The island where the Spark·Elite Training Camp is located was a deserted island handpicked by Fang for its aesthetic appeal. However, the training camp's footprint has since expanded by more than tenfold.
Mythical powerhouses used their immense strength to slowly move the island closer to the main island. Elite trainees engaged in various methods to reclaim land from the sea.
Although not many tall buildings were present, the island concentrated the most advanced creations from the mysterious and technological sides of Blue Star.
Along the roadsides were planted high-grade plants, acquired from the Dimension of Strange Creatures and transplanted to Blue Star, then modified by Liu Shang and nurtured by the base's soil.
Orbital trains could be seen streaking through the air, casting fleeting shadows on the ground before disappearing in the blink of an eye. When trainees looked up, they could only see two transparent, bright light trails left by the trains. A few seconds later, these thin, bright light trails would dissipate into speckles of light, vanishing completely, leaving behind only the vast, clear blue sky.
What appeared to be ordinary teaching buildings were inscribed with various rituals, creating a dreamlike, independent sense of space.
The training grounds were exceptionally solid; a full-power strike from a non-human powerhouse could only chip off a pebble the size of a thumbnail. The running track incorporated multiple rituals, possessing functions such as 'pressure amplification,' 'intimidation,' 'pollution impact,' and 'wave track,' catering to various assessments or trainees' training needs.
In addition to these relatively normal and common buildings and facilities, the training island also housed a considerable number of peculiar structures. Among these, the paid cultivation sites most familiar and frequently accessed by trainees were the gravity fields and lotus ponds.
To ensure trainees had adequate cultivation conditions and to avoid queues and overcrowding, the organization had 'constructed' a total of 39 gravity fields and 36 lotus ponds.
To date, with Spark's own technological capabilities, they were able to replicate 'gravity cultivation buildings,' albeit in a lower-spec version. Twenty-nine of the gravity field buildings were post-construction replicas. Under the same gravitational force, they consumed 110% more energy and required constant maintenance by professional personnel. Compared to the genuine epic-grade gravity fields, these 'low-spec·epic-grade' facilities also suffered from the drawback of insufficient gravitational limits.
In Fang You's view, none of these were significant issues.
He arranged the gravity fields in a tiered progression. For example, the beginner gravity fields, with internal gravity ranging from only 1.1 to 3 times normal, were specifically provided for new trainees. However, at the Elite Training Camp, beginner gravity fields were scarce.
Intermediate, advanced, and original versions... gravity field buildings of different tiers were suitable for different individuals, and the fees also varied. This perfectly circumvented the flaws of the replicated versions and prevented novices and veterans from being in the same space, thus avoiding accidental intimidation that could cause them to faint.
The highest-grade original gravity fields and lotus ponds could even accommodate the cultivation of seven-awakened Mythical beings.
In addition, over the past year, through Fang You's diligent 'card draws,' the organization had acquired three new types of cultivation buildings.
'Body Tempering Furnace (Epic)'
'Calming Lake (Epic)'
'Grinding Stairway (Epic)'
Among these, the Body Tempering Furnace, like the gravity field, was a physique cultivation building. However, its training mode was entirely different from that of the gravity field. Its core concept could be summarized in one sentence: stewing oneself in an iron pot, or being sealed in an iron furnace.
Due to the different principles of operation, the effects of the Body Tempering Furnace differed slightly from those of the gravity field. This building was much weaker in terms of strengthening internal organs but, in return, could enhance the skin. If one frequently trained using the Body Tempering Furnace, even if their awakening stage was low, they could achieve invulnerability to blades and spears.
Alternating the use of both buildings yielded better results.
However, the Body Tempering Furnace also had a minor drawback: training with this building could easily lead to darkened and rough skin... hence, some female trainees were somewhat resistant to 'stewing themselves in an iron pot.'
'Calming Lake' was a mental cultivation building, and its effects were enhanced when used with visualization techniques. In addition to slowly increasing mental strength, it could calm emotions and suppress inner turmoil, including foul whispers and the like. This building had a slight pollution-weakening effect.
'Grinding Stairway' had a more novel function: it was a staircase where the higher one climbed, the greater the pressure they experienced. Its effect was to make one's life energy more condensed and to temper one's will.
Fang You had also used it a few times when it was newly built and unoccupied, and the effect was indeed quite good.
The only issue was that the number of Grinding Stairways was too small, and they could not yet be replicated, leading to frequent queues in front of this building.
In addition to these three complete buildings, Fang You had recently drawn an epic-grade miracle blueprint – the 'Eye of Detection' blueprint.
Once constructed, it became a high-level surveillance device, suspended high in the air, invisible, and capable of observing a thousand-meter radius around it from all angles without blind spots.
...
...
Having been in the Elite Training Camp for a week, the Sword Flower trio had transitioned from initial shock and trepidation, through exhaustion and near-collapse, to adaptation and immersion in the pace of training. It had only taken them a week.
