A brilliant silver light suddenly erupted from the dueling arena, rising like a miniature sun.
The instant Zhao Mu sensed the overwhelming aura, he retreated without the slightest hesitation.
From within the dazzling silver light, a colossal figure slowly emerged, positioning itself directly in front of Shao Han.
Zhao Mu raised a hand to shield his eyes from the blinding glare.
When he finally saw the creature standing before him, his eyes narrowed.
"A Guardian..."
Standing protectively in front of Shao Han was an enormous puppet.
Its body was forged entirely from silver-gray alloy, resembling a finely sculpted stone giant.
Covered in thick, heavy armor from head to toe, it stood over six meters tall, radiating an overwhelming sense of power.
As it lowered its head to look down at Zhao Mu, an immense pressure filled the arena.
This was one of the most expensive and difficult Guardian Jinhai ever created.
A second-grade Guardian Jinhai...
The Silver Guard.
---
Instructor Xie Yingxue frowned.
"He actually brought out a Guardian..."
"For the sake of this duel, Shao Han really is willing to do anything."
Zhang Biao, however, simply grinned.
"As long as he wins, does it really matter?"
The spectators immediately burst into discussion.
Most of them had never seen a Guardian Jinhai before.
They were simply too expensive.
Normally, such weapons only appeared on battlefields.
Even among Spirit Power Users, very few people could afford one.
Like Meng Qiuqiu's Bobo Gun, this was equipment reserved for the wealthy and powerful.
The sheer pressure emitted by the Silver Guard caused many trainees to unconsciously hold their breath.
Even Meng Qiuqiu's relaxed expression disappeared.
Resting his chin on both hands, he muttered,
"The Silver Guard..."
"Even though Shao Han's synchronization rate is terrible, it can still unleash combat power at the Private Rank."
"Its Combat Level easily exceeds ten."
He clicked his tongue.
"That guy really doesn't fight fair."
A moment later, however, a smile returned to his face.
"But luckily..."
"Brother Zhao Mu didn't come unprepared either."
---
With the Silver Guard standing protectively before him, Shao Han slowly stepped forward.
He looked directly at Zhao Mu.
"This is your first time seeing one, isn't it?"
"I'll give you a friendly reminder."
"Its combat strength isn't any weaker than mine."
"And unlike humans..."
"A Guardian doesn't fear death."
He smiled confidently.
"Zhao Mu."
"I'll give you one last chance."
"Surrender now."
In Shao Han's mind, victory was already guaranteed.
It didn't matter if his methods were honorable.
A win was still a win.
Yet Zhao Mu merely observed the Silver Guard for a moment before letting out a soft laugh.
"So..."
"This is the trump card you prepared?"
He slowly rotated the dark silver Jinhai Ring on his finger.
"In that case..."
"I won't hold back either."
The ring completed a full rotation.
A dim blue light immediately flickered across its surface.
Spiritual pathways rapidly connected.
The next instant—
A tremendous wave of spiritual energy erupted from Zhao Mu's body.
His aura instantly shattered the limits of Battle Rank Six.
---
Shao Han's confident smile froze.
The audience was equally stunned.
No one understood what had just happened.
Even the two princes of the Beitang Royal Family, seated in the VIP section, narrowed their eyes.
Zhao Mu calmly planted his Heavenly Halberd into the ground beside him.
Then...
He slowly raised both hands.
Black markings suddenly appeared across several fingers.
At first glance, they resembled tattoos.
The next moment...
Every tattoo transformed into an actual Jinhai Ring.
One after another.
When the transformation finished...
Eight Jinhai Rings adorned Zhao Mu's ten fingers.
The audience was speechless.
There existed a special Ember Relic technique that allowed Jinhai Rings to be hidden as tattoos until needed.
As a First-Grade Jinhai Master, Zhao Mu naturally possessed such skills.
Now...
Seeing eight Jinhai Rings appear simultaneously...
Everyone's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"Those..."
"Are they all Ember Relics?"
"I thought Zhao Mu came from an ordinary family!"
"How could he afford so many?"
"I thought we were all supposed to be poor together!"
"Watching someone secretly become rich hurts even more than getting dumped!"
The crowd cried dramatically.
Although many people knew Zhao Mu studied Jinhai Manufacturing...
