The granite hall had a solemn atmosphere.

It was already late at night, but Xu Sanqi, the middle-aged fatty, Xiaoman, and two other instructors were gathered together in the hall as though they were waiting for something.

When Xiaoke arrived with Old Mo, Xu Sanqi bluntly asked, “Old Mo, how are the improvements with the Violet Hero Battleship?”

Old Mo ran his eyes over the crowd and looked hesitant.

Xu Sanqi said, “There is no outsider here. You can be honest.”

Old Mo thought about it and answered, “Actually, the improvements have been completed a few days ago. After the engine was replaced with a new aeth engine, the overall power of the Violet Hero Battleship has more than doubled compared to before.”

A haughty look crossed Old Mo’s thin and shriveled face the moment he mentioned what he was skilled at. “I am certain that the speed of the Violet Hero Battleship will also double after the improvement. It can shake off even Spirit Sea cultivators. Also, the six rune battle cannons that the Violet Hero Battleship is equipped with could threaten the lives of Spirit Sea cultivators!

Everyone trembled and their eyes widened with shock. In the past, the Violet Hero Battleship couldn’t pose a threat to Spirit Sea cultivators, so its current power with its new modifications had already proved that the improvements in the battleship were tremendous!

“The best thing is that people with only a Spirit Dipper cultivation base can perfectly control the battleship. All of you have participated in the war between the empire and the Magi Brute Race so you should know what this means.” Old Mo’s eyes were blazing.

Everyone was astounded again, and many couldn’t maintain their composure. They, of course, knew what it meant. Even a Spirit Dipper cultivator could kill a Spirit Sea cultivator with the Violet Hero Battleship!

In a war, this meant it could kill even Spirit Sea cultivators-equivalent brute warriors of the Magi Brute Race!

“Amazing!” exclaimed an instructor.

He was called Dong Lu, and he had an imposing, iron-tower-like figure. Every inch of his muscles was rock hard. He exuded an oppressive aura from just standing there.

“How is the improved Violet Hero battleship’s consumption of aeth crystals?” Xiaoke suddenly asked and many people nodded secretly.

The Violet Hero Battleship might be powerful, but its power came from aeth crystals, which meant the gains couldn’t cover the loss as it consumed a huge amount of aeth crystals.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Old Mo chuckled and said proudly, “Everyone, don’t worry. The consumption of aeth crystals will only be less than before!”

Even Xu Sanqi couldn’t sit still and had to exchange glances with the others. They saw the astonishment and excitement in each other’s eyes.

“Is it costly to produce a Violet Hero battleship?” Xu Sanqi asked.

“It’s the same as before, though the process is a little more troublesome than before. It used to take around half a month to make a Violet Hero Battleship but now it takes one month.”

Old Mo thought for a moment and added, “However, it shouldn’t be a huge problem to produce it on a large scale if it is handled by the group of rune masters at the Empire’s Divine Workshop.

At this point, everyone understood that the newly developed Violet Hero Battleship was extraordinary and unique. Everyone’s heart raced and their emotions surged.

The middle-aged fatty drew a deep breath and said solemnly, “From today on, there will be a new type of war weapon in the empire!”

Everyone nodded, and then someone suggested that Old Mo should be rewarded.

“Lin Xun is the one who deserves the credit,” said Old Mo suddenly.

Lin Xun!

The mention of Lin Xun’s name made everyone think of the terrifying power of the Flying Star Crossbow that was displayed in the quarterly assessment.

Everyone felt perturbed when that was combined with the improved power of the Violet Hero Battleship. How could a fourteen-year-old boy possess such an astonishing understanding of the art of runes?

What kind of person is his master?

“Old Mo, regarding Lin Xun’s reward—can you ask him what he wants? We will agree to his request as long as it’s possible for us.”

Xu Sanqi then added in a resolute voice, “However, from today onwards, this matter can’t be leaked to anyone else! No one can know that the design and idea of the Violet Hero Battleship and Flying Star Crossbow came from Lin Xun!”

Everyone was taken aback at first, but they soon understood that Xu Sanqi was doing so to protect Lin Xun.

“Of course. If anyone dares to leak it to anyone, then I, Xiaoman, will be the first to not let them off!” There was a rare look of seriousness in Xiaoman’s bright eyes.

“Chief Xu, since that kid has such high mastery in the art of runes, I wonder if he could repair your rune armament Wolf Fang Moon.”

Suddenly, the deep voice of the abnormally burly and mighty Dong Lu immediately attracted everyone’s attention.

Xu Sanqi’s heart quivered, but he shook his head and didn’t mention the topic again. Instead, he took out a blank document and handed it to Xiaoke. “Before Lin Xun came to Blood Kill Camp, he had already passed the imperial district examination. The prefectural examinations ended a few days ago. Although Lin Xun wasn’t able to participate in the examinations, I’ve entrusted a person to help him pass the prefectural examination in Qingfeng County. This is an admission certificate, pass it on to him.”

