Chapter Fifty-One: Entering Optimal Condition

  The weather was nice, Qu Mingjun squinted his eyes to look at the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves, then turned his head to glance at the other seven contestants from the Army Academy on his right. This time, Qu Mingjun was listed as the third contestant to appear for the Shimen Army Academy team, with Feng Shaoyun and another brother from outside having already set off, and he was now waiting in line for the judge's command.

  The venue is very interesting, it's a temporary training base arranged according to the military competition task this time. The preparation line where Qu Mingjun and others are located is at the mouth of a small valley, with green trees on both sides and wisteria twining around them. As autumn approaches, various yellow and red leaves seem like flowers, competing in beauty.

  In front is a relatively flat lawn, about 50 meters ahead of the starting line, which is the first project they will try this time, climbing.

  The cliff in front is not too high, about three floors high. Although the cliff is almost vertical, there are strange rocks and some small tree clusters scattered among them, with many footholds.

  The cliff is very wide, and on the cliff, nine vertical lines from top to bottom are drawn with white lime in response to the crowd, dividing the entire cliff into eight parts. It looks like it should be used to prevent each contestant from unconsciously crossing the boundary and affecting other contestants' scores during the martial arts competition. In each of the divided climbing areas, eight safety belts are also suspended from top to bottom. On the top of the cliff, in addition to the red flag flying high, there are many soldiers standing guard.

  Qu Mingjun, as the representative of Shimmen Luyuan, stood on the far left, which seemed to hint at the champion identity of Luyuan in the previous military competition. On the right was the representative of Chun Cheng Luyuan, a short and lean man with long arms and legs, and a sharp face. Qu Mingjun glanced at this person's appearance, seemingly from an ethnic minority, it seems that the upcoming climb will have a very strong opponent.

  Further to the right is a half-eastern host, Chang'an Lu's player. Qu Mingjun didn't see anything special about him, he was just like everyone else, a sturdy man. However, northwestern men have always been known for their strong endurance. Although today's big competition is all about technique, every item requires physical strength.

  For example, climbing, without physical strength, no matter how good your skills are, how can you climb up? For example, shooting, from 400 meters to 50 meters, without physical strength, how can you hold the gun steadily and shoot accurately? For example, individual combat tactics, without physical strength, how can you make beautiful jumping movements? For example, throwing a hand grenade accurately in the end, without arm strength, how can you throw the hand grenade into the white circle 35 meters away from you.

  Technique is important, but physical strength is the foundation of all individual military skills. If the foundation is not laid well, everything else will be in vain. However, among the 72 formal contestants participating in this martial arts competition, who isn't a top-notch selection? Even if there are differences in physical strength, they must be limited.

  Qu Ming was lost in thought when the judge beside him glanced at his watch and announced, "The third contestant, please take your position."

  The third group of contestants, with different actions and expressions, quickly got up, some couldn't help but jump a few times in place, everyone turned their heads to look at each other, the sparks in their eyes colliding, as if the air was filled with the sound of "zi la zi la".

  Haha, I'm not the only one who's nervous. Qu Mingjun couldn't help but feel a little amused as he stood at the starting line.

  "Get ready!" The referee reminded everyone.

  Everyone checked their equipment, tightening what needed to be tightened and loosening what needed to be loosened. Qu Mingjun slung the model of his 95-style automatic rifle over his back, adjusted the gun strap, and jumped up and down a few times, feeling that it was adjusted just right. As Qu Mingjun calmed down, he felt his heart beating faster and faster, as if there was a voice hidden in his chest shouting softly, "Charge! Charge out!"

  "On your marks!" The referee raised his starting pistol high in the air.

  Qu Mingjun and the other seven contestants simultaneously bowed their heads slightly, their eyes fixed on the climbing area in front of them, and a fierce competitive spirit ignited from within.

  At this time, the rest area of the contestants behind transmitted the shouting and cheering voices of the contestants in the back rows. Among them, Cui Ze's voice was the loudest, "Come on, Qu Mingjun! Let them see the mighty power of our Lu Jun Old General!"

  This shout is nothing serious, Cui Ze has brought the white eyes of other Lu Institute players, you are the boss, come on, who admits it?

