Chapter 769 - 540: Mecha Martial Arts
Flame Martial Federation, Qingnan City.
Skyscrapers stand tightly together, glass facades reflecting the midday sun, crowded streets filled with traffic, with hover cars shuttling between buildings, emitting a light "hum".
Holographic billboards by the roadside loop broadcasts of mech martial arts competitions and Divine Power alerts.
The air is faintly filled with subtle waves of Qi and blood—left behind by countless martial artists practicing daily in the city.
A bright room, simply yet cleanly furnished.
A cloth sofa placed against the wall, next to it on the coffee table, sits a half cup of water long gone cold, along with a book, "Federation Mech Control Basic Theory," its pages lined with dense notes, showing the owner’s dedication.
On the wall, a holographic TV is playing Federation news.
In the footage, a blood-red mech hundreds of meters tall stands on a desolate interstellar battlefield, its surface flowing with dark red Qi and blood patterns, slowly writhing like a living creature, each inch of the mech exudes a wild and domineering aura.
The camera zooms in, the mech’s faceplate gently opens, revealing a stern face—it is the Federation’s legendary mech martial god, Lin Zhan.
The news anchor’s voice is vibrant and powerful:
"Viewers, please pay attention, legendary martial god Lin Zhan successfully broke through the Divine Power-infested stellar stronghold this morning, slaying two Divine Powers, rescuing the trapped Federation garrison!"
"According to reports, Lin Zhan’s mech ’Blood Flame’, integrates the Federation’s latest Qi and blood conduction technology, pushing battle power to new heights..."
Jiang Ming sits on the sofa, body leaning slightly forward, eyes fixed on the blood-red mech on the TV screen, full of undisguised envy.
"Mech martial god, slaying Divine Powers, guarding the Federation... It’s so aspirational! If only I could control a mech, become such a powerful figure."
He is seventeen this year, the age where everything beautiful is longed for, the desire to become powerful is strong.
But this intense longing is soon replaced by a touch of loneliness.
The light in Jiang Ming’s eyes gradually dims:
"Unfortunately, I couldn’t pass the Martial Arts Academy’s assessment!"
"This lifetime, I fear becoming a Mecha Master is impossible."
He’s unwilling in his heart, involuntarily recalling the days of hard work.
To pass the assessment, he woke up at dawn every day, refining Qi and blood on the rooftop, sweating profusely...
Late into the night, he repeatedly recited mech control theories, pondered Qi and blood conduction techniques...
He put in more effort than others, giving it his all!
But becoming a Mecha Master is exceedingly difficult!
A saying circulates in the Federation: Amongst hundreds of thousands, there might not be even one Mecha Master.
Becoming a Mecha Master requires not just daily effort, but more importantly innate Talent—precision in Qi and blood Control, strong mental power, and the ability to resonate with mechs, all are indispensable.
He still remembers the day of assessment failure, the notice bearing the words "unqualified"—the disappointment and bitterness in his heart surged like a tide, almost overwhelming him.
"Enough!"
Jiang Ming takes a deep breath, slowly closes his eyes, then gently wipes the imperceptible dampness at the corner of his eye, firmly telling himself:
"Though I lack the Talent to become a Mecha Master, my Martial Arts Talent isn’t bad."
"As long as I train well, refine my body, nourish my Qi and blood, I might yet become a martial artist in the future, even if I cannot control a mech, I can still guard a region."
Though he says this, the vast gap between Mecha Masters and martial artists, how could he not know.
In the Flame Martial Federation, Mecha Masters are all martial artists, they first refine their bodies, nourish Qi and blood, and upon reaching a certain Realm, they use Talent and technology to control mechs.
Yet the top martial artists might not necessarily become Mecha Masters!
In terms of combat power, even the most basic civilian mechs can easily crush the Federation’s strongest martial artists, there is a world of difference between them.
Jiang Ming shakes his head helplessly, picks up a black backpack from the corner, inside are his training manuals and a bottle of Basic Qi and Blood Potion.
It’s what his parents saved scrupulously to buy for him, hoping to aid his Martial Arts training.
He walks to the door, grasps the cold doorknob, gently twists it, and with a "click," the door is pushed open.
The hallway is dimly lit, the walls adorned with Federation martial arts promotional posters.
On the posters, mech martial gods and martial artists fight side by side, below printed a striking slogan:
"Refine Martial Arts, Protect the Federation, everyone can become powerful."
Jiang Ming’s gaze lingers on the poster for a moment, his eyes regain determination, he retracts his gaze and quickly descends the stairs.
His destination is the Tianlong Martial Arts Hall in the city center!
It is one of Qingnan City’s renowned martial arts halls, though not as advanced as those in provincial capitals, lacking cutting-edge mech simulation equipment, it has many veteran martial artists stationed, with rich teaching experience.
His family conditions are quite good, both parents are formal employees within the Federation’s system, jobs stable, income decent.
To cultivate him, his parents poured all their effort into scrimping just to provide the best training conditions for him.
In Qingnan City, ordinary families’ children can only receive basic martial arts education at school, learning the most foundational boxing techniques and Qi and blood circulation skills, with no opportunities for extracurricular tutoring or professional training.
Yet he can enter Tianlong Martial Arts Hall, receive guidance from veteran martial artists, this is the greatest support from his parents, the reason he cannot give up.