《⚠️Stellar Requiem: Memory Thief of the Mechas》


 Chapter 1: Breakthrough, Breakthrough!

    <div>


    "Damn it, I knew those despicable government troops had some scheme up their sleeves," a weathered middle-aged man growled, slamming his fist against the alloy wall of the ship''s command room. Instantly, a dent appeared on the high-strength alloy wall, which could normally withstand a 400mm Gauss cannon blast.


    In the command room, aside from a few crew members busily operating controls, three individuals stood at the center, staring at the images displayed on the screen.


    If one were in space at that moment, it would be clear that this 800-meter-long battleship, along with its accompanying fleet of over thirty slightly smaller vessels, was completely surrounded. Nearly a hundred enemy ships had formed layers of encirclement, blocking all possible escape routes in every direction.


    Inside the command room, aside from the eldest man, the others wore expressions of panic and fear.


    "This time, we were too successful. We easily destroyed three of the government''s small supply bases. I thought it was just good luck... but it turned out to be a trap," the old man said slowly, his eyes shifting from the star map to the nervously working soldiers around him. A hint of regret flickered across his face. "If I hadn''t been so greedy for success, we wouldn''t have fallen for such a crude scheme. Alas, it''s a pity that you brave soldiers have to die here with this old man."


    "Lord Earl! We still have our mecha pilots!"


    The old man shook his head and sighed, "Deploying mecha in this situation would be futile. It would only hasten the death of our young men. Look at the insignias on those enemy ships. Our opponent is none other than the ''Cunning Fox'' Sanchiras. I''ve heard he''s not only an exceptional fleet commander but has also broken through to the eighth level in martial arts. In mecha combat, none of us stand a chance against him."


    "''Cunning Fox'' Sanchiras? Seems like a formidable opponent," several advisors muttered, their brows furrowing as they recalled the rumors about Sanchiras.


    "Lord Trensor, the enemy is hailing us. Should we respond?" a soldier operating the communication equipment turned and asked.


    The old man, Trensor, chuckled disdainfully, "Looks like the government forces want to take us alive..." His deep gaze swept over the people in the room as he continued, "You all know there''s no chance of us getting out of this alive. Even if we surrender to the government, the fate of our former comrades makes it clear that surrender is not an option."


    The weathered middle-aged man declared loudly, "Lord Earl, for the glory of the empire, we will not surrender."


    "That''s right, my lord. We will not tarnish the empire''s honor!" the surrounding advisors and soldiers shouted in unison, their faces filled with determination and a willingness to face death. In their expressions, Trensor seemed to see a radiant, sacred light.


    "Good children... you''re all good children. I am proud of you," Trensor''s eyes moistened. These people had practically grown up before his eyes, and he couldn''t help but feel attached to them. Watching them march to their deaths was unbearable. But in this situation, with the enemy encircling them on all sides, what chance of escape was there?


    Recalling the young boy he had selected before boarding the ship¡ªa mere sixteen-year-old¡ªTrensor thought, "He too will have to die here with me. With such rigorous training, if he could survive, he might have grown into a great general for the Restoration Army."


    With this thought, Trensor''s expression hardened, returning to its usual sternness. He barked, "Since there''s no way out, let us face death with dignity. Perhaps there''s still a glimmer of hope!"


    "Yes, my lord!" the soldiers responded in unison, immediately entering a state of heightened readiness for battle.


    "Then let us fight!"


    At Trensor''s command, the small fleet at the center of the encirclement suddenly formed into an arrowhead formation, the most effective formation for a breakthrough. Leading the charge was the fleet''s flagship, the Thunderclap.


    Perhaps it was the spirit of facing death without fear, or perhaps it was the allure of that slim chance of survival, but the fleet erupted with an overwhelming momentum. All ships pushed their engines to 120% capacity, sacrificing engine longevity for speeds far exceeding those of ordinary vessels.


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    The government fleet, surrounding them, had never anticipated that this Restoration Army fleet, trapped in such a tight encirclement, would still have the courage to fight.


    "For the glory of the empire! For the great empress! Charge!"


    Though this small fleet unleashed an unprecedented level of combat power in its final moments, it was more like a last flicker of light before death¡ªa final brilliance.


    The difference in numbers could not be bridged by courage alone.


    Ten minutes later, most of the fleet''s ships had been reduced to space debris. The remaining three vessels, including the flagship Thunderclap, were severely damaged and barely holding together. However, their final burst of strength had taken a toll on the government forces. Nearly a third of the government fleet had been destroyed in their relentless charge.


    The loss of ships was bearable, but what drove the government commander to madness was that, despite such a tight encirclement, the Thunderclap and the two other ships had actually broken through!


    After more than a week of meticulous planning, sacrificing three supply bases, and mobilizing nearly a thousand local fleet ships to chase and intercept, they had finally managed to corner this fleet. If something went wrong now, the iron-fisted President Zagu would not hesitate to send them all to the gallows.


    "Full speed ahead! We must eradicate these vermin!"


    "Captain, the Delavie has been destroyed..."


    "So, only our Thunderclap remains?"


    "Wasn''t the Delavie just behind us? How could it be destroyed so quickly?"


    "It seems they stayed behind to cover the Thunderclap''s escape. They were heroes..."


    "But I heard the enemy commander is someone named Sanchiras. He''s quite famous."


    "What? The ''Cunning Fox'' Sanchiras? That''s an eighth-level warrior!"


    Listening to the chatter in the squad channel, Yun Yi couldn''t help but feel a wave of panic. Though he had been ordered to stay put, fully armed and ready in his mecha, the thick alloy shell of the machine offered him no sense of security.


    This wasn''t his fault. In fact, at that moment, no one believed they would make it out alive.


    They just didn''t say it out loud.


    "Sanchiras... I''d really like to face you in combat, even if I''m no match for you..."


    A violent tremor shook the ship, and Yun Yi''s pale hands gripped the mecha''s control panel tightly. The Red Mane III mecha he piloted wasn''t the latest model, but its shock absorption capabilities were decent. Feeling such intense vibrations meant the Thunderclap had suffered a severe hit.


    Despite the overwhelming fear, Yun Yi didn''t panic. Instead, under the extreme pressure, he remained remarkably calm.


    He knew that panic wouldn''t help him. In most situations, panic was nothing but a hindrance.


    Yun Yi was a mecha infantryman, part of the 302nd Squadron of the Third Fleet of the Zhao Song Empire Restoration Army, assigned to the third mecha squadron of the flagship. At sixteen years old, he had lost his parents and relatives in a coup that shook the star system eight years ago. After becoming an orphan, he was taken in by the Restoration Army and gradually trained into a mecha infantryman.


    This mission was his first time on the battlefield.


    When he had been selected, he had been thrilled to board the ship. But he never imagined that his first battle would end in such a devastating blow...


    Perhaps he would soon be reunited with his parents and sister.


    Through the mecha''s internal network, Yun Yi could clearly see the dozens of government ships hot on the Thunderclap''s tail, charging menacingly toward them.


    The Thunderclap, its engines pushed to the limit, was on the verge of breaking down at any moment.


    Suddenly, Yun Yi''s eyes widened as he stared at the mecha''s internal screen.


    Two planets he had never seen before appeared in the center of the display.


    "How can there be planets here?" the squad channel buzzed with surprised exclamations. This wasn''t surprising, as most of the planets controlled by the government¡ªformerly part of the Zhao Song Empire¡ªwere located in the southwestern edge of the star map. The Thunderclap had chosen to break through toward an unexplored region of the star system.


    Yet, these two planets, relatively close to other known planets, had remained undiscovered until now. It was nothing short of a miracle.


    The two planets floated quietly in space, isolated and alone. One was a massive star, a fiery red sphere radiating endless light and heat, resembling a giant fireball. The other was a planet orbiting it, its surface a dull yellow, seemingly uninhabitable.


    Just as Yun Yi was observing the two planets, a violent tremor shook the ship. Data from the mecha indicated that the Thunderclap''s main engine had completely failed.


    Now, the Thunderclap could only rely on its four maneuvering engines and inertia to maintain its dwindling speed.


    "Land on that planet and fight them on the ground!"


    The thought suddenly popped into Yun Yi''s mind. This was the only way to make use of the mecha infantry. Of course, he wasn''t the only one with this idea. The entire mecha squad''s communication network was filled with shouts demanding a ground battle. Everyone knew that staying inside the ship while being pursued by nearly a hundred enemy vessels was the most dangerous option.


    It was only natural for mecha infantry to think this way, and it seemed the ship''s commander had the same idea. After all, with the main engine gone, this was their last resort.


    Before entering the enemy''s firing range, the Thunderclap activated all its maneuvering engines, using the momentum from its high-speed flight to head straight for the yellow planet...


    <div>

 Chapter 2: The Monster Planet

    "How could this happen?"


    Staring at the Thunderclap, now broken into three pieces, Yun Yi felt as if all his strength had drained away. He leaned back in the pilot''s seat, motionless, his eyes fixed on the massive wreckage and the scattered corpses on the ground.


    Just a few hours ago, they had been hoping to use this planet for a ground battle. However, as the Thunderclap was about to enter the planet''s atmosphere, the pursuing government fleet caught up. With just one volley from less than ten ships, the already fragile Thunderclap was nearly shattered. That single attack had also destroyed most of the ship''s systems, including the anti-gravity device that would have allowed for a safe landing.


    Without the anti-gravity device, the Thunderclap plummeted like a meteor, crashing violently onto the planet''s surface.


    As for Yun Yi, when the ship entered the atmosphere, the section he was in was hit, creating a massive crack. The force of the impact dislodged his mecha, and within seconds, he was flung out of the ship. Fortunately, he was inside his mecha at the time. In a state of extreme calm, Yun Yi immediately activated the mecha, turned on the anti-gravity device, and fled in the opposite direction of the ship''s descent.


    He knew full well that the enemy wouldn''t just leave. They would surely scan the crash site. And with the Thunderclap in such a state, it was unlikely that anyone other than a few armored soldiers could have survived.


    As expected, shortly after landing, Yun Yi shut down the mecha''s engine and active radar. Less than a minute later, several fighter jets and mechas from the enemy fleet flew overhead, scanning the entire planet. In the distance, faint streaks of light broke through the sky¡ªperhaps the concentrated laser beams from the fighters or missiles launched from the mechas. The battle was over in an instant, leaving Yun Yi no time to react, let alone help.


    After ensuring that the surroundings were quiet, Yun Yi gradually relaxed and took the opportunity to examine the planet.


    This planet was truly strange.


    Located in the remote reaches of the universe, it had an atmosphere capable of sustaining most forms of life. The mecha''s sensors detected oxygen and other essential elements in the air, though in limited quantities. It was enough for humans to survive without additional equipment.


    However, Yun Yi didn''t dare leave his mecha to breathe the outside air. Although the mecha''s sensors hadn''t detected any harmful substances, caution was still the best policy in his current situation.


    Hiding in the hills, Yun Yi kept an eye on the sky. About two or three hours after landing, the government forces gradually left the area.


    Yun Yi suspected that there were few, if any, survivors on the Thunderclap. But after the enemy left, he immediately rushed to the crash site. The sight of the shattered wreckage filled him with despair.


    Carefully maneuvering his mecha, Yun Yi meticulously searched every corner of the Thunderclap, which no longer resembled a ship.


    The hope of finding survivors was slim, but Yun Yi didn''t give up. He followed the battlefield search and rescue protocols he had learned, scouring every inch of the ship for signs of life.


    Everyone hopes for a miracle, but miracles are always so far away.


    All he found were broken bodies and severed limbs.


    The mecha with half its body blown away by a beam cannon belonged to the squad leader. The torso without legs was the chief of staff. The old man with bloodied white hair was Lord Trensor, who had selected Yun Yi for the mission and had always looked out for him. "Sanchiras! Government forces! I will make you pay in blood!"


    After about two hours of searching the wreckage and the surrounding area, Yun Yi had to stop. By then, he had lost all hope of finding any survivors.


    "I can''t let them lie exposed like this."


    Using his mecha, Yun Yi quickly dug a large pit next to the ship. After burying all the bodies he could find, he stood before the mound of earth, lost in thought.


    How could he leave this desolate and distant planet?


    The mecha''s engine was nowhere near powerful enough to take him off the planet and back to the Restoration Army base. Even escaping the atmosphere was impossible. The mecha''s communication equipment couldn''t bridge such a vast distance either. To contact the base, he would need ship-level communication devices.


    Fortunately, while searching the command room, Yun Yi found a communication device. Although its exterior was damaged, the main body seemed intact, and it might still work. With this in mind, Yun Yi quickly located several spare energy cells in the wreckage and installed them into the device. Then, with a mix of anxiety and hope, he activated the communicator.


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    "Beep... beep..." After the startup sound, the communicator''s indicator lights all lit up, and it successfully connected to the communication computer.


    Seeing the device return to normal operation, Yun Yi breathed a sigh of relief. Though the ship-level communicator was far more complex than the one on his mecha, the basic operations were somewhat similar.


    Soon, Yun Yi entered the base''s communication frequency and password, attempting to contact the Restoration Army base. For some reason, the planet''s electromagnetic interference was severe, making it impossible to establish a stable connection. The signals sent out were intermittent.


    With no other options, Yun Yi moved several more energy cells to the communicator, hoping to take advantage of the brief pauses in interference to establish contact with the base.


    "Gurgle..."


    After hours of effort, Yun Yi''s stomach growled. He reached into the mecha''s refrigerator and grabbed some food. The mecha carried a small supply of food, enough to last about five or six days. The Thunderclap had some functional food synthesizers and plenty of energy cells, but without organic materials as a base, the synthesizers couldn''t produce edible food.


    "I wonder if there are any living creatures on this planet. If I can''t contact the base for too long, I might starve to death."


    Leaving the wreckage, Yun Yi piloted his mecha into the air, surveying the seemingly barren planet.


    The planet''s surface was mostly covered in endless stretches of yellow sand, with some hills and mountains. At the planet''s north pole, Yun Yi discovered a large amount of frozen water. While this wasn''t useful to him¡ªthe ship''s food synthesizer could extract hydrogen and oxygen from the air to produce fresh water¡ªwater was a basic necessity for most life forms. However, Yun Yi found no signs of life around the icy regions.


    After circling the planet twice, Yun Yi returned to the Thunderclap, disappointed. As the planet rotated, the sky gradually darkened. A few rooms inside the Thunderclap were still intact, and Yun Yi installed a small oxygen generator in one of them, allowing him to spend the night outside the mecha.


    Lying in bed, the exhaustion from the day''s battles, escape, hiding, and searching weighed heavily on Yun Yi. But the pain of losing his comrades and the loneliness of being stranded on an alien planet kept him tossing and turning, unable to sleep.


    Touching the necklace around his chest, Yun Yi''s face showed a hint of contentment. This necklace, given to him by his father before his death, was said to be a family heirloom. Whenever Yun Yi felt lonely or lost, touching the necklace brought him a sense of peace.


    The chain was made of ordinary alloy, with a shiny silver finish and a sturdy, hard texture. What puzzled Yun Yi was the strange stone hanging from it. About the size of a thumb, the oval-shaped stone wasn''t made of any material Yun Yi recognized. He had once searched for information about it online but found no answers. The stone emitted a faint blue glow, giving it a mysterious appearance, though it wasn''t particularly beautiful compared to the famous gemstones of the universe. He had no idea where his family had obtained it.


    Holding the necklace, Yun Yi finally fell into a peaceful sleep.


    "Screech... rustle rustle rustle..."


    In the middle of the night, a cacophony of sounds came from outside the wreckage. Yun Yi woke with a start, quickly dressed, grabbed the beam gun by his bedside, and quietly opened the door.


    Though most of the Thunderclap was in ruins, the section where Yun Yi had chosen to stay was relatively intact. Outside the door was a short corridor, and his Red Mane III mecha was parked at the end.


    Not knowing what was causing the noise, Yun Yi steadied his nerves and quietly made his way toward the mecha.


    Just as he stepped into the corridor, the sounds outside stopped. Yun Yi quickly climbed into his mecha, and as the cockpit sealed shut, he breathed a sigh of relief. But then, what he saw made his eyes widen in shock.


    "What the hell is that?"


    In the darkness, with no light to see by, Yun Yi couldn''t make out the scene outside. But what sent chills down his spine were two massive, glowing orbs floating in the air not far away.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, they were the eyes of some creature. Yun Yi stared at the eyes, not daring to move. The eyes were about ten meters off the ground. If the creature wasn''t flying, how massive must it be?


    "Rustle rustle rustle..."


    Though he couldn''t see the creature''s body or movements, Yun Yi could tell from the shifting distance of the eyes that the creature was circling the Thunderclap''s wreckage, seemingly fascinated by it.


    "Screech..."


    Suddenly, the creature let out a deafening roar. Before Yun Yi could react, the ground shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck. In the distance, more glowing eyes appeared, like scattered stars. The creatures gathered in large numbers, their thunderous footsteps shaking the earth as they ran across the land.


    Watching the horde of creatures, Yun Yi was filled with terror, not even daring to breathe. Since humanity had entered the space age, most creatures¡ªeven the terrifying giants of ancient times¡ªwere no match for humans. But the universe was vast, and on some planets with extreme and unique environments, there existed creatures that were still formidable.


    During his training at the Restoration Army base, Yun Yi had come across information about such creatures in the database. Some were incredibly fast, reaching several times the speed of sound. Others had shells so tough they could withstand attacks from small-caliber particle cannons.


    The planet Yun Yi was on wasn''t one he recognized, and there was no record of it in the mecha''s computer. As for the creatures on this planet, it was best not to provoke them. If they were as dangerous as some of the creatures he had read about, a sixth-level warrior like him wouldn''t stand a chance.


    After the nearby creature let out another roar, it joined the horde and disappeared into the distance. Yun Yi exhaled in relief, quietly activated the mecha''s engine, and turned on the sensors.


    After analyzing the data, the mecha''s computer displayed a three-dimensional image of the creature.


    This creature stood about thirteen to fourteen meters tall and was nearly fifty meters long. It had two pairs of antennae and eight legs, resembling an enormous centipede. The horde of monsters Yun Yi had seen numbered at least a thousand, charging wildly across the land.


    Once all the creatures were out of sight, Yun Yi didn''t dare return to sleep. He feared that the monsters might trample over the Thunderclap''s wreckage while he slept, leaving him dead before he even knew what had happened.


    Before dawn, Yun Yi encountered several more waves of monsters. But as the sun rose, the creatures vanished without a trace. Yun Yi even piloted his mecha around the planet to search for them but found nothing.


    Returning to the wreckage, the communicator still hadn''t established contact with the base. Yun Yi grew increasingly anxious. If he couldn''t contact the base before his food ran out, he might have to face those terrifying monsters after all.

 Chapter 3: Hunting the Alien Beasts

    "Is this luck or misfortune?"


    Yun Yi gazed at the communicator, which was still emitting signals, feeling utterly vexed. For him, the recent events had been a series of misfortunes.


    On his first mission, the entire fleet had been annihilated.


    But luckily, he had survived.


    The ship was completely destroyed, but the communicator was still functional, and there were even energy cells to power it.


    Unfortunately, not only was it difficult to contact the base, but there were also unknown monsters on this planet that harassed him every night.


    Now, seven days after landing on this planet, Yun Yi still hadn''t managed to contact the base. Although the communicator occasionally broke through the planet''s electromagnetic interference to send out signals, he had yet to receive any response. He didn''t know whether the base hadn''t replied or if the reply had been blocked by the interference.


    The most pressing issue for Yun Yi now was food. The last piece of compressed rations had been consumed that morning. If he didn''t find a way to obtain some organic matter, he would likely starve to death in a couple of days.


    So far, Yun Yi hadn''t discovered where the monsters hid during the day. He had thoroughly searched all the hills and mountains on the planet, even finding several rare and valuable mineral deposits, but there was no sign of the monsters.


    Could they be hiding underground?


    That seemed to be the only possibility. It wasn''t like they could have flown here from the sun.


    During the day, the monsters were nowhere to be found, but at night, Yun Yi was tormented by their relentless running, unable to sleep. After two days, he changed his routine, sleeping during the day and staying active at night.


    For several days, Yun Yi, tormented by the monsters, could only hide inside his mecha at night, cautiously watching the hordes of creatures. He couldn''t do anything else, not even his daily martial arts training, which he had never missed before joining the army.


    As dusk approached, Yun Yi got out of bed, stretched his body, and climbed into his mecha.


    Tonight would be his first hunt on this planet.


    Yun Yi knew nothing about the monsters'' attack power, defense, or special abilities. The unknown was the most terrifying because he had no idea how the monsters would fight back.


    But compared to the threat of the monsters, hunger seemed to be a more pressing fear.


    After careful observation over the past few days, Yun Yi noticed that while the monsters mostly moved in groups, at the beginning of the night, a few rogue monsters would wander off alone, away from the main horde.


    These solitary monsters would be his targets tonight.


    As the sky finally darkened, Yun Yi took a deep breath and swiftly ran his hands over the mecha''s control panel. The Red Mane III wasn''t the best mecha in the base, but for Yun Yi, a rookie who had just completed his training and entered the battlefield, obtaining such a mecha was something he could hardly have imagined before.


    His deep hatred for the government forces had driven him to achieve outstanding results during his training at the base. Especially in combat, while most children his age, who practiced the basic martial arts manual "Wave Breaker" provided by the base, were proud to reach level five, Yun Yi, whose entire family had been slaughtered by the government forces, had pushed himself to reach level six.


    It was worth noting that "Wave Breaker" wasn''t some secret manual treasured by powerful families. It was merely a simplified and synthesized version of various martial arts techniques, created by experts from the Zhao Song Empire''s royal family. It was slow to practice, not particularly powerful, and its only advantage was that it was difficult to cause a practitioner to go berserk.


    With his level six warrior status, Yun Yi had earned a place in the Restoration Army and caught the attention of Lord Trensor, commander of the 302nd Fleet, who assigned him to the flagship.


    Only then did Yun Yi escape the old, dilapidated mechas used in training and obtain a Red Mane III, which was considered a top-tier mecha in the base. The Red Mane, produced by the Tang Empire''s largest mecha company, Weilong Group, had been a best-seller twenty years ago. Although it had been largely phased out in major nations, in remote regions like the Fengzhou Star System, it was still a formidable machine.


    To pilot this mecha, one needed at least a level five physique, which deterred most people.


    Touching the mecha''s control panel, Yun Yi stopped his wandering thoughts, took a deep breath, and pressed the final key.


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    Instantly, the mecha''s back and feet emitted a dazzling light, and with the help of the anti-gravity device, the mecha shot into the sky like a reverse red meteor.


    From his observations over the past few days, Yun Yi had noticed that the monsters on this planet were all land-based, and the skies were safe, with no flying creatures. His plan was to hover in the air and look for a lone monster far from the main horde, then kill it!


    Floating at an altitude of five thousand meters, Yun Yi activated the scanner and waited silently.


    Before the battle, Yun Yi instinctively grasped the necklace around his chest. His rapidly beating heart gradually calmed, and he became like a skilled hunter, calmly facing his prey.


    On the ground, groups of monsters began to roam.


    Looking at the solitary monster wandering not far from the Thunderclap, Yun Yi''s lips curled into a cold smile.


    The monsters were terrifying, but Yun Yi, filled with boundless fighting spirit, seemed even more frightening.


    The nearest horde to this monster was hundreds of kilometers away. This was definitely an excellent target.


    Confirming his target, Yun Yi''s hands flew over the controls. The mecha flipped upside down, the anti-gravity device shut off, and the propulsion engine activated at 100% capacity. The mecha transformed into a rapidly falling meteor, charging toward the monster with the force of heaven and earth.


    The monster seemed unaware of the approaching danger, still wandering around as if taking a leisurely stroll.


    "Clang!"


    As the distance closed, the mecha in mid-air suddenly drew a vibrating alloy longsword, aiming it at the monster. Yun Yi believed that with the mecha''s propulsion and gravity combined, this strike could even cut through the thick alloy walls of the Thunderclap.


    Closer now, the monster seemed to sense something and stopped moving. The four antennae on its head twitched continuously. As a creature, it had sensed danger, but as the ruler of the land, it never expected an attack from the sky.


    "Rip..."


    The high-speed vibrating longsword struck the monster''s body with the force of thunder.


    "Screech..."


    The monster let out a pained cry as the alloy longsword pinned it to the ground. Its massive body writhed violently, and green blood gushed out, staining the red mecha in a bizarre mix of colors.


    "Is it over already?"


    Yun Yi stared in astonishment at the monster struggling under the longsword. Was he too strong, or was the monster too weak?


    Although the longsword had severely wounded the monster, Yun Yi didn''t let his guard down. After all, there were countless monsters nearby.


    Just as Yun Yi tried to pull out the longsword to finish off the monster, it suddenly moved.


    The massive body, tens of meters long, split at the point where Yun Yi had struck. Only the head and four limbs remained, and the two enormous eyes stared fixedly at Yun Yi.


    "Screech... screech..."


    The monster let out a series of rapid cries. Before Yun Yi could react, a burst of red flame shot out from the grotesque, writhing mouth of the creature.


    Yun Yi''s eyes widened. Fortunately, he had been fully focused on the monster and hadn''t let his guard down. Years of training allowed him to react quickly. The mecha twisted at a strange angle, dodging most of the flames.


    However, a small portion of the flames splashed onto the mecha''s left side.


    The strange flames clung to the mecha''s armor, burning fiercely.


    "What... what is this?!"


    Yun Yi was shocked and immediately rolled the mecha on the ground. But to his astonishment, the raging flames didn''t extinguish, even after rolling in the sandy terrain.


    "This is bad..."


    Yun Yi watched as the armor value on the mecha''s screen continued to drop, cold sweat pouring down his face. If this continued, the mecha''s left side would be destroyed in a few minutes, compromising its internal structure.


    No time to waste. He had to kill the monster first.


    Yun Yi fixed his gaze on the beast, raised the alloy longsword again, and unleashed an unparalleled burst of speed. The mecha transformed into a streak of fire, swiftly circling around the monster''s front and delivering a fierce slash to its head.


    "Clang!" The alloy longsword failed to pierce the monster''s head armor!


    The metallic clang sent a chill down Yun Yi''s spine.


    Was this a creature or a mecha?


    There was no time for Yun Yi to hesitate. As the monster turned to attack him, Yun Yi quickly manipulated the controls, and the mecha delivered three more slashes.


    However, these strikes only left three white marks on the monster''s head, causing no real damage.


    The eyes!


    Yun Yi''s gaze fell on the two enormous, bulb-like eyes. No matter the creature, the eyes were always its weakest point.


    Gripping the longsword tightly, Yun Yi made the mecha leap up, landing precisely on top of the monster''s hard, armored head. The mecha''s feet shot out four steel claws, anchoring the massive machine firmly to the monster''s head. This mechanism was originally designed to latch onto enemy ships during assaults.


    The mecha''s hands reversed, raising the alloy longsword once more. The sharp blade thrust down fiercely, aiming for the monster''s left eye.


    "Pop... squish..."


    Like a balloon being punctured, the eye burst instantly. Under the high-speed vibration of the alloy longsword, everything inside the eye socket was churned into a pulp and ejected.


    "Screech... screech..."


    The monster seemed to be in extreme pain, thrashing and jumping wildly, trying to shake off the mecha on its head. But the mecha, firmly anchored to the monster''s head, couldn''t be dislodged.


    The alloy longsword thrust in again, and the monster, driven by pain, began to run. Yun Yi was shocked to find that even with half its body missing, the creature''s speed was no less than when it was whole.


    This couldn''t go on.


    Yun Yi yanked out the alloy longsword, attached it to the mecha''s right arm, and aimed it at the monster''s bloodied eye socket. With a fierce push, the longsword shot out like an arrow, piercing deep into the monster''s brain. This strike was enough to end the creature''s long struggle.


    The monster finally stopped moving, but Yun Yi wasn''t in much better shape.


    The strange flames the monster had spat out were still burning on the mecha''s left side. In less than ten minutes, nearly 80% of the mecha''s left armor had been destroyed.


    Yun Yi was desperate. He tried everything to extinguish the flames.


    Sand? Useless, it had no effect.


    The monster''s blood? It helped a little, but the effect was minimal. By the time the flames were put out, the mecha would be completely destroyed.


    What else could he do? Head to the North Pole?


    Although the mecha was fast, it would take at least half an hour to reach the North Pole from here. The mecha wouldn''t last that long.


    Yun Yi stared helplessly at the steadily decreasing armor value, but there was nothing he could do.


    Reluctantly, he activated the mecha and began transporting the monster''s two massive body parts back to the Thunderclap...

 Chapter 4: The Necklaces Transformation

    Staring at the pile of smoldering flames before him, Yun Yi felt like crying but no tears would come. Who could have imagined that this not-so-large flame was once a brand-new mecha?


    Just a few days ago, when he had first received this mecha, the joy, excitement, and pride he felt had made him treat it like a brother. But reality was cruel. After just one mission, the mecha had turned to ashes.


    His stomach growled again. Reluctantly, Yun Yi glanced at the mecha''s remains and turned away.


    Even in pieces, the monster''s body was enormous. While the mecha was still functional, Yun Yi had transported the monster back to the ship and roughly dissected it. Now, he needed to search its body for edible organic matter and feed it into the food synthesizer.


    Based on Yun Yi''s understanding, a creature that could spit strange flames, had antennae, and a mouthpart must be some kind of bizarre insect. The edible parts of such creatures were usually found in their limbs.


    Wielding a single soldier''s vibrating alloy dagger, Yun Yi struggled to cut open one of the monster''s legs. Sure enough, inside was a large chunk of white muscle. Yun Yi cheered, quickly cutting off a sizable piece and placing it into the already prepared food synthesizer.


    As expected, after a series of tests, the food synthesizer indicated that the meat was not only non-toxic but also rich in organic substances beneficial to the human body. Regular consumption could bring significant health benefits.


    After a hearty meal, Yun Yi took a short rest before resuming his work.


    He didn''t know how long the monster''s body would remain fresh, but if he didn''t want to eat rotting meat in the future, it was best to process the rest of the body now.


    Three days later, Yun Yi finally finished processing the monster''s eight legs. All the meat he had cut was turned into semi-processed products that could be stored for a long time. Now, Yun Yi turned his attention to the remaining parts of the monster.


    He had little interest in the monster''s massive torso. From the severed sections, he could see that the creature''s body was mostly filled with a pale green liquid. Yun Yi had tested it¡ªthis liquid was the fuel for the long-burning flames.


    This was definitely not something to eat.


    The only part that caught Yun Yi''s eye was the enormous head.


    Not only was there potentially edible meat in the head, but the massive alloy longsword embedded in the monster''s skull also needed to be retrieved. That sword was the only remaining piece of his beloved Red Mane III, which he had treated like a brother.


    Without hesitation, Yun Yi climbed onto the head, enduring the foul stench, and with a steel cable in hand, made his way to the monster''s eye. Ignoring the disgust, he reached into the eye socket where the longsword had pierced, trying to locate the blade.


    But the longsword was buried too deep. Reluctantly, Yun Yi used the dagger to widen the eye socket, making enough space for him to crawl inside. Fortunately, the bones around the eye socket weren''t as hard as the monster''s skull, allowing Yun Yi to carve out a small hole after an hour of effort.


    Just as Yun Yi was climbing into the eye socket with the steel cable, his foot slipped. He desperately grabbed at his surroundings, but everything was slick with slime. Even as a level six warrior, Yun Yi couldn''t maintain his balance.


    "Plop..."


    Yun Yi slid into the deepest part of the eye socket. In the darkness, he felt around. Besides the slippery sensation, there were also cold, hard metal objects¡ªundoubtedly the alloy longsword. The smell was unbearable. Yun Yi held his breath, quickly tied the steel cable to the longsword, and hurriedly climbed out.


    As soon as he emerged, Yun Yi noticed that his body was covered in white and green substances¡ªlikely the monster''s brain matter. Overcome with nausea, he rushed back to his room to wash up.


    As he removed his clothes, Yun Yi noticed something strange.


    A multicolored light?


    The ancestral necklace he wore, which usually emitted a faint blue glow, now shone with a kaleidoscope of colors after being soaked in the monster''s brain matter and green liquid. Strangely, the multicolored light seemed to be absorbed by his body, with no light escaping outward.


    Weird, really weird.


    Yun Yi glanced at the necklace but didn''t dwell on it. He quickly washed away the filth and changed into a clean set of clothes. With no one else on the ship, there were plenty of clothes to spare.


    Returning to the massive head, Yun Yi controlled the winch attached to the other end of the steel cable. After activating it with an energy cell, the cable gradually tightened, and the huge alloy longsword was slowly pulled out.


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    He was still here, and the sword was still here, but the mecha was gone...


    After cleaning the sword, Yun Yi sighed and checked the still-silent communicator before returning to his room.


    Over the past few days, besides observing the monsters, Yun Yi had spent most of his time practicing his "Wave Breaker" technique. For him, every second was precious and couldn''t be wasted. Only by growing stronger quickly could he avenge his parents and loved ones.


    Yun Yi also held deep respect for the Restoration Army base, which had given him a chance to survive. Helping the Zhao Song Empire restore its former glory had become his second goal, just behind avenging his family.


    From what he knew, the Zhao Song Empire, though perceived as weak, had been quite effective before the coup. The emperor at the time had been very kind to his people, implementing a series of policies beneficial to ordinary citizens. However, this had led to significant investments in the populace, leaving the military underfunded and outdated for years, which gave the rebels an opportunity.


    The government forces, waving the banner of freedom, assassinated the emperor during an inspection tour. With the help of several democratic neighboring nations, they swiftly captured the empire''s capital, New Kaifeng Star. Before the empire''s noble families could react, the government forces destroyed the main fleet in a lightning strike, and the entire empire fell. Now, the Restoration Army, with only a medium-sized base on the outskirts and fewer than a thousand ships, consisted mostly of people who had benefited from the emperor''s kindness and soldiers whose families had been slaughtered by the government forces.


    The leader of the government forces, Zagu, the first president of the Iserlohn Democratic Republic, quickly established a dictatorship after the coup. Using brutal methods, he suppressed resistance and, after quelling the war, turned his blade against his former allies, becoming a dictator.


    The people and soldiers who had initially supported Zagu, realizing his promises were empty, protested. But after several horrific massacres, everyone fell silent. When those who had been deceived into opposing the empire finally saw through Zagu''s facade, they deeply regretted their actions, but it was too late. The Restoration Army, lacking supplies and ammunition, could no longer face the colossal force Zagu had become.


    Now, the Restoration Army continued to fight, supported only by a few covert allies.


    Shaking his head, Yun Yi pushed these thoughts aside. While important, they weren''t something he needed to focus on right now. What he faced now was figuring out how to leave this planet and return to the Restoration Army base to continue the fight!


    Calming his mind, Yun Yi began practicing the "Wave Breaker" technique, following the usual energy pathways.


    Martial arts couldn''t make a person block beam guns with their body, but they offered many benefits, especially for mecha pilots. A good mecha wasn''t something just anyone could operate. The mecha''s movements placed a heavy load on the pilot''s body. Without the proper physical conditioning, even a simple action could injure the pilot. A trained warrior, however, had a strong body, with significantly improved agility, speed, endurance, and strength.


    Three thousand years ago, the greatest martial artists of the time, along with several masters, divided martial arts into two stages: pre-celestial and post-celestial, each with ten levels. Even today, those who reached the pre-celestial stage were exceedingly rare. Even the leader of the Gaia Empire''s Royal Knights, hailed as the universe''s strongest warrior, Mithra, was only at the fifth level of the pre-celestial stage.


    There was another, even more enticing benefit to practicing martial arts, one that had driven the entire universe into an era of universal martial arts training: longevity. A person who reached the fifth level of the post-celestial stage, with the help of some advanced technology, could easily live to two hundred years old. Those who reached the pre-celestial stage could live over three hundred years. As for those beyond the fifth level of the pre-celestial stage, legends spoke of individuals who had lived over eight hundred years. While no one had seen such a person, many believed it was possible.


    This was the greatest benefit of practicing martial arts.


    Yun Yi, having reached the sixth level of the post-celestial stage at sixteen, wasn''t the fastest, but he was above average. In the entire base, there were fewer than a thousand warriors at or above the sixth level, out of a population of nearly a million.


    Yun Yi''s talent wasn''t exceptional; his progress was due to his diligence. While others might practice for two or three hours a day, Yun Yi spent almost all his time practicing, aside from eating, attending classes, and sleeping. Every morning, while others were still asleep, he was already up practicing. Through such effort, he had reached the sixth level of the post-celestial stage at sixteen. Even among families with high-level martial arts manuals, such progress was rare.


    Thus, Yun Yi cherished every second.


    Exhaling...


    A warm current stirred in his dantian, slowly moving along the usual energy pathways.


    Something felt off?


    Yun Yi opened his eyes, a look of confusion on his face. For some reason, today the flow of his internal energy felt slightly faster than usual. Why was that?


    Yun Yi carefully reviewed his technique. No, the way he was practicing and the steps he took were all correct.


    So why was the energy flowing faster?


    Was he about to break through to the seventh level of the post-celestial stage?


    That was impossible. He had only just reached the sixth level less than a month ago. According to his teacher''s estimation, at his current pace, it would take at least two years to reach the seventh level.


    Unable to find any issues, Yun Yi cautiously guided his internal energy along the usual pathways. While faster energy flow wasn''t necessarily a bad thing¡ªit could make the energy in his body more robust¡ªYun Yi was always cautious and rarely took risks.


    With extreme care, Yun Yi completed the first cycle of energy circulation. Checking the time, it had only taken twenty-five minutes, more than ten minutes faster than usual.


    After carefully inspecting his body, Yun Yi found nothing unusual. There seemed to be no side effects, so he relaxed.


    Could it be because he had eaten the alien monster''s meat? His teacher at the base had once told him that many noble families in the universe used certain special plants or animal parts to create drugs that greatly benefited martial arts training, sometimes even boosting one''s level.


    Could the creatures on this strange planet have such benefits?


    If so, could he advance to the seventh level sooner?


    Delighted, Yun Yi once again guided his internal energy, beginning another cycle of circulation.


    At that moment, he didn''t notice that the multicolored necklace around his chest seemed to have dimmed slightly...

 Chapter 5: The Secret of the Necklace

    Although the speed of his cultivation had increased, and Yun Yi estimated that he might reach the seventh level in less than half a year, the lack of response from the communicator weighed heavily on his heart.


    Life seemed to have fallen into a monotonous routine. After several days of observation, Yun Yi easily noticed that the monsters followed a certain pattern in their daily movements. In other words, they wouldn¡¯t randomly come to the wreckage of the Thunderclap to cause trouble.


    Occasionally, one or two monsters would curiously come to take a look, but they were merely curious and didn¡¯t cause any further damage to the already battered ship. As for the remaining corpse of the monster, it seemed to hold no attraction for them either. They would pass by it as if it were invisible.


    Without his mecha, Yun Yi didn¡¯t dare to challenge the monsters. Now that he had enough food, all he could do was wait for the communicator to establish contact with the Resistance base one day and leave this godforsaken place.


    His daily life consisted of eating, checking the communicator, and practicing his martial arts.


