DipNovel Chapter 57 The School Competition is Coming!
Chapter 57 The School Competition is Coming!
"Ah Xing, hurry up, you're the only one left!"
The two-day preparation period passed in the blink of an eye.
In the early morning, as the sunlight just pierced through the thin mist over Chengdu, Lü Mufei waved to Wang Xing, who had just run out of the school gate, in front of an electric bus bearing the logo of "Chengdu No. 2 Key High School".
"Here we are." Wang Xing, carrying a black tactical backpack, quickly jumped onto the bus.
On the bus, Bai Lingxue, Raymond, and Lin Hao were already seated. Leading the group was Principal Li Zhengyuan, along with various senior school leaders.
Of course, teachers familiar to Wang Xing, such as Yuanpei Class Teacher Shen Shuang and practical instructor Lü Yun, were also present, totaling more than twenty people.
Once everyone was present, the bus silently glided out of the school gate and merged into the city's morning rush hour traffic.
"I heard that this year's competition venue is not on the ground."
Half an hour later, the school bus came to a smooth stop on the outer plaza of the Rongcheng Central Stadium.
However, when Wang Xing got out of the car and looked up in the direction of everyone's gaze, he was instantly stunned by the scene before him.
The match was not held in that huge stadium that could hold 100,000 people.
It was directly above the stadium!
A colossal steel warship, so magnificent it blotted out the sky and even instilled a sense of dread, hovered silently beneath the clouds.
It was a true "flying fortress," over three kilometers long, its hull constructed from dark silver composite armor. Pale blue anti-gravity flames spewed from the bottom of the behemoth, illuminating the city's sky as if it were the deep sea.
The massive anti-gravity engine emitted a deep roar, and even the surrounding air distorted slightly under the influence of this fluctuation.
On the bow of the giant ship, its name—【Rongcheng】—is branded in bold, powerful alloy lettering.
"Is this the foundation of a top-tier cyber city in China...?"
Wang Xing looked up, gazing silently at the colossal ship that blotted out the sky.
Standing before that colossal machine, he truly felt for the first time how insignificant an individual's body was in this world where advanced martial arts and mechs coexisted.
But then, an even more intense fighting spirit surged from the bottom of his heart.
Even the largest warships are forged by human hands. What I must do is gradually become someone capable of wielding that power…
"Stop daydreaming, grab your name tags and get ready to board the ship."
Instructor Lü Yun handed each person a name tag with a metallic sheen, on which their name and ranking in the school competition were displayed using holographic projection.
Riding in the massive traction beam elevator, five students from No. 2 High School, accompanied by their teacher, officially stepped inside the [Rongcheng] ship.
To Wang Xing's surprise, the entrance area of the giant ship was a magnificent banquet hall, the size of several football fields.
The dome is adorned with dazzling solar-powered chandeliers, and dozens of long buffet tables line both sides of the hall, laden with enticingly fragrant food and colorful drinks.
Pastries made from Grade A Abyss Blood Rice, thick soup made from the spine of Grade 5 Abyss Monsters, concentrated energy gel that can instantly replenish blood and qi, and even Dragon Marrow Juice that can only be seen at military banquets.
"Let's eat something here first and replenish our energy to peak condition."
Instructor Lü Yun patted Wang Xing on the shoulder, "These are not ordinary foods. They are high-level ferocious beast meat and abyss energy extract specially supplied by the military, which can replenish your body's energy to its peak as quickly as possible."
Without any hesitation, Wang Xing picked up a sizzling piece of meat from an unknown beast and took a bite. He immediately felt a warm surge of energy flow through his throat and throughout his body, and couldn't help but exclaim, "What incredible luxury..."
…………
Soon, groups from other schools began to enter the banquet hall.
The university presidents leading the delegations also began exchanging pleasantries with each other within this circle.
Principal Li Zhengyuan of No. 2 High School met many familiar faces. At this moment, he was holding a glass of red wine and chatting and laughing with the principal of Jinjiang No. 3 High School.
"Old Li, your No. 2 High School has produced an extraordinary talent this year. I heard that even Professor Chen from the Magic Machine University personally mentored Bai Lingxue. She's a top contender for the championship in this competition!" The principal of No. 3 High School praised her with a smile.
