Zhao Mu rubbed his nose, genuinely unsure how to tell her that he didn't have the time.
Jinhai Masters and Spirit Power Users were two branches that grew from the same foundation, but the path of a Jinhai Master was far more difficult.
For that reason, it was extremely rare for a Jinhai Master to divide their attention and simultaneously focus on improving their combat abilities.
"I'll go find Teacher Liang first."
Zhao Mu walked toward the inner room.
After knocking and entering, he found Liang Gongchi wearing her work uniform and concentrating on repairing a dark-golden ember remains.
With a single glance, Zhao Mu could tell that it was an extremely rare Tier-3 Jinhai.
Liang Gongchi put down her tools and looked at him.
"Kid, do you still remember that you're a member of the Engineering Department?"
"I ask you to craft ember remains, and you're either attending classes or running off on missions. I've completely wasted my time teaching a student like you!"
Zhao Mu smiled awkwardly and quickly replied in a flattering tone.
"Isn't it because I've been busy increasing my Combat Level? If I don't reach the Private Rank, I'll never be able to become a Second-Grade Jinhai Master."
That was the truth.
Liang Gongchi put down her work and turned toward him.
"Although you're a Prodigy, it will still take you a very long time to become a Second-Grade Jinhai Master."
"The materials required for practice alone cost ten, or even a hundred times more than those needed for First-Grade Jinhai."
"So I suggest that you continue strengthening your fundamentals by repairing ember remains and accepting Jinhai Manufacturing missions from Qingfeng Camp."
Zhao Mu smiled but didn't respond.
His foundation was already more solid than reinforced concrete.
However, Liang Gongchi was right about one thing.
To become a Second-Grade Jinhai Master, he needed a massive amount of ember-remains materials to build up his proficiency.
Over the past few months, the profits earned by Tiangong Hall had already been spent on purchasing raw materials and Spirit Source.
He had spent quite a lot.
If he wanted to advance to Second-Grade Jinhai Master in the future, the money he currently had was nowhere near enough.
"I came here because there's something I want to ask your advice about."
Zhao Mu's attitude became serious.
"If I want to craft a Guardian Jinhai, what do I need to do?"
A Guardian Jinhai was one of the most precious and difficult types of ember remains to manufacture.
It required extremely expensive materials and incorporated complicated principles from mechanical engineering, making it a profound and highly specialized field.
It was completely different from Weapon Jinhai or Amplification Jinhai.
Those could be crafted as long as one possessed sufficient bone-remains materials and the necessary skills.
Even the weakest Guardian Jinhai, however, was already a Second-Grade remains construct.
Zhao Mu knew that he would have to undertake increasingly dangerous missions in the future.
If he could have a powerful Guardian like Shao Han accompanying him, his survival chances would increase considerably.
Therefore, after reaching the Private Rank, he had decisively chosen to learn Guardian Jinhai crafting as part of his development as a Jinhai Master.
Hearing his question, Liang Gongchi answered bluntly.
"That? I don't know how to make one either."
"Jinhai Masters also have their own specializations. I specialize in Amplification Jinhai and Weapon Jinhai."
"As for Guardian Jinhai, I do know someone from the Jinhai Master Association whom I can introduce you to."
"But whether she's willing to teach you will depend on your own ability."
Zhao Mu nodded.
"Thank you, Teacher!"
He wasn't in a hurry.
His first priority was to have Meng Qiuqiu go to the Military Commerce Department and purchase a large quantity of bone-remains materials suitable for Second-Grade remains constructs.
He could use those materials to increase his proficiency.
After that, he would find the Jinhai Master from the association and learn how to craft Guardian Jinhai.
That process would also take considerable time.
"By the way, since you're already here, you need to do some work for me!"
Liang Gongchi suddenly wrapped an arm around Zhao Mu's neck.
A distinctly black-hearted smile appeared on her face.
"Good apprentice, you've already made a name for yourself so quickly. Wouldn't it be a waste if you didn't show off your talent?"
Zhao Mu immediately thought of the busy Gu Ningli and Xia Lingling.
