First and Second

"How on earth did you manage that?" Jiang Fang felt a dull ache in her molars. The two students who arrived today were more outrageous than the last. How was she supposed to teach them? Was she just meant to be a passenger while they coasted to victory?

One had to know, her own Trial Tower level was only 4.3!

It was truly absurd. Jiangnan Pavilion had finally waited for two genius students, only to find them stronger than their teacher.

Luo Hai was one thing; after all, he was Luo Feng's child, so any extraordinary talent was within reason.

But how did this wild genius Chen Yuan manage it? Jiang Fang was baffled, especially since his background check looked perfectly normal.

No, wait—Chen Yuan wasn't normal either. After all, it wasn't as if just anyone could casually create an "Ultimate" secret manual.

"So, Chen Yuan, what is your purpose in coming to the training camp?" Jiang Fang rubbed her temples, her expression helpless. "Your Trial Tower level is higher than mine; I don't even know how I'm supposed to teach you."

"Well, actually, I came for the resources." Chen Yuan feigned shyness. "I heard that after joining the Elite Training Camp, one can sign special development contracts with the Dojo to obtain rare resources like 'Dragon Blood,' 'Black God Set,' and 'Ultimate' secret manuals."

"Special contracts? You mean the 'Official Recruitment Contract,' right?" Jiang Fang had a sudden realization. "Yes, if a student performs exceptionally well in the training camp, they can indeed receive special development, but that requires the trainee to meet certain standards within a specified time."

"Tell you what, since your Trial Tower level is so high, we'll skip the entrance test. I'll submit an application for you to become an official member shortly," Jiang Fang said, looking at Chen Yuan. "I'll also help you submit an application for the Official Recruitment Contract and see how headquarters responds."

Chen Yuan nodded. "Sorry for the trouble, Teacher Jiang."

"It's nothing... Wei Wen, take these two to get settled in Jiangnan Pavilion; I'm going to process their official student paperwork first." Jiang Fang waved at Wei Wen and added, "Also, every official student gets a student ID number. You can choose the last two digits yourselves. Tell me what numbers you want."

Luo Hai had already made up his mind before arriving, so he answered immediately, "Teacher Jiang, I choose 01."

"What about you, Chen Yuan?" Jiang Fang looked at Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan had no specific requirements for this, so he said casually, "Then make it 09."

He had arrived in this world in September, so it could serve as a memento.

"Noted." Jiang Fang nodded. Just as she was about to turn and leave, she remembered something and looked back. "Right, I suggest you wait here for a moment. You might want to keep an eye on the ranking changes on the Black Dragon Statue."

"Understood, Teacher." Chen Yuan nodded.

Jiang Fang waved her hand and then turned to enter the training camp.

At the entrance, Chen Yuan asked Wei Wen, "Uncle Wei, Teacher Jiang told us to wait and watch the rankings. Is there some special meaning to that?"

Wei Wen smiled without giving a direct answer. "Perhaps she wants you to see your own ranking the moment it goes live."

"My own ranking? Isn't it supposed to default to the very bottom?" Chen Yuan looked toward the Black Dragon Statue at the training camp entrance, his gaze landing on the very end:

NO.178 Blanca Shawn (770312)

It appeared there were currently 178 students in the training camp. Once his and Luo Hai's names appeared on the sculpture, it would be exactly 180 people.

At this moment, Luo Hai heard Chen Yuan's words and chuckled. He didn't keep him in suspense. "Chen Yuan, Teacher Jiang means that our names are going to appear right at the top of the list."

"The top?" Chen Yuan was startled and couldn't help but ask, "Doesn't it require hunting monsters to earn combat points for the ranking?"

"Haha, I don't know what year's information you saw online, but the rankings haven't relied on combat points for a long time now." Luo Hai laughed heartily and explained, "You have to realize, most students who can enter the Elite Training Camp now start at the War God level, and there are quite a few Advanced War Gods among them."

"The graduation standard for the training camp has been raised to the Planetary Level, so if we still required combat point rankings, students would have to hunt Overlord-level monsters." Luo Hai shook his head as he spoke. "Times have changed; humanity now holds the absolute advantage."

"In the beginning, the training camp still used the combat point system, but the students started hunting Overlord-level monsters like crazy."

"But Overlord-level monsters aren't like Beast Generals; they are much rarer. As the hunting continued, the Overlord monsters around the training camp were almost wiped out."

"Those that didn't die fled far away from this area, not daring to return."

