Challenge the Trial Tower I

July 26, morning

Mirror patterns, ripples.

"Nine Heavens Thunder Blade force generation..." Xu Feng frowned slightly.

"Mirror, mirror..." Xu Feng looked somewhat dazed.

"Mirror!" Xu Feng revealed a delighted expression.

No wonder Luo Feng had been able to comprehend the fourth level of the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade from water.

The instant a water droplet created ripples...

It was very similar to when he had comprehended the second level of the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade.

"Water droplets create ripples. What matters is not the ripples, nor the droplets, but the mirror—the water's surface, as smooth as a mirror." Xu Feng sighed. "Only when the surface is increasingly still, so still that there is not a trace of a ripple, will the ripples from a falling droplet become clearer." The same applied to generating force with one's fists. The key to force generation was not the layers of Hidden Strength.

It was the muscles, bones, and sinews throughout the body through which the Hidden Strength was transmitted.

Xu Feng, whose control over his strength had already improved tremendously compared to before, directly comprehended the fourth level. "The fourth level..."

"Now that I've comprehended the fourth level, my fist force generation has reached 3.5." Xu Feng's eyes gleamed.

"As long as my Trial Tower level reaches 3.5, my Combat Power Amplitude will exceed 12."

Of course, the more important reason for Xu Feng's breakthrough was that he had already mastered the third level of the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade before coming to the training camp. He had cultivated bitterly every day at the training camp without daring to slack off in the slightest. His control over his strength had become increasingly precise, and his foundation increasingly solid. Even without this sudden flash of insight, after another three to five months, he would have naturally reached the fourth level. Still, advancing three to five months early was a wonderful thing.

According to his contract with the Limitless Martial Arts School, as long as his Combat Power Amplitude reached 12 before August 1, he would receive an A-series Combat Suit, a complete set of weapons, any complete set of manuals, one portion of Dragon Blood worth 80 billion, and a Black God Battle Robe. It was an enormous reward.

Not to mention the Dragon Blood worth 80 billion. Just the manuals alone—Xu Feng would definitely choose the complete Nine Heavens Thunder Blade manual set. That complete set cost 100 billion, and even at half price it would still be 50 billion. Besides, the requirement for half price was four-star Contribution Points. Four stars—when would Xu Feng ever reach that? Yet now, he could obtain such a set of manuals for free. "One manual set, plus Dragon Blood, plus a Combat Suit and weapons... Even at half price, it would definitely be worth over 100 billion. If I had to buy them, when could I ever afford them?" I still have two Trial Tower attempts this month, Xu Feng thought. My Combat Power Amplitude is going to exceed 12.

Xu Feng was ranked 85th!

Although he had not cleared the Trial Tower even once, relying on the advantage of being a Psychic Master, Xu Feng's score was not much worse than those trainees who had cleared it!

As long as his force generation level reached 3.5, he would surpass the number one on the ranking: Mo Qi Delufei.

To rank first in the Elite Training Camp in his very first month—never mind a later half-price discount, it could only be said that no one had ever done it before.

11:50 a.m.

Xu Feng, dressed in casual clothes, leisurely walked out of Jiangnan Pavilion alone. Just then, Zhao Ruo was returning from outside. She smiled and said, "Xu Feng, going for lunch?"

"I already ate." Xu Feng smiled.

"I just went to check the Black Dragon Ranking. You're actually ranked 85th. Junior Brother, you're really impressive. Your Senior Disciple Sister only barely made it into the top hundred." Zhao Ruo teased. Xu Feng grinned. "Senior Disciple Sister, you'd better be careful. My goal is to break into the top three soon."

"Soon? Two months? Three months?" Zhao Ruo raised an eyebrow.

"I'll talk to you later. I need to take care of something first." Xu Feng did not say much.

No one in the training camp knew that he had not cleared the Trial Tower.

After saying that, Xu Feng headed toward the Nine-Layered Tower.

