Conditions

"An eighteen-year-old Beginner Warlord? An eighteen-year-old Spirit Reader?"

"Too bad it's so far away. By the time we get there, they'll be gone."

"Why did they have to be in Huaxia? If only they were over here."

America, Soviet Russia, India... Many powers were tempted and envious, but there was nothing they could do. They knew they couldn't compete with the powers in Huaxia.

"First, gather their information and keep records. We'll continue to monitor them and see if we get a chance to recruit them to our country later." This was what most of them decided to do.

Still, some powers weren't willing to give up and wanted to try their luck. In Jiangnan City, a luxurious, all-white maglev sports car drove out of the HR Alliance shopping mall and headed toward the Jiangnan North Military Region.

On the outskirts of the town, a deep-blue, disk-shaped military aircraft flew in and landed. Several young warriors in bloodstained combat uniforms stepped out: one man and two women. One of the girls, with short black hair, asked the man, "Are your injuries all right?" "I'm fine. Just a minor injury." Chen Daolin shook his head. Warriors were physically strong and healed quickly. Injuries that looked serious to ordinary people were nothing more than minor issues to them.

Zhuge Qing gazed at Chen Daolin with complicated feelings and said softly, "Thank you for saving me."

Chen Daolin glanced at her and nodded, saying nothing more.

Two soldiers in uniform had already walked over. "If you need anything, we can arrange for a doctor."

Chen Daolin immediately said, "I'd like to see a doctor."

Zhuge Qing added, "Me too."

"Of course. Please follow me."

Chen Daolin and Zhuge Qing followed a soldier to the military hospital, while Ji Xuan was led by another soldier to a nearby dormitory. She showered, changed into clean clothes, and was then taken to a room that looked like a reception room.

After seeing the doctor, Chen Daolin showered and changed as well. When he arrived at the reception room, he saw Ji Xuan talking to a middle-aged man in uniform. Chen Daolin glanced at the man's shoulder insignia and was startled. The middle-aged man courteously invited him to sit down. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Lin Zecheng, and I'm in charge of the Jiangnan North Military Region. The Rat Tide during this Martial Artist Practical Examination was a mistake on our military's part. To make up for it, we've decided to pass all the Quasi-Martial Artists who took part in the examination and grant them official Martial Artist status. As for the two of you, we've decided to rank you first and second in this examination."

Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan were delighted. They exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Thank you, General Lin."

"It's only a small thing." Lin Zecheng smiled. "We know how you both performed. You're rare talents, and our military region is always eager to recruit talented people. Would either of you be willing to join us?"

"Well..." Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan hesitated.

Knock, knock. Just then, someone knocked at the door. Lin Zecheng frowned slightly and picked up the communicator on the table. "Didn't I say not to disturb me while I'm entertaining guests?"

"Chief, something important has come up outside. We need you to handle it in person," came a voice from beyond the door.

Lin Zecheng smiled at Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan. "Take some time to think it over. Joining our military region certainly won't disappoint you. By the way, these are the terms we're offering. Have a look. I'll step out for a moment." Lin Zecheng apologized, then got up and left the reception room.

Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan picked up the sheets of paper and read them. Before long, they had both finished. Ji Xuan put the papers down and sighed. "I didn't expect the military to offer us such generous terms. I'm almost tempted. If they'd offered me this when I first took the college entrance exam, I would've accepted without a second thought."

Chen Daolin sighed too. "Yeah, they're very generous. But joining the military would restrict our freedom too much. We'd have little say over our own lives, and even our day-to-day activities would have to be approved by our superiors."

Joining the military meant giving up some freedom, but it was relatively safe. You had the support of the country, and the benefits weren't bad either.

Joining a power like the HR Alliance might earn you the most money, but in reality, you'd be working for one faction and carrying out tasks for them. Most of the time, you'd serve as a bodyguard or hired fighter. Of course, if you were strong enough, you could rise to a high position.

The martial arts halls offered fewer benefits, but gave you the most freedom and imposed few restrictions.

Nothing in this world was perfect. It all came down to what you chose.

Chen Daolin shook his head. After discussing it with Ji Xuan, he had already made up his mind.

Lin Zecheng soon returned, looking a little grim. He asked Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan, "Have you decided? Will you join our military region?"

Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan stood up and apologized together. "Sorry, General Lin. We've both decided to join the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. We don't plan to join any other powers."

"Then I suppose it wasn't meant to be between you and our military." Lin Zecheng didn't try to persuade them further. "People from the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, Thunder Martial Arts Hall, and HR Alliance are waiting outside to see you. Go with this officer to meet them. They're probably here to discuss your joining them." Lin Zecheng pointed to an officer behind him.

"Xiao Wang, take them there."

"Yes, sir." Officer Wang accepted the order, stepped forward, and gestured courteously. "Please follow me."

After Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan left with the officer, Lin Zecheng remained in the meeting room. He glanced toward the door and shook his head helplessly.

Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan followed the meticulous officer for a while, until they reached a quiet building. Before they even went inside, they heard someone say, "Wang Heng, Wesley, are you trying to poach them from the Extreme Martial Arts Hall?" Chen Daolin recognized the voice as that of Zhuge Tao, the Extreme Martial Arts Hall's director. It was laced with anger.

