Three Terms

Meanwhile, Chen Yuan left Jiangnan Pavilion with Jiang Fang and headed to another cluster of villas. This area housed the Training Camp instructors and their families.

After passing rows of exquisite villas, they arrived before one particularly secluded villa. Chen Yuan noticed that it occupied considerably more land than the others.

"Instructor Jiang, Trainee Chen Yuan, Inspector Wang is waiting for you both in the reception room," the middle-aged butler said with a smile at the entrance.

After entering the villa, Jiang Fang led Chen Yuan to the reception room on the second floor and knocked on the door.

"Come in." A slightly hoarse voice came from inside.

Jiang Fang pushed open the door, and Chen Yuan followed her into the reception room. He heard Jiang Fang say respectfully, "Inspector Wang, Trainee Chen Yuan has arrived."

Chen Yuan stepped out from behind Jiang Fang and gave a slight bow. "Greetings, Inspector Wang."

As he greeted him, Chen Yuan quietly observed the inspector.

The man appeared to be around forty. He wore a white training uniform and had a somewhat lean build, with a thin mustache above his lip. He was currently sitting cross-legged on the floor, with a tea table and tea set placed before him.

"Mm." Inspector Wang spoke. "Come and sit."

There were no chairs in the reception room. Following Jiang Fang's example, Chen Yuan sat cross-legged opposite Inspector Wang.

"Take a careful look at the contract in front of you." Inspector Wang tapped the tabletop, where several sheets of paper lay. "If you find no problems, sign it."

Chen Yuan picked up the contract as instructed. It was still warm, clearly having just been printed.

The first page did not contain much. It mainly listed the rights and obligations that came with formally joining Limit Dojo. Chen Yuan skimmed through it quickly before turning to the second page.

Starting from this page, the contract detailed the various rewards he could receive.

First came an annual activity fund of five billion. Chen Yuan quickly passed over this clause. He knew that its symbolic significance outweighed its practical value, since anyone able to receive funds from Limit Dojo would not be short on that amount of money.

The following clauses were the real focus, and the main purpose of Chen Yuan's visit. He read them carefully.

"Should Party B achieve a Combat Power Amplitude of 16 before December 31, 2077, Party B may claim a 9-Series Battle Suit, a full set of weapons, one manual of their choice, and one portion of Jade Marrow worth thirty billion."

Upon reading this, Chen Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted. He could not help looking up and asking, "Inspector Wang, I have already met the requirement for this first clause. The Training Camp system should have updated my information already."

"I know. Your Force Exertion Level has been updated to 3.6, and your Combat Power Amplitude has reached 17.28." Inspector Wang's expression remained unchanged.

"Then isn't this basically being given to me for free..." Chen Yuan trailed off.

"As long as you sign the contract," Inspector Wang said calmly, "the reward from the first clause will indeed be given to you for free."

"Trainee Chen Yuan." Inspector Wang looked at him, a faint smile appearing on his face. Perhaps because he rarely smiled, it looked somewhat stiff. "You should know that in the Training Camp's evaluations, a Combat Power Amplitude of eight to sixteen is considered excellent. Yet when you first arrived at the Training Camp, your Combat Power Amplitude already exceeded sixteen."

"Limit Dojo will not be stingy with rewards for true geniuses." Inspector Wang smiled faintly. "So, once you sign the contract, someone will immediately deliver the first clause's rewards to you. You should focus your attention on the clauses that follow."

Chen Yuan nodded at this, then lowered his gaze to the contract and continued reading.

"Should Party B achieve a Combat Power Amplitude of 18 before February 1, 2078, Party B may claim an SS-grade battle suit, a full set of weapons, one portion of Dragon Blood worth eighty billion, three manuals of their choice, and one Black God Set."

"Should Party B achieve a Combat Power Amplitude of 25 before June 1, 2078, Party B may claim one Black God Set—repeated claims will be converted into universal currency—one Planetary Level force weapon, one Auxiliary Optical Brain containing an anonymous Virtual Universe account, and one thousand-year Spirit of Vegetation."

