Goals and Rewards

Feng Qingmo fell silent. He wasn't unaware of that, but wasn't this the only option?

Watching Feng Qingmo's silence, Jia Yi recalled the invincible figure his old friend had cut amid the beast tide all those years ago. At last, he spoke:

"Feng Qingmo, I have manuals, and I have treasures that can speed up your physical evolution, but I can't simply give them to you for nothing... I'll set a few goals for you. As long as you reach each one, I'll give you the corresponding reward. How does that sound?"

"Please, Chief. Qingmo is all ears." Feng Qingmo grew excited as soon as he heard Jia Yi say that.

Jia Yi held up one finger. "First, if you can pass the first level of the Trial Tower within a month—that is, before March 31—and reach Trial Tower Level 2.0, I'll reward you with the complete Wind-Washing Sword manual!"

Li Ping explained from the side, "The camp hadn't officially opened yet, so you didn't have permission to use the Trial Tower. You may not know what it is, but you'll find out in a few days... Speaking of the Trial Tower, more than ten years ago, the Chief traded a treasure with Hong of the Limit Dojo to get it..."

Feng Qingmo knew what the Trial Tower was, of course, but he could only pretend not to. He nodded.

Hearing Li Ping mention it, Jia Yi couldn't help smiling. "The price was steep, but it was worth it. With the Trial Tower, our Training Camp finally has an accurate way to measure ability and a virtual Combat Room..."

The Trial Tower at the Huashan Training Camp had actually been set up by the Limit Dojo's virtual intelligence. It shared a main server with theirs, and Hong certainly held the highest authority. In other words, if Hong wanted to know, the records and performances of the Huashan Training Camp students in the Trial Tower were completely open to him.

Of course, that was all. In every other respect, it was the same as the Trial Tower at the Limit Dojo's Elite Training Camp.

When Jia Yi had traded a treasure for it back then, Hong hadn't concealed this fact. But only Jia Yi knew; there was no need to tell the people under him. Knowing wouldn't change anything, and might only breed resentment.

He held up a second finger.

"Second, once you've completed the first goal and received the complete Wind-Washing Sword manual, if you can master the second layer within two months, I'll reward you with a Purple Crystal Ganoderma. It may not be as good as Dragon Blood, but it's still a rare treasure. At the very least, it can take you from Junior War General to Mid-Level War General..."

Feng Qingmo nodded repeatedly, anticipation written all over his face. When Jia Yi paused, he couldn't help asking, "What about the third?"

"Hahaha." Jia Yi lowered his hand and grinned at Li Ping. "This kid's ambitious..."

Li Ping smiled in reply. "He's young and full of vigor..."

Jia Yi considered it for a moment, then looked at Feng Qingmo. "There is no third goal, but I can sweeten the deal. If you complete the second goal, I'll add an S-Grade Combat Suit and a complete set of weapons to the Purple Crystal Ganoderma..."

Remembering that Feng Qingmo was a Spiritual Master, he added, "Mm, and two SS-Grade Flying Daggers."

"You're incredibly generous, Chief." Jia Yi had reined in the aura of his Planetary Level strength, and his tone was mild, so Feng Qingmo didn't feel constrained. After hearing the rewards, he figured it couldn't hurt to flatter him, whether or not he could earn them.

"Qingmo," Li Ping said softly, "the Chief is busy with countless affairs, yet he set aside time to meet you today and set goals for you. Do you know why?"

Li Ping was considerably younger than Jia Yi, but he had also lived through the Great Nirvana Period. He knew the bond between Jia Yi and Bian Xiangqing, and how much Jia Yi hoped someone might revive the complete Wind-Washing Sword.

"I presume it's because of the Wind-Washing Sword?" Feng Qingmo asked, but his tone was certain.

"Exactly..." Jia Yi thought back to those turbulent years, a trace of nostalgia on his face. "Xiangqing and I were very close friends even before the Great Nirvana. During it, we supported each other and helped each other grow..."

"He saved my life twice. You could say that without him, I wouldn't be who I am today..." Deep sorrow filled Jia Yi's eyes. "It's a pity he gave his life to hold back a King-Level Monster..."

He looked at Feng Qingmo. "Qingmo, the Wind-Washing Sword isn't expensive, and plenty of people have practiced it. Yet not one Martial Artist anywhere in the world, including those in Huaxia, has mastered the third layer... You mastered the first layer in just a few days, which shows that your talent is well suited to this sword art. I hope you won't waste it, and that you can bring back the invincible War God that Xiangqing once was..."

"Of course," Jia Yi sighed. "Back then, no one had any guidance. Even Thor, who lived in the same era, wasn't necessarily much stronger than Xiangqing. But in this era, mastering all three layers of the Wind-Washing Sword wouldn't necessarily be enough to make you an Invincible War God..."

His eyes filled with hope. "Unless you can create a fourth or even fifth layer of the Wind-Washing Sword. Then you wouldn't just become a Beyond War God—you'd be one of the strongest among them..."

To be honest, Feng Qingmo hadn't felt much during Jia Yi's speech in the plaza. He had heard plenty of motivational speeches in his previous life, so it was hard for him to get fired up like those other young men.

But Jia Yi's words just now stirred his blood and suddenly awakened an ambition in him.

"Please rest assured, Chief." Feng Qingmo stood and spoke solemnly. "Qingmo will do everything in his power to make Senior Bian Xiangqing's Wind-Washing Sword shine once more!"

After leaving the Central Building, Feng Qingmo returned to his quarters, brimming with excitement, and continued training.

They hadn't signed a contract or anything, but Jia Yi was a man of such standing, and Li Ping had been there too. Feng Qingmo had no reason to worry that Jia Yi would go back on his word.

Passing the first level of the Trial Tower within a month would be quite difficult for Feng Qingmo. In the original story, when Luo Feng took the B-Level test, he had already mastered the third layer of the Nine-Layer Thunder Blade, reaching 2.8 times his normal strength. His footwork had also reached the Subtle Level, and in the final stage of the test, he had even briefly entered the Perfect Level of footwork. Only then had he passed the B-Level test.

At this point, Feng Qingmo's strength amplification was inferior to Luo Feng's at the time, and his footwork was also a little worse. His swordsmanship was the only area in which he surpassed Luo Feng back then. Still, clearing the first level of the Trial Tower would be difficult!

Without a manual, there's basically no chance of improving my strength amplification in a short time. The Trial Tower gives everyone the same physical attributes, and I can't use Spiritual Force either. That leaves swordsmanship and footwork. I'll have to work hard on those if I want any hope of passing the first level...

In the basement training room, Feng Qingmo practiced his sword techniques again and again, continually using the footwork that went with them. As he practiced, he kept his Spiritual Force wrapped around the Slender Willow Sword.

Sometimes he used his Spiritual Force to drive the Slender Willow Sword faster; at other times, he used it to increase the sword's weight, testing whether it would strike harder with greater speed or greater weight under different conditions.