Wang Lan's return was like a single drop of rain falling into a pond. To Modu City's Star Martial Academy, he was but one of countless students returning from internships.

He didn't make a big deal out of his own affairs, either. After adjusting his routine, he re-entered the calm yet busy world of academia.

In the library, the number of students charging up their knowledge was growing. Listening to the conversations of the seniors, the most talked-about topic was still Spirit Engraving. Passing the level six assessment in Spirit Engraving was a hurdle, but once the hurdle became a benchmark, it turned into just that—a benchmark.

It was like the reform of the driving test years ago. Initially, this caused widespread despair and complaining. Only one or two out of ten could pass. But once it became clear that there was no going back, those who needed to practice did just that, and one by one, everyone passed.

This just goes to show that if you don't push yourself, you'll never know how much potential you have. What once seemed impossible becomes just another thing in hindsight.

In just two months, over twenty people had successfully passed the level six assessment. Together with a few seed students specially trained by the Spirit Engraving teachers, Modu City's Star Martial Academy's Soul Bead hand grenade factory had somehow gathered thirty people.

Apart from their studies, they would come to make Soul Bead hand grenades, which could earn them credits. If they worked non-stop for one day, they could earn at least one credit, and at least twenty credits over the course of a month.

Besides those from their own school, Spirit Engraving teachers from other schools also came to Modu City's Star Martial Academy to study. This time, Modu City's Star Martial Academy really hit it big.

What did it mean when the other three major Star Martial Academies came to study? It meant that Modu City's Star Martial Academy was the best.

Not only could they earn credits, but they also improved their Spirit Engraving technique. As the Spirit Engraving technique advanced, they could make higher-grade Soul Bead hand grenades and earn more credits, creating a positive ecosystem, right?

While a bunch of students, hopped up as if on chicken blood, were furiously earning credits, they would occasionally think of Wang Lan, that freak. Just a freshman, and he could already make S-grade Soul Bead hand grenades. The question was, did he actually possess S-grade Star Martial Skills?

Wang Lan had a private office in the Soul Bead Research Institute building. He had returned as quietly and subtly as the spring rain seeping into the night.

Professor Zheng Gong hummed a tune, strolling leisurely along the corridor of the research institute. His sparse hair swayed gently in the breeze. His mood had been good of late, giving him a radiant appearance.

In the past month and a half, Soul Bead hand grenades had made a remarkable impact on the battlefield. The nation was paying more and more attention to Spirit Engraving. Just a few days ago, he'd heard a rumor from above: Spirit Engraving might be separated from the minor Star Martial branches to become a mainstream one, under the authority of the Star Martial Strategic Logistics Support Department.

For Professor Zheng Gong, this was absolutely good news. In the past, the role of Spiritual Engraving was to copy Star Martial Skills, and at a more advanced level, perhaps probe memories. This made Spiritual Engravers the laughingstock of the Star Martial world, where they were seen as either copyists or voyeurs.

Even if they could achieve miraculous effects at crucial moments, in a Star Martial world where one had no say without combat output, Spiritual Engraving Masters indeed received little respect.

But now their status had leaped forward. From here on out, they could traverse the four seas as they pleased. Who would dare to look down on Spiritual Engraving Masters now? If they dare, then don't use Soul Bead hand grenades!

Although Spirit Engravers were scarce across the country, it was not a skill limited by talent. Any Star Martial Warrior willing to put in the effort and receive proper guidance could learn it. Thus, their scarcity was not a problem at all.

He believed that, in the not-too-distant future, if the nation needed it, tens of thousands of Spirit Engraving Masters would join in the production of Soul Bead hand grenades. With a barrage of fire, a hundred thousand members of the Demon Clan would be reduced to ash. The mere thought was exciting.

Suddenly, Professor Zheng Gong stopped in his tracks, rubbing his eyes as he looked towards the office with the light on.

"Wang Lan? Back already?" Professor Zheng Gong approached the office and knocked on the door.

"Ah? Director Zheng!" Wang Lan quickly stood up.

"When did you get back?"

"Yesterday morning. I was adjusting to the time difference all day yesterday."

"Didn't the dean give you guys three days off? Why are you here on the second day? Engraving high-grade Star Martial Skills early in the morning? It seems going abroad has really raised your awareness. Come on, don't hide away in your office working alone. Go and mentor the newcomers."

"Director Zheng, I can do the work, but mentoring newcomers... I'm still trying to figure things out myself."

"You can always give them some pointers, can't you? You invented Soul Bead hand grenades; even I learned from you. Who would believe you if you said otherwise?"

"That's because you're highly accomplished, Director Zheng. You grasp things with just a glance; a little guidance and you understand completely..."

"Stop with the flattery. Do I need to carry you there on a grand sedan chair?"

Wang Lan immediately dared not refuse any further and obediently followed. Actually, it wasn't that Wang Lan had returned with some high level of awareness, intending to voluntarily make Soul Bead hand grenades.

It was just that all of his Star Martial Skills had upgraded significantly, and he wanted to test if he could engrave platinum-grade Star Martial Skills. If possible, he would make a few and have Yu Ruoyun deliver them to Jiang Xinyu through her channels.

After his visit to the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, Wang Lan never again dared to take the Star Martial battlefield lightly.

He had always heard about how brutal the Star Martial battlefield was and how dangerous the fighting. But he hadn't personally experienced such things. Even if he believed it deep down, he was still somewhat dismissive.

Hearing rumors and personal experience were entirely different. Wang Lan had witnessed Exotic Beasts' furious charges tear mountains asunder. He had seen scenes where a moment of carelessness could lead to certain death. Furthermore, he had experienced the Battle of Sang Guo, where they had narrowly prevented the descent of the Demon World.

