When Xie Xingyan received the message, she was shocked. But after a moment's thought, she understood: the S-class mecha was too precious. Master Xu Yuan naturally felt more assured if she came to retrieve it in person.
Inside the lab, she was stunned to find that not only Master Xu Yuan was there, but also Marshal Nalis. Still, she quickly calmed herself.
Seeing how composed the girl was at such a young age, Nalis's satisfaction deepened.
"Child, I asked you here because a friend of mine also wants to meet you," Master Xu Yuan began, easing her doubts.
Nalis got straight to the point.
"This tournament was truly held to help me choose a suitable disciple. I've witnessed your excellence with my own eyes. But given your family background, I've decided to train you privately for a few years. Once you enter the Ironclad Corps, we will announce our relationship."
Her words were blunt, but they were also meant to protect the girl. If Xie Xingyan were publicly declared Nalis's disciple now, her enemies would tear her apart.
To Nalis's sincere invitation, Xie Xingyan naturally agreed. Only a fool would turn down such a golden opportunity in the name of false independence.
In celebration, Master Xu Yuan brought out her prize. The S-class mecha was both offensive and defensive, sleek in design, clad in understated dark violet alloy, and equipped with the most advanced high-particle weapons.
At first glance, Xie Xingyan fell in love with it. And best of all, it cost her no starcoins.
"Oh, and Xingyan," Master Xu Yuan added, "since you competed under a hidden identity, I've also prepared an A-class mecha for you. That way, you can continue to keep your true identity concealed when needed."
Nalis looked at her old friend in surprise. She could not recall such an arrangement—but then again, he had always been kind to a fault.
(Master Xu Yuan, stingy as ever: I'm only doing this for Nalis's sake. Love me, love my disciple. Don't think I'm normally this considerate.)
"Thank you, Master, for thinking of me so thoroughly. In return, all the potions you and my teacher need—I'll provide them from now on."
Hearing this, both elders were secretly delighted. With their wealth, they didn't care about a few bottles of potions—but the child's thoughtfulness was priceless.
In the years that followed, Xie Xingyan studied at the Imperial Capital's First Military Academy. Every holiday, Marshal Nalis took her for one-on-one training.
The Xie family tried to approach her with marriage proposals but found no chance. They assumed that unless she joined a powerful legion, they would eventually have leverage over her. After all, to enter a legion strong enough to rival the royal family, one's physique had to be at least B-class.
But their careful schemes came to nothing. Xie Xingyan graduated early from the academy, and Nalis immediately recruited her into the Ironclad Corps, announcing publicly that she was her disciple.
The news shook every faction. None had expected the marshal to choose such a young girl as her successor.
The Xie family could only swallow their plans. They dared not trouble her again. After all, royal clans feared nothing more than offending a powerful legion—and the ten marshals' corps were titans that even the royals instinctively dreaded.
Within the Ironclad Corps, Xie Xingyan won everyone over with her strength. Most notably, she solved the long-standing "black mist problem."
Yes—Dirina's insidious corruption had even infiltrated the legion.
Three years earlier, when Xie Xingyan realized the legion members truly treated her with sincerity, she began working on a solution. These comrades had watched her grow up; she couldn't turn a blind eye.
Still, she charged them. Each person paid a hefty fee in starcoins for treatment.
For Xie Xingyan—still poor at the time—it was a welcome arrangement. She hadn't yet officially joined the legion, so charging ensured fair exchange and reassured them.
What no one knew was that every coin she earned from selling potions went into maintaining her mecha. She couldn't shamelessly leech off Master Xu Yuan forever.
And so, when she entered the Ironclad Corps, she still started at the very bottom—as a private.