"Ahem, Teacher, I have to leave tomorrow to carry out a mission."
"You can take at most a Rank-2 mission. You'll be back in a few days."
Liang Gongchi waved her hand dismissively.
"As long as you don't die out there, you still have to come back and work for me!"
Zhao Mu was speechless.
"Can't you at least wish me good luck?"
Liang Gongchi's expression suddenly became serious.
"After becoming a Spirit Power User, you must learn to face life and death calmly."
"You'll understand eventually."
Zhao Mu understood what she meant.
The elites of the Military Martial Specialization School were cultivated using the resources of the entire nation.
They received the best training and the finest resources precisely because every time they went out to fight, they had to walk on the edge of death.
Even a world-shaking genius could fall because of a single accident.
Death followed every warrior like a shadow.
It was something they could never completely escape.
Zhao Mu crossed his arms, inadvertently revealing the ember-remains tattoo on his finger.
"Don't worry. I'll definitely come back in one piece!"
Liang Gongchi looked at him with disdain.
Other teachers hoped their students would succeed.
But whenever Liang Gongchi looked at Zhao Mu, she felt an overwhelming sense of jealousy.
Zhao Mu had even managed to make this Jinhai genius lose confidence in herself.
There was an old saying:
People shouldn't compare themselves with others.
Because once they did, despair was often the result.
"Stop talking nonsense."
Liang Gongchi waved her hand.
"As long as you don't die, you still have to work for me."
"Do you really think you can slack off just because you've joined the Engineering Department?"
She then gave Zhao Mu his instructions.
The Engineering Department was responsible for most of the Jinhai manufacturing and ember-remains repair work throughout Qingfeng Camp.
There were only around two thousand Cadet Soldiers in the entire camp.
After earning academic credits, Cadet Soldiers could exchange them for standard ember remains from the Engineering Department.
If they were willing to spend more credits, they could also commission exclusive ember remains.
Whenever their ember remains were damaged during battles, they had to find a Jinhai Master to repair them.
In turn, Jinhai Masters could earn academic credits through their work and exchange those credits for the resources they needed within Qingfeng Camp.
Liang Gongchi continued explaining.
"Register a new account on the Qingshui Forum."
"I'll give it official verification from the Engineering Department."
"And be careful not to reveal your real name."
"That old geezer, the Principal, doesn't want your identity exposed too early."
Zhao Mu nodded.
"From now on, you can accept ember-remains missions through the forum."
"Don't even think about slacking off."
"Every month, you must complete at least two pieces of ember remains."
"If you fail to meet the quota, I'll deduct your academic credits."
Zhao Mu's mouth twitched.
"Does that mean all the academic credits from the ember remains I make will belong to me?"
Liang Gongchi stared at him strangely.
It was as though he had just asked an outrageous question.
"You're a student I personally taught."
"I'm also your teacher and the person in charge of the Engineering Department."
"Would it really be excessive for me to take eighty percent of the academic credits?"
Zhao Mu's eyes widened.
He was just about to curse her for being a black-hearted capitalist.
But Liang Gongchi immediately added,
"Of course, the Engineering Department will provide all the ember-remains materials."
Zhao Mu's expression softened.
If that was the arrangement, it was barely acceptable.
Following Liang Gongchi's instructions, Zhao Mu created another account on the Qingshui Forum.
This account was registered under the Engineering Department rather than his own name.
Normally, all trainees on the Qingshui Forum were required to use their real identities.
The only exceptions were official accounts belonging to special departments or organizations.
Zhao Mu thought for a moment.
Then he created the account:
Engineer.
Afterward, he posted a thread on the Qingshui Forum.
«Hello, everyone. I am a Jinhai Master from the Engineering Department.
From now on, you may contact me for the exchange or repair of First-Grade Jinhai.»
He asked the administrator to pin the post before leaving it alone.
Zhao Mu had expected it to take some time before anyone noticed.
But he was completely wrong.
Less than thirty minutes after the post was published…
The entire Qingshui Forum exploded.
________________________________________
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