  Qu Mingjun couldn't help but smile slightly, and the tension in his heart was slightly relieved. Then he concentrated and waited for the referee's gunshot.

  It seemed like a long time had passed, yet it was just an instant. "Bang!" The sound of gunfire rang out.

  The sound of gunfire is the order, the sound of gunfire is action.

  Qu Mingjun sprinted out quickly, and on his right side were the other seven candidates from the Military Academy. They were all seasoned top-notch candidates, and everyone tacitly did not run at full strength for these 50 meters, as if they wanted to see each other's abilities and also wanted to reserve some physical strength.

  Although they didn't use their full strength, it didn't take much time to run 50 meters, and soon everyone arrived at the foot of the cliff.

  Qu Mingjun didn't have time to look at the other contestants, and hastily took over the safety belt handed over by a small warrior standing next to the climbing area, hanging it on the safety waistband that had been required to be worn on his back in the preparation area.

  Then Qu Mingjun swiftly kicked his foot, fixed on the first climbing spot he had chosen earlier, stretched out his right hand to hold on, quickly followed with his body, stepped on the foothold, and then the whole person was like a master in a martial arts novel who had learned to fly and walk on walls, rapidly climbing upwards.

  Just halfway up the climb, Qu Mingjun caught a glimpse of a figure rising slowly on his right side out of the corner of his eye. The figure quickly surpassed him and continued to ascend without stopping.

  It's terrible, that little guy from Chun Cheng Lu Institute is now like a monkey climbing up the cliff, almost without any pause, while others including Qu Ming Jun himself are climbing and choosing footholds at the same time, but that little guy from Chun Cheng Lu Institute is as if he's walking on flat ground, effortlessly and carelessly, not even looking, just grasping with one hand and pushing off with his foot, and suddenly jumping up a distance of almost one person high.

  Damn, it's so perverted. Qu Mingjun also hastened his climbing pace, after all, he had been watching Feng Shaojun and the others in the preparation area, and he had carefully observed the mountain rocks and structure on the cliff several times, at least having a rough idea in mind, now just add more effort.

  Qu Mingjun also hastened to use both hands and feet, amidst the earth-shaking and heaven-stirring cries of "Add oil!" from behind, closely following that little brat Lu from Chun Cheng as he climbed upwards.

  At this time, a "pa" sound and a scream suddenly came, and Qu Mingjun was also startled. He glanced at the corner of his eye and saw that a contestant on the right side seemed to have kicked off a stone and fell down.

  Anyway, with the safety rope on, it's safe and sound, but this contestant can only start from scratch again, alas. It seems like a big blow, before even passing the first test, he was already eliminated.

  Qu Mingjun continued to calm himself down and followed closely behind the small contestant from Chun Cheng Lu Institute as he climbed up the steep cliff. After untying the safety rope, Qu Mingjun only then discovered that at the other end of the cliff were eight steel cables for rappelling, with a rappel bar placed beside each cable.

  At this time, the little contestant from Lucheng Institute in Spring City had already run to the side of the steel cable, Qu Mingjun hurriedly followed up. The small warrior responsible for protection at the side of the steel cable buckled a protective rope tied to the steel cable onto Qu Mingjun's safety belt before handing over the slide bar to Qu Mingjun.

  Qiu Mingjun hooked the slide bar onto the steel cable, and with a sudden jerk of his legs backwards, then brought them forward together, he flew out from the slide like flying.

  Not bad, not bad at all. He's actually closely following that small-sized contestant from Chun Cheng Lu Institute, and it seems like Qu Ming Jun's kick earlier was quite powerful, as he's gradually closing the distance between them during the sliding process. Now it's the turn of the contestant from Chun Cheng Lu Institute to be surprised, he can't help but glance at Qu Ming Jun with a half-turned head, seemingly wondering how this pale-faced guy is so fierce and able to keep up with him, a child who grew up in the mountains collecting herbs.

  Qu Mingjun puffed out a burst of energy, and as soon as his body reached the opposite area, he immediately took two small steps with his feet on the ground, released the slide bar, and handed the safety belt to the little warrior beside him, rushing towards the shooting range.

  What a close call, almost neck and neck, Qu Mingjun arrived at the shooting preparation area with the player from Chun Cheng Lu Institute.

  The judge records the time of the two contestants and registers them, then waits for the next few contestants to arrive.

