The Favored Son of Heaven

The four fighters’ speeds were too fast. They decreased their speeds in order to turn around and attack Qin Fen, but they just so happened to be hit in the buttocks by heat-rays in this moment.

The four loud sounds of explosions happened near simultaneously. Everyone else rubbed their eyes subconsciously, in disbelief that a rookie in aerial combat had performed to aerial combat techniques back to back and eliminated five enemy fighters.

If it had been a genuine ace pilot, then naturally it would be easily to eliminate five non-professional fighter pilots. However, none of the two thousand recruits had undergone professional training. At most, they had done passable virtual training for fun. It was really hard to find one recruit who can handle a one versus five situation, especially a recruit who could continuously perform evasive actions against the pursuit of four enemy fighters. Qin Fen’s performance could be said to be near perfection!

The database quickly performed analysis on Qin Fen’s aerial combat data and transmitted the result onto the surveillance monitor before the many seasoned soldiers.

“The second best pilot has been discovered,” The digitally synthesized voice reported without a hint of emotional fluctuation. All the squad leaders were shocked at this information.

A string of evaluations appeared on screen: His operating technique is on the level of an ace pilot. As for the application of aerial combat techniques, the pilot does not have accurate control of his aircraft’s drive power, causing a large waste of energy. His energy consumption for the aircraft is two-fold of an ace pilot’s. His accelerated wear-and-tear rate of the aircraft’s components is two-fold of an ace pilot’s.

“Ol’ Squad Leader, was he just faking it yesterday?”

“No one would fake their skills to be in last place, right?”

Squad Leader Hao had just made some remarks when he inadvertently swept his gaze on the screen to a very bizarre evasive maneuver that Qin Fen performed. He had rushed past his enemies heat-rays and had launched fire against them at the same time, ensuring their destruction.

“That….” Squad Leader Hao gaped slightly. Qin Fen’s evasive maneuver made him think of the Shaolin Arhat Fist’s Dragon Guard!

Incorporating martial arts into operating a fighter? Squad Leader Hao doubted his own eyes; there must be something wrong with them. It was impossible for a fighter to perform the complete Dragon Guard, but the intent was extremely similar!

Squad Leader Hao stopped talking. He stared tensely at the screen, carefully observing any and all combat movements that Qin Fen performed.

In this virtual aerial combat, Qin Fen’s series of attacks soon caused the recruits to understand something. Yesterday’s rookie had become today’s fighter king!

Qin Fen locked onto the target with the highest detection radius out of all the aircrafts. It was the comprehensive attacker, the Nezha Flying Saucer Space Fighter.

Seeing Qin Fen pounce at it, the Nezha Flying Saucer Space Fighter turned and ran. Though it was an comprehensive attacker, it was not afraid to run even though it couldn’t go on the offensive in this state.

Two heat-seeker missiles shot out from the rear of the Nezha Flying Saucer Space Fighter. Qin Fen pushed forward the thrust lever once more, and the fighter could be seen to tremor slightly in the air. The two missiles brushed against the wings of his fighter before turning around and locking onto Qin Fen once more.

“What kind of aerial combat style is this?” said a squad leader who liked to hang around the aerial combat network. He looked at this evasive maneuver for aerial combat, one he never seen before, with utter amazement.

“The Arhat Cloud Walk….” Squad Leader Hao subconsciously answered.

“Arhat Cloud Walk?” The squad leader hao didn’t have a response for a time. He was stupefied for a moment before realizing that it was the weightless evasive maneuver from the fitness exercise of fist forms. “Ol’ Squad Leader, are you joking? This is aerial combat. It isn’t the land combat that you’re so good at.”

Squad Leader Hao shook his head in silence. Qin Fen had performed a combination maneuverer of a sudden acceleration together with a dodge. He was left with this thought in mind.

Squad Leader Hao carefully observed Qin Fen’s fighter. The fighter had gradually changed into something else in his eyes. It was now an expert of the martial dao who could fly, and it was using the Shaolin Arhat Fist as it struck an enemy aircraft down from the skies.

