After finishing breakfast at the cafeteria, Zhao Mu and his three companions made their way to the East Suburb Fighting Arena.
The Fighting Arena was a venue specifically designed for duels, and anyone wishing to use it had to reserve it in advance. Naturally, Shao Han had taken care of all the arrangements.
When Zhao Mu arrived, it was still before eight o'clock in the morning.
Only a handful of people had gathered inside.
The arena itself was circular, surrounded by tall steel railings with tiered spectator stands rising above them. It closely resembled an ancient colosseum. The battlefield was spacious, with smooth but non-slippery flooring—an ideal environment for combat.
Instead of waiting quietly, Zhao Mu slowly walked around the edge of the arena, carefully examining every corner.
Seeing this, Meng Qiuqiu asked curiously,
"What is Xiao Mu doing? Is he planning to set up some kind of trap?"
Zhuo Yun, who was standing nearby, immediately shook his head.
"No."
"He's studying the battlefield."
He pointed toward the ground beneath them.
"In a real fight, the terrain is just as important as your strength."
"For example, he needs to make sure there aren't any cracks, loose stones, or uneven surfaces. During an intense battle, if he accidentally steps into a depression or loses his footing, even for a split second, his opponent could seize that opportunity and end the fight."
Looking at Zhao Mu, Zhuo Yun couldn't hide the admiration in his eyes.
"Zhao Mu is a true combat expert. He understands that better than anyone."
Among Spirit Power users, skilled fighters never overlooked even the smallest mistake.
Victory was often decided in a single instant.
There was no room for carelessness.
Meng Qiuqiu clicked his tongue.
"I'll leave all that complicated stuff to you guys."
"I'd rather just use a Spirit Energy Gun. It's much simpler."
After inspecting the ground, Zhao Mu summoned his weapon, Extinguished Ember.
The massive blade now weighed over one hundred jin, yet he carried it with ease.
He walked around the arena once more.
This time, however, he moved much faster.
As he walked, he casually practiced several slashing, charging, and defensive movements.
Once he had completely adjusted to the terrain, he nodded with satisfaction, stored the weapon away, and returned to the edge of the arena.
"I'm going to rest until everyone arrives."
He found an empty chair, sat down, closed his eyes, and quietly circulated the Turtle Breathing Technique, allowing both his body and mind to enter a perfectly relaxed state.
The others remained seated nearby, careful not to disturb him.
As time passed, more and more people entered the arena.
Most were recruits from the same training camp, though a number of unfamiliar faces also appeared.
Judging by their uniforms, several were trainees from previous Primary Camps, while others were senior students from the Intermediate Camp who had come simply to watch the excitement.
Curiously, not a single trainee from the Advanced Camp appeared.
Within Qingfeng Camp, Advanced Camp trainees were exceptionally rare.
Only one out of every hundred recruits qualified to enter.
Every one of them was a true genius.
Most spent their time carrying out missions outside the camp, and many had already become officers serving on the front lines.
As a result, they were rarely seen within Qingfeng Camp itself.
The spectators continued to pour in.
Before long, nearly one-third of the arena's thousand-seat capacity had been filled.
Three to four hundred people scattered throughout the massive colosseum created an impressive atmosphere.
Such attendance was extremely unusual.
Normally, a duel between two new recruits would never attract such a large audience.
It was obvious that Shao Han had deliberately spread the news to build momentum before the match.
Despite the growing crowd, Zhao Mu remained seated with his eyes closed, completely immersed in meditation.
Not long afterward, Shao Han finally arrived.
After disappearing for an entire week, he returned surrounded by followers such as Song Siqi and Chen Tang.
His combat uniform had also changed.
Instead of wearing the standard Qingfeng Camp gear, he now wore a custom-made deep blue uniform.
Its quality was obviously superior, clearly crafted by a master artisan.
The moment he entered the arena, his sharp gaze locked onto Zhao Mu.
A cold light flashed in his eyes.
"Zhao Mu."
"This time..."
"I won't lose to you again."
"There is a reason why I must win today."
"I'll show everyone that the gap between a B-rank Talent and an E-rank Talent is an insurmountable one."
He walked to the opposite side of the arena and sat down.
At that moment, Zhao Mu opened his eyes and glanced at the time displayed on his electronic wristband.
It was already half past eight.
He stood up calmly and began stretching his muscles before the match.
He rotated his shoulders, loosened his joints, and warmed up every part of his body.
Preparing the muscles, blood circulation, and bones before combat was the best way to enter peak condition.
Shao Han stood nearby with his arms crossed, looking cold and dignified.
The contrast between the two couldn't have been greater.
However, after watching Zhao Mu for a while, even Shao Han finally stood up and silently began warming up as well.
The audience continued to grow.
Soon, the enormous entrance doors opened once again.
Three instructors entered together.
Instructor Xie Yingxue.
Instructor Zhang Biao.
Instructor Xu Zhixiong.
Alongside them was another familiar figure—
Jiang Jiu, the instructor in charge of the Training Hall.
Zhang Biao grinned broadly.
"Zhao Mu versus Shao Han."
"A Combat Level 6 fighter challenging a Battle Rank 10 expert."
"I haven't seen such a huge difference in strength for a very long time."
Xu Zhixiong frowned.
"I still don't understand why Zhao Mu accepted this challenge."
"The gap between Combat Level 6 and Battle Rank 10 is enormous."
"The current Shao Han is nothing like the one who lost during the Final Trial."
A fighter at the Fighting Fang stage had merely begun to develop real combat abilities.
In the eyes of experienced Spirit Power users, they were still apprentices.
Only after reaching Private Rank, mastering Spirit Power Condensation and Release, and learning to execute true Ultimate Techniques did one become a genuine combatant capable of fighting Strange Beasts and the Dark Race.
The difference between the two stages was tremendous.
The gap between Combat Level 9 and Battle Rank 10 alone was like crossing a massive chasm.
Xie Yingxue adjusted her glasses with a faint smile.
"That's exactly what makes this duel interesting."
She looked toward Zhao Mu with anticipation.
"That boy has never been reckless."
"If he accepted Shao Han's challenge, perhaps he truly believes he can create another miracle."
Zhang Biao laughed loudly.
"I don't care who wins."
"I'm just here to enjoy the show."
To the instructors, healthy competition among trainees was always a good thing.
After all, only through battle could true talent reveal itself.
Meanwhile, in one corner of the spectator stands, Shen Moran sat quietly beside several girls.
Her face remained expressionless, but the fingers resting on her knees unconsciously tightened around the edge of her clothes.
She was far more nervous than she appeared.
Who did she want to win?
Logically, she should support Zhao Mu.
After all, she had known him much longer than Shao Han.
She genuinely didn't want to see him get hurt.
But if Zhao Mu defeated Shao Han...
Wouldn't that prove she had been completely wrong about him all along?
Wouldn't it prove that she had failed to recognize his true worth?
The conflicting emotions left Shen Moran deeply unsettled.
Yet, beneath all the hesitation and confusion, her heart had already made its choice.
She simply refused to admit it—even to herself.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)