    With no one to disturb him, Yun Yi¡¯s martial arts progress was rapid. Of course, this was also due to the accelerated flow of his internal energy. After the initial few days, Yun Yi had grown accustomed to this faster energy flow. Without realizing it, he also noticed that his physical strength had improved significantly compared to before. Other attributes such as speed, agility, flexibility, and resistance to damage had also seen considerable enhancement.


    This discovery shocked him.


    After all, while practicing martial arts naturally improved these attributes to some extent, the improvement had never been so dramatic. The gains he had made in the past month were equivalent to the overall improvement he had experienced after breaking through to the sixth level.


    In addition to the physical changes, the changes in his mental abilities were even more pronounced. The first thing he noticed was his memory. A few days ago, while waiting for the communicator out of boredom, Yun Yi had dismantled a relatively intact computer from a mecha wreckage, intending to study the structure of mechas and see if he could assemble a functional mecha from the scraps. To his surprise, he found that the knowledge, which had once seemed profound and difficult to him, was now easily memorized after just two or three readings.


    This discovery filled Yun Yi with joy.


    Yun Yi had never been particularly intelligent. Back at the base, he had struggled with various subjects, often spending days memorizing information only to forget it soon after. As a result, he hadn¡¯t been very interested in academic knowledge. For him, achieving success in martial arts had been his sole dream.


    But now, with his memory significantly improved, his mindset had subtly changed. The vast and complex knowledge about mechas, including materials science, dynamics, and physics, was now absorbed into his mind like a sponge.


    As he delved deeper into his studies, he was surprised to find that not only had his memory improved, but his analytical and comprehension skills had also changed. What had once seemed like an impenetrable maze of knowledge now felt as simple as one plus one equals two.


    How could Yun Yi not be delighted?


    Now, Yun Yi had shifted half of his martial arts practice time to studying these subjects.


    What had once been a headache was now effortless. Yun Yi felt like a massive sponge, greedily absorbing knowledge from the ocean of information. In less than a month, he had mastered what would normally take an average person half a year to learn about mechas.


    Just as he was enthusiastically preparing to continue his studies, an unexpected problem arose.


    ¡°How could this happen!¡±


    Yun Yi stopped the flow of his internal energy and sat there in a daze.


    ¡°Why has the accelerated flow gradually returned to its previous speed?¡± Yun Yi felt the flow of energy within him, utterly puzzled. He immediately regretted not focusing more on martial arts during that month of rapid progress.


    After several attempts, Yun Yi finally gave up in frustration.


    ¡°Could it be that the monster meat has lost its effect?¡± Yun Yi speculated. In this state, he had no motivation to practice. Without the feeling of rapid progress, every session felt uncomfortable.


    Putting aside his cultivation, Yun Yi went to the command room where the communicator was installed. The communicator remained silent as usual. He casually turned on the computer and pulled up a document on mecha construction, studying it carefully.


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    But before long, he was horrified to find that his memory and analytical abilities, while not reduced to their previous levels, were nowhere near as sharp as they had been a few days ago.


    This discovery nearly crushed his spirit. He quickly checked his body. Fortunately, his worst fear didn¡¯t come true. His martial arts hadn¡¯t regressed, and the physical improvements he had gained¡ªstrength, endurance, speed¡ªthough growing at their previous rate, hadn¡¯t diminished.


    After sitting in silence for a while, Yun Yi suddenly laughed at himself.


    ¡°I was never particularly talented to begin with. Being able to experience a month of rapid progress was already a tremendous blessing from the heavens. In that month, I saved several months of martial arts training, improved my physical condition beyond normal training, and even learned about mechas. What more could I ask for?¡±


    Yun Yi muttered to himself, ¡°My talent was never great. Now I¡¯m just back to where I was before, not worse off. There¡¯s no need to regret anything. I just need to keep working hard. Besides, whether I can even leave this place is still uncertain. Why worry so much?¡±


    In that moment, Yun Yi resolved his inner turmoil. His heart felt lighter, and he laughed heartily before heading back to his room.


    As he took off his clothes, preparing to take a refreshing shower before resuming his practice, he noticed something strange. The ancestral necklace around his chest, which had once emitted a multicolored glow, had returned to its original faint blue light.


    Thinking back to the changes in his body, Yun Yi suddenly understood.


    ¡°This necklace must be the key!¡±


    Yun Yi held the necklace, examining it closely, but couldn¡¯t figure out why it had turned multicolored over a month ago. After a moment of thought, he gave up and decided to take a shower. His mind still preoccupied with the necklace, he didn¡¯t practice. Instead, he wandered outside. It was still twilight, and no monsters were around, making it relatively safe.


    Looking out at the endless yellow sand, Yun Yi touched the necklace and sighed softly.


    If he couldn¡¯t leave this place, what would become of him?


    How much longer could he endure this loneliness?


    Before, he had filled his days with intense martial arts practice and voracious learning. But now, Yun Yi feared that one day the overwhelming loneliness would drive him to throw himself into a horde of monsters and end it all.


    Turning his head, his gaze fell on the five-meter-long alloy longsword lying on the ground. The sword seemed to mock him, laughing at his weakness, his inability to face the loneliness and pain of life.


    He touched the longsword, then the necklace around his chest.


    ¡°If my parents were watching me from the heavens, what would they say? Would they encourage me to live bravely? Or would they hope for me to join them soon?¡±


    Holding the necklace, Yun Yi closed his eyes gently.


    ¡°Big brother is mean¡­ sob¡­¡±


    ¡°Yun Yi, you can¡¯t scare your sister with caterpillars¡­¡±


    ¡°Yun Yi, Xiao Luo, study hard, and I¡¯ll take you out on Sunday¡­¡±


    Dad¡­ Mom¡­ Little sister¡­


    He had to live not just for himself, but to avenge his family. His enemies were still alive. How could he die? Looking up at the sky, Yun Yi shouted, ¡°Dad, Mom, Little Sister! Watch me! I will live bravely, and I will avenge you!¡±


    After shouting, Yun Yi felt his body go weak, and tears streamed down his face.


    No matter how strong or brave he was, at this moment, he was just a sixteen-year-old boy. Enduring the torment of loneliness and despair for over a month had already been an immense struggle.


    There was no one to talk to, no one to share his life with.


    All he had was the cold computer and the endless sea of knowledge.


    In his heart, Yun Yi had come to regard the alloy longsword as a friend, a brother. Every morning when he woke up and every night before bed, he would visit the sword, sharing his thoughts and telling it about what he had learned.


    Perhaps only in this way could he withstand the torment of loneliness.


    Once again, his gaze fell on the alloy longsword, and he seemed to realize something.


    Suddenly, he turned around and looked at something he had barely noticed recently.


    ¡°That¡¯s it! It must be this!¡±


    Yun Yi shouted excitedly and dashed forward. In front of him was the head of the alien monster he had killed over a month ago. For some reason, after all this time, the head hadn¡¯t decayed. It still looked as grotesque as ever, lying quietly where it had been discarded.


    Holding the necklace, Yun Yi stared at the monstrous head, a surge of fervor rising in his heart.


    Yes, he had figured it out. The necklace had changed after he had entered the monster¡¯s head and been covered in the green liquid and white brain matter.


    Could it be one of these two substances?


    Yun Yi¡¯s heart raced with anticipation. He quickly tied a steel cable around himself and climbed onto the broken eye socket. He didn¡¯t want to slip into the monster¡¯s head again like last time.


    This time, Yun Yi brought two small bottles. Near the eye socket, he easily collected a bottle of the green liquid. Then, ignoring the disgust, he tugged on the steel cable and crawled into the eye socket with the other bottle.


    The foul stench hit him immediately. Yun Yi held his breath, afraid he might faint from the smell. With his level six physique, he could hold his breath for about ten minutes¡ªenough time to collect a bottle of brain matter.


    But things didn¡¯t go as smoothly as he had hoped.


    When the monster had just been killed, its head had been filled with white brain matter. But after over a month, most of it had disappeared.


    Had it evaporated? Had something eaten it? Or had the corpse absorbed it?


    Yun Yi didn¡¯t have time to ponder this. After a careful search, he finally found enough brain matter to fill half the bottle in the deepest part of the monster¡¯s brain. After collecting it, he looked around but found nothing else.


    Back in his room, Yun Yi washed off the filth and then took out the two bottles.


    If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, it must have been one of these two liquids that had reacted with the mysterious stone on the necklace, leading to his rapid progress.


    Though he was confident in his guess, Yun Yi was still nervous, afraid he might be wrong.


    Carefully, he picked up the bottle of green liquid and tilted it slightly. A foul-smelling green liquid flowed out and landed on the necklace.


    One second¡­ two seconds¡­ ten seconds¡­ one minute¡­ ten minutes¡­


    Half an hour passed, and the stone showed no change.


    It seemed he had failed.


    Yun Yi¡¯s heart sank. He cleaned the stone and turned his attention to the bottle containing the brain matter, silently praying that this time it would work.


    The bottle held less than a third of the brain matter. Would this small amount be enough?


    Taking a deep breath, Yun Yi carefully tilted the bottle. The soft white brain matter slowly slid out and covered the stone¡­

 Chapter 6: Repairing the Mecha

    Lying comfortably on the bed, feeling the warm currents emanating from his chest, Yun Yi couldn¡¯t help but laugh at his earlier nervousness.


    Even if he hadn¡¯t successfully activated the stone, Yun Yi would have remained with his ordinary talent. He wouldn¡¯t have given up and would have continued practicing diligently. But who could easily let go of such a miraculous treasure?


    Fortunately, the experiment was a success.


    Ten seconds after the brain matter came into contact with the stone, the result was as he had imagined. A dazzling, mesmerizing multicolored light radiated from the stone, captivating his gaze.


    With a sigh of relief, Yun Yi gradually calmed his racing heart.


    However, another pressing issue now confronted him.


    During the experiment, he had used nearly half of the less than one-third bottle of brain matter. This meant that the remaining amount would only be enough for one more use. In other words, the necklace¡¯s activated state could only last a little over two months.


    Within these two months, Yun Yi had to repair a mecha to the best of his ability.


    Only then would he have the capability to kill another monster and obtain more brain matter. Otherwise, once the brain matter ran out, he would have to face his ordinary talent again.


    ¡°No! I absolutely refuse to be ordinary!¡±


    Yun Yi resolved to repair a mecha within two months.


    True to his word, Yun Yi sprang out of bed and rushed into the command room, eagerly devouring all knowledge related to mechas.


    The knowledge stored in the mecha was limited and basic. After searching through the wreckage of the ship several times, Yun Yi found a few more computers. Finally, in one of them, he discovered detailed information about mechas.


    From the data stored in the computer, it appeared that it had belonged to a mecha repair technician. Before joining the Restoration Army, this technician had worked for a mecha company owned by the imperial family. Although the empire was a minor power in the universe and lagged in mecha research, under the emperor¡¯s relentless efforts, they had managed to acquire some outdated mecha data from major powers.


    Among this data was the Red Mane III, which had been phased out by the Tang Empire nearly twenty years ago. The empire couldn¡¯t replicate it yet, but they had thoroughly studied its internal structure, armor, and weapons. Only a few areas with strict technological·âËø remained unclear.


    It was unclear what the technician¡¯s role in the company had been, but the computer contained most of the detailed information about the Red Mane III.


    This was exactly what Yun Yi needed.


    Yun Yi couldn¡¯t help but marvel at his good fortune. Touching the necklace around his chest, he calmed himself and began studying the materials in earnest.


    In addition to the extensive data, the computer also contained the technician¡¯s own insights and methods, which greatly inspired Yun Yi when combined with the stored information.


    Time flew by.


    By the time Yun Yi had fully mastered all the information about the Red Mane III, a month had passed. In fact, if he had only focused on the Red Mane III data, it would have taken less than a week. But Yun Yi¡¯s foundational knowledge was too weak, so he had to spend time learning other basic materials stored in the computer.


    Now, Yun Yi was confident he could complete the entire mecha repair process on his own.


    Although he didn¡¯t have many suitable engineering tools at hand, his significantly enhanced intelligence allowed him to come up with several ingenious solutions.


    A mecha with damaged sides was modified by Yun Yi into a semi-fixed crane. Typically, a mecha stood about five to six meters tall, with some heavy mechas reaching up to eight meters. This meant that mecha components were extremely heavy. Even with his enhanced strength as a level six warrior, Yun Yi couldn¡¯t easily lift and install the parts.


    If the ship¡¯s anti-gravity system had been intact, it would have been a simple task. But given the Thunderclap¡¯s current state¡­ it was better not to think about it.


    With the crane, however, things became much easier. Although it moved slowly, it provided Yun Yi with significant assistance. Activating the crane mecha, Yun Yi slowly collected the surrounding mecha wreckage and began selecting parts for assembly.


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    Even with the crane¡¯s help, Yun Yi was exhausted almost every day.


    To cope, he adjusted his daily routine. He no longer practiced martial arts upon waking but focused on repairing the mecha. After exhausting his physical strength, he would then practice martial arts. Interestingly, practicing in a state of extreme fatigue produced even more remarkable results.


    If he continued like this, Yun Yi might reach the seventh level of martial arts in less than three months.


    If this speed were made public, it would likely shock the entire universe. Touching the necklace, Yun Yi smiled and returned to the intense repair work.


    The repairs seemed to be progressing smoothly, primarily because there were enough mechas, and the damage was relatively limited. When the ship had crashed, its severe damage had prevented the normal ejection of mechas, causing most of them to crash along with the ship. Even those that had managed to detach were destroyed by the government forces within an hour.


    The remaining mechas had mostly suffered from impact damage, which was relatively minor.


    In less than ten days, Yun Yi successfully repaired two Red Mane III mechas. During the process, he encountered difficulties, but his enhanced intelligence and the comprehensive data in the computer provided significant help. Through the repairs, his knowledge of mechas underwent a qualitative leap.


    Now, he was fully capable of working at a large mecha company.


    On the third day after completing the repairs, the energy in Yun Yi¡¯s necklace dissipated. According to his records, the first and second dissipations had occurred almost exactly thirty-seven days and eleven hours apart.


    Pouring the remaining brain matter onto the necklace, Yun Yi watched as it once again emitted a multicolored glow. He knew that his next hunt wasn¡¯t far off.


    Now, with experience from his previous encounter, Yun Yi wouldn¡¯t be as hesitant or make as many mistakes. Last time, although he had killed the monster, his beloved mecha had been destroyed.


    Another dark night arrived.


    Yun Yi carefully inspected every component of the mecha. Although he had repaired it himself, he couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy about his first solo repair job, fearing that the mecha might fail at a critical moment.


    After repeatedly confirming that everything was in order, Yun Yi climbed into the mecha. After more than two months, he was once again at the controls. Touching the familiar control panel, he couldn¡¯t help but feel excited.


    ¡°Whoosh!¡±


    The engine started successfully. Yun Yi maneuvered the mecha to the entrance of the passageway and picked up the alloy longsword, the last relic of his previous mecha. Looking at the cold, bloodthirsty blade, Yun Yi smiled. ¡°Old friend, let¡¯s fight side by side.¡±


    With the longsword secured, the mecha¡¯s engine, powered by energy cells, emitted four streams of light from its back and feet, slowly ascending into the sky.


    The sky had completely darkened. Yun Yi piloted the mecha, hovering in the air, calmly observing the groups of monsters on the screen. It seemed that the monsters hadn¡¯t noticed the loss of one of their own. Perhaps their numbers were too vast, or their intelligence was too limited. In any case, the monsters were no different from when Yun Yi had first arrived¡ªaside from the large groups, there were still many solitary monsters roaming the land.


    Yun Yi knew that only in the later hours of the night would these monsters gather from small groups into large hordes. At that point, even with ten times the courage, he wouldn¡¯t dare face the collective charge of thousands of monsters.


    This time, Yun Yi employed a similar tactic to his previous one. Diving from the sky at high speed, nothing could withstand the full force of a mecha warrior¡¯s strike under such gravitational acceleration.


    Soon, a monster less than ten kilometers from the base caught Yun Yi¡¯s eye.


    He turned off the anti-gravity, flipped the mecha sideways, drew the longsword, and launched a full-speed assault.


    Four actions, nearly a hundred commands, executed seamlessly by Yun Yi¡¯s rapidly moving hands. The mecha in mid-air transformed into a red arrow, streaking across the sky.


    Cross Slash!


    With the power of high speed, Yun Yi didn¡¯t use a single strike like last time but instead employed a common technique¡ªthe Cross Slash. His target was the monster¡¯s neck, where its massive head connected to its body.


    ¡°Whoosh¡­ Swish¡­¡±


    Before the monster could react, its ugly head had already fallen to the sand. Its enormous body, now headless, collapsed to the ground.


    The monster¡¯s head, lying on the ground, was still alive. Its mouthparts slightly opened, and Yun Yi immediately realized it was preparing to spit the strange flames. His hands flew over the controls, and the mecha accelerated, delivering a powerful kick to the head.


    ¡°Thud¡­¡±


    The head flew off like a violently kicked soccer ball, spewing flames as it went. But the distance was far enough that none of the flames reached the mecha.


    Seeing how cleanly and efficiently he had taken down a monster in less than a minute, Yun Yi felt a surge of pride!


    Locating the head in the distance, Yun Yi observed it carefully for a while. After confirming the monster¡¯s death, the mecha¡¯s back ejected two steel cables, which secured the head and carried it back to the base.


    Extracting the brain matter this time was much simpler than before. Activating the mecha, Yun Yi forcefully pried open the monster¡¯s skull, which was as tough as starship armor, revealing the brain matter inside. This time, Yun Yi didn¡¯t use the small bottles from before but instead used energy cell containers, filling three boxes to the brim.


    By Yun Yi¡¯s estimate, this amount of brain matter would last him ten to twenty years.


    It seemed that Yun Yi¡¯s life on this alien planet was about to take a turn for the better.


    An endless supply of dried meat, accelerated martial arts practice, an inexhaustible source of knowledge, ample time to hone his mecha piloting skills, and countless monsters to test his combat techniques¡ªeverything was nearly perfect.


    But Yun Yi was still deeply troubled. The communicator had failed to establish contact with the base, and he had lost confidence in it. Another concern was the energy supply. Although energy cells were highly efficient, Yun Yi hadn¡¯t found many in the ship¡¯s wreckage. Most of them had been salvaged from damaged mechas and the ship¡¯s engines.


    If used sparingly, they might last five or six years.


    Would he really have to stay here for five or six years?


    The answer was no. Some time later, the arrival of certain individuals gave Yun Yi a glimmer of hope for leaving this place.

 Chapter 7: A Spaceship? A Spaceship!

    "Another month has passed. Am I really going to spend the rest of my life in this godforsaken place?"


    Looking at the date displayed on the computer, Yun Yi''s mouth was filled with bitterness.


    One year and three months¡ªthat was how long Yun Yi had been stranded on this alien planet. When he first arrived, he thought he would soon contact the base and have a ship sent to bring him back.


    But he had underestimated the planet''s electromagnetic interference. The powerful interference made it impossible for the communicator to establish a stable connection with the base.


    Tormented by loneliness, Yun Yi poured all his energy into cultivation and study. Perhaps only by immersing himself completely could he temporarily forget his loneliness and fear.


    In this environment, Yun Yi''s martial arts skills advanced rapidly. With the help of the necklace, in just one year and three months, Yun Yi, who was only practicing the ordinary technique "Wave Breaker," had reached the high level of the seventh stage. With another two to three months, he was sure to break through the seventh level and enter the eighth stage.


    Martial arts at the eighth level?


    Yun Yi smiled confidently. In the base, only the captain of the royal guard, who always protected the queen, was at the eighth level. And in the entire base, he was the only one at that level. As for higher levels, in their impoverished and resource-scarce environment, how could they possibly have such masters?


    In addition to martial arts, Yun Yi had also studied a vast amount of knowledge. Alongside mecha-related knowledge, he had learned about piloting, commanding, communications, and artillery for various types of warships. However, except for mecha knowledge, most of the other information was basic, lacking depth. This made Yun Yi regretful. If he had known he would end up here, he would have brought a high-capacity computer filled with all kinds of knowledge.


    To combat the constant loneliness, Yun Yi turned his attention to other things stored in the computers. Some of these computers were originally from the ship, some were salvaged from mechas, and a small portion were personal items of the ship''s crew. Among these computers, Yun Yi found a lot of interesting things.


    For example, one guy''s computer stored hundreds of 3D movies, most of which were action-packed films depicting less-than-pure relationships between men and women. This had captivated Yun Yi, who was just entering adolescence, for a while. But after a week, the repetitive nature of these films made him lose interest completely.


    Of course, some people''s computers also contained useful information for him.


    Things like "Three Hundred Questions on Business Warfare," "How to Avoid Stock Market Risks," "Interstellar Travel Guide," "Complete Guide to Imperial Etiquette," and "Beginner''s Guide to Hacking" were among the materials Yun Yi forced himself to immerse in to dispel his loneliness.


    In this year, he had also achieved significant progress in another area: mecha operation.


    Back at the base, Yun Yi had been very diligent in learning mecha operation. However, the mechas available for practical training were few and far between, mostly outdated models that could barely move. It wasn''t until he boarded the Thunderclap that Yun Yi had the chance to operate a real mecha.


    On this alien planet, with ample time and mechas at his disposal, how could Yun Yi not become obsessed?


    After mastering the basic movements taught at the base, Yun Yi turned his attention to the 3D videos of various mecha combat tournaments from across the universe stored in the computers.


    Without guidance or instruction, it didn''t mean Yun Yi couldn''t learn these advanced techniques.


    With the help of the necklace, his intelligence and analytical abilities had improved to an unimaginable level. The complex movements in the videos were gradually dissected by Yun Yi, who had a solid foundation in the basics. Every movement, what to do first, what to do next, how many engines to activate, and how much power to use¡ªall of these were figured out by him. In addition to analysis, Yun Yi conducted numerous experiments, eventually mastering many signature moves of the competitors in the videos. Some of these moves, after Yun Yi''s analysis and practice, were even better than those performed by the original competitors.


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    Use all the time available, leaving no room for loneliness!


    This was Yun Yi''s current mindset.


    "Phew¡­"


    Yun Yi exhaled, finished regulating his internal energy, and slowly stood up.


    "In a month at most, I''ll break through to the eighth level of martial arts!" Yun Yi clenched his fist, looking at the dark sky with a confident smile.


    If others knew about his speed of progress, the entire universe would flock to him. After all, martial arts not only affected one''s ability to pilot mechas and overall physical condition but also determined one''s lifespan.


    Those whose lives were nearing their end, unable to break through their martial arts barriers, would go to great lengths to find even the slightest chance of a breakthrough.


    Touching the necklace around his chest, Yun Yi resolved that his secret must never be revealed to anyone.


    Just as Yun Yi turned to go back to sleep, a streak of light flashed across the sky, illuminating the dark planet.


    "A¡­ a spaceship?"


    Yun Yi was shocked. His communicator hadn''t successfully connected with the base, so how could a spaceship be here? Suddenly, he shuddered, realizing he had overlooked a significant issue.


    In the universe, every habitable planet was extremely valuable. It was common to hear about adventurers discovering habitable planets in remote star systems or areas far from wormholes, receiving substantial rewards from the government, including noble titles or medals, and even a ten percent stake in the planet.


    Despite such generous rewards, habitable planets were incredibly rare. Even when found, they were rarely handed over to the government. Typically, the discoverers would thoroughly explore the planet for valuable biological resources or rare minerals. If nothing of value was found, they would sell it to black market dealers or the government.


    When Yun Yi first arrived on this planet, he hadn''t realized it was an undiscovered habitable planet. Only now, seeing the unidentified spaceship, did he remember that many from the government forces had also come to this planet.


    However, he was puzzled. Why had they waited until now to survey the planet instead of sending people immediately?


    By now, the sky was getting brighter, and the monsters had disappeared, leaving the planet''s surface covered in endless yellow sand. Without hesitation, Yun Yi rushed back to the ship, piloted his mecha, and quickly erased all traces of his presence before preparing to leave.


    It was a pity to leave behind the large boxes of monster brain matter, but the planet was teeming with monsters, and he could always hunt more if needed. Still, Yun Yi carried enough brain matter to last him several years, limited only by the mecha''s storage capacity.


    With everything ready, Yun Yi looked at the shipwreck that had been his home for over a year, feeling a pang of reluctance.


    But the desire to return was stronger. Only by going back to the base could he continue his dreams, achieve his goals, and avenge his family.


    With this in mind, Yun Yi gritted his teeth, started the mecha, and headed toward the nearby rolling hills.


    "Brother, should we scan the planet to see if there''s anyone else here?"


    On the newly arrived spaceship, a young man dressed elegantly but with a hint of sleaziness looked at Sanchiras, who was sitting in the captain''s seat, and asked hesitantly.


    "San Tan, what are you worried about?" Sanchiras smiled coldly. "Don''t worry, those people had no chance to transmit the planet''s coordinates back."


    San Tan still looked uneasy. "I''m just afraid of the unexpected¡­"


    Sanchiras laughed, stood up, and patted San Tan''s shoulder. "Little brother, you still don''t understand my methods." He walked to the ship''s window, gazing at the sandy landscape, and after a moment, continued, "Over a year ago, I had just been promoted to colonel and was leading my fleet to attack those bugs. Heh, those bugs were tough, wiping out a third of my forces."


    "But then, my luck turned. Those bugs'' flagship stumbled upon this precious planet."


    San Tan glanced at his brother. "Brother¡­ I know all this¡­" Before he could finish, he caught Sanchiras''s cold gaze and remembered his brother''s dislike for interruptions. He quickly apologized, "I¡­ I''m sorry¡­"


    "Hmph¡­"


    Sanchiras snorted and continued, "When we discovered this planet, everyone on the ship was overjoyed¡­ But they didn''t know that such a massive fortune couldn''t be shared equally. This planet is the key to the Muhesin family''s resurgence!"


    "Right after leaving the planet, I contacted several fleet captains. Heh, you wouldn''t believe it, but they all thought the same. As the commander, I just issued a rest order, and all the ships obediently shut down their engines. You know it takes over ten minutes to restart an engine."


    "Ten minutes was all it took to destroy them completely. As for the captains, two of them were from our family. It was that simple, and you still don''t get it?"


    San Tan''s face lit up. "Brother, so this planet belongs entirely to our family? But why did we wait until now to explore it?"


    "You''re really slow¡­" Sanchiras shook his head at his incompetent brother. "Do you think the destruction of an entire fleet could be covered up so easily? Over the past year, if I hadn''t killed all those loyal to the family, the secret would have leaked long ago. The family spent countless resources and effort to cover up the fleet''s destruction. If I had come here earlier, someone would have noticed immediately."


    "Alright, prepare for landing!" Sanchiras looked at the approaching ground. "After landing, send out a mecha squad to conduct a preliminary survey of the planet. Remember! No one is allowed to conceal any valuable minerals. If I find out anyone is hiding something, heh¡­"


    Seeing Sanchiras''s cold smile, the surrounding soldiers shivered, recalling how he had destroyed an entire fleet of over two hundred ships for the sake of a planet. Truly deserving of the title "Ruthless Fox."


    The spaceship slowly landed on the planet''s surface, and a squad of twenty mechas immediately spread out in all directions to survey the minerals. The rest of the crew began setting up a temporary living and command center.


    Little did they know that on this planet, they would encounter a terrifying god of death.

 Chapter 8: The Treasure of Death

    "It''s the government forces..."


    Yun Yi carefully maneuvered his mecha to the farthest point where he could still observe, his eyes filled with hatred as he stared at the prominent emblem on the spaceship.


    When the ship landed, he had gone into hiding, closely watching the people and mechas emerging from it. The mechas were the Patriot IV, commonly used by the government forces and suitable for warriors above the fifth level. Yun Yi had once studied the Patriot series in detail. Although it couldn''t match the Red Mane III in firepower and offensive capabilities, its defense utilized a unique technology from the Tober Corporation, the manufacturer.


    The Tober Corporation, a major conglomerate in the Lichma Federation, was renowned for its advanced research in alloys, placing it at the forefront of the field in the universe. The Patriot IV''s defense was at least ten percentage points higher than that of the Red Mane III.


    However, Yun Yi wasn''t concerned about this.


    Once the spaceship deployed all its mechas, it would be Yun Yi''s turn to act. These mecha warriors would serve as the perfect test for his year of arduous training.


    His slender hands glided over the slightly cold control panel, and a cold smile appeared on Yun Yi''s lips.


    "Report, mecha number 13 has discovered an astonishing deposit of Trandium to the east, 266 kilometers from the base. Preliminary estimates suggest it exceeds 20 million tons."


    Sanchiras abruptly stood up, his face filled with excitement. He had never expected to receive such a significant gift so soon after deploying the mechas. Trandium! The entire Fengzhou star region''s reserves likely didn''t even come close to the deposit just discovered. This extremely rare material was widely used in the engines of warships and mechas, but its scarcity in the universe kept its price consistently high.


    Now, with such a massive rich deposit found, its value alone surpassed that of an ordinary habitable planet.


    "Search! Keep searching! See what other minerals are out there!" Sanchiras''s face was flushed with excitement. Even as the most outstanding figure in his family, someone who had remained composed while killing thousands, he was now visibly agitated, a testament to the immense value of this Trandium deposit.


    After a brief mental calculation, he arrived at a conclusion.


    Even if they sold all their family''s assets, they wouldn''t be able to purchase even a tenth of this deposit.


    It seemed Sanchiras''s good fortune hadn''t run out with the discovery of the Trandium deposit. Less than three minutes later, another communication came in.


    "Report, mecha number 05 has discovered a large quantity of Zenhui stones southwest, 2,754 kilometers from the base. The reserves are unestimable."


    Zenhui stones, one of the most coveted gemstones in the universe, were a source of pride for every noblewoman and princess. These mysterious stones, emitting a dazzling blue-violet hue and shimmering like flowing light, were exorbitantly expensive. A single stone the size of a soybean could be worth as much as a state-of-the-art warship.


    "We''ve struck gold... we''ve struck gold..." Sanchiras was at a loss for words. His mind began to envision the heights his family could reach. Perhaps, in the near future, he would command an innumerable fleet of warships, overthrow the government forces, and become the founding emperor of a great empire.


    "Brother, look at this!"


    Sanchiras turned at the sound of his brother''s voice and saw Santan running in, holding a stone. He was about to reprimand Santan when his gaze fell on the stone in his hands, larger than a human head.


    The dark stone was adorned with flickering multicolored lights, like stars twinkling in the night sky. Its unique appearance suggested it was anything but ordinary.


    "Could it be..." A term flashed in Sanchiras''s mind, and his breathing became rapid. He snatched the stone from Santan''s hands and examined it closely.


    Santan''s voice drew the attention of the nearby workers, and everyone stared at the stone in Sanchiras''s hands, their breaths growing heavier.


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    "Eclipse Radium!"


    Moments later, someone finally called out its name.


    Indeed, it was Eclipse Radium, an extremely rare material used in the construction of ultra-large-caliber Gauss cannons. Its scarcity meant that, aside from the flagship vessels of the royal fleets of a few superpowers, no warship''s main cannon exceeded 500 mm in caliber.


    The existence of Eclipse Radium, aside from its use in critical interstellar fortresses, was mostly hoarded by various nations, rarely revealed to the public. The piece Sanchiras held in his hands was even larger than the one the Tang Empire had declared a national treasure!


    Before the crowd could recover from the brilliance of the Eclipse Radium, the communicator delivered more news of rare mineral discoveries.


    This wasn''t just a planet¡ªit was a treasure trove!


    Sanchiras''s eyes were filled with fervor. At that moment, he wanted to shout to the heavens to vent his excitement.


    As for the others present, aside from the occasional fear when they glanced at Sanchiras, their eyes were filled with greed. After all, delivering such a massive piece of Eclipse Radium to the Tang Empire would at least earn them a count''s title and the reward of at least ten prosperous planets.


    However, under the threat of Sanchiras''s formidable eighth-level martial arts, no one dared to openly seize this priceless ore. Moreover, their families were under the "protection" of the Sanchiras family. What they might do behind the scenes, however, was anyone''s guess.


    Just as everyone was immersed in the discovery of the massive ore and countless rare minerals, an unsettling message came through.


    "Report, mecha number 16 has lost contact northeast, 6,021 kilometers from the base!"


    "What? Lost contact?" Sanchiras was momentarily stunned, perhaps overwhelmed by the earlier excitement. It took him a few seconds to react. "Are you saying one of our mechas has lost contact? Did it send out a distress signal?"


    The communications officer immediately replied, "Mecha number 16 suddenly lost contact. There was no distress signal or abnormal situation reported. We suspect the mecha malfunctioned. Should we send someone to investigate?"


    Sanchiras snorted coldly. "That piece of junk, breaking down now of all times. This is going to delay the mineral survey. Forget it, the survey is urgent. We don''t have time to deal with this. Once we complete this mission and return, I''ll get everyone the latest Diamond X mechas from the Tang Empire!"


    Buoyed by the discovery of so many rare minerals, Sanchiras spoke with confidence.


    "Yes, sir!"


    No one paid much attention to this news. Their focus was now on how much bonus they would receive upon their return or whether they could secure shares in some of the mineral deposits.


    Five minutes later, another message came in.


    "What? Mecha number 17 has also lost contact?" Sanchiras looked at his communications officer in disbelief.


    "Perhaps... perhaps this mecha also malfunctioned..." The communications officer wiped the sweat from his forehead. If two mechas had indeed broken down, the ship''s mecha repair technician would likely be executed on the spot.


    Without hesitation, Sanchiras opened the computer beside him and pulled up a map of the entire planet.


    "With the base as the center, mecha number 16 was exploring along the line 20 degrees north of east, and mecha number 17 was 40 degrees north of east. The two weren''t too far apart... If that''s the case..."


    Sanchiras immediately ordered, "Notify all mechas to proceed with caution. We might have some trouble. Especially mechas 14, 15, 18, and 19¡ªthe enemy''s next target might be them."


    Although the communications officer was puzzled about what kind of enemy could exist on such a remote planet, he faithfully relayed Sanchiras''s order.


    "Hmm, have the nearest mecha, number 6, check the wreckage of the Restoration Army''s ship to see if there''s anything of note." Looking at the map, Sanchiras seemed to recall something. Though the possibility was infinitesimally small, his inherently suspicious nature prompted him to send someone to investigate.


    Sanchiras had ordered all mecha warriors to proceed with caution, but this didn''t improve their situation.


    "Report, mecha number 15 has lost contact..."


    "Report, mecha number 14 has lost contact..."


    "Report, mecha number 13..."


    "Report, mecha number 12..."


    In less than half an hour, four more mechas had lost contact. Instantly, a sense of panic began to spread throughout the base.


    Despite the mecha warriors'' utmost caution, with all detectors activated and their full attention on their surroundings, some clever warriors had already begun moving closer to their nearby comrades.


    "Have the mechas sent to search for numbers 16 and 17 arrived yet?" Sanchiras didn''t appear flustered but merely rubbed his temples. He knew there were only two possibilities: either there was some strange creature or phenomenon on the planet capable of destroying mechas before their pilots could react, or there were one or more high-level warriors from the Restoration Army''s flagship that had crashed here over a year ago.


    Either scenario would give him a headache.


    Upon hearing Sanchiras''s question, the communications officer operated the communicator for a moment, then suddenly looked up, as if in disbelief, and muttered, "Mechas 18, 19, and 20 have all lost contact simultaneously..."


    "Three mechas?" Sanchiras found it hard to believe. Even he, an eighth-level martial artist, couldn''t take out three mechas without their pilots noticing, even if those pilots were only at the fifth level.


    If it really was a Restoration Army mecha warrior, achieving such a feat would require someone at the high eighth level or even the ninth level. However, there was another possibility: a combat technique!


    A powerful mecha combat technique could instantly multiply a mecha''s attack power several times over. Of course, the warrior would need to be taught the technique and spend considerable time practicing it.


    Clearly, this was impossible. It had to be that a significant number of Restoration Army mecha warriors were still alive on this planet. Sanchiras frowned slightly, pondering for a moment before ordering, "Command all mechas to gather around mecha number 7. Once assembled, return immediately."

 Chapter 9: Twin Star Spin Kill

    "Command! All mechas gather around mecha number 7. Once assembled, return immediately."


    After issuing this order, Sanchiras still felt uneasy and immediately added, "All non-combat personnel, board the ship immediately. Also, anyone with a mecha, get it out now!"


    With that, Sanchiras ignored the panicked staff and strode toward the ship. For his own safety, he had no choice but to join the fight.


    Clenching his fists, a cold smile appeared on Sanchiras''s lips.


    "Whoever you are, I, Sanchiras, will make sure you don''t leave here alive!"


    Watching the cluster of red dots on the mecha''s screen that seemed to be gathering together, Yun Yi gave up on chasing the remaining mecha warriors. His mecha''s active radar was turned off, which had both advantages and disadvantages.


    Without the various detection rays, he couldn''t accurately and timely determine the enemy''s location. However, the enemy also couldn''t detect his position. To locate the enemy, Yun Yi relied entirely on his exceptional eyesight.


    Using the passive radar to absorb the enemy''s detection waves, he could determine their general direction. Then, with his eagle-like vision, he would spot the enemy mecha and deliver a precise, devastating strike before they could react, instantly eliminating them.


    After taking out eight mechas, the enemy no longer dared to spread out their forces, which somewhat thwarted Yun Yi''s plan.


    His original idea was to eliminate all the mecha warriors in the wild, leaving the staff with no strength to resist his assault, and the ship would then belong to him.


    But now that the enemy had gathered, continuing this strategy would risk his situation being reported back to their ship by any mechas he didn''t take out in time.


    If the enemy realized they were no match for him and decided to flee in their ship, only to return with more forces later, that would be disastrous.


    It seemed the plan needed to change.


    Yun Yi stretched and flexed his hands slightly before piloting his mecha toward the ship at full speed.


    He was very satisfied with his performance.


    When facing the first opponent, he could immediately tell that the rookie was just an ordinary fifth-level warrior. Although he had imagined the fight would be straightforward, even Yun Yi hadn''t expected to instantly kill the mecha with a single strike!


    Was he really that powerful now?


    After taking down the enemy, Yun Yi seemed to doubt his own abilities. But the mecha lying on the ground, its control room pierced by his blade, was undeniable proof.


    One strike, one kill!


    Was this really his level?


    Yun Yi was still unsure, so he hurriedly moved toward the second mecha nearby. After taking out five mechas in quick succession, his confidence soared. When he noticed three mechas approaching, Yun Yi hid in the sand, ambushing them as they landed. With his superhuman eyesight, he accurately shot the farthest mecha with a single cannon blast, stunning the pilot, then swiftly pierced the nearest mecha with his blade. The last mecha was destroyed by a spinning strike from Yun Yi''s bare-handed combat skills, its control room shattered, and the unfortunate pilot reduced to a pulp.


    The entire process took less than a second.


    In such a short time, the enemy couldn''t send out any information. Even though Yun Yi had pre-programmed some of the possible commands into short sequences before the ambush, his hands still felt like they were cramping after the fight.


    After taking down the stunned mecha warrior, Yun Yi looked at his trembling hands and smiled bitterly. He realized that his hand speed couldn''t keep up with his thoughts. Short bursts were manageable, but over time, operational errors would inevitably occur.