Xiaoke exclaimed, “Chief Xu, you want him to take the imperial provincial examination after he leaves Blood Kill Camp?”

The others were also confused. Talents like Lin Xun were qualified for more important positions without having to participate in the imperial examinations. What Xu Sanqi had done was undoubtedly the same as wasting talent.

Xu Sanqi fell silent for a moment before he said, “Someone has already arranged Lin Xun’s matter and there is nothing we can do.”

Xiaoke couldn’t help but ask, “Is it the Black Glory Sacred Hall?”

Everyone felt a chill in their hearts and their pupils shrank. They all knew how terrifying the Black Glory Sacred Hall was.

Xu Sanqi didn’t answer her and just said calmly, “Our job is to train talents for the empire. As for the rest, it’s not for us to worry about.”

Everyone fell silent.

“Make some preparations. In one month, lead the students to the northern border of the empire. The training area that the empire has allocated to our Blood Kill Camp this time is the Demon Cloud Ridge on the northern border of the empire!” said Xu Sanqi in a low voice.

……

Old Mo’s warehouse.

Lin Xun received the certificate for passing Qingfeng County’s prefectural examination. It wrote—

Name: Lin Xun.

Birthplace: Feiyun Village, Donglin City, Qingfeng County, southwest province of the empire.

Age: Fourteen years old.

Cultivation Level: Eighth Layer True Martial

Innate Talent: None.

Occupation: Rune Apprentice.

Examination Results: First-Class.

Examiner’s comment: Diligent and studious. An upright character. Recommend to participate in the imperial provincial examination.

Lin Xun smiled after a glance. He knew the certificate was real because it was stamped with the official Violet Glory Flower rune seal of the empire.

However, Lin Xun knew that Blood Kill Camp had to have obtained the certificate through a special connection.

Lin Xun couldn’t help but sigh. The imperial prefectural examination is an important event that attracts many cultivators hoping to leap over the dragon’s gate and rise to the top. But who would have thought that anyone could obtain a certificate without participation as long as they had connections.

This incident made Lin Xun realize more and more that the so-called rules were nothing but decorations for those with power.

“Kid, you don’t have any complaints about the matter regarding the Violet Hero Battleship and Flying Star Crossbow, right?” asked Old Mo.

“Of course I have complaints.” Lin Xun said with a smile. “Those were my ideas but you got all the credits. I feel so disappointed.”

Old Mo said awkwardly. “They did this to protect you…but if you don’t like it, I can go and reason with them now!”

Lin Xun quickly stopped him. “Don't, I’m just joking. Old Mo, don’t take it seriously.”

Old Mo still felt a little uncomfortable. He had absolutely no intention of taking Lin Xun’s credit. “Xu Sanqi said that if you have any requests you can just tell him. He won’t refuse.”

This was the answer Lin Xun wanted most. He thought about it and said, “Old Mo, tell Instructor Xu Sanqi that I don’t need anything. I just want a favor from him.”

“Favor?” Old Mo looked surprised.

Lin Xun replied seriously, “Yes, a favor.”

He didn’t explain further, but Old Mo’s eyes lit up with admiration like he had vaguely understood his intention. “Treasures are valuable, but favors are invaluable. Kid, you’re very intelligent to see through this.”

Lin Xun just smiled.

Xu Sanqi scrunched his eyebrows when he heard about Lin Xun’s request. He was silent for a long while before he said coldly, “Tell that kid, a favor isn’t a minor matter. I will only do favors within my powers and will not go against my heart or do any shady business.”

Lin Xun smiled when he heard Xu Sanqi’s response. As long as he agrees.

Old Mo couldn’t help but ask, “What do you want?”

“I’m just preparing a retreat route for myself. I'm not entirely sure whether or not I will need to use the favor.” Lin Xun leaned back on the chair, seeming deep in thought.

He thought of Xia Zhi. He thought of Mister Lu, who he didn’t know was alive or dead. He thought about his purpose of coming to the Ziyao Empire.

Old Mo looked at Lin Xun and came to realize that the fourteen-year-old boy had many troubles and secrets that he didn’t know about.

……

Early the next morning, Lin Xun returned to the 39th Campground.

The quarterly assessment had ended, and the camp had resumed the brutal, cruel, and abnormal training sessions.

When the morning training was over, a group of people marched to the 39th Campground in a mighty and aggressive manner, demanding to learn from Lin Xun. They wanted to see what kind of ability the student ranked first in the quarterly assessment had.

The group of people, which consisted of around a dozen people, came from different campgrounds, but they were clearly all extremely dissatisfied that Lin Xun got first place in the quarterly assessment.

The 39th Campground suddenly became very lively and noisy. Even students from the same campground as Lin Xun came to watch to see if Lin Xun would dare accept the challenges.

Lin Xun unhesitatingly refused. What a joke! You call this learning from each other? They clearly came to create trouble!