Tempest of the Stellar War
chapter-84

The students were all lost in chatter. Zhang Shan had a pretty great figure, and his presence attracted quite a few girls. Good looks, tall and bulky, one of the top students in Physics, hailing from a family of prestigious Scientists. He was a man of class no matter how you looked at him. Once noticed by girls, he'd have plenty of suitors coming after him.

Wang Zheng and Zhang Shan adjusted their breathing. Wang Zheng enjoyed challenges too. In reality, Zhang Shan was not suited for push-ups. He had a larger build, making it more of a burden for him. But Zhang Shan was not willing to compete in terms of strength. There was no fun in taking advantage of others.

Very soon, a hundred pushups had passed. The two of them still shared the same pace and maintained a consistent breathing rhythm.

Zhang Shan glanced at Wang Zheng. This lad had pretty good stamina.

"Let's do something challenging."

Zhang Shan said, as he pushed himself up.

"One handed?"

"That's right!"

Zhang Shan switched to one handed pushups. Wang Zheng quickly followed suit. The level of difficulty of using one hand to do pushups instantly increased. They kept their pace and did another hundred.

Even in the present world of enhanced physical qualities and eugenics, their performance was fantastic. Especially considering the fact that they were still students.

Meng Tian watched them in silence. Zhang Shan was trying his best to control his breathing, but it was obvious that he was having a harder time. Meanwhile, Wang Zheng's breathing was still consistent and extremely deep.

In the blink of an eye, they'd done 200 pushups. Both had swapped to the other hand in between, and applause ruptured around them. These two were insane!

When they crossed the three-hundred mark of single-handed push-ups, Zhang Shan's breathing was evidently heavier. His naked torso was full of perspiration, making him stand out even more.

400. Zhang Shan's breathing was starting to become messy, but he persevered through it. Damn. This lad seemed scrawny; how was he so strong?

The applause and cheers continued. At 490, Zhang Shan could not hold on any longer. He wobbled and collapsed flat on the ground. He turned over, stared into the ceiling, and panted heavily.

The floor was soaked wet. Wang Zhang stood up, stretched out his arm to help Zhang Shan up. Zhang Shan waved him off. "You freak… let me catch my breath."

Wang Zheng's face was flushed. He was perspiring too, but he was steady. Meng Tian did not find it surprising. She had seen him train. This man could do pushups with one finger.

Ye Zisu once said that ever since high school, he trained regardless if it was rain or shine, every single day. His determination was shocking. Ye Zisu was attracted by his quality of seriousness and could not help but fall for him.

"Zhang Shan, I've told you you're not his match. With his strength and stamina, he'd be one of the top few even in the military." Meng Tian smiled.

The team members standing around were stunned. Some of the men came for Meng Tian. Admiring pretty girls while training was also a pleasurable experience.

"I have to battle even if I do know the result! How can I give up? I'm a man!" Zhang Shan argued.

Wang Zheng pulled Zhang Shan up on his feet. "You're welcome to challenge me any time."

Zhang Shan was indeed physically fit. He had just burned a great deal of energy, but it only took him five minutes to recover. Wang Zheng trained for another hour before leaving. When there were many people around, Wang Zheng would mainly do recovery training. When he trained to a certain extent, he would be able to feel each of his cells being stimulated by the activities. He would feel them giving out energy. He was not sure if it was just an illusion, but ever since the Rubik's Cube had appeared, he no longer cared about such things and trusted what he felt.

Watching him, Zhang Shan's jaw dropped. Damn, what a living freak! Just how did he train?

No wonder Meng Tian saw him in a different light. Zhang Shan was a straightforward person. He confessed his feelings for Meng Tian straight to her face. Meng Tian was even more straightforward with him. She had told him that she would consider his proposition only if he could beat Wang Zheng.

So Zhang Shan lost in a straightforward manner. But he felt good even though he'd lost. Zhang Shan was a stubborn man. Now that he had a goal to work towards, he felt more motivated than ever.

In the chairman's office, Zhang Shan was admiring the set-up. The design was meticulous, as though done by a girl. Zhang Shan was actually a meticulous person. Wang Zheng, on the other hand, was gulping down mouthfuls of water.

"IG is about to begin. Ares College, due to being the winner of this Exchange, can send four representatives. Masasi has left, so the three of us must attend," Meng Tian said.

IG? Zhang Shan and Wang Zheng looked at each other. "What's that?"

Meng Tian started. These two… They're pretty professional in the work they do, and are not at all slipshod when they're out . But as mech lovers, how could they not know about IG?

"IG is the entrance competition for the Milky Way Galactic Military School. It takes places once every two years. Earth belongs to the Solar System jurisdiction, but in recent decades, barely anyone from Earth was chosen. Their performances were average as well."

"Well then, wouldn't that make it an elites' competition?" Zhang Shan asked, showing great interest.

"Exactly. If given the opportunity to represent the Solar System, you'd be able to see, with your own eyes the strongest players from the different countries in the Galaxy. This year's competition will be held in Aslan, so it's even more competitive than before," Meng Tian explained.

The word "Aslan" struck Wang Zheng deeply.

