The Challenge

When Guan Ning made his move, the blond man understood what he meant. His face turned deathly pale. The Training Camp had ironclad rules—

1. Anyone caught trading monster materials privately, giving them to other trainees, or helping them boost their achievement points would be expelled.

2. Anyone caught fighting among themselves and killing another trainee would be executed!

Guan Ning had started recording with his Communication Watch as soon as he left the city. There were cameras in City 1001, so trainees didn't dare step out of line.

But there were no cameras outside the city. He'd done it to prevent anyone from maliciously snatching the carcass of a young monster. He hadn't expected anyone to actually dare break the Training Camp's ironclad rules.

"I really did see this coming." Guan Ning gave himself a pat on the back for his foresight.

"You actually recorded it? That's despicable!" the blond man shouted furiously.

"I'm despicable? That's rich." Guan Ning shot the blond man a scornful look. "Move aside, or I'll hand over the recording. Then you'll be in for it."

"You..." The blond man panicked. If Guan Ning really turned in the recording, even if the Training Camp didn't kill him, they'd expel him from the Elite Training Camp to make an example of him. He couldn't accept that outcome.

He had to get the recording, or else...

Once he'd thought it through, the blond man shouted hysterically, "No! If you want to leave, you'll have to hand over the recording first. If you don't give it to me, you're not going anywhere today!"

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

Guan Ning didn't budge. "Move."

Faced with the terrible consequences, the blond man lost his mind. He pointed his spear at Guan Ning and rasped, his voice hoarse with effort, "No! You have to give me the recording!"

Looking at the stubborn blond man, Guan Ning felt a headache coming on. Then he suddenly thought of a solution. "How about this, senior? When we get back to the Training Camp, we'll go to the Challenge Room. If you win, I'll give you the recording. If I win, I can still hand it over—but you'll give me your Gravity Room time for this month. How does that sound?"

"I don't trust you. Who knows whether you'll turn in the recording once we're back at the Training Camp?" The young blond man seemed tempted.

Guan Ning wasn't sure whether the young man was clever or not. Exasperated, he said, "Senior, I'm making this promise in front of all these trainees. If I go back on my word, how will I ever show my face again? Fellow seniors, don't you agree?"

The others had been coveting the Tuoshan Deer calf carcass. They hadn't expected Guan Ning to be recording, much less that the blond man would dare threaten someone with a spear in front of everyone. They'd been about to disperse. One wrong step, and the Training Camp could treat them as accomplices.

But now things had taken another turn. Guan Ning had proposed a challenge, with Gravity Room time at stake. It was one surprise after another.

They also wanted to see just how strong Guan Ning was. He'd entered the Training Camp through special recruitment alongside Luo Feng and had sparked a monster rampage. They were thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

"That's right. We can witness it."

"John, don't worry. If he cheats you, the whole world will know what kind of person he is. You can trust him."

"John, accept the challenge. Show him what we Americans can do."

By then, the blond man had thought it through as well. He hated to give up his Gravity Room time, but the recording mattered more. Besides, he wasn't William, who had challenged Luo Feng. He accepted confidently. "I agree."

"Senior John, you're a man of your word." Guan Ning was pleased. When he heard the blond man's name was John, a piece of information flashed through his mind.

"John McClane, American, ranked 75th on the Black Dragon Ranking, with two hours of Gravity Room time."

After enjoying the show, the crowd naturally dispersed, chatting and laughing as they headed back to the Training Camp.

Guan Ning was alone and didn't fit in. Though there were Chinese trainees among them, they hadn't spoken up for him earlier, so they were naturally too embarrassed to approach him now. Guan Ning wasn't about to go out of his way to ingratiate himself with them, either.

His return to the Training Camp naturally caused another uproar.

The trainees there already knew about the monster rampage. It had alarmed the War God Level instructors, but the rampage had subsided before they even set out. Once everyone returned to the Training Camp, the story spread.

They all asked the returning trainees what had happened. When they learned Guan Ning, who had entered alongside Luo Feng, had caused it, they were amazed.

Then came the story of John arguing with Guan Ning over the calf carcass, only for Guan Ning to catch him red-handed on video. They shuddered as they listened, secretly cursing Guan Ning for being devious.

When they heard about the wager between the two, they grew even more excited. Luo Feng had already proven himself in his wager against William, so naturally they were eager to see the challenge between Guan Ning and John. They wondered who would win.

The news quickly spread throughout the Training Camp. Everywhere, people were talking about the "monster rampage," "monster calves," and "the new trainee's challenge."

The news naturally reached the people in charge as well. In a pavilion at the Training Camp, a middle-aged man was about to sign a document—the Training Camp's punishment for John McClane—when he heard about the wager between John and Guan Ning. He smiled faintly. "Interesting."