"Oh, no, Lao Zhang, you're flattering us too much."
Li Zhengyuan waved his hand, looking modest, "Speaking of winning the championship, your No. 3 High School's Lin Dong has mastered the 'Green Demon Mech' to such a high level that he was already invincible against General Jin in his second year of high school. Now that he's in his third year, he's truly aiming for the championship."
'Old Zhang is so out of touch. It seems he doesn't know that Lingxue is no longer the champion of the Second High School competition...' Li Zhengyuan thought to himself.
While the principals were exchanging pleasantries, the atmosphere in the students' area was rather subtle.
Inside the banquet hall, there were sharp-eyed, promising young people everywhere.
Wang Xing was holding a plate and picking up a piece of roasted abyss beast meat when he suddenly felt a sharp gaze pierce his back.
He turned around and met a pair of eyes that gleamed with an eerie green light.
He was a tall, slender young man, and what was striking was that his skin had a strange, pale green tinge.
This is not the result of aberration modification, but rather the result of cultivating a certain unorthodox martial art or mecha compatibility to an extremely high level, leading to the mutation of the body.
"Jinjiang No. 3 High School, Lin Dong."
Wang Xing recognized Lin Dong.
At the same time, Lin Dong also saw Wang Xing.
He walked over with a drink in his hand, and his arrogant gaze suddenly narrowed when it swept over the name tag on Wang Xing's chest.
[First Place, Rongcheng No. 2 High School: Wang Xing]
"Wang Xing?"
"You're actually the top student at Rongcheng No. 2 High School?"
Lin Dong's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
During his second year of high school, he matched with Wang Xing in the Silver Division of the Beidou Yuan Universe.
At that time, Wang Xing was no match for him in terms of either his blood and energy or his mecha control.
Six months ago, Lin Dong encountered Bai Lingxue again in a match. After a fierce battle, he was defeated by Bai Lingxue's White Tiger Spear.
Therefore, in his heart, the top student at No. 2 High School was definitely that aloof and fair-skinned school beauty.
"The first place isn't Bai Lingxue..."
Lin Dong's gaze swept back and forth between Wang Xing and Bai Lingxue, who was standing not far away. His heart was filled with shock. "Bai Lingxue... she's only second?"
His oily green eyes lost their initial hint of disdain: "It seems your progress lately has exceeded my expectations. Wang Xing, I look forward to facing you in the ring."
"No problem." Wang Xing nodded politely.
But looking at Lin Dong's glowing green neck, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Are the side effects of this Green Goblin mech really that severe? His whole body's green; if he keeps training like this, he might turn into the Hulk..."
As Lin Dong exclaimed in surprise, many people around him were drawn to his presence.
The name tag on Wang Xing's chest that read "First in the Second High School" caused quite a stir at the scene.
"Who's that kid? The top student at No. 2 High School?"
"I've never seen her before... Why isn't it Bai Lingxue? Has the top student at No. 2 High School changed?"
"He's probably a dark horse! To be able to keep Bai Lingxue in check, he's definitely a formidable opponent!"
Wang Xing had only entered the Yuanpei Class three months ago, and his reputation outside the school was almost zero.
At this moment, he appeared with the halo of "First in the Second High School" above his head, immediately attracting countless curious gazes filled with inquiry, fear, and even provocation.
Hey buddy!
A young man wearing a floral tactical vest, with an overly friendly demeanor, squeezed through the crowd, a cocky smile on his face. "I'm Zhao Fei, the top student at No. 7 Middle School in the High-tech Zone. Nice to meet you, and I look forward to playing against you."
Wang Xing was swallowing a mouthful of juice when he heard this. He raised his eyelids and glanced at the other person, replying in a flat tone:
How happy are you?
"Well……"
Zhao Fei's smile froze instantly.
No, when people make bold statements or engage in mutual flattery before a match, shouldn't they say "I've heard so much about you" or "Please give me your guidance"?
Why is this No. 2 High School's top seed completely unpredictable?
