Pillar of Yita

However, given the varying individual strengths within the team, it’s natural to use the best steel on the blade. Therefore, she planned to use a substitute in the first match. She glanced at Fang Hong; in her initial plan, this was probably the only chance for this young man to play.

This match would employ the two veterans, Mulan and MTT, as a double insurance. Even if Fang Hong encountered some issues, there was still someone to raise his average score. As for the second match, Cui Ning, Dill, and Hawk-Beak Bean would serve as surprise soldiers. Dill, with his excellent talent in material science, could avoid her weaker projects.

With this arrangement, they would have considerable leeway in the final match to adapt according to the situation, as each person still had an opportunity to play one match.

After saying this, Soul Fingerprint looked at Fang Hong again and whispered, ”When we return to the inn later, we’ll first give you a small test.”

Fang Hong understood. As an Outsider, it was natural for these people to want to assess the level of their new teammate.

He silently admired Ragnarok for living up to its name as a Grand Guild. Even the team leader of a small team was so cautious — it should be known that he was personally nominated by Odin and had entered the Hall of Thousand Doors. The King of Warriors would undoubtedly be aware of how his level compared to this small competition.

Yet, even so, the team leader Madam still dared to question the Chairman’s decision and wanted to test his strength. Such a professional attitude was truly admirable.

However, after a while, Fang Hong realized that his thoughts might be a bit off.

Their lodgings were in the center of Fanric, at a place called ’Long Lake Inn’ — an inn with quite a history. Of course, having a history does not mean it’s simple — in fact, this inn was considered a luxurious lodge in the entire southern region of Long Lake.

At least, since Fang Hong’s journey with Golande, he hadn’t stayed in such a lavish place. Entering within, the splendid decorations almost dazzled his eyes — Fang Hong couldn’t help but glance around, and his rustic behavior evidently amused Mulan.

As for Cui Ning and Hawk-Beak Bean, they quickly walked a few steps ahead, afraid that someone would notice they were together. Almost all those coming and going in the Long Lake Inn were celebrities — either Nobles, merchants, or, like them, participating teams from Grand Guilds.

These contestants knew each other, often exchanging greetings — which allowed Fang Hong to learn about their identities.

Rose Cross Army, Silver Forest Crown, Silver Weslan, God Slayer...

Adding Ragnarok, six out of the ten major Guilds have arrived. However, Fang Hong took a glance and found no familiar faces among them. Surprisingly, the craftsmen of Silver Forest Crown didn’t include Wu Di and Liuli Yue, and looking at those Alchemists caused him to shake his head — far inferior to Wu Di and Liuli Yue’s levels.

It indeed seemed like just a small competition.

The major Guilds hadn’t used their main craftsmen in this match, which also matched his understanding of the Continental League. This historic competition is actually intertwined with the grudges of Rota, Colin Ishurian, and Osh. Meaning, its influence among Natives is much larger than among Invokers.

Although Stargate Port also broadcasted this competition, it ultimately wasn’t one of the ’compulsory subjects’ for Grand Guilds.

Before entering the team lounge, Soul Fingerprint suddenly said to Mulan, ”You go prepare the single characters and Rune Array tools.” Mulan nodded in agreement. Hearing about the single characters and Rune Array tools, Fang Hong was slightly stunned, with an ominous premonition rising in his heart.

But after a while, the premonition became reality.

In the lounge, he looked at the pile of tools on the table and then at the Soul Fingerprint and others before him, with a shock in his heart — you’re testing me on this? Single characters and Engraved Arrays, though the Hall of Thousand Doors had such trial projects, could they be the same?

Not to mention that in the Hall of Thousand Doors, single characters and Engraved Arrays are basics among basics. Generally speaking, single characters and Engraved Arrays are basic assessments for Alchemists’ Apprentices. Let alone Level 18, even Alchemists above Level 5 rarely face such assessments.

He couldn’t help but look at these people, suspecting that perhaps because he made them wait in vain for half a day, they were deliberately using such an assessment to mock him.

However, looking at the serious expression of Soul Fingerprint, it didn’t quite seem that way.

Fang Hong suddenly felt a doubt in his heart but did not speak. He just picked up the Alchemy engraving knife, not daring to be careless — instead, he adopted the serious attitude he had in the Hall of Thousand Doors, meticulously carving on the Red Gold Plates. Now, Engraved Arrays and single characters were as simple as eating and drinking water to him.

In just a moment, the array was formed.

Then it was the others’ turn to be surprised.

Mulan parted her lips — thinking, how could an Engraved Array be completed so quickly? Surely it was done perfunctorily? She subconsciously wanted to remind this young man that their team leader was quite strict, but before she could speak, Fang Hong had already handed over the Red Gold Plates.

This earned him a glare from Mulan, who was not amused.

Meanwhile, Soul Fingerprint remained silent, only picking up the Red Gold Plates engraved with the array, taking a glance.

Then she looked up, her eyes showing a puzzled expression as she examined the young man before her. Like Fang Hong, she also realized — from this angle, the others couldn’t see the Engraved Array on her hand, but as the examiner, she could see clearly — it was an almost perfect formed array.