Zhao Mu didn't think his achievement was particularly impressive.
In his eyes, a success rate of just over thirty percent was merely average. It was acceptable, certainly, but far from extraordinary.
If anything, he felt there was still plenty of room for improvement.
What Zhao Mu failed to realize was that his standards had long since become completely detached from reality.
After all, he had only spent a single month learning Jinhai Manufacturing.
Not only that, but he hadn't even devoted himself to it full-time.
Most of his energy had been spent on combat training, cultivation, and completing the intense programs of Qingfeng Camp.
Jinhai Manufacturing had merely been a side project.
Yet despite treating it as a secondary pursuit, he had successfully become a First-Level Jinhai Master in just one month.
Such talent was nothing short of monstrous.
Looking across the entire history of the profession, there were very few individuals who could compare.
The source of this terrifying growth was naturally the power of the Demon Clown.
Once Zhao Mu learned a skill, it would never be forgotten.
No matter how much time passed, his mastery would never regress.
Instead, it would continue improving steadily.
Every practice session increased his understanding.
Every success laid a stronger foundation.
Every failure became a lesson permanently engraved into his memory.
With such an ability, it was almost impossible for him not to improve.
After storing the newly forged Extinguished Ember Fangtian Halberd inside his electronic wristband, Zhao Mu left the workshop.
As usual, he headed toward the Training Hall.
After greeting Jiang Jiu and reserving a private training room, he began practicing his Halberd Techniques.
His objective was simple.
Increase his synchronization rate with the Extinguished Ember.
The stronger the synchronization, the more power he could unleash during combat.
Unfortunately for Zhao Mu, while he was calmly training, an earthquake had already begun spreading throughout Qingfeng Camp.
And he was standing directly at its center.
---
Meanwhile, Master Liang Gongchi had just returned to her workshop.
The moment the door closed behind her, she grabbed the nearest book from a table.
Then she shoved it into her mouth.
Crunch!
The unfortunate book immediately suffered a vicious bite.
Only by chewing on something could she suppress the complicated emotions surging through her heart.
Jealousy.
Excitement.
Shock.
Disbelief.
All of them mixed together into an overwhelming storm.
One month.
The brat had only studied for one month.
And he had already become a First-Level Jinhai Master.
Even now, she found it difficult to accept.
After several minutes of struggling with her emotions, Liang Gongchi finally calmed down.
Then she immediately stood up.
This matter couldn't wait.
She had to report it immediately.
As she hurried toward the administrative building, she sent a message through her electronic wristband.
"Old Man Liu!"
"Are you still in your office?"
"I have something extremely important to discuss!"
---
At that moment, Principal Liu Weiguo was preparing to leave work.
He had already finished reviewing the day's documents and was looking forward to enjoying a quiet dinner in the staff dining hall.
Unfortunately, those plans were immediately ruined.
The moment he saw Liang Gongchi's message, his expression changed.
He knew her personality well.
Normally, she avoided responsibilities whenever possible.
If she was urgently seeking him out, then something major had happened.
His first thought was the worst-case scenario.
"Could there be a beast tide?"
Without hesitation, he canceled his dinner plans and remained in his office.
Not long afterward, two additional figures arrived.
The vice principals of Qingfeng Camp.
Han Chongshan and Fang Qingyu.
The three men exchanged confused looks.
Liu Weiguo frowned.
"Did Liang Gongchi contact both of you as well?"
Han Chongshan nodded.
The burly vice principal looked more like a battle tank than an educator.
Even his expensive suit struggled to contain his massive muscles.
"She said there was an urgent matter."
"Insisted I come immediately."
Fang Qingyu smiled faintly.
Unlike Han Chongshan, he possessed an elegant scholarly appearance.
His long hair flowed behind him, giving him the look of a wandering poet.
Only the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes revealed his true age.
"Knowing Liang Gongchi, if she's willing to leave her workshop voluntarily, the matter certainly isn't small."
The three continued speculating.
Then the office door suddenly burst open.
Bang!
Liang Gongchi rushed inside.
Her breathing was slightly uneven.
Liu Weiguo raised an eyebrow.
"You are the head of the Engineering Department."
"Could you at least try acting like one?"
Han Chongshan ignored the joke and immediately asked,
"What happened?"
"Could it be that you've finally broken through to become a Fourth-Level Jinhai Master?"
His eyes shone with excitement.
If that were true, Qingfeng Camp's status would skyrocket.
A Fourth-Level Jinhai Master was an extremely valuable strategic asset.
Perhaps Qingfeng Camp could even surpass Qingzhou's Sharp Metal Camp and become the strongest Military Martial School in Jiangnan Province.
