Zhao Mu slowly exhaled and activated the ability of the Demon Clown.
A faint ripple of mental clarity spread through his mind as the familiar interface appeared before him:
Condensing Water Drawing – First-Grade Jinhai Spirit Rune Diagram Path – Proficiency: 25
Without hesitation, Zhao Mu circulated the Turtle Breathing Technique, allowing his thoughts to settle like still water. The outside world faded away. Sounds dimmed. Distractions vanished.
Only the brush in his hand remained.
And the diagram before him.
The collection of first-level Spirit Rune Diagram Paths contained over a thousand variations.
Each one represented a different structure, a different flow of energy, and ultimately—
A different outcome.
Even among diagrams of the same element, the results could vary drastically.
Take water-element rune diagrams, for example.
Condensing Water focused on compressing spiritual energy into dense, sharp forms—capable of becoming water blades or high-pressure streams for precise attacks.
Meanwhile, another water-element diagram—Wave—leaned toward large-scale, overwhelming force. It sacrificed precision for destructive area control, unleashing surging tides capable of flooding entire battlefields.
Both belonged to the same category.
Yet their applications were worlds apart.
This was why choosing the correct Spirit Rune Diagram Path was crucial during the forging of Jinhai.
A single mistake—
And even a successfully crafted item could turn out mediocre, or even useless in the intended context.
Many low-level Jinhai Masters fell into this trap.
They focused too much on completion.
Too little on selection.
Zhao Mu, however, understood something deeper.
Mastery… was the true foundation.
His goal was simple—
To master every first-level Spirit Rune Diagram Path.
Not out of obsession.
But out of necessity.
Only by understanding them all could he truly choose the best one in any situation.
Of course, he also knew this would take time.
A lot of time.
So for now—
He focused on the fundamentals.
Drawing.
Understanding.
Memorizing.
And eventually—
Applying.
The brush moved.
Smooth.
Precise.
Alive.
Under Zhao Mu's control, the lines of the Condensing Water Diagram began to take shape. Each stroke flowed into the next like a river finding its path.
There was no hesitation.
No pause.
His hand moved as if guided by instinct.
Proficiency: 28…
Proficiency: 36…
Proficiency: 47…
With each completed diagram, his understanding deepened.
The lines became cleaner.
The structure more stable.
The energy pathways more refined.
By the time he finished his second diagram, something had changed.
His speed increased.
His confidence grew.
He no longer needed to constantly refer to the original diagram.
The pattern—
Was already in his mind.
Time passed quietly.
Unnoticed.
The workshop grew darker as night fell.
The other trainees gradually left, one after another.
But Zhao Mu remained.
Focused.
Unmoving.
Master Liang entered several times throughout the night.
Each time, he paused briefly upon seeing Zhao Mu.
There was no need to speak.
The scene itself—
Spoke volumes.
By the time the clock passed ten at night—
Zhao Mu completed another diagram.
Then another.
And another.
Finally—
A faint notification echoed in his mind.
Condensing Water Drawing – Proficiency: 100
Zhao Mu exhaled slowly.
A sense of completion washed over him.
At that moment, a new structure naturally formed within his mind—
The second-stage evolution of the diagram.
It was more complex.
More refined.
More powerful.
But Zhao Mu did not rush forward.
Instead—
He opened the collection again.
And turned to the next diagram.
Fire Affinity.
Without hesitation, he began drawing.
The difference was immediate.
Faster.
Smoother.
More efficient.
This was the benefit of accumulated mastery.
Each new diagram no longer felt foreign.
The underlying logic—
The structure—
The principles—
They all began to connect.
Proficiency: 12…
Proficiency: 25…
Proficiency: 39…
The speed of improvement increased dramatically.
It was as if Zhao Mu had entered a positive cycle—
Each success accelerating the next.
Each diagram making the next easier.
Hours passed.
The world outside grew silent.
By the time Zhao Mu finally stopped—
It was already past two in the morning.
