When Shen Moran stepped into the Engineering Department hall, a familiar sound greeted her.
Clink. Clink. Clink.
The crisp, rhythmic tapping of metal echoed gently through the spacious workshop. It was a sound she had already come to associate with one person.
Xia Lingling.
Shen Moran followed the sound without hesitation. As expected, she soon spotted the petite girl seated at a workbench, her twin buns bobbing slightly with each movement of her head.
Lingling was completely focused.
In her small hands, she held an extremely fine engraving needle, carefully carving Spirit Rune patterns onto a slender steel rod no thicker than a little finger.
Every movement was steady. Precise. Almost mechanical.
Yet, there was a strange sense of artistry within it.
Shen Moran slowed her steps and approached quietly. Then she bent slightly, offering a gentle smile.
"Good evening, Lingling."
Xia Lingling glanced up briefly. Her face instantly brightened, revealing a cheerful grin.
"Oh! Shen Moran, good evening!"
But the greeting lasted only a moment.
In the next second, her attention snapped back to her work, and the rhythmic clinking resumed as if nothing had interrupted her at all.
Shen Moran didn't mind.
She had long grown used to Lingling's personality.
Instead, she glanced around the hall.
The Engineering Department was unusually quiet today. Aside from a few scattered students, there was no sign of the person she was looking for.
"Is Master Liang not here?" she asked.
Lingling didn't even look up this time.
"No idea. She probably went out again. She's rarely here anyway."
Her tone was casual, almost indifferent.
After all, although Xia Lingling had not yet formally become Liang Gongchi's disciple, everyone already knew it was only a matter of time.
Her talent was undeniable.
Among all the students Liang Gongchi had accepted in recent years, Xia Lingling was easily ranked second.
And as for the first…
Shen Moran didn't need to ask.
The answer was obvious.
Zhao Mu.
Thinking of him, Shen Moran's expression grew slightly complicated.
Still, she nodded lightly.
"Then I'll just wait."
She had patience.
After all, Liang Gongchi was a Tier 3 Jinhai Master. Waiting for such a figure was only natural.
At that moment, Xia Lingling suddenly noticed the scroll in Shen Moran's hand.
"Hm? What's that?" she asked curiously.
Shen Moran hesitated for a brief moment before smiling.
"After I went back yesterday, I practiced copying that sample diagram a few more times. I finally managed to produce something decent… so I wanted Master Liang to take a look."
She paused, then added,
"Since she's not here… Lingling, could you help me check it?"
Lingling's eyes immediately lit up.
"Let me see!"
She reached out eagerly, her small hand surprisingly steady.
Shen Moran handed over the scroll.
Lingling unrolled it with practiced ease. Her gaze swept across the diagram, sharp and focused.
Only a few seconds passed.
"Not bad," she said. "For a beginner, this is pretty decent."
Her tone was casual.
But to Shen Moran, it felt like a small blow.
Just… decent?
A faint disappointment flickered across her eyes.
Last night, she had stayed up until three in the morning working on that diagram. She had thought she had done quite well.
Still, she quickly adjusted her mindset.
After all, anyone capable of entering the field of Jinhai Engineering was a rare genius.
Compared to someone like Xia Lingling…
Perhaps she still had a long way to go.
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Shen Moran forced a calm expression and asked casually,
"By the way… has Zhao Mu come today?"
The moment the name was spoken, Lingling's hand paused mid-motion.
Clink.
The needle stopped.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"Oh! You mean Senior Brother Zhao?"
She pointed enthusiastically toward a workbench some distance away.
"He's been here for a while! He's already finished several Spirit Rune Diagram Paths!"
Shen Moran's heart skipped a beat.
Almost without realizing it, she turned and walked in that direction.
Step by step.
Her pace quickened.
And then—
She saw it.
Spread across the workbench were several large sheets of paper.
Each one was densely covered in Spirit Rune patterns.
The diagrams were incredibly complex.
Every line was clean.
Every curve was precise.
The spacing between the finest lines was less than half a millimeter.
