was repelled. That power simply did not allow me to pry into it at all. I am powerless to crack this Seal."

When Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi heard these words from Wen Yuan, the teasing smile on his face faded slightly.

He reached out and took the true dragon bone back in front of him, his fingertips gently sliding across the bone surface, his tone also filled with a hint of helplessness.

"At least you can name your Heavenly Trace Sealing Technique. I can't even name the Formation Restrictions on this. Their arrangement order is completely different from any ancient Formation system I know... It's not just a simple Formation, but one where Formation patterns and runes are locked together, interlocking. Every Formation pattern is nested with a rune, and every rune in turn reinforces three Formation patterns. There are runes within the Formation, and Formations embedded within the runes; the two are interrelated and check and balance each other. Any external force trying to crack one will trigger the backlash of the other. This kind of sealing technique where Formation and rune are one is definitely a feat that only a top-level Grandmaster of Formations could set up, even in the ancient era."

He shook his head as he spoke.

He gently placed the true dragon bone back in the center of the stone table.

His tone was full of helplessness at being unable to do anything.

"I cannot find where its Formation core is, nor can I determine on what kind of Law this Restriction operates. I am equally powerless to crack this Seal."

Hearing the two Deans say the words "powerless" one after another, Jiang Yun frowned slightly.

When he first used Entry Manifestation to investigate this true dragon bone, although the grade column showed "Unknown," the conditions given by the entry were not harsh...

As long as one possessed a Beast Tamer with an Amethyst Rank Formation attribute.

One could unlock this Seal.

Amethyst Rank, this condition didn't sound very high.

Although neither his Little Skylark nor Nether Abyss were specialized Formation-attribute Beast Tamers.

But Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi and Wen Yuan were both Eclipsing Moon Rank experts.

Their attainments in Formations and runes were at the top level in the Eastern Region.

Could their control over Formation runes not compare to an Amethyst Rank Formation-attribute Beast Tamer?

He pondered for a moment and asked: "Two Deans, is there any way to crack it?"

Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi and Wen Yuan fell silent at the same time.

The two looked at each other, exchanged a helpless look, and finally shook their heads simultaneously.

"Sacred Student, to tell you the truth."

Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi sighed, his tone full of honest regret.

"My attainments in the way of Formations, in this provincial city and even the Eastern Region, although I dare not say I am number one, I can be considered among the best. Although this Old Fellow Wen Yuan has a foul temper, his attainments in runes are indeed at the top level in the Eastern Region. The two of us combined, we dare not say we have seen everything, but things within the provincial city that can leave us both helpless are indeed few and far between. But the Formations and runes on this true dragon bone, their structure, their system, their technique... both of us have never heard of them, never seen them. The only thing that is certain is that they are extremely ancient, so ancient that they far exceed the scope of records in any existing classic. As for cracking it, we are indeed powerless."

Hearing this, Jiang Yun let out a breath.

Even the insights of two Eclipsing Moon Rank Deans could not unlock this Seal...

He certainly knew that this true dragon bone was not simple; after all, it was something that even Entry Manifestation showed as unknown.

But what he didn't expect was that even the two Inner Court Deans of Sky Dome Academy were helpless against it.

Was it really impossible to unlock the secrets within this item in a short time?

Just as Jiang Yun was sighing in his heart, Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi suddenly seemed to think of something.

He slapped the stone table suddenly, and a flash of realization crossed his wrinkled face.

"Wait... I thought of a place. Maybe we can find information about the Formations and runes in this true dragon bone there."

Jiang Yun and Wen Yuan looked at him at the same time, their eyes filled with confusion.

"What place?"

"Wending Pavilion!"

There was a hint of irrepressible excitement in Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi's voice.

"The Wending Pavilion of our Sky Dome Academy! The top-floor library collects various Rare books and unique copies collected by the academy for hundreds of years. It is all-encompassing and widely accepts books from all over the world. From the general history of the continent to ancient secrets, from cultivation methods of various systems to lost Incomplete Manuals of Formations and runes, from ancient myths and legends to atlas records of various Heaven And Earth Treasures... As long as it has appeared on the continent, Wending Pavilion has more or less records of it. I remember there are a few Incomplete Manuals of Formation paths excavated from ancient ruins on the top floor, which record the ancient Formation system. I have flipped through them a few times before, but because those Incomplete Manuals were too severely damaged, I couldn't understand them and put them aside. Perhaps those Incomplete Manuals have records related to the Formation pattern structure on this true dragon bone!"

