Zhao Mu, carrying a large stack of blueprints, quickly walked out of the Engineering Department, intending to immediately return and frantically improve his proficiency.
When he encountered Gu Ningli, Zhao Mu, uncharacteristically, stopped and greeted her.
"Senior Sister Gu, I've also joined the Engineering Department. Please guide me more from now on."
Hearing Zhao Mu's words, Gu Ningli and the Trainees who were diligently studying math problems outside the door were all stunned.
"What does this mean?"
"That guy... he... he passed Master Liang's assessment? Joined the Engineering Department?"
"Impossible, impossible, absolutely impossible!"
Many people simply couldn't accept this fact.
Among them were many three-year veterans who had come here countless times, hoping to change their fate by learning the technique of Jinhai Manufacturing.
But without exception, they all failed, either falling at the first hurdle or failing the subsequent drawing assessment.
Yet today, they saw a New Recruit who had just joined Qingfeng Camp pass Liang Gongchi's assessment in just a few hours?
A somewhat short and stout veteran rushed over and blocked Zhao Mu's path, staring intently at him and saying:
"You're kidding, right? How could you join the Engineering Department? You must be lying to me. Hurry up and say it, you're joking!"
Zhao Mu rubbed his nose.
"But, I really did join the Engineering Department."
A chorus of wailing and lamenting immediately erupted around him.
"Oh no, how could you join the Engineering Department? This is more unbearable than being pooped on!"
"Wuwuwu, heaven is unfair!"
Gu Ningli adjusted her black-rimmed glasses. Although her expression remained calm, the flicker in her eyes revealed her shocked inner state.
She nodded: "Mm, okay."
Facing the cannibalistic gazes of the crowd, Zhao Mu smiled and left the Engineering Department.
Unexpectedly, halfway there, a familiar person blocked his path.
Wearing a black training suit with red stripes, her thick, dark long hair naturally draped behind her, standing quietly like a husband-watching stone in the wind.
Shen Moran.
Meng Qiuqiu and a few others gathered around Zhao Mu, still clamoring that today was a good day and they must celebrate properly.
When they saw Shen Moran appear, Meng Qiuqiu and the others cast curious glances.
They didn't know the relationship between Zhao Mu and Shen Moran, so their eyes held a hint of teasing, as if saying: You're getting lucky with women!
Zhao Mu sighed and said to the others, "Wait for me here."
With that, he walked over, and Shen Moran slowly turned around. The two met each other's gaze; Zhao Mu's eyes were calm, and his face held its usual smile.
Shen Moran's face was serene, but her eyes seemed to burn with fire.
"You couldn't possibly be waiting for me, could you?"
Zhao Mu asked.
"Yes! I was waiting for you." Shen Moran stared at Zhao Mu, then suddenly took two steps forward, raising her head to look directly into his eyes: "Why do you always follow me wherever I go?"
"I am a Space Element Ability User. Jinhai Master is a very suitable profession for me, so if I can become a Disciple of Master Liang this time, it will significantly impact my future!"
"Why did you suddenly appear? If it weren't for you, perhaps Master Liang's student would have been me."
Her eyes were full of unwillingness, and she questioned Zhao Mu with a somewhat angry tone.
Originally, her performance was the most outstanding, surpassing everyone else.
But Zhao Mu's appearance instantly made her fade into obscurity.
A Jinhai Master usually doesn't take on multiple students at once, because their energy is limited.
Zhao Mu occupying Liang Gongchi's attention also made her hope of becoming a Jinhai Master even more slim.
Hearing Shen Moran's questioning and seeing the unwillingness in her eyes, Zhao Mu raised an eyebrow, but merely smiled faintly.
"Is it possible that for people like us, from ordinary backgrounds, there are only a few paths for advancement?"
"Why can only you walk it, and I cannot?"
These words left Shen Moran speechless.
Why could she come to Qingfeng Camp, but Zhao Mu couldn't? Was he supposed to go to the front lines as cannon fodder?
Why could she come to apprentice and learn Jinhai Manufacturing, when Zhao Mu clearly had stronger talent than her, but had to accommodate her?
Zhao Mu looked at her conflicted face and said calmly, "I know that after breaking up, seeing me makes you uncomfortable. But I hope we can at least be ordinary friends, not enemies, and you don't need to deliberately pay attention to me."
After speaking, he waved to Meng Qiuqiu and the others, and then the group walked past her.
After walking a distance, Meng Qiuqiu and Zhuo Yun couldn't suppress their gossipy souls.
"Brother Xiao Mu, what's your relationship with that beautiful woman just now? Why did I see her looking at you with so much resentment? Did you string her along?"
Meng Qiuqiu stared intently at Zhao Mu, trying to dig up gossip.
Zhao Mu rolled his eyes and briefly explained their relationship.
After listening, the three of them also sighed with emotion.
"Graduation season is breakup season; this phenomenon is too common! But after graduating from Yuwu Middle School, having to join the same Military Martial Specialization School and seeing each other every day, that's indeed quite awkward."
Zhuo Yun said, stroking his chin.
Meng Qiuqiu snorted lightly: "Leaving Brother Xiao Mu is her loss! After all, now, Brother Xiao Mu is Master Liang's personal Disciple; his future is boundless!"
Zhuo Yun honestly said: "That's not necessarily true. She is a B-rank Talent Space Element Ability User. As long as nothing unexpected happens, she will also be a backbone of the military in the future."
Zhao Mu smiled faintly: "How others are is their business; worry less about it. Just do your best!"
He carried a stack of blueprints and walked towards the dormitory.
"Brother Xiao Mu, aren't you going to wander around a bit more? This Qingfeng Camp is huge!"
Meng Qiuqiu shouted from behind.
"No, I have things to do today! Just tell me where the cafeteria is when you come back."
Zhao Mu hurried, even using the Light and Agile Steps of the demon clown while walking, truly not wasting a single moment.
He quickly returned to the dormitory, closed the door, and then spread out the blueprints on the table.
He activated his electronic wristband and turned to the first Spirit Rune Diagram Path, Unrestrained.
Different Spirit Rune Diagram Paths correspond to different sealed objects and types of ember remains being forged. Only then can the power of the ember remains be maximized.
For example, sealing a water-element beast requires a specific water-element Spirit Rune. If a fire-element one is used, most of the spiritual power will be wasted.
The Unrestrained Spirit Rune Diagram Path is a general-purpose type that can be applied to sealed objects of various spiritual energy attributes.
Its advantage is that it's common and versatile; its disadvantage is that it cannot fully utilize elemental specialties.
It is the preferred choice for introductory practice.
The diagram was projected onto the wall, and indeed, it was dizzyingly complex.
A first-level Spirit Rune Diagram Path has over a hundred thousand Spirit Rune lines, making its creation time-consuming and laborious.
Moreover, because errors during the engraving process render the Materials useless, the drawing process also requires no modifications and must be completed in one go.
Zhao Mu spread out the blueprints on the table and picked up the black drafting pen.
"demon clown activated, target object: Spirit Rune Diagram Path drawing".
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)