Chapter 385: Why Is It Me?

It was evident that Xilian remained calm, and he smiled, "Let us see if there are any more surprises later; one ant is still not enough to fight."

Inadvertently sensing a gaze, Xilian tilted his head to look; it was Chao Qinglong. The two made eye contact for a moment before looking away. This was also an old friend he wanted to encounter, hoping to meet him before Tianjing... Beside Chao Qinglong, another gaze was staring at Xilian with extreme provocation. Ye Tong really wanted to give this guy who smiled without mirth a harsh lesson.

This girl had lost her brother and was a bit in need of discipline, Xilian thought, smiling in response and not caring at all.

Returning to the tactical room, Cheng Konghai received the warmest welcome. Everyone knew Cheng Konghai was very strong, second only to Li Hao, but he usually lacked presence and had such a good temper that he was extremely polite to everyone, feeling like the type who wouldn't fight back when hit or talk back when scolded.

"Not bad, Ant. I was worried, but it looks like you've fully recovered. You've got my style!" Huo Ying was also very happy; from a certain perspective, Cheng Konghai had also inherited his Glory.

"It was all thanks to Second Brother's help!" Cheng Konghai spoke the truth; he had nothing, and all he could give Li Hao was this life of his.

"Well, even if you butter me up, I won't split any more of the prize money," Li Hao said. "Have they chosen their candidate for the second match?"

"It's Ka'er Galina!" Wuzang said. "Hao Ge, let me go."

Li Hao smiled and shook his head. "Let the Class Monitor go this round; she has been preparing for so long. Give them a surprise."

"Me?" Zhou Naiyi was also stunned. "Wouldn't Wuzang be better and more reliable?"

"Galina's impatience is in his bones, and he must also think it will be Wuzang. But if you go on stage, his mindset will definitely be unstable. The Class Monitor is very good at catching loopholes; I think the Class Monitor can do it," Li Hao said with great confidence.

In an instant, Zhou Naiyi understood. Future opponents would only get harder. In terms of technical style, this was indeed the best litmus test; the new combat techniques she had integrated needed real-combat verification the most.

Li Hao dared to gamble, so what did she have to fear? Cheng Konghai had secured a key point, and Li Hao himself certainly had confidence; at worst, the team battle would decide the outcome. The opportunity was rare!

The combatants for the second match were confirmed: Eternal Team — Ka'er Galina.

Tianjing Martial Arts — Zhou Naiyi.

Galina had been preparing for a long time; he had already been studying Wuzang's technical movements. After losing face at the exchange tournament, he hadn't gotten another chance to fight him. Externally, he claimed the effect of feigning weakness had been perfectly achieved, but he felt miserable and wanted nothing more than to crush Wuzang, and ravaging him at the S Tournament would be even better.

Zhou Naiyi, what kind of thing is that?

Had Tianjing Martial Arts gone crazy? Did they not treat him as a person? Could it be that they were just trying to brush him off with Zhou Naiyi?

Having won a championship, one's temper naturally grows, and one cares more about face, and he certainly didn't think of himself that way.

Angry, Galina was truly angry. Cheng Konghai was one thing, but wasn't it only natural for Wuzang, as the remaining strong point of Tianjing Martial Arts, to come and face him? What was the meaning of sending up some random person?

Did they think Wu Zhanlei and Beiyuefu were more important than him? Did Li Hao think so too?

Impatient people usually love face and feel extremely disgusted by such things, but he still forced himself to calm down. If the opponent was underestimating him, fine; he would kill Zhou Naiyi, take the match to turn the situation around first, and then find a chance to settle scores with Wuzang. That was what he thought in his mind.

Damn it, a bunch of cowards.

Just as he was about to head out, he was stopped by Fan Liweite. "Galina, don't be careless. Aofei has been staying at Tianjing Martial Arts as a sparring partner for the past two days. You must be careful; it might be targeted at you."

Galina was stunned and nodded, but his face turned livid as he turned away. What did that mean? Using him as a whetstone???

When had he fallen to this point?

The two contestants entered the preparation room, and everyone was full of anticipation. Li Hao, however, didn't care about this; instead, he kept nagging Zuo Xiaotang on the side.

"What???" Zuo Xiaotang was stunned. "Hao Ge, are you crazy!"

Li Hao looked innocent. "I was impulsive, and I regret it too. I knew I should have just bet on a win. Isn't it because I thought the odds were good? Can we get it back?"

Zuo Xiaotang's flesh trembled incessantly. This wasn't... courting disaster? Once money entered the pockets of a betting company... selling both of them wouldn't be enough.

"What do you want?"

"The round after next is up to you. If you win, we're stable. If you lose, we might both end up going to mine for ore to pay it back. Selling our organs probably wouldn't be enough either," Li Hao said, eyeing Zuo Xiaotang's build.

Zuo Xiaotang quickly covered his chest. "Why am I involved too?"

"Well, I'll do the digging, you do the hauling. We're brothers for life, are you going to leave me behind?"

"That, that... I'll try?" Zuo Xiaotang felt that compared to mining, winning a match was better. There was one Heavy Armor and one Sniper left; everyone had a different style, and there was a chance.

*Slap. *

Li Hao patted Zuo Xiaotang's shoulder heavily. "Brother, whether I live as a human or a ghost for the rest of my life depends on you!"

Zuo Xiaotang slumped into his chair, clutching his head, under immense pressure.

"To think they aren't sending Wuzang. Mu Jiang is playing with fire again. But is this something he can handle?" Huonan said skeptically. If given ten thousand choices, he would still have sent Wuzang.

"This move is very risky, but I think the Puppet God must have his own ideas," Kuangwu Daren shook his head. Actually, he had a thought in his mind, but he felt it was too bold. Was he using real combat to train troops? But thinking about it, he probably really could do it.

