Zhao Mu had been cultivating the Hegemon's Formation-Breaking Halberd for quite some time, and his proficiency in this Intermediate Battle Art had already reached 329 points.
However, he could currently unleash only about 30% of the Battle Art's full power.
The reason was simple.
The standard requirement for fully utilizing Battle Arts based on Spiritual Energy was reaching the Private Rank.
Only after reaching this rank could a Spiritual Energy User project their abundant spiritual power outward.
This was also the key to mastering the Release technique, one of the four fundamental types of skills.
Therefore, although Zhao Mu had cultivated the Intermediate Battle Art to a very high level of proficiency, he had never been able to display its true power.
However, there was one move he could still use at his current stage.
That was the ultimate desperate technique—
Hegemon's Halberd Throw!
The narrow alley wasn't an ideal place for Zhao Mu to wield his massive halberd.
But since this was his strongest offensive technique, he had no choice.
He had to use his trump card!
The Spiritual Energy within Zhao Mu's Spirit Sea erupted violently.
It surged through his body and traveled down his arm, forming a special Spiritual Energy vortex before condensing layer by layer around the Extinguishing Ember Great Halberd.
A deep crimson light completely enveloped the enormous halberd.
Then, combined with Zhao Mu's innate divine strength, an aura of overwhelming destruction erupted.
He hurled the halberd forward with all his might!
At that moment, Ge Tianxing was charging straight toward Zhao Mu.
He was practically rushing headfirst into the destructive halberd.
Their decision to charge toward each other had unexpectedly created the perfect opportunity for Zhao Mu.
Ge Tianxing had never imagined that Zhao Mu would throw away his own weapon.
He had even less imagined that someone would use a massive weapon weighing more than a hundred jin as a projectile.
By the time Ge Tianxing realized what was happening and frantically attempted to defend himself, it was already too late.
He desperately formed a Spiritual Energy vortex around the long blade in his hand.
But the great halberd had already pierced directly into the center of the storm-like vortex.
In the next instant, the God-Cleaving effect activated.
The attack tore through his defense.
The halberd blade pierced through his combat uniform, skin, and flesh before driving deep into his body.
The small crescent-shaped blades along the sides of the halberd wrapped around his body.
Then the tremendous force sent him flying backward.
Zhao Mu's strength behind the attack was simply too overwhelming.
The halberd knocked Ge Tianxing out of the air and sent him crashing seven or eight meters away.
Bang!
Ge Tianxing's body slammed heavily into the ground.
The power of the Extinguishing Ember had already shredded his internal organs.
His body immediately lost all strength.
He slowly raised his head.
His eyes were unfocused as he stared at the great halberd piercing through his chest.
Until the very moment his life faded away, he still couldn't believe that he had died so easily.
Not long afterward, the sound of approaching sirens echoed through the alley.
Zhao Mu didn't panic.
He simply stood where he was and waited.
Soon, a military vehicle arrived.
Five or six fully armed soldiers from the Wubei Army quickly jumped out.
Their expressions were serious as they rushed toward the scene.
When they saw the corpse lying on the ground and Zhao Mu standing nearby with a calm expression, they immediately surrounded him and pointed their weapons at him.
After turning on their lights and taking a closer look, they realized that Zhao Mu was the young man they had encountered earlier.
"Zhao Mu, what happened here?"
The squad leader stared at him coldly.
Zhao Mu raised both hands and calmly explained:
"He's Ge Tianxing, a Cadet Soldier from the Intermediate Camp of Qingfeng Camp."
"He tried to ambush and kill me here."
"So I killed him in self-defense."
The squad leader's expression immediately became serious.
The soldiers checked Ge Tianxing's electronic wristband and confirmed his identity.
The Wubei Army didn't have the authority to interfere in the internal affairs of Qingfeng Camp, so they immediately reported the situation to Qingfeng Camp.
Zhao Mu cooperated fully and remained at the scene.
The Wubei Army only needed to examine the surroundings to roughly understand what had happened.
However, the squad leader still looked at Zhao Mu suspiciously.
"Zhao Mu."
"You're a Cadet Soldier who joined Qingfeng Camp this year, and your Combat Rating is only Level 7."
"But the corpse in front of us belongs to Ge Tianxing, whose Combat Rating is Level 22."
"Did you really kill him?"
Such a thing was practically unbelievable.
No wonder the squad leader looked at Zhao Mu as if he were looking at a monster.
