348: Chapter 348 Family Training, All Members Improved

Less than a quarter of an hour after the green light of the communication token lit up, the iron gate on the east side of the Martial Arts Arena was kicked with a loud clatter.

"They're here!" Chen Xiaodao jumped down from the wall with his sword on his shoulder, crushing a piece of gravel under his boot as he landed. "The Family Head said he wants to train, so I won't hold back—Sword Cultivator Group, line up!"

"Mecha Maintenance Class is all here!" Chen Tiezhu strode over carrying a toolbox, a greasy rag draped over his shoulder. "Whoever installs the Energy Storage Module backward again can forget about touching the new Shockwave Hammer tonight!"

Bai Ling remained seated where she was, thin smoke rising from the heat vent of her left arm. Hearing the commotion, she opened her eyes and murmured softly, "So fast... does he really think he's made of iron?"

Chen Wuwang did not move, standing on the high platform and scanning the area.

The sun was fierce, making the ground appear white as the Family members swarmed in from all directions.

There were young people in training suits, as well as old craftsmen wrapped in worn-out wrist guards.

Even several Medicinal Field Disciples who were supposed to be on rotation were squeezing behind the crowd to catch a glimpse.

He raised his hand and pressed the communication token, his voice broadcasting directly into the loudspeakers across the field: "Listen up, everyone! Starting today, everyone trains! Regardless of position or seniority, whoever dares to be lazy will not be allowed to enter the Technology Workshop for three days!"

The crowd below immediately erupted into an uproar.

"Wait... Family Head, what are we mecha pilots supposed to fight with if we don't rely on equipment?" a youth with a face full of engine oil raised his hand and shouted. "You can't expect me to swing a wrench at people, can you?"

"Exactly!" another person chimed in. "We just finished practicing the Wind-Whisper Instant Step yesterday, and today we have to learn sword formations? Our brains can't take it!"

Chen Wuwang sneered and jumped off the high platform, walking a few steps to stand before the youth. "Your name is Li San, right? Last month during the Thruster evasion test, you were 0.3 seconds slow and almost got overturned by simulated artillery fire."

The youth was stunned. "You know about that too?"

"I know a lot of things." He turned to face the crowd. "Do you think you're invincible just because you put on a mecha? On a real battlefield, if the System lags for a second or the power cuts out for an instant, you'll become a sitting duck! Technology is a Sharp Weapon, but your own strength is the foundation!"

He pointed at Bai Ling. "Yesterday, she charged into the ruins alone. What did she rely on? Not a mecha, not a weapon, but skill! The Wind-Whisper Instant Step, a ten-meter flash shift, landing without a sound—who among you can do that?"

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

"I can!" A female cultivator in the corner raised her hand; it was Lin Yue, the first one to successfully perform a flash shift yesterday. "I practiced extra until dawn last night, and now I can jump three times in a row!"

"Good!" Chen Wuwang clapped. "From today on, all training will be included in the evaluation System. Those who perform excellently will have priority in testing the new Dual-core Mecha and can even sit in on the Core R&D Group sessions!"

As soon as these words were spoken, those who were complaining immediately shut their mouths, and many people's eyes lit up.

"Any more questions?" He looked around.

No one spoke.

"Then—group up!"

Before his voice had even faded, three figures dashed out simultaneously.

"Mecha group, follow me!" Chen Tiezhu's shout made the ground tremble. "First lesson: Combat assembly! Thirty-minute limit. Anyone who doesn't finish the Main Control Module will stay up all night and start over!"

"Sword Cultivator Team!" Chen Xiaodao drew his sword, a cold light flashing. "Basic sword strikes, three hundred times! One mistake means fifty more! Don't tell me your wrists are sore—I started chopping wooden posts at five years old!"

"Magic beginners!" Bai Ling finally stood up, patting the dust off her pants. "Line up first. I'll demonstrate the breathing rhythm one more time. Remember, don't jump with force; glide along with the wind."

The three groups quickly separated, and the Martial Arts Arena instantly became bustling.

In the eastern mecha area, clanging sounds rang out as Chen Tiezhu paced back and forth with a wrench. Seeing someone screw a bolt in crookedly, he immediately picked up a part and slammed it onto the ground:

"If this were the battlefield, this loose bolt could kill three of your teammates! Reinstall it!"

On the western sword formation field, sword shadows flickered. Chen Xiaodao personally stepped in to correct movements, kicking a Disciple in the back of the knee. "Why is your waist sagging? Are you a shrimp or a Sword Cultivator? Stand straight!"

In the central clearing, Bai Ling led a dozen people in repeatedly practicing the coordination of breathing and footwork. Someone tripped and fell flat on their face right at the start, drawing laughter. She wasn't annoyed, reaching out to pull the person up:

"It's always like this the first time. Back then, I even blew myself into a tree fork and was stuck for half a day."

Chen Wuwang stood on the central command platform, his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye constantly refreshing data streams from each area.

Suddenly, the sound of an argument came from the south side.

"Why do those Sword Cultivators get to practice all day? We want to practice more too!"

It was the mecha group's leader, Wang Meng, pointing at the Sword Cultivators who were putting away their swords to rest. "They can start a second wave after finishing, while we only have one set of equipment over here!"

"What are you shouting for?" Chen Xiaodao walked over with a cold face. "If the equipment isn't enough, it's because your skills are lacking. Can't you modify it yourself?"

"What the hell do you know about mechas!" Wang Meng stiffened his neck. "No matter how fast that broken sword of yours is, can it withstand three rounds of shelling?"

Seeing that the two were about to come to blows, Chen Wuwang stepped between them in a flash, pressing his hands on each of their shoulders. "Enough! All of you, settle down!"

