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Chen Zimo might be ruthless, but he would never insult anyone. He set high physical fitness standards for everyone, but he would never trample on their dignity.

And Sun Ru, from mental to physical aspects, would find ways to beat you down, to infuriate you...

After the female soldier left aggrieved, Sun Ru turned to look at everyone, smiling maliciously, "Continue with the push-ups. Does anyone else want to leave? If you think you’ve come here to enjoy yourselves, then you’re absolutely wrong.

This is a field temporary training base, living in tents, bathing in cold water.

Winter is cold to the bone, summer is hot and breeds rashes, and you’re fortunate that you’ve arrived on a cool and comfortable autumn day.

Right now, it’s the most comfortable time of the year.

If you can’t even handle this, then get lost. We don’t need soldiers who can’t endure hardships. "

"Reporting to the officer, we can endure hardships," Zhong Ming shouted loudly. He didn’t want to be looked down upon.

Sun Ru glanced at him, snorted coldly, took big strides to his side, and stepped on his shoulder, "Did I allow you to speak just now?"

Zhong Ming’s face instantly darkened, and he immediately had a bad feeling.

The next second, he heard Sun Ru say coldly, "You speak out of turn when you’re not allowed to, and when it’s your turn to speak, you’re silent. Are you mute?"

Zhong Ming was on the verge of tears, cursing his own overly loose mouth, and responded loudly, "Reporting to the officer, no!"

"Remember, when I haven’t given you permission to speak, keep your mouths shut," Sun Ru yelled. At the same time, she pressed down hard on Zhong Ming’s shoulder with her foot.

Zhong Ming, already gasping from doing push-ups, felt as if a thousand pounds were pressing down on his back with that step.

He was sweating profusely, his cheeks flushed red, as he gritted his teeth and continued with the push-ups.

Ten seconds later, Sun Ru finally let him go, returned to the training field’s podium, and looked down at the gathered soldiers with a sneer, "From this moment, your training begins. If you want to become the best of the best, the king of soldier types, you’ll need to pay a higher price.

Each year, we only need ten people, and right now there are over a hundred of you.

What to do with the excess? We’ll use every means to eliminate you!

... All present, start roll call and receive your training uniforms now! "

Gu Xiaoxi kept a low profile, not saying much, and endured.

After receiving their training uniforms, Sun Ru led everyone back to the barracks, which were tentatively set up tents with grass underfoot and bunk beds made of wooden frames, looking plain and shabby—worse than any dormitory Gu Xiaoxi had ever stayed in.

"Didn’t they say the rations for special forces are better than ours? What’s with these conditions?" Ye Shen’s tone was slightly disgruntled. Especially when she saw the metal bunk beds and that the floor was just flattened grass, with numerous weeds still intact.

There were a total of twelve female soldiers in the selection process, and in the temporarily constructed large dormitory, a single corridor managed to fit all twelve women into one room.

"That’s after the selection process ends and you actually become a special forces soldier.

Don’t forget, we’re not yet special forces soldiers; the selection competition is not that easy.

Once you win, then you’ll be the king; right now, we’re all just small soldiers," Xia Li said, as she placed her backpack in the designated spot, took out her combat uniform, and started to change while talking.

Gu Xiaoxi, Yun Xiao, Song Jingyi, and Qin Chu had already quickly changed clothes.

Ye Shen looked at Gu Xiaoxi for a while, then approached with a grin full of admiration and said warmly, "You’re Gu Xiaoxi who won the world competition, right? I remember you, you were the team captain."

Gu Xiaoxi looked up indifferently and smiled faintly, "We need to assemble now; if you don’t want to be punished, move faster."

"Oh!" Without further thought, Ye Shen immediately hurried to change clothes. She really wanted to bond with Gu Xiaoxi, but clearly, it wasn’t the time.

Gu Xiaoxi had already walked toward the training field.

By the time Ye Shen and Xia Li came out, they were still thirty seconds late.

Sun Ru’s cold-heartedness was something everyone knew about early on.

He didn’t hesitate to call the two female soldiers to the front of the formation for push-up punishment.

By then, the troops were fully assembled and lined up neatly.

Sun Ru then looked at everyone and said, "The first assessment will be an extreme mountain cross-country race. Reach the specified destination, and then survive in the wild within a five-kilometer radius for ten days. In other words, from the moment you enter here, there isn’t a single moment to rest. Be prepared to not be able to bear it and be ready to drop out at any time. Understood?"

"Understood!"

"Now get moving! During your survival in the wild, if I catch you, you’ll bear the consequences yourself!"

Extreme mountain cross-country was nothing to fear for Gu Xiaoxi and Yun Xiao, but for those who were promoted from the regular forces, although they had their strengths, this kind of life-threatening training was still a first for them.

