Meng Huai couldn't see the uproar caused by her logistics department identity, with bullet comments accusing the logistics department of crashing the party.
Even passersby would comment: 【Did they get tricked by the Second Military Academy last year and voluntarily give up?】
【No way, there must have been some oversight. I saw the interview, and the girl seemed very confident.】
【Isn't confidence just the standard for these privileged connections? But how many of them actually have strength?】
At this point, Zheng Yiran had a general understanding of the entire competition area from the field. The place they were in was a forest. Their current location was the outskirts of the forest, and they had to pass through it to reach the finish line.
"Let's go, this way."
There was no need to enter mechs unless absolutely necessary. Energy was limited, so they would walk if possible.
"Through it?" Rong Feiven asked.
"Yes, the finish line is set over there."
Zheng Yiran pointed towards the finish line and informed them.
"We could also circle around the outskirts of the forest to get there. But that would mean a much longer route, and there would be more star beasts in the forest."
After Zheng Yiran said this, Jing Yuancheng immediately declared, "Let's go, kill star beasts and earn points!"
Jing Yuancheng's excited voice energized everyone.
Jing Yuancheng led the way, holding a saber. The vegetation in the forest didn't resemble ordinary plants, as normal plants wouldn't grow this way and would struggle to survive.
These plants, like the star beasts, were mutated species.
Mutated star beasts were poisonous, but what about mutated plants?
The ground where they walked was barely navigable, and it was all thanks to Jing Yuancheng clearing the path. He chopped off branches of the vegetation, forging a path.
Behind Jing Yuancheng was Zheng Yiran, who still needed to help Jing Yuancheng keep track of their direction.
Further behind were Rong Feiven and Hui Xingxiu. Hui Xingxiu's task was to guard Zheng Yiran ahead and Hui Xingxiu beside him. Walking at the rear was Meng Huai, who, like Jing Yuancheng, also held a saber.
The saber was, of course, the one she had made earlier, which could also be mounted on a mech. However, without a mech, it didn't hinder her use.
The spectators, seeing Meng Huai at the rear, no longer complained, as they had previously expressed dissatisfaction with her. They were all members of the team they supported, and a few complaints were fine. They couldn't judge someone before they had shown their strength and without knowing what kind of strength they possessed.
However, if Meng Huai performed poorly, these people would not hold back just because she was a girl.
"Watch out for the poisonous insects ahead."
Zheng Yiran, walking ahead, warned Jing Yuancheng. Jing Yuancheng signaled Zheng Yiran with his hands, asking her to wait a moment. Jing Yuancheng stepped forward a couple of paces, raised his saber parallel to the ground at arm's height.
In this posture, he cautiously moved forward and then saw the poisonous insects Zheng Yiran had warned about. They were quite small, crawling on the ground with a rustling sound.
【Five-Clawed Crawler】
Not all the bullet comments were just watching the show; some recognized the insect.
They weren't large, only about thirty centimeters. But underestimating them would be a mistake. The insect had three claws on its left side and two on its right. Once you let your guard down and the insect got close, it would attach to flesh and couldn't be shaken off.
"Cut off the claws first."
Zheng Yiran, having studied jungle identification, naturally knew the function of those claws. The tips of its claws were like hooks and could also suck blood.
However, once the claws were severed, the threat was gone, so Jing Yuancheng followed the instructions and made two swift cuts, one after the other, and the insect was no longer a threat.
After decapitating it, the insect, headless, continued to writhe on the ground. If someone unfamiliar with the insect had decapitated it first, it would have latched onto them and sucked their blood.
Soon, Jing Yuancheng's score increased by a hundred, and the Imperial Military Academy was credited with killing a B-class star beast.
Although it was just an insect, it was still a star beast and earned points.
"How should we handle the carcass of this thing?"
Jing Yuancheng picked up the insect, which had stopped wriggling, and asked the people behind him.
This scene was witnessed by the audience, especially the diners at the medicinal cuisine restaurant, who felt nauseous.
【Ugh, can we not have such clear shots? I'm eating right now.】
【Me too, eating.】
The person Jing Yuancheng was asking was naturally Rong Feiven. They carried spatial torsion devices. If the captured star beasts had any useful value, such as materials that could be made from their bodies, they would be collected and processed by Rong Feiven, the mech engineer, after the competition.
However, if the star beast had no practical value, it was just worth points. Therefore, Jing Yuancheng asked Rong Feiven.
Rong Feiven said, "Let's collect it for now."
But this thing had no practical value.
Zheng Yiran thought this, and a bullet comment also emerged: 【Isn't this thing worth keeping? It has no value.】
Before further discussion, Rong Feiven continued, "I heard fried insects are also delicious. But this isn't enough to even fill a gap in your teeth. Let's catch a few more?"
【...】
【Insects... can be eaten?】
Clearly, someone had asked the question that was also on the minds of the bullet commenters, which was Jing Yuancheng.
"Insects can be eaten too?"
"Did you bring oil?" Meng Huai asked.
"Did you bring a pot?" Zheng Yiran asked.
【Are they here on vacation?】
【They're here on vacation +1】
Rong Feiven signaled Jing Yuancheng to continue leading the way, and Jing Yuancheng put away the insect and walked on.
As Rong Feiven walked, he answered the previous questions: "I've looked through some ancient food records, and they mention fried insects. They say they are fried until crispy, making a satisfying crunch when bitten, and are incredibly fragrant and crispy. A mouthful each is not an exaggeration!"
"As for the pot! You can make anything as long as you have the ingredients, so don't worry. And oil! If you cut off some star beast meat, you'll have it!"
Everyone fell silent. Rong Feiven had already been taught by Wen Bai. Once his mindset changed, the idea that you could create anything you desired with the right ingredients was excellent!
【I don't understand what he's saying.】
"The immediate priority is to kill more star beasts."
Jing Yuancheng swung his saber and carved out a path. The audience heard his words and assumed he was eager to earn points, as points were crucial for ranking.
"Commander, you should point the way for me. Where are the large star beasts? The higher the level, the better. If there are any pigs or cows, that would be ideal."
【So reassuring, knowing they're earning points. It seems they still want to get first place. Jing, the solo soldier, is still clear-headed! Cows and pigs, they're not difficult to kill. At the same level, they're definitely easier to deal with than ferocious beasts! Good, good, they're thinking now!】