That solemn "I definitely will".

Like a pebble dropped into a lake, it sent ripples spreading through the young girl's heart.

Lu Zhiyi watched that figure leaning on a staff walking gradually into the distance, the light in her eyes growing brighter and brighter.

Bidding farewell to Lu Zhiyi, Zhou Huai controlled Gandalf to hurry back without stopping to the Central Military Department.

Without the slightest pause, he drove straight ahead and arrived in front of Marshal Zhao's office door.

However, what greeted him was not the usual open door, but a guard with a solemn expression.

"Lord Gandalf." The guard respectfully executed a salute, "The Marshal has given instructions that he wants to be left alone to quiet his mind, and will not see anyone today."

Zhou Huai was stunned for a moment.

It was his first time seeing the Old Marshal have this kind of reaction.

It seemed that his proposal to start a national war had caused an impact on him far greater than imagined.

However, Zhou Huai felt that this was actually a good thing.

The more it was like this, the greater the probability of an all-out war between Great Xia Nation and Sakura Country.

At this moment, Zhao Qingcang must have already been persuaded by him.

He was just looking for a reason—a reason to convince himself, as well as the entire Great Xia Military Department, to make up his mind.

But...

The Marshal won't see me, how should I bring up asking for Mortal Demon Source Stones?

Zhou Huai knitted his brows tightly, falling into distress.

Right at this moment, a hearty voice came from not far away, breaking his train of thought.

"Yo, isn't this Gandalf??"

Zhou Huai turned his head to look and saw a familiar figure striding towards this side.

The newcomer had a stalwart build, wore a crisp general's uniform, and had a cheerful smile on his face.

Zhou Huai similarly revealed a smile.

"General Zhang, long time no see."

The newcomer was precisely Zhou Huai's old acquaintance, the fierce general of the Imperial Capital Military Department, Zhang Donglai.

Zhang Donglai walked up laughing, his fan-like large hand heavily patting Gandalf's shoulder.

"It really has been a long time! A while ago I was sent to stay at the northwest border for a spell, that desolate place almost drove me crazy!"

He glanced at the tightly closed office door, then looked at Gandalf again, sighing: "I didn't expect that during the period I left the Imperial Capital, so many things actually happened."

His smile restrained by a few fractions.

"About Principal Lin Zhu's matter, I already know."

As he spoke, he patted Gandalf's shoulder again; this time, the action was much gentler.

"This isn't your responsibility, kid, you don't need to have any psychological burden."

"If you want to blame someone, blame that bunch of thousand-slash bastards from Sakura Country!"

"If there's a chance, I will definitely lead a team personally to flatten Sakura Country and avenge Principal Lin!"

Zhou Huai looked at his righteous and indignant appearance and smiled meaningfully.

"I hope that if we truly go to an all-out war with Sakura Country in the future, General Zhang can lead the charge."

"That's for sure!" Zhang Donglai patted his chest making a thumping sound, his voice like a giant bell, "I'll go up first! If I don't twist off the heads of that bunch of scum from the Kujo Family to use as a chamber pot, I won't be surnamed Zhang!"

The two chatted and laughed for a couple of sentences, and the atmosphere eased quite a bit.

Zhang Donglai then curiously asked: "Right, what do you have to see Marshal Zhao about?"

Zhou Huai looked at Zhang Donglai, his heart stirring.

Perhaps, asking this General Zhang for help wasn't entirely out of the question either.

Thus, he simply narrated the matter of needing Mortal Demon Source Stones to enhance his strength to Zhang Donglai.

After hearing it, Zhang Donglai waved his big hand and smiled indifferently.

"I thought it was what big deal! Isn't it just a few broken stones?"

"This matter, leave it to me!"

A moment later.

Zhang Donglai strode over, a smile resembling claiming credit hanging on his face.

"Done!"

He placed a heavy metal box on the table in front of Zhou Huai, making a dull clanging sound.

"This was painstakingly extracted by me from those iron roosters in logistics after wearing out my tongue."

"You brat better thank me properly."

Zhou Huai controlled Gandalf, a trace of expectation appearing on his face.

He stretched out his hand and slowly opened the box lid.

However, the next second, the expectation on his face froze.

Inside the box was lined with thick black velvet, on which quietly lay two stones.

The stones were only the size of a fist, pitch black throughout, but their surfaces seemed to have starlight flowing within them, emitting strange energy fluctuations.