Three hours passed, and just as everyone felt utterly exhausted, they arrived at a spot near the ocean. Almost all members of the team were gasping for breath. Those who could make it this far were already in exceptionally good physical condition.

Facing the ocean, Sun Ru showed no mercy as she shouted, "Do you all see the island across from here? You will swim there in full gear, and then survive for ten days, waiting for someone to come and rescue you. During that time, if anyone cannot bear it due to hunger, fear, sickness, or other such reasons, they can come to me! Do you know what the consequences of seeking me out are? It’s the withdrawal from the special forces selection competition. "

The selection for special forces in Division Z was very straightforward, without any unnecessary complications. It was an all-out battle testing one’s physical fitness, wilderness survival, shooting skills, hand-to-hand combat, and basic military qualities in one go.

If you’re up to it, you stay; if not, you get the hell out.

There was no set time for their selection process. They only needed to whittle down the hundred or so applicants to a mere handful.

Because the team only required the best of the best.

On the first day, they had no food and no rest for even a moment. After traversing sixty kilometers of mountains, they arrived at the coast. Their ordeal continued as they prepared to swim in full gear to an island devoid of food and even a bed to sleep in, where they would spend ten days.

Along the way, more than a dozen individuals, unable to persist, chose to drop out. By the time they reached this place, a few more soldiers who shook their heads also opted to exit.

This was too difficult for them.

Gu Xiaoxi stood on the seashore, listening to the roaring waves, and turned her head to look at the pale-faced Song Jingyi, asking, "Can you make it?"

Clearly, even after countless rigorous training exercises and pushing herself harder than others, Song Jingyi still fell far behind in physical fitness. Qin Chu, however, was much stronger than Song Jingyi. Despite also being extremely tired, she was able to persist.

"I can keep going," declared Song Jingyi with determination in her voice. She had finally caught up to Gu Xiaoxi’s pace and couldn’t back down just because of this. Even if death was the outcome, she would rather it be on the training grounds.

"Let’s stick together and not drift apart. It’s very dangerous out on the water," Gu Xiaoxi looked at everyone and instructed. Since they could keep going, she would lead them onward bravely.

Several female soldiers prepared to pair up, and the male soldiers did the same, pairing off before entering the water.

Sun Ru watched as the soldiers gradually left the coast, heading towards their destination.

He sat in the car, legs crossed, looking relaxed and at ease.

Representing the code name Scorpion, Lei He couldn’t help but look at Sun Ru with bewilderment and asked, "Are you really letting Gu Xiaoxi off the hook? She came out on top in the world competition; she must have her pride. Don’t you think she needs to be taken down a peg?"

However, Sun Ru shook his head, looking out at the turbulent sea with a meaningful smile, and said, "You should be thankful, she has managed to keep a low profile and not stir up trouble."

"What do you mean?" Lei He, confused, widened his eyes, "Are you actually afraid of her?"

Sun Ru didn’t shy away from smiling lightly, looking back at Lei He and saying in a serious tone, "You know, I really am afraid she might take issue with me."

Awkward!

Lei He felt that this couldn’t be possible.

"How could that be? Here, we call the shots. No matter what honors she’s received in the past, we’re in charge of her future.

If we don’t train her properly, crush her pride, and make her suffer a bit, this special selection would be completely meaningless. "

"No, you’re wrong!" Sun Ru wasn’t foolish, but rather smart. He patted Lei He’s shoulder and spoke earnestly, "Do you know who competes in the world competition?"

"What’s that got to do with us?" Lei He looked utterly perplexed.

"In the world competition, you have Sack from Southern State Country, a Sixth Order Magician. Gao Si from Western State Country, a Special Ability User, and other well-known martial artists from various countries. Gu Xiaoxi, as the team leader, led the Eight Divisions’ masters to first place.

Do you think someone like her is as simple as she appears?

When she doesn’t speak, she might not seem special.

That’s because she keeps a low profile. Once you provoke her, the consequences are unimaginable.

.. She didn’t even consider those countries with an abundance of masters.

For her, you, Lei He, are nothing but a little finger. "

"Damn it! Sun Ru, look at how cowardly you’re being.

You’re making a mere soldier out to be so formidable.

Winning top honors in the world competition is impressive, although it’s true that two female soldiers were quite powerful.

But wasn’t it because of the help of the Eight Division’s masters?

Without so many experts to support her, I don’t believe she could win first place on her own," Lei He immediately retorted.

These instructors had always been quietly observing Gu Xiaoxi.

No matter how they looked at her, aside from her beauty and perfect figure, she seemed to have nothing special about her.

Even if she held a high position and was capable, special forces were not a place one could just waltz into with their accolades.