Ninth floor of the Nine-Story Building, main lobby.
Aside from Janet, Eben Parker was also present.
Although no one was currently using the gravity chamber, Eben still chose to remain in the hall.
As the third-ranked student on the Black Dragon List, Eben Parker was no fool.
Shi Jiang taking the initiative to challenge Jiang Yan could only mean one thing—
This newcomer was nothing like the weak rookies of the past.
In Eben's judgment, Jiang Yan's strength had at least reached mid-level God of War. Otherwise, Shi Jiang would never have initiated the challenge.
"Just joined the training camp… only twenty years old… and already a God of War."
Eben's expression remained calm, but unease churned beneath the surface.
"What a terrifying monster."
His gaze darkened.
"And of course… he's not from our great American faction, but from the Chinese faction. How infuriating."
At that moment—
"Challenge result: Jiang Yan—Victory."
The electronic announcement echoed throughout the ninth-floor lobby.
Eben Parker froze.
His calm façade shattered instantly, disbelief flashing across his face.
Shi Jiang… lost?
Are you joking?!
Shi Jiang had been in the elite training camp for three or four years and had firmly occupied a top-five position on the Black Dragon List for nearly a full year.
And now he had lost—to a newcomer who hadn't even officially entered the camp yet?
If Jiang Yan was already this strong before formal entry…
Then what kind of monster would he become after one or two years of cultivation here?
A sudden thought surfaced in Eben's mind.
"Could Shi Jiang have deliberately lost?"
After all, both Jiang Yan and Shi Jiang were from Jiangnan Base City. Their relationship must be close.
Perhaps Shi Jiang had even guided Jiang Yan in cultivation.
The more Eben thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
Nearby, Janet noticed Eben's constantly shifting expression and couldn't help but find it amusing.
"I knew Jiang Yan would win."
She quietly clenched her fist in excitement.
She had been nervous earlier—after all, Shi Jiang's strength was no joke.
Soon, Jiang Yan and Shi Jiang exited the challenge room.
Eben immediately stepped forward.
"Shi Jiang, you didn't lose to him on purpose, did you?"
Shi Jiang glanced at him calmly.
"What's wrong?" he replied flatly.
"Is there a rule in the challenge room that forbids admitting defeat?"
Indeed, Shi Jiang had voluntarily admitted defeat.
Otherwise, the challenge would only end with one side's death.
But to Eben Parker, those words carried an entirely different implication.
"Hmph. I knew it," Eben snorted coldly.
"He's just a newcomer—how could he really be that strong?"
Satisfied with his own conclusion, Eben turned and walked straight into the gravity chamber.
Even inside, unease lingered.
To confirm his suspicions, he quickly tapped on his communicator and sent out a query.
Soon, a reply arrived.
Two data forms appeared.
Eben opened the first one.
His expression immediately relaxed.
"Entry test data… punching strength and speed only at high-level war general."
He sneered faintly.
"Hah… I really scared myself for nothing."
Without even glancing at the second form, he shut off his communicator.
Back in the lobby—
"The money came in fast," Jiang Yan said with a smile, checking his message.
"Brother Shi Jiang, I'll transfer it back to you later."
To him, the two billion meant little.
What truly mattered was what he had gained from the fight—
Progress in marksmanship and movement techniques, something money couldn't buy.
"No need."
Shi Jiang waved his hand dismissively.
Two billion was well within his means.
As a long-standing top-five student on the Black Dragon List, money was the least of his concerns.
More importantly—
He had lost.
And having lost, he had no reason to reclaim the wager.
Turning to Jiang Yan, Shi Jiang gestured toward the trial room.
"Do you want to challenge the trial tower now? See how many floors you can reach?"
Jiang Yan shook his head.
"I will—but not yet. I'll challenge it on the last day of February."
With his current strength, entering now would be a waste.
Breaking into the third floor was guaranteed.
As for whether he'd get A, B, or C grade, that remained uncertain.
But in one more month?
He was confident his strength would rise again.
"That's fine," Shi Jiang nodded, then sighed with emotion.
"After seeing you… I suddenly feel an overwhelming sense of urgency."
With that, he headed straight for the saber training room on the eighth floor.
"Let's go," Jiang Yan said, pulling Janet along.
"We'll use another gravity room."
Aside from the ninth-floor chamber, there were ten imitation gravity rooms below.
Though limited to three times gravity, they were more than sufficient.
"My movement technique is almost at the Artistic Conception level," Jiang Yan mused.
"Progress is already at 97%—just three percent left."
He was extremely satisfied.
During his battle with Shi Jiang, both his movement technique and marksmanship had steadily improved.
Shi Jiang truly was strong.
It just so happened that he had run into Jiang Yan.
Soon, the two arrived at an imitation gravity room.
"You go in first," Jiang Yan said.
"I'll cultivate Ninefold Hunyuan for a bit."
Earlier high-gravity training had fully converted the absorbed energy into gene-origin energy.
Now, his cells were ready to feed again.
After finishing his cultivation, Jiang Yan knocked.
Janet opened the door from inside, and he stepped in.
"If we spar, I'll only use the strength of a high-level war general," Jiang Yan said.
Janet nodded. "Alright."
The two began training under triple gravity.
For them, it felt light—but every gene cell was under constant pressure.
Two hours later—
"This room is fully sealed, right?" Jiang Yan asked with a grin, glancing at Janet.
She was drenched in sweat, her pink combat vest soaked through.
"Yes," Janet replied.
"The instructors said no one can spy inside—not even the ancient civilization gravity chambers."
"Cultivation is private. The higher-ups would never allow surveillance."
"Oh? Then I'm relieved."
Jiang Yan nodded, then pulled her closer with a smile.
"Then… practice marksmanship with me."
Janet froze briefly.
Then her eyes curved with charm.
"Alright."
_____________________
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