The Training Camp

The final move, "Hidden Edge Sword," was just as its name suggested. It was there and not there, real and unreal, changing and yet unchanged. Like a gazelle leaping across a cliff, it left no trace. Before the sword was drawn, its presence couldn't be detected at all. Once unleashed, it struck like a venomous snake spitting its fangs—impossible to guard against. It was truly an "assassination technique."

After understanding the essence of the second level, Guan Ning began training in earnest.

Time flew by in the blink of an eye. Before long, it was March 28, the day he was to leave for the Elite Training Camp.

His hard work during this period had paid off. He had mastered the Thirty-Six Hidden Edge Forms, but he still had no clue how to perform the final move, "Hidden Edge Sword."

Besides that, thanks to "Limit Training," the Guiding Technique, and the nourishment provided by Savage Bull meat, Guan Ning's physical fitness had improved rapidly. He now had a strength of over 7,600 kilograms and was just one step away from officially reaching Junior War General.

Most importantly, after several days of practice, Guan Ning had mastered that special defensive method.

After testing it, Guan Ning had gained a clear understanding of his defensive strength. With his current physical fitness, he could withstand the unamplified attacks of an advanced War General. In other words, he could already ignore most intermediate War Generals.

This was mainly because most martial artists on Earth had low Body Amplitudes. Most War General-level martial artists only had an amplitude of one or two times, while War God-level martial artists had three or four.

An advanced War General was about twice as strong as an intermediate one, which was why Guan Ning dared to say that he could ignore the attacks of most intermediate War Generals.

Of course, there were more advanced ways to train this method: starting with the muscles, then the bones, the internal organs, and finally the entire body. Guan Ning was still only at the most basic, muscle-training stage. He still had a long way to go.

All in all, although Guan Ning was still an advanced Warrior, his strength was already comparable to that of an intermediate War General. He could just about hold his own in the Elite Training Camp.

March 28, 1:30 p.m. Jiangnan Base City Airport.

At last, Guan Ning met Luo Feng, the protagonist of the original story.

He was about 1.75 meters tall and rather lean, with a pair of bright, dark eyes.

Ever since learning that this world was Swallowed Star, Guan Ning had imagined countless times how he would feel when he met Luo Feng.

Excited?

Uneasy?

Afraid?

Only when they actually met did Guan Ning realize that he felt completely calm. Even he was a little surprised.

He hadn't expected his state of mind to have reached this level. It seemed his daily morning practice hadn't been in vain.

"Guan Ning, you're here too."

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Yang Hui chuckled and said, "Guan Ning, this is Luo Feng. Like you, he's here to take the Elite Training Camp trial. And this handsome young man is Heng Xia, from Jiangnan University."

Guan Ning took a look. Heng Xia had slightly blond hair and soft features. No wonder Yang Hui had called him a handsome young man; he could easily have made his debut as a star.

Though these days, stars weren't as popular as martial artists.

Luo Feng and Heng Xia both turned to look at Guan Ning. Word of his admission to the Elite Training Camp had already spread, and they had heard about him, though they had never met.

So this is Guan Ning? The one taking the A-Grade Trial?

That was what Luo Feng thought.

So young? I wonder what he's like.

Heng Xia was more curious about Guan Ning's age and personality.

"Luo Feng, Heng Xia, this is Guan Ning."

Yang Hui introduced Guan Ning to the two of them as well.

"Hello, I'm Guan Ning. Nice to meet you."

"Hello, I'm Luo Feng."

Luo Feng was a little cold, but still polite.

"Hello, I'm Heng Xia. Senior Guan Ning, it's amazing that you got into the Elite Training Camp at such a young age!"

Heng Xia was more outgoing.

About an hour and twenty minutes later, the passenger plane landed at the airport in Hongning Base City, home to the Limit Martial Hall's Global Headquarters.

There were five major powers and twenty-three Base Cities in the world. Hong controlled one of those Base Cities.

Together with the formidable power of the Limit Martial Hall, which he himself controlled, Hong wielded astonishing influence.

Most importantly, he himself possessed unrivaled strength... Hong was indisputably the strongest person on Earth!

Hongning Base City was in western Asia, relatively close to Europe.

During the Great Nirvana Period, Hong had led a group of followers to build a simple human settlement on this land, giving countless refugees a place to live.

As time passed, Hongning Base City grew larger and larger, eventually becoming what it was today.

Guan Ning, Yang Hui, and the other two sat inside a stretched Cadillac, watching the scenery outside the windows. The entire Base City was beautiful, with architecture modeled entirely on ancient Chinese buildings. Pavilions and towers could be seen everywhere.

Guan Ning realized that he liked this place very much—not only because he was Chinese to the core, but also because Hong was here, along with countless people who fought against monsters to ensure humanity's survival.

