The Stellar-Level Training Camp

In the vast, boundless Dark Universe, where specks of light shimmered through the endless black, spacecraft appeared and disappeared from time to time.

Yin Congyang had broken through to Stellar Level aboard the E386 spacecraft. Once his realm had fully stabilized, he felt his body and soul slowly growing stronger amid the fluctuations. Yet within them, there seemed to be a strange fluctuation mixed in, giving his body, soul, and psychic force an unusual sensation.

He focused his mind and sank it into his Dantian, searching for the source of that strange fluctuation.

He saw that the strange seed that had previously forced its way into his Dantian was basking contentedly in its fluctuations. With every trace it absorbed, the seed released a different fluctuation, mixing it into the Dantian's own and together evolving Yin Congyang's body, soul, and psychic force.

This fluctuation was quite different from the one in his Dantian. It seemed to brim with vitality, greatly enhancing Yin Congyang's life force, recovery, and regenerative abilities.

Yin Congyang tested this healing ability. He certainly couldn't regrow himself from a drop of blood, but if he suffered a minor injury, it might heal on its own in just a few breaths. This undoubtedly greatly improved his ability to survive. As for whether it had any other effects, he would have to discover them gradually in the future.

Then he immersed his mind in the strange light point in his Dantian and, with practiced ease, rehearsed his axe techniques and comprehended his Domain and the various laws. He found that as his realm improved, his ability to comprehend Domains and laws had also greatly increased. He then entered a state of complete absorption. By the time he naturally stopped, several days had passed.

Perhaps because his realm had advanced, Yin Congyang had reaped a great deal in that strange space. His Domain had finally reached the ninth level, greatly increasing its power once again. His comprehension of the Five Elements' various laws had also taken a major step forward. Besides the Law of Gold and the Law of Water, which he had already comprehended, he had crossed the threshold of the other three laws as well. Even the Law of Space, which had previously left him completely clueless, no longer seemed so mysterious. It had finally lifted a corner of its veil for him. The progress was roughly like going from knowing nothing at all to catching a glimpse of flowers through the fog.

He spread his Domain over a small area. After the Five Elements Domain had reached the ninth level, it seemed to have returned to simplicity. The secret patterns within it had become deeper and more restrained, and their colors had faded considerably.

He studied it closely. The different forces within the Domain flowed together more perfectly and smoothly. As he circulated the Domain, Yin Congyang vaguely sensed something strange. The feeling was remarkably similar to the aura of the Law of Space that he had glimpsed through the fog earlier. His heart stirred. He seized that feeling and silently pondered it. When he finally stopped, he couldn't help laughing with delight.

"I've finally found the doorway to the Law of Space." His eyes shone as he looked ahead with confidence. "But comprehending laws really does take a lot of time. More than ten days have already passed, and I'll be back at the Training Camp soon."

After returning to the Planetary-Level Training Camp, he first went to the Training Camp Intelligent System to complete his mission, then reported to the four instructors.

The four instructors praised his performance on the mission and offered him a few words of encouragement. They told him to rest for a while, then report to the Stellar-Level Training Camp after all the trainees had returned and the debriefing meeting was over.

Including travel time, Yin Congyang's mission had taken only two months, so he was among the first to return. Most of the trainees hadn't come back yet.

He took the opportunity to visit Kekechi, the Training Camp's administrator, and asked him to ship the items he had acquired on the mission but had no use for to Bailan Planet. He then notified Thunder God through the Virtual Universe to collect them when they arrived.

Three months later, all the trainees who had completed their missions had returned to the Training Camp. The mission completion rate was only 78%. Most of the trainees who had failed to complete their missions had died. The few who had failed but returned alive had their trainee status revoked and were expelled from the Training Camp, then transferred to the Universe Legion Reserve Camp. Fortunately, their resources were not taken back, so they still had a chance to break through to Stellar Level in the future.

The four instructors summoned all the trainees for a debriefing meeting and reassigned the more than 150 who remained based on their performance. When the meeting ended, Purple-Robed Dragon Lady signaled for Yin Congyang to stay behind.

"Your performance was good," Purple-Robed Dragon Lady said calmly. "And you've built up enough of a foundation at Planetary Level. It's solid. Breaking through to Stellar Level was only natural. Your excellent results have earned you a place in the Stellar-Level Training Camp, which reflects well on all of us. I hope you'll soon distinguish yourself at the Training Camp and enter the Company's Core Layer!"

Yin Congyang took a step back and bowed solemnly to the four instructors. "Thank you, instructors, for your dedicated guidance over the past ten years. I owe what I've achieved today to all of you. Thank you!"

The instructors exchanged glances and nodded slightly. Instructor Golden Lion stepped forward and laughed heartily. "When you first joined the Training Camp, I took you to your assessment. Today, I'll take you to report to the Stellar-Level Training Camp too!"

He turned and waved to the other three, then soared into the sky with Yin Congyang and flew toward the other side of the planet.

The two flew swiftly and soon reached the enormous Training Camp on the other half of the planet. Several thousand villas surrounded the towers at the center. They stood in neat rows, seemingly scattered yet possessing a distinctive beauty.

"Who designed this?" Yin Congyang asked in surprise. "It looks a lot like a certain architectural style from my hometown."

Golden Lion shook his head. "I don't know. It already looked like this when I came to the Training Camp several hundred years ago. I heard it might have been left behind by the natives who once lived in this secret realm, but I don't know who exactly designed it... Let's go meet Mr. Feilaoshen, the administrator here."

There was a hint of reverence in his voice. "Mr. Feilaoshen is a powerful World Lord who has earned the recognition of a law. He's also the Chief Instructor of the entire Green Pouch Secret Realm Elite Training Camp. He'll arrange things for you!"

