A full cycle of the Zhou Tian later, Du Peng opened his eyes to find Qin Fen enveloped in a rising mist of perspiration, clearly practicing with immense intensity. After a slight adjustment of his shoulders, Du Peng took a deep breath, casting aside his own fatigue, and once again entered meditation. The few other new recruits who awoke from their own meditation saw that the uniforms of both Qin Fen and Du Peng were thoroughly soaked with sweat, yet they persisted in their practice.

Shaking their heads, the others returned to their seated meditation. The actions of the two men from Squad Two, Third Platoon, Second Section, quickly drew the astonished gazes of the others in the barracks. A group that was practically dead tired from exertion was still forcing their weary bodies to cultivate?

Had they gone mad? One hour… The other five could no longer bear the physical strain and collapsed onto their bunks to rest again, watching curiously how much longer these two new recruits would remain in their trance. Ten minutes… Du Peng opened his eyes, saw Qin Fen still deeply absorbed, and closed his eyes once more.

Thirty minutes… Fifty minutes… An hour… Du Peng opened his eyes again just as Qin Fen exhaled a long breath, emerging from his meditation. The bugle sounded outside the barracks for mealtime. Jin Kui was the first to leap off his cot.

“Everyone, it sounds like it’s time to eat. Let’s go together.” The forced march that had nearly drained everyone to the point of collapse had, invisibly, drawn the members of Squad Two closer. Even Du Peng’s usual expression seemed softer than before.

Though no words were exchanged, the group moved out of the barracks in silent synchronicity. Deng Biao fell in step beside Qin Fen, his eyes betraying unreserved admiration. “You’re incredible.

You ran for so long carrying that weight, and you still managed to meditate for two hours!” Others began walking beside Du Peng, echoing Deng Biao’s sentiment. The recruit camp spanned an unimaginable area, housing tens of thousands of men, making it impossible to gather everyone in a single mess hall for rations. The group arrived at a nearby dining facility.

Jin Kui, being the only one in the squad who hadn't been cultivating, had recovered his stamina significantly better than the others. He quickly made his way toward an empty table. “Move it!

This is a dining spot for the members of the Great Han Autonomous Prefecture!” Before Jin Kui’s backside could even touch the chair, he felt his collar seized. A powerful tug yanked him backward, slamming him onto the ground. Qin Fen and the others who were about to follow immediately halted, a flicker of surprise crossing their brows—an open physical confrontation in the military barracks?

“Private fighting isn't strictly forbidden in the army,” Du Peng explained calmly, his gaze returning to its usual icy demeanor. “As long as it doesn’t result in death or severe, disabling injury, it’s usually overlooked. Fights in the barracks are often viewed as a means of appropriately promoting growth in strength.” “Oh!

Look at that, even a guy from the Treasure Island has learned the ways of the army?” The man who had pulled Jin Kui down was slightly bulkier than Deng Biao. He laughed along with the seven companions flanking him. “What?

Want to exchange pointers with us? Then you better be prepared to get hurt. The caliber of recruits from our Great Han Province is nothing like you Treasure Islanders can match.

The berth for the East Asian region in this year’s Recruit Military Skills Competition will definitely belong to our Great Han Autonomous Prefecture.” The Earth had long since become the Federation, and although regional ideological differences persisted, nations had devolved into the structure of states and prefectures. The Han Autonomous Prefecture was what used to be Korea. Qin Fen looked at Du Peng, slightly confused.

The expert on military knowledge spoke again. “It’s a competition organized by the Federation to improve the overall quality of the military. First, each major military region conducts self-selection.

Anyone who passes the first round earns merit points, which translate into greater rewards upon discharge. If one secures the berth for a military region, it’s a major merit award, boosting rank and increasing retirement benefits exponentially. If they place well in the Federation competition…” Du Peng abruptly stopped his explanation.

He distinctly felt that Qin Fen, who had shown a spark of anger moments before, had suddenly become inexplicably excited, an excitement laced with a trace of avarice. Rewards, increasing rewards… Qin Fen’s entire objective for enlisting was to amass as many rewards as possible to gain the resources needed to search for his brother later. The men of Third Platoon, Second Company, had almost all entered the mess hall by this time and had caught most of Du Peng’s explanation.

They instantly understood that the recruits from the Great Han Autonomous Prefecture were acting this way to intimidate the Treasure Island newcomers and establish an aura of dominance before the selection trials. Jin Kui was helped up by Deng Biao. Qin Fen shook off his momentary excitement.

The camaraderie and understanding they had just forged were instantly deepened, thanks to the ‘help’ offered by the Great Han Autonomous Prefecture recruits. Unknowingly, every member of Third Platoon, Second Company, had gathered behind them. As new recruits all hailing from Treasure Island, being treated with such contempt by recruits from another Autonomous Prefecture naturally forged a united front against a common slight.

The Great Han Autonomous Prefecture recruits’ eyelids twitched, and they bared contemptuous smiles. “What? Are the Treasure Islanders planning to gang up on us?

The men of our Great Han Autonomous Prefecture will gladly oblige!” Clatter! A group of diners suddenly stood up, their numbers roughly matching those of Third Platoon, Second Company. “Fight if you want!

We’re not scared of you!” One man from Second Company rushed forward. The muscles beneath his military trousers coiled and snapped, his foot pushing off the ground with a forceful bang. He shot forward like a pellet from a sling, reaching the nearest Great Han Autonomous Prefecture recruit in the blink of an eye, and kicked out!

A sudden attack differed from a planned fight; the simpler and more direct, the more likely it was to succeed. The recruit from the Great Han Autonomous Prefecture had clearly not expected someone to strike so instantly. Caught off guard, he took a full-force kick to the chest and was sent flying into a collision with a dining table.

The new recruits in the hall were all in that volatile, hot-blooded phase. Once one person initiated physical action, others quickly joined in without hesitation, throwing themselves into the fray. Benches and dining tables instantly became the first casualties.

These materials were the best weaponry for a brawl, a fact known well by the young men on both sides. In moments, bench legs and table legs were flying through the air amidst the swirling crowd. Two Han recruits spotted Qin Fen’s exhausted demeanor and immediately moved to flank him.

To pass up an easy opportunity in a mass brawl was the mark of an idiot. ps: A portion was missing when Chapter Thirty-Eight was originally uploaded. After a friend pointed it out, I have revised it.

If some friends open Chapter Thirty-Eight and still find content missing, please refresh the page for Chapter Thirty-Eight. If that still does not work, please check the 'Work Related' section, as that missing part is quite important. Time, in the blink of an eye, rolled around to Sunday again.

Thank you all for your votes over the past week; keep striving to summon recommendation tickets. It’s Sunday; at midnight between Sunday and Monday, Gao Lou will continue updating as usual… Furthermore, due to the enthusiastic recommendation votes this week, Gao Lou will have many, many, many featured posts next week. Between midnight and one AM, from Sunday to Monday, Gao Lou will host a ‘Essence Granting Festival.’ Everyone who posts during that time will receive an essence feature.

Those who are still awake and wish to claim an essence feature, remember to show up and take it.