Chapter 30

Du Nan often goes out for training and usually hunts some meat to supplement his nutrition.

Due to his cultivation of physical techniques and the integration of a divine artifact fragment, his nutritional requirements are very high. After the first super-strengthening of his body, the continuous reinforcement by the divine artifact fragment never stopped, and his current food intake cannot meet the nutritional needs. Du Nan doesn't want to scare people too much, so he doesn't ask for more food at the school cafeteria. After advancing to the fourth level of physical techniques, this super appetite will gradually decrease, and now he can only go out to hunt for food.

"Classmate Du, wait, wait a moment." As Du Nan returned from his outing, he heard Ye Binghua's voice behind him as he just got back to the Military Physical Academy.

"You, you, don't come too close..." Seeing Du Nan suddenly stop, Ye Binghua looked like a frightened deer: "I, I, I have something to ask you... Classmate Du, have you heard the famous saying, 'Thirty years in the East Yi, thirty years in the Jiangnan; do not laugh at the young man, for he will stand tall in the blue sky one day'? I, I, I'm just asking, if you don't want to say... it's fine."

Hearing this, Du Nan was puzzled.

"Thirty years in the East Yi, thirty years in the Jiangnan; do not laugh at the young man, for he will stand tall in the blue sky one day!" If he remembered correctly, this was said by Li Qifeng.

It originated from the conflict between the East Yi and Jiangnan regions.

The Blue Sea Federation has six continents: East Sea, West Sea, South Sea, North Sea, Central Sea, and the uninhabited Ice Sea. The East Yi region is the second most developed area in the East Sea, ranking just behind the Central Plains. The Jiangnan region is the least developed area in the East Sea but also the fastest-growing. In just thirty years, the Jiangnan region surpassed the East Yi economically.

Due to their proximity, conflicts between the two regions are frequent.

The Blue Sea Federation allows the regions to 'compete' but not to 'fight.' Verbal disputes are allowed to happen every day, but using weapons... whoever starts first dies first! Thus, the competition between the Jiangnan and East Yi regions is fierce, vying for business, talent, and resources. Even in entertainment, they openly compete.

Li Qifeng's 'thirty years' boast came from the competition between the East Yi and Jiangnan regions: the East Sea Inter-School Mecha Championship.

Back then,

Li Qifeng measured his ice-type magical energy but never fused a one-star seed source. This was often mocked by the East Yi region's media, and the mockery continued for ten years. Then, he said this sentence in public.

In the eleventh year, he successfully fused a one-star seed source.

In the twelfth year, he fused a two-star seed source and defeated the East Yi region's elite combat team, winning the individual first place in the mecha championship. He then led his team to victory, fighting three opponents alone when the team of five was defeated, ultimately winning the team championship.

After that, he won both individual and team championships every year for three years.

The Jiangnan region's media turned the tables, collectively mocking the East Yi region for three years until Li Qifeng graduated and joined the military.

Now, Li Qifeng is a Gold-level five-star mecha master, a renowned general in the entire Blue Sea Federation. He is also well-known throughout the Blue Sky Alliance. Among the many ambitious magical energy warriors, Li Qifeng is a legendary figure who 'practices what he preaches.' After his fame, his youth was often exaggerated by the media, especially by the Jiangnan region's news, which frequently mentioned 'local hero' Li Qifeng.

Du Nan, who doesn't care about gossip, also knows about this person's glorious deeds.

What is Ye Binghua's deeper meaning in mentioning this?

"Um, um... do you know the result of last year's East Sea Inter-School Mecha Championship?" Ye Binghua asked weakly, stepping back a bit.

Du Nan shook his head, thinking the Jiangnan region must not have won: "Did the Jiangnan region lose to the East Yi region?"

Under normal circumstances, if the Jiangnan region lost to the Central Plains or any other region, the media would not be completely silent. Only when losing to the East Yi region would the media collectively go silent. Once the Jiangnan region loses to the East Yi region, no matter in what aspect, very few media outlets would report it. Even if they did, it would be in a corner, with just a few words. Only when they win would the media sing praises every day.

Since the media isn't singing praises now, it must be this result.

"Um..."

Ye Binghua nodded slightly, sighing lightly: "They lost again, and it has been... since Master Li Qifeng left school, they have lost to the East Yi region's combat team for twenty-nine consecutive years. During this time, only the Central Plains school team has won a few championships; the East Yi region has always been at the top. The Jiangnan region and other regions have never won even once."

