Tian Hu's expression was completely serious. He clearly wasn't joking.
For the next throw, he intended to give it everything he had.
A flicker of concern appeared in Ge Tianxing's eyes.
"Hey, you might actually kill him! Even if you don't hit any vital points, if his internal organs are damaged too severely, he could die before he even reaches a doctor."
As he spoke, he deliberately glanced at Zhao Mu.
"Hey, kid. If I were you, I'd kneel down and beg for mercy right now. Maybe he'll let you off the hook!"
Zhao Mu glanced at Ge Tianxing, his eyes filled with mockery.
"Enough. I know you're a coward. It's just unfortunate that I'm not you."
"You..."
Ge Tianxing clenched his fists in anger, wishing he could rush over and beat Zhao Mu.
However, when he remembered that he wouldn't even be able to withstand Tian Hu's next strike, his anger quickly subsided.
"Your mouth is the only thing that's tough about you! But soon, you won't even be able to keep talking."
Zhao Mu ignored him completely.
Just like Tian Hu had done before, he assumed a solid defensive stance.
Tian Hu stared intently at Zhao Mu. The muscles in his arms bulged as powerful energy surged into the ball, layer upon layer.
"I have a potion that I obtained from a Spirit Doctor. If you can't hold on, I'll use it to keep you alive long enough to reach a doctor."
"I won't make the same mistake twice. This strike will be my full power!"
There was no need for Tian Hu to explain himself.
Just by looking at the ball in his hands, which was gradually transforming into a dazzling little sun under the constant infusion of Spiritual Ability, Zhao Mu could clearly feel his determination.
"Then come on!"
Tian Hu pulled his arm back as far as possible, aimed directly at Zhao Mu, roared as he gathered his Qi, and violently threw the ball.
This strike was even more powerful and ferocious than Zhao Mu's previous attack.
A terrifying storm tore through the riverbank, carving a deep trench into the ground.
The mere shockwave created by the Spiritual Ability was already terrifying. It was difficult to imagine what would happen if the attack landed directly on someone.
Zhao Mu stared intently at the ball in Tian Hu's hand.
The instant Tian Hu released it, Zhao Mu moved as well.
The Ember Remains tattoo on his left hand manifested, and a huge shield appeared in his grasp.
The phantom of the mythical beast Feng Hou emerged in front of Zhao Mu and opened its jaws, biting down on the incoming ball.
"Boom!!!"
The collision of the two powerful forces triggered a violent storm.
Large sections of grass and earth along the riverbank were torn apart, while the surrounding river water surged several meters into the air under the tremendous turbulence.
Zhao Mu's legs were continuously pushed backward by the overwhelming force, carving two deep trenches into the ground.
Step by step, he retreated.
However, in the end, he stopped just before the boundary.
He had not been forced out.
"That is... an Ember Remains!"
Ge Tianxing's eyes widened instantly.
"And judging from its power, it's actually an exclusive one!"
His eyes were filled with undisguised jealousy.
Zhao Mu was a Special Ability User whose Spiritual Ability had no inherent attribute conversion.
Because of that, his exclusive Ember Remains allowed him to unleash the attributes of an Ultimate-Grade Ember Remains, even though he didn't possess a natural attribute.
For Ability Users with other attributes, such an Ember Remains would still be at least High-Grade.
It was an incredibly valuable treasure.
Neither Ge Tianxing nor Tian Hu, despite being members of the Intermediate Camp, possessed one.
Yet this Level 7 Combat Rating kid actually had one.
How could Ge Tianxing not be jealous?
Zhao Mu caught the ball and pulled it into his own hands before putting away the Feng Hou Shield.
He then looked seriously at Tian Hu.
Tian Hu's expression darkened.
Just as he had expected, Zhao Mu was an opponent who could never be underestimated.
Zhao Mu had used an Ember Remains, but Tian Hu couldn't accuse him of cheating.
