When Zhao Mu saw Lin Meier reach to undo her clothes, his brows knitted instantly.
"You actually hid a hidden weapon inside your clothes! I won't give you the chance!"
Zhao Mu jerked his heavenly halberd free and rushed straight at Lin Meier. The blade was unsharpened; he pressed the edge against her throat and rammed her hard against a tree trunk.
"Cough, cough…"
Lin Meier choked, coughing violently, all strength to resist drained from her body.
She was speechless, screaming inside: I was trying to seduce you, damn it!
Still, she forced a seductive smile. "Little brother, so you like Choking Play, huh?"
Zhao Mu's eyes were icy. With the heavenly halberd in his right hand pinning her throat, his left drew a Flying Knife from his waist.
The followers struggling to rise behind her froze in terror, not daring to move.
If Zhao Mu's Flying Knife could pierce Wu Gang's neck, it could just as easily skewer them.
"Hand over every number tag, forfeit, and I'll spare your life."
"Cough… don't be like this, little brother. Let me off just once and I'll let you have me, okay?"
"Look—am I not beautiful?"
Her hand slid over her own body in desperation. In the depths of her eyes Zhao Mu saw struggle and unwillingness.
For countless youths after their coming-of-age, enrolling in the Military Martial Specialization School is life's only path.
Zhao Mu understood.
But he would not show mercy.
Everyone has a reason they must win; Zhao Mu is no exception.
Without another word he pressed harder, driving the halberd's tip into the tree, inch by steady inch, the shaft crushing her throat until it nearly broke skin.
"Cough, cough…"
Blood rushed to Lin Meier's face, her brain on the verge of blackout from lack of oxygen.
"Last chance. Yield—or die."
Her followers wept, "Meier, give up! Better than dying here!"
Lin Meier clenched her lips, biting them bloody before she passed out.
Yet she never chose to yield.
Zhao Mu frowned, eyes flicking between the three behind him and the unconscious girl.
Where, he wondered, could her number tag be beneath such skimpy clothes?
He looked at the followers; they obediently handed over the tags they'd seized.
Zhao Mu let them off, saying, "Leave your quivers and carry her out of here."
Between them they carried more than fifty number tags!
No surprise—Lin Meier was strong, and her stunning looks left most boys helpless against her tricks.
Under Zhao Mu's gaze they summoned a Giant Eagle and flew out of the Trial Grounds.
Zhao Mu turned toward the flame-lit, smoke-wreathed peak and strode off… Golden Elephant City stood with thirty-odd men astride the battle-ring's edge.
A long cordon formed; anyone heading for the summit had to pass them first.
Solos or small squads, all were ambushed on sight.
They swiftly amassed a mountain of number tags.
Golden Elephant City watched, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.
Dawn crept in; by four o'clock the sky was light, making sneak attacks unlikely.
Suddenly Wang Qing ran over elated. "Young Master Jin, I've caught two fine prizes!"
Golden Elephant City looked: Wang Qing, Sun Wei, and Chen Mingming were herding two grimy Trial Participants forward.
"Who are they?"
Golden Elephant City was curious. "I only told you to deal with Zhao Mu."
A sinister grin curled Wang Qing's mouth.
"With them we've got leverage to force Zhao Mu out!"
He kicked the pair from behind; they dropped to their knees.
Golden Elephant City studied them and found them oddly familiar.
They were Li Zixuan and Zhou Haoyu—he remembered them traveling with Zhao Mu earlier.
"So it's them. You sure they're useful?"
Golden Elephant City shot Wang Qing a glance.
"Absolutely."
Wang Qing's smile brimmed with hatred. "Zhao Mu's a hypocrite—he won't watch these two die!"
A sharp glint flashed in Golden Elephant City's eyes.
"You mean…?"
Wang Qing sneered. "Easy—announce that if Zhao Mu doesn't show we'll kill them. That fame-hungry saint will come running!"
Golden Elephant City hadn't expected such ruthlessness from Wang Qing.
They were only eighteen. Though ready to kill on the battlefield, none wished to unless forced.
Still, since the plan was Wang Qing's, Golden Elephant City didn't mind.
"Fine—keep them for now. If Zhao Mu lasts till the end, we'll use them."
Before he finished, a scream tore through the air!
He looked up to see several Large Corps members hurled skyward!
"Hmm?"
Golden Elephant City frowned. "Who goes there?"
A dozen men blocked the way, every face stunned and terrified.
A massive hand lifted a Trial Participant by the collar; ignoring the frantic kicking, it casually flung the youth like trash—sending him flying five or six meters!
It felt as if a living Meat Mountain were approaching.
Golden Elephant City finally saw who it was.
The most dangerous Trial Participant—once without equal.
After Zhao Mu's rise, the only one who matched him in threat.
The titan Wu Gang!
Wu Gang strode forward, War Hammer in right hand, each step shaking their line.
That terrifying frame alone crushed the others in Aura.
Golden Elephant City's men were many, but mostly mediocre—no strong fighter would serve as his lackey.
After Wu Gang shattered their first combined strike, their nerve broke; none dared advance.
They relied on numbers; when it came to staking their lives, who would step up?
So-called teams were temporary—none were fools.
More than thirty men simply parted, clearing a path for Wu Gang to stride through.
All eyes turned to Golden Elephant City, the message clear.
Time for the Large Corps boss to show his strength.
Golden Elephant City met Wu Gang's gaze; Wu Gang spotted him too.
Wu Gang raised his War Hammer and pointed. "You their leader? Then you've got the most number tags—taking you down ends this."
Golden Elephant City narrowed his eyes, his actor's face turning deadly.
"My head's right here—got what it takes to claim it?"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)