Golden Elephant City has always done things this way; Zhao Mu was already used to it. He smiled faintly. "Let's help each other from now on."
Golden Elephant City stepped into the room and greeted everyone one by one.
Lu Yan wasn't used to his enthusiasm and merely nodded coolly.
After working the room, Golden Elephant City turned to Zhao Mu with a smile. "Zhao Mu, could we talk in private?"
Zhao Mu raised an eyebrow, twisting the ring on his index finger. When Golden Elephant City saw the jinhai that had once been his, his eyes flickered.
"Sure, let's talk."
They walked out to the balcony. Golden Elephant City slid the glass door shut and gave an ingratiating smile. "Student Zhao Mu, could we discuss something? Would you let me buy that jinhai back?"
Zhao Mu lifted his right hand to study the silver ring, amusement on his Face. "Buy it back? Didn't you say this jinhai is worth sixty million xuanfeng coins?"
Judging from how pained Golden Elephant City had looked, he clearly couldn't cough up that much in one go.
Golden Elephant City's smile stiffened.
"Zhao Mu, you fight with heavy weapons, right? A sword isn't a suitable jinhai for you. But this sword was a special reward from my grandfather for the Entrance Trial."
"I can give you ten million xuanfeng coins as a deposit right now and pay off the rest within three years. How does that sound?"
Zhao Mu chuckled.
He couldn't use a sword?
What a joke.
The Seven Kills Battle Method encompassed every weapon; it mastered them all.
He'd used the heavenly halberd that day simply because it suited that battlefield better.
"Ten million xuanfeng coins? That's a bit short."
He eyed Golden Elephant City playfully.
"If I sell it outright, I can pocket sixty million right away—why not?"
Golden Elephant City grew anxious. "Do me this favor, will you? I can't lose this jinhai."
Zhao Mu shook his head with a faint laugh.
Golden Elephant City gritted his teeth. "Twenty million! I'll pay twenty million as deposit and return the rest with interest within three years. How about it?"
"That's my absolute limit! Besides, the silver sword won't fetch sixty million in your hands—forty million tops."
Zhao Mu's eyes glint. He didn't know much about jinhai trading and wasn't sure how to respond.
"I'll think it over and give you an answer later."
Golden Elephant City drew a deep breath. "Until then, please keep it safe, and if you decide to sell, you must tell me first."
With that, he stopped pressing and left the dormitory.
Zhao Mu found Meng Qiuqiu and told him what had happened.
Meng Qiuqiu said, "Take the deal! He's right: that jinhai is worth sixty million to him, but not to you."
Zhao Mu asked in puzzlement, "Why?"
Meng Qiuqiu grinned smugly. "Because that's my specialty!"
"A jinhai only works if it matches the user's affinity."
"If someone awakens with Fire-Attribute Spirit Energy, an ice-type Beast jinhai is practically useless to them."
"Golden Elephant City is desperate because that jinhai was custom-built by his Family for their inherited Combat Technique."
Zhao Mu folded his arms. "So jinhai can be personalized?"
Meng Qiuqiu turned serious. "Exactly why Jinhai Masters are so respected—they craft bespoke jinhai that can skyrocket an Ability User's power!"
Zhao Mu nodded, growing ever more intrigued by jinhai.
With nothing else on the morning's schedule, Zhao Mu stood up.
"Right, I'm heading out!"
Meng Qiuqiu asked curiously, "What for?"
Zhao Mu grinned. "To find Qingfeng Camp's third-grade jinhai Great Master—and become her apprentice!"
Meng Qiuqiu's mouth formed an O.
"Dude, you're serious? I thought you were joking. Becoming a Jinhai Master isn't easy."
Zhao Mu smiled confidently. "Relax, I've got connections!"
"And I'm a Genius!"
Meng Qiuqiu jumped off the bed and insisted on tagging along; Zhuo Yun and Lu Yan had nothing better to do, so they all set off together.
Downstairs they met Instructor Xie Yingxue. Zhao Mu walked up.
"Good morning, Instructor Xie! Do you know where Qingfeng Camp's jinhai Great Master is?"
Instructor Xie looked puzzled.
"It's your first day—why look for that weirdo?"
Suddenly her eyes turned odd.
"Don't tell me you want to learn jinhai crafting too?"
Zhao Mu caught the nuance. "Uh… what do you mean 'too'? Have lots of people already asked her?"
Instructor Xie snorted. "Of course! Even a Level-1 Jinhai Master gets a state subsidy and earns a fortune—who wouldn't want it?"
"New Trainees hear how lucrative jinhai crafting is and all rush to see if they've got the knack."
She pointed southwest.
"If you're set on trying, head southwest. You'll see the Engineering Department—look for the long queue outside. The so-called Great Master is Liang Gongchi, a fiery-tempered oddball."
She looked Zhao Mu in the eye. "Your talent lies in Wen. An E-grade aptitude will make Spirit Energy advancement tough, but your mind is a Treasure Trove—develop that. Don't split your focus chasing Jinhai Master dreams."
Zhao Mu knew Instructor Xie meant well.
Whether Wen, Wu, or jinhai crafting, each path was grueling; excelling in one was hard enough, let alone two—or all three. No such paragon had ever existed.
But Zhao Mu was an exception.
As long as he set his mind to something and worked hard, his progress was visible to the naked eye.
"Thank you, Instructor Xie. I'm just curious; I'll back off if it's not for me."
He smiled.
Instructor Xie nodded approvingly. "Curiosity is normal; even if you don't craft jinhai, learning the basics helps."
The four of them set off toward the Engineering Department.
Along the way they saw plenty of others heading the same direction, Faces brimming with confidence and expectation.
These guys all dreamed of becoming Jinhai Masters and striking it rich overnight.
Much safer than slaying enemies on the battlefield.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)