Chapter 576: Prime!
Seeing how Ling Lan’s expression was still extremely calm and did not fluctuate when he suddenly got close to him, Yao Lang had a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. He believed Ling Lan was a good seed just waiting to grow. He smiled and asked, “Hey little kid, is it your first time here? What’s your name?”
Ling Lan of course wouldn’t answer him. She wasn’t stupid. She was at the headquarters of the special forces. If she carelessly told him her name, it would be giving them a chance to take revenge on her. Thus, Ling Lan chose to remain silent and calm as she continued to look at Yao Lang and didn’t think to even answer his questions.
After been given the cold shoulder by Ling Lan, Yao Lang’s comrades who were watching the situation from the side all instantly burst out in laughter. One of them was so exaggerated he was slapping his leg as he laughed, “Hahaha, that’s too funny. Yao Lang, it seems that this day would come eventually.”
Yao Lang always used his fake smile and easily had people place their trust in him. Thus, they would always use him to speak to strangers,and he would easily win people over. This made those veterans who had malevolent auras be green with envy. Now, they finally saw Yao Lang get rejected. These comrades of his of course wouldn’t pass up on an opportunity to laugh at him.Yao Lang smiled bitterly. He didn’t think that the smile that always made it convenient for him had lost its effect and was ignored by this little kid in front of him.
He wasn’t willing to give up and coughed as he continued to speak, “Only those who are in our special forces can come to this place, so you’re our comrade. You don’t have to be so defensive.”
Ling Lan had already made a decision to not expose her identity. She continued to stare at Yao Lang in a way as though he didn’t exist.
Yao Lang finally couldn’t hold up his smiling expression and walked back to his comrades in defeat.
“Yao Lang, not everyone gets affected by that move.” Right as he returned, he heard his comrades mocking him.
Yao Lang didn’t get angry and only shrugged his shoulders. He said nonchalantly, “Why don’t you guys try? I’ll treat whoever succeeds to a meal.”
After Yao Lang’s words, everyone’s eyes glimmered as they all shouted in unison, “Palace of Celebrations.” That restaurant was the only seven star luxurious restaurant chain in the Federation. Those who went to eat there were only top-ranking officials in the Federation. It wasn’t because these special forces members couldn’t afford it, but after one meal, they probably wouldn’t be able to live comfortably for an entire season. Thus, hearing that they had a chance to spend the money of someone with deep pockets, Yao Lang’s comrades of course would choose the most luxurious place.Hearing this, Yao Lang’s face instantly dropped and became distressed, “You people want me to eat nutrient solutions continuously for years?” Thinking about that kind of lifestyle, he instantly felt that it was terrible.
“Well you said it. If you’re willing to bet, then you should accept the loss as well.” He comrades would of course not be willing to give up on this great chance. The cost of a seven star restaurant was indeed high, but the taste was irresistible. Every year, they would go and eat there once and treat their stomachs. Then they would work hard on the tasks afterwards… as they had to somehow earn their next season’s life expenses.
Having been motivated by the Palace of Celebrations, they teased Ling Lan one by one in an attempt to make Ling Lan have a reaction and receive the reward from Yao Lang’s bet. Unfortunately, Ling Lan’s emotions had already been trained in the training space and became extremely tough. This level of interference had little to no effect on her.
Afterwards, the number of those who were defeated became larger and larger, and finally all of them squatted down on the ground depressingly as they started to draw circles on the ground. At that moment, Yao Lang’s expression was brightening up. He finally didn’t have to eat nutrient solutions everyday and the person who saved him was none other than the cold youth with icy air around his body. Yao Lang’s impression of Ling Lan was becoming better and better… He decided that if one day this youth needed his help, he would definitely help him out once.
Yao Lang and his comrades’ activity had attracted other special forces members who were walking by. When they spoke to those who were drawing circles on the ground, they also enthusiastically joined the group that was teasing Ling Lan… When Senior Colonel Mi returned, he saw this scene.
“You bastards, what are you guys doing?” Seeing Ling Lan had been surrounded, Senior Colonel Mi’s heart skipped a beat. He thought that his subordinates were preparing to teach Ling Lan a lesson because of Lian Shaojing’s incident so he immediately shouted at them.
Seeing their leader return, the members who were enthusiastically teasing Ling Lan quickly moved away from her. They looked at their team leader with fear. When did this scary god-like man appear?
