"Student Handbook."
"Training Room, Challenge Room, Gravity Room..." Guan Ning murmured the familiar terms, a strange smile appearing on his face.
Then his gaze fell on the ranking rewards.
"First place in the monthly rankings. If you can accumulate first place nine times, you can receive a bottle of Dragon Blood worth 80 billion, choose any three complete sets of secret manuals for free, and choose either Hong or Thor as your teacher, becoming their personal disciple."
Guan Ning shook his head. For him, taking first place each month was only a matter of time, but nine months was far too long.
According to his plans, he would break through to the War God Level by the time he returned from Australia Continent in August. Anything later would be too late.
As for how he would break through to the War God Level, that would depend on Luo Feng.
Secret manuals?
The Dugu Sword Art in his hands was countless times more advanced than Earth's secret techniques. It was a secret art that pointed directly toward a domain.
Become Hong's or Thor's disciple? Perhaps other people would jump at the chance, but he had the trump card of his soul's transformation, along with the memories of his previous life. His vision already surpassed Hong's and Thor's by an unknown margin. Even if he couldn't surpass them in the future, he wouldn't be far behind, so it wasn't the right choice!
Guan Ning continued reading.
"Punch force level 6: receive a bottle of Dragon Blood worth 80 billion, an SS-Class Combat Suit, a full set of weapons..."
"Trial Tower level 5: become a Patrol Envoy of Limit Martial Hall, receive a bottle of Dragon Blood worth 80 billion, an SS-Class Combat Suit, a full set of weapons, any three complete sets of secret manuals, and a set of Black God from the Ancient Civilization Ruins..."
"Points earned: combat points multiplied by Combat Power Amplitude..."
"Combat points earned: 1 combat point for an Elementary Beast General Level, 10 combat points for an Intermediate Beast General, and 100 combat points for an Advanced Beast General."
"Combat Power Amplitude: punch force level multiplied by Trial Tower level.
A Combat Power Amplitude of 1–2 is elementary.
A Combat Power Amplitude of 2–4 is intermediate.
A Combat Power Amplitude of 4–8 is advanced.
A Combat Power Amplitude of 8–16 is excellent.
A Combat Power Amplitude greater than 16 is exceptional! It is also called 'superior.'
Those who reach the 'excellent' level are generally veteran students who have studied at the Training Camp for four or five years. They're all ranked in the top fifty of the Black Dragon Ranking."
After carefully reading the student handbook, Guan Ning had a good grasp of things and began reviewing the other materials.
Guan Ning watched several instructional videos on movement techniques and swordsmanship, but found they weren't much use to him. Only then did he remember that his movement technique and swordsmanship had already reached the second-stage mastery realm. He wasn't much worse than the people who'd made those videos. He was speechless.
Of course, everyone had their own strengths, and he could still learn something by studying them closely. But he hadn't even fully figured out what he already knew. Where would he find the time to study other people's techniques? He'd be better off focusing on the Dugu Sword Art. It was a treasure trove!
He then browsed the marketplace. Guan Ning was now a student at the Elite Training Camp, and his access level had increased considerably, equivalent to three-star contribution points. There were many more items available, though the weapons, equipment, and secret manuals hadn't changed.
What had been added were treasures and other special items.
Ordinary martial artists could only improve their strength by taking gene potions. Guan Ning's previous access level had only allowed him to buy gene potions, too.
Now, things were different. There were several colorful pages of goods, though most of the medicines had serious drawbacks. After taking them, a person's strength would basically stop increasing.
But there were also a few without side effects, like Jade Marrow and Dragon Blood.
Guan Ning's targets were Dragon Blood and Jade Marrow. They worked even better when taken together, and he was practically drooling over these two treasures!
30 billion Huaxia Currency?
Guan Ning only had a little over 40 million Huaxia Currency, so there was no way he could afford it.
But that was fine. He'd already figured out where to get the money: the 100-billion bounty on Luo Feng.
After all, in August, Hong would expose Luo Feng as a Psychic Master, which would lead to the Vulture and Poison Scorpion couple hunting him down. He might as well take advantage of the situation himself.
But he'd still have to discuss it with Luo Feng. If they could come to an agreement, he could give him some of the bounty. If not, well, he couldn't be blamed.
At that thought, Guan Ning let out a strange laugh. "Heh heh..."
After reviewing the materials, Guan Ning closed the computer and planned to practice swordsmanship in the underground chamber. But when he reached the door, he could still faintly hear the whooshing sounds of something cutting through the air.
"I forgot. Luo Feng must already be in there. Honestly... this is so inconvenient. I'm off!"
Only then did he remember that in the original story, after watching the instructional videos, Luo Feng had gone to the underground chamber to try incorporating his force technique into his speed. Guan Ning had no choice but to give up on practicing his swordsmanship.
Back in the study, he couldn't practice swordsmanship now, so all he could do was absorb cosmic energy. He went out onto the balcony and began cultivating.
"Luo Feng, hurry up and come out! They've already prepared your welcome banquet." Zhao Ruo called loudly from the doorway.
Hearing Zhao Ruo's voice, Guan Ning came out of his meditative state. Standing on the balcony, he said, "Got it, Sister Ruo. I'll go get Luo Feng right away. He's still cultivating in the basement!"
"Who's your Sister Ruo? Do I know you?" Zhao Ruo clearly hadn't forgotten what Guan Ning had done.
Guan Ning pleaded, "Sister Ruo, I'll treat you to a big meal to apologize. Will that make you feel better?"