"If I focus entirely on this…"
He looked at the thick collection of diagrams.
"I could probably master all first-level Spirit Rune Diagram Paths within three months."
The thought wasn't arrogance.
It was calculation.
"Senior Brother… shall we head back?"
A soft voice broke his concentration.
Zhao Mu blinked.
Only then did he realize—
He was not alone.
Xia Lingling stood behind him, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
Her voice carried a hint of fatigue.
"You really don't get tired, do you?" she said, yawning. "During the day, you train like a monster… and at night, you're still like this."
Zhao Mu smiled faintly.
With the improvement of his Turtle Breathing Technique and Sleep proficiency, he only needed two hours of rest each day.
For him—
This was normal.
"Let's go," he said.
The two left the workshop together, closing the heavy doors behind them.
The corridor was quiet.
The night deep.
Meanwhile—
In the girls' dormitory.
Mo Guanguan stepped out of the bathroom, her long hair still damp.
She hummed softly as she dried it, her mood clearly cheerful.
Zhang Yuan, lying on her bed, glanced over and smirked.
"Someone seems very happy today."
Xu Yurou, resting on the lower bunk, clasped her hands dreamily.
"If I met someone like Zhao Mu," she sighed, "someone willing to go through fire and water for me…"
"I'd fall for him instantly."
Snap!
A sharp sound interrupted the conversation.
Shen Moran's pen had broken in her hand.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she stared at the half-finished diagram before her.
Her relationship with Zhao Mu—
Was a secret.
Before entering the academy, she had specifically asked their old classmates not to mention it.
She didn't want unnecessary attention.
Didn't want speculation.
Didn't want complications.
But now—
Hearing others talk about Zhao Mu…
And Mo Guanguan…
It bothered her.
More than she expected.
"Don't talk nonsense," she said calmly.
"Guanguan and Zhao Mu… won't happen."
Zhang Yuan raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?"
"Because their backgrounds are too different," she said.
Xu Yurou disagreed.
"But Zhao Mu is Master Liang's student now," she argued. "If he becomes a high-level Jinhai Master, his status will rise quickly."
At that moment—
Mo Guanguan stepped out, placing the hairdryer aside.
Her cheeks flushed slightly upon hearing her name.
"Stop teasing me!" she said quickly.
"I'm focused on becoming a top-tier powerhouse."
She lifted her chin proudly.
"Someone who can stand alongside the Empire's greatest."
"As for men?"
She snorted lightly.
"I don't care."
Zhang Yuan leaned forward with a mischievous grin.
"Really?"
"What if Zhao Mu pursued you?"
Silence.
Shen Moran's fingers tightened slightly.
She listened carefully.
Mo Guanguan blinked.
Then—
She actually thought about it.
Seriously.
After a moment, she flipped her hair and smiled confidently.
"The man who stands beside me must be extraordinary."
"A true hero."
"Someone who can stand at the peak with me."
She paused.
Then added—
"If Zhao Mu can reach that level…"
"I might give him a chance."
Laughter filled the room.
"That's impossible!"
"You're an A-grade prodigy!"
But Shen Moran didn't laugh.
She heard something else.
Something hidden.
Mo Guanguan—
Wasn't rejecting Zhao Mu.
Her lips pressed together slightly.
Then—
She spoke.
"Guanguan…"
"There's something I think you should know."
Mo Guanguan blinked.
"What is it?"
Shen Moran sighed softly.
"I've known Zhao Mu since we were children."
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I understand him better than most."
Her voice remained calm.
Measured.
"His greatest goal… has always been to rise above his status."
"To leave behind the life of a commoner."
She looked directly at Mo Guanguan.
"I don't mean anything else."
"Just… be careful."
Her words were gentle.
But the implication—
Sharp.
What if everything Zhao Mu did…
Was intentional?
Calculated?
Designed… to get closer to you?
The room fell silent.
Outside—
The night deepened.
And within the quiet—
Unspoken thoughts began to grow.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)