Return to Training Camp

From the clone's body suddenly came the sound of a heartbeat, starting faint and growing louder until it had a deafening, bell-like quality, then gradually declining and settling into calm...

The clone's form was still adjusting. Yin Congyang willed it, setting the clone's height ten centimeters taller than his original body and altering its facial features. This was a unique ability of the Clone Secret Technique—at the moment of formation, one could freely shape the clone's appearance to be completely different from the original, even into a beast form. Of course, Yin Congyang wouldn't do that.

Just as Aulis's Universe Level and Star Level bodies had looked nothing alike, the soul fluctuation remained unchanged. This could only fool those who had never encountered Yin Congyang before.

From now on, this clone would appear in this fixed form. Even if it fell and was recondensed, it would keep this face, unchangeable.

Once the clone was fully formed, Yin Congyang felt a strange sensation, as if he had gained an extra head, two hands, and two legs. Of course, his soul power was strong enough that he wouldn't end up in the awkward state of trying to draw a square with one hand and a circle with the other.

Looking at the clone, also at Star Level Seven, standing before him, there was one last experiment: to test whether the fluctuation in his dantian could enhance the clone's soul power. If it worked, it would perfectly solve the clone's weakness.

Yin Congyang tried to consciously adjust the fluctuation emanating from his dantian. He had attempted this back at Planetary Level when awakening Hong and Thunder God, but at that time, newly entered into Planetary Level, his soul power was insufficient, making it extremely difficult.

Now, his soul power and will were nearing the peak of Universe Level, so adjusting the dantian fluctuation came easily.

First, he tried physical contact, holding hands, transmitting the dantian fluctuation through touch. The effect was ideal—just like with his original body, this fluctuation could strengthen the clone's body and soul.

Yin Congyang smiled in satisfaction, then frowned. If physical contact was required for enhancement, would he have to keep the clone by his side at all times? That would defeat the purpose of having a clone.

After a moment's thought, he sent the clone to another cabin. Though the two bodies were no longer in close contact, the mysterious link between their souls remained clear—of course it did; even if separated to the Universe Sea, inside and outside the Primordial Universe, the souls would still be connected.

With a thought, he adjusted a portion of the fluctuation from his dantian, attempting to transmit it through the soul link...

It worked!

The fluctuation easily passed through the soul link into the clone's soul, not only strengthening the soul but also spreading through the clone's entire body, enhancing its physical condition.

What surprised him even more was that during physical contact, the seed's fluctuation from the dantian hadn't transferred, but through the soul link, the seed's fluctuation accompanied the dantian fluctuation, also boosting the clone's vitality and self-healing ability.

His heart leaped with joy. This way, the original and clone didn't need to stay together constantly. The clone could act alongside the original or venture out on its own, greatly increasing fault tolerance.

Of course, the clone's strength was still low now. It would be better to wait until it grew stronger, say to World Lord level, before sending it out. Otherwise, if it fell, even if it could be recondensed with energy, the body and soul enhancements from the dantian's wondrous fluctuation during that time would be lost, requiring more time to rebuild.

This trip had originally been for the Universe Trainee Mercenary assessment, but unexpectedly, he had perfected the clone's condensation, bringing him unexpected joy. With all goals achieved, he wasted no time and directed the spacecraft toward the exit.

As for obtaining more Jianmu Hearts for a future clone, he dismissed the idea after consideration. This one was a Law of Wood clone; the next would need to be based on another law—one of the four elements: metal, fire, water, or earth—to maintain balance.

With this clone successfully condensed, Yin Congyang nurtured an ambition: before becoming an Immortal, he wanted to condense a clone for each of his elemental laws. This would greatly aid in faster law comprehension.

For instance, this Law of Wood clone, perhaps due to the Jianmu Heart or because the soul container was the liver, a wood-element organ, had affinity for other laws similar to the original, but its affinity and comprehension speed for the Law of Wood was at least ten times that of the original. That was a massive gap, especially since his affinity for all spatial laws was already high and growing with his realm.

The spacecraft soon reached the exit of Jianmu World. He exited, waved his hand to store the ship, and flew toward the exit.

At the exit, he submitted the mission items. His information was automatically recorded in the Universe Mercenary Alliance system, and the Training Camp's intelligent system would receive the update, confirming Yin Congyang's mission completion.

He briefly toured Jiaoshi Planet, then flew into outer space, retrieved his spacecraft, and headed back to the Training Camp.

A month later, he returned to the Training Camp, and the intelligent system issued the 1000 points for the Trainee Mercenary assessment mission.

