"No holding back, then! Everyone, charge!"
Seeing Lei Zhengyang's arrogance, the seven troublemakers surged forward, eager to wipe the smugness off their new instructor's face. Did he think their special forces team was a joke?
As elite members of the brigade, the seven were well-coordinated, their rivalry giving way to seamless teamwork. They shared a common pride—representing the Fifth Military Academy.
Most of the brigade were born fighters, now buzzing with excitement as their top captains challenged the new instructor. If rules allowed, they'd have grabbed chairs, cracked open snacks, and placed bets on the outcome.
Lei, in a foul mood and itching to vent, saw the perfect outlet. The sudden surge in his Golden Dragon power needed integration, and these seven were ideal targets. Inwardly, he thanked their boldness.
"Enough yapping!" he snapped. "If you won't move first, I will." Striking first as an instructor was a bit beneath his station, but he didn't care. He couldn't risk them backing down and robbing him of this release.
His body blurred into motion, a gust of wind howling with a sharp whoosh. His speed was blinding—few in the crowd could tell if he led with a hand or a foot. By the time they registered him, his fist was already flying, followed by a spinning kick and a sweeping leg strike. An invisible aura shielded him, keeping his foes at bay.
His first target was Luo Tiezhu, whose ironclad qigong made him the toughest of the seven, built to take a beating. Spotting Lei's incoming fist, Luo didn't flinch. Dodging wasn't his style—he'd tank the hit. His endurance was top-tier.
Lei gave him no chance to evade. The fist, deceptively distant, closed in like lightning, slamming into Luo's abdomen. The impact was thunderous—a dull thud like striking a drum, sending a powerful recoil back. Luo was no pushover.
Though stunned by Lei's strength, Luo retreated three steps, grimaced through the pain, and rubbed his stomach. "Not bad, Instructor. My qigong's pretty solid, huh?"
Lei smirked. "Solid enough to be a punching bag."
Stung by the jab, Luo roared, arms flailing as he barked, "Everyone, surround him! Attack from all sides!"
Words wouldn't win this—time to let fists and feet do the talking.
A sneak kick came from behind, but Lei twisted, trapping the leg under his arm. A swift rabbit-like back-kick landed square on the attacker's jaw. The man screamed, flying backward, clutching his face and howling, out of the fight for now.
The remaining six grew wary, but Lei was a tiger among sheep, unstoppable. In just three or four exchanges, he exploited gaps, twisting three arms—one dislocated, its owner staggering off to avoid further punishment.
Leaping into the air, Lei shifted mid-flight, his fist rocketing toward Luo again. Luo planted his feet, squatting to brace for impact, his stance unshakable. Lei's punch, now infused with Golden Dragon power, connected with devastating force, shattering Luo's qigong shield. The full brunt of the blow seeped into his body, making even a tough guy like Luo wail in agony, as if death would be kinder.
Lei spun, arms wide, unleashing a gale-like burst. Three charging foes were blasted back, one sailing over ten meters, rolling across the ground and lying still, unconscious but alive.
The fight was electrifying. Lei's few strikes had crushed the brigade's toughest seven. Only three remained standing, staring at the unflappable Lei, who hadn't even mussed his sleeves. The first clap rang out—Wu Xiaomin, leading the applause.
Wu, a skilled fighter herself, knew she couldn't handle seven top-tier opponents with such ease. Lei's performance—powerful yet precise—was a masterclass, a rare lesson for her.
Lei didn't bask in the praise. These men weren't worthy opponents yet. Waving dismissively, he ordered, "Get them patched up. Everyone, line up! From now on, you follow my commands. Run ten laps around the Fifth Academy. No food until you're done. Tomorrow, we start real training. Right face—move out!"
The run was punishment for gawking. They'd watched their show; now they'd sweat. Running was their bread-and-butter anyway—true training began tomorrow.
Back home, Lei hadn't finished his first glass of water when footsteps approached. A voice preceded the visitor—Fourth Uncle Lei Dongping: "Dad, that's Zhengyang's car. He's back."
Along with Fourth Uncle came Grandpa, flanked by his ever-present secretary and a few dedicated bodyguards. At the family estate, the guards and staff stayed in separate quarters, entering the main house only when summoned.
"Zhengyang, you're here. I was looking for you," Lei Dongping said, plopping down beside him, brimming with excitement. "That new command system you gave me—Dad had it tested in secret. It's incredible, with semi-intelligent controls, sensing ocean temperature, wind, and tides. Oh, and the alert range tripled! When we deploy it, jaws will hit the floor."
As a naval advisor, Dongping was set to lead a fleet in a patrol and drill. Six fleets would roar across the high seas, and he could already taste the glory.
Lei chuckled. The system, based on the Longteng framework, was naturally semi-intelligent and flawless unless someone cracked Longteng's core. He hadn't shared it just to boost Fourth Uncle or the Lei family's clout. His real aim was to draw global attention to Longteng. Once Dongping's fleet showcased its prowess, governments worldwide would recognize Longteng's value, driving not just commercial profits but massive state contracts.
Grandpa sat, visibly pleased. He didn't grasp the tech, but a 50% boost to a warship's combat power? That he understood. Sending Dongping's fleet with this system was a chance to flex the Lei family's might.
"Zhengyang, this command system is top-notch," Grandpa said. "Don't let it leak. We need to maintain this edge."
Lei nodded. "It's got a one-year shelf life before it's outdated. Grandpa, you should push the defense researchers to speed up. This system's based on Longteng, and if we have it, others might too, maybe in a year."
In truth, Lei knew replicating Longteng's semi-intelligent system was a five-year feat at least, but he wanted to pressure the Lei family. Complacency with this system would stall progress. Only pressure bred advancement.
Dongping chimed in, "Don't worry, I've ordered deeper research. One year's enough to keep our lead. But Zhengyang, I bet you're holding out on us. Got anything else for your Fourth Uncle to shine with?"
Lei shot him a look. Greedy much? The command system alone could occupy a lifetime of study, and he wanted more? "I'm not a superbrain, Fourth Uncle. That's all you get. I'm busy training Third Uncle's team, no time for new toys. Though, I did have one idea the other day…"
"What idea?" Dongping's eyes lit up. Lei's groundbreaking concepts had the family wondering if he'd been abducted by aliens during his missing year, schooled, and sent back.
Even Grandpa leaned in. "What's this idea?"
Lei said, "The Lei family could set up a high-level research lab. Study these innovations independently, then share with the state. That way, we control the narrative. People shouldn't take our contributions for granted, like it's owed. Take Fourth Uncle—he acts like my help is a given, not even a thank you."
Grandpa's brow furrowed, his expression shifting. Dongping flushed red, embarrassed. As Lei said, he'd assumed family ties meant it was all expected.