“No, no, no, Captain.
You got it wrong.” Lu Ming waved his hands.
Under everyone’s puzzled gazes, he corrected Chen Muye’s phrasing.
“It’s not forging Forbidden Object—it’s forging Zanpakuto.” Lu Ming sheathed Senbonzakura once more.
“Forbidden Object are Forbidden Object, and Zanpakuto are Zanpakuto!
You can classify Zanpakuto as Forbidden Object if you want, Captain, but right now, I can only forge Zanpakuto.” Chen Muye slowly sat back down.
He didn’t doubt Lu Ming.
A Forbidden Realm ability like this could easily be tested.
Moreover, only a rationale like this seemed to explain why a Forbidden Realm would manifest from a Zanpakuto.
“So, Lu Ming, can every Zanpakuto you forge unleash a Forbidden Realm like Senbonzakura?” If Lu Ming’s Forbidden Realm ability allowed him to create more blades like Senbonzakura, it would be an incomparable fortune for the entire Nightwatch of Daxia.
Wu Xiangnan immediately realized Lu Ming’s immense value.
Starblades were good, but they were not Forbidden Object.
Chen Muye and the others looked at Lu Ming, awaiting his answer.
Lu Ming smiled.
“Vice Captain Wu, it’s not quite what you think!
Every Zanpakuto I forge is unique.
Besides, as you just experienced, you couldn’t use this Zanpakuto’s Forbidden Realm yourself.” Wu Xiangnan’s expression froze as he realized he had oversimplified things.
With his current strength, he couldn’t even use Senbonzakura’s Forbidden Realm.
Even if Lu Ming could forge more Zanpakuto like Senbonzakura, other Nightwatch members likely wouldn’t be able to use them either.
Seeing everyone frown, Lu Ming explained: “Like I just said, only by becoming a Zanpakuto’s proxy can someone use its Forbidden Realm!” “To give an example, it’s just like the Divine Realm Old Zhao mentioned to me before!
Michael bestowed his power upon that proxy, so the proxy gained Michael’s Divine Realm power.” “Zanpakuto work the same way.
Only by gaining a Zanpakuto’s recognition do you get the chance to unlock its Forbidden Realm!
The Zanpakuto I forge won’t acknowledge mediocre people…” Lu Ming spoke with great confidence—a tone that made Wen Qimo and Si Xiaonan slightly uncomfortable.
Though both were good-natured, hearing such boastful words naturally gave them a slight bias against him.
That was a Divine Realm he was talking about.
Lu Ming’s words were essentially equating his Zanpakuto to gods.
Perhaps Lu Ming’s Senbonzakura Forbidden Realm was strong, but it surely couldn’t match a Divine Realm.
Becoming a Zanpakuto’s proxy?
It sounded pretty unreliable.
Lu Ming’s claims were far too mind-boggling.
Even Chen Muye, who held the Black Impermanence Forbidden Realm, and Wu Xiangnan, formerly of Squad Blue Rain, harbored doubts about Lu Ming’s statements.
Seeing their mixed reactions, Lu Ming knew seeing was believing.
Time would naturally prove everything.
“Then what do you need to forge these so-called Zanpakuto?” As expected of a Nightwatch squad captain, Chen Muye immediately seized upon the core of Lu Ming’s Forbidden Realm.
Nothing could be created out of thin air.
If Lu Ming truly had such a Forbidden Realm, he wouldn’t have just this single blade right now.
Talking to smart people was so refreshing.
Lu Ming met Chen Muye’s gaze and said: “I need materials gathered from the Mysterious.
The Ghostface we encountered tonight can provide materials for forging Zanpakuto!
So, Captain, please hand over the Ghostface remains you collected earlier.” Lu Ming pressed his hands together in front of him, making a begging gesture.
This playful demeanor was completely at odds with his grand description of the Zanpakuto’s Forbidden Realm moments ago.
