Everyone began clearing up the camp. There was no way to rebuild the houses; the sonic booms at night were enough to shake them apart. Fortunately, the defensive formation kept out wind and rain. Though a little cramped, it was still habitable.
Before training began, Zhao Hao discussed things with Li Qiang at length. Li Qiang decided to extract a simple cultivation method from the Primordial Beginning Sect's teachings. He would first use Lesser Origin-Nurturing Pills to transform everyone's bodies, then have Zhao Hao teach them martial arts and introductory cultivation. This would yield twice the results with half the effort.
Li Qiang still had plenty of Lesser Origin-Nurturing Pills, and he had everyone who had not taken one swallow a pill.
Han Jin suggested calling everyone participating in the training warriors, and their leaders great warriors, making them easier to address and manage. Everyone agreed.
As soon as training began, Zhao Hao discovered that their foundations were abysmal, so he had no choice but to teach them from the very basics. Over the next dozen or so days, thanks to the excellent foundation the spirit pills had laid for them, every one of them progressed at tremendous speed.
The one who surprised Zhao Hao most was Paben. He trained as if his life meant nothing. Once told how to practice, he needed almost no further attention; he would practice like a madman until he achieved perfection.
Zhao Hao greatly admired this and often taught him special techniques.
Nashan and Tange gave Zhao Hao the biggest headaches. These two feared hardship, exhaustion, and pain, so Zhao Hao periodically gave them extra helpings of discipline. They wailed endlessly over their suffering, and seeing Zhao Hao was like seeing a ghost. They were scared to death of him!
Li Qiang discovered that Zhao Hao was an outstanding instructor. Previously, he had only thought him respectful and courteous, serious and diligent when learning cultivation. He had never expected him to be so fierce and merciless when teaching others.
After watching several training sessions, Li Qiang felt reassured. He explained a few precautions, gave everyone some further instructions, then quietly went off to find somewhere to cultivate in seclusion.
After flying a circuit around the gorge, Li Qiang found a small cave in a cliff face. He tidied it up a little, sat down cross-legged, and took out the Jade Pupil Slip to study again.
Li Qiang reviewed Hou Pijing's Primordial Beginning Sect cultivation methods. Although he had already practiced the methods of all three postures once, their essence was difficult to grasp.
Sitting in the hollow in the cliff, he pondered hard. Gradually, he understood: the Primordial Beginning Sect's methods must require combat to improve rapidly. This was the essential path to entering cultivation through martial arts, just as the Chongxuan Sect entered cultivation through artifact refining. Thinking of how his previous artifact refining had greatly improved his cultivation, he concluded that progress in the Primordial Beginning Sect's cultivation apparently had to come through battle.
Li Qiang could not help smiling wryly. Didn't this mean he would have to keep fighting nonstop? He wondered how long Brother Hou Pijing had fought to reach such a high level of cultivation.
"Owww..." Nashan's agonized howls shook the Great Gorge Mouth. Zhao Hao snapped, "You can't even do the simplest split properly! Look at Paben-after a few tries, he's already made his body flexible. You're the only one who keeps screeching! Again!"
Nashan had never imagined that at his advanced age, he would still have to play a child's game-doing the splits. Remembering the resolve he had expressed at the Blue Clear Trading House, he regretted it beyond measure. Had he known training would be this painful, he would never have made those grand claims.
With a mournful face, he said, "Senior brother... spare Old Na, please. Have pity on these old bones. Ow... my little brother... it hurts like hell!"
Zhao Hao suddenly chuckled. His left foot flicked lightly beneath Nashan's crotch, swung from side to side, and he pressed down on Nashan's shoulder. Everyone present heard a ripping sound. Even Nashan's voice changed. "Waaa... brother... boohoo... my pants ripped!" The heart-rending pain nearly brought tears to his eyes.
Zhao Hao nodded in satisfaction. "Look, everyone. Even Nashan can do it with such precision and proper form. I think all of you can too. Remember, you've all taken Lesser Origin-Nurturing Pills, and your bodies are changing. This training is meant to bring your bodies into their best possible condition. Tange, come here. Stop hiding... the sooner you pass, the better. It's like childbirth: a little pain, and it's over."
Tange waved both hands repeatedly. "I'm the logistics officer. Let me do it a little later. Easy for you to say! I have no experience giving birth to any damned children. Wait... ah... wait, brother... no!" How could he possibly escape the clutches of an expert like Zhao Hao? Before he had taken two steps in flight, Zhao Hao had him firmly in his grasp.
Zhao Hao hauled him over. "What are you running for? This is how training works." With that, he repeated the same procedure. In an instant, Tange's whole face turned green. Nashan and Tange faced each other in full splits. Tange was stupefied with pain and made no sound for a long while, staring fixedly at Nashan. Suddenly, he opened his mouth wide and let out a wild howl. His agonized cries were every bit as loud as Nashan's, and the little uvula in his throat visibly quivered.
