The crisis brought about by Beitang Qiushui had been temporarily resolved.
For the first time in a long while, Zhao Mu finally felt a sense of relief.
However, overcoming this danger had come at a price.
Debts of gratitude always had to be repaid.
The crafting fee for forging Gu Ningyuan's exclusive Ultimate-Grade Ember Remains was nowhere near enough to cover the cost of hiring three Field-Rank experts from the Wubei Army.
Gu Ningyuan had chosen to help because he valued Zhao Mu's long-term potential.
The favor would have to be repaid gradually.
Fortunately...
Zhao Mu had plenty of ways to repay it.
As a top-tier First-Level Jinhai Master, he now possessed enough value that he was no longer an insignificant pawn.
Even so...
The danger wasn't truly over.
Beitang Qiushui was the type of person who would order someone's assassination over the slightest disagreement.
Once he learned that Chang Lian had died...
There was no telling whether he would send someone even stronger.
"I have to become stronger as quickly as possible."
"I can't keep living in fear every day."
---
The three military officers returned to the Wubei Army.
Meanwhile, Zhao Mu and Meng Qiuqiu headed back to Qingfeng Camp.
On the way, Zhao Mu brought up the topic of taking on field missions.
His Seven Kills Battle Technique had reached a bottleneck.
Only real combat...
Blood...
And life-or-death battles...
Could push it to the next level.
He could already sense that his own unique Battle Technique was on the verge of being born.
He only lacked one final step.
Meng Qiuqiu shook her head.
"Qingfeng Camp has strict regulations."
"Cadets below the rank of Private can't accept missions on their own."
"They must be led by an experienced senior at the Private rank or above."
She paused before adding,
"And honestly..."
"The people around us just aren't strong enough."
She wasn't exaggerating.
Within Qingfeng Camp, Zhao Mu was undoubtedly a rising genius.
Outside...
No one cared.
The camp's missions weren't against ordinary people.
Their targets were Spirit Power Users...
Ferocious beasts...
Or even members of the Dark Races.
Many retired veterans who had turned to crime after leaving the army were among the most dangerous enemies.
Every one of them had survived years of brutal warfare.
They had crawled out of mountains of corpses.
Compared to them...
Fresh cadets had almost no real combat experience.
How could inexperienced recruits hope to defeat seasoned veterans?
Meng Qiuqiu offered another suggestion.
"If you're only trying to earn academic credits, you could simply craft Ember Remains for the Engineering Department."
"As far as I know, crafting a single high-quality Ember Remains earns as many credits as several major courses combined."
Zhao Mu smiled and shook his head.
"I'm not interested in academic credits."
"I want to become stronger."
"I need real life-and-death combat."
"My Combat Level may only be seven..."
"But my actual combat ability has already reached the level of a Private."
"I'll ask the instructor whether an exception can be made."
---
After returning to Qingfeng Camp...
Zhao Mu immediately sought out Instructor Xie Yingxue.
He explained his intentions.
To his surprise...
She rejected the idea without hesitation.
"Zhao Mu."
"You defeated Shao Han, and you've proven your talent."
"But Shao Han lacked real battlefield experience."
"He had only just reached the level of a Private."
She looked at him seriously.
"The enemies listed on Qingfeng Camp's mission board are completely different."
"They're either exceptionally powerful..."
"Or ruthless, cunning, and experienced."
"Real combat isn't the same as a duel."
Zhao Mu shrugged with a faint smile.
"But I can't spend my entire life hiding inside Qingfeng Camp."
"I have to gain experience eventually."
Xie Yingxue considered his words for a moment before replying,
"If you're determined..."
"Then go check the mission board."
"Perhaps one of the senior cadets will be willing to take you along."
Zhao Mu nodded.
"That works."
He wasn't reckless.
After everything that had happened with Chang Lian...
He understood his greatest weakness.
His strength simply wasn't sufficient yet.
Forget facing someone like Chang Lian.
Even a Spirit Power User with a Combat Level above twenty would put him in serious danger.
If he wanted to sharpen the Seven Kills Battle Technique through real combat...
He first had to ensure he stayed alive.
---
For the next several days...
Zhao Mu shut himself inside Tiangong Hall.
After crafting Gu Ningyuan's exclusive Ultimate-Grade Ember Remains...
His First-Level Jinhai Manufacturing proficiency had risen to 92%.
He could now complete nearly every step flawlessly.
Of the three sets of crafting materials Gu Ningyuan had supplied...
He had only used one.
According to the rules governing Jinhai Masters...
The remaining two sets now belonged to Zhao Mu.
Looking at the priceless materials spread across his workshop...
A new idea emerged.
"I can currently control ten Ember Remains at the same time."
"Of course..."
"Only those that I've personally crafted and fully understand."
"My Combat Level won't improve quickly."
"So the fastest way to increase my strength before taking missions..."
"Is to forge ten Ember Remains designed specifically for myself."
As for weapons...
He wasn't greedy.
One Extinguish Ember...
And one Tough Silk...
Were already sufficient.
He also possessed an Unrestrained Ember Remains capable of increasing Spiritual Ability output by fifteen percent.
His next goal was obvious.
Upgrade Extinguish Ember into an exclusive Ultimate-Grade Ember Remains.
Then...
He would modify the Gold-Devouring Beast's fangs and forge them into another powerful Jinhai weapon.
It would be an enormous undertaking.
Before beginning...
He informed Meng Qiuqiu, the others, and Gu Ningyuan.
For the next month...
He would no longer accept commissions to craft Ember Remains.
Gu Ningyuan readily agreed.
After receiving the Ultimate-Grade Ember Remains...
His position as head of the Military Commerce Department had become even more secure.
Helping Zhao Mu in return was only natural.
---
During the following half month...
Zhao Mu devoted nearly all of his time to forging Ember Remains.
Even so...
He never neglected his cultivation.
Aside from attending mandatory public classes...
He temporarily abandoned all elective courses.
Fortunately, Qingfeng Camp imposed no deadlines for electives.
He could return whenever he wished.
---
One week after Chang Lian's death...
Beitang Qiushui finally realized something was wrong.
Deep within Iron Ridge City in the Northern Territory...
He occasionally attempted to contact Chang Lian.
At first...
He paid little attention.
Assassinations often required patience.
However...
After repeated attempts...
There was still no response.
Only then did Beitang Qiushui realize the truth.
Chang Lian...
Had disappeared.
His cold, snake-like eyes widened in disbelief.
"How is this possible?"
"How could Chang Lian fail..."
"And actually be killed instead?"
His expression twisted with uncontrollable rage.
The calm composure he normally maintained completely vanished.
"No..."
"This can't be happening!"
"Absolutely not!"
"How can that insignificant commoner still be alive?"
His face became increasingly distorted.
Finally...
He slammed his hand onto the table and shouted toward his electronic wristband.
"Tian Min!"
"Get in here!"
________________________________________
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