Lu Qingxue (Alliance Leader He Bai Yiduo First Update!)

Lu Qingxue was already in a tight spot. The three mechs ahead were clearly operating as a team; if the metal torrent from their close-range Vulcan Cannons swept across her machine, it would drain her shield energy at a furious rate. The three mechs had her white unit boxed in from three directions, their suppressive fire forcing her evasive maneuvers to grow increasingly frantic. Behind her lay the Tropical Jungle, where towering trees dozens of meters tall could effectively weaken radar scans. As she retreated toward the jungle, who would have guessed that a yellow-green mech would suddenly emerge from the rear, its High-Vibration Particle Blade already glowing faintly red! A Chameleon Device, a Stealth Device—clearly a reconnaissance-oriented mech that had been lurking in the woods for a long time! If it struck true, with the devastating lethality of the High-Vibration Particle Blade, Lu Qingxue's mech shield would be shattered in one blow!

The Survival Battle map was set as Devil Island, a volcanic island. A Medium Escort Satellite in high orbit would launch indiscriminate attacks on ground mechs at irregular intervals. The system tallied scores every ten minutes: survivors earned 3 points, each mech destroyed earned 1 point. After ten minutes, the system would compress the island's combat zone, and anyone outside the valid area would be forcibly eliminated.

At this moment, whether the four mechs were allies or two separate groups, Lu Qingxue had reached her most dangerous moment!

"Ah, no good, Lu Xuejie doesn't seem to have noticed the one behind!" The crew-cut guy who had spoken earlier gasped.

Lei Nuo stared at the three-dimensional Light Screen, his thin lips still pressed together, but the corners of his mouth had already curled up.

"Long Er, you idiot," a clean-cut guy with glasses said coldly from behind. Before the crew-cut could get angry, he continued on his own, "Lu Xuejie's mech is a modified military-grade Mulan Modified, long-range focused, a ground combat model. It's equipped with a Fifth and a Half Generation engine, a standard 165-caliber Gauss Sniper Rifle from Walpo Company, a 35-caliber close-combat Defender, and 32 Axle-Type Rockets. By interstellar general standards, that's A-grade range, D-grade defense, D-grade close combat, C-grade mobility. You've been staring for ages—did you spot Lu Xuejie's sniper rifle, you idiot?"

"You, Feng Yu!" The crew-cut guy's face flushed red.

"Look for yourself. Xuejie's Mulan Modified has orange-red exhaust nozzles showing yellow streaks—that means it's been swapped to a Sixth-Generation Engine. Xuejie is the head of the school's Kendo Club. She chose the Mulan Modified and painted it white purely for aesthetics, not for its long-range firepower! See the High-Frequency Sword on her back clearly, you idiot!" The clean-cut glasses guy, Feng Yu, continued his deadpan mockery of Long Er.

"This is the Wave Leap Flash!!!??" Long Er hadn't even lashed out yet when he suddenly gasped, his face twisting in shock.

In the image, the white Mulan Modified, its steps faltering and chaotic, had an alloy sword scabbard painted white hanging unmistakably on its back!! The hilt, barely noticeable but still flush against the mech, was instantly drawn from behind by the Mulan Modified. Then, after bending its legs to store power, the thrusters on its feet overloaded in an instant. The mech leaned back 75 degrees, the sword tip touching the ground, and in a flash, it shifted from retreat into a backward arc parabola at three times its previous speed, causing the fire from the three mechs ahead to miss entirely. The yellow-green mech behind, both hands gripping its particle blade, screeched to a halt. Bang! The mech's engine exploded—a one-hit kill! The white Mulan Modified stood with its back to the yellow-green mech, slowly pulling the High-Frequency Sword from the energy bay it had just inserted into its arm, then... turned around at a leisurely pace.

"Th-this, this move from Xuejie—isn't that the Wave Leap Flash? Isn't that the military's A-grade tactical evasive maneuver? How can it be performed with a mech, and combined with a sword, and even used to wound the enemy!!! Ah!" Long Er's mouth was wide enough to fit a fist.

"Impressive. Qingxue truly lives up to her title as the Goddess of War of Dingchuan Academy's Kendo Club! No need to watch further. The military's A-grade action standards are incredibly demanding—she must have unlocked the First Mental Lock." Lei Nuo's voice rang out, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

The Star River Federation stipulated that anyone under 40 who hadn't passed military academy selection could, if they performed three consecutive A-grade or higher Fighting Techniques on the military's annual public assessment day on September 17, be specially selected as a Star River Federation officer—regardless of background, as long as they passed political review. Even the lowest rank of second lieutenant meant a leap to glory for those struggling on the edge of survival!! The military had defined 379 A-grade action standards, refined over nearly a century, each one incredibly difficult to master! Mastering three alone qualified someone as a standout talent!