"When will it begin?"

"Soon. They'll announce a specific date. The preliminaries will be held on the Moon. There's only a limited number of spots every year. Earth gets a place once in a while, but it's mainly monopolised by the Moon and Mars," she replied.

"Tsk. Seems like the standards of the Moon and Mars are pretty average. They never do well. Might as well let us do it!"

Zhang Shan laughed. Indeed, although studying physics was much more meaningful, at the thought of a showdown with greater opponents, he lit up with vigor.

Meng Tian shook her head. "There was a breakthrough in progress last season. A historic achievement of getting into the top 20."

Zhang Shan almost spat. "THAT is a historic breakthrough?"

"That is considered quite a feat. We were usually placed in the hundreds."

"Ha, with us this time, we can definitely make it into Top 10!" Zhang Shan said gleefully.

Meng Tian shrugged. That was blind optimism.

"Do you make it into the competition once selected by the Solar System?" Wang Zheng asked.

Meng Tian laughed. "Of course not! You've got to make it through the disqualifying rounds of the larger districts. There, you'll meet opponents who surprise you and assessment criteria that you'd never have imagined. It's said that the officers who come up with the tests have a thing for torturing future elites. They also have intentions of competing to see who can be the most vicious. It'd be embarrassing if they weren't difficult."

"You MUST let me know when registrations start," Wang Zheng said. He had to grab hold of this opportunity.

"Don't worry, we won't forget you." Meng Tian nodded. "Zhang Shan, you get ready too. The school did not expect us to perform so well this time. That's why I've applied for mech training. Teacher Zhuo Mu will continue to be in charge of us. Even though the conditions are limited, it'd still be good to familiarise ourselves with mecha."

"Damn! This is so great!"

"Don't get too excited just yet. We're bound by the conditions, so the mecha we'll be using are not as good. It's possible that there'll be high class mecha in the matches, so I suggest we strengthen our operation skills, and at the same time go to CT and get to know the functions of the various mecha," Meng Tian said.

Zhang Shan was stumped. "That'd work?"

"Simulation mode is rather great."

"Simulation mode? There's such a thing? How come I've never heard of it?"

"Not in the Solar System. But that doesn't mean it' not available elsewhere. You just have to apply to enter."

Cross System battle?

"Does that mean we can torture the newbies from elsewhere?" Zhang Shan gleamed.

"Ha ha. That'll depend on your abilities. It'd be great if you don't get tortured. Even if you perform excellently here, you'll still have a hard time during the competition."

Meng Tian looked at Wang Zheng. He was calm.

Wang Zheng was currently coming up with ways to get away from the mission of hosting Lin Huiyin. He was truly uninterested in wasting time with a celebrity.

It was easy to think of ways to escape, but it was extremely difficult to turn it down in reality. Xiao Fei killed his hopes at once. Such a publicity opportunity was hard to come by. Moreover, Lin Huiyin had specifically chosen him. Regardless, the Space Time Warp Theory made him famous, and he was considered a representative of the college now.

Wang Zheng was good for many things, but he plain disliked being in the limelight. How could a young man act like an old man?

One had to make every moment in life count. They would have to give a go at everything.

Meng Tian and Zhang Shan gaped at Wang Zheng, as if he was a freak.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Sigh. You're passing up such a rare opportunity? God. I really have no idea what goes through your mind!"

Zhang Shan was speechless. No sane man would miss out on an opportunity to get up close with Lin Huiyin.

But Meng Tian admired Wang Zheng's way of doing things.

"I'm just worried about the hassle. But it seems like there's no way out. I hope she is not hard to please."

Zhang Shan shrugged helplessly. "You… you really think of yourself as a treasure, don't you? She's just coming here out of courtesy!"

"Haha, I'm really worried she'll fall in love with me!"

Even Meng Tian couldn't help but roll her eyes. Wang Zhang burst out laughing, too.

Lin Huiyin was staying at the Grand Shangri-La Hotel. Undoubtedly, Aslan had shares in this top-notch chain hotel. Everything was pretty great.

Huiyin was even more pompous than Aina. Princesses ought not to be too extravagant, but Huiyin was in the showbiz after all. Everything had to be of a certain standard, and naturally she had underlings to deal with these things.

And in reality, her actual identity indeed needed strict protection.

The concert matters were in full preparation. As for program rehearsals, Huiyin was already very familiar with them. She only had to run through them once more a day before and would be good to go. Her early arrival naturally meant that there was something important to be done.

"Angela, how is the arrangement with Ares College coming along?" Lin Huiyin could not wait.

Just who on Earth made her cousin, whose eyes grew on the crown of her head, be unable to forget? She had given up on so many dreams to come to Earth, only to be dragged back again.

"Yes, your Highness, it is their honor to meet you. Principal Gu Te would like to pay you a visit." Angeli nodded in reply.

Lin Huiyin's true identity was not a secret to those in the core circle, and they all understood that.

"Kindly reject them on my behalf. I'm just a singer. Also, arrange for the two to come and see me tomorrow."

Lin Huiyin turned around gracefully. Whoever Aina was interested in, she was interested too.