At the dinner table, Chu Tianxiong suddenly spoke up. "Eldest, the Extreme Martial Arts Gym's supervisor called me last night. He said he wanted you to join the Elite Training Camp. What do you think?"
"Last night?" Chu He paused with his chopsticks.
Before trying the effects of the Red Blood Wine last night, he had told his parents what he was doing, so they hadn't come to disturb him, even by the early hours of the morning.
As for the Elite Training Camp... Chu He's answer was, of course, no.
While taking a shower in the early hours, he had already settled on his next plan.
Head out into the Wilderness Zone and look for brewing ingredients.
If he could buy what he wanted at the Elite Training Camp, Chu He wouldn't want to take such a risk. Unfortunately, humanity had been confined to Base Cities for too long and knew very little about the wilderness.
As for the idea of growing stronger at the Elite Training Camp before heading into the Wilderness Zone, it crossed Chu He's mind for only a moment before he cast it into the farthest reaches of his thoughts.
Give him a break. Could the Elite Training Camp help him grow faster than brewing wine?
Nearby, Xu Qingqing's face grew more and more troubled when she learned that Chu He was heading back into the Wilderness Zone. He had only just returned a few days ago, and now he was going out again...
Chu Tianxiong merely nodded in silence. "All right. When he gets here, I'll tell him myself. You don't need to show your face in front of him."
"No need. Why hide from him?" Chu He waved a hand. "Besides, you can dodge the first day of the month, but can you dodge the fifteenth? Just meet him."
After breakfast, Chu He returned to the Martial Arts Hall and began preparing for his next trip into the wilderness.
Naturally, his first priority was getting used to his strength. His Spiritual Force was already in good shape.
Back when he had been an Intermediate Warrior, the White Jade Wine Pot's enhancement had brought his Spiritual Force close to breaking through three ranks, just barely reaching the Intermediate War General level.
Now, with his strength at the Advanced Warrior level and close to Junior War General, his Spiritual Force had also broken through to Intermediate War General and was nearing the Advanced War General level.
He had only made it halfway through a saber routine when Zhao Changkong, the Extreme Martial Arts Gym's supervisor in the Northeast Base City, arrived.
As Chu He came downstairs, he happened to see Zhao Changkong, dressed in a Tang suit, pouring himself tea and taking a sip.
Whether it was the Extreme Martial Arts Gym or the Thunder Dojo, this was how they had always been treated at the Chu Family home.
"Supervisor Zhao, I've discussed it with my eldest. We won't be sending him to the Elite Training Camp," Chu Tianxiong said flatly, his face betraying no emotion.
"Old Chu! Don't let your emotions get the better of you!" Zhao Changkong set his teacup down on the table with a thump. "This is a major matter that concerns the boy's future! Why are you still hung up on what happened before?"
Zhao Changkong was anxious.
For the past two years, the funding requested by Jiangnan Base City had been more generous than theirs—and more generous than that of the other five Base Cities as well.
Why?
Wasn't it because Jiangnan had produced a Luo Feng?
Now, a Spirit Reader had appeared in the Northeast Base City too. From what the boy had said, his Spiritual Force had reached the level of an Intermediate War General while his Warrior strength was only at the Intermediate Warrior level.
With talent like that, even if he couldn't compare to that freak Luo Feng, he could at least help the Northeast Base City branch of the Extreme Martial Arts Gym request more funding from headquarters next time.
Zhao Changkong wasn't asking for much. He just wanted more funding than the other four Base Cities.
Thinking this, Zhao Changkong kept trying to persuade him. "Besides, we at the Extreme Martial Arts Gym didn't want that incident to happen back then either. It wasn't our fault."
"I know." Chu Tianxiong sank deeper into the sofa. "If I really blamed you, I would've come after you for revenge a long time ago."
"Then what are you doing?" Confusion appeared on Zhao Changkong's face.
All these years, Old Chu had never once visited the Extreme Martial Arts Gym. He had even gone out of his way to avoid any involvement with the Two Great Martial Arts Halls.
As for the Extreme Martial Arts Gym, Zhao Changkong felt at least somewhat responsible, so he hadn't felt comfortable getting involved with Old Chu's family either.
This was the first time he had heard that Old Chu felt this way.
But if he didn't resent them, then why?
This was the Elite Training Camp!
In Zhao Changkong's mind, Chu Tianxiong had to be the one who'd made the decision. What kind of kid would turn down an opportunity like this?
Before Chu Tianxiong could answer, Chu He came downstairs, sat on the sofa in the living room, and spoke up. "Uncle Zhao, don't ask my dad. This was my decision."
"The Elite Training Camp conflicts with my plans, so I decided not to go."
"Conflicts?" Zhao Changkong looked at Chu He, even more puzzled. "This is the Elite Training Camp! It's also known as the War God Training Camp. You know what that means, don't you, Chu He?"
"Of course. Usually, only War Gods graduate from the War God Training Camp," Chu He said with a faint smile. "But I'm not bragging when I say I plan to become a War God within a year."
"A year?"
At that, a hint of disdain immediately showed in Zhao Changkong's eyes. He shot Chu Tianxiong a look.
The kid doesn't know any better. Aren't you going to keep him in line?
But that was exactly why Chu He had said it.
If he left them with the impression that he was an unreliable braggart, Zhao Changkong probably wouldn't try to recruit him again before the day he truly became a War God.
"Of course, a year." Chu He didn't bother to explain. Instead, he asked, "Uncle Zhao, how did you hear about me?"
"Oh, that? Chu Yunpeng from the Jackal Squad has been spending big these past couple of days, taking his girlfriend out for a shopping spree."
"Anyone could tell he'd come into a fortune."
"It just so happens that I'm distantly related to that girl, so I asked her about it and found out."
"Chu Yunpeng told you himself?" Chu He's brow furrowed, and his opinion of Chu Yunpeng immediately sank.
When they killed the Frost Shadow Deer, they had all agreed not to tell anyone.
Seeing Chu He's displeasure, Zhao Changkong figured out what was on his mind.
But he had no good opinion of Chu He, who liked to make grand claims. Recruiting someone like him into the Elite Training Camp probably wouldn't help the Northeast Base City's funding application, and he wouldn't appreciate the favor either.
So Zhao Changkong merely gave a brief explanation. "Of course not. I heard it from that kid's girlfriend."
After saying this, Zhao Changkong turned to Chu Tianxiong. "All right, Old Chu. Since your boy has his own plans, I won't play the villain here."
"But when you get the chance, you should still keep him in line. Becoming a War God isn't that simple!"
Chu He paid no attention to Chu Tianxiong seeing Zhao Changkong out. He headed straight to his room and called Chu Yunpeng.
"Brother Chu, did you tell your girlfriend about us killing the Frost Shadow Deer?"
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