The officer opened the door and led Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan inside. "Gentlemen, I've brought them. Please make yourselves comfortable." He turned to leave and closed the door behind him.

Chen Daolin quickly surveyed the room. Four people were seated inside: Zhuge Tao, a refined-looking man in a Zhongshan suit; Wang Heng, the burly director of the Thunder Martial Arts Hall, dressed in dark purple battle armor; an elderly Western gentleman in a white suit, with neatly combed white hair and the bearing of an aristocrat; and Zhuge Qing, who sat beside Zhuge Tao.

When Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan entered, Zhuge Tao, Wang Heng, and the white-haired gentleman all brightened. They stood up together and looked toward the doorway, making the pair feel a tremendous pressure.

Wang Heng roared with laughter. "Hahaha! Now that they're here, let's cut the nonsense. We'll each make an offer, and they can decide."

The white-haired gentleman smiled politely. "Please, have a seat. I'm Wesley, the head of the HR Alliance shopping mall's Jiangnan branch. Our HR Alliance is very interested in you both and believes you have a bright future. If you join us, we can negotiate any terms you want."

Zhuge Tao snorted, then turned to Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan with a warm smile. His tone grew serious. "Chen Daolin, Ji Xuan, we've reassessed your talents at the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and decided our previous contract is no longer suitable. We've drawn up a new one and would also like to invite you to join our Elite Training Camp."

"The Elite Training Camp?"

"The Elite Training Camp?"

As soon as Zhuge Tao said it, Wang Heng and Wesley were both astonished.

Wang Heng's eyes widened. "Your Extreme Martial Arts Hall really is generous. You're offering two Elite Training Camp spots just to recruit talent."

The old man, Wesley, shook his head slightly.

"The Elite Training Camp?" Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan were bewildered. The place sounded prestigious, judging by how astonished Wang Heng, a Thunder Martial Arts Hall director, and Wesley, the head of the HR Alliance mall in a Base City, seemed.

Zhuge Tao smiled. "Chen Daolin, Ji Xuan, you haven't joined the Extreme Martial Arts Hall yet, so it's only natural you don't know about the Elite Training Camp. It's where we train genius warriors. Everyone there is an extraordinary, monster-level talent from around the world. Even in Huaxia Country, only one person gets in each year."

"It's that impressive?" Chen Daolin was truly shocked.

Only one person in all of Huaxia Country was qualified to get in each year?

Huaxia Country had a population of over a billion.

Zhuge Tao continued, "Ask them how much they'd pay for a spot like that."

The white-haired old man smiled wryly. "If there really were a spot in the Elite Training Camp available, we'd be willing to pay at least fifty billion for it."

Chen Daolin drew in a sharp breath.

Ji Xuan was just as stunned.

Fifty billion!

To ordinary people, even a hundred million was an astronomical sum, let alone fifty billion.

The richest person in Huaxia Country on the current Forbes list had assets of only a little over a hundred billion. Only a superpower like the HR Alliance, which controlled half the world's economy, could easily take out that much money all at once.

Wang Heng nodded. "That's true. The Elite Training Camp is the best training camp in the world. There's no denying it. But the Thunder Martial Arts Hall's offer isn't bad either. Take a look and decide for yourselves." Wang Heng brought out two contracts. Wesley followed suit with two contracts of his own, and Zhuge Tao smiled and produced another pair. The contracts from all three powers were laid out before Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan.

Zhuge Qing sat quietly in her seat, watching the world's three greatest powers spare no expense to recruit Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan. A faint envy crept onto her face.

She knew that after today, Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan's status would change dramatically. Before long, they might become important figures whom even her father, Zhuge Tao, a director at the Extreme Martial Arts Hall's headquarters, would have to treat with respect.

Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan carefully read all three contracts, examining every detail. Zhuge Tao, Wang Heng, and Wesley didn't rush them. They simply waited in silence.

The Elite Training Camp of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Chen Daolin found the relevant information in the contract.

The Extreme Martial Arts Hall had two training camps: the "Basic Training Camp" and the "Elite Training Camp." The Basic Training Camp selected talented warriors from around the world, who signed "Special Training" contracts and received the best possible training there.

The Elite Training Camp was the best in the world, also known as the "God of War Preparatory Camp." Anyone who entered and received training there was guaranteed to become a God of War!

Around the world, the Extreme Martial Arts Hall had both "Basic" and "Elite" Training Camps, and so did the Thunder Martial Arts Hall... But there was no dispute that the Extreme Martial Arts Hall's Elite Training Camp ranked first in the world! Even Hong, the world's strongest warrior, occasionally went there to teach.

A spot like this was incredibly precious. Even the HR Alliance was willing to pay fifty billion for one, and there was no guarantee they'd get it.

Chen Daolin's heart raced as he read. The Elite Training Camp, the best in the world, the God of War Preparatory Camp... Every line made his heart pound.

Although the HR Alliance and Thunder Martial Arts Hall had offered very generous terms, most of them were material. The Elite Training Camp at the Extreme Martial Arts Hall was unquestionably the best way to improve his strength.

Chen Daolin had already made up his mind.