Along the way, quite a few trainees greeted Xu Feng. The trainees respected the strong as well, and Xu Feng had reached 85th place in his first month after entering the training camp. Although the Points ranking would not end until midnight on the 28th, Xu Feng's strength was already evident from this.

He was only eighteen years old, yet already this formidable.

What about the future?

Thus, many trainees from South America, North America, Europe, Africa, and elsewhere had fairly good relationships with Xu Feng.

At the Trial Tower, twelve white trainees had just finished their Trial Tower attempts and Gravity Room cultivation, and were sparring with one another.

"Hey, Xu Feng, why are you here at noon?" one of the white trainees who could speak Mandarin called out. The other eleven could not speak Mandarin. Among trainees from the Americas, relatively few understood Mandarin, even though Mandarin was now widely spoken around the world.

"I have something to do." Xu Feng smiled and headed toward the trial room. The trial room scanned him and confirmed his identity.

Click.

The trial room door automatically unlocked. Xu Feng gave it a gentle push and entered.

"The trial room? How can he enter the trial room after noon?"

"It's impossible to enter the trial room."

The twelve white trainees spoke fluent English, their native tongue.

"Ah, Xu Feng is a new trainee. July is his first month here. New trainees have the privilege of taking a Trial Tower level assessment during their first month."

"Could it be that he still hasn't taken his Trial Tower level assessment? It's already the 26th!"

"He definitely hasn't taken it. Otherwise, trainees can't enter the trial room between noon and 1 p.m."

"My god, his Trial Tower level hasn't even been assessed, yet he's already climbed to over 85th place on the Black Dragon Ranking. Once he finishes the assessment, how far will he rise? Could it be top eighty?"

"A newcomer reaching the top eighty in their first month?"

"Quick, let's go to the Black Dragon Ranking. The rankings will definitely refresh soon."

"Quick, let's go."

"Go to the Black Dragon Sculpture."

These six black trainees chattered excitedly, each of them extremely shocked. They quickly rushed down the stairs and headed for the Black Dragon Sculpture at the training camp's main entrance. At the training camp, it was almost impossible for newcomers to enter the top hundred in their first month. Every person who created such a miracle went on to achieve astonishing things.

Could it be...

That someone was about to enter the top eighty the moment he joined the training camp?

Inside the trial room, Xu Feng turned on the lights.

Xu Feng lay on the sofa and picked up the dark blue helmet beside him. Under the lights, the consciousness-sensing helmet reflected a dazzling dark blue radiance.

"The farther I go, the better," Xu Feng said softly. He kissed the helmet, then put it on. Buzz—

Upon the boundless silver ground, the sky was an endless starry universe.

The only structure was the seven-story giant tower that seemed capable of piercing the heavens—the Trial Tower.

As he wished, Xu Feng arrived at the main entrance of the Trial Tower. On the pillar to the tower's left, information about him appeared.

"Name: Xu Feng. Gender: Male. Identity: Official trainee of the Elite Training Camp. Trial Tower level: 1."

Xu Feng smiled. Prompted by the virtual space, he quickly changed into a Combat Suit and equipped weapons, a shield, and more. Then he stepped directly into the Trial Tower.

Xu Feng appeared out of thin air on a vast grassland.

The electronic voice echoed across the grassland. "The A-grade test is to kill 100 Elementary Beast General level Brutal Ox monsters attacking you within 30 minutes. If you die midway, you fail. If you have not killed 100 Brutal Ox monsters after 30 minutes, you also fail. This is your first time entering the Trial Tower. You have five minutes to prepare."

The electronic voice echoed across the grassland. "The B-grade test is to kill 100 Elementary Beast General level Brutal Ox monsters attacking you within 30 minutes."

Without exception, he easily passed the first two attempts in only ten minutes, and Xu Feng's Trial Tower level became 1.6.

