52: Chapter 52: A sweeping victory.

"You've seen it at the mecha training base; don't you think their operations are particularly stiff?"

Lu Qingfeng nodded.

More than stiff, they were practically like wooden geese.

"Then do you know that the mechas at the training base are highly simplified? If it were a real mecha, it would be much harder to control."

"After all, even the smallest mecha reaches a height of a hundred meters and weighs over 3,000 tons."

"To pilot such a behemoth and want it to be agile is an incredibly difficult task."

"And what you don't know is that only after reaching the Diamond tier at this training base..."

"...can you apply for a real-world mecha, and even then, they might not necessarily equip you with one."

"It also depends on your win rate; you need a rate of over 65% to apply for mecha equipment. Of course, you'd have to join the military for that."

"Or you could join a conglomerate or become a mercenary for a Family, though I don't recommend it."

Lu Qingfeng shook his head. Family? Conglomerates?

He had zero interest. Joining the military to campaign across the sea of stars and expand humanity's territory was his dream.

His idol was the Marquis of Champion, Huo Qubing, from the Han Dynasty in the history books.

Wiping out the Xiongnu royal court, watering horses at the Han Sea, and performing the Fenglangjuxu ceremony at Mount Langjuxu.

"Alright, that's enough for today. Practice your National Martial Arts well and strive to enter the Bao Dan Realm within four years. Then, when you go to the military, you'll be equipped with a higher-level mecha."

After Xiao Jingdao finished speaking, he got up and left.

"Don't forget to wash the dishes and tidy up..."

Lu Qingfeng: ...

This old fox—I cook, and I have to wash the dishes too.

Forget it, just treat it as the fee for his lecture.

Wait? I'm at school; isn't this what he's supposed to do?

Holy crap...

...

After tidying the kitchen, he immediately called Mother Lu.

"Xiao Feng... do you miss your mom?" Mother Lu, dressed in military uniform, smiled heroically.

She was truly happy that her son had called her on his own initiative.

"Mom... I heard from a teacher today that being a Mecha Combat Master is very dangerous in space. I'm a little worried about you."

Lu Qingfeng said it directly; why be bashful with his own mother?

"Nonsense... Your mom is a king-class mecha Mecha Combat Master, belonging to one of our Huaxia's four oldest ace legions, the Vermilion Bird Legion. What danger could there be?"

"If anyone's in danger, it's those aliens... Hmph, and those damn Intelligent Humans."

"Alright, let's not talk about that. Just know that your mom is very safe."

"How have you been lately? Are you getting used to Yan University? You look like you've lost weight again. Eat more good food, don't be stingy with money... and..."

"Stop, stop, stop... Mom... I'm thinner because of martial arts practice. Anyway, just stay safe. Old Lu and I are waiting for you. That's it, hanging up now."

He hung up the phone and then started worrying again.

Although Mother Lu's nagging was a bit annoying, he missed her dearly.

After hanging up, he went straight to the second floor to read. After all, National Martial Arts was his main focus.

If he hurried into the Bao Dan Realm, would his mecha control be better? Would the drain on his spirit even be smaller?

After all, the unification of Qi and blood forms the Baodan, locking in the essence, Qi, and spirit so they don't leak out.

Since he didn't have any nutrient solution, he hadn't played ranked matches for a few days and started training step-by-step.

On the fourth day.

Old Man Xiao excitedly walked onto the second floor holding a metal box.

"Kid... come here, your good stuff has arrived, hahaha."

"What is it?"

Lu Qingfeng put down his book.

"Come, come... let's go to the third floor."

Xiao Jingdao thought for a moment and pulled him along.

Arriving at the third floor, he opened the door and Old Man Xiao placed the box on the floor.

He touched it with his bracelet and opened the box.

Inside the box were four long, green items.

Xiao Jingdao picked one up and asked:

"Do you know what this is?"

Lu Qingfeng shook his head; he really didn't know.

"This is a nutrient block used by king-class mecha pilots. This stuff is meant for mecha nutrition chambers. Using it for us is truly a waste of a divine object."

"Kid, just one of these is worth ten million!"

Lu Qingfeng clicked his tongue; it was indeed ridiculously expensive.

"With this, it shouldn't be consumed too quickly. Take it, it's for you."

Xiao Jingdao handed the whole box to him.

Four blocks, worth forty million.

Lu Qingfeng looked at Old Man Xiao in shock.

So generous?

This was forty million, not four thousand.

He was a little moved, to be honest.

"Thank you, Dean Xiao."

"Kid... no need for thanks. Remember to put the nutrient block into the nutrition slot; it will dissolve on its own. At this concentration, one block should last you a while."

"Use it sparingly... Also, the fishing old man mecha model has been finalized. Show off Yan University's prestige and get me a bronze medal. That's better than any thanks. I'm off..."

Old Man Xiao waved his hand and left after speaking.

Looking at Old Xiao's receding figure.

Lu Qingfeng thought to himself:

"A bronze medal? That was never my goal... With a weapon, I'll show them the meaning of cruelty."

"Unless someone is a true Huajin Grandmaster, they have no idea how terrifying a Huajin Grandmaster can be."

After putting away the energy blocks, he got straight to work.

He lay in the pod and pressed the green button.

The scene shifted as he entered the training base.

The mecha was indeed fully equipped now.

It had an energy shield on its body.

And a twelve-meter alloy longblade in its hand.

He made a few moves with it; it felt very natural.

Fist techniques first, then weapons. Weapons are an extension of the limbs.

Once you've mastered the fist, using weapons isn't difficult.

Starting ranked matches.

The Diamond tier mostly consisted of level-five mechas or higher.

He quickly entered the arena. 10, 9, 8... 1.

Swish...

Lu Qingfeng rapidly closed in on the opponent and slashed with his blade.

Bang...

The opponent's mecha was instantly killed, sliced in two by the blade.

KO...

The opponent was likely stunned. With the boost from Internal Energy, Lu Qingfeng's speed and power were not lacking.

Continued ranked matches, continued instant kills.

Pushing all the way through.

Before long, he reached the Great Master promotion match.

Entering the arena.

A sixty-meter mecha stood opposite him.

A level-six mecha. He had fought them before. It was stronger, had higher defense, was faster, and had a longer blade.

But it was just a wooden goose. What was there to fear?

As soon as the countdown ended, he rushed toward the opponent.

A fifteen-meter small mecha looked far too tiny in front of a sixty-meter behemoth.

However, tiny meant agile.

The opponent couldn't land a single hit.

But they took several slashes themselves.

Swish...

Crack...

One leg was hacked three times and finally broke.

Becoming a cripple made it even harder to fight, and finally, it was decapitated with one strike.

He continued to fight.

Three matches later...

"Congratulations, you have been promoted to the Great Master tier. Maintain it to receive a bronze medal."