Chapter 242: Chapter 169: In order to Participate in the Competition
"So, our White Dragon Empire must be pretty strong in this competition, right?" Long Yi asked. From Long Yi’s perspective, as one of the old Empires, the White Dragon Empire would have a pretty good standing in this level of competition. They wouldn’t lag behind, even if they weren’t in the first place, they certainly wouldn’t be the third, right?
Hearing Long Yi’s question, Wesley couldn’t help but feel awkward.
"Actually..."
"Actually?"
"Actually, the White Dragon Empire has always been good in the past, but, in recent decades, its performance hasn’t been very ideal." Wesley said.
"No way? Among the seven major countries in the mainland, in terms of strength, besides the Black Dragon Empire, none of the other five countries can match us, right?" Long Yi didn’t believe it. Economically, militarily, the only one that could contend with the White Dragon Empire on the mainland was the Black Dragon Empire. The quality of students at a country’s Dragon Knight academy certainly correlated with its economic and military strength. The White Dragon Empire didn’t seem like the type that would be at a disadvantage.
"Ah, aren’t these policies from our Emperor and Dean?" The chef sighed and said.
It turned out that all countries have been continuously intensifying the training intensity at Dragon Knight Academies while using various means to enhance the strength of the students, like drugs or more expensive weapons and armor. The Emperor of the White Dragon Empire believed that these methods might lead to a sharp increase in strength in a short period, but they are not conducive to the overall development. Eventually, warfare still depends on the national foundation.
So, no matter how other countries compete, the Emperor and the Dean remained impartial. Gradually, the students of the White Dragon Empire’s Dragon Knight Academy began to lag behind other countries.
The simplest example was that among the sixth-grade students at the White Dragon Empire’s Dragon Knight Academy, only about five or six had the strength of a Dragon Mark. In the Black Dragon Empire, this number already exceeds the majority.
Since there has been no large-scale war between nations for a long time, no one knows the actual military strength changes on the battlefield.
However, from the results of some conflicts on the border with the Black Dragon Empire, the White Dragon Empire doesn’t seem to be at a disadvantage yet.
Of course, there’s no advantage either.
"Brother Long, do you think our White Dragon Empire should also imitate the Black Dragon Empire and enhance the training intensity of the academy?" Wesley asked. Although they had nothing to do with decision-making, it didn’t stop these Dragon Knights from worrying about the country.
"I don’t think it’s necessary, right?"
Regarding which training method is superior, Long Yi didn’t dare to rashly express his own opinion. But in Long Yi’s view, the White Dragon Empire’s training environment was not lax.
"I think it’s necessary." The chef said.
"Yes, it’s very necessary. Look at those who have been crushed all the way by Brother Long. I think it’s very necessary." Mosquito also agreed with the chef’s point of view.
"No, no, you are misunderstanding something." Long Yi smiled, "I crushed them not because they didn’t train hard, but because I am too strong."
What is confidence?
This damn thing is confidence!
Wesley admired Long Yi’s confidence to the point of bowing in respect. Of course, he also knew that Long Yi’s confidence came from the confidence in his strength, and Long Yi’s strength came from his hard training.
Admittedly, Wesley believed that Long Yi had some unknown talents. However, anyone who had seen Long Yi train would be shocked at how desperate he was during training. Long Yi always demanded that his sparring partners attack with full force, leaving no room for mercy. Wesley and his brothers, the chef and the mosquito, along with Ai Lin, had trained with Long Yi. Long Yi’s storm-like attacks completely forced them to go all out. It can be said that training with Long Yi yielded more benefits than ten times their own training.
If compared to Long Yi’s training, then the training curriculum at the White Dragon Empire’s Dragon Knight Academy was incredibly relaxed.
However, compared to a regular military academy, the Dragon Knight Academy, as an imperial elite, was already extremely harsh. It’s just that compared to the god-like Long Yi, others didn’t seem so outstanding.
Wesley agreed to help Long Yi collect information, and Long Yi didn’t stay for long, immediately heading back to the fourth grade. Watching Long Yi’s retreating figure, Wesley, the chef and the mosquito brother felt a wave of desolation.
"Brother, what should we do?" The mosquito asked.
"What the hell can we do? Chase! I don’t believe that we, two brothers who have been geniuses for eighteen years, can’t catch up with him! Even if we can’t catch up with him, we must chase his shadow!" The chef said fiercely.
"Hey hey, I was also called a genius back then." Wesley said weakly.
"Can your talent for peeping at girls bathing count?" The chef looked contemptuously at Wesley.
"I rely on you, fat boy. In the two-level skipping exams, when was it not me who passed first and then helped you cheat?" Wesley stood up straight, hands on hips.
"That’s right! We’re a team. That’s called teamwork! When you were bullied by classmates, weren’t we brothers backing you up!" Mosquito said.
"Backing up! What a joke! I was in control of the situation!" Wesley shouted.
