With prior experience, the new recruits became more orderly in their assembly.
Within thirty seconds of the alarm sounding, the squad, including Han Lang, had assembled.
Huang Yuhua was increasingly satisfied as he watched the new recruits gradually getting into the swing of things.
“Let me introduce everyone! Standing next to me is Liu Xiaoxiao, who will also be your deputy squad leader from now on! She has also brought eight new comrades, everyone, give them a warm welcome with applause!”
As thunderous applause erupted, a voice drifted from some unknown corner, “Why is it a woman! Can she control us?”
“Heh heh… If she can’t control you, why don’t you try to control her!”
“Heh heh… That’s a good idea! Haha…”
Unfortunately, as they were all cultivators, their hearing was exceptionally sharp, and this conversation reached everyone’s ears word for word!
Liu Xiaoxiao’s delicate eyebrows immediately furrowed, while Huang Yuhua remained silent, watching the two whispering new recruits with schadenfreude.
Although others didn’t know why Huang Yuhua hadn’t intervened, from his expression and their recent understanding of him, everyone knew that this matter was likely not that simple!
As they were thinking, Liu Xiaoxiao suddenly stood before the squad with her hands behind her back, her face radiating heroic spirit, and sternly addressed the formation.
“Who said that! Step forward!”
Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat, and the two who were whispering dared not even breathe.
Seeing no one step forward, Liu Xiaoxiao let out a cold laugh.
“Dare to do it but not admit it! Is this what a man is? Or do you think I don’t know who it was?”
As soon as she said this, everyone’s eyes instantly turned to the two who had been whispering.
The two now knew that it was no use trying to avoid it, and they might as well come forward. With a dejected look, they stepped out of the ranks.
Liu Xiaoxiao slowly paced towards the two, who felt an immense increase in pressure.
“I’ve been enlisted for nearly ten years, and I’ve been single for ten years. I’m actually looking forward to a man who can control me. Why don’t you two try?”
The two were terrified and repeatedly replied.
“No, no! Squad Leader Liu is powerful, we new recruits dare not be presumptuous!”
“Yes, yes! Squad Leader Liu, please don’t hold grudges against us little ones, and don’t bother with us two?”
Huang Yuhua chuckled inwardly upon hearing this.
Liu Xiaoxiao’s personality was notoriously cold and sharp among their veteran soldiers. How could she let them off the hook with just a few words of pleading?
As expected, before the two could finish speaking, Liu Xiaoxiao immediately refused.
“How can that be! I’m counting on you two to find a partner! Now that fate has arrived, whether you control me or not, you have to try!”
With that, her entire aura surged, and a vast spiritual energy instantly dispersed, its aftershocks even making it difficult for everyone in the formation to open their eyes.
Han Lang was inwardly shocked, “Golden Core stage cultivator!”
Others might not have sensed it as clearly as Han Lang, but everyone knew that such strength was absolutely beyond their current capabilities!
The two who had been whispering were now so scared their legs turned to jelly, but they were in a predicament.
If they complied, they couldn’t win; if they refused, they couldn’t escape.
With no other choice, they could only meekly say.
“Then… then… please guide us, Squad Leader Liu!”
After speaking, the two simultaneously assumed a stance and charged towards Liu Xiaoxiao.
Liu Xiaoxiao didn’t even move her hands. With just a look, a majestic spiritual energy instantly surged forward, preventing the two from getting close at all.
Then, Liu Xiaoxiao clenched her fists behind her back, and another surge of even more powerful spiritual energy shot out.
The two could no longer hold on and were immediately sent flying.
Seeing this, Liu Xiaoxiao sneered.
“Hmph! Is this all you’ve got to control me? From now on, you need to weigh your own strength before speaking! Return to your positions!”
The two felt a great sense of relief, clutching their chests as they sheepishly returned to their places.
Only then did Liu Xiaoxiao face everyone and say loudly.
“I don’t have many rules, and I don’t mind things like age gaps in relationships. But I only admire strength! If any of you still want to control me in the future, I welcome it! But if you can’t control me and speak disrespectfully, I won’t be so polite in the future!”
No one in the crowd of new recruits dared to take Liu Xiaoxiao’s words lightly. They were all trembling, awestruck by her swift and decisive actions.
Seeing this scene, Huang Yuhua cautiously walked over to Liu Xiaoxiao and asked softly.
“Xiaoxiao! That’s enough, isn’t it? These are still new recruits, after all. Even if you want to find a man, this isn’t the right time, is it?”
Hearing this, Liu Xiaoxiao immediately turned her head and glared at him.
Huang Yuhua thought, “Oh no,” and quickly nodded and apologized.
“No, no, I misspoke! But the base’s Treasure Pavilion is about to open, shouldn’t we let these new recruits go to the Treasure Pavilion first!”
Liu Xiaoxiao gave him a sidelong glance, and her mood slightly calmed down.
Huang Yuhua felt as if he had been granted a great pardon and inwardly complained.
“Who is the actual squad leader here!”
But of course, he wouldn’t say this aloud. He merely changed the subject, asked the eight new members to give brief self-introductions, then straightened the formation again, and led everyone with Liu Xiaoxiao towards the Treasure Pavilion.
At the entrance of the Treasure Pavilion.
Huang Yuhua carefully explained the rules to everyone.
“The base’s Treasure Pavilion is open unconditionally only once to all previous new recruits! If you wish to enter again later, it will be based on military merit and strength!”
“Inside the Treasure Pavilion, there are all sorts of martial arts techniques, cultivation methods, magical artifacts, spiritual artifacts, elixirs, and spiritual herbs. However, each entry into the Treasure Pavilion is limited to fifteen minutes. Whether you can obtain something good, or what you desire, depends on your own fortune!”
“Please remember, when new recruits enter the Treasure Pavilion, two squads will enter together. Each person can only choose one treasure inside, regardless of its quality! This means, if you choose an elixir, you cannot take a magical artifact or martial arts technique. Regardless of size or grade! If you are greedy and this is discovered, everything will be confiscated, and you will be expelled from the special special forces!”
“Therefore, when faced with treasures, you must maintain clarity and not lose sight of the bigger picture. There are no good or bad treasures; the best one is the one that suits you!”
“Do you all understand what I’m saying?”
Huang Yuhua’s explanation was very detailed.
For the new recruits, the opening of the Treasure Pavilion was not only a reward for passing the test but also an opportunity to improve their strength. After all, they would all be serving the country in the future.
However, resources were limited, and the number of new recruits was large.
Hence, there were rules regarding time limits and quantity limits.
Of course, as there were explicit regulations, as a national special forces unit, there was also ironclad discipline.
Therefore, no one would be allowed to violate them!