Looking at the punishment notice on his desk, the man said, "Very well. Let them have it their way."

With that, the punishment notice on the desk went into the trash and was torn to shreds.

That night, they held a barbecue at Jiangnan Pavilion.

"Come on, eat up!" Guan Ning urged Luo Feng, Zhao Ruo, and Shi Jiang as they grilled.

"These monster calves really are something. This taste, this tenderness... Xiaoning, you did great."

Zhao Ruo took a bite of venison and praised it without reservation.

"Not bad. No wonder it's considered a nourishing delicacy. It warms you right up."

Shi Jiang cared more about the calf's nutritional value.

"Junior Guan Ning, you made quite a scene this time. When I first heard about it, I was stunned," Luo Feng said with exaggerated emphasis as he ate.

"Enough talking. Hurry up and eat. I'll say this now: this is all you're getting today. I'm keeping the rest for myself."

Guan Ning laughed helplessly. They couldn't even stop talking long enough to eat.

"How stingy..." Zhao Ruo sniffed.

Luo Feng and Shi Jiang stopped talking and dug in faster.

A monster calf like this was a rare find, let alone a calf from a Lord-Level Tuoshan Deer. Tuoshan Deer meat was already considered a nourishing delicacy, and the calf was even more nutritious. For them, it was the best supplement for improving their strength.

Just as the four of them were eating heartily, a figure walked in. Seeing the outdoor barbecue, he said, "Junior Guan Ning, you really know how to enjoy yourselves—barbecuing a Lord-Level Tuoshan Deer calf. What a waste!"

As he spoke, he shook his head.

"Chu Qiang." Shi Jiang had arrived a year before Chu Qiang, so he called him by name.

"Senior Chu Qiang."

Guan Ning, Zhao Ruo, and Luo Feng all greeted him as senior.

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

Luo Feng and Zhao Ruo were curious, too.

Guan Ning knew there was a Tuoshan Deer calf inside the black cloth. His heart burned with excitement, and he was glad that Chu Qiang had been so thoughtful.

"Thump!"

Chu Qiang tossed the black bundle onto the ground and dusted off his hands. "Senior Shi Jiang, Junior Zhao Ruo, Junior Luo Feng, don't rush me. Junior Guan Ning, take a look."

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

"Isn't that..." Zhao Ruo looked at the roast in her hand, then at the carcass on the ground. It was a little smaller, but it was definitely a Tuoshan Deer calf. She couldn't believe it.

Luo Feng and Shi Jiang were stunned into silence, too.

One was one thing, but how could there be two? And Chu Qiang had brought one over for them.

"Senior Chu Qiang, you're too kind. I'll gladly accept it." Guan Ning waved the venison skewer in his hand and smiled. "Want to join us?"

"No, I've got things to do back at my place." Chu Qiang refused without hesitation. Seeing Guan Ning and the others eating Tuoshan Deer calf, he'd been itching to go back and try his own. After all, he had another calf waiting for him.

Guan Ning understood what Chu Qiang meant and didn't insist. "All right."

"Senior Shi Jiang, Zhao Ruo, Luo Feng, I'll take my leave," Chu Qiang said, cupping his hands.

"Take care."

"Take care."

Guan Ning and the others replied politely.

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

"I killed three calves today, but because of the herd, I only managed to bring back the biggest one. Then I told Senior Chu Qiang where the others were. He promised to give me one as payment. That's all."

Guan Ning gave them a brief explanation.

"So Chu Qiang got one, too? How big is it? I'm so jealous!"

Shi Jiang was about as strong as Chu Qiang, but now that Chu Qiang had gotten a Tuoshan Deer calf, his strength was sure to surge. Shi Jiang couldn't help feeling envious.

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

"Ugh!" Shi Jiang had lost all interest in eating.

Guan Ning and the others didn't know what to say to comfort him.

Gurgle, gurgle...

Just then, a rich aroma wafted over. Guan Ning's eyes lit up, and he dashed to the kitchen, exclaiming, "The bone broth is ready! It's ready! Senior Shi Jiang, hurry and try some. It's even more nutritious than the venison."

After eating their fill, the four chatted for a while, then went their separate ways to train. With so much nutrition in their bodies, they needed to turn it into strength as quickly as possible.

Guan Ning spent the entire night in the basement, practicing his swordsmanship and absorbing cosmic energy, over and over again.

The results were impressive. Before, his strength had only just reached the Junior War General requirement of 8,000 kilograms.

Now his strength had reached 8,500 kilograms—an increase of 500 kilograms in a single night. Looking at the reading on the punch-force tester—"8562 kg"—Guan Ning sighed inwardly. No wonder it's a Lord-Level monster calf. It really packs a punch.