Ge Tianxing struck first.
His long staff shot toward Zhao Mu's chest with astonishing speed, cutting through the air like a spear.
To everyone's surprise, Zhao Mu responded with the exact same move.
Spiritual power surged through his body and flowed into his wooden staff, completely enveloping it. Holding his weapon firmly, Zhao Mu thrust forward without the slightest hesitation.
The two staffs streaked toward each other's chests simultaneously.
It was a reckless, life-for-life exchange that made everyone watching gasp in shock.
Even Ge Tianxing hadn't expected Zhao Mu to fight so fearlessly from the very first move.
However, he felt no fear.
He was convinced that his strike would land first. Even if both attacks connected, his physical defense was superior to Zhao Mu's. At worst, they would both be injured, but Zhao Mu would undoubtedly suffer far more.
He intended to teach this arrogant newcomer an unforgettable lesson.
Unfortunately for him...
Reality proved otherwise.
Zhao Mu's staff was faster.
Only half an inch separated victory from defeat, but that tiny difference decided everything.
Before Ge Tianxing's weapon could reach its target, Zhao Mu's staff slammed into his chest.
The spiritual power gathered at the tip of the staff erupted instantly.
Boom!
Ge Tianxing had secretly reinforced his chest with spiritual power. He had even used a trace of power beyond Battle Rank 6, though he carefully kept it hidden from Instructor Wu Tianxiong.
It wasn't enough.
The instant Zhao Mu's strike landed, the concentrated force exploded from a single point.
The impact felt like a massive war hammer crashing into his chest.
His body lost all balance.
He was sent flying sideways through the air.
Bang!
Ge Tianxing crashed backward nearly five meters before desperately releasing his Battle Level 28 spiritual power to steady himself.
Although he managed to avoid collapsing completely, he still staggered to a stop while clutching his chest, looking utterly miserable.
If they had been using real weapons instead of wooden staffs...
That attack would have pierced straight through his heart.
He would have died instantly.
Meanwhile, Zhao Mu calmly lowered his staff and looked at him with an icy expression.
"My apologies."
His voice remained calm and respectful.
Yet the coldness in his eyes carried all the mockery he didn't bother to put into words.
The entire exchange had happened in less than a heartbeat.
This was true combat—where victory or death was decided in a single move.
Ge Tianxing's opening attack had exposed an obvious flaw.
Rather than trading blows, Zhao Mu simply relied on his superior speed and struck first, ending the battle immediately.
To everyone watching, it looked unbelievably simple.
Ge Tianxing charged.
Zhao Mu countered.
One exchange.
One strike.
Ge Tianxing was blasted backward.
Silence filled the classroom.
Ge Tianxing's face turned bright red with humiliation.
Being defeated in front of so many people was far worse than suffering an ordinary loss.
His pride couldn't accept it.
"You're courting death!"
With an enraged roar, he completely ignored their agreement and raised his staff again, preparing to attack Zhao Mu.
Before he could make another move...
A powerful hand suddenly grabbed him by the neck.
Wu Tianxiong lifted him into the air as effortlessly as if he were carrying a chicken.
The instructor wore a faint smile, but his narrowed eyes were ice cold.
"Do you think I'm blind?"
"You already lost to a new recruit."
"Now you intend to break the rules as well?"
"You've disgraced yourself enough."
The next moment, Wu Tianxiong opened his eyes.
With a casual swing of one arm, he hurled Ge Tianxing straight out of the classroom.
Boom!
Ge Tianxing flew dozens of meters before crashing heavily into the opposite wall like a discarded sack.
"You don't need to attend my class ever again."
"You are not worthy of learning the spear from me."
His voice echoed throughout the classroom.
No one dared to object.
Within Qingfeng Camp, Wu Tianxiong's authority inside his classroom was absolute.
Even if Principal Liu Weiguo personally appeared, the decision would remain unchanged.
Fei Wujie quietly swallowed.
He glanced at the miserable Ge Tianxing before looking back at Zhao Mu, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Just where had this newcomer found such courage?
Not only had he openly challenged an old soldier...
He had actually defeated him.
The classroom remained deathly silent.
Ignoring Ge Tianxing's fate completely, Wu Tianxiong turned toward Zhao Mu.
This time, a genuine smile appeared on his face.
"Very good."
"You've impressed me."
Zhao Mu smiled politely and nodded.
"That's only because Instructor Wu teaches so well."
Wu Tianxiong laughed heartily.
"Interesting."
"Your days in Qingfeng Camp are going to become... very exciting."
He deliberately emphasized the last two words.
Zhao Mu understood exactly what he meant.
He had just embarrassed one of the camp's senior trainees.
From today onward, many more people would come looking for trouble.