Wen Yuan also realized it suddenly and slapped his thigh hard.

A look of excited laughter bloomed on his thin face.

"Right! Right! I almost forgot about Wending Pavilion! I remember now... In the rune classic area of Wending Pavilion, there are a few pages of rune notes excavated from the ruins of a Sealing Master from the Middle Ages, which specifically record the cracking ideas of lost ancient sealing techniques. Although they are only incomplete pages and the content is not complete, one section mentions the sealing technique of using traces as the base and Laws as the carrier... Doesn't this match the Heavenly Trace Sealing Technique you just mentioned! If we can find those notes, maybe we can really find clues to crack this Seal!"

Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi stood up, turned to Jiang Yun, and his tone had a bit more expectation.

"Sacred Student, why don't the three of us go to Wending Pavilion to investigate right now. With the combined strength of the two of us, plus those ancient Incomplete Manuals on the top floor of Wending Pavilion, maybe we can really unlock the secret of the Restriction Formation in your true dragon bone and find a way to crack it. The collection of books in Wending Pavilion is one of the best in the entire Eastern Region. If we can't find clues there, I'm afraid there is no other place in the entire Eastern Region that can crack this Seal."

When Jiang Yun heard the three words "Wending Pavilion," his expression was slightly stunned.

Wending Pavilion...

He had heard this name before.

Not seen in the academy's intelligence, but before he stepped into Sky Dome Academy.

When he was in C City, someone had mentioned this name to him in person.

That person was the envoy from Sky Dome Academy who had descended from the sky and repelled the Yuhai Cult Amethyst Rank Expert when the Beast Tamer assessment in C City was attacked by the Yuhai Cult... Old Li.

Back then, Old Li had held him in high regard, and before parting, he had said to him: "If you ever have any trouble at Sky Dome Academy, you can come to Wending Pavilion to find me."

He had silently kept these words in his heart, but after entering the academy, he was occupied with many affairs. From Ash Town to the Bone Burial Area, and then to the Liu family's Star Pavilion, he had been constantly on the move and never found the time to visit Wending Pavilion to pay his respects to Old Li, who had been his benefactor.

Now that Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi mentioned the name, he suddenly remembered... That was it, Wending Pavilion. That was exactly what Old Li had said back then—Wending Pavilion.

"Sacred Student?"

Seeing Jiang Yun slightly distracted, Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi called out to him.

Jiang Yun snapped back to his senses, pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind, and stood up.

He cupped his hands and said: "Then I will have to trouble the two Deans to lead the way."

Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi and Wen Yuan nodded; neither wasted any time, and they both stood up.

The three left the Council Hall, and Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi gave a light flick of his sleeve.

An invisible force of Formation Law steadily lifted Jiang Yun.

Wen Yuan traced a rune in the air with his fingertip, and the rune expanded in the wind, transforming into a pale golden light barrier that enveloped the three of them.

The two Deans moved, and their figures soared into the air simultaneously. Carrying Jiang Yun, they transformed into three streaks of light, speeding towards the southernmost part of Sky Dome Academy.

For experts at the level of Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi and Wen Yuan, they were already capable of utilizing a portion of the Law force bestowed by their own Beast Tamer ability to fly directly through the air.

Their speed was immense, and the academy buildings retreated rapidly beneath them. In just the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, a towering pavilion appeared at the edge of their vision ahead.

It was a twelve-story pavilion constructed entirely of blue-grey ancient stone, standing quietly in a relatively remote and secluded location at the southernmost part of Sky Dome Academy.

It was no taller than the cloud-piercing towers within the academy, yet the vast, profound Aura it emitted was incomparable to any other building.

The pavilion's walls lacked intricate, ornate carvings or shimmering Formation patterns. Instead, they consisted of uniform, tightly fitted blue-grey stone bricks, their surfaces covered in the mottled traces of erosion left by time—each mark seemingly narrating a history that spanned eons.

