"No wonder you're stuck as the Eternal Second Place!"
Zhao Mu shot the sentence back, causing the muscles on Shao Han's face to twitch.
If they truly started fighting, Zhao Mu wouldn't have much of an advantage.
After all, there is a massive gap between Battle Rank 1 and Combat Level 9.
He could use the method of condensing Spirit Energy to enhance his offensive and defensive capabilities. Furthermore, despite being Battle Rank 1, his total Spirit Energy was comparable to Battle Rank 3.
However, his greatest reliance was not these things.
Instead, it was the actual combat experience gained from following Bu Yanhuan and fighting constantly on Blood Bone Mountain.
The Empire's Military Department stipulated that underage students could only receive basic training at school.
Practical combat techniques would be taught later when they entered the Military Camp.
Because the psychological quality of most students was still immature, early real combat would certainly lead to many students dying young.
But Bu Yanhuan's instruction for Zhao Mu was entirely modeled after training New Recruits in the Military Forces.
His hands had been stained with blood much earlier than his classmates'.
Therefore, even when facing someone stronger than him, he would not flinch!
Bu Yanhuan had said that victory was a reward bestowed by the heavens upon the brave.
If Shao Han truly fought Zhao Mu right now, the best outcome would be that he wins, but he would be severely injured by Zhao Mu.
Moreover, since he had too many reservations and dared not strike, he was even less of a match for Zhao Mu.
Seeing that Shao Han had fallen silent, the last shred of hope in Wang Qing's eyes was completely extinguished.
Zhao Mu stood before him, his tall frame with arms crossed, looking down coldly as he said, "Now, are you going to kneel, or are you going to fight me!"
The scene fell into a deathly silence; none of the classmates who had previously mocked Zhao Mu for his Awakening of E-rank Talent dared to look down on him now.
Zhao Mu, the Genius who had steadily suppressed everyone else at Yuwu No. 2 Middle School for twelve years, was still that Genius, still possessing that unyielding pride that brooked no offense!
Wang Qing's fists were clenched tightly, and he bit his lip so hard that blood was drawn due to the intensity.
His violently trembling body exposed his fearful yet struggling heart.
But finally, he lowered his head and slowly knelt down before Zhao Mu.
"Zhao Mu, I, Wang Qing, will remember this humiliation! One day, I will return this disgrace to you exactly as it was given!"
Wang Qing said through gritted teeth.
Zhao Mu did not pity him at all, because if the situation were reversed, Wang Qing would have used every means possible to humiliate him even further.
"May I ask you a question?"
He spoke slowly, looking down at Wang Qing: "I have never bullied you, and I even helped you. But why do you hate me so much?"
Wang Qing's teeth ground together, and he roared, "Zhao Mu, enough! Put away your ridiculous, hypocritical kindness!"
"Didn't you just want to use helping me to highlight your excellence and emphasize my lowliness?"
"Did I ever ask you for help? Everything was just wishful thinking on your part."
"Why?! Why!!"
His voice was loud, echoing throughout the School Entrance, his expression utterly twisted, appearing like a madman.
"We were clearly both children from ordinary families, so why are you tall and handsome, have such good grades, and are so well-liked? Yet I can't compare to you in anything!"
"Tell me, is this world fair to me?"
Zhao Mu rubbed his nose. Although he had been yelled at, he felt quite satisfied.
Wang Qing pointed fiercely at Zhao Mu, his gaze venomous: "That's why I wanted to see you fall into the mud and become a stray dog! I wanted to expose your hypocritical mask!"
Zhao Mu fell silent.
So this was the so-called great kindness turning into enmity.
The fault was not Zhao Mu's, but Wang Qing's, whose heart was dark and plagued by inferiority.
Just as Zhao Mu lowered his gaze in silence, Wang Qing suddenly erupted.
When he knelt, he had only dropped to one knee, keeping the other foot braced on the ground, allowing him to exert force quickly.
Zhao Mu was tall, and he was short, so this strike traveled from bottom to top, aiming directly for Zhao Mu's face!
A cold glint flashed; only then did people realize that he was holding a Utility Knife!
When he knelt down, he had already planned to use a sneak attack to defeat Zhao Mu!
"Zhao Mu, watch out!"
Shen Moran couldn't help but exclaim.
Wang Qing's jealousy was obvious; he actually wanted to destroy Zhao Mu's handsome face.
This face had once captivated Shen Moran, and she couldn't bear to see it ruined.
Zhao Mu stood still. The moment the Utility Knife stabbed toward his face, he lightly raised his left hand and easily grabbed Wang Qing's knife-wielding hand.
Then he swung his right hand, bringing it down squarely onto Wang Qing's face!
"Slap!"
The crisp sound echoed all around. Wang Qing's left cheek was struck, turning his head ninety degrees, leaving a large, swollen handprint.
That wasn't the end. Zhao Mu's right hand followed through and delivered a backhand slap!
After two slaps, Wang Qing's face immediately swelled up like a pig's head, and several of his teeth were knocked out.
He had long since noticed Wang Qing's petty maneuvers.
How could such self-deceiving cleverness compare to Zhao Mu, who had been trained by Bu Yanhuan using iron-military methods?
Wang Qing stared at Zhao Mu in shock. At this moment, everyone clearly saw Zhao Mu's methods.
The Spirit Energy in his body was not spread throughout, but concentrated on his hands.
This sophisticated method of controlling Spirit Energy astonished everyone.
Especially the teachers from Yuwu Middle School, who cried out in surprise: "The ability to freely control Spirit Energy—is this really someone who just Awakened? This is simply a... Prodigy!"
The total amount of Spirit Energy within the human body is finite; if distributed evenly, both offensive and defensive power will be greatly reduced.
Therefore, during combat, concentrating Spirit Energy on fists, feet, or weapons can maximize lethality!
Similarly, when defending, condensing Spirit Energy at the point of the enemy's attack can increase resistance to strikes.
This method is considered a relatively Advanced technique even among Spirit Energy Users.
Ordinary ability users take at least a year to master it. Even a Genius would need several months.
And Zhao Mu?
Only three days have passed since his Awakening, yet he can utilize Spirit Energy with such proficiency!
Shao Han came from a Military Family; naturally, he understood what this implied.
He couldn't help but feel a wave of fear, realizing how lucky he was not to have impulsively fought Zhao Mu just now.
Otherwise, the outcome would truly be uncertain.
Wang Qing was completely stunned by the beating. The oppressive feeling from Zhao Mu coldly looking down at him made him almost wet his pants.
"A despicable and sinister scoundrel like you, if you ever truly gain power and become a strong person, you will definitely be a plague upon the world!"
Wang Qing seemed to realize what Zhao Mu intended to do and screamed in terror, "No!"
The voices of several teachers came from the crowd: "Student Zhao Mu, please show mercy!"
But Zhao Mu ignored them completely, suddenly exerting force with his left hand!
Wang Qing's thin layer of protective Spirit Energy was crushed instantly by Zhao Mu, like paper.
"Crack!"
His right wrist was utterly pulverized by Zhao Mu's grip!
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)