After reading the three clauses, Chen Yuan took a deep breath and tried to conceal the delight in his eyes.

The conditions were simply too lenient!

Or rather, for Chen Yuan, fulfilling these terms would not be difficult.

The requirement in the second clause, especially—an amplitude of eighteen—was practically free. With Chen Yuan's current Trial Tower level of 4.8, he only needed a Force Exertion Level above 3.75 to reach it.

Chen Yuan's current force exertion was already at 3.6. As long as he increased his proficiency in the Gale Sword Art by another ten percent, he would reach 3.8 times force exertion and meet the second clause's requirement.

For Chen Yuan, who could temper his sword art in the Trial Tower, gaining that bit of proficiency would take no more than three days.

Even the third clause would not be difficult. As long as his Force Exertion Level reached five and he cleared the fourth floor of the Trial Tower, he would qualify.

Fivefold force exertion required the Gale Sword Art to reach Completion Level. Chen Yuan estimated that, at most, it would take a month.

Chen Yuan raised his head. "Inspector Wang, I've finished reading."

"What do you think?" Inspector Wang lifted his teacup and took a sip.

"I have no objections." Chen Yuan shook his head, then considered for a moment and decided to speak honestly. "To be frank, these conditions are far too lenient. By my estimate, completing all the clauses will take no more than two months."

"Oh? It seems we'll be recruiting an unparalleled genius." Inspector Wang smiled. "Don't worry. The terms of the contract will not change. If you can complete them ahead of schedule, that is your own ability."

"We can't possibly suppress a trainee just because their talent is too exceptional, can we?" Inspector Wang shook his head as he spoke and sighed softly. "What a pity. I had originally prepared four clauses, but the last one was unnecessary, so it was not included."

"Do you know what the last clause was?"

Chen Yuan shook his head.

"It was a Wood Bud Crystal." Inspector Wang smiled. "It was originally intended for your breakthrough to the Planetary Level."

"However, the dojo learned that Inspector Wei had already promised you a Wood Bud Crystal, so we removed that clause."

Chen Yuan looked eagerly at Inspector Wang. That was a Wood Bud Crystal—who would ever think they had too many?

"Looking at me like that won't help." Inspector Wang sounded helpless. "Those are the Pavilion Master's rules. He said money had to be spent where it mattered most."

"After all, Wood Bud Crystals are quite precious treasures even in the universe. Using them to nurture geniuses and help them break through to the Planetary Level is understandable."

"But cultivation from the first to ninth rank of the Planetary Level is all part of the 'energy accumulation' stage. Using a precious resource like a Wood Bud Crystal for that would be far too extravagant."

"Since you already have a Wood Bud Crystal, breaking through to the Planetary Level is a certainty. According to the rules, the dojo cannot provide you with another." Inspector Wang shook his head. "As for more valuable rewards, that is not something inspectors like us can decide. You will be arranged to meet the Pavilion Master when the time comes."

"Of course, the Pavilion Master has already left Earth to cultivate, so we cannot say when you will be able to meet him. Even if you do meet, it will be in the Virtual Universe." After speaking, Inspector Wang slowly exhaled. "If you have no objections, sign it."

"Remember to sign both copies. Keep one for yourself, and the other will be stored by the dojo."

Chen Yuan swiftly signed both contracts and kept one copy.

Inspector Wang then served tea to signal the end of the meeting. Chen Yuan took the contract and left the villa with Jiang Fang.

As they walked back, Jiang Fang, who had been holding in a bellyful of questions, finally could not help asking, "Chen Yuan, when did your force exertion reach 3.6?"

Heaven knew how shocked she had been when she heard the news just now.

When she had entered his information earlier, the system had clearly shown his Force Exertion Level as 3.0. Yet in the short time since they had stepped out, Chen Yuan's force exertion had reached 3.6.

Having held it in all the way, Jiang Fang finally asked the question.

"I had actually hidden some of my strength before." Chen Yuan smiled and gave her a reason she could accept. "After you entered my information, I went into the Trial Tower and updated it."