Zhao Mu didn't bother asking why Song Siqi had come to provoke him.
There was no need.
The moment someone stepped forward with hostility, words became meaningless.
If the other party wanted a fight—
Then he would give them one.
Zhao Mu had already recognized him.
Song Siqi.
Battle Rank 6.
During the weighted endurance training, when everyone had been pushed to their limits, it had been impossible to hide one's true strength. Spiritual Ability fluctuations exposed everything.
And Song Siqi had stood among the stronger group.
Clearly—
He had chosen Zhao Mu as an easy target.
A "soft persimmon" to crush.
Zhao Mu's lips curved slightly.
Good.
He had just broken through to Battle Rank 3.
He needed someone to test his strength.
And Song Siqi had delivered himself right to his doorstep.
No Rules
Jiang Jiu arrived shortly after, arms crossed as he glanced at the two.
"There are no rules in this duel," he said calmly. "The fight ends when one side admits defeat… or loses the ability to continue."
The moment those words fell—
Song Siqi laughed.
He walked leisurely toward the weapon rack and picked up two C-grade alloy long sabers.
"No rules?" he sneered. "Then you're in for a miserable time."
Zhao Mu stepped onto the training ground, gripping his heavenly halberd.
The weapon was massive—nearly two meters long and weighing fifty jin.
Yet in his hands, it seemed perfectly natural.
"Miserable?" Zhao Mu replied calmly.
"Are you talking about yourself?"
The two faced each other.
The air grew tense.
Song Siqi's eyes flickered with excitement.
"You made quite a name for yourself today," he said slowly.
"But now…"
"I, Song Siqi, will step on you—and establish my reputation in Qingfeng Camp!"
With that—
He swung both sabers downward.
Whoosh—!
Flames erupted instantly.
From the hilts, fire surged outward, wrapping around the blades until both weapons burned like twin torches.
The temperature rose sharply.
Even the air seemed to distort under the heat.
Gasps spread among the surrounding trainees.
"That's… manifestation of Spiritual Ability characteristics!"
"He's just a new recruit and already mastered it?"
"He must be from a powerful family…"
"Fire-element combat technique—no doubt about it."
"He's definitely had guidance."
Whispers spread like wildfire.
No one doubted Song Siqi's strength.
And no one believed Zhao Mu could win.
Arrogance
Song Siqi didn't rush.
Instead, he stood there, holding his flaming sabers, watching Zhao Mu like a predator observing prey.
"I've studied you," he said.
"I heard your physical strength is impressive."
He smirked.
"You've worked hard on your body, haven't you?"
"Trying to compensate for your lack of Spiritual Ability?"
"How pathetic."
Zhao Mu said nothing.
"Let me tell you something," Song Siqi continued, raising one saber and pointing it at him.
"The gap between Battle Rank 2 and Battle Rank 6…"
"…is something you can never cross."
"This isn't the entrance trial anymore."
"Now that I've mastered Spiritual Ability…"
"…your body won't even withstand a single strike."
His voice dripped with confidence.
Arrogance.
Superiority.
"You should just admit defeat," he added casually.
"Losing to someone like me isn't shameful."
"After all…"
"This is the difference between someone from an elite family…"
"…and someone like you."
Jiang Jiu frowned slightly.
He came prepared.
This isn't just arrogance—it's calculated.
But Zhao Mu—
Smiled.
"If I were you," he said calmly, "I wouldn't reveal my abilities so quickly."
He began walking forward.
Step by step.
"And besides…"
His grip on the halberd tightened.
"You know nothing about my body."
The Power of Strength
Zhao Mu's strength was no ordinary strength.
Innate Divine Strength—Proficiency: 175.
For comparison—
100 was considered the peak for a human of similar build.
175?
That was no longer human.
That was a monster.
A humanoid beast.
"What gave you the illusion…" Zhao Mu said softly,
"…that physical strength is useless?"
The First Clash
BOOM!
Zhao Mu stomped forward.
In an instant—
He disappeared.
No.
He didn't disappear.
He moved so fast that he became a blur—a streak of black cutting through the battlefield.
"So fast?!"
Song Siqi's eyes widened.
He reacted instantly, crossing his sabers and charging forward.
If Zhao Mu wanted close combat—
Then he would crush him head-on.
Zhao Mu gripped the halberd with both hands.
Spiritual Ability surged.
Bind. Condense.
Energy gathered along the weapon's shaft, solidifying into a dense, powerful force.
The clash was inevitable.
CLANG—!!
Flaming sabers struck the halberd.
Fire met steel.
Power met power.
But—
The expected outcome never came.
Zhao Mu didn't budge.
Not even an inch.
Instead—
Song Siqi's expression changed.
It felt like—
He had struck a mountain.
A block of solid iron.
The force rebounded violently.
His arms trembled.
Pain shot through his hands.
"What—?!"
Before he could react—
Zhao Mu moved.
BOOM!!
The halberd swept in a wide arc.
Like a storm unleashed.
Song Siqi was sent flying backward.
Ten steps.
More.
He barely stabilized himself, staring at his trembling hands in disbelief.
"I… lost in strength?"
"To someone at Battle Rank 3?!"
Shock
The surrounding trainees erupted.
"No way…!"
"Did you see that?!"
"Battle Rank 6… pushed back?!"
"That halberd…"
"I thought it was just for show!"
"Anyone who can wield that thing… is terrifying!"
Even Jiang Jiu's expression grew serious.
"His control over Spiritual Ability…"
"…is extraordinary."
"Bind and Condense at that level…"
"He might actually win."
Overwhelming Force
Zhao Mu didn't pause.
He stepped forward again.
Faster.
Relentless.
He wouldn't give Song Siqi time to recover.
The halberd moved.
Horizontal sweep.
Forward thrust.
Downward chop.
Each strike carried terrifying force.
The heavy weapon moved like a living thing—fluid, precise, unstoppable.
Song Siqi struggled to keep up.
His technique was excellent.
His Spiritual Ability superior.
But—
None of it mattered.
He couldn't use it.
Zhao Mu's attacks came like a storm.
Relentless.
Oppressive.
Any attempt to block—
Resulted in numbing pain.
Any attempt to counter—
Was crushed instantly.
One force.
Breaking ten techniques.
Desperation
Song Siqi's breathing grew uneven.
His confidence shattered.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
He was supposed to win.
To dominate.
To establish his reputation.
Instead—
He was being overwhelmed.
The whispers around him only made it worse.
Humiliation burned in his chest.
"No…!"
With a roar, he forced his Spiritual Ability to surge.
His muscles bulged.
Flames intensified.
He blocked a strike—
Then—
Threw one saber forward.
Straight at Zhao Mu's face.
Zhao Mu tilted his head slightly.
Dodged.
In that instant—
Song Siqi moved.
He closed the distance.
This was his chance.
Short weapons against a long weapon.
At close range—
He would have the advantage.
But—
Zhao Mu smiled coldly.
The Decisive Strike
"You're too predictable."
He shifted his grip.
Held the halberd horizontally.
Spiritual Ability surged again.
"Catch this!"
With a powerful roar—
He swung.
The halberd tore through the air.
Carrying unstoppable force.
Crashing directly toward Song Siqi.
And in that moment—
The outcome was already decided.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)