    It seemed he needed to work on improving his hand speed.


    As the ship gradually came into view in the distance, Yun Yi stopped reminiscing about the battle. Reviewing and summarizing the fight immediately afterward often helped him identify his shortcomings. But now wasn''t the time for that.


    The ship, over seven hundred meters long, was parked steadily, showing no signs of movement.


    Beneath the ship, five mechas were stationed.


    Apart from the two modified mechas at the front, whose models Yun Yi couldn''t identify, the remaining three were low-end mechas, likely just filler.


    "Who are you?"


    The lead black mecha issued a query, but Yun Yi had no intention of responding. Based on his calculations, the eight mechas gathering nearby would arrive here in about twelve minutes. He had to take out the five mechas in front of him within that time, or he''d be caught in a pincer attack.


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    Without hesitation, Yun Yi targeted the lead black mecha and charged forward. The Red Mane III was like a wild horse unleashed, its unstoppable momentum immediately causing the three low-level mechas to retreat a few steps.


    "Hmph! Let me, Sanchiras, see what you''re made of. Santan, stand aside. Those three are useless!"


    Sanchiras didn''t use the internal channel, so Yun Yi heard his name.


    "Sanchiras..."


    Over the past year, Yun Yi had often thought of this name. This was the man who had destroyed the entire 302nd Squadron, slaughtering his comrades. Every moment, Yun Yi had imagined the day he would face this eighth-level warrior and cut him down. Now, the opportunity had arrived!


    Sanchiras assumed a defensive stance, showing great proficiency. The other black mecha, presumably Santan, along with the three low-level mechas, immediately retreated and stood by the ship, observing.


    As Yun Yi charged toward Sanchiras, he suddenly drew an alloy longsword and thrust it diagonally through a gap in Sanchiras''s defense.


    In the first move, Sanchiras''s forehead was covered in cold sweat. He couldn''t believe the opponent had spotted the flaw in his defense so quickly. Even when practicing with the family''s tenth-level instructor, the flaw hadn''t been detected this swiftly.


    Who was he facing?


    Despite his thoughts, Sanchiras knew he couldn''t defend against the opponent''s relentless assault and quickly retreated, using distance to mitigate his disadvantage.


    However, his mecha, in line with the government forces'' tradition, prioritized defense over offense, and even its speed couldn''t match the Red Mane III, widely used by the Restoration Army.


    "It seems I''ll have to use that move." After several exchanges, Sanchiras hadn''t gained any advantage. Instead, he was steadily retreating under the opponent''s fierce attacks. If this continued, he had no chance of winning. A glint appeared in Sanchiras''s eyes, and his mecha stopped retreating. Just as Yun Yi''s blade struck, Sanchiras leaped into the air...


    "Butterfly Slash!" Sanchiras roared. The mecha''s shoulders instantly launched two missiles, followed by the mecha''s bulky frame, which somehow managed to appear graceful. With a flashy move, Sanchiras swung his longsword toward Yun Yi.


    "Butterfly...?"


    Sanchiras hadn''t switched channels, and Yun Yi was momentarily stunned. Although he hadn''t seen this combat technique before, it was clearly a dazzling one. Watching Sanchiras''s movements, it did resemble a butterfly. However, while this move might look elegant on a slim, female mecha, on Sanchiras''s bulky frame, it looked more like a pig dancing¡ªutterly grotesque.


    But grotesque or not, the technique had power.


    Yun Yi carefully observed the trajectory of the attack, his hands firing a dense barrage of bullets, which were highly effective at close range for intercepting missiles.


    "Boom..."


    The missiles exploded mid-air, kicking up sand and obscuring the view in the gray-yellow sky.


    There!


    Yun Yi''s eyes widened, and his hands flew over the control panel. The mecha dodged the attack in an extremely peculiar manner. He hadn''t expected the Butterfly Slash to be so dangerous.


    In that split second, Yun Yi was horrified to discover that Sanchiras''s blade had tightly enveloped him. If he had made even the slightest mistake, the overwhelming blade would have sliced his mecha in two. At best, he would have lost his left arm.


    Fortunately, Yun Yi''s enhanced brain temporarily surged, allowing him to dodge this fatal move.


    The Butterfly Slash was indeed formidable. Even in Sanchiras''s clumsy execution, its power was astonishing. In Yun Yi''s eyes, it was on par with the signature moves of famous competitors in major mecha tournaments.


    Yun Yi was shocked, but Sanchiras was even more so.


    A chance encounter in his youth had allowed him to learn this powerful technique. He had always kept it as his trump card, and anyone who had seen him use it, apart from a few family members, had been killed by him.


    Once, when Sanchiras was only at the seventh level, he had used this move to kill an opponent above the eighth level.


    The Butterfly Slash was undoubtedly powerful, but since Sanchiras''s mecha was a heavy model, its effectiveness was somewhat diminished. However, Sanchiras had his own method: launching two missiles before the slash to maximize the confusion for the enemy.


    With this move, he had always been invincible.


    But never had he imagined that on this desolate, uninhabited planet, someone would dodge his attack.


    And this person, from what he could tell, was definitely not above the eighth level!


    "Die!"


    Remembering how close he had come to death moments ago, Yun Yi''s anger surged.


    A combat technique? You have one, and so do I!


    "Twin Star Spin Kill!"


    In an instant, Yun Yi''s Red Mane III spun like a top, charging toward Sanchiras. The overwhelming killing intent and terrifying momentum made Sanchiras feel a chill.


    How to dodge? How could he dodge this move?


    The usually calm Sanchiras was thrown into chaos by this Twin Star Spin Kill.


    Retreat? No, the opponent''s speed far exceeded his.


    Left or right? No, he was completely enveloped in the opponent''s attack.


    Up or down? No, there was no escape.


    It seemed there was no way to evade this seemingly invincible technique!


    Watching the rapidly approaching mecha, Sanchiras could only raise his arms to shield the control room, relying on the mecha''s superior defense to withstand Yun Yi''s attack.


    But it was futile.


    At such high speed, the mecha''s weapon would possess immense power, something no ordinary mecha could withstand.


    "Slash..."


    Two flashes of light...


    When the dust settled, Santan and the others, hiding by the ship, stared in disbelief.


    This couldn''t be real!


    In his eyes, his nearly invincible brother couldn''t be defeated by such a person. But the reality before him proved that nothing was impossible.


    Sanchiras''s black mecha still stood there.


    But its arms were no longer attached.


    Without arms, the mecha was like a toothless, clawless tiger, at the mercy of its opponent.


    And outside the mecha''s control room was a massive alloy longsword.


    "I... surrender!" Sanchiras''s face turned pale. He couldn''t imagine how this mysterious mecha, living on this alien planet for a year and three months, had learned such a powerful technique.


    Under the overwhelming momentum, all of Sanchiras''s confidence had been shattered.


    "Surrender?" A smile appeared on Yun Yi''s lips as he remembered his comrades on the Thunderclap, the old man who had brought him aboard, and the captain who had taught him to pilot the Red Mane III...


    "That''s impossible!"


    The longsword plunged into the mecha''s control room and slowly withdrew. Streams of blood flowed from the cracks in the control room.


    Yun Yi didn''t bother checking if Sanchiras was dead. He was confident that under the high-frequency vibration of the alloy longsword, there would be no survivors.


    "And you? Death or surrender?"


    Standing tall like a war god, the red mecha exuded an overwhelming killing intent, as if warning Santan and the others not to resist, or they would surely die...


    "We surrender, we surrender..."


    At that moment, the twelve mechas also returned. Just as Yun Yi prepared for a tough battle, he saw that all the mechas had sent surrender communications.


    It turned out that during Yun Yi''s fight with Sanchiras, they had arrived. After witnessing the stunning battle, their strongest fighter, Sanchiras, had been killed by Yun Yi. At that point, they couldn''t muster even a shred of courage to fight Yun Yi.


    In this battle, Yun Yi, with a single mecha, captured thirteen mecha warriors, 436 members of the Sanchiras family''s government forces, and an intact ship.

 Chapter 10: Return to Base

    "The anti-gravity device is activated!"


    "The ship''s engines are functioning properly and ready for takeoff at any time!"


    "Take off!" Yun Yi''s voice, slightly low, issued the command. The battleship slowly lifted off the ground and soared into the sky.


    In the spacious command room, Yun Yi stood alone by the window. He gazed at the remnants of the Thunderclap on the planet, which grew smaller and smaller until they were no longer visible. For a long time, he remained silent.


    "Finally... I''ve left."


    After gaining control over everyone, Yun Yi didn''t take them with him. Instead, he provided them with ample supplies and left them on the planet. Taking them along would inevitably expose the planet''s location. Yun Yi wasn''t a bloodthirsty person, and most of these people were researchers who hadn''t been involved in the empire''s atrocities.


    The most crucial point was Santan''s repeated assurance that, apart from his brother, no one else knew the coordinates of this planet.


    After interrogating everyone separately, the information he obtained was consistent.


    The man named Sanchiras was a lesser son in their family, not well-regarded. To secure greater benefits, he had cautiously kept the planet''s coordinates a secret, even with the family''s support.


    With this in mind, Yun Yi felt at ease leaving them on the planet. Whether they could survive or live well was beyond his concern. Thinking of their terrified expressions when they saw the monsters that night, a smile appeared on Yun Yi''s face.


    Soon, the ship broke through the atmosphere.


    With today''s advanced technology, a single person could fully control a ship with the help of a large onboard computer. Although it wasn''t possible to control every aspect comprehensively, setting a correct course allowed the computer to handle the rest.


    After leaving the atmosphere, Yun Yi eagerly opened the communicator, attempting to establish a link with the base.


    "My lord! We''ve received a strange communication!"


    In the Restoration Army''s base, a communications soldier hurriedly reported to Lord Difu, who was in charge.


    "Communication?" Lord Difu asked in surprise. "I don''t recall dispatching any ships recently. Can you identify the source?"


    The communications soldier operated for a moment and quickly said, "My lord, it''s from a government military ship, commonly known as the White Eagle!"


    "That''s impossible!" Lord Difu exclaimed. "How would the government military know our secret communication channel? Is there a spy among us?"


    The communications soldier was at a loss, staring at the blinking communication signal on the screen. "My lord, should we accept the communication?"


    Lord Difu paced back and forth, then gritted his teeth and said, "Accept it. Let''s see what they want."


    The communication was established, and instead of a government military officer, a young man in worn Restoration Army uniform appeared on the screen.


    "Who are you..." Lord Difu stared at the old uniform. It was indeed a Restoration Army uniform. But who was this young man?


    Yun Yi, through the screen, clearly saw Lord Difu''s insignia and quickly performed the salute reserved for nobility in the Zhao Song Empire. "Respected Lord Difu, my name is Yun Yi, from the third mecha squadron of the flagship of the 302nd Squadron, Third Fleet. My rank is private."


    "Yun Yi...?" Lord Difu was certain he had never heard this name before. But then, the young man mentioned the military unit, which shocked him.


    "You''re saying... you''re from the 302nd Squadron?" Lord Difu seemed to recall something, his face showing a hint of excitement.


    After receiving the young man''s confirmation, he hurriedly asked, "Then tell me, the name of your commander and your mecha squadron leader."


    Yun Yi nodded and said, "My lord, our fleet commander was Count Telenso, and our mecha squadron leader was Lord Short Chris."


    "Where are they now!"


    Yun Yi''s face showed a trace of nostalgia as he shook his head. "They have sacrificed."


    Lord Difu''s face darkened. Over the past year, the communications department had received intermittent signals daily, all from the flagship Thunderclap of the 302nd Squadron. However, no matter how they tried to decode it, the signal, heavily interfered with by electromagnetic waves, remained unreadable. They had attempted to send messages back, but there was no response.


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    Almost everyone believed that the 302nd Squadron was trapped in some remote corner of the universe. But without accurate information about their situation, any rescue attempt was impossible.


    But now, right before Lord Difu, was a young man claiming to be a soldier from the 302nd Squadron.


    "Ah, I see." Lord Difu nodded. Regardless, this young man had escaped that dire situation and was piloting a government military ship. From the video, it was clear that he was alone on the ship. Escaping in a government military ship, no matter the circumstances, made him a hero. And the Restoration Army desperately needed a hero to boost the low morale of the base. Without hesitation, Lord Difu said, "Send us your current coordinates. We''ll send someone to pick you up."


    After receiving Yun Yi''s exact coordinates, Lord Difu hurriedly left.


    Soon, the high-ranking officials of the base were informed of the news. As Lord Difu had anticipated, everyone showed disbelief. But no one opposed bringing the young man back, even at the risk of falling into a government military trap.


    Everything seemed to proceed smoothly. The day after Yun Yi provided his coordinates, a small fleet of ten ships found him and brought him back to the base. Of course, he didn''t forget to memorize and then delete the planet''s coordinates from the ship''s computer.


    The operation was entirely confidential. The soldiers on the ship didn''t question Yun Yi but conducted a physical examination and took a DNA sample for comparison.


    The Restoration Army''s base was located in an asteroid belt within an uninhabited star system in the southernmost part of the former Zhao Song Empire. The entrance was extremely hidden and followed a specific pattern. Without the exact timing, finding the entrance was impossible.


    Upon returning to the base, Yun Yi was secretly escorted by the Restoration Army''s military police. All actions were under the control of the base''s high command, and the news of Yun Yi''s return was not leaked.


    "Are you Yun Yi? The sole survivor of the 302nd Squadron?"


    Less than an hour after Yun Yi returned to the base, he was taken to a small meeting room. Inside were the base''s influential figures. After he sat down, an elderly man with graying hair eagerly asked.


    Yun Yi didn''t find this unusual. After all, he was just a seventeen-year-old boy. Facing these great figures who had once seemed so lofty and led their battles, he only felt a bit nervous inside.


    "Yes, my lord."


    Yun Yi was somewhat restrained. He wasn''t accustomed to this kind of interrogation-like questioning.


    "Ha, child, don''t be nervous. We''re just curious about your experience."


    The elderly man was about to ask more, but the amiable-looking old man in the center stopped him. "First, let me introduce myself. I am Zhao Xuanxin. I believe you''ve heard of me?"


    Hearing the old man''s kind words, Yun Yi immediately felt relieved. "Zhao Xuanxin? Could you be the Prince of Zhenbei?" Yun Yi''s face showed a hint of respect. Before joining the army, this name had been legendary to him. After the fall of the Zhao Song Empire, the remaining resistance had been led by this old prince in their arduous struggle.


    For Yun Yi, who had grown up in the base, this name was very familiar.


    "Prince of Zhenbei..." Zhao Xuanxin smiled self-deprecatingly. "The empire is now reduced to this dilapidated base. What Zhenbei..." For a moment, everyone present felt a sense of sorrow and remained silent.


    Seeing Yun Yi''s curious gaze, Zhao Xuanxin smiled gently. "Alright, child, we old men are very curious. Could you tell us what happened to your 302nd Squadron?"


    Although Yun Yi knew he would have to recount his story upon returning, he took a moment to organize his thoughts. He then narrated everything from the moment he boarded the Thunderclap to the present. Of course, he kept the secret of the necklace to himself. As for his martial arts progress, he attributed it to his relentless training on the alien planet.


    Regarding the mysterious planet, Yun Yi described it as a harsh world filled with electromagnetic storms, with a powerful magnetic field nearby that made it impossible to accurately record its coordinates. Thus, the government military had only found the planet after over a year, and he had seized the opportunity to take their ship.


    As for the abundant rare minerals on the planet, Yun Yi decided not to mention them.


    He knew that if he revealed this, the base would immediately send people to search for the planet. If they didn''t find it, that would be one thing. But if they did, and through some clues discovered his secret, his precious family heirloom necklace would likely be confiscated immediately.


    After he finished speaking, everyone fell silent.


    It was only after a long while that Zhao Xuanxin said with regret, "Poor Count Telenso and the 302nd Squadron, they have fallen..."


    At this point, a distinguished middle-aged military officer spoke up. "Hmm, I''m very interested in the planet Yun Yi mentioned. If our Restoration Army were to relocate there, could we better recuperate and lay the foundation for our future counterattack?"


    As soon as he said this, several people''s expressions changed, and they quickly voiced their agreement.


    "General Zhao is right. From what I heard, the planet has a strong magnetic field, so those vile government forces wouldn''t be able to find us."


    "I also agree. Yun Yi lived on that planet for over a year, mostly outside the mecha. This clearly shows that the planet is habitable."


    Yun Yi sighed inwardly. The officer wasn''t wrong. In this small base, the Restoration Army lived in constant fear. If not for the cause of restoration, they would have fallen apart long ago. Even now, some had likely lost hope.


    He could only pray that they wouldn''t find the planet. And if they did, they wouldn''t discover his secret.


    At this moment, Prince Zhao Xuanxin spoke.


    "Do you think it''s hard for us to survive here? That it''s dangerous here? That there''s no guarantee of life here?"


    As soon as he said this, those who had voiced their agreement earlier blushed.


    "This base is the result of over a decade of effort by nearly a million people. Are we to abandon it just like that?" The old man''s words carried authority, and no one dared to interrupt, listening quietly.


    "Let''s not even discuss whether we can find that planet. Even if we do, according to Yun Yi, the planet has only a small amount of water and is covered in yellow sand. Can such an environment support large-scale human migration? Can the land be transformed to grow plants and food? Will the large groups of monsters pose a threat no less than the government military? The sky is filled with electromagnetic storms, and even communication is impossible. How would we control it? Have you thought about all this?"


    Zhao Xuanxin''s words left everyone speechless. Yun Yi also secretly admired the old man''s sharp insight, as every point hit the mark.


    "However, I personally believe that we should still search for this planet." Zhao Xuanxin spoke again, but this time, his words didn''t sit well with Yun Yi.


    "Once we find this planet, we''ll send a team to investigate the issues I mentioned. If possible, we''ll establish a logistics base there. This way, even if our current base is discovered by the government military, we''ll have a fallback and won''t be trapped here."

 Chapter 11: Breaking Through to Level Eight

    The meeting didn''t last long.


    After discussing the exploration of the mysterious planet, the attendees secretly awarded Yun Yi a medal. In addition to promoting him to the rank of captain, he also received a Third-Class Golden Star Medal. The promotion in rank wasn''t particularly significant, but the Third-Class Golden Star Medal greatly pleased Yun Yi.


    In the heyday of the Zhao Song Empire, the Third-Class Golden Star Medal was awarded only once every decade. Those who received it were all famous generals in the empire''s history, including some whose names Yun Yi had grown up hearing.


    Even now, with the empire reduced to this small base, the Third-Class Golden Star Medal was rarely awarded.


    However, at Zhao Xuanxin''s request, this medal was to be awarded secretly, as the base leadership didn''t want the matter to be made public. Although Yun Yi didn''t know their reasoning, he assumed they had their difficulties. Without much thought, he agreed to the condition.


    After the meeting, Zhao Xuanxin didn''t let Yun Yi leave alone. Instead, he took him back to his own home.


    When Yun Yi was a child, he often wondered what the lives of the empire''s high-ranking officials were like. But when he entered the Prince of Zhenbei''s modest house, he was stunned.


    There was no luxurious decoration, no countless servants, no endless supply of food, and no bottomless wine. Everything was just like Yun Yi''s childhood home.


    An ordinary house, two or three hurriedly passing servants, and simple decorations¡ªeverything was so similar to the home in Yun Yi''s memories.


    "What would you like to eat?" Zhao Xuanxin led Yun Yi to a small dining room and asked kindly, like a friendly old neighbor.


    Yun Yi scratched his head sheepishly. For over a year, he had been eating food made by a food synthesizer. While the food might taste good occasionally, eating almost the same thing every day would make anyone tire of it.


    "How about... some home-cooked dishes..."


    "Hahaha." Zhao Xuanxin laughed heartily. "From the look on your face, I can tell what you''ve been eating for the past year." With that, he called over a servant waiting at the door and gave a few quiet instructions.


    After the servant left, Zhao Xuanxin carefully observed the young man before him. His black, slightly messy short hair, a delicate yet resolute face with dark eyes, a straight nose, and lips like a knife''s edge¡ªeverything indicated that the young man was not only handsome but also possessed a strong will and an indomitable spirit.


    Zhao Xuanxin prided himself on his ability to judge character.


    "By the way, Yun Yi, I heard earlier that your martial arts have reached the high stage of level seven. Tsk tsk, to go from just entering level six to nearly reaching level eight in just over a year¡ªyou must have endured a lot of hardship."


    Hearing the old man''s question, Yun Yi couldn''t help but recall his experiences over the past year. The sacrifice of his comrades, the crash of the ship, the ferocious monsters, the lonely life... As he thought about it, his eyes began to sting.


    "Haha, it''s my fault for bringing it up..." Seeing Yun Yi''s expression, Zhao Xuanxin guessed what he was thinking and quickly changed the subject. "Your progress in martial arts¡ªcan you estimate when you''ll break through to level eight?"


    At the mention of martial arts, Yun Yi''s spirits lifted, and confidence spread across his face. Without hesitation, he said, "Your Highness, give me a month, and I will definitely break through the barrier and reach level eight."


    "Oh? Are you sure?" Zhao Xuanxin had originally estimated that, after leaving such a harsh environment, Yun Yi would likely relax his demands on himself. He thought it would take at least a year for Yun Yi to break through to level eight. He hadn''t expected Yun Yi to give himself only a month.


    "Good! Young people should have drive and ambition!" Zhao Xuanxin laughed heartily. "Alright, I''ll give you three months. You don''t need to participate in any work¡ªjust focus on your training. If you can reach level eight within three months, I''ll promote you to major. Do you have the confidence?"


    In the empire, military ranks were similar to those in most countries in the universe. The rank of a captain was marked by a single bar, with one star for a second lieutenant, two stars for a first lieutenant, and three stars for a captain. For field officers, the rank insignia became two bars, with one star for a major, two stars for a lieutenant colonel, and so on. As for generals, the rank insignia featured a simplified golden warship on one end and a white mecha on the other, with stars indicating rank.


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    What Zhao Xuanxin meant was to promote Yun Yi, who had just been promoted to captain, to the rank of major.


    A major... Yun Yi couldn''t help but fantasize. In the empire, a major could command a main battleship or a battalion of mecha warriors. If he could command a battalion of mecha warriors, wouldn''t his chances of revenge be greater?


    Immediately, Yun Yi stood up excitedly, looking eagerly at Zhao Xuanxin. "Your Highness, I don''t need three months. Just one month, and I will definitely break through to level eight."


    As he spoke, a servant brought in several plates of home-cooked dishes, and Yun Yi''s appetite was immediately whetted.


    "Hahaha, I said three months, so three months it is. You just focus on your training." Zhao Xuanxin motioned for Yun Yi to sit down and pointed to the dishes on the table. "Just a few home-cooked dishes. I didn''t have the chef make too much¡ªjust enough for the two of us. Don''t waste it. Although the base has enough food now, it''s not something we can squander. This... was all obtained through the hard work of our soldiers."


    With that, he revealed the hardships the base was currently facing.


    Yun Yi remembered that over a year ago, the base hadn''t worried about food and other supplies. Back then, they could still receive support from a few countries that had friendly relations with the Zhao Song Empire.


    Yun Yi didn''t say anything more. Being with Zhao Xuanxin, he always felt something blocking his heart, and he just wanted to find a few government military thugs to vent his dissatisfaction.


    After leaving Zhao Xuanxin''s residence, Yun Yi returned directly to the house assigned to him. He had originally planned to look up some old friends, but he quickly remembered that, apart from studying and training, he hadn''t had many close friends.


    For the next month, Yun Yi''s only activity was training.


    During this time, Zhao Xuanxin came to visit him, but seeing Yun Yi fully immersed in his training, he didn''t disturb him. The base was in dire need of high-level warriors.


    In a small house in the northeastern residential area of the base, the interior was slightly messy, and the trash bin by the door was filled with packaging from instant food. These two points indicated that the owner of the house wasn''t a particularly diligent person.


    The neighbors were curious about the new resident, the young man who kept to himself. Most of the neighbors didn''t know who the newcomer was, but from the occasional mention, they heard he was a young, single man with the rank of captain.


    At this moment, the house was empty. On the rooftop, Yun Yi sat cross-legged, eyes closed, concentrating on controlling the energy within his body.


    After a month of diligent training, Yun Yi felt that the internal energy in his body was more than sufficient to break through the barrier of level seven. Once he broke through this barrier, he would enter the ranks of level eight in martial arts. Speaking of barriers, it was just a general term for the difficulties encountered in martial arts breakthroughs. In reality, to break through to the next level, one needed to accumulate more and stronger internal energy and then use it to impact previously blocked acupoints.


    Breaking through the acupoints would expand the flow of internal energy in the body and allow for more internal energy to be stored¡ªthis was what breaking through meant.


    Recalling the description of breaking through to the eighth level in the "Wave-Breaking Technique," what he needed to do now was to gather all his strength, control his internal energy, and break through the five acupoints located on the head: Fengchi, Chengling, Zhengying, Muchuang, and Benshen.


    The abundant internal energy surged joyfully through Yun Yi''s broad meridians. Under his control, it rushed toward the Fengchi acupoint at the back of his head. With the first impact, Yun Yi felt dizzy, and the Fengchi acupoint wasn''t broken through, only slightly loosened.


    He hadn''t expected this acupoint to be so stubborn.


    Yun Yi frowned slightly and gathered his internal energy again, dividing the front into three sharp arrows for the impact.


    With a more forceful impact than the first, the acupoint loosened significantly, but Yun Yi didn''t fare much better. The intense dizziness made him feel weak all over.


    After a brief rest, Yun Yi gathered his energy for the third time. This time, he merged the front of his internal energy into a single sharp arrow. Taking a deep breath, he surged his internal energy forward with the force of a tidal wave.


    At the moment of impact with the Fengchi acupoint, Yun Yi felt a blackness before his eyes and immediately diverted a small portion of his internal energy to protect the meridians around the Fengchi acupoint. However, the Fengchi acupoint finally gave way under Yun Yi''s thunderous impact.


    At this point, Yun Yi didn''t stop. He gathered this internal energy and continued to charge inward.


    The Chengling, Zhengying, and Muchuang acupoints were broken through like splitting bamboo by Yun Yi''s abundant internal energy, finally stopping at the last acupoint, Benshen.


    The Benshen acupoint wasn''t something that could be broken through with just a few impacts.


    According to the "Wave-Breaking Technique," to break through this dangerous acupoint, one needed to minimize the division of internal energy within the body, splitting it into dozens or even hundreds of small streams of energy, and then continuously impact the blockage in this acupoint.


    Precise control of internal energy? This was Yun Yi''s specialty.


    Effortlessly, he divided his internal energy into over five hundred parts. Just this level of precise control of internal energy alone would make Yun Yi stand out among all those below the innate level.


    With the internal energy divided, Yun Yi controlled these tiny streams of energy, directing them one after another to impact the same point on the Benshen acupoint. After an hour of continuous impact, the thick blockage in the Benshen acupoint finally gave way.


    Breakthrough!


    Instantly, Yun Yi felt a warm current flowing from Benshen to his dantian, coursing joyfully through his body and continuously strengthening his meridians. Wherever the internal energy reached, every part of his body felt comfortable, warm, and pleasant.


    Opening his eyes, Yun Yi immediately noticed that his vision was much clearer than when he was at level seven. Clenching his fists, the explosive power in his arms made him feel as if he could shatter a planet.


    Level eight in martial arts!


    Standing tall on his rooftop, letting the gentle breeze brush past him, Yun Yi closed his eyes and quietly felt the flow of the wind.


    After a long while, he opened his eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his still somewhat youthful face.


    Level eight meant that, in the entire base, he was now the strongest! Even the captain of the guard, who was known as the base''s strongest warrior, was only at level eight, just like him.

 Chapter 12: Pirate Raid

    Yun Yi leaned against the wall, feeling somewhat frustrated, ignoring the Restoration Army mecha warriors who were pointing and whispering about him. Though they were about ten meters away, they probably thought their conversation wouldn''t be overheard. However, Yun Yi, who had just reached level eight in martial arts and had his body enhanced by his family heirloom necklace, could hear every word clearly.


    "Hey, Yves, what do you think that kid''s background is?"


    "How should I know? He¡¯s so young but already has the rank of major, yet he¡¯s here acting like a regular soldier. I think he¡¯s got a screw loose," a bearded sergeant said, glancing at Yun Yi with a sneer. Seeing no reaction, he spat on the ground.


    "I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s got a screw loose, but I know I¡¯m suffering more than any of you," said a middle-aged sergeant major, his face full of frustration. "Why did this guy have to end up under my command? Me, a sergeant major, leading a squad of seven or eight soldiers is one thing, but having a major among them? It¡¯s ridiculous."


    He continued, his voice tinged with resentment, "How did he even get promoted to major at such a young age? He¡¯s barely out of diapers. And our captain, Captain Chen Kuang, is only a major himself. How am I supposed to manage someone with the same rank as the captain? It¡¯s madness..."


    "Hey, Hewitt, stop complaining. I think this kid is probably the offspring of some high-ranking Restoration Army official, here to get some experience. He won¡¯t stick around for long. But during combat, you¡¯d better be careful. Don¡¯t let this kid get killed, or we¡¯ll all be in deep trouble."


    Listening to their conversation, Yun Yi felt a headache coming on.


    After breaking through to level eight, Yun Yi had immediately informed Zhao Xuanxin, who had taken a keen interest in him. Delighted, Zhao Xuanxin had promptly notified the relevant departments to promote Yun Yi to the rank of major.


    However, Zhao Xuanxin believed that although Yun Yi had reached level eight, he had almost no combat experience with the Restoration Army and needed to be sent out for training.


    At the time, Yun Yi had agreed with this assessment. However, he hadn¡¯t expected that, despite returning to his roots as a mecha infantryman, Zhao Xuanxin would assign him, a major, to serve under a sergeant major, effectively making him a common soldier.


    Well, a common soldier it is. After all, these people are his comrades. He¡¯d just have to prove himself on the battlefield. Glancing at the soldiers who kept turning to look at him, Yun Yi smiled at them and walked away, leaving them staring at his retreating figure in confusion.


    The ship slowly left the base, accompanied by several other warships. It seemed this mission was just a small-scale operation.


    "Ding dong..."


    "Come in!" Hearing the doorbell, Yun Yi was puzzled. He didn¡¯t know many people on this ship. Who could it be? Nonetheless, he shut down his computer, ending his study session.


    When he left the base, he had bought himself a personal computer and started gathering information on mecha. Fortunately, with Zhao Xuanxin¡¯s help, he had obtained a wealth of classified mecha data that was inaccessible to the average person.


    The door opened, revealing a somewhat elderly-looking middle-aged man. From his rank insignia, Yun Yi immediately recognized him as Captain Chen Kuang of the ship.


    Yun Yi saluted and asked, "Captain Chen, what brings you here?"


    "Ha ha," Chen Kuang laughed, casually taking off his military cap and hanging it on the wall, as if he were at home. "I came to see the young hero that Lord Zhao recommended."


    Yun Yi scratched his head sheepishly. "What young hero... I¡¯m just an ordinary soldier."


    Chen Kuang examined the young man before him, his steady demeanor earning his approval. "Don¡¯t play dumb with me. Although everything about you is classified, Lord Zhao personally told me about you before this mission. Congratulations on reaching level eight in martial arts. I¡¯m envious of your talent..."


    "It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m just more diligent than others..."


    Chen Kuang nodded. "True, martial arts training requires perseverance. Sigh, I¡¯ve got too much on my plate here and can¡¯t focus on my training. I¡¯ve only just broken through to level five."


    "Oh, by the way," Chen Kuang continued before Yun Yi could respond, "I came here for two reasons. First, I wanted to see what you look like. Now that I¡¯ve seen you, I¡¯m satisfied. Second, I¡¯m here to brief you on our mission."


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    Yun Yi¡¯s interest was immediately piqued. "Are we going to ambush an enemy fleet?"


    "A fleet?" Chen Kuang chuckled. "With just these seven or eight ships of ours? That wouldn¡¯t be an ambush¡ªit¡¯d be suicide."


    Yun Yi blushed. Although he had made some progress in mecha and martial arts, he was still a novice in strategy and tactics. "So what¡¯s our mission?"


    "Well, our main objective is to disrupt the enemy¡¯s supply lines," Chen Kuang said, activating a holographic star map on the wall and linking it to his wrist computer.


    "See here," he pointed, "according to intelligence from our operatives within the government forces, a convoy carrying a large amount of energy blocks will pass through this area in three days. Our job is to eliminate their escort ships and capture the transport vessels."


    "Wow, pirates!" Yun Yi exclaimed in excitement. In every boy¡¯s dream, the image of a space pirate with a hooked nose, an eye patch, a cane, and a parrot on his shoulder was a source of fascination. The idea of roaming freely and bravely through space, robbing the rich to help the poor, punishing corrupt officials, and upholding justice¡ªthese legends were the stuff of youthful dreams.


    Chen Kuang looked at Yun Yi¡¯s expression with suspicion and shook his head. "This isn¡¯t piracy. It¡¯s a common tactic in war¡ªdisrupting the enemy¡¯s supply lines to strike them from the side. Although, some hostile nations, unable to openly sabotage each other¡¯s supply lines due to public opinion, disguise parts of their military as pirates. So, in a way, you could say we¡¯re pirates... but it¡¯s not quite the same."


    Chen Kuang gave a self-deprecating laugh. As a former noble of the empire, he had once harbored a deep hatred for pirates. But after all these years, being called a pirate by this young man didn¡¯t anger him as he might have expected.


    The glory of the empire was long gone... and what he was doing now wasn¡¯t much different from piracy. The only difference was that pirates lived for themselves, while he, Chen Kuang, had dedicated everything to the Restoration Army¡¯s cause.


    After Chen Kuang left, Yun Yi was still buzzing with excitement. The idea of posing as pirates and taking down government forces was thrilling. He immediately stopped studying mecha and focused on analyzing the star maps Chen Kuang had provided.


    "Hey, kid, are you ready? We¡¯re about to move out."


    The voice of his squad leader, Hewitt, came through the mecha¡¯s communication system, tinged with concern. Yun Yi smiled. What could go wrong with such a simple preparation? Still, he replied, "All set, thanks for the concern, Sergeant."


    "Good. Double-check everything when you have a moment. I estimate we¡¯ll be launching in about ten minutes." After ending the call with Yun Yi, Hewitt sighed heavily. He had originally planned to keep Yun Yi off the battlefield during combat. But the orders from the captain were clear: Yun Yi had to be included in every mission.


    This left Hewitt feeling deeply frustrated.


    Meanwhile, Yun Yi watched the battle between the ships with great interest through his mecha¡¯s computer.


    For the past three days, he had been fantasizing about how to raid these ships, even though it wasn¡¯t his responsibility. Two days ago, the Restoration Army fleet had arrived at the designated location, hiding in a nearby asteroid belt. This area was far from any wormholes and relatively remote, so the route had always been quiet. Neither pirates nor the Restoration Army often appeared here, and the government fleet had grown complacent, failing to conduct necessary scans of the asteroid belt, as it would slow down their overall speed.


    This gave the Restoration Army the perfect opportunity. As soon as the enemy entered firing range, accurate artillery fire erupted from the asteroid belt. In just one volley, nearly half of the eight escort ships were destroyed¡ªthree were obliterated instantly, two were severely damaged, and only three sustained minor injuries.


    After the initial salvo, the Restoration Army fleet began recharging their main cannons while emerging from the asteroid belt, firing their secondary cannons and catching the government fleet off guard.


    In less than ten minutes, the government ships were all destroyed without even deploying their mecha, while the Restoration Army suffered only minor damage. Soon, the fifty transport ships were surrounded by the Restoration Army.


    Such a beautifully executed operation filled Yun Yi with admiration for Chen Kuang¡¯s command skills.


    After the battle, the Restoration Army attempted to persuade the transport ships to surrender. However, only five agreed, shutting down their engines and awaiting further instructions.


    This usually indicated that there was still an official on one of the ships who could control the self-destruct mechanism. Although the cargo on these ships belonged to the government forces, the crew members were from foreign transport or security companies. Whether they self-destructed or not, as long as they surrendered, the Restoration Army wouldn¡¯t harm them. People could surrender, but the cargo couldn¡¯t be left for the enemy.


    At this point, mecha warriors had to be dispatched to seize control of the transport ships before they could self-destruct.


    "Alright, boys, it¡¯s our turn," Hewitt¡¯s excited voice came through the communication system. Yun Yi immediately started his engine. After being launched from the ship, Yun Yi knew that although he had studied mecha combat, this was his first real space battle. Instead of rushing ahead to show off, he stayed close behind Hewitt, the experienced veteran.


    Hewitt glanced at the positions of the mecha on his screen and nodded in satisfaction. Before the launch, he had been worried that Yun Yi would rush ahead to steal the spotlight, which would have completely disrupted the squad¡¯s formation.


    Under Hewitt¡¯s leadership, Yun Yi¡¯s squad quickly approached a massive transport ship.


    Compared to warships, transport ships were inferior in speed, armor, and firepower, but they were much larger in size¡ªa single transport ship could be bigger than four warships combined.


    After carefully scanning the transport ship, Yun Yi soon found what appeared to be an access point to an internal corridor. Wielding his alloy longsword, he began cutting through the hull.


    Seeing Yun Yi locate the spot so quickly, Hewitt nodded in approval. With his experience, he could have found the right spot immediately, but it was surprising that a rookie like Yun Yi could do it too.


    In less than five minutes, Yun Yi had cut a hole large enough for a mecha to enter. Inside, he found one of the ship¡¯s main corridors. With no enemies in sight, Yun Yi activated his mecha and headed for the ship¡¯s command center.


    Typically, a transport ship would have a crew of 20 to 50 people, living near the command center, which was also where the escape pods were located.

 Chapter 13: First Battle

    With agile movements, exceptional speed, and formidable analytical and observational skills, Yun Yi was the first to charge into the transport ship''s command center. By then, the place was empty, and on the main control screen of the command center''s computer, a deep red countdown was ticking away.


    "Trying to escape?"


    A cold smile appeared on Yun Yi''s lips. Following what he had learned earlier, he quickly located the escape pods after a brief scan of the command center.


    The Red Mane Charger strode forward, its massive metal fist swinging out and smashing through the alloy wall, revealing the terrified crew inside.


    "No need for me to say anything, right?" Yun Yi''s cold voice echoed through the mecha''s speakers.


    A man stood up from the crowd, forcing a bitter smile. "I didn''t expect you to be so fast. I miscalculated." He walked around the mecha to the command center''s main computer, inputting a few commands to stop the countdown on the screen.


    "Luckily, you arrived quickly. I couldn''t bear to lose this old girl," the captain said, stroking the computer as if it were his lover. "Even if the Iserlohn government offered me a new ship, I wouldn''t be happy."


    By then, the rest of the squad had arrived. Seeing the situation, they relaxed and cheered loudly in the squad channel.


    "Great job, brother!"


    "Hey, you''re really fast. Teach me sometime."


    "Damn, Yun Yi, how did you move so quickly?"


    "Ha, looks like our squad is the first to succeed. Let''s see what Tom has to say about that."


