"Try, then? Go on and try! We’ll see if you can still surpass me!" Lin Li sneered, then went back to focusing on inscribing his Divine Rune, ignoring Yi Tianyun completely.

In his eyes, Yi Tianyun was doomed to lose. The previous rounds had conditions that gave Yi Tianyun a slight advantage, but this round was different. Only high-grade runes would earn high scores. It would be very difficult to rack up points with low-grade ones.

Unless Yi Tianyun could actually inscribe a first-grade Divine Rune with many layers, but that was simply too difficult. He’d be better off just inscribing a single fourth-grade Divine Rune.

Yi Tianyun completely ignored the stares of others, continuing to slowly inscribe the first-grade Divine Rune. A discerning eye could see that the first-grade Divine Rune he was inscribing was of an advanced difficulty, but no matter how advanced, it was still just a first-grade Divine Rune, not a fourth-grade one.

However, to begin adding the effects of Multiple Divine Patterns onto an advanced-difficulty first-grade Divine Rune would naturally multiply the difficulty.

Yi Tianyun seemed unfazed, simply maintaining his pace as he continued to inscribe. Lin Li’s eyes were filled with derision. ’He refuses to believe Yi Tianyun can successfully inscribe a Quintuple Divine Pattern. The difficulty is truly no less than that of inscribing a fourth-grade Divine Rune.’

At this moment, everyone’s gaze was fixed on the two of them. They were the key figures. One was a genius who could already inscribe a fourth-grade Divine Rune; the other was attempting to use a first-grade Divine Rune, enhanced with Multiple Divine Patterns, to challenge that fourth-grade Divine Rune!

Li Tianlong’s eyes glinted. He didn’t think there was anything wrong with Yi Tianyun inscribing a first-grade Divine Rune. If he could really manage to inscribe a Quintuple Divine Pattern, he would be awarded a high score all the same; the difficulty was plain for all to see.

As time ticked by, Lin Li was already nearing the end of his work. He was just moments away from successfully completing his inscription. Yi Tianyun, on the other hand, had only just finished the Double Divine Pattern, his progress still considerably slow.

Finally, with an hour left on the clock, Lin Li perfectly completed the inscription of his fourth-grade Divine Rune. As he made the final connection, a low HUM echoed, and the light of the fourth-grade Divine Rune bloomed. The entire sheet of Divine Rune Paper erupted in a dazzling radiance—this was the effect of a fourth-grade Divine Rune!

"I did it!" Lin Li was ecstatic. He had successfully inscribed a fourth-grade Divine Rune. He had failed quite a few times in the past, but this time he had succeeded on his first try. As long as Yi Tianyun failed to inscribe his Multiple Divine Patterns, the victory would be his!

"He actually succeeded! To become a fourth-grade Divine Rune Master at such a young age, his talent is incredible!"

"Indeed, the Divine Rune Mansion’s standard is astonishing. He’s already a fourth-grade Divine Rune Master at his age. I wonder what level the other disciples have reached?"

"That goes without saying! Who knows, a true Divine Rune Master might even emerge!"

The surrounding audience was full of admiration, but a look of contempt crossed Lin Li’s eyes. ’Do they really think Divine Rune Masters are a dime a dozen?’ A huge part of his ability to smoothly inscribe the fourth-grade Divine Rune was pure luck.

’Although I’m now considered a fourth-grade Divine Rune Master, there’s still a huge gap between me and a truly perfect one. Someone who can succeed casually, who can even inscribe advanced-difficulty runes with ease—that’s a real fourth-grade Divine Rune Master. At best, I can only be considered a pseudo-fourth-grade Divine Rune Master.’

He immediately turned his gaze back to Yi Tianyun, only to find that in the blink of an eye, Yi Tianyun had already successfully inscribed a first-grade Triple Divine Pattern and was now starting on the Quadruple Divine Pattern!

From the looks of it, his hand was remarkably steady, without the slightest hint of error. ’If this continues,’ Lin Li thought, ’he might actually succeed in inscribing a first-grade Quadruple Divine Pattern. In terms of power level, that’s already equivalent to a low-tier fourth-grade Divine Rune.’

But even if he succeeded, he would still lose to Lin Li. After all, Lin Li’s Divine Rune was a modified version, which was guaranteed to earn him a significant number of bonus points. This meant Yi Tianyun had to inscribe a first-grade Quintuple Divine Pattern, or he would be beaten on score.

