Returning after 10000 Years Cultivation - Chapter 170

Hearing this, a flicker of fear crossed Cheng Tiantian’s face. She blinked, answering with a lack of confidence, “Tang Linglong exploited a flaw in my stance with every attack. I think… Master Jiang was observing the defects in our martial arts…”

For the first time, a hint of a gratified smile appeared on Jiang Tian’s face. “I have good news for you. You guessed correctly!”

His words made everyone pause, then furrow their brows in deep thought, searching for weaknesses in their own techniques.

“Excellent. From now on, you are the captain of the War Dragon special forces,” Jiang Tian stated calmly. Then he added, “Alright, now it’s your turn to spar with me.”

“What? Master Jiang, I answered your question correctly! Why do I still have to fight? And… with you, sir?” Cheng Tiantian’s initial joy was instantly replaced by a sinking feeling, her face turning pale with fear.

“Being allowed to spar with me, to receive my personal guidance, is an honor for you,” Jiang Tian said with a slight smile.

“Alright… but, M-Master Jiang, can you… not hit my face?” Cheng Tiantian pleaded, her voice trembling. A love for beauty was innate to women, even War Dragon soldiers. Jiang Tian’s power was too terrifying; even if he held back, a blow to the face could likely disfigure her.

“I’ll consider it,” Jiang Tian replied with a faint smile, then suddenly swiped a palm towards her face.

Cheng Tiantian agilely dodged using her footwork, but Jiang Tian’s hand seemed to cling to her like a shadow, landing squarely on her cheek with a sharp SMACK!

“Ah!” she cried out, her face reddening and swelling as she fell to the ground.

“Do you know what the flaw in your martial arts is now?” Jiang Tian asked indifferently.

“I… I don’t know!” Cheng Tiantian’s palms were sweating; her fear of Jiang Tian was palpable.

“Your technique lacks a forward-rushing, indomitable courage. You’re not brave enough! Again!” Jiang Tian’s voice was stern.

Cheng Tiantian climbed to her feet, gritted her teeth, and seized the initiative. She launched a high roundhouse kick aimed at the artery on the side of Jiang Tian’s neck.

SMACK!

Jiang Tian blocked with a vertical palm. “The ‘Neck Break Kill’ from military combat boxing, blended with a side kick from the Twelve-Road Tan Tui. Well executed, but don’t get complacent. Your speed is too slow, and your power lacks finishing polish!”

Over the past two days, Jiang Tian had reviewed all the martial arts manuals they practiced and watched their previous training videos. Now, he repeatedly exploited Cheng Tiantian’s openings, offering casual pointers along the way.

In the end, Cheng Tiantian lasted over twenty exchanges before Jiang Tian, leaving her bruised and battered, collapsed on the ground, unable to rise. She gasped for air, her body wracked with pain.

“As a reward, Linglong, take her for the herbal bath,” Jiang Tian ordered calmly. Then he pointed at another soldier. “Now, it’s your turn.”

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

The soldier launched a continuous assault, but Jiang Tian broke through his defenses time and again. Finally, the soldier lay defeated on the ground, his shin bone fractured.

However, thanks to Cheng Tiantian’s insight, while Jiang Tian sparred with the soldiers, everyone intently watched his every move. Those who were defeated firmly memorized their own vulnerabilities. Others strained their minds to identify flaws in their own techniques, hoping to avoid a similarly miserable beating.

Eventually, all the soldiers were knocked down by Jiang Tian, and each received his pointed guidance.

“Everyone, go for the herbal bath…” Jiang Tian said with a light smile, turning to leave. “Rest for two days. Think carefully about your weaknesses. I’ll be back to beat you some more.”

——-

Jiang Tian returned to the barracks to review the martial arts data of the team with Feng Xiguang, Shu Wei, and Tang Linglong. He analyzed and corrected each person’s techniques, with Shu Wei entering the notes into a computer.