He glanced at the crowds on both sides and said coldly, "Think there isn't enough time? Fine—starting tomorrow, we'll have a three-shift rotation! Sword formations in the morning, mechas in the afternoon, and magic rotational training at night! Everyone must do at least two sessions a day!"

Everyone was stunned.

"And that's not all." He grinned. "Next week, we'll hold a 'Cross-Challenge Tournament': mecha pilots will learn sword strikes, Sword Cultivators will control mechas for ten minutes, and mages will try to assemble Energy Storage Modules. The group with the highest overall score will be rewarded with a brand-new prototype 'Po Jun-IV'!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the originally tense atmosphere completely changed.

"Wait... Sword Cultivators piloting mechas?" someone's eyes widened.

"Mages assembling parts? Won't that cause an explosion?" another person cried out.

"Scared?" Chen Wuwang raised an eyebrow. "Don't dare to try?"

"Whoever's afraid is a coward!" Wang Meng immediately shouted back.

"Then we'll do as we said." He clapped his hands. "Now, continue training!"

When the sun was at its harshest at noon, the joint drill began.

Chen Wuwang personally sat at the command platform and gave the order: "Simulated Enemy Attack! Sword formation cover, mecha advance, magic buffs follow up! Begin!"

The drums suddenly thundered.

Chen Xiaodao led his team into the air, Sword Qi falling like rain onto the hypothetical enemy zone;

Chen Tiezhu commanded two mechas to slowly press forward, their caterpillar tracks making muffled sounds as they crushed the sand;

Bai Ling stood at the rear, her hands forming seals as she prepared to release the 'Chant of Radiant Healing' for sustainability support.

But after advancing only fifty meters, a problem arose.

"Stop!" Chen Wuwang shouted. "Xiao Dao! You're flying too fast! You charged in before the mechas even deployed their defensive formation. Who's going to cover your position?"

"But their fire suppression was too intense!" Chen Xiaodao argued as he landed.

"Intense my foot! Those were simulated sound effects! Are you deaf?" Chen Wuwang pointed at the screen. "Besides, Bai Ling's buff hasn't taken effect yet. Are you in such a hurry to throw your life away?"

Bai Ling also frowned. "I was adjusting the frequency just now, and they didn't wait for my signal at all."

"It's not a matter of waiting or not." Chen Tiezhu wiped his sweat. "The rhythm isn't unified. You Sword Cultivators are used to hitting and retreating, while we mechas focus on steady progress—there needs to be a command node."

"Then we'll set one!" Chen Wuwang made the final decision. "In future operations, Bai Ling will be in charge of central coordination. When she says 'push,' the mechas move; when she says 'cover,' the sword formation presses forward. Everyone follows her orders!"

The crowd looked at each other and finally nodded.

The second drill began.

This time, Bai Ling stood at the edge of the high platform in advance, her hands raised as green light patterns slowly spread out.

"Prepare—buff loading complete!" she reported loudly.

"Received!" Chen Tiezhu waved his hand. "Mecha group, initiate Propulsion Protocol!"

"Sword Cultivator Team, maintain high-altitude patrol!" Chen Xiaodao sheathed his sword, keeping a close eye on the ground dynamics.

As the mechas slowly pressed forward, the sword formation dropped down at the right time to seal the sides, and the magic glow precisely covered the front line. The three groups actually showed a bit of tacit understanding.

"It worked!" someone cheered quietly.

As the drill ended, the entire field erupted in thunderous applause.

When work was wrapping up in the evening, a Family uncle nearly fifty years old was seen squatting in a corner, panting heavily with sweat all over his forehead.

"Uncle, why are you still here?" A young Disciple stepped forward to support him.

The old man waved his hand. "I wanted to try one more time... but this body of mine is failing me. I fell after only jumping halfway."

This was overheard by the passing Chen Wuwang.

He walked over and, without a word, raised his hand and shouted into the loudspeaker: "Don't leave yet! Look here!"

Everyone turned back.

"This is Chen Defu, the Medicinal Field Manager, fifty-two years old this year," he said loudly. "Just now, without any assistance, he completed his first Wind-Whisper Instant Step! Although he only jumped six meters and took a fall, he stood back up! He's still practicing!"

The entire field fell silent.

"Cultivation is not about age, it's about spirit!" Chen Wuwang said emphatically. "Who says you can't improve when you're old? Who says ordinary people can't become strong? As long as you want to, there are no useless people in the Chen Family!"

Applause thundered.

Chen Defu wiped his face, his eyes turning red.

"Starting tomorrow, we're establishing a 'Peer Support Group'!" Chen Wuwang announced. "Those who learn fast will lead those who are behind; the old will lead the new, and the strong will help the weak. Whoever teaches three qualified trainees will be rewarded with ten pounds of Spirit Crystals plus a one-day trial of the Dual-core Engine!"

The crowd was boiling with excitement.

As night deepened, the Martial Arts Arena remained brightly lit.

Chen Tiezhu was in the mecha area guiding the last batch of trainees in assembling parts, still muttering about torque parameters;

Chen Xiaodao and several Disciples sat around the sword field, gesturing over movement details;

Bai Ling leaned back against the stone steps, closing her eyes to regulate her breathing, the heat vent on her left arm still slightly warm.

The Family members left in groups of twos and threes, some discussing what they had learned today as they walked, others clutching their notebooks, unwilling to let go.

Chen Wuwang stood on the high platform, his gaze sweeping across the bustling field.

He raised his hand, his fingertips lightly brushing the old scar on his right cheek.

The wind blew past, bringing a faint metallic warmth, as if the furnace fire had not yet gone out.