"Xu Feng." The electronic voice echoed across the grassland. "You have completed the first floor's B-grade stage trial. The next stage is the C-grade stage trial. Your objective is to kill 200 Brutal Ox monsters within 50 minutes. Among these Brutal Ox monsters, 190 are Elementary Beast General level, and 10 are Intermediate Beast General level. Good luck." Xu Feng grinned, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

After nearly a month in the training camp, Xu Feng knew very clearly what he would encounter at every stage of the Trial Tower. The B-grade stage before had involved 100 Elementary Beast General level Brutal Ox monsters, while this time there were 200, including 10 Intermediate Beast General level ones. Yet his body was only at the Primary General level.

He had to eliminate them all within 50 minutes to succeed. "Hoo—" Two hundred Brutal Ox monsters instantly appeared across the grassland, and several of the enormous beasts even had fiery red horns.

"Charge—"

The ground trembled. Led by ten Intermediate Beast General level Brutal Ox monsters, the herd surged toward Xu Feng like a roaring tidal wave. With Xu Feng's physical constitution, if he was struck head-on even once, he would probably lose his ability to fight and be trampled into pulp by the herd. Therefore, he could not make even a single mistake.

"Come on." Xu Feng held a Hexagonal Shield in one hand and a Blood Shadow Saber in the other. He actually grinned as he charged forward. While Xu Feng was undergoing his Trial Tower level assessment, news spread through those twelve white trainees, and many other trainees learned that Xu Feng, the Chinese trainee who had just entered the training camp and already reached 85th place on the ranking, had never undergone his Trial Tower level assessment.

Today was his first assessment. Before the assessment, he was already ranked 85th. After it, would he charge into the top fifty?

Immediately, many trainees who were eating quickly finished their meals and rushed toward the enormous Black Dragon Sculpture at the training camp's main entrance, watching for changes in the ranking displayed on it. In truth, the ranking changed almost constantly, and would not stop changing until midnight on the 28th.

Meanwhile, in City 1001 of the Wilderness Zone, atop a dilapidated three-story villa.

Mo Qi Delufei, dressed in a black Combat Suit, sat alone on the ground, holding a water pouch in one hand as she replenished some fluids. Although she was already ranked first in the Elite Training Camp, Mo Qi had not relaxed her standards for herself.

"Personal strength is what truly matters. Everything else is empty." Mo Qi took a small sip of water. "Today is already the 26th. There are only two days left before this month's rankings end. It seems there won't be any problem with me taking first place this time."

"Hm?" Mo Qi looked at the communications watch on her wrist.

"It's a call from Luoluoyasuoluo."

"Call back."

Mo Qi gave the command, and the call quickly connected.

"I'm in the Wilderness Zone, and you're calling me? Do you miss me?" Mo Qi teased. "Mo Qi, a kid named Xu Feng is only taking his Trial Tower level assessment today." Luo Luoya's voice came from the communications watch.

"What does his Trial Tower level assessment have to do with us?" Just as Mo Qi finished speaking, her expression changed. "What did you say? He—he's only taking his Trial Tower level assessment today? Has he not taken it at all over the past twenty-six days? Without being assessed, he could already rise to over 85th place? How is that possible? Impossible!"

Mo Qi was unwilling to believe Xu Feng was so strong.

"I don't want to believe it either, but my sister, I have to tell you that it's the truth. Xu Feng is undergoing his assessment in the trial room right now. Dozens of trainees are gathered around the Black Dragon Ranking here at the training camp, waiting for the rankings to refresh. Quite a few instructors from the training camp have come over as well." Luo Luoya spoke in fluent English at a rapid pace. "If Xu Feng really can reach 85th place in his first month after arriving at the training camp, that would be incredible."

"I don't believe it."

"I absolutely refuse to believe he can enter the top fifty."

"I don't want to believe it either, but if you were in the training camp right now, you'd understand." Luo Luoya said, "Keep an eye on the Black Dragon Sculpture. Don't hang up. Notify me the moment the ranking refreshes." Mo Qi said, "All right."