Chapter 294: 8.21 First Blue Star - Before the Competition.

The days pass easily surpassing weeks. After learning the blind skill he had practiced with his husband, Feng Jing had officially returned to the First Military Academy. His return causes too many tales to fly around. After knowing that the illegitimate young master of the Navi Clan, Navi Nash was turned into an idiot by Feng Jing's rumored man.

On the last day of practice, the two days before the competition, most students had gathered at the First Military Academy to train. Feng Jing had been training with the group ever since his quantum beast had hatched. Among the group, the only ones who knew about his quantum beast being a phoenix dragon hybrid were his aide Feng Wu and his newly appointed aide Bai Yuyan. But Bai Yuya is only Feng Jing's aide in the name. As everyone from the Feng Clan already knows, this child is the future mate of Feng Yang. 

It is not that they are not willing to accept Bai Yuyan as of now, it was because the latter says that unless he had achieved enough par, he is going to marry Feng Yang with nothing. He needs at least enough reputation to be able to openly stand by Feng Yang's side. As the former Mercenary King, he had that kind of pride that wouldn't allow himself to be looked down upon. At least he is not willing for the masses to look or point at the Phoenix Family for marrying their heir to him, an orphan with neither background nor achievements. Feng Yang understood what he wanted and decided to keep their relationship a secret for now, at least. 

At the First Military Academy.

Feng Clan's Training Hall.

At the practice field, a typical sparring is taking place. But it is not the usual one-on-one sparring, instead, it's one for all. The one in the middle is Feng Jing. After knowing that he had completely healed after his said failed awakening, everyone knew that despite not being able to awaken, that Feng Jing's overall potential is still SS no... according to record it is now, SSS rank. He is now the strongest on the team just based on their potential and like Marshal Altair, Feng Jing is able to battle against quantum beasts.

His strength is too overbearing that the team needs to work together as a team with their quantum beasts.

---

What are the quantum beasts of the other team members?

Sentinels:

Tundra Wolf - Han Ling (A- Rank)

Jaguar - Qu Yul (A Rank)

Polar Bear - Xue Ran (SS Rank) [A member of Xue Family tasked to protect after Feng Jing]

Guide: 

Firefox - Feng Wu (SS Rank)

Black-Winged Leopard - Bai Yuyan (S Rank)

Jackal - Si Shen (B- Rank) [Paired of Han Ling]

Lynxes -Wu Liu (C+ Rank) [Paired of Qu Yul]

---

Seeing his team member's quantum beast, Feng Jing only spoke a sentence.

"Are we a carnivore team?" said Feng Jing upon seeing the group of aggressive meat lover beasts around him.

The ordinary people like Vega Solaris and Lin Yven nodded their heads upon hearing the words their leader had sprouted and all stared at the people who were paired with wild animals as partners.

Lin Yven spoke, "A bear, canine wild beast like wolves, foxes, and jackals and then feline beasts like leopards, jaguars, and lynxes. If we have a lion and tiger then we could rule the whole forest area during the competition."

"But with the only land-based quantum beast, we wouldn't have a scout. I wonder if drones are allowed during the competition?" mumbled Vega Solaris.

Feng Jing replies, "I heard as long as the device and mini gadgets were made by the students themselves they would allow it. Send me the list of your gadgets and I will have it checked with the dean."

"Really! I will make a list now!" said Vega Solaris with a smile.

Feng Jing said, "Yven go help Vega with his list. Remove those that might go against the boundary of the things allowed. But you may keep at least three for emergency purposes. I will make sure it will be accepted."

"Leave it to me. I will make the list inconspicuous," said Lin Yven.

While the two members of their group went to the corner to finalize the list that their whole team would need during the competition, Feng Jing now moves back his gaze to the frontline members of his team. He could see their formation too obviously. The Sentinels were in lead, high-rank guides were at the middle and the other guides were at the rear but the distance is calculated enough to give support to their sentinels just in case.

Feng Jing smiles as he holds a wooden stick in his hand. The branch is just an ordinary stick that is seen in any tree. There are some white plum flowers on it. This is obviously just a common tree branch taken from the plum trees growing at the academy's entrance.

His expression is beaming and looks friendly but those who were about to face him knew how cruel he is when fighting. They couldn't help flinching upon seeing Feng Jing smile at them.

"You guys do know that the competition will last for 10 days. Since the location, we would be thrown in had three regions, the danger level of these regions varies as well. The Outer, middle, and central region. In the first 3 days, we would be dropped in the outer region, it would be safe to wander around that place without a mecha. The outer region only has wild beasts, mutated animals, and plants. With the group's overall potential it should be a breeze as long as we can keep Vega and Yven safe.

In the middle region, small-sized zergs can be found. In this layer, except for Vega and Yven who will be roaming with us in mini-sized mecha suits, the rest would need to fully gear up. As long no one is stupid enough to put their guards down then we should be able to safely pass the 6 days of the competition.

In the central region, everyone will be in mecha, and by that time we will enter that land. That region is well-known to have herd types zergs. Their sizes vary from small to medium and medium to large as we go deeper into the land. It's a place where even a full pledge soldier could die. It is extremely dangerous which is why when that time comes there is only one thing you must remember. When we enter the center territory of that star, my order shall be absolute. I will not accept disobedience. Do you understand?"

