Zhang Lei walked over with a hint of sarcasm on his face.

"Long time no see, Ye Ling. I heard you've been getting close to a certain cool guy lately? It seems some people aren't just bad at mecha technology, but they're also quite good at unconventional techniques."

He deliberately raised his voice, and the contestants around him cast inquiring glances at him, and the whispers were buzzing like mosquitoes.

Ye Ling clenched her fists so tightly that her nails almost dug into her flesh.

She responded coldly, "Zhang Lei, instead of focusing on my personal affairs, you should think about how to avoid losing too badly in the next game."

"Haha, there's no point in being tough." Zhang Lei sneered and turned to walk towards his mecha. "Let's see who's really going on the field. Don't cry then."

The competition to advance to the quarterfinals officially begins.

Zhang Lei's mecha was like a ferocious beast, with each move being ruthless and going straight for Ye Ling's vital points.

Energy shells poured down like meteor showers. Ye Ling drove the mecha to dodge left and right, and was in danger all around.

"Tsk tsk tsk, is this your strength? It's nothing more than that." Zhang Lei's mocking voice came through the mecha communicator, as harsh as nails scratching on a blackboard.

"It seems that some people can only rely on men to get to the top."

Anger surged in Ye Ling's chest, but she forced herself to calm down.

She took a deep breath, controlled the mecha to flexibly dodge an energy cannon, then suddenly accelerated and rushed towards Zhang Lei's mecha.

"Want to fight me in close combat? You are overestimating yourself!" Zhang Lei controlled the mecha and swung a heavy punch. Ye Ling's mecha was hit and fell heavily to the ground.

"You think you can beat me with this little ability? Dream on!" Zhang Lei's mecha approached step by step, holding up the energy sword, with the tip of the sword pointing directly at Ye Ling's cockpit.

Ye Ling clenched her teeth, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes.

She reached out and pressed a hidden button...

“This is just the beginning.”

The moment Ye Ling pressed the button, the energy in the core of the ancient mecha was like surging magma, instantly filling the entire mecha.

Mysterious patterns appeared on the surface of the mecha, and a low humming sound was emitted, as if a sleeping giant beast was waking up.

"What the hell?!" Zhang Lei's eyes almost popped out as he watched the changes in Ye Ling's mecha.

Ye Ling's mecha's speed increased dramatically, and it dodged Zhang Lei's attack like a flash of lightning.

She controlled the mecha and performed a beautiful roundhouse kick, hitting the side of Zhang Lei's mecha.

"That's it? I thought you were so powerful, but you're nothing special." Ye Ling imitated Zhang Lei's previous tone, her voice full of teasing.

Zhang Lei was enraged and attacked Ye Ling frantically, but Ye Ling's mecha was as agile as a swallow and he could always dodge easily.

"That's it? You're just tickling me?" Ye Ling dodged and mocked, making Zhang Lei so angry that he was fuming.

At this moment, Duan Yu's figure suddenly appeared on the big screen of the stadium.

"I'd like to clarify the rumors about Ye Ling and me." Duan Yu's voice was low and powerful. "Ye Ling is a very hardworking and talented mecha warrior. I admire her talent, that's all."

This sudden speech caused an uproar in the audience.

Zhang Lei was also stunned, and the rhythm of his attack was disrupted.

Ye Ling seized the opportunity and controlled the mecha to fire a powerful energy cannon, hitting Zhang Lei's mecha in the chest.

With a loud "bang", Zhang Lei's mecha was knocked away and fell heavily to the ground, losing its combat capability.

The whole audience was boiling, and cheers and applause rang out like thunder.

Ye Ling's name resounded throughout the entire stadium.

Those who once laughed at her and questioned her now looked at her with admiration.

Ye Ling drove the mecha slowly to the front of Zhang Lei's mecha, looked down at him, and said lightly: "Thank you for giving way."

After the game, Ye Ling walked into the players' rest area.

As soon as she sat down, she heard someone whispering next to her: "She is Ye Ling? The Ye Ling who defeated Zhang Lei?"