Golden Elephant City finally made his move!
Even though he possessed the jinhai—a weapon considered overpowered during the trial—he still chose the safest method: an ambush to kill Zhao Mu!
Using Wang Qing's trio as cover; no matter how weak they were, they were still Spirit Power Users and could distract Zhao Mu.
With this sword he had killed Sun Wei, and now he would run Zhao Mu through as well!
Everyone watched wide-eyed: they saw the silver sword sever Wu Gang's warhammer, and Zhao Mu's heavenly halberd was the same C-rank alloy material.
Clang!!
Metal shrieked on metal, yet the expected scene of the heavenly halberd being cut in half never came!
Zhao Mu gripped the heavenly halberd with both hands and blocked Golden Elephant City's strike!
This guy…
Zhang Biao slapped his thigh and laughed.
Instructor Xie Yingxue's brows relaxed into a smile.
Only Shao Han sprang up in disbelief. "Impossible! C-rank alloy can't stop a jinhai attack!"
Hearing the doubt, Xu Zhixiong gave him a calm glance. "It wasn't the C-rank gear that blocked the jinhai—it was Zhao Mu's spiritual power."
Shao Han suddenly realized something and stared at the halberd in Zhao Mu's hands.
Spiritual Entanglement, the most basic application of spiritual power, wrapping it around oneself or a weapon.
What decided the upper limit of that power was the use of Condensation.
The stronger one's Spiritual Power Control, the more power was added when entangling a weapon.
Although both Zhao Mu and Wu Gang could wrap their weapons in spiritual power, the gap between them was huge.
Zhao Mu's Spiritual Power Control mastery had reached 53!
On a 100-point scale, even a B-rank Talent like Shao Han at Combat Level 9 didn't exceed 15.
Naturally Shao Han couldn't understand how Zhao Mu had blocked the jinhai with a C-rank weapon.
After Xu Zhixiong's explanation, Shao Han's face turned ugly.
"Impossible! He only just Awakened his spiritual power, same as me!"
Only Shen Moran lowered her head, thought of Bu Yanhuan, and instantly understood.
"He has a good teacher. Zhao Mu's luck is simply too good."
…On the battlefield, seeing his attack blocked, Golden Elephant City froze for a moment.
"You really are interesting! No wonder someone asked me to eliminate you!"
Zhao Mu glanced at the heavenly halberd; although the blow had been stopped, the silver sword's sharpness was beyond imagination!
A deep sword scar had been left on the halberd's shaft!
Zhao Mu didn't answer; he stood holding the halberd, eyes calm as he regarded Golden Elephant City.
Golden Elephant City raised his jinhai, spiritual power surged, and the silver sword's blade gave off a terrifying silver gleam; even from afar its edge could be felt.
When it neared, Zhao Mu's skin prickled.
Instead of rushing in again, Golden Elephant City slowly lifted the silver sword and spoke unhurriedly.
"This thing is called jinhai; you've heard of it, right? My silver sword is only a first-grade jinhai, yet it sells for 60 million xuanfeng coins."
"It can slice through the C-rank alloy in your hand like tofu."
"Blocking one of my strikes surprised me, but if I'm not mistaken your weapon is already chipped—how many more can you block?"
Golden Elephant City smiled broadly.
"I can give you a chance: admit defeat and withdraw, otherwise—"
His silver sword suddenly pointed at Zhao Mu, cold light flashing!
"I can't guarantee it won't take your life."
Zhao Mu glanced at the halberd's shaft, then looked away.
Instead, he met Golden Elephant City's gaze with utter calm.
"Not long ago I saw Wu Gang's corpse."
Golden Elephant City frowned, not understanding why Zhao Mu brought up Wu Gang.
"Then you should know even better how sharp my sword is."
Zhao Mu shook his head slightly.
"Your sword split him in two, striking upward from below, so I could tell the weapon you used was most likely a sword."
"I know a bit about jinhai—powerful weapons forged from the bone remains of Dark Race creatures or beasts. They can bear a Spirit Energy User's power and maximize it."
"Yet from the cut on Wu Gang's hammer handle I'm sure you can sever his weapon, but not mine."
Zhao Mu swept the heavenly halberd in a fierce arc and smiled at Golden Elephant City.
"My Master once told me something."
"In the entrance camp trial, anyone who uses a jinhai is a loser with no confidence in their own strength!"
"So that sword in your hand is useless against me!"
Murderous intent flashed in Golden Elephant City's eyes. "You're courting death!"
The next instant he moved; the sword in his hand spun slowly, its silver edge blazing under the sun, sending off dazzling glints of light.
Golden Elephant City studied the Jin family's Intermediate Combat Technique: Sword Skill—Flowing Light, Watery Moon.
The long sword sliced the air, issuing a dragon-like cry! Wherever the blade pointed, destruction followed!
Yet even against such an overpowered weapon, no panic showed in Zhao Mu's eyes.
Fear comes from the unknown; textbooks say little about jinhai, but Bu Yanhuan had told him exactly what it was.
"You rely only on the blade's edge—if I simply avoid where the sword points, how will you win?"
The heavenly halberd shot up; Zhao Mu dodged Golden Elephant City's sword!
Golden Elephant City's swordplay was dazzling, but Zhao Mu's halberd was simple.
He gave Golden Elephant City no chance for their weapons to clash.
Light and Agile Steps activated; wind rose beneath Zhao Mu's feet, and the 50-jin heavenly halberd moved as nimbly as a sword.
The silver sword slashed diagonally at Zhao Mu; he stepped back lightly, avoiding the blade's range!
Then the halberd swept viciously at Golden Elephant City's ribs!
Golden Elephant City dodged in disarray, thrust again, but Zhao Mu's halberd was twice the length of his sword.
The sword's edge could never catch the halberd, and Zhao Mu used the longer weapon's advantage to smash the silver sword's blade!
Clang!!
The weapons collided; tremendous force shook the sword and surged into Golden Elephant City's body!
He gripped the silver sword so hard his hand almost let it fly!
Shock filled Golden Elephant City's face—his weapon held absolute advantage, yet Zhao Mu never allowed a direct contest.
A long, heavy weapon, yet wielded more lightly and deftly than his sword!
In this fight Zhao Mu displayed the killing techniques of the Seven Kills Battle Method he had honed for years!
To Xu Zhixiong and the others it was a breathtaking visual feast!
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)