Chapter 9, Special Figures

"I said, Brigadier! What do you want from me? You don't intend to beat me up, do you?" Seeing the amiable demeanor of the other person, Lu Yinan was even more perplexed, wondering what was really going on.

Firstly, those with professional training are easier to control, and their combat effectiveness is significantly stronger than that of civilians who have only undergone basic military training. Secondly, after the military updates and replaces its equipment, it becomes relatively difficult to deal with the old weapons left behind. Selling them is not viable as they are too outdated and no one wants them; those with money prefer to buy new ones, while those without money will not purchase these unnecessary items. Destroying them is both time-consuming and labor-intensive, and it feels rather wasteful.

Casting a glance at Lu Yinan, Shangguan Shengyu continued to explain: "The battles of today are no longer like those that took place on Earth two thousand years ago; the current battlefields are mostly in outer space or within relatively confined structures. Individual firearms are utterly ineffective in outer space, and in small spaces, they can easily damage objects and surrounding facilities. In the context of spaceships and space battleships, such weapons are undoubtedly the preferred choice for mutual destruction. Therefore, lightsabers have replaced firearms over the past few centuries, becoming the primary weapon for individual combat." Individual firearms are utterly ineffective in outer space, and in small spaces, they can easily damage objects and surrounding facilities. In the context of spaceships and space battleships, such weapons are undoubtedly the preferred choice for mutual destruction. Therefore, lightsabers have replaced firearms over the past few centuries, becoming the primary weapon for individual combat.

When he was kicked in the chest and back, Lu Yinan disregarded everything, gathering energy in both hands as orange light flickered, preparing to resist with all his might. As the battle escalated, Major General Dong Tingbi, the instigator and a senior officer, issued a command.

Dong Tingbi chuckled twice and said with a friendly expression, "Let this be our agreement, but you must achieve good results first"

Lu Yinan agreed because the temptation offered by Dong Tingbi was too great, to the extent that he could not refuse

Moreover, given Lu Yinan's economic capacity in the real world, acquiring his own interstellar spacecraft is a mere luxury, and asking his parents for such a thing is even more impossible. Therefore, when faced with the tangible temptation from Brigadier General Dong Tingbi, he found it difficult to resist.

As Shangguan Shengyu spoke, those who were introduced all nodded slightly, allowing Lu Yinan to recognize who was who

Shangguan Shengyu weighed it in his hand, handed it to Lu Yinan, and then said: "You give it a try"

Unfortunately, the Chinese troops have suffered defeats in two consecutive competitions. General Qiu Dafeng, the commander of the 54th Group Army, is extremely angry and has reprimanded Brigadier General Dong Tingbi several times regarding this matter. He insists that they must seek justice in this round, redeem their previous disgrace, and overpower those despicable enemies. These are the exact words of General Qiu Dafeng

Once the command was given, the four special forces soldiers surrounding Lu Yinan immediately ceased their actions and stepped back. Their movements were synchronized, demonstrating excellent military discipline

After the five individuals separated, Lu Yinan followed Shangguan Shengyu to gain a general understanding of the current structure of the military department. In fact, Shangguan Shengyu mainly introduced the key facilities of the military department and only took him to visit the military training base. Currently, all personnel participating in the military skills competition and related activities are undergoing intensive training at the military department's training base

Tomorrow, I will become a regular soldier, with real combat weapons in hand. I wonder what that feeling will be like... Lu Yinan pondered to himself

Zhi Huilu Yinan confidently replied in a loud voice: "No problem, sir, I will definitely complete the task"

Although Lu Yinan is a newcomer, the data indicates that he still possesses certain value. Dong Tingbi is sparing no expense in recruiting talented individuals, and has now reached the point of not letting even the useless ones slip by.

Brigadier General Dong Tingbi smiled and said: "It is a friendly competition with the nearby interstellar security forces. The more skilled individuals we have, the greater our chances. These are all carefully selected members of the special forces who will participate in the competition. Did we not just have a bit of a challenge with you?"

