Jiang Jiu was slightly surprised when he saw Zhao Mu entering the Advanced Training Hall.
"You've unlocked access to this place already?" he asked.
Zhao Mu smiled and nodded.
"Yeah."
Jiang Jiu gave him a long look before turning around and opening one of the training rooms.
"Just like the public Training Hall, the advanced rooms have additional functions that can be unlocked later using academic credits."
"Right now, your permissions only allow access to the basic facilities."
He pointed toward the hallway ahead.
"These include the Quiet Room used for meditation and spiritual cultivation…"
"And the Combat Technique Training Room."
Zhao Mu had little interest in meditation for the moment, so he immediately chose the combat training room.
The moment he stepped inside, he realized the difference between this place and the ordinary public training area.
The environment was far more advanced.
The room itself was massive, with reinforced alloy walls covered in strange patterns and energy circuits. Weapons of every type were neatly arranged along racks nearby.
But what truly caught Zhao Mu's attention were the humanoid mechanical puppets standing silently in the center of the room.
Their metallic bodies reflected the light faintly, giving them an intimidating appearance.
Zhao Mu immediately opened the Qingfeng Camp system interface to check their information.
A moment later, surprise appeared in his eyes.
"So these are combat technique puppets…"
According to the system description, the puppets were not only capable of independent combat, but could also simulate various combat techniques.
Users could assign them different fighting styles and adjust the difficulty level freely.
Even more importantly, the puppets could engage in realistic sparring sessions designed specifically to help cultivators improve their combat technique proficiency.
Zhao Mu could not help feeling shocked.
"If I can spar in actual combat…"
"The speed at which I improve my proficiency will increase dramatically."
His eyes lit up instantly.
"As expected of Qingfeng Camp."
"The treatment for Seed Students is on an entirely different level compared to ordinary trainees."
He walked closer and carefully examined one of the puppets.
Their bodies were forged from special alloys, and despite clearly being used constantly, there wasn't a single visible crack or dent on their surfaces.
That alone proved how extraordinary their craftsmanship was.
"These things must've cost a fortune," Zhao Mu muttered.
He walked toward the weapon rack and selected a practice heavenly halberd.
The moment the weapon entered his hand, the familiar weight made his entire body relax.
Then he called out softly,
"Demon Clown, prepare the Hegemon's Formation Breaking Halberd."
A strange grin immediately appeared on the Demon Clown's face.
The display panel in its hands shifted rapidly before new words appeared.
[Hegemon's Formation Breaking Halberd]
Intermediate Combat Technique
Current Proficiency: 182
Zhao Mu nodded with satisfaction.
Then he selected a single combat puppet as his opponent.
Difficulty: Elementary.
Combat Style: Introductory Halberd Technique.
After all, the Hegemon's Formation Breaking Halberd was Zhao Mu's own personal combat art. It didn't exist within Qingfeng Camp's database.
Naturally, the puppet could not replicate it.
"Training session start."
A cold mechanical voice echoed through the room.
Instantly, crimson light flashed within the puppet's eyes.
The puppet stepped forward and selected a wooden training staff from the nearby weapon rack.
Then it assumed the opening stance of the Introductory Halberd Technique.
Zhao Mu tightened his grip on the heavenly halberd.
Whoosh!
The heavy weapon spun sharply in his hand, creating a fierce gust of wind.
The next moment, his figure burst forward like a storm.
Although the puppet's movements initially appeared stiff and mechanical, the instant combat began, its speed became astonishingly fluid.
It moved almost exactly like a real human fighter.
Just as Zhao Mu's halberd descended fiercely, the puppet raised its staff to block.
Bang!!
A deep collision echoed throughout the training room.
The puppet's body sank slightly under the impact.
Its knees bent under the pressure of Zhao Mu's overwhelming strength.
But almost immediately, Zhao Mu sensed a change.
The resistance coming through the staff suddenly increased dramatically.
Boom!
The puppet unleashed a burst of force and sent Zhao Mu sliding backward several meters.
Zhao Mu's eyes widened.
"It can automatically adjust its strength based on mine?"
His expression filled with surprise.
"As expected of Qingfeng Camp."
"This setup prevents trainees from getting accidentally injured while still giving them enough pressure during combat."
A grin slowly spread across Zhao Mu's face.
"This is perfect."
He had been worried about finding opponents at his own level.
Only a balanced battle could rapidly improve his combat proficiency.
Now, he finally had exactly what he needed.
