Challenge

Seeing Guan Ning's actions, the blonde man understood his intent and his face turned deathly pale. The Elite Training Camp had ironclad rules:

1. Anyone caught privately trading monster materials, giving materials to other students, or helping others boost their combat scores will be expelled.

2. Anyone caught killing fellow students will be executed!

Guan Ning had activated the recording function on his communication watch the moment he left the city. City 1001 was monitored by cameras, so camp members dared not overstep their bounds.

However, outside the city, there were no such restrictions. He had done this specifically to prevent anyone from maliciously snatching the cub's carcass, though he hadn't expected someone to actually dare violate the camp's iron rules.

"I really am quite farsighted." Guan Ning gave himself a mental pat on the back for his foresight.

"You actually recorded it? How despicable!" the blonde man exclaimed in a rage.

"Me being despicable? How disgusting." Guan Ning cast a look of contempt at the blonde man and said, "Move aside quickly, or I'll hand this recording over, and you'll be in for a world of hurt."

"You..." The blonde man panicked. If Guan Ning really turned in the recording, even if the camp didn't execute him, they would expel him from the Elite Training Camp to make an example of him. That was a consequence he could not afford.

He had to get that recording, otherwise...

Once he realized this, the blonde man shouted hysterically, "No way! If you want to leave, you have to hand the recording over to me. If you don't, you aren't going anywhere today."

As he spoke, he brandished the long spear in his hand.

Guan Ning remained unmoved and said indifferently, "Move."

Thinking of the terrifying consequences, the blonde man went mad. He pointed his spear at Guan Ning, his voice raspy from the sheer force of his desperation: "No! You must give me the recording."

Looking at the stubborn blonde man, Guan Ning felt a headache coming on. Suddenly, he thought of a solution: "Senior, how about this? Once we return to the training camp, we'll head to the challenge room. If you win, I'll give you the footage. If I win, I'll still give you the footage, but you have to give me your gravity room usage time for this month. How about it?"

"I don't trust you. Who knows if you'll turn it in once we get back to the camp?" The blonde youth seemed tempted.

Guan Ning couldn't tell if the blonde youth was smart or not, so he said helplessly, "Senior, I'm making this promise in front of so many fellow students. If I were to go back on my word, how could I ever face anyone again? Seniors, wouldn't you agree?"

The crowd had originally been coveting the Tuoshan Deer cub's carcass, but they hadn't expected Guan Ning to be recording, nor had they expected the blonde man to dare bully someone with a spear in broad daylight. They had been planning to disperse, as one wrong move could see them treated as accomplices by the camp.

But then came the twist: Guan Ning had proposed a challenge, and for gravity room time at that. It was one surprise after another.

They were also curious to see how much strength Guan Ning possessed, given he had been specially recruited alongside Luo Feng and had triggered the monster riot. They were enjoying this drama to their heart's content.

"That's right, we can act as witnesses."

"John, don't worry. If he cheats you, the whole world will know his character. Rest easy."

"John, accept his challenge! Let him see the power of us Americans."

At this point, the blonde man had also thought it through. Although he felt the sting of losing his gravity room time, the footage was more important. Besides, he wasn't William, who had dueled Luo Feng, so he said confidently, "I accept."

"Senior John is a straightforward man." Guan Ning felt a surge of joy. Upon hearing the blonde man's name, a piece of information flashed through his mind.

"John McLean, American, ranked 75th on the Black Dragon Ranking, two hours of gravity room usage time."

Once the excitement died down, the crowd naturally dispersed, chatting and laughing as they returned to the training camp.

Guan Ning walked alone, appearing somewhat isolated. Although there were Chinese students among them, they hadn't spoken up to help him earlier, so they felt too awkward to approach him now, and Guan Ning certainly wouldn't lower himself to curry favor.

His return to the training camp naturally caused another stir.

The students already inside the camp were aware of the monster riot. Although it had alarmed the God of War-level instructors, the riot had subsided before they could depart, and the news had spread throughout the camp upon their return.

They swarmed the returning students to ask about the situation. When they learned that it was Guan Ning—who had entered with Luo Feng—who had caused it, they were filled with amazement.

Then came the news of John's dispute with Guan Ning over the cub's carcass and how Guan Ning had caught him in a trap with his recording. Hearing this, they felt a chill and secretly cursed Guan Ning for being devious.

Finally, hearing about the wager between the two, they became even more excited. Luo Feng had already proven himself through his duel with William, so they were naturally looking forward to the challenge between Guan Ning and John, wondering who would emerge victorious.

This news spread rapidly throughout the training camp, and everywhere one went, the topics were "Monster Riot," "Monster Cub," and "Newcomer Challenge."

These tidbits naturally reached the ears of those in charge. In a pavilion within the camp, a middle-aged man was preparing to sign a document—the camp's official penalty for John McLean. Upon hearing of the wager with Guan Ning, the man smiled slightly: "Interesting."

Looking at the penalty decision on his desk, the man said, "Very well, let them be."

With that, the penalty notice was tossed into the trash can, turning into a pile of scraps.

At night, a barbecue was held at the Jiangnan Pavilion.

"Come on, eat up, eat up..." Guan Ning invited Luo Feng, Zhao Ruo, and Shi Jiang to join the grill.

