After hearing Instructor Xie Yingxue's explanation, the students immediately became excited. Discussions broke out throughout the classroom as everyone eagerly considered their options.
Zhao Mu quickly opened his electronic wristband and checked his updated personal profile.
Name: Zhao Mu
Age: 18
Ability: Special Trait System — Demon Clown
Combat Level: 6
System Authority: 2
Opening the Qingfeng Camp's official website, he was greeted by a dazzling selection of courses—hundreds of them.
Unfortunately, most of the course icons were grayed out. When clicked, they displayed the same message:
Instructor currently unavailable.
Curious, Zhao Mu raised his hand and asked Instructor Xie Yingxue about it.
She explained that Qingfeng Camp was not merely a school but also a military academy. Most instructors simultaneously served in the Military Department and were frequently assigned to external missions.
As a result, whether a course was available depended entirely on the instructor's schedule.
Even so, nearly one hundred elective courses were currently open for enrollment.
Required courses could provide a maximum of fifty academic credits, while elective courses offered up to thirty.
Students received credits based on their performance. However, failing a course would result in credit deductions.
It was obvious that relying solely on elective courses to make up missing credits during the first five years would be nearly impossible.
Fortunately, Qingfeng Camp provided many other ways to earn credits.
Students could accumulate credits by completing missions, and those credits could later be exchanged for valuable resources through the academy's official website.
Among the most sought-after rewards were Battle Tactics Manuals, Ember Remains, rare materials supplied directly by the Military Department, and various items unavailable on the open market.
As the others excitedly discussed which courses they planned to take, Zhao Mu's eyes lit up.
This educational system suited him perfectly.
His Seven Kills Battle Technique had been stuck for quite some time.
Strictly speaking, the Seven Kills Battle Technique was a unique combat art that he had personally developed based on his own abilities and characteristics.
Its proficiency had already reached 230 points, yet it still hadn't broken into the second stage.
Even so, Zhao Mu could clearly feel the changes occurring within his body as he continued cultivating it.
A mysterious force seemed to be gathering deep within his flesh and bones.
It felt as though a powerful new energy was on the verge of awakening.
He recalled something Aunt Bu had once told him.
"If you want to improve the Seven Kills Battle Technique, you must continuously strengthen your overall combat abilities."
"You need to learn swords, spears, halberds, sabers, axes, hammers, hooks, forks, fists, kicks, and hidden weapons."
"Only by integrating them all into a complete combat system can the technique truly evolve."
Thinking of that advice, Zhao Mu became even more excited.
"Qingfeng Camp is practically a holy land for learning."
The academy imposed no time limit on elective courses.
As long as a student passed the instructor's assessment, they could graduate from the course and receive the corresponding academic credits at any time.
Without hesitation, Zhao Mu selected five courses.
• Beginner Spear Technique
• Introductory Sword Technique
• Introductory Halberd Technique
• Introductory Saber Technique
• Introductory Staff Technique
Among them, his Sword Technique and Halberd Technique proficiencies had already reached 100.
Those credits were essentially free.
As for the remaining courses, he estimated he could complete them within three to five days.
With expert instruction and the learning bonus provided by the Demon Clown ability, he could rapidly grind proficiency levels.
It was the perfect opportunity.
He could earn academic credits while simultaneously advancing the Seven Kills Battle Technique.
Two birds with one stone.
---
After finishing his course selections, Zhao Mu sought out Instructor Xie Yingxue once again.
This time, he had a different request.
"I'd like to apply for a private workshop."
As Qingfeng Camp's logistics instructor, Xie Yingxue had received direct instructions from Principal Liu Weiguo to provide additional support for Zhao Mu.
After all, he was considered a seed-level talent in Ember Remains Manufacturing.
Although she didn't know that Zhao Mu had already become a First-Grade Jinhai Master, she still paid special attention to him.
Hearing his request, she looked surprised.
