Chapter 35: Trial Tower

On December 28, the Elite Training Camp was especially bustling.

Today is the final day of this month's Black Dragon Ranking point deadline.

A large number of trainees gathered beneath the Black Dragon Sculpture at the entrance, anxiously watching the fluctuations of their rankings.

At this moment, only a few trainees with even-numbered ranks were still hard‑killing monsters in Wilderness Zone City No. 1001, while everyone else had already returned to the camp.

Therefore the positions on the point ranking are unlikely to change much now.

"Damn, just 50 points short, I could make the top hundred—damn, damn, damn!"

Groups of trainees clustered beneath the Black Dragon Ranking, chatting and debating, punctuated by occasional exclamations or frustrated sighs.

"It's a pity, just a few mid‑level beast‑general monsters."

"Yeah, yesterday I was frantically slaying monsters, barely squeezed into the top hundred, and today I got pushed out!"

"Too bad it's an even day today; I can't go to the Wilderness Zone!"

"Can't help it, the final competition each month is fierce; let's push harder next month!"

Amid the bustle, Zhou Yang, dressed in a black training robe, stepped out of Jiangnan Pavilion and hurried toward the Nine-Story Tower.

"Old Dong actually demanded that I break into the top hundred; he really has high expectations of me. I joined the camp on the 8th!"

He entered the Elite Training Camp on December 8, so it has been exactly twenty days.

Although, as a Spiritual Thought Master, his monster‑hunting efficiency rivals that of veteran trainees in the top fifty, he has about one‑third less time than others.

Moreover, he has never taken the Trial Tower test, so his Trial Tower level remains the default 1, resulting in a low combat power Amplitude.

All in all, he currently ranks 153rd on the Black Dragon Ranking!

That position, among new entrants to the Elite Training Camp over the years, is actually quite outstanding.

However, it is still not his limit.

He hasn't even used his Trial Tower assessment opportunity this month!

Initially, Teacher Dong instructed him to save this assessment chance for the end, and during this period subjected him to a frantic "special training"!

After a full twenty days of torment and hardship, Zhou Yang's footwork and spear technique have made great strides!

In terms of footwork, he has now mastered the application of the Subtle‑Level footwork.

As for spear technique, he has already brushed the surface of the Expert‑Level spear art.

This level is not bad compared to Luo Feng, who had just entered the camp in the original story!

"Now my footwork and spear technique have fully caught up with Luo Feng, and perhaps even slightly surpass him."

"In the original, he breezed through Stage a of the Trial Tower's second floor in one go; as a transmigrator, I have no reason to be inferior!"

Since crossing over, Zhou Yang has constantly pursued the world's "Child of Destiny," Luo Feng, with relentless effort.

Repeatedly training to challenge the human body's limits, repeatedly collapsing from exhaustion in the struggle.

Of course, the miraculous aid of Meteor Tear is also required.

Now, after nearly a year, I can finally say with full confidence—

I, Zhou Yang, have truly surpassed the current‑stage Luo Feng!

"Then let's give it our all and see where my limit lies!"

Nine-Story Tower Trial Chamber.

It is now 22:00, with only two hours left before the ranking deadline.

"Click—"

The trial chamber door opened, and a handsome blond youth stepped out, his face full of frustration.

"Shit! I was almost through Stage a!"

He cursed harshly.

At that moment he suddenly noticed a black‑haired youth waiting outside the trial chamber, stepped aside, and reminded him.

"Brother, Trial Tower assessment? You've got to hurry; the ranking deadline is fast approaching!"

"Alright, thanks!"

The black‑haired youth smiled, nodded at him, and walked past him into the trial chamber.

"This guy looks unfamiliar— a Huaxia person? Is he the newcomer who arrived this month? I heard he's a Spiritual Thought Master and his monster‑killing rank this month is pretty high."

"What a pity, Spiritual Thought Power can't be used inside the Trial Tower."

The blond youth didn't mind and turned away quickly.

At that moment in the trial chamber, Zhou Yang was lying on a sofa, swiftly donning a sci‑fi‑style metal helmet.