"This monster cub is truly excellent. The taste, the texture... Little Ning, you did a great job with this."

Zhao Ruo took a bite of the venison and couldn't stop praising it.

"Not bad. It truly lives up to its reputation as a nourishing treasure; it feels warm the moment it hits the stomach."

Shi Jiang was more focused on the nutritional value of the monster cub.

"Junior Brother Guan Ning, you really made quite a scene this time. I was stunned when I first heard about it."

Luo Feng said exaggeratedly while eating.

"Enough talk, just eat. I'm telling you now, this is the only meal; I'm keeping the rest for myself."

Guan Ning was left between laughter and tears; he couldn't even control their appetites.

"How stingy..." Zhao Ruo sniffed.

Luo Feng and Shi Jiang stopped talking and picked up their pace.

Monster cubs like these are rare finds, let alone a cub of a Lord-level Tuoshan Deer. The Tuoshan Deer is already a sacred tonic, and a cub is even more nutritionally dense; for them, it is the best supplement to boost their strength.

Just as the four of them were feasting, a figure walked in. Seeing the outdoor barbecue, he said, "Junior Brother Guan Ning, you all really know how to enjoy yourselves. Barbecuing a Lord-level Tuoshan Deer cub—how extravagant!"

As he spoke, he shook his head.

"Chu Qiang." Shi Jiang had arrived a year earlier than Chu Qiang, so he addressed him directly by name.

"Senior Brother Chu Qiang."

Guan Ning, Zhao Ruo, and Luo Feng all spoke up to greet their senior brother.

Looking at Chu Qiang, who was carrying a bundle wrapped in black cloth, Shi Jiang asked curiously, "Chu Qiang, what are you doing?"

Luo Feng and Zhao Ruo were also very concerned.

Guan Ning naturally knew that the black cloth contained a Tuoshan Deer cub. His heart burned with excitement, and at the same time, he felt happy about Chu Qiang's thoughtfulness.

"Thud!"

Chu Qiang threw the black bundle onto the ground and clapped his hands. "Senior Brother Shi Jiang, Junior Sister Zhao Ruo, Junior Brother Luo Feng, don't be so impatient. Junior Brother Guan Ning, take a look."

As soon as the bundle hit the ground, the black cloth fell away, revealing the carcass of a monster. Shi Jiang and the others saw it immediately.

"Isn't this..." Zhao Ruo looked at the roasted meat in her hand and then at the carcass on the ground. Although it was slightly smaller in size, it was indeed a Tuoshan Deer cub. She couldn't believe it.

Luo Feng and Shi Jiang were also too shocked to speak.

One was already a stroke of luck, but how could there be two? And Chu Qiang had brought it over himself.

"Senior Brother Chu Qiang is too kind; I will shamelessly accept it." Guan Ning waved the skewer of venison in his hand and smiled. "Would you like to join us, Senior Brother?"

"No need, I have things to do back home." Chu Qiang refused without hesitation. Seeing Guan Ning and the others eating the Tuoshan Deer cub, he was already impatient to go back and try it himself, especially since he had another cub of his own.

Guan Ning understood Chu Qiang's intention and did not press him further. "Alright."

"Senior Brother Shi Jiang, Zhao Ruo, Luo Feng, I shall take my leave." Chu Qiang cupped his hands.

"Go carefully."

"Safe travels."

Guan Ning and the others greeted him politely.

"Tell us, what's going on?" After Chu Qiang left, Zhao Ruo and the others stopped eating their skewers and stared at Guan Ning.

"I killed three cubs today, but because of the herd, I only managed to retrieve the largest one. I told Senior Brother Chu Qiang the location, and he promised to give me one cub as a reward. That's how it is."

Guan Ning gave a brief explanation.

"So, Chu Qiang has a cub too? How big is it? I'm so envious!"

Shi Jiang and Chu Qiang were evenly matched in strength, but now that Chu Qiang had obtained a Tuoshan Deer cub, his strength would surely skyrocket. He couldn't help but feel envious.

"About a meter long and eighty centimeters tall," Guan Ning said after thinking for a moment.

"Sigh!" Shi Jiang lost all interest in eating his skewers.

Seeing Shi Jiang's reaction, the three of them didn't know how to console him.

"Gurgle, gurgle..."

Just then, a fragrant aroma wafted over. Guan Ning's eyes lit up. He ran to the kitchen and said excitedly, "The bone soup is ready! The bone soup is ready! Senior Brother Shi Jiang, come and have a taste. This is even more nutritious than the venison."

After they were full and satisfied, the four chatted for a while before departing to begin their cultivation. After all, their bodies were now filled with rich nutrients, and they needed to convert them into their own strength as quickly as possible.

Guan Ning stayed in the basement for the entire night, continuously practicing his sword techniques, absorbing cosmic energy, practicing his sword techniques, and absorbing cosmic energy...

The results were remarkable. In just one night, his strength, which had previously just reached the requirement for an elementary Warlord—8,000 kilograms—had changed.

Now, his strength had reached 8,500 kilograms, a full increase of 500 kilograms. Looking at the data on the punch force tester—"8562kg"—Guan Ning sighed to himself, "As expected of a Lord-level monster cub, it really is effective."