"You call that controlling the situation? Your eyes were swollen all day! Hahaha!" The chef laughed.
"Fat boy, if you don’t accept it, come and train!" Wesley directly issued a challenge.
"Come on! Don’t cry then!"
Just like that, the two began to battle each other.
For a moment, terrifying cries echoed through the air.
As the two top students, Long Yi and Ai Lin, found the subject matter not particularly challenging, they soon secured the top two ranks in their class. Their intense training continued. A month had passed, leaving just one month remaining before the final date. Long Yi and Ai Lin had sat for several advancement tests to the fifth year. According to Long Yi’s estimate, it would only take another two weeks to finish the remaining subjects. Then, they would have another two weeks for the final preparation.
The plan was going well, but at this moment, guests arrived at the Dragon Knight Academy.
A group of guests, dressed in black.
One morning, Long Yi and Ai Lin were having breakfast in the cafeteria. Long Yi was engrossed in his thick book, "Basics and Advanced Aerial Sign Language". This was part of the fifth-year curriculum. By the fifth year, aerial training was common, and though Bajie was yet to evolve, Long Yi needed to get a head start on the content to avoid lagging behind.
Usually, Wesley and mosquitoes, the head chef, would also dine with them, but they understood that Long Yi and Ai Lin had significant tasks and so they temporarily stopped joining them to avoid distracting them from their studies.
However, today, Wesley suddenly rushed over.
"Brother Long! Ai Lin! The dean wants you to come over quickly! Oh yes! Only you two!" Wesley said, looking at the various creatures and artifacts on the table beside Long Yi.
"So, you’re looking down on the undead?" Little Zi laughed and slapped the table.
"You despise mermaids, huh?" Mina also laughed and slapped the table.
"And you look down on artifacts?" The Golem also hit the table.
"Roar!" [Translation: ’Disrespecting dragons, are you?’] Both Bajie and Xiaoyou simultaneously banged the table.
"Alright, that’s enough. They probably need us for something serious, so we’ll head out first. You guys finish up and wait for us in the dorm, don’t wander off," Long Yi instructed.
"Okay!" Mina obediently replied. Although she was fond of Long Yi’s company, she knew her limits, understanding that being excessively clingy could be off-putting.
"Be careful, Master, and summon me if something happens," Little Zi said. He could tell from the tension in Wesley’s eyes that something had happened, but didn’t anticipate any danger.
"If you die, I’ll resurrect you as a zombie, dig a hole, and bury myself. Then on your gravestone, I’ll engrave ’Here lies the fool’," the Golem joked.
"Hey! Can’t you say something nicer early in the morning?" Long Yi retorted, frantically stuffing food into his mouth. Holding his textbook in one hand, he pulled Ai Lin with the other, and the two rushed towards the dean’s office.
Upon reaching the dean’s office, the Gandalf-looking dean was standing at the door.
"Long Yi! Ai Lin! You’re just in time! I’d like you to immediately go to the sixth-year training ground to welcome the visitors from the Black Dragon Empire!" the dean said.
"People from the Black Dragon Empire?" What are they here for?
Long Yi asked incredulously.
"Why, they’re here to deliver the invitation, of course!" replied the dean.
"Oh! So there’s an invitation too!" Long Yi hadn’t considered that they needed an invitation. It wasn’t just a matter of going wherever they wanted! However, given the dean’s current expression, this invitation could be regarded as a declaration of war.
"And remember, these people from the Black Dragon Empire are guests who have traveled a long way! It would be ’great’ if you can stir up a conflict!" the dean added, with a mischievous smile.
"Rest assured, Dean, I guarantee I’ll behave... Wait a minute, did I just hear... Did I..." Long Yi suddenly realized that the dean’s words may not have been as straightforward as he initially thought.
The dean continued to smile and said nothing, leaving Long Yi to catch his drift.
"Mission accepted!" Long Yi declared confidently.
He might not be good at much, but instigating a conflict? That was second nature for him!
After leaving the dean’s office, they happened to run into a ground forces instructor. After explaining the situation, Long Yi and Ai Lin hitched a ride on his Ground Dragon to the sixth-year training ground.
In comparison to the Flying Dragon, the Ground Dragon, though wingless, had more space for cargo due to its size, and could carry more supplies. However, the ride was less comfortable than flying in the air, feeling more like a thrilling amusement park ride.
At this time, the entire sixth-grade training ground had been cleared, with a line of thirty students standing like statues. Their dragons, now in their juvenile form, were perched on their shoulders.
The atmosphere was incredibly tense.
All of these were sixth-grade students from the Air Force Division. As sixth graders, one more advancement and they would enter formal service. With the commencement of their service, the name Black Dragon Empire would move from their textbooks to the battlefield. This name would also take on a new meaning.
The enemy... (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to cast your likes and monthly votes on qidian.com. Your support is our greatest motivation. For mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