This place represented the unyielding fighting spirit and shining banner of humanity!

They soon arrived at the Elite Training Camp.

The four got out together and entered through the spacious training camp gates. At a glance, they saw a gigantic dragon sculpture. The enormous black dragon, nearly fifty meters tall, stared down at them with its huge eyes.

Those eyes faced the entrance, so anyone who came in would see them at once.

Guan Ning knew that the dragon eyes came from a real Planetary-level monster. He had prepared himself, but he was still affected by the invisible pressure they gave off. It weighed heavily on him!

Especially when he met the dragon's gaze—his body jolted.

"Why does it seem alive?" Guan Ning exclaimed.

"You're all right?" Yang Hui cried out in surprise. Luo Feng and Heng Xia were still dazed.

"I felt a powerful pressure, like I could barely breathe," Guan Ning answered honestly.

In fact, after more than a month of cultivation, Guan Ning's soul had already surpassed most people's in level. A pair of dragon eyes couldn't pressure him mentally—not even if a living black dragon appeared right in front of him.

Yang Hui's mouth twitched. His estimation of Guan Ning rose another notch. He explained, "The statue itself is already incredibly precious, but its eyes came from a black dragon that the instructor hunted. It was a King-level monster, an existence beyond War God. The instructor placed its eyeballs in the statue, giving it an incredible aura. Every trainee who sees those eyes for the first time gets drawn in and struggles to break free. But you, Guan Ning, are the first—and only—trainee who has barely been affected."

He felt conflicted as he said this.

Even he was affected when he stared at them.

And this kid kept looking at them, yet was hardly affected at all.

As for the other two, they still hadn't come around!

I thought he couldn't compare to Luo Feng, but now it's hard to say! Yang Hui thought to himself.

Only after Yang Hui called out sharply did Luo Feng and Heng Xia wake up. They stared at the sculpture in shock!

Looking at the Black Dragon Statue, Guan Ning saw that the black scales of the fifty-meter-long dragon were actually made up of countless small display screens.

Each screen, from top to bottom, showed a name.

This was the Elite Training Camp ranking board, which was extremely important to Guan Ning and the others. It determined how resources were allocated. The higher one's rank, the more resources one received!

"NO.1 Renatus Bridge (530321)"

"NO.2 Chu Qiang (540601)"

"NO.3 Eben Pass (520916)"

"NO.182 Jacqueline Berner (570319)"

Yang Hui smiled and said, "This is the ranking board. There are currently 182 trainees in the Elite Training Camp, all top talents from around the world. They're ranked according to their combat strength points! Guan Ning, Luo Feng, if you pass the trial, you'll have to work hard. The higher your rank, the more resources you'll get!"

"Come with me, and remember, don't wander off." Yang Hui gave them a brief introduction, then headed inside.

"Yes."

Guan Ning and the other two followed Yang Hui with their backpacks.

The training camp was called a camp, but in reality it was stunningly beautiful, like a cluster of ancient palaces. Precious flowers and trees, small bridges, and flowing streams could be seen everywhere. Apart from a few main palaces, there were rows of elegant pavilions.

The three were amazed. They finally understood what it meant to have "a tower every five paces and a pavilion every ten."

From time to time, they saw young people in loose training clothes walking into the pavilions and palaces.

These young people were gifted martial artists from all over the world. The world's greatest concentration of talent was gathered here!

In this Elite Training Camp, steeped in the atmosphere of antiquity, countless young people dreamed of standing at the pinnacle of the world!

At the very center of the Elite Training Camp stood a tall, tower-shaped building. The largest number of trainees had gathered there.

"That's the Nine-Story Tower. Though it has only nine floors, it's the most important building in the entire Elite Training Camp. It contains many treasures unearthed from Ancient Civilization ruins!" Seeing that the three had been drawn to it, Yang Hui smiled.

"The Nine-Story Tower is where all the trainees study and train. Some special training rooms are in there too. Apart from sleeping, the trainees spend nearly all their time inside the Nine-Story Tower."

As they walked through the training camp, Yang Hui introduced the things they passed and offered the three advice.

Before long, the four reached a two-story pavilion. All the furniture inside was styled after ancient designs.

"Heng Xia, wait here and don't wander off. I'll take Guan Ning and Luo Feng inside to get them checked in," Yang Hui instructed him.

"Since the instructor is Chinese and particularly fond of ancient Chinese culture, the whole of Hongning Base City was built in an ancient style. The training camp especially—even the furniture is modeled after ancient designs. So you won't find any sofas or TVs here." Yang Hui smiled. "Fortunately, the instructor is understanding enough to let everyone have a laptop."