Very few knew he had already become a First-Grade Jinhai Master.
Naturally...
No one imagined these relics had been crafted by Zhao Mu himself.
---
Even the three principals and several instructors were dumbfounded.
"Seven Jinhai Rings..."
"And his weapon makes eight."
"That's worth hundreds of millions!"
"Where did he get that kind of money?"
"Did he win the lottery?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Lottery winners are always related to someone important."
"His father isn't Commander Kong Ruhai."
"Could he have refined them himself?"
"Impossible."
"He's only a First-Grade Jinhai Master."
"There's no way he could produce so many so quickly."
The principal quietly glanced toward the Beitang Royal Family.
He was worried Zhao Mu's true identity might be exposed.
In reality...
Every Jinhai Ring Zhao Mu wore had been produced by Tiangong Hall over the past several weeks.
Although they were originally intended for sale...
As their creator, Zhao Mu could synchronize with them without any problems.
Using them in battle was completely reasonable.
---
Even Shao Han stood frozen.
"You..."
"Where did you get so many Ember Relics?"
Zhao Mu smiled.
He casually raised both hands.
"On my right hand..."
"I have three amplification Jinhai."
"They increase my spiritual power by thirty percent."
He then lifted his left hand.
"And here..."
"I have three special-purpose Ember Relics."
He smiled calmly.
"Do you think that's enough to deal with your Guardian?"
Just those three amplification relics alone increased Zhao Mu's spiritual output by an astonishing thirty percent.
Controlling eight Ember Relics simultaneously was already an incredible feat.
Besides Zhao Mu...
Few people alive could accomplish such a thing.
---
For the first time...
The expressions of Beitang Yihai and Beitang Qiushui changed.
Qiushui couldn't help asking,
"Brother..."
"Can someone really control that many Ember Relics at once?"
"Can his spiritual power even support it?"
Beitang Yihai leaned slightly forward, his gaze fixed on Zhao Mu.
"Spiritual power isn't the only issue."
"Mental strength is even more important."
"The beast remnants sealed within Ember Relics can easily devour their master's consciousness."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Interesting..."
For the very first time...
The prince showed genuine interest in Zhao Mu.
---
Meanwhile, Shao Han's face gradually turned pale.
"How..."
"How are you richer than me?"
At that moment, Zhao Mu's smile seemed to say only one thing.
My financial strength surpasses yours.
Shao Han had believed his Guardian Jinhai guaranteed victory.
Instead...
Compared with Zhao Mu's collection...
He looked like the fool.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up.
"No!"
"You're bluffing!"
He pointed at Zhao Mu.
"With only Battle Rank Six spiritual power..."
"You can't possibly control so many Ember Relics!"
"You'll run out of spiritual power within ten seconds!"
Zhao Mu smiled.
In reality...
He could maintain them for at least an entire minute.
His total spiritual power already far exceeded that of an ordinary Battle Rank Six cultivator.
Combined with his exceptional efficiency...
His endurance was on an entirely different level.
"Ten seconds?"
He chuckled.
"You really underestimate me."
"I'm much more durable than that."
---
As he spoke, Zhao Mu extended his left hand.
The Spirit Pattern engraved on one of his Jinhai Rings suddenly glowed with brilliant blue light.
The engraving depicted the head of a strange beast.
The next instant...
An enormous torrent of spiritual energy erupted from the ring.
Like a roaring flood, it surged into Zhao Mu's remaining Ember Relics.
"This..."
"...is the First-Grade Jinhai."
Void Beast.
"Its ability is simple."
"It stores my spiritual power in advance."
"When needed..."
"It releases that energy to recharge my other Ember Relics."
"And its storage capacity..."
"...is twice my own."
As Zhao Mu calmly explained...
One Ember Relic after another lit up.
His aura continued rising.
Growing stronger.
And stronger.
Wearing nearly all the treasures produced by Tiangong Hall felt incredible.
Power surged through every corner of his body like raging fire.
It demanded release.
It longed for battle.
It yearned to destroy.
Zhao Mu grasped the Heavenly Halberd planted beside him.
The smile slowly faded from his face.
His sharp eyes locked firmly onto the stunned Shao Han.
"You prepared well."
He slowly pulled the halberd from the ground.
"But I..."
"...never enter a battle unless I'm certain I can win."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)