Bu Yanhuan and Zhao Mu walked to the main gate together. At the registration desk, Zhao Mu passed straight through—his personal data had already been entered into the Trial System.
But when the guard saw Bu Yanhuan swaggering in as well, his brows knitted slightly.
Yet the moment her identity was scanned, his pupils shrank sharply.
The hand he'd lifted to block her became a crisp salute.
Bu Yanhuan, a wine bottle swinging from one hand, strolled in with Zhao Mu, cheerfully sizing up the surroundings and commenting on every detail.
"Not a bad place, though it falls short of where I trained back in the day."
Behind them, a parent tried to follow, only to be stopped cold by the sentry.
"Sorry—only Trial candidates may enter the camp. No unauthorized personnel!"
The guard's voice was ice.
The indignant parent pointed at Bu Yanhuan's retreating figure. "Then why does she get to go in?"
The guard glanced toward Bu Yanhuan, respect shining in his eyes.
"For her contributions to the Empire and to humanity."
Once inside Qingfeng Camp, Zhao Mu found himself on a broad avenue paved with square bluestone slabs that stretched into the distance.
Signposts directed Trial Participants to the assembly point. Bu Yanhuan draped an arm over his shoulder and grinned, "Alright, kid, from here on you're on your own. I've got business—see you later."
Zhao Mu blinked. "Aren't you here to watch my Trial?"
"Haha, dream on! I've got my own errands."
She winked, spun around, and swaggered off.
She walked like a drunkard; Zhao Mu could only rub his forehead in resignation and let her go.
Following the signs, Zhao Mu arrived at the registration area—a vast circular plaza.
A ring-shaped high-rise walled it in; the space covered several thousand square meters.
Quite a crowd had already gathered.
It was as noisy as a marketplace: some wore armor, others carried weapons, all itching to begin—excited yet nervous.
Zhao Mu found a step and sat down to wait.
The Entrance Trial changed every year; the topic would only be revealed on the day itself.
Zhao Mu wasted no time: the Turtle Breathing Technique was active, steadily raising proficiency.
It kept his mind calm, immune to sudden emotional swings.
After a while someone dashed over, shouting his name in excitement.
"Zhao Mu! Zhao Mu!"
He looked up—several classmates were heading his way.
Among them Li Zixuan and Zhou Haoyu, plus a few others.
Seven or eight of them crowded round him, all smiles and warm greetings.
Yet Zhao Mu remembered clearly: apart from Li and Zhou, every one of them had mocked him—openly or in private—after learning he'd awakened an E-rank Talent.
Zhao Mu merely smiled faintly and nodded.
"Hey, everyone."
A boy named Meng Hexuan stepped forward, scratching his head. "Zhao Mu, word is over two thousand are taking the Trial and the acceptance rate is less than ten percent. Competition's brutal."
"Everyone's forming school-based teams. For safety, join us!"
Zhao Mu rested his chin on laced fingers and gave a half-smile. "Really? How kind of you to invite me."
Meng Hexuan flushed—after all, he was only eighteen and hadn't yet grown a wall-thick hide.
He was a mere D-rank Awakener with mediocre talent.
Had he not witnessed Zhao Mu's terrifying combat strength that day, he'd have stayed far away.
Zhao Mu straightened, the same faint smile on his lips.
"Did any of you study past Trial formats before coming here?"
"Five Years of Trials, Three Years of Mock Papers mentions: Qingfeng Camp's Entrance Trial lately focuses on written tests, individual combat, and wilderness warfare."
"Group battles aren't part of the test—they want elite individuals. Teamwork is for after you've made the cut and become comrades-in-arms."
Zhao Mu folded his arms, smiling thinly. "In that case, numbers mean little—and hearts may not align."
That was the real reason he refused to team up.
They were all rivals; no one dared expose their back to the others.
When real benefits were at stake, teammates would stab you in it.
Zhao Mu far outclassed them; why burden himself with dead weight?
His blunt words turned their faces sour.
"Zhao Mu, no need to be like that. We're classmates—helping each other is only right."
"You're our class monitor; looking after us is your duty."
"Going solo is dangerous—remember, killing is allowed in the Trial. Think twice."
Angered by having their motives exposed, their words grew barbed.
Zhao Mu's gaze chilled.
"Good points—I'm taking notes."
Their faces lit up, thinking they'd swayed him into joining them.
But the next instant a murderous glint flashed in Zhao Mu's eyes.
"Killing is allowed, you said?"
"I hate moral lectures and emotional blackmail. So when the Trial starts, better stay out of my way—I prefer letting my blade do the talking."
Still seated, Zhao Mu swept them with a smiling squint.
A chill shot through every heart.
The sight of Zhao Mu instantly slaying Wang Qing's trio was still vivid in their minds.
If they met him inside and he truly meant to kill, he could end their lives in a heartbeat.
"H-hey, no need for that. We're classmates—if it bothers you, we'll just avoid you."
"We meant no harm, don't take it the wrong way."
They slunk off, afraid of earning his grudge.
Li Zixuan and Zhou Haoyu looked awkward.
"Sorry, Zhao Mu. We mentioned teaming up earlier and they got ideas. If you'd rather go solo, forget we asked."
The two apologized.
Zhao Mu merely smiled at them. "I just can't stand fair-weather friends."
"Let's see what the Trial is first. If it's within my power, I'll help where I can. After all, we're all from class three—boosting our acceptance rate brings honor to the whole class and to Yuwu No. 2 Middle School."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)