Zhao Fei's lips twitched, and he gritted his teeth and snorted, "Anyway, I'm... very happy! The kind of happy that I'll personally knock you down from the sky and trample you under my feet!"
"Oh, then good luck."
Wang Xing shrugged and continued working on the grilled meat on his plate.
…………
More than half an hour later.
The long, synthesized chimes echoed within the giant ship as the scene shifted.
Everyone took a lift to a huge open-air plaza on the top floor of the giant ship.
The sheer grandeur of this place once again broadened Wang Xing's understanding of its magnificence.
The entire plaza was pieced together from countless hexagonal superalloy energy panels, covering an area roughly the size of several standard football fields. A pale blue, semi-transparent energy shield illuminated the surrounding area, powerful enough to withstand the heavy firepower of high-level mechs.
Beyond the shield, one can see rolling clouds and the distant skyline of Chengdu, as if standing above the clouds.
On one side of the square, a small referee's platform is suspended, supported by an anti-gravity device.
The surrounding circular stands were already divided into exclusive areas for each school.
Led by Li Zhengyuan, the teachers and students of Rongcheng No. 2 High School arrived at the designated waiting area for the contestants.
Wang Xing raised his head and looked down at the far end of the square, where a huge holographic glass viewing pavilion was suspended.
Even from a great distance, Wang Xing could vaguely sense several unsettling auras emanating from the pavilion.
"That's the observation tower. Inside are high-ranking government officials, top officials from various military regions, and admissions officers from the four major mecha universities... They're all very important figures," Lu Yun introduced in a low voice.
The stands gradually filled up with people.
Although there are only 500 contestants, the total number of participants, including mentors and school representatives, is several thousand.
The time was exactly nine o'clock in the morning.
Time is up.
The pavilion door opened.
A person walked out from inside.
"Buzz—"
A slight ripple spread through the space, and a figure slowly walked out from the suspended viewing pavilion.
The man wasn't wearing any mecha or a flight backpack; he simply stood suspended in mid-air, thousands of feet above the ground.
With each step he took, a lotus flower of qi and blood, almost tangible, would bloom in the void, steadily supporting his body.
"Stepping through the void! Taking form from Qi and blood!"
Raymond gasped. "This is a technique that can only be obtained by cultivating one's Qi and Blood to level 30 or higher, combined with a special cultivation method!"
Wang Xing's eyes narrowed slightly. This was the power of a top-tier expert. When the physical body was tempered to the extreme, one could even traverse the void without a mecha!
The powerful figure, dressed in a crisp, dark ink-colored military uniform, hovered in mid-air in the center of the square. His imposing aura, as heavy as a mountain, instantly enveloped the entire area, silencing the previously whispering crowd.
"I am Lei Lie, Major General and examiner of the Third Mech Division of the Southern Theater Command."
His voice was like muffled thunder: "Dear students, teachers, and guests."
"The Chengdu Hundred Schools Competition has been held for ten sessions to date."
"Over the past decade, Chengdu has produced countless outstanding mecha pilots. Some of them guard the border, some pursue advanced studies at mecha universities, and some have joined the Beidou Star Alliance to represent humanity in the battles of space."
"Today, the five hundred students standing here represent the five hundred most outstanding mecha students in Rongcheng's high school community."
"Among you, some will become the next Wang Yangming, some will become the next Shi Lei, and some will even become the next... Chu Xingyuan."
"But first, you have to prove yourselves."
"The rules are simple: a single-elimination tournament. Each school will send five players, for a total of five hundred. Matchups will be determined by drawing lots, with winners advancing and losers being eliminated. There are no repechage matches, no group stages, and it's a one-match-win situation. Everyone only has one chance."
"During the competition, any martial arts and mecha techniques are permitted, with the sole objective of defeating the opponent. A medical team and rescue mechas are on standby at the scene, so there is no danger to your life."
With a wave of his right hand, a huge tree-shaped battle map was instantly projected into the sky.
"Now, I declare the Chengdu Hundred Schools Competition officially open!"
Major General Lei Lie, his voice booming like thunder, issued the final order:
"All participants, please display your name tags! Activate your personal terminal chips, and the system will automatically conduct the first round of drawing lots for you!"