The two flew toward the central tower. The closer they got, the more they could feel its immense size and extraordinary nature, as if it possessed some kind of transcendent power.

After they announced their arrival, they soon met the Chief Instructor, Feilaoshen. He was of average build, with a head of red hair and several bright red scales on his face. A strange flame-shaped mark lay between his brows, faintly radiating the Law of Fire. He was a powerful World Lord who had earned the recognition of the Law of Fire.

Both of them bowed respectfully. Feilaoshen waved to show that they needn't stand on ceremony, then took a good look at Yin Congyang. Turning to Golden Lion, he said warmly, "This kid is very good. He has a solid foundation, strong comprehension of Domains and laws, and a powerful Soul Will. Although he's only at Stellar Level One now, given enough time, he might even qualify to compete for a place in the Core Layer. Little Lion, you and the others have done well. You've been at the Planetary-Level Training Camp for several hundred years, haven't you? You also spent over a thousand years at Universe Level. Don't neglect your own cultivation!"

Golden Lion replied respectfully, "Yes, sir. I've been at the Planetary-Level Training Camp for more than 300 years. My cultivation secret technique has made some progress recently. Once this batch of trainees graduates, I plan to break through to Domain Lord. After spending some time cultivating at Domain Lord, I intend to go to the Outer-Domain Battlefield. I hope you'll approve when the time comes!"

"The Outer-Domain Battlefield..." Feilaoshen murmured, briefly lost in thought. Then he came back to himself. "Sure. When you're ready, just submit an application. I'll approve it. Among your batch, you were the only one with decent talent. It's been almost two thousand years now, hasn't it? All right, I'm getting old. I can't help reminiscing about the past. Go on back. I'll take care of this kid."

"Yes, sir." Golden Lion bowed respectfully and took his leave. Before going, he gave Yin Congyang a thumbs-up. "Keep it up, kid. I know you've got big dreams. I hope you achieve them soon!"

Yin Congyang flashed him a broad smile, then straightened up and bowed. "Thank you, instructor!"

Golden Lion nodded at him and walked away without looking back.

"Your name is Yin Congyang, right?" After watching Golden Lion leave, Feilaoshen turned and sat back down behind his desk. Smiling at Yin Congyang, he said, "Let me first explain the rules of the Stellar-Level Training Camp. There are currently 2,984 Stellar-Level trainees here. You're the 2,985th, so your number is 2985. It won't change throughout your time at Stellar Level."

He paused briefly, then continued, "In a moment, go to villa number 2985. I'll authorize it for you. It'll be your home throughout your time at the Stellar-Level Training Camp, until you graduate or die. Only then will it become available again.

"Stellar-Level training isn't as rigid as Planetary-Level training. It's relatively flexible. The Training Camp Intelligent System offers lessons taught by dozens of teachers, all at least World Lord Level. Occasionally, one or two great Immortals will teach as well. The schedules for all the lessons are public, but you'll need to prepare the corresponding points if you want to attend a particular teacher's class.

"The Training Camp Intelligent System also has all kinds of secret manuals and texts that you can exchange for points.

"I have many more points here than at the Planetary-Level Training Camp, but they're not unlimited. You can earn points by completing missions or meeting certain requirements. Passing the Universe Trainee Mercenary Assessment, for example, counts as one of the missions. I'll send you the relevant missions and requirements shortly.

"You've probably trained in an abnormal-gravity zone at the Planetary-Level Training Camp, but the planet's natural maximum gravity is only ten thousand times the standard gravity of the Universe. That's of little use to Stellar-Level trainees. The tower you're in now is called the Gravity Tower. It was developed by the Virtual Universe Company and cost an enormous amount. It offers gravity ranging from 100,000 times the standard gravity of the Universe to 100 million times, fully meeting your training needs. But—you'll need points. Different gravity zones require different amounts. I'll send you the relevant information shortly as well.

"Now for the most important part. Do you see the eight satellites outside? They're not only the Training Camp's defensive system but also the Stellar-Level trainees' testing grounds. There are low-level members of hostile races inside, including Stellar-Level members of the Monster Race and the Machine Race. From time to time, you'll be sent in for trials. No power beyond Stellar Level is allowed inside. Anything that exceeds that level will be eliminated immediately. After all these eons, you can imagine how much the aliens inside hate humanity. These are real combat trials. If you fail, you die. There's no room for luck.

"Many elite trainees from each batch of Stellar-Level students have died on those eight satellites. That's why a lot of Stellar-Level trainees call them the 'Hell Stars.' You don't need to worry too much about it just yet. Generally, trainees below Stellar Level Seven aren't required to undergo real combat trials. But after thirty years at the Stellar-Level Training Camp, no matter how strong you are, you'll have to go through at least one real combat trial. Remember that. You need to improve your strength as quickly as possible, preferably reaching Stellar Level Nine within thirty years. That'll greatly increase your chances of survival.

"Every ten years, all the trainees compete in the Virtual Universe. There are too many of you to hold real combat matches like you did at Planetary Level, so you can only fight in the Virtual Universe. The higher your ranking, the more points you'll receive.

"Finally, there's the chance to advance to Core Member. The Virtual Universe Company has nearly a thousand Elite Training Camps in the Universe Kingdoms throughout Human Territory. Every hundred years, there's an assessment. The top 100 trainees from each camp gather in the Virtual Universe for a competition similar to the Genius Tournament. More than 100,000 trainees compete, and the 100 winners can enter the End-of-the-World Secret Realm in the Core Layer. The next century assessment will be in about ninety years."

After finishing, Feilaoshen picked up the cup on his desk and took a sip of water. "What would you like to ask?"