Jiang Jiu's words struck Zhao Mu like a bolt of lightning.
It wasn't just a simple reminder—it was a revelation.
For a moment, Zhao Mu stood frozen in place, his thoughts churning violently as realization dawned upon him.
That's right…
All this time, he had been obsessively focused on using the power of the demon clown to increase his skill proficiency. He had pushed himself relentlessly, chasing efficiency to the point where he was nearly on the verge of Qi deviation.
And yet—
He had overlooked something so obvious.
The Seven Kills Battle Method… was incomplete.
It wasn't a perfect, self-contained system. It was merely a foundation—a framework waiting to be expanded.
If Zhao Mu truly wanted to transform it into his own exclusive combat system, then he couldn't rely on it alone. He needed to draw from other combat techniques, absorb their strengths, and integrate them.
Fist techniques.
Kicking techniques.
Weapon techniques.
Only by studying a wide variety of combat styles could he fill in the missing pieces and evolve the Seven Kills Battle Method into something truly powerful.
Zhao Mu's eyes lit up, shining with newfound clarity.
Without hesitation, he bowed deeply toward Jiang Jiu.
"Thank you for your guidance, Instructor Jiang," he said sincerely. "I understand now."
Jiang Jiu glanced at him, a faint smile appearing on his face. He nodded slightly, then turned and left with his hands clasped behind his back, saying nothing further.
Zhao Mu straightened slowly, watching Jiang Jiu's departing figure.
A trace of awe flickered in his gaze.
Qingfeng Camp truly hides dragons and crouching tigers…
Even Bu Yanhuan had once said that this place was the best training ground for elites.
At the time, Zhao Mu had only half believed it.
But now—
A single sentence from Jiang Jiu had saved him from countless detours.
It was a lesson Zhao Mu would not forget.
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Mu calmed his thoughts and shifted his focus back to cultivation.
He raised his wrist and activated his electronic wristband.
A light projection appeared in front of him, connecting to the official system of Qingfeng Camp.
He had already carefully read the trainee manual, so he was familiar with the rules.
Elementary Combat Techniques were fully accessible to all trainees.
However, once one reached Intermediate or Advanced techniques, access would require a significant amount of academic credits.
Zhao Mu navigated through the Combat Technique Library.
What greeted him was a dazzling array of options.
Rows upon rows of techniques filled the interface, each categorized neatly.
[Beginner Spear Technique]
[Introductory Halberd Technique]
[Introductory Fist Technique]
[Basic Leg Technique]
…and many more.
Each one represented a different combat style, a different way of utilizing the body and spirit power.
After only a moment of consideration, Zhao Mu made his decision.
He downloaded them all.
To others, this might seem excessive.
After all, Elementary Combat Techniques were merely transitional tools. Most trainees would only learn one or two before moving on to higher-level techniques.
Spreading oneself too thin would only slow progress.
But Zhao Mu was different.
With the solid foundation provided by the Seven Kills Battle Method, he had the confidence to quickly grasp these techniques.
For him, they weren't distractions—
They were building blocks.
Without hesitation, Zhao Mu opened one of the files.
[Introductory Halberd Technique]
Among all weapons, heavy weapons suited him best.
His physical strength far exceeded that of ordinary Spirit Power Users, and his Innate Divine Strength allowed him to wield massive weapons with ease.
The halberd, in particular, was a weapon of both power and versatility.
It could slash, chop, thrust, hook, and block.
It was perfect for him.
Zhao Mu walked toward the weapon rack.
His gaze swept across the neatly arranged weapons before stopping on one.
A heavy, two-meter-long heavenly halberd made of C-grade alloy.
Without hesitation, he reached out and lifted it.
The weapon weighed fifty jin, yet in his hands, it felt stable and natural.
"Demon clown… activate."
As his voice fell, the familiar presence stirred.
A strange, invisible force brushed across his consciousness, and the skill interface appeared before him.
"Select skill: Introductory Halberd Technique."
The display updated instantly.
[Introductory Halberd Technique]: Elementary Combat Technique, proficiency 0.
At the same time, the wristband projected a training interface into the air.
A virtual figure appeared.
Its features were indistinct, but its body was semi-transparent, revealing the flow of spirit power within.
Every movement it made was precise.
Every action was deliberate.
When it executed a strike, Zhao Mu could clearly see how spirit power flowed through its meridians, gathering at specific points before being released.
This was no ordinary demonstration.
It was a complete guide—covering movement, force application, and energy control.
Zhao Mu took a steady breath.
Then—
He began.
Facing the projection, he mimicked the virtual figure's movements step by step.
The halberd moved.
Slow at first.
Clumsy.
Unrefined.
Each motion felt awkward, as though his body and the weapon were not yet fully synchronized.
