The Meaning of Battle

Super God Academy, outdoor training grounds, after lunch.

"Attention... at ease. I have a few things to say. Listen carefully, and during training, call me Captain." Jiang Ming looked sternly at the assembled group. His usual kindness was gone, as if he wanted Ge Xiaolun and the others to understand that he was not joking. Jiang Ming knew they had yet to develop the awareness of true soldiers. If they went to war now, what would happen? Just look at the original story... they would be beaten senseless right away.

"First, every inch of land is paid for with blood. In war, it is either you die or I perish. From the moment you step onto the battlefield, only the dead get to see the end of war."

"Second, never admit defeat, even at the final moment. Never give up, even in death. Will shall eventually pierce through stubborn stone."

"Third, from the moment you entered the Super Soldier Company, you should have known that war had already begun without you noticing. Those standing beside you are comrades to whom you can entrust your lives, and behind you stand the lives of over a billion people of our motherland.

"No matter when, where, or under what circumstances, you must not retreat. Even if you die, die on the road forward. And never doubt the comrades behind you. You must understand that the enemy is a civilization far stronger than Earth, with a history countless years longer than China's and endless methods at its disposal. Open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. The strongest fortress is often breached from within."

"When the nation is in peril, its weight is greater than Mount Tai. That is the meaning of battle. Do you understand? Answer me!" Jiang Ming shouted ruthlessly at Ge Xiaolun and the others.

Jiang Ming wanted Ge Xiaolun and the others to understand the brutality of the coming war. More than that, he wanted fewer people to die in the full-scale war ahead. For that, he could only train them to the brink of death, since they were the main force against the enemy. Jiang Ming had always wanted to develop Ge Xiaolun's Anti-Void Ability and create the original Super Gene, but unfortunately, Jiang Ming was a martial artist. In his previous life, he had been a liberal arts student, and now he did not even possess a Void Engine. He could not do what Zhi Xin did.

When he had watched the original anime in his previous life, he had envied Ge Xiaolun's Super Gene immensely. It could even create things from the void—utterly awesome! Even if Jiang Ming became an immortal, he might not be able to create something from nothing. Anyone capable of that would not be an ordinary immortal, but at least a Golden Immortal or even a Great Luo. What they wielded would be divine abilities, and they would need to grasp certain laws as well.

But if Ge Xiaolun grew strong enough, what place would Hua Ye have? He would be completely restrained. Black holes? They could simply be erased, then rewarded with a Great Treasure Sword. Thinking of this, Jiang Ming felt worried. Their genes developed far too slowly, unlike himself. When necessary, Jiang Ming might even have to use some special methods to help them awaken. That way, when war broke out, many fewer people would die. Every life deserved respect.

Jiang Ming's words were difficult for Ge Xiaolun and the others to understand, and they were met with silence. Most of them had previously been students, hooligans, and the like. They simply could not imagine what the future held. Even Leina could not imagine it, so the way she looked at Jiang Ming carried a trace of surprise. She could not understand the meaning behind his words either, because she could not imagine being captured alive herself and nearly stripped naked. Alas, the goddess of so many people!

"I'll say it again... do you understand?" Jiang Ming repeated.

Only then did Ge Xiaolun and the others realize that Jiang Ming truly was not joking. Though they did not fully understand, they could only respond.

"Understood! Captain..."

"Next, the first exercise: paired combat. Two people to a group."

"Ge Xiaolun and Qiang Wei."

"Zhao Xin and Rui Mengmeng."

"Liu Chuang and Qi Lin."

"Cheng Yaowen and Leina."

"First group, Ge Xiaolun and Qiang Wei, begin." Once Jiang Ming finished announcing the matchups, Ge Xiaolun and the others looked shocked. They had thought the pairs would be male versus male, but instead they were male versus female. What surprised them even more was that Ge Xiaolun would be facing Qiang Wei.

Amid their surprise, Ge Xiaolun and Qiang Wei walked onto the training grounds.

"Qiang Wei, I..."

"Xiao Lun, don't hold back. Let's begin." Qiang Wei spoke to the hesitant Ge Xiaolun. Her cold face showed not the slightest emotion. Clearly, having received military training, Qiang Wei would not hold back. An order was an order, and training was training.

"They're really fighting? Facing Qiang Wei, Xiao Lun probably won't be able to bring himself to attack," Zhao Xin said to Liu Chuang from the side.

"Ha!" Ge Xiaolun raised his greatsword and slashed at Qiang Wei.

Qiang Wei immediately used a wormhole transfer to evade, appearing behind Ge Xiaolun in an instant. She raised her dagger and stabbed at him. Just as she was about to strike the armor on his back, Ge Xiaolun sensed danger. He instinctively crouched down and swung his sword backward with both hands. Seeing this, Qiang Wei immediately opened a wormhole...

As Ge Xiaolun searched for Qiang Wei's whereabouts, one sword aura shot toward Qiang Wei while another flew toward Ge Xiaolun. The owner of those sword auras was Jiang Ming. Everyone stared at him in shock, finding it unbelievable.

"Ge Xiaolun, what the hell are you doing? Didn't you eat? Don't you know how to put some strength into it? Where's your brain-dead cleave? Why aren't you using it? Are you afraid of hurting Qiang Wei?"

"Qiang Wei, are you embroidering? Don't tell me you never learned to attack vital points in the military. With Ge Xiaolun's toughness, are you worried he'll die?"

"Is this supposed to be sparring? One of you knows you can't kill the other, while the other knows she can't hit him, yet neither of you is trying to hit hard. What are you thinking? Did you leave your brains behind? If you encounter similar enemies in the future, are you planning to surrender? This is combat, understand?"

Jiang Ming berated the stunned pair mercilessly, sounding thoroughly exasperated that they had failed to live up to expectations. Did they have no brains at all?

After speaking, Jiang Ming turned to the remaining three groups. "Pick your positions and begin fighting. If I catch any of you slacking off or fighting without using your brains, I'll finish you off with a single sword strike."

"Zhao Xin, can your speed only be used on your feet? Can't you increase the speed of your thrusts? You must make it so that the sound has yet to arrive while the force strikes first. As they say: the cold glint arrives first, then the spear emerges like a dragon."

"Liu Chuang, do you only know how to chop back and forth? Are those your only three moves? Or are you waiting for the enemy to walk right up to you? Where are your attack power, destructive power, and speed?"

"Qi Lin, where is your speed? Your speed at infiltrating, spotting targets, firing, and escaping? If you're that slow, what will you do when the enemy gets close? You're so fragile—are you waiting for your teammates to save you?"

"Cheng Yaowen, Leina, don't you two have a blood feud? Then fight hard right now. Fight like you mean to kill each other... If you have grudges and resentment, don't keep them buried inside, lest the enemy exploit them later."

Jiang Ming stood high above them, watching in all directions and listening keenly. From time to time, he harshly reprimanded Ge Xiaolun and the others. There was not the slightest emotion in his voice, as though he had become an iron-blooded drill instructor. His words showed no mercy, nor did his attacks. Whenever he noticed someone slacking during a match, Jiang Ming sent a finger force flying at them.

If they did not train seriously, were they planning to get serious only once battle began?