"Why not just use Liang Gongchi's Engineering Department workshop?"
Zhao Mu smiled.
"I'd prefer an independent workspace."
"As you know, Jinhai Masters require a quiet environment."
Xie Yingxue sighed helplessly.
"The best I can do is approve a room."
"I can't help you acquire equipment."
"Jinhai manufacturing equipment and materials are extremely expensive."
Zhao Mu grinned.
"That's already more than enough."
"Thank you, Instructor."
The equipment wasn't a problem.
Meng Qiuqiu could purchase whatever was needed.
After all, the workshop would eventually become a company asset.
Finding a suitable location proved easy.
After hearing Zhao Mu's requirements, Xie Yingxue quickly remembered an unused warehouse located two kilometers away from the dormitory area.
The location was secluded and rarely visited.
Perfect.
She immediately updated the warehouse's status on the academy's official system and assigned it to Zhao Mu.
This was one of the many privileges available to top-tier talents at Qingfeng Camp.
---
Afterward, Zhao Mu met up with Meng Qiuqiu, Lu Yan, and Zhuo Yun to share the good news.
"The workshop issue has been resolved."
Meng Qiuqiu immediately patted his chest confidently.
"Great!"
"Once we have a location, everything else is easy."
"Leave the rest to me."
"Brother Zhao, you just focus on the technology and manufacturing."
Zhao Mu rubbed his nose awkwardly.
There was one thing he hadn't told Meng Qiuqiu.
He had previously promised that his success rate for manufacturing First-Grade Jinhai equipment would reach seventy percent.
The truth was far less impressive.
His current success rate was only thirty-seven percent.
As a result, a large portion of their initial supply of Ember Remains would be consumed during his practice sessions.
He needed to improve his manufacturing proficiency.
However, Zhao Mu wasn't worried.
Once his proficiency increased further, his success rate would continue climbing.
Eventually, he could achieve a one-hundred-percent success rate with zero waste.
That level of efficiency would be absolutely terrifying.
Even Second-Grade and Third-Grade Jinhai Masters would struggle to compete with him when producing First-Grade equipment.
His manufacturing speed was already extraordinary.
Once he could guarantee perfect yields, his advantage would become overwhelming.
---
The group soon began discussing their course selections.
Core courses included subjects such as:
• Tactical Strategy
• Xenobiology
• Dark Race Studies
These were mandatory knowledge areas for every Qingfeng Camp cadet.
The remaining courses depended on individual development paths.
Lu Yan planned to specialize in saber techniques.
To strengthen his fundamentals, he enrolled in Introductory Saber Technique.
Zhuo Yun's spear skills were already solid, but his combat level remained relatively low.
As a result, he chose Meditation Technique to improve his cultivation.
Meng Qiuqiu, however, surprised everyone.
He enrolled in...
Elementary Basketball.
Zhao Mu stared at him in disbelief.
"Basketball?"
Meng Qiuqiu shrugged.
"Why not?"
Apparently, Qingfeng Camp offered various sports courses designed to improve physical fitness and prevent students with powerful spiritual abilities from neglecting their bodies.
Meng Qiuqiu looked completely unconcerned.
"I'm already the Operations Director of Tiangong Hall."
"I'm busy enough as it is."
"Besides, attending classes honestly isn't the fastest way to earn credits."
His casual comment immediately caught everyone's attention.
In this era, whether someone wanted wealth, influence, or academic credits, simply working hard wasn't enough.
You had to be smart about it.
Zhao Mu narrowed his eyes.
"So what's your plan?"
Meng Qiuqiu grinned mischievously and pulled everyone closer.
"Once Tiangong Hall is fully established, we'll focus on making money first."
"After that, we'll negotiate directly with the Qingfeng Camp administration."
"We'll take on the academy's commercial orders."
His grin widened.
"And then we'll have them count those projects as academic credits."
For a moment, the entire group fell silent.
Then they realized...
It was actually a brilliant idea.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)