"Oh." Du Nan responded, thinking to himself: the entire Blue Sea Federation has so few magical energy warriors, where do they get so many competitions?

Where do these participants come from?

Du Nan didn't realize at the time that not every magical energy warrior can stand out. In the inter-school mecha championship, most participants join for seven or eight years, which is considered normal. Only a few geniuses can quickly fuse seed cores, advance to the military ranks, and join the battlefield. The less fortunate ones might stay at the same level for ten or twenty years, which is not uncommon. Even the 'star' of the Blue Sea Star, Yinxing, took several years to fuse her seed core.

Advancing from one-star to two-star, and from two-star to three-star, becomes increasingly difficult, so most people stay in school for training, maintaining their 'student' status.

"I heard that this year, the East Yi region is determined to win the championship. They suddenly increased their team to six combat teams, possibly aiming to win the top three places. So, the... East Yi region's media has started to bring up Master Li Qifeng's 'thirty years' again. If they lose this year, it will be... it will be..."

"Thirty consecutive years of defeat."

Du Nan, feeling uncomfortable, finished the sentence for her. Ye Binghua is so easily shy; she acts as if she has never seen a man before. Just walking close to the building to catch a breeze made her panic like a little rabbit. No wonder that old rich man died trying to get close; he probably didn't even touch her hand before turning into an ice block, without a chance to explain.

"Um, um..." Ye Binghua lowered her head, nodding. Her head almost touched her chest.

Subtly,

Du Nan sensed a bit of 'battle intent' from Ye Binghua.

One of the top ten snipers in the Blue Sky region, the Ice Mountain Cannon. Du Nan has seen Ye Binghua's 'strength'... except for ultra-long-range sniping, within a kilometer, he has never seen her aim through a scope; she usually shoots directly and hits. More importantly, using a charged sniper rifle and adding her own magical energy, she can shatter the armor of a giant insect like the Mountain Armor with one shot.

He hasn't seen her famous skill of shooting through a mountain, but the power of shattering a three-layer shield with one shot left a deep impression on Du Nan. On the battlefield, super-defenders like Li Wenfu are meaningless in front of Ye Binghua's sniper.

"Do you want me to participate?"

"Um." Ye Binghua's voice was as soft as a mosquito.

"Are there any restrictions?"

"Yes, it must be a current student... and the magical energy level cannot exceed four stars. Um, um, and... the competition will provide three-star mechas, so the power supply will be similar. If, if, your magical energy level is higher, it will be more advantageous." Ye Binghua took a few more steps back; Du Nan's aura made her feel suffocated, her body heating up.

"Um, what do I need to do?" Du Nan, hearing about the three-star mecha, understood that it uses a three-star core as its power source.

But he was puzzled.

Isn't the inter-school mecha competition held within the magic network?

"You... you should try to reach the two-star level, otherwise, the magical energy supply might not be enough. Then, practice scout and close-combat techniques. The East Yi region's combatants mostly practice assassination techniques, and... that's all." After saying this, Ye Binghua seemed to have lost a layer of energy, as if she had just fought a major battle.

Ye Binghua, it seems, is completely unaccustomed to talking to boys, even familiar ones.

"Will Yinxing participate?" Du Nan asked again.

Ye Binghua nodded.

"Alright, I'll agree. I'll try to reach the two-star level as soon as possible. By the way, when does the competition start?" Du Nan asked finally.

"Four months from now." Ye Binghua said.

She turned and, looking like a frightened little rabbit, quickly fled.

At this moment,

From the corner of the school building, Li Wenfu and Lu Sheng slowly stepped out, their eyes strange. Seeing Du Nan confused, the fat Li Wenfu shook his fat and explained helplessly: "Brother Du, the inter-school mecha competition is not held within the magic network. It chooses a desolate planet or a relatively safe insect planet. Theoretically, it can be fatal."

Du Nan didn't care, knowing that the federation wouldn't be foolish enough to let these treasures die.

"The environment is generally not a problem," Lu Sheng added: "Some insect beasts, but not enough to threaten a magical energy mecha. However, Brother Du, there are no clear rules in the competition. In the past thirty years, two Jiangnan region participants have died in the competition. The East Yi region's combatants say they couldn't control their hands. They are the winners, and the federation can't say anything, you understand?"

Du Nan nodded.

The two just breathed a sigh of relief when they heard Du Nan say, "Your meaning is, if I kill the East Yi region's combatants, it's not a mistake, right?"

Li Wenfu and Lu Sheng were speechless.

Brothers, we are worried about your safety... and you talk about killing others, how can you be so disobedient!