19: Chapter 19 Establishing Authority in the New Recruit Camp

The surrounding soldiers seemed to have already envisioned the tragic scene of Su Bai with broken bones and severed tendons.

The guard leading the way also shook his head slightly.

"He's being too arrogant."

"Young people who have a little bit of strength often don't know their own limits; they are bound to suffer for it eventually."

A flicker of cruelty flashed in Ma Lie's eyes, and he increased the strength in his hand.

However, the next second.

Everyone's expressions froze on their faces.

Ma Lie's fist, capable of shattering rock, was caught by a fair, slender palm just three inches from Su Bai's face.

No, not caught. It was blocked.

Su Bai's palm was just spread out casually, palm facing upward, supporting Ma Lie's fist.

"Bang." A muffled sound rang out.

Ma Lie felt as if his fist had struck a divine mountain; not only did that immense force fail to shake the other party in the slightest, but it was instead instantly swallowed by an even more terrifying power.

Silence. The entire training ground instantly fell silent.

The sounds of hundreds of people drilling on the training ground vanished without a trace at this moment.

Everyone's gaze converged on the two figures in the center of the field.

One had a flushed face, having used all his strength, yet could not make his fist advance even a fraction of an inch.

The other had a slender figure, calmly and effortlessly supporting the opponent's thunderous strike.

The entire scene was filled with a sense of absurdity.

"This… how is this possible?"

A soldier behind Ma Lie rubbed his eyes, speaking in a slightly trembling voice.

They knew best just how strong Ma Lie was.

Fifth Layer of Qi Refining, born with Divine Power; with one punch, he could crack a three-inch-thick bluestone slab!

Yet now, his all-out punch had been easily caught by a new recruit?

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Ma Lie's forehead.

He wanted to pull back his fist, only to find his wrist firmly gripped by the other party's five fingers, leaving him completely unable to break free!

Looking at Su Bai's harmless-looking face, sweat trickled down Ma Lie's forehead bit by bit.

Su Bai spoke, his voice calm:

"Is this all the strength you have?" "You want to make me cry too?"

Before the words had even faded, the five fingers Su Bai used to grip Ma Lie's wrist exerted a slight force.

"Crack!" A soft sound was heard.

Ma Lie only felt an immense force emanating from his wrist.

His body could no longer maintain its balance, and with a light flick from Su Bai, he was thrown like a torn sack, stumbling back seven or eight steps.

In the end, under everyone's watchful eyes, he landed directly on his butt.

The whole field was in an uproar!

From beginning to end, Su Bai's other hand had remained behind his back; he hadn't even changed his posture.

Watching Ma Lie, who had fallen to the ground, he slowly withdrew his hand and said indifferently:

"Now, do you think I can hold a blade steadily?"

Ma Lie sat on the ground, panting heavily, looking down at his slightly trembling right hand; his wrist was already bruised and purple.

He knew that this was only because the other party had shown mercy.

Just now, if the other party had wanted to, he could have easily crushed his wrist bone.

This person… are you sure he is a Loose Cultivator at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining?

However, Ma Lie's character was such that he respected the strong; as long as you could defeat him, you would earn his respect.

Ma Lie took a deep breath, struggled to climb up from the ground, ignoring the dust on his body, and walked quickly back in front of Su Bai amidst the astonished gazes of everyone.

Then, he knelt on one knee, clenched his right hand into a fist, and struck it heavily against his left chest.

This was the most standard military etiquette for a subordinate to show obedience to a superior!

"Squad Leader!"

Ma Lie looked up, his eyes burning as he looked at Su Bai and said: "I, Ma Lie, am convinced!"

"From now on, if you tell us to go east, we will never go west!"

His voice was loud and resonant, every word striking like a hammer.

At this, the eight soldiers who were still stunned around them also came back to their senses.

They looked at Ma Lie, who was kneeling on one knee, though they still felt somewhat shocked in their hearts. But now that even the strongest among them, Ma Lie, had knelt, what were they worth?

The few looked at each other, then exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and one after another knelt on one knee before Su Bai, shouting:

"Squad Leader!" "We pay our respects to the Squad Leader!"

The sound rolled out, spreading across the entire training ground.

Those new recruits who were training all looked over towards this side.

As for the guard who had been standing on the side, ready to watch a good show, seeing Su Bai defeat Ma Lie so effortlessly, he felt a chill run down the back of his neck.

Fortunately, he hadn't gone too far just now; otherwise, given this person's strength, it wouldn't be a big deal if he had just given him a little strike.

At this moment, the guard walked towards Su Bai and said somewhat cautiously to him:

"My… Lord, it was this humble one who failed to recognize your greatness and offended you."

Su Bai glanced at him but said nothing.

He turned around and said indifferently to the nine people, including Ma Lie, who were kneeling on the ground: "All of you, rise."

"Yes, Squad Leader!" The nine answered in unison, stood up nimbly, and stood in neat formation behind Su Bai.

Only then did Su Bai look back at the guard and say calmly: "Lead the way."

"Yes! Yes!" The guard, as if granted amnesty, quickly stepped aside, extended his arm, and said respectfully to Su Bai: "Lord, please, the General is waiting for you in the main military tent."

His attitude was respectful, a complete change from before.

Su Bai nodded, strode forward, and followed behind the guard. The nine, including Ma Lie, automatically split to both sides, closely following Su Bai.

The group passed through the training ground, and wherever they went, the gazes of all the new recruits and instructors were drawn to them.

They looked at the delicate-looking youth walking at the very front, then at the nine military ruffians behind him, and the camp gate guard in front who was being extremely sycophantic.

Everyone was completely confused. What… is going on here?

Someone recognized Ma Lie, stood on the side, pointed at Ma Lie, and asked curiously: "Isn't that the group of troublemakers under Squad Leader Pang? Why are they following that kid like obedient grandsons?"

"Who is that kid? A newcomer?"

"I don't know. He looks unfamiliar, but look at that aura—goodness, even Ma Lie is convinced; he certainly isn't an ordinary person."

Su Bai turned a deaf ear to all of this, his gaze cast towards the most magnificent black tent in the distance. The main military tent.

The highest commander of the New Recruit Camp, that black-faced General who was said to be strict in governing the army, was right there.

He knew that today's first test was just an appetizer. The real show was yet to come.

The Military Governor's letter could let him enter this New Recruit Camp. But to gain a foothold here, relying solely on a letter was far from enough.

Without strength, you cannot command respect in the army.

The guard led Su Bai and his group to the entrance of the main military tent.

At the entrance of the main tent stood two personal guards clad in iron armor, their aura deep and steady, their gazes like knives; they were clearly seasoned experts who had experienced many battles.

Seeing the group walking towards them, they stepped forward to block their path and shouted in deep voices: "Halt! No rowdiness is allowed before the General's tent!"

The guard leading the way quickly stepped forward, smiling apologetically as he explained: "Two brothers, this is Lord Su Bai, who has come to report under the orders of the Military Governor, and he has a personal letter from Lord Zhou."

As he spoke, he handed over the letter.

The personal guard took the letter, inspected the wax seal, nodded, and then slowly looked at Su Bai, saying: "You are Su Bai?"