“It isn’t impossible.”

A voice of ample confidence resounded at the monitoring room’s entrance. All the squad leaders turned around at the same time and bellowed with their chests stuck high, “Hello, Battalion Commander!”

“Hello, everyone.”

The battalion commander that walked in had a skin tone of wheat. His arms were thick and sturdy, and he give off the feeling of an immovable mountain just by standing. Zhang Jianshan was like his name, an unyielding mountain.

“I heard my old squad leader talk about something a few days ago. Five years ago, he had encountered a special recruit in the military.” The battalion commander slowly said, “I heard that the recruit’s piloting style was similar to martial arts when he played in the aerial combat network. He had no losses in his battle record back then. The only unfortunate thing was that he only played for three days before getting bored, never logging on to the aerial combat network again.”

“I heard of this too.” Squad Leader Hao opened his mouth, “Speaking of which, I even met the kid before. Wait! Can he really be….”

Squad Leader Hao suddenly froze, as if he had been struck by lightning. He dashed out of the room and hurried to Qin Fen’s sleeping quarters.

The seven recruits were still in the aerial combat network when Sky Battle Network looked at Qin Fen stupefied. A whisper came out of his mouth, “Looks a bit similar. Actually he does look similar! I seem to recall that the other kid’s last name was Qin as well.”

Squad Leader Hao’s throat squirmed, “Don’t… Don’t tell me… They’re brothers….”

Squad Leader Hao clenched his fists tight as he whispered over and over, “No wonder. No wonder I had a sense of déjà vu when I first met him.”

Squad Leader Hao pulled a chair up before the bed. He sat, quietly waiting. So it turned out that the super recruit from five years ago actually had a brother?

An hour passed, and the aerial combat training finally finished.

The recruits took off their helmets, revealing faces of severe exhaustion.

Even though it was virtual aerial combat, it still needed one’s complete mental focus. When faced with added punishment in the form of training if ranked in the bottom two-hundred, the recruits could only go all out in preserving their rankings.

Quite a few recruits fell straight asleep after taking off their helmets.

On the other hand, Qin Fen had a face of excitement when he took off his helmet. His battle record had shifted from last place to first place, an enormous difference. He was in high spirits and was positively glowing. He didn’t feel even an iota of weariness.

Most especially was what happened after he accidentally used the Dragon Guard in aerial combat. He discovered that he could use the fighter to mimic a portion of the martial dao, a discovery that was akin to discovering a new continent. He experimented repeatedly, and he succeeded repeatedly, shooting down all who had struck him yesterday.

The recruits in the same sleeping quarters looked at Qin Fen’s bed as a first reaction after taking off their helmets. Everyone felt utter shock. Yesterday’s rookie had become so strong in just a day.

Wisps of suspicion flashed through Du Peng’s eyes before all the recruits discovered the presence of Squad Leader Hao.

“Hello, everyone.” Squad Leader Hao smiled as he waved his hand, “Everyone has had a tiresome day, so rest. I came here to looking for Qin Fen for a chat.”

Looking for me? Qin Fen was a bit suspicious. Was the squad leader going to talk about swapping pointers again?

“Come to the deck for a chat with me.”

Squad Leader Hao didn’t give Qin Fen any time to refuse. He had already walked out the door.

Qin Fen, still extremely excited, wouldn’t be able to truly fall asleep any time soon. He put on his military uniform and arrived on the deck.

The night’s ocean breeze was a lot cooler than the morning’s the Dragon Elephant Prajna Art circulated through his entire body, allowing Qin Fen to not feel the chill of the ocean breeze.

Squad Leader Hao thought for a moment before cutting to the chase, “Qin Fen, do you have an older brother?”

“Huh?” Qin Fen was a bit stunned, but he still nodded, “Reporting as ordered, sir! I do!”

“What’s your brother’s name?”

Qin Fen hesitated. Squad Leader Hao would not ask such a thing for no reason. Could it be that Squad Leader Hao had information on his brother? Or did his brother do something and was on a secret wanted list? Did Squad Leader Hao want to pry some information from him?

