Apocalypse Youth Class

The cafeteria at Tianjing is quite impressive, especially for the Mech and Starship departments. Today, Ma Long decided to indulge and went straight to the second floor. Here, you can order individual dishes, and every so often, there are specialty ingredients, such as those from the Moon, Mars, or even Titan.

Of course, everything comes from the Earth system, but the difference lies in the raw materials. The beef from Titan is unique, called Titan beef, and it's incredibly expensive—truly "out of this world." The meat is tender, juicy, and rich in rare energy, thanks to the unique elements that infuse it on Titan. This is a significant supplement for soldiers. Ma Long was clearly enjoying himself, savoring his steak, and everyone around him was equally pleased.

"You guys heard? Principal Long was very dissatisfied with last year's Mech department results. So, this year the teams are being selected, and several captains have already been appointed. One of them is your class leader, Naiyi. I'm betting on her; Hongtu and Zhao Zhihan don't stand a chance, their fighting skills are terrible," Ma Long said, his mood lifting as he downed a beer. "Musashi, you're definitely on the team, right?"

Musashi nodded, silently ordering another steak. Ma Long's lips twitched, realizing he had overlooked the appetites of these "beasts." They had just talked about eating freely, but now he was regretting it.

"I'll have one too," Zuo Xiaotang chimed in, taking the opportunity to order more.

"Jesus, have some decency. You can order one more, but no more than that, I've practically emptied my savings," Ma Long said, realizing his mistake. "By the way, has Naiyi selected any team members yet?"

"Right now, it's just me. The others haven't been decided yet."

"Really, our dorm's third brother has the most potential. Maybe one day, we'll all be holding onto your coattails," Ma Long said without hesitation. Musashi came from an old martial arts family, and it was obvious that his family was strict with him. He showed no signs of being spoiled, and his training was the most serious. With such resources, high talent, and hard work, who else could succeed?

Musashi felt a bit embarrassed when Sheng Man arrived.

"Sorry, I'm a bit late. Did something exciting happen today, eating so well?" Sheng Man asked.

Before anyone could respond, Ma Long quickly answered, "It's the first day of school, got to energize the brothers. Darling, come here."

Ma Long had already prepared a seat for Sheng Man. She smiled gently and sat beside him. Now in her third year, Sheng Man had fully blossomed into her feminine charm. Every glance, every smile, was incredibly captivating. Even though they had been together for a year, their relationship was genuinely close. When she arrived, Ma Long immediately stopped paying attention to the others.

Fortunately, Li Hao and the others were used to this, but for some reason, the steak on their plates suddenly didn't seem as appetizing.

Just then, two more people walked over, holding trays and looking for a place to sit. The cafeteria, which had been filled with loud chatter, quieted down a few decibels, and people began to murmur.

It was Zhou Naiyi and Ye Tong. The news that Ye Tong had arrived at Tianjing Mech and Martial Arts had spread instantly. Her popularity was off the charts, and she was one of the most highly anticipated new students. Many thought she would go to NUP, given her strength and combat style. Honestly, NUP offered better conditions, but she chose Tianjing instead.

Zhou Naiyi saw Li Hao. "Xiao Tong, I just need to say a few words to Li Hao. It won't take long."

"Naiyi, since we've run into each other, let's eat together," Ye Tong said.

Zhou Naiyi didn't mind, so they walked over. Ye Tong directly went to Zuo Xiaotang's side and smiled slightly, "Senior, could I take your seat?"

Zuo Xiaotang was momentarily stunned, then quickly jumped up, "No problem, you can sit here."

Ye Tong took her tray and sat next to Li Hao, while Zhou Naiyi sat across from him. The group wasn't sure what these two had in mind, but Sheng Man, being outgoing, greeted them warmly. She was from the Journalism Department and was quite familiar with Zhou Naiyi. She was also intrigued by Ye Tong.

"Li Hao, Principal Long reformed the process for this year's Mech competition, and I will be part of one of the selected teams. Do you want to join?" Zhou Naiyi asked.

Everyone at the table was stunned, including Li Hao, who paused for a moment. "Me? Forget it, we already have Musashi in our dorm, that should be enough."

"What if it's Principal Long personally requesting you to join?" Zhou Naiyi asked, locking eyes with Li Hao, trying to gauge his reaction.

The former principal had transferred him from the Journalism Department to the Mech department, and now Principal Long was offering him this opportunity. Given Long Danni's personality, it was clear she wasn't doing this for anyone's sake—there was something more to Li Hao.

"Can I refuse?" Li Hao asked, baffled. What was going on here?

Zhou Naiyi felt that Li Hao was avoiding something. From yesterday's attempt to help him train, she had realized he seemed uninterested, almost dismissive.

Yes, dismissive. That made Zhou Naiyi feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"You can't refuse. This is a direct order from the principal. If you join, it will depend on your performance whether you stay," Zhou Naiyi said decisively.

Li Hao shrugged helplessly. "Class Leader, I can join, but you know my situation. I often work late, so my training schedule might be inconsistent."

Ye Tong, sitting nearby, seemed to tense up. With a sharp tap of her tray, everyone's attention was immediately drawn to her.

Ye Tong smiled. "Senior, I'm looking forward to being on the same team as you. With great power comes great responsibility. Sometimes, it's better to take the initiative."

Ye Tong's words clearly had a hidden meaning, but who was she referring to... Li Hao?

"Li Hao, you've been hiding quite a bit. You don't seem to care about anything, but when did you get to know Tong Shen?" Sheng Man asked curiously. The personalities of those in dorm 4396 were pretty distinct—Musashi was obsessed with martial arts and uninterested in anything else. She had even introduced him to her best friend, but he never even visited. Zuo Xiaotang was a seasoned introvert with a knack for shooting. As for Li Hao, he was the most inconspicuous one, but it was hard to ignore him, perhaps because of his inexplicable confidence and casual demeanor.

Ye Tong looked at Li Hao. "Senior, it seems like they still don't know your true identity. After all these years, you haven't changed a bit."

Zhou Naiyi and the others set down their chopsticks, looking at Li Hao and Ye Tong.

"Well, Junior, is there some misunderstanding here?" Zuo Xiaotang couldn't help but speak. He knew Li Hao's background. He had grown up in an orphanage, and after attending some training, he joined Tianjing's preparatory class and later entered the Mech department. This was common knowledge.

"Have you heard of the Solar System Apocalypse Youth Class?" Ye Tong asked.

"Who hasn't heard of it? That class became almost legendary. It was the only time all four major federations collaborated, and it produced top-tier talent. After a major accident, it was disbanded, but wow, that was a golden ticket," Ma Long said. Many strong competitors in this year's Mech competition came from that class.

"Li Hao, so what's the story? Will you say it, or should I?" Ye Tong asked with a playful smile.

Li Hao blinked, caught off guard. "What's this all about? Yes, I was part of that youth class. Then there was some incident, and it was disbanded. That was years ago."

Clink...

Ma Long's spoon dropped into his plate. The whole table froze, staring at Li Hao, especially Zhou Naiyi. She had tried to join that class back then. Ordinary people might not realize it, but the high-ranking officials of the federations paid great attention to it. She had even tested for it, but she failed in the first round.

"You mean... you know the Moon's War God Maxis? You know King Fan Liwei? You... were classmates with Mars's Wolf King Basta?"