Startling Thunder. Ten Thousand Jun

Luo Beichen naturally would not believe Yang Lixie just because of those few words.

Who knew whether he had colluded with that Wu Tiejun?

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

He needed to confirm with Shi Haoting whether the box of Spark Agent in his hand was safe.

He had to make sure it had not been switched.

Or poisoned.

At that moment, the students participating in the competition arrived one after another.

Four of them were Luo Beichen's classmates.

The other five, including Yang Lixie, were all second-year students.

Four men and one woman.

As soon as these people entered, each of them glanced at Luo Beichen several times before going to select a weapon.

Yang Lixie walked over.

Pointing at a tall, slender, fair-skinned student with medium-length hair and sharply defined features, he said, "That's Wu Tiejun."

"His Visualization Technique has already reached Primary Level Five. Compared to Combat Skills, he's more skilled in Mystic Arts."

"In our class, he ranks among the top three in the number of Mystic Arts he has mastered."

"However, this competition only allows Mystic Arts below Number 10, so you don't need to worry too much."

"Once it starts, find a way to get close to him and force him into close combat."

"His Combat Skills are terrible."

The student called Wu Tiejun looked at Yang Lixie in astonishment. "Yang, are you sick or something?"

"Why are you exposing my weaknesses?"

Yang Lixie snorted. "Because I feel like it. What can you do about it?"

Wu Tiejun really could do nothing to him.

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

He could only snort. "You'll get what's coming to you later."

Luo Beichen remained silent.

Yet in his heart, he felt that these two were not putting on an act.

That made it even stranger.

There was no reason for the Director's son, Yang Lixie, to treat him so well.

What was he after?

Soon, the broadcast rang out. "Students participating in the competition, please enter the arena. The competition will begin in five minutes. Latecomers will not be accepted."

The students then left the lounge one after another.

They arrived at the arena.

Suddenly, everyone felt the ground tremble slightly.

A massive figure came walking over.

A mecha!

White Dragon!

The mecha, resembling a silver giant, walked toward the arena. The parts damaged in its battle with Taotie had already been repaired.

White Dragon's design was simple. As a Primary Mecha, it had no external attachments.

Its only weapon was a rifle designed specifically for giant beasts.

It also had a chain blade concealed inside the armor on its right wrist.

Painted silver-white, its engine vents were designed in the shape of a "V" on its chest.

When the engine activated, blue light would shine through the vents, illuminating the "V."

At that moment, Wei Fenghua introduced it from the raised platform. "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, Mystic Machine."

"Primary Mecha."

"Height: 81 meters. Weight: 1,850 tons."

"Its operating system is the Jiaolong Generation Two, with the main engine called 'Tide' and two auxiliary engines."

"This is the mecha you will compete for today."

"Do your best!"

"The competition begins!"

After Wei Fenghua announced the start.

Yang Lixie instantly raised his hand. "I'm withdrawing! I surrender!"

In an instant.

The entire arena, both above and below the platform, fell silent.

Yang Lixie grinned and made an encouraging gesture toward Luo Beichen before nimbly jumping off the arena and dashing toward the spectator stands.

In the spectator stands, his goddess—the girl called Liu Ruohan—was leaning forward with both hands on the railing and her chin resting on them as she watched the arena.

As soon as Yang Lixie arrived, he immediately took a drink and a fan from his two lackeys, Zhang Hao and the Fatty, then moved next to his goddess.

"Ruohan, it's hot. Have something to drink."

Without turning her head, Liu Ruohan said, "The Undercity has a constant-temperature system. The daytime temperature is fixed at 27 degrees. How could it be hot?"

"Also, I'll say this one more time."

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

Yang Lixie smacked his lips loudly. "How can this be called wasting time? You ignoring me is what really counts as wasting time."

"If you don't want food, then have some fruit."

"My dad sent over a watermelon yesterday. It's incredibly sweet."

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

Liu Ruohan said impatiently, "Stop disturbing me while I watch the match."

Yang Lixie immediately made a zipping motion across his mouth.

On the arena.

The students did not rush to start fighting.

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

Among the second-year students, Wu Tiejun looked around before saying, "Everyone, we have a celebrity among us today."

"You should all know Student Luo Beichen, right?"

"Student Luo Beichen killed Luo Beichen on the Death Match stage just one month after entering the Academy."

"I heard that he was also involved in the deaths of several other students."

"Not long ago, he was even recognized as an exemplary representative for bravery and justice."

"Among all of us, surely no one is more impressive than Student Luo Beichen, right?"

"If we fought one-on-one, I'm afraid none of us would be Student Luo Beichen's match."

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

Wu Tiejun's gaze fell on Luo Beichen. "What I'm saying is, if everyone still wants a chance to pilot the mecha..."

"Then we should first join forces and ask Student Luo Beichen to leave the arena."

"Once Student Luo Beichen is out, we can decide the winner among ourselves. What do you say?"

Several second-year students nodded in agreement almost without consideration.

The four first-year students were still hesitating.

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

In the end, one of the boys shouted, "I agree!"

He looked at Luo Beichen, several blood vessels visible in his eyes. "Luo Beichen, don't blame us."

"We want to pilot the mecha too."

"And we want the reward."

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

"Anyway, you're capable. How about letting us have this opportunity?"

"You should leave."

Once someone had taken the lead, the other students also grew bolder.

"Yeah, can't you give us a chance?"

"Get off!"

"Get down!"

During this process.

Wu Tiejun quietly retreated, widening the distance between himself and Luo Beichen. Then he suddenly shouted, "Stop wasting words on him. Everyone, attack together!"

At once, the students either surged with Primal Energy and charged at Luo Beichen,

or formed hand seals and used Mystic Arts.

Luo Beichen stood alone with a sword in hand.

He watched coldly.

Then, Primal Energy pierced through his acupoints, and he opened the Essence Gate!

Boom!

Luo Beichen erupted with a mass of Bright Yellow Light. It rose like flames, vaguely forming the phantom image of overlapping mountain ranges.

Looking at the opponents rushing toward him,

he spoke in a voice only he could hear.

"Benefits. Profit."

"They must be fought for yourself."

"Won through risking your life."

"Not begged from others."

The longsword swept horizontally along the ground.

It was as though thunder swept across the arena, brilliant flashes of lightning dazzling the eye.

This was the Combat Skill Luo Beichen had recently learned, one that required the Opening the Essence Gate to use in conjunction with it.

Startling Thunder. Ten Thousand Jun!

Amid the flashes of lightning, the arena split into pieces.

The students who had charged forward or formed hand seals all cried out in alarm.

Unable to keep their footing, they tumbled from the raised platform one after another.

The spectator stands fell utterly silent.

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

Liu Ruohan, who had been supporting her chin with both hands, narrowed her eyes slightly.

Wei Fenghua coughed twice, a smile appearing faintly at the corners of his mouth.

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

With a single sword strike, Luo Beichen had nearly dismantled the entire arena.

At the same time, he had also "invited" quite a few students off the arena.