And yet—
There was no chaos.
No disorder.
The countless intersecting lines formed a structure that was both intricate and harmonious.
It was as if the patterns had been printed by a machine rather than drawn by hand.
Shen Moran froze.
Her pupils contracted sharply.
Her mind went blank.
This…
Was this really Zhao Mu's work?
Her voice trembled slightly.
"L-Lingling… are you sure Zhao Mu drew these?"
Lingling frowned.
"Of course! Why would I lie?"
Then she added, her tone filled with admiration,
"Senior Brother Zhao is a true genius in Jinhai Engineering."
The words struck Shen Moran like a heavy blow.
Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the scroll in her hand.
The paper crumpled.
Last night, she had worked tirelessly, believing she had made progress.
But compared to what lay before her now…
Her effort felt insignificant.
What she had drawn was merely a copy—a simplified sample.
Perhaps only one-tenth the difficulty of a real Spirit Rune Diagram Path.
But Zhao Mu…
He had completed entire diagrams.
Perfectly.
Flawlessly.
And the most unbelievable part—
She knew him.
They had grown up together.
She knew his past.
He had no foundation in Jinhai Engineering.
None at all.
So how could he… reach this level so quickly?
A complex emotion surged within her heart.
Shock.
Doubt.
And a faint trace of regret.
Without saying another word, Shen Moran turned and hurried out of the hall.
Meanwhile, Zhao Mu remained completely unaware of everything that had just occurred.
After defeating Song Siqi earlier, he hadn't paid much attention to it.
But once he confirmed that Song Siqi was connected to Shao Han, his thoughts changed.
Sooner or later…
He and Shao Han would have to settle things.
At present, Zhao Mu wasn't entirely confident about his chances.
Among cadet soldiers, combat level didn't always equate to true strength.
It was merely a measure of potential.
A weapon.
But a weapon was useless without skill.
That was why Zhao Mu, despite being only Level 2, had been able to dominate the entrance trials.
However, things were changing.
As training progressed, everyone would begin to master the use of spirit energy.
Their strength would grow rapidly.
And Shao Han—
He was different.
He had awakened at Combat Level 9.
He came from a wealthy family.
He had access to top-tier techniques, resources, and guidance.
Zhao Mu had no doubt that Shao Han possessed powerful spirit sources—perhaps even better than his own.
"I need to prepare in advance," Zhao Mu muttered.
He sat down on a bench, absentmindedly spinning the white ring on his index finger.
The silver sword.
A first-grade Jinhai weapon.
He had witnessed its power firsthand.
In the hands of a skilled user, it could easily cut down enemies.
Shao Han would definitely have something similar.
If Zhao Mu wanted to stand against him…
He needed to improve.
Not just his combat ability.
But his mastery of Jinhai.
Originally, he had planned to sell the silver sword.
But now…
That plan changed.
He stood up and walked to a quiet corner of the training hall.
Taking a deep breath, he began to channel his spirit energy into the ring.
In an instant—
A flash of white light.
The ring transformed.
A sharp, three-foot-long silver blade appeared in his hand.
The blade shimmered with a cold glow.
Even its light seemed capable of cutting through flesh.
At that moment, the familiar demon clown appeared before him.
A strange, floating figure that only Zhao Mu could see.
[Silver Sword]
Grade: First-Grade Jinhai
Synchronization Rate: 5%
Zhao Mu raised an eyebrow.
"Synchronization rate?"
He hadn't expected that Jinhai usage also had a proficiency system.
Then he recalled the information Liang Gongchi had given him.
Jinhai was not simply a tool.
It required compatibility.
Control.
Understanding.
A user's affinity, strength, and mental power all influenced how effectively they could wield it.
Even the most powerful weapon would be useless in the hands of someone unworthy.
Legendary weapons…
Chose their masters.
Zhao Mu tightened his grip on the sword.
Five percent.
That was his current synchronization rate.
Far too low.
But it didn't matter.
He would improve.
Step by step.
Until the weapon truly became his.
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