Ogedai led Fu Qinghai into the familiar Training Cage.
Inside, a strong Space Marine with an aquiline nose, long face, and hair tied in a ponytail had long been waiting.
When the training apparatus surrounding the cage was inactive, it could serve as a sparring ground for Space Marines, its specially reinforced structure capable of withstanding their violent outbursts.
Ogedai pointed to the warrior and said to Fu Qinghai, "Let me introduce you to Abulath, the strongest fighter in the Falcon Brotherhood besides myself."
Abulath laughed heartily, "You could omit the words 'besides myself,' Khan."
Ogedai laughed and cursed, "Get out of here. Little Locke is in your hands; teach him well. He will become one of us."
Abulath seemed already aware of Fu Qinghai's situation.
He lightly picked up a metal longsword and said to Fu Qinghai, "Come, choose a weapon you like."
Fu Qinghai walked to the weapon rack and looked at the dazzling array of weapons neatly lined up.
These weapons were the same size as actual Space Marine armaments and were similarly edged, but they lacked warp field generators. In terms of weight, these intentionally weighted training weapons were even heavier.
There were battle axes and warhammers of various shapes and sizes, swords and blades of different lengths, as well as Power Fists, Guan Daos, and halberds.
After browsing back and forth, Fu Qinghai ultimately chose a longsword similar to the one Abulath held.
Firstly, he chose the weapon his heart desired.
Secondly, choosing the same weapon as the strongest fighter in combat was never wrong.
Seeing Fu Qinghai's choice, Abulath smiled, raised the longsword in his hands, and said:
"Come, I will first teach you to sense the weapon in your hands, to feel its personality and soul."
The White Scars always had a penchant for romanticizing cold, merciless killing implements.
Fu Qinghai asked, "How do I sense it?"
A familiar smirk played on Abulath's lips, one that Fu Qinghai found somewhat unsettling.
"In combat."
With that, he lunged at Fu Qinghai like a swift gale.
…………
The day's melee weapon combat training concluded. Fu Qinghai, bruised and swollen once more, stood before the full-length mirror in his rest cabin, examining his bare physique.
It was such a robust, powerful, and flawless body.
Looking at the sharply defined slabs of muscle in the mirror, Fu Qinghai couldn't resist reaching out to touch his broad, solid pectorals, the deep cleavage, his powerful shoulders, and his powerful arms.
These were muscles he could never have built in his previous life, even consuming a ton of protein powder and injecting ten pounds of steroids.
Fu Qinghai turned slightly, exerted a little force, and the terrifyingly knotted muscles of his back instantly bulged, inspiring awe.
Looking down again, compared to the standard inverted triangle sought by bodybuilders in his past life, Fu Qinghai's waist circumference was not as narrow; compared to his shoulder width, it wasn't as pronounced. However, the eight bulging, strong abdominal muscles and the clearly visible V-line indicated:
This body possessed extremely powerful core strength.
Bodybuilders seek narrow waists to emphasize the inverted triangle physique, but from a practical combat perspective, a sufficiently thick waist signifies sufficient core strength and a stable base.
This is how some ancient generals developed their pot bellies.
Fu Qinghai patted his solid abs, thinking that as expected of the renowned Space Brothers across the Galaxy, this musculature was truly potent.
It wasn't just for show.
The test data provided by the Training Cage largely matched the data given by Master Kunto: Fu Qinghai's current pushing strength was close to one ton, his running speed without armor approached 60 kilometers per hour （ and was even faster when armored ）, and his standing vertical jump height was around 4 meters.
This was primarily due to the abilities granted by the enhanced muscle organs, though it also relied on the support of reinforced bones and a dual heart.
……
Afterward, Fu Qinghai plunged into a busy training schedule.
Having the hardware of a Killing Machine required matching software.
As mentioned before, biochemical organ technology was ancient, but what truly allowed the Astartes to dominate the Universe were the various combat skills and military proficiencies stored in their minds.
Due to continuous space travel day and night, combined with the regulation provided by the Space Marine's stasis node organ, Fu Qinghai only needed four hours of rest between training sessions.
Fu Qinghai immediately ramped his training intensity to the maximum.
Unarmed Combat and Melee Weapon Combat—with almost no ground techniques, grappling, or joint locks—were all focused on instant kills, inheriting the White Scars' style of speed, precision, and lethality in a single strike.
Proficient use and accurate firing of various projectile weapons.
Operation of Power Armor.
Proficient piloting of various Space Marine dedicated Imperial Vehicles, including Stormbirds and Rhino APCs, especially the Jetbikes favored by the White Scars.
Familiarity with various Imperial Warships and knowledge for directing Space Naval Warfare.
Squad tactics, Company tactics, Regiment-level tactics, up to simulating the command of an entire campaign.
Special operations, including Torpedo Boarding, Teleport Boarding, Orbital Drop, and so on.
While learning these strategies, tactics, and skills, Fu Qinghai was also indoctrinated with the unique combat style and philosophy of the White Scars—luring the enemy deep, executing flanking maneuvers, and striking fast.
This differed from many Legions that preferred head-on clashes, fighting to the death without retreat, and refusing to accept a feigned defeat.
The precursor to the White Scars, the Space Hunters, were originally a scout-oriented Legion. After finding their Primarch, Chaghatai Khan, the Khan integrated his understanding of the art of war into this Legion.