Li Hao was still comforting Zuo Xiaotang, saying that when mining, he could be responsible for digging and Zuo Xiaotang could be responsible for pushing the cart, but it seemed Zuoge was still very sad; he didn't want to go mining, he didn't have a girlfriend yet.

The two contestants entered the combat room for equipment calibration. Zhou Naiyi took a deep breath, feeling the earth-shaking shouts and cheers outside. She was now in the quarter-final match, and she was on stage. At this time last year, she could only stand under the stage, enviously watching the Warriors on stage. Someone like Galina was unreachable to her.

Give it her all, leave no regrets!

Galina was equally speechless. Last year, such a person wouldn't even be qualified to stand in front of him; she would have to stand in the back just to ask for a photo. Now, he had become a sparring partner?

Fan Liweite's reminder was well-intentioned, but he overlooked that while Galina might not be as good as him, he was just as arrogant. Such a direct reminder would only irritate Galina's mindset.

Combat scenario: Kepler Jungle.

Galina chose the Leihuo Zeus.

Leihuo Zeus, NUP, Medium Type Mecha.

Four-wheel Nuclear Fission System, Leihuo Mimicry System, K23 Thunder Blade, Titanium Shield.

Laser Eye, Telescopic Shoulder Missile System, Thunder Fire Laser Gun.

Zhou Naiyi chose the Yaoying Athena.

Light Type Mecha, Super Type, NUP.

Dual-Engine Nuclear Fission Drive, Victory Shield defense system, Short-range Laser Gun, K23 Oath Sword.

The battle began, and the two Mobile Suits landed in the Kepler Jungle. The Tianjing Martial Arts fans suddenly tensed up; the victory of the first match was already in the past, and one could not be too cautious when facing the defending champion.

Zhou Naiyi was the same; the Yaoying was fully focused. When the camera zoomed in, her expression was also very grave, while Galina on the other side was much more relaxed, a mix of relaxation and seriousness—the best state.

The Gale Zero was just the mecha he used for daily training; the Leihuo was his specialty. The mecha's performance was on a higher level, allowing him to better exert his strength.

Engines roared, and the two Mobile Suits charged forward simultaneously. The Yaoying's Short-range Laser roared, the Leihuo mecha dodged easily, using the Titanium Shield to block from time to time, and the Laser Eye countered to respond to the opponent. The K23 Thunder Blade was already in hand, while on the other side, the Yaoying's Oath Sword popped out.

*Clang, clang, clang, clang! *

The two Mobile Suits crossed paths in an instant. Zhou Naiyi maintained her probing; she certainly didn't dare to go all-in. Galina also grasped his opponent's caution. How to put it? This was a gap in rank. He could completely master the opponent's technical movements and mindset, just like an adult facing an elementary school student; those little thoughts were completely transparent.

*Boom. *

The Thunder Blade blocked precisely, the force of the Thunder Vibration directly knocking the Oath Sword aside; with a roundhouse kick, the Yao Ying dodged quickly—in terms of agility, the Yao Ying still held the advantage, yet the next second, the Thunder Fire Mecha had already lunged forward to close the distance, tap-tap-tap...

A high-speed Three-Stage Kick smashed directly into the face; the Yao Ying hoisted its Titanium Shield to take the hit head-on, its body vibrating violently as it continued to try and open up the distance, but Jialina would never give her that chance, stepping in with timing and angles calculated just right; the Thunder Blade slashed down, the Oath Sword blocked, but the next second, a massive force struck, the Yao Ying was kicked directly, and following closely with an engine roar, the Thunder Fire Mecha swept a leg over.

The Yao Ying's left hand held the shield steady, while simultaneously the Oath Sword parried the Thunder Blade that was cutting in from the low path.

Hundred Martial Arts Dual-Flow—Blade Hidden in the Sleeve!

The leg was a feint, the heart-piercing blade was the full-force strike; with an explosive sound, the Oath Sword nearly flew out of her hand, the Yao Ying was knocked back, and the Thunder Fire Mecha, having landed, did not pause at all, instantly springing up for a 180-degree sweep!

Boom.

The Yao Ying was kicked flying, soaring backward for over thirty meters, but Zhou Naiyi stabilized her momentum.

Jialina did not pursue; this girl had some skill, using the force to retreat and minimize the impact, though of course, it was also due to the performance characteristics of the Yao Ying, which indeed possessed that flexibility.

One had to admit, those capable of making it to the S Tournament still had some level of skill.

"Zhou Naiyi's level is starting to fall behind," Yan Peng said with some worry.

"We're only just getting started; I think she's not bad, she has a bit of Aofei's flavor, it's just that her combat style is too conservative," Depuya pursed his lips, the fighting lacked a bit of sharpness, but her technique with the Light Type mecha was perfectly fine.

In a combat scene, it really isn't about who is attacking being the one with the advantage.

"She is still missing that little bit of an opportunity," Aofei nodded.

"The rookie wall?" Yan Peng was stunned for a moment.

"Something like that; from the growth of power to the realization of power, it requires a process of self-cognition, and no one can help with that, it requires a transformation in a critical match," Aofei said.

Everyone understood this; it was a process everyone had to go through—recognizing the opponent, recognizing oneself, and the true self born from the unity of essence, energy, and spirit.

It must be a critical battle, that is the only way; the very characteristic of the Human species lies in this, though of course, there are many who never break through this layer of window paper and fall into obscurity from then on. In this regard, Robbie is a different kind of oddity; he belongs to the type whose talent was not originally top-tier, but he constantly sought stimulation, sought breakthroughs, was full of passion, and constantly recognized and improved himself, which led to the current Mad Lion Robbie.