After finishing, Shu Wei asked with some concern, “Master Jiang, they’re injured so severely. What about the training for the next phase?”

“Don’t worry about their injuries. These are extraordinary times, requiring extraordinary methods,” Jiang Tian replied calmly, sipping his tea with an air of ease. “Following my training regimen, within a month, their combat power will reach the level of the Dragon Group.”

“What? Reach the Dragon Group’s level in a month?” Feng Xiguang and Cao Jianjia (Shu Wei) were stunned.

The Dragon Group’s selection methods and scope were fundamentally different from War Dragon’s. War Dragon chose elites from the military and then taught them martial arts. Dragon Group members, however, were invited experts from martial arts families and sects, each already a renowned master. Any single Dragon Group expert could serve as a martial arts instructor for War Dragon.

“You don’t believe me?” Jiang Tian smiled faintly. “Within a month, they will all reach the level of Internal Energy martial artists.”

Suddenly, seven or eight soldiers rushed into the barracks, excitedly chattering, their faces full of reverence for Jiang Tian. “That herbal bath is amazing! How did we heal completely in just one day?”

These were soldiers who had suffered serious injuries during the day’s training—some with cuts and gashes, others with broken bones or internal damage. Yet after one night in the herbal bath, all their injuries had healed by the next day. They even felt their physiques had strengthened somewhat.

“This is a unique formula I prepared, called the ‘Tyrant Body Spirit Liquid’,” Jiang Tian explained calmly. “It not only has extraordinary healing properties but also strengthens your bones and tendons, even fortifying your meridians and acupuncture points. Within a month, ordinary people can reach the Iron Body level, and those at Iron Body can advance to Internal Energy…”

“So miraculous…”
“No wonder Master Jiang is so confident. He has a secret formula!”

Seeing the soldiers hopping around energetically, Shu Wei and Feng Xiguang were utterly astonished. A surge of confidence welled up within them.

In truth, if Jiang Tian had only corrected the flaws in their combat techniques, it would have been difficult to raise their cultivation to the Internal Energy level. But with the aid of such a miraculous herbal bath, it became highly possible. Previously, they hadn’t believed Jiang Tian’s bold claims. Witnessing this miracle, they had no choice but to believe.

——-

Over the next few weeks, Jiang Tian only occasionally visited the training grounds. Most of his time was spent in Linzhou, accompanying Zhao Xueqing.

Jiang Tian had also instructed Tang Linglong to be merciless. Like him, she frequently beat the soldiers until they were bloody, with broken bones and torn ligaments.

However, the more injuries a soldier sustained, the more Tyrant Body Spirit Liquid they absorbed. Not only did they suffer no lasting damage, but their physiques became even tougher.

——-

Finally, the last day arrived.

Jiang Tian came to the training field, swept his gaze over the group, and smiled with satisfaction. “Who still dares to challenge me?”

“Me!” Tyrannosaur was the first to speak, his voice rolling out like thunder. Unlike their first meeting, his face now held solemnity and deep respect, his body standing straight as a spear.

In truth, Tyrannosaur had good talent but was also War Dragon’s biggest troublemaker, arrogant and headstrong. He had once beaten an instructor into quitting—until he met Jiang Tian, who awakened him. Like a sudden revelation, he realized his own shortcomings and the vast gap he needed to bridge. These past days, diligently training according to Jiang Tian’s guidance, he had benefited immensely and finally understood Jiang Tian’s well-intentioned, if harsh, methods.

“Very good. It’s you again, the one who loves a good beating,” Jiang Tian said with an amused smile, crooking a finger at him.

Hearing this, Tyrannosaur flushed slightly, then bowed respectfully to Jiang Tian, cupping his fists. “Please guide me, Master Jiang!” This time, his words were entirely sincere.

“Enough talk. Stop dawdling!” Jiang Tian replied lazily.

