Startling Thunder, Ten Thousand Jun

Luo Yan certainly wouldn't trust Yang Lixie just because of a few words.

Who knew if he was in cahoots with that Wu Tiejun fellow.

Besides, after the competition, he still had to make a trip to the Logistics Department.

He needed to confirm the safety of this box of 'Spark Agent' he had with Shi Haoting.

To make sure it hadn't been swapped.

Or poisoned.

At this point, the students participating in this competition began to arrive.

Four of them were Luo Yan's classmates.

The remaining five, including Yang Lixie, were sophomores.

Four males and one female.

As soon as these people entered, each of them glanced at Luo Yan a few times before picking out their weapons.

Yang Lixie walked over.

He pointed to one of the tall, thin, fair-skinned boys with medium-length hair and sharply defined facial features. "This is Wu Tiejun."

"This guy's Visualization Technique has already reached Primary Level Five. He's better at Profound Techniques than combat skills."

"Among our class, the number of Profound Techniques he's mastered ranks in the top three."

"However, this competition only allows the use of Profound Techniques numbered ten or below, so you don't have to worry too much."

"Try to get close to him at the start and engage him in close-quarters combat."

"His combat skills are terribly lacking."

The boy named Wu Tiejun looked at Yang Lixie in astonishment. "Yang, are you out of your mind?"

"Why are you revealing my weaknesses?"

Yang Lixie chuckled. "I feel like it. What are you going to do about it?"

Wu Tiejun really couldn't do anything about him.

After all, Yang Lixie was the son of the Bureau Chief of the Construction Bureau.

He could only hmph. "You'll pay for this later."

Luo Yan remained silent.

But in his heart, he felt that these two weren't just acting.

That made it even stranger.

Why would Yang Lixie, the Bureau Chief's son, be so nice to him?

What was his motive?

Soon, the broadcast sounded. "All students participating in the competition, please take the stage. The match will begin in 5 minutes. Latecomers will not be admitted."

The students left the lounge one after another.

And came to the arena.

Everyone suddenly felt the ground tremble slightly.

They saw a massive figure walking towards them.

A Mecha!

White Dragon!

The Mecha, like a silver giant, strode towards the arena. The parts damaged in its previous battle with the Taotie had already been repaired.

White Dragon had a simple design. As it was a basic model, it had no external attachments.

Its only weapons were a rifle specifically for Giant Beasts.

And a chain blade hidden in its right forearm guard.

Painted silver-white, the engine's cooling vents on its chest were designed in a 'V' shape.

When the engine was activated, blue light would emanate from the vents, illuminating the 'V'.

At this moment, Wei Fenghua, standing on the high platform, introduced, "This is a Mecha that previously served in the Surface Exploration Legion. For certain reasons, it has now been transferred to our academy."

"White Dragon, Xuanji."

"Primary model."

"Height 81 meters, weight 1850 tons."

"Its operating system is the 'Jiaolong' 2nd generation, main engine 'Sea Tide', with 2 auxiliary engines."

"This is the Mecha you will be competing for today."

"Good luck, everyone!"

"The match begins!"

After Wei Fenghua announced the start.

Yang Lixie raised his hand at light speed, "I quit, I surrender!"

Instantly.

Silence fell over the entire venue, both on and off the stage.

Yang Lixie grinned and made a "good luck" gesture to Luo Yan before nimbly jumping off the stage and disappearing into the audience.

In the audience, his goddess, the girl named Liu Ruohan, was leaning forward, resting her chin on her hands as she looked towards the stage.

As soon as Yang Lixie arrived, he immediately took a drink and a fan from his two followers, Zhang Hao and Fatty, and went over to his goddess.

"Ruohan, it's hot, have a drink."

Liu Ruohan said without turning her head, "The underground city has a constant temperature system, the daytime temperature is fixed at 27 degrees, it's not hot at all."

"Also, I'll say it again."

"You're not my type, don't waste your time on me."

Yang Lixie snapped his fingers, "How can you call this a waste of time? If you ignore me, that's a waste of time."

"If you don't want to eat, how about some fruit?"

"The watermelon my dad sent yesterday was so sweet."

He gestured, and Zhang Hao handed over a box of watermelon.

Liu Ruohan impatiently said, "Don't disturb me watching the match."

Yang Lixie immediately made a zipping motion across his mouth.

On the stage.

The students didn't rush into battle.

The first-year students watched the second-year students cautiously.

Among the second-year students, Wu Tiejun looked around and then said, "Everyone, we have a celebrity here today."

"You all should know classmate Luo Yan, right?"

"Classmate Luo Yan killed Luo Beichen in a Death Match within a month of enrolling."

"I heard that the deaths of several other classmates are also related to him."

"Not long ago, he was even an advanced representative for acting bravely for a just cause."

"Among us here, I don't think anyone is more impressive than classmate Luo Yan, right?"

"If it were a one-on-one fight, I'm afraid none of us would be classmate Luo Yan's opponent."

A second-year student asked, "Tiejun, what are you trying to say?"

Wu Tiejun's gaze fell on Luo Yan, "I'm saying, if you all still want a chance to pilot a mecha."

"You have to team up and get classmate Luo Yan off the stage first."

"After classmate Luo Yan is down, we can then decide the winner among ourselves. What do you say?"

Several second-year students nodded in agreement without much thought.

The four first-year students were still hesitating.

Wu Tiejun shouted, "First-years, what do you say?"

Finally, one boy yelled, "I agree!"

He looked at Luo Yan, his eyes bloodshot, "Luo Yan, don't blame us."

"We also want to pilot mechas."

"We also want to get rewards."

"You can't take all the benefits for yourself, can you?"

"Since you're so capable, why don't you let us have this one?"

"You go down."

With someone taking the lead, the other students became bolder.

"Yeah, can't you just let us have it?"

"Go down!"

"Go down!"

During this process.

Wu Tiejun quietly retreated, putting distance between himself and Luo Yan, then roared, "Stop wasting words, everyone attack together!"

Instantly, students either boosted their Essence Energy and charged at Luo Yan, or formed hand seals and used Profound Techniques.

Luo Yan stood alone with his sword.

He watched coldly.

Then, Essence Energy surged through his acupoints, Opening the Essence Gate!

BOOM!

A bright yellow radiance erupted from Luo Yan, rising like flames, and vaguely forming the phantom image of layered mountains.

Looking at the opponent rushing towards him.

He said in a voice only he could hear.

"Benefits, profit."

"Are things you have to fight for yourself."

"Earn with your life."

"Not rely on others to bestow."

His long sword swept horizontally, close to the ground.

It was as if thunder swept across the arena, the electric light dazzling.

This was a combat technique Luo Yan had newly learned, requiring the cooperation of 'Opening the Essence Gate'.

'Startling Thunder. Ten Thousand Jun'!

Amidst the electric light, the arena split into pieces.

The students who were charging and forming hand seals all cried out in shock.

Unable to stand steady, they all fell from the high platform.

The audience seats fell into silence.

The watermelon in Yang Lixie's hand dropped to the ground.

Liu Ruohan, resting her chin on her hands, narrowed her eyes slightly.

Wei Fenghua coughed twice, a smile subtly appearing at the corner of his mouth.

The arena used for the competition had collapsed by two-thirds.

Luo Yan's single sword strike.

Had almost dismantled the entire arena.

At the same time, it had also 'invited' quite a few students off the stage.