Meng Qiuqiu's efficiency was beyond reproach.
The very next morning after Zhao Mu spoke with him, an armed military transport vehicle arrived at the entrance of Tiangong Hall, carrying all the spirit sources Zhao Mu had requested.
When Zhao Mu received the message and hurried over, he was somewhat surprised by how quickly everything had been arranged.
"Is the efficiency really this high? We haven't even delivered this month's ember remains yet."
At present, Zhao Mu only produced ember remains whenever he had free time, but even so, his monthly output had already exceeded a dozen pieces.
The cost-effectiveness of Ultimate Grade ember remains was simply too low, so Zhao Mu mainly produced Medium Grade ember remains. They were much easier to manufacture and provided a better profit margin.
However, the delivery date for this month's batch had not even arrived yet.
Meng Qiuqiu laughed.
"Brother Xiao Mu, have you forgotten that businesses can make advance payments? I told Section Chief Gu about your situation, and he immediately agreed to pay this month's remuneration in advance."
"So that's how it is."
Zhao Mu nodded.
He opened the heavy metal safe. As usual, he only took the forty percent that belonged to him.
"As for the rest, wait until Zhuo Yun and Lu Yan finish their classes. You can divide it among yourselves afterward."
"Understood."
After closing the safe, Zhao Mu carried it toward the Training Hall.
Today was an important day.
He was about to attempt his first breakthrough.
Although he had absolute confidence in his foundation, this was still a major turning point in his cultivation. Naturally, he did not dare to be careless.
Zhao Mu opened a private training room, mainly to ensure that no one would disturb him during the breakthrough.
Before entering, he looked at Jiang Jiu.
"Instructor Jiang, I'm about to attempt a breakthrough. Please keep an eye on me. If anything unexpected happens, I'll have to trouble you."
This was Zhao Mu's first breakthrough, so despite his confidence, there was still a trace of nervousness in his heart.
Jiang Jiu smiled.
For some reason, the Zhao Mu standing before him today seemed much more like an eighteen-year-old youth.
He could actually feel nervous.
The Zhao Mu Jiang Jiu had known before had always seemed far too mature for his age, as though nothing in the world could make him lose his composure.
"Don't worry. I'll be watching you. Nothing will happen."
After receiving Jiang Jiu's assurance, Zhao Mu entered the training room.
He sat cross-legged on the floor and opened the enormous safe.
Inside were four rows of sealed spirit sources.
Each spirit source was formed from the hearts of various exotic beasts. Some were large, while others were relatively small, but every single one contained a considerable amount of spiritual energy.
Looking at the number of spirit sources inside, Jiang Jiu couldn't help shaking his head.
"What a pity."
"Zhao Mu is good at almost everything, but his Spiritual Ability Aptitude is slightly lacking. With an E-rank Talent, he actually needs twenty spirit sources just to advance."
"If he had a C-rank Talent or higher, perhaps five spirit sources would have been enough."
Jiang Jiu sighed.
"I wonder how difficult it will be for him to increase his Combat Level in the future."
He genuinely felt that Zhao Mu's E-rank Spiritual Ability Aptitude was a shame.
With Zhao Mu's talent in every other aspect, if his Spiritual Ability Aptitude had also been outstanding, his future would have been even more terrifying.
However, Jiang Jiu did not know the real reason Zhao Mu needed so many spirit sources.
It had nothing to do with his aptitude.
Zhao Mu's total spirit power was simply several times greater than that of an ordinary person.
His foundation was far deeper than anyone could imagine.
Therefore, the amount of spiritual energy required for each advancement was naturally much greater.
Zhao Mu took a deep breath.
This time, he didn't even need to close his eyes.
After cultivating his Spiritual Energy Rotation to a certain level, he could enter a meditative state even with his eyes open.
External distractions could no longer affect him.
He picked up two spirit sources with both hands and began circulating Spiritual Energy Rotation, slowly guiding the energy contained within them into his body.
Absorbing spirit sources was not something that could be rushed.
Every spirit source had its own unique characteristics.
Some contained cold energy.
Some were scorching hot.
Some were violent and rapid.
Others were gentle and slow.
The cultivator had to gradually integrate these different types of spiritual energy into their own body, using them to expand their spirit power meridians and strengthen their spirit sea.
If one became impatient, the different energies could collide inside the body, resulting in serious consequences.
Therefore, Zhao Mu deliberately slowed his absorption speed.
He absorbed the twenty spirit sources one by one.
The process was extremely slow, but it was also extraordinarily stable.
His foundation was simply too solid.
As a result, despite the enormous amount of energy entering his body, nothing went wrong.
It was like countless rivers eventually returning to the sea.
The spiritual energy contained within the twenty spirit sources continuously transformed into pure spirit power before surging into Zhao Mu's spirit sea.
His spirit power continued to rise.
After a full hour, Zhao Mu finally absorbed the final spirit source.
At that moment—
Boom!
A powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted from within his body.
Zhao Mu opened his eyes.
His Combat Level had successfully risen to 10!
A flash of joy appeared in his eyes.
Everything had happened naturally.
There had been no dangerous struggle, no unexpected accident, and no bottleneck that needed to be forcibly broken.
His foundation had simply accumulated enough power, and once the conditions were met, advancement became inevitable.