As he watched Lu Yinan practice swordplay, Shangguan Shengyu momentarily saw a shimmering light curtain appear and then vanish before Lu Yinan. After the young man withdrew his hand, he remained still, demonstrating an exceptionally high level of control over the light sword.

It is easy to imagine how frustrated Dong Tingbi was about this. He gritted his teeth and wagered all his chips, vowing to show the interstellar security forces the prowess of Chinese soldiers

After pondering for a moment, Lu Yinan hesitated. It is true that he has a fondness for ancient martial arts, but he is not so combative as to engage in a duel with someone for no reason.

Due to their massive size, space battleships lack agility, rendering them at a disadvantage against the powerful beings from the demon realm that can traverse the universe with ease. Although their firepower is somewhat superior, it is akin to using a cannon to swat a mosquito

Shangguan Shengyu patiently explained: "The standard equipment for infantry must be fully equipped regardless of the type of troops, including the combat units you will nominally belong to in the future. This includes a photon saber, energy shield, shockwave laser, military reconnaissance drone, power amplifier, and backup energy box, totaling six items"

Lu Yinan felt somewhat moved upon hearing this. The treatment of soldiers in combat units and that of Lu Yinan in the training unit is not merely a difference in title; in certain aspects, there are tangible material benefits involved.

The integration of biological parasitic beasts has significantly increased the physical strength of humans, which has led to the widespread use of combat soldiers in the military. Otherwise, a turn with an acceleration exceeding 10,000 kilometers per hour could cause internal bleeding and death for the driver

This communication was sent simultaneously to four special forces members. The four exchanged glances, and the first one to speak responded: "His skills are top-notch, and his reactions are quick enough. As for combat experience, given his age and environment, he likely lacks sufficient experience. However, this is not the main point; what is crucial is that he has no formal military training, and he may not be able to adapt to real combat situations."

At this point, Major General Dong Tingbi made a mysterious gesture and continued: "What do you think of the treatment of soldiers in combat units?"

Overall, battle soldiers are currently the main combat weapons of various countries, functioning as a combination of main battle tanks and heavy fighter jets from the year 2000. Generally, they are designed to resemble humans and were developed as standard weapons during the period of combating biological invasions from other dimensions

As a result, Lu Yinan was personally selected by Dong Tingbi and immediately joined the elite ranks of the 54th Group Army

Controlling his own body movement, constantly using instantaneous displacement, Lu Yinan aimed to avoid direct confrontation with his opponent as much as possible. The numerical disadvantage could be compensated for by the difference in strength, but the current issue was that Lu Yinan was not necessarily stronger than his opponent in this regard

"Who says there are no benefits? There are rewards," said Dong Ting with a hearty voice, and then he explained with a smile: "Originally, in the military skills competition between our 54th Group Army and the Interstellar Security Forces, those who perform excellently will receive promotions as a reward. You are currently a private and can be directly promoted to second lieutenant. I will also give you other rewards."

What does it mean to be helpless? Just now, if it weren't for those four people holding back, in just thirty seconds, I, Lu Yinan, would definitely have become a lifeless corpse on the ground

Upon hearing Shangguan Shengyu's words, Lu Yinan reluctantly returned the photon military knife and followed the officer who appeared to be in charge of him in the future to the assigned accommodation.

"The four of them were brought here by me to test your abilities and see how your combat qualities measure up," explained Brigadier General Dong Tingbi with a smile.

A round-trip ticket costs several thousand international currency units, which is indeed quite expensive for Lu Yinan. It would be better to save money whenever possible. Moreover, purchasing an interstellar spacecraft is something he has long desired. Based on this consideration, Lu Yinan agreed to participate in the military technology competition with the Interstellar Security Forces

Hearing Lu Yinan's response, Dong Tingbi couldn't help but laugh: "It's not what you think; this is a straightforward matter. Our 54th Group Army is a field army and does not need to carry out special operations"

This time, Major General Dong Tingbi insists that you participate in the hand-to-hand combat event, where various light weapons and standard infantry equipment can be used during the fight. You can try out different options later to see which weapon feels more comfortable to you

Everyone stop, this is the end

What is that matter

What Lu Yinan had in mind was: "If my year-long military training ends, the amount in international currency units in my personal account will probably be just enough to purchase a combat soldier at the internal military price. In the future, I won't need to buy expensive interstellar flight tickets to travel to the Moon and the city of Moonlight in the Book Sphere."