The next second, his consciousness entered an endless virtual space.

Above him stretched an infinite cosmic starfield, speckled with brilliant, radiant stars.

Below his feet lay a boundless silver plain, smooth as a mirror, resembling some alloy.

On that silver plain rose a majestic seven‑story treasure tower, nearly three to four hundred meters tall.

"Trial Tower!"

A thought sparked in Zhou Yang's mind, and he instantly appeared before the towering structure.

At the main entrance of the Trial Tower stood a black stone pillar.

As Zhou Yang's gaze fell on the pillar, several lines of numbers silently materialized.

"Name: Zhou Yang

Gender: Male

Identity: Elite Training Camp trainee

Trial Tower level: 1."

At the irritable Teacher Dong Dao's request, he had postponed the Trial Tower assessment, saving this chance until now.

During this period, Teacher Dong subjected Zhou Yang to extremely brutal assault training.

Under his special supervision, Zhou Yang's spear technique, agility, and so on all saw tremendous improvement.

And now, it's time to test the results of this period's training!

He quickly donned the combat suit and weapons provided by the virtual space.

One minute later, a flash of light and shadow surrounded him, and he instantly appeared on a vast, desolate grassland.

Immediately, a huge electronic prompt sound echoed overhead.

"Trainee Zhou Yang, the first-stage a‑phase challenge of the Trial Tower begins now.

Target: Kill 50 Level‑1 Beast General Brutes within 10 minutes. Good luck!"

As the voice faded, huge, robust bovine monsters kept appearing on the grassland hundreds of meters away.

Each monster was over three meters tall, with long red hair, and a pair of massive sharp horns on its head, making them chilling to behold.

They are indeed Level‑1 Beast General monsters—Rampant Bulls!

"Moo~~~"

With a high‑pitched bull roar, the herd of Level‑1 Beast General Rampant Bulls instantly became agitated.

Each massive Rampant Bull lowered its head, its four hooves trampling as they rushed toward Zhou Yang!

The ground beneath their hooves trembled faintly under the trampling.

"Damn! A swarm of Beast General monsters is truly frightening!"

It was Zhou Yang's first time confronting so many Beast General monsters at once, and his heart was subtly shaken.

"Boom—boom—boom~"

In the blink of an eye, the formation of fifty Level‑1 Beast General Rampant Bulls surged before Zhou Yang!

"Moo!"

Each Rampant Bull roared, charging wildly toward Zhou Yang!

Their massive horns glinted with a chilling frost; being impaled would surely tear one's gut apart.

"Come on!"

In an instant, Zhou Yang moved!

His figure darted sideways, barely slipping past a Rampant Bull's horn.

Then the Xingkong Long Spear in his hand flashed like an illusion, instantly piercing a Rampant Bull's neck!

"Boom~~~"

The Bull fell instantly, its massive body slightly slowing the following Rampant Bulls.

The next second, its body was trampled into a pool of blood by the charging Rampant Bulls.

Seizing the moment, Zhou Yang thrust his legs, leapt up, and then kicked a Rampant Bull hard.

The Bull staggered from his powerful kick, while Zhou Yang's figure had already leapt, and his spear, like a poisonous sting, instantly pierced another Bull's hind neck!

"These Rampant Bulls are huge; they block each other, so I only need to face two or three at a time."

Zhou Yang's mind flashed rapidly, and he soon clarified his next tactic!

"Hoo!"

His figure, like a phantom, weaved continuously through the herd, skillfully employing refined footwork to effortlessly dodge each Bull's attack.

The massive bodies of the Level‑1 Beast General Rampant Bulls instead became obstacles to their own attacks on Zhou Yang.

"Puff! Puff! Puff!"

The spear tip, adorned with hazy starlight, flickered like an illusion, swiftly reaping the lives of each Rampant Bull!

"One, two, three..."

"Moo!"

Soon, the last Rampant Bull roared and fell.

"Time taken: 8 minutes 45 seconds. All 50 Rampant Bulls eliminated. Congratulations on passing the first layer a‑phase of the Trial Tower!"

(End of chapter)