Chapter 37

Du Nan's words had just come out.

The air immediately filled with a strong smell of gunpowder. The two young heroes glared at each other, sparks flying in the air.

Not far away, the teachers of the Military Academy felt a mix of satisfaction and concern. Even if they believed Tang Zhaixing would not act so low, Wu Mingzhao would certainly spread Du Nan's words to the Magic Energy Academy, and he would definitely add some spice to it. The teachers had a deeper understanding of Du Nan's youthful impulsiveness. No matter how talented he was, he was still a child.

Li Wenfu's figure slightly moved, but he remained steady and did not step forward to mediate. As a member of the Eighty-Eight Noble Clans, he could handle any situation.

But.

He was also Du Nan's friend.

As a friend, no matter what might happen in the future, he could not embarrass his friend on the spot. Young people do not need mature behavior; they need sharpness. If a teenager lives as steadily as a sixty or seventy-year-old, it does not mean they are mature; it only means they are timid. In this Magic Energy Century, Magic Energy Warriors are the representatives of the strongest power.

Can such people live timidly?

"Very good. You have spirit and courage. As a Magic Energy Warrior, I look forward to our next meeting. I hope that at that time, I will still see such a bold spirit from Du." Tang Zhaixing walked past Du Nan and whispered, "Little commoner, stay away from Yinyin. She is mine."

Du Nan remained silent.

He showed no reaction.

After warning, Tang Zhaixing walked away without looking back. Wu Mingzhao, who passed by, had a cruel smile on his lips, as if he had already thought of some evil plan to torment the person he disliked the most. When he looked at Li Wenfu, he had a smug expression, as if to say, "You're on the wrong team."

In the distance.

In the principal's office, a group of old and young generals did not miss this scene.

They were slightly worried.

After all, Tang Zhaixing belonged to the Eighth Clan. Du Nan was merely a talented oddball. Compared to each other, it was like a high mountain and a small tree. If any conflict really happened, Du Nan would certainly not come out well.

"Have you found anything?" the old general asked.

"No. The Silver Leaf Team suddenly decided to conduct practical training, and we have no clue. The only strange thing is that Jinling Armorer did not oppose it; she might know the reason. However, we cannot question Jinling Armorer, so we have no information at all." The soldier reported. This answer was both expected and unexpected.

They did not expect Jinling, who loved her sister the most, to agree to such a dangerous matter.

"Let it be. Young birds must flap their wings to grow. If we keep protecting them, they will always be in the cage." A young general supported.

"Isn't it too early?" An old general whispered in opposition.

"This is not about ability, but about mindset." The young general, who had risen through the ranks due to his Magic Energy combat achievements, naturally understood the essence: "This practical training will test whether they will be scared stiff when facing insect beasts. If they are afraid, they will still be afraid even after crossing the Four-Star level. If they are not afraid, they will not be afraid even without fusing a One-Star core. The starship is equipped with an alarm system and has some response capabilities, so the risk is low. Please rest assured, old general."

"Um." The old generals reluctantly nodded.

**********

On the starship.

Li Wenfu could not help but speak: "Du, by saying that, you might have a lot of trouble in the future. Tang Zhaixing appears sunny, but the education of the noble clans is similar. Adults are selfish, and children have limited tolerance. They do not care about money, but they cannot bear to lose face. Moreover, with Wu Mingzhao present, he will definitely add some spice and stir up trouble. After we return, someone might come to pick a fight."

"Fatso, what about the Magic Energy Academy? Are you afraid?" Yinyin, knowing the process, retorted.

This little devil was fearless.

"I'm not afraid. After all, I am one of the Eighty-Eight Noble Clans. They won't dare to mess with me no matter how crazy they are. But Du..." Li Wenfu was not worried about himself, but his words were cut off by Du Nan.

"Have you heard that those who exceed the Four-Star level must leave the school?"

"Um."

"Then it means that the students of the Magic Energy Academy are all within the Three-Star level. Are you afraid of these kids?" Du Nan asked, completely ignoring the fact that he was only a Two-Star. It seemed to him that Three-Star Red Steel Armors were just a bunch of little bugs.

Li Wenfu, seeing Du Nan's expression, was speechless.

The others were also speechless.

They thought: Is Du Nan's talk aimed at something specific? Or does he believe he can improve himself in this practical training? A Three-Star Armor is not a big deal, but what if it's the entire Magic Energy Academy? Is the gap between our mindsets really that wide? Does he already have the resolve to be fearless?

The group pondered.

The journey was silent.

Through folded space travel, they arrived at a semi-abandoned insect planet. This place, except for a few mercenary teams hunting rare insects and strange beasts, had no regular human military defense. Due to resource depletion, neither humans nor insectoids cared about such desolate planets. Any remaining inhabitants were left to fend for themselves. Such planets are generally called 'frontiers.' During large-scale battles, they are the front lines; otherwise, they are ignored by everyone.

Mercenary teams would also gather here for certain scientific rewards.

To hunt some new species of star insects or for other research purposes.