’But can he really succeed?’

This was a simply heaven-defying feat. In terms of grade, it was equivalent to a mid-tier fourth-grade Divine Rune, but the actual difficulty was even higher.

It was like a Mortal Iron Weapon; no matter how exquisitely it was crafted, it remained a Mortal Iron Weapon, not a weapon of the Spiritual Artifact Level. You could say its power and effects were close, but it couldn’t be sold as a Spiritual Artifact. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Zhu Yuwei and the others held their breath. This was the critical moment, and they all hoped Yi Tianyun would win this contest. Deep down, they truly believed he could pull it off.

A Quintuple Divine Pattern... this was truly a heaven-defying accomplishment! Only a considerably experienced fourth-grade Divine Rune Master would be able to inscribe a Divine Rune of this level.

Zhu Tianhong’s mouth went dry. He was desperate for Yi Tianyun to succeed, not fail! If he failed now, there wouldn’t be enough time left. At that point, forget the top three, he’d be lucky to even make the top ten.

"A first-grade Quintuple Divine Pattern... He’s done nothing but inscribe a first-grade Divine Rune from the very beginning. I suspect it’s the only trick he knows," Patriarch Wang sneered from the sidelines. "His fundamentals aren’t bad, but a stunt like this is completely unpresentable. I refuse to believe he can actually inscribe a Quintuple Divine Pattern!"

No one in the entire audience believed Yi Tianyun could pull it off, feeling his attempt was far too reckless. But if this was truly the only move he had, then it was understandable, they supposed.

Yi Tianyun’s mind was perfectly calm; he didn’t feel there was the slightest problem. Soon, his hand moved, and the fourth layer was perfectly inscribed. He immediately began to inscribe the fifth!

The Divine Rune Pen in his hand remained steady. As he inscribed, the Divine Rune Paper began to glow with a dazzling light. How could a Divine Rune reinforced to such an insane degree not shine with a brilliant light?

Only a handful of contestants were still inscribing Divine Runes, but Yi Tianyun’s was by far the most eye-catching. Stroke by meticulous stroke, the fifth layer was more than halfway complete, and he began to draw the final lines.

Seeing how little was left, everyone’s heart skipped a beat. ’Could he actually finish it?’

’Fail! You have to fail!’ Lin Li screamed in his heart. If Yi Tianyun actually succeeded, he would lose.

If so many people weren’t watching, he would have actually reached out and interfered. The slightest disturbance would have guaranteed immediate failure.

But he didn’t dare do such a thing now. If he did, Li Tianlong would disqualify him on the spot. That would mean losing his eligibility to compete, which would be an even worse outcome.

Finally, as everyone watched with bated breath, Yi Tianyun completed the final stroke.

HUMMM!!

The entire sheet of Divine Rune Paper suddenly burst forth with an even more dazzling light as a pillar of light erupted, piercing into the sky. A moment later, the light gradually subsided. There, a first-grade Quintuple Divine Pattern had been successfully inscribed!

This scene shocked everyone. He had actually done it!

"He succeeded?!" Lin Li’s face turned ashen. He looked up and rubbed his eyes. It was real—a first-grade Quintuple Divine Pattern! There was no mistaking it. A true first-grade Quintuple Divine Pattern, a heaven-defying creation!

’I can’t believe I lost to Yi Tianyun again, and defeated by a first-grade Divine Rune of all things!’ This was the ultimate humiliation! He had painstakingly inscribed a fourth-grade Divine Rune, only to be defeated by a mere first-grade one.

When Patriarch Wang saw Yi Tianyun succeed, his expression grew even more unsightly. He collapsed into his chair. ’Where in the world did this brat come from? Who pulls a stunt like that?!’

"Excellent!" Li Tianlong was the first to exclaim in admiration. How could he not applaud such astonishing control?

Following Li Tianlong’s cry of admiration, many in the surrounding audience couldn’t help but break into applause. Others, however, couldn’t be bothered, their reluctance clear. These were the ones who stood with the Wang Family; why would they ever applaud?

Even though it was only a first-grade Divine Rune, being able to inscribe a first-grade Quintuple Divine Pattern was a true talent in its own right.