Seeing Shao Han's actions, everyone in the arena immediately sat up straighter.
They knew he was finally preparing to engage Zhao Mu in close combat.
"The Endless Cold Art... If I'm not mistaken, that's the battle technique created by Lujiang City's deputy garrison commander, Shao Tianyi."
Beitang Yihai smiled as he commented on the match.
Principal Liu Weiguo nodded.
"Shao Tianyi himself cultivates the advanced combat technique Ice Profound Force, which he earned through military service. However, the Shao family's inherited battle technique is indeed the Endless Cold Art."
The atmosphere inside the arena became even more intense as every spectator fixed their eyes on Shao Han.
Until now, he had relied on Spirit Force Projection to attack from a distance, making it difficult for anyone to witness the true power of his battle technique.
Now, the real battle was about to begin.
---
Among the spectators sat a middle-aged man wearing a peaked cap.
The brim concealed most of his face, yet the overwhelming aura of killing intent surrounding him revealed that he was far from ordinary.
It was Shao Han's father—Shao Tianyi.
He had come in secret without informing anyone, quietly watching his son's most important battle.
When he saw Shao Han finally drawing his blade and choosing to face Zhao Mu head-on, he slowly nodded in approval.
"This should have happened much earlier."
"If you don't even have the courage to confront an opponent directly despite being one rank stronger, then even if you win, you'll never overcome the fear in your heart."
As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward Zhao Mu.
He had heard that name countless times over the years.
The first time was when Shao Han was only six years old, taking his final examinations at Yuwu School.
Besides the written exams, there had also been physical assessments for martial arts.
When Shao Han returned home that day, he had taken second place.
He told his father about another student named Zhao Mu—a boy from a poor family whose grades had surpassed his own.
Back then, Shao Han had clenched his fists and declared confidently,
"Next time, I'll definitely surpass him!"
That "next time" had stretched into twelve long years.
Throughout all twelve years at Yuwu School, Shao Han had remained the eternal runner-up.
Zhao Mu had stood before him like an immovable mountain.
Shao Tianyi had never considered that a bad thing.
A worthy rival could inspire constant improvement.
And today...
He could clearly see the unwavering fighting spirit burning within his son.
Shao Tianyi narrowed his eyes and focused on the battlefield.
Can he finally win?
---
On the battlefield, Zhao Mu suddenly exerted force through the Hegemon's Formation-Breaking Halberd.
The muscles in his arm bulged as he unleashed the Army Breaker Seven Consecutive Slashes.
Perhaps only Zhao Mu possessed the strength to execute seven one-handed strikes in rapid succession, each one carrying greater force than the last.
A blood-red aura surrounded the Extinguished Ember, radiating overwhelming destructive power as it crashed against the Silver Guardian.
The guardian's defenses finally began to crack.
No matter how sturdy it was, it could never compete against Zhao Mu's max-level halberd mastery.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Seven devastating blows landed squarely on the Silver Guardian's chest.
The gigantic construct, which had once towered over Zhao Mu with crushing strength, was now driven backward step by step.
Large cracks spread across its metallic body.
"Enough!"
Shao Han shouted as he immediately recalled the Silver Guardian.
He knew that if the battle continued, the incredibly expensive second-tier Guardian Ember would be completely destroyed.
Even now, it was covered in deep cracks.
Repair costs alone would likely exceed tens of millions of Xuanfeng Coins.
Although it was insured, every claim would dramatically increase future premiums.
Worse still, he hadn't fully mastered controlling the Silver Guardian.
If the insurance coverage were revoked, the financial loss would be devastating.
Without hesitation, Shao Han stopped supplying spirit power to the construct.
Wrapped in frost armor, he stepped toward Zhao Mu, his eyes blazing with determination.
"Zhao Mu!"
"In the end, victory will be decided between the two of us—with our weapons!"
Zhao Mu quietly adjusted his breathing.
