Contract

When his ranking reached 111, Chen Daolin had just cleared the first floor. His Trial Tower level rose to 2.0, and his Combat Power Amplitude rose to 8.0—just enough to meet the standard for an Excellent rating!

If his Battle Achievement Points hadn't been so low—the lowest in the entire Training Camp—he should have already broken into the top 100.

After clearing the first floor, the objective for Stage A of the second floor was to kill 50 Elementary Beast General Level Iron-Armored Scorpions within ten minutes.

Iron-Armored Scorpions were relatively small, so more than a dozen—or even over twenty—could attack a human at the same time. They were also incredibly elusive and extremely difficult to deal with. Stage A of the second floor was several times harder than the previous challenge.

Chen Daolin had pushed himself to his limit, fighting like mad. Only through sheer luck, right before time ran out, had he managed to kill all 50 Elementary Beast General Level Iron-Armored Scorpions. The battle had been perilous at every turn. Even now, thinking back on it made his heart race.

The slightest mistake, and his trial would have ended the very next second.

If Stage A was already this difficult, Chen Daolin couldn't imagine how terrifying the challenges ahead would be.

His one-hour trial time ran out soon after. Having cleared Stage A of the second floor, his Trial Tower level rose to 2.3. Multiplied by his punch force exertion level of 4.0, that gave him a Combat Power Amplitude of 9.2!

His ranking shot into the top 100, landing at 97.

"Too bad. If my Movement Technique were a little better and my spear skills a little stronger, maybe I could've cleared Stage B of the second floor, too." Chen Daolin felt a little regretful.

At half past eleven that night, the lights in Jiangnan Pavilion shone brightly. Chen Daolin, Ji Xuan, Shi Jiang, and Zhao Ruo sat together drinking. Zhao Ruo grinned. "Junior Brother Chen, congratulations! You've really become a celebrity in the Training Camp now."

Chen Daolin smiled wryly. "Senior Sister, don't tease me." Thinking of all the "enthusiastic" people who had surrounded him after he came down from the Nine-Layered Tower, Chen Daolin felt a little uneasy.

Shi Jiang smiled faintly beside him. "I never imagined you'd be so impressive, Junior Brother Chen. You've brought honor to Jiangnan Pavilion."

Ji Xuan sipped her drink, her eyes on Chen Daolin's ordinary-looking face. This old friend of hers was becoming more and more difficult to read.

Shi Jiang had invited Chen Daolin to join an organization within the Huaxia Military, but Chen Daolin had turned him down. Shi Jiang didn't take it to heart.

Chen Daolin had turned down invitations from all sorts of groups that night—at least eight, if not ten.

The next morning, Chen Daolin went out for a run. Many people he met along the road greeted him warmly and struck up conversations. Two bold, flirtatious white women even dropped suggestive hints, leaving him a little awkward.

Setting aside the nuisance of being famous, Chen Daolin met his teacher, Situ Bolei, again in the small training hall that afternoon. Situ Bolei was astonished that he'd broken into the top 100. He knew exactly how far along his student's spear skills were, and couldn't understand how he'd managed to climb so high. But he also knew everyone had their secrets. After praising him briefly, he changed the subject.

For instance, Chen Daolin's "excellent" performance this time would inevitably attract the attention of the higher-ups at the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. They might even make new arrangements for him.

In the Virtual Space, five white-robed figures sat around a silver round table in a large silver conference hall. Six black chairs surrounded the table, and one was still empty.

"Everyone, this is Chen Daolin's file."

"His Trial Tower level is 2.3, and his punch force exertion level is 4.0. That means his Combat Power Amplitude is 9.2, which qualifies as 'Excellent.'" A white-robed man from Huaxia spoke.