Yao Lang saw the Senior Colonel and knew the situation was bad. He quickly smiled and said, “Leader, we saw that there was fresh meat. So, we were just giving him a warm greeting.”
Senior Colonel Mi dashed towards them and kicked the members who were slower in moving away from Ling Lan, “What are you guys doing surrounding him like that. Go mind your own business.”
Those who were kicked cried out in agony. Their faces were filled with sadness as they said, “We only wanted to ask the new guy his name…”
“Name?” Senior Colonel Mi stared at them for a moment. Did these guys not know that this person in front of them was Ling Lan?
“Yeah. The new guy’s really cold and wouldn’t even introduce himself to us. Leader, where did you find this weirdo?” someone complained. Was it that hard for them to eat a meal at the Palace of Celebrations?
“Yeah, we’ll be brother-in-arms in the future, so he should at least tell us his name.” No one wanted to give up the chance of immediately winning the bet. Even if the most ruthless leader was standing in front of them, his presence wouldn’t stop them from crazily thinking about eating fine cuisine.
“Who said he’s your brother-in-arms? This is what you get for assuming. Take that and that.” Senior Colonel Mi saw that everyone still didn’t budge. This time, he kicked the last person that was speaking. “Sh*t, they dare to add salt to my wound.” Did he not want Ling Lan to join the special forces? Unfortunately, he was only here to activate his own battle team.
“Leader, I’m sorry, sorry. He’s not part of the battle team… then why is he here?!” The person who spoke suddenly realized the situation and instantly shouted out loud while he was begging for forgiveness and dodging the senior colonel’s kicks.
Senior Colonel Mi was also tired and gave him a dirty look instead, “He’s here to activate his own battle team. What, he can’t do that?”
That person didn’t dare to disagree and nodded, “Yes, yes, yes, if leader says yes then it’s possible!” Sh*t, why would he come to their special forces camping grounds to activate a battle team. Couldn’t he just find any camping ground and do it?
“Leader, who are you going to arrange as his opponent? How about letting me have a go?” That person turned around and was kicked by the Senior Colonel many times once again. This person thought that he should try to get something out of it. Since this mystery person came here, he wanted to teach him a lesson to make him understand that in the division, new meat must know their place…
They only wanted to ask for a name. Couldn’t he just tell them? Wuwuwu, their chance to go to the Palace of Celebrations! After he thought to this point, that person felt that his heart was aching. The fine cuisine was just at his fingertips!
Unfortunately his suggestion was refused by Senior Colonel Mi, “It has nothing to do with us. I’m only bring him to the arena.”
“What? He came to our special forces unit but his opponent isn’t actually one of us? Then why did he come here?” Someone shouted in surprise and everyone became confused. If this person’s opponent was not from their camping grounds but from another team, he wouldn’t come our part of the map right?
Senior Colonel Mi looked at glared at all of them angrily, “Is there any other place that can contact the special forces of the Federation?” General Ling Xiao only asked Ling Lan to come here because he thought of this point right? Thinking that his special forces unit was actually looked down upon by General Ling Xiao and wanted another division’s battle team to defend the location, Senior Colonel Mi felt another knife stab him in the heart…
“What? He’s looking for people from other battle teams? This is looking down us right?”
“Leader, who made this idiotic decision at the headquarters of division? It’s too over the top. Looking down on us like this. If they don’t give a us a good reason, then we can only go to the headquarters and teach that person a lesson.” Everyone there felt it was unfair. The special forces was originally a bunch of proud soldiers. They always had the ideology that they would fight if there was a reason to and would also fight if there weren’t any reasons to when handling problems.
“Go ahead!” Senior Colonel Mi suddenly grinned. The grin was filled with evil intent and made everyone shudder.
Yao Lang’s alarm inside his head had sounded. When the leader showed this type of smile, him and his comrades would not die but be close to death’s door. He didn’t want to die without knowing the reason and quickly interjected, “Leader, our battle team still has something to do so we’re not going to bother you anymore. We…”
“It’s alright, I’m not busy. I’m really not busy at all,” Senior Colonel Mi cut off Yao Lang and calmly replied. Hearing this, Yao Lang knew that they were in trouble.
“You guys want to know who arranged this? And what to fight that person?” Senior Colonel Mi looked at everyone with his evil grin. “Alright, I’ll give you a chance. I won’t punish those who actually go and pick a fight with this person.”