His own spirit power reserves had also been pushed close to their limits.
If the Void Beast Ember hadn't stored an additional reserve of spirit power beforehand, simply dealing with the Silver Guardian would have exhausted him long ago.
Still...
Shao Han wasn't in any better condition.
"It should have been like this from the beginning."
Zhao Mu smiled.
"Shao Han... you've finally found the courage to fight me face-to-face."
The sarcasm in his voice was unmistakable.
He was openly mocking Shao Han for relying on his higher cultivation rank and long-range attacks throughout most of the battle.
Shao Han tightened his grip on his blade.
"Winning is all that matters."
Zhao Mu slowly raised the Extinguished Ember.
"But you won't win."
After more than ten minutes of relentless combat, both fighters had consumed enormous amounts of spirit power.
Having exhausted nearly every technique at their disposal, they had returned to the simplest and most direct form of battle.
Steel against steel.
Strength against strength.
The frost surrounding Shao Han grew denser with every step he took.
The ground beneath him became coated in thick layers of ice.
"Zhao Mu!"
"Do you really think I'm afraid of close combat?"
"Today I'll prove that even in hand-to-hand combat..."
"...you're still not my equal!"
Zhao Mu smiled coldly.
"Empty words won't win battles."
"Show me your strength."
Both men shouted simultaneously.
In the next instant, they exploded forward like bolts of lightning.
The frost-covered blade slashed through the air while Zhao Mu's halberd swung with overwhelming force.
The surrounding temperature plummeted.
Despite the blazing summer weather, the battlefield suddenly felt like a frozen wasteland.
Clang!
Their weapons collided with tremendous force.
Neither side held anything back.
The impact sent violent shockwaves through the arena.
Even Shao Han felt the terrifying pressure generated by Zhao Mu's incredible physical strength.
The title of Innate Divine Strength was no exaggeration.
The force alone caused his arms to tremble.
Yet a feral grin slowly spread across his face.
An overwhelming wave of freezing energy surged from his blade.
The icy spirit power rapidly traveled along the connected weapons.
Within moments, Zhao Mu's Extinguished Ember was covered in thick frost.
The freezing energy continued spreading up the halberd's shaft toward Zhao Mu's hands.
The endless cold invaded his body.
His fingers quickly became numb from the extreme chill.
Taking advantage of the opening, Shao Han shifted his stance and unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks.
However, Zhao Mu's surprise lasted only a heartbeat.
During Professor Gu Feifei's Spiritual Ability Theory class, she had once explained an important principle.
Even when spirit power was transformed into elements such as ice, fire, lightning, or water...
Its fundamental nature remained spirit power.
And the most effective way to counter spirit power...
...was with spirit power itself.
As one of the academy's top students, Zhao Mu remembered that lesson perfectly.
Without hesitation, he erupted with his own spirit power.
The energy surged violently through his spirit meridians.
In an instant, the numbing cold was completely expelled.
The frost coating the Extinguished Ember shattered into countless icy fragments.
"Hah!"
With a powerful roar, Zhao Mu swung his halberd once again.
The Hegemon's Formation-Breaking Halberd Technique exploded into action, launching an overwhelming counterattack.
This was the first true close-range battle between the two ever since they had both become Spirit Power Users.
Even Zhao Mu couldn't help but acknowledge Shao Han's strength.
Perhaps Shao Han lacked humility.
Perhaps he was narrow-minded.
But there was no denying one fact.
He was a genuine genius.
Had Zhao Mu not stood in front of him all these years, Shao Han's brilliance would have shone far more brightly.
Now, Shao Han displayed the full power of a Rank 10 Spirit Warrior.
His blade mastery had clearly reached a proficiency of at least Level 70.
Frost filled the battlefield.
The air grew colder with every passing second as waves of icy energy spread outward from Shao Han's body.
Even Zhao Mu had to activate Full-Body Spiritual Entanglement to protect himself from the relentless freezing aura.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)