    Hewitt looked at Yun Yi with satisfaction. It seemed this guy was quite capable. Although he didn''t know how Yun Yi would fare in close combat, his speed was undoubtedly impressive.


    Just as he sent the mission completion message to the ship, another order came through.


    "Alright, boys, leave one person here to keep watch. The rest of you, follow me. We''ve got a new mission." Hewitt glanced at the mecha around him and shouted, "Yun Yi, stay..." Suddenly, he remembered the captain''s instructions and, after a moment''s thought, changed his order. "Thomas, you stay. The rest of you, come with me."


    Yun Yi was initially unhappy about being told to stay, but when he heard the order change, he grinned and followed the squad leader out.


    "Sergeant, what''s the situation?" one of the squad members asked curiously, and Yun Yi also perked up to listen.


    "Well, the ship just sent a message saying that one of our squads encountered a large number of mecha warriors on that transport ship and requested reinforcements. I''m guessing they''re government mecha warriors. Transport company mecha wouldn''t risk their lives fighting us."


    After receiving the order, the squad immediately moved out, heading toward the target transport ship.


    The distance wasn''t too far, and they soon arrived at the target ship. Two other squads had also arrived, bringing the total number of Restoration Army mecha on the ship to nearly forty.


    Entering through the breach made by the previous squad, they quickly reached the battlefield. However, the scene before them sent shivers down their spines.


    The narrow corridor was packed with no fewer than fifty mecha. About a dozen belonged to the Restoration Army, while the rest were government forces. Although the government forces had the numerical advantage, the narrow corridor allowed only two or three mecha to engage at a time, so the Restoration Army had yet to suffer any casualties.


    Seeing this, Hewitt immediately sent a message to the two squads that hadn''t yet entered the corridor, asking them to create additional breaches from behind the enemy. The leaders of those squads, though unaware of the situation inside, trusted Hewitt, a seasoned veteran, and immediately set out.


    "In this situation... it seems we need to choose two of the most suitable warriors for the assault to draw the enemy''s fire and prevent them from noticing our sneak attack."


    After sharing his plan with Tom, the leader of the other squad, who agreed, Hewitt found himself at a loss regarding who to choose. In the entire squad, apart from himself, there was only one other level six warrior. However, like Hewitt, this warrior had just reached level six and hadn''t had the chance to learn any mecha combat skills.


    On the other hand, based on visual assessment, several of the enemy warriors were at the high stage of level six...


    "They''ll send one person, and we''ll send one... but who should we choose?" Hewitt looked around at his squad members, and suddenly, his eyes landed on one figure.


    What level was this guy again? No one ever mentioned it to me.


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    Hewitt immediately asked, "Yun Yi, what''s your martial arts level?"


    "Oh, I just broke through to level eight. It''s not quite stable yet..."


    Silence...


    All the members of the squad, who had been intently watching the battle ahead, suddenly turned their heads in unison, staring at the mecha standing quietly in the corner.


    "E... eight?" Even the experienced Hewitt was left speechless, silently cursing, "Level eight? How the hell did he manage that?"


    Suddenly, he remembered the mysterious background of this young man and the captain''s instructions. Damn, no wonder he''s a major, and I''m just a sergeant major...


    Grumbling aside, Hewitt was excited. This was the first time he had seen such a high-level mecha pilot, and the thought of witnessing a high-level warrior in action was thrilling.


    "All squad members, pay attention. No gossiping, and do not leak Yun Yi''s level. You all know the consequences of leaking secrets, so I won''t say more." Hewitt''s cold voice immediately silenced the previously buzzing channel.


    "Next, Yun Yi, you will team up with another warrior to engage the enemy. You don''t need to defeat them, but you must remember to draw their attention and prevent them from noticing our actions!"


    "Yes, Sergeant!"


    After responding, Yun Yi moved forward. The previously congested corridor immediately cleared a path for him. As Yun Yi passed, the warriors behind him eagerly surged forward. After all, witnessing a level eight warrior in action was a rare opportunity.


    Once Yun Yi was in position, another mecha warrior chosen for the assault stood beside him.


    "Hey, buddy, what''s your name?" A rough voice came through the communication channel. "I see your squad made way for you. You must be really good. I''m glad to fight alongside you. I''m Tom."


    Hearing the enthusiasm in the other''s voice, Yun Yi also took a liking to him and immediately introduced himself. Before the two could chat further, two mecha from the government forces flew over.


    The corridor wasn''t particularly wide, and flying through it required precise control. The fact that these two Patriots chose to fly in was a clear display of their confidence and skill.


    "Idiots... flying in such a narrow space?" A mocking smile appeared on Yun Yi''s face as he looked at the two mecha with a gaze that suggested he was looking at fools. However, his hands moved swiftly.


    "Whoosh, whoosh..."


    Two missiles launched from the shoulders of the Red Mane Charger, and under Yun Yi''s control, they easily struck the legs of the two mecha. For the Patriot mecha, the balance mechanism was usually located in the legs...


    "Boom, boom..."


    After two explosions, the two Patriots could no longer control their mecha, crashing repeatedly into the steel walls of the corridor.


    "Tom!" Yun Yi shouted, already drawing his alloy longsword and charging at the enemy. Yun Yi''s precise missile strike had left Tom stunned, but the shout snapped him out of it. Seeing the two mecha struggling to maintain balance, he immediately understood Yun Yi''s intention. A drowning dog? Beat it while it''s down!


    Without a second thought, the two Patriots were completely destroyed. Yun Yi and Tom quickly moved past the wreckage, charging fiercely at the enemies behind.


    "Is this the skill of a level eight warrior?" Yun Yi''s squad was utterly shocked. In less than ten seconds, two mecha were completely destroyed. Such efficiency and power left everyone present in awe.


    But what came next was even more astonishing.


    Wielding his alloy longsword, Yun Yi was like a wild horse unleashed. The red mecha leaped into the air, its engine output pushed to 100%. In an instant, Yun Yi''s alloy longsword danced like a brilliant flower, capturing everyone''s attention...


    "Storm... Downpour!"


    With a loud shout, Yun Yi''s hands moved rapidly across the control panel, creating afterimages. To someone with slightly poorer eyesight, his hands would have been a blur, and only the rapid tapping of keys could be heard.


    As the commands were executed, Yun Yi, like a storm with torrential rain, plunged into the government mecha, unleashing carnage.


    At this moment, the world belonged to Yun Yi.


    The endless slaughter was like a captivating melody, continuously stimulating Yun Yi''s already excited heart.


    "Kill..."


    The red mecha was like an arrow released from a bow, sweeping through the dozens of government mecha. When Yun Yi passed through the enemy formation, all that remained were rigid, motionless mecha.


    "That was awesome!" Yun Yi exclaimed excitedly. This was his first battle after reaching level eight, and many of the combat techniques he had learned could now be used, including the group skill "Storm Downpour" he had just employed. His extensive combat skills made him far superior to ordinary level eight warriors, and even a warrior who had just reached level nine might not be his match.


    Among these government mecha, the strongest was probably their level seven captain. Even he couldn''t withstand a single strike from Yun Yi. To Yun Yi, this group of mecha was nothing more than a pack of weaklings.


    "Is... is it over?" Tom, who had been prepared for a life-and-death struggle, stared dumbfounded at the rigid mecha before him. Based on his experience, when a mecha was in this state, it was likely that the pilot inside the cockpit was already dead.


    At this moment, the way everyone looked at Yun Yi had changed. The previous admiration and envy had turned into worship. With this storm of slaughter, Yun Yi had become their new idol.


    Even the squad leaders, Hewitt and Tom, looked at Yun Yi with the fervor of fans. However, since everyone was inside their mecha, Yun Yi couldn''t see their expressions.


    Hewitt was the first to react, immediately contacting Tom. The two then dispatched ten mecha warriors to assault the transport ship''s command center.


    The enemy mecha warriors were finished, and there was no force left to resist the attack of these mecha warriors. "Rip..."


    At that moment, the wall above the corridor was suddenly cut open by an alloy longsword, and several mecha quickly entered. However, the incoming mecha were stunned to see the Restoration Army mecha cleaning up the battlefield, as if they couldn''t believe what they were seeing.


    "Ha, old friend, you''re late," Tom said, laughing as he looked at the incoming mecha.


    "What''s going on here?" The leader of the two squads responsible for the sneak attack asked, puzzled. "Don''t tell me you guys went on a rampage and wiped out over twenty mecha?"


    "Exactly," Tom said happily. "But it wasn''t my squad. I don''t know where Hewitt found this monster, but he took out all those government mecha with a single combat skill."


    "That''s impossible," the squad leader said. "That would require at least a level nine warrior. As far as I know, the strongest in the base is only level eight, and he''s always protecting Her Majesty the Empress. He couldn''t be here."


    "It definitely wasn''t the Imperial Guard Captain," Tom said with certainty. "It''s probably a secret weapon from the base. I estimate that Yun Yi guy is at least level eight."


    "Is that so... Hey, Tom, how''s our relationship?"


    "Of course, we''re like brothers. Why?"


    "Well, in that case, I won''t hold back. Make sure to send me the combat footage when we get back."


    "Ha, is that all? Don''t worry, no problem!"


    "Tom, you''re a good man. I''ll treat you to a meal when we get back..."

 Chapter 14: Continuous Campaigns

    "Huh? What did you say?" Hewitt''s eyes widened, as if he couldn''t believe his ears. "You''re saying... you''re leaving?"


    The day after returning to the base from the mission, Sergeant Hewitt received this news.


    He had just gotten a strong new member in his squad and was hoping his team could learn from him to improve their overall skills. But he never expected that Yun Yi would be leaving so soon after returning.


    "Yes, Sergeant," Yun Yi replied, equally surprised by the order. "Lord Zhao has sent someone to notify me. I¡¯m to report to the 211th Squadron. It seems there¡¯s some battle coming up."


    "I see..." Hewitt immediately understood. Someone like Yun Yi, who was a secret weapon for the base, wouldn¡¯t stay in one place for long. To help him grow quickly, he needed to participate in countless battles and become a pillar of the base. "Well, good luck on your journey!"


    Yun Yi was taken aback. "You¡¯re addressing me as ''you'' now?"


    Hewitt laughed. "Of course. With your exceptional abilities, you¡¯ll likely earn a lot of merit in a short time. Next time we meet, I might have to call you ''Lord Yun.''"


    Yun Yi fell silent for a moment, his expression turning serious. "Sergeant Hewitt, although we¡¯ve only fought together once and it¡¯s only been a few days, I¡¯ve learned a lot from you during this time. Thank you for your guidance, Sergeant. I won¡¯t forget you."


    "Hey, don¡¯t mention it," Hewitt said, somewhat embarrassed. "Well... if you ever run into any problems, feel free to ask me. While I can¡¯t offer much guidance in combat, when it comes to mecha tactics and squad coordination, I¡¯ve been in this for years. I¡¯m not just here for show."


    "By the way, could you come and teach our squad some combat skills when you have time?" Hewitt asked, his eyes filled with hope. He knew Yun Yi¡¯s future would be busy, but he couldn¡¯t help but make the request.


    "Understood!" Yun Yi saluted without hesitation. "Don¡¯t worry, Sergeant Hewitt. If I have time, I¡¯ll definitely come back to visit everyone."


    As Yun Yi walked away, Hewitt clenched his fist and muttered to himself, "Yun Yi, keep it up. Maybe in the near future, the entire empire will rise to glory under your leadership. Of course, I¡¯ll work harder too! I hope I can be of help to you someday."


    Three days after joining the 211th Squadron, Yun Yi received his first mission.


    In this battle, Yun Yi experienced his first space combat. Despite it being his first time, he achieved impressive results: 17 mecha and 3 warships destroyed.


    Next, he participated in a counter-encirclement operation with the Second Fleet. This was Yun Yi¡¯s first large-scale battle. During the mid-phase of the battle, Yun Yi led ten mecha squadrons in a fierce assault into the heart of the government forces¡¯ fleet formation. In a single charge, they shattered the enemy¡¯s formation. Following the Restoration Army commander¡¯s orders, the entire fleet launched a full-scale attack, completely annihilating the government fleet.


    In this battle, Yun Yi single-handedly destroyed 11 warships and 42 mecha, far surpassing the second-place achiever.


    After this battle, Yun Yi¡¯s name became renowned throughout the Restoration Army. After every battle, countless soldiers would collect his combat footage. His childhood stories were also dug up, with diligence, hard work, and perseverance becoming his trademarks. Everyone was deeply inspired by Yun Yi¡¯s deeds, sparking a new wave of training enthusiasm across the base.


    As for the year he had disappeared, the base¡¯s higher-ups claimed he had gone abroad to study mecha combat techniques.


    Over the next six months, Yun Yi participated in almost one battle every week.


    With such a high frequency of combat, his practical skills improved dramatically. He applied the combat techniques he had learned in real battles, refining and modifying them to better suit his style.


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    It was clear that Yun Yi¡¯s progress was remarkable. And he himself enjoyed it immensely. It seemed that if he didn¡¯t fight for a day, he would feel restless and uncomfortable.


    During his rest periods, Yun Yi would sometimes study mecha-related knowledge or practice his martial arts. But most of his time was spent teaching the base¡¯s mecha warriors. Under his guidance, most of the combat techniques¡ªexcept those requiring level six or above in martial arts¡ªwere taught to the Restoration Army soldiers.


    These soldiers, like him, had only learned basic martial arts and had never had the opportunity to learn combat techniques.


    As a result, Yun Yi¡¯s reputation in the base grew even louder. The soldiers who received his teachings, while training hard, never forgot his kindness. Before long, everyone began to respectfully call him "Teacher Yun Yi" and treated him with the courtesy of a master.


    Life seemed fulfilling...


    However, in places Yun Yi didn¡¯t notice, undercurrents were still at play...


    "Have you found out where this Yun Yi came from?"


    As the first president of the Iserlohn Democratic Republic, known as the Iron-Fisted Dictator, Mr. Zagu, who held both political and military power, was currently filled with anger. He couldn¡¯t understand how the remnants of the empire, whom he had treated like soft persimmons to be crushed at will, had suddenly produced such a formidable mecha warrior. What he hadn¡¯t anticipated was that this Yun Yi could boost their morale and win several battles in a row. Even his private Seventh Fleet had been crippled in a battle half a year ago. With the Seventh Fleet¡¯s deterrence weakened, those restless elements had started to stir again. Not long ago, they had even caught a family colluding with foreign powers.


    And all of this was due to the unexpected rise of that Yun Yi.


    Now, the soldiers under his command feared encountering the Red Mane Charger III mecha on the battlefield. Even if the pilot wasn¡¯t Yun Yi, they would be too scared to fight at full strength.


    What was worse, at some point, the mecha warriors of the empire¡¯s remnants had all learned one or two combat techniques. When had combat techniques become so commonplace?


    "Mr. President... we¡¯re still investigating..."


    The director of the Central Intelligence Agency wiped the cold sweat from his face and stammered.


    "Investigating? I remember ordering you to start investigating after the Seventh Fleet¡¯s defeat in battle." Zagu suddenly turned around, his cold eyes like sharp blades staring at the intelligence director. "It¡¯s been half a year. What have you found?"


    Just as the intelligence director was about to speak, Zagu interrupted him sharply, "Don¡¯t tell me that Yun Yi learned martial arts and mecha combat abroad. Those stories circulating within the Restoration Army are obviously lies. Abroad? Tell me, which country was willing to engage with the empire¡¯s remnants half a year ago? Hmph. In less than half a year, five or six countries have already started contacting them."


    That¡¯s how politics worked. When there was no benefit or the benefit was extremely slim, no one was willing to help the Restoration Army for the sake of an illusory goal. But once they saw a glimmer of hope, politicians swarmed like mosquitoes to blood, sending all sorts of cheap supplies to the Restoration Army.


    "I¡¯m useless, I¡¯m useless. I¡¯ll definitely discipline my subordinates. I promise we¡¯ll get accurate information soon." The intelligence director, seeing Zagu¡¯s anger, didn¡¯t dare to wipe his sweat and hurriedly made promises.


    "Hmph..." Zagu didn¡¯t even look at him, his cold voice ringing out, "If it weren¡¯t for the lack of capable people to fill your position, I¡¯d have sent you to the battlefield long ago. Fine, you can leave now."


    The intelligence director immediately breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly left.


    Seeing the meeting room door close, Zagu looked at the remaining few people. These were his trusted aides, controlling most of the political, military, and other aspects of the country. They were his core team.


    "Mr. President, Shadow Fox has sent a report, seemingly about that Yun Yi," one person respectfully stood up and handed over a tightly sealed intelligence report.


    "Oh?" Zagu took the report but didn¡¯t look at it immediately. Instead, he said, "Shadow Fox is our last link within the empire¡¯s remnants. We can¡¯t risk losing it for just any piece of information."


    The person immediately replied, "Mr. President, rest assured. This time, we used a top-secret intelligence channel, with only our own people involved. No external forces or individuals interfered. It¡¯s completely secure."


    "Hmm..." Zagu nodded, then opened the letter.


    After a moment, Zagu finished reading the letter and, after some thought, slowly said, "So that¡¯s how it is..."


    Then, he returned to his cold demeanor and issued an uncompromising order, "Immediately send people to arrest all members of the Muhesin family and bring them to the capital planet. I¡¯ll personally interrogate them. Also, investigate those who ambushed the Restoration Army¡¯s 302nd Squadron half a year ago. Find as many as you can and bring them all to me."


    After a brief pause, Zagu continued, "One more thing. Tell our people to move faster. Give them a month. They must gain control of those fleets. We don¡¯t have much time left. Tell them that if things don¡¯t go smoothly, I don¡¯t mind them using some... unconventional methods."


    "Yes!"


    After everyone left, Zagu¡¯s gaze fell on the secret letter, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

 Chapter 15: The Calm Before the Storm

    "Take this! Twin Star Slash!"


    The red mecha erupted with an unstoppable momentum, launching a fierce attack toward its opponent. The dark red mecha, having successfully dodged the first strike, was now unable to execute any further moves.


    Staring at the alloy longsword that had stopped just outside the cockpit of his mecha, the pilot of the dark red mecha let out a bitter laugh, shut down the engine, and stepped out.


    "Haha, Yun Yi is really amazing. Uncle lost again."


    The man who emerged from the dark red mecha was a handsome middle-aged man dressed in a sharp black military uniform, with a slender sword hanging at his waist. His attire and demeanor unmistakably revealed his noble upbringing.


    The cockpit of the red mecha also opened slowly, and Yun Yi jumped out, just in time to hear the man¡¯s praise. Scratching his head sheepishly, Yun Yi smiled and said, "Uncle Solon, if I didn¡¯t have Twin Star Slash, I definitely wouldn¡¯t have been able to beat you."


    Solon, the handsome middle-aged man, gave a charming smile and patted Yun Yi¡¯s shoulder. "Excessive modesty is just pride. If this were a real battle, I would¡¯ve been taken out by you long ago. But since this is just training, you waited until the last moment to use your combat technique. You¡¯ve already given me face."


    "So, Uncle Solon, do you think I¡¯ve improved this time?"


    Solon nodded, his expression full of satisfaction. "Yun Yi, sometimes I really envy your ability to grasp things so quickly. I remember what I taught you last time. You mastered it in less than a week. Hmm... this won¡¯t do. Maybe it won¡¯t be long before I¡¯ve got nothing left to teach you."


    Yun Yi quickly stepped forward, pleading, "Uncle Solon, please teach me a few more moves. Just tell me which technique you want to learn from me, and I¡¯ll definitely teach you!"


    Hearing Yun Yi¡¯s words, Solon laughed. "You think everyone is as freakish as you? Mastering any technique or combat skill in just a few days? The Whirlwind Slash you taught me last time¡ªI¡¯ve only mastered about 30% of it so far. How can I learn anything new?"


    Seeing Yun Yi¡¯s somewhat unsatisfied expression, Solon shook his head with a smile. "Alright, it¡¯s time to eat. Let¡¯s go. After dinner, I¡¯ll teach you a few defensive moves. I guarantee you¡¯ve never seen them before."


    After the two left, a side door to the training hall opened, and two people slowly walked over to the mecha.


    The older man was Zhao Xuanxin, his face filled with a satisfied smile as he gazed at the two mecha in the center of the arena. "Young people sure have energy. But Yun Yi¡¯s talent is truly remarkable. It seems he can easily grasp the intricacies of mecha combat."


    Beside him stood a young woman veiled in black. She didn¡¯t speak, just stared intently at the two massive mecha.


    Zhao Xuanxin, familiar with her temperament, didn¡¯t mind and continued speaking to himself. "Hmm, Yun Yi and Solon¡ªboth are level eight warriors. One is incredibly skilled in combat techniques and has a remarkable ability to learn, while the other is experienced and steady. Haha, two completely different personalities, yet they¡¯ve become friends. Ah, if only we had more talents like them in the base, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry so much..."


    The young woman remained silent for a moment, then stepped forward and touched Yun Yi¡¯s Red Mane Charger mecha. After a while, she spoke, her voice melodious but filled with authority.


    "So, where should we place this Yun Yi?"


    Zhao Xuanxin thought for a moment and said, "Solon is steady and reliable, while Yun Yi, being young, is more suited for the battlefield. If it¡¯s about taking care of you, I think Solon would be more appropriate. As for Yun Yi, I plan to have him select a group of mecha warriors from the base and train them personally, forming his own unit. What do you think?"


    The young woman didn¡¯t ponder long, giving a slight nod.


    After another glance at the red mecha, she said, "Then it¡¯s settled. I hope he can become a pillar of strength..."


    "What about his title of nobility..."


    The young woman fell silent for a moment, seemingly unwilling to dwell on the topic.


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    "Everything is left to you, Royal Uncle..."


    Watching the young woman¡¯s retreating figure, Zhao Xuanxin felt both helpless and tender-hearted. If it hadn¡¯t been for the sudden attack by the government forces all those years ago, the once-great royal family wouldn¡¯t have been nearly wiped out, forcing this young girl to bear everything.


    "By the way..." The young woman turned back, her voice filled with hope. "That person... have there been any news of him..."


    "Well..." Zhao Xuanxin hesitated, then said, "Most of our intelligence network has been destroyed by the government forces, and the rest has been scaled back. For now, we haven¡¯t been able to track down his whereabouts."


    "I see..." The young woman said nothing more and walked away with her head lowered.


    "Sigh, what a mess..." Zhao Xuanxin sighed, recalling the events of their escape ten years ago.


    It had been ten years since the emperor was assassinated. At the time, the government forces, who had been lying in wait in the capital, stormed the palace with lightning speed. A third of the palace guard¡¯s commanders had been bribed by the government forces and mutinied. Under the protection of Zhao Xuanxin and others, only the princess managed to escape, but she was relentlessly pursued by the government forces.


    At their most desperate moment, even the resolute Zhao Xuanxin felt a sense of despair.


    It was then that the government forces¡¯ mecha troops, who had surrounded them, were suddenly destroyed by a single person.


    That person, piloting a magnificent and incredibly powerful mecha, single-handedly annihilated thousands of government mecha troops, successfully rescuing Zhao Xuanxin and the princess. With his help, they managed to evade the government forces¡¯ pursuit and eventually reached this secret royal base.


    As for that person, not only did he possess a formidable mecha, but Zhao Xuanxin estimated that his martial arts had likely reached the innate level. At the time, among the government forces besieging them was a mecha warrior who had also reached the innate level. Yet, none of them could withstand even a single blow from that person. The innate-level government expert was killed in less than a hundred moves by a dazzling combat technique.


    After that, the government forces¡¯ mecha troops were utterly crippled and have yet to recover to this day.


    However, something unexpected happened.


    Although that person left after the base was stabilized, not long after, the newly crowned queen quietly told Zhao Xuanxin that she might be pregnant...


    "What a mess... what a mess..."


    Thinking of this, Zhao Xuanxin couldn¡¯t help but shake his head and sigh.


    Later, they mobilized a large number of people to investigate that mysterious warrior, but after all these years, they hadn¡¯t found a single clue about him. In Zhao Xuanxin¡¯s view, that person was likely an important member of some powerful family in the universe, traveling through this star system at the time. His family couldn¡¯t be a small one, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have been able to nurture such an outstanding descendant and create such a powerful mecha. Moreover, they showed no interest in the benefits offered by a fallen royal family.


    "It¡¯s tough..."


    Whenever Zhao Xuanxin thought of the queen¡¯s heartbroken and helpless demeanor in private, his heart ached like it was being pricked by needles. But now, even he had no solution. In fact, to this day, he hadn¡¯t even learned the name of that mecha warrior.


    "But that person¡¯s achievements in martial arts are truly astonishing. Hmm, perhaps in less than twenty years, Yun Yi might also reach the innate level." Muttering to himself, Zhao Xuanxin couldn¡¯t help but think of Yun Yi. In just a few months, his progress had been astounding. Pairing him with Solon for sparring had been a wise decision. Even Solon had privately told him that after sparring with Yun Yi, he could clearly feel his own martial arts progressing. If this continued, it was highly likely that Solon, whose martial arts had long been stagnant, might also break through.


    Imagining a few years from now, the Restoration Army would have two level nine experts leading their personally trained mecha troops, sweeping across the stars and reclaiming planet after planet for the empire, Zhao Xuanxin¡¯s face lit up with an excited smile.


    "Your Highness, something strange has been happening with the government forces recently."


    As soon as Zhao Xuanxin returned to his office, an advisor hurried over.


    "According to the intelligence from our spies within the government forces, the Third and Eleventh Fleets recently experienced mysterious deaths of their commanding or deputy officers. Additionally, among the civilians and officials who are friendly to the empire, we¡¯ve learned that some officers from the Fourth, Sixth, and Tenth Fleets have had family members kidnapped or gone missing in recent days. Also, a few days ago, news from the neighboring Tairxi Republic indicated that officers from the Eighth and Ninth Fleets were sent to the Tairxi Republic¡¯s National Military University for advanced training. Moreover, in the past three months, there have been over a dozen mutinies within the government forces, though all were suppressed..."


    Zhao Xuanxin listened quietly to the advisor¡¯s report, but his heart was in turmoil.


    Some of this information he already knew, but some was new.


    Previously, within the government forces¡¯ armed forces, only the First, Second, Fifth, Seventh, and the newly formed Twelfth and Thirteenth Fleets were under President Zagu¡¯s control. The other fleets were split between those who had risen with Zagu and the major families and former imperial forces who had surrendered.


    Connecting the dots from the earlier information, it was clear that Zagu had now gained absolute control over these fleets.


    "It seems... the government forces are about to make a big move..."


    After a moment¡¯s thought, Zhao Xuanxin ordered, "Command all intelligence agencies to intensify their infiltration of the government forces. We must clearly understand their recent movements. Additionally, strictly control the frequency of entries and exits from the base, and carefully vet all new recruits. We cannot afford any mistakes at this time. Also, order all fleets to intensify their training and be prepared to mobilize at any moment..."

 Chapter 16: Base Crisis

    Yun Yi opened his eyes, finished his cultivation, and stood up. He clenched his fist, a look of pleasant surprise on his face.


    His gaze shifted to the force-measuring device in the corner of the room.


    He pulled his body back, his right fist drawn to his waist.


    "Ha!" With a shout, Yun Yi swung his right arm with full force, channeling all his strength into the punch. His fist slammed heavily into the force-measuring device.


    "13 tons!"


    Looking at the number displayed on the device, Yun Yi stared at his fist in astonishment, taking a long time to process what he had just achieved.


    "Incredible! The difference between mid-level and early-level eighth stage is truly remarkable!"


    Just moments ago, through persistent cultivation, Yun Yi had successfully advanced to the mid-level of the eighth stage in martial arts. He had already felt a significant improvement in his abilities, and after testing, he was thrilled to see that his maximum punch force had increased from 10 tons to over 13 tons.


    Is this the difference between the early and mid-levels of the eighth stage?


    What would it be like if I reached the high-level of the eighth stage?


    Yun Yi was filled with anticipation for the future.


    A month ago, after successfully absorbing almost all of Captain Solon¡¯s combat experience, Yun Yi decided to go into seclusion. Solon fully supported his decision, privately telling Zhao Xuanxin that Yun Yi was likely about to break through to the mid-level of the eighth stage. Upon hearing this, Zhao Xuanxin immediately changed his earlier plans, canceling or modifying all orders related to Yun Yi¡¯s participation in battles, and fully supported his seclusion.


    Yun Yi lived up to their expectations, successfully breaking through to the mid-level of the eighth stage in just one month. His current martial arts level could truly be considered the highest in the Restoration Army. Even Solon, the captain of the royal guards, was only at the early-level of the eighth stage.


    Unexpectedly, just as Yun Yi finished showering and was changing clothes, the communicator on his bedside table began beeping.


    Glancing at it, he saw it was a message from Zhao Xuanxin. How did he know I had just made a breakthrough?


    Puzzled, Yun Yi opened the communicator.


    "Yun Yi? There¡¯s no more time for cultivation. I¡¯m ordering you, as the base commander, to report to the temporary palace immediately."


    "Yes!"


    Although confused by Zhao Xuanxin¡¯s serious tone, as a soldier, Yun Yi immediately accepted the order and set off for the palace.


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    The distance between his residence and the palace wasn¡¯t far, so he didn¡¯t need any transportation. As he walked, he noticed that everyone around him seemed to be in a hurry. Occasionally, he encountered soldiers who were fully armed, directing the residents.


    "Excuse me, what¡¯s going on?"


    Despite having received Zhao Xuanxin¡¯s order, Yun Yi couldn¡¯t help but ask a passing soldier.


    The soldier, surprised that someone didn¡¯t know what was happening, was about to scold him when he noticed Yun Yi¡¯s rank of lieutenant colonel. He immediately stood at attention and saluted, saying loudly, "Reporting, sir! By order of the base command, we are assisting all residents in evacuating to the shelters."


    "Shelters..." Yun Yi¡¯s pupils constricted. "Does that mean the government forces are attacking?"


    "Sorry..." The soldier, though curious that someone didn¡¯t know about such a major event, still answered, "The command center notified us that the government fleet will arrive at the base in five hours..."


    Before he could finish, Yun Yi interrupted urgently, "What about our fleet? Why haven¡¯t they mobilized yet?"


    The soldier¡¯s face showed a pained expression as he lowered his head and said sadly, "Half an hour ago, they were all annihilated. The only ones left are the royal fleet guarding the base entrance..."


    "What..." Yun Yi felt as if he had been struck by lightning, stunned in place.


    Nearly four thousand warships, four entire fleets, had all been annihilated...


    Those comrades who called him teacher¡ªThomas, Hewitt, Tom, Eve... and Captain Chen Kuang... were they all gone?


    Standing there in shock, Yun Yi¡¯s mind flashed with memories: teaching those soldiers, listening to their combat experiences, receiving notes on fleet command from Chen Kuang... The past flowed through his mind like water. He was still alive, but those people were gone. For the first time, Yun Yi felt a deep aversion to war.


    Back then, war had taken the lives of his parents and relatives. He hadn¡¯t thought much about it, only focusing on training hard to avenge them.


    But now, war had once again taken the lives of his comrades, brothers in arms. Beyond vengeance, another thought arose in his heart.


    If there were no war, how wonderful it would be. His parents wouldn¡¯t have died, his little sister wouldn¡¯t have died, his comrades wouldn¡¯t have died. Captain Chen Kuang wouldn¡¯t have aged prematurely from the stress of endless battles. Zhao Xuanxin wouldn¡¯t have to work so tirelessly every day, and Solon wouldn¡¯t have spent decades guarding the queen, with little time for his own life.


    "War, damn it all!"


    In a daze, Yun Yi cursed aloud. As soon as the words left his mouth, he snapped back to reality. Now was not the time to be lost in thought.


    Time was running out. Otherwise, Zhao Xuanxin wouldn¡¯t have interrupted his cultivation and ordered him to the palace.


    With that in mind, Yun Yi immediately broke into a sprint. The power of a mid-level eighth stage martial artist was terrifying when unleashed.


    The soldier, who had been observing the stunned lieutenant colonel, was shocked when the man suddenly cursed and then disappeared like a gust of wind, his speed rivaling that of a hovering vehicle.


    "Yun Yi, you¡¯re here just in time. I¡¯m sorry to interrupt your seclusion, but your mecha is ready and waiting outside. I¡¯m ordering you to immediately pilot the mecha and report to the flagship of the royal fleet, the Phoenix Sky..."


    "Wait a moment." Zhao Xuanxin¡¯s order was interrupted by a voice. Both men turned to see the queen and her guard captain, Solon, approaching. Beside the queen was an adorable little girl, about ten years old, who was curiously looking at Yun Yi.


    "Your Majesty..." "Your Majesty, Princess."


    As soon as they saw the group, Yun Yi and Zhao Xuanxin immediately saluted and spoke in unison. After saying "Your Majesty," Yun Yi had already stopped, but upon hearing Zhao Xuanxin¡¯s words, though puzzled, he followed with "Princess."


    "Please rise." The queen¡¯s face was veiled, her features obscured. Her voice, though authoritative, was soft and pleasant, still very youthful.


    "Lord Zhao, I apologize for interrupting." It was Solon who spoke, stepping forward urgently. "Yun Yi, have you broken through to the mid-level of the eighth stage?"


    "That¡¯s impossible!" Zhao Xuanxin¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he stared at Yun Yi, disbelief written all over his face. "That¡¯s absolutely impossible! I¡¯ve never heard of anyone breaking through so quickly!"

 Chapter 17: A Mission in Desperate Times

    In Zhao Xuanxin¡¯s view, even giving Yun Yi three months to break through would be asking too much. No matter how talented or hardworking someone was, it was impossible to achieve such a breakthrough so quickly.


    But now, knowing Solon as well as he did, Zhao Xuanxin was certain Solon wouldn¡¯t joke about something like this, especially not at a time like this.


    Yun Yi immediately responded, "Yes, Uncle Solon. I just broke through an hour ago."


    "He really broke through..." Zhao Xuanxin stared at Yun Yi in astonishment. It seemed as if miracles always happened around this young man.


    "It¡¯s fate..." Solon¡¯s face broke into a relieved smile. "Alright, Yun Yi, I¡¯m entrusting the princess to you. I will stay by Her Majesty¡¯s side forever."


    Hearing this, the queen, Zhao Xuanxin, and Yun Yi all opened their mouths to speak, but Solon cut them off. "No need to say anything. You¡¯ve all seen it for yourselves. Yun Yi has successfully broken through to the mid-level of the eighth stage. His strength far surpasses mine now. And in the past few months, I¡¯ve already taught him everything I know. Though he¡¯s still young, I believe it won¡¯t be long before he achieves something that will astonish the world. Entrusting this mission to Yun Yi is far more suitable than giving it to me!"


    The queen and Zhao Xuanxin fell silent, saying nothing.


    Yun Yi, full of confusion, couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Um... what exactly is the mission?"


    "Ah..." Zhao Xuanxin sighed. "I think you¡¯ve already seen the situation. Somehow, the government forces have discovered the location of our base and are launching a full-scale attack. The empire¡¯s last fleet has been completely annihilated. Even with the royal fleet and the base¡¯s defenses, we won¡¯t be able to hold off the government¡¯s massive forces."


    Yun Yi nodded numbly. The base had no strength left to resist the government¡¯s assault. Even if he were to break through to the innate level right now, facing nearly ten thousand warships would be an impossible task.


    "So, to preserve the last trace of the Zhao Song Empire¡¯s bloodline, our original plan was to have Solon take the princess and flee the country before the government forces arrive. But as you can see now... Solon has given this only chance of survival to you."


    "This..." Yun Yi was shocked, but he quickly regained his composure. He turned and strode toward the door, not looking back as he said, "Lord Zhao, I¡¯ll go prepare my mecha and report to the Phoenix Sky..."


    "Stop right there!"


    Yun Yi froze in his tracks, his eyes already moist.


    "Do you think what you¡¯re doing is brave? That dying heroically is something to be proud of? That perishing under the government¡¯s artillery fire is honorable?"


    "Coward! Yes, death takes courage. But what takes even more courage is to face an insurmountable enemy, to laugh in the face of billions of foes, and to live on proudly and bravely, waiting for the moment to strike back when the enemy least expects it! That¡¯s what a true hero is, Yun Yi. Do you have the guts?"


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    Listening to Solon¡¯s mocking tone, Yun Yi could no longer hold back his tears.


    Stimulated by the necklace, his intelligence and analytical abilities had long surpassed those of ordinary people. How could he not see that this was just Solon¡¯s way of provoking him? But the determination and willingness to sacrifice in Solon¡¯s voice made Yun Yi¡¯s heart tremble, and he couldn¡¯t bear to refuse.


    Seeing Yun Yi stop in his tracks and remain motionless after Solon¡¯s words, Zhao Xuanxin knew that he was more or less willing to accept the mission.


    Then, Zhao Xuanxin pulled the little girl to his side, gently stroking her long, dark hair that reached her calves. His face was full of kindness as he said, "Yun Yi, come here. This is Princess Xiyue. Get to know each other. Xiyue, this is Yun Yi. You must listen to him from now on, okay?"


    Princess Xiyue opened her large, bright black eyes and looked curiously at the young man in front of her. In a sweet voice, she said, "Hello, Yun Yi. Will you play with Xiyue?"


    "...Big brother, play with me..."


    The sweet voice of his little sister seemed to echo in Yun Yi¡¯s ears. His body swayed as if he wanted to turn back. At this moment, his heart was torn between choosing to face death or to escape.


    Seeing that Yun Yi hadn¡¯t moved, Zhao Xuanxin sighed, walked over to him, and pulled him in front of the little girl. "The existence of Princess Xiyue has been a secret throughout the entire base. Apart from the four of us, no one else knows about her."


    Hearing Zhao Xuanxin¡¯s words, Yun Yi was stunned. No wonder he hadn¡¯t known about the princess¡¯s existence. It turned out that the queen and Zhao Xuanxin had kept it a secret from everyone. Did that mean this child had only ever seen these three people in her life?


    There weren¡¯t many palace maids, and none had been killed to keep the secret. That meant the queen herself had been taking care of this child all along.


    "Yun Yi, will you play with Xiyue?"


    The innocent voice rang in his ears. Seeing the little girl¡¯s pitiful, hopeful gaze, Yun Yi¡¯s heartstrings were plucked. This poor child was even more pitiful than he had been. At least he had had parents, relatives, friends, and classmates to play with before he was eight. After that, he had been cared for by the Restoration Army soldiers and had children his own age to be with. He had never felt lonely.


    If his little sister were still alive, would she be as lonely as this girl?


    At this moment, what choice did he have?


    Yun Yi suddenly raised his head and said loudly, "I accept this mission! Tell me what I need to do!"


    The queen, Zhao Xuanxin, and Solon all smiled. But in Yun Yi¡¯s eyes, those smiles looked more like bitter, forced grins.


    The queen was reluctant to part with her daughter. As she removed a necklace from her slender neck and placed it around Princess Xiyue¡¯s neck, she held her tightly, tears streaming down her face as she spoke. Though Xiyue didn¡¯t fully understand her mother¡¯s words, she listened attentively. Seeing her mother¡¯s tears, she began to cry as well.


    Meanwhile, Zhao Xuanxin was handing over some items to Yun Yi.