Nashan sighed in relief. "That feels much better. Turns out listening to someone else scream makes it hurt less..."
Furious, Tange swung a fist at him. Nashan caught it, and the two began struggling against each other while holding their splits. Zhao Hao said, "Han Jin, your turn." Han Jin smiled faintly, flipped through the air, and landed in a perfect split. He had practiced martial arts before, so doing the splits was child's play. Everyone cheered in unison.
Nashan asked, "Old Tan, it seems it doesn't hurt anymore."
Tange stopped struggling and checked, then said in surprise, "Hey... it really doesn't... damn it... it's gone numb!"
Nashan could not help bursting into laughter. "Numb is good, numb is great! Let's get up... haha... damn it, I can't get up." This time, it was Tange's turn to laugh happily.
Another day's training began.
Hidden behind a rock, Nashan lay on the ground, quietly humming a tune. While Zhao Hao was training everyone else, he had slipped away to enjoy himself. Suddenly, a soft "Hmph..." came from behind him. Startled, he babbled, "Big brother... uh... I... taking a shit... shitting... damn it, Old Tan, it's you again! What are you here for?"
Tange snorted with laughter. "Old Na, taking a shit lying down-that's quite a distinctive and amusing style."
Nashan said angrily, "You..."
Tange hushed him softly. "Keep it down. Do you want to bring Fengzi Hao over... hehe, I'm hiding out too. I'll rest a while before going back."
Nashan laughed. "So you had the same idea as Old Na. Only with proper rest can we train better."
"Exactly. Without proper rest, where would you find the strength to train?"
Tange and Nashan agreed without thinking. "Right... right... wah, Boss!"
Li Qiang looked at them with a broad smile.
Nashan stammered, "Boss, I... res... rest..."
Tange backed away, saying repeatedly, "Nothing to do with me. I came to call... call Old Na back to training. Hehe, training." Li Qiang laughed inwardly. Zhao Hao really was something, frightening these two to this extent.
"Then what are you still standing here for?"
Tange and Nashan did not dare say another word. They hurried back, and Li Qiang followed them.
Zhao Hao roared, "Nashan... Tange, get over here! Both your groups are training. Where have you two been? Nashan, hold a handstand until dark... Tange, don't look so pleased. Stand in the golden rooster stance with only your big toe touching the ground, until dark, just like Nashan."
Neither dared utter a word in reply. They obediently did as instructed. They knew the consequences of talking back were unthinkable; both had suffered dearly for it before.
Nashan's feet swayed constantly in the air, while the two hands supporting his body gave off a faint white glow. His mouth did not rest either. "Say, Old Tan, why do you look so strange? Such a small head and such big feet." Tange balanced on one foot, his body slowly rotating. Green light flickered at his toes, and he had actually ground a shallow pit into the hard rock beneath him.
"What's strange about it? I'm training. Once I've mastered this move, next comes training lying down. Just thinking about it makes me happy. Haha, I can practice while lying down," Tange said smugly.
"Hmph, I'm the unlucky one. The next move actually makes me learn to run. These old sinews and bones will probably fall apart," Nashan said, half whining and half fuming.
Li Qiang smiled. "If you really master that running technique, I guarantee it'll serve you well for the rest of your life."
Zhao Hao hurried over. "Master."
Li Qiang asked, "How is it going? Is training progressing smoothly? Nashan and Tange seem to have improved a great deal."
Before Zhao Hao could answer, Nashan's voice came from below. "Boss, you have no idea how hard I work. I work hard every day..." Zhao Hao kicked at him. Nashan pushed lightly against the ground with both hands, shot a full two meters into the air, flipped, and landed upside down again.
Li Qiang praised him. "Very good! You're far stronger than before."
Zhao Hao laughed. "Hehe, these two specialize in slacking off. The moment I let my guard down, they disappear. So they've been punished the most, and their abilities have grown stronger as a result."
Nashan cried out oddly, "Old Tan, senior brother actually knows how to smile! I thought he never smiled. Hey, why does his venerable self always glare at the two of us? Ah, what a bitter fate..."
As though he had heard nothing, Tange muttered to himself, "I know senior brother is doing this for our own good, so I'm grateful for all the effort he's put into training us. Did senior brother smile just now? I didn't see."
Li Qiang could not help laughing. "Zhao Hao, I never expected these two to be such clowns. How have you managed to train them?"
Nashan muttered indignantly, "Old Tan, you bootlicker... I'll settle this with you later."
Zhao Hao smiled. "Their overall progress has been astonishingly fast. Paben has already entered the initial stage of cultivation. It's almost unbelievable. The training methods you gave us truly are extraordinary, Master."
