The High-Grade First-Rank Ember Remnant was Zhao Mu's sincere gift to win over Gu Ningyuan.
After handing the Ember Remnant to Meng Qiuqiu for inspection, Meng couldn't help but praise it enthusiastically.
"As expected of you, Brother Xiao Mu!"
"The quality is incredible."
"Even an ordinary First-Rank Spirit Pattern Master might spend years crafting something like this."
"Yet you make it look effortless."
His eyes shone with excitement.
He realized that his judgment of Zhao Mu had been completely correct.
At first, he thought he had befriended a talented genius.
Now...
He realized he had found an unparalleled prodigy.
Even if Zhao Mu never made another breakthrough in the field of Spirit Patterns...
His ability to craft Ember Remnants alone would guarantee him the status of an honored guest in any major faction.
The reasons were simple.
His production speed was astonishing.
The quality was exceptional.
And his failure rate was practically nonexistent.
On the battlefield, the most commonly consumed resources were First- and Second-Rank Ember Remnants.
Anything above the Third Rank was generally reserved for elite officers and powerful experts.
In other words...
Given enough manpower and materials...
Zhao Mu alone could equip an entire army.
---
Without wasting any time, Meng Qiuqiu immediately arranged a meeting between Zhao Mu and Gu Ningyuan.
That very afternoon...
A black Maybach belonging to the Meng Family drove into Qingfeng Camp.
Ordinarily, civilians were forbidden from entering the camp.
But rules always had exceptions.
Over the years, the Meng Family had donated enormous amounts of military supplies and financial support to Qingfeng Camp.
Because of those contributions...
They naturally enjoyed certain privileges.
---
The black Maybach resembled a moving fortress.
As the personal vehicle of the Meng Family's young master, it possessed an extremely high level of protection.
In this era...
A luxury vehicle wasn't judged by its elegant interior...
Its expensive materials...
Or whether it contained televisions, refrigerators, or comfortable sofas.
Only one thing mattered.
Its defensive capability.
War had become a normal part of daily life.
Mutated creatures could appear even inside cities.
Veterans suffering from severe post-war trauma sometimes lost control and endangered public safety.
As a result...
The more expensive a vehicle was...
The stronger its defensive systems tended to be.
Meng Qiuqiu's Maybach could withstand multiple attacks from Ability Users with combat ratings below 1,000.
Its alloy armor plates had been reinforced using Ember Remnants and engraved with intricate Spirit Pattern circuits.
---
The vehicle slowly stopped in front of the dormitory building.
Meng Qiuqiu's personal butler, Huo Jun, stepped out first.
Today, however...
He looked very different.
Instead of his usual formal tailcoat...
He wore specially tailored combat attire designed for unrestricted movement.
Beneath the outer layer, the edges of a tactical combat suit were visible.
A communication earpiece rested against one ear.
The moment he stepped out...
His sharp eyes carefully scanned the surroundings before respectfully opening the door for Zhao Mu and Meng Qiuqiu.
For today's journey...
Meng Qiuqiu had raised their security measures to the highest level.
According to him...
Huo Jun possessed a combat rating of 358.
As long as Huo Jun was behind the wheel...
He was confident they could escape even an attack launched by an Ability User below the Fourth-Rank Owl General.
Hearing that...
Zhao Mu finally relaxed a little.
After all...
Given Beitang Qiushui's status...
It would be impossible for him to dispatch a powerful Fourth-Rank military officer simply to assassinate a newly enlisted recruit whose combat rating was only 7.
---
The two entered the car.
Meng Qiuqiu climbed in after them, carrying a briefcase.
Even the car doors alone were nearly twenty centimeters thick.
The sheer size of them spoke volumes about the vehicle's defensive capabilities.
Huo Jun personally drove the car.
A battle-hardened bodyguard occupied the front passenger seat.
The armored vehicle slowly left Qingfeng Camp.
---
As they traveled...
Zhao Mu stared silently out the window.
He searched every rooftop...
Every tree...
Every shadow.
He was looking for the assassin he believed was hiding somewhere nearby.