"So later, everyone couldn't find a single Overlord, making the combat points a joke." Luo Hai said, "So, starting seven years ago, the training camp abolished combat points. Student rankings are now determined solely by 'Combat Power Amplitude'."

"The so-called Combat Power Amplitude is the force exertion level multiplied by the Trial Tower level." Luo Hai looked at Chen Yuan and grinned. "With our Trial Tower levels being 5.6 and 4.8 respectively, and factoring in our force exertion levels, I'm basically guaranteed first place, and you'll at least be in the top three."

Chen Yuan's expression cleared. "So that's how it is."

He immediately turned his gaze to the top of the rankings, which displayed:

NO.1 Lu Yuan (740801) Combat Power Amplitude: 15.96

NO.2 Darian Frost (730566) Combat Power Amplitude: 14.8

NO.3 Yu Qinglan (760111) Combat Power Amplitude: 14.4

NO.4 Nyx Obsidian (730199) Combat Power Amplitude: 13.68

NO.5 Jiang Rui (760503) Combat Power Amplitude: 12.95

Chen Yuan keenly noticed that the names in the top 50 all had their Combat Power Amplitude listed next to them.

He quickly calculated his own: Trial Tower level 4.8 × force exertion level 3.6 = 17.28, which surpassed the current top spot.

In other words, if his and Luo Hai's data were entered into the training camp system, the two of them would immediately occupy the top two spots!

Just as Chen Yuan thought this, the rankings on the Black Dragon Statue suddenly refreshed, changing to:

NO.1 Luo Hai (771201) Combat Power Amplitude: 30.8

NO.2 Lu Yuan (740801) Combat Power Amplitude: 15.96

NO.3 Darian Frost (730566) Combat Power Amplitude: 14.8

NO.4 Yu Qinglan (760111) Combat Power Amplitude: 14.4

NO.5 Chen Yuan (771209) Combat Power Amplitude: 14.4

Chen Yuan was stunned the moment he saw the rankings, and Luo Hai, standing beside him, immediately shouted, "That shouldn't be right! How are you only fifth? The data must be wrong!"

"14.4..." Chen Yuan whispered. After doing the math in his head, he suddenly realized what had happened and said to Luo Hai, "I know why."

Luo Hai looked over, and Chen Yuan spread his hands helplessly. "My force output was 3 times when I first took the test. Teacher Jiang Fang must have used that figure when entering my information earlier."

"No wonder your Combat Power Amplitude is only 14.4; your force output level hasn't been updated." Luo Hai suddenly understood and slapped his thigh. "I knew it! When we sparred, I could clearly feel your force output was more than 3 times—at least 3.5."

"Hurry up and update your force output," Luo Hai urged. "You can do it directly inside the Virtual Space, and it updates in real-time. Get your Combat Power Amplitude up; I don't want to be the only one hanging up there."

"Alright, alright." Unable to withstand Luo Hai's pestering, Chen Yuan took the Consciousness Sensor out of his backpack and put it on. Ignoring the dirt on the ground, he sat down right where he was and entered the Virtual Space.

On the boundless silver plains, Chen Yuan arrived in front of the Trial Tower and, following what Luo Hai had taught him, shouted, "I want to perform a Punch Strength Force Output Level test."

The next second, a Punch Strength Tester appeared out of thin air in front of Chen Yuan.

"Student Chen Yuan, please proceed with the Punch Strength Force Output Level test immediately." The electronic voice echoed across the silver landscape.

Chen Yuan stood before the Punch Strength Tester. Since his physical attributes were fixed within the Virtual Space—specifically at 10,000 kilograms of force—he did not need to test his base strength.

With a low grunt, Chen Yuan's right fist tore through the air, slamming into the target with a force output of exactly 3.6 times.

Bang!

Following a dull thud, the target shook violently, and the display screen showed the result: 36081KG.

"Punch Strength Force Output Level 3.6. Congratulations, Student Chen Yuan, your current Combat Power Amplitude is 17.28," the electronic voice announced.

Seeing that the test was over, Chen Yuan moved his mind and exited the Virtual Space.

Back in reality, Chen Yuan looked up at the Black Dragon Sculpture rankings, which now displayed:

NO.1 Luo Hai (771201) Combat Power Amplitude: 30.8

NO.2 Chen Yuan (771209) Combat Power Amplitude: 17.28

NO.3 Lu Yuan (740801) Combat Power Amplitude: 15.96

"Done." Chen Yuan smiled slightly.