"One meal?" Zhao Ruo raised an eyebrow.
"You decide. I'll keep treating you until you're satisfied. How about that?" Guan Ning gave a wry smile. He'd have to take the hit.
"Fine. Since you're being so sincere, I'll forgive you this time." Zhao Ruo nodded in satisfaction. "Now hurry up and get Luo Feng. Honestly, look at how hard Luo Feng works, then look at you..."
"I'm going right now." Hearing the disdain in Zhao Ruo's voice, Guan Ning hurried off. Zhao Ruo was the sort who'd get what she wanted and still complain.
The next day, March 30, at dawn.
The previous night, Shi Jiang and Zhao Ruo had taken Guan Ning and Luo Feng to the welcome banquet the Huaxia students had prepared for them. They hadn't returned until late, but thanks to his powerful internal clock, Guan Ning had still woken up very early. He absorbed cosmic energy for an hour, then spent another hour on his morning practice.
"I miscalculated. The Training Camp food is nutritious, but it still can't compare to monster meat. Looks like I'll have to fend for myself."
He grumbled as he ate breakfast.
In fact, the food provided by the Training Camp contained roughly as much nutrition as meat from an Advanced Beast Soldier Level monster. It was about as good as mass-produced food could get.
But Guan Ning's palate had been spoiled by the meat of the Intermediate Beast General Level Iron-Armored Savage Bull. That was why he felt it wasn't nutritious enough. He really didn't know how lucky he was!
There was no denying that the Iron-Armored Savage Bull meat was rich in nutrients and cosmic energy. Half the credit for Guan Ning's strength increasing from 4,500 kilograms to 7,600 kilograms in such a short time went to the meat.
After mastering Swift Sword, his cultivation speed had doubled, but even so, he could only gain 1,500 kilograms of strength in a month. That was with his body having been tempered, too.
The remaining 1,600 kilograms were all thanks to the Savage Bull meat.
After grumbling, Guan Ning quickly finished breakfast. There'd be a good show to watch soon.
Sure enough, just after Guan Ning finished breakfast, Luo Feng, Zhao Ruo, and Shi Jiang appeared at Jiangnan Pavilion. No matter what, all four of them were from Jiangnan Base City in Huaxia Nation!
With something this serious happening to Luo Feng, Zhao Ruo and Shi Jiang weren't going to stand by and do nothing. Shi Jiang had even abandoned his cultivation at the Nine-Story Tower and hurried back specifically to help Luo Feng come up with a plan.
"Luo Feng." Zhao Ruo sounded a little angry. "How could you agree to a battle wager with him? Do you think that because you're a talented martial artist, you're strong? You've never encountered anyone your age stronger than you, so you're overconfident?"
"You're being reckless!"
Zhao Ruo scolded Luo Feng angrily, saying he wasn't being cautious enough.
"All right, Zhao Ruo," Shi Jiang said from beside her.
"Sister Ruo, don't get angry just yet. Luo Feng must have confidence if he dared to agree. Isn't that right, Senior Brother Luo?" Guan Ning said evenly.
Luo Feng glanced at Guan Ning, nodded, and said, "Junior Brother Guan is right. Senior Sister Zhao Ruo, if I remember correctly, William's Combat Power Amplitude is 'intermediate,' right?"
"Right." Zhao Ruo was taken aback.
"Looks like Luo Feng has a plan," Shi Jiang said, looking at Luo Feng in surprise.
"See? I told you I was right!" Guan Ning spread his hands and teased Zhao Ruo.
"Shut up. Look at Luo Feng—he just got here and he's already daring to issue a challenge. Would you dare?" Zhao Ruo's anger, which had just died down, flared up again at Guan Ning's words.
"Maybe I'll give it a try, too." Guan Ning rubbed his nose at Zhao Ruo's words. "Too bad I don't have that much money. Fifty billion! Luo Feng, you're loaded."
"You..." Zhao Ruo was so exasperated by Guan Ning's apparent disregard for William that she couldn't even get the words out.
The discussion, which had originally been about Luo Feng, had turned into this. Luo Feng and Shi Jiang exchanged bewildered looks. They couldn't understand why Guan Ning and Zhao Ruo always started bickering as soon as they met.
"Heh heh, I guess," Luo Feng said with a smile, trying to ease the awkwardness.
Shi Jiang punched Luo Feng lightly in the chest to cheer him on.
"Senior Brother Shi Jiang, Senior Sister Zhao Ruo, Junior Brother Guan, I'll go cultivate now. After all, it's fifty billion!" Luo Feng joked.
"Now you're scared? Earlier, who was it that..." Zhao Ruo couldn't help herself.
"Sister Ruo, didn't we agree I'd treat you to a big meal? Let's go!" Before Zhao Ruo could finish, Guan Ning took her by the hand and led her away. He added, "Senior Brother Luo, Senior Brother Shi, want to come with us?"
Luo Feng shook his head, indicating that he'd be meditating in the basement that day.
Shi Jiang said the same. He still had time left for his cultivation at the Nine-Story Tower and didn't want to waste it.
Seeing this, Guan Ning nodded to them, then led Zhao Ruo, still fuming, out of the building.
They'd talked about having a big meal, but since they'd all already eaten breakfast, the two of them wandered around the Training Camp instead.
Guan Ning followed behind Zhao Ruo and toured the entire Training Camp with her. Before they knew it, it was noon, and Guan Ning had naturally been fleeced by Zhao Ruo.
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