He had officially become a Private Rank Spirit Power User.
More importantly, his total spirit power had increased by more than three times!
Zhao Mu could clearly feel the difference.
His body seemed to contain an inexhaustible reservoir of energy.
"No wonder…"
Zhao Mu muttered to himself.
"Only after reaching this level can one properly use Battle Tactics involving Force Projection."
Before reaching Combat Level 10, the spirit power within a person's body simply wasn't sufficient to support powerful Force Projection techniques.
Now, however, everything was different.
Zhao Mu stood up.
The spirit power surrounding his body quickly spread outward before gradually dissipating.
That powerful sensation made him feel as though he had just consumed an enormous amount of energy.
His entire body was filled with strength.
Zhao Mu glanced toward the weapon rack.
He walked over and picked up a training halberd.
Then he activated three combat technique puppets at the highest difficulty.
"Demon Clown, activate Hegemon's Formation-Breaking Halberd!"
The Demon Clown immediately responded.
Its skill panel changed.
[Hegemon's Formation-Breaking Halberd]: Intermediate Battle Tactics. Proficiency: 443.
Zhao Mu gripped the enormous halberd with both hands.
His muscles tightened.
Then—
He swung the weapon forward.
Boom!
A terrifying force erupted from the halberd.
Spirit power surged through a special circulation route before gathering inside the weapon and exploding from its blade.
Army Breaker—Seven Consecutive Slashes!
Seven consecutive strikes were unleashed in an instant.
Each slash carried immense destructive power.
The attacks looked like enormous blood-red crescents, overlapping and crisscrossing as they swept toward the three combat puppets.
The puppets immediately raised their weapons to defend themselves.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The violent impacts echoed throughout the training room.
The three puppets were forced backward several meters.
Zhao Mu's eyes lit up.
"So this is Force Projection."
Previously, he had never had enough spirit power to properly practice this technique.
Among his four major techniques, Force Projection had always been the only one he had been unable to master completely.
Now that he had successfully broken through to Private Rank, he finally had the qualifications to practice it.
Zhao Mu continued fighting.
He constantly adjusted the circulation of his spirit power, becoming increasingly familiar with the feeling of projecting his energy outside his body.
The battle continued for some time.
By the time it ended, Zhao Mu had gained a much deeper understanding of Force Projection.
He finally stopped and put down the training weapon.
At that moment, the door to the training room opened.
Jiang Jiu stood outside with a rare smile on his face.
"Zhao Mu, congratulations."
"From today onward, you can be considered an independent Spirit Power soldier capable of handling things on your own."
Zhao Mu smiled and nodded.
After reaching Private Rank, his vision had naturally broadened.
He no longer wanted to remain in Qingfeng Camp and simply complete routine training.
He wanted to go to more dangerous places.
He wanted to participate in actual missions.
In Qingfeng Camp, most of the people were still trainees from the New Recruit Camp.
Those from the Intermediate Camp and higher levels rarely stayed inside the camp.
Apart from attending important classes, they spent most of their time outside completing missions and earning academic credits.
Now that many of the New Recruit Camp trainees had begun preparing for missions, they were already contacting Senior Brothers and Sisters from the higher grades and asking them to take them along.
Zhao Mu was no exception.
After successfully advancing, he immediately informed his roommates and Mo Guanguan about the good news.
That evening, everyone decided to have a small celebration.
At the same time, they could discuss their plans for future missions.
Zhao Mu naturally paid for the meal.
The group went to the second floor of the cafeteria.
Unlike the ordinary cafeteria downstairs, the food here had to be purchased with personal money, and the dishes were considerably more luxurious.
But Zhao Mu didn't care.
His card currently contained more than a million Xuanfeng Coins.
He was already a genuine rich man.
Spending a little money on a meal was nothing to him.
The five of them sat together.
They ordered several delicious dishes along with some beer and began chatting while eating.
The atmosphere was relaxed.
After talking for a while, Zhao Mu suddenly looked at Mo Guanguan.
"Why didn't you bring any friends?"
Mo Guanguan thought about it for a moment.
"After Momo left, there wasn't really anyone suitable for me to bring."
Zhao Mu nodded thoughtfully.
Among the girls in the New Recruit Camp, there were only a handful who could be considered true geniuses.
Mo Guanguan was one of them.
Shen Moran was another.
As for Xia Lingling, she was completely devoted to Jinhai Manufacturing.
Not everyone was like Zhao Mu, who had developed in practically every direction.
Xia Lingling could earn enough academic credits solely through her work with Jinhai Manufacturing.
There was also a B-rank girl named Wang Jiaojiao.
However, her situation was somewhat unusual.
Mo Guanguan had hardly ever seen her in the dormitory, so the two naturally weren't very close.
Zhao Mu nodded.
"So there really isn't anyone else."
Mo Guanguan smiled helplessly.
"That's right."
The conversation quickly returned to their plans for future missions.
Now that Zhao Mu had successfully reached Private Rank, his path forward had officially entered a new stage.
The New Recruit Camp could no longer satisfy him.
From this point onward, he would have to step outside the safety of the camp and face the real world.
Only through actual battles and dangerous missions could he continue improving.
And with his extraordinarily solid foundation, enormous spirit power, and increasingly proficient combat techniques, Zhao Mu was already looking forward to seeing just how far he could go.
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