Chapter 40: Extraordinary Promotion, The Amphibious Spearhead Unit

"Obtaining two rewards at once is a good thing, but the process was truly agonizing! The elite-level reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance skills, in particular, involved such a massive volume of memory. I was nearly knocked unconscious on the spot by that overwhelming, tidal wave of information. Fortunately, I gritted my teeth and persevered; now, I have mastered every detail and operation regarding reconnaissance! In my previous life, Teacher Luo Xiang said that there is no such thing as a perfect crime in this world, but looking at it now, perhaps that isn't entirely true! Having mastered this skill, I deeply realize that as long as one plans meticulously, a perfect crime is not impossible to execute. Fortunately, the word 'crime' will never be associated with me, Qi Tian. My existence is solely for the purpose of combating evil!"

In the restroom, Qi Tian let out a long breath and slowly stood up from the floor. Opposite him was a mirror. As soon as he steadied himself, he noticed that his entire body was covered in a layer of black impurities. Moreover, these impurities had a pungent odor; Qi Tian could barely take a breath before he felt nauseated and on the verge of vomiting.

"Why am I so dirty? Could it be because of the intermediate physical enhancement reward? The system did warn me that there would be very direct physical side effects, but this is just too..."

Before Qi Tian could finish his thought, a term suddenly flashed through his mind: "Cleansing the marrow and cutting the hair!"

In his previous life, Qi Tian had been an avid reader of novels. He was well aware that this process—a sudden surge in physical constitution followed by the excretion of foul-smelling black impurities—was exactly what was described as "cleansing the marrow." It meant expelling all impurities through the pores to facilitate bodily enhancement, resulting in a comprehensive improvement of physical fitness! He never expected such a legendary technique from web novels to actually happen to him.

With this realization, Qi Tian immediately rushed to the sink. He turned on all the faucets, stripped off his clothes, and climbed straight into the basin. Strangely, the black impurities, which seemed to be firmly attached to his skin, detached the moment they touched water. After dissolving into the water in the basin, they were ruthlessly washed down the drain. After repeating this process three times, there were no impurities left on his body.

Too impatient to put his clothes back on, Qi Tian walked straight to the mirror to observe the changes in his body.

"Hiss... it really was marrow cleansing!"

Looking at himself in the mirror, Qi Tian's eyes lit up, and his lips curled into a smile. His skin had become incredibly delicate, looking just like that of a newborn baby. The small scars from his past training had vanished completely. Even his height seemed to have increased significantly.

His breathing was steady and deep, his muscles were powerful and well-defined, and his physique had reached a state of perfection. If he were to pose for a magazine spread, his name would likely become famous throughout the country overnight! His looks, physique, and height were now sufficient to crush any contemporary male celebrity.

"Grumble~"

Just as Qi Tian was admiring himself in the mirror, his stomach let out an untimely growl. A wave of hunger instantly swept through his entire body. Qi Tian knew this was a side effect of the severe energy deficit following the marrow cleansing. He immediately put on his camouflage uniform, ran downstairs, and charged toward the Iron Fist Regiment's cafeteria like a starving wolf.

...

At exactly two o'clock that afternoon, while the other recruits were finishing their remaining assessments, Qi Tian, now dressed in his regular uniform, arrived at the office of Li Yunfei, the commander of the Iron Fist Regiment.

"Commander, everything is fine, so why did you ask me to wear my dress uniform?"

"Hold your horses, lad. Why do you look a little different?" Li Yunfei walked up to Qi Tian, looking him up and down with a puzzled expression. "It seems... after just one afternoon, you look much more handsome, and you’ve grown taller and your skin is fairer! Qi Tian, you didn't secretly wear elevator shoes or put on foundation just because I asked you to come see me in your dress uniform, did you?"

Qi Tian felt a bit guilty under Li Yunfei's scrutiny and quickly took a step back, telling a small lie: "Commander, I’m a real man. The only thing I’ve ever put on my face is camouflage paint. As for elevator shoes, there’s no need for that! It’s probably because the food in our Iron Fist Regiment is so good. I measured myself when I went back at noon. In this past month, I’ve grown a full five centimeters since I first enlisted. I was one meter seventy-eight when I arrived, and now I’m one meter eighty-three!"

"Is that so? Growing five centimeters in a month—you’re a beast not just at training, but at eating too. I heard you polished off the remaining half-bucket of rice in the cafeteria at noon. It’s lucky you went late and everyone else had already eaten, otherwise, quite a few people would have gone hungry this afternoon!"

Li Yunfei curled his lip, teased him a bit more, and then put on a serious expression. He said to Qi Tian earnestly, "Ahem, the time has come. Let's talk business. Based on your performance over the past month and one day in the Iron Fist Regiment, I have decided that you have successfully passed all the recruit company assessments. Congratulations, Qi Tian. Your time in recruit training ends here, and I will now issue your exclusive rank insignia."

As he finished speaking, Li Yunfei turned his head toward the office door and called out softly: "Secretary Leng, I’ve said what I needed to say. You can come in and pin the insignia on Qi Tian now!"

Hearing this, Qi Tian instinctively looked back. He saw the officer surnamed Leng, who had been watching his assessments all morning, walking over with a wooden box and a document. Qi Tian turned around immediately and saluted: "Good afternoon, Chief!"

"Greetings. First, take a look at your non-commissioned officer certificate," Leng Qiangguo said with a smile, handing the document to Qi Tian.

However, Qi Tian didn't reach for it: "Chief Leng, since recruit training is over, shouldn't we be issued private rank insignia and soldier certificates? This is a non-commissioned officer certificate you have in your hand—is there a mistake?"

"Ha, you lad, you've really done your research!" Leng Qiangguo said as he opened the wooden box.

Qi Tian saw the insignia inside; it was indeed the "single chevron" exclusive to a corporal. He was truly confused by the insignia and the officer's certificate. He spoke up directly: "Chief, this is..."

"This is a gift from your Regiment Commander Li. Let him explain it to you himself."

"Qi Tian, accept it. This is a parting gift from me," Li Yunfei said, his eyes slightly reddened as he took over the conversation. "Because you left the Iron Fist Regiment with a very valuable recording, I can show the footage of your entire assessment to future recruits so they know that the Iron Fist Regiment once produced such an outstanding soldier. Therefore, I have made an exception and prepared the rank of corporal for you. Congratulations, you are now an outstanding corporal. I hope you will continue to work hard and always remember this month you spent in the Iron Fist Regiment! Lad, go to your new unit and do well; don't embarrass the Iron Fist Regiment. Of course, if you can't stand it or don't like the atmosphere of the new unit, you can come back at any time. The doors of the Iron Fist Regiment will always be open to you!"

"Commander, the more you say, the more confused I get. What 'parting gift,' what 'new unit'? I..."

As he spoke, Qi Tian recalled the "opportunity" the officer surnamed Leng had mentioned before he parted ways with the others at noon. Could it be...

"Yes, you guessed correctly. I am taking you to develop in a new unit!" Leng Qiangguo noticed the flash of realization in Qi Tian's eyes and nodded with a smile. "The true reinforced regiment of the 386th Brigade, the amphibious combat unit codenamed 'Sharp Knife'—that will be your new home. Of course, you don't have to be too sentimental. Every soldier who comes here must adapt to the old saying: 'The iron camp remains, but the soldiers flow like water.' Old soldiers leave, and new ones arrive; this has been the unchanging rule of the military for thousands of years, and it applies to everyone! Go back and pack your things, and return everything that needs to be returned. By tomorrow evening, I will take you and a few other soldiers I have selected to report to the Sharp Knife Amphibious Unit!"