"A punch force exertion level of 4.0? How did he manage that?" someone asked, puzzled. A Combat Power Amplitude of 9.2 only just qualified as Excellent, putting him on par with the average fourth-year student. But a punch force exertion level of 4.0 was far more astonishing. It was currently the highest level in the Elite Training Camp. Most God of War fighters didn't even exceed 3. That showed just how shocking Chen Daolin's level was.

"Everyone," the white-robed man from Huaxia said, "the Virtual Space test results don't lie. The Hall Master has already confirmed them."

At the mention of the Hall Master, the others fell silent.

"Does anyone have any questions about Chen Daolin's file?" The white-robed man from Huaxia looked around.

"No." The other white-robed figures shook their heads slightly.

"Very well. Let's move on to discussing the terms for recruiting Chen Daolin..."

On September 30, Chen Daolin's teacher, Situ Bolei, came to see him in person and took him to the residential area for the Elite Training Camp's God of War instructors. There, he met Inspector Wang, one of the five Inspectors of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall.

The Extreme Martial Arts Hall had five Inspectors, all of them Beyond War God fighters. Their power and status were second only to the Hall Master, Hong.

Inspector Wang was a lean, middle-aged man with a thin mustache. One look from him made Chen Daolin feel like an ant facing a dragon—utterly insignificant.

Chen Daolin sat cross-legged opposite Inspector Wang.

"Take a careful look at the contract in front of you. If everything seems fine, sign it."

Chen Daolin picked up the contract on the table. It was an official recruitment contract with the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. After joining, he would be bound by its rules, but in return, he would receive enormous benefits. His annual activity budget alone would be 5 billion Huaxia Currency. But the third page contained different terms.

"Should Party B reach a Combat Power Amplitude of 12 before January 1, 2057, Party B will receive a Series 9 Combat Suit, a full set of weapons, any complete set of manuals, and one Dragon Blood worth 80 billion."

"Should Party B reach a Combat Power Amplitude of 12 between January 1, 2057, and May 1, 2057, Party B will receive a Series 9 Combat Suit, a full set of weapons, and one drop of Jade Marrow worth 30 billion."

"Should Party B reach a Combat Power Amplitude of 16 before August 1, 2059, Party B will receive an SS-Class Combat Suit, a full set of weapons, one Dragon Blood worth 80 billion, any three complete sets of manuals, and a set of the Black God from the Ancient Civilization Ruins."

There were five clauses in total, and every reward represented an enormous sum of money.

For example, a Series 9 Combat Suit and a full set of weapons were the combat gear used by High-level War God fighters. Chen Daolin had looked up the prices before; even at half price on the Extreme Martial Arts Hall's internal network, they were shockingly expensive. As for choosing any manuals he wanted, there was no need to mention how valuable that was. Even at half price, the complete World Destroyer manual he cultivated cost a full 50 billion. And the legendary Dragon Blood, which could double a person's strength, was worth as much as 80 billion.

Chen Daolin calmed himself, still reeling from the shock, and took a deep breath. "Inspector, I'd like to ask something. Could I exchange the treasures listed in these reward clauses for something of equal value—specifically, Water of Life worth 30 billion?" Chen Daolin asked anxiously. He couldn't forget Ji Han sitting forlornly in her wheelchair. To him, she was like a younger sister. He had once searched the warriors' internal network and learned that Water of Life could regrow severed limbs. In other words, Ji Han could use it to grow her legs back. Unfortunately, Chen Daolin had never been able to find out where Water of Life was sold, so now he could only ask the Extreme Martial Arts Hall.

"You really want Water of Life?" Inspector Wang looked at him.

"Yes." Chen Daolin nodded.

Inspector Wang considered it, then smiled faintly. "If you can actually meet the targets in the contract, I can authorize the exchange."

"Really? Thank you! Thank you, Inspector!" Chen Daolin said gratefully.

Inspector Wang replied calmly, "Would I lie to someone as junior as you? Let's talk once you've reached the target. For now, do you have any other questions about this contract?"

"No." Chen Daolin hesitated no longer and signed his name.