Golden Elephant City didn't rush to strike at Zhao Mu; he knew very well Zhao Mu wouldn't be easy to deal with.
So for now, he would stick to his own pace and slowly clear out the other, weaker loners.
Later, when this lone wolf Zhao Mu had burned most of his strength, they could swarm him with numbers.
Anyway, the man was still on Xiuyun Mountain; the space to move was shrinking—no need to hurry.
Back on his side, Zhao Mu returned to the well-positioned big tree and thought over what he'd just seen.
"Five moving together—two Shield and Sword Wielders, two Spearmen, one Archer—and other squads roaming nearby."
"If I'm right, they're a team gathered by that man called Golden Elephant City."
"They've got the biggest numbers and pose the greatest threat. If I let them keep moving after dawn tomorrow, my shot at first place will be ruined."
A dark gleam flashed in Zhao Mu's eyes, like a wolf waiting to hunt the flock.
"A mob thrown together on the fly—can they keep any discipline once night falls?"
Zhao Mu wasn't in a hurry. He had the Turtle Breathing Technique at 155 proficiency and Sleep at 53.
These two Life Skills cut his body's energy drain and let him recover vigor fast.
At eighteen, bursting with energy, he could go a day and a night without Sleep and feel no difference.
Once the sky darkened and night's fear wrapped everyone, it would be Zhao Mu's time to move.
With a bang, the demon clown appeared. Zhao Mu said flatly, "Switch skill: Night Vision."
The demon clown's white-gloved hand swept across the screen; Turtle Breathing Technique vanished, replaced by Night Vision.
Night Vision: Life Skill, proficiency 23.
It was already two in the afternoon, broad daylight.
When Zhao Mu first learned archery, Bu Yanhuan had taught him an eyesight drill.
Hang a Perforated Iron Disc ten meters away and stare at it.
When the 5-mm hole looked as big as a Sesame Cake, you'd mastered it.
His eyesight was excellent, but to train Night Vision he needed real darkness.
He thought for a moment and looked at his clothes.
Under his jacket he wore a black Long-Sleeve T-Shirt, thin and sweat-wicking.
He tore off a strip, pulled it taut, and tied it over his eyes.
The world dimmed; he could still see fine through the weave.
Calmly, he focused on distant tree hollows or insects on bark and practiced.
Night Vision's proficiency crept upward.
23.01, 23.02… It wasn't true darkness, so progress was limited—but that was fine.
Once night fell, he only needed to see a little better than everyone else to seize the advantage… In the monitor room, every move he made was watched; his performance outshone them all.
That ruthless, decisive style of combat was far beyond what the other graduates could match.
Liu Weiguo Liu Weiguo already had his guesses; after the trial ended he meant to have a long talk with Zhao Mu.
After all, once that man left the battlefield, it had been a huge loss for the Demon Sealing Army of Xuanfeng Empire!
But beyond Zhao Mu, the rest of the battlefield was seeing its own fierce fights.
Little Tycoon Meng Qiuqiu, flanked by Zhuo Yun with a Trial Spear and several Bodyguards, ran into three Trial Participants traveling together.
The three looked nervous at the sudden encounter.
Zhuo Yun's gaze was as firm as the spear in his hands; he stepped at once in front of Meng Qiuqiu, weapon levelled.
"You few protect Young Master Meng—leave these to me!"
The Bodyguards nodded and held back.
Zhuo Yun shot forward, a sharp whirlwind coiling round his spearhead as he thrust like a startled dragon!
Seeing only one attacker, the three showed anger at the slight.
"Think we're just shrimp soldiers and crab generals?"
"We studied hard for twelve years, fought through a thousand to get here!"
They formed a wedge and charged him.
But the moment they closed, the fierce spear swept round like a cyclone!
Whoosh—
The wind of spiritual power slapped their cheeks so hard their muscles twitched.
"That's… a Combat Technique!"
Zhang Biao murmured, "A family Combat Technique."
Only a family technique could be taught privately; Zhuo Yun's spearwork, backed by his inherited Combat Technique, erupted with terrifying power.
The spear whistled; one simple knock sent an Ability User's saber flying.
Instructor Xie Yingxue adjusted her gold-rim glasses. "Zhuo Yun, C-Rank Ability User, Combat Level 5. Average Talent. His spear set is the Six Harmonies Destruction Spear created by his grandfather—rated Intermediate by the army."
One against three, his spear turned phantom-like, sweeping wide then stabbing with bewildering speed.
In moments he had all three enemies on the back foot!
Bang!
The shaft whipped out, flexed in a perfect arc, and slammed into one man's waist.
Protected by spiritual power, the Trial Participant still flew several meters sideways.
The trio were shaken—never had they imagined their first opponent would be this fearsome.
Zhuo Yun leveled his spear, ready to finish them, when Meng Qiuqiu's money-smiling voice rang out behind him.
"Zhuo Yun, hold up."
At the words he froze, spear poised to strike at any instant.
Meng Qiuqiu stepped up, smiling; the three opponents were already bruised and wary.
He spread his hands. "You can see you're outmatched. No point dragging this out."
"I've got a new option for you."
He pulled out three Imperial Bank General-Purpose Cards.
"A million in each one. I'll buy your number tags—deal?"
The three hadn't seen this coming; even Zhuo Yun stared in surprise.
Meng Qiuqiu cheerfully broke it down for them.
"Rather than fight us, take the cash and leave. After five years in the army you'd only get 500,000 in Discharge Pay."
"This money can help your families or be your safety net after service."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)