Chapter 6: The Art of Inscription

"Wyatt!"

Christina Lee looked at her son with an irritated frown. His independent actions had ruffled her feathers.

"Name your terms," the older man said, looking at Wyatt Barnes.

So long as Wyatt would accept the challenge and his conditions were not too extravagant, he would agree.

This was an ideal opportunity for him to exact revenge for his younger brother, Rudy. It was not one he wished to let pass by!

"My terms are simple. Delay the duel for a month! In a month's time, if you're unwilling or wary, then forget it. I'll look the other way and take it as if you never visited nor challenged me," said Wyatt, his face relaxed as if he was sure Hamza would agree.

"Very well. I will give you a month. But I hope that you don't become a coward!" Hamza Lee did not hesitate at all and his mouth curved up in a cold, derisive smile as he agreed immediately.

You think you can defeat him in just one month?

After Mark and Hamza Lee left.

"Hamza, that Wyatt deliberately asked to delay the duel by a month. Is it possible he's confident he can defeat you after a month? Weren't you being somewhat reckless by accepting his conditions so quickly?" Mark Lee's brow creased slightly.

"Father, a weakling will always be a weakling. Even if he has achieved Body Tempering now, he's still at the first level! Even if we give him another month, it's unlikely he could progress to the second level," Hamza Lee replied cheerfully.

"However..." Mark Lee wanted to say something, but Hamza interrupted him.

"Father, I suppose you're worried about Wyatt's Collapsing Fist? Rest assured, even if his Collapsing Fist martial art skill is above the profound level and he steps into the second level of Body Tempering after a month, do you think he could reduce the gap between us with just the Collapsing Fist?" He asked confidently.

The gap between the third and fourth levels of the Body Tempering Realm was considerable, with a difference in strength of over a hundred catties!

Not to mention the gap between the second and fourth levels...

"Perhaps I'm overthinking it. I'm confused because of your brother's injury," Mark Lee nodded in agreement after listening to his son's logical analysis.

His eldest son had always been his pride and joy, and never had there been a moment of disappointment.

After Mark Lee left.

Looking at his mother, Christina Lee, her face filled with displeasure...

"Mom, don't worry. I got this," Wyatt spoke first.

"Wyatt, your mother has noted your progress, but you shouldn't be so ambitious! This Hamza is a recognized genius among the younger generation and is a key figure nurtured by the family. He is also recognized as the strongest among all the Fourth Layer Body Temperers in the family! (He is far different from his younger brother, Rudy)."

Christina Lee let out a deep sigh.

"Mom, I know get all that. But will you just trust me? I will win. I will not embarrass you," Wyatt looked at Christina Lee sincerely.

"Silly boy, it's not about my pride, it's about you. I don't want you to go through that again... like that time a few days ago," Christina said, her eyes welling up at the remembered fear.

The incident from a few days ago had left a significant shadow in her heart.

"Mom, I promise, I won't let you worry about me again!" Wyatt vowed earnestly.

"Alright, I trust you. Whatever you need within this month, just tell me," Christina Lee nodded and managed to squeeze out a small smile.

"Mom, I need more of those medicinal herbs you got for me last time. Also, I need some money..."

After receiving some money from his mother, Christina Lee, Wyatt left the Lee Family mansion.

This was the first time he had left home since he came to this world.

The bustling marketplace of Tranquil Wind Town was divided into three sectors, each controlled by one of the three families: the Lee Family, the Garcia Clan, and the Holland Family. The market under the Lee Family's control was located in the north, close to the Lee Family's residence.

As Wyatt entered the Lee Family's market, he heard the shouting of the street vendors echoing in the alleys. The stalls on both sides of the streets were filled with an array of various unusual trinkets.

For a moment, Wyatt felt as if he had returned to ancient times in his previous life.

Scenes like this could only be seen on television in his previous world.

Wyatt strolled down the streets, looking around...

When he got to the entrance of the Lee Family's weapons shop, he paused, staring at the wide array of neatly arranged weapons. He hesitated for a moment before stepping away from the Lee Family market, heading towards the southwest to the Holland Family's market.

The Holland Family was equivalent to the Lee Family and the Garcia Clan in Tranquil Wind Town.

The three major families had a balance of power in Tranquil Wind Town; they kept each other in check. Though they clashed covertly, on the surface, everything appeared calm. No one was willing to stick their neck out.

As Wyatt entered the Holland Family's weapons shop, a man came to greet him right away.

"Dear guest, what kind of weapons do you need?" The man asked with a smile.

"I'm not buying any weapons, only interested in buying certain materials," Wyatt shook his head.

Buying materials and not weapons?

The man was taken aback. Could it be this young guest had an esteemed Artifact Refiner?

Artifact Refiners, unlike the average blacksmith found in a weapons shop, held a high status on the Cloud Skies Continent, no less than an alchemist.

Each one was sought after by various powers!

The weapons forged by blacksmiths were ordinary, but those crafted by Artifact Refiners were 'Spiritual Weapons,' which could enhance one's attack power. They were highly coveted.

Among the three major families of Tranquil Wind Town, each family had an alchemist but none had an Artifact Refiner.

This demonstrated the scarcity of Artifact Refiners!