“So that’s your real purpose for joining the Nightwatch.” Chen Muye’s voice turned cold.
Everyone’s eyes shifted back to Lu Ming.
Lu Ming raised an eyebrow.
That was indeed a factor, but before making the decision to join the Nightwatch, he hadn’t known that Mysterious creatures like the Ghostface could yield forging materials.
His original intention in joining Squad 136 was to prevent tragedy and right past regrets.
Still, letting Chen Muye misunderstand wasn’t a bad thing.
“Yes, Captain Chen.
That is indeed my main reason for joining the Nightwatch.” Lu Ming nodded, accepting Chen Muye’s conclusion.
Chen Muye’s expression turned icy, and the air pressure in the room sank lower and lower.
A moment later, Chen Muye’s expression relaxed, and he extended a hand: “Lu Ming, welcome to Nightwatch Squad 136!
Regardless of your true purpose, as long as your goal is to eliminate the Mysterious entities threatening Cangnan, our objectives align.” “I will submit an application to headquarters on your behalf.
Before the results come through, you can act with us as a provisional member.” At Chen Muye’s words, everyone’s tense nerves relaxed.
Zhao Kongcheng was especially thrilled.
With Lu Ming joining, Squad 136 was even stronger, making them better equipped to protect Cangnan City.
Lu Ming reached out and shook Chen Muye’s hand.
“Captain, can you help me apply for a leave of absence from school tomorrow?
Studying is way too hard.” “Also, I get an allowance, right?
Can I get an advance on my salary?
Cangnan isn’t huge, but living here isn’t cheap—I’m practically starving.” “Oh, and where are the remains of those Ghostfaces from today…” A vein throbbed on Chen Muye’s forehead.
Now that Lu Ming had joined the Nightwatch, he seemed even more shameless and brazen.
School leave, advance pay, and asking for monster corpses right off the bat…
Chen Muye genuinely questioned whether recruiting Lu Ming was the right choice.
“Zhao Kongcheng, you brought Lu Ming here.
Take him to Logistics where the Mysterious remains are handled.
We’ll talk about everything else later!” Chen Muye waved his hand in annoyance, ushering everyone out except Wu Xiangnan.
“Hey, Captain, don’t be like that!
Advance me some pay first!
I really don’t have money for food!” Lu Ming looked at the closing door, feeling helpless.
Why was the gap in treatment between him and Lin Qiye so huge?
Were Divine Realm holders really favored that much?
So unfair!
Lu Ming sighed, then turned with a mischievous grin toward Zhao Kongcheng.
He remembered Zhao Kongcheng had some money on him.
Might as well keep mooching off the big spender for a while.
Zhao Kongcheng felt a chill run down his spine and instantly clutched his pockets.
“My salary isn’t high either!
I can’t afford to keep feeding you!” Remembering how Lu Ming had eaten several hundred bucks’ worth of late-night snacks in one go, he quickly established his boundary.
Seeing Zhao Kongcheng like this, Hongying gave a soft laugh.
The connection between Zhao Kongcheng and Lu Ming was remarkably warm and harmonious.
“Lu Ming, do you really have no money left for food?
Why don’t you move in with me then?
I have spare rooms at my place, and it’s too big for just one person anyway.
We can solve your meal situation together while we’re at it…” Hongying’s warmth was just like her name—vibrant and fiery—forming a sharp contrast with the stingy Zhao Kongcheng.
Lu Ming immediately shifted his focus.
As long as he had a place to stay, he was happy.
Either way, he had zero intention of going back to school.
“Thank you, Sister Hongying!
I’ll definitely repay you in the future!” Even though Hongying possessed a Forbidden Realm and initially seemed like the protagonist of the story, her Forbidden Realm lacked long-term potential, causing her role to diminish and her strength to fall behind the meta in future arcs.
Leaving Sister Hongying to feel left behind and disheartened as the main group scaled higher?
Now that Lu Ming was in Squad 136, there was no way he would let that happen.