  This rest time was relatively sufficient, as one of the three groups had a contestant who fell off during the climbing process. Although it didn't take long to climb back up, they were able to get around 30 seconds of rest time.

  Qū Míng Jùn and Chūn Chéng Lù Yuàn's players faced each other in the second group, amidst the back-and-forth gunfire. They exchanged a heroic smile, but their eyes still shone with a competitive glint. Who would laugh last? Who would be the best?

  Qu Mingjun quietly began to use abdominal breathing to stabilize his breath and mentality, and soon calmed down. The player from Chun Cheng Lu Institute next to him was still slightly panting, and the two immediately showed a gap at this time.

  The contestants of Chun Cheng Academy were puzzled. How did this kid calm down so quickly? It's really strange, didn't he use his full strength just now?

  Before he could indulge in any more wild thoughts, all the contestants arrived at the venue one after another. The last to arrive was the contestant who had made a mistake during the climb. Judging from his position, he was from Luda University, and it seemed that the seams on the sides of his camouflage uniform had been rubbed open a bit. His face looked terrible.

  All the contestants in the third group put down their model guns and followed the judges into the shooting range on the right, while the shooting range on the left could still be seen where the second group of contestants were fighting for the last handgun target.

  Eight athletes in three groups stood at the 500m starting line, with a judge following each one. At the chief judge's command, everyone started running towards the 400m shooting line.

  Everyone knows that the shooting score later is the key point. Everyone runs at a moderate pace, with stable body and breathing as the standard.

  Shooting began, and this time Qu Mingjun took the lead. After all, he used his family's traditional breathing method, and soon stabilized his breath. In the three groups, he was the first to fire a shot. Wasn't it the 88-style sniper rifle? He immediately found the feeling of when Captain Fan had him practice shooting targets. Steadily aiming, pre-pressing, "Bang!", the balloon in the upper left corner of his shooting area burst into sound. Perfect firing.

  "Bang——bang——bang——" Qu Mingjun's rapid shooting, one by one bursting balloons gave the seven contestants beside him tremendous pressure. The balloon at 400 meters was just a small red dot to the naked eye, and not much bigger in the scope, and the terrain here was relatively flat, with a gentle breeze blowing, the balloon even had some slight movement. Qu Mingjun could aim and fire so quickly, and still hit every shot, damn it, is this kid even human?

  "Report, shooting completed!" Qu Mingjun quickly finished his own shooting and reported, the referee pressed the stopwatch and signaled Qu Mingjun to put down his gun and stand up. At this time, the psychological pressure on the other seven people was even greater.

  The shooting on the 400-meter line ended, and only a few people burst all ten balloons. The best result was achieved by Qu Mingjun. The player from Chun Cheng Lu Institute, who had been slightly ahead of Qu Mingjun in climbing, looked somewhat gloomy, with one balloon left unbroken, but there was no way out, as he only had ten bullets. The rest of the players missed at most three balloons, and whether it was due to luck or psychological factors, the gap between their strengths was clear at a glance.

  Next is the 300-meter light machine gun shooting. The side target is much larger than the ordinary target, but at a distance of 300 meters, it still looks very small. The 95-style light machine gun looks not much different from the automatic rifle, with only two more tripod legs and a slightly longer barrel.

  This time, the shooting was a lateral moving target, eight targets on eight inclined iron rails moved from far to near, from right to left towards Qu Mingjun and others. This shot only looked at how many bullets hit the target, without considering accuracy factors.

  Although the light machine gun was not Qu Mingjun's strongest suit, with the good start of the 88-style sniper rifle, Qu Mingjun confidently entered the aiming shooting.

  "Dada dada", "dada dada"......

  (Continue ps: It's the weekend, I wish you all a happy weekend! Recently, some brothers in the book review area questioned whether the book was written by a soldier. Here's an explanation: First of all, the protagonist I wrote is just a young man who has just enlisted from a local place, and in just over a year, he has only just completed his transformation into a soldier and cannot yet become an excellent professional soldier. Secondly, military schools have their own characteristics, and the first priority for students is to study, not to go on missions or anything like that. Rather than saying they focus on personal military training, in fact, they are more focused on how to manage and command subordinates to conduct combat training.)