Still, Zhao Mu merely smiled.
He wasn't the least bit concerned.
To everyone else in the room, however, Zhao Mu now looked like a monster.
Not only had he defeated someone of the same combat rank...
He had also stirred up a storm that was only just beginning.
After class, Fei Wujie walked over to Zhao Mu with a broad grin and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Junior Brother, you're incredible!" he laughed. "I have to admit, you've got guts."
Zhao Mu smiled faintly.
"Senior Brother, are you here to teach me another lesson as well?"
Fei Wujie immediately raised both hands in surrender and shook his head.
"Not at all."
"I'm just here to watch the excitement."
He chuckled before continuing.
"When word spreads that Ge Tianxing was defeated by a brand-new recruit, he'll become the laughingstock of Qingfeng Camp. We'll be teasing him about this for years."
His smile gradually faded as he looked at Zhao Mu more seriously.
"Still, let me give you a piece of friendly advice."
"Be careful from now on."
"You've made yourself a lot of enemies."
Zhao Mu raised an eyebrow.
"A lot?"
"I only offended two people—Tian Hu and Ge Tianxing."
"I assumed Ge Tianxing came here because he wanted to help Tian Hu get revenge."
Fei Wujie laughed and shook his head.
"Those two aren't even close friends."
"They're barely acquaintances."
That answer surprised Zhao Mu.
"Then why would he target me?"
Fei Wujie folded his arms.
"Because you challenged the rules."
"The unwritten rules of Qingfeng Camp."
Seeing Zhao Mu remain silent, Fei Wujie sighed.
"When I first entered Qingfeng Camp four years ago, I was treated exactly the same way."
"The senior trainees bullied every newcomer."
"At the time, I couldn't understand it either."
"I kept asking myself why the older soldiers always made life difficult for new recruits."
He paused before continuing.
"Later, after surviving those years and eventually becoming a senior trainee myself..."
"I finally understood."
"It's all about seniority."
He looked Zhao Mu straight in the eyes.
"If newcomers don't respect the authority of the older soldiers, then what status do the veterans have?"
"Every generation suffers under the previous one."
"And when those newcomers eventually become veterans..."
"They repeat the same behavior."
"The advanced camps look down on the lower camps."
"The older recruits look down on the newer ones."
"The higher-ranked soldiers look down on those beneath them."
"It's a hierarchy that has existed for years."
"And everyone accepts it."
Fei Wujie let out a bitter laugh.
"We were oppressed."
"So after finally becoming senior trainees ourselves..."
"Many people naturally choose to pass that suffering on to the next generation."
"To maintain that authority, all the senior trainees have reached an unspoken agreement."
"Anyone who challenges the existing order must be crushed immediately."
He pointed at Zhao Mu.
"That's why Ge Tianxing came after you."
"You stood up to Tian Hu."
"You refused to bow your head."
"In doing so, you challenged the authority of every senior trainee in Qingfeng Camp."
"Whether they know Tian Hu or not doesn't matter."
"As far as they're concerned..."
"You've broken the rules."
Zhao Mu finally understood.
The issue had never been Tian Hu.
Nor had it been Ge Tianxing.
The real problem was the deeply rooted culture within Qingfeng Camp.
The veterans believed they had the right to suppress newcomers simply because they had arrived earlier.
To them, it was tradition.
To Zhao Mu...
It was nothing more than bullying wrapped in the name of seniority.
He had never been someone who accepted unfair treatment.
If someone wanted to suppress him, then they had better be prepared for the consequences.
A calm smile appeared on Zhao Mu's face.
"So..."
"The so-called rules exist only to protect those already in power."
Fei Wujie shrugged.
"That's one way of looking at it."
"But whether you agree with them or not..."
"Those rules have existed for a very long time."
Zhao Mu slowly clenched his fist.
"Rules are made by people."
"And anything created by people can also be broken."
"If no one dares to challenge them..."
"Then those rules will remain forever."
He looked toward the training grounds outside the classroom.
"In this era..."
"The strong move forward."
"The weak fall behind."
"I won't allow people to hide behind empty traditions and use them as an excuse to bully others."
"If they insist on blocking my path..."
"Then I'll use my own strength to carve out a new one."
His voice wasn't loud.
Yet every word carried unwavering confidence.
Fei Wujie stared at him for several moments before suddenly laughing.
"I knew it."
"You really are different from the others."
He shook his head with admiration.
"No wonder Instructor Wu thinks your future in Qingfeng Camp will be exciting."
"I'm afraid the entire camp will soon know your name."
Zhao Mu simply smiled.
He wasn't interested in fame.
Nor did he care how many enemies he made.
As long as someone tried to stand in his way...
He would defeat them.
One by one.
No matter how many came.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)