Zhao Mu did not take Wang Qing's words too seriously. He and Shen Moran were childhood sweethearts who had known each other since they were young, and their relationship was excellent.
Moreover, he knew clearly that he was not an E-Rank Spirit Power User.
However, he needed to wait until he was strong enough before he could slowly tell Shen Moran this fact.
He believed Shen Moran would understand him.
Shen Moran and Shao Han were taken away separately, while the remaining people were addressed by the Principal.
"Everyone, the Spirit Awakening Ceremony has concluded. How your lives proceed will be decided by yourselves."
"You have two choices. The first is to head to the [Qingfeng Camp] to participate in the Entrance Trial. Once you successfully pass, you will be qualified to become Trainees of the Qingfeng Camp, temporarily avoiding deployment to the frontline military camp."
"The second choice is to directly abandon the Qingfeng Camp, say goodbye to your Family early, and prepare to report to the Military Department."
The Principal's expression became serious: "I know that most people will choose to participate in the Qingfeng Camp's Entrance Training, but I must warn you. The Xuanfeng Empire respects martial arts above all else, and the Qingfeng Camp trains elites. Therefore, the Entrance Training may be extremely brutal."
"There might even be life-threatening danger! And injuries and disabilities are common occurrences."
"If you are not confident in your own strength, it is best not to take this path. After all, even on the frontline, you might work in a civilian position or serve as a logistics soldier, where the casualty rate is not as high."
After hearing the Principal's instructions, there was a wave of whispering below.
Some E-Rank Trainees were full of worry: "Our Spiritual Energy Talent is so poor, and we don't come from powerful Families. We won't be able to compete with those second-generation elites in the Entrance Trial. Let's just accept our fate and go straight to the frontline."
"Yeah, if we participate in the Entrance Training, we'll just be cannon fodder."
Many people were already considering backing out.
Immediately afterward, the Director of the school's Logistics Department drove a car over, which was loaded with many black electronic wristbands.
The Principal said: "These electronic wristbands are symbols of Spirit Power Users. When you enlist in the future, you can use them to connect to the entire Military Department Network. You can use them to communicate with each other, accept missions, and exchange for Combat Techniques for Cultivation from the cloud."
"According to the Military Department's regulations, newly Awakened Spirit Power Users can receive the most basic Spiritual Energy Training Guidebook from the cloud for free."
"After you go back, study it carefully and try to feel how to use Spiritual Power. As long as you master Spiritual Power, even if you go to the battlefield to kill enemies, you will have more advantages than ordinary people."
Zhao Mu put on the electronic wristband, entered his personal information, and quickly mastered its use.
This electronic wristband could be described as fully functional, a product specially developed by the Xuanfeng Empire's Ministry of Science and Technology for the military, capable of meeting all the needs of Spirit Power Users.
Unexpectedly, immediately after completing the Spirit Awakening Ceremony, Zhao Mu's information was recorded within it.
Name: Zhao Mu
Age: 18 years old
Ability: Special Type (New Type Ability, Undefined)
Combat Level: 1
System Authority: 1
...Zhao Mu clicked his tongue. The Xuanfeng Empire truly lived up to its reputation as a nation that respects martial arts above all else; low-Rank Spirit Power Users have pitifully little authority.
Currently, besides using it to receive Military Department news and contact others, he could only claim a book called the *Spiritual Energy Introductory Manual*.
Zhao Mu was not in a hurry to open and read it. Since the Spirit Awakening Ceremony was over, he planned to go back and discuss with Aunt Bu what to do next.
While he was at it, he would verify his [demon clown] ability.
Zhao Mu prepared to leave the school. At that moment, several classmates walked over.
"Zhao Mu, are you planning to participate in the Qingfeng Camp's Entrance Trial next, or enlist directly?"
Zhao Mu was very familiar with the classmates who walked over. They were not among those who had just mocked him, and they were honest and steady students.
Zhao Mu looked at the few people and smiled: "Of course, I'm going to participate in the Entrance Trial. What are your plans?"
He looked at one tall male classmate, "Especially you, Li Zixuan, your Family is quite wealthy, and you are a D-Rank Awakener. Ask your father to prepare some Advanced equipment for you; you have a good chance if you try."
Li Zixuan scratched his head. His father had fought against the Dark Race in the army back then and was a Company Commander when he retired, enjoying generous state benefits.
After retiring, he later founded a company that flourished.
In the Xuanfeng Empire, companies founded by retired military personnel only pay one-tenth of the tax burden of ordinary people.
This was the Empire's stance: openly favoring and encouraging all Warriors willing to defend the nation.
"I'm a bit worried. The Qingfeng Camp's Entrance Trial gathers all the Awakeners from the entire Lujiang City. The competition will definitely be extremely fierce. The casualty rate for the Entrance Trial exceeds 70% every year, with a considerable number of deaths and disabilities."
Li Zixuan wore a bitter expression: "But knowing my Old Man's personality, he'd force me to go even if he had to hold a knife to my neck."
Zhao Mu nodded: "His military merit can only guarantee your Family's prosperity for one generation. If you want to maintain this glory and state resource favoritism, subsequent powerhouses must emerge."
Another boy with a large head and messy hair said: "Zhao Mu, I also plan to give it a shot. Since we're in the same class, we can stick together and look out for each other."
This boy was named Zhou Haoyu, and his ability was only E-Rank. He appeared honest and simple, but he wasn't foolish at all.
He knew that although Zhao Mu appeared to have only E-Rank Spiritual Energy Talent, Zhao Mu's academic scores were excellent, and his physical strength and practical combat ability were rarely matched by his peers.
Therefore, he still held a significant advantage when participating in the upcoming Entrance Trial.
The Military Martial Specialization School treats all students equally; strength is the only measure.
The situation where low-Talent individuals counter-attack and defeat Advanced-Talent individuals is not unheard of.
Zhao Mu thought for a moment, then smiled and said to the two: "If there's a chance to cooperate then, looking out for each other would be good."
After receiving Zhao Mu's promise, the few people nodded happily.
Not far away, several C-Rank Awakeners gathered together, and Wang Qing was among them.
Seeing that there were still classmates gathering around Zhao Mu, they couldn't help but show looks of derision.
"Those idiots, do they think this is the past? Wasting time with that E-Rank Awakener, how pitifully foolish."
"Heh, weaklings just love to stick together. But these trash, they aren't seriously planning to participate in the Qingfeng Camp's Entrance Trial, are they?"
Someone teased with a malicious grin: "Wouldn't that be great? If a few more of these low-Rank Awakeners show up, they can serve perfectly as stepping stones for us."
The voices of the few people were not loud, but they were just loud enough for Zhao Mu and the others to hear.
Li Zixuan and the others frowned, yet dared not refute them.
Zhao Mu gave them a deep look, memorized the faces of those few people, then waved goodbye to Li Zixuan and the others, and left Yuwu Middle School.