“My apologies—!” Tyrannosaur let out a low shout and launched a full-force assault. He charged at Jiang Tian like a tank, delivering a kick with the force of a raging tiger or coiling dragon. A wild surge of Internal Energy shot forth, exploding in the air and blurring the space around it.

“Not bad. You’ve successfully advanced to Internal Energy,” Jiang Tian remarked, a faint smile still on his face. But his leg shot out in a low kick, striking faster than Tyrannosaur’s attack.

THUD!

Tyrannosaur immediately collapsed, clutching his groin and rolling on the ground in agony, veins bulging on his forehead, tears streaming from his eyes.

“Master Jiang, you—”
“Tyrannosaur, can he… still get married after this?”

Everyone present felt a chill, thinking Jiang Tian’s fighting style was a bit too underhanded.

“In life-or-death combat on the battlefield, the situation changes in an instant. There’s only one goal: to defeat your opponent, by any means necessary,” Jiang Tian stated calmly. “Your move seems domineering and fierce, but you leave your defenses wide open. It’s not just me; even an ordinary soldier, if they found your opening, could take you down.” As he spoke, his feet showed no mercy, delivering kick after kick, sending Tyrannosaur rolling across the ground.

“Next!” Jiang Tian kicked Tyrannosaur out of the circle like a soccer ball and addressed the other War Dragons.

Another soldier leaped forward, only to be sent flying by a single slap from Jiang Tian, unable to get up for a long while.

“Your attack is too slow. You have one flashy, showy movement—it looks good but isn’t practical!” Jiang Tian stepped down, directly breaking the soldier’s leg bone with a CRACK.

And so, Jiang Tian defeated them one by one, sending them all to the medical center to soak in the medicinal pools.

——-

“Sigh, we really are useless. We thought we’d made great progress over the past month, but it turns out we still can’t last a single exchange against Master Jiang,” Tyrannosaur sighed, soaking in the emerald-green medicinal liquid, his face a mix of frustration and disappointment.

“Yeah, I thought I’d broken through to Internal Energy and was doing well. Who knew Master Jiang would shatter my cheekbone with one slap?” Cheng Tiantian grumbled, wearing a camouflage tank top in the pool, touching her swollen face. As the medicinal liquid seeped into her, its potent properties visibly repaired her injured areas at a remarkable speed.

“Right. I’m afraid we’ll never catch up to Master Jiang in our lifetimes,” many War Dragons lamented, shaking their heads, their expressions growing despondent and helpless.

Just as their morale was sinking, Jiang Tian strolled in leisurely, hands clasped behind his back. “You’ve all done very well. From my observation, over 80% of you can now project Internal Energy,” he stated calmly.

“Master Jiang, that’s true… but there’s still a huge gap between us and you,” Fox said, his expression complex.

Over this past month, under the guidance of Jiang Tian and Tang Linglong, they had progressed rapidly, nearly all advancing by one or two levels. Those originally at early Iron Body had reached the later stages, while those like Tyrannosaur, who were already at Iron Body peak, had directly stepped into the Internal Energy realm. Yet, compared to Jiang Tian, they couldn’t help but feel disheartened. The gap still seemed immense.

“You want to compare yourself to me? You really dare to think big!” Jiang Tian smacked Fox on the back of the head, laughing and scolding. “Do you know how many people in all of China have reached my level of cultivation?”

“Yeah, actually, reaching our current level, we’re already very satisfied!” Fox scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.

“Haha, we don’t dare to compete with Master Jiang. We shouldn’t even think about it!” the others chimed in sheepishly.

Jiang Tian’s gaze swept over their faces, a trace of affection appearing in his eyes. After over thirty days and nights together, he had developed a certain fondness for them.

Finally, he spoke with a tone of aged wisdom, “Children, the training is officially over! Tomorrow, I will no longer be coming.”

“What?”

His words struck everyone like a thunderbolt. They stood frozen, faces filled with disbelief and an inability to accept this news.