In a spacious room, the Training Camp's head instructor, Feilaoshen, smiled at Yin Congyang.

"Your progress is swift. Your rate of improvement has exceeded my expectations, and your foundation seems more solid than when you arrived. You've only been in the Star Level Training Camp for 20 years, yet you've reached Star Level Nine. Most importantly, you won first place in the decade competition at Star Level Seven ten years ago, and again last month. Excellent!"

He picked up a cup from the table, took a sip of water, and continued, "I've reviewed your file. In the first decade, you stayed in the camp without taking any missions. But in the last decade, you first passed the Trainee Mercenary assessment, then completed five solo missions, including three elimination tasks, with a 100% completion rate.

These missions are all dangerous Star Level tasks. Though not ultimate trials, your ease suggests they're nothing to you. So, are you here now to apply for entry into Hell Star?"

"Yes, sir. I feel my recent progress has slowed. I want to seek greater pressure," Yin Congyang stood before Feilaoshen's wide desk. "Only greater pressure can accelerate my growth and make me stronger!"

"Hell Star missions are divided into outer and inner zones. Outer zone missions are available anytime. Coming to me now, you want to apply for an inner zone mission?" Feilaoshen's eyes locked onto Yin Congyang, radiating intense pressure. "The camp usually assigns inner Hell Star missions after thirty years. Are you sure you want to take one now?"

"I'm sure."

Feilaoshen withdrew his gaze, nodded, and pointed. A screen appeared in the air, listing various inner Hell Star missions.

Monster Race Satellite (Obtain one Purple Hotaru Fruit)

Machine Race Satellite (Obtain one Machine Heart)

Gugu Race Satellite (Obtain 100ML Spring of Wuwang)

Qibula Race Satellite (Obtain 1 cubic Geng Crystal)

Qingyin Race Satellite (Obtain 10 strands Silk of Green Wind)

Yin Congyang was surprised: "Sir, why isn't the Zerg listed?"

"The Zerg are weak at Star Level. Hell Star doesn't have enough resources for them to hatch warriors. Relying only on Star Level Zerg Mother Empresses..." Feilaoshen chuckled, "Wouldn't that be handing you an easy meal?"

Yin Congyang thought it over. The Zerg's threat came from their overwhelming swarm tactics. The Mother Empress's own attack power, aside from mental attacks, was likely weak in physical means. For the camp's geniuses, that wouldn't provide a challenge.

"Each Hell Star has outer and inner zones. The outer zone is the satellite's surface; the inner zone is beneath it," Feilaoshen explained in detail.

"Though called satellites, each is hundreds of thousands of kilometers in diameter, larger than common planets in the universe. Being in a secret realm, they heavily suppress telekinesis, and detection instruments are unreliable. Beneath the surface are countless interconnected tunnels...

You should have learned the common languages of the Monster Race, Machine Race, and Zerg in the Planetary Level Training Camp. Their vassal races, besides their own tongues, also learn these common languages.

Forget the Monster and Machine Races. The Gugu and Qingyin Races are vassals of the Zerg, both races that have caused massive losses to humanity in the Outer-Domain Battlefield...

As elites trained by our Virtual Universe Company, whether you enter the Core Layer or the Universe Legion, you'll inevitably go to the Outer-Domain Battlefield. This lets you familiarize yourselves with some racial traits and styles of enemy races early. Though you've studied them in the virtual universe, without personal experience, the understanding won't be as deep..."

Yin Congyang nodded silently. From this perspective, the Virtual Universe Company's elite Training Camp was truly thoughtful. Batch after batch of elites were trained; aside from those entering the Core Layer, all others joined the Universe Legion, which was the main force in the Outer-Domain Battlefield.

After all, even counting the geniuses selected by the Giant Axe Dojo, among every 1000 geniuses per 5000-year batch, those who eventually became Immortals could be counted on two hands. The success rate was abysmal. So why persist in training elites and geniuses? It was so that even if they couldn't become Immortals, they'd become elite talents below that level, entering the Universe Legion to provide humanity with a steady stream of soldiers in the Outer-Domain Battlefield.

And from this endless, massive pool of soldiers, if even one super existence emerged through constant life-and-death trials, the earlier investment would be worth it. Even if no super existence arose, as long as they inflicted losses on enemy races, it wouldn't be a loss.

"Now, tell me which Hell Star you want to enter first."

Silently reviewing the screen again, Yin Congyang made up his mind: "Sir, I'll enter the Monster Race Satellite!"