Extreme Martial Arts Center Global Headquarters
The global headquarters of Extreme Martial Arts Hall, located in Hongning Base City, is situated in western Asia, close to Europe.
During the time of Nirvana, 'Hong' led a group of followers to establish a basic human settlement in this region, offering refuge to those fleeing the chaos.
As time passed, Hongning Base City expanded and grew, eventually becoming what it is today.
Wang Yi and Yang Hui sat in the extended Cadillac, gazing out at the scenery through the car window. The entire base city was stunning, with its architectural style heavily inspired by ancient Chinese structures, pavilions dotting the landscape.
Wang Yi realized he liked the view, possibly due to his roots in China.
"As an individual, Hong is truly remarkable," Wang Yi thought to himself.
Out of the five major countries in the world and 23 base cities, Hong controlled one!
He is the strongest person on Earth!
The wealthiest person!
The most influential person!
Many young people grew up hearing stories of Hong's legendary feats.
"But," Wang Yi thought further, "this is all within the Earth's context. It would be insignificant in the grander scale of the universe."
Nevertheless, Hong made an undeniable contribution to humanity.
Both in his previous life and now, Wang Yi greatly admired Hong.
Soon, they arrived at the elite training camp.
Wang Yi and Yang Hui stepped out of the car and entered through the spacious gates of the camp together.
The moment they stepped inside, Wang Yi's eyes were drawn to a towering 50-meter-tall black dragon sculpture.
The dragon's massive eyes were fixed on the entrance, and anyone stepping in would immediately feel its gaze.
As Wang Yi locked eyes with the sculpture, an overwhelming dark aura pressed down on him.
Despite being prepared for this, Wang Yi still felt his breath catch momentarily.
He knew that this was, in fact, a real SS-level (king-level) monster!
After Hong killed it, the black dragon's eyes were used for the sculpture.
This filled the entire statue with an invisible pressure.
Ordinary people would feel an oppressive force just from looking at it.
Even warriors would experience the strain!
On the black scales of the enormous dragon, small display screens listed names:
No. 1 Renates Bridge (530321)
No. 2 He Jing (520309)
No. 3 Eben Pass (520916)
No. 4 Chu Qiang (540601)…
At the bottom was the name of the 183rd-ranked person, Arthur Yates (560502).
Wang Yi recognized one familiar name from the original story, "Chu Qiang," who ranked fourth.
It was now June 29, 2056, and "Chu Qiang" had only joined the elite training camp in June 2054. In just two years, he had outperformed many of the world's greatest talents, rising to the fourth rank. Clearly, Chu Qiang was exceptionally gifted.
The person ranked last must have joined in May this year.
Wang Yi thought to himself, "I must be the only one joining in June."
Beside him, Yang Hui was explaining the training camp rules to Wang Yi.
"...Currently, there are 184 students in the entire elite training camp, all top talents from around the world. The ranking is updated once a month. If you're in the bottom three for three months in a row, you'll be eliminated."
Wang Yi noted how easily Yang Hui explained this, as if he had done so many times before.
As they walked through the training camp, the environment captivated Wang Yi. Ancient-style buildings, antique palaces, and serene pavilions transported him back to a time long past.
Rock gardens, small bridges, flowing streams— it felt like a paradise on Earth.
Young men and women of various ethnicities in training clothes were scattered throughout the camp.
"Those are the official trainees of the elite training camp," Yang Hui pointed to a nine-story tower-like building in the center of the camp. "The training rooms, including special ones, are all located there."
Wang Yi's eyes lit up.
They had finally arrived.
Every year, 30-40 students graduate from the elite training camp, and an equal number are recruited to replace them.
Of these recruits, two-thirds are selected from the basic training camp of the Xtreme Martial Arts Hall, while only one-third come from other parts of the world.
That means only a little over a dozen new students from outside the basic training camp join the elite camp each year.
Considering there are 52 base cities, it could take years for a talent from any given city to enter the elite training camp!
While the basic training camp lasts three years, the elite camp stretches for five.
The basic training camp has far more students, and the competition is intense.
But none of that concerned Wang Yi.
Yang Hui took him to an ancient-style two-story building, where Wang Yi was to stay. He informed Wang Yi that he had a test scheduled for 12 p.m. the next day on the ninth floor. However, Yang Hui reassured him that the test was merely routine. Based on Wang Yi's current skills, he was guaranteed a spot in the camp regardless of the results, so there was no need to feel pressured.
Wang Yi, of course, knew the test would be conducted in the virtual space using the Trial Tower.
There was no pressure at all. Given his current physical condition, sword skills, and mastery of the first form of the Ninefold Thunder Blade, even the B-level test Luo Feng faced in the original story would be easy for him.
Besides, the usual entrance test for the elite camp was an A-level test.
Luo Feng's B-level test in the original story was only that difficult because China had lost all its spots that year, so the difficulty was raised.
After Yang Hui left, Wang Yi stood alone in the quiet pavilion, made his way to the study on the second floor, placed his backpack down, and stepped onto the balcony to overlook the entire training camp.
As the sun began to set, the camp was bathed in golden light, its ancient architecture glowing in the serene, otherworldly atmosphere.
"This place is truly amazing," Wang Yi thought in awe.
While enjoying the view, Wang Yi didn't forget the more important matter at hand.
"Check in."
In the next moment—
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully checking in. You are rewarded with increased body and sword skill experience by ten.]
[Your body technique has reached the 'Artistic Level'.]
[Your swordsmanship has reached the 'Artistic Level'.]
[No more check-ins available at this location.]
As the system notification appeared, a flood of powerful information entered Wang Yi's mind.
In an instant, he found himself immersed in the ocean of time.
He watched as a young man, identical to himself, practiced swordsmanship with a calm demeanor, unwavering in his routine, through all seasons and weather.
The forests, the sea, the grasslands, the mountains, the deserts...
After an unknown amount of time, the young man finally reached a desolate place where ash fell from the sky. He witnessed a tall volcano erupting, shaking the heavens, and reducing everything to ashes. At that moment, the young man realized something.
He rushed forward, moving as fast as lightning, like a blazing meteor appearing between heaven and earth.
He slashed with his sword, like an erupting volcano, consuming everything in its path.
Boom!
Wang Yi snapped out of the trance.
Looking down at his hands, he could still feel the lingering sensation.
"So this is the Artistic Level?"
"I've reached the Artistic Level?"