Chapter Fifty-Six: The Recruit Training Camp

“So this is the voice of a new recruit in the Southern Cross Legion’s training camp.” The soldier’s tone was no longer so mechanical; an undercurrent of emotion could be heard. “Every recruit must undergo three years of training here. Only those who pass can join the Legion.”

“Three years…” Tang Tian’s eyes widened with disbelief. “What on earth do you train for that takes three years?”

“It’s divided into personal martial skills and tactical quality,” the soldier replied calmly. “Individually, you must reach the eighth rank and master at least three eighth-rank killing techniques. There are twelve tactical subjects.”

“Eighth rank?” Tang Tian thought he had misheard.

The soldier nodded placidly.

“Eighth… Eighth rank just to be a recruit?” Tang Tian stammered, his expression blank. An eighth-rank fighter was a true master no matter where you went—even on the Celestial Road, they were renowned experts! Yet in the Southern Cross Legion, such prowess was only the baseline for a new recruit?

How strong was this Southern Cross Legion, exactly?

Even their recruits were eighth rank…

The soldier responded, “The Legion has rules—without reaching the eighth rank, you cannot pass the recruit assessment. Lieutenants require at least tenth rank, and captains, twelfth.”

By now, Tang Tian’s mind was numb. “Wouldn’t that make you invincible?”

“Invincible?” The soldier tilted his head. “If we were invincible, how could we lose our base?”

Tang Tian’s mouth hung open. After a long moment, he managed, “Are there stronger legions than yours?”

“No,” the soldier answered, as calm as ever. “The Southern Cross Legion was one of the three most powerful at the time. The others were the Scorpius Legion and the Legion of the Serpent.”

Tang Tian began counting on his fingers. “Scorpius—so that’s Scorpio, right? I’ve heard of that. But the Legion of the Serpent? Is that Hydra or Ophiuchus?”

The soldier shook his head. “Ophiuchus.”

“Ophiuchus? Huh, I’ve never heard of that constellation!” Tang Tian was puzzled.

“You haven’t?” The soldier’s voice wavered again. “Ophiuchus is one of the thirteen zodiac constellations.”

Tang Tian shook his head. “But there are only twelve zodiac signs: Leo, Sagittarius, and Aries are the three strongest right now. Not all twelve are powerful—Scorpio is pretty mediocre. But I’ve never heard of a thirteenth.”

“I suppose the Legion of the Serpent was wiped out as well.” The soldier’s voice was steady. “Ophiuchus was the strongest constellation in its day, the only one spanning the celestial, galactic, and ecliptic planes. The Legion of the Serpent was the most powerful of the three great legions.”

“Sounds impressive! Soldier, how strong were you back then?” Tang Tian’s eyes sparkled, utterly enthralled.

The soldier ignored him and continued, “Make your decision. Once you push open this door, you must complete the recruit training. If you can’t reach eighth rank in three years, you’ll never be able to enter the Gate of Light again.”

“Reach eighth rank in three years?” Tang Tian’s face froze. He shook his head. “Soldier, that’s impossible. I don’t know how you managed it back then, but nowadays, no one could do that.”

“Someone can.” The soldier’s voice was as mechanical as ever. “Constellations guarded by the strong shine even brighter. I can sense it—many constellations blaze with incredible light. There are many strong ones in this era as well.”

“Is that true?” Tang Tian looked at the soldier.

The soldier’s flat tone didn’t waver at all.

“Alright!” Tang Tian didn’t hesitate; he nodded.

“You’re sure?” The soldier gazed at him.

“Yes!” Tang Tian’s expression was earnest as he clenched his fist. “If others can do it, so can I!”

“I have a duty to warn you,” the soldier said evenly. “Recruit training is brutal—far more than you imagine. The Southern Cross is one of the smallest constellations, yet it produced a top-tier legion because of its rigor and severity. The Southern Cross Legion’s recruit training is the harshest in the world—without exception. In our time, only nine percent passed, and the death rate reached twenty-six percent.”

“As long as it makes me stronger, right?” Tang Tian asked without fear, lifting his head.

“Yes. Though the Southern Cross Legion’s recruit training is the most severe and exacting, if you complete it, it is without doubt the most effective method in the world.” The soldier’s voice remained mechanical.

“Then bring it on! A boy with the spirit of a god never backs down!” Tang Tian raised his fist, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

The soldier could sense Tang Tian’s resolve. After a pause, he said, “The selection standard for recruits is sixth rank, yet even then, only nine percent pass and twenty-six percent die. You haven’t even reached fourth rank yet—your odds of passing are minuscule, and the chance of dying is high. Once we start, I’ll show you no special treatment. Are you sure you’re ready?”