    "This is the royal genealogy of the Zhao Song Empire. This is the imperial seal. This is the scepter symbolizing the throne. This is... I hope you can keep these safe and give them to Princess Xiyue when she grows up. Additionally..."


    After handing over a pile of items, Zhao Xuanxin hesitated but still said, "I need you to swear that no matter what happens, no matter the circumstances, you will never abandon Princess Xiyue and will raise her to adulthood."


    Yun Yi didn¡¯t hesitate to make the vow. To him, the Zhao Song Empire had given him everything. Even if it meant facing death, he would march forward without fear. How could he be afraid of a mere oath?


    "You also need to swear..." This time, Zhao Xuanxin¡¯s expression was stern, his voice harsh. "I need you to swear that you will devote your life to overthrowing the Iserlohn government, to killing its president, Zagu, and to reestablishing the Zhao Song Empire with Princess Xiyue or her descendants as its emperor!"

 Chapter 18: The Fall of the Empire

    Yun Yi was momentarily stunned. If he made this oath, his entire life would no longer be his own. He would be bound to this vow, dedicating his life to its fulfillment.


    Yun Yi had no objection to overthrowing the Iserlohn government and reestablishing the Zhao Song Empire. Similarly, killing Zagu and eliminating the government forces were his own desires. However, he didn¡¯t want to tie his entire life to a goal that, for now, seemed so distant and unattainable.


    In Yun Yi¡¯s heart, he had already begun to despise war. He hated the war that had taken his family, his comrades, and his friends. What he yearned for most was freedom¡ªto live freely, unbound by anyone¡¯s control, free to do what he wished, and to enjoy a peaceful, unrestrained life. That was his dream.


    But, in the end, it was just a dream.


    The debts of vengeance for his parents, his little sister, the gratitude he owed to the Zhao Song Empire, the heavy responsibilities entrusted to him by Zhao Xuanxin and the queen¡­


    The debts of vengeance must be repaid!


    The debts of gratitude must be fulfilled!


    After only a moment¡¯s hesitation, Yun Yi opened his mouth to swear, "I swear, with all my life, I will¡ª"


    "Stop!"


    A voice interrupted Yun Yi¡¯s oath. It was the queen herself.


    "Uncle, please don¡¯t make Yun Yi swear such an oath." The queen wiped away her tears and led Princess Xiyue to stand before Yun Yi and Zhao Xuanxin. She reached out and straightened the collar of Yun Yi¡¯s military uniform, ignoring their shocked expressions, and said softly, "Our Zhao Song Empire has existed for over 800 years since its founding by Emperor Taizu. Countless people have devoted their lives to this country, working tirelessly, sacrificing everything. If the heavens have decreed that this empire must fall, then let me be its last ruler. Uncle, please don¡¯t burden others with this heavy responsibility, alright? Yun Yi, your task is simply to live well and give Xiyue a happy family, to let her live a joyful life¡­ Can you promise me that?"


    The queen¡¯s words left Yun Yi and Zhao Xuanxin utterly stunned. Zhao Xuanxin, who had dedicated his life to the empire, had never considered the queen¡¯s own feelings. He never imagined she would feel this way. Zhao Xuanxin fell silent. From the queen¡¯s perspective, all of this was indeed a shackle, a chain that bound everyone tightly.


    "Ah¡­" Zhao Xuanxin said nothing more. In that moment, he seemed to have aged significantly.


    "Yun Yi." The queen spoke softly, handing him a card. "This is a universal bank card, opened in Xiyue¡¯s name. It contains the remaining assets of the royal family and the Restoration Army. I hope you can use it wisely. When you are able, please use it to help the people who once lived under the empire¡¯s rule, alright?"


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    Yun Yi took the card, feeling as though this thin piece of exotic alloy weighed as much as a mountain. It wasn¡¯t just a card filled with untold wealth; it also carried the last empress¡¯s care and love for her people, even though they were no longer hers.


    Carefully storing the bank card, Yun Yi looked bravely into the queen¡¯s eyes and said calmly, "Your Majesty, I promise I will take good care of Princess Xiyue and give her a happy family. In the future, when I am able, I will help the people of every inch of land that was once under the empire¡¯s rule. I swear, I will do it!"


    Though the queen¡¯s face was hidden behind her veil, Yun Yi could almost see the beautiful smile that spread across it.


    "Thank you, Yun Yi," the queen said softly. "Time is running out. Take Xiyue and leave immediately. Oh, and there¡¯s one more thing I need to ask of you." She took out a letter from her robe and handed it to Yun Yi. "Please deliver this letter to Xiyue¡¯s father¡­ if you can find him."


    Yun Yi didn¡¯t understand why the queen said this. Taking the letter, he asked, "Your Majesty, where should I look for her father?"


    The queen gave a bitter smile. "I don¡¯t know. The only clue to her father¡¯s identity is the necklace she wears. Don¡¯t worry too much about it. If the heavens will it, you may meet him. That¡¯s all."


    With everything settled, it was time to part.


    The soldiers sent to escort Yun Yi had arrived. Standing at the palace gates, Yun Yi saluted the three figures watching him, then turned and led Princess Xiyue into the hovercar without looking back, afraid that if he did, he wouldn¡¯t be able to hold back his tears.


    "Commander Yun, your mecha has already been transported to this ship. I am Xiao He, captain of the Royal Fleet¡¯s First Squadron, at your command."


    After the hovercar arrived at the spaceport, Yun Yi quickly boarded the ship Zhao Xuanxin had told him about. In the command room, he met the squadron captain responsible for protecting their escape.


    "Captain Xiao, when can we depart?"


    Xiao He had already received Zhao Xuanxin¡¯s secret orders and had everything prepared. Hearing Yun Yi¡¯s question, he immediately replied, "Commander Yun, everything is ready. We can depart at any time."


    "Then let¡¯s go, the sooner the better!"


    While the entire base was frantically preparing to resist the enemy, the hundred ships of the Royal Fleet¡¯s First Squadron, the most elite force, quietly left the spaceport. This action immediately caused panic among those who saw it, and rumors spread that the queen had abandoned them.


    Just as the unrest was about to escalate, the queen, along with Commander Zhao Xuanxin and Captain Solon, appeared at the spaceport. In full view of everyone, they boarded the Phoenix Sky and declared that the queen herself would lead the Royal Fleet into battle against the invading government forces. They also expressed that if the Royal Fleet were defeated, those remaining in the base could choose to surrender.


    After this speech, the morale of the entire base soared. Everyone resolved to fight to the death, refusing to live in shame!


    Watching the high spirits of the base and the fleet, the queen gazed in the direction where the First Squadron had departed and whispered, "My daughter, I hope you can leave safely. This is the only thing I can do for you. Perhaps it will buy you a little more time."


    On November 11, 5239 of the Universal Calendar, the fleet of the Iserlohn Democratic Republic arrived at the last stronghold of the Zhao Song Empire. After ten hours of fierce resistance by the empire¡¯s remaining forces, the government forces suffered heavy casualties but ultimately succeeded in capturing the base. In the final moments, the queen and Commander Zhao Xuanxin detonated their flagship. Thus, the Zhao Song Empire, which had dominated the Fengzhou Star Domain for over 800 years, was utterly destroyed.

 Chapter 19: Betrayal and Ambush

    "Commander Yun..." Captain Xiao He of the Royal Fleet''s First Squadron approached Yun Yi after speaking with the communications officer.


    Yun Yi was affectionately watching Princess Xiyue, who was captivated by the vast, mesmerizing expanse of space outside the window. Like anyone seeing the stars for the first time, she couldn¡¯t tear her eyes away. Hearing Xiao He¡¯s voice, Yun Yi turned and asked, "What is it?"


    "We¡¯ve lost contact with the base," Xiao He said hesitantly, his tone heavy. "If I¡¯m not mistaken, the base has fallen."


    Yun Yi¡¯s body stiffened. He glanced back at the little girl, who seemed oblivious to the conversation, still gazing out the window in wonder.


    He sighed softly, not saying anything more, but feeling as though something heavy was pressing on his heart. Although he had mentally prepared himself for this moment when leaving the base, the news still struck him like a blow, leaving him with a profound sense of loss.


    "I understand," Yun Yi said, his voice firm, his eyes filled with determination. "We¡¯re still in a dangerous area. We need to get out of here as quickly as possible."


    Xiao He saluted. "Yes, sir!" He returned to his post without another word, but as he turned away, Yun Yi¡¯s sharp eyes caught the glimmer of tears in the middle-aged man¡¯s eyes.


    "Xiyue, it¡¯s time to stop looking and go to bed," Yun Yi said softly, walking over to the princess and gently patting her small shoulder.


    "Meow... just let me look a little longer," the girl pleaded, her spirits high and unwilling to sleep.


    Yun Yi was momentarily puzzled. "What¡¯s ''meow''? Are you a kitten?"


    "Ah?" Xiyue¡¯s face flushed, and she lowered her head, squirming in embarrassment. After a moment, she mumbled, "Meow, you¡¯re teasing me. Mom always said I shouldn¡¯t do that, but I just can¡¯t help it."


    Yun Yi chuckled wryly, surprised that the little girl, raised by the queen herself, had such an adorable quirk. But then again, the queen wasn¡¯t much older, probably in her early thirties, and likely didn¡¯t have much experience raising children.


    "It¡¯s fine, say it if you want to. It¡¯s kind of cute," Yun Yi said with a smile, gently ruffling her hair.


    To his surprise, Xiyue¡¯s face lit up with joy. She looked at him with her big, dark eyes, her expression pure and innocent. "Meow, really? At home, Mom always got upset when I said it, but I just couldn¡¯t stop."


    "Mm, it¡¯s fine. As long as you¡¯re obedient, I won¡¯t mind," Yun Yi said, taking her small hand. "Come on, it¡¯s time to rest. Remember, you have to be a good girl."


    "Meow..." Xiyue nodded vigorously, her face bright with happiness. "Okay, Xiyue will go to sleep now."


    Princess Xiyue seemed quite independent. Without anyone to help her, she bathed herself and obediently climbed into bed, closing her eyes.


    Yun Yi gently closed the door to her room and sighed before returning to his own quarters.


    The base was gone. His last orders were to take care of this little girl. Although Yun Yi had been independent from a young age and wasn¡¯t used to looking after others, Princess Xiyue was well-behaved and sensible, so she didn¡¯t require much attention.


    What worried him was how he would handle it when Xiyue woke up crying for her mother.


    Lying in bed, staring at the white ceiling, Yun Yi found it impossible to sleep.


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    Memories of the base flooded his mind as if they had happened just yesterday. The kind Zhao Xuanxin, the seemingly cold but caring Solon, the dignified yet compassionate queen, and the comrades who were like brothers to him... Were they still alive?


    Quietly, he thought about the escape plan Zhao Xuanxin had arranged for them.


    If all went well, the fleet would reach the neighboring nation of the Iserlohn Democratic Republic, the Hilvarst Empire. Like the Zhao Song Empire, Hilvarst was a monarchy and had staunchly opposed the coup in Zhao Song. They had even provided significant material and naval support to the Restoration Army. The queen had mentioned that the Hilvarst emperor¡¯s granddaughter had been her classmate and close friend. Though the queen hadn¡¯t mentioned Xiyue for security reasons, her friend had readily agreed to help.


    If they could safely reach the Hilvarst Empire, Yun Yi believed that with the princess¡¯s support, his own talents, and the help of a hundred warships, he could achieve great things. He had already planned to entrust Xiyue to the princess¡¯s care and, together with Xiao He, establish a security company. Once they had built up their strength, they would return to Iserlohn and rebuild the Zhao Song Empire.


    Thinking of the future, Yun Yi couldn¡¯t help but smile. He silently vowed to himself that he would be the one to restore the Zhao Song Empire to its former glory.


    In his half-asleep state, Yun Yi dreamed of commanding countless warships, charging into the Iserlohn Democratic Republic. Just as he was about to execute the evil dictator Zagu, the man suddenly began to wail, emitting a piercing "woo woo" sound.


    "Woo... woo..."


    Yun Yi jolted awake, realizing that the sound wasn¡¯t Zagu¡¯s crying in his dream but the alarm blaring throughout the ship.


    "Something¡¯s wrong!"


    Yun Yi quickly dressed and rushed out of his room, activating his communicator as he went. "Captain Xiao, what¡¯s happening?"


    "Commander Yun, I was just about to contact you. Please come to the command room immediately. We¡¯ve detected a large number of government warships ahead."


    Yun Yi¡¯s heart sank. He closed the communicator and hesitated for a moment outside Xiyue¡¯s room but decided not to check on her. Instead, he hurried to the command room.


    As soon as he left, the door to Xiyue¡¯s room creaked open, revealing a small, frightened face peeking out.


    "Commander Yun, the situation is dire," Xiao He said grimly as Yun Yi entered the command room. "Take a look at the star map."


    Yun Yi¡¯s eyes turned to the large screen on the wall, and his face paled.


    Ahead of the fleet were no fewer than two thousand warships. From their models and insignia, it was clear they belonged to the government forces.


    "Why are there two government fleets here? Did they not send all their forces to the base?" Yun Yi wondered, glancing at Xiao He¡¯s troubled expression. A thought struck him: "Could it be that the enemy knew about our movements?"


    Xiao He¡¯s face darkened, and he snapped, "Commander Yun, what are you implying? My loyalty to the queen and the empire is beyond question. Don¡¯t make baseless accusations."


    Yun Yi didn¡¯t respond, simply meeting Xiao He¡¯s gaze.


    "I know our fleet¡¯s movements were highly confidential. Only the deputy squadron leader, the chief of staff, and I knew the exact route. All three of us have been with the base for nearly ten years. We¡¯re comrades who can be trusted completely!"


    Xiao He¡¯s words were firm, filled with conviction.


    Hearing this, Yun Yi¡¯s doubts wavered, but his expression remained unchanged. He gave Xiao He a meaningful look and walked to the front of the command room, addressing the communications officer. "Can we establish contact with the enemy?"


    The officer hesitated, glancing at Xiao He, who nodded coldly. He knew what Yun Yi was planning but, confident in his own innocence, didn¡¯t object.


    The connection was soon established, and a face Xiao He knew all too well appeared on the screen.


    "General Mitras? Why are you here?"


    Unlike Xiao He¡¯s shock and fear, Yun Yi recognized the man immediately and stepped aside to avoid being seen. This was Mitras, the chief of staff for the base¡¯s defense, a man whose authority was second only to Zhao Xuanxin and a few others.


    "Ah, Xiao He, it¡¯s been a while," Mitras said with a laugh. His round face and portly frame were unmistakable as he lounged in the command chair of his flagship, sipping coffee. "Where are you off to in such a hurry, Commander Xiao?"


    Xiao He¡¯s face twisted with anger. "General Mitras, tell me why you¡¯re on an enemy ship!"


    Mitras chuckled, shaking his head. "This isn¡¯t an enemy ship. It¡¯s my flagship. Let me enlighten you. Although I¡¯ve been in your pathetic little base, holding a high position, I¡¯ve actually been Zagu¡¯s closest ally. Long before you fled, Zagu sent me with a small force of elite government troops to infiltrate your ranks and lay low. It¡¯s hilarious how that old fool Zhao scattered my men across different units to keep an eye on us. Well, now I¡¯ve got my hands on almost all the base¡¯s intelligence. Haha... I wonder if the old man would¡¯ve died of anger if he¡¯d known?"


    "Oh, and I forgot to tell you. Five hours ago, Zhao and that queen of yours, always hiding behind her veil, blew up the Phoenix Sky. By now, there¡¯s probably nothing left of them. Haha..."

 Chapter 20: A Lonely Journey

    Even though they had already guessed the outcome, when Mitras revealed the details, everyone in the command room was stunned. Operations halted as they stared, open-mouthed, at the holographic image of Mitras laughing maniacally.


    Tears streamed down their faces.


    Xiao He¡¯s fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on his forehead as he glared at the screen, gritting his teeth. "So, that means my deputy squadron leader is also one of your people?"


    Mitras feigned a look of realization. "Oh, you mean Ahogo? He¡¯s one of my right-hand men. Without him, I wouldn¡¯t have known the Royal Fleet¡¯s First Squadron had left the base early. Speaking of which¡­ what exactly are you carrying on those ships that¡¯s so important? It must be something significant for Zhao to send the First Squadron to escort it."


    So, the traitor was Deputy Squadron Leader Ahogo¡­ Yun Yi glanced at Xiao He, whose face was twisted with anger, and felt a pang of guilt. He made a slashing motion with his hand, signaling Xiao He to deal with Ahogo immediately.


    Xiao He understood but shook his head helplessly. Hours earlier, Ahogo had claimed there was instability in the fleet and had gone to another ship. By now, he had likely taken control of a significant portion of the fleet.


    "Ahaha, Xiao He, no need to deny it," Mitras said dismissively, mistaking Xiao He¡¯s gesture. "Look, the base is gone. The queen has joined her ancestors. Why cling to a dead empire? Take my advice and surrender. I have some influence with Zagu. If you surrender, I¡¯ll make sure you get a position no lower than deputy fleet commander. How about it?"


    Xiao He¡¯s expression gradually returned to normal as he seemed to consider Mitras¡¯s offer. Mitras waited patiently, not pressing further.


    Yun Yi¡¯s heart raced. He thought Xiao He might be swayed and was about to rush forward to restrain him. But then he realized this might be part of Xiao He¡¯s plan, so he forced himself to stay still.


    After a moment, Xiao He looked up at the screen and said slowly, "General Mitras, may I have some time to think it over?"


    Mitras knew that loyalists like Xiao He were hard to convince. Giving them time to see the reality of the situation often worked better. "Fine, I¡¯ll give you an hour. If you haven¡¯t surrendered by then, my fleet will attack."


    As soon as the communication ended, before Yun Yi could question him, Xiao He said urgently, "Commander Yun, take the girl and leave in your mecha. We only have a hundred ships, and some are under Ahogo¡¯s control. We¡¯re no match for the enemy."


    Yun Yi hesitated. In the vastness of space, where could he go with just a mecha? If they had a ship, maybe¡­ but if Ahogo had already taken control of some ships, they¡¯d be destroyed before they could even turn around.


    Seeing Yun Yi¡¯s hesitation, Xiao He quickly added, "Don¡¯t worry. While you¡¯re leaving, I¡¯ll release M-particles under the pretext of stabilizing the fleet. That¡¯ll cover your escape. Normally, I¡¯d send a ship with you, but under these circumstances, any movement would alert Ahogo."


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    Yun Yi knew about M-particles. They were often used in space warfare to block communication and detection signals.


    Should he trust Xiao He?


    Yun Yi couldn¡¯t decide.


    But he quickly realized that staying only led to two outcomes: either they¡¯d be captured, and the girl¡¯s presence would raise suspicions, leading to her execution, or they¡¯d be destroyed along with the ship.


    If it came to a battle, against two thousand ships, even an eighth-level warrior like him¡ªor even an innate-level warrior¡ªwould be obliterated.


    What if he escaped in the mecha?


    Yun Yi calculated that if Xiao He¡¯s plan worked, he had an 80% chance of escaping the battlefield.


    The problem was, where would he go? In the vastness of space, a mecha couldn¡¯t reach an inhabited planet.


    Just then, Xiao He hurried over with a computer. "Look, Yun Yi. Fly in this direction. In about three days, you¡¯ll reach this point. Stay there for a day, and a Star Express interstellar train will pass by. I¡¯m sure you can sneak aboard, right?"


    Yun Yi¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at the screen. It was Star Express¡¯s official ticketing website, showing the routes of all interstellar trains in the Fengzhou Star Domain. In four days, a train would pass the location Xiao He had mentioned.


    That solved the final problem.


    Yun Yi nodded firmly. "Captain Xiao, it¡¯s all up to you. If you still have any loyalty to the Zhao Song Empire, please let us escape before you surrender. I¡¯ll be forever grateful."


    Surprisingly, Xiao He didn¡¯t argue this time. He simply nodded, leaving Yun Yi with a sense of unease.


    In Xiyue¡¯s room, Yun Yi found the princess trembling, curled up by the bed. He sighed, picked her up, and carried her back to his room. After gathering the items Zhao Xuanxin had entrusted to him, he made his way to his mecha.


    The red mecha stood quietly, with technicians conducting final checks.


    Yun Yi stashed the items inside, accepted a large bag of food from a technician, and squeezed into the mecha with Xiyue. It was a tight fit, but Yun Yi¡¯s slim frame and Xiyue¡¯s small size made it manageable.


    A message came through the mecha¡¯s console: "Mecha check complete. All systems normal. Ready for launch."


    Once the technicians left, Yun Yi started the mecha. The familiar hum of the engine filled the cabin, but Yun Yi felt no excitement. He knew the challenges ahead.


    Xiao He¡¯s voice came through the communicator. "Commander Yun, are you ready?"


    "Yes, Captain Xiao. Ready to launch at any time."


    "Good. Time¡¯s running out. I¡¯ll release the M-particles now."


    The communicator fell silent, likely turned off temporarily. For five tense minutes, Yun Yi¡¯s heart pounded, fearing Xiao He might not let them go. Xiyue, nestled in his arms, curiously watched his chest rise and fall.


    When the communicator crackled back to life, Xiao He said, "Sorry, Mitras questioned me. It wasn¡¯t easy to lie."


    Yun Yi understood. Releasing M-particles would raise suspicions, but since Xiao He only dispersed them within their fleet¡¯s formation, Mitras likely believed his excuse.


    "Thank you, Captain Xiao. If there¡¯s ever a chance, I¡¯ll repay you," Yun Yi said earnestly.


    Xiao He gave a bitter smile. "There won¡¯t be a chance¡­" Then, his voice hardened. "Enough talk. Commander Yun, prepare for launch!"


    Yun Yi straightened. "Ready for launch."


    Xiao He¡¯s final words came through: "Launch!¡­ Take care of that girl¡­"


    As the mecha shot into space, Yun Yi froze. Did Xiao He know Xiyue¡¯s true identity?


    There was no time to confirm.


    The mecha entered the M-particle-filled void, cutting off all communication and detection.


    "May heaven protect us," Yun Yi murmured, touching the necklace around his neck. His hands flew across the controls, and the red mecha streaked across the stars, leaving a faint trail.


    "May the heavens protect the empire¡¯s last hope."


    On the ship, Xiao He stood by the window, silently watching the mecha disappear.


    An hour later, Xiao He stood in the command room and issued his final orders: "All ships, switch to signal lights for communication. All units, prepare for battle. Full speed ahead¡­"


    As distant stars flickered in the vastness of space, Yun Yi gazed into the void. He knew now that deep in Xiao He¡¯s heart lay an unshakable loyalty to the empire.


    "Captain Xiao, may you find peace¡­"

 Chapter 21: Waiting for the Dawn (Part 1)

    In the vast expanse of the cosmos, stars shimmered like scattered jewels.


    The Iserlohn Democratic Republic was located in the remote southwestern corner of the Fengzhou Star Domain. In this newly established democratic nation, citizens who had once hoped for a more prosperous life after overthrowing the imperial rule now struggled under the iron fist of President Zagu.


    Under the former Zhao Song Empire, life had been stable. While the standard of living couldn¡¯t compare to that of the great cosmic powers, people at least had their basic needs met. If you were willing to work hard, there was always a chance to rise above your station.


    But under Zagu¡¯s oppressive dictatorship, the private property of countless citizens was seized by powerful officials and aristocratic families. Corruption ran rampant, with greedy officials and a decaying military preying on the weak. Deadly weapons flooded the streets, plunging entire planets into chaos and making survival difficult for ordinary people.


    When they learned that a remnant of the Zhao Song Empire still resisted, hope blossomed in their hearts. They dreamed that one day, the glorious imperial army would reclaim these stars and restore their once-happy lives.


    But their hopes were shattered as the government¡¯s massive military forces mobilized.


    Almost everyone knew that the empire¡¯s last stronghold was short on supplies and ammunition, utterly incapable of withstanding the government¡¯s overwhelming might. Yet, they clung to a sliver of hope¡ªuntil the government fleet reported that the base had been captured and all resistance crushed. At that moment, all hope vanished.


    If they couldn¡¯t survive here, they would flee.


    To any nation¡ªbe it imperial, democratic, or theocratic¡ªas long as it offered a chance to live, they would go.


    Suddenly, people flooded the spaceports of every planet, desperate for a ticket to another country. Tickets were limited, and some were willing to bankrupt themselves to secure one. Corrupt government officials didn¡¯t stop the exodus; instead, they monopolized the spaceports, scalping tickets for exorbitant profits.


    To escape, some even resorted to selling their children¡­


    The Star Express, the largest interstellar transport company, was no stranger to such scenes. Wars erupted across the cosmos every moment, and the mass exodus from Iserlohn was just another crisis. After notifying headquarters, the local branch began hastily retrofitting its interstellar trains.


    Lengthen them, then lengthen them again. Speed? It didn¡¯t matter; these were refugees, after all.


    Widen them, then widen them further. Comfort? When survival was at stake, who cared about comfort?


    A standard interstellar train designed for 50,000 passengers was now crammed with nearly 200,000 people.


    Food? Sorry, the company hadn¡¯t prepared enough supplies due to the rushed arrangements. If you needed anything, you¡¯d have to buy it from the mobile vendors. Too expensive? Well, you know how costly interstellar transport can be¡ªfuel, staff, storage¡­


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    The cramped space was filled with the stench of sweat and unwashed bodies, making movement nearly impossible. The once-free, cheap meals were replaced by food and water priced ten times higher. A standard four-person cabin now housed ten, leaving no room to sleep comfortably. Many simply spread their clothes on the floor and slept in their garments.


    The wealthy boarded luxury cruise ships or private yachts, while those with connections hitched rides on cargo vessels. But for the ordinary people who had spent their lives on solid ground, with no money or connections, these overcrowded interstellar trains were their only option.


    The overloaded trains lumbered along at less than a fifth of their usual speed, inching toward an uncertain future¡­


    "Meow¡­ Yun Yi, Xiyue is hungry¡­"


    Her long lashes fluttered as her obsidian-like eyes gazed at Yun Yi with pitiful innocence.


    Yun Yi¡¯s stomach growled, empty for days. He couldn¡¯t bear to meet Xiyue¡¯s eyes. They had been waiting at this location for ten days, and the last piece of compressed rations had gone to Xiyue, leaving Yun Yi with nothing for three days. Even with his advanced martial arts training and the enhancements from the mysterious necklace, he could only reduce his activity and endure. He estimated he could last two more days at most.


    He forced a smile and patted Xiyue¡¯s head. "Alright, Xiyue. When the interstellar train arrives, I¡¯ll take you for a big feast, okay?"


    "Mm!" Xiyue nodded vigorously, her mind already wandering to thoughts of the delicious food they would eat.


    Yun Yi¡¯s gaze fell on the mecha¡¯s computer screen, his face clouded with worry.


    According to the original schedule from Star Express, the cursed train should have arrived days ago. But it was already seven days late, with no sign of its approach.


    "Did it change its route?"


    The thought had crossed Yun Yi¡¯s mind repeatedly. But he knew it was unlikely. Star Express trains rarely altered their routes unless faced with unavoidable disasters like supernova explosions or declared major conflicts. The route had been peaceful recently, so it seemed improbable that something had gone wrong in just a few days.


    "Could the train have passed by unnoticed?"


    The chilling thought struck Yun Yi, and he immediately checked the mecha¡¯s detection systems and computer. After confirming the results, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    Everything was normal. The train hadn¡¯t arrived yet.


    "Just a little longer¡­"


    Leaning back in the mecha¡¯s seat, Yun Yi stroked Xiyue¡¯s smooth, silky hair, his thoughts drifting to the item the little girl had given him a few days ago.


    It was an ancient book, and Yun Yi immediately recognized its significance. In this age of advanced technology, few used such primitive tools for recording information, preferring the convenience and vast storage of computers. With wrist-mounted computers ubiquitous, paper records were a rarity.


    But some still used paper to record certain things.


    Like martial arts manuals.


    As expected, the book¡¯s cover bore five ancient characters: "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue."


    The sight of those words startled Yun Yi. He knew this manual well¡ªit was a secret technique reserved for the direct descendants of the Zhao Song imperial family. Without permission, it was strictly forbidden to teach it to anyone else. The "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue" was a powerful technique practiced by every emperor, prince, and princess. It allowed for rapid progress in martial arts, with each breakthrough enhancing physical abilities two to three times more than ordinary techniques.


    The power of "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue" was undeniable, as evidenced by the achievements of every imperial descendant in history. In the empire¡¯s annual martial arts tournaments, which were judged by renowned martial artists from neighboring nations, at least one practitioner of "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue" always ranked among the top five. This was no mere reputation; it was proven fact.


    Legend had it that the "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue" was bestowed upon the Zhao family¡¯s ancestor over a thousand years ago by the emperor of the Galactic Empire, the only ruler to ever unify the entire cosmos.


    Sighing, Yun Yi thought to himself, "The new book¡¯s performance is so poor, it¡¯s hard to stay motivated. Writing six to seven thousand words a day is exhausting. But the data is just too dismal¡ªnearly seventy thousand words in, and the clicks haven¡¯t even reached seven thousand. The red votes are pitifully few. Please, if you can, cast a few red votes to give me the motivation to keep writing."

 Chapter 22: Waiting for the Dawn (Part 2)

    Could something given by an emperor renowned for his generosity possibly be worthless?


    Yun Yi¡¯s hands trembled as he took the ancient book. Suppressing the urge to flip through it immediately, he ran his fingers over the cover and asked, "Xiyue, why are you giving this to me?"


    Xiyue tilted her head, smiling sweetly at him. "Meow, Mother gave it to me when we left. She said you should teach me."


    The queen gave it to him?


    Yun Yi understood now. He recalled how, when he was learning the "Po Lang Jue," a relatively simple and widely accessible martial arts technique, it had taken him three days under his teacher¡¯s guidance just to grasp the basics. The "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue," being far more powerful, must be even more difficult to master. Sure enough, after a quick glance through the book, he found a note stating that to guide someone else in learning it, one needed at least an eighth-level martial arts cultivation and a thorough understanding of the technique¡¯s methods for unblocking meridians.


    The queen, from what he could tell, didn¡¯t seem to be at the eighth level. As for Solon, though he was loyal, he wasn¡¯t a direct descendant of the Zhao Song imperial family and thus couldn¡¯t practice the "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue."


    Now, the queen wanted Yun Yi to teach Xiyue the technique, but Yun Yi didn¡¯t know it himself. To teach her, he would have to learn it first. However, the queen hadn¡¯t explicitly allowed him to study the "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue." While she had handed the manual to Yun Yi through Xiyue, she hadn¡¯t given him permission to learn it.


    In this way, the queen hadn¡¯t violated the ancestral rules¡ªshe had merely passed the manual to Yun Yi. Yun Yi, not being a member of the royal family, had only obtained the technique by chance. This way, no one had technically broken the Zhao family¡¯s ancestral laws. It was a clever workaround, but given the circumstances, it was the only option.


    During the days of waiting for the interstellar train, Yun Yi memorized the entire book and carefully stored it away. He resolved to start learning it as soon as their lives stabilized, hoping to quickly unblock Xiyue¡¯s meridians and enable her to practice the technique.


    Thinking of the queen, Yun Yi recalled something odd. It had been ten days since they left the base. Even he felt a pang of sadness whenever he thought of the queen, Zhao Xuanxin, and his comrades. But Xiyue, the little girl, never seemed to dwell on it. She hadn¡¯t cried or asked for her mother.


    Though Yun Yi wanted to tell the girl about her mother, he decided against it. Perhaps Xiyue just hadn¡¯t thought of it yet, and he didn¡¯t want to stir up trouble in their confined space.


    "Beep¡­ beep beep¡­"


    "Meow, Yun Yi, what¡¯s that awful noise?"


    The shrill alarm, mixed with Xiyue¡¯s sweet, childish voice, jolted Yun Yi out of his thoughts.


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    "It¡¯s here!"


    Yun Yi exclaimed in excitement, his heart pounding. Despite having gone without food for three days, he was suddenly full of energy. He turned off the alarm and focused intently on the massive ship slowly approaching on the screen.


    11111


    The interstellar train was a colossal spacecraft designed to transport passengers and some cargo across the stars.


    The ship¡¯s head was small, roughly one-twentieth the size of a single cabin, and mainly served for control and communication. The tail, however, was much larger, two to three times the size of a cabin, housing a powerful triple-engine system. Between the head and tail were the modular cabins. These detachable cabins were highly convenient¡ªwhen passengers or cargo were few, excess cabins could be removed to increase speed and reduce fuel consumption. When demand was high, more cabins could be added to maximize profits.


    But no interstellar train Yun Yi had ever seen online was as long as the one before him.


    Theoretically, a train with twenty cabins was the most economical and practical, and that was what he usually saw. But the train in front of him had over fifty cabins. The old engines seemed overwhelmed, struggling to push the ship forward. The entire vessel¡¯s speed had dropped to a crawl.


    "No wonder it¡¯s so slow. With so many cabins, it¡¯s a miracle it¡¯s moving at all. Since when did Star Express¡¯s business get so good?" Yun Yi muttered to himself, a smile playing on his lips. He stroked Xiyue¡¯s hair and said, "Alright, Xiyue, get ready for a feast."


    Cabin B2582 was located toward the rear of the interstellar train, just three cabins away from the engines. It housed passengers who had purchased the cheapest tickets. Compared to the latest F-series cabins, the B2582, an outdated model nearing retirement, was only used when transporting large numbers of impoverished travelers.


    However, as part of an interstellar train, even the oldest A-series cabins were equipped with escape pods on the exterior. This tradition dated back to the Galactic Empire era, and no transport company dared to omit them. If a lack of escape pods led to mass casualties, the company would be finished. Even if only for show, there were enough escape pods for a thousand people.


    At that moment, near the cabin¡¯s connecting point, a fiery red mecha clung tightly to Cabin B2582. It quietly used a broad alloy blade to cut into an escape pod. Soon, a sizable hole was made in the cheap metal shell. These escape pods could hold hundreds of people, so fitting a mecha inside was no problem.


    After slipping into the escape pod, Yun Yi immediately controlled the mecha to release adhesive pellets from the wall. These green pellets expanded rapidly upon release, becoming highly sticky and quickly sealing the breach in the ship¡¯s hull, preventing oxygen loss and damage from airflow.


    With the hole sealed, the mecha extended its blade and gently poked a small opening at the connection between the escape pod and the cabin, just large enough for a person to pass through.


    Everything was ready. They were now completely safe.


    Yun Yi peered out through the hole. Outside was a narrow escape corridor. According to the information Xiao He had provided, the other end of the corridor should lead to a door into the ship¡¯s interior. Since it was for emergency use, the door wouldn¡¯t be tightly locked, and Yun Yi could easily get through.


    He caressed the red mecha, his eyes filled with reluctance. This mecha was one he had assembled himself from parts on that mysterious planet, equipped with a metal blade he considered a comrade-in-arms. At the base, he had piloted this mecha to eliminate countless enemies. Now, this trusted companion would also have to be left behind.


    "Sorry¡­" Yun Yi murmured, unable to find the right words. He simply uttered those two syllables.


    After setting the necessary commands, Yun Yi hoisted the items Zhao Xuanxin had entrusted to him, cradled the large jar of monster brain fluid, and led the delighted Xiyue toward the ship¡¯s interior.


    Two hours later, an escape pod near the connecting point of Cabin B2582 suddenly exploded. The cabin¡¯s manager quickly reported the incident to the interstellar train¡¯s captain. To prevent the damaged escape pod from affecting the cabin, the captain ordered it to be disconnected and ejected into the vastness of space¡­

 Chapter 23: The Interstellar Train (Part 1)

    "Meow¡­ Yun Yi, where¡¯s the food?"


    Standing in the corridor of the interstellar train with his luggage, Yun Yi was at a loss. Beside him, Princess Xiyue looked around with wide, curious eyes, occasionally reminding Yun Yi that he was responsible for her hungry stomach.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll take you to eat soon. Be good, okay?"


    Patting Xiyue¡¯s head, Yun Yi wore a troubled expression. Though he was seventeen and had experienced many things, his lack of social experience left him flustered on this interstellar train.


    Fortunately, he had read many books, including titles like "How to Adapt to a New Environment" and "Is It Hard to Talk to Strangers?"¡ªguides on social interaction.


    Touching the necklace around his neck, Yun Yi calmed his slightly dizzy mind and recalled what he had learned.


    Just then, the sound of footsteps came from around the corner of the corridor.


    Yun Yi quickly led Xiyue back into the escape passage, gently closing the door and peeking through the crack to observe.


    A middle-aged man in slightly worn clothes, his face etched with hardship, walked over carrying two packages of food. He stopped at a door not far from the escape passage and knocked.


    "Dad, you¡¯re back! Did you get any food?"


    The door opened, and a boy of about seven or eight rushed out excitedly.


    The man handed one of the packages to the boy and said softly, "Here, share this with your sister."


    The boy happily took the food and went back inside. Then, a middle-aged woman came out and quietly closed the door.


    "Why is there so little food?" the woman asked in a hushed voice.


    The man opened his package, took out a dry biscuit, and handed it to her. "Prices have gone up again. Two days ago, a biscuit cost two dollars. Now it¡¯s five. I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll keep rising, so I bought a bit more."


    The woman gasped. "They¡¯re charging so much? Back home, a biscuit was only five cents."


    The man sighed. "I know. These people are vampires. At this rate, we¡¯ll be penniless by the time we reach Tairsey."


    The two whispered for a while longer before returning to their room.


    From their conversation, Yun Yi gleaned a lot of useful information and realized his own problem.


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    The biggest issue was that he was still wearing the military uniform of the Zhao Song Empire from the base. Perhaps no one had noticed, or even Yun Yi himself had forgotten, but he hadn¡¯t brought any spare clothes. Xiyue, on the other hand, wore a light blue dress. Though elegant, it was still normal attire, though it had wrinkled after several days of sleeping in it.


    "What should I do¡­ If I buy clothes, I might expose my identity¡­ Stealing seems risky since every room is occupied. Looks like the only option is to rob someone."


    After a moment of thought, Yun Yi made up his mind.


    "Xiyue, stay here and be good. Don¡¯t wander off!"


    Xiyue nodded obediently. Yun Yi wasn¡¯t worried¡ªafter spending several days together, he knew Xiyue well. If he told her to do something, she would comply, even if she didn¡¯t want to. She might complain a little, but she wouldn¡¯t disobey.


    Watching Yun Yi sneak out, Xiyue felt a pang of worry but said nothing, just watched him leave. Alone in the empty escape passage, she grew frightened and gradually crouched down, curling into a ball against the cold wall.


    Yun Yi didn¡¯t keep her waiting long. In less than five minutes, he returned wearing an ordinary men¡¯s jacket.


    The worn jacket made Yun Yi look a bit more mature. Though the recent hardships had left him slightly haggard, he still appeared handsome overall. His time living alone on an alien planet, combined with Zhao Xuanxin¡¯s deliberate guidance and the influence of the queen and Solon, gave him an air of distinction.