Zhao Mu shrugged.
"Just luck."
Naturally, he wasn't going to casually reveal the eight Ember Remnants in his possession.
That would be far too conspicuous.
Even someone like Ge Tianxing, another Cadet Soldier from Qingfeng Camp, would be tempted by such treasures.
There was no telling how many others would try to take them from him.
Less than half an hour later, the Discipline Inspection Department of Qingfeng Camp arrived.
The person leading the team was someone Zhao Mu already knew.
Bai Meimei, the Deputy Minister of the Discipline Inspection Department.
She wore a white military uniform, and her long hair reached all the way to her calves.
As she walked, her hair swayed behind her, giving her an imposing and heroic appearance.
After listening to the Wubei Army's report, Bai Meimei glanced at Zhao Mu with a strange expression.
"I understand."
"Leave this place to the Discipline Inspection Department of Qingfeng Camp."
"You may leave."
The Wubei Army immediately withdrew.
Several members of the Discipline Inspection Department under Bai Meimei then looked at Zhao Mu as though they were staring at a monster before turning their attention to Ge Tianxing's corpse.
Their expressions clearly showed that they didn't believe Zhao Mu had killed Ge Tianxing by himself.
However, the surveillance footage from the nearby streets showed that only Zhao Mu and Ge Tianxing had entered the alley.
Moreover, the footage indicated that Ge Tianxing had followed Zhao Mu into the alley.
Bai Meimei stared at Zhao Mu.
Her voice was cold and serious.
"This incident can be classified as Ge Tianxing attacking a fellow Cadet Soldier for personal revenge and subsequently being killed in self-defense."
With a single sentence, Bai Meimei had defined the nature of the incident.
The other members of the department weren't surprised.
Ge Tianxing had deliberately chosen this location.
There were no surveillance cameras covering the alley.
A Level 22 Combat Rating against a Level 7 Combat Rating.
Ge Tianxing had also previously been humiliated by Zhao Mu.
And now he had been killed by Zhao Mu.
Taking all these circumstances into consideration, the case could essentially be closed.
The purpose of the Discipline Inspection Department was to maintain order within Qingfeng Camp.
They weren't detectives.
Naturally, none of the members objected.
They placed Ge Tianxing's corpse into a body bag.
However, when they looked at Zhao Mu, their eyes were still filled with disbelief.
Obviously, nobody truly believed that Zhao Mu had accomplished this alone.
Zhao Mu then added:
"The Intermediate Camp soldiers Tian Lizhen and Sun Jiliang were the ones who lured him here."
"I suspect they're his accomplices."
Bai Meimei's expression remained cold.
She immediately ordered someone to record the statement.
"After we return, arrest them and interrogate them thoroughly."
Zhao Mu had gotten his revenge immediately.
It was a fact that Ge Tianxing had been lured there by those two.
It was also a fact that Ge Tianxing had attacked Zhao Mu.
At the very least, Tian Lizhen and Sun Jiliang would have to pay a price for their involvement.
Bai Meimei turned around.
"Get in the car."
"I still have some things to ask you."
Zhao Mu's eyes immediately lit up.
This was great!
He had been worrying about how he was going to find transportation at this hour.
Now he could even save the taxi fare.
"Yes, Senior Sister!"
Zhao Mu called out sweetly and followed Bai Meimei into a black jeep.
The two sat in the back seat as the vehicle drove toward Qingfeng Camp.
Bai Meimei rested her cheek against one hand and looked at Zhao Mu with curious eyes.
"Tell me."
"What exactly is going on between you two?"
Zhao Mu knew that Bai Meimei held considerable authority within Qingfeng Camp.
She had the power to punish anyone who violated military rules and regulations.
In a sense, she was the person the trainees feared the most.
Zhao Mu put on an honest expression and explained the entire situation.
Of course, when describing the Ember Remnants, he deliberately glossed over certain details.
Bai Meimei narrowed her eyes.
She stared at Zhao Mu intently.
"It seems Master Liang treats you very well."
"You've only just joined the camp, yet she's already given you so many Ember Remnants."
She suddenly leaned closer to Zhao Mu.
Her large eyes narrowed slightly, her black pupils resembling those of a hawk as she seemed determined to see straight through him.
"Could it be…"
"You've hooked up with Master Liang?"
Zhao Mu nearly choked on the spot.
________________________________________
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