"Third-Level Jinhai Master!!"
Zhao Mu couldn't help raising his voice.
"Doesn't that mean he can craft third-grade ember remains?"
A single first-grade jinhai silver sword is worth sixty million xuanfeng coins!
If it's a third-grade jinhai, the value is simply unimaginable!
In the Xuanfeng Empire, a Third-Level Jinhai Master is already considered a national treasure.
One such master is worth more than an entire Spirit Energy User brigade!
"Lujiang City actually hides a master like that?"
Zhao Mu rubbed his hands, eyes sparkling with gold.
"Aunt Bu, your connections are amazing!"
Bu Yanhuan proudly lifted her chin. "Of course! I'm here today just to smooth things over for you. Go see her later and say you're my person—she'll take you as a disciple on the spot and teach you hands-on how to craft ember remains."
"Heh, with your talent, once you get the hang of it, becoming an Advanced Jinhai Master will be a cinch. Then Auntie can bask in your glory!"
Zhao Mu's gaze turned fiery.
He'd seen how mighty ember remains could be, and the crucial part—they were worth a fortune!
With his demon clown ability, constant practice could turn him into a powerhouse Jinhai Master.
Decked out in divine gear and mass-producing ember remains for cash—just thinking about it felt beautiful.
"Hehe!"
"Hehe!"
Master and disciple wore identical silly grins, drunk on dreams of future riches.
Meng Xiao Pang crept closer.
"Ahem, I heard you talking about ember remains. If that's the topic, I'm the expert—my Meng Family is one of the biggest ember remains dealers in the Xuanfeng Empire!"
Rubbing his hands, he fawned, "Buying or selling?"
Bu Yanhuan wasn't surprised to see Meng Qiuqiu cozying up to Zhao Mu. Patting Zhao Mu's shoulder, she beamed, "The young man before you will be the greatest Jinhai Master the Xuanfeng Empire has ever seen! Little fatty, better buddy up with him."
The corner of Meng Xiao Pang's mouth twitched.
The greatest Jinhai Master?
She could say something like that?
If he really stumbled across someone that outrageously gifted, his ancestors' graves must be billowing smoke.
"Let's head home! We register tomorrow; I need to pack."
Zhao Mu looked at Meng Qiuqiu. "Meng Qiuqiu, thanks for the trouble."
"Just call me Qiuqiu. It's nothing, my Dear Friend—no need for courtesy!"
Zhao Mu and Bu Yanhuan weren't the least bit polite.
After hanging around Bu Yanhuan so long, Zhao Mu had grown a rhino-hide; only a fool leaves freebies on the table.
The Meng Family's limo waited outside the school gate. The two climbed in; the interior was like a small house, lavish and comfy, stocked with pricey snacks and drinks.
Meng Qiuqiu and Zhuo Yun boarded as well, sitting opposite them.
They chatted along the way while Bu Yanhuan spotted the bar cabinet, her eyes instantly gleaming.
Zhao Mu coughed, hoping Bu Yanhuan would show a little Face.
But the moment she saw liquor it was like a cat meeting fish—she lost all control.
Luckily, the little fatty was generous: "Auntie, no need to stand on ceremony. Those bottles are just for show—I hardly touch them. Glad you can help me finish them, haha!"
Zhao Mu marveled: the rich really are outrageously lavish!
After chatting with Meng Qiuqiu and Zhuo Yun, Zhao Mu found both easy to get along with.
Meng Qiuqiu had zero airs; it was as if "harmony brings wealth" was written across his forehead.
Zhuo Yun spoke little, yet even inside the car sat ramrod-straight, like a spear.
The conversation flowed pleasantly, and soon they reached Zhao Mu's neighborhood.
The arrival of the deluxe RV drew every resident's attention.
The Empire strictly controls all strategic resources; no other luxury RV like it existed in Lujiang City, so of course it turned heads.
"Whose car is that? What big shot visits our little place?"
"Looks even pricier than the one that went to the Shen house the other day."
Neighbors chattered as the vehicle slowly stopped at Zhao Mu's gate.
Shen Moran's parents heard the commotion. Mother Shen set down her pork, wiped oily hands on her apron, and came to the lane to gawk.
A black-suited bodyguard opened the door; Zhao Mu helped Bu Yanhuan out.
She hugged several bottles of top-shelf liquor, cheeks flushed, grinning ear to ear, leaving Zhao Mu a bit embarrassed.
He thanked Meng Qiuqiu and politely invited him in for tea.
Meng Qiuqiu waved him off with a smile. "It's late; I still have to visit some elders in Lujiang City. See you tomorrow at Qingfeng Camp!"
Zhao Mu nodded, slung Bu Yanhuan's arm over his shoulder, and walked through the gate under envious, awestruck stares.
Old Xie, the tavern owner next door, called, "Xiao Mu! How'd it go? Pass the Qingfeng Camp trial?"
Zhao Mu turned, smiling at Old Xie and the neighbors. "Yep, cleared it! Reporting in tomorrow."
With that he stepped into his courtyard.
A buzz erupted in the lane.
"Huh? Didn't they say Xiao Mu only awakened an E-rank talent? And he still passed?"
"My nephew's D-rank, yet he didn't even dare take the trial—enlisted straight away."
"That kid's really something!"
Mother Shen listened, staring at the luxury RV that had dropped Zhao Mu off, her eyes a storm of emotions.
"Impossible—my daughter's B-rank Talent. Why was her ride not as good as Xiao Mu's?"
Frowning, she suddenly felt she might have spoken too harshly to Zhao Mu a few days ago.
Perhaps she should have been gentler.
"No, my daughter's definitely stronger. No, no…" She shook her head, muttering, heart churning over Zhao Mu's trial success and that huge, long RV.
Zhao Mu carried Bu Yanhuan inside and casually dropped her on the floor.
When she wanted to get drunk, no one could stop her; when she wanted to stay sober, no one could make her tipsy.
Zhao Mu sat under the eaves, enjoying the cool breeze.
Arms folded, he smiled at the future: "Now I'm in Qingfeng Camp! I'll become a super big shot. Though it'll take a lot of money—so tomorrow I'll visit your Third-Level Jinhai Master friend and learn to craft ember remains."
"Then you won't have to drink Uncle Xie's coarse grain liquor every day—we'll go upscale. We'll drink the stuff Lujiang officials drink, bottles starting at two or three thousand xuanfeng coins!"
He spoke softly; Bu Yanhuan lay on the floor, eyes hazy with drink, yet a faint gratified smile crept across her lips.
"Hey, you brat!"
Bu Yanhuan cut him off. Zhao Mu glanced back at her on the floor.
Calmly she said, "I'm leaving."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)