Zhao Mu returned to Qingfeng Camp in Meng Qiuqiu's car.
Along with him came a large quantity of materials and a newly purchased batch of Spirit Source.
After organizing everything, Zhao Mu divided the Spirit Source according to each person's share in the company.
Once that was done, he turned to the others.
"For the next few days, I'll be staying in the studio to forge Ember Relics."
"Please ask Instructor Xie Yingxue for leave on my behalf."
"I won't be attending any of the major classes for now."
Meng Qiuqiu nodded confidently.
"Leave it to me."
Obtaining leave at Qingfeng Camp was extremely difficult.
As reserve soldiers, trainees were expected to place their training above everything else.
However...
Zhao Mu was an exception.
At this stage, a First-Grade Jinhai Master was considered even more valuable to Qingfeng Camp than someone with an A-Rank Talent.
After the others left the workshop, Lu Yan and Zhuo Yun began using their Spirit Source to raise their Combat Power.
Meanwhile, Zhao Mu lowered the heavy metal gate and switched on the workshop lights.
The workbench was illuminated by a surgical-grade shadowless lamp.
The precision required to forge Ember Relics was no less demanding than performing delicate surgery.
Removing his jacket, Zhao Mu revealed the lean, well-trained physique he had built through constant training.
Wearing only a black sleeveless shirt, he began preparing to forge the exclusive Ultimate-Grade Ember Relic.
"Haa..."
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Mu steadied himself.
Although his First-Grade Jinhai Forging proficiency had already reached 86...
This was still his very first attempt at creating an Ultimate-Grade exclusive Ember Relic.
He opened the secure storage cabinet.
Inside were three complete sets of exotic beast bone remains, each originating from creatures with over 200 Combat Power.
According to custom-forging rules, clients were required to provide three complete sets of materials.
Any unused materials automatically belonged to the Jinhai Master.
The weapon he planned to forge...
Was an ice-attribute Cold Eagle Sword.
It was a massive two-handed greatsword designed for devastating battlefield combat.
For the weapon's core, Zhao Mu selected the finest A-Grade alloy available.
The remaining steps involved engraving Spirit Patterns, taming the malevolent spirit within the beast remains, fusing it into the weapon core, and finally sealing everything with...
Mystic Gold.
Not Mithril.
Mystic Gold was a superior sealing material normally reserved for Third-Tier Jinhai equipment.
Gu Ningyuan had spared no expense.
Since the weapon was intended as a gift, he wanted it to be absolutely perfect.
"Demon Clown..."
"Activate."
"Set proficiency enhancement to First-Grade Jinhai Forging."
---
For the next ten days...
Zhao Mu never attended a single class.
Meng Qiuqiu delivered his meals every day.
Aside from eating and sleeping...
He hardly rested at all.
His powerful physique and exceptional stamina allowed him to continue forging for long periods without fatigue.
An exclusive Ultimate-Grade Ember Relic was far more difficult to create than an ordinary High-Grade Ember Relic.
A private commission of this quality demanded extraordinary effort.
---
On the tenth day...
Meng Qiuqiu, Lu Yan, and Zhuo Yun arrived together at the Tiangong Hall workshop.
As the heavy door slowly rose...
All three were stunned.
Normally energetic and full of life...
Zhao Mu now looked completely exhausted.
His hair was messy.
His complexion was pale.
He looked as though every last bit of energy had been drained from his body.
"Brother Zhao!"
"Are you alright?"
Meng Qiuqiu hurried over to support him.
Zhao Mu smiled weakly and shook his head.
"I'm fine."
"Just a little overworked."
As he spoke, he handed over a beautifully crafted case.
"The Ultimate-Grade Ember Relic for Director Gu..."
"It's finished."
Forging the weapon itself had only taken five days.
If Zhao Mu had been making it for himself...
He would have stopped there.
He only cared about performance.
Appearance meant nothing.
However...
This weapon was meant to be presented as a gift.
So he spent another five days polishing every detail.
The blade was carefully refined until it gleamed flawlessly.
He even mixed special mineral powder into the finish.
Once infused with Spirit Source during battle...
The sword would emit brilliant seven-colored mist.
Its visual effects alone would be breathtaking.
Among noble families...
A weapon wasn't merely equipment.
It was also a symbol of status.
Just like Meng Qiuqiu's extravagant possessions...
Many such weapons served as displays of prestige more often than actual battlefield tools.
After all...
Young masters from influential families rarely fought on the front lines themselves.
Meng Qiuqiu opened the case.
The moment he saw the sword...
His eyes lit up.
"Perfect."
"Our plan can finally begin."
---
Half a month after Beitang Qiushui left Lujiang City...
Zhao Mu finally walked out of Qingfeng Camp.
As a military training base...
Very few civilian vehicles passed nearby.
Only two shuttle buses traveled between the camp and the city each day.
The August sun blazed overhead.
Pulling down the brim of his hat, Zhao Mu slowly walked toward the bus stop.
No one else was there.
He sat quietly on a bench and waited for nearly thirty minutes before the shuttle finally arrived.
---
Deep within a distant patch of woodland...
Chang Lian silently observed everything through a pair of binoculars.
"The prey has finally appeared."
He quietly let out a breath of relief.
Even so...
He made no move.
Qingfeng Camp was only a short distance away.
Killing someone this close to the military academy would immediately trigger a massive investigation.
Military Martial Academies existed to cultivate the Empire's future elite.
Every major faction respected that boundary.
No one dared violate it.
Years ago...
The son of an Earl had relied on his family's influence to enter a Military Martial Academy and murder an ordinary trainee.
The consequences had been severe.
Emperor Xuanfeng personally ordered his public execution.
Even the Earl's entire family suffered punishment.
Since that day...
No one in the Xuanfeng Empire had dared cause trouble inside or near a Military Martial Academy.
Watching Zhao Mu board the shuttle alone, dressed in ordinary clothes...
Chang Lian immediately concluded that he was returning home.
He had investigated Zhao Mu thoroughly long ago.
An orphan.
No surviving relatives.
Only a foster aunt without blood ties had raised him for a few years before eventually leaving.
---
Chang Lian stood up.
He climbed onto the motorcycle hidden nearby.
The engine roared to life.
Instead of following directly behind the shuttle...
He took another route toward Garden Town.
Arriving well ahead of Zhao Mu...
He quietly entered the small courtyard where Zhao Mu lived.
Garden Town lay on the outskirts of Lujiang City.
The modest house looked no different from any ordinary commoner's home.
Everything about it reflected Zhao Mu's humble background.
Because no one had lived there for over a month...
The courtyard looked deserted.
Chang Lian quietly hid behind the house without opening the front door.
A thin layer of dust had gathered in front of it.
Opening the door would leave obvious traces.
As he waited...
A trace of emotion crossed his face.
In truth...
He and Zhao Mu came from similar beginnings.
He had also grown up at the bottom of society.
Possessing a C-Rank Talent had once made him a promising genius during his days at the Military Martial Academy.
Yet after more than ten years of struggle...
The highest position he had managed to reach was becoming a personal guard to one of the Beitang Royal Clan's princes.
Thinking of Zhao Mu...
He sighed inwardly.
"If you must blame someone..."
"Blame yourself for failing to recognize the difference between heaven and earth."
"It's a pity..."
"You'll never have the chance to regret your mistake."
Not long afterward...
The sound of the courtyard gate opening reached his ears.
Peering silently from his hiding place...
Chang Lian watched as the young man calmly walked into the courtyard.
________________________________________
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