CHAPTER 599: CHAPTER 599: COUNTING ON YOU TO WATCH MY BACK

As Mu Jianling’s words fell, the atmosphere in the training room instantly went from boiling to freezing.

Mu Jianling didn’t feel like she had said anything offensive. On the contrary, she thought she was very kind and gentle for only making the students take nutrient solution for a few days without deducting academic points or physical punishment. Mu Jianling even smiled slightly and asked, "This kind of punishment is nothing for you guys, right?"

Students: "..."

The students grimaced, not wanting to talk to her.

Mu Jianling raised her hand, tapped the table, and said, "Alright. That’s settled then. Now, focus on watching the competition."

Students: "Meow~"

Mu Jianling suddenly turned cold, raising her voice, "Silence, everybody!"

The students immediately became as quiet as chickens.

Then came the team competition of the Alliance University on the Star Network—

Ji You rubbed her fingers nervously. After all, team competitions required cooperation, unlike individual competitions. Although she knew her teammates well, she was in disguise and preferred not to reveal it if possible.

Beside her—

Shen Changqing said to a few classmates, "Remember to put on your equipment as soon as we enter."

Yue Qiyuan, Yue Qiguang, Chu Jiaojiao, and others nodded, "Mhm."

Sheng Qingyan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Will your newly hired Rag Queen arrive on time? Don’t let everybody down, alright?"

Ji You: "..."

Is this guy doing this on purpose?

Shen Changqing shook his head, "She won’t. I trust Rag Queen. She has her basic integrity."

Sheng Qingyan covered his mouth with a hand, yawning, "Not necessarily, I think she’s very likely to take the money and run."

Ji You: "..."

Ji You frowned, suddenly turned around, and glared at Sheng Qingyan, cursing, "You’re so noisy, disturbing my viewing."

Sheng Qingyan looked over, saying, "Who’s going to protect me later, this weak, pitiful, helpless Little Cutie?"

Under the table.

Ji You stretched out a leg and kicked over, "Keep it up, and I’ll cut out your tongue."

Sheng Qingyan then shut his chatterbox.

Soon—

All the competitors entered the Star Network. The team competition consisted of ten people. Shen Changqing’s gathered personnel were: Chu Jiaojiao, Shen Changqing, Yue Qiyuan, Yue Qiguang, Sheng Qingyan, Lou, Lance, Ji You, and the two unexpected ones for Ji You were brothers, Xuzhou and Zhang Ye.

Seeing Xuzhou and Zhang Ye, Ji You blinked and almost couldn’t help but shout, "My boys! Daddy’s here!"

However, Ji You held back tight.

At the same time, Shen Changqing and his team quietly breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the Rag Queen appear on time:

[She didn’t take the money and run.]

Cough cough...

As this thought popped up, Shen Changqing immediately straightened his face, resumed his serious expression, and went over the team’s plan with his teammates again, mainly for Ji You, of course.

She nodded, "I understand, I’ll do my best to cooperate with you."

Shen Changqing said, "Thank you."

Ji You gestured, "What’s there to thank? For our kind of business deal, just make sure the payment is right, no need for pleasantries."

Shen Changqing: "..."

This Rag Queen really was somewhat indescribable.

Immediately—

As the captain, Shen Changqing submitted the entry application to the system, the screen shifted, and a team of ten people was teleported into the arena.

The arena is an entire simulated planet, with oceans, land, rainforests...

Everyone gathered together, looking at each other, all with the same question popping up: "What are the rules of the competition?"

Yue Qiyuan said in a deep voice, "The competition rules have not been announced yet."

Shen Changqing patiently said, "Just wait a bit longer."

Then, the system’s voice rang out: "The competition is about to start. The winning condition is to kill the level 9 Flame Beast in Yunding Mountain. For other rules and taboos, all participating teams must figure them out on their own."

Whooosh—

Level 9!

What does that mean?

Although this is a Star Beast simulated by the Star Network, the contestants are all first-year students who have just started their freshman year! They are all Mecha novices!

Kill a level 9 Star Beast?

This—

It seems impossible just thinking about it.

Moreover, there are a total of 10 teams participating in the competition, and these teams must watch out for each other and fight among themselves...

Tsk tsk!

What’s even more speechless is that the rules are not transparent or public; instead, you must explore by yourself. This is truly a pitfall within pitfalls!

So, it seems the difficulty of this year’s online competition is much higher than in previous years.

Not only does Ji You and her team think so, but other teams think the same, and the audience outside the field is also clicking their tongues endlessly.

Audience A: "From this perspective, the team led by Bai Jiu from the North District seems to have the highest chance of victory."

Audience B: "I think the team led by Little Shengsheng from the East District also has a great chance of winning."

Audience C: "Does my grand West District not deserve a name? Our players from the West District aren’t bad either; we have strong overall strength."

Audience D: "Cough cough... Did you guys see that team? The one that has gathered Drunk Lying on the Beauty’s Knee, Little Cutie, Rag Queen, Xiaoqing, Daddy Universe Strongest, Dominate the Universe...? That team?"

Audience A: "These individuals have strong abilities, but who knows how well they will work together? Our Bai Jiu from the North District is leading a team that almost all made it into the top 20 of the Alliance. No matter what, we must be the champions of the North District this time!"

...

Before the competition officially started, the audience in the stands was already hyped up. In the individual matches, players from the East District have shaved the heads of the Western, Southern, and Northern regions, so to speak. Right now, people from the other three regions definitely do not want the team competition to be dominated by the East District again. Therefore, the audiences from the other three districts are frantically cheering for their respective players.

Just then, the system announced: "The countdown has ended, please be ready for combat."

Woosh—

The competition begins!

Ji You and her team quickly landed on the ground. This is a tropical rainforest with very lush vegetation. One can only see tall trees and intertwined vines, as well as a ground covered with dead leaves and moss...

It’s very quiet around.

Shen Changqing extended his hand, made a gesture, and said, "Everyone, get your Mechas ready."

Everyone acted in unison and logged into their Mechas.

Just as Ji You connected to her Mecha, she suddenly heard a subtle rustling sound behind her. She clenched the control keys, almost firing a shot backward, but upon catching sight of Sheng Qingyan behind her, she was momentarily speechless.

Sheng Qingyan covered her mouth and said, "Oh Rag Queen, I’m very fragile, you have to cover for me today."

Ji You: "..."

This shameless creature, she couldn’t possibly be thinking of sticking to me, right?