Everyone’s eyes gleamed. Only Yao Lang intuitively felt that it wasn’t that simple.
“You guys are welcome to find General L-I-N-G X-I-A-O! Okay, remember to go and pick a fight with him!” Senior Colonel Mi’s words made everyone shudder. Was their leader trying to make sure they were punished no matter what?
“Leader just say it, how you are going to punish us.” Everyone at the scene were beaten completely. They didn’t even think and asked for their punishment. Going to find General Ling Xiao… Wuwuwu, they didn’t want to be public enemy number one.
“Get the f*ck out of my face first. I’ll teach you guys a lesson when I’m in a better mood,” said Senior Colonel Mi angrily. He didn’t have any thought of teaching his subordinates a lesson at the moment. he had to take Ling Lan to the arena’s combat hall as soon as possible.
Seeing that they had the chance to escape, everyone in the special forces wouldn’t dare to stay in this area any longer. Very quickly, everyone left. They were afraid that if they left any slower and be in the sights of the leader, the leader remember their punishments. That way, they would be able to leave with their lives.
Ling Lan felt the entire world had become peaceful again. After going through this, Ling Lan understood that not only women liked to gossip. These men from the special forces were just as gossipy.
Although Senior Colonel Mi wasn’t in a good mood, he still explained, “I had something to do temporarily. You waited long right?”
Ling Lan shook her head calmly, “It’s alright, your team members made it enjoyable.”
Senior Colonel Mi’s heart sank. As expected of father and son, both of them were proficient in bringing about problems for him.
Senior Colonel Mi thought back to just a few moments ago. As he logged back into the virtual world and was just about to arrange one of his generals to test Ling Lan’s mecha operating capabilities. He then received General Ling Xiao’s phone call.
“General, would you like me to do?” Senior Colonel Mi saluted and waited for Ling Xiao’s orders.
“The mecha operator for this evaluation will be arranged by me,” Ling Xiao said calmly. “Bring Ling Lan to the arena in the combat hall and I will arrange an examiner to wait there.”
Hearing this, Senior Colonel Mi was stunned. Did the General not trust his arrangements?
It seemed as though Ling Xiao knew Senior Colonel Mi’s question and explained, “You should know Ling Lan’s real identity right?” Back then, it was Senior Colonel Mi who arranged for one battle team from the Bladed Special Ops Team to secretly protect Ling Lan. That helped Ling Lan escape from the assassination when she was six years old. This was also why when Senior Colonel Mi had applied to join the 23rd Division’s newly formed special forces, Ling Xiao immediately approved of it. Senior Colonel Mi had long received Ling Xiao’s trust and was someone he was willing to put his full trust in.
“Ling Lan had gone through some hardships when he was young, but ever since I returned, Ling Lan’s life had been too smooth these past few years. You have to teach him a lesson!” Ling Xiao said.
“If necessary, I can fight in the arena personally,” Senior Colonel Mi let out a sigh of relief. However, he still didn’t want people from other battle teams to evaluate Ling Lan, thus he asked for the permission to personally do the evaluation.
“Of course I want you to fight him. I’m leaving it up to you for the real world,” Ling Xiao said.
“Don’t worry General, I won’t practice favoritism. If Ling Lan really wasn’t up to standards, I wouldn’t let him pass.” “Of course if he is indeed up to standards of being the leader of a team, I still wouldn’t just let Ling Lan lose,” Senior Colonel Mi thought. Senior Colonel Mi admired Ling Lan. He had his opinions about how General Ling Xiao wanted to pressure Ling Lan. However, Ling Xiao was still Ling Lan’s father, so Senior Colonel Mi still respected Ling Xiao’s decision.
He only hoped that Ling Lan would be able to get past the two levels General Ling Xiao had set up in the virtual world. Then afterwards he would be able to fight with Ling Lan in the real world.
While Senior Colonel Mi was in his own memories, the two of them had arrived at the arena in the combat hall. Neither of them knew who was going to be Ling Lan’s opponent for the mecha evaluation.
After Ling Xiao notified Senior Colonel Mi, he quickly contacted another person.
Quickly, a strong and mighty middle-aged man appeared in the virtual screen.
“I didn’t think that you would actually contact me Ling Xiao.” The man smiled, “Now I should call you General. You climbed the ladder faster than I did you punk.”
