Offer Secret Manual

"Me? Not bad? What does Hong mean by that?" Guan Ning was completely bewildered at this moment, having no idea why he had caught Hong's attention.

However, he wasn't afraid. With the descriptions of Hong from the original story and the information he had gathered, he knew that Hong was a man of great breadth of mind. Otherwise, he wouldn't have surpassed the sages of China to reach the third realm of the heart. He had absolutely no reason to worry that Hong would do him any harm.

On the contrary, he felt a surge of joy. If one were to ask who on Earth possessed the most abundant resources, who else but Hong?

Especially the Ancient Civilization Gravity Room; Guan Ning had been coveting that for a long time.

Suddenly, the black-haired man, Hong, swept his gaze toward the other students, his voice icy: "You are the most elite geniuses among the young people of the entire world. Your goal is not to become a War God, but to become an existence that surpasses the War God! I look forward to seeing one of you reach this step!" The words of the General Hall Master seemed to possess an infinite magic that penetrated directly into the hearts of those present.

Under this invisible guidance, all the students felt their blood surging with passion.

Immediately after, the black-haired man, Hong, turned and left.

Only when Hong disappeared from sight did all the students erupt into a frenzy, and all the War God instructors were equally stirred.

"General Hall Master Hong is simply too strong."

"It's like being in the presence of a deity. I felt as if the General Hall Master was the master of the entire world just now."

"Indeed, indeed."

All the students used their respective languages to excitedly communicate with their compatriots.

"Luo Feng, Guan Ning, you actually received the Hall Master's affirmation! I can't believe it!"

"Guan Ning, tell us quickly, what secret do you have that could make the Hall Master say the words 'not bad'?"

"Luo Feng, I really don't know what level your psychic power has reached to actually earn the Hall Master's praise!"

Many students from the Chinese side exclaimed in wonder at Luo Feng and Guan Ning. Although the Elite Training Camp was designed to gather the world's top geniuses and there were many Psychic Masters, Luo Feng was the only one who had received praise from Hong.

As for Guan Ning, they no longer knew what to say. After all, he had caused quite a few incidents since entering the training camp, and given that he had only just turned eighteen, they could accept him receiving an evaluation from the General Hall Master.

Following this, Inspector Wang came over and called Luo Feng away. Seeing this, Guan Ning felt a stir in his heart and conceived a new plan.

After hearing Hong's praise for Luo Feng, Candice's expression shifted, and he walked to the side to call his aunt, Venina.

Guan Ning saw this, and after Luo Feng returned, he notified him. Once Luo Feng knew, he signaled for Guan Ning not to worry; he was no longer afraid of Vulture and Poison Scorpion.

Inspector Wang saw the small movements between the two, but he didn't say much and prepared to leave, as he had his own matters to attend to.

Seeing this, Guan Ning hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Inspector, this humble one wishes to pay a visit to the Hall Master. I wonder if you could put in a word for me?"

Inspector Wang thought for a moment and said: "I can ask for you, but whether he sees you or not depends on the Hall Master's will."

"Many thanks, Inspector." Guan Ning offered his thanks and watched as Inspector Wang entered the pavilion where the Hall Master was resting.

Before long, Inspector Wang returned and said: "Follow me. The Hall Master has agreed to see you."

Guan Ning followed behind Inspector Wang to a pavilion. Just as he stepped into the hall, he saw a man standing by the window in the living room. The man had his back to him, stood about 1.9 meters tall, and was dressed in black clothes and trousers with short, sharp hair. Sensing Guan Ning's arrival, the man in black slowly turned around.

"Greetings, Hall Master!"

If the Hong who had stepped off the plane was like a long spear filled with piercing sharpness, he now appeared like an ordinary person, though his eyes were deep and bright.

Hong smiled, his tone casual and his voice deep and powerful: "No need to be so formal. Sit!"

Guan Ning nodded lightly, then sat on the sofa with Hong and Inspector Wang.

"Speak. What is it that you must see me for?"

Guan Ning looked at Inspector Wang beside him with some hesitation.

Inspector Wang and Hong had experienced countless things; they understood his meaning in a second. Although Inspector Wang felt a bit resentful, with the Hall Master still present, he stood up and said: "Hall Master, there are still some matters at the training camp, so I will take my leave."

Hong nodded without speaking.

Seeing the ugly expression on Inspector Wang's face, Guan Ning knew he had offended someone. Just as he was about to explain, Inspector Wang left without paying any further attention to him. Guan Ning couldn't help but offer a wry smile. "That's me having offended someone, and an Inspector at that."

However, he wasn't worried. He had already planned to graduate after returning from Australia, so even if Inspector Wang held a grudge, he would have no reason to deal with him.

Seeing that only the two of them remained in the hall, Guan Ning put down his backpack and took out a book—the Dugu Sword Art left behind by his parents.

In truth, Guan Ning had no other choice. He had managed to master the first two levels thanks to his father's annotations, but the rest of the book consisted only of diagrams—the sword moves themselves.

