Qingfeng Camp was a military academy.
Here, it was an unspoken rule that veteran trainees would temper newcomers.
The hierarchy was strict, and no one dared challenge it.
Since Zhao Mu refused to give Ge Tianxing any face, Ge Tianxing naturally decided to teach him a lesson.
The surrounding trainees immediately stepped back, watching with expressions of pity as they prepared to enjoy the spectacle.
Zhao Mu narrowed his eyes.
He first motioned for the nearby students to move farther away before speaking calmly.
"Qingfeng Camp has military regulations."
"Private fights aren't allowed unless both parties agree to a formal duel."
"You are a senior from the Intermediate Camp."
"Are you trying to bully a newcomer simply because you've cultivated longer and have a higher Combat Rank?"
The surrounding trainees immediately exchanged strange looks.
If Ge Tianxing truly relied on his seniority to beat up a rookie who had awakened only a month ago...
The news would spread quickly.
Ge Tianxing merely sneered.
Whoosh!
He casually spun the long spear in his hand before pointing it directly at Zhao Mu.
"I already told you."
"I'm simply giving you a lesson in spear techniques."
"This isn't a duel."
At that moment, Wu Tianxiong walked over.
He glanced at both men before speaking indifferently.
"If you're only instructing him, then the match should be fair."
"Zhao Mu is only Combat Rank 6."
"The spiritual power you use cannot exceed that level."
The surrounding trainees immediately began whispering.
"Even then, Senior Brother Ge is Combat Rank 28."
"He has years of combat experience."
"He can even use Force Projection."
"Even if his spiritual power is suppressed to Rank 6, Zhao Mu still has no chance."
Another trainee shrugged.
"It's always been like this."
"Veterans teaching newcomers is a long-standing tradition."
"If Zhao Mu wants someone to blame, he should blame himself for refusing to give Senior Brother Ge any face."
Someone else laughed.
"Every year there are arrogant newcomers."
"In the end, every single one of them gets beaten into submission."
"The veterans love teaching people like him a lesson."
Ge Tianxing smiled broadly.
"I have no objections."
"Our Qingfeng Camp values fairness above everything else."
He fixed Zhao Mu with a cold stare.
"Junior Brother..."
"This is your senior's kindness."
"You wouldn't refuse... would you?"
Although he smiled, every word was squeezed through clenched teeth.
His pale complexion and sinister aura made him resemble a venomous snake preparing to strike.
After hearing Wu Tianxiong's ruling, a faint smile appeared on Zhao Mu's face.
"If this is Senior Brother's kindness..."
"I'll gladly accept it."
He paused.
"However..."
Ge Tianxing frowned impatiently.
"What now?"
Today, he was determined to teach Zhao Mu a painful lesson.
Partly to vent Tian Hu's anger.
But more importantly...
This rookie's arrogance had truly irritated him.
Zhao Mu smiled.
Looking directly into Ge Tianxing's eyes, he said,
"Senior Brother..."
"I'm still inexperienced."
"I'm worried I won't be able to control my strength."
"What if I accidentally hurt you?"
The entire training ground fell silent.
Everyone stared at Zhao Mu as though he had gone insane.
Arrogant.
Far too arrogant.
Every year, there were proud newcomers.
But none of them had ever been this outrageous.
Only the trainees who had survived Boot Camp alongside Zhao Mu remained silent.
Several even lowered their heads, barely suppressing their laughter.
They knew exactly what kind of monster Zhao Mu really was.
The others had no idea.
He had earned first place during Boot Camp.
He had personally led the team in killing a mutated Remnant Beast with Combat Rank 30.
Provoking someone like him?
That was asking for trouble.
The instant Zhao Mu finished speaking, Ge Tianxing's eyes widened.
An undisguised killing intent burst from his body.
"The newcomers this year are certainly arrogant."
"If you truly have the ability..."
"Then come."
"But because of those words..."
"I'm no longer planning to go easy on you."
He slowly raised his long spear.
"Junior Brother..."
"Are you ready?"
The surrounding trainees quickly cleared a large open area.
Wu Tianxiong folded his arms and stood to one side, prepared to intervene at any moment.
In his opinion...
Zhao Mu was about to receive a brutal lesson.
Holding his spear diagonally toward the ground, Zhao Mu calmly replied,
"Come."
---
Ge Tianxing smiled.
Surprisingly, he didn't attack immediately.
Instead, he slowly gathered spiritual power into his spear before leisurely circling Zhao Mu.
He had no intention of ending the fight quickly.
Ge Tianxing enjoyed hunting.
Watching prey grow increasingly nervous...
Watching them panic...
Watching them expose fatal openings...
That was what he truly enjoyed.
The best way to defeat someone...
Was to crush their confidence first.
Today, he wanted Zhao Mu to lose mentally before losing physically.
He wanted Zhao Mu's anxiety to overwhelm him until he collapsed beneath a single strike.
Unfortunately...
The prey standing before him wasn't an ordinary rookie.
It was an experienced hunter.
The moment Ge Tianxing began circling, Zhao Mu immediately understood his intentions.
But Zhao Mu wasn't in a hurry either.
His feet moved as well.
Like Ge Tianxing, he slowly circled the battlefield.
Seeing this, Ge Tianxing's eyes darkened.
"Copying me?"
He continued staring at Zhao Mu, hoping to pressure him psychologically.
Instead...
Zhao Mu smiled.
"Senior Brother..."
"If you're scared, you can leave now."
"I won't laugh at you."
Because Zhao Mu was the junior, everyone simply assumed he was inexperienced and didn't understand military etiquette.
His arrogance could be excused.
But Ge Tianxing was different.
As the senior...
He had his reputation to protect.
Just as expected, Ge Tianxing's brows twitched.
He said nothing.
Instead, he continued searching for an opening.
Zhao Mu didn't let him rest.
"Everyone's busy."
"If you're just going to keep staring at me, I'm starting to feel embarrassed."
"Do you happen to have... some unusual hobby?"
The spectators burst into laughter.
Growing up on the streets had given Zhao Mu an exceptionally sharp tongue.
His insults flowed effortlessly.
Ge Tianxing's expression grew darker and darker.
Zhao Mu continued speaking without pause.
"I still have classes later."
"If you aren't going to fight..."
"I'm leaving."
"Quit wasting everyone's time."
"You're incredibly slow."
"Enough!"
Ge Tianxing finally exploded.
Unable to endure Zhao Mu's relentless verbal assault any longer, he charged forward.
Since Zhao Mu had revealed no weaknesses...
He would simply break through by force.
After all...
He firmly believed his combat experience far exceeded Zhao Mu's.
His control over spiritual power was also vastly superior.
At least...
That was what he believed.
The moment Ge Tianxing attacked...
He had already exposed the first opening.
His speed was impressive.
But it wasn't faster than Zhao Mu's Light Spirit Steps.
His spear techniques were solid.
Yet compared with Zhao Mu's perfected Halberd Technique—which had also elevated his spear mastery to approximately forty proficiency—they fell noticeably short.
His spiritual power control surpassed that of ordinary Primary Camp trainees.
Unfortunately...
Zhao Mu's Spiritual Power Control proficiency had already reached 95.
From the very moment Ge Tianxing agreed to suppress his strength to Combat Rank 6...
The outcome had already been decided.
He had lost before the battle had truly begun.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)