Thoughts flashed through his head before he laughed. If his brother really was on a secret wanted list, the military wouldn’t come asking him for information.

“Qin Zhan.”

“So he really is!” A smile slowly bloomed on Squad Leader Hao’s face. The super recruit from five years ago was called Qin Zhan as well.

“Squad Leader, sir. Do you know my brother?” Qin Fen could clearly feel the changes in Squad Leader Hao’s mood. He asked, “Do you know where my brother is right now?”

Squad Leader Hao casually leaned against the ship’s railing. “I know of someone. I don’t know if he’s your brother, but his name is also Qin Zhan.”

Qin Fen thought for a moment before ultimately taking out the picture of his brother and himself. “Sir, is this the Qin Zhan you know?”

Squad Leader Hao’s eyes lit up. He spoke with a very firm tone, “There’s no doubt! That’s him!”

“Then, do you know where’s my brother?” Qin Fen was a bit excited. Whether it was going to university or joining the military, it was all for the sake of finding his brother, who had suddenly disappeared. He had to find his brother.

A clue suddenly appeared today. How could he not be excited?

“I don’t know.” Squad Leader Hao shook his head, “He’s just like a shooting star. An extraordinary talent suddenly blossoming among the recruits. He vanished from thin air before the ground level officers could report his data up the chain.”

“Vanished?” Qin Fen froze, stunned.

“Yeah.” Squad Leader Hao exhaled deeply, “Your brother is a genius beyond geniuses. Any gun, artillery, fighter, or mobile armor… he just needed to put his hand to it and he would be the strongest among the recruits. He could become the ace of any of the special forces. Not only that, but his individual martial strength as well his understanding of his opponent’s martial strength surpassed that of what a twenty year old youngster should possess….”

Having spoken to this point, Squad Leader Hao gave Qin Fen a glance, “Back then, your brother’s squad, back when he enlisted, also had a meteor level expert as their squad leader. He was different from you. He challenged his squad leader and took him down with three punches and two kicks. You are far from your brother when it comes to this.”

Qin Fen’s blood began to boil from his excited spirits as he heard Squad Leader Hao talk about his brother. Anyone would feel a sensation of pride bubble forth when hearing their own brother described to be so strong. Qin Fen and Qin Zhan;s relationship was beyond that of ordinary brothers. The feeling of pride cause his entire body to shake.

He had joined the military in order to survive, yet he actually received information about his brother. Qin Fen began to look forward to life in Australia’s boot camp. Perhaps he could find out more information pertaining to his brother over there. Anything was possible.

“Kid, you must think it’s weird, right?” Squad Leader Hao looked at Qin Fen, “Weird as to why I’m telling you all this. Actually, there’s nothing weird about it. Strictly speaking, I still owe your brother a favor. Since I can’t meet him, it’s the same if I pass the favor onto you.”

“Squad leader, can you beat my brother?” Qin Fen was a bit curious. He could sense that Squad Leader Hao was considered an expert among the meteor level.

“Me?” Squad Leader Hao smiled as he shook his head over and over, “Kid, do you know what kind of favor I owe your big brother? I had been unable to make even an inch of progress after entering the four-star level no matter how hard I tried. It was your big brother who showed me the way. It was his pointers that allowed me to advance my martial strength without end to this day.”

Pointers from five years ago still lit the way for Squad Leader Hao up until now? Qin Fen didn’t know whether to think of his brother as being too strong or to suspect Squad Leader Hao’s aptitude was too poor.

“Kid.” Squad Leader Hao patted Qin Fen on the shoulder, “Since you’ve joined the military, at the very least you shouldn’t cause your brother to lose face, right?”

Qin Fen subconsciously nodded. Even though he wasn’t a shock genius like his big brother, it wouldn’t do for him to do things too ordinarily.

“Great.” Squad Leader Hao smiled, “Kid, your big brother challenged his squad leader back in the day. Shouldn’t you do the same?”