Tange's eyes darted about. "Boss, we need to get to the grand auction early. There are plenty of things to prepare. We'd best go today. I'm afraid we'll hold things up if we're late. Also, didn't you want to find someone for weapons and equipment? That needs to be done soon too."
Nashan had been Tange's brother in suffering lately. From his tone alone, he knew what Tange was thinking. He hurriedly said, "Boss, Master, take me along too. Please!"
These two had truly been frightened by Zhao Hao's discipline and wanted to seize the chance to slip away. Li Qiang said, "All right. Get ready, and we'll leave."
Tange shot away excitedly. Nashan cried anxiously, "Wait for me..."
Li Qiang instructed Zhao Hao that the warriors who already had a rudimentary foundation in cultivation must gradually be moved outside the defensive formation at night. They were to become accustomed to the violent vibrations of the sonic booms to improve their abilities, while also sparring with one another.
The warriors broke into cold sweats as they listened. Everyone knew how terrifying that sound was, but a few who had progressed quickly were eager to try, wanting to see just how capable they were.
Nashan followed pitifully behind Li Qiang, constantly signaling Tange with his eyes, nodding, blinking, and waving his hands beside his legs. Tange packed his things as though nothing were happening, not even glancing at him.
Li Qiang suddenly turned and asked, "Nashan, what are you doing?" Nashan actually grew bashful. Even his bald head turned red, and the two long scars on his face reddened to purple, like a pair of wriggling earthworms.
Spreading his broad mouth to reveal two yellow front teeth, Nashan gave a rather strange laugh. "Hehe... hey, nothing, Boss... heh-heh, take me along. This place... is suffocating me..." His laughter raised goosebumps on everyone around him. Li Qiang watched him with the suggestion of a smile, saying neither yes nor no. Nashan kept laughing, but there was no genuine mirth left in it, only empty hehes and heh-hehs.
Under Li Qiang's gaze, Nashan was about to go mad. He did not know where to put his hands or feet. His flustered appearance was so comical that Tange finally could not help laughing. "Boss, Nashan can help carry things. We won't manage with too few people on the way back."
Nashan nodded repeatedly and said in a rush, "Exactly, exactly! I can help haul things." To prove he was useful, he grabbed a large rock and lifted it over his head. "Look, even something this heavy is no trouble... heh-heh, I can come now, right, Boss?"
Li Qiang said, "Kankanqi will pilot the flying board. Paben, Tange, Zhao Zhi, and I will go-the five of us. Everyone else will stay with Zhao Hao and continue training."
Nashan let out a wretched cry. "Boss... I... beg... you!" Everyone laughed at his peculiar wail.
Li Qiang really could not handle him. He laughed. "Fine, come along. Just don't stir up trouble."
Nashan had thought all hope was lost. Hearing Li Qiang agree to take him, he shouted joyfully, "Boss is the best after all! Haha, I'll get on the flying board first!" He rushed aboard and called, "Old Kan, hurry up and pilot this thing!"
The flying board sped toward Fengnan City. Like a monkey freed from its cage, Nashan jumped about without a moment's peace. Paben sat in a corner of the board, still practicing. Zhao Zhi smiled and said, "Old Na, if we make it home alive someday, what do you plan to do? Interested in opening an escort agency with me? I'm all alone, with no ties or worries. I hear you have a big family. Is that right?"
Nashan quieted at this, saying with a little irritation and sadness, "Oh, brother, I'd only just managed to feel happy, and you had to go and stir things up. Ah... if you'd asked me back home whether I'd open an escort agency with you, Old Na would've been overjoyed. Now... to tell you the truth, I'm afraid to go back..." He glanced at Paben and continued, "What I fear most is finding the surroundings unchanged but the people gone, everything different. Damn it, I'll take each day as it comes. Getting out of the Black Prison alive was already a gain for Old Na."
Zhao Zhi knew he had misspoken. With a wry smile, he comforted him. "Don't worry. You're a lucky fellow. You escaped the Black Prison after surviving nine chances of death in ten. Heaven really looks after you. Forget it, let's not talk about this."
Li Qiang's heart tightened as he listened, and he sighed deeply to himself. Even a rough, forthright man like Nashan felt lost. What about him? Looking at the unfamiliar scenery beyond the flying board, he no longer felt any curiosity about these strange sights. He only felt that everything here was far less familiar and welcoming than Heavenly Court Star. If he could not return to Earth for now, he should at least live somewhere like Heavenly Court Star. He shook his head hard, as though trying to shake away all his troubles, and asked Tange, "Where are we going first?"
Tange had already thought it through. "First, we'll go to the Grand Unification United Chamber of Commerce and obtain merchant identities for everyone. With a major war approaching, it's easy to be arrested as a spy without identification. Merchant identities will make things much easier. Right now, we're all unregistered. If patrolling soldiers check us, it'll be troublesome."
