Chapter Thirty-Three: Such a Promotion

“There is another martial technique called the Dragon Chant Formula. When unleashed, it’s as if a tornado sweeps through the surroundings—gales howl, making it nearly impossible to stand. The thunderous roar you heard was caused when he used the move ‘Turn the Seas and Rivers’ to stir a vortex, soaring a hundred meters into the air, and then followed with ‘Dragon’s Fury’ to blast the currents outward, producing that immense shockwave and deafening sound.”

Those gathered in the conference room listened to Sun Jianguo’s vivid account with rapt attention, as if hearing an epic from a fantasy novel. At first, most dismissed it as impossible. But the longer they listened, the more real it all seemed. After all, no matter how audacious Sun Jianguo might be, he would never dare deceive the ten military titans assembled here.

Liu Yandong, who had been silently listening all along, entertained entirely different thoughts. He himself was a master of ancient martial arts, of high Earth rank. One phrase echoed ceaselessly in his mind: “True energy unleashed, soaring through the air, slaying foes from a hundred meters away—such is a god-level master.” The more he considered it, the more excited he became. With a trembling voice, he asked, “Jianguo, are you certain of what you just said? Do you have any proof?”

Sun Jianguo knew this superior was also a martial artist. Judging from his excitement, Sun could guess he had some inkling of Liu Fan’s true strength. He managed a wry smile and replied, “Sir, I wouldn’t dare fool you about something like this. If you don’t believe me, you can go to the camp and see for yourself—there are still deep scars crisscrossing the ground, and a whole swath of forest outside the site has been flattened and sunk in.”

“So it’s true.” At this, Pang Penghui seemed to recall something. He exchanged a glance with Liu Yandong, who nodded in response. At their level in the military, they were well aware that there existed a select group in China endowed with extraordinary abilities, such as those in the Dragon Division.

Now, both men were eager to meet Liu Fan. In unison, they asked, “Where is he now?”

The others, meanwhile, couldn’t comprehend why the two giants of the Eastern Military District were so visibly unsettled. Who wouldn’t be? This was a god-level master—a being unseen for centuries, almost divine in existence.

“Oh, he’s downstairs at the moment. Heh, should I go invite him up now?” Sun Jianguo had never seen these two so flustered before. But he understood. A god-level master—so young, too—who wouldn’t be in awe? Secretly, he felt a tinge of pride; it was thanks to his own foresight that he could call such a person his brother.

“Don’t just stand there grinning—go and invite him up. Did you hear me?” Liu Yandong said sternly, displeased by Sun Jianguo’s frivolous demeanor.

Seeing the superior’s expression, Sun Jianguo immediately sobered, saluted, and briskly left the room.

“Let me warn you all—when he arrives, keep your tempers in check. Such a person is not someone you can afford to offend.” Liu Yandong worried that if anyone angered Liu Fan, such talent would slip through their fingers, and there would be no remedy for regret.

Though the others couldn’t quite understand Liu Yandong’s behavior, they trusted he meant them no harm and nodded in agreement. In truth, Sun Jianguo’s earlier tale had already unnerved them; if this man truly possessed such martial prowess, provoking him would be tantamount to seeking death. None who had risen to such heights were fools.

Soon, under Sun Jianguo’s guidance, Liu Fan entered the conference room. Instantly, twenty pairs of eyes fixed on him, wide as oxen’s, as if trying to see through him with a single glance. It was hard to believe that this strikingly composed youth was a peerless master.

“Ahem…” Suddenly being stared at by so many people, even with his current cultivation, Liu Fan felt slightly uneasy. He coughed lightly to break the silence.

“May I ask why I was summoned here?” Irritated by being scrutinized for so long, Liu Fan’s tone was curt and unyielding.

“Ah! Oh, yes—my apologies for our earlier rudeness, sir. Please forgive us.” Liu Yandong was the first to recover, realizing his lapse in decorum, and promptly offered an apology.