    Feeling the stained, slightly oversized jacket, Yun Yi found it uncomfortable but had to make do. Thinking back to what had just happened, he felt a pang of guilt toward the man who had been pacing outside his room, unable to afford food. After knocking him out and taking his jacket, Yun Yi had withdrawn a few hundred dollars from a nearby ATM and stuffed a small amount of change¡ªabout ten dollars¡ªinto the man¡¯s pocket. He hoped the man wouldn¡¯t hold it against him when he woke up.


    After all, ten dollars was no small sum. In the current universe, no single nation issued currency. Everyone used the money issued by the Galactic Empire a thousand years ago. After the empire¡¯s collapse, the Imperial Bank was renamed the Universal Bank, still controlling currency issuance across the cosmos, with the four largest nations jointly managing it. This ensured that, no matter how many nations existed, there would be no monetary chaos.


    The currency, known as Imperial Credits, was issued in both paper and electronic forms and had strong purchasing power. An average family of five could feed themselves for a month on thirty to fifty dollars. Of course, this was based on prices in the remote regions of the Fengzhou Star Domain. In more developed areas, costs were higher. As for starships, which were uniformly priced across the universe, an export model from the Chu Tang Empire cost about a million dollars at the factory, with tariffs and transportation costs driving the price up the farther it was from Chu Tang.


    Back at the base, Yun Yi¡¯s monthly salary was over two hundred dollars. But he had no time to spend it and nowhere to shop, so he had saved up quite a bit. On this interstellar train, he could be considered relatively wealthy.


    With the clothing issue resolved, the rest was easier to handle.


    They still had over ten days before leaving Iserlohn, and staying in the escape passage the entire time wasn¡¯t an option. But Yun Yi quickly thought of a solution, one Zhao Xuanxin had taught him.


    "Any problem that can be solved with money isn¡¯t a problem!"


    Recalling how Zhao Xuanxin had solemnly imparted this wisdom, Yun Yi had initially felt uneasy, wondering how he¡¯d solve problems if he had no money. But now, with some cash in his pocket, he hoped Zhao Xuanxin¡¯s advice would prove useful.


    Shouldering his bag and wrapping the jar of brain fluid in his military uniform, Yun Yi transformed into a family man on a long journey. At first glance, no one would suspect him.


    After briefly recalling the cabin¡¯s layout, Yun Yi led Xiyue to the room where the administrator of Cabin B2582 lived.

 Chapter 24: The Interstellar Train (Part 2)

    After briefly recalling the cabin¡¯s layout, Yun Yi led Princess Xiyue to the room where the administrator of Cabin B2582 lived.


    "I¡¯m busy. If this isn¡¯t important, I swear I¡¯ll throw you off this ship."


    Before Yun Yi could even see who was inside, a loud, irritated voice rang out.


    "Sorry¡­" Yun Yi pushed the door open and entered. The room wasn¡¯t large, and he couldn¡¯t see much of the interior, but the outer area was a small office of less than twenty square meters. A tall, burly man sat at a desk, checking a computer. When Yun Yi entered, the man reluctantly looked up.


    The administrator paused for a moment. Perhaps it was Yun Yi¡¯s demeanor, or perhaps it was Xiyue¡¯s sweet and adorable appearance. Whatever the reason, the usually gruff administrator softened his tone and asked calmly, "What can I do for you? The ship is packed, and I¡¯m swamped with work."


    Yun Yi flashed a bright, sunny smile¡ªa trick he¡¯d learned from a computer tutorial and was now using for the first time. He gestured with his hands to draw the man¡¯s attention.


    "I¡¯m really sorry to disturb your work," Yun Yi began, instantly earning the man¡¯s goodwill. "Here¡¯s the thing: my sister and I aren¡¯t comfortable with the people in our current room. Could you help us switch to another one?"


    "Hmm¡­" The administrator frowned. While there were still empty cabins, the ship was scheduled to stop at several planets in Iserlahn, and most of the available rooms had already been pre-sold. The reserved rooms were meant to be sold at a premium to wealthier passengers. In the administrator¡¯s eyes, this young man seemed out of the ordinary, and the well-dressed little girl clearly wasn¡¯t a commoner. Such people naturally disliked crowded spaces. But was it worth giving them one of the reserved rooms?


    Seeing the administrator¡¯s hesitation, Yun Yi quickly stepped forward and discreetly handed over two hundred dollars, careful to shield Xiyue from the transaction. He didn¡¯t want to taint her innocent world.


    The administrator¡¯s eyes widened, and he swiftly pocketed the money, grinning broadly. "No problem! There are plenty of empty rooms. Hand over your tickets, and I¡¯ll make the changes. A private room, right? You¡¯ve got it. No one will disturb you until we reach your destination." Though he spoke casually, he was inwardly shocked. Most of the passengers were refugees with little to spare, yet this young man had just handed him two hundred dollars. For context, a ticket from Iserlahn to Tairsey cost less than a hundred.


    "Tickets?" Yun Yi¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained calm. After a moment¡¯s thought, he said, "That¡¯s actually the second thing I wanted to discuss. You see, my sister is young and loves to play. She accidentally lost our tickets¡­"


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    The administrator relaxed, realizing the two hundred dollars also covered the cost of replacing the tickets.


    After all, passengers were required to present their tickets upon disembarking. If someone couldn¡¯t produce a ticket, they¡¯d have to pay for a full fare from the ship¡¯s starting point, which would be a hefty sum.


    The administrator nodded with a smile. "No problem, that¡¯s an easy fix. Just give me a moment. By the way, what¡¯s your destination?"


    Yun Yi had already studied the ship¡¯s route. It departed from Nanjoist Star, near the southwestern border of the Lichma Federation, passing through the Shilfanst Empire, the Iserlahn Confederation, the Tairsey Republic, the Roderia Dominion, and the Meinlan Republic before crossing half of the Lichma Federation and returning to Nanjoist Star. The journey normally took two months. Most passengers were headed to Tairsey, with a smaller number bound for Roderia or Meinlan. A very few were traveling to the Lichma Federation, though it would have been faster to take a ship on the opposite route.


    To avoid suspicion, Yun Yi chose Berick Star, the first planet in the Lichma Federation after leaving Meinlan, as their destination.


    "Berick Star? That¡¯s a bustling commercial hub. You¡¯ll find plenty of good things there." The administrator connected to his computer and quickly issued replacement tickets¡ªone adult and one child¡ªto Berick Star.


    This way, he could pocket most of the two hundred dollars without anyone noticing anything amiss.


    After inserting the tickets into the wrist computer on his left hand and gaining access, Yun Yi allowed himself a small smile.


    Leaving the administrator¡¯s room, Yun Yi muttered to himself, "Prince Zhao¡¯s advice really came in handy¡­"


    With access secured, Yun Yi could now move freely within Cabin B2582. Leading Xiyue, he quickly found their assigned room and stashed their bags in the cabinet under the bed. The room and cabinet were relatively secure, protected by password locks that could only be opened with a wrist computer activated by the ship¡¯s tickets.


    Finally, everything was settled. Yun Yi let out a long breath of relief.


    "Meow¡­ Yun Yi, you liar! Xiyue is so hungry¡­" Xiyue pouted, clearly skeptical of Yun Yi¡¯s promise to take her to eat immediately.


    Hearing Xiyue¡¯s complaint, Yun Yi felt the sharp pangs of hunger in his stomach. After all, he hadn¡¯t eaten anything in three days.


    Now that he had the tickets, Yun Yi felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Playfully, he ruffled Xiyue¡¯s smooth, jet-black hair and laughed. "Let¡¯s go get something to eat¡­"


    "Meow¡­" Xiyue covered her head with her small, delicate hands, pouting as she followed Yun Yi, clutching his sleeve to ensure he wouldn¡¯t leave her behind.


    The interstellar train crawled slowly through the stars, picking up countless passengers at several planets in the Iserlahn Confederation. A month later, the ship reached the Tairsey Republic, where more than half of the passengers disembarked.


    After shedding many of the empty cabins, the ship¡¯s speed increased.


    Another half-month passed, and the interstellar train finally crossed Meinlan and arrived at Berick Star in the Lichma Federation.


    The original plan was for the two of them to stay on Berick Star for a while, waiting for the princess of the Shilfanst Empire to send someone to contact them. But a week after leaving the interstellar train, Yun Yi received news that forced him to change his plans.

 Chapter 25: On Berick (Part 1)

    Berick Star, a crucial trade hub in the southeastern region of the Lichma Federation, was a bustling center of commerce.


    Having spent nearly a decade on the base, Yun Yi naturally wanted to take some time to enjoy himself and purchase daily necessities. After living on the interstellar train for over a month, both he and Princess Xiyue had only one set of clothes. Although the room had an automatic cleaning device, it still felt uncomfortable.


    Especially that jacket he had taken from someone else¡ªif it weren¡¯t for the lack of alternatives, Yun Yi would have thrown it away long ago.


    After two days of nonstop shopping, even Yun Yi, who had reached the mid-level of the eighth stage in martial arts, felt exhausted. He couldn¡¯t remember who had told him that accompanying a woman shopping was an extremely painful experience. Now, as he trailed behind Xiyue, he truly understood the meaning of those words.


    Born into royalty, Xiyue had never left the temporary palace on the base. This was her first time setting foot on a planet¡¯s surface, and everything fascinated her. She wanted to buy everything she saw and eat every food she encountered.


    Yun Yi felt a brotherly affection for Xiyue, indulging her every whim. Whatever she wanted, he bought; whatever she wanted to eat, he allowed.


    But as he carried seven or eight bags in his hands, a large stuffed bear over a meter tall on his back, and struggled to keep up with the little girl to ensure she didn¡¯t get lost, he deeply regretted his decision to take her shopping.


    On the third morning, seeing Xiyue still excited and ready to go shopping again, Yun Yi had no choice but to put on a stern parental expression.


    "Meow, can¡¯t we go anymore¡­ Xiyue understands."


    The little girl, her head lowered and fingers tugging at the hem of her dress, seemed disappointed but didn¡¯t defy Yun Yi¡¯s decision. She obediently returned to her room and opened her computer to study the elementary school materials Yun Yi had prepared for her.


    Watching Xiyue walk away reluctantly, Yun Yi felt a pang of guilt, as if being strict with her was a sin. However, he didn¡¯t have much time to accompany her in play¡ªthere was still so much to do.


    Opening his computer, Yun Yi accessed the secret mailbox the queen had given him to contact the princess of the Shilfanst Empire. But it was empty. Even if he wanted to reach out, he had no idea how to do so.


    The queen had said that they would receive word from the princess within two months at the latest. With half a month still to go, Yun Yi decided to wait.


    After browsing news from the Lichma Federation and surrounding nations, Yun Yi felt a pang of sorrow reading about the mass exodus of people from the Iserlahn Confederation. On the interstellar train, to avoid exposing their identities, Yun Yi and Xiyue had kept to themselves, never interacting with others. Though he hadn¡¯t known why the ship was so crowded, he hadn¡¯t asked. Now, knowing the truth and recalling the queen¡¯s instructions, he desperately wanted to do something for those people.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    But what could he do? He had money, but could he openly help those people? Without a certain level of influence, any action he took would likely lead to disaster.


    With a heavy heart, Yun Yi closed his computer. After calming himself, he took out the "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue" and began to read.


    After a while, Yun Yi closed the book in frustration.


    With his eighth-level martial arts ability, he could easily control his internal energy to unblock the acupoints required for the "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue." The somewhat obscure text in the book was also comprehensible to him. None of this posed a challenge.


    The problem was that if he started practicing the "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue" now, converting the internal energy he had cultivated with the "Po Lang Jue" into the "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue" energy, his strength would temporarily drop by sixty to eighty percent, leaving him as vulnerable as an ordinary person. After the conversion, his lost energy would gradually recover within a year. But Yun Yi didn¡¯t dare to take that risk now¡ªhe still had to protect Xiyue, and they hadn¡¯t yet reached a place of absolute safety.


    Carefully storing the ancient book, Yun Yi turned his gaze back to his computer and sighed.


    The road ahead was long and arduous¡­


    Raising Xiyue, seeking revenge, overthrowing a nation, helping the people¡­


    Each of Yun Yi¡¯s tasks and goals seemed impossibly distant, the path fraught with hardships.


    A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Yun Yi knew that as long as he persevered, he would eventually reach his destination.


    He decided to start with learning.


    Opening his computer, Yun Yi began searching for the information he needed. Then, he opened a newly downloaded book titled "Secrets to Raising Children" and started reading with great interest¡­


    "Once you¡¯ve finished learning all this and passed my test, I¡¯ll take you shopping!"


    Yun Yi sent a collection of elementary school study materials to Xiyue¡¯s computer and declared solemnly.


    Using a child¡¯s curiosity to foster a love for learning!


    This was something Yun Yi had just learned from the book and was eager to put into practice.


    Xiyue¡¯s long eyelashes fluttered as her round, bright eyes glanced at the pile of study materials on her computer, then at Yun Yi¡¯s stern face.


    "Mm!" The little girl didn¡¯t say much, just nodded vigorously, her face filled with joy as she hugged her computer and returned to her room.


    "Hehe¡­" Yun Yi chuckled to himself. Though these materials were for elementary students, if he hadn¡¯t improved his own intelligence, it would have taken him two or three months of diligent study to master them all.


    "It seems I¡¯ll have a few months of peace."


    Daydreams are blissful, but they¡¯re easily shattered.


    In less than a week, the little girl came bounding over to him, clutching her computer with excitement.


    "Meow. Yun Yi, I¡¯ve finished!"


    Yun Yi looked at Xiyue in confusion, feeling a pang of frustration. He had intended to cultivate her interest in learning but had inadvertently taught her to lie and boast¡­ It seemed he needed to teach her a lesson to prevent such a pure child from going astray under his care.


    But before lecturing her, he had to make her realize her mistake.


    Calming himself, Yun Yi put on a cold expression and said sternly, "Impressive. You¡¯ve memorized everything so quickly."


    Xiyue stared at Yun Yi, puzzled as to why he seemed unhappy.


    "Ahem." Yun Yi cleared his throat and asked sternly, "Now, let¡¯s begin the test. Why does water freeze?"


    "Meow¡­" Xiyue snapped out of her thoughts and began to think carefully¡­

 Chapter 26: On Berick (Part 2)

    "Did you not remember? This question is so simple. Think carefully. Why does ordinary water turn into cool ice?" Though Yun Yi was somewhat frustrated, he patiently guided Princess Xiyue, knowing that rushing her would only make things worse. Hmm¡­ What did that book say? Never provoke a child¡¯s rebellious instincts¡­


    "Because the temperature is too low, so the water turns into ice!"


    "Very good! Now, do you know at what temperature water turns into ice?"


    "Meow, is it zero degrees?"


    "Absolutely correct! Alright, next question. Let¡¯s make this one a bit harder¡­"


    "Meow, Yun Yi, don¡¯t bully me."


    "Who¡¯s bullying you? These are all from the materials I sent you¡­ Hmm, let¡¯s go with this one. Can you explain the difference between crystalline and amorphous solids?"


    "Not too hard. Crystalline solids are divided into single crystals and polycrystals. Single crystals have fixed melting points and anisotropic properties, while polycrystals also have fixed melting points but are isotropic. Amorphous solids, unlike crystalline ones, don¡¯t have fixed melting points, and some are isotropic! Meow, am I right?"


    "Wow, you got it right! Let¡¯s try another one. This time, I¡¯ll make it super difficult¡­"


    An hour later, Yun Yi was sweating profusely as he frantically searched through the cute little computer, hoping to find a question that would stump Princess Xiyue. Meanwhile, the little girl sat on her chair, swinging her legs, her delicate face brimming with pride.


    Suddenly, Yun Yi had an epiphany.


    "This can¡¯t be! Have you studied these things before?"


    "Meow, no. Mommy never taught Xiyue these things. Yun Yi, a lot of what you had me learn was new to me. What¡¯s ice?"


    Ice¡­ Yun Yi froze, realizing that the little girl had grown up on the base and had never had the chance to experience such things. Even if the queen had taught her some things, it couldn¡¯t have been this comprehensive. The materials Yun Yi had downloaded covered almost the entire elementary school curriculum.


    Poor Princess Xiyue, having grown up without ever seeing ice.


    "Meow, Yun Yi. I noticed something strange," Xiyue said, resting her chin on her hands as if deep in thought.


    "Oh? What is it?"


    "It¡¯s like¡­" The little girl swung her legs and tilted her head. "I think I¡¯ve gotten smarter."


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Yun Yi was momentarily stunned. What did she mean by that?


    Xiyue seemed a bit confused as she continued, "When Mommy used to teach me things, I felt like I was really slow and it took me a long time to remember. But now, with the things you gave me, I only need to look at them once or twice¡­"


    Could it be¡­ could it be¡­


    Hearing Xiyue¡¯s words, Yun Yi was shocked, immediately recalling something that had happened to him before.


    He reached up and touched the necklace around his neck. He completely understood what Xiyue was describing¡ªit was exactly how he felt when he was learning.


    But why was this happening?


    This was supposed to be his secret alone. Why did Xiyue now possess this ability?


    "Xi¡­ Xiyue¡­" Yun Yi stammered, his voice trembling with excitement. "Besides feeling smarter, have you noticed anything else? Like¡­ your running speed? Or the strength in your hands?"


    "Meow?" Xiyue looked at Yun Yi in confusion. "I think there¡¯s been some change, but it¡¯s fine. Mommy said if I get stronger, it means I¡¯m growing up. I know that!"


    It was true. Xiyue had indeed been affected by the necklace.


    Since leaving the base, the two of them had been practically inseparable. If Xiyue continued to live in such close proximity to him, would she eventually become as extraordinary as he was?


    Yun Yi felt a strange sensation, as if a precious treasure that had once been his alone was now being shared with someone else.


    "Meow, Yun Yi, it¡¯s time to take me shopping!"


    Xiyue jumped down from her chair and tugged at Yun Yi¡¯s sleeve, pouting.


    "Shopping¡­" Yun Yi snapped out of his daze.


    Awakening, Yun Yi couldn¡¯t help but laugh at himself. Princess Xiyue was his closest companion, practically his only family in this world. If she gained some extraordinary abilities, what harm could it do?


    Yun Yi didn¡¯t consider himself a selfish person, especially since this didn¡¯t affect him negatively. In fact, the stronger Xiyue became, the easier it would be for him to take care of her.


    Besides, someday, when Xiyue left to seek her own happiness, her abilities would gradually fade. Though she would still be more capable than the average person, she would likely attribute it to her natural talent.


    Having thought it through, Yun Yi laughed and patted Xiyue¡¯s head. "Alright, Xiyue, you¡¯re so smart to have learned all this in such a short time. I¡¯ll take you shopping, but you have to promise me one thing! If you don¡¯t agree, I won¡¯t take you out to play."


    "Meow¡­" Xiyue covered her head, looking at Yun Yi unhappily.


    "You must promise me this, okay?" Yun Yi looked at Xiyue with affection, speaking softly.


    Xiyue nodded. "Yun Yi, I understand. Tell me, I¡¯ll definitely agree."


    "You must never let anyone other than me know that you¡¯ve recently become smarter, no matter how close or kind they are to you. Okay?"


    Seeing Yun Yi¡¯s serious expression, Xiyue, though still a bit confused, knew he had her best interests at heart. Plus, with the queen¡¯s teachings, she readily agreed. "Okay, I understand! If anyone asks, I¡¯ll say I¡¯ve always been this smart, right?"


    Relieved, Yun Yi picked up Xiyue and spun her around, laughing. "Let¡¯s go shopping. You wanted to know what ice is, right? Easy, just eat some ice cream and you¡¯ll understand¡­"


    By evening, a thoroughly exhausted Yun Yi, laden with bags and carrying a drowsy Xiyue on his back, returned to the hotel.


    After tucking Xiyue into bed and covering her with a blanket, Yun Yi stretched his sore arms and couldn¡¯t help but laugh at himself. Am I just reaping what I sowed?


    Out of habit, he opened his computer and checked the mysterious mailbox. Immediately, an unread letter caught his attention, and he eagerly opened the message from the Shilfanst Empire.


    "Yun Yi, I regret to inform you that I cannot fulfill my previous promise. On the 10th of next month, my brother, the current heir to the Shilfanst Empire, will travel to the Iserlahn Confederation to announce his engagement to President Zagu¡¯s granddaughter. At the same time, President Zagu will declare the establishment of the Iserlahn Empire¡­"

 Chapter 27: Heading to Chu Tang

    "I¡¯m out of money¡­"


    Staring at his empty personal account, Yun Yi sighed helplessly.


    "Meow, Xiyue wants ice cream, Xiyue wants roasted abalone, Xiyue wants pretty clothes, Xiyue wants¡­"


    Beside him stood someone who had no concept of what money even was.


    On their way back from shopping yesterday, Yun Yi had secretly vowed never to take Xiyue shopping again. But to his surprise, the very next day, he had to take her to pick up their booked tickets.


    Unable to go to the Shilfanst Empire, it meant they would have to rely entirely on themselves from now on.


    For half the night, Yun Yi had been scouring the internet, trying to decide which country to go to. From the letter sent by the princess, Yun Yi understood that Mr. Zagu, who was preparing to become emperor, would inevitably establish strong ties with neighboring countries to maintain his rule.


    Given that Zagu had always used Torbell Corporation¡¯s mechs and warships, it was clear he had some connection with the Lichma Federation, which dominated the southwest.


    Staying in the Lichma Federation was not safe.


    Since he didn¡¯t yet have the ability to seek revenge, Yun Yi decided to go even farther away.


    After hours of research, considering factors like national systems, living environments, and investment opportunities, Yun Yi narrowed it down to three options.


    The Lilan Republic, a first-rate nation with 618 administrative planets, bordered the Lichma Federation, with whom it had long-standing border disputes.


    The Sun Wu Kingdom, with 104 administrative planets, was renowned for its commerce and agriculture, located between Lilan and Chu Tang, and was a vassal state of the Chu Tang Empire.


    The Chu Tang Empire, with over 6,000 administrative planets, was one of the four major powers in the universe, alongside the New United States of America, dominating the southern cosmos with its vast and boundless territory.


    These three countries were carefully selected by Yun Yi, with stability being the primary factor, followed by investment opportunities, and then living and educational conditions. All three met Yun Yi¡¯s criteria and were ideal for living and investing.


    After half a night of deliberation, Yun Yi still hadn¡¯t decided which country to choose and eventually went to sleep.


    However, the next morning, Princess Xiyue pointed at the massive entity on the star map and said, "I know about Chu Tang. Our warships and mechs are all bought from them."


    That one sentence made Yun Yi¡¯s decision.


    Chu Tang Empire was indeed a good choice, but it was just too far away. After purchasing direct tickets to the empire¡¯s capital, Chang¡¯an Star, Yun Yi was practically penniless.


    It seemed he would have to dip into that fund to ensure they could reach Chang¡¯an without financial worries.


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    Returning to the hotel, Yun Yi asked the staff to pack their belongings and Xiyue¡¯s toys and send them to the spaceport. Once the staff left with the packages, he quietly opened his computer, inserted the bank card, and called Xiyue over to verify fingerprints, iris scans, and DNA.


    After the tedious password verification, Yun Yi finally saw the balance on the bank card.


    Instantly, he was blinded by the long string of zeros.


    Previously, with no place or time to spend money, Yun Yi hadn¡¯t been particularly concerned about it. But over the past few days, he realized that everything¡ªfood, clothing, lodging, and entertainment¡ªrequired money. His hard-earned savings had vanished like water down a drain.


    Only now did he truly understand the importance of money. Recalling the grueling training and life-threatening battles it had taken to earn that money, he also realized how hard it was to come by.


    "Save and scrimp! From now on, we must save and scrimp!"


    After transferring 100,000 imperial gold coins to his account, Yun Yi shouted fiercely at Princess Xiyue.


    "Meow¡­" Though she didn¡¯t understand why Yun Yi was so angry, Xiyue obediently ran off to the side, leaving him alone.


    "There¡¯s a lot of money, but it¡¯s not mine. Using it for our own needs is wrong¡­" Sighing, Yun Yi took out the bank card and hid it close to his body. This money was the only legacy of the Zhao Song Empire, meant to aid the people and seek revenge to restore the nation.


    From now on, he would avoid using it unless absolutely necessary.


    April 18, 5240, Universal Calendar.


    Chu Tang Empire, Chang¡¯an Star.


    At that moment, a slightly worn interstellar train slowly entered the spaceport of Chang¡¯an Four Star.


    The Chang¡¯an system was a stellar system consisting of one star and thirteen planets. As early as the Galactic Empire era, it had become the southern capital. Although the Galactic Emperor rarely visited, it didn¡¯t stop successive emperors from developing and transforming the Chang¡¯an system.


    By now, as the capital of the Chu Tang Empire, the entire Chang¡¯an system had become extremely prosperous.


    In addition to the two habitable planets initially discovered, Chang¡¯an One Star and Chang¡¯an Two Star, five more planets¡ªChang¡¯an Three Star to Chang¡¯an Eight Star¡ªhad been terraformed over thousands of years. Chang¡¯an One Star, where the Chu Tang imperial family resided, and Chang¡¯an Two Star, the government¡¯s seat, were off-limits to unrelated personnel.


    As for Chang¡¯an Three Star, it was home to a portion of the major aristocratic families and social elites. The planet¡¯s commerce was incredibly vibrant, and products from any country in the universe could be found here as long as they had value. It was also the headquarters of countless companies across the universe. Legend had it that if the planet were hit by even the smallest warship cannon, striking any city on its surface, the total trade volume of the universe would drop by five to ten percent, while the southern cosmos would see a twenty to thirty percent decline.


    This alone demonstrated the importance of Chang¡¯an Three Star in the universe.


    The next two planets, Chang¡¯an Four Star and Five Star, were second only to Three Star, bustling with commerce and populated by some major aristocrats and most of the minor nobility, as well as countless ordinary citizens. Their prosperity surpassed even the capitals of countries like Shilfanst, Iserlahn, or Tairsey.


    Finally, Chang¡¯an Six Star, Seven Star, and Eight Star were almost entirely inhabited by ordinary residents. Although the terraformed planets couldn¡¯t support large-scale agricultural production, their massive manufacturing industries made them quite prosperous. As long as one was willing to work hard, they could live a life far more comfortable than the average person.


    After all, even at their worst, these planets were under the emperor¡¯s watchful eye, and no one dared to exploit the common people. Of course, most aristocrats didn¡¯t bother with such petty gains. With advanced technology and the immense flow of goods and people in the Chang¡¯an system, they could make a fortune without stepping on anyone¡¯s toes.


    As the interstellar train¡¯s doors opened, a handful of people disembarked.


    After all, how many people heading to a place like Chang¡¯an Four Star would take such a cheap mode of transportation?


    A man in a trench coat and sunglasses, appearing cold and aloof, stepped off the train. His right hand held a cute little girl, her face full of curiosity, clutching a stuffed bear. After surveying the bustling spaceport, they took the orbital elevator and headed down to the surface.

 Chapter 28: Chang鈥檃n Four Star

    "Zhao Xiyue! Time to get up!"


    "Meow, brother, let me sleep a little longer¡­"


    "No sleeping in! Today is your first day of school. Did you forget what I told you?"


    "Okay, I¡¯m getting up now."


    In the early morning, as the first rays of sunlight illuminated the city, Yun Yi had already prepared breakfast for Zhao Xiyue in their apartment located in the midsection of a towering skyscraper hundreds of stories high. They were ready to head to school.


    To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, Yun Yi had Xiyue revert to her real name and corrected how she addressed him. To quickly integrate into society, they both needed to attend school, learn new knowledge, and make new friends.


    Three days ago, both Yun Yi and Zhao Xiyue had passed the school¡¯s entrance exams and were approved for enrollment. One was about to graduate from high school, while the other was entering the fifth grade of elementary school.


    Zhao Xiyue had already self-studied through elementary school and even a significant portion of middle school. Yun Yi instructed her to focus on learning things she was interested in at school and to make as many friends as possible.


    As for Yun Yi, he had much more on his plate. In addition to practicing the "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue," he needed to study diligently to quickly fill the gaps in his knowledge to match his classmates and perform well in the upcoming college entrance exams.


    Only then could he get into a prestigious university. While learning was important, his main goal was to find people who could help him, preferably those he could firmly tie to his cause of restoring his nation. Though it sounded challenging, Yun Yi was determined to put in the same effort he had during his rigorous training days.


    "Thank you so much. Xiyue is a very obedient child. I¡¯ll leave her in your care¡­ Xiyue, listen to your teacher and don¡¯t be mischievous. After school, don¡¯t wander off. Wait for me to pick you up."


    Waving his hand, Yun Yi watched as Zhao Xiyue, led by her teacher, entered the school. He then headed to the high school less than a kilometer away.


    The enrollment process went smoothly, and it didn¡¯t take long for Yun Yi to become a student at the school.


    When the teacher led him into the classroom, it was eerily quiet. With the college entrance exams just a few months away, the students were all deeply engrossed in their studies.


    After a brief self-introduction, Yun Yi found a seat towards the back. Though he appeared unremarkable, his handsome face and demeanor had already caught the attention of many curious classmates.


    "Hey, he seems pretty good. Are you interested?"


    "Yeah, he looks like he¡¯s from some aristocratic family. So handsome."


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    "Wow, he¡¯s exactly my type. Don¡¯t you dare try to steal him!"


    ¡­


    Though not far away, Yun Yi, who had switched to practicing the "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue," could only vaguely hear the whispers but couldn¡¯t make out what was being said.


    But that was fine. At least he could focus on his studies.


    After class, Yun Yi¡¯s desk was immediately surrounded by a group of girls. In this highly advanced technological age, harmful genes had long been eliminated, and everyone practiced martial arts, making them physically fit. Especially on Chang¡¯an Four Star, where elites and nobles gathered, seeing an unattractive girl was as rare as finding money on the street¡­


    Having never experienced such attention, Yun Yi blushed. Faced with the girls¡¯ questions, he didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    "Hey, new guy. What does your family do?"


    A boy, clearly displeased, slapped Yun Yi¡¯s desk and demanded.


    Family? It had long been destroyed in the war.


    Yun Yi glanced at the boy but didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he addressed the group, "Sorry, but the exams are just a few months away. Let¡¯s all focus on our studies."


    On Chang¡¯an Four Star, where aristocratic families were everywhere, if your grades weren¡¯t good, unless you came from a family with high-ranking officials or significant titles, getting into a top university was nearly impossible. Hearing Yun Yi¡¯s words, most of the students dispersed, leaving only a few girls who were still curious but didn¡¯t want to disturb him further.


    The boy who had confronted him also didn¡¯t say anything more. On this planet, anyone you bumped into could be a member of a powerful family. Offending someone you didn¡¯t know and bringing trouble to your family wasn¡¯t worth it.


    After school, a few bold girls handed him pink envelopes before running off.


    "Is this what they call love letters?"


    In a secluded spot, Yun Yi opened one of the letters and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. As a seventeen-year-old, he had once fantasized about meeting a girl he liked. But these letters, written by people he barely knew and with no sense of love at first sight, naturally struck him as amusing. Still, as a memento of his first love letters, Yun Yi carefully stored the envelopes in his backpack.


    After picking up Zhao Xiyue, they walked home, chatting about their respective school experiences.


    Contrary to Yun Yi¡¯s expectations, he had thought Zhao Xiyue would be an introverted child who wouldn¡¯t make friends quickly at school. But he had underestimated her charm. Her cute and sweet appearance, innocent expressions, and elegant demeanor made her the most popular kid in her class. After all, she was a real princess.


    Without Yun Yi by her side, Zhao Xiyue didn¡¯t falter under the attention of her classmates. After the initial unfamiliarity, she quickly bonded with the girls in her class.


    Hearing this from the teacher, Yun Yi looked at Zhao Xiyue suspiciously. Had she just been putting on an act in front of him?


    But this was good. At least Zhao Xiyue could quickly become independent and take care of herself.


    Three months of intense studying and training had taken their toll on Yun Yi. He had to keep up with the classroom material, bridge the gap with his classmates, and continue practicing the "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue." Every day, Yun Yi stayed up late into the night and had to get up early to prepare breakfast for Zhao Xiyue.


    Finally, thanks to the mysterious necklace, Yun Yi achieved excellent results in the exams three months later, ensuring his efforts weren¡¯t in vain and securing a place in a top-tier university.


    The hot summer vacation arrived as scheduled. Looking at his dwindling savings, Yun Yi thought about it and decided there wasn¡¯t anything particularly important to do during the break. He resolved to find a part-time job to earn some extra money.


    Yun Yi prided himself on three skills: martial arts, mech piloting, and mech repair. On this peaceful planet, the first two were of little use. But on this bustling planet, there were countless mech enthusiasts who could afford mechs, and naturally, there were plenty of companies selling and repairing them. Yun Yi knew of a relatively small mech sales and repair company not far from his apartment.


    On the first day of the vacation, Yun Yi headed to the company named "Swift Mechanics."

 Chapter 29: Mech Repair

    "What? Kid, you¡¯re not joking, are you?"


    When Yun Yi walked into the company and explained his intentions to the receptionist, she was skeptical but still did her job by taking him to the mech repair area and introducing him to the head of the repair department, Tomson.


    Tomson, nearing seventy but looking much younger¡ªperhaps due to his martial arts training¡ªlooked at Yun Yi with suspicion after hearing from the receptionist that he was here to apply for a mech repair position.


    "Just graduated from high school, huh? Looking for a summer job? Part-time work? Eighty bucks a month, take it or leave it?"


    Eighty bucks? Yun Yi quickly calculated in his mind. In places like Iserlahn, Tairsey, or Shilfanst, this wage would be what a mid-level mech repair technician could earn. But on Chang¡¯an Four Star, it was just the monthly salary of a high school student working part-time during the summer. Considering the living expenses over the past few months, this eighty bucks would barely cover two months of living for him and Zhao Xiyue, and that was only if Xiyue didn¡¯t go shopping.


    "Um, I think you might have misunderstood¡­ I¡¯m not here for part-time work. I¡¯m here to apply as a mech repair technician."


    Tomson looked at the overconfident young man with amusement. Although Yun Yi¡¯s demeanor had momentarily made him think he might be a runaway from some aristocratic family, he still followed the standard hiring process. "In that case, please show me your mech repair certification."


    "Uh¡­" Yun Yi had no such certification. All his repair knowledge was self-taught, and he didn¡¯t even know such a thing was required for the job.


    It seemed finding a job was going to be harder than he thought.


    Yun Yi shook his head. "I don¡¯t have a certificate. I learned everything on my own. Could I perhaps have a trial period?"


    Tomson patted his shoulder and laughed. "Kid, no certificate, no job. That¡¯s the company¡¯s rule, and I can¡¯t make exceptions for you."


    Well, that was that. Yun Yi glanced around the repair shop. In the corner of the workshop were a few Red Mane Chargers and some mechs of models he didn¡¯t recognize. Looking at the Red Mane Chargers, Yun Yi couldn¡¯t help but think of the one he had sent drifting into space, his eyes filled with nostalgia.


    "Sorry for taking up your time," Yun Yi said apologetically. "But would it be possible for me to take a look around your workshop? I mean, I really love these mechs¡­"


    Seeing the longing in Yun Yi¡¯s eyes, Tomson didn¡¯t mind. "Sure, go ahead. Just don¡¯t touch anything. Some of the mech parts aren¡¯t secured, and we don¡¯t want any accidents."


    Yun Yi was thrilled. After quickly thanking Tomson, he rushed to the nearest Red Mane Charger and began examining it from top to bottom, recalling the times he had piloted one to great effect. Sadly, now he didn¡¯t even own the cheapest mech, let alone a place to practice.


    He stared at the mech greedily, from top to bottom, front to back, as if he could never get enough. His love for the Red Mane Charger had led him to memorize all its data, but for some reason, every time he saw a mech, he couldn¡¯t help but get excited.


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    Lost in his fascination with the mech, Yun Yi didn¡¯t notice that the workshop staff had all disappeared into a nearby repair bay, leaving him alone.


    "Boom!"


    The sound of something heavy hitting the ground snapped Yun Yi out of his trance. He looked up to see a large hover truck, nearly ten meters tall, parked at the entrance of the repair bay. As the rear door of the truck slowly opened, a Red Mane Charger was carefully lowered to the ground.


    "Hey, come over here and take a look! What¡¯s wrong with my mech?"


    A balding old man jumped out of the truck¡¯s cab and shouted at Yun Yi.


    "Me?" Yun Yi pointed at himself, confused.


    "Yeah, you! Come here and take a look. Damn thing just stopped working all of a sudden." The old man grumbled as he walked to the back of the truck, his eyes filled with worry as he looked at the mech.


    Yun Yi glanced around. The Swift Mechanics staff were nowhere to be seen. Since he had nothing else to do, he decided to take a look at the mech.


    With that thought, Yun Yi walked over, running his hands over the mech while asking the old man detailed questions.


    According to the old man, he had been piloting the mech during a small movement exercise when the computer suddenly froze, and the engine stopped working.


    Yun Yi thought for a moment and asked, "Do you remember what commands you were inputting at the time?"


    The old man scratched his sparse hair and finally said, "I don¡¯t really remember. I think I was trying to perform a diving maneuver."


    "Right foot half-step back, left foot lift one meter, engine output 60%, left foot move seven meters to the right and land, engine output 90%, center of gravity forward 43.9 degrees, right foot thruster ignition¡­"


    Yun Yi rattled off a series of commands. To anyone familiar with piloting a Red Mane Charger, it was a standard diving maneuver. The old man was left dumbfounded.


    "Tell me, how did you execute these movements¡­"


    The old man thought hard for a while before finally saying, "I think I didn¡¯t input the command to move the left foot to the right¡­"


    Yun Yi nodded. "The problem is simple. Because you didn¡¯t follow the standard procedure, the right foot thruster was overloaded, causing the energy conduit on the lower right side of the mech to overheat and fuse. As a result, energy couldn¡¯t be transmitted properly, and the main engine shut down."


    The old man was stunned by Yun Yi¡¯s explanation. After a long pause, he asked, "So how do we fix it?"


    "Simple. Just replace the energy conduit. It¡¯s not an expensive part."


    "Ah, that¡¯s great!" The old man rubbed his hands together happily. "Then hurry up and replace it for me."


    Yun Yi spread his hands and smiled wryly. "Sorry, I¡¯m not an employee of this company."


    Only then did the old man notice that Yun Yi wasn¡¯t wearing a Swift Mechanics uniform. He laughed awkwardly. "Kid, you¡¯re really good at this. You found the problem so easily. When my mech had issues before, they¡¯d take two days to diagnose and three more to fix it."


    Yun Yi smiled. "It¡¯s not always this problem. Sometimes it¡¯s something else that¡¯s harder to diagnose."


    "True." The old man looked thoughtful as he examined Yun Yi more closely. Suddenly, he pointed at him. "You¡¯re here looking for a job, aren¡¯t you?"


    Yun Yi nodded, scratching his head with a smile. "Yeah, but I don¡¯t have a mech repair certification, so they wouldn¡¯t take me."


    "Is that so¡­" The old man patted his shoulder and laughed. "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll introduce you to someone. You¡¯ll definitely get into this company. By the way, with your skills, why haven¡¯t you taken the certification exam?"


