Warrior Jiro returned after disappearing from the Sky Squad members for several days. He claimed he had grown bored watching his students continuously practice their martial techniques. Since the squad members were having their custom weapons forged, Jiro seized the opportunity to wander around the area while waiting for their armaments to be completed.

After five days out of sight, Warrior Jiro finally rejoined the Sky Squad members at the private quarters provided by the city of Linggar Emas.

"Is everyone doing well? Is the food here keeping your bellies full?" Jiro greeted them warmly, acting as if they hadn't seen each other in years.

The Sky Squad members all smiled back. Over time, they had developed a deep bond of camaraderie with the master who trained them. They offered their respects to their teacher, honoring Warrior Jiro just as they would their own lifelong mentors.

Observing the moment from the far corner of the room, Aji smiled quietly. It was a wonderful time of youth for them, yet they were about to face an unimaginable threat. Perhaps sharing laughs and banter now was the best way to forge memories that would sustain them through the difficult days ahead.

"Would you all like to spar with me for a moment? Show me your best skills using your new weapons."

The squad members beamed. They stepped out of their living quarters and headed straight for the training grounds, leaving only Aji and Warrior Jiro inside the room.

"I’ve located the most heavily hidden site in this area, Aji—it might very well be the place you were looking for," Warrior Jiro whispered to Aji.

Aji offered a subtle smile. The time to execute their plan was drawing near.

Warrior Jiro left Aji's side to conduct sparring matches with his students, dividing them into teams as he had done previously. Jiro wanted to evaluate how far their abilities had developed when combined with their upgraded armaments.

Jiro felt a surge of satisfaction; every team had grown significantly stronger. In fact, even after thirty minutes of continuous sparring, he couldn't easily break through any of their team formations. They had become formidable fighters, just as Aji had directed during their conditioning sessions. Jiro kept Aji's guiding role completely secret, maintaining the illusion that he was the sole instructor elevating the Sky Squad to their maximum potential.

Aji had explained that when the time was right, he would bestow even greater power upon them—once their physical bodies were properly conditioned to receive it. Aji was guiding them along a new path, proving that martial arts was a vehicle to achieve true strength without surrendering one's body to dark influences or selling one's soul to evil. A strong physical vessel could absorb massive amounts of natural energy. That was why precise physical and mental training was required to develop both aspects simultaneously.

Jiro took on four teams in rotation. None of them seemed to be holding back, and their teamwork had improved dramatically. He could no longer take them down easily when they fought as a cohesive unit; he could only gain the upper hand if they separated and fought individually.

Crucially, Jiro was also holding back his full power. He had recently mastered a supreme technique passed down by his late master, Ganada. He refrained from using it now, keeping it as an ace up his sleeve to defeat powerful enemies in the future.

Furthermore, that supreme technique demanded a massive amount of energy, draining his reserves rapidly. To compensate, Jiro worked to cultivate his internal circles to their absolute peak, aiming to reach a realm where he would no longer face energy depletion. Natural energy was boundless—which was why mastering all eight internal circles was vital for any martial artist relying on high-drain, explosive skills.

The training methods Aji had introduced were undeniably potent. Aji was an extraordinary teacher despite his young appearance. Yet, one could not judge him by his apparent age; Aji carried the combined legacy of the Three Legends within him.

He had trained under all three masters with exceptional dedication. Jiro’s only regret was that he hadn't met Aji sooner. Still, he reasoned it was better late than never, and he intended to keep pushing his limits alongside the youth.

Their upcoming mission was drawing close. Assigned to investigate potential hideouts, Jiro had used his brief absence to scout under the guise of taking in fresh scenery. He had sought out a facility guarded with extreme security and concealed with utmost secrecy—the most heavily guarded location in all of Linggar Emas.

What was the Golden Crane Academy hiding there? Jiro was thoroughly intrigued by the mystery Aji sought to uncover, especially since Aji had used the weapon-forging request as a clever cover story to initiate the investigation.

In truth, the entire plan to commission custom weapons had been Aji's idea. Warrior Jiro had executed the proposal to expose the inner workings of the Golden Crane Academy, killing two birds with one stone: securing high-grade armaments for the squad while simultaneously gathering critical evidence.

Jiro himself had sensed a massive, sinister presence lingering around the Golden Crane Academy. However, he had refrained from jumping to conclusions; the Mondu were known to be everywhere, hiding as traitors behind reputations of heroism while secretly serving as the backbone of the Demon Lord's forces in their quest for world domination.

Without concrete proof, making an open accusation would risk sparking a catastrophic war between the righteous martial sects. Suspicions regarding Mondu operatives within the Golden Crane Academy had existed for a long time, but no irrefutable evidence had ever been uncovered. That was the primary hurdle.

Following the sparring session, Jiro stepped out once more while waiting for the remaining Sky Squad weapons to be completed. He intended to re-examine the suspicious site. Of the three unusual locations Aji had identified, one stood out as particularly anomalous due to intense guard movements around it. Something major was clearly being hidden there.

Meanwhile, a woman hesitated outside a private residence—the manor belonging to Nasura. The woman looked breathtaking, wearing a wide bamboo hat with a fine mesh veil draped around its brim. The delicate netting partially concealed her features, leaving her striking eyes and sweet lips subtly visible.

The guards stationed at the gate swallowed hard. The two men trembled with curiosity, desperate to catch a full glimpse of the woman's face.

"Where are you headed, beautiful lady?" one guard asked, his eyes darting back and forth as he tried to peer past the fine veil fluttering in the gentle breeze.

"I was assigned by a client to serve Lord Nasura. I have already been paid in full," the woman replied softly. Her melodic voice left both guards utterly entranced, lost in a sudden wave of daydreaming.

Upon hearing Nasura's name, both guards scowled internally. Why was it always their corrupt master who got to enjoy such stunning women? They felt as though the heavens cursed their meager existence as mere servants and guards. If only they were wealthy masters, they could enjoy such pleasures whenever they pleased. Feeling thoroughly defeated, their posture slumped.

"Please, go right in, Miss," the guard said, opening the heavy gate.

Neither guard harbored any suspicion. It was standard routine for Lord Nasura, a man known for indulging his basest desires without care for cost, spending whatever it took to satisfy his appetites.

The woman glided past the gates with an alluring grace that left the two guards staring wide-eyed.

"Be careful in there, fair lady! Lord Nasura can be quite wild, ha... ha... ha..." one guard called out, followed by a chorus of laughter from his partner.

As the gates closed behind her, the two guards returned to their fantasies, imagining how wonderful life would be if they were in Lord Nasura's shoes. It would be absolute paradise.