After taking the energy blade, Lu Yinan tried swinging it a few times. This equipment, supplied by the Chinese military, performs well, feeling just right in weight and balance. The hissing sound as it cuts through the air confirms that the photon saber is indeed exceptionally sharp. Unlike ancient swords and blades, which have one or two sharpened edges, the photon saber has eight sharpened sides and blades extending in all directions, allowing it to inflict harm regardless of how it is swung or from which angle.

The headquarters of the 54th Group Army is not far from the Army Training Camp. Soon, the military magnetic transport vehicle arrived at its destination. After a brief explanation from Dong Tingbi, he left, leaving Lu Yinan and four special forces soldiers together.

"It is like this, you have participated in the National Traditional Martial Arts Conference, right?"

Shangguan Shengyu observed Lu Yinan's slash and had to admit that Brigadier General Dong Tingbi's decision to bring this young man in as a substitute was indeed a testament to his keen eye for talent. Based on the duration of the light curtain left in his field of vision from that slash, it could be calculated that he could execute three hundred sword thrusts or slashes within one second, which qualifies him as a master in hand-to-hand combat within special forces. Considering this, there would be no more than ten swordsmanship experts of this caliber in the 54th Group Army.

"You should familiarize yourself with the place first! I will take you for a walk. You three can disperse and rest on your own!" The latter part of Shangguan Shengyu's statement was directed at Liu Chunbo, Dong Yingwei, and Chen Peng.

After receiving the communication, Dong Tingbi did not respond but instead asked, "How did you find his skills after your recent attempt?"

Lu Yinan thought it over and ultimately made a decision that was advantageous for himself, stating: "It is easy to get hurt, and there is not much benefit, so I will not participate"

In order to cope with the attacks from the creatures of the demon realm, humanity has formulated a strategic deployment to confront the enemy beyond Earth, with the primary weapon utilized in outer space being the combat soldiers

Alright, stop trying. I will take you to collect your equipment tomorrow, and then we will head to Training Room 15 to hone your swordsmanship and combat skills. You are not yet ready to step onto the stage of the military skills competition.

Thus, the Chinese side established this military welfare system. The veterans have developed some attachment to the items they have carried with them over the years, and they are indeed much cheaper than those available on the market, approximately one-third of the price. Therefore, this regulation is relatively well-received.

After leaving the army training camp, a member of the special forces sitting next to Dong Tingbi glanced at the young man who was riding back to the military headquarters with them in a military magnetic transport vehicle. He secretly opened the Tianyan communicator and asked, "Advisor Dong, this rookie knows nothing at all. Can he represent us in the military skills competition?"

"I have just entered the regular army and have no military training. Don't assign me any special tasks; I absolutely will not do them." From the tone of this brigadier general, Lu Yinan deduced the reason for being besieged: "My future is to do honorable things in public, and I have no intention of engaging in any sneaky espionage!"

The realistic driving system can accurately reflect the driver's actions onto the combat puppet. Humans are best suited to operate their own bodies, which is why the combat puppet possesses a level of flexibility that cannot be matched by other types of combat machines

After hearing this, Lu Yinan let out a sigh of relief, but still felt puzzled: "What kind of competitions could there be in the military? It would be sufficient to let these special forces participate, as they are all experts in combat, aren't they?"

On the surface, the two armies appear to be amicable, yet privately they are both vying for superiority. The annual friendship military skills competition between the two armies has become the primary battleground for showcasing their prowess.

The military training undertaken by soldiers in the army is far beyond the personal practice of Lu Yinan. In a one-on-one situation, Lu Yinan may have a slim chance of victory, but it also depends on luck

It is easy to imagine that the officers and soldiers of the 54th Group Army, despite cooperating and assisting in official matters with the troops stationed on their own territory, do not harbor any goodwill in their hearts and instinctively possess a sense of resistance.