"We have arrived at the Iron Armor Fortress." Li Wenfu had already adjusted the coordinates and collected all the information. On each frontier planet, humans must have a highly defensive 'fortress' to stay. Otherwise, they would be constantly harassed by insect swarms and could not live in peace. The Iron Armor Fortress was not a famous stronghold; the name 'Iron Armor' only indicated its strong defense.

Conversely, if it were called the 'Flame Fortress,' it would indicate strong offensive capabilities.

"The starship will stay here. It has its own alarm system and will not have any problems. The starship is registered to a first-class citizen, and we pay a certain fee for parking. No one will dare to cause trouble. Currently, no mercenary team has the nerve to challenge the major star alliances. Du, please rest assured. If we encounter the Revolutionary Army, there's no need to worry. In the frontier regions, there are generally no conflicts. Even if we are the regular army of the Federation, we won't fight the Revolutionary Army here. The insectoids generally guard their own territories and rarely invade human settlements. We can find some areas with fewer insect beasts for practical training. Even if we wipe out a large nest, it won't attract the attention of the insectoids."

Li Wenfu finished explaining and had already put on his armor.

The safety of the fortress did not mean they could be careless. Rules are dead, but people are alive. No one could guarantee that these mercenary teams hunting rare insects and strange beasts would not take dangerous actions. If they had a leader, it would be easier to talk to them, but if they were a scattered group that had just failed... were they any different from bandits? Expecting them to behave was a joke.

After putting on the armor, the mercenaries using civilian versions... they would not dare to make a sound!

"This thing is even simpler than the ones in the Magic Network." Du Nan did not seek special treatment and also put on the armor. He found that, besides the elegant appearance, the armor fit perfectly, and there was no hindrance in his movements. Opening the dashboard, he saw that it was a Red Steel Armor with a Three-Star core as the power source. It was clear that the Li Clan had put a lot of thought into the safety of their younger generation.

"Um, these are simplified versions without heavy defensive armor. I brought about thirty small armors for everyone to use. With extra space, I also brought two medium-sized armors, about ten meters in size. In case of any unexpected changes, they can be used in emergencies." Li Wenfu explained, indicating that he was well-prepared.

"Let's see. I don't think we'll use them much." Du Nan said.

The group was slightly surprised.

From this, it seemed that Du Nan did not plan to use the armor for training. What was he thinking? Was he looking for trouble in this insectoid frontier?

Half a moment later.

"Over here." Li Wenfu, holding a map, found the 'information vending point' of the Iron Armor Fortress... a tavern.

As they walked, they often caught sideways glances.

The mercenaries were surprised to see such clean and simple armors here. In this place, who would not reinforce their armor? In this place, who would not make their armor look battered? No matter how beautiful the armor, after a few battles, it would look like a pile of junk. Were these six sets of armor part of a military unit training new recruits?

Creak.

Pushing open the tavern door, a slightly foul and warm wind hit their faces.

Inside, it was already crowded.

Half-armored mercenaries, disabled veterans, merchants selling all sorts of oddities... and of course, the most numerous were the women selling their bodies to earn money for food, drink, and entertainment, or to support their families. In the era of interstellar battles, the population ratio was imbalanced, and such women were not lacking anywhere. Even some military families without pensions would engage in this profession.

In the tavern.

Dozens of half-naked women were writhing in the laps of men or moaning beneath them.

Seeing this atmosphere, Ye Binghua immediately turned her head and hid behind Yinyin, while Li Wenfu and Lu Sheng showed no surprise. They had seen such scenes countless times in high society or the slums. In this war era, on the edge of the battlefield, notions of propriety and shame were just a joke.

"Let go of my mom... Mom is dying, let go..."

Before Li Wenfu could inquire, a child nearby was loudly crying.

Beside him.

A tall, muscular black man was forcefully thrusting into a pale woman. This 'normal activity' was nothing unusual, but for some reason, the black man was using both hands to strangle the woman's neck, making it impossible for her to breathe, and she looked like she was about to suffocate.

The child cried and, seeing the black man not letting go, threw himself at him, biting his arm with all his might, trying to save his mother with his small strength.

"Get lost, I'm having fun."

The black man waved his hand, sending the child flying. His other hand did not let go, and he continued to strangle the woman's neck.

Hearing his son's cries, the woman's tears streamed down. She gasped for breath, her life fading... This tragic scene did not earn her any sympathy. Most people watched with a sense of entertainment, as if it was normal for a mercenary to abuse a prostitute. Even the other prostitutes only showed a hint of sympathy. In their eyes, it was just bad luck to encounter the mad dogs of the Demon Tooth Mercenary Team; it was a miracle if she survived.

The black man, after hitting the child, attacked even more fiercely.

In the midst of his wild pleasure.

A hand in a simple, thin armor emerged from his chest, holding his still-beating heart. In a state of shock, a young voice came from behind: "Today, the first lesson of our practical training is to hunt beasts. Remember, this is a human beast. When you see it, do not hesitate, do not think... kill!"

In the next second, the heart burst in his hand!