I fabricated myths to guide the revival of spiritual energy.

Location: A top-secret comprehensive training base in the Southern Theater Command

[Time: Annual All-Army Special Operations Competition, Day 1, 09:30 AM]

In July, the air in the south was sweltering, like a giant steamer. Although it was still morning, the concrete on the training field was already gleaming white from the heat, and the air in the distance was slightly distorted by the high temperature.

However, what's hotter than the weather is the palpable tension and energy on the training field.

Beneath the massive platform, twelve formations stood in perfect unison, like twelve unsheathed swords. They were elite special forces units from various army groups—"Black Tiger," "Sharp Sword," "Night Hawk," "Sea Shark"... Behind each codename lay countless glorious exploits forged with blood on the border, in the jungle, and on the islands.

These soldiers had dark skin, sharp eyes, and bulging muscles beneath their tactical vests that exuded explosive power. Standing there, they were like a pack of beasts poised to pounce; though they didn't speak, sparks flew between them when their eyes met.

"Old Zhao, I heard your Bureau 749 sent people here this time too?"

On the platform, a burly officer with the rank of major general and a towering stature put down his binoculars and turned to look at a middle-aged man sitting in the corner.

The speaker was Li Yunlong, the deputy commander of the Nth Army Group, known for his fiery temper and fierce protectiveness. The "Old Zhao" he mentioned was none other than Zhao Feng, who had just been "fooled" by Gu Qing and was now brimming with confidence.

Zhao Feng held up an enamel mug that looked like it had been used for many years, blew on the tea leaves floating on the water, and said slowly, "Commander Li, we didn't send anyone, we came to take first place."

"puff--"

Li Yunlong nearly spat out the mouthful of cold water he had just drunk. Several division and brigade commanders watching the ceremony couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Old Zhao, Old Zhao, what kind of secret investigation bureau did you go to work for? You haven't learned anything else, but your bragging skills have certainly improved." Li Yunlong pointed to the most conspicuous "Black Tiger" special forces formation below the stage. "See that leader? That's Wang Gang, last year's All-Army Combat King, and the All-Army record holder for the 5km armed cross-country run. What do you have to compete with him? Your compasses and peach wood swords?"

A burst of good-natured laughter rang out from around them.

In the eyes of orthodox military personnel, the 749 Bureau, though high-ranking and mysterious, was ultimately engaged in "feudal superstition" and its actual military skills were merely for show.

Zhao Feng wasn't annoyed, he just smiled faintly: "Old Li, don't speak too confidently. It'll get windy later, be careful not to bite off more than you can chew."

Just then, the order to assemble came over the loudspeaker.

"Attention all participating units! Entry complete! Now, please welcome 'Special Operations Team Zero'!"

brush!

Thousands of eyes in the entire venue turned to the entrance passage on the far right. Everyone was curious about what kind of extraordinary individuals the "Zero Unit," which was rumored to be incredibly powerful and had an absurdly high level of secrecy, was.

However, when that team came out, the entire stadium fell into a brief silence.

Immediately following was an uncontrollable commotion and whispers.

The three hundred men who emerged were not wearing tactical vests, Kevlar helmets, or even carrying any firearms. They were dressed in uniform, loose-fitting black training uniforms without any rank insignia—the kind that old men practicing Tai Chi in a park would wear.

What's even more surprising is their appearance.

Special forces soldiers, due to years of exposure to wind and sun and high-intensity training, mostly have rough, dark skin, and their faces are full of vicissitudes and determination.

But what about this group of people?

Each of them had fair skin, even with an eerie, warm glow, as if... they had just had a perfect facial. Their muscles weren't exaggeratedly bulging like those of traditional warriors; instead, they appeared somewhat loose, even "frail."

Lei Long, who was walking at the front, was originally a dark-skinned man, but after half a month of "marrow cleansing," he looked like he had shed a layer of skin and looked like an office clerk.

"Is this Unit Zero?"

"Are you kidding me? Which performing arts troupe wandered onto the wrong set?"

"Look at that kid's face, it's even more delicate than my wife's! Can it withstand any damage? Will he cry if I punch him?"

Wang Gang, the captain of the Black Tiger Special Forces, looked at Lei Long standing next to him with an undisguised look of contempt in his eyes.

The two were actually old acquaintances; they had even shared a bunk bed during reconnaissance training.

"Hey, Lao Lei." Wang Gang tilted his head and mocked in a low voice, "I heard you got poached by Captain Zhao to learn some kind of unparalleled martial arts? How did you end up like this? So effeminate."

