Chapter 57

"Here is the training camp for the new recruits of the Southern Cross Corps." The soldier's voice was no longer so stiff; it carried a hint of emotion: "Every new recruit will undergo three years of training here. Only those who pass can join the corps."

"Three years..." Tang Tian was dumbfounded: "What do you train for that takes three years?"

"Personal combat skills and tactical qualities," the soldier replied calmly. "For personal strength, you need to reach the eighth rank and master the killing moves of at least three eighth-rank combat techniques. There are twelve subjects for tactical qualities."

"Eight ranks?" Tang Tian thought he had misheard.

"Uh-huh," the soldier responded calmly.

"Eight... eighth rank is just a new recruit?" Tang Tian stammered, his expression blank. Eighth rank, no matter where, was absolutely a master, a true master! Even on the Heavenly Path, they were renowned masters! Such masters, in the Southern Cross Corps, were just barely qualified as new recruits?

Just how powerful is this Southern Cross Corps?

Even new recruits are eighth rank...

"Uh-huh," the soldier replied: "The corps has a rule: you must reach the eighth rank to pass the new recruit exam. A lieutenant needs to be at least tenth rank, and a major needs to be twelfth rank."

Tang Tian's mind was numb: "Aren't you invincible in the world then?"

"Invincible in the world?" The soldier tilted his head: "How could an invincible force lose its base?"

Tang Tian's mouth dropped open. After a long pause, he said: "Is there a corps stronger than yours?"

"No," the soldier replied calmly: "The Southern Cross Corps was one of the three strongest corps at the time. The other two were the Scorpio Corps and the Serpent Corps."

Tang Tian counted on his fingers: "The Scorpio Corps is the constellation Scorpius, right? I've heard of it. The Serpent Corps? Is it the constellation Hydra or Serpens?"

The soldier shook his head: "It's the constellation Ophiuchus."

"Ophiuchus? Hmm, I haven't heard of this constellation!" Tang Tian was taken aback.

"Never heard of it?" The soldier's voice wavered: "Ophiuchus is one of the thirteen zodiac constellations."

Tang Tian shook his head: "There are only twelve zodiac signs. Leo, Sagittarius, and Aries are the three strongest constellations now. But not all twelve constellations are powerful; Scorpius is quite ordinary. I've never heard of a thirteenth."

"It seems the Serpent Corps has been lost," the soldier said calmly: "Ophiuchus was the strongest constellation back then. It was the only powerful constellation that spanned the celestial equator, the galactic plane, and the ecliptic. The Serpent Corps was the strongest of the three corps."

"Sounds impressive! How strong were you back then, Soldier?" Tang Tian's eyes sparkled, captivated.

The soldier ignored him and continued: "You need to think carefully. Once you push open this door, you must complete the new recruit training. If you can't reach the eighth rank within three years, you will never be able to enter the Light Gate again."

"Reach the eighth rank within three years?" Tang Tian's expression froze, and he shook his head: "Soldier, that's impossible. I don't know how you did it back then, but no one can do it now."

"Someone can," the soldier's voice was as stiff as ever: "A constellation guarded by a powerful being will emit a brighter light. I can feel that many constellations have astonishing light. This era has many powerful beings."

"Is there really someone who can do it?" Tang Tian looked at the soldier.

"Yes," the soldier's voice was flat and unchanging.

"Great!" Tang Tian didn't hesitate and nodded: "If others can do it, I can too!"

"Are you sure?" the soldier looked at Tang Tian.

"Yes!" Tang Tian clenched his fist, his face serious: "If others can do it, I can too!"

"I have a duty to warn you," the soldier said calmly: "The new recruit training is very harsh, even more so than you can imagine. The Southern Cross is the smallest constellation, but it produced the top corps because of its strictness and harshness. The new recruit training of the Southern Cross Corps is the harshest in the world, with no exception. In our time, the pass rate for new recruits was only nine percent, and the death rate was as high as twenty-six percent."

"Can it make me stronger?" Tang Tian asked, undaunted.

"Yes, the new recruit training of the Southern Cross Corps, although the harshest and strictest, is absolutely the most effective training method in the world if you can complete it," the soldier's voice remained stiff.

"Then let's do it! A godlike youth never retreats!" Tang Tian raised his fist, his eyes filled with determination.

The soldier could sense Tang Tian's resolve and fell silent for a moment: "The selection standard for new recruits is the sixth rank. Even so, the pass rate is only nine percent, and the death rate is twenty-six percent. You are not even at the fourth rank, so your chances of passing are very slim, and the risk of death is high. Once you start, I will give you no special treatment. Have you thought it through?"

