Returning after 10000 Years Cultivation - Chapter 169

Boom!

A sound like muffled thunder shook the heavens, striking awe into every heart. The armored vehicle crashed heavily to the ground, shaking the earth and mountains, sending a cloud of dust billowing into the air.

Then, an eerie, dreadful silence fell over the entire field.

Everyone stared at Jiang Tian as if beholding a deity, their eyes filled with utter terror and shock. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

“So… he is Master Jiang… our instructor…” Tie Mingfei suddenly understood, his face instantly draining of color, his lips trembling so violently he couldn’t form a single coherent word.

“Too… too powerful!” Tyrannosaur’s eye muscles twitched wildly, his eyeballs seeming ready to pop out. As one who worshipped strength, he felt an urge to kneel before Jiang Tian.

“Is… is this still human power?” Fox muttered, dumbfounded, staring at the armored vehicle split by the single sword stroke as if trapped in a dream.

“Compared to Master Jiang, we truly are like ants!”

Everyone stood agape, a bitter taste flooding their mouths. Their faces were a mix of confusion, shock, fear, dejection, and disbelief. The arrogant pride of being elite soldiers was utterly shattered, demolished by Jiang Tian’s effortless flick of his sleeve.

“No wonder he looked down on my cousin and me. So this is his trump card!” The fervor in Tie Mingfei’s heart cooled faster than a cowpat in winter, his entire being shrouded in despair. Facing such a god-like existence, even a lifetime of relentless training wouldn’t allow him to catch up.

Witnessing this, Feng Xiguang sighed inwardly, feeling both admiration and a trace of shame. His expression was complex. “Elder Cao truly is Elder Cao, his discerning eye is like a blazing torch! This time, he has found a true marvel for War Dragon! As for me… I was blind, failing to perceive his strength at all!”

Shu Wei’s face was a mask of astonishment. She murmured, “Elder Cao’s vision is indeed superior. This time, War Dragon might truly soar to new heights.”

“Now, everyone present,” Jiang Tian began lazily, his tone casual and unhurried. His pristine white robes remained untouched by dust, making him seem like a deity descended from heaven. “Do you still consider yourselves garbage? Do you still wish to challenge me?”

“We… we are garbage! We dare not challenge Master Jiang!” Tyrannosaur forced the words out, his voice hoarse and strained.

“We are garbage! We dare not challenge Master Jiang!” Fearing that Jiang Tian might flick his sleeve at them next, everyone else scrambled to shout in unison, their voices full of trepidation.

“You disappoint me greatly.”

They expected Jiang Tian to praise their humility and caution. Instead, he shook his head with a look of regret. “What?” The crowd stared, bewildered. They were being utterly respectful now. How had they still managed to displease Master Jiang?

“To become a true master, one needs not only talent, but also a heart that thirsts for knowledge and an indomitable will—a true warrior’s spirit!” Jiang Tian explained, his voice tinged with disappointment. “What defines a true master? It is someone who recognizes their own shortcomings and weakness, yet still possesses the drive to surpass them, someone filled with confidence in their ability to grow stronger!” He shook his head again, speaking calmly. “Even without innate talent, through dedicated comprehension and relentless training—if others train for one day, you train for a hundred—you will inevitably make progress.”

In the distant cosmos beyond Earth, Jiang Tian had witnessed countless powerful figures who, lacking any innate gifts or even proper cultivation techniques, had through sheer perseverance broken through the void and carved out their own realms. Conversely, many so-called geniuses, lacking this warrior’s heart, failed to reach the pinnacle of Immortal Emperors or Great Sages even with the backing of empires, sects, or powerful families.

In essence, mindset was the foundation of cultivation. This held true universally, whether for martial arts or mystical arts.

His gaze swept over the crowd. “If you all truly believe you are garbage, then no one can change your fate. You will remain garbage forever. I look down upon you, both in terms of capability and in spirit!”

His words flushed their faces with shame. They hung their heads, but… their fists gradually clenched.

His speech struck them like a morning bell and evening drum, awakening them from their slumber. A surge of hot blood began to boil in their chests, slowly igniting into a soaring, heroic spirit.

“Now, tell me once more,” Jiang Tian asked again, “do you truly believe you are garbage?”

“I am NOT garbage!” Tyrannosaur suddenly roared, his neck straining, fists clenched so tightly they cracked like thunder. “I want to become stronger! And I CAN become stronger!”

“We refuse to be garbage! We will become the ultimate elite soldiers and war gods! We will defeat Ye Zhantian! We will sweep through the Huaxia Dragon Group!” Fox and many other soldiers shouted fervently. Some even felt scalding tears suddenly streak down their faces.

For years, they had been overshadowed by the Huaxia Dragon Group in competitions and missions, leading to a degree of self-abandonment. But now, enlightened by Jiang Tian’s words, they felt like phoenixes reborn from ashes. Their warrior hearts were rekindled.

“Good. Rest assured,” Jiang Tian nodded in satisfaction. “Even if you were only starting from scratch, even if you were merely a pack of swine, under my guidance, you would still rise to become supreme masters.”

Seeing that everyone was now convinced, he issued his first command: “Tie Mingfei, get out!”

“Master Jiang, I won’t leave!”
“Master Jiang, give me a chance!”
“Master Jiang, I want to grow stronger too!”

Tie Mingfei’s face was etched with unwillingness, hot tears streaming as he struggled fiercely. But he was still forcibly removed from the ranks by the others.

Next, Jiang Tian weeded out roughly 90% of the members of the Fierce Tiger Special Forces, keeping only a few elites with decent potential.

