A series of deep booms erupted beside them as Black-Grade Mechas landed one after another, firmly surrounding Xiao Mu at the center.
Their frames gleamed with the cold, austere sheen of regulation-issue metal, their formation orderly and imposing. They were the regular mecha troops of the East Sea Legion.
They had come under orders, with the sole mission of ensuring Xiao Mu's safety throughout.
One of the lead mechas stepped out of formation. Its sensors activated at once, quickly scanning Xiao Mu and confirming that he was unharmed.
"Target's vital signs are normal."
At the mechanical voice, the officer inside the mecha let out a sigh of relief. As long as this little ancestor was all right.
The Navy's submarine hull materials all depended on Xiao Mu, after all. He could save them a fortune.
Right, Xiao Mu had made the Federation love and hate him through materials science. The part they hated was that Xiao Mu truly wasn't afraid of offending people.
As for the love, all they had to do was add this stuff to metal in the right proportions. It really saved money.
"East Sea Federation Mecha Corps, on law enforcement duty. Guang Biao, you gathered a crowd and used prohibited weapons to surround a Public Spirit Master Academy, deliberately provoking a fight and endangering public safety. You have violated the Federation Joint Defense Regulations. We are now formally issuing a warrant for your arrest. Surrender immediately!"
The sudden arrival of the military completely crushed the last traces of hostility at the scene.
The more than two hundred burly men surrounding the area instantly lost heart. Looking at the rows of grim, regulation-issue mechas, they were no longer arrogant as before and instinctively began to retreat.
"It was all Guang Biao's orders! We were forced to do it!"
"Right, we were all forced!"
These men were quick to follow the wind, wishing they could immediately disown Guang Biao.
The mecha's voice remained utterly impassive as it spoke each word with force: "Federal law supersedes local jurisdictions. Anyone who violates the regulations is entitled to no exemption. Those who resist arrest will be subdued by force on the spot."
Guang Biao's face turned ashen. He knew he was finished—completely done for.
He was going to be erased from East Sea. He regretted it. Why hadn't he properly disciplined his younger brother?
Why had he indulged him?
Unfortunately, regret was useless now.
A military officer stepped down from a mecha at the front of the formation. Tall and upright, he walked with steady steps straight over to Xiao Mu.
He addressed Xiao Mu respectfully. "Are you all right, Student Xiao Mu?"
Xiao Mu gave a slight shake of his head. "I'm fine. You arrived just in time. If you'd been a moment later, I would've opened fire. It wouldn't have been good if I accidentally hurt any civilians."
At that, the officer's heart trembled. How did this kid get a weapon like that? And the higher-ups had even allowed him to carry it personally. He was still a child—was that reasonable?
Weren't they worried he might do something reckless?
"We failed to provide adequate protection and nearly let you fall into danger. We'll deal with the scene immediately, arrest those involved according to regulations, and thoroughly resolve this incident."
"You've got a way with words, but I prefer it when you let your actions speak." Xiao Mu smiled.
The military had always acted swiftly and decisively. Before long, the mecha soldiers moved in and quickly took control of everyone involved.
Guang Biao and Guang Long, along with all the burly men who had surrounded the school entrance, were arrested and taken away. No one escaped punishment.
What awaited Guang Biao would be no simple reprimand, but the harsh judgment of a military tribunal. The status and power he had accumulated over his lifetime were now utterly worthless.
The noisy school entrance quickly returned to calm. The onlookers scattered, leaving only the mess on the ground as evidence of the confrontation that had just taken place.
Long Hengxu hurried across the empty space in front of the gate and came to stand before Xiao Mu. Looking at the bewildered child, he asked, "Xiao Mu, who exactly are you? You caused such a huge commotion by acting so recklessly. Are you sure the academy and the dean won't blame you?"
Xiao Mu looked up at him, his expression calm and utterly unruffled. "I was only defending myself. What did I do wrong? Why would the dean blame me?"
"Even if he wanted to blame me, I could just pull my funding!"
"I'm a school board member. I'm coming clean."
Long Hengxu hadn't understood the rest, but he understood that last sentence. This kid was from the board—well, then, nothing to worry about.
Let him do whatever he wanted.
This one was a young master.
Xiao Mu stepped forward and glanced at Long Hengxu. "The dean didn't even show up for this. Keep working hard, and you might still have a chance."
Long Hengxu was clearly choking on that huge promise, and immediately began dispersing the crowd.
The noisy crowd gradually settled down. At the school entrance, where the dust had finally settled, everyone was still immersed in the confrontation they had just witnessed.
Gu Yue, mixed in among the students, had quietly watched the whole upheaval from beginning to end. She had seen it all clearly: a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster had used a Soul Tool to firmly suppress a Six-Ring Soul Emperor in an incredibly short time.
Xiao Mu, meanwhile, felt that he was pretty weak. Back then, a certain someone had fought a Soul Saint at two rings and even managed to injure him.
He still had a long way to go.
As the crowd gradually quieted, a figure slowly stepped out. Dressed in elegant white, with cool blue hair and an aloof air that kept others at a distance, it was Wu Zhangkong.
The moment he appeared, the surrounding chatter instinctively quieted.
"Not bad," Wu Zhangkong said, without a trace of extra emotion. "Your Soul Skills should all be well suited to Soul Tools."
Xiao Mu met his gaze without hesitation. "Then do you think the students in your Class Five can beat me?"
"I have confidence in my students," Wu Zhangkong said.
"I have confidence in my own strength, too."
The corners of Xiao Mu's lips lifted slightly, his smile faint. He didn't linger and turned to leave, preparing to find Na'er.
The confrontation was over, and the uproar had died down. Long Hengxu had persuaded everyone to leave. What a mess this had been.
Standing among the crowd, Tang Wulin was left with nothing but a heavy feeling.
He had witnessed Xiao Mu's methods firsthand and felt the insurmountable gap between their strength.
Could he really defeat Xiao Mu in the Class Promotion Tournament?
He remained silent and lowered his head. He clenched his fists. His teammates were all so powerful, while his own strength lagged far behind theirs. Whether he wanted to survive or become stronger, he had to get those so-called Ice Crystal Fruit and Red Flame Fruit as soon as possible.
And break the first seal or whatever.
That very day, he chose to advance to Blacksmith Level Three.
After Tang Wulin left, he heard an announcement over the cafeteria speakers.
"Attention, teachers and students. Attention, teachers and students. We have an urgent announcement. We've received a notice from the meteorological department: a severe tropical storm will hit tonight. This typhoon is expected to last for more than a week. Therefore, please do not leave the academy unless absolutely necessary during the coming week. All classes are suspended. Please remain in your dormitories and wait. The Class Promotion Tournament is postponed and will resume after the typhoon passes."
When Xiao Mu heard this, he couldn't help feeling that someone in this world was pulling strings. What were the odds of something this convenient happening?
Still, there was no way he could go from level twenty-nine to level thirty in a week.
He wasn't Gu Yue, who could just keep adding points.
"An extra week of vacation, just like that," Xiao Mu murmured.
"Woohoo!" Na'er was thrilled. A whole week without classes—how great! Vacation!
"Go ahead and enjoy yourself," Xiao Mu said. "Look forward to the Class Promotion Tournament in a week."
Elsewhere, Tang Wulin was on his way to the Blacksmith Association when he stopped, a flicker of hope rising in his heart.
"One week... I still have a chance."