Qin Fen stared dazed at the amiable smile of Squad Leader Hao. If Squad Leader Hao hadn’t talked about Qin Zhan for his sake, then Qin Fen would have suspected that this person was deliberately weaving an alluring lie just to get Qin Fen to fight.

“You should have a three-star’s strength, right?” Squad Leader Hao jumped off the ship’s railing and extended a hand, “Relax! I won’t use strength exceeding the level of three-star when I fight you. How bout it?”

Qin Fen’s excitement had yet to settle from the aerial combat, and his blood was still boiling from hearing news about his brother. Qin Fen stirred emotionally.

He had only fought people on the two-star strength for the past few days on the Sky Martial Battle Network in order to make money. With the reactions of three-star strength, fighting those on the two-star strength was truly boring.

“Okay….”

Qin Fen had just said ‘okay’ when Squad Leader Hao’s sharp hostile intent and body came pouncing over. His military uniform screamed under the gale of the ocean breeze, as he spread apart his arms, stepped with his legs, and bent his waist. The spine in his back undulated without end as power followed bones and muscles to be unleashed into the hands. The joints of his clenched five fingers vibrated, causing the air to ripple. The Shaolin Tiger Claw Hand that Manager Zhang had displayed was utilized by Squad Leader Hao’s hands, its might as heavy as two heavens.

This sudden attack was practically a sneak attack. In an instant, it pressured Qin Fen into wanting to dodge before engaging in attack, but he was unable to do these actions at all. He had no other option but to resist it head on.

One must strike the tiger’s momentum when striking the tiger!

With a treading step, Qin Fen bent his knees, revealing the Shaolin Firm Bridge and Horse Stance within his movement. The bones of his back crackled and rang over and over as power rushed through his spine to lift his arm. His arm, akin to a hatchet splitting a mountain, shook apart all resistance in the air with its vibration. One arm smashed down, firm and earthshaking.

Squad Leader Hao’s eyes glowed explosively brighter as Qin Fen’s arm smashed the weakest point of his tiger claw hand. If he were to be struck dead on, the least that could happen was a fracture, while the worse was becoming a cripple! The tiger claw hand possessed an imposing momentum akin to a fierce tiger. Changing the move midway would cause its might to weaken. Chaotic energy coursed within his body as the speed of his claws was raised in an attempt to make Qin Fen miss striking his weak point.

Claw and arm collided in an exploding rumble, as if the air exploded part. Muffled ringing lingered from the collision of muscles. The clash caused the air around them to generate a helix of power, and the two men’s arms were akin to broken water pipers for they were instantly drenched by sweat. The clothes that covered the hands and arms whistled, and ultimately their sleeves were torn.

Squad Leader Hao was much older than Qin Fen. His skills and power naturally ran deep. In comparison, Qin Fen was much younger.

However, the Dragon Elephant Prajna Art was incomparable in terms of strength. Ever since entering the three-star level, Qin Fen had never used his full strength. Right now he was using his full strength in this blood-racing moment. The muscles of his entire arm bulged as they faintly pulsed without end, instantly displaying the limits of explosive strength.

Squad Leader Hao’s claws felt like they made contact with granite. A faint ache was felt in his palm, and his two eyebrows shot up simultaneously. He hadn’t been able to completely avoid his weak point getting struck. Qin Fen’s had taken the upper hand with a single move.

Squad Leader Hao’s right foot arced in a buckling step. His body neither swayed nor shook as his withdrawn tiger claws extended out again. This was none other than the Tiger Reversal Form of the Shaolin Tiger Claw Hand!

Qin Fen’s eyes glowed explosively brighter. Unleashing that one strike made him feel as if the bones of his body were completely relaxed and open. He yelled, ‘comfortable!’ in his heart, and he made a thundering step into the Shaolin Horse Stance with his body, his two feet stomping the ground akin to a galloping war horse. He unleashed a strike of the most ordinary Tiger Heart Ripper.