Now, clad in the training camp's student uniforms, with student mobile phones in their pockets, eating student nutritional meals, and residing in student dormitories... they had completely assimilated into the mold of Spark trainees.
Even Zhan Ge, the most lethargic of the elites, had quit his sugary drinks and was now consuming bitter nutritional solutions daily.
This feeling was not bad, as they had a bright future ahead.
They had already reached the four-awakening non-human level. Yesterday, their application was approved, and they followed an older trainee to an awakening site hidden in a mountain valley.
Then, as if it were a natural progression, they successfully advanced to the four-awakening stage. The difficulty and peril of the entire process were far less than they had imagined for the fourth awakening.
They should have been astonished, but to their surprise, they felt little astonishment. Instead, thoughts like 'it's not worth being proud of,' 'this is normal,' and 'it should be this way' surfaced.
Upon closer examination, they discovered the reason.
In this Elite Training Camp, it seemed... awakening was a commonplace event, rather than a life-or-death struggle. The difficulties faced during the awakening tribulation could be overcome through cultivation and tempering! With such favorable conditions, failure to awaken would be a personal problem – perhaps not working hard enough, or lacking sufficient willpower.
If one failed to awaken, they might not be able to hold their head up among their peers!
This was the terrifying nature of the Elite Training Camp.
The Sword Flower trio finally understood why their Dean had given them such a simple task: to pursue further training, rather than to learn advanced training techniques.
Not to mention that Spark's training methods were almost unreasonably miraculous, and they might not be able to learn them. After enrolling, they keenly felt the training pressure, wishing they could stretch one day into two, three, or even six days.
Their time was completely insufficient; they had no time or extra energy for anything else. Entering the elite trainee group and competing with the older trainees consumed all their strength.
At this moment, the Sword Flower trio were tired yet invigorated, gradually getting used to it.
They understood this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Perhaps they too could, like Senior Meidisha... Vice Dean Meidisha, stand out and be known as monstrous geniuses.
Therefore, they only wanted to cultivate, to cultivate with all their might, to advance from ordinary competitive trainees to top competitors, ultimate competitors, and supreme competitors.
This was for themselves, and for the honor of Sword Flower City.
They were Sword Flower people. Sword Flower elites would never surrender!
"We've already spent a minute chatting. There's no time to waste, let's move."
Ji Gui said.
As a four-awakening non-human, unless they were traveling to other training islands, he considered the travel process as part of his cultivation.
He was already wearing weighted clothing and gravity wristbands, cultivating at all times.
"However, in addition to cultivation, we need to earn more trainee points to exchange for resources and opportunities to use cultivation buildings."
"Mm-hmm," Zhan Ge the elite replied. "I've checked the quest board. The camp's point quests are similar to the part-time jobs we used to take at Water Marsh Base City. And when it comes to part-time jobs, the three of us are absolute professionals!"
He gave a thumbs-up and a hearty smile.
Infected by the two, Mei the elite, who valued elegance the most, also swung her fist heavily.
Suddenly,
Ji Gui looked into the distance and saw an airship rapidly approaching the horizon and landing at an airport in the distance.
He stroked his chin as his gaze swept around. "Have you guys noticed that there seem to be more trainees on the island these past couple of days, especially a lot more powerful competitors and ultimate competitors?"
"It seems so, doesn't it?"
The learning atmosphere at the Elite Training Camp was focused and competitive. It was difficult for them to get to know ordinary classmates, but they could get to know comrades during part-time jobs and missions.
The Sword Flower trio hadn't met many people yet, but the aura emanating from the top competitors and ultimate competitors was quite striking to them.
Something was definitely happening.
Ji Gui took out his phone and checked. "Found it! It's time for the head instructor's class."
...
...
The Elite Training Camp offered numerous enviable benefits, one of which was the occasional opportunity to attend classes taught by powerful figures.
Master Ming Deng's muscle training course.
Gou Ping'an's wilderness survival course on how to stay alive.
Luo Rui's intelligence gathering course.
Shi Yunxi's elemental application course.
And so on.
These public lectures by top figures were held every few days. Trainees could choose suitable public lectures to attend based on their needs or interests.
However, it was the legendary public lectures, above the public lectures by top figures, that truly made trainees excited, thrilled, and restless.
This was because the great figures who taught them were all living legends with countless legendary deeds!
And among these, the most popular course for trainees was naturally the public lecture by Head Instructor Hei Dao!
The next day,
The comprehensive training ground was packed with people, and shouts echoed through the sky, as if it were not a public lecture by the head instructor, but a fan meeting.
However, when a figure in black slowly walked out, the entire venue seemed to hit the mute button, falling into a silence so profound that a pin drop could be heard. Even though some female trainees' necks were still flushed with excitement, they could not utter a single sound.
