The Unchanging Truth

September 1, 2056.

Yang Wu signed the formal recruitment contract, and the news was immediately spread by the Limit Martial Hall.

Although the specific terms of the contract were not disclosed, judging by the Limit Martial Hall's previous attitude toward Yang Wu, it was bound to be extremely generous.

At the same time, the final result of Yang Wu's first attempt at the Trial Tower was "accidentally" leaked by the Limit Martial Hall, instantly throwing every major faction into an uproar.

Trial Tower level 4.0!

Only one person could enter the Trial Tower at a time, but it was not limited to those from the Elite Training Camp or Basic Training Camp. War God Level warriors of the War God Palace could challenge the tower as well.

Yet without exception, very few could reach the fourth floor of the Trial Tower. Far more War God Level warriors were stopped on the third floor.

For super-powerful organizations such as the five great nations, the two major martial halls, and the HR Alliance—

They understood better than anyone what it meant to reach such a level on one's very first attempt at the Trial Tower.

If it were merely rapid improvement in physical fitness, it would not have shocked them so greatly.

After all, certain treasures—public ones like Dragon Blood and Jade Marrow, as well as undisclosed ones like Plant Spirits and other special items...

Could all strengthen one's physical fitness!

In short, physical fitness could be bought with money. One could throw astronomical sums at it to improve!

But movement technique mastery, spear technique mastery, and bodily force exertion could not be forced. They could only be improved through battle after battle, training after training, experience, and comprehension.

In the words of the Elite Training Camp... it was "combat power amplitude": using one unit of strength to unleash ten units of combat power, or even a hundred.

That was true skill!

And before May of this year, Yang Wu had merely been an Advanced Student taking the Quasi-Warrior assessment—one who had even failed several times. His terrifying rate of rise left people utterly stunned.

Wary of Hong's might, even if they harbored other intentions, they did not dare openly make a move against Yang Wu. They even restrained their own people, telling them not to do anything foolish.

At the same time, they raised their assessment of Yang Wu to another level.

Kyoto Base City, Wangfu Community.

Wangfu Community covered an enormous area. In terms of building area and luxury, it ranked among the top three in all of Kyoto Base City. It was the Wang Family of Kyoto's public headquarters.

The HR Alliance had nine core families, and the Wang Family was the only one from Huaxia Country among them. The Xu Family and Ye Family were merely two of the twelve major family conglomerates of the HR Alliance within Huaxia Country.

Outside the community walls, soldiers in military uniforms stood guard everywhere with loaded firearms. Inside the community, many soldiers patrolled at all times as well.

Luxurious and imposing villas stood throughout the community. One villa, covering nearly a thousand square meters, had far more soldiers patrolling around it than any other location—the most in the entire community.

That was because its owner was Wang Yanzhou, the second son of the current family head from the Wang Family's direct line. He controlled the family's financial power and more than half of its industries, managing them all in perfect order.

"Holy shit!!!"

In the villa's luxurious hall, the chubby young man in extravagant clothes, Wang Yu—no, Wang Xingyan—accepted the information his father handed him and was utterly dumbfounded after reading it.

His cultivation talent could not be considered genius-level, only above average. Moreover, influenced by his father, he had been more interested in business since childhood.

The last time, using an account his father had previously used, he had unexpectedly conducted his first transaction with Yang Wu. The two had exchanged contact information afterward.

It was only over ten days ago, after he returned from Jiangnan Base City with the Silver Moon Wolf's hide, that he learned from his father about Yang Wu's unusual qualities.

"How is your relationship with him?"

On the sofa, the middle-aged Wang Yanzhou, dressed in an exquisite suit, poured himself a small cup of tea and looked up at his son.

"Ah, relationship?"

Wang Xingyan felt somewhat awkward. They had only made two transactions in total—what sort of relationship could they have?

"Xingyan, I know you have no ambition for the position of family head. But you must understand that if the position falls to your eldest uncle's branch, it will be difficult for you to control the family's financial power and fulfill your dreams."

"Right now, there is such an opportunity. If you can remain on good terms with Yang Wu, then even if you do not compete for the position of family head in the future, you can still easily fulfill your dreams."

Wang Yanzhou took a sip of tea, set down his cup, and spoke solemnly. His wife had died young, and he had not remarried in all these years. Wang Xingyan was his only son.

"But we only have an ordinary business relationship!"

Wang Xingyan looked conflicted. Although he and Yang Wu had each other's contact information, approaching him with an ulterior motive would not only fail to achieve anything—it might even backfire.

"That is not important. What matters is that you have had contact and can leave an impression."

Wang Yanzhou shook his head. According to the information they had collected, Yang Wu himself was not good at socializing, and there were only a few people he regularly interacted with. Wang Xingyan having contact with him already put him ahead of most people.

"I will use the family's connections to secure a spot in next year's Elite Training Camp through the HR Alliance."

"If that fails, I'll ask your uncle by marriage, Zhou Zhengyong, and see whether he can help secure one through the Limit Martial Hall."

"Uncle by marriage!"

Wang Xingyan was somewhat surprised. His aunt, Wang Yanling, had been close to his father since childhood. After she married Zhou Zhengyong, the two families had continued their previous relationship.

His uncle by marriage, Zhou Zhengyong, was known as Iron Hand. He possessed Intermediate War God Level strength and was also the president of the Limit Main Hall in Jiangnan Base City. If he helped pull some strings, it might really be possible.

Although the Wang Family was one of the HR Alliance's nine core families, the major Western conglomerate families held greater influence in the Underground Parliament of the HR Alliance.

Within Huaxia Country, the government and military were the strongest powers. The Wang Family's industries and influence were restricted by the government at every turn, making it impossible for them to act as freely as those major Western conglomerate families.

Although the HR Alliance had a long-term partnership with the Limit Martial Hall and reserved spots every year, there were only so many slots, and every super conglomerate family watched them like wolves.

"Alright, I'll go discuss this with your grandfather first."

"If your grandfather or anyone else asks about you and Yang Wu, just say that you are still in contact."

After carefully explaining everything, Wang Yanzhou rose from the sofa, smoothed out his slightly wrinkled suit, and then walked toward the door.

Befriending Yang Wu was not his main goal. He merely wanted to seize this opportunity and use the family's influence to send his son, Wang Xingyan, into the Elite Training Camp.

It would naturally be better if he could befriend Yang Wu, but improving one's own strength was what mattered most. Having controlled the family's financial power for so many years, he deeply understood that wealth was merely an external possession.

Only strength was eternal!