Setting aside his personal combat strength, in terms of function and contribution, Brother Black Blade was the foremost figure in Xin Huo.
Below, he single-handedly annihilated the tide of malevolence, formerly Xin Huo's top worker.
In the middle, he served as the Head Instructor of the training camp, with many training plans originating from Black Blade.
Above, he possessed the 'Cultivation Accelerator,' an instructor's innate talent.
After his potential advanced to the golden tier, the range of the instructor's talent expanded continuously. He no longer needed to drill constantly. As long as Black Blade occasionally appeared at various bases and offered brief guidance, the talent enhancement effect could be extended.
As Black Blade's level increased, his talent also gradually strengthened.
Fang You speculated that when Black Blade ascended to the mythical tier, he might not even need to personally guide; simply holding the title of 'Head Instructor' would allow the instructor's talent to encompass all trainees.
Even the 'broadly defined' instructor talent was this potent. When Black Blade personally guided and trained, the trainees felt as if they had been injected with stimulants, their potential being squeezed out of them.
Although the trainees did not understand the underlying principles, they had already experienced it firsthand.
Head Instructor Black Blade, awesome!
Everyone wanted guidance from the Head Instructor, but this was not something that could be exchanged for money, or even contribution points. Apart from daily and advanced courses, only the geniuses at the top of the elite training camp's rankings could get additional opportunities.
The opportunities were exceptionally rare.
Why were the ranking spots so coveted? Besides the rewards, which were practically sky-high, the Head Instructor's training, even one-on-one personal guidance, was also a reason.
And now, there were... there were five hundred spots!
The battle group registration office was already packed.
When Wang Fan arrived, he even saw a prominent figure – Lei Si Shou · Luo Rui, Boss Luo. This Flame Wielder was rumored to be a non-human of the Fourth Awakening.
Even someone of the Fourth Awakening was here. Did they have to be this competitive?
"Brother Luo Rui, this really won't work. The Head Instructor's battle group selection doesn't just consider strength, but also compatibility. You must have a combat style similar to the Head Instructor's for effective coordination and to unleash powerful combat prowess."
"Don't look at me being an assessor here; I wouldn't even get in myself."
Xu Tian, the person in charge of registration, said with a helpless expression.
Luo Rui wasn't the first to inquire, nor would he be the last. They were comrades and colleagues. If he truly wanted to force his way in, Xu Tian would be in a difficult position. Fortunately, everyone understood and adhered to Xin Huo's system.
"So that's how it is."
Since Xu Tian said so, could Luo Rui insist?
Upon closer thought, it made sense. This was Xin Huo's first battle group to be formed. One of the benefits was the ability to train alongside the Head Instructor... but first and foremost, it was a battle group, born for combat.
"What will the battle group look like? It seems quite mysterious."
He asked.
Xu Tian shook his head. "I only received the news half a day before you. I heard that it will link five hundred battle group soldiers into one to unleash powerful strength."
"Once the battle group is formed, we'll see it sooner or later. No need to rush."
Was this rushing? This was pressure!
Once the battle group was formed, a group of elites would train under the Head Instructor. Someone might even surpass him.
No, he had to train harder.
Train to death if he doesn't die from training.
Keep training until the day the next base city is illuminated.
...
...
The battle group selection was unfolding vigorously within the elite training camp.
Naturally, only elites were chosen.
Thanks to the enthusiasm of the Xin Huo soldiers and the development over these past days, Xin Huo's scale had continuously expanded, boasting a large population and many geniuses.
The predicament of having very few people back then would no longer occur.
Instead, the trainees now felt the intensity of fierce competition, a competition within a competition!
Suffering yet joyful.
Toiling yet proud.
Wang Fan did not expect that he would actually pass the selection.
With Fourth Awakening big shots competing, he, a mere second-stage awakener, still managed to stand out.
"As expected, outstanding people will be noticed wherever they are."
"The instructor's judgment is truly excellent!"
*Ding dong~!*
"Battle group soldier 'Wang Fan', serial number #500, proceed immediately to the training grounds on Island Three to receive battle group training."
Here it comes!
The elite training camp was also undergoing expansion. In addition to the original main island, several substantial training islands had been added near the base, connected by bridges.
It was said that there were no islands near the main island originally.
It was only after that mentor moved several islands over with great power that the outer island training grounds came to be.
Training Island Three was a recently constructed facility.
Wang Fan and Ye Luo, forming a team, took the light rail to get there.
Along the way, the scenery outside the windows rushed past.
Wang Fan practiced his saber techniques on the train and looked at Ye Luo, who was doing one-finger push-ups. He asked:
"By the way, Doggy, what's your battle group serial number?"
"Battle group serial number?"
Ye Luo pondered. "I only remember I'm the captain of the 500th team. Does it have a serial number?"
Wang Fan fell silent.
"Ye Zai... no, Brother Luo, Big Leg Luo, we grew up together like brothers who shared the same trousers!"
...
