After hearing Shao Han's words, Zhao Mu let out a cold laugh.
"Shao Han... you're afraid of me, aren't you?"
The moment those words left his mouth, a flash of anger crossed Shao Han's face.
"Afraid of you?" he scoffed. "What a joke! I'm Battle Rank 10, while you're only Battle Rank 6. I possess a top-tier B-Rank Talent, whereas your E-Rank Talent barely makes you more capable than an ordinary person. What could I possibly fear?"
Zhao Mu smiled calmly.
"If you're not afraid, then why are you talking so much?"
"Everything you've said only proves your insecurity."
"You believe you're superior to me in every way, which means you absolutely cannot accept losing."
"From the moment you challenged me, you've already left yourself with no way to retreat."
It was a simple psychological attack—one Zhao Mu had mastered long ago.
Shao Han's confidence immediately wavered. The arrogance on his face was gradually replaced by anger.
Grinding his teeth, he shouted,
"You can play mind games all you want, but it won't change today's outcome!"
As he spoke, he continuously launched waves of Spirit Power flying blades.
However, Zhao Mu slowly raised his left hand.
It appeared completely empty.
"But..."
"I've already seen through your fighting style."
Just as Shao Han prepared to launch another attack, he suddenly sensed an almost imperceptible fluctuation of spiritual energy rapidly approaching him.
His eyes widened.
Only then did he finally notice it.
Floating through the air was an incredibly thin thread—so fine that it was even thinner than a strand of hair.
"What is that?"
Instinctively, Shao Han swung his longsword toward it.
But the thread was so light that the blade failed to cut it.
Instead, it wrapped itself around the sword before instantly coiling around Shao Han's wrist like a living snake.
Zhao Mu's cold voice rang out.
"Did you really think I wouldn't predict your strategy?"
His left hand tightened suddenly.
With his Innate Divine Strength, now possessing a proficiency level of 232, Zhao Mu unleashed an overwhelming pull.
Caught off guard, Shao Han stumbled violently.
Although he hurriedly released his Spirit Power to stabilize himself, his feet still slid several meters across the arena floor.
The spectators, who had almost begun losing interest, instantly became alert.
"What happened?"
"Why is Shao Han being dragged around?"
"It looks like something's pulling him!"
Even Beitang Qiushui, seated in the VIP section, couldn't help but whistle.
"That Battle Rank 6 kid has some interesting tricks."
Beitang Yihai smiled faintly.
"He found a way to compensate for his short attack range."
"Very clever."
"And controlling such an unusual weapon requires extraordinary precision with Spirit Power."
He immediately recognized the true situation.
Between Zhao Mu and Shao Han stretched an almost invisible thread pulled completely taut.
It extended nearly fifty meters, covering more than half of the arena.
Using that nearly invisible thread, Zhao Mu had quietly ensnared Shao Han's arm.
Beitang Yihai glanced toward the principal.
"What's that young man's name?"
The principal instantly became cautious.
Regardless of today's outcome, he had no intention of letting someone from the Beitang Royal Family recruit Zhao Mu.
His value wasn't merely his combat strength.
He was an exceptionally gifted Ember Remains craftsman.
"His name is Zhao Mu," the principal replied.
"He's an ordinary trainee with an E-Rank Talent."
"E-Rank?"
A trace of disappointment appeared in Beitang Yihai's eyes.
"What a pity."
"Such excellent combat awareness..."
---
Meanwhile, Shao Han had finally realized what Zhao Mu was using.
It was the Tough Silk.
Zhao Mu had previously used the same material while fighting mutated Remnant Beasts.
Several instructors and trainees immediately recognized it.
"What an ingenious idea."
"Using Tough Silk to compensate for his lack of attack range..."
"In an open battlefield like this, bows are practically useless."
"Drawing and firing arrows is far slower than releasing Spirit Power blades."
"And even if an arrow is fired, it can easily be dodged."
"But Tough Silk is different."
"It extends his attack range while continuously restricting his opponent's movements."
Instructor Xie Yingxue nodded slightly.
"Even so..."
"This fighting style demands exceptional control over Spirit Power."
"It probably has something to do with his Demon Clown Talent."
The instructors all knew the official evaluation of that Talent.
Its overall potential wasn't particularly impressive.
However, it offered unique advantages when cultivating lower-level battle techniques.
That was precisely why Zhao Mu had performed so well during boot camp.
Unfortunately...
Almost nobody believed an E-Rank Talent possessed much future potential.
Without his Ember Remains crafting ability, the higher-ups wouldn't even bother paying attention to him.
Yet the very Talent many dismissed as mediocre had now placed Shao Han in an extremely awkward position.
Holding the Tough Silk firmly in one hand, Zhao Mu slowly advanced.
Step...
By step...
By step...
Shao Han gritted his teeth.
"You think this little trick can restrain me?"
"Keep dreaming!"
Without hesitation, he swung his longsword at the Tough Silk.
Clang!
Instead of snapping apart, the thread vibrated with a sharp metallic sound, like someone plucking the strings of an ancient zither.
Shao Han froze.
"My first-grade Jinhai Frost Blade..."
"It can't cut through your Tough Silk?"
"Is... is this also an Ember Remains?"
How could someone from Zhao Mu's humble background possibly afford such an item?
Zhao Mu smiled.
"That's right."
"I prepared it especially for you."
One of the expensive advanced materials Meng Qiuqiu had purchased for him had been used specifically to forge this Tough Silk.
Combined with Spirit Power, it became extraordinarily durable while remaining flexible.
The fifty-meter thread moved almost like an extension of Zhao Mu's own fingers.
He had spent countless hours training with it.
Its synchronization rate had now reached an astonishing 80%.
"Come here!"
Zhao Mu roared.
His left arm suddenly exerted tremendous force.
He intended to drag Shao Han directly toward him.
Once they entered close combat...
Shao Han would finally understand just how terrifying Zhao Mu's hundred-jin Extinguish Ember and monstrous physical strength truly were.
Shao Han realized the danger immediately.
No matter what...
He could not allow Zhao Mu to close the distance.
He desperately released more Spirit Power while frost spread beneath his feet, freezing them firmly to the arena floor.
"You're not coming over?"
"I'd rather die than let you pull me over!"
Zhao Mu suddenly grinned.
"If you won't come to me..."
"Then I'll come to you."
Without warning, Zhao Mu released the pulling force on the Tough Silk.
The sudden loss of resistance caused Shao Han to lose his balance.
At the same instant, Zhao Mu used the rebound force generated by Shao Han's own strength to launch himself forward at incredible speed.
His right hand gripped the Extinguish Ember tightly.
The heavy weapon hummed with terrifying power.
The decisive strike...
Was only moments away.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)