Nine-Story Tower

"This is the Black Dragon Ranking List. The screens above display the point rankings of the students in the training camp. Your points will determine your status in the Elite Training Camp. In the future, Xu Xin and Luo Feng, you two will need to work hard."

Yang Hui introduced the Black Dragon Ranking List with a smile before leading them into the Elite Training Camp.

Though called a training camp, it was actually a complex of ancient Huaxia-style palace architecture, complete with pavilions, towers, small bridges, and flowing water. It was breathtakingly beautiful; the designer of this training camp had clearly put a great deal of effort into it.

"Look over there."

Yang Hui pointed toward a very tall tower in the distance. It appeared to have only nine stories, but its height was at least comparable to a standard twenty-story building.

"This tower is the core building of the training camp. The entire camp was built around it. It is called the Nine-Story Tower."

"The Nine-Story Tower..."

Xu Ai picked up her phone and snapped a photo.

Yang Hui couldn't help but cough a few times after seeing this.

"Ahem, Xu Ai, taking photos is fine, but remember not to spread them."

As the world's highest institution for cultivating martial artists, the Elite Training Camp still needed to maintain a sense of mystery.

"Mm, I'll just look at it myself."

Xu Ai agreed immediately. In fact, with the artificial intelligence of Hong watching over everything, if he didn't allow it to be spread, no one would be able to!

Yang Hui nodded, then continued leading Xu Ai and the others toward the Nine-Story Tower.

"The first floor of the Nine-Story Tower is similar to other clubhouses. The main entrance leads to an entertainment area like a bar, provided for students to relax and chat, although most students spend their time on the seventh, eighth, and ninth floors."

There were indeed very few people on the first floor. After entering, Xu Ai only saw a few students here and there; most of the people present were staff members.

"Are there any training facilities on the seventh, eighth, or ninth floors?"

Luo Feng asked. His purpose in coming to the Elite Training Camp was very clear: to become stronger.

Knowing that most students spent their time on the seventh, eighth, and ninth floors, Luo Feng was naturally curious.

"I'll take you on a tour in a moment, and you'll see for yourselves."

Yang Hui didn't answer Luo Feng's question directly, instead continuing to show them around the first floor.

"Behind the bar is a large cafeteria. It offers a wide variety of gourmet food, and you can even request the chefs to prepare your favorite dishes. There is also a delivery service available; you just need to make a phone call."

Yang Hui led them to the cafeteria, which was very large, clean, and hygienic.

It was nearing noon, but there still weren't many people there. It was obvious that they had likely just had the staff deliver their meals.

"It's normal for there to be few people. The students are all racing against time to cultivate or earn points, so they don't have time to come here. You will be the same in the future."

"On the side of the cafeteria, there are also large private rooms. If you want to celebrate something, you can apply for one, and they are provided free of charge."

Yang Hui pointed to the side of the cafeteria, where there was a large door every few meters. Xu Ai estimated the remaining space, and even if it were divided into several sections, these private rooms were quite spacious.

"Let's head to the second floor next. The second floor is quite exciting."

"Oh, what makes it exciting?"

"You'll know when you get there."

There were many elevators in the Nine-Story Tower, with five of them lined up side by side.

One elevator happened to be stopped on the first floor. Xu Ai and the others stepped inside and arrived at the second floor.

"The second floor is also an entertainment area, featuring things like KTV or an Emotional Venting Room for students to let off steam. By the way, the walls of the Emotional Venting Room are made of top-tier materials that even a War God would find difficult to break."

"I didn't expect something like this to exist."

Xu Ai was caught between laughter and tears. She had heard of Emotional Venting Rooms in her past life—places where people could vent by smashing things—but she hadn't expected them to exist in the world of Swallowed Star.

"After all, the training camp requires students to earn points and compete for rankings, which inevitably puts a lot of pressure on them. Venting emotions is unavoidable. I have to say, after venting their emotions, many students' training progress noticeably speeds up."

Yang Hui pointed toward the front desk.

"If you want to give it a try, just let the staff know."

"Forget it, I'm not interested..."

Xu Xin waved her hand, and Luo Feng also indicated he didn't need it.

Needless to say, Xu Ai felt the same.

"Alright, then let's continue looking around."

There weren't many students on the second floor either. Unless they were pushed to their limits, most people didn't come here to vent their emotions.

After Xu Ai and the others finished their tour, they returned to the elevator and went up to the third floor.

The third floor was the martial arts hall, or rather, the Martial Arts Plaza.

"Not everyone likes to cultivate behind closed doors; many prefer to practice martial arts or discuss techniques with friends, so the existence of the Martial Arts Plaza is necessary."