Lei Long stared straight ahead, his hands hanging naturally at his sides, his breathing so steady it was almost imperceptible.

In the past, Lei Long would have already cursed and swore upon hearing such words. But now, he felt completely unmoved by Wang Gang's sarcasm.

This feeling is wonderful.

It's like an elephant watching an ant waving its claws at its feet.

"Wang Gang," Lei Long's voice was soft, yet it clearly reached Wang Gang's ears, "Save your energy, so you don't lose too badly later."

"What did you say?!" Wang Gang's eyes widened, and he was about to explode when the referee raised his starting pistol.

"First item! 800-meter special obstacle course coordinated assault!"

"Rules: The team that gets approval from all members in the shortest time wins!"

This is not only a contest of physical strength, but also an ultimate test of explosive power, coordination, and teamwork. For special forces soldiers, this is a fundamental skill and the most effective way to differentiate themselves.

"All hands on deck—"

The twelve teams lined up at the starting line.

The other teams adopted the standard starting stance: leaning forward, muscles taut, like taut bows. The soldiers breathed heavily, their eyes fixed on the obstacles ahead.

Only Unit 0 has a unique style.

Three hundred people stood loosely, some even gently swinging their unusually long, muscular arms. They weren't tense; instead, they seemed to be...relaxing?

"What are these guys doing?" Li Yunlong on the platform frowned. "Not gathering their strength at the start? Are they trying to take a stroll?"

Zhao Feng took a sip of tea and said softly, "Because it's not necessary."

"Bang!"

The starting gun fired, and red smoke rose into the air.

Almost at the same instant the gun fired, the other eleven teams charged out like cannonballs, their roars deafening and their footsteps striking the ground like muffled thunder.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Wang Gang took the lead, and the Black Tiger Special Forces were extremely fast, covering twenty meters in the blink of an eye.

But the next second, terrified screams erupted from the stands.

"Holy crap! That's a person?!"

Li Yunlong suddenly stood up, dropping the binoculars he was holding onto the table.

On the far right side of the track, there were no heavy footsteps.

There was only one wind there.

No, it's three hundred gusts of wind.

Lei Long and his team moved.

Instead of pushing off the ground like the others, they lightly touched the ground with their toes.

It really was just a light touch.

She felt like a weightless feather, or a swallow flying close to the ground, and "floated" away in an instant.

It wasn't running, it was plundering.

This completely violates the common sense of mechanics!

When a normal person runs, they have to fight against gravity and friction with every step, causing their muscles to contract violently. But these people maintain a strange streamlined body shape while moving, as if air resistance does not exist for them.

Just three seconds.

It really was three seconds.

Unit 0, which started later, overtook the Black Tiger Special Forces team, which was at the forefront, by a full ten meters!

"This is impossible!" Wang Gang was sprinting at full speed when he felt a cool breeze pass by. He turned his head and saw only Lei Long's "sissy" back.

How is this possible? My 10-meter sprint time is 8 seconds! How could he be faster than me? And without making a sound?

However, the real shock was only just beginning.

The first obstacle ahead is a 2.5-meter-high wall.

For special forces soldiers, the standard procedure for overcoming this obstacle is: take a running start, push off the wall with one foot, grab the edge of the wall with both hands, pull up, and flip over. The entire sequence of movements is fluid and takes about two to three seconds.

The Black Tigers had already rushed to the base of the wall, roaring as they leaped up, their arm veins bulging, gripping the edge of the wall tightly.

And the adjacent track number 0...

Lei Long rushed to the base of the wall.

He did not slow down.

They didn't reach out to tear down the wall.

There wasn't even a noticeable take-off motion.

When he was still a meter away from the wall, his body dipped slightly, and then, like a spring compressed to its limit, he suddenly sprang up!

Instead of jumping upwards, it "ran" diagonally upwards!

Snapped!Snapped!

He tapped his toes twice on the vertical wall.

Body Strengthening Techniques: Cloud Ladder Leap.

Three hundred warriors, like three hundred black nimble cats, lightly touched the vertical wall with their feet, their bodies almost parallel to the ground, and then performed a graceful front flip—

Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!

They jumped over the 2.5-meter-high wall!

His hands never touched the wall!

He landed silently, his knees barely bending to cushion the impact, and continued forward using the momentum.

Quiet.

A deathly silence.