To him, this was only proper—among martial artists, strength commands respect. But in the eyes of the others, his gesture was astonishing. A commander-in-chief of a great military district apologizing to a young man, who in turn seemed barely interested.

This scene made everyone reevaluate their approach to Liu Fan. To win the friendship of such a young, peerless master was, without doubt, the wisest course. Their gazes shifted again, but Liu Fan remained unmoved, leaving the room in a state of awkward silence.

Yet these were all seasoned veterans, adept at reading people. As the saying goes, “the older the wiser.” Liu Yandong quickly collected himself and continued, “Heh, the reason for inviting you here, Mr. Liu, is twofold: first, to thank you for your contribution to our district; second, out of curiosity about what kind of person could so decisively offer up two supreme martial techniques. We simply wished to meet you in person.”

“Oh? Now that you’ve seen me, are you disappointed, Commander Liu?” Liu Fan, wanting to see their intentions, replied with a hint of mischief.

“No, no! Though we’d heard you were young, we never imagined you were this young. I’m merely astonished, that’s all. With your talent, Mr. Liu, how could anyone possibly be disappointed? You must be joking.” Liu Yandong, sensing the undertone in Liu Fan’s words, hurried to appease him.

“I doubt you invited me here just to shower me with compliments, Commander Liu. I’m a straightforward man—if you have something to say, just say it.” By now, Liu Fan had guessed their motive: they wished to recruit him to serve the country. But since attaining immortality, he had long regarded fame and wealth as worthless.

“Since you are so forthright, allow me to be direct: I wish to appoint you as the chief instructor of the district, with the rank of senior colonel. Would you accept?” Liu Yandong had assumed that offering high office and generous reward would sway Liu Fan, but the young man’s response left him utterly nonplussed.

“Am I not already contributing to the country? I’ve agreed to help Brother Sun train the special forces for several days, hasn’t that sufficed?” Clearly, even the rank of senior colonel meant nothing to Liu Fan. If not to avoid unnecessary trouble, he wouldn’t even have accepted the rank of lieutenant colonel.

“No, I fear you misunderstand, Mr. Liu. I mean serving the country wholeheartedly, not just in name.” Growing anxious, Liu Yandong hastened to explain, realizing things were not progressing as he’d hoped.

“I value freedom, not wishing to be shackled by too many ties. What I seek is the natural path—something you, as a martial artist of the acquired realm, cannot comprehend.” Liu Fan didn’t blame Liu Yandong for his patriotism, but simply offered these enigmatic words.

At this, Liu Yandong froze, a flash of shock in his eyes. The more he pondered Liu Fan’s words, the more astonished he became. So that was the mindset of those who pursue the Dao—no wonder they are so indifferent to worldly matters. He no longer insisted, but still asked, somewhat unwillingly, “If you do not wish it, I won’t press you. But perhaps you could accept the chief instructor title in name. You wouldn’t need to be present at all times—just lend a hand in emergencies, that’s all.”

Since Liu Yandong had made his intention so clear, Liu Fan didn’t refuse further. After all, a higher military title could spare him some worldly trouble and might even be useful on occasion. He replied, “Since you are so gracious, Commander Liu, it would be petty of me to decline further. But don’t expect me to intervene in every matter.”

“Of course. We would never trouble a master of your caliber without serious cause, ha ha.” With this, the matter was settled to everyone’s satisfaction. Liu Fan’s rank leapt from lieutenant colonel to senior colonel, just one step short of general.

Although the others didn’t grasp the full meaning of the exchange between Liu Fan and Liu Yandong, they all understood that this youth had, in mere days, risen from university student to senior colonel—a meteoric ascent unmatched in history.

Afterwards, at Liu Yandong’s invitation, Liu Fan joined them for dinner, drinking late into the night before returning to his quarters in a drunken stupor—though the drunkenness was merely feigned. Otherwise, he could have kept drinking until sunrise. And thus, the first day of Liu Fan’s military training came to a close.