Backup Assessment Qualification

Over the next few days, aside from spending most of his time cultivating, Cao Bing would discuss cultivation insights with Qin Yu whenever he had free time. To be honest, he had improved quite a bit.

Especially in his movement technique. With an expert at the conception level like Qin Yu around, it was hard not to improve.

Another half month passed in the blink of an eye. During that time, Cao Bing met with Feng Yuzi twice more and learned quite a few things.

However, Cao Bing recently noticed that Feng Yuzi had been spending more time in seclusion. As far as Cao Bing knew, Feng Yuzi had never been this diligent before. He was usually quite idle, often riding a crane through the skies or drifting in a boat while playing the zither.

But now, he spent most of his time locked inside his courtyard and would not allow anyone near. No one knew what he was doing.

Cao Bing found it strange. Even Qin De felt something was off. Feng Yuzi used to love coming over to play chess with him and indulge his sense of superiority. Now, he had not shown up for over ten days, leaving Qin De, his old buddy, somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Still, Feng Yuzi was an Immortal Master, after all. Qin De could not simply go bother him for a chat whenever he pleased.

Meanwhile...

Inside Immortal Master Feng Yuzi's courtyard.

Feng Yuzi stood bare-chested, lifting a massive stone weighing several hundred jin up and down.

Every so often, he would glance around him, looking utterly furtive.

"Huff, huff! Who would have thought that I, Feng Yuzi, after cultivating for over a century, would one day return to training external techniques!"

Feng Yuzi tossed the boulder to the ground and panted heavily.

Devouring Starry Sky

"I thought I was only one step away from breaking through to the Perfect-level movement technique, but after more than ten days, I still haven't crossed that threshold."

Inside a lounge at the Sixth Supply Base, Cao Bing abruptly opened his eyes and sat up, then shook his head helplessly.

"Tomorrow is the time I agreed on with Uncle Yan and the others. I won't go hunting today. I'll head straight to Supply Base No. 8."

During this period in the Stellar Transformation World, Cao Bing had made tremendous progress in movement techniques through training with Qin Yu. Though he dearly wanted to head into the wilderness and find a few powerful Beast Generals to test his skills on, he gave up on the idea after calculating the time.

Although the Sixth Supply Base and Supply Base No. 8 were both west of Jiangnan Base City, one was in the south and the other in the north. He also had to return to the main base city as a transfer point, so a round trip would take at least half a day.

Besides, Cao Bing still had things to organize, and time was tight.

Adventuring in a forest was very different from adventuring in a city. Forests were full of trees, and visibility was nowhere near as open as it was among the ruins of a city.

That made a high-end personal thermal imager extremely important. The area around the Sixth Supply Base consisted mostly of urban ruins, though, so Cao Bing needed to return to the base city to buy one.

Supplies such as a one-man tent were also essential. In ruined cities, one could simply find some abandoned place to sleep, and Martial Artists did not care much about such things.

But forests had no places suitable for resting.

After packing his luggage, Cao Bing quickly boarded the supply base's troop transport vehicle.

Yet aboard the vehicle, Cao Bing unexpectedly received a call from someone he never expected.

"Director Zhuge."

Once the call connected, Cao Bing spoke with great respect.

The caller was none other than Zhuge Tao, one of the five giants of Limitless Martial Arts in Jiangnan Base City and the man who had promoted Cao Bing!

Although Zhuge Tao might have promoted Cao Bing for some purpose of his own or merely on a whim, it was still Zhuge Tao who had discovered Cao Bing and given him even more resources than Luo Feng.

"Cao Bing!" Zhuge Tao's voice was somewhat grave.

"Do you remember what I told you last time about the Elite Training Camp?"

"Of course I do!"

Cao Bing's heart stirred, and he hurriedly replied.

"Mm. Places in the Elite Training Camp are extremely precious. Every one of them is fought over by countless geniuses around the world, even recommended places. Still, as one of the directors of a base city, I, Zhuge Tao, have some influence."

"With my elder brother vouching for me as well, this matter..."

Zhuge Tao suddenly paused.

Cao Bing's breathing immediately quickened. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out the words in his heart. The Elite Training Camp offered immense benefits; even an ancient Gravity Chamber was an invaluable treasure.

"It worked?!"

"..."

Zhuge Tao fell silent for quite a while before suddenly barking, "What are you thinking?!"

"How could a place in the Elite Training Camp possibly be so easy to obtain? Forget a bit of face from an old man like me—even the Kyoto Base City Wang Family couldn't trade over a hundred billion for a single admission slot."

Zhuge Tao sounded a little exasperated. He thought highly of this driven young man, but the kid really dared to dream. How could he possibly have enough influence to get a youngster who had only just become a Martial Artist directly into the Elite Training Camp with a few words?

Cao Bing realized he had said the wrong thing, but the words were already out, and he could not take them back. He could only chuckle awkwardly.

However, Zhuge Tao was not that petty. Though he had lost a little face, he continued speaking.

"You can forget about a direct admission slot, but you do have a chance at being recommended as a backup candidate."

"Word has come from headquarters. If you can reach the combat strength of a Beginner General by the end of January 2057, the Elite Training Camp can grant you backup assessment qualification. Whether you pass or fail will depend on you."

"Backup?"

Cao Bing did not quite understand. Assessment qualification was assessment qualification—what did "backup" mean?

"The Elite Training Camp's resources are limited, so naturally not everyone can go. Each base city only gets one chance every few years. Our base city sent out a genius two years ago, so by rights, we have no quota for the next two years. But as you know, not every genius recommended to the Elite Training Camp can pass its tests."

"The Elite Training Camp upholds the principle of preferring quality over quantity. Those who fail the assessment will not be accepted even if they have a recommendation quota."

"So, if those base cities with quotas fail to make the most of their limited admission opportunities, then base cities without quotas can naturally submit lists of backup candidates. That is your opportunity!"

As though he knew Cao Bing's doubts, Zhuge Tao continued explaining.

"Then... what if those with quotas pass the assessment?" Cao Bing asked cautiously.

"Then naturally there'll be no place for you. You'll honestly go to the Basic Training Camp!" Zhuge Tao said matter-of-factly.

"Ah!"

Cao Bing could not help feeling disappointed.

"Getting a backup qualification is already good enough. What more do you want?"

Seemingly seeing through Cao Bing's disappointment, Zhuge Tao rebuked him.

"If you're truly capable, then after this round of Elite Training Camp recruitment ends, submit an application for a special assessment directly!"

"As long as you can pass, I'll put this old face on the line and make the request for you!"