Limit Martial Hall headquarters.
Shen Mu was visiting Hong's reception room for the third time. At the moment, two figures were sitting cross-legged on meditation cushions, chatting.
Besides Hong, dressed in black, there was also a young man in white robes who looked like a monk.
When Shen Mu entered, Hong smiled at Thunder God beside him. "The person you wanted to see is here. He's the one who defeated a Planet-Level warrior while still at the apprentice level."
"Hall Master." Shen Mu looked at Hong and spoke.
Hong chuckled. "Have a seat."
After Shen Mu sat down, Hong said, "Let me introduce you. This is Thunder God. You've probably heard of him."
"Councilor Thunder God." Shen Mu greeted him politely.
Thunder God waved casually, then went straight to the point. "No need for formalities. Just call me Thunder God. Shen Mu, kid, are you interested in becoming an inspector at my Thunder Martial Hall?"
Even Hong, who had known Thunder God for decades, was left speechless by such blatant poaching.
Hong ignored Thunder God outright and looked at Shen Mu. "Don't mind him. What are your plans next? Would you be willing to serve as an inspector for the hall?"
Shen Mu first gave Thunder God an apologetic smile, then looked at Hong. "Hall Master, I'm not interested in managing affairs. Could I hold an idle position instead?"
Although the position of inspector was relatively leisurely, they still had to oversee the decisions and affairs of an entire region. Matters such as discovering talented individuals also fell under an inspector's responsibility.
"That works too. From now on, you'll hold the title of inspector. Your authority will be equivalent to Liu He and the others', and you won't need to handle any of the hall's affairs."
Hong greatly appreciated Shen Mu's attitude of not being bound by worldly matters.
While Shen Mu chatted with Hong and Thunder God, the major powers around the world were shaken by an announcement from Limit Martial Hall.
The expert who had killed a King-Level Monster was actually a student of the Global Elite Training Camp.
That meant Shen Mu was nominally unaffiliated with any force at present. Nearly every major power wanted to make contact with this young Councilor-level expert.
China, Kyoto Base City.
A meeting was being held in the main hall of a courtyard called West Flower.
A virtual screen was projected above the conference table, displaying two videos.
One video showed Shen Mu fighting fourteen high-level Lord-Level Monsters alone.
The other had been filmed from afar. Only a vague human figure could be seen harassing and restraining an enormous ape monster, while the terrifying shockwaves of their battle even caused a small earthquake.
"Old Jia, according to the intelligence, this Shen Mu hasn't signed any restrictive contract with Limit Martial Hall. Is there any chance we can win him over?"
After reading Shen Mu's profile, an elderly man asked Jia Yi.
Jia Yi nodded slightly. "There is indeed hope. Councilor Shen Mu's father serves in our military, so we naturally have an advantage."
Another elderly man nodded solemnly. "If there's a chance, then we should do everything we can to recruit him. After all, he's a young Councilor-level expert who killed a King-Level Monster while still at the War God level."
The news that Shen Mu had not yet broken through beyond the War God level was no secret among the major powers.
But precisely because of that, Shen Mu attracted even greater attention.
After all, not every councilor had the record of killing a King-Level Monster alone.
Moreover, Shen Mu was still so young, with only a few days left before his nineteenth birthday. He had achieved such astonishing feats at the War God level—what would happen once he surpassed it?
If they could recruit Councilor Shen Mu, perhaps China might possess a Speaker-level expert in the future as well.
Among the five major nations of the Earth Alliance, only the European and American governments currently had Speaker-level experts stationed with them.
Not only China, but the other major powers, alliances, and even mercenary groups were holding similar meetings to discuss whether it was possible to recruit Shen Mu.
By then, Shen Mu had already left Limit Martial Hall headquarters and returned to his residence at the training camp.
Because the camp's students were still out training, the entire camp seemed rather deserted. Only a few instructors and administrative staff remained.
However, when they saw Shen Mu again, their former friendliness was gone. Instead, they respectfully addressed him as Councilor Shen.
Shen Mu nodded in response to each of them, then returned to the Forbidden Pavilion and began packing his belongings.
Invisible spiritual force spread outward, automatically storing all kinds of commonly used items into his suitcase. Telekinetic control of objects truly was a lazy person's dream.
"Beep, beep!"
His communication watch rang, and the screen displayed the contact name: Mom.
"Hello, Mom!"
Shen Mu sat on the sofa and answered the call while pouring himself a glass of water.
"A-Mu... was that announcement from martial hall headquarters about you?"
Chen Wen's voice trembled with excitement. When she first saw the announcement, she had not immediately thought of her own son and had assumed it was merely someone with the same name.
When Shen Mu had spoken with Chen Wen before, he had only told her that he possessed War God-level strength. Chen Wen had not asked about the details.
It was only after all sorts of important figures from the base city came to visit one after another that Chen Wen realized the training camp student Shen Mu in the martial hall's announcement was her son, not simply someone with the same name.
"Mom, it was me."
Chen Wen immediately became excited, her entire body entering a state of exhilaration.
She was both proud that Shen Mu had become an expert beyond the War God level and upset that he had risked himself by challenging a King-Level Monster.
Only after Shen Mu comforted her for quite a while did Chen Wen finally calm down. Then she hung up on him, intending to show off to her warrior girlfriends.
Just as Shen Mu ended the call, a call request from his father, Shen Gang, came through.
Shen Gang did not waste words and went straight to the point, inviting Shen Mu to join China's military.
Shen Mu sighed helplessly and said directly, "Dad, stop right there. I'll be back in a couple of days. Can we discuss this after I get home?"
"Fine."
After dealing with his parents, Shen Mu let out a breath and finally relaxed.
That entire day, he had first fought a King-Level Monster with everything he had. Although his physical strength had recovered, he was already mentally exhausted.
Then he had met with Hong and Thunder God. Now, at last, everything was settled.
Through the floor-to-ceiling window, Shen Mu gazed into the deep night sky. Countless stars glittered overhead, and he could even see the famous Summer Triangle, two of whose stars were the renowned Cowherd and Weaver Girl.
"I've finally taken the first step."
As a transmigrator, Shen Mu naturally understood the vastness of the starry sky. He had finally reached the forefront of humanity and become one of the few people most likely to set foot among the stars.
The next day, at 7:00 a.m. China time, the Earth Alliance's War God Palace issued an announcement to the world.
On August 3, 2058, War God Palace welcomed its fifty-third councilor, Shen Mu. At only nineteen years old, he had also broken the record for the youngest person to become a Councilor-level expert.
Some non-confidential information was released as well, most of it detailing Shen Mu's martial arts journey from childhood to the present.
The article was filled with grandiose praise and legendary anecdotes, painting a perfect image of a young, handsome, powerful man devoted to all humanity.
That very day, searches for Shen Mu rose to first place across the world's major social networks. For a time, Shen Mu's popularity among ordinary people nearly caught up to Hong and Thunder God.
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