"I have thought it through!" Tang Tian's face showed a maturity and resolve beyond his years: "Let's do it!"

Tang Tian spread his palm, took a deep breath, and pushed the heavy door with all his might.

The heavy door was not as heavy as Tang Tian had imagined; it slowly opened.

In the darkness, many light points floated, like stars in the night sky, incredibly beautiful and dreamlike.

"Really beautiful!" Tang Tian murmured, his face filled with awe.

The light points, like stars, suddenly began to brighten one by one, revealing a wondrous world to Tang Tian.

In the spacious room, various-sized planets floated. The larger ones were the size of baskets, and the smaller ones were the size of pigeon eggs. They floated in the air, slowly rotating. They emitted different colors of light, some bright and dazzling, some dim and unremarkable, some clear and blue, and some as red as blood.

Dozens of planets of various sizes formed a beautiful and dreamlike pattern.

The soldier was momentarily dazed.

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Although the Weakness Arena was destroyed by Tang Tian, it was now empty and quite suitable for training.

The old man looked at the five people in front of him and said solemnly: "Starting today, on the journey to the Perseus constellation, I will guide you in martial arts. I hope you will study well and train diligently."

Amoli suddenly looked around: "Where is Tang? Why isn't he here?"

The old man remained unperturbed: "Tang's situation is special. He will receive specialized guidance."

Everyone looked enlightened. It seemed that Tang's performance that day had impressed Lord Kong, who planned to personally guide the young Tang. Their doubts vanished, and they began to listen to the old man attentively.

The old man sneered inwardly. There was no such thing as special guidance. He was just fooling these naive young people. He had never liked those young people with poor talent. As for bloodline power, neither he nor Lord Kong understood it, so how could they provide any guidance?

Let him fend for himself!

"Although your talent is good, due to the limited environment, Wu'an Star is just a marginal planet with few and low-level martial arts schools. Therefore, compared to other young people of the same age and talent, your level is somewhat poor."

The old man's words immediately made everyone tense.

They believed the old man was not lying. They knew this themselves. Although their strength was decent in Starwind City, it would be nothing on the planets of the Heavenly Path.

However, except for Gu Xiaoyu, the others were all determined. Although they were tense, they were not panicked.

The old man's eyes showed a hint of satisfaction. These young people, though starting from a low point, did not have the arrogance of the geniuses from the major constellations.

"Alright, let's begin." The old man's face was solemn.

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"Tang, your strength is too weak." The soldier's tone was as stiff as ever, but he seemed very familiar with the new recruit training: "The selection standard for new recruits in the Southern Cross Corps is the sixth rank and above. You are clearly not there yet. Therefore, many of the training exercises will be very challenging for you."

"Where do we start?" Tang Tian was eager and showed no fear.

"Endure the beating," the soldier said calmly, and with a light wave of his hand, the planets in the room began to spin rapidly.

"Endure... the beating?" Tang Tian's expression froze, and he stammered in disbelief.

The smallest planet appeared in the soldier's hand.

Tang Tian felt the scenery around him change. He found himself in a vast, dark wilderness, with countless fist-sized light balls floating densely, like a sea of light...

The soldier's voice came from above, as he floated overhead.

"The body's resistance to strikes is a fundamental skill for any soldier. In battle, a warrior with high resistance to strikes always has a higher chance of winning. The higher the rank, the more difficult it becomes to deliver a fatal blow. Prolonged battles will become the norm, and strong resistance to strikes will allow you to maintain a clear mind and ensure your attacks do not deform due to being hit. It is the foundation of the foundation."

Before the soldier's flat, monotonous voice finished, the light balls around Tang Tian surged like sharks smelling blood.

Tang Tian was shocked: "Hey, hey, hey, Soldier, I'm here to train, not to get beaten... ouch..."

A light ball shot at Tang Tian's back with a force similar to his own, and he felt like he had been hit by a heavy punch.

He stumbled.

Bang, bang, bang!

The light balls attacked like a storm.

Tang Tian screamed in pain, unable to speak, and punched forward with a small collapsing fist.

The light balls scattered.

However, before Tang Tian could retract his fist, bang, bang, bang, several light balls shot through the gaps and hit his chest, forcing him to retreat several steps.

"Pay attention to the flow of your true energy..."

"Pay attention to the rhythm of your defense..."

"Pay attention to avoiding vital points..."

The soldier's indifferent, monotonous voice occasionally echoed above Tang Tian, accompanied by his agonized cries, just like in the distant past.