Seeing this person, Ling Xiao’s eyes showed hint of joy, “Elder Brother Yaoyang, you’re climbing the ranks pretty quick as well. I should first congratulate you on becoming a Lieutenant General.”
“If a punk like you didn’t exist, I would be basking in the glory. However, after comparing to you, the speed that I climbed the ranks is not even worth mentioning anymore.” The person called Elder Brother Yaoyang by Ling Xiao had an expression of indifference. He quickly changed into a stern expression and asked, “Is there something important for you to suddenly contact me this time?”
When they were young, Yaoyang had led Ling Xiao in the 7th division for some time and the relationship between them was very good. However afterwards, he was selected to be positioned in the 3rd division. They were both busy and contacted each other less and less. Fortunately, they met each other before their achievements and did not become strangers. As long as they contacted each other, the two of them would return to the similar relationship they had from back then.
It was also because of this reason that their friendship was not known to anyone else other than the two of them. This had made sure that Elder Brother Yaoyang escape the military’s clean up of Ling Xiao’s influence after he had “died” in battle. Now Yaoyang still held enough power and had advanced to Lieutenant General.
It was just that when he successfully advanced to Major General and entered into the military’s higher ranks and wanted to investigate conspiracy behind his good friend’s death, Ling Xiao had returned alive. The first thing Ling Xiao did was to notify this Elder Brother of his to not make any sudden moves.
It was also because of Ling Xiao’s reminder that Yaoyang was able to be at peace in the 3rd division in the past few years. His behavior of following orders and regulations to the letter helped him pass the evaluation from the 3rd division’s commander. After that, the commander saw him as a confidant and then afterwards, Yaoyang successfully ranked up into the rank of Lieutenant General.
Ling Xiao was silent for a few seconds, then he mumbled, “Elder Brother Yaoyang, you know my son’s called Ling Lan right?”
“Of course I know. My family’s Qi Long, my idiot son. Every time he comes home he would tell me about how his Boss was amazing and how he would follow his Boss in the future. Even if I wanted to ignore your son, I couldn’t.”
It turns out, he was Qi Long’s father, Qi Yaoyang. As he finished, he continued in dismay, “I finally understand now. It seems that my youngest son was raised for the Ling family. I wanted to him to come to the 3rd division but he would rather die than come here. He was rolling on the flooring crying that he wanted to go to your 23rd Division.”
Qi Yaoyang’s rambling made Ling Xiao show a hit of joy in his expression. It couldn’t be helped that his daughter was so strong and made Qi Yaoyang’s son desperately follow her. As expected of his own daughter.
The proud expression on Ling Xiao’s face hurt Qi Yaoyang’s feelings. Man, was he showing off? Unfortunately he couldn’t counterattack. His son indeed respected his Boss more than him. Sometimes Qi Yaoyang wanted to use force to hold Qi Long down but he didn’t know when Qi Long grew a monstrous physical constitution. Even if he beat Qi Long to a pulp, he wouldn’t be able to make Qi Long change his mind… Thus he could only let him be. Did he really have to kill that little punk to make him listen?
Thinking up to this point, Qi Yaoyang said viciously, “Since we’re talking about your son, did your son caused any trouble for you?”
Ling Xiao’s eyes showed a hint of a smile, “Of course not. My precious… is very well-behaved,” He almost said ‘daughter’ out loud. Luckily, Ling Xiao reacted quickly.
Well-behaved? Qi Yaoyang thought of the mighty Boss that he had heard about from his son. He couldn’t connect that adjective Ling Xiao had said to this person. In the end, he could only determine that Ling Xiao was a controlling parent.
However, what Ling Xiao said afterwards stunned Qi Yaoyang, “Actually, I came to you, Elder Brother Yaoyang, because I wanted to tell you that Ling Lan was preparing to activate her battle team.”
“Why so early?” Qi Yaoyang frowned. “Don’t tell me you don’t know what would happen after he activates the battle team?”
Ling Xiao smiled bitterly, “Of course I know. That’s why I came to you. After all, this also affects your son’s future. You and I both know that the Federation and Twilight will definitely have a huge battle between them and the Federation must win this battle dominatingly. This way they would be able to stop the countries around the Federation from making any moves. And this battle would be a long one.”
“You came to me not only to notify me about this right?” Qi Yaoyang knew clearly that this wasn’t the reason Ling Xiao had came looking for him. “Tell me, what do you want me to do?”
