Three Months

After returning from the banquet to his residence at Jiangnan Pavilion, Chen Daolin took a shower. It was already past ten. He changed into a soft, comfortable silk robe, its collar open to reveal his strong, muscular chest, then leaned back in a chair on the second-floor balcony and leisurely sipped hot tea. A tablet computer sat in front of him.

"Last month, I ranked 97th in the Training Camp. I wonder what my ranking will be this month." Chen Daolin reclined in his chair. Stars glittered across the night sky above him, a cool breeze drifted by, and the aroma of tea filled his nostrils. His mind was clear, and he felt completely at ease.

After successfully cultivating the first layer of World Destroyer, Chen Daolin's Force Application Technique had reached 1.9. His body could unleash an additional 90 percent of its strength, which meant that not only had his punching power increased by 0.9 times, but his speed had also increased by the same amount. That was why Candice had lost so badly.

Since their physical attributes were identical in the Virtual Space, Chen Daolin had four times his normal strength after activating King Kai Fist, while Candice probably had a little over twice his. She had managed to keep him at bay with swordsmanship and Movement Technique far more profound than his own. But after Chen Daolin comprehended the first layer of World Destroyer, he could unleash another 0.9 times his strength. Added together, that gave him 7.6 times his normal strength, an overwhelming advantage. Candice had lost without even getting a chance to struggle.

But a Force Application level of 7.6 was simply too unbelievable. Chen Daolin pondered how he should make use of his strength in the Training Camp.

If he tested himself directly in the Virtual Space, he could indeed reach a Force Application level of 7.6. Combined with his current Trial Tower level of 2.3, his Combat Power Amplitude would reach an astonishing 17.48.

The problem was that the world's strongest known Force Application Technique, the Nine-Layered Thunder Blade, only reached seven times normal strength. Chen Daolin was worried that if his 7.6-times strength became known, something beyond his control might happen.

A Force Application level of 4.0 was already very high. There was no need for Chen Daolin to keep raising it and attract even more attention. He planned to devote more of his energy to Movement Technique and spear techniques, gradually raising his Trial Tower level. If he increased it a little each month, he would be about where he needed to be by December.

In other people's eyes, that would give him a growth trajectory they could follow, instead of making him seem like a monster.

Just then, a figure appeared on the second-floor balcony of the nearby building. It was Ji Xuan. She had returned sometime after nine that evening but hadn't attended Chen Daolin's celebration. She seemed to have just finished bathing and was toweling off her damp black hair. It was a little longer than before, and her skin was a little darker, but she had gained an indescribable charm. Her pajamas still couldn't hide her full, athletic figure, and even from this distance, her long, shapely legs seemed to radiate taut, springy strength.

Ji Xuan waved from across the way. "Xiao Han wants to video call us. Come upstairs."

"Okay." Chen Daolin made an OK sign.

Video calls with their family and friends back in Jiangnan Base City were the only entertainment Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan had after their grueling training and battles. Besides Ji Han, Lin Xiao sometimes joined them too. More often, the four of them would call together and chat about their lives, as well as what Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan were doing at the Training Camp.

Soon. Soon, everything will change. Chen Daolin looked at the girl on the screen, sitting in her wheelchair with her sweet smile unchanged, and thought silently.

On October 28, Chen Daolin pushed his Trial Tower level to 2.5, climbing to 77th place on the Black Dragon Ranking, while Ji Xuan rose to 142nd.

Chen Daolin continued his daily routine: practicing spear techniques in the Gravity Room, carrying a long spear as he walked around and studying it, cultivating Genetic Origin Energy, working hard to improve his physical attributes, and eagerly learning everything he could about the Training Camp.

He went monster hunting on the first of November. After comprehending the first layer of World Destroyer, his physical attributes had steadily improved, his spear techniques had advanced greatly, and his Force Application level had reached 1.9. Combined with the fourfold boost from Kaio-ken x4, his strength was now at the Beginner War God level, and his monster-hunting efficiency increased dramatically.

By the end of November, he had cleared the B stage of the Trial Tower's second level. His Trial Tower level reached 2.7, and his Combat Power Amplitude reached 10.8. He climbed to 56th place on the Black Dragon Ranking.

"Good, very good. Keep up this level of hard work, and you'll soon make a name for yourself in the way of the spear." Situ Bolei stood in front of Chen Daolin with his hands behind his back, looking pleased.

"Fuck!" A white foreign trainee cursed, yanked off his helmet, and stormed out of the Challenge Room.

Chen Daolin walked out of the Challenge Room and glanced at the text message from his mobile bank notifying him of a change in his balance. He smiled faintly.

A group of Huaxia Country trainees sat together, drinking and chatting. Chen Daolin was among them, smiling as he drank and occasionally joined in.

In the blink of an eye, December arrived. The weather had long since turned cold, the sky was overcast, and icy winds howled. For some reason, however, the Training Camp remained as warm as spring. Flowers and trees flourished, and with its little bridges, flowing streams, rockeries, and garden pavilions, it seemed like a paradise on earth.

Before dawn, the entire Training Camp was still cloaked in darkness, but plenty of trainees were already coming and going among the buildings. Chen Daolin strolled and chatted with Ji Xuan, Zhao Ruo, and Shi Jiang. Of everyone at the Training Camp, he was closest to the three from Jiangnan Pavilion. Zhao Ruo, with her carefree manner, reminded him of Lin Xiao, while Shi Jiang's steadiness and warmth made Chen Daolin feel at home.

"Junior Brother Chen, your ranking has been climbing so fast lately. Everyone keeps asking me if you have some kind of secret," Shi Jiang teased.

"Yeah. We're all such good friends, so tell us your secret. We won't tell anyone," Zhao Ruo said with a grin, tugging on Chen Daolin's arm. Chen Daolin looked down at Zhao Ruo's A-cup chest, then over at Ji Xuan, and couldn't bear to look any longer.

"People can be so different, even when they're all human," Chen Daolin said with a cough.

"Jerk, you're making fun of me!" Zhao Ruo flew into a rage and shook off Chen Daolin's hand.

"Hahahaha..."

Everyone laughed.

In a small practice hall inside the Nine-Layered Tower, Chen Daolin stood alone in front of a Punch Strength Testing Machine. He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and drew back his right fist. His beautifully streamlined muscles rippled like waves as bursts of force traveled through his body and into his arm. The next instant, he threw his punch. His fist broke the sound barrier and slammed into the black target in front of him. Bang! The thunderous impact echoed through the empty hall. The target swung back under the tremendous force, then rebounded and trembled nonstop.

A number appeared on the screen: "kg."

This was the punching power Chen Daolin had produced without using King Kai Fist, relying on the first layer of World Destroyer's Force Application Technique.

If he activated King Kai Fist, his punching power would increase fourfold, reaching the upper level of an Intermediate War God!

Since October, the rate at which Chen Daolin's physical attributes improved had continued to accelerate. In September, his strength had increased by a little over 4,000 kilograms. In October, that became more than 5,000 kilograms, and in November, more than 6,000. In December, it was more than 7,000.

In total, during his four months at the Training Camp, his strength had increased by almost kilograms. On average, he had gained nearly 6,000 kilograms a month—a staggering rate of progress!

Now his punching power had reached over kilograms. By the end of December, it should be around kilograms.

"It's about time. I should deal with that contract." Chen Daolin looked at the Punch Strength Testing Machine's screen and murmured.