Guan Ning had practiced them, but he could never grasp the essence. He had a feeling that if he continued to practice blindly like this, he would be like a fool courting death without even knowing how he died. Perhaps there were heaven-sent geniuses who could learn just by looking at the sword moves, but Guan Ning didn't feel he was one of them.

Thus, Guan Ning had no choice but to set his sights on the Hall Master, Hong. Given that Hong had mastered a domain while still at the Planetary level, his comprehension went without saying. Furthermore, Guan Ning believed that Hong would not kill to seize treasures—a fact clearly demonstrated in the original story—which led to the current scene.

Guan Ning had originally intended to visit the Hall Master after returning from Australia, but he had just had a new idea. If it succeeded, this trip to Mist Island would be much simpler.

Guan Ning held the black book in both hands and presented it to Hong, saying: "This is a secret manual left by my parents. It has four levels in total."

As if thinking of his late parents, Guan Ning's tone couldn't help but carry a trace of sorrow. "According to my estimation, if this sword art is practiced to completion, not only can one's physical amplitude reach 16 times, but it is also a manual that points directly to the domain."

"What did you say?"

Hong's eternally calm state of mind rippled. He hadn't cared at first; after all, during the Great Nirvana period, there were many ruins on Earth, and it wasn't uncommon for Guan Ning's parents to have obtained some inheritance from them.

But upon hearing about a 16-fold physical amplitude and a direct path to a domain, he couldn't help but be shocked.

"Are you certain? Do you know what a domain is?" Hong looked at Guan Ning with uncertainty.

"I don't know, but I have heard a few words about it." Guan Ning shook his head. Although he knew, he couldn't show it.

Hong said no more, took the black book, and became so immersed in it that he couldn't pull himself away. The entire hall fell into silence, with only the sound of pages turning.

Hong read at an incredible speed, skimming through the preceding pages in a mere glance. Guan Ning was not surprised; after all, the man before him was a monster who had comprehended a Domain while still at the Planetary level without any guidance. His comprehension was beyond reproach, and Guan Ning estimated that only the fourth level would be enough to make him slow down even slightly.

One had to know that in the universe, even Universe-level powerhouses did not necessarily possess a Domain. Normally, a single galaxy would only produce one Universe-level powerhouse, meaning it was not guaranteed that even one person in a galaxy would comprehend a Domain—let alone at the Planetary level. In the universe, that was synonymous with being a genius.

Hong flipped through the first few dozen pages very quickly, but as he reached the latter half, he began to slow down. Guan Ning estimated that he must have reached the third level, the Mountain Crushing sword technique.

The third level shouldn't be that difficult for Hong, right? He's a genius who has already comprehended a Domain!

At first, Hong did not quite grasp it, but as he pressed his middle and index fingers together into a sword gesture, tracing out each move, even the surrounding light began to distort. It was as if a colossal sword reaching toward the heavens had formed. Each move was grand and sweeping, capable of splitting mountains and severing peaks, unstoppable by anything. Finally, it condensed into a single Mountain Crushing sword strike, imbued with an aura of charging forward with irresistible momentum.

"Swish, swish, swish..."

Guan Ning was so mesmerized that he didn't even hear the sound of the pages turning.

Following that, the light around the sword gesture blurred, forming one sword move after another. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow; sometimes traceless, sometimes filled with countless sword shadows. A myriad of sword techniques were displayed one by one in his hands.

Suddenly, Hong's brows furrowed slightly as if he had encountered some trouble, and the movements of his hands paused for a moment. Guan Ning also snapped out of his trance, his face filled with excitement.

I never expected this, I never expected this! I actually gained a sliver of insight into the Mountain Crushing sword technique. Hong is truly worthy of his reputation. I owe this to him; this was definitely worth it.

Just as Guan Ning was secretly praising himself for his actions, Hong's brows smoothed out, and a gentle smile even appeared on his face.

At the same time, the light around Hong distorted, leaving not a single glimmer of brightness behind, only darkness. Yet, the most dazzling center of this black world was that black-haired man!

The black world grew increasingly profound, and the light on Hong's body became more and more dazzling. With a loud "bang," Hong seemed to explode like a star. Boundless light illuminated the entire black world into a vast expanse of white, forcing Guan Ning to close his eyes.

The moment he closed his eyes, both the black world and the dazzling light vanished into thin air. Guan Ning opened his eyes to find himself back in the familiar hall. Everything remained unchanged, as if everything that had just happened were merely an illusion.

However, when he saw the figure in the distance, he knew it hadn't been an illusion. If the original Hong had been the only light in a black world, he was now the world itself—whether darkness or light, it was all him.

What just happened? Did he enter the second level of his Domain?

Guan Ning knew that a Domain was divided into nine levels, and Hong had been stuck at the first level for over a decade. The events that had just transpired made it impossible for him not to think so.

Seeing Guan Ning in a daze, Hong smiled slightly and made a phone call.

"Brother Hong, is there something you need? Shouldn't you be at the Elite Training Camp right now?"

After the call connected, a large monk dressed in white robes appeared on the screen.

"Get over here quickly. I have something good here; you'll regret it if you don't come!"

Hong couldn't help but smile as he looked at the bald man on the screen, hanging up the phone as soon as he finished speaking.