The Seventh Base

Chapter 135: Chapter 38 Lin Xi’s Engagement
 

Noah Academy launched a grand campaign to find the missing person.

But they found nothing.

It wasn’t just Noah Academy; the exchange event also attracted considerable attention in Steel Dome City.

After all, before this, Lord Academy had been building momentum, promoting Lin Jue and causing the public to have high expectations for him.

But then, Lin Jue was defeated.

The mysterious Black Mecha rose to fame.

Unfortunately, no one knew who he was.

But that didn’t stop the citizens of Steel Dome City from looking forward to the mysterious Mechanical Master’s identity reveal; they knew it was only a matter of time before it could no longer be concealed.

Many people were eager for the day his identity would be made public.

Noah Academy, S-class freshman!

As for everything that was happening outside, Xu Mo knew nothing about it.

He hadn’t left the house for the past few days, and he hadn’t even attended classes at the academy.

He had been practicing with his mecha and continuing to familiarize himself with the Nine-Stage Breathing Technique, further transforming his body.

At that moment, Xu Mo was practicing with a sword in a warehouse.

His body indeed felt more agile, and his explosive power was stronger.

Sensing the flow of Source Power within his body, Xu Mo swung his sword, and a whooshing sound cut through the air.

The moment the sword struck, it seemed as if a blade of light appeared, layers upon layers of light stacking upon one another, forming a terrifying blade force that sliced through the air.

An elder glanced over in this direction, his gaze flashing with a sharpness that was quickly hidden away.

Xu Mo sheathed his sword, turned to the old man behind him, and said, “Teacher.”

“How many layers of force did you feel?” the elder asked.

“Three layers,” Xu Mo replied.

“With the Nine-Stage Breathing Technique combined with the force exertion, you can reach up to nine layers of force. Stacked together, it’s like a roaring tidal wave. Three layers of force is just the beginning,” the elder casually glanced at Xu Mo and said, “You need to practice more.”

Saying this, he turned and left with his hands behind his back.

Xu Mo nodded earnestly.

If there were nine layers of force, then he was only at three layers.

It seemed a bit weak.

Keep practicing!

After some time, Xu Mo was drenched in sweat.

His communicator vibrated; it was a message from Ye Qingdie asking him to come to the cafeteria.

Xu Mo invited Elsa with him, and they headed to the academy’s cafeteria.

Xiao Qi and Ying were already there.

The cafeteria was crowded with people at the moment.

“Xu Mo, look over there,” Ye Qingdie directed her gaze toward a certain direction.

Xu Mo looked over and saw a television screen hanging above the cafeteria; many students were looking up at the screen, appearing somewhat quiet.

The moment Xu Mo saw the screen, his pupils contracted slightly.

On the TV, a group of monsters were rampaging through a city.

Among them, a huge monster charged wildly.

This monster stood dozens of meters tall, rivaling the height of a building.

Its face was pointed, with extremely sharp horns on its forehead, and its body was covered in pitch-black scales.

It was capable of standing upright like a human, with two fearsome claws.

When it opened its mouth, it spat out a terrifying beam of energy light that directly pierced through buildings; any human it touched was instantly obliterated, disappearing under the beam of light.

This was a disaster!

If Xu Mo were not in this world, he would have thought he was watching a monster movie.

Godzilla, right?

This monster looked more ferocious and horrifying than Godzilla.

Above the city, a fleet of warplanes appeared.

From all directions, mechas came to support.

Xu Mo even saw a giant mecha.

In front of the camera, a news reporter spoke up, “An A-level monster led a group of monsters to attack Molo City. Under the military’s encirclement, the situation has been brought under control, the A-level monster was killed, but Molo City suffered exceptionally heavy losses.”

“This is already the fifth attack by monsters on the Southwest Coast City Group this year. The monsters emerging from the ocean seem to be growing stronger. Following the war, monsters have been growing wildly unrestricted. They, like us humans, have been evolving continuously. It is to be hoped that the Federation will increase vigilance and strengthen coastal defense fortifications.”

The footage ended, and the students were abuzz with discussion.

“The West Coast City Group has always been a disaster area; Steel Dome City is safer.”

“Who knows what will happen if this continues; humanity is still too fragile. We need to become stronger to resist the monsters. If the pace of human evolution and technological development lags behind that of the monsters, we will all eventually become their food.”

“We have to work hard.”

Xu Mo sat down and looked at Ye Qingdie.

When they emerged from the Underworld, they encountered monsters, including attacks on cities by monster hordes.

But the strongest was only a B-level monster; an A-level one had not appeared, and thereafter, there was no news of any crisis in Steel Dome City.

The level of human cultivation and the grade of weapons and equipment were supposed to correspond to the level of the monsters.

It seems that humanity on Byron Star is constantly facing a crisis of life and death.

“Is the defense of Steel Dome City stronger?” Xu Mo asked.

“Molo City is on the fringe of the Coastal City Group, and it’s at a disadvantage geographically,” Chen Qiuxue spoke up from the next table, sitting there in quiet solitude.

Seeing Xu Mo look at her, Chen Qiuxue continued, “Steel Dome City is inland. After the Federation was established, cities were built in succession inland. Unlike the Coastal City Group, which faces the direct impact of the oceanic monsters, there is space between cities. The Coastal City Group has too extensive a line of defense. Major cities are well-defended, but those in unfavorable locations are prone to attacks.”

“Thank you,” Xu Mo said to Chen Qiuxue.

“You’re welcome,” Chen Qiuxue continued eating, head bowed.

Many around them turned their eyes to her; Chen Qiuxue was actually initiating conversation?

And she had quite a bit to say.

Who was that guy?

Some recognized him as the Desert Hunter who had fought Reynolds.