Hei Dao still wore his unchanging mask. His eyes, which seemed devoid of emotional fluctuation, scanned the surroundings. Then, without any opening remarks or wasted words, he began his lecture.
He spoke of combat techniques, along with the use of common weapons such as swords and spears.
He did not start from scratch. Rather, he began with highly advanced content, continuing from his previous public lecture.
But surprisingly, even 'newcomers' like the Sword Flower trio could understand it perfectly and listened with rapt attention.
At this moment, they felt as if they had attained enlightenment, their minds incredibly active, their entire beings like sponges, constantly absorbing the profound content taught by Instructor Hei Dao.
The comprehensive training ground grew even quieter, with only the low sound of breathing and Hei Dao's voice, which never wavered in speed or tone, filling the air.
Gradually, the ambient noise in the training ground increased again.
It wasn't that students were whispering to each other, but rather that some students, while listening, couldn't help but draw their weapons and perform sets of basic moves.
They became more profound as they fought, more imbued with rhythm.
Sword dances, spear flowers, blade wheels – an increasing number of students closed their eyes, their minds flowing freely.
If they were to check their personal status panels in their minds, they would find that the proficiency of one or more of their skills was increasing at an astonishing rate.
15.9%, 19.8%, 25.7%, 34.6%, 42.5%...
Listening to a single class by Head Instructor Hei Dao saved countless hours of arduous practice!
In the distance, Xing Jinglei, who had just returned to Blue Star and was preparing to challenge Hei Dao to a serious and earnest duel, fell silent as he looked at the crowded lecture hall.
How many trainees had attended his lectures, Xing Dashao?
Regardless, these were secondary. Xing Dashao was here only to challenge Hei Dao and defeat this formidable man!
He was already a standout among the Mythical beings and felt he had a good chance!
However, since Hei Dao was currently lecturing, Xing Jinglei suppressed his impatience. He leaned against a distant wall, waiting patiently. He waited, and waited, and before he knew it, he was immersed in Hei Dao's lecture. When he came to his senses, the sky had already turned dusk. Xing Jinglei pondered his own changes and discovered that his swordsmanship and saber techniques seemed to have improved significantly.
Xing Jinglei: "..."
Despite this, lecturing and combat were two different things. He, Xing Dashao, did not believe he would lose this challenge.
...
As Xing Jinglei walked over, Hei Dao was about to leave. However, he was surrounded by a circle of beautiful female trainees and sturdy male trainees with excited expressions.
What is this...?
Xing Jinglei's eyes lit up. He quietly lowered his footsteps, held his breath, and strained his ears to listen.
"Head Instructor, regarding the variation of the twenty-third sword technique you mentioned, does it refer to..."
"Head Instructor, my blade slash has clearly been cultivated to Master level, why can't the length of my blade energy break through thirty meters?"
"Head Instructor, I'm still a bit unclear about the three elements of Cannon Fist."
That's it?
The trainees' questions were varied, covering swordsmanship, saber techniques, spear techniques, fist techniques, and even arcane skills. Hei Dao patiently answered each one.
Although patient, his speed was not slow at all. Like an experienced teacher grading papers, he would quickly resolve a student's confusion, leaving the student standing there, chin in hand, their expression constantly changing, eventually dawning with understanding.
After addressing the trainees' doubts, Hei Dao activated the Phantom Step technique. Silently, ripples appeared in space, and the world seemed to distort and shift. In a matter of moments, he arrived at another island.
"Something?"
He turned his head and asked, meeting Xing Jinglei's eyes, which blazed with fighting spirit.
"That's right. Let's have a man's duel, just you and me."
To his surprise, Hei Dao did not immediately agree but frowned.
Don't ask Xing Jinglei how he saw Hei Dao's frown beneath his mask; it was a matter of tacit understanding between formidable men.
"You don't have time?"
"If you're not in a hurry, then the afternoon of the day after tomorrow."
With that, Hei Dao flipped open his notebook and made a mark.
Xing Jinglei quietly shifted his weight and stretched his neck to peek. It seemed this was not confidential information, nor anything shady. Xing Jinglei took a glance and saw it.
It was a schedule.
The first batch of three resource points in cooperation with Sword Flower City, he needed to inspect the defensive line deployment; a minor issue had occurred at the Oasis Training Camp No. 3, with many assassin trainees showing strong resistance to multi-person missions due to old ideas, requiring a readjustment of the training plan; research on the Legion Battle Flag had hit a bottleneck, and Hei Dao needed to provide some advice to Master Wang Chui; in the Fallen Star Grotto at region et-487, a seven-star level strange evil was suspected, and needed to be investigated.
The small notebook recorded dozens of important tasks.
Hei Dao seemed to be contemplating the execution order of these tasks for maximum efficiency.
Xing Jinglei looked at the contemplating Hei Dao and fell into thought.
Should he... reflect as well?