The twelve-story pavilion tapered layer by layer, resembling a sharpened mountain peak. Beneath the eaves of the top floor hung an ancient bronze bell, its surface inscribed with long-rusted ancient characters, emitting a faint, humming sound in the wind, as if echoing from the primordial era.

There were no additional buildings surrounding the pavilion; only a low stone wall separated it from the rest of the academy. The wall was covered in moss accumulated over the years, and at its base grew a few ancient trees of unknown age, their lush, canopy-like foliage casting the pavilion's main entrance in deep, verdant shade.

The entire Wending Pavilion stood there in silence. Despite not being particularly cloud-piercing, it gave one the feeling that, in its presence, one would unconsciously soften their breathing.

It was not the pressure of a Formation, nor the Aura of an expert, but the weight of knowledge... It was the profound depth emanating from the millions of volumes of books accumulated over hundreds of years.

Looking down at the towering, ancient pavilion from the air, Jiang Yun could not help but sigh inwardly.

A library of this scale—let alone C City, one would likely not find another like it in the entire provincial capital.

In such a comprehensive repository of knowledge, perhaps he could truly find a way to break the Seal on the true dragon bone.

"Sacred Student, we have arrived at Wending Pavilion. Let us descend."

Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi's voice came from beside him.

He gave a light flick of his sleeves, and the light of Law surrounding the three of them slowly receded.

Their figures drifted down from mid-air like light feathers, landing steadily on the bluestone-paved plaza before the main entrance of Wending Pavilion.

At this moment, there were quite a few students on the plaza coming and going to borrow books.

Students in groups of two or three, carrying thick stacks of books, entered and exited the pavilion's main gate. There were also a few Disciples from the Formation Institute and Rune Institute standing in a corner of the plaza, engaged in a heated discussion, their ink jade pens gesturing continuously over Formation diagrams.

When the three figures slowly descended from the sky to the center of the plaza, everyone's footsteps faltered simultaneously.

Flying through the air within the academy... this was not a privilege afforded to ordinary students or even ordinary Deacon Elders. Only Deans of Eclipsing Moon Rank and above were permitted to fly freely above the academy.

Several gazes subconsciously swept toward them. First, a casual glance, then pupils suddenly dilated.

Two old men... One had the Formation Institute's Formation mark embroidered on his cuffs, while the other had the Rune Institute's rune mark on his. Within Sky Dome Academy, only one type of person could wear such embroidered cuffs: the Inner Court Deans. And there was only one Dean for each, the Formation Institute and the Rune Institute.

"Holy crap!"

"It's Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi from the Formation Institute and Dean Wen Yuan from the Rune Institute! The two Deans have come to Wending Pavilion in person!"

As this shout rang out, all eyes in the vicinity converged upon them. Then, they saw the young man standing between the two Deans... Clad in green, with a straight posture and a handsome, calm countenance.

"Wait, who is that young man in the middle? The two Deans personally brought him to Wending Pavilion? This treatment is just too..."

Before this student could finish, they were interrupted by another student's exclamation.

"Holy crap! Holy crap! That's the Sacred Student!! It's our Sky Dome Academy's Heavenly Saint Student, Jiang Yun!!"

"It really is the Sacred Student! In the quota competition, he instantly defeated Lin Xinmu, forced Lin Feng to kneel, crushed Sect Master Feng Tianyang, and swept the entire Jingfeng Sect off the arena! It's been less than a day, and he's here at Wending Pavilion again? And this time, he's accompanied by two Inner Court Deans?!"

"Two Deans personally accompanying him, one on each side! Such a display, such treatment... who in the entire Sky Dome Academy has ever enjoyed this?! Even if Feng Xingyun, the number one on the Heavenly Ranking, came to Wending Pavilion, he likely wouldn't have the privilege of being personally accompanied by the Deans!"

"The Sacred Student came to Wending Pavilion with the two Deans—what could he be looking for? Could it be related to the heaven and earth anomaly from earlier? That dragon-shaped phantom hasn't even fully dissipated, and the Sacred Student is already here to look up information... This efficiency is terrifying; he just finished a Breakthrough and is already researching something new?"