Paben let out a long breath and sprang to his feet, joining in. "I'm registered with the Grand Alliance. You can all assume the identities of the merchants who came with me. The chambers of commerce on the Tanbang Continent have always treated traveling merchants from the Western Continent well. I'll speak to them; it shouldn't be a problem. All the merchants who came with me are dead anyway!"
Nashan looked at Paben strangely and said out of nowhere, "There's a problem!"
Paben said, "What?"
Li Qiang grew curious too. Paben said gravely, "There's no problem. The identities can be arranged. I guarantee it."
Nashan said nothing, rubbing his bald head. Zhao Zhi could not help asking, "Old Na, what do you mean?"
Nashan rubbed his cheeks hard and shook his head. "Nothing, nothing..."
Li Qiang already understood. Since they had met Paben, he had never spoken so decisively. Nashan was not doubting his ability to obtain identities for everyone, but was surprised by his tone, which was nothing like the old Paben's. Having once been Paben's boss, he was more sensitive to these changes.
A dozen or so black specks faintly appeared in the distant sky, flying rapidly toward them.
Kankanqi cried, "This is bad! Patrolling Heavenly Strike Soldiers! Boss, what do we do?"
Li Qiang really did not want to clash with these Heavenly Strike Soldiers. "Shake them off!"
Kankanqi glanced at the pursuing Heavenly Strike Soldiers. He knew them all too well. After some calculations, he still had little confidence. "I'll do my best. Everyone, sit tight..." The flying board suddenly dipped and swiftly skimmed along the mountain ridge.
Tange shouted, "Kankanqi, head somewhere windier! Their crystals won't hold out long!"
"Do you have to tell me? Everyone, hold steady! We're entering the high-wind zone! Oh-ho!" Kankanqi shouted excitedly.
The flying board began jolting violently. Nashan toppled backward, and Paben reached out to stop him. "Steady, Old Na."
Nashan regained his balance. After a while, he asked in surprise, "Paben, what did you call me?"
Zhao Zhi laughed heartily. "He called you... Old Na... haha!"
Nashan rubbed his bald head and laughed too. "I can hardly believe it. Hehe, Old Pa is much more confident. I like it."
Li Qiang felt deeply heartened, knowing that these people had accepted one another as companions.
The flying board was indeed slower than the Heavenly Strike Soldiers' flying wings, and the dozen or so soldiers drew ever closer. Tange frowned. "Damn it, this flying board is registered. Kankanqi and I are both considered rebel officers, and everyone else is unregistered. What do we do?"
Staring at the approaching Heavenly Strike Soldiers, Nashan said heatedly, "Push me too far, and I'll kill every last one of them. Damn it, they're fast."
Li Qiang raised a hand and donned the Billowing Essence Battle Armor. "I'll lure them away. I can basically understand the local language now. Tange, where shall we meet?" Everyone knew Li Qiang's strength and was not worried that he would come to harm.
Tange smiled. "We'll meet at the Grand Unification United Chamber of Commerce. Almost everyone in Fengnan City knows the place."
Li Qiang said, "Kankanqi, let me out."
"Everyone, watch out! I'm removing the protection. Be careful not to fall off the flying board!"
The red protection vanished briefly, and Li Qiang was already hovering in midair. The flying board swayed as it glided into the distance.
Suspended in the air, Li Qiang faced the strong wind head-on. Wearing only the Billowing Essence Battle Armor, his hands empty, he paid this little wind no heed at all.
The squad of Heavenly Strike Soldiers was also seething with fury from the chase. No flying board had ever been so brazen as to keep going after seeing Heavenly Strike Soldiers in pursuit. Seeing that they were about to penetrate deep into the high-wind zone, the commanding officer hardened his resolve and was about to order the soldiers to attack the board. He had never expected someone to emerge from it and boldly block their path.
Grinning, Li Qiang waved at the Heavenly Strike Soldiers, then abruptly flew upward, leaving a trail of hearty laughter behind him.
Without waiting for their officer's command, the Heavenly Strike Soldiers angrily gave chase. Li Qiang flew upward at a leisurely pace, while the soldiers roared like thunder and pursued relentlessly.
Li Qiang could roughly understand their shouts. They were mostly telling him to stop or they would shoot, along with some curses.
Li Qiang had specifically learned the local curses from Paben. Unable to resist, he shouted back a few times, calling them idiots, fools, and the like. His delivery was quite convincing, infuriating the soldiers so much that every one of them pushed his flying wings to the maximum and chased recklessly after him.
As they flew higher and higher and the wind grew stronger and stronger, the Heavenly Strike Soldiers suddenly realized they were in great danger. The crystals in their flying wings were nearly depleted.
Their commanding officer was the first to come to his senses. "Fire! Shoot him down... shoot him down!"