Chapter 372

In the room, the windows were tightly closed, blocking out the sunlight from the outside.

In its place was the brightness brought by spells.

This was to ensure the stability of the light.

A long table was spread out.

Standing in front of the table was Gao De.

Beside the table, in the corner of the room, stood Anna, her big eyes shining as she looked at the table.

On the tabletop, four construct parts made of bright copper were lined up, the lines at the edges of each construct part fitting together perfectly.

Another four days had passed, and the four construct parts handed over to the blacksmith to be made were all in place.

Just looking at the shapes, these four parts resembled a shoulder guard, a chest plate, an arm guard, and a leg guard, respectively.

However, although the appearance had already taken shape, they could only be considered semi-finished products before the runes were engraved.

As the saying goes, "dotting the eyes of the dragon," for a runic construct, are runes merely the "eyes"?

Beside the four construct parts was a runic construct design blueprint that Gao De had made while staying up late.

A set of first-rank runic constructs he had tailored for himself.

【Arrival of Winter】.

The entire design and calculation process for 【Arrival of Winter】 consumed a whole stack of drafts, but the final finished design blueprint was actually just this small piece.

Overall, it looked somewhat like a mecha design blueprint from science fiction novels, divided into four areas, depicting the four parts of this construct set in sequence.

On each of the four parts, a separate, operable runic magic array was carried.

On a part with limited area no larger than a piece of cloth, miniaturizing and placing a runic magic array that possessed various powerful functions and was composed of hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of runes required extremely superb runic manufacturing technology.

This was a hard requirement, just like if you want to play soccer, you first have to have legs; there is no reasoning to be had.

This step was certainly extremely difficult, but what truly limited the number of runic construct masters was the next step:

While the runic magic arrays between each part were operating independently and exerting their effects, they also needed to possess the ability to become one.

They combined with each other to become a large, ultimate runic magic array, thereby providing unique construct effects for the runic construct.

This process required an exquisite mastery of runes, the constant expansion of the boundaries of knowledge, genius ideas, and unparalleled creativity.

Especially the three words "creativity."

This thing is like talent, mysterious and profound; it has no physical form, but it does indeed exist.

Fortunately, Gao De possessed this kind of thing, and it was even extremely outstanding.

How outstanding it was and where the limit was, Gao De himself did not know, but at least it was to the extent that it could make He Xi marvel.

However, under the new runic system constructed by He Xi, the limitation of "creativity" that lay across the path of runic constructs like a giant rock also had the possibility of being cleverly skipped

—as long as one's runic knowledge was mastered firmly enough and one could thoroughly understand the six basic rules of runes, then one could completely design a qualified runic construct blueprint through massive calculations and trial and error.

Of course, this did not mean that "creativity" was not important.

On the contrary, under the new runic system, creativity had become even more important.

Calculations could certainly allow ordinary runic masters to design runic constructs, but this kind of design relied on existing runic construct designs; essentially, it was based on the reorganization of knowledge, like piecing together one's own work.

But truly outstanding runic construct designs could not be obtained by calculation alone; ultimately, they relied on "creativity."

To use a not-so-vivid metaphor, in the world before Gao De transmigrated, after artificial intelligence developed, relying on powerful computing power, it could already replace a large portion of low-level artists with low skill levels in the design field.

But true artists were irreplaceable, and they even became more precious in the general environment where artificial intelligence was prevalent.

Artists would not lose their jobs; with the development of artificial intelligence, the status of artists would only become higher and higher.

The principle in the field of runic constructs was the same.

After his thoughts flashed through, Gao De collected his mind and cast all distracting thoughts to the back of his mind.

He took a deep breath and spread out the materials he had prepared on the crude table.

He was preparing to start drawing 【Arrival of Winter】.

"I'm going to start," Gao De said softly to Anna beside him.

Anna's eyes lit up, and she nodded obediently.

Subsequently, Gao De stopped paying attention to her, his internal mana flowed slightly, and 【Divine Guidance+】 had already been cast on himself.

He picked up the lithography pen gifted by Mentor He Xi and poured magic ink into it.

Immediately after, golden symbols flickered in his left pupil.

Third-rank Mandola Magic Eye, activated.

