Chapter 74: Yang Jun’s Secret

At last, a change flickered across Yang Jun’s face. The force Lu Ming had poured into his body sliced and stabbed like blades and swords, rampaging through his organs and flesh, threatening even his inner core. In that moment, Yang Jun knew: if he refused to submit, this man truly would dare to kill him.

“I yield,” Yang Jun finally uttered.

Everyone present let out a long breath, as if they had been waiting for Yang Jun to admit defeat. Lu Ming gave a cold laugh and kicked Yang Jun aside, then turned to the group of special forces soldiers and asked, “Who else refuses to yield?”

Now, their gazes were timid, none daring to meet his eyes. Lu Ming’s formidable strength and ruthless methods had left a deep impression on them—one might say a psychological shadow. Seeing that no one dared to look him in the eye, their earlier defiant spirit entirely gone, Lu Ming sneered, “A bunch of useless trash, thinking themselves something special.”

Once again, the group endured Lu Ming’s insults—only this time, not a single person dared speak. Seeing their silence, Lu Ming finally spoke.

“You worthless lot, clear the collapsed barracks and rebuild them. If you fail to finish today, I’ll break each of your legs one by one.”

Hearing Lu Ming’s icy words, everyone shuddered and rushed to the ruins to begin cleaning, leaving only Yang Jun lying there, solitary and battered.

Lu Ming then turned and approached Director Sun Zhengde, smiling, “Director Sun, let’s return to the barracks for a rest.”

Sun Zhengde was startled, snapping out of his shock and quickly replying, “Yes, yes, Instructor Lu, you’ve worked hard. Let’s go rest.”

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Sun Zhengde led Lu Ming toward the main building at the rear.

On the second floor, Sun Zhengde showed Lu Ming into a room, offering a smiling apology, “Instructor Lu, the conditions at the military base are rather harsh. Please bear with it.”

Lu Ming surveyed the room: a bed, a table, a chair, a bathroom—nothing more. He had no demands regarding his lodgings; as a former mercenary, he’d endured far worse, and such things hardly mattered.

“It’s fine. This is quite good,” Lu Ming nodded.

Seeing Lu Ming content, Sun Zhengde was relieved. Not like that other old man, who complained about everything after just a few days; Sun Zhengde had been at his wits’ end.

“Rest up for now. Dinner will be served soon—I’ll come get you then,” Sun Zhengde said with a smile.

Lu Ming nodded in agreement, and Sun Zhengde left.

After Sun Zhengde departed, Lu Ming gazed out the window. He saw the rough men split into two teams: one clearing bricks and stones, the other climbing the hillside to fell trees. Lu Ming chuckled, then stretched out on the bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, as if contemplating some private matter.

The recent battle with Yang Jun had revealed his extraordinary strength when pressing himself to his limits. Lu Ming sensed that, like himself, Yang Jun harbored a secret. Men their age, without some special fortune, could not possibly be so powerful—even if they’d trained since birth.

After defeating Yang Jun, Lu Ming used his Insight Eye. Under this divine ability, everything about Yang Jun was laid bare. To his surprise, Lu Ming discovered an inner core within Yang Jun’s dantian. The core’s function was much like his own Dragon Crystal—storage of power—but Yang Jun’s was innate, present from birth.

Lu Ming searched his memory for the origin of such an inner core. Those born with a core were exceedingly rare, even in the world of Dragon Soar. In the cultivation world, such people were called geniuses born with a Golden Core.

Cultivators in Dragon Soar progressed through the stages: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Opening Light, Fetal Breath, Fasting, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Astral Projection, Divine Transformation, Merging, Great Ascension, and Tribulation Crossing. Only upon reaching the Golden Core stage could one form an inner core.

For Yang Jun to have been born with this, he was ahead of all others—a treasure even among cultivators, destined for greatness. Yet here, Yang Jun himself knew nothing of its meaning. He had only learned, through constant practice, how to use it: storing the power he trained and unleashing it in battle, the true source of his strength.

Lu Ming shook his head, reflecting. There were so many marvels in this world. Without consuming a dragon and gaining the Dragon God Altar—a near-cheating method of cultivation—Lu Ming wouldn’t be Yang Jun’s match. In some respects, Yang Jun was already at the level of a grandmaster, though he had yet to comprehend his own path.

As for Lu Ming, his body had undergone tremendous changes and he possessed several kinds of power. He didn’t even know how to classify his own realm.

Time slipped by as he pondered. Before long, he heard a knock at the door.

Lu Ming rose to answer—it was Sun Zhengde, calling him to dinner.

Following Sun Zhengde out of the main building, they entered the dining hall. Inside the spacious room, the Dragon Flame men were devouring their meals, Yang Jun among them. Aside from a swollen face, Yang Jun showed no other signs of injury.

As Lu Ming entered, the group put down their chopsticks and stood at attention. Lu Ming waved them to sit, and they resumed eating. Lu Ming joined Sun Zhengde at a separate table, which was laid with eight dishes and a large bowl of rice.

Serving himself a bowl, Lu Ming began to eat while Sun Zhengde accompanied him.

Soon, the men finished their meal and, without resting, threw themselves back into their tasks. Watching them, Sun Zhengde sighed inwardly. Lu Ming’s thunderous methods had utterly subdued these men, stripping them of all former pride.

After eating, Lu Ming asked Sun Zhengde for a lounge chair. Finding a shady spot on the training field, he relaxed in the mountain breeze and soon fell into a pleasant sleep. Meanwhile, the men labored under the scorching sun.

Lu Ming slept until dusk. When he awoke, night was already falling. The ruined barracks had been cleared, and simple wooden shelters, covered in camouflage netting, now stood in their place.

Field survival was basic training for soldiers—constructing shelters posed no challenge to these elite troops.

Lu Ming surveyed the completed huts and walked over to the assembled group. They stood tall and straight, the disorder of the morning gone. Lu Ming nodded in approval, and marveled at Yang Jun’s resilience: after such a beating, he seemed completely unscathed. The man’s physique and talent spoke for themselves.

Lu Ming glanced over the group and said, “That’s all for today. Tomorrow morning, training begins.”

With that, he headed into the dining hall, drawn by the aroma of food. The base’s meals were specially prepared for these elites—abundant and delicious. With no limit on servings, Lu Ming indulged himself, eating twelve bowls of rice and clearing the table of dishes.

His astonishing appetite left everyone stunned anew.

Yang Jun was known for his capacity, but before Lu Ming, he was no match.

After finishing, Lu Ming looked at the shocked men and snorted, “You lot look like you’ve never seen the world.”

They hurriedly lowered their heads to eat, and Lu Ming departed.

After he left, Yang Jun sighed, “Damn, even his appetite beats mine.”

Yang Jun shook his head in defeat, having hoped to reclaim some dignity at the table, but failing utterly.

The night passed uneventfully. Early the next morning, as dawn barely broke, the reveille sounded across the training field.

Lu Ming rolled over and continued sleeping.

When he finally awoke, it was already past ten. Leisurely dressing and washing, he ate breakfast in the dining hall, then made his way to the assembled group, who had long since been standing ready.