Yang Hui led Xu Ai into the third floor. There were quite a few people here, including both students and teachers. They were either practicing martial arts in their respective areas or discussing flaws with friends on the sofas in the corners.

"If you find it too quiet at home and don't like it, you can also come here."

"No, that won't be necessary. I still prefer being alone, or being with Xiao Ai."

Xu Xin waved her hand. She didn't like practicing martial arts in public; having Xu Ai and Hen Ren around was already her limit.

Luo Feng was the same; unless necessary, he preferred to keep his secrets, much like how he had handled his identity as a Spirit Reader in the past.

Yang Hui led them around the Martial Arts Plaza before arriving at the fourth floor.

"The fourth floor is built with many individual Martial Arts Halls; these are places for teachers to provide private instruction. Once you are assigned teachers, you will generally come here for unified lessons."

"We don't need that. My sister's teacher is me, so I can just teach her at home."

Xu Ai said, wrapping her arm around Xu Xin's slender waist.

"Alright then..."

Yang Hui showed them the equipment inside the Martial Arts Hall rooms before leaving and heading to the fifth floor.

The fifth floor consisted of various sparring rings. It was clear these were for students to practice with one another, though few students came here; as long as the Challenge Room was free, they would head straight there instead.

The sixth floor contained private Duel Rooms. Some students wanted to spar but preferred to keep a trick or two up their sleeves, not wanting to display them in front of outsiders, which was why these private Duel Rooms existed.

After all, the rings on the fifth floor were indeed exposed to everyone, and not everyone was willing to accept that.

Next was the seventh floor.

"The seventh and eighth floors are identical: they are Gravity Chamber rooms!"

"Gravity Chambers?"

Xu Xin asked in surprise. She knew that the Ruthless Councilor had a 'Gravity Chamber' at home!

"That's right. Xu Xin and Xu Ai, as disciples of the Ruthless Councilor, you should be aware of this."

Yang Hui said with a smile.

"These are Gravity Chambers replicated by our scientists. The gravity increase range is only 1-3 times, which cannot compare to 'Ancient Civilization' Gravity Chambers, but training inside them is still much more effective than training on our own."

"Only 3 times?"

Xu Xin looked at Xu Ai with confusion, and Xu Ai explained:

"Sister, the one at Master's place is a Gravity Chamber excavated from Ancient Civilization ruins. With current technology, it's naturally impossible to fully replicate an 'Ancient Civilization' Gravity Chamber. Being able to reach 3 times gravity with a replica is already quite impressive."

"I see..."

"You just said that your master has an 'Ancient Civilization' Gravity Chamber?"

Yang Hui said, stunned.

"Yeah, Xiao Ai makes me go in there to train every day."

Xu Xin felt helpless. With a Gravity Chamber, the possibility of her slacking off was gone. After all, once the gravity pressed down, unless you remained completely Immovable, moving would inevitably force you to endure significant pressure, which was extremely tiring...

So, if you have an 'Ancient Civilization' Gravity Chamber at home, why come here at all...

Yang Hui was speechless. What was the most important resource in the Elite Training Camp? It was, of course, the 'Ancient Civilization' Gravity Chamber. Weren't all those point rankings just for that?

Never mind the rewards like the Black God set, Dragon Blood, or secret manuals for reaching certain combat power amplitudes, and don't even mention the achievements of getting first place multiple times; those were too impractical. In all these years, very few students had ever succeeded in reaching them.

Only the quota for the 'Ancient Civilization' Gravity Chamber was real!

To think they could just slack off at home, yet they came here to fight others for resources...

"Teacher, what exactly is the use of this Gravity Chamber?"

Luo Feng asked, feeling a bit puzzled. Yang Hui hadn't explained the function of the Gravity Chamber; he only knew that it was useful for cultivation.

Hearing this, Yang Hui replied:

"Just as people eat more the more they exercise, the amount of genetic energy our cells absorb increases after we exercise. However, when we train normally, we actually have no way to make every single cell in our body participate in the process."

"Mm, that's true."

Luo Feng nodded, and he immediately understood the function of the Gravity Chamber.

"So, the gravity in the Gravity Chamber allows all cells to participate in the training!?"

"Yes. The gravity in the Gravity Chamber acts upon every minute detail of the body—your tendons, bones, blood vessels, internal organs, reaching deep into your cells, and even down to the molecules and atoms!

Under the limit of gravity you can withstand, even if you don't move at all, every part of your body is still enduring that force. The amount of genetic energy absorbed during cultivation is still much higher than during normal training!"

After Yang Hui finished his introduction, he checked the time; it was already past twelve noon.

"Let's go. We're heading to the ninth floor! It is also the most important floor of the Nine-Story Tower!"