You're the Scheming One!

Lintong Military Region, Chief Instructor's office.

Fei Jiao stood ramrod straight, holding the receiver of a red landline as he reported to the person on the other end.

"Reporting, Grand Army Commander. According to the data submitted by the companies, the casualty rate has generally dropped this time. Some sections of the city even managed to wipe out a thousand-strong Terracotta Army squad with zero casualties!"

A steady voice came from the other end. "Have you found out why?"

"We have! We compiled the companies' after-action reports and found that they all mentioned the same thing: bombs!"

Fei Jiao's voice was filled with excitement. "Whether in a one-on-one fight, a breakout, or a support role, the bombs have proven far more effective than we ever imagined!"

Their power was equal to Fire Spark.

They required no magic energy.

They took only three seconds from activation to detonation.

Most importantly, they were plentiful, cheap, and durable.

Since no one had experience with anything like them, Lintong Military Region, the first to test them, let its company commanders decide how to use them.

In the Third Company, where Xu Fang served, the commander, He Ming, chose to distribute the bombs, giving each soldier one as a trump card in battle.

Other companies did things differently. The most representative example was the First Company. Its commander had waved a hand and gathered all the bombs under the control of his Sky Eagle Mages.

As soon as the battle began, he had the Sky Eagle Mages rain down a saturation bombardment from the sky.

The undead that usually made it all the way to the city walls were blown to pieces as soon as they crawled out of their graves.

And any stragglers that reached the walls were easily dispatched by the mages, who had been waiting in perfect readiness!

"That sounds promising. We can have a few more companies test them and see if we can develop an entirely new way of fighting," the Grand Army Commander said approvingly.

Each bomb cost only ten thousand. Even if the price were multiplied tenfold, considering how remarkably effective they were, it would still be an excellent deal...

"That Xu Fang—make sure he gets a proper reward! If I remember right, he's training under you now?"

As soon as the Grand Army Commander finished speaking, Fei Jiao laughed. "Grand Army Commander, I actually have something to report to you. It's about Xu Fang!

"My adjutant just told me that Xu Fang distinguished himself in last night's battle!"

According to preliminary statistics, he had killed four Centurion Terracotta Warriors, not counting the countless ordinary Terracotta Army soldiers, and had rescued He Ming, the Third Company commander, from being surrounded!"

His record was so impressive that even the Grand Army Commander, a man who had seen more than his share of upheavals, couldn't help being surprised.

"Centurion Terracotta Warriors? Those are undead at General level. Even an Intermediate Mage would struggle against them, let alone Xu Fang, a Primary Mage... How did he do it?"

"An examination of the remains showed that all four centurions were killed by a Demon Slaying Tool. Witnesses at the scene also confirmed that Xu Fang used a Level 3 Beginner Magic of the Light Element."

Fei Jiao analyzed the situation.

"Xu Fang has an Innate Spirit Seed, so his magic attacks are very powerful. And the warrior surrounded by the Centurion Terracotta Warriors was a fully cultivated Intermediate Mage, so it's only natural that they were injured and weakened."

"Even so, he's still remarkable," the Grand Army Commander praised. "He must be rewarded properly!"

"But we still haven't been able to confirm how many he killed..."

"Why make this so complicated?" the Grand Army Commander said. "What's the top reward for the training program?"

"One chance to cultivate at the Wild Goose Pagoda."

"Pick a time and send him there," the Grand Army Commander said. "As soon as he breaks through to Intermediate Level, end his training and have him report to the Forbidden Army."

"What about Commander Hua?"

"Hmph. I only promised not to forcibly take him. As a member of the training program, he can be assigned by his superiors to help complete a mission. Commander Hua has no say in that."

The Grand Army Commander's steady voice held a hint of cunning. "And if he's drawn to the Forbidden Army's strength and benefits and insists on staying, well, there's nothing we can do about that."

"Brilliant!"

Fei Jiao praised him. "You really are the scheming one!"