"Guest, may I ask what materials you need, so I can prepare them for you immediately."

Wyatt Barnes found that the attitude of the man in front of him abruptly changed, showing a bit more reverence in his words.

He could guess the reason, but chose not to expose it…

He was buying materials, but not for artifact refining.

Although Martial Emperor was an Emperor Grade Artifact Refiner, he inherited all the Artifact Refining knowledge and memories from Martial Emperor.

To become an Artifact Refiner, you need to step into the Condensed Pill Realm at the very least and produce Origin Force.

Similarly, an alchemist who has reached the grading level is useless without the Origin Force; it's impossible to condense the red flame and refine Pill Medicine.

Wyatt Barnes enumerated nine materials he needed...

These materials were all prepared to be used for Inscription.

Inscriptions are rare in today's Cloud Skies Continent, usually engraved on personal belongings and weapons.

Objects engraved with inscriptions all carry an unusual 'power'.

These powers are various and there's no specific distinction. When the power is released, the inscription is exhausted.

It's analogous to the bombs of the past, once they explode, they're gone.

From the memory of Martial Emperor, Wyatt Barnes learned that the peak era of Inscription art in Cloud Skies Continent precisely coincides with the second reincarnation of Martial Emperor.

In that era, Martial Emperor nearly greedily mastered all practical inscription techniques!

The Martial Emperor's "Three Lives Reincarnation Scripture" requires the soul to sleep for ten thousand years before each reincarnation.

After ten thousand years, the soul begins to seek a new body.

Now, ten thousand years later, the Art of Inscription has gradually declined for some reason.

Inscriptionists on the Cloud Skies Continent have become popular, and their status surpasses that of alchemists and Artifact Refiners.

The nine common materials that Wyatt Barnes wanted to buy are prepared for engraving a low-level Inscription.

"Guest, here are the materials you need, totaling seven dollars."

The Holland's Weapons Shop staff quickly prepared all the materials for Wyatt Barnes.

After seeing Wyatt Barnes off, he left the Weapons Shop and went to the Holland mansion.

He must report the news of a possible Artifact Refiner in the town to his master immediately, to not let the other two clans take the lead!

"The money does not last long ... Mom gave me twenty dollars, and I spent almost half of it."

Wyatt Barnes shook his head and took a shortcut to go to the Lee mansion.

On the way through the junction of the three markets in the town, Wyatt Barnes saw a crowd of people by the roadside, pointing and talking.

Out of curiosity, Wyatt Barnes squeezed into the crowd.

He saw a woman in mourning clothes kneeling on the roadside, her long hair hiding her face.

Judging by her physique, she should only be about fifteen years old, a young girl.

In front of her, a piece of paper was placed with a few bright red characters written on it:

Selling myself to bury my mother!

Wyatt Barnes didn't expect to encounter a plot that could only be seen in TV shows in his previous life.

As the once King of Soldiers, his keen intuition allowed him to feel the desolate air inadvertently revealed by the young girl.

"Tsk, tsk… The little girl has a good figure. Lift your head and show your face to me. If your face is pretty, I will buy you to serve me."

A fat man in wealthy attire with a potbelly and a nouveau riche's expression looked lecherously at the kneeling girl.

"Exactly, without lifting your head, who would dare to buy."

Someone followed his mocking.

"Once there is a benefactor willing to help me bury my mother, I will raise my head."

The young girl spoke but still didn't lift her head. Her voice was as beautiful as that of a little oriole and full of stubbornness.

"Her voice is not bad. But, since you don't lift your head, you surely don't have a beautiful face, and I…"

The belly-proud fat man in wealthy attire was interrupted by Wyatt Barnes' cold snort before he could finish his sentence.

"I will give you ten dollars, and you can bury your mother properly."

Wyatt Barnes moved to the front of the young girl and said softly.

"Thank you, Young Master."

The young girl's body trembled slightly, she slowly raised her head, and with her soft little hands she brushed away the long hair from her face.

Her clean and white face, slightly raw, unpowdered and undyed, reveals an unrestrained beauty…

Under her curved willow-like eyebrows, a pair of beautiful eyes revealed firmness amidst the grievances, causing one to pity her.

Her cute little nose was slightly raised, her lips were round and enticing.

This made one have an uncontrollable urge to kiss her directly!

Wyatt Barnes originally had the same idea as the potbellied wealthy man: this girl, who was reluctant to raise her head, must have an unattractive face.

But who could have imagined that this girl turns out to be extraordinarily beautiful!

With her exquisite figure, she appeared all the more elegant.

One could imagine that when the girl grows up, she will surely become a stunning beauty.

Immediately, all the men around swallowed their saliva, their eyes revealing a lustful look.

"He's only giving ten dollars, I'll give twenty! From now on, you will follow me properly."

The big-bellied rich man, who saw the real face of the young girl, was nearly drooling and hurriedly increased the bid.

"I'll give thirty!"

Someone else followed with a bid.

"I'll offer fifty!"

"I'll bid sixty!"

...

Seeing these people bidding, Wyatt Barnes watched with cold eyes.

If the young girl truly chooses the highest bidder in the end, he would leave immediately. Such people do not deserve his help!