717: Pre-war relaxation

Time flew by like water. Five days had passed since the Space Research Institute locked onto the suspected Dimensional Battlefield region.

On this day, the Expeditionary Force Base, which had been deserted for a long time, finally regained its vitality as black-red mechs descended from the sky, one after another.

"Xiao Li, I heard that you were bored during your vacation and went to Renmin University to be some kind of combat instructor. You were 'an old cow eating young grass' and got together with a professor?"

Li Chengtuo's old face flushed, then he argued logically:

"How can something where two people are in love be called 'an old cow eating young grass'?"

"In the past, Xier was 46 and I was 28. If you said 'an old cow eating young grass,' I wouldn't argue with you."

"But in another two hundred years, Xier will be 246 and I'll be 228. Can that still be called 'an old cow eating young grass'?"

"By then, it will be a match made in heaven."

"Besides, everyone Cultivates now. As long as you Cultivate to the Transcendent Realm, an eighty or ninety-year-old person looks only thirty to fifty from the outside, let alone someone only in their forties."

"I took Xier to the square in our area, and the aunties and uncles practicing martial arts there all said we were a good match."

"Oh, you've only known each other for so long, and you've already taken her home to meet the family? This really is 'a man should marry when he's grown, a woman should marry when she's of age.'"

"Our 'vacation' time hasn't been short either. It's normal for Xiao Li to find a partner. I wonder if there's a new target this time. My great saber is already thirsty for action."

..."Brother Daqing, Brother Youcai, the three of us all Cultivate the 'Classic of Crossing Tribulations.' Do you feel that your Cultivation speed has slowed down a lot since we retreated from the battlefield?"

"Liuzi, you feel that way too? My Cultivation speed on the battlefield used to be 10, but now it's at most 3. And that's after I controlled my mech to find things to do on Tiannan Star. Otherwise, it would be at most 2."

"That's normal. The 'Classic of Crossing Tribulations' is a Killing Dao Cultivation Technique. It uses Killing Intent to nourish Qi and blood, forging a body of Killing Dao Qi and blood and true intent. How can you become stronger without killing? Controlling a mech to punish evil on Tiannan Star is just scratching an itch. If you really want to gather Killing Intent, you still have to go in with real swords and spears..."

..."Captain Liu, five days ago, the Dimensional Fold Zone on Tiannan Star suddenly expanded, encompassing the entire Tiannan Star within it. Did the Army Commander make a move?"

Liu Ming squinted at Liu Xiaoliu, who had sidled up to him to talk:

"Isn't that obvious? Besides our Army Commander, who else on Earth can shatter a star's core?"

Liu Xiaoliu blinked:

"Captain Liu, did you forget about Dr. Bai? He's a formidable individual who even built star destroyers. There are still several star destroyers docked in the Tiannan Star system right now."

Liu Ming put his hands on his hips:

"Xiaoliuzi, why do you always have to argue with me?"

"I admit, Dr. Bai's star destroyers are very powerful, but a star destroyer is such a massive thing. Even a slight movement can make it a trending topic, let alone using a Planet Destroyer Cannon."

"With such a huge commotion, how could we not know?"

"You're not unaware, even though Dr. Bai doesn't say it, he's always wanted to compete with our Army Commander. Every time our Army Commander has a Breakthrough, he goes crazy and causes a big stir."

"If he really controlled a star destroyer to shatter the star's core, how could there be no commotion online?"

"So, the one who shattered Tiannan Star's core and completely turned Tiannan Star into our Blessed Land, besides our Army Commander, there's no one else!"

Liu Xiaoliu said, as if suddenly enlightened:

"Captain Liu, you really see things clearly."

"Of course!" Liu Ming had just tilted his head back in a proud huff when the corner of his eye caught Xiaoliu's teasing gaze and the constantly flashing wristband on his hand, which was recording his 'proud' posture:

"You brat, you're finished! Let me see how much your strength has improved these past few months!"

..."Old Lu, I remember when you were assisting Thailand and Myanmar, you saved over 300 people. During the battle on the Strange Star, you not only led a team to rescue over 3,000 Beast-Ear Tribe members, but you also single-handedly held back the evil god until reinforcements arrived, suffering severe injuries for it."

"Your meritorious service in our legion is like this." Wang Yi gave Lu Fei a thumbs-up, then continued:

"This time, the Army Commander has come out of seclusion and gathered us here, probably to award us medals."

"I feel like you might even get an Explorer's Medal."

Facing his good friend's envious gaze, Lu Fei shook his head while also straightening his back:

"An Explorer's Medal is too much to hope for. After all, only the Army Commander in the entire country has received an Explorer's Medal."

"I feel that unless one can individually conquer an Alien Planet, an Explorer's Medal is out of the question."

"I estimate I'll get a second-class individual merit award this time, and maybe even a first-class one."

Wang Yi's envy remained undiminished:

"At least a second-class merit, which not only means a medal but also a plaque to take home. You might even get a first-class merit and be awarded the 'Shield of the Republic' medal."

Lu Fei became somewhat annoyed upon hearing this.

He raised his left hand to scratch his head, then casually tapped his right hand:

"My strength is still not enough. I could only hold back that evil god and wait for legion support."

"If I could have protected those Beast-Ear Tribe members alone and hunted down that evil god, I would definitely have gotten a first-class merit, and the medal awarded wouldn't be the 'Shield of the Republic,' but the 'Sword of the Republic.'"

Compared to the 'Shield of the Republic' medal, which represents defense, the Expeditionary Force soldiers, full of pioneering spirit, preferred to wear the 'Sword of the Republic' medal, which represents offense.

Thinking of the day when firecrackers would explode, and a plaque adorned with a large red flower, reading 'Home of the Republic's Sword,' would hang on his door, Lu Fei couldn't help but feel emotional.

After all, what is living for, if not for this bit of face?

Wang Yi, seeing Lu Fei's shameless expression, couldn't help but point at him:

"Hey, you guy, look at how capable you think you are..."

..."Xili." The Four-Armed Lizardmen Jiang Weiguo stood in a corner of the training ground, looking at the tall Four-Armed Lizardmen in front of him with adoration in his eyes:

"You performed so outstandingly on the battlefield, are you going to be awarded a medal?"

Xili, who stood over two meters tall and had Broken through the limits of ordinary Four-Armed Lizardmen, had a resolute expression:

"It's best if we can get a medal. If we don't meet the requirements for a medal, it just means our performance isn't good enough."

Saying this, he clenched his four fists and looked at the red flag fluttering in the morning sun on the training ground:

"Whether it's to repay China's kindness or to stand out among China's increasingly numerous subordinate races,"

"We all need to work harder."

"Xili, we know." Behind Xili, the Lizardmen invited to the meeting all had firm gazes:

"China liberated us, granted us the status of free citizens, allowed us to live with dignity, and taught us what it means to live."

"But to maintain this dignity and to make our descendants even more dignified, we need to work even harder."

...And compared to the relaxed atmosphere among ordinary Expeditionary Force soldiers and the Lizardmen warriors of the subordinate legions, the atmosphere in the Expeditionary Force Base conference room was much more solemn...