“I’m ready!” An unusual maturity and determination appeared on Tang Tian’s young face. “Let’s begin!”

Tang Tian spread his palm, exhaled, and pressed hard against the door.

The heavy doors weren’t as weighty as he’d expected. They opened slowly.

Amid utter darkness, countless points of light floated, like stars scattered across the night sky—an indescribable, dreamlike beauty.

“It’s so beautiful…” Tang Tian murmured, utterly awe-struck.

The starlike lights suddenly brightened, one after another, revealing a wondrous world before his eyes.

In the vast room, planets of various sizes floated. Some were as big as baskets, others only the size of a pigeon’s egg, all suspended in midair, slowly rotating. They emitted glows of various hues—some dazzling and brilliant, some dim, some crystal blue, some as red as blood.

There were dozens of these planets, forming a gorgeous, fantastical pattern.

The soldier seemed momentarily dazed.

※※※

Although the Weakness Martial Field had been destroyed by Tang Tian, the empty space was still quite suitable for training.

The elder looked solemnly at the five young people before him. “Starting today, on our journey to Perseus, I will be instructing you in martial skills. I hope you will study diligently and train earnestly.”

Amory suddenly looked around. “Where’s Foundation Tang? Why isn’t he here?”

The elder’s expression didn’t change. “Tang Tian’s circumstances are special. He will receive individual guidance.”

Everyone looked enlightened—apparently, Master Kong had been moved by Tang Tian’s performance that day, and would personally mentor the young man! Their doubts vanished, and they turned their attention to the elder’s lesson.

But inside, the elder sneered. Special guidance? That was just an excuse to fool these naive youths. He’d never had much patience for the untalented. As for bloodline power, neither he nor Master Kong understood a thing—how could they possibly teach it?

Let him fend for himself.

“Your talent is good, but because of your environment, Wu’an Star is still a marginal planet with few martial schools and a low standard. Compared to peers of your age and talent from other planets, your skills are lacking.”

The elder’s words immediately made everyone tense up.

They knew he wasn’t lying; in fact, they were well aware of it. While their abilities were decent in Starwind City, on the Celestial Road’s many planets, they would be unremarkable.

Still, except for Gu Xiaoyu, the others were all resolute. Though nervous, they showed no sign of panic.

A trace of satisfaction flickered in the elder’s eyes. These young people might have started low, but at least they lacked the arrogance of the genius youths from the major constellations.

“All right, let us begin,” the elder said solemnly.

※※※

“Tang, you’re too weak.” The soldier’s tone was as monotonous as ever, but he was clearly well-versed in recruit training. “The Southern Cross Legion’s standard for recruits is strength above sixth rank. You’re clearly not there yet. Many kinds of training will be extremely difficult for you.”

“So where do we start?” Tang Tian was eager, showing not a trace of fear.

“Getting beaten,” the soldier replied flatly. With a wave of his hand, the planets in the room began to spin rapidly.

“Getting… beaten?” Tang Tian’s face froze, his voice stuttering in disbelief.

The smallest planet appeared in the soldier’s hand.

Suddenly, Tang Tian’s surroundings changed—he found himself standing in a boundless, dark wasteland, floating all around him were countless fist-sized orbs of light, densely packed like a sea of stars.

Above, the soldier’s voice sounded. He was floating overhead.

“A soldier’s resistance to blows is a basic skill every warrior must have. In battle, those with greater resilience always have a higher chance of winning. At higher levels, a single fatal strike becomes rare. Prolonged battles become the norm, and powerful resilience allows you to remain clear-headed under heavy assault and keep your attacks precise. It’s the foundation of foundations.”

The soldier’s monotonous lecture was barely finished before the orbs of light around Tang Tian, like sharks scenting blood, surged toward him.

Tang Tian was shocked and shouted, “Hey, soldier, I’m here to train, not to get pummeled—ow…”

A glowing orb shot into his back, its force nearly equal to his own. It felt like taking a solid punch.

He staggered.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The orbs of light rained down like a storm.

Tang Tian was howling in pain, unable to speak, and threw a Crushing Fist at the densest cluster ahead.

The orbs bounced away.

But before he could draw back his fist, bang bang bang—several orbs struck through his openings, hitting him in the chest and forcing him back several steps.

“Pay attention to how you channel your true force…”

“Mind your defensive rhythm…”

“Avoid vital points…”

The soldier’s indifferent voice echoed above, mingling with Tang Tian’s anguished cries, just as in that distant era.