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Once the real war began, they would face death and the loss of comrades. Bleeding and sweating couldn’t count as suffering.

Not many recruits could remain, besides Gu Xiaoxi and Song Jingyi, there were three male soldiers, Jiang Youhua, Liang Shushu, and Zeng Yu.

In total, only five people, compared to the twenty-five left by the veterans, their group of five seemed somewhat weak.

But among the new recruits, they were all vanguards who ranked at the top, and in terms of physical fitness, they did not lose to some of the veterans.

The reason they were a little weaker in live-ammunition exercises was simply the lack of practice and hardening.

"Report, isn’t this wasting our time?" Luo Chen, as the squad leader, indeed saw this as a waste of the veterans’ time.

Leading the new recruits to reinforce what they already knew was totally unnecessary.

Shao Changfeng snorted coldly and angrily said, "This isn’t wasting time, this is training you, to become a team, and if you can’t be united. Then you veterans will not only have to relearn shooting, you’ll also have to relearn all the military rules and duties from scratch. Do you understand?"

Luo Chen pursed his lips, but ultimately kept silent, stealing glances at Gu Xiaoxi with the corner of his eye.

Ever since the last exercise, when their army faced off against another and suffered an ugly defeat, there was resentment in everyone’s heart. How could they possibly be united?

Gu Xiaoxi just quietly watched a bunch of old soldiers mess around; after all, training was ordered by their superiors.

No matter how outstanding you were in the crowd, if you didn’t understand unity, you were an unqualified soldier.

The afternoon training was fervent, the training field resounded with gunshots that were deafening, and the soldiers were impassioned.

After the training ended, everyone felt a ringing in their ears, but each face was brimming with a joyful smile.

Because this was the honor of a scout soldier, real bullets, personal experience, the most effective way to train oneself and become the strongest warrior defending the homeland.

"Xiao Xi, you’ve been promoted two ranks, tell me what have you been up to these seven days?" On the way back to the dormitory after finishing training, Song Jingyi noticed her different epaulets only then.

"I was out on a mission, the content is classified!" Gu Xiaoxi deflected with just a few words, as it was not prudent to disclose everything with Gao Wen and Li Jing present in the dormitory.

Song Jingyi clicked her tongue twice, "Certainly different from us now. Then have your skills improved recently? Don’t forget your challenge with Zhao Zilong in a few months."

Gu Xiaoxi certainly wouldn’t forget; combat could stimulate a person’s will, and she would honor the three-month challenge.

*

In the training that followed, Gu Xiaoxi trained hard during the day, studied theory, and tied for first place with Zhao Zilong in the first theoretical exam.

Because they both scored full marks.

At night, she used her resting time to diligently cultivate her Inner Strength and Spiritual Power, both of which had reached a significantly higher level.

Finally, two months later, Gu Xiaoxi broke through to the Third Level.

It was a night with howling winds and pitch-black sky when Gu Xiaoxi sat at the top of a twenty-meter-tall tree branch and slowly opened her eyes.

This major breakthrough allowed her to glimpse the Cultivation Method of the Third Level, possessing inexhaustible Inner Strength.

This breakthrough was truly the first step into the gateway of the strong.

Gu Xiaoxi suddenly leaped down from the tree, her eyes flashing sharply, and she punched, shattering a tree as thick as a washbasin.

The tree fell to the ground, leaves dropping, making a deafening noise.

Just then, her slender fingers caught the four falling leaves, pinching them between her fingers before flinging them out with force.

The leaves shot out from between her fingers like bullets, carrying a fierce wind as they struck the trunk of a nearby tree.

Immediately, the leaves turned to dust upon impact, causing the tree to tremble, its green leaves rustling as they fell to the ground.

Not until the tree’s shaking stopped and its leaves had all dropped did tranquility return.

Gu Xiaoxi withdrew her hand, her lips curving up in satisfaction, feeling her body brimming with strength.

If she were to face Zhao Zilong now, even if she didn’t win, she definitely wouldn’t lose disgracefully.

"Amazing! Worthy of Master. Xiao Xi, when will you teach me the Second Level?" Shao Changfeng sat calmly on another branch, looking at Gu Xiaoxi with admiration on his face.

"Have you perfected the First Level yet?" Gu Xiaoxi was shocked inside. This guy’s physique was very similar to hers, as if he had a natural Spirit Root. On the path of cultivation, it was smooth sailing; with patience in training, he could achieve remarkable results.

"Of course! Why don’t you try?" Shao Changfeng’s thin lips curved into a slight smile as he leaped down from the branch, landing beside Gu Xiaoxi with a mischievous smile on his lips.

He didn’t hesitate to make a move towards Gu Xiaoxi.

Gu Xiaoxi reacted even faster, countering immediately. Within three moves, she had grabbed his neck, immobilizing him.

"Impressive!" Shao Changfeng could feel the surging strength in her body, each punch she threw was intimidating and frightening.

This indeed was the gap between cultivators; a single level seemed to separate them by a vast distance.

Seeing that Shao Changfeng was subdued, Gu Xiaoxi let go of him, patted his shoulder, and laughed happily, "How else would I be your master? Good boy, talk to Master. What has Zhao Zilong been up to lately that you’ve uncovered?"

"He’s doing the same as you, striving to become stronger. He’s been brooding over his defeat at your hands last time," Shao Changfeng said.

He had always been helping Gu Xiaoxi by keeping an eye on Zhao Zilong’s activities.

"There’s only half a month left until my agreed battle day with him. I’ll take leave tonight and come back before morning training tomorrow," Gu Xiaoxi said cheerfully.

Shao Changfeng gave her a deep look, "Is it that guy from your family again?"

"Yeah! He said he’ll come to pick me up tonight." Gu Xiaoxi’s hands were joyfully clasped behind her back, and there was a merry spring in her step as she walked.

Only at these times did she feel as happy as a child.

Shao Changfeng shook his head gently, his gaze softening considerably, "I understand. You’re frequently absent at night, and Li Jing has complained about you several times."

"Don’t worry, I already spoke to the company commander. He won’t pursue it," Gu Xiaoxi said as she quickly leaped out of the thicket.

Shao Changfeng watched her departing figure, standing there for a long while, sighing only after she had completely vanished.

...

Gu Xiaoxi left through the main gate of the fourth company, and two sentries greeted her with smiles, "Miss Gu, the car has been parked outside for quite a while. You better hurry, or the major general will get impatient."

Because this car often appeared, even the company commander had to respectfully greet it, so the sentries recognized it as well.

"Major general?" Gu Xiaoxi laughed silently to herself and strode towards the car parked not far away.

A jeep was parked on the dark military camp lane, its headlights on, with Lin Mi having waited inside for a long time.