Throughout the entire training ground, apart from the heavy impacts and panting sounds from the Black Tiger Team and other teams as they climbed over obstacles, not a single one of the thousands of officers and soldiers in the stands made a sound.

Everyone gaped, their eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.

If their starting speed could be explained by "gift," then this "wall-climbing" move completely shattered their materialistic worldview.

"Light...lightness skill?"

Li Yunlong, his hand trembling, pointed downwards and said, "Old Zhao, tell me the truth, did you equip them with spring-loaded legs? Or exoskeletons?"

"No exoskeleton, only internal energy." Zhao Feng pointed to his dantian, his tone carrying an undisguised pride. "This is the deep development of human potential. Old Li, times have changed."

On the field, Wang Gang had just jumped over the high wall, but stumbled when he landed because he was moving too fast.

He looked up and was completely dumbfounded.

On the log bridge ahead, Lei Long and his group were performing "water walking".

What should have been a delicate balance on a log bridge was like a highway to these people. They didn't even spread their arms for balance; their bodies were straight, and their steps were so fast they seemed like phantoms, rushing across with a whooshing sound.

Low-pile netting.

This is the most grueling project, requiring you to crawl forward under low barbed wire fences filled with gravel and mud. It's not only slow, but also painful.

Wang Gang gritted his teeth and fell to the ground, crawling forward desperately with his hands and feet.

But out of the corner of his eye, he saw a scene that made him question the meaning of life.

In the mud next to them, the members of Unit 0 were indeed "crawling".

But their climbing method is not human climbing at all!

Their bodies seemed boneless, pressed tightly against the ground, their spines twisting with incredible agility, like snakes.

Body Strengthening Techniques: The Movement of the Spirit Snake.

With each twist, the body slides forward several meters.

That speed was even faster than when he ran on flat ground!

Moreover, because of their protective inner energy (although it was still very weak), the sharp pebbles couldn't even scratch their skin, and their clothes didn't even get caught on the barbs of the barbed wire.

One minute and twenty seconds.

When Wang Gang, covered in sweat and panting, climbed out of the deep pit, ready to make his final sprint.

He discovered this in despair.

The finish line was already packed with people.

The three hundred "pretty boys" dressed in black training uniforms were standing there in neat rows.

They had no mud on them.

There was no sweat.

Even her hair wasn't messed up.

Lei Long stood at the front of the line, glancing down at his watch. Seeing Wang Gang rushing towards him, he spoke in that same calm, infuriating tone:

"One minute and fifty-eight seconds. Captain Wang, you've regressed since last year."

puff.

Wang Gang's legs buckled, and he knelt directly on the finish line.

It wasn't from being tired, it was from being scared.

One minute and twenty seconds...

Everyone lasts one minute and twenty seconds!

What does this mean?

The current best record in the entire army is one minute and thirty-five seconds, and that is a solo record!

This group of people punctured the world record like it was toilet paper, and it was three hundred people puncturing it together!

On the platform, Li Yunlong looked at the stopwatch in his hand, which showed a time of 1 minute and 21 seconds.

He swallowed, feeling his throat go dry.

"Cheating...this must be cheating..."

A chief of staff standing nearby muttered to himself, his eyes vacant.

"Cheating?"

Zhao Feng sneered, stood up, and downed his tea in one gulp. "Check equipment! Check doping! Check all you want! If you find a single violation, I, Zhao Feng, will immediately take off this uniform and get out!"

"If they can't find it..."

Zhao Feng's gaze swept over the dumbfounded generals on the stage, and his voice became incredibly loud:

"Then let us, esteemed leaders, admit that our previous definition of 'strength' was far too narrow!"

At this moment, the wind on the training field seemed to have stopped.

Everyone was looking at the black-clad team.

They stood quietly, forming a stark and brutal contrast with the special forces soldiers around them who were still struggling at the finish line, panting heavily and covered in mud.

Those are beings from a different dimension.

It was a crushing defeat on a level of life itself.

Meanwhile, in the distant Gu family's old house.

Gu Qing looked at the numbers jumping wildly on the system panel and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

[Confidence +1000]

[Confidence +2000]

[Confidence +5000]

"Be awestruck, be terrified, be worshipful."

Gu Qing whispered, "This is the effect I want. Only by completely shattering your pride will you kneel devoutly before this 'myth'."

"However, this is just an appetizer."

"The real highlight is the hand-to-hand combat and shooting that follows."

"I want you to know that cultivating immortality is not just about running fast."