At this moment, Lu Yinan was brought by Shangguan Shengyu to a training room located within the base. It was quite spacious, and there were no other individuals training inside. Having only heard rumors about the photon saber before, he never imagined that one day he would personally experience it. Now, holding the photon saber in his palm, Lu Yinan excitedly performed a few tricks. Then, gripping the handle of the photon saber with his right hand and supporting it with his left, he assumed an upper stance, channeling his energy and executing a virtual slash.

Lu Yinan is interested in more than just these, as almost all civilian transportation means currently possess only the capability to fly within the atmosphere, lacking interplanetary flight capabilities. In contrast, military combat personnel are equipped with interstellar propulsion, and the ability to operate outside the atmosphere is considered a fundamental function. After all, the purpose of developing such weapons is to conduct operations in outer space, thereby avoiding threats to life and critical infrastructure on Earth

Hello, I am Brigadier General Dong Tingpi, a staff officer at the headquarters of the 54th Group Army

Let's stick with the first place! I just want you, a master of ancient martial arts, to participate in a martial arts competition

What kind of treatment is that for a particular military branch? The youth, who has completely changed his attitude, is more concerned about the benefits that correspond to it

The four special forces members looked at each other in confusion, unsure of how to react. They understood that the so-called solution likely meant sending Lu Yinan to hell. The training in regular armies is certainly rigorous, and to cultivate a qualified soldier in a short period of time inevitably requires some "inhumane" training. It seems that under the coercive pressure of General Qiu Dafeng, the chief of the army group, Chief of Staff Dong Tingbi has resorted to any means necessary. If they do not achieve good results this time, they will not fare well either.

At this point, Shangguan Shengyu pulled out a handle measuring twenty centimeters from beneath his military uniform, gently pressed the button, and a faint blue beam shot out, approximately one hundred fifty centimeters long and roughly the thickness of a human thumb

Hmm! Youth group

Given that neither party in this conversation is one to waste time, Dong Tingbi promptly contacted the person in charge of the Army Training Camp, and soon completed the necessary procedures to temporarily assign Lu Yinan to the combat troops of the 54th Group Army

Known as the Sonic Overlord, Lu Yinan not only accelerates instantly but also changes his movements rapidly. Accustomed to relying on speed to win, Lu Yinan finds himself unable to avoid injury under the siege of his opponents

However, what Lu Yinan is particularly interested in is the welfare of soldiers, as not long ago, the invasion of beings from another dimension led most countries to lift the ban on weapons, allowing civilians to possess non-mass destruction weapons

There are also relevant regulations in China, for example, veterans are allowed to retain the weapons issued to them during their service, and they can purchase these second-hand weapons at a very low price

However, the prototype of the combat soldier is the battle armor developed from space suits, and it currently faces a divergence between miniaturization and heavy-duty designs. Naturally, the so-called multifunctional models also have a significant market.

Is there still a need to choose? Of course, it is the combat soldier unit

Dong Ting did not turn his head: "As long as you have the capability, the practical combat will be handled by the four of you. Additionally, spend the next two months training him well to improve his practical skills as much as possible. If there are any issues, I will resolve them."

Choose as you wish

Since the invasion of extraterrestrial beings from the Fourth Space, an international agreement has been reached that every "Gateway to Space" must be guarded by interstellar security forces

Humanoid combat armored soldiers are considered one of the main battle weapons today, possessing the capability for interstellar flight. After being equipped with weapon systems, their combat effectiveness is remarkably impressive

As a new type of fighter jet, the development of individual combat weapons for space has led to the creation of a new fighter jet designed in the human form, due to the advancement of realistic piloting systems

In fact, Dong Tingbi did not have high expectations for Lu Yinan; the reason for specifically seeking him out was also out of necessity. The location of the 54th Group Army is near China's only "Space Gate," an instrument used to open dimensional rifts.

What weapons and equipment can be used, after all

Clearing his throat, someone spoke: "From now on, you will be with us. Let's get acquainted first. My name is Shangguan Shengyu, and these are Liu Chunbo, Dong Yingwei, and Chen Peng."