41 Years

Xu Ai still kept her distance from the virtual Hen Ren.

Someone ruthless enough to risk her life for a breakthrough—Xu Ai figured that, with her current abilities, she should keep training for a while...

Next, Xu Ai thought of having the Trial Space simulate a battle environment. Then...

A neutron star. Xu Ai killed herself on the spot...

Next, Xu Ai tried all sorts of simulations, like a purely technological interstellar war where she could pilot a battleship, or a world with a different power system, like the Douma Continent...

"This Trial function is pretty outrageous..."

Xu Ai watched herself fighting desperately in the Trial Space, somewhat dazed.

She tried severing the link between her consciousness and her real self. Success!

Then she sealed away her memories. Success!

She simulated the memory of having to die if she didn't win, then let Hen Ren out...

"I actually fought Hen Ren to a draw in a fight to the death? For real!?"

In the Trial Space, Hen Ren and Xu Ai were in a dense forest, caught in a chance encounter. The virtual Hen Ren was fighting for her life! Xu Ai was, too!

Both of them went wild, constantly pushing past their limits. Before long, they had leveled the entire forest...

The battle lasted nearly a full day and night. They fought from the ground to the sky, then underground and into the water, until Hen Ren finally won, gravely wounded.

After the split consciousness died, Xu Ai reconnected to her real self. The emotions and memories from that fight to the death all surged into her heart, making her mind tremble...

It took Xu Ai a while to recover.

"So that's what a fight to the death feels like..."

She hadn't expected that when she fought for her life, she really wouldn't back down from Hen Ren...

But a real fight to the death was out of the question. She didn't want to go through that...

With a thought from Xu Ai, the air around her grew scorching hot.

The Third Level of the Fire Domain and the threshold of the Law of Fire—those were the rewards she had gained from her "fight to the death" just now!

"As expected, there's great terror between life and death. No wonder the Human Race's strong fighters are always of better quality than those of other races..."

The Virtual Universe was a useful thing. It could simulate battles, and although they could all tell it wasn't a fight to the death, it still had some effect.

"Keep the simulation going. It's still me against Hen Ren in a fight to the death!"

Xu Ai gave it another try, but unfortunately, it didn't work.

A string of time appeared above the Trial: 167:59:43...

A seven-day cooldown?

"Could sealing my memories and fighting to the death cause some kind of aftereffect? Is that why the Trial has limited how often I can do it?"

But it made sense. When Xu Ai had just received the split consciousness's experiences from its "death," something had clearly felt off. She had recovered in the end, but doing it several more times would definitely cause trouble!

With that in mind, Xu Ai continued her seclusion.

Cai Yi's inherited memories contained countless secret techniques. Cai Yi was working hard to cultivate them, while Xu Ai focused on organizing those memories and compiling them for Hen Ren.

Hen Ren, meanwhile, cultivated while developing her Hen Ren Technique.

Time flew by...

On February 28, 2057, the Elite Training Camp opened for the new year.

The old students graduated, and new students joined.

The Elite Training Camp had a fixed number of places. Each year, it admitted around thirty to forty graduates, with two-thirds of the places going to recruits from the Basic Training Camp and one-third to candidates selected from outside—about ten to fourteen people.

Of the places open to outside candidates, two-thirds went to the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and the Thunder Dojo, while only one-third went to the military and the HR Alliance. That meant the HR Alliance got one-eighteenth of the total places, or roughly two or three.

Most importantly, the HR Alliance mainly favored Europe and America. The Huaxia families could forget about competing for places. Even the Wang Family, one of the Nine Core Families in the original story, couldn't get a place... They'd just have to go to the Basic Training Camp...

Because of Hen Ren, the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and the Thunder Dojo each gave half their places to the military this time. The Xu Family didn't have any prodigies, so there was no point in wasting one on them.

"This is the Elite Training Camp. Not bad, huh?"

Xu Ai brought Xu Xin and Liu Ting to the entrance of the Elite Training Camp.

Jiang Fang was with them as well.

Jiang Fang's parents had passed away long ago, and her husband had died in battle, leaving her all alone. So when Xu Ai and Xu Xin went home for the New Year, they'd brought her along.

Xu Ai pointed at the Black Dragon Ranking List. Seeing how stunned Liu Ting was by the Black Dragon's eyes, she couldn't help laughing to herself.

"Ting, snap out of it."

Thankfully, Jiang Fang and Xu Xin were there. They patted Liu Ting on the shoulder to bring her back to her senses.

"Jiang Fang, Xu Xin, thanks."

Liu Ting thanked Jiang Fang and Xu Xin, then stomped on Xu Ai's foot!

Xu Ai immediately pretended to be in pain and hopped backward.

"Ow, ow, ow!!!"

All right, it didn't actually hurt, but she had to put on a show. Otherwise, given Liu Ting's temper, she'd definitely keep going...

"Hmph!"

Liu Ting linked arms with Xu Xin on one side and Jiang Fang on the other. Ignoring Xu Ai, she went straight into the Elite Training Camp.

She'd joined the Elite Training Camp!

The only reason she'd gotten a place was Hen Ren's influence.

Hen Ren had simply asked Hong for one, and Hong hadn't said much. The Nine-Fold Domain method Hen Ren had given him had already captivated him!

So no matter what Hen Ren asked, Hong would say, "Sure, sure, sure. I'll tell the staff member—Inspector Wang—in a moment..."

And just like that, Liu Ting got in!

As a side note, Thor later went to Hong again to mooch off him...

"Xu Ai, you're here too."

Janet had just entered the camp when she saw Xu Ai hopping around. She smiled and greeted her.

Watching Liu Ting and the others go inside, Xu Ai dropped the act.

"Hey, Janet."

"What was that all about just now?"

"Don't ask. This is what happens when you offend a woman..."

"Huh?"

Janet was very puzzled, but after thinking it over, she figured Xu Ai had probably offended Xu Xin. As far as she knew, Xu Xin was the only one who could get the better of Xu Ai.

Though more often than not, Xu Xin was the one who got the worse of it...

"Come on, let's hurry inside."

Xu Ai pulled Janet into the Elite Training Camp.

The camp hadn't changed much over the past month or so. Even when everyone went home for the New Year, some staff had stayed behind.

"I'm staying with you guys!"

Liu Ting didn't hold back. She tossed her luggage right into the pavilion where Xu Ai and the others lived.

Xu Xin didn't mind. Liu Ting often stayed at their place for a while anyway.

But Xu Ai was very unhappy. There went her alone time with her sister!

Before she could object, Xu Xin spoke first:

"Sure, there are plenty of rooms."

"..."

Xu Ai fell silent...

"You're the best, Xu Xin!"

Liu Ting sprang into Xu Xin's arms, sat on her lap, and kissed her, making Xu Ai glare at her several times.

"I wish I could live with you guys too."

Janet leaned in close to Xu Ai and said sweetly.

"Sure. Keep wishing."

Heh, she'd already let one wolf into the house. How could she let another one in!?

Xu Ai smiled, grabbed Janet by the back of her collar, and carried her to the pavilion entrance. She gave Janet's bottom a kick, clapped her hands, and shut the door!

"Honestly..."

Janet rubbed her bottom, looking aggrieved. Xu Ai had used just the right amount of force and hadn't hurt her, but it still felt pretty uncomfortable.

Looking at the now-closed door, Janet thought for a moment, then ran toward Jiang Fang's pavilion next door.

If she couldn't mooch off Xu Ai directly, mooching off Jiang Fang nearby was still pretty good!

Then she could visit Xu Ai's place all the time and use Xu Ai's "Ancient Civilization" Gravity Chamber!