Meng Qiuqiu spread his hands helplessly.
"That's why everyone is trying so hard to get into one of the major cities."
"As far as I know, the Sharp Metal Camp in Qingzhou provides 50% more resources to Cadet Soldiers than Qingfeng Camp."
"And that's not even mentioning Iron Ridge City, one of the Five Great Strongholds."
Although Meng Qiuqiu felt sorry that Zhao Mu had chosen to stay at Qingfeng Camp, he was also secretly glad. Since Zhao Mu wasn't leaving, their friendship could continue to grow.
Zhao Mu, however, had his own plans.
When it came to Battle Techniques, he already had the Demon Clown, so he wasn't lacking in that area.
As for Ember Remains, he could craft them himself.
The only thing he truly lacked was money.
More specifically...
Money to purchase Spirit Sources.
His Combat Level was currently the only bottleneck limiting his growth.
"It doesn't matter."
"My Jinhai Manufacturing Technique will continue to improve."
"And as my craftsmanship improves..."
"So will the money we earn."
Looking at the balance in his account, Zhao Mu spoke firmly.
"We can't spend this money yet."
"Our priority is expanding production."
"But not by producing more Ember Remains."
"We need to improve their quality."
He turned toward Meng Qiuqiu.
"Qiuqiu."
"Go to the Military Commerce Department and purchase higher-grade Bone Remains."
"If we can produce Medium Grade First-Class Jinhai Ember Remains..."
"The selling price should nearly double, right?"
Meng Qiuqiu nodded.
"That's right."
"But Xiao Mu..."
"The real pressure will fall on you."
"Aren't you afraid you'll end up working like a beast of burden?"
Zhao Mu smiled bitterly.
"If becoming stronger and earning money means working like a beast..."
"Then so be it."
"After all..."
"Who in this world isn't carrying some kind of burden?"
Ever since Beitang Qiushui had appeared, Zhao Mu had felt an overwhelming sense of urgency.
Only strength could protect his life...
And everything precious to him.
Without strength...
Even the dignity of living as a human being couldn't be guaranteed.
---
The days that followed settled into a steady routine.
Zhao Mu had already decided that unless he possessed absolute confidence in his own strength...
He would never casually leave Qingfeng Camp.
Every day followed the same schedule.
Practicing his skills.
Attending classes.
Crafting Ember Remains.
Time quietly slipped away.
Before he realized it...
An entire month had passed.
---
During that month, Zhao Mu successfully passed five elective courses and earned 180 Academic Credits.
The courses were:
- Introductory Fist Technique
- Introductory Saber Technique
- Introductory Sword Technique
- Introductory Leg Technique
- Introductory Halberd Technique
Among them, the Sword and Halberd courses were taken purely to earn credits.
He only practiced each for two days before informing the instructors that he was ready for the final examination.
When Zhao Mu scored a perfect 100 points and graduated immediately...
Both instructors were left completely speechless.
Their mouths hung open wide enough to fit an egg.
---
After mastering these Entry-Level Battle Techniques, the Demon Clown automatically evolved them into Intermediate Battle Techniques.
The upgrades were:
- Introductory Sword Technique → Startling Wind and Fine Rain Sword
- Introductory Spear Technique → Hundred Birds Facing the Phoenix Spear
- Introductory Fist Technique → Eight Extremities Combat Killing Fist
- Introductory Leg Technique → Twelve-Route Tan Leg
Learning so many techniques also increased the proficiency of his Seven Kills Battle Technique to 456.
Every improvement strengthened Zhao Mu's body.
Power surged through his muscles and bones more intensely than ever before.
---
All of these Intermediate Battle Techniques were available in the military's Battle Technique Library.
Unfortunately...
Each one required 1,000 Academic Credits to download.
Fortunately for Zhao Mu...
He didn't need them.
The techniques evolved by the Demon Clown were uniquely suited to his own body and fighting style.
Still...
He had no intention of learning everything at once.
Greed only slowed progress.
Rather than chasing countless techniques...
He preferred mastering a select few.
---
His Life Skills continued improving steadily.