Under the effect of the Magic Tolerance Body, almost in the blink of an eye, Gao De entered an extremely focused state.

All fluctuations from the outside world had disappeared, and in his world, there remained only the lithography runic pen in his hand and the bright copper parts waiting for runes to be drawn.

Then, Gao De leaned his body forward slightly.

He put the pen down.

The tip of the pen trembled slightly, and a faint light flowed out, carrying wisps of refined magic power, slowly turning into lines and branding them onto the surface of the bright copper.

The practice that had almost never stopped during this period, using stack after stack of lacquer jade paper, had made Gao De's pen technique very proficient.

The brushstrokes were smooth, like flowing clouds and water, without any stagnation, slowness, or errors, and the hand holding the pen was as steady as Mount Tai, without the slightest tremor.

—The runes on the construct were all miniaturized; in this situation, even a tiny tremor of the wrist would be a huge mistake when magnified onto the miniaturized runes.

In the eyes of Anna, who was watching from the side, the lines Gao De drew on the bright copper parts at this moment were as fine as hair, and she couldn't see them clearly at all.

Only by sticking her eyes right up to them could she possibly manage to see what the specific runes were.

But in Gao De's Mandola Magic Eye, the scene was completely different.

Everything was magnified; the miniaturized runes he drew were no different from normal runes, and were even slightly larger.

The details of every rune and the direction of every line were so clear and understandable in his eyes, which was also one of the reasons why his brushstrokes were smooth.

For a runic construct master, the Mandola Magic Eye was a cheat, a powerful external cheat comparable to a modifier, endowing them with precision and insight that surpassed ordinary people.

Time passed bit by bit, and the room was so quiet that besides the slight breathing sounds of Gao De and Anna, there was only the sound of the pen tip falling on the bright copper with subtle fluctuations.

Gao De was completely immersed in the world under his pen.

Under the triple blessing of Divine Guidance, Magic Tolerance Body, and Mandola Magic Eye, even though it was his first time manufacturing a runic construct, Gao De could perform like a senior first-rank runic construct master who had been immersed in the field of runic constructs for many years.

Finally, Gao De put down the last stroke, completing the last rune.

In front of him were four brand-new runic construct parts.

Compared to before, the yellowish bright copper surface was now covered with dense and fine blue lines.

These lines intertwined with each other, forming mysterious and beautiful patterns, as if they had been painted.

Not to mention anything else, at least the appearance was much more beautiful, somewhat like an artwork.

"Done?" Anna asked softly.

"Done," Gao De nodded.

"Did it succeed?" Anna asked again.

"I don't know yet," Gao De replied, his tone carrying a trace of caution and nervousness.

"Try it!" Anna looked at Gao De and waved her little fist, "It must have succeeded!"

"Okay."

For a runic construct, the most important thing is still the actual effect.

After Gao De agreed, he picked up the arm guard-shaped runic part, and then his internal mana flowed, inputting it into this runic construct part.

With the input of mana, the runes on the arm guard construct part were lit up one by one, and a halo flowed between each line, with a faint blue hazy glow covering the entire part.

Subsequently, a bit of information flowed into Gao De's mind.

"Level 1 Spell Damage Increase (1st circle and below spell power increased by 29%)."

This was the runic effect possessed by the runic magic array on this runic construct part; there was only this one.

Of course, there was no limit to only one runic effect on a runic construct part.

But for runic constructs, functions are not the more the better.

Because the number of runes that a set of runic constructs can carry is always limited.

Generally speaking, the more functions a set of runic constructs possesses, the lower the effect of each function.

Conversely, the stronger the effect of a function, it often also means that the number of functions is relatively small.

Between quantity and quality, one needs to find the most suitable balance point according to the situation and needs of the person wearing the runic construct.

But there is often a problem within this:

Except for themselves, magic users certainly cannot be completely honest with others, and can only describe their needs as specifically as possible to the runic construct master.

This situation would lead to the final manufactured runic construct's matching degree absolutely failing to reach one hundred percent.

And Gao De manufacturing runic constructs for himself could avoid all these problems and achieve a perfect match.

This was also one of his advantages.

The runic effects on a first-rank runic construct are naturally all level one.

However, there are also differences between level one.

Just like a level one spell damage increase runic magic array, according to different runic designs, different materials, and different skills, the range of power increase is 20%-40%.