Zhou Huai blinked.

Just this?

Two pieces?

He had envisioned many possibilities, but never expected that the armory of the dignified Central Military Department, after scavenging for a long time, actually only had these two Mortal Demon Source Stones.

Seeing that he didn't react for a long time, Zhang Donglai leaned over to take a look and immediately became unhappy.

"Hey! What expression is that, kid?"

"It's not bad already that there are any, and you actually still think it's too few?"

He sat heavily opposite Zhou Huai and said with a bad temper.

"Do you know how precious this thing is?"

"The production of Mortal Demon Source Stones is extremely scarce."

"Whether it is used to set up Advanced Formations, refine legendary-grade potions, or forge legendary-quality weapons, it cannot do without them."

"This thing has always been a strategic-level reserve material, our military department doesn't even have enough for ourselves!"

"You want more?" Zhang Donglai spread his hands, "Alright, wait until next month."

"Wait until the local military departments mine them from newly discovered Secret Realms and uniformly hand them over to the center, perhaps we can spare another piece or two for you then."

Next month?

Zhou Huai shook his head.

"Too long, I can't wait."

Now Sakura Country was eyeing them covetously, the Dawnbreaker Guild was unfathomable, and there was even the SSS-grade "Amaterasu Slaying Gods" mission hanging over his head.

Time was the scarcest thing he had right now.

He must elevate the strength of all his Avatars to a completely new height within the shortest possible time.

A Secret Realm...

Zhou Huai's gaze flickered slightly, falling into deep thought.

He suddenly recalled a matter.

Ruins seemed to also be a type of Secret Realm.

Back then, it was precisely in the ancient ruins located deep underground in Donghai City, named the "Abyss of Mist", that the Zhou Family obtained a massive amount of resources.

Among them, just magic crystals alone yielded tens of thousands of pieces.

Even so, the development degree of those ruins was probably not even a tenth.

After the beast tide, for the sake of caution, he had never sent people into the ruins to explore again.

The main worry was triggering a beast tide of an even larger scale than last time inside the ruins.

But now, it was imminent.

He couldn't care about that much anymore.

No matter what, he had to go back to the Abyss of Mist to take a look.

Perhaps Mortal Demon Source Stones existed within those ancient ruins.

Thinking of this, Zhou Huai hesitated no longer.

He controlled Gandalf, stood up from the chair, and nodded slightly towards Zhang Donglai.

"Many thanks to General Zhang for explaining."

"These two Mortal Demon Source Stones, I will accept them first."

"I have also noted down the favor."

Having finished speaking, he covered the box and turned to leave.

Zhang Donglai was stunned by his crisp and neat action.

"Eh? Leaving just like this?"

However, Gandalf's figure did not pause in the slightest, quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor.

After giving the Intellect Core AI of Gandalf the command to continue leveling up, Zhou Huai's consciousness rapidly returned to his main body.

"Uncle Fu!"

He called out at the first moment.

Hearing the sound, the old housekeeper guarding outside the door immediately pushed open the door and entered.

"Young Master, what are your instructions?"

"Go find Moli."

"Have her come see me immediately, and say that I have extremely urgent matters to find her for."

Although Uncle Fu had doubts in his heart, he still immediately nodded in agreement.

"Yes, Young Master, this old servant will go right away."

Uncle Fu's efficiency was very high.

In a short while, a lither figure wearing black tight combat attire hurriedly arrived in front of Zhou Huai.

"Thump!"

As soon as Moli entered the door, she unhesitatingly knelt on one knee, stroked her chest with her right hand, and respectfully lowered her head.

"Moli pays respects to Master."

"I wonder what matter Master is looking for me for so anxiously?"

Zhou Huai didn't waste words.

He swiftly picked up the pen and paper on the table, relying on the memories in Gandalf's mind, quickly sketching on the white paper.

In a mere dozen seconds, a lifelike black stone exuding strange luster jumped onto the paper.

He handed the drawing paper to Moli's front.

"When you guys were exploring in the Abyss of Mist previously, have you ever seen this thing?"

Moli took the drawing paper, those sharp eyes falling on the diagram, her brows slightly furrowed.

She carefully scrutinized the uniquely shaped stone in the drawing, seemingly trying hard to recall something.

After a long time.

She raised her head, meeting Zhou Huai's gaze full of anticipation, and respectfully replied.

"Reporting to Master."

"I seem to have seen this kind of stone in the armory."