    Hearing the old man¡¯s words, Yun Yi guessed he might have some connections at the company and felt grateful. When asked, he replied, "I don¡¯t know where to take the exam. I just moved to this planet from somewhere else, so¡­"


    "The certification exam is a bit tough, but if you¡¯ve studied properly, you should be able to pass the beginner level. The main issue is that it¡¯s only held once a year, and the next one is in about six months. Don¡¯t miss it. Alright, come on, I¡¯ll take you to meet my friend."


    Without giving Yun Yi a chance to refuse, the old man dragged him toward the Swift Mechanics office, leaving his mech and hover truck unattended at the entrance.

 Chapter 30: Earl Xia Ya

    As they entered the office area, a middle-aged man in a suit hurried past. When he saw Yun Yi and the balding old man, he paused for a moment, then approached with a smile, shaking the old man¡¯s hand. "Earl Xia Ya, what brings you here? Did your Red Mane Charger have another issue?"


    "Ha ha ha¡­" The old man laughed heartily, patting the middle-aged man on the shoulder. "Xiao Chen, isn¡¯t your mech repair department still short on technicians? I¡¯ve brought someone for you."


    Yun Yi glanced at the balding old man, startled. He never expected that this somewhat unkempt old man was actually an earl. Truly, this was Chang¡¯an Four Star of the Chu Tang Empire, where even an earl could be encountered early in the morning.


    The middle-aged man, surnamed Chen, was overjoyed. "Earl Xia Ya, you¡¯ve done us a great favor. You have no idea how fierce the competition among mech companies has been lately. We¡¯ve had trouble finding people. By the way, where¡¯s the person you¡¯ve brought?"


    Hearing this, Yun Yi scratched his head, sighing inwardly. It seemed he was still too young. Next time he looked for a job, he¡¯d have to act more mature.


    Earl Xia Ya¡¯s expression turned serious as he pointed at Yun Yi. "This is the kid. Don¡¯t let his age fool you. His skills are no worse than your technicians here."


    The middle-aged man, Chen, hesitated for a moment, glancing at Yun Yi and then back at Earl Xia Ya. Finally, he said, "Actually, we¡¯ve just hired a junior technician a few days ago, so we¡¯re not in urgent need. But since it¡¯s Earl Xia Ya who¡¯s recommending him, his skills must be good. I¡¯ll take him on."


    Both Earl Xia Ya and Yun Yi understood the underlying message: Earl Xia Ya was pulling strings, and Chen was giving him face.


    Earl Xia Ya¡¯s face twitched, and he snorted. "Fine, then. My Red Mane Charger has no other issues. Just replace the energy conduit for me."


    "No problem, no problem," Chen laughed, pulling up his wrist computer to relay the instructions. "Earl Xia Ya, I¡¯ve already arranged for someone to replace it. The kid you brought can report to Director Tomson. Oh, by the way, a Red Mane Charger Model VII just arrived this morning. Director Tomson might be inspecting it in Workshop Two. You can go find him there."


    After the middle-aged man left, Yun Yi smiled wryly at Earl Xia Ya. "Earl, thank you for your help today. Otherwise¡­"


    "Hmph," Earl Xia Ya glared in the direction the man had left. "Kid, work hard. Don¡¯t embarrass me, Xia Ya. After all, you¡¯re my recommendation. If you don¡¯t perform well, I¡¯ll have Xiao Chen fire you myself."


    Yun Yi looked Earl Xia Ya in the eye and said firmly, "Don¡¯t worry, Earl Xia Ya. I¡¯ll do my best. If I don¡¯t meet the standards of the other technicians, I¡¯ll leave on my own without anyone needing to tell me."


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    "Good," Earl Xia Ya patted Yun Yi¡¯s shoulder, satisfied. Yun Yi couldn¡¯t help but inwardly complain: Earl Xia Ya seemed great, but this habit of patting shoulders was a bit much.


    "Now that you¡¯re part of Swift Mechanics, let¡¯s go check on my Red Mane Charger and see how the repairs are going."


    Since the issue had already been identified, the replacement was simple. In less than ten minutes, a technician had replaced the energy conduit on Earl Xia Ya¡¯s mech.


    After exchanging contact information with Earl Xia Ya, Yun Yi saw him off. Now, it was time to find Director Tomson.


    Yun Yi¡¯s impression of Director Tomson was generally positive. The kind-hearted director hadn¡¯t lost his temper or thrown him out when they first met, so he seemed like a reasonable person.


    Soon, Yun Yi found Workshop Two and spotted Director Tomson directing the workers. However, his attention was immediately drawn to the red mech parked in the center of the workshop.


    The Red Mane Charger Model VII was a new mech released by the Chu Tang Empire¡¯s Weilong Corporation three years ago. Building on the series¡¯ strengths of high speed, firepower, and powerful engines, the biggest improvement was its armor material, which used a newly developed alloy. This alloy, shared with the concurrently developed "Diamond" series, increased its resistance to damage by at least 50% compared to the Model III.


    In terms of appearance, the Model VII was sleeker than the Model III, with additional external armor on the chest for better pilot protection. Its weapon system also added a shield to the previous alloy longsword.


    Overall, the Model VII¡¯s offensive capabilities were about 30% better than the Model III, while its defensive capabilities had increased by at least 100%.


    Looking at this formidable mech, Yun Yi¡¯s heart stirred. He even felt the urge to rush over, pilot it, and charge into battle against an enemy.


    "You¡¯re Yun Yi?"


    Director Tomson had noticed Yun Yi the moment he entered. Although he didn¡¯t know how the young man had convinced Manager Chen, it didn¡¯t dampen his good mood.


    Seeing the fiery look in Yun Yi¡¯s eyes as he gazed at the mech, Tomson knew this young man genuinely loved mechs. People like him, given enough time and resources, would pour their heart and soul into learning. As long as they persevered, becoming a senior technician was only a matter of time.


    "What, taken with this Red Mane Charger?" To make sure Yun Yi heard him, Tomson even reached out to pat his shoulder.


    "Sorry¡­" Yun Yi snapped out of his trance and looked apologetically at the director. "I couldn¡¯t help it. As soon as I saw it, I couldn¡¯t look away."


    Tomson chuckled. "That¡¯s fine. You¡¯re one of us now. This mech will be here for a while, so you¡¯ll have plenty of time to look at it."


    "Really?" Yun Yi exclaimed excitedly. Seeing Tomson nod, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, "What¡¯s wrong with this Red Mane Charger Model VII?"


    Tomson shook his head. "This mech was purchased by one of our long-term clients less than a year ago, but it started having unstable engine output. The Model VII is too advanced, and much of its technology is beyond our grasp. With our current skills and equipment, we can¡¯t diagnose the issue. However, we¡¯ve contacted Weilong Corporation, and they¡¯ve agreed to send someone to repair it within three working days. They¡¯ve also allowed us to observe¡­"


    "That¡¯s great!" Yun Yi¡¯s face lit up. He thought to himself: When the Weilong technician comes to repair it in a few days, I¡¯ll observe carefully and see how the Model VII differs from the Model III.


    "Come on," Tomson pointed to a few old mechs piled up in the corner. "Since you don¡¯t have a certification, I¡¯ll give you a simple test to see what kind of work we can assign you."


    Yun Yi nodded, clenching his fists in determination. He had to perform well and not let Earl Xia Ya down.

 Chapter 31: Employment Assessment

    According to Tomson¡¯s understanding and experience, to accurately diagnose a mech¡¯s issue, a formally trained technician would first need to know the circumstances under which the problem occurred. After careful questioning and analysis, they would use various diagnostic tools to conduct a thorough inspection, then feed the data into a computer for calculations to determine the possible faulty components.


    However, the young man named Yun Yi standing before him seemed to be overturning this conventional wisdom.


    Yun Yi simply checked the repair records provided by the mech¡¯s owner, entered the control room, and started the engine. In less than three minutes, he jumped out and, without using any tools, manually removed the part with just a small-scale anti-gravity generator.


    "Should this part be repaired or replaced?" Yun Yi pointed to the dismantled flow balance regulator and asked.


    Tomson, wanting to test Yun Yi¡¯s true capabilities, knew what the issue with the mech was and understood that repairing the flow balance regulator required specialized training. Only intermediate-level technicians or above would have systematically learned this. Initially, Tomson had only wanted to assess Yun Yi¡¯s diagnostic skills. But since the problem was already identified, he decided to let Yun Yi try his hand at the repair.


    "Go ahead and repair it," Tomson said, pointing to a room nearby. "You can get any tools you need from there."


    Yun Yi didn¡¯t object. He nodded and headed to the tool room. Moments later, he returned carrying a toolbox. Tomson recognized it immediately¡ªit was a specialized set of tools for repairing flow balance regulators.


    He knows how to use these tools?


    Tomson was stunned. Repairing a flow balance regulator could be done with standard tools, but it would take a lot of time and might result in slight errors during calibration. This specialized toolset, however, made the repair process much easier and ensured optimal calibration.


    But¡­ even most senior technicians didn¡¯t know how to use this specialized toolset.


    Swift Mechanics had once had a senior technician who could use these tools, but after that technician was poached by another company, the tools had sat unused for years. Now, unexpectedly, this young man had brought them out again.


    Yun Yi¡¯s movements weren¡¯t particularly smooth, showing signs of inexperience. Although he had studied the use of these tools, this was his first time actually using them. He recalled the materials that Zhao Xuanxin had given him, which the Zhao Song royal family had gone to great lengths to obtain, and matched them to the tools in his hands. Gradually, Yun Yi mentally rehearsed the entire repair process.


    Taking a deep breath, Yun Yi¡¯s hands suddenly moved faster.


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    Under Tomson¡¯s wide-eyed gaze, Yun Yi worked like a seasoned technician, with no wasted movements. In no time, the flow balance regulator was disassembled into a pile of parts. Yun Yi picked out the damaged component and began repairing it.


    Can he reassemble it?


    Suddenly, a sense of unease crept into Tomson¡¯s mind. What if Yun Yi could only disassemble it but not put it back together? Swift Mechanics did have technicians who could correctly assemble flow balance regulators, but they were only two intermediate-level technicians. With the recent surge in business, it would be hard to spare their time for this task. If Yun Yi couldn¡¯t reassemble it properly, the delivery date for this mech might be delayed significantly.


    Before long, Yun Yi had finished repairing the damaged component and began reassembling the entire flow balance regulator.


    With the help of the specialized tools, it didn¡¯t take long for Yun Yi to complete the assembly and perform the calibration on his own.


    Taking the reassembled flow balance regulator from Yun Yi, Tomson was not just pleasantly surprised¡ªhe felt like he had stumbled upon a treasure. Without a word to Yun Yi, he rushed to the testing equipment to inspect the regulator.


    The error was less than 0.002!


    Looking at the number displayed on the testing equipment, Tomson stared at Yun Yi as if he were seeing a monster, his heart filled with astonishment. Before this, if the company¡¯s top two intermediate technicians had repaired this flow balance regulator, it would have taken them three to four hours just for disassembly and reassembly, and the final error would have been no less than 0.1.


    This was truly a treasure!


    For the first time, Tomson felt genuine gratitude toward Manager Chen. Although the man usually didn¡¯t accomplish much and often nitpicked, this time he had brought in such a gem. How could Tomson not be grateful?


    After Yun Yi reinstalled the flow balance regulator into the mech, Tomson took him to several other mechs awaiting repair. This served two purposes: first, to let others witness Yun Yi¡¯s skills so they wouldn¡¯t complain about unfair treatment when assigning tasks; second, to see just how capable this young man really was.


    One by one, the mechs were repaired under Yun Yi¡¯s hands, each completed in a remarkably short time and with excellent results. The number of onlookers grew from one or two to almost the entire repair staff. Even the two intermediate-level technicians, after watching Yun Yi repair two mechs, admitted they were no match for him.


    As a result, Director Tomson immediately announced that Yun Yi would become the company¡¯s third intermediate-level technician, with a base salary of 800 credits per month plus bonuses. Yun Yi was very satisfied with the compensation. After exchanging pleasantries, the two intermediate technicians told Yun Yi that the base salary of 800 credits was just a small part of the earnings, with the bulk coming from bonuses. If he could complete more than 30 medium-level repair tasks in a month, he could easily earn over a thousand credits in bonuses.


    After the two left, Yun Yi finally had a moment to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Generally, repair tasks were divided into high, medium, and low levels, corresponding to senior, intermediate, and junior technicians. The assessment tasks Tomson had given him were mostly low-level, with only two medium-level tasks, which he had managed to complete smoothly. If they had been high-level tasks, even with his extensive knowledge of mech repair, Yun Yi estimated he could have completed less than 40% of them on his own.


    Of course, in a small company like Swift Mechanics, which lacked senior technicians, even if a high-level repair task was identified, they would advise the client to take it to a larger company. Unless it was a mech like the Red Mane Charger Model VII, which they had sold themselves, in which case they would contact the manufacturer¡¯s repair department to send someone over.


    After completing the necessary procedures with Tomson¡¯s help, Yun Yi officially became a technician at the company.

 Chapter 32: Intermediate Technician

    By the time everything was settled, it was almost lunchtime. Tomson had initially planned to have lunch with Yun Yi, but upon hearing that the young man had a ten-year-old sister to care for and needed to go home to prepare lunch, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a deep respect for him.


    Knowledgeable, dexterous, humble, and possessing an extraordinary demeanor. On top of that, he was shouldering the responsibility of a household at such a young age, taking care of his sister while managing his own studies. How could Tomson not admire such a person?


    Swift Mechanics wasn¡¯t far from where Yun Yi lived¡ªjust around the corner.


    When Yun Yi returned home, Zhao Xiyue was sitting upright on the bed, diligently practicing her cultivation techniques. A month after Yun Yi had started practicing the "Haoqi Zheng Tian Jue," he had begun helping Zhao Xiyue open the necessary acupoints for cultivation. It wasn¡¯t until a week ago that this process was finally completed.


    Now, after a few initial guidance sessions, Zhao Xiyue could easily practice the techniques on her own. Of course, this was also thanks to the ancestral necklace Yun Yi had passed down to her.


    Zhao Xiyue¡¯s talent was exceptional, and with the aid of the powerful "Haoqi Zheng Tian Jue" and the ancestral necklace, her martial arts progress was astonishing. Yun Yi estimated that in less than a month, she would officially reach the second level of martial arts.


    To put this into perspective, when Yun Yi had first started practicing the "Polang Jue," it had taken him two months just to get started, and another six months to barely reach the second level¡ªand that was with his relentless effort.


    Watching Zhao Xiyue practice with such focus, Yun Yi couldn¡¯t help but smile. In an era where everyone practiced martial arts, a beautiful girl without sufficient self-defense skills, especially on a planet filled with aristocratic families, would face a tragic fate.


    "If she keeps this up, by the time she enters university, she should have at least an eighth-level martial arts cultivation¡­"


    Satisfied, Yun Yi hummed a popular song he had learned from a classmate during graduation, changed into his home clothes, and began preparing lunch.


    Since arriving on Chang¡¯an Four Star, Yun Yi¡¯s greatest improvement wasn¡¯t in academics, martial arts, or mech piloting¡ªit was his cooking skills. At first, the three daily meals were, in Zhao Xiyue¡¯s critical eyes, the most painful part of the day. Having never cooked before, the only thing Yun Yi could boast about was that he at least cooked the food thoroughly, ensuring that the two of them, who were still growing, wouldn¡¯t suffer from strange illnesses like diarrhea.


    After Zhao Xiyue¡¯s Nth protest fell on deaf ears, she resorted to a hunger strike to pressure Yun Yi. Left with no choice, Yun Yi turned to the internet to study countless recipes. With his extraordinary intelligence and analytical skills, his cooking gradually improved. A month later, Zhao Xiyue¡¯s complaints had significantly decreased. Three months later, she decided to bring Yun Yi¡¯s homemade lunch to school every day, refusing to eat the meals provided by the school.


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    Was this what Zhao Xuanxin had meant by "pressure creates motivation"?


    Regardless, Yun Yi¡¯s cooking skills had now reached a level that satisfied Zhao Xiyue¡¯s picky palate, and this alone filled him with pride. After all, the little girl had lived in a palace for ten years. Even in the most impoverished royal family, the chefs would have been top-notch.


    The aroma wafting from the kitchen roused Zhao Xiyue from her cultivation. The little girl skipped into the kitchen, her eyes filled with anticipation as she watched Yun Yi, wearing an apron, stir-frying dishes.


    Even though technology had advanced to the point where food synthesizers could produce meals, few people, except those who had experienced long-term hunger, preferred them over handmade dishes. Even the latest models of food synthesizers, which could adjust recipes based on customer preferences, couldn¡¯t compare to a moderately skilled chef.


    "Lunch is ready!"


    Yun Yi cheerfully placed the prepared dishes on the table, watching as Zhao Xiyue eagerly pulled her favorite dishes closer to her. At that moment, he suddenly remembered the promise he had made to the Empress when leaving the base.


    "Xiyue¡­ she must be happy now, right¡­"


    Standing by the window of the second-floor office in Workshop One, Director Tomson and General Manager Chen Muren were carefully observing the figure working diligently below.


    "Manager Chen, you¡¯ve really recommended a talent this time. His skills and age are both astonishing."


    It was rare to hear Director Tomson praise someone so highly. Chen Muren, who had been somewhat indifferent earlier, now focused intently on the figure below.


    The figure¡¯s skillful techniques, fluid movements, and confident disassembly of parts¡­


    After a long while, Chen Muren sighed. "I thought we were doing Earl Xia Ya a favor, but it turns out we¡¯re the ones who owe him."


    With that, he ignored Tomson¡¯s puzzled expression and spoke into his wrist computer, "Arrange a meeting with Earl Xia Ya for the afternoon two days from now. I¡¯ll treat him to a meal."


    Closing the computer, Chen Muren gazed at the figure below and said, "At first, I thought the kid was too young and assumed Earl Xia Ya was just trying to get him a free meal. Looking back, my response to Earl Xia Ya was indeed inappropriate¡­ But with such a talent on our team, I can¡¯t worry about saving face. I¡¯ll go apologize to Earl Xia Ya in a couple of days."


    Tomson nodded. Although Manager Chen had his shortcomings, he was quick to recognize his mistakes and wasn¡¯t afraid to swallow his pride to correct them. This was one of the reasons Tomson had faith in Swift Mechanics.


    "Oh, by the way," Chen Muren suddenly remembered something, "Weilong Corporation is sending Engineer Steve Wilson tomorrow. Make the necessary arrangements. Suspend all other repair work tomorrow and postpone all business. Well¡­ you know I¡¯m clueless about mech repairs, so you¡¯ll handle the reception."


    Having anticipated this, Tomson nodded without hesitation. "I¡¯ve already made the arrangements. We¡¯re just waiting for Weilong to send their representative."


    "Are the tools and everything else ready?"


    "Don¡¯t worry, Manager Chen. There won¡¯t be any issues."


    Chen Muren nodded. "Director Tomson, your meticulousness is something I truly admire. Tomorrow, everything is in your hands. I hope we can leave a good impression on Weilong."


    "Phew¡­ finally off work."


    Wiping the sweat from his forehead and changing his clothes, Yun Yi took one last affectionate glance at the towering Red Mane Charger Model VII before heading home.


    With his passion for mechs, Yun Yi didn¡¯t need anyone to push him. He gave his all to every repair task, no matter how big or small. Swift Mechanics¡¯ business was booming. Previously, due to a lack of manpower, they had to refer a lot of repair jobs to other companies they had good relationships with. But now, with Yun Yi¡¯s exceptional skills and strong work ethic, the company¡¯s business had reached new heights.


    "Huh? What¡¯s this?"


    As soon as he entered the house and started changing, Yun Yi noticed some pink shredded paper in the trash bin that hadn¡¯t been disposed of yet.


    Picking up a few pieces, the familiar handwriting and words made Yun Yi let out a heart-wrenching scream.


    "My first love letter¡­ Zhao Xiyue! Get out here!"

 Chapter 33: Weilong鈥檚 Arrival (Part 1)

    The door to Zhao Xiyue¡¯s room creaked open slightly, and a small head peeked out. Upon seeing Yun Yi, it quickly retreated in panic, followed by a loud "bang" as the door slammed shut.


    "Wuwu, my first love letter! Something so meaningful, and you just tore it up! Open the door right now!"


    Behind the door, Zhao Xiyue¡¯s heart was racing. Bored in the afternoon, she had rummaged through Yun Yi¡¯s things and stumbled upon a few pink letters. After reading them, she had torn them up in a fit of displeasure. She hadn¡¯t expected Yun Yi to get so angry.


    "What¡¯s so great about those? I¡¯ll make it up to you."


    Zhao Xiyue¡¯s voice came from inside the room, causing Yun Yi to pause for a moment. Shortly after, a pink letter was slipped through the crack under the door.


    "What¡¯s this? Did you forget to tear this one up?"


    Yun Yi muttered to himself as he picked up the letter from the floor. After reading it once, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the childish words written on it.


    "Xiyue, what are you writing? ¡®I just want to play with you¡¯? Don¡¯t we spend every day together? ¡®I hope you¡¯ll take me shopping every day¡¯? Oh, my little princess, spare me! I have to work hard every day just to earn enough for your meals and clothes¡­ What¡¯s this? ¡®When I grow up¡­ I¡¯ll marry you¡¯? Oh my, I¡¯m dying of laughter. My stomach hurts from laughing, haha¡­"


    Suddenly, the door swung open, and a red-faced Zhao Xiyue pouted as she snatched the letter from Yun Yi¡¯s hands. Ignoring Yun Yi, who was laughing so hard tears were streaming down his face, she kicked him in the leg, then let out a "hmph" before running back into her room and slamming the door shut.


    "Kids are really something," Yun Yi said, rubbing his shin and shaking his head with a smile as he looked at the closed door. That kick had been infused with Zhao Xiyue¡¯s meager internal energy, and without Yun Yi being on guard, it actually hurt a bit.


    Still rubbing his shin and muttering "ow," Yun Yi headed to the kitchen.


    After preparing the meal, Yun Yi spent over ten minutes pleading outside the door before Zhao Xiyue, her face still flushed, slowly emerged. Glancing at Yun Yi, who was trying to stifle his laughter, she quickly darted to the dining table and, without a word, pulled all of Yun Yi¡¯s favorite dishes in front of herself, glaring at him.


    Dinner was uncomfortable for both of them. Zhao Xiyue ended up eating the spicier dishes, gulping down water between bites, while Yun Yi had to make do with the sweeter dishes he had prepared for Zhao Xiyue, his face twisted in distaste.


    Late at night, after Zhao Xiyue had fallen asleep, Yun Yi quietly entered her room and found the "love letter" tucked under her pillow. He carefully hid the letter away, then chuckled to himself, already planning to show it to Zhao Xiyue a few years later to get his revenge for today!


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    The next morning, Yun Yi quickly prepared breakfast for the two of them before hurrying off to work.


    Today was the day Weilong Corporation would send someone to repair the Red Mane Charger Model VII mech. He absolutely couldn¡¯t be late, or he might miss out on a good spot to secretly observe and learn.


    Workshop Two, where the mech was parked, had been cleaned spotlessly. The mechs usually piled up in the corner had been moved to other workshops, and the entire space was neatly organized. Director Tomson, the two intermediate technicians, and the other junior technicians all stood with solemn expressions, waiting for the arrival of Weilong Corporation¡¯s engineer.


    At ten in the morning, a high-end "Whirlwind" hovercar from Weilong Corporation landed at the entrance of Workshop Two. Director Tomson hurriedly led the team to greet the arrival. The door opened, and an elderly man with graying hair slowly stepped out.


    Yun Yi had already learned about this man from Tomson the day before.


    This man, named Steve Wilson, was an intermediate engineer who had worked at Weilong Corporation for most of his life. With his extensive experience in handling various mech issues, his technical skills were beyond doubt.


    After some polite exchanges, Steve Wilson didn¡¯t waste any time and went straight to the Red Mane Charger Model VII mech. He directed his team to begin inspecting it using the instruments they had brought.


    Before long, under Steve Wilson¡¯s direction, the team began disassembling the mech¡¯s main engine using the tools they had brought.


    Yun Yi suddenly remembered that the issue with this mech was unstable engine output. Could it be a problem with the engine itself? He didn¡¯t ask out loud, but his burning curiosity about mechs pushed him to move closer. Steve Wilson was analyzing the data and, seeing Yun Yi almost at his side, didn¡¯t show any displeasure. He remained fully focused on his analysis.


    Half an hour later, the massive main engine of the mech was finally disassembled. With the help of anti-gravity, the team carefully placed it on a dedicated platform. Several technicians immediately approached with various instruments to inspect the engine.


    For three hours, the inspection continued. Except for Steve Wilson¡¯s occasional instructions, no one spoke a word. Everyone was fully absorbed in watching the technicians disassemble and inspect the engine, learning from their methods and data analysis.


    To Yun Yi, Steve Wilson¡¯s experience in mech repair was truly exceptional. Just by looking at the data, he could determine whether a component was functioning normally. This kind of systematic training and years of experience made Steve Wilson far superior to Yun Yi, who, despite his extensive knowledge, was still a novice with little practical experience.


    However, after three hours of inspection, no issues had been found. Everyone assumed it was due to the complexity and advanced technology of the Red Mane Charger Model VII. But Yun Yi noticed the beads of sweat on Steve Wilson¡¯s forehead and the anxious look on his face.


    Weilong Corporation was a leader not only in the Chu Tang Empire but also in the entire southern universe. Its vast resources, strong technical reserves, and mechs sold across the cosmos gave its employees a sense of pride. Each of them took it upon themselves to uphold the company¡¯s reputation.


    Now, Steve Wilson had spent three hours without finding the cause of the problem. He knew that if he failed this time, even though there weren¡¯t many people present, it would still damage Weilong Corporation¡¯s image. For this man who had dedicated most of his life to Weilong, this was absolutely unacceptable.


    After careful consideration, he suspected that one of the technicians might not have been thorough in their inspection, leading to inaccurate data. But now, the third round of engine inspection had ended, and the data reported was identical to the first two.


    Where exactly was the problem?

 Chapter 34: Weilong鈥檚 Arrival (Part 2)

    Where exactly was the problem?


    Steve Wilson forced himself to calm down, staring at the engine and racking his brains for an answer.


    Although this mech was the latest model, he had encountered many similar ones before. However, engine-related issues were not his strong suit. According to the client¡¯s report, it should have been a minor problem. Yet, this seemingly minor issue had stumped Steve Wilson.


    The engine¡¯s inspection showed everything was normal, but the fault indicated unstable output. How could that be?


    Could it be a problem with the energy source?


    As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Steve Wilson shook his head. Generally, mechs, like hovercars, used standard energy blocks. Someone who could afford such an advanced mech would undoubtedly have status and wealth. Why would they use low-quality energy blocks?


    Where exactly was the problem?


    Facing the technicians who were still inspecting the mech, Steve Wilson racked his brains, continuously pondering¡­


    A soft voice whispered in his ear, "Could it be an issue in the energy transmission process?"


    That¡¯s it! Although the energy driving the engine came from stable energy blocks, there was still a small chance of problems occurring during the transmission process.


    "Set the engine aside. Send two people to inspect the mech¡¯s energy transmission channel¡­ No, I¡¯ll inspect it myself."


    With that, the old man eagerly tried to climb onto the mech. Unfortunately, his body wasn¡¯t up to the task, and his martial arts level wasn¡¯t high enough. After struggling for a while, he still couldn¡¯t climb up. Several Weilong technicians quickly rushed forward to help him.


    "Hurry, check the transmission channel!"


    Soon, one of the technicians discovered the problem: a valve in the energy transmission channel had a loose §¶ photosensitive fiber component, causing the §¶ counterflow light to fail to correctly calibrate the energy transmission.


    The issue wasn¡¯t significant. After securing the component, the mech was effectively repaired.


    Once the engine was reinstalled, it was time for testing.


    "There shouldn¡¯t be any problems now," Steve Wilson said with a smile, turning to Director Tomson. "You can send someone up for the test run."


    Director Tomson was naturally pleased. He was about to assign the company¡¯s Level 6 martial artist to pilot the mech when Steve Wilson added, "This Red Mane Charger Model VII requires a pilot with at least Level 8 physical strength. Does your company have someone like that?"


    "Level 8?" Director Tomson¡¯s face changed. He suddenly remembered the mech¡¯s piloting requirements. It wasn¡¯t his fault¡ªprevious models of the Red Mane Charger from Weilong only required Level 6. This particular model had been ordered by a client specifically from Weilong. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have purchased such an expensive mech.


    But now, where could he find a Level 8 martial artist to pilot it?


    There were indeed many martial arts experts in the Chang¡¯an system, even some with innate Level 3 or 4 abilities. However, finding someone beyond Level 8 was already difficult, let alone a warrior skilled in mech piloting. Even if Swift Mechanics were willing to pay a hefty price, no one would come. After all, Level 8 martial artists and mech pilots were combatants. What warrior would be willing to become a test pilot for a mech company?


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    Director Tomson frowned, considering whether to ask Manager Chen to immediately contact the mercenary guild or find a Level 8 warrior through connections.


    Yun Yi glanced at Tomson and immediately understood the situation. Although his internal energy had only recovered to Level 6 due to his practice of the "Haoqi Zheng Tian Jue," his physical strength, enhanced by the unique effects of the ancestral necklace and the "Haoqi Zheng Tian Jue," had already surpassed that of an ordinary Level 9 martial artist. Piloting this mech would be no problem for him. This was an opportunity he wouldn¡¯t miss¡ªto finally fulfill his dream of piloting the mech he had been staring at for days.


    "Whoosh¡­"


    Just as Director Tomson was about to make the call, a figure suddenly leaped onto the mech.


    "Who is that?" Director Tomson was shocked. The figure moved too quickly for him to discern who it was, but he could tell from the speed that this person¡¯s martial arts level was definitely above Level 8!


    Steve Wilson also looked at Tomson curiously, surprised that such a small company would have a martial artist above Level 8.


    Sitting in the cockpit of the Red Mane Charger Model VII, Yun Yi greedily observed every detail. Although the controls of the Model VII were more complex than those of the Model III, they shared similarities since they were from the same series. For basic operations, the two were almost identical.


    With slight movements of his hands, Yun Yi started the mech¡¯s engine. Feeling the vibrations from the mech, Yun Yi was exhilarated. His hands flew across the control panel, inputting commands.


    "Boom, boom, boom¡­"


    The Red Mane Charger Model VII strode out of Workshop Two into the open area outside. Everyone rushed out to catch a glimpse of this high-performance mech.


    In the open area, an excited Yun Yi¡¯s hands moved like phantoms. Walking, running, jumping, dodging¡­ Feeling the mech¡¯s movements, Yun Yi felt as if something inside him had exploded.


    Mechs¡ªthis was what mechs were all about!


    Yun Yi felt as if he was born for mechs. Controlling the mech, feeling the feedback from the control panel, watching the images flash across the screen¡ªhis heart raced. With adrenaline surging through him, he was no longer satisfied with the thrill of basic movements. As his hands sped up, a series of complex maneuvers unfolded.


    The mech on the open ground suddenly became a blur. Its footsteps lightly tapped the ground, making it impossible to predict where it would appear next. Suddenly, the company¡¯s Level 6 martial artist pointed at the mech and exclaimed in shock.


    "Shadow Steps!"


    Shadow Steps?


    Immediately, several people¡¯s expressions changed, while others, confused, began asking around.


    Shadow Steps was a famous combat technique from the Shadow Flow martial arts school, renowned for its unpredictability and ability to appear beside an opponent without warning. This technique wasn¡¯t hard to obtain¡ªone could acquire the manual by paying a substantial fee to the Shadow Flow school. However, obtaining the manual was one thing; mastering it was another.


    To practice Shadow Steps, the basic requirement was a martial arts level of at least Level 8, along with physical strength and speed meeting Level 8 standards. Additionally, it demanded high intelligence and reaction speed. Learning this technique was difficult, and even among recognized geniuses, fewer than 20% could fully comprehend and master it.


    For most people, the sheer volume of commands required was enough to deter them. Shadow Steps was a significant test of finger dexterity. In combat, the brain had to analyze the opponent¡¯s movements in real-time and output the correct commands in an extremely short period.


    However, once mastered, this technique was incredibly powerful. Facing an opponent who could appear anywhere unpredictably was a headache. Unless one¡¯s martial arts level was one or two levels higher, it was nearly impossible to counter this technique. In many martial arts competitions, participants who relied on Shadow Steps often achieved impressive results. Its widespread popularity and formidable power made this technique famous among mech enthusiasts.


    After a long while, Yun Yi, having thoroughly enjoyed himself, reluctantly brought the mech to a stop in the center of the workshop. He opened the cockpit door and stepped down.


    Seeing everyone¡¯s jaws drop in astonishment, Yun Yi inwardly cursed. He had intended to live a low-key life on Chang¡¯an Four Star, but in a moment of impulsiveness, he had showcased a mech combat technique in front of everyone.


    "What excuse can I use to brush this off¡­" Facing the eager gazes of the crowd, Yun Yi felt a headache coming on.

 Chapter 35: The Weilong Engineer

    "Ahahaha¡­" Yun Yi scratched his head and laughed awkwardly, then said to the crowd, "You guys take your time, I have something to do¡­"


    With that, he turned and bolted.


    "Wait!"


    Surprisingly, despite his age and frail appearance, Steve Wilson, who had struggled to climb onto the mech earlier, now moved with surprising speed. In a flash, he grabbed Yun Yi¡¯s arm.


    "It was you who reminded me earlier, wasn¡¯t it?" Steve Wilson whispered in Yun Yi¡¯s ear. "I was so focused on repairing the mech that I didn¡¯t have a chance to thank you."


    "Ah? Hahaha¡­" Yun Yi pulled his arm free and laughed. "Just luck¡­ pure luck. Uh¡­ you go ahead, I need to use the restroom."


    "Hold on." Steve Wilson saw through Yun Yi¡¯s excuse and smiled at him. "Your repair skills are impressive, your mech piloting is top-notch, and you have a decent level of martial arts. With such talent, working as a repairman in this small company must mean your family is very strict. Sigh, I was thinking of taking you on as a disciple, but I suppose with your family background, they wouldn¡¯t let you spend your life in mech engineering¡­"


    Yun Yi was stunned for a moment before realizing that the old man must have mistaken him for some young noble using his vacation to gain experience.


    "How about this? Let¡¯s exchange contact information. Don¡¯t think I¡¯m trying to curry favor with the aristocracy. I just see your talent in mechs and feel the itch to discuss some ideas with you. If you¡¯re not interested, I won¡¯t push it."


    This was exactly what Yun Yi needed! He had been wondering where to find advanced knowledge in mech engineering, as the information available online was no longer sufficient. With guidance from an expert like Steve Wilson, Yun Yi¡¯s skills would skyrocket!


    "Well, since you¡¯re so kind, I won¡¯t refuse."


    How could Yun Yi turn down such an opportunity? He immediately exchanged contact information with Steve Wilson.


    Afterward, Steve Wilson left the remaining cleanup work to his team and, ignoring Director Tomson¡¯s attempts to invite him to dinner, found a quiet room where he and Yun Yi could talk. They left the rest of the Swift Mechanics staff outside, scratching their heads in confusion.


    During lunch, Director Tomson personally went to invite the two to eat, but Steve Wilson firmly declined. It wasn¡¯t until late afternoon that the two finally emerged. Yun Yi¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement, while Steve Wilson looked thoroughly satisfied, praising Yun Yi nonstop.


    By then, it was almost time for Swift Mechanics to close for the day.


    Steve Wilson was thrilled with the day¡¯s events, primarily because he had met Yun Yi. Although Yun Yi lacked knowledge of advanced mech engineering, his grasp of foundational and outdated technologies was solid. What impressed Steve Wilson the most was Yun Yi¡¯s genius-level intellect. Many of the problems Steve Wilson encountered in his research could be solved perfectly by Yun Yi after a brief explanation of the relevant knowledge.


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    Of course, problems requiring extensive theoretical knowledge were still beyond Yun Yi¡¯s capabilities.


    But Steve Wilson was still excited. If Yun Yi¡¯s analytical abilities continued to develop, combined with his guidance, Yun Yi could become a mech engineer in no time. Steve Wilson even predicted that if Yun Yi dedicated himself fully to mech research, he would eventually become a master in the field!


    However, during their conversation, Steve Wilson could tell that Yun Yi¡¯s true passion lay in piloting mechs. His interest in mech engineering seemed to stem from a desire to better understand and control mechs.


    Meeting such a genius and solving some of his work problems during their discussion left Steve Wilson thoroughly satisfied. He left in high spirits.


    After seeing off Weilong Corporation¡¯s hovercar, Yun Yi immediately felt Director Tomson¡¯s intense gaze.


    "Yun Yi, I know you¡¯re no ordinary person," Tomson said, his eyes filled with reluctance. "I know you¡¯ll be leaving soon. If you ever think of us, feel free to send a message. I¡¯ll never ignore you¡­"


    "Wait, wait, wait!" Yun Yi quickly interrupted, confused. "What are you talking about?"


    "Ah¡­ you don¡¯t have to hide it from me," Tomson said sadly. "I know you¡¯ll accept Weilong Corporation¡¯s offer. Swift Mechanics is too small to keep talent like you¡­"


    "Director Tomson," Yun Yi said, looking defeated. "When did Weilong Corporation invite me? Even if they did, I wouldn¡¯t go."


    "Huh? No invitation?" Tomson looked at him in surprise. "How is that possible? I saw how happy Steve Wilson was. How could he not invite you? Did he forget?"


    Yun Yi thought about it and realized that Steve Wilson probably mistook him for a noble¡¯s son using his vacation to gain experience, so he never considered inviting Yun Yi to join Weilong Corporation.


    "Director, my home is right next to the company, and I have a sister to take care of," Yun Yi said, amused. "Do you really think I¡¯d abandon my sister to work at Weilong Corporation?"


    Watching Director Tomson leave in high spirits, Yun Yi shook his head. Tomson was a good person and meticulous in his work, but sometimes his personality was¡­ well, a bit strange.


    During the holiday, Yun Yi didn¡¯t spend his time lazing around like other students.


    His days were packed.


    Every morning, he woke up Zhao Xiyue, and they practiced the stances from the "Haoqi Zheng Tian Jue," which improved their endurance, speed, strength, eyesight, hearing, and more. During their practice, Yun Yi stayed close to Zhao Xiyue so she could benefit from the mysterious ancestral necklace.


    After practice, he prepared breakfast. Once they ate, Yun Yi headed to Swift Mechanics for work, while Zhao Xiyue stayed home to practice martial arts.


    At noon, Yun Yi rushed back to prepare lunch, squeezing in an hour to practice the "Haoqi Zheng Tian Jue" before hurrying back to work.


    After dinner, he would dive into the vast collection of materials Steve Wilson had provided from Weilong Corporation¡¯s internal archives. Of course, these materials didn¡¯t involve any corporate secrets¡ªthey were just the accumulated knowledge Weilong had gathered over the years. When it came to mech engineering resources, no organization could rival Weilong Corporation, backed by the Chu Tang Empire¡¯s royal family.


    Sometimes, Steve Wilson would join him via video call to discuss problems.


    After 11 PM, Yun Yi couldn¡¯t sleep yet. He sat down to practice martial arts until 2 AM.