Breathing → Turtle Breathing Technique
Life Skill
Proficiency: 612
---
Walking → Light Spirit Steps
Life Skill
Proficiency: 558
---
Sleeping → Deep Sleep
Life Skill
Proficiency: 113
Only one hour of sleep was now needed each day.
---
Eating → Taotie Eating Method
Life Skill
Proficiency: 189
This greatly improved digestion while increasing the efficiency of converting food into energy.
---
Divine Strength → Innate Divine Strength
Life Skill
Proficiency: 297
His physical strength had reached the point where he could effortlessly lift 650 jin.
---
Every one of these Life Skills seemed ordinary at first glance.
Yet...
Each was practically a god-tier ability.
None directly increased combat power.
Instead...
They continuously strengthened Zhao Mu's foundation.
The stronger his foundation became...
The greater the long-term benefits.
Take Deep Sleep, for example.
Needing only one hour of sleep each day gave Zhao Mu an additional five or six hours to devote entirely to training.
---
As for combat-related skills...
He concentrated almost exclusively on two.
Spiritual Energy Rotation
Intermediate Meditation Technique
Proficiency: 598
Zhao Mu could now complete one full meditation cycle in just one minute.
Ordinary Cadet Soldiers required at least ten minutes.
---
Hegemon's Formation-Breaking Halberd
Intermediate Battle Technique
Proficiency: 306
Combined with the Seven Kills Battle Technique, these abilities formed the core of Zhao Mu's combat system.
That alone was enough to deal with almost any opponent in Qingfeng Camp.
Even without relying on Ember Remains...
Zhao Mu was confident he could defeat Mo Guanguan.
Despite Mo Guanguan's mysterious background...
Despite possessing the Third-Grade Ember Remain, Twin Tiger Shaking Heaven Bow...
And despite wielding the paired Phoenix Capturing Kill gauntlets...
Zhao Mu believed victory would still be his.
---
Later that day...
Zhao Mu arrived at the Training Hall.
After reserving a practice room, he activated the Combat Technique Puppets.
This time...
He selected the highest difficulty.
Instead of facing a single puppet...
He chose two.
That meant fighting two opponents whose abilities perfectly matched his own.
---
Watching through the monitoring system...
Instructor Jiang Jiu simply sighed.
His expression had become numb.
Every time Zhao Mu entered the training room...
Jiang Jiu couldn't help watching.
He had long grown accustomed to Zhao Mu's astonishing physique and unbelievable talent.
Even so...
Every training session still revealed visible improvements.
---
Holding his training halberd...
Zhao Mu charged into battle.
One puppet was no longer enough.
Only fighting two opponents simultaneously gave him the overwhelming pressure he desired.
Only under that suffocating level of danger...
Could his Battle Technique improve at the fastest speed.
The eyes of both puppets glowed crimson.
Like flashes of lightning...
They attacked from opposite directions.
Their teamwork was flawless.
At the beginning...
Zhao Mu could do little more than defend himself desperately.
Fortunately...
His mastery of the Circle technique had already reached an extraordinary level.
By rotating his long halberd in perfect arcs around his body...
He created an almost impenetrable defensive barrier.
Every incoming attack was blocked just in time.
Even so...
The pressure of fighting two equally matched opponents was overwhelming.
His mind remained tense every second.
One careless mistake...
Would result in serious injury.
Yet instead of fear...
The pressure ignited Zhao Mu's fighting spirit.
The longer the battle continued...
The stronger he became.
After more than ten minutes...
He gradually transformed the battle.
From being completely suppressed...
To evenly matched...
And finally...
To gaining the upper hand.
---
When the fight ended...
Zhao Mu collapsed onto a nearby bench, breathing heavily as he drank water.
Deep in thought, he frowned.
"The improvement speed of the Seven Kills Battle Technique has slowed down again."
"No matter how much I practice..."
"The proficiency barely increases."
"Even learning new Entry-Level Battle Techniques doesn't help much anymore."
"So..."
"What's the real problem?"
He could clearly sense it.
The Seven Kills Battle Technique had reached another bottleneck.
Once he broke through this barrier...
The technique would undergo an unprecedented transformation.
After thinking for a long time without finding an answer...
Zhao Mu finally opened his communicator.
He sent a message to Bu Yanhuan, hoping she could provide the guidance he needed.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)