Elite Training Camp

In virtual space, six pitch-black chairs surrounded a silver round table in a large, entirely silver-white conference hall. Above them stretched an endless starry sky.

At that moment, five people in white robes sat in the chairs, discussing Su You's recruitment. Three of them were Chinese, while the other two were a Black man and a white man.

This was the legendary Supreme Council of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall—the Round Table Conference. The six seats belonged exclusively to Hong and the five Inspectors. They were the highest-ranking members of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall.

One of the Chinese men in white robes said, "Everyone, you've already seen Su You's information. These are the proposed terms. Take a look."

After the other four had read them, the white man in white robes said, "Inspector Wang, I think the benefits you're offering are too generous. He's only reached Perfect Level in movement technique. He shouldn't get terms like these."

"Vladimir, I don't think Inspector Wang's offer is too generous," said another Chinese man in white robes.

The five Inspectors disagreed. The three Chinese men in white robes thought the terms were appropriate, while the Black man and the white man thought the benefits were excessive.

"Five Inspectors." An electronic voice rang out, and the entire hall fell silent.

Five documents drifted down from the starry sky and landed in front of the Inspectors.

"This is the Hall Master's decision regarding Su You. If you have any objections, you may report them to the Hall Master. Otherwise, carry out the decision."

The five Inspectors quickly looked through the documents and responded at once. Not one of them objected.

The electronic voice sounded again. "Inspector Wang, carry it out immediately."

On the morning of March 21, in the Sword Technique Training Room of the Small Nine-Story Tower, the Metal Robot's longsword once again came to rest against Su You's chest.

"Ugh, my sword technique's at the Perfection level. I wonder when I'll break through." Su You sighed, then glanced at the Communication Watch on his left wrist. Suddenly, he perked up.

"Why has Teacher Yang Hui called me several times? Could it be... the Inspector wants to see me?"

Su You's eyes lit up. He immediately called back and headed out.

Before the call could connect, Su You had just stepped out of the Sword Technique Training Room when he saw Yang Hui hurrying toward him.

"I finally found you. Come on, Inspector Wang wants to see you."

Su You hurried after Yang Hui. As they walked, he asked, "Inspector Wang?"

Yang Hui explained with a smile, "Inspector Wang oversees the general affairs of the Basic Training Camp and the Elite Training Camp. Important matters are handled by all five Inspectors through the Round Table Conference. Sometimes, the Hall Master even takes charge of especially important issues."

"Mm." Su You nodded.

They left the Basic Training Camp, climbed into a stretch Cadillac, and headed straight for the Elite Training Camp. With his detailed memories from his previous life, Su You knew that Inspector Wang's home was in the Elite Training Camp's residential area for teachers.

They got out at the camp entrance and went inside together. As soon as they entered, Su You saw a Black Dragon Sculpture like the one at the Basic Training Camp. The dragon's eyes, however, radiated a terrifying aura of darkness.

"Not bad. You didn't get scared." Yang Hui seemed a little disappointed.

Su You smiled. "You told me about it beforehand, Teacher Yang. I was prepared, or I probably would've jumped too."

Yang Hui laughed and led Su You into the complex of buildings where the teachers lived. They soon reached a quiet villa that looked quite ordinary.

An elderly man who looked like a butler saw Yang Hui approaching with Su You and smiled. "Teacher Yang Hui, the Inspector is waiting for you and trainee Su You in the reception room on the second floor."

Yang Hui nodded and led Su You inside. As they reached the reception room upstairs, a slightly hoarse voice came from within. "You two, come in."

As soon as he entered the reception room, Su You saw a lean man who looked about forty, sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed. This was Inspector Wang.

"Inspector." The two bowed and greeted him in unison.

Inspector Wang opened his eyes and glanced at Su You. Su You immediately felt an invisible pressure weighing on him, making it difficult to breathe.

"Sit."

As soon as Inspector Wang spoke, Su You and Yang Hui sat cross-legged.

"Read the contract in front of you carefully. If you have no objections, sign it." After speaking, Inspector Wang closed his eyes again.

Su You picked up the contract from the table. After briefly reading the first two pages, he turned straight to the third, which contained the reward terms he cared about.

"Reward 1: If Party B reaches a Combat Power Amplitude of 12 before August 1, 2054, he will receive a Series 9 Combat Suit, a complete set of weapons, any one complete set of manuals, and one batch of Dragon Blood worth 80 billion."

"Reward 2: ..."

"Reward 3: If Party B reaches a Combat Power Amplitude of 16 before January 1, 2057, he will receive an SS-class Combat Suit, a complete set of weapons, any three complete sets of manuals, one batch of Dragon Blood worth 80 billion, and one set of the Ancient Civilization Ruins' 'Black God.'"

"Reward 4: ..."

"Reward 5: ..."

There were five reward clauses in total, but only two performance requirements: reaching a Combat Power Amplitude of 12 and 16. Because of the different deadlines, he could receive at most two rewards.

For example, if he completed the Combat Power Amplitude 12 trial before August 1, 2054, he would receive Reward 1.

If he completed it between August 1, 2054, and August 1, 2055, he would receive only Reward 2.

If he completed it after August 1, 2055, he would receive neither of the rewards for the first trial. The second trial worked the same way.

Su You let out a breath, satisfied with the contract. He didn't care much about the 5 billion Huaxia Currency per year in activity expenses mentioned in the first two pages. In a few years, money on Earth wouldn't mean much anyway. As long as the terms that followed stayed unchanged, that was all that mattered.

"Finished reading? Any objections?" Inspector Wang asked, opening his eyes.

Su You shook his head. "None."

Inspector Wang handed him an identical copy. "Sign both. You keep one, and the Martial Arts Hall will keep the other."

After Su You signed, Inspector Wang said, "Since you've been specially recruited into the Martial Arts Hall, you can enter the Elite Training Camp directly. But rules are rules—you still have to pass the Grade A Trial first."

Inspector Wang turned to Yang Hui. "Yang Hui, take care of the arrangements from here."

"Yes, Inspector," Yang Hui said respectfully.

After leaving the reception room, Yang Hui led Su You out of the teachers' residential area and toward the Nine-Story Tower.

While they were still on their way, Su You received a notification from the bank that his 5 billion Huaxia Currency in activity expenses for the year had been deposited.