She had been thinking about that Energy Liquid all along.

Fei Wenxing quickly protected his own Energy Liquid as if it were a treasure.

Song Ke was also surprised that Qu Tong actually had so much; among the six of them, and the seven from Mi Nuo, each with five vials, that totaled to 65 vials.

"So the potions you brought before weren't Nutrient Solution," Cheng Yao remarked.

It took Mi Nuo a good while to react, before speaking on behalf of the shocked group behind her:

"Is it the Energy Liquid that Miss Ali's shop was selling before?"

"Princess Consort, how did you get these, do you know the owner of the shop?"

"Certainly! Otherwise, how could you explain having so many potions!"

"Are these really fine potions all for us to use?"

Unable to maintain her usual noble lady's composure, Mi Nuo excitedly expressed her shock in a string of words.

Qu Tong merely hummed softly, unclear which question she was responding to, but everyone had come to accept that Qu Tong and Miss Ali were very familiar with each other.

The looks that Fei Wenxing and others gave Qu Tong were filled with deep reverence.

After distributing the Energy Liquid, Qu Tong was a bit tired that day and too lazy to cook again, so he made do with Nutrient Solution.

In the end, Qu Tong quietly took out a Purple Potion from her space and handed it to Mi Nuo, indicating with her eyes someone from Mi Nuo's team.

"He's not in very good condition; take an advance vial, it's up to you whether to use it or not."

After all, it was to protect them that this had happened.

After looking at Qu Tong for a while, Mi Nuo earnestly said, "Thank you."

Then, she stood up and called that person aside. When the man left, he turned back to look at Qu Tong, but Qu Tong didn't pay attention.

When Mi Nuo left, there were two people, but when she returned, there were ten.

"Princess Consort, I've found you an ally."

Then, leaning close to Qu Tong's ear, she whispered mysteriously, "They want just one Advanced Mind Stabilizing Potion."

Upon hearing this, Qu Tong raised an eyebrow, one potion swindled them over?

Qu Tong looked at Mi Nuo with a mockingly cold voice, "Then, do you feel you were too expensive? Should I kick you out and find two more teams like theirs for the price of two potions?"

Surprised, Mi Nuo leaned back slightly, looking at Qu Tong as if seeing a new species.

"I'm an original shareholder, of course I'm different. Princess Consort, did you learn this burn-bridges-after-crossing tactic from the Admiral?"

Qu Tong responded, "Don't spread rumors about my Highness."

"Don't spread rumors about my Highness~" Mi Nuo repeated in a mocking tone.

Then serious, she added, "Consider it? My friend is reliable in both strength and character."

Watching Mi Nuo's earnest sales pitch, Qu Tong looked up and scrutinized the people in front of her; the leading man had a square face, a perfect old cadre face, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, looking somewhat simple and honest when he smiled.

"Princess Consort, my name is Fang Yan, a student from the Fourth Military Academy," Fang Yan introduced himself when Qu Tong looked over.

His teammates one by one introduced themselves.

Qu Tong's lips twitched slightly when she heard "Fourth Military Academy."

Now all five military academies were gathered.

"Mi Nuo has told you, right? The teams ranked first and second are hunting us, and we may even have to count the sixth-ranked as well."

"She has, it doesn't matter," Fang Yan said decisively, nodding.

Qu Tong looked at Fang Yan and Mi Nuo with some suspicion.

It was then Fei Wenxing came over and whispered, "Fang Yan's sister was married off to Lan Xingrui, who accidentally killed her during a Mental Outburst, souring the relationship between the two families. Lan Xingrui is Lan Xingye's older brother."

Qu Tong nodded, "So that's how it is~"

So there shouldn't be any problem with their identities.

Thus, it naturally followed that he let them join his side.

However, Qu Tong didn't have much Energy Liquid left, so he didn't share it with them.

Mi Nuo and the people from Fei Wenxing were feeling fine on their own and couldn't share it with others.

*

The next day, before six o'clock had struck,

Qu Tong opened his almond-shaped eyes and his cold gaze landed on a large rock hidden behind some shrubbery, then shifted to the left.

Qu Tong looked up following the sound of engines and saw Wen You's fighter circling in the sky, round and round.

Cheng Yao, who had just awoken, mumbled, "Someone got eliminated so early? Or did they encounter a high-level Star Beast and pressed the distress signal?"

Qu Tong withdrew his gaze and spoke indifferently, "It's a warning that we've been surrounded."

"What?" Cheng Yao's face went from puzzled to shocked in an instant.

The noise woke the others too, and hearing Qu Tong's words, they were all startled.

"Then why are you so calm?" Mi Nuo asked Qu Tong, puzzled.

"The time isn't up yet."

Mi Nuo: "..."

What difference would five minutes make?

Qu Tong stood up and pointed in a direction.

"Everyone get ready, we'll break out from this direction, following the plan we discussed last night."

"Ah~ Time to start running for our lives again." Sighing, Mi Nuo summoned his Mecha and stretched out his hand for Qu Tong to use as leverage.

*

In the training base, the headmasters of several schools and a few important leaders were in a meeting.

Sitting to the side as the special competition's commanders were Si Yuting and Feng Lin, listening to the charged conversations of the heads of several schools.

Ju Zhongyi's face bore a smile that was more like a snarl, his words dripping with sarcasm: "Your school's students are really interesting, not only bringing personal grievances to the competition but also involving other academies. Are they too confident in their own abilities?"

"The main purpose of the league is to cultivate the students' practical combat experience and teamwork, not to form cliques and create oppositions. What are Lan Xingye and Qu Tong from the First Military Academy doing?" the headmaster of the Third Military Academy also voiced his criticism.

Not comfortable with his team being called out, Xun Guangyong retorted, "The competition allows for rivalry. It's natural selection, the strong will naturally attract followers, what's so strange about that?"

"But it's only the first round, and the field has been thrown into such chaos. If everyone acts like that, who will be left with the mind to Kill the Star Beast? Just look at the scores, apart from the top few, how much has the overall number shrunk compared to last year?"

The headmaster of the Fourth Military Academy pointed to the data at the head of the table, unaware that his own school's team got its feet wet in the mess last night.

"They on their own..." Xun Guangyong tried to counter, but was stopped by Principal Wei.

Students from the Second, Third, and Fourth Military Academies had all spoken, leaving only the headmaster of the Fifth Military Academy.

All eyes turned to him.

"Principal Xia, what is your opinion?" Ju Zhongyi asked with a smile, looking towards Xia He.

"I don't have any particular opinion," Xia He replied stiffly.

"That's expected, apart from the First Military Academy, it's your Fifth Academy that's doing the best. By teaming up with the First Military team, you've managed to indiscriminately eliminate many of our strong teams," the headmaster of the Third Military Academy said enviously.

It was supposed to be their third place. Generally, the top few from the first round wouldn't change much going into the second round, but this year, the Fifth Academy had overtaken others by aligning with the First Military Academy.

Xia He kept silent.

They were struggling!

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