“Be the examiner for Ling Lan’s first level mission in the virtual world,” Ling Xiao said without hesitation.
“You really are ruthless. I am an imperial operator. Isn’t it too cruel to be bullying your own son like this?” Qi Yaoyang raised a brow. “I remember that your son is an ace operator.”
“That’s why you have to suppress your capabilities and operate an ace mecha to fight him. Only those with experience and familiarity with suppressing their capabilities while operating an ace mecha would be able to suppress a similar opponent.” Ling Xiao’s expression showed a hint of pride. A while ago, he had Ling Lan fought and he knew Ling Lan’s real mecha piloting capabilities. It was just that his own daughter thought she had hidden it well.
Qi Yaoyang finally understood and said, “You’re saying your son has already… Sh*t, both of you are monsters. He actually managed to advance to imperial level at such a young age and it took me these few years to successfully advance.”
“Don’t give that sh*t. If it wasn’t for the fact that you had to stand guard on the front lines, you would have advanced to imperial level eight hundred years ago. In terms of suppressing one’s level and operating an ace mecha, I’m sure other than you, there is no one else who’s had more experience. Let me count, you have suppressed it for around 13 to 14 years right?” Ling Xiao instantly exposed Qi Yaoyang’s lie.
“Didn’t you also suppress it? You used six years to advance from ace to god level… but it took four years in the military academy to advance to ace? Bullsh*t! When you entered the 7th division, that level and those techniques were definitely not possible to achieve in four to five years.” Qi Yaoyang also exposed Ling Xiao without remorse. “When it comes to suppressing, you also have experience suppressing, why not do it yourself?”
“Only similar level people can force the real capabilities and hidden potential out of someone. Even if I suppress myself, I still wouldn’t be able to completely get on that level. The power difference between higher levels and lower levels isn’t that easy to control.” Ling Xiao said helplessly. If he could do it himself, he wouldn’t have come and ask Qi Yaoyang for help.
“I understand. When is he going for the evaluation?” Qi Yaoyang promised Ling Xiao. In reality, he indeed wanted to test out whether the Boss that his own son had acknowledged was worthy or not.
“Immediately!” Ling Xiao said with a huge smile on his face.
“Sh*t, I knew you it wasn’t something good when you came to me. Where is it located?” Qi Yaoyang didn’t know what to say. It turns out, Ling Xiao wasn’t asking him and didn’t even gave him any chances to refuse.
“The special forces arena in the combat hall.”
Qi Yaoyang’s eyes looked at Ling Xiao with a deep meaning inside them. That place wasn’t somewhere he could just go casually. It seemed that Ling Xiao didn’t want his son to fall into the eyes of the public. Qi Yaoyang agreed with Ling Xiao’s way of doing things. Before their children could grow up and actually hold their own, them, the parents, must protect them to the best of their abilities.
“I understand. I will acquire the clearance and come to the location.” Having reached his rank, the originally top secret facilities of every division were no longer forbidden locations.
After Qi Yaoyang said this, he hung up the call. Ling Xiao looked at the virtual screen that was already showing a white light and then turned it off. He opened his communications contacts and scrolled to a number that he had not contacted in the past 20 or so years. Right when he wanted to hit call, he put the phone down instead.
He sighed lightly and said to himself, “Ling Lan, I want you to pass but at the same time don’t want you to pass. You should rest for awhile first, then I would make this second phone call.”
“Lan’er, if you want to move forward and forward again, it would all depend on the result of your battle with Qi Yaoyang. He is just below the 12 god-class operators and is called the Prime Underlord Sky God by the Federation. If you acquire his acknowledgment, then I will arrange for you to start the second evaluation.”
“Don’t blame daddy for arranging such a difficult evaluation. It’s just that once you successfully activate your battle team, you would no longer have the three year new recruit protection period and would be sent straight into the real battlefield.”
“If war was to start, you and your comrades would instantly enter into the most dangerous and bloody battlefield. This is the mission of all the official battle teams. No one battle team can be an exception. Even as your father, as the 23rd Division’s commander, I wouldn’t be able to stop it from happening.”
“However, I also don’t want to cruelly stop your dreams. As long as you pass the three evaluations I have set up, daddy will choose to trust you. Trust that you would be able to protect yourself and your comrades. Then, daddy will become your strongest shield, safeguarding you while you ride the waves and create a future that belongs to yourself!”