He had no evidence whatsoever that Beitang Qiushui had sent someone to kill him.
Everything relied solely on instinct.
And on his understanding of Beitang Qiushui's personality.
Outside...
The road remained eerily quiet.
The summer heat was oppressive.
Not a single pedestrian could be seen.
Naturally...
He spotted no assassin.
Even so...
Zhao Mu refused to lower his guard.
He wasn't willing to gamble with his own life.
---
He suddenly looked toward Meng Qiuqiu.
"Qiuqiu..."
"Do you think I'm becoming paranoid?"
"I've made you go to all this trouble..."
"And I don't even have any evidence."
Meng Qiuqiu looked at him seriously.
"Of course not."
"A wise man never sits beneath a collapsing wall."
"With your current talent and status, Brother Xiao Mu..."
"Being cautious is only natural."
He smiled helplessly.
"Ever since I was a child..."
"I've experienced things like this countless times."
"I've survived more than twenty kidnapping attempts."
He shrugged.
"Everyone knows that capturing the youngest son of the Meng Family's Third Master would bring unimaginable wealth."
He leaned back in his seat.
"So I've learned one important lesson."
"The moment you sense danger..."
"You should assume it's real."
Zhao Mu nodded.
He couldn't agree more.
---
The armored vehicle soon left Qingfeng Camp behind.
Three kilometers away...
Hidden inside a sparse forest...
A man slowly lowered the electronic binoculars in his hands.
It was Chang Lian.
His face was covered with rough stubble.
"That's the Meng Family's car..."
"I wonder if Zhao Mu is inside."
He thought quietly for a moment.
Then gave up the idea of following them.
Assassinating a soldier from Qingfeng Camp wasn't particularly difficult.
The difficult part...
Was leaving no evidence behind.
If even the slightest clue pointed back to the Beitang Royal Family...
The consequences would be disastrous.
Within the Imperial Capital...
Countless rising noble families were eagerly waiting for an opportunity to replace the Beitang Family as one of the Empire's Kings with a Different Surname.
Chang Lian was an experienced professional.
He had survived countless battlefields.
Worked as a bounty hunter.
Completed numerous assassination missions.
Patience was one of his greatest strengths.
He wasn't in a hurry.
He only needed Zhao Mu to reveal a single opening.
The moment that happened...
He would strike.
And kill him instantly.
---
Inside the armored vehicle...
Zhao Mu remained vigilant throughout the journey.
Only after the Maybach entered the Lujiang City Military Preparatory Force did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Towering defensive walls surrounded the military district.
Elite soldiers stood guard at the entrance.
Each one possessed a physique as imposing as a tiger or leopard.
Their mere presence inspired confidence.
Huo Jun presented the required authorization documents.
After a brief inspection...
The guards immediately allowed the vehicle through.
---
The military district was enormous.
Every city within the Xuanfeng Empire possessed a similar installation.
After all...
If war broke out...
Every city could become a battlefield.
Furthermore...
Nearly ninety-nine percent of the Empire's citizens would eventually serve in the military.
Naturally...
The number of soldiers stationed here was immense.
The car continued driving for quite some time before finally arriving at a heavily fortified area.
Ahead stood a gigantic reinforced concrete structure.
Its rough appearance lacked any decorative features.
Instead...
It emphasized overwhelming durability.
At a glance...
It resembled a massive fortress rather than an ordinary building.
It was obviously an armory.
---
Huo Jun stepped out first and spoke briefly with several soldiers stationed outside.
Soon afterward...
A military officer approached and directed them toward a designated parking area.
After parking the car...
Huo Jun returned.
"The soldiers said Director Gu has gone to attend a meeting with his superiors."
"We'll have to wait here for a while."
"That's fine."
Meng Qiuqiu picked up his briefcase and hopped out of the vehicle.
Zhao Mu followed.
He quietly observed the vast military compound surrounding them.
The air carried a heavy scent of soil mixed with iron.
It felt almost like standing in the middle of an endless desert.
Even the wind itself seemed coarse and dry.
As it swept across his face...
It left behind a faint burning sensation.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)