Because Gao De only involved one function, "spell damage increase," on this runic part, even though bright copper is not a top-tier material, and even though it was his first time manufacturing a runic construct, the spell power increase still reached the upper-middle value of 29%.

Because it is pure, it is powerful.

Putting down the shoulder guard construct part, Gao De picked up the remaining three runic construct parts in turn and input mana to test them.

"Level 1 Agility (movement speed increased by 1.5 meters/second), Level 1 Sturdiness (will not be destroyed by 1st circle and below spells), Level 1 Spell Damage Increase."

These were the runic effects of the runic magic arrays on the other three runic construct parts.

Among them, the spell damage increase effect was repeated.

Repetition does not mean uselessness, but rather that they can stack.

However, it is not additive stacking; two level one spell damage increases result in a power increase close to the upper limit of 37%, not 58%.

The stacking of identical runic effects has diminishing returns; the higher you go, the less the value increases, so the cost-effectiveness of stacking two identical runic effects is actually the highest.

Verification passed; the runic magic arrays on all four runic construct parts could successfully take effect and operate, endowing the wearer with the corresponding runic effects.

But this was not over yet; the most critical step had not been verified.

Gao De let out a long breath, calmed his slightly nervous mood, and fitted the four runic construct parts together in an orderly manner according to their edge shapes.

Then, he input mana.

All the runes were now connected into one, as if they had come to life.

A powerful force was almost about to gush out from within.

Seeing this scene, Gao De's hanging heart was completely put at ease.

He probed his mental power toward this set of runic constructs.

Information immediately flooded into his mind.

【Arrival of Winter】 (First-rank Runic Construct):

Construct Master: Gao De

Runic Effects: Level 1 Spell Damage Increase, Level 1 Sturdiness, Level 1 Agility

Construct Effects: The construct wearer's mana recovery speed is increased by 15%, and mana consumption is reduced by 8%

When casting attack spells, additional mana can be consumed to attach 5-10 degrees of cold damage (depending on the amount of additional mana consumed)

The information "Construct Master: Gao De" that popped up at the head was a small trick in runic drawing, and it was also a technique mastered by every runic master; it was not complicated, nor did it require spending extra rune counts, mainly serving as an effect similar to a "watermark."

It was somewhat like an artist signing their name after completing a work.

Not just runic constructs, most runic masters also usually "sign their names" through this technique when drawing magic arrays.

Because runic masters, compared to other professions, tend more toward being "artists."

Their "works" are extremely rare, while other supernatural professions are more like craftsmen, capable of mass-producing supernatural items.

The subsequent runic effects need not be mentioned again; as for the construct effects, they referred to the design of 【Breath of the Wilderness】, so they possessed the same source of increased mana recovery speed and reduced mana consumption, although the values were far inferior to 【Breath of the Wilderness】.

The difference was that Gao De did not delve deeply into endurance capabilities, but consciously added additional damage means according to his own needs.

Looking at this set of 【Arrival of Winter】 manufactured by his own hands, Gao De felt inexplicably dazed.

At this moment, his heart could no longer calm down, his thoughts drifted everywhere, and many memories flooded into his mind.

Finally, various thoughts settled on He Xi.

At this moment, more than two years had passed since he walked into the Gavin Building runic workshop.

The experience of that year following He Xi to learn runic studies had too great an impact on him.

Now, He Xi had been gone for more than a year, and he had finally relied on the six basic rules left behind by He Xi to successfully manufacture the first set of first-rank runic constructs.

This meant that he was already a first-rank runic construct master.

This identity was far from what a first-circle magic user could compare to.

Things are valued for their rarity.

In the cognition of most people, even a second-circle magic user's status is far from being comparable to a first-rank runic construct master.

After a brief joy and melancholy, Gao De collected his complex mood.

For him, everything had just begun.

Whether it was the path of a magic user or the path of a runic construct master, it was all the same.

The upgrade was complete, and it even came with an unexpected breakthrough.

The new spell had been mastered.

Now, the "top-tier equipment" 【Arrival of Winter】 was also in place.

Everything that should be prepared had been prepared.

Everything is ready, just waiting for a dark and windy night to catch the thief and claim the merit!

(End of chapter)