Without hesitation, Zhao Mu attacked again.
The heavenly halberd spun violently through the air, creating sharp whistling sounds as spiritual power surged through the blade.
A faint blood-colored aura spread outward.
This time, Zhao Mu completely abandoned restraint.
Wide, sweeping attacks erupted continuously from his hands, each strike carrying overwhelming pressure and battlefield momentum.
The Hegemon's Formation Breaking Halberd was not a delicate technique.
It was fierce.
Domineering.
Overbearing.
Every movement emphasized pure offensive pressure.
Inside the puppet, its energy core began operating at full capacity.
The system continuously adjusted its strength output according to Zhao Mu's current level, ensuring both remained perfectly balanced.
Boom!
Bang!
Boom!
Violent impacts echoed repeatedly throughout the room.
Although the puppet only used the basic Introductory Halberd Technique, every movement was incredibly standard and refined.
By Zhao Mu's estimation, the puppet's mastery had already reached at least eighty proficiency points.
Of course, because it was ultimately just a machine, it lacked the subtle perfection and instinctive flow that a true master could achieve.
But for training purposes, it was more than enough.
Meanwhile, inside the monitoring office of the Training Hall, Jiang Jiu sat before a screen observing Zhao Mu's training session.
This was part of his responsibilities.
After all, accidents frequently occurred during combat training.
In severe cases, trainees could even die.
Therefore, instructors were required to monitor all advanced sessions carefully.
Originally, Jiang Jiu had only been mildly curious about Zhao Mu.
An E-rank Spiritual Energy Talent becoming a Seed Student after enrollment was already shocking enough.
At first, Jiang Jiu assumed Zhao Mu was simply hardworking and unusually determined.
But as the battle continued, his expression slowly changed.
Eventually, he sat upright in disbelief.
"What…?"
On the screen, Zhao Mu wielded the two-meter heavenly halberd as though it were an extension of his own body.
His movements flowed naturally.
Each attack was fierce yet precise.
Every motion connected seamlessly into the next.
The puppet, despite possessing perfectly standardized techniques, was being completely suppressed.
From the beginning of the fight until now, it had not gained a single opportunity to counterattack.
Every movement of the Introductory Halberd Technique was predicted and dismantled by Zhao Mu before it could fully unfold.
Whenever Zhao Mu's halberd descended, the puppet struggled greatly just to defend itself.
Bang!!
A violent strike exploded through the air.
Zhao Mu's halberd pierced through the puppet's defensive posture and smashed heavily into its arm.
The tremendous force sent the puppet flying sideways several meters before it stabilized itself again.
Jiang Jiu stared at the screen with his mouth hanging open.
"This kid… is a monster."
The combat puppets automatically adjusted their power according to the opponent's strength.
In other words, no matter who fought them, the puppets would always remain at the same power level.
The only way to truly defeat them was through superior technique.
But accomplishing that was incredibly difficult.
Because the puppets themselves possessed extremely refined combat mastery.
Normally, new trainees entering the advanced training room would spend six months to a year getting completely beaten down before they could even fight evenly against a puppet.
That was why trainees jokingly referred to the combat puppets as "Teachers."
But Zhao Mu?
Not only was this his first time using one—
He was suppressing it completely.
Jiang Jiu's eyes remained locked onto the screen.
Although he didn't recognize the exact combat technique Zhao Mu was using, the sharpness and decisiveness of every movement were astonishing.
Each strike carried incredible momentum while still maintaining precise control.
Even Jiang Jiu himself suddenly felt uncertain.
If they fought without using spiritual power…
Purely based on weapon mastery…
He might not necessarily be stronger than Zhao Mu.
At that moment, Jiang Jiu finally understood why Zhao Mu had been granted Seed Student status despite possessing only E-rank talent.
"This guy's combat talent is terrifying…"
Back inside the training room, Zhao Mu gradually began to frown.
The elementary difficulty no longer satisfied him.
The puppet's movements had already become too predictable.
Although useful for increasing proficiency, the pressure was insufficient.
After another exchange, Zhao Mu suddenly stepped backward and stopped.
"Hm…"
"The elementary level is already getting boring."
A dangerous idea surfaced in his mind.
"I wonder what the intermediate difficulty feels like."
Without hesitation, Zhao Mu walked toward the control panel to adjust the puppet's difficulty settings.
The moment Jiang Jiu saw this through the monitor, his face changed drastically.
He immediately jumped to his feet.
"Zhao Mu!"
"Don't do something reckless!"
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