Sure enough, the three Platinum One Star contestants on screen, seeing that fleeting image, slammed on the brakes in their charge toward the Mulan Modified, as if facing a formidable enemy!

"Xuejie's Sixth-Generation Engine just entered Compensatory Overload—it's bound to erupt now," Feng Yu said, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming.

One mech tried to flee, while the other two opened fire with their Vulcan Cannons. The Mulan Modified had already entered the Sixth-Generation Engine's 150% overload mode, its mobility leaping from C to 2C-Class. Against three C-minus performance mechs, it had achieved speed dominance! And on top of that, Lu Qingxue's piloting of the Mulan Modified made her a close-combat master disguised as a sniper!

A point leap, a flash dodge, closing in—one slash to blow the cockpit!

Closing distance, a pinpoint shot from the wheeled rockets to cripple—one slash to blow the cockpit!

A jumping slash! The kinetic energy from explosive speed, combined with the razor-sharp High-Frequency Sword blade, cut the last mech's assault rifle—held crosswise in its hands—clean in two!

Then she stopped, sheathed the sword, and after confirming the area was safe, the snow-white Mulan Modified leaned against a Giant Tree to let its energy furnace cool.

"Time's up. Today's Survival Battle ends. 276 passed, 724 eliminated. Passing contestants, rest and prepare. Enter the arena at 20:00 tomorrow sharp."

"So... amazing!" A chorus of exclamations came from behind Lei Nuo.

A hiss of pressure release, accompanied by a beep, and the top of Virtual Pod No. 3 popped open. A white figure rose from inside.

A snow-white, wide-sleeved Swordsman Uniform accentuated her crisp, clean look. Her shoulder-length hair was casually tied back with a black martial arts belt. Slightly furrowed brows, clear and cold eyes like flowing water, a sharp chin, and a slender neck with no adornments. Like a secluded, icy snow lotus—quiet and aloof. The head of Dingchuan Academy's Kendo Club—Lu Qingxue.

"Xuejie," "Lu Xuejie," "Qingxue"...

"Mhm." Lu Qingxue was clearly not one for words. Then she frowned slightly, turned her head to look at Lei Nuo, and a hint of displeasure appeared in her eyes.

"Ahem, Lu Xuemei, your skills have broken through again," Lei Nuo said with a wry smile, rubbing his nose.

"Mhm. I've unlocked the First Mental Lock." Lu Qingxue gave a slight nod. "I've gained a lot of insights this time. Next, I'll focus on comprehending the way of the sword."

"Ah, unlocking the First Mental Lock—before, only Captain Lei Nuo in the whole academy had it, and now Lu Xuejie too!" The young man beside them showed clear envy and admiration in his eyes. Mental levels corresponded to brain development; higher levels meant clearer thinking, greater computational power, stronger stress resistance, and better synergy with optical computers. Levels 1 through 9 were where most people stopped for life. Level 10 was the first mental lock—a qualitative change. Those who hadn't broken through couldn't imagine it, but those who had were never mediocre!

"And tomorrow's battle?" Lei Nuo asked softly.

"I won't participate."

"Uh, Xuejie?" Long Er was clearly anxious. The Survival Battle had generous rewards—not just honor, but limited-edition mech parts.

"Long Er, I invited Lu Xuemei here personally. I wanted to see if real-world martial arts could noticeably improve one's performance in mech combat. What we just saw from the Mulan Modified has already given us the answer. Lu Xuemei has broken through the First Mental Lock, and her ambitions lie elsewhere—don't force it. What we need to do is work hard to prepare for next year's Exchange Battle. I'm about to graduate. I might choose to go to the Capital Star for further study or join the military. Before I leave, I'll do everything I can! The future of the academy's Mecha Department rests with you."

"Captain!" Long Er and the others couldn't help but speak up.

"For the next six months, training volume doubles! Physical training gets two more levels added. I'll occasionally invite your Lu Xuejie to spar with you." Lei Nuo suddenly flashed a fierce grin at his team.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now." Lu Qingxue's face remained cold and expressionless. After bidding everyone farewell, she turned and left without waiting for anyone to stop her.

"Captain clearly likes Lu Xuejie, but Lu Xuejie treats everyone like an Ice Block..." someone muttered quietly behind.

Lei Nuo acted as if he hadn't heard, staring at Lu Qingxue's retreating figure in silence.