A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Zhou Luo completed the Heaven's Punishment Martial Hall assessment the very next day, successfully becoming a prestigious Blade Catcher.
Over the course of the month, Zhou Luo went on a relentless killing spree. His combat stats were as follows:
[Mecha: Fire Thunder!]
[Level: 27!]
[Ultimate Moves: Thunder Crescent Slash, Blazing Sun Slash, Godlike Power.]
[Bond Power: All attributes increased by 30%!]
[Evaluation: This is a Sports Car Clan Warrior from the City of Time. His name is Fire Thunder, and his combat style is as swift, domineering, and awe-inspiring as his name suggests!]
[Mecha: Swift Blade]
[Level: 27!]
[Ultimate Moves: Terrifying Wave Strike, Velocity Phantom Slash, Godlike Power.]
[Bond Power: All attributes increased by 30%!]
[Evaluation: This is a Vehicle Warrior from the Moon God Temple. His name is Swift Blade, and he is also the City Garrison General of the Moon God Temple. His combat style is characterized by speed, piercing power, confidence, arrogance, loyalty, and straightforwardness—these are his defining traits.]
[Mecha: Flying Lun]
Zhou Luo had also activated Fire Thunder's little sidekick, Flying Lun. Flying Lun's presence added a bit of fun to Zhou Luo's group.
This was a Vehicle Warrior with almost no combat ability.
But Zhou Luo didn't expect Flying Lun to help him in battle anyway.
At this point, Fire Thunder and Swift Blade's combat energy had already reached Level 27. Zhou Luo estimated that his strength was now unrivaled within the second stage.
He couldn't even imagine who could possibly defeat him at his age.
Looking across all the publicly known prodigies of Dragon Country, there seemed to be none—not a single one.
The strongest prodigy in the capital was rumored to have only reached Level 19 in combat recently. To Zhou Luo, they were nothing more than a one-strike kill.
At the moment, Zhou Luo was bidding farewell to his parents.
"Xiao Luo, once you get to the War God Academy, study hard. I know you're mature-minded and have your own plans. Just trust your judgment," Zhou Hong said, his eyes red with emotion as he patted Zhou Luo's shoulder heavily.
"I will, Dad." This time, Zhou Luo didn't call Zhou Hong "old man."
"Xiao Luo, you should also put in some effort and try to bring back a daughter-in-law. That girl from before was nice, but it seems like you stood her up."
"I'm still waiting to hold a grandchild."
Zhou Luo's lips twitched at that.
Truth be told, between all the battles, leveling up, and honing his combat skills, he had completely forgotten about Liu Qingxue.
He wondered how she would react when she found out he was going to the War God Academy.
It would probably be quite amusing.
"And when you get to the War God Academy, keep a low profile. A world-class base city isn't the same as Azurewave Base City," Wang Qiong said, unable to hide her worry for Zhou Luo, just as she had once worried about Zhou Yun.
"Tch! What nonsense, woman! The War God Academy is a place where strength speaks for itself. Keep a low profile? Our Xiao Luo is the Azurewave Champion—he can't keep a low profile even if he wanted to!"
"Xiao Luo, don't listen to your mother. If anyone gives you trouble there, fight back hard. No matter what, we've got your back."
For once, Zhou Hong stood his ground, leaving Wang Qiong speechless.
"Hahaha! Don't worry, old man. Once I, Zhou Luo, enter the War God Academy, any so-called geniuses there will have to bow before me—dragons will coil and tigers will crouch!"
"Who dares claim to be a genius? Who dares claim to be the champion? None shall stand before Zhou Luo!"
Hearing this.
Zhou Hong and Wang Qiong's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
Zhou Luo was perfect in every way—except for being a bit too chuunibyou. Who knew if he'd get jumped outside?
Whatever.
It wasn't like they'd be the ones getting beaten up.
"Alright, it's about time. You should get going now."
Zhou Luo nodded solemnly, then mounted his blue-and-white motorcycle. Revving the engine, the wide tires screeched against the ground.
"I'm off!"
His figure gradually disappeared into the distance.
Zhou Luo arrived as promised at the harbor of Canglan Base City—though this was the Sky Harbor, not a seaport.
Before him stood numerous spacecraft, among which one particularly eye-catching fighter stood out—the Star Blade X9 Fighter, a genuine eighth-tier combat vessel.
Capable of withstanding attacks from eighth-tier Monstrous Beasts and even simulating their aura to ward off airborne Exotic Beasts and Monstrous Beasts, preventing ambushes.
The price tag on this fighter was unimaginable, and even in Mecha markets, it required reservations—money alone couldn't buy it.
It wasn't just a symbol of status and prestige but also a testament to the owner's strength.
At the harbor, Zhou Luo immediately spotted the figure of Demon Blade Meng Li and hurried over.
"Senior Meng," Zhou Luo called out.
"Don't call me 'senior.' Just 'teacher' will do. You'll most likely be assigned under me at the academy," Meng Li said, giving Zhou Luo an approving once-over.
Zhou Luo hadn't wasted his time—he'd grown even stronger.
Meng Li couldn't detect Zhou Luo's exact combat level, which surprised him, but he didn't press for answers.
Everyone had their secrets.
"Let's go. There's a VIP waiting for you—someone who thinks highly of you."
"Oh?"
A beam of light descended from the underside of the Star Blade Fighter, enveloping the two. The surroundings seemed to lose gravity as they floated upward—an oddly surreal sensation.
"Holy shit!!"
"The Star Blade X9 Fighter! Its owner must be at least an eighth-tier powerhouse! Which big shot has come to Canglan Base City?"
"Those two just now were Demon Blade Meng Li and the top genius Zhou Luo!"
"So it's the elite instructors from the War God Academy! So envious!!"
The appearance of the Star Blade Fighter caused quite a stir.
But Zhou Luo was already inside the fighter, oblivious to the screams below.
Before him sat an elderly man in the pilot's chair. As the chair rotated, he slowly stood and approached Zhou Luo.
When their eyes met, Zhou Luo felt as if he'd been locked onto by a primordial beast. Time itself seemed to slow, his own breathing unnervingly clear.
The old man's pressure intensified.
Zhou Luo glanced at Meng Li beside him and noticed he seemed entirely unfazed—completely unaffected.
He understood.
This old man was testing him.
"Such terrifying presence... but I am the Mech Battle King!"
Activating his professional ability, Zhou Luo straightened his posture until he stood tall and unwavering, meeting the old man's gaze with resolute determination. Even if heaven and earth collapsed, even if the world ended, he would remain unshaken.
An intangible force pushed back against the old man's aura, as if governed by the laws of nature—utterly unaffected.
This time, it was the old man's turn to be shocked.
He thought there was a problem with his control over the power of heaven and earth, so he immediately directed his imposing aura onto Meng Li.
As a result, Meng Li was pressed to the ground with a "thud," unable to move.
"Principal Cha, why are you targeting me? Didn't you say you were going to temper Zhou Luo?" Meng Li forced out each word through gritted teeth, clearly in extreme discomfort.
Only then did the old man realize the issue wasn't with him—it was with Zhou Luo.
"Ahem, ahem," the old man coughed as if nothing had happened and withdrew his aura.
(End of Chapter)