    Thus, our poor Yun Yi only got four hours of sleep each night. Fortunately, his Level 8 martial arts and the ancestral necklace¡¯s rejuvenating effects kept him energized every morning. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have lasted a week.


    Through his daily repair work, Yun Yi accumulated a wealth of experience in mech maintenance. A month later, he received his first paycheck¡ªa staggering 4,000 Empire Gold. After Director Tomson explained, Yun Yi learned that his daily workload exceeded the combined output of the two intermediate technicians, so his salary was naturally higher.


    Overjoyed, Yun Yi foolishly agreed to accompany Zhao Xiyue on a shopping spree. Naturally, this arduous and bittersweet mission ended with Yun Yi carrying bags and packages, successfully fulfilling Zhao Xiyue¡¯s desires.


    After two months of this fulfilling and passionate life, as school enrollment began, Yun Yi had to take Zhao Xiyue to register for school. And he himself needed to report to university¡­

 Chapter 36: The Principal

    Among the ten most prestigious universities in the Chu Tang Empire, the Imperial College of Economics and Trade ranked last.


    Of course, even with this ranking, the Imperial College of Economics and Trade held a formidable reputation not only within the Chu Tang Empire but across the entire Southern Universe. In the business circles of the Chu Tang Empire, at least 20% of successful entrepreneurs and merchants were graduates of this institution. For anyone in the Southern Universe looking to study economics and trade, the Imperial College of Economics and Trade was the best choice.


    For Yun Yi, there was another crucial reason for choosing this university: it was conveniently located. From the bus stop near his home, it took only fifteen minutes by bus to reach this renowned institution.


    By the time school started, Zhao Xiyue¡¯s martial arts skills had reached Level 3, which was comparable to an average adult. Combined with the extraordinary physical enhancements from the "Haoqi Zheng Tian Jue," Yun Yi finally felt confident enough to let Zhao Xiyue go to school on her own.


    After preparing Zhao Xiyue¡¯s lunchbox, Yun Yi hurried to the bus stop.


    Today was his first day of enrollment.


    Three months ago, to secure admission to this prestigious university, Yun Yi had practically devoted every waking moment to studying. Through relentless effort, he had finally received his acceptance letter.


    As for why he chose economics, Yun Yi had his reasons.


    The bank card given to him by the Empress indeed contained a fortune that seemed astronomical to him. However, after leaving the base and broadening his horizons, especially after living in the Chu Tang Empire for a while, he realized that the sum was far from enough to raise an army, overthrow the Iserlas Empire, and establish a new Zhao Song Empire.


    To acquire more funds, aside from robbery, the best method was to use economic and trade strategies to generate substantial profits from a solid capital base.


    He had the initial capital, but his knowledge of profit-making strategies was limited to a few basic books he had read. To learn more, he needed formal education.


    Moreover, as the best economics and trade college in the Southern Universe, graduates of the Imperial College of Economics and Trade naturally pursued careers in economics. This gave Yun Yi the opportunity to identify potential allies who could share his future struggles.


    As Zhao Xuanxin had once said, friendships formed during student years were enduring, often lasting a lifetime. He had also mentioned that the strongest bonds in life were those formed with comrades and classmates. In short, recruiting talented individuals during his student years and binding them to his cause was an excellent strategy.


    Thus, Yun Yi found himself at this university.


    The entrance was bustling with new students. Some arrived in their own hovercars, others were dropped off by family, and a few who weren¡¯t from Chang¡¯an Four Star or even the Chu Tang Empire had arrived early and rented nearby accommodations.


    As for those arriving by bus¡­ to be honest, Yun Yi hadn¡¯t seen anyone else.


    Following the electronic signs on the walls, Yun Yi quickly found the enrollment office. After paying 2,000 Empire Gold¡ªhalf a month¡¯s salary¡ªhe received his student ID and a few sets of uniforms.


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    "What? Mandatory on-campus housing?"


    Hearing this, Yun Yi felt a pang of concern. He couldn¡¯t live on campus; he had a young girl to take care of at home. However, the teacher explained that the school couldn¡¯t allow students to live off-campus without good reason, as it was a matter of student management and school discipline.


    After repeatedly explaining his family situation, the teacher finally told him that an exception could be made, but it required the principal¡¯s approval.


    After confirming the principal¡¯s location, Yun Yi immediately headed to the principal¡¯s office.


    "Ding dong¡­"


    After pressing the doorbell, a slightly aged voice soon responded, "Come in."


    Pushing the door open, Yun Yi saw a neatly dressed, elderly man with meticulously combed hair and wide-rimmed glasses. This was the school¡¯s principal, Baron Elias.


    "Respected Principal, I apologize for interrupting your work."


    Yun Yi¡¯s polite demeanor immediately left a good impression on the seemingly strict old man.


    "A new student? What can I do for you?"


    Elias looked up at Yun Yi. Though his expression remained stern, he didn¡¯t give Yun Yi a hard time.


    "Principal, it¡¯s like this," Yun Yi quickly organized his thoughts. He knew that when dealing with a strict old man like this, it was best to present his case clearly from the start to avoid misunderstandings.


    "I have a younger sister. She¡¯s very lovely, only ten years old, and attends a nearby elementary school." Yun Yi paused, noting Elias¡¯s interested expression, and continued, "She¡¯s too young to be left alone. For a ten-year-old girl to live in an empty house and eat unappetizing synthetic food would be cruel."


    "Hmm, you¡¯re right. As a member of the Empire, treating a young girl like that would be criminal."


    "I agree entirely," Yun Yi added. "But for me, gaining admission to the Imperial College of Economics and Trade is an honor achieved through hard work and dedication. I truly love this school and hope to graduate with excellent grades, using the knowledge I gain here to create my own wealth and contribute to the Empire through taxes."


    "Good. I like ambitious students like you," Elias praised. "Now, what brings you here? I assume you¡¯re not here just to deliver a speech."


    "Well¡­" Yun Yi¡¯s voice carried a hint of sorrow as he continued, "My parents passed away over a year ago. It¡¯s just my sister and me now. To support us, I¡¯ve been working part-time at a nearby mech company to earn a meager income. Now that I¡¯ve been accepted into the great Imperial College of Economics and Trade, I¡¯m closer to realizing my dreams. But my sister is only ten. If I move on campus, she¡¯ll be left alone."


    "So!" Yun Yi¡¯s voice rose with emotion as he looked at Elias. "Principal, I beg you to grant me permission to live off-campus. Please let me take care of this poor little girl!"


    Elias¡¯s expression was peculiar, as if he was trying not to laugh. After a moment, he composed himself and said, "So, you¡¯re Yun Yi, right? It¡¯s a shame you¡¯re not studying drama."


    "Yes, Principal¡­ Wait, how did you know my name?"


    "You graduated from the affiliated First High School of the Imperial College of Economics and Trade, and your sister, Zhao Xiyue, attends the affiliated Third Elementary School, correct?"


    "Ah?" Yun Yi looked at the principal in surprise. Now that he thought about it, both he and his sister had attended schools affiliated with this university. But Yun Yi had never paid much attention to that.


    Elias glanced at the information on his computer, and a faint smile appeared on his otherwise stern face. "After you applied to our school, your homeroom teacher submitted all your information. After consulting your sister¡¯s homeroom teacher and visiting the mech company where you work, the school determined that requiring you to live on campus would be highly unreasonable. Therefore, it was unanimously decided to allow you to live at home and continue your part-time job. Originally, this information was supposed to be relayed to you by your homeroom teacher of Trade Economics Class 15, Grade 5240. I didn¡¯t expect you to come to me, the principal, on your first day of enrollment."


    "I¡­ I¡¯m deeply sorry," Yun Yi said, bowing apologetically.


    He hadn¡¯t expected his homeroom teacher, whose name he hadn¡¯t even remembered, to report his situation to the school. Nor had he imagined that this prestigious university would go so far as to consult Zhao Xiyue¡¯s school and visit Swift Mechanics on his behalf.


    At that moment, Yun Yi was deeply moved. He didn¡¯t know what to say except to thank the principal repeatedly. Even long after leaving the principal¡¯s office, he was still processing what had happened.


    "Imperial College of Economics and Trade¡­ I will work hard. I will never forget you. Principal Elias, thank you!"

 Chapter 37: Taking Action (Part 1)

    "School¡¯s out¡­"


    Yun Yi stretched, loosened up his body, and then packed his things before heading out of the school.


    The first day of classes didn¡¯t cover any substantive material. Instead, several teachers gave the new students an overview of the school¡¯s history, notable alumni, and various life ideals. Some students seemed to listen intently, but Yun Yi wasn¡¯t particularly interested.


    In his opinion, listening to such things was a waste of time that could be better spent learning something useful.


    Most students lived on campus, so after classes ended in the afternoon, they could participate in various school clubs or spend time reading.


    For Yun Yi, however, after school, he had to rush to Swift Mechanics. His love for mechs was something he couldn¡¯t give up, even after starting school. After negotiating with the company, they agreed to halve his base salary, allowing him to work only three hours a day after school. Of course, he also worked during the two-day weekend.


    At the school gate, only a handful of people, like him, were heading out. Presumably, they were also students who had received special permission from the principal to live off-campus.


    From their attire, most of these students appeared to be upperclassmen. There were only a few freshmen, and Yun Yi didn¡¯t recognize any of them. After all, it was only the first day of school, and he probably hadn¡¯t even memorized all his classmates¡¯ names yet.


    "Hey, already living off-campus just after school started?" A mocking voice reached Yun Yi¡¯s ears. The few off-campus students nearby glanced at the speaker but ignored him.


    Yun Yi also looked over and saw a young man with brown hair and pale skin. From his brand-new uniform, it was clear he was also a freshman this year.


    However, Yun Yi couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the guy looked familiar, as if he¡¯d seen him somewhere before.


    "What a disgrace to the school. The reason our school ranks last among the top ten is because of people like you, living off-campus and ruining the school¡¯s reputation. Right, little girl?"


    Hearing this, Yun Yi, who had already taken a few steps forward, turned around angrily, only to see the guy blocking a girl¡¯s path with a lecherous expression.


    "Huh? I¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­"


    The girl seemed timid, her head lowered as she waved her hands in panic.


    Yun Yi sighed inwardly. Dealing with bullies like this required showing more strength than them to make them back off. If you appeared timid, it would only embolden them, making them more aggressive.


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    "Hahaha, hey classmate, why don¡¯t you tell the security guard that I¡¯m your brother, and we¡¯re going home together? How about it?"


    The girl seemed even more frightened, her head still lowered as she repeated, "I don¡¯t know¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­"


    "Come on, let¡¯s go out together and have some fun. Hey, I¡¯ll tell you the truth¡ªmy dad¡¯s the chairman of the Xiagal Group. After you graduate, I¡¯ll make sure my dad gets you a great job. Hmm¡­ how about being my secretary?"


    "I¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­"


    Seeing the girl¡¯s timid demeanor, the guy laughed arrogantly.


    Watching the girl being frightened and helpless, Yun Yi suddenly thought of his younger sister.


    "¡­Wah, big brother is mean, I hate caterpillars¡­"


    That same timid younger sister, who would cry when he teased her with caterpillars¡ªif she had lived, would she have grown up to be this timid?


    If she had grown up and gone to school, would she have been bullied by her classmates?


    Staring at the panicked girl, Yun Yi¡¯s eyes glazed over for a moment.


    "¡­Little sister¡­"


    Several upperclassmen nearby, who had initially looked ready to step in and help the girl, suddenly stopped when they heard the guy mention the "Xiagal Group." While they knew the guy¡¯s offer of a job was just a ploy to deceive the girl, most off-campus students came from poor families, working part-time to make ends meet. How could they dare to provoke the son of the Xiagal Group?


    "So, what do you think? Take me out with you. Hmm, where do you want to go? A bar? I have a friend who runs a great bar nearby. Want to check it out?"


    As he spoke, the guy actually reached out, as if trying to lift the girl¡¯s chin to see what she looked like.


    "I said¡­ that¡¯s enough."


    A low voice suddenly rang out. The pale-skinned young man stopped his hand and turned his head.


    "Thud¡­"


    Before he could understand what was happening, a foot rapidly filled his vision, and then the scene before him changed as a sharp pain spread throughout his body.


    "Having fun bullying girls?"


    Yun Yi stood with his arms crossed, his low voice speaking word by word, "I can¡¯t believe the school let trash like you in. I wonder how you even got admitted."


    "Hahaha¡­" The guy wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stood up with a sneer. "You actually hit me? Do you know my dad¡¯s the chairman of the Xiagal Group? Let me tell you, kid, you¡¯re finished. Hernad Xiagal isn¡¯t going to let you off!"


    "Xiagal? Never heard of them."


    Yun Yi coldly replied, then kicked the guy again, sending him flying. He then walked over to the girl and said gently, "Are you okay?"


    "Huh? I¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­"


    The girl seemed even more panicked, waving her delicate hands.


    "Sigh." Yun Yi couldn¡¯t believe there could be such a timid girl in the world. After thinking for a moment, he realized his younger sister might have been slightly braver than her. Sadly, his sister¡­ Yun Yi forced a bitter smile and said gently, "Come on, that guy won¡¯t dare to bully you anymore. I¡¯ll walk you out of the school."


    "Oh? Okay." The girl softly agreed, her head still lowered as she followed Yun Yi out.


    The guy named Hernad got up from the ground, glaring at Yun Yi with a mix of hatred and fear. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he pointed at Yun Yi and shouted while jumping up and down:


    "Hahaha¡­ I remember now! You¡¯re the guy who works at the mech company! Yun Yi, right? I didn¡¯t have time to deal with you last time, but now you¡¯re finished. My dad can get you kicked out of this school with just one word!"


    Yun Yi turned his head, looking at the guy with pity, and sighed, "Ah, such a good kid. How did he end up like this?"


    After walking the timid girl out of the school gate, she finally lowered her head and whispered, "Um¡­ thank you."


    "It¡¯s nothing. We¡¯re classmates, so we should help each other. Alright, I¡¯ve got to go. See you!"


    With that, Yun Yi headed toward the nearby bus stop. Unfortunately, he never got a clear look at the girl¡¯s face.


    Sitting on the bus, Yun Yi couldn¡¯t help but think about Hernad¡¯s words.


    "How does he know me? He does look familiar¡­ Ah, I remember now. It¡¯s that guy."

 Chapter 38: Taking Action (Part 2)

    It happened about half a month after Yun Yi started working at Swift Mechanics. Early one morning, Hernad drove over with a mech. Seeing Yun Yi¡¯s youth, he thought Yun Yi would be easy to persuade and asked him to help modify the mech¡¯s engine, promising a reward of 1,000 credits afterward.


    The Empire had strict regulations regarding privately owned mechs. Without proper authorization, individuals were prohibited from installing any weapon systems, non-civilian detection systems, or making unauthorized modifications to the mech¡¯s engine and transmission systems.


    Given the immense power of mechs and their widespread use, the Empire had implemented these regulations for safety reasons. However, most civilian mechs were used for industrial or agricultural purposes. In places like Chang¡¯an Four Star, privately owned combat mechs were more common.


    Of course, mercenary groups, security companies, and escort fleets of large corporations required heavily armed mechs. After paying a fee and providing real estate within the Empire as collateral, they could obtain authorization from the Empire to use armed mechs.


    As for mechs sold to private collectors, they were stripped of weapons and detection systems, and their engines and transmission systems were locked by the Empire¡¯s relevant departments upon sale to prevent them from reaching maximum output.


    Thus, some mech companies offered a service to secretly unlock engine restrictions for users.


    However, Swift Mechanics, under its principled leadership and with its skilled technicians, had a booming business and never engaged in such illegal activities. So, when Yun Yi firmly rejected Hernad¡¯s repeated pleas, Hernad held a grudge against him.


    At the time, Hernad had been too busy to seek revenge, and over time, he had somewhat forgotten about it. But after the recent incident, Hernad immediately remembered the treatment he had received at Swift Mechanics. As the son of the chairman of the Xiagal Group, he couldn¡¯t use his father¡¯s influence to retaliate against Swift Mechanics, but dealing with Yun Yi was no problem.


    "The Xiagal Group?" Yun Yi thought for a moment but couldn¡¯t recall anything significant. "Must be a small company. Probably not a threat¡­"


    After returning home from work and having dinner with Zhao Xiyue, Yun Yi opened his computer to study the materials Steve Wilson had sent him earlier. He noticed that the old man was online.


    "Ah, Yun Yi. How¡¯s university life?"


    Yun Yi smiled. "The school is great. Principal Elias is very kind. Today, I learned about the school¡¯s history¡ªmany famous people graduated from there."


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    Steve Wilson chuckled. "The Imperial College of Economics and Trade is one of the top economic schools in the Southern Universe. Even the current CEO of Weilong Corporation graduated from your school."


    "Really?" Yun Yi thought back to the school history lecture and realized he hadn¡¯t paid much attention at the time.


    After the old man listed a few other notable alumni from the school, Yun Yi suddenly remembered the incident from earlier and asked, "Mr. Steve Wilson, have you heard of the Xiagal Group?"


    "The Xiagal Group?" Steve Wilson thought for a moment. "That group? Yes, I¡¯ve heard of it. It¡¯s a fairly large enterprise, mainly involved in construction, trade, and luxury goods. However, the group has a rather poor reputation, rumored to be connected to a smuggling ring. Why do you ask?"


    Yun Yi smiled but felt a sense of unease. He didn¡¯t let the old man notice anything amiss and said, "Oh, nothing. Just something a classmate mentioned. By the way, I ran into a problem while repairing a mech today. Do you think this solution would work¡­"


    The next day at school, Yun Yi was on edge. However, the day passed without incident.


    After school, Yun Yi saw the timid girl again. She hurried past with her head down, not giving Yun Yi a chance to greet her.


    Over the next few days, Yun Yi gradually settled into his new life. His classmates were curious about the off-campus student, but Yun Yi deflected their questions by saying he needed to take care of his family. What puzzled Yun Yi was that the incident at the school gate, where he had kicked Hernad, seemed to have gone unnoticed. He figured there hadn¡¯t been many students around at the time, so it hadn¡¯t spread.


    One afternoon, a week after school started, an announcement excited all the freshmen.


    Unlike military academies or comprehensive universities, the Imperial College of Economics and Trade focused solely on economics and trade, making it a highly specialized institution.


    Because of this, the school didn¡¯t conduct the collective military training that other institutions required for freshmen.


    Military training was meant to instill discipline in students, helping them understand the importance of rules and regulations. However, given the school¡¯s specialized focus, it had opted out of such training.


    To maintain school discipline and protect students, the school selected students with higher martial arts skills from each freshman class to join the Disciplinary Committee as members or officers.


    Every year, during this time, the school would test each student¡¯s martial arts skills and select the top performers to join the Disciplinary Committee. This approach not only maintained school discipline but also ensured that those with exceptional martial arts skills were kept in check, preventing them from causing harm to others.


    For ordinary students, those with advanced martial arts skills were objects of admiration. Those with extraordinary talent, far surpassing the average person, were even more idolized. Thus, the annual martial arts test became a grand event for selecting idols.


    As one of Yun Yi¡¯s female classmates put it, to be an idol, one needed not only exceptional martial arts skills but also handsome looks, elegant demeanor, and a prestigious family background. Such individuals were the ones they worshipped. After listening to her lengthy explanation, Yun Yi couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill. Was this about selecting Disciplinary Committee members or a beauty pageant? Or perhaps, choosing a partner?


    Of course, every idol selected according to that girl¡¯s criteria would become a star of the College of Economics and Trade. Among the upperclassmen, most of the so-called campus heartthrobs held positions in the Disciplinary Committee.

 Chapter 39: Martial Arts Assessment

    Of course, every idol selected according to that girl¡¯s criteria would become a star of the College of Economics and Trade. Among the upperclassmen, most of the so-called campus heartthrobs held positions in the Disciplinary Committee.


    "Ah, it¡¯s a pity I have to live off-campus. It would be great to join the Disciplinary Committee¡ªso many beautiful girls¡­ What a shame."


    Yun Yi stomped his feet, clutching his chest in exaggerated sorrow, inwardly lamenting. Looking at the long line of students waiting for their martial arts assessment, he felt even more helpless.


    According to the school¡¯s regulations, even if you didn¡¯t intend to join the Disciplinary Committee, you still had to undergo a martial arts assessment. This allowed the school to keep track of each student¡¯s martial arts level.


    "Wow, that guy in front is actually at Level 7¡­"


    "That¡¯s amazing. He looks like a freshman just like us."


    "I wonder how he trained to reach Level 7 already."


    "Level 7? That¡¯s nothing. During the assessment for Class 2 this morning, there was a Level 8 girl."


    "What? Level 8! No way!"


    "Absolutely impossible. If someone had Level 8 martial arts skills, their talent would be off the charts. They¡¯d definitely go to a military academy. If their family had a title of earl or higher, they could even get into the Royal Academy."


    "How is that impossible? I heard it from a friend who saw it with his own eyes. But apparently, that girl didn¡¯t want to join the Disciplinary Committee, and the school didn¡¯t force her¡­"


    Listening to the conversations around him, Yun Yi was shocked. He hadn¡¯t expected a non-military institution like this to have such hidden talents. After all, Yun Yi had only reached Level 8 mid-stage thanks to the mysterious ancestral necklace he possessed.


    But upon further reflection, it made sense. Children from noble families, if they had exceptional talent, a good cultivation technique, and started training from a young age, could easily reach Level 8, or even Levels 9 or 10.


    "It seems I still have a lot of work to do¡­ But this is good. It means I won¡¯t stand out too much."


    When it was Yun Yi¡¯s turn, under the guidance of the teachers, he lay down on a metal bed. Soon, several devices connected by wires were attached to his body.


    "Don¡¯t be nervous or scared. The electric current will stimulate the internal energy in your body, causing it to circulate automatically. Once we¡¯re done with the assessment, you can withdraw your energy."


    Hearing the teacher¡¯s explanation, Yun Yi nodded, indicating he was ready.


    Yun Yi had heard about this type of electric stimulation assessment before. It was said to activate the maximum internal energy in a person¡¯s body, preventing those with ulterior motives from hiding their true strength.


    As the teacher turned on the machine, a faint, tingling electric current flowed through the wires into Yun Yi¡¯s body. Under the stimulation of the current, the energy stored in his dantian began to churn, flowing through the meridians he used during his daily cultivation.


    After a minute, all of Yun Yi¡¯s internal energy had been mobilized.


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    "Level 7! Another Level 7!"


    The teacher, wearing a look of surprise, exchanged a few words with the other teachers before turning to Yun Yi. "Alright, student, you can withdraw your energy now."


    The current was cut off, and Yun Yi slowly calmed his internal energy.


    "So the assessment showed Level 7. It seems the damage from switching to the ''Haoqi Zheng Tian Jue'' hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet."


    It had been three months since Yun Yi switched to the ''Haoqi Zheng Tian Jue,'' and reaching Level 7 again was already an incredibly fast recovery. According to ancient records, it usually took at least a year to return to normal. Based on his current recovery speed, Yun Yi estimated that in another two or three months, he would be back to his previous Level 8 mid-stage.


    "Student, would you like to join the Disciplinary Committee and contribute to the safety of the school?"


    As soon as Yun Yi got off the metal bed, a senior member of the Disciplinary Committee who had been waiting nearby approached him. For someone like Yun Yi, who was three or four levels above the average student, the Disciplinary Committee naturally wouldn¡¯t let him go easily.


    However, Yun Yi lived off-campus and wouldn¡¯t have time to fulfill the duties of the Disciplinary Committee. He replied apologetically, "I¡¯m sorry, but due to family reasons, the principal has allowed me to live off-campus. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t have the opportunity to work with you."


    "Ah¡­" The student¡¯s face showed a hint of disappointment, but he still smiled. "That¡¯s a shame. This year, for some reason, that Level 8 girl from this morning also lives off-campus."


    For some reason, Yun Yi¡¯s mind flashed to the timid girl from a few days ago. But then he laughed at himself. If that girl had Level 8 martial arts skills, how could she have been intimidated by a student who was at most Level 3 or 4?


    "In that case," the student said warmly, "even if you can¡¯t join the Disciplinary Committee, I hope that as a member of the school, you¡¯ll step in if you see any students breaking the rules. Of course, please don¡¯t go too hard on them¡ªafter all, this is a school."


    Yun Yi nodded. "Don¡¯t worry, senior. If I come across such a situation, I won¡¯t ignore it."


    After recording Yun Yi¡¯s name, class, and level, the senior from the Disciplinary Committee went to observe the other students.


    As Yun Yi walked out of the assessment hall, he suddenly slapped his forehead. "Ah, I forgot to ask that Level 8 girl¡¯s name. I was thinking of finding her for a sparring session sometime. What a pity¡­ It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve sparred with someone as skilled as Suolong." Looking back at the crowded assessment hall, Yun Yi shook his head. "Forget it. If I get the chance later, I¡¯ll ask her for advice."


    "Hey, Yun Yi."


    A few figures stood outside the assessment hall, waving at Yun Yi as he walked out.


    "Chris, Omir, and Yang Yue¡¯er¡­ What are you all doing here?"


    Yun Yi looked at them in surprise. These were his classmates, and while they had exchanged a few words before, they weren¡¯t close. Aside from the three he named, there were two others whose names he hadn¡¯t even remembered.


    Chris, a red-haired young man, strode forward with a hearty laugh. "We¡¯ve been waiting for you, Level 7 expert."


    Omir, dressed in a white robe, cape, and headband¡ªan extremely rare outfit in the Empire¡ªwas the reason Yun Yi remembered his name. He was said to be from the distant United Emirates of Kalzarin, here to study economics and trade, and was supposedly the prince of some tribe.


    Aside from Omir, Yun Yi didn¡¯t know the backgrounds of the others. But from their slightly haughty demeanor, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess that they came from noble families.


    Yang Yue¡¯er walked up to Chris¡¯s side, smiling sweetly. "Big expert, we¡¯ve been waiting for you for so long. Aren¡¯t you going to say anything?"


    There was no denying that Yang Yue¡¯er, with her sweet looks and crescent-shaped eyes when she smiled, was very cute.


    "What big expert? I¡¯m only Level 7," Yun Yi said with a slight smile, wondering what their purpose was.


    Omir walked up to him and said, "Martial arts are too hard to cultivate. Even with family techniques or guidance from experts, it¡¯s difficult for us to break through Level 6. Yet you¡¯ve reached Level 7. We¡¯re truly impressed."


    Omir, who came from Kalzarin, was said to be a descendant of the ancient Arabs on Earth. Their personalities and attire had remained unchanged for thousands of years, just like their ancestors.


    Yun Yi smiled warmly and asked, "You all waited for me¡­ Is there something you need?"


    "Can¡¯t we just want to hang out with you?" Chris said, his hands in his pockets, still wearing that hearty smile. "Actually, there¡¯s nothing special. As classmates, we just wanted to get to know you better." He turned to the other classmates and said in a tone that brooked no argument, "Since we don¡¯t have classes today and no one¡¯s had lunch yet, let¡¯s go. School cafeteria¡ªmy treat."


    The other classmates immediately agreed, dragging Yun Yi along to the school cafeteria without giving him a chance to refuse.


    Sensing the genuine friendliness from Chris and the others, Yun Yi didn¡¯t resist. For him, if they were sincere, gaining the friendship of a few classmates was exactly what he wanted.

 Chapter 40: New Friends

    The school cafeteria primarily catered to students from wealthy families. Its exterior exuded luxury, while the interior was elegantly decorated. Beautiful young women dressed in pristine maid uniforms moved gracefully through the space, accompanied by the soft, melodious strains of a piano.


    The lighting in the cafeteria was dim, with a faintly glowing artificial mountain at the center of a pool. Under the soft light, a few rare and beautiful fish swam happily in the water. Intermittent anti-gravity fountains occasionally sent sprays of mist into the air, adding to the dreamlike atmosphere.


    As Yun Yi entered the cafeteria, he was momentarily surprised but quickly regained his composure. During his time at the base, he had often visited the temporary palace of the Zhao Song Empire. Although it didn¡¯t have many attendants, it had been meticulously crafted by dozens of emperors over generations. How could a mere cafeteria compare to that?


    As soon as Chris entered, he turned his gaze to Yun Yi. Seeing him recover so quickly, Chris was shocked. He knew that the scenery and decor of this cafeteria were highly impactful for students from ordinary families. Yet Yun Yi hadn¡¯t even been fazed, only showing a brief moment of curious surprise.


    It seemed impossible. Chris had inquired about the backgrounds of every classmate from their homeroom teacher to determine who was worth befriending. According to the information he had, Yun Yi¡¯s profile was simple:


    "Parents deceased, living with his younger sister, supporting himself through part-time work. Excellent academic performance¡­"


    Chris couldn¡¯t believe that a poor student who had to work part-time to make ends meet would only show a brief moment of surprise in such a place.


    Martial arts at Level 7, excellent academic performance, composed in the face of adversity, working part-time to support his sister¡­ Was this guy a superhuman? How could an ordinary person have so much time for all this?


    Chris knew very well that such people might seem ordinary now, but once they had the chance to shine, they would soar to great heights. This was just a period of accumulation for Yun Yi. Once he broke free from his current constraints, he would transform into a dragon.


    Originally, Chris had only wanted to befriend classmates with potential or those who could help his career in the future. But upon seeing Yun Yi, he immediately realized the importance of building a relationship with such a person before they rose to prominence. In the future, Yun Yi could be a tremendous asset to his career.


    "Everyone, order whatever you like. We¡¯re all classmates here, so no need to be shy."


    After finding a quiet corner to sit, Chris opened the electronic menu on the table and addressed the group, occasionally glancing at Yun Yi.


    Yun Yi casually ordered a few dishes that weren¡¯t too expensive and began chatting with the others about school matters. Soon, the conversation turned to the Disciplinary Committee.


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    "It¡¯s a pity. My martial arts are only at Level 5, early stage. Even if I joined the Disciplinary Committee, I¡¯d probably just be a minor officer. I¡¯d rather not run around following others¡¯ orders," said a classmate who looked strikingly similar to Yang Yue¡¯er, swirling the red wine in his glass.


    From the brief introductions earlier, Yun Yi had learned his name.


    Yang Chengling, Yang Yue¡¯er¡¯s twin brother. Both siblings had been admitted to the College of Economics and Trade. He was cold and proud but also straightforward.


    Chris smiled slightly. "Exactly. Joining would just mean being someone¡¯s lackey, following the committee¡¯s orders. I¡¯m not interested in such boring tasks."


    Omir, who didn¡¯t drink alcohol, slowly stirred his coffee and said, "It¡¯s a shame Yun Yi has to live off-campus. Otherwise, he¡¯d definitely be a committee member."


    "If Yun Yi were a committee member, we¡¯d have someone on the inside. Ah, my beautiful, carefree campus life¡­" Yang Yue¡¯er sighed melodramatically after taking a small sip of her wine.


    Yun Yi chuckled. "From what you¡¯re saying, it seems the Disciplinary Committee has quite a bit of power?"


    Yang Yue¡¯er snorted. "Their power is limited to managing students. It¡¯s nothing special. I¡¯m not interested."


    "Not exactly," Chris said with a light smile. "The Disciplinary Committee does have significant authority. They handle most of the school¡¯s disciplinary enforcement without needing to go through the school. For serious offenses, they can even expel students directly, only needing to file a report with the school afterward."


    "That¡¯s quite a bit of power¡­" Yun Yi said calmly. However, he couldn¡¯t imagine himself committing an offense severe enough to warrant expulsion.


    Yang Yue¡¯er giggled. "The Disciplinary Committee also has its perks, like tuition waivers and exam bonuses, but those aren¡¯t a big deal. The real advantage is that committee members can bring people in and out of the school freely. It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s so envy-inducing."


    "Haha, Yue¡¯er, if you¡¯re so envious, why don¡¯t you charm a committee member? Make him fall for you, and then we can all come and go as we please," said Gudrian, a tall, skinny guy with a somewhat mischievous look.


    "That¡¯s not a bad idea. I¡¯ve heard there are quite a few handsome guys among the committee members," Chris teased.


    "Ugh, you guys are the worst. Hmph, I¡¯m not interested in any of them. But speaking of which, there are also plenty of beautiful female committee members. Chris, Gudrian, our future happiness on campus depends on you!"


    Chris grimaced. "Why me? You know the committee members are at least Level 6, late stage. If I tried anything, you¡¯d probably find me in the infirmary."


    Gudrian also looked troubled. "Those committee members might be beautiful, but they¡¯re like mini mechs¡ªbest not to get too close. I heard that some guy from the Luo¡¯an family tried to pursue a committee member using some underhanded method. A few committee members teamed up and broke all four of his limbs. He spent a week in the infirmary."


    Yang Chengling also smiled. "I heard about that. The Luo¡¯an family ended up in some dispute with the families of those committee members. But how many of those committee members are ordinary people? I heard the Luo¡¯an family had to give up quite a few interests in the Chang¡¯an system to settle it."


    For a moment, the group fell silent.


    Omir, who had been stirring his coffee, suddenly spoke up. "Why not have Yun Yi do it?"


    The others were momentarily stunned, then turned their gazes to Yun Yi.


    Yun Yi had been quietly listening to their conversation, finding it quite amusing. He didn¡¯t drink alcohol and was sipping a cup of black tea when Omir¡¯s words nearly made him spit it out.


    So Arabs can be this cunning too¡­


    Yun Yi put down his cup with a headache and pointed at his own face. "You¡¯re saying¡­ I should go charm a senior committee member?"


    Yang Yue¡¯er clapped her hands and laughed. "Of course! You¡¯re handsome, and your martial arts are strong. You wouldn¡¯t have to fear those committee members."


    Yun Yi smiled wryly. "You think I¡¯m like you? I¡¯m just a poor student."


    "Huh?" Yang Yue¡¯er and the others looked at Yun Yi curiously. They didn¡¯t know about his background, and Chris hadn¡¯t told them.

 Chapter 41: The Temperamental Young Lady

    Under everyone¡¯s questioning, Yun Yi could only briefly explain that his parents had passed away and that he worked part-time to support his younger sister. When these words came from his mouth, the others imagined a young man who was resilient, tirelessly working to earn a living, caring for his adorable sister, and still excelling in his studies and martial arts training¡­


    Immediately, a towering image formed in their minds.


    "So pitiful¡­" Yang Yue¡¯er¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she heard that Yun Yi had to wake up at 5 a.m. every day and couldn¡¯t sleep until midnight.


    Gudrian raised his glass, setting aside his usual mischievous demeanor, and said seriously, "Buddy, I admire you. Here¡¯s to you."


    Yang Chengling gave him a firm nod and simply said, "Not bad." For someone as proud as Yang Chengling to offer such praise, it was indeed significant.


    Omir seemed lost in thought, saying nothing, but his eyes occasionally flashed with admiration.


    "Yun Yi, I don¡¯t want to say too much. But if you ever need help, just let me know," Chris said, looking directly into his eyes.


    "Just let me know"? How about helping me gather a few thousand warships to take down the Iserlohn Republic? The thought crossed Yun Yi¡¯s mind, and he found it amusing. However, he maintained a calm smile and said, "Thank you all for your concern. I¡¯m able to take care of myself and my sister now. I don¡¯t need anyone¡¯s help."


    The others understood that Yun Yi was a proud person who would never ask his classmates for money or assistance. This kind of person would rely solely on their own efforts, no matter how difficult things got, and would never ask for a single penny from others.


    But it was precisely this kind of person, tempered by hardship, who would seize opportunities and eventually achieve remarkable success.


    At that moment, the food began to arrive. Chris laughed heartily and said, "Alright, from now on, Yun Yi¡¯s matters are everyone¡¯s matters. As friends, I propose we all toast."


    "Cheers¡­" Red wine, coffee, and black tea clinked together, marking the beginning of a friendship.


    By the time they left the cafeteria, no one brought up the idea of charming the senior members of the Disciplinary Committee again. After the meal, Yun Yi bid farewell to the group and left for his part-time job at Swift Mechanics. His life remained the same, but now he had a group of friends at school.


    Perhaps the initial motivations for their friendships weren¡¯t entirely pure¡ªeven Yun Yi had considered whether he could use them in the future. But as time passed, their bond deepened, and they became close friends who could talk about anything. Of course, the deepest secrets in each person¡¯s heart remained unspoken.


    Chris¡¯s sincerity, Omir¡¯s steadiness and cunning, Yang Yue¡¯er¡¯s innocence and enthusiasm, Yang Chengling¡¯s pride and honesty, and Gudrian¡¯s mischievousness and slyness all left a deep impression on Yun Yi. These were the first friends his age that he had genuinely connected with, and Yun Yi silently cherished this friendship in his heart.


    Yun Yi silently resolved that as long as these friends didn¡¯t betray him, he would never betray them either. Even if he might need their help in the future for his plans to restore his nation, he would definitely repay them.


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    The autumn wind rustled, and a coolness gradually descended upon the land.


    Autumn had arrived.


    After school, Yun Yi, as usual, greeted his friends and headed out.


    As he walked out of the school gate, Yun Yi looked around and frowned.


    "It¡¯s been almost a month since I last saw that timid girl. Could something have happened to her¡­"


    "Big brother¡­ big brother¡­ big brother!"


    "Ah¡­ huh? What?"


    Zhao Xiyue¡¯s round eyes stared at him, filled with displeasure.


    "Meow¡­ Are you thinking about the girls at school? I¡¯ve been calling you for a while, and you only just noticed!"


    "How could that be? I¡¯m not handsome or rich. How would I dare to get to know those young ladies?" With that, Yun Yi quickly shoveled rice into his mouth.


    In truth, he hadn¡¯t been thinking about those young ladies but rather the timid girl.


    Like him, she lived off-campus. Did she also have to work part-time to make ends meet? With her shy personality, what kind of job could she be doing? Was she being bullied?


    For some reason, the image of the girl nervously waving her hands and stammering, "I don¡¯t know," was deeply etched in Yun Yi¡¯s mind.


    "I don¡¯t even know her name or which class she¡¯s in. Even if I wanted to ask, I wouldn¡¯t know where to start¡­"


    "If only someone knew her, I could ask about her situation¡­"


    "I wonder if she¡¯s being bullied by customers at her part-time job, if she¡¯s still nervously waving her hands and saying she doesn¡¯t know¡­"


    "Since we both live off-campus, if I get the chance, I should help her."


    "Off-campus¡­ Wait! Doesn¡¯t the school keep records of all students living off-campus? I could just check the records!"


    "Hahaha¡­" Yun Yi couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud, earning a puzzled look from Zhao Xiyue.


    "Slap." Zhao Xiyue threw her chopsticks on the table and said expressionlessly, "I¡¯m full!"


    Yun Yi glanced at her plate, which was still more than half full, and asked curiously, "What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Why did you eat so little?"


    Zhao Xiyue glared at him, said nothing, and went straight to her room, slamming the door shut with a loud bang.


    "This kid¡­ Did something happen at school?"


    After washing the dishes and tidying up, Yun Yi thought for a moment and decided to send a message to Zhao Xiyue¡¯s homeroom teacher to ask about her situation. The response made him feel relieved. Every time he contacted the teacher, she would praise Zhao Xiyue endlessly, whether it was about her studies or her