Liang Gongchi rolled her eyes.
"Do you think advancing to Fourth Rank is as easy as buying vegetables?"
Han Chongshan immediately looked disappointed.
Fang Qingyu smiled.
"Then what has made you this excited?"
Liang Gongchi took a deep breath.
Then she looked directly at the three leaders.
Her expression became serious.
"Qingfeng Camp has produced an unprecedented genius."
Silence filled the room.
The three exchanged confused glances.
Then Liang Gongchi slowly continued.
"A student became a First-Level Jinhai Master after only one month."
The room froze.
Han Chongshan immediately blurted out,
"Xia Lingling?"
"That girl is certainly talented."
"Her family has trained her for years."
However, Liang Gongchi shook her head.
"No."
"If it were Xia Lingling, I wouldn't have called you here."
"The person I'm talking about started from absolutely nothing."
"No foundation."
"No family inheritance."
"No professional training."
"He completed everything in one month."
The room became silent once again.
This time, however, the silence was heavy.
Liu Weiguo suddenly stood up.
His eyes widened.
A single name appeared in his mind.
"Zhao Mu?"
Liang Gongchi nodded.
"That's right."
"It's him."
The principal's heart nearly stopped.
"Impossible."
"He spent the entire month participating in boot camp."
"Where would he find the time?"
Liang Gongchi laughed bitterly.
"That's exactly why I called him a monster."
"I saw it with my own eyes."
"He successfully completed Jinhai Manufacturing."
"No mistakes."
"No exaggeration."
"A genuine First-Level Jinhai Master."
Liu Weiguo slowly sat back down.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The office was completely silent.
Finally, Han Chongshan muttered,
"This is insane."
Fang Qingyu nodded subconsciously.
Even during the most difficult years of the Demon-Sealing War, they had rarely felt this shocked.
The significance of a Jinhai Master was enormous.
Ordinary Spirit Power Users relied entirely on their natural abilities.
Jinhai Masters, however, could create powerful Embers that dramatically increased combat effectiveness.
The difference between possessing ordinary Embers and advanced Embers was often the difference between victory and defeat.
Even Principal Liu Weiguo himself only possessed two Tier-Three Jinhai creations.
Those two treasures alone kept him ranked among the strongest experts in Lujiang City.
Now imagine Zhao Mu reaching Fourth Level in the future.
The thought alone made everyone's breathing quicken.
If that happened, not only Qingfeng Camp but the entire city would benefit enormously.
Han Chongshan suddenly slammed his hand against the table.
"This information must remain secret."
Everyone immediately nodded.
He continued.
"If outside forces learn about Zhao Mu's talent, they'll come to steal him."
As a military academy, Qingfeng Camp technically answered to larger military organizations.
Normally, talent transfers followed proper procedures.
However, extraordinary situations required extraordinary measures.
A genius of Zhao Mu's caliber was worth fighting over.
If higher authorities discovered him, they would immediately try to recruit him.
Face?
Relationships?
Political courtesy?
None of those things would matter.
Liu Weiguo's expression became serious.
"Agreed."
"Only the people in this room know."
"Under no circumstances may this information leak."
Then he paused.
After several moments of consideration, he made another decision.
"Starting today, Zhao Mu's resource allocation will be upgraded to the highest level."
The others immediately agreed.
Talent deserved investment.
And Zhao Mu was perhaps the greatest talent Qingfeng Camp had ever produced.
Liu Weiguo raised his wrist.
His fingers quickly navigated through the contact list.
Soon, Zhao Mu's profile appeared.
Without hesitation, he initiated the call.
---
At that very moment, Zhao Mu was still training.
The Fangtian Halberd moved through the air in smooth arcs.
Each strike became faster.
Each movement became more precise.
Suddenly, his wristband vibrated.
Zhao Mu paused.
Curious, he glanced at the screen.
The moment he saw the caller ID, his eyes widened.
"The Principal?"
His surprise was understandable.
Liu Weiguo wasn't just the principal of Qingfeng Camp.
He was a Senior Colonel.
A genuine high-ranking military officer.
Even the commander of Lujiang City's garrison treated him with respect.
Since joining Qingfeng Camp, Zhao Mu had never met him personally.
Yet now the principal was calling him directly.
A thought immediately appeared in Zhao Mu's mind.
"It must be because I became a First-Level Jinhai Master."
Although he still didn't fully understand how shocking his accomplishment was, he knew one thing for certain.
An ordinary achievement would never have attracted the attention of the principal himself.
Which meant...
His value had just increased dramatically.
And Zhao Mu had no idea that, overnight, he had already become the most sought-after student in all of Qingfeng Camp.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)