If the Kingdom of Ice and Snow was like this, what was the Middle East like, mired in a deadlocked conflict for decades?

Although Jiang Xinyu said that all was well, Wang Lan was still worried. It was naturally best to send her as many Soul Bead hand grenades as possible.

"Damn it!" A senior who had just walked to the back of the classroom burst out with a swear when he saw Wang Lan chatting and laughing with Professor Zheng Gong.

"What's wrong?"

"He actually came back?"

"He is..."

"He's been abroad providing support for over a month, so it's normal that you don't recognize him," the glasses-wearing senior explained quietly to his female junior, "He's Wang Lan, the Great Demon King who single-handedly changed the situation for Spiritual Engraving, making countless third and fourth-year seniors yearn to flay him alive and devour his flesh!"

The matter of the Spiritual Engraving assessment upgrades couldn't be kept secret. Even if it could be concealed temporarily, it absolutely couldn't escape the detective-like seniors with their exhaustive searches. Eventually, when all clues converged on one person, the answer was imminent.

The beautiful upperclasswoman instantly recalled the terror of being dominated by Spiritual Engraving during those two months. For countless days and nights, she practiced Spiritual Engraving relentlessly, even mobilizing her spiritual power while sleeping.

During those two months, she, who had not slimmed down even after two years of effort, had suddenly lost twenty pounds. My now slender and graceful figure is all thanks to you! Don't you know how difficult it is for a Star Martial Warrior to maintain a voluptuous figure?

The beautiful woman suddenly gasped, her eyes becoming bloodshot and her face revealing an extremely fierce expression. You scoundrel, prepare to die!

Just as she was about to charge forward, she was caught by the senior.

"What are you doing?"

"Seeking revenge!"

Revenge? What revenge? Have you forgotten we've already made it ashore? Now that we've made it, he's the 'golden thigh' to hug! Whether we eat meat or drink soup in the future depends on how tightly we hug this golden thigh.

That's right! I've made it ashore too. In the future, I'll be as sought-after as a medical Star Martial Warrior, wanted everywhere I go.

The two entered the laboratory, where Wang Lan was still in a heated discussion with Professor Zheng Gong.

"If we store spiritual power in runes and use them as triggers, we can achieve pin-impact activation."

"But how can we resolve the delay? The ideal launch distance for a rocket projectile is twenty kilometers. How can you ensure it only triggers the grenade upon hitting the target?"

"That's why we need to change the Skill Form. The current Soul Bead hand grenades can only be described as very simple, primitive devices. Old Zheng, I remember you saying that the first people to research Soul Bead hand grenades were working on instant-detonation grenades.

Isn't this the solution then? We engrave the Star Martial Skill within the Soul Bead and imprint the triggering spiritual power in the runes. Then, we create a mechanical isolation. As soon as the rocket projectile hits the target, the mechanical isolation immediately activates, and the runes' spiritual power detonates the Star Martial Skill within the Soul Bead. This way, we can definitely achieve long-range striking..."

"Hmm... it's worth considering, but we'll need more people to research this together. How about I take you to the symposium in the Imperial Capital at the end of the year?"

"No need. I've just returned to the country and don't want to move."

Listening to Wang Lan's discussion, the two students were completely baffled. What are they planning to do? Aren't they researching Soul Bead hand grenades? Why mention rocket projectiles all of a sudden?

"Old Zheng, do you have any high-quality Soul Beads here?"

"We do, but why?" Professor Zheng Gong asked warily, staring at Wang Lan.

"Nothing much. I just want to imprint a few powerful Star Martial Skills to serve as our strategic weapons."

"Don't even think about it. Do you realize how precious a high-grade Soul Bead is? It takes at least a peak Star Sea Realm Exotic Beast, or perhaps even beyond the Star Sea Realm. The academy doesn't even have that many in total."

"Isn't the purpose of Soul Beads to be used? If they just sit in the warehouse, unused, how are they any different from glass marbles?"

"But there's no need to use such high-grade Soul Beads, right? Even for S-grade Star Martial Skills, a medium-grade Soul Bead should suffice. Try with the medium-grade Soul Beads first. If they don't work, then switch to high-grade ones."

"Fine!"

The teams working on Soul Bead hand grenades at the research institute were growing. Many students rushed over directly after their classes. Watching those students rushing over, trying to make every second count, Professor Zheng Gong felt a sense of deep satisfaction.

But whenever he glanced at Wang Lan, a flicker of irritation arose in his heart. If only Wang Lan could be half... no, even a third as dedicated as the other students, that would be good enough.

Although Wang Lan arrived quite early today, Professor Zheng Gong had always known that Wang Lan preferred to work on editing Star Martial Toxin Vaccines in the medical department. He really couldn't understand what was so fascinating about those codes that so enthralled Wang Lan.

Wouldn't it be better to make more high-grade Soul Bead hand grenades? Doesn't he know that an S-grade Star Martial Skill can instantly change the outcome of a battle?

As his thoughts drifted, a clear Star Energy Fluctuation suddenly rippled out. Wang Lan, holding a medium-grade Soul Bead, instantly turned pale, cold sweat streaming down his face.

"Wang Lan, what's happening?"

"Not good! The Soul Bead's grade is too low. It can't contain this Star Martial Skill! It's going to explode! Quick, we have to throw it out immediately!"

"Open the back window! There's an artificial lake behind it! Throw it into the lake!"

A student with quick reflexes instantly opened the window, and Wang Lan immediately hurled the Soul Bead out.

This scene, witnessed by many students, left them perplexed. Isn't Wang Lan supposed to be the world's best at making Soul Bead hand grenades? Even he makes mistakes?

Are you an idiot? Even items from an assembly line have defects, and we're making these by hand! A certain failure rate is completely...

But the rest of the sentence was abruptly cut off by a thunderous explosion.

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