Then came his second command.

He pointed at Tang Linglong. “Now, all of you—attack my disciple together!”

“Yes!” Tyrannosaur, Fox, and the other War Dragon members roared in unison, then surged forward towards Tang Linglong in a competitive rush.

“Watch out, little girl!” Tyrannosaur took the lead, throwing a powerful punch.

Tang Linglong responded with a disdainful smile. Drawing a wooden sword from her back, she swept it out.

Smack!

Tang Linglong’s wooden sword struck Tyrannosaur, sending him sprawling onto his back. Blood spurted from his nose, stars dancing before his eyes.

“I don’t accept this! Again!” Tyrannosaur struggled to his feet and charged at Tang Linglong once more.

Swish!

The wooden sword cut through the air with a sharp whistle. Tang Linglong thrust forward. Smack! Tyrannosaur was sent flying back three meters.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Tang Linglong executed the Thirteen Swords of the Supreme Mystery, thrusting and slashing without mercy. Dozens of strikes later, everyone lay on the ground.

“Get up!” Tang Linglong commanded, standing tall and imposing.

Despite the pain, they gritted their teeth, rose, and charged at Tang Linglong again.

Watching this scene, Feng Xiguang and Shu Wei exchanged a glance, seeing mutual awe and respect in each other’s eyes. It was clear Jiang Tian was not only immensely powerful but possessed a shocking depth of understanding regarding the essence of martial arts.

“Chief Instructor Feng,” Shu Wei suddenly said, saluting him solemnly, “I request to return to the ranks for retraining. I wish to participate in the training alongside the soldiers.”

She had once been a War Dragon member but was reassigned to a staff position at the General Staff after being injured on a mission, which also reduced her cultivation level. Now, seeing Jiang Tian, she saw a hope for her own resurgence.

——-

That day, after training concluded, the entire War Dragon base buzzed with excitement. Everyone was discussing the newly appointed Martial Arts Advisor, Master Jiang.

“What was that huge commotion on the training field this morning? Could there have been a training accident?” someone asked, pulling Tyrannosaur aside.

“Heh,” Tyrannosaur replied, taking a big bite of a chicken leg. His face was bruised and swollen like a pig’s head, his eyes nearly invisible, yet he wore an expression of pride. “Our Martial Arts Advisor, Master Jiang, flicked his sleeve and sent an armored vehicle flying!”

“You’re exaggerating! A flick of the sleeve sent an armored vehicle flying?” Someone leaned in, skeptical.

“Would I lie? I saw it with my own eyes!” Tyrannosaur shook his head emphatically. “He pointed with two fingers, condensed a blade of energy, and sliced the armored vehicle clean in two!”

“What? He can split an armored vehicle with just his true energy?” The listeners were stunned.

“That must be the peak of internal energy!” someone muttered, dumbfounded.

“More than just the peak of internal energy!” interjected Zhang Lang, the blade technique instructor known as “Mad Blade,” his face full of reverence. His Five Tigers Broken Gate Saber was famous within War Dragon, and he himself was a master of internal energy at a high level. His words carried weight. “This is the level of a Martial Arts Grandmaster. They can condense energy into solid force, turning a sleeve into a sword. Even those at the peak of internal energy can’t achieve that!”

“So powerful!”
“Isn’t that on the same level as Ye Zhantian?”
“War Dragon finally has a true Grandmaster!” The cafeteria erupted in excitement.

Not just them, the entire base was abuzz, all discussing the new Master Jiang.

However, in the following days, the War Dragon members experienced what might have been the most painful and grueling period of their lives.

Every day, they were beaten black and blue by Tang Linglong’s wooden sword, groaning and complaining incessantly. Some suffered serious injuries like fractures and torn ligaments.

Throughout this process, Jiang Tian never offered them a single word of instruction, merely observing coldly from the sidelines.

“Could it be that because we offended Master Jiang, he doesn’t want to teach us real martial arts?” Fox asked worriedly after one training session.

“Sigh, it’s all my fault,” Tyrannosaur said, scratching his head, his face a mixture of regret and bitterness. “A revered expert like Master Jiang arrives, and the first thing I do is try to put him in his place. Wouldn’t you be angry if it were you?”

“That’s not it,” Blade Instructor Zhang Lang shook his head, offering reassurance. “Master Jiang must have a profound purpose for doing this. You must strictly follow his commands!”

The others looked doubtful. Was that really the case? Or was Jiang Tian simply venting his anger?

One day, after another severe beating, they all lay on the ground moaning, unable to get up.

“Do you know why I have Tang Linglong beat you?” Jiang Tian walked out, his hands clasped behind his back, his tone indifferent.

Silence.

Jiang Tian pointed at one soldier. “You, speak!”

“Because… because we offended Master Jiang…” the soldier named Liu Meng stammered nervously.

“Go out and fight Tang Linglong again!” Jiang Tian ordered coldly.

“Master Jiang, I…” Liu Meng’s heart sank, but he dared not disobey the order. Clutching his shield and broadsword, he steeled himself and stepped forward.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

In just three strokes, Tang Linglong sent Liu Meng flying to the ground, where he lay, lacking the strength to rise.

“You,” Jiang Tian pointed at a female soldier. “Tell me why. If you can’t answer, you’ll get beaten too.”

This female War Dragon member was named Cheng Tiantian. She came from a martial arts family and had reached the peak of the Iron Body realm. She was spirited and agile, yet also resilient. She had suffered three soft tissue injuries from Tang Linglong’s beatings but persisted.