—
Meanwhile, on the second floor of the training facility…
Jiang Jiu returned to the lounge area.
He poured himself a cup of tea and sat down leisurely, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
But that peace didn't last long.
As he casually glanced toward the training area, his expression froze.
"What is this kid doing…?"
His eyes widened slightly.
Through the glass window, he could clearly see Zhao Mu practicing the Introductory Halberd Technique.
Jiang Jiu nearly spat out his tea.
"Is he crazy?!"
He stood up abruptly and walked to the window, his gaze sharpening.
"Practicing a combat technique on his own, without a mentor's guidance… does he really think he's some unparalleled genius?"
In truth, his earlier words to Zhao Mu had only been meant as encouragement.
The real training hadn't even begun yet.
After the one-month boot camp, the official courses of Qingfeng Camp would start.
Among them was the Weapon Course, where trainees would receive systematic instruction in various combat techniques.
Learning even an Elementary Weapon Technique properly required structured teaching.
With a mentor's guidance, most trainees would take about a year to reach basic combat readiness.
Even talented individuals would still need three to five months.
And that was under careful supervision.
Self-study?
That was an entirely different matter.
Without guidance, even the simplest movements—such as a basic chop or thrust—could be performed incorrectly.
And once bad habits formed, they would be difficult to correct.
The difference between guided learning and blind practice was like the difference between a straight road and a winding maze.
Because of this, Jiang Jiu felt a trace of disappointment.
Zhao Mu's eagerness for quick success seemed shortsighted.
"…Forget it," Jiang Jiu muttered, shaking his head.
"Once he fails a few times, he'll understand."
He turned away, no longer paying attention.
—
Back in the training area…
Zhao Mu continued practicing.
Just as Jiang Jiu had predicted, his first attempt was far from successful.
His force projection was unstable.
The angle of his strikes was inconsistent.
The transitions between movements were stiff and unnatural.
His halberd technique looked clumsy.
However—
It wasn't entirely unstructured.
Thanks to the foundation of the Seven Kills Battle Method, Zhao Mu's movements retained a certain coherence.
Without it, he would have looked far worse.
Zhao Mu himself was fully aware of his shortcomings.
But he wasn't worried.
Because he had something others didn't.
The demon clown.
With each repetition, as his proficiency increased, his body began to "remember."
Mistakes were corrected.
Inefficiencies were reduced.
Gradually, he began to find the right rhythm.
At first, the improvement was subtle.
Barely noticeable.
But as time passed, the changes became more obvious.
This was the terrifying aspect of his ability.
For ordinary people, once they reached a certain level, further improvement depended on comprehension—something that couldn't be taught easily.
But Zhao Mu didn't face that bottleneck.
His proficiency system allowed him to break through limitations steadily.
—
Half an hour later…
Zhao Mu finally completed his first full training cycle.
He lowered the halberd slightly, breathing steadily.
A notification appeared.
[Introductory Halberd Technique]: proficiency 1.
He paused.
Closed his eyes briefly.
Replaying his movements in his mind, he carefully analyzed his mistakes.
Then—
Without wasting time, he began again.
The second round.
This time, his movements were smoother.
His strikes were more precise.
His control over spirit power improved.
And with each repetition—
His proficiency increased.
[Introductory Halberd Technique]: proficiency 2…
[Introductory Halberd Technique]: proficiency 3…
The numbers rose steadily.
Zhao Mu's progress was astonishing.
His foundation was simply too strong.
The Seven Kills Battle Method provided him with a solid base.
His Innate Divine Strength made handling the heavy halberd effortless.
His control over spirit power was already comparable to that of experienced users.
In some aspects, he was even on par with Qingfeng Camp instructors.
Under such conditions, learning an Elementary Combat Technique was almost like having divine assistance.
The halberd moved faster.
Sharper.
More fluid.
Spirit power wrapped around the weapon, shifting according to each movement.
When defending, it concentrated along the shaft.
When attacking, it gathered at the blade.
Every action became more refined.
Time passed unnoticed.
Hours slipped by.
—
When Jiang Jiu returned later and casually glanced toward the training area…
He froze.
The cup in his hand slipped.
"Clang!"
It shattered on the floor.
But he didn't notice.
His eyes were locked onto Zhao Mu.
The halberd in Zhao Mu's hands moved like a living thing.
Powerful.
Controlled.
Fluid.
It no longer resembled the clumsy practice from earlier.
Instead, it carried the faint shadow of mastery.
Jiang Jiu's gaze shifted to the system display.
And then—
His pupils contracted.
[Introductory Halberd Technique]: proficiency 29.
Silence fell.
For the first time—
Jiang Jiu was truly shocked.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)
50% Offers are going on claim yours as soon as possible