"You call this just 'looking up information'? To have two Inner Court Deans personally act as guides to accompany him to look up information—could this be a trivial matter? I suspect that what the Sacred Student wants to investigate is something that might even require the two Deans to pore over ancient texts together to figure out! Think about it: what level of problem would require both Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi and Dean Wen Yuan to mobilize simultaneously?"

"Damn it, comparing people really just makes you want to die! We have to wait in line for days just to see a Dean, but look at the Sacred Student—the Deans come to pick him up personally! This gap..."

"What gap? If you could rush from Gold Rank to Amethyst Rank in just over a week of enrollment, crush the sixth-ranked student on the Heavenly Ranking, suppress an entire sect single-handedly, and trigger an Ancestral Dragon anomaly that covered the entire academy, maybe the Deans would take a few more looks at you, too. The problem is... can you do it? If not, then honestly go back to moving your books."

The student, having been shut down, opened his mouth to retort but found he couldn't utter a single word. He could only sigh dejectedly while clutching the books to his chest.

The onlookers' gazes were filled with envy, awe, and a hint of bitter self-deprecation. Prodigies of the Sacred Student's caliber truly existed in a different world from them. To witness the rise of such a figure within their lifetime was, in itself, something to talk about.

Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi and Wen Yuan turned a deaf ear to the surrounding discussion, clearly accustomed to such scenes.

Jiang Yun also ignored those gazes; following behind the two Deans, he stepped through the towering main entrance of Wending Pavilion.

The lighting inside was slightly dimmer than outside, and the air was suffused with the faint scent of ancient ink and the unique, musty aroma of old paper, causing one to involuntarily soften their footsteps upon entering.

The first-floor hall of the pavilion was extremely spacious. All four walls were lined with massive, embedded bookshelves that extended from the floor to the two-story-high ceiling, with tens of thousands of volumes densely packed upon them.

In the center of the hall stood dozens of rows of neat stone reading tables. Beside each table sat students engrossed in their studies; some were scribbling away, copying something down, others were furrowing their brows as they flipped through thick ancient tomes, and some had even fallen asleep on their tables... with a half-opened copy of Introduction to Formation Dao lying beside them.

The entire hall was so quiet that even the rustling of pages being turned could be clearly heard.

As the three stepped into the hall, a figure emerged from a side corridor to greet them.

The man had white hair and a white beard, wore a simple grey robe, and had a lean figure but a steady gait—it was the manager of Wending Pavilion.

He walked up to the three, cupped his hands, and bowed respectfully, his demeanor both reverent and composed.

"This old man is the manager of Wending Pavilion. I greet the two Deans and the Sacred Student. May I ask what brings the two Deans and the Sacred Student to Wending Pavilion today? So that this old man may make arrangements for you three in advance."

Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi waved his hand slightly, his tone calm and casual.

"Manager, no need for formalities. We have merely brought the Sacred Student here to look up some information. Dean Wen Yuan and I will take him up ourselves; you may return to your own tasks—there is no need to specially attend to us."

The manager nodded and bowed once more.

"Then this old man shall not disturb the three of you. If there is anything you require, please do not hesitate to command me."

Dean of Array Department Xuan Jizi and Wen Yuan nodded and were about to lead Jiang Yun to the top floor.

Jiang Yun's gaze, however, involuntarily fell upon the manager's face... White hair and beard, a lean countenance, and a calm, indifferent air between his brows.

His footsteps came to a sudden halt.

He had seen this face before. Not at the academy, but in C City... on that chaotic night when the Beast Tamer assessment was attacked by the Yuhai Cult.

Back then, he was merely a Beast Tamer with only Silver Rank strength.

Yet, this old man before him had stepped out from the void and repelled that Yuhai Cult Amethyst Rank Expert with a single blow.

He had saved the entire examination hall. He had saved him.

Otherwise, he would have died at the hands of that Yuhai Cult Amethyst Rank Expert that day.

The face from his memory and the face of the white-haired manager before him perfectly overlapped in that instant.

Jiang Yun was slightly stunned, his lips trembling as a long-forgotten form of address blurted out.

"Old Li! Long time no see!"