The ability to control Ember Remains was itself part of a Spirit Power User's strength.
Besides, Tian Hu was already relying on his Level 28 Combat Rating to suppress someone with a Level 7 Combat Rating.
If Zhao Mu used an Ember Remains, Tian Hu had no grounds to complain.
"You really surprised me."
Tian Hu tugged at his trousers, pulled up his pant legs, and once again assumed a defensive stance.
"Now, it's your turn."
Zhao Mu frowned and stared at Tian Hu seriously.
He hesitated for a long time, carefully searching for an opening in Tian Hu's defense.
But Tian Hu's defensive stance was extremely solid.
There were no obvious weaknesses.
With no other choice, Zhao Mu stepped forward again and began channeling Spiritual Ability into the ball with both hands.
Spiritual Ability gathered rapidly.
He had already pushed his Level 7 Combat Rating to its absolute limit.
Although the energy within the ball was still formidable, Zhao Mu knew that it wasn't enough to defeat Tian Hu.
Tian Hu knew this as well.
However, just as Zhao Mu finished infusing his Spiritual Ability, the Ember Remains tattoos on the four fingers of his right hand suddenly appeared.
Four [Unrestrained] Ember Remains.
Together, they increased the intensity of his Spiritual Ability by 40%.
At the same time, a black Ember Remains tattoo appeared on the pinky finger of his left hand.
It resembled the head of a beast with a huge open mouth.
The Void Beast Jinhai.
It could store twice the total amount of Spiritual Ability that Zhao Mu himself possessed.
The activation of all five Ember Remains happened in an instant.
The power contained within the ball suddenly surged more than tenfold!
Tian Hu believed that he had prepared thoroughly.
He had already paid enough attention to Zhao Mu.
But he could never have imagined that someone with a Level 7 Combat Rating could possess so many Ember Remains and activate them simultaneously.
By the time Tian Hu realized what was happening, it was already too late.
The ball shot forward faster and more fiercely than before.
Its blazing Spiritual Ability radiated like a miniature sun rising over the riverbank.
The storm howled.
The river roared and surged.
Then that enormous ball of light slammed toward Tian Hu.
His eyes widened.
The next moment—
"BOOM!!!"
A violent explosion erupted along the riverbank.
The ground was blasted apart, leaving behind a massive crater more than a dozen meters in diameter.
Tian Hu stood some distance away, still shaken.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
At the last possible moment, he had chosen to retreat.
Otherwise, if he had taken that attack head-on without preparation, he would undoubtedly have suffered severe injuries.
After unleashing such a powerful attack, Zhao Mu had consumed most of the Spiritual Ability within his body.
He felt somewhat exhausted.
He looked at Tian Hu and calmly asked,
"Senior Brother, can we consider our grievances settled now?"
Tian Hu stared at Zhao Mu, his expression complicated.
His previous unwillingness had completely disappeared.
Once could be an accident.
Twice meant that he was genuinely inferior in skill.
If he put himself in Zhao Mu's position and had to face an opponent whose Combat Level was several times higher than his own, could he have won?
Of course, if Tian Hu, with his Level 28 Combat Rating, were to fight Zhao Mu under normal circumstances, he could hardly imagine any possibility of losing.
But he had established the rules of this contest himself.
And he was willing to accept the result.
After a long silence, Tian Hu finally spoke.
"Zhao Mu, you really are a genius."
"Losing to you, I have nothing to say."
With that, he picked up the hat that had been blown away by the Spiritual Pressure and placed it back on his head.
Then he turned around and strode away.
Not far away, sirens could already be heard.
The commotion had attracted the attention of the Wubei Army stationed in the city.
Ge Tianxing clicked his tongue in annoyance.
He glanced at Zhao Mu, then reluctantly looked at the dazzling Ember Remains on Zhao Mu's fingers.
His eyes were filled with envy and unwillingness.
Finally, he turned around and left as well.
________________________________________
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