Chapter 47: Olive Branch

"???"

Lu Jing furrowed his brow, couldn't help complaining in his mind: "What damn luck, I failed on the first enhancement?"

Fortunately, enhancing equipment doesn't consume one's own stamina.

Seeing the five remaining red crystal shards, Lu Jing made up his mind and clicked continue.

Mist rose again in the enhancement slot, and the enhancement began.

Lu Jing silently prayed in his heart; this was his last chance, he had to succeed!

【Ding! Congratulations, host, the Thousand-Blade Demon Sword enhancement is complete!】

【This enhancement consumed a total of 10 red crystal shards and 200,000 money, deducted from the account!】

"Did it automatically deduct my money?"

Lu Jing was startled, took out his phone to check, and indeed his account balance had mysteriously decreased by 200,000.

"Oh well, as long as the enhancement succeeded..."

At this moment the Thousand-Blade Demon Sword was still in the enhancement slot, only the displayed information had changed somewhat.

【Weapon: Thousand-Blade Demon Sword+1】: Attack-only, peerless under heaven, national treasure of the God-Forging State......

【Enhancement+1】: Sharpness increased by 10%; upon reaching level five it will undergo a qualitative change.

"Indeed, the enhanced Thousand-Blade Demon Sword is sharper, and does reaching level five bring other changes?"

Lu Jing's face lit up with joy as he took the freshly forged Thousand-Blade Demon Sword from the enhancement slot and examined it closely.

The Thousand-Blade Demon Sword's appearance changed: the blade carried a chill, and the purple light flickering on its body was deeper than before.

"Not bad—though ten percent sounds small, it actually helps a lot!"

Lu Jing was very pleased; this increase in sharpness lets him stab deeper into enemies when he controls the blade.

Moreover, he can keep enhancing it, and he looks forward to what surprises reaching +5 might bring.

Still some distance from the Martial Association, Lu Jing sheathed the Thousand-Blade Demon Sword and closed his eyes to rest.

In this martial world, carrying a sword or knife on one's person is completely normal.

So when he had just drawn the sword to look at it, it didn't attract the driver's attention.

"Young man, we've arrived!"

The driver ahead turned his head to remind them.

Lu Jing nodded, and together with Jiang Fanxin he got out of the car.

Before their eyes lay an extensive complex of buildings, with towering high-rises, far more imposing than the Anwu City Martial Association.

After passing the gatehouse identity check, the two entered the main gate.

The square inside was filled with jeeps reserved for the Martial Association, and many people in military uniforms bustled back and forth.

At that moment a jeep drove in from outside the gate; a soldier with a scar on his face jumped down from the vehicle.

"Hey, you two little brats, what are you here for?"

Lu Jing said nothing; Jiang Fanxin stepped forward and said: "We're here to claim the mission reward—we completed the Demon Beast Rampage mission!"

"You completed this mission?"

The scarred soldier questioned.

It wasn't that he looked down on Lu Jing and Jiang Fanxin; it was mainly because Ye Shaohua had just returned, claiming he had completed the mission.

Moreover, the soldier had a rough understanding of the Demon Beast Rampage mission, which is quite dangerous and difficult; judging by Lu Jing and Jiang Fanxin's ages, he doubted they could even make it deep into the Huāngshén Cónglín.

Thinking this, the scarred man waved his hand: "You're too late—this mission has already been taken by someone else."

"What?"

Lu Jing and Jiang Fanxin exchanged a glance, full of doubt.

Jiang Fanxin's tone grew anxious as she explained: "We are the ones who completed this mission; whether we came early or late doesn't matter—we have video proof!"

"Oh?"

The scarred man blinked, gestured for them to wait a moment, then pulled out his phone and muttered something with a strange expression.

"Come on, I'll take you in to see someone."

The scarred man turned and walked inside; Lu Jing and Jiang Fanxin followed behind him.

"The person I want you to see is the Martial Association's vice president, Gu Yushan; whether the mission was completed by you still needs his verification and evaluation."

"All right," Jiang Fanxin nodded, then asked: "You just said someone had already completed it—what do you mean?"

"Oh, before you arrived a person came, claiming he had completed the mission."

Jiang Fanxin frowned tightly: "How is that possible!"

"Besides, that person is the president Ye's grandson; you'd better not have lied, or else..."

Lu Jing said nothing, but his face looked grim.

I never expected that after Lu Jing and Jiang Fanxin painstakingly completed the mission, they would have their achievement snatched by a connection.

Fortunately Jiang Fanxin had kept a backup, using her phone to record everything.

Not long after, the three arrived at the vice president's office.

To Lu Jing's surprise, this vice president looked remarkably young—about thirty years old.

"Young man, hello."

Gu Yushan sat upright in a wide dragon-carved chair, his expression stern, his eyes like cold snow, his aura inwardly restrained yet still exuding a mighty, imposing presence.

"President Gu, hello."

Lu Jing and Jiang Fanxin replied.

Gu Yushan lightly nodded, glanced over the two, then fixed his gaze on Lu Jing.

"Lu Jing, right? Youthful talent, indeed not bad."

Lu Jing slightly frowned, "Do you know me?"

"Xu Xingwu introduced you to me before, saying that Anwu City produced a genius; seeing you today, you seem even stronger than he said."

Gu Yushan's eyes flashed, as if he could see through Lu Jing's strength.

"I don't deserve the genius label; I'm just a bit luckier."

Lu Jing replied humbly.

"Hmm," Gu Yushan chuckled, "Are you interested in working for the Martial Association after graduating from Martial University? I can appoint you as a team leader in the Combat Team, ding."

"Ah?"

Lu Jing never expected Gu Yushan to extend an olive branch to him—the captain of the Provincial Martial Association's Combat Team, a high-ranking post.

The Vice President spoke personally, and they would surely not go back on their word.

"How about it, interested or not? I think highly of you," Gu Yushan said, seeing Lu Jing hesitate, then continued: "Your talent is strong; once you join the Martial Association, I can personally mentor you."

Lu Jing thought for a moment and replied, "It's still a while before I graduate from Martial University..."

"It's fine, you don't need to rush to reply; just remember that I'm the first one who extended an olive branch to you."

Then Gu Yushan added, "Entering officialdom after graduation is a great option; your freedom won't be restricted, the Combat Department only needs you to complete combat missions, and other times they won't interfere with you."

Gu Yushan seemed to see through Lu Jing's worries.

He was not only giving Lu Jing time, but also buying himself time; after Lu Jing graduates from Martial University, it would be clear whether he was a talent worth cultivating.

If Lu Jing remains a genius, then I would be the first to recruit him; emotionally and logically, Lu Jing would likely be brought under his command.

But if it turns out to be a fleeting brilliance, then when Lu Jing graduates I can simply find an excuse to refuse.

He has already used this tactic to recruit many talents, building his own faction within the Martial Association.