Training Island Three had only recently been constructed and was still somewhat desolate. The surrounding land and hills bore numerous sharp sword marks, or massive fist imprints etched into the mountains.
"Giant Form · Cannon Fist!"
A trainee assumed a horse stance, channeling energy to their dan tian. Their entire body suddenly enlarged, along with their training clothes. Their right hand, tempered through countless trials, grew to a ridiculously large size.
In the blink of an eye, a colossal fist struck the distant mountainside.
The ground trembled, and loose rocks tumbled down.
Wang Fan couldn't help but gasp.
Ye Luo had been here before. "Training Island Three may seem barren, but in reality, this primeval environment is the best training target. It's also large and open enough to test any skill without reservation."
Of course, this was within designated training areas; roads and tracks were off-limits.
Accompanied by rumbling sounds from afar, the rail train sped northward. Upon reaching here, the rumbling quieted considerably.
This was the designated training zone for the battle group.
A unique battle banner stood in the center of the open training ground, seemingly emitting a faint light. Soldiers who entered this area felt their spirits invigorate.
...
"The Legion Battle Banner connects power through blood drippings and contracts, linking all soldiers of the legion into a single entity to unleash power far exceeding individual strength."
"Simultaneously, this banner itself possesses halo enhancement effects."
In simple terms, it provided +50% fervor and +50% recovery.
Fang You stood on a hilltop, gazing into the distance at the battle group soldiers who were contracting and synchronizing.
Individual strength was relatively insignificant in the face of super waves. Even powerful figures like Xing Jing Lei and Yi Luo Xi could not halt the tide of the waves and dared not delve deep into them.
They could only rely on the great wall to inflict effective damage upon the waves.
However, with a battle group, it was possible to confront them head-on, to potentially hold back the charge of the waves – even if only temporarily. If a Sixth Awakening expert led a battle group, they could easily slay a thousand-meter-tall disaster-level malevolence.
"With just these benefits, this Legion Battle Banner is worth the purchase."
"Perhaps for the City of Fallen Stars, which has many methods and numerous Sixth Awakening Thrones, such a battle group might be somewhat redundant. But for our Blue Star, it's just right."
"And..."
"This banner is also an experiment."
"An experiment where failure means no loss, and success means immense profit."
A few days ago, Brother Black Blade's Sixth Awakening ability had failed. He couldn't gather the wills of countless individuals within his domain... perhaps because he lacked his own presence, the ability to gather conviction.
It couldn't achieve the effect of the ultimate sublimation of 'King Hei · Fang You's Attached Version.'
But what if there was the 'Legion Battle Banner' and hundreds of not-weak awakeners assisting?
It was worth a try.
To see if a... extraordinary path could be forged.
...
Within Blue Star, this period was marked by dramatic changes and hidden currents.
On the surface, base cities were being established one after another, and the light of dawn was spreading across the land, with Blue Star gradually moving towards a bright future.
But in secret,
The claws of evil gods, and awakeners from the oases with ulterior motives, were increasingly infiltrating Blue Star from the world of malevolence.
The various oasis envoys currently on Blue Star seemed to foresee a more terrifying and profound darkness rolling in at the end of the light of dawn.
It was exceptionally oppressive!
But none of this affected the elite training camp, nor did it affect the battle group undergoing synchronized training on Island Three.
"Battle Blade...!"
"Slash!"
Five hundred people stepped forward in unison, their saber blades radiating a faint red light as they raised their sabers.
Simultaneously,
At the apex of the 'conical formation' of the battle group, Black Blade drew the legendary malevolent weapon 'Formless Grasp,' which transformed into a broad saber, similar in style to a demon-slaying great saber.
He held it with both hands.
The crimson radiance on the blade rapidly spread.
One zhang!
Ten zhang!
One hundred zhang!
It continued to spread, the saber's radiance exceeding four hundred meters, not merely in size, but in the sheer immensity of energy that it could no longer compress, forcing the radiance to elongate.
The four-hundred-meter saber radiance almost pierced the sky.
Training Island Three, and even the main island training base further away, could see this heaven-piercing red light.
They were astonished.
After a pause of several seconds, as spiderweb-like cracks spread across the ground beneath Black Blade's feet, the four-hundred-meter saber radiance was brought down under his control.
It was slashed down towards the vast sea outside the island.
*Splash—*
One saber strike.
The sea parted.
A massive rift, stretching to an unseen horizon, appeared. The red saber radiance vanished at the edge of the sky.
And at this moment, a towering tsunami, hundreds of meters high, erupted.
Shadows cast down.
The colossal waves began to fall, sweeping outwards.
The battle group soldiers' eyes widened, their expressions grave.
At this moment,
Fang You, the mentor, who was standing at a distance as an observer, extended his hand and gently stroked.
As if a giant hand descended, as if the world was being soothed.
The towering waves, which had just surged like an enraged beast, instantly calmed down, causing no impact to the surroundings, only splashing a few small ripples.
In the blink of an eye,
The wind stopped, the rain ceased, and the waves subsided.