As they discussed rune inheritances, Ang gradually realized that the Guanda people's rune system was relatively simple and primitive. Compared to Imperial Runes, it seemed unadorned and lacked systematic development. The Guanda people had mastered only a little over twenty runes, and Elder Rum's understanding of them remained at the basic level of inheritance. Though these runes had no complex structures, Ang sensed within them a simple philosophy of the Great Dao. The Guanda people's runes often did not rely on rigorous training, instead placing greater emphasis on "innate enlightenment." Once one's mind resonated with them, one could grasp their mysteries. But without talent, these runes became obscure riddles that could not truly be mastered even after a lifetime of study.
As Ang listened to Rum's explanations, he could not help comparing this method of inheritance with Imperial Runes. He found the Empire's rune system far more organized, suited for ordinary people to study step by step. The inheritance of Imperial Runes had been designed as an intricate system, with each rune building closely upon the foundation of the last, gradually guiding learners through progressive advancement. As long as they possessed basic talent and were willing to work hard, Imperial apprentices could steadily gain understanding from nothing. The Guanda people's rune inheritance, on the other hand, was like a hidden door. Those with talent could open it through a stroke of fortune, while those without could only sigh before its threshold. Ang found this method of choosing its own inheritors both mysterious and regrettable.
Listening from the side, Roel also tried to understand the runes Rum described, but he found many of them unfamiliar. The runes Rum taught seemed to have been passed down only within the tribe; Roel had never encountered them, and his upbringing had long become vastly