So Chen Qiuxue was so approachable, unlike the rumors that she was difficult to get close to.

Xiao Qi turned around and said something to Chen Qiuxue.

Chen Qiuxue gave Xu Mo a glance.

So had he been intentionally drawing her attention all this time?

After exchanging communicator numbers, Xiao Qi returned to her seat.

Others, seeing this, approached in hopes of exchanging numbers with Chen Qiuxue.

However, they were awkwardly rejected…

But they didn’t look worse than Xiao Qi, right??

Xiao Qi shrugged, yet she felt a gaze upon her.

Xu Mo looked at him.

“Brother Mo, why are you staring at me?” Xiao Qi felt somewhat guilty.

“Do you think I didn’t hear that?” Xu Mo looked at Xiao Qi.

Asking on his behalf???

When did he ever ask Xiao Qi to get Chen Qiuxue’s communicator number???

“Brother Mo, have some food.” Xiao Qi lowered his head, and a hand reached over, taking away the dishes beside him.

Xiao Qi’s gaze followed that fair hand.

Raising his head, he saw Ye Qingdie eating as if nothing had happened, and his face fell.

“Sister Butterfly, I’m hungry…” Xiao Qi felt like he might have done something wrong.

Ye Qingdie ignored him.

“You’ve got some nerve.”

A voice came from beside him, Xiao Qi looked up to see Sun Xiaoxiao and her group approaching, Sun Xiaoxiao glanced at him with disdain.

“It’s none of your business,” Xiao Qi retorted.

“I can’t stand it,” Sun Xiaoxiao said.

“Are you jealous?” Xiao Qi looked at Sun Xiaoxiao.

“Me, jealous?” Sun Xiaoxiao crossed her arms and glared at Xiao Qi.

“Then why are you meddling?” Xiao Qi shot back.

Sun Xiaoxiao stomped her foot in anger, about to retort, but was pulled back by Li Man who called out, “Xiao Xiao…”

She then turned her head away, ignoring Xiao Qi.

Li Man looked at Xiao Qi with some disgust.

Was this Desert Hunter doing this on purpose?

Trying to charm Xiao Xiao?

She had seen such tricks too often.

Sun Xiaoxiao sat down with a huff in the same row as Chen Qiuxue, visibly upset.

Su Rou nodded towards Xu Mo’s side.

Xu Mo nodded back, glancing at Sun Xiaoxiao and Xiao Qi.

Those two, they were quite a match.

“Xu Mo, have you heard from Sister Xi lately?” Ye Qingdie asked.

“I haven’t been in touch,” Xu Mo replied. “What’s up?”

He also felt something strange, for since the last exchange meet, Sister Xi hadn’t contacted him.

“I tried to reach Sister Xi today, couldn’t get through,” Ye Qingdie said.

“I’ll try,” Xu Mo said.

After hanging up, Xu Mo dialed Lin Xi’s number.

No one answered.

Xu Mo frowned.

He was somewhat worried, the Lin Family had issues that hadn’t been resolved.

But Sister Xi was at the academy, there shouldn’t be any problems, he thought.

“No answer,” Xu Mo said to Ye Qingdie.

“Let’s try again after dinner,” Ye Qingdie suggested.

Xu Mo nodded, hoping nothing was wrong.

He began to eat, but his heart wasn’t in it.

Across from him, Su Rou sent a message after hearing Xu Mo’s words.

A moment later, she got a reply.

Su Rou stared at the message, then looked towards Xu Mo.

Xu Mo, feeling Su Rou’s gaze, asked, “What’s up?”

“Lin Xi, the instructor, is getting engaged,” Su Rou said.

“Engaged?” Xu Mo showed a hint of surprise.

As far as he knew, Lin Xi didn’t have a boyfriend.

Ye Qingdie was also puzzled; she had followed Lin Xi for a while and knew Lin Xi wasn’t very interested in romantic affairs.

“Lin Xi, the instructor, is getting engaged?” Sun Xiaoxiao and the others also showed surprise, unaware of any such news.

“Yes.”

Su Rou nodded.

“To whom?” Xu Mo asked.

“Ming Group will buy into the Lin, and Ming Hui from the Ming Group will be engaged to Sister Xi. It’s been announced to the media,” Su Rou said.

She felt something was off about this.

She was aware the Lin had been having some trouble, so she sent a message asking after hearing Xu Mo’s words.

Now, with Ming Group investing in the Lin, and Ming Hui getting engaged to Lin Xi.

It looked more like a transaction.

“The Lin Family is in trouble!”

Xu Mo knew something must have happened to the Lin Family upon hearing Su Rou’s words.

Lin Xi disliked Ming Hui.

He was certain of this; Lin Xi had once told him she thought Ming Hui was sneaky.

Plus, the incident on Deceit Street last time was done by Ming Yu, it was uncertain whether Ming Hui was involved.

Lin Xi couldn’t have been unaware.

At such a time, Lin Xi’s engagement to Ming Hui only fit one scenario.

She was compelled.

Xu Mo lost his appetite and stood up.

Ye Qingdie and the others also rose, and the group left their seats.

Watching their retreating figures, Su Rou called out, “Xu Mo.”

“Hmm?” Xu Mo turned his head to look at Su Rou.

“Need a ride?” Su Rou asked.

“Yes,” Xu Mo nodded without being polite with Su Rou.

Su Rou stood up and left with Xu Mo and his group.

“What are they doing?” Sun Xiaoxiao didn’t understand.

Wasn’t Lin Xi’s engagement a cause for celebration?

And when did Su Rou get so close to Xu Mo???

Li Man’s brows were tightly furrowed.

So Su Rou was that close to the Desert Hunter?