128: Chapter 128 Titan: A Country Bumpkin in the City, Please Be Civilized

Titan Star System, the primary planet "Olympus."

This was a massive planet entirely covered in metal and luminous pathways. From space, the entire world resembled a meticulously operating mechanical heart. Countless interstellar tracks extended outward like blood vessels, with tens of thousands of spacecraft shuttling through them, busy yet orderly. This was the domain of the Titan God Clan and the technological hub of the entire Third Star Sector.

And the most magnificent structure on the planet's equator, the **"Titan Colosseum"** floating amidst the clouds, was the venue for this **[99th Interstellar Mecha Combat Tournament]**.

"Warning! Detecting unknown vessel approaching!" "Identification code: None. Energy level reading: Chaotic."

Inside Titan Planet's orbital security checkpoint, several five-meter-tall Titan Race security officers, their bodies composed of liquid metal, frowned at the radar screen. On the display, an extremely bizarre-looking pink warship (the tianhe no. 1 tugboat) was swaggering its way, cutting in line towards the docking bay. Not only was the ship's color an eyesore, but its hull was also adorned with large red lanterns and couplets. Several Tentacle Monsters were even plastered against the windows, making faces at the outside.

"What backwater salvage team crawled out of the woodwork this time?" The security captain waved a dismissive hand. "Forget it, probably some low-level civilization here just for the spectacle. Let it through, don't let it block the VIP channel."

...

Colosseum, Contestant Registration Hall.

The hall was filled with top mecha teams from across the cosmos. There were sleek, streamlined mechs of the **Light Spirit Race** floating mid-air; heavy, mountain-like mechs of the "Heavy Tank Clan" bristling with missiles; and agile, half-human, half-machine **"Cyber-Augmented Humans."** The entire hall was bathed in high-tech blue light and holographic projections, the air thick with the scent of expensive coolant.

However, when the Tianhe team entered the hall, the noisy atmosphere fell silent for a full three seconds.

Leading the way was Li Mo, wearing a retro-style cyan long gown (seen by others as bizarre attire), with gold-rimmed glasses, looking scholarly and refined. To his left was Butcher Xiao, shirtless, carrying a massive wrench over his shoulder, his face rough and menacing—looking every bit like a mobster here to collect protection money. To his right was Lei Wanjun, carrying a huge, crackling coil (portable reactor) on his back, resembling a mad scientist. Bringing up the rear was the cowering T-9 robot, feeling utterly out of place.

Behind them, several Tentacle Monsters were struggling to carry a massive, black cloth-covered crate (xingtian no. 1). From inside the crate came occasional low growls and the clanging of metal.

"Pfft..." Not far away, a team of tall members from the **"Aurora Team"** (last tournament's runners-up), clad in silver skintight combat suits, couldn't hold back their laughter. "Look over there, who are they?" "The Scrap Iron Clan insignia? Aren't they extinct yet?" "They actually brought a bunch of... primitives to compete? Is that guy with the wrench here to fix the toilets?"

A wave of mocking laughter immediately rippled through the surroundings. In the interstellar civilization's hierarchy of disdain, civilizations like cultivators, who still used "cold weapons" and "flesh bodies" for combat, were typically categorized as uncivilized natives.

Butcher Xiao's eye twitched, his grip on the wrench tightening with a creak. "Dean, I feel like 'repairing' that punk's skull." "It's not fighting, it's 'maintenance.' His brain seems a bit loose."

Li Mo calmly placed a hand on Butcher Xiao's shoulder. "Director Xiao, mind your manners." "We are civilized people, here for 'technical exchange.'" "Besides..." Li Mo adjusted his glasses, his gaze sweeping over the Aurora Team captain who had mocked them. 【Scan: Aurora-VII type mech.】 【Shield Value: 3000.】 【Weakness: The cockpit glass on this thing is designed for looks, defense is extremely low. A single brick could shatter it.】

"Besides, why bother with the dead?" Li Mo's voice wasn't loud, but it carried just enough to reach the other party.

"What did you say?!" The Aurora captain flew into a rage, striding over to loom over Li Mo. "Native, are you challenging the great Aurora civilization?" "Believe me, I'll dismantle that pile of scrap you call a mech into parts on the battlefield!"

Li Mo smiled but said nothing. He simply pulled out that little notebook from his sleeve (the Tianhe Academy Grudge Ledger). Picking up a pen, he wrote a line: 【First Match Opponent: Aurora Team.】 【Note: Dismantle thoroughly. Leave no intact corpse.】

After writing, Li Mo closed the notebook and looked up at the captain. "Finished registering?" "If so, move aside." "A good dog doesn't block the path."

"You're asking for death!" The Aurora captain was about to strike when he was stopped by the colosseum security robots nearby. "Sir, private combat is prohibited in the hall. Violators will be disqualified."

"Hmph! You're lucky!" The Aurora captain glared venomously at Li Mo before turning to leave. "Pray you don't face us in the first round! Otherwise, I'll show you what real technology is!"

Watching the other party's retreating back, T-9 trembled all over. "We're done for... That's the Aurora Team! Their 'photon cutting' tech is the fastest in the entire Alliance! We're going to be wiped out in the first round!"

"Wiped out?" Lei Wanjun adjusted his glasses, a cruel smile tugging at his lips as he looked at the smoking coil in his hand. "Don't worry." "Our mech might not be fast." "But it... doesn't play by the rules."

...

Registration window. The Titan Race young lady handling registrations looked at the form Li Mo submitted with deep suspicion.

"Team Name: Tianhe Demolition Crew?" "Mech Model: xingtian no. 1?" "Power Source: ... Hybrid (Bio-energy + Spiritual Energy + Resentment)?" The young lady looked up at Li Mo. "Sir, are you certain this is a mech and not some kind of biochemical weapon? Our tournament prohibits the use of weapons of mass destruction involving biochemical viruses."

"No need to worry." Li Mo smiled and pointed at the still-growling crate behind him. "It's very well-behaved." "As long as it's fed, it doesn't bite."

At that moment, as if understanding Li Mo's words, xingtian no. 1 inside the crate... *Burp—!* It let out a massive belch. A rich aroma of cumin beef wafted out from the seams of the crate.

Dead silence fell over the hall. Everyone was utterly bewildered. These days... even mechs were raised on beef?

"F-fine... okay then." The young lady stammered, stamping the form. "Here is your number plate: 404." "Please proceed to Zone F for preparations. The match begins in half an hour."

Li Mo took the number plate and turned to his team. "Let's go." "To Zone F." "That's our home ground (because 404 usually means 'not found' or 'error,' which fits xingtian no. 1's character perfectly)."

The group marched towards the preparation area. And the entire colosseum audience had no idea they were about to witness a terrifying performance that would overturn interstellar mecha history, filled with **"beefy aroma" and "brick-style"** flair.