Everyone responded, "Yes!"

Then a grin once again appeared on his ethereal face, "Then~ let's continue training~ try to dodge my attacks for an hour. If you completed that then the train can end early today. Since tomorrow is a rest day it should be enough preparation for final clearance." said Feng Jing as he suddenly disappeared to where he stood and restarted the sparring with his team.

Three hours later, at the training field, a group of sentinels and guides were laying down with only their chest moving up and down from breathing tirelessly. Regardless of whether it was human or quantum beasts, they were all on the ground trying to catch their breath. 

Only Xue Ran who possesses a cool personality refuses to lay down on the ground, breaking his iceberg persona but the overwhelming sweat on his face and body were enough to see the real current state. Feng Wu stood on his ground with only a few drops of vapor on his face aside from that he looked silent as before.

Han Ling spoke, "I'm dying~ hah~"

"Lord Jing is already this strong despite being an ordinary person, if he had awakened wouldn't we die on the spot if he sparred with us like this?" said Qu Yul.

Xue Ran frowned for a moment before commenting, "Are you blind?"

"Eh? What's wrong, Brother Ran?" asked Han Ling.

Xue Ran replied, "He... Lord Jing didn't even sweat after sparring with us for three hours. It's a battle spar with only one opponent and he didn't even break a sweat. In short, he is not fighting us for real. He is only training us."

Everyone finally realized that Xue Ran's words were true. Their eyes couldn't help but wander towards the corner where they can see a Feng Jing who looks fresh as before now talking things with the support team. He looks so jolly as if he didn't spar with them for three hours straight.

Si Shen spoke, "Are all nobles this overpowered?"

"I'm a noble but I'm here with everyone and couldn't even move a muscle at all," said Xue Ran.

Bai Yuyan cursed, "Shit! People from the Feng Family are all monsters! When I spar with A'Yang, he never sweats as well. Even if I try to beat him up, he only teases me all the time."

Wu Liu who noticed Feng Wu's state is different from the rest of them, "A'Wu does the Feng Clan have special training to keep their body fit?" Everyone looked interested in Feng Wu.

Feng Wu replied honestly, "Yes. There is."

"I see. No wonder Lord Jing is that strong," said Han Ling.

Qu Yul asked, "So there's special training. Is it hard?"

"You need to train from young to the present. In the morning and evening with a full set regime from the family. But... in the Feng Family, among all direct descendants only Lord Jing didn't undergo that special training. Because the lord says he wanted to grow up like a salted fish, the elders in the family never force him to train at all. I've never seen the Lord Jing train. Lord Jing is born like that." said Feng Wu.

Feng Wu's words as Feng Jing's aide are faultless. As someone who grew up by Feng Jing's side, it is better to say he knows more about his lord than the Feng Family. So when Feng Wu says that Lord Jing is born with such unparalleled strength and stamina, they believed it right away.

Bai Yuyan said, "Then his results before is because..."

"Lord Jing was being lazy. His dream is to become a prodigal salted fish," answered Feng Wu. "And the Feng Family approves of it."

Han Ling asked, "Then the reason why Lord Jing is entering this competition is?"

"Because Lord Jing's fiance is from the Federation," answered Xue Ran.

There is only silence in the group conversation with this realization. The proof that they were able to hug this thick golden thigh which gives a higher chance of winning the competition than the rest of the team made them grateful for the decision of joining Feng Jing's group. With this monstrous Feng Jing as their leader which is not only cruel during training but also kind enough to mentor them while giving them most of the experiences they need at the same time keeping them alive can be hardly done by just anyone. Only a genius like Feng Jing could do so.

Now they've understood the reason for the harsh sparring practices they had undergone through. Obviously, Feng Jing planned to let them do most of the work during the competition and he would at least keep their lives safe during the whole competition. He was planning on letting them take all the credits to allow them to be able to choose the unit or brigade they could only dream of joining before. They had heard about the rewards of this competition.

The winner of this competition will not only receive resources from the Federation itself. The one who will top in this event will be given a chance to enter the unit or brigade they wish to. This includes the units led by the marshals and the major general itself. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to succeed. For commoners like them, this opportunity is precious. With Feng Jing protecting them all the way, their road might be hard but at least they had a guardian with them guiding them all the way.

Feng Jing approached them with his usual gentle smile. 

"Have everyone rested enough? You may take a bath and prepare to go to the market with Yven, Vega and me. You may buy what you need for the competition. As for tomorrow, you must rest properly to adjust your mental state to perfection. Everyone wants to win right?"

Everyone saluted at Feng Jing and exclaimed, "Yes, Sir!"

Feng Jing was startled for a moment before laughing, "Hahaha~ why are you guys calling me sir? I am not a squad or unit general. Call me, leader."

"Yes, Leader!"

"Hm~ you guys are acting a bit silly today. Did I beat you up too much?" said Feng Jing with a helpless smile.

Hahahahaha~

Seeing their leader's usual casual expression, everyone could only laugh happily in joy. They could only thank Feng Jing in their hearts for the kindness he is showing them.