"What do you mean, 'scheming'?"

"Uh, I mean you're clever and always one step ahead!"

"Young people are always saying weird things they picked up online... All right, that's that."

Click.

The call ended.

Fei Jiao settled happily into his chair, picked up another landline, and prepared to call the Third Company. He wanted to personally tell Xu Fang the good news.

Knock, knock, knock!

The door sounded.

"Come in." As soon as Fei Jiao spoke, a man in his thirties walked in with a sheepish grin, carrying a carton of milk.

Fei Jiao waved him off. "Lin Tao, just say what you came to say. I won't do anything that breaks the rules!"

"Come on, don't put it like that. It's just a carton of milk. Have some and take care of yourself. I really don't have any ulterior motives."

"Really?"

"Heh... Well, not entirely." Lin Tao rubbed his hands together. "I heard the Third Company has an extraordinary new recruit?"

"Mm, that's true." Fei Jiao leaned back in his chair and looked him up and down. "But doesn't your First Company refuse to train new recruits? No matter how extraordinary he is, what's that got to do with you?"

"How can you say that?"

Lin Tao set the milk on the floor and declared righteously, "I don't train new recruits because the Seventh Pit, where our First Company is stationed, is too dangerous... But this new recruit is different. He's strong enough!"

Heavens knew how shocked Lin Tao had been when he heard Xu Fang's incredible exploits from his colleagues.

The kid was only seventeen!

If he was this formidable at seventeen, just imagine what he'd be like in the future!

No one who commanded troops could resist a good soldier like that.

If Xu Fang could join his company, he'd have a future leader in the making. And then, at the Military Region Competition, would he really let all those powerhouses steal the show?

If he'd known that Xu Fang had also come up with the "bombs" issued to the companies, he probably wouldn't have had a shred of restraint left.

"Get out of here. Don't even think about it!" Fei Jiao impatiently shooed him away.

Lin Tao refused to give up and tried to make one last stand. "Chief Instructor, think it over! A genius like him is destined for a higher platform. Keeping him in the Fourth Company would hold him back..."

He shouldn't have said that.

The moment he did, Fei Jiao's mood soured.

Damn it, he'd been so busy celebrating that he'd forgotten Xu Fang was about to report to the Forbidden Army, where the Grand Army Commander would pamper him like a treasure!

Lintong Military Region?

Sorry, I don't know you.

"Get out, before I make you leave." Fei Jiao pointed to the door. When Lin Tao kept muttering, he started to rise from his chair.

Lin Tao hurriedly darted out.

"Wait, come back!"

Whoosh!

Lin Tao poked his head back in. "Chief Instructor, have you changed your mind?"

"Changed my mind, my ass. Pick up your milk and get out—with it!"

At the same time, on the edge of the Qinling Mountains, inside an unremarkable-looking building for military officials.

A middle-aged man in his fifties, dressed in uniform and sporting a short beard, pulled out a cigarette. He tore off the filter before bringing it to his lips and lighting it, then took a satisfied drag.

"Ah, that hits the spot~"

An affordable, high-quality weapon of mass destruction was about to be rolled out, and a rare wild genius from across the country was about to land in his hands. Everything about it was cause for celebration.

Jiang Chong couldn't remember the last time he'd been this happy.

"Maybe I'll give him a Spirit Seed when he reaches Intermediate Level... No, that won't do. Young people have their pride. He probably won't accept a favor out of nowhere."

"I'll put him in charge of a small squad and assign him a few missions. The more time they spend together, the more attached he'll get."

"Better yet, I'll find him a partner from the Central Military Region. That would be even better..."

Just as his thoughts began to wander, someone knocked on the door.

Jiang Chong immediately pulled his feet off the desk, sat up straight, and put on the dignified air of a Military Commander. In a low voice, he said, "Come in."

The door opened, and a bright-eyed girl walked in.

"Dad, listen to what I have to tell you!"