Squad Leader Hao took in a sharp and cold breath. Qin Fen’s strike was the most ordinary of moves, yet it was actually able to capture the essence of the Shaolin Arhat Fist. Aiming long and striking far was displayed brilliantly and thoroughly, completely exceeding his imagination.

His suppressed power surged ferociously once more, and in the instant that the Tiger Reversal Form trembled upon Qin Fen’s fist and arm, the suppressed power was raised from the three-star level to the four-star level.

The difference of a single level could crush one to death. One could only stare helplessly in face of the difference in power!

Qin Fen’s figure swayed as he retracted his unleashed fist. His struck arm ached dully.

Squad Leader Hao’s high-strung nerves finally relaxed. Qin Fen’s fists could be said to be the apex of three-star strength. Qin Fen had grasped the perfect timing in unleashing the Tiger Heart Ripper such that he was able to cover the weak point of his attack. If Squad Leader Hao had used three-star strength to clash with that fist, then he would have been placed in a complete disadvantage. It would have been impossible to counter attack if he wanted to.

Squad Leader Hao’s face was burning from breaking their agreement. He had underestimated his opponent a bit. He thought that he would have held the upper hand thanks to his ample experience. He never thought that the teenager before his eyes would possess such excellent martial senses. It made him think of Qin Zhan from five years ago.

Squad Leader Hao felt Qin Fen’s criticizing gaze and put on a thick skin, “Whatcha looking at? You should know that the enemy won’t talk about rules and fairness on the battlefield. Believing in agreements arranged by others? You’re far from your brother when it comes to this!”

Though it was clearly an overbearing lesson, Qin Fen felt that Squad Leader Hao was finding an excuse for breaking his agreement.

“All right! Go back and rest! Tomorrow you will continue with double the training volume.”

“But, I was first place in aerial combat….”

“Are you the squad leader or am I the squad leader?” Surrounded by ocean under the night sky, this was the first time that Squad Leader Hao’s kind voice had turned into that of a superior pressuring his subordinate, “Hurry and go rest!”

“Yes! Sir!” Qin Fen stuck out his chest and walked into the hold of the ship. He kept on thinking in his whether or not his squad leader was abusing his position of power.

Only Squad Leader Hao remained on the deck of the enormous transport ship with the ocean breeze. Though Qin Fen appeared to have lost the fight just now, Squad Leader Hao was very clear that the true loser of the fight was himself. If he had used four-star strength from the start, perhaps Qin Fen could still hold on and not lose with his extraordinary battle senses.

“Qin Zhan, I never though that you two brothers would be a pair of outstanding warriors. Let me find a few old friends to train your little brother. This can be me paying back your favor.”

————-

The following several days at sea, Qin Fen had even further suspicions that Squad Leader Hao harbored hard feelings about their fight.

Every day he had to do weighted training, and the weights would increase substantially day by day. This still wasn’t a problem for him, for there wasn’t much training equipment on the transport ship. It was incomparable to the comprehensive facilities at boot camp. Squad Leader Hao could see that the equipment on the transport ship didn’t have much effect on Qin Fen, and he would think about recruit boot camp from time to time. He would think about how to train him into the super recruit of the new generation.

Aside from Qin Fen, Du Peng’s performance was equally as shocking to Squad Leader Hao. He originally thought that this youngster from a military family was only going through the basics as a mere formality. He never expected him to follow Qin Fen in weighted training the day after he saw Qin Fen doing it. And, his performance was no worse than Qin Fen’s.

These things spoiled Squad Leader Hao happy. It was rare for a few decent recruits to appear out of two thousand. The chances for a super recruit to appear was no different than winning the lottery. For two super soldiers to appear? These odds weren’t much different from when the Chinese men’s soccer team got into the world cup many years back.

Qin Fen preferred the night time aerial combat training over the morning training. After experiencing aerial combat twice , Qin Fen began to like the aerial combat training. He endlessly explored applying martial arts techniques in aerial combat. This sort of special application quickly developed his martial senses.

Now, when night fell, all the recruits would pray to not encounter the rookie of aerial combat of that day—the current Aerial Combat King.