The White Scars' tactics were very cunning; they frequently feigned being overwhelmed to lure the enemy deep, disrupt their formation, and then strike back. Their combat style emphasized "speed"—speed was the core of everything the White Scars did, both in battle and in strategy.
However, conversely, the White Scars were not proficient in areas where other Legions excelled, such as constructing fortifications and solid defense （ Imperial Fists ）, artillery strikes and siege warfare （ Iron Warriors ）, stealth infiltration and assassination （ Raven Guard ）, biochemical warfare and poison gas tactics （ Death Guard ）, riot control/pacification and torture （ Night Lords ）, and so on.
Fu Qinghai felt no regret; stubborn brute force did not suit his personality, and the White Scars' style was very much to his liking.
As the saying goes: Of all martial arts, none can break through what is fast.
Fast meant that if he couldn't win, he could still run.
This wasn't running away; this was fully utilizing spatial depth and rationally preserving combat strength.
In short, a strategic retreat.
This highlighted the difference between Fu Qinghai and other Space Marines.
Ordinary Space Marine candidates and Neophytes spent not just the dozen years from selection through Ascension Surgery on training, but also a significant amount of time on brainwashing... or rather, psychological conditioning, cultivating tenacious combat Will, fostering absolute Loyal to the Imperium of Man and Humanity, and nurturing contempt and hatred for Heretics and Xenos.
The Ascension of a Space Marine was not just a physical advancement; it was also a severance from their past selves. Many assume that when Space Marines undergo brainwashing, their memories are artificially deleted or forgotten, but that is not the case. Instead, their memories of life before Ascension are worn away through endless, protracted training and combat, transforming them into skilled Killing Machines.
Fu Qinghai was different; he was already an Adult when he entered the Reincarnation World, having formed his own worldview and Values. Under Master Kunto's technical guidance, he completed his Ascension in just a year and a half.
His memories of his previous life remained vivid and active, and his Personality and Values could not be reshaped.
Taral and Ogedai did not know that Fu Qinghai's Soul originated from beyond the Universe, but they knew they were not the Departmento Munitorum or an Astartes Monastery, and thus lacked the means or time to conduct psychological training on Fu Qinghai.
This was the true point of irregularity Taral emphasized when telling Ogedai that Fu Qinghai's Ascension did not follow protocol.
To put it plainly, Fu Qinghai could fight for the Imperium of Man, but he was unwilling to die for the Imperium of Man.
Not to mention he was merely an Outsider from Beyond the Universe earning Reincarnation Points.
The Imperium of Man was hardly a good nation; it could be described as a totalitarian, Nazi-like state built on militarism, rife with severe class stratification, and oppression and discrimination everywhere. Various Cyberpunk-style mega-oligarchs and tycoons controlled the people's production and lives. Except for a few Garden Worlds, the lives of the lower classes across most of the Imperium were not comfortable or prosperous; it could only be called Survival, and the living conditions were extremely harsh.
But on the positive side, it was precisely this belligerent Imperium of Man that sheltered all Humans, allowing them to survive in this cruel, dark Universe and gradually become the master of the Galaxy.
Therefore, whether from the perspective of faction allegiance in the Reincarnation World or his own need for Survival and development,
Fu Qinghai had every reason to study desperately and train like mad.
Although wearing the Power Armor of the White Scars, internally, Fu Qinghai was a "Black Shield"—an unofficial term for Space Marines without Faith or faction allegiance; they fight for themselves.
Achieving glory aside, surviving was the most important thing.
……
Another month passed.
Fu Qinghai woke up on time.
What was the daily life of a Space Marine like when there were no combat missions?
Space Marines are also called Adeptus Astartes; the word "Astartes" [Monk] explains the situation well enough.
On any day without a combat assignment, their schedule was almost entirely filled with various forms of training.
Space Marines had very little personal time; for them, combat was entertainment, and training was entertainment.
Today, Ogedai was teaching Fu Qinghai how to activate the Sanguine Membrane through Meditation.
Fu Qinghai sat cross-legged on the floor, facing Ogedai.
Ogedai also got down from his wheelchair and sat on the floor, maintaining eye level with Fu Qinghai.
"Close your eyes, regulate your breathing, focus your mind, and feel that area in your mind," Ogedai's voice slowly came.
Fu Qinghai obeyed and closed his eyes.
"Calligraphy and Meditation are our Legion's unique methods of adjustment. They can help you calm your inner self, step away from endless slaughter, reflect on yourself, analyze the gains and losses during combat, and even contemplate deeper philosophical Profound Secrets."
"And not just activating the Sanguine Membrane," Ogedai's voice was unusually calm, like a muscular yoga instructor.
"Understood. Clear your mind of distracting thoughts."
As Ogedai finished speaking, Fu Qinghai subconsciously formed a hand seal, palms up, resting his hands on his knees.
Ogedai paused, looking strangely at the gesture where Fu Qinghai's thumb was pinching his middle finger, and asked:
"What is that?"
Fu Qinghai opened his eyes, followed Ogedai's gaze, and immediately felt embarrassed.
"Uh... I thought it was necessary. This is, well, this is a gesture unique to my Hometown."
This Chogoris native probably didn't know what Immortal Cultivation was.
"You don't need to do that. Just place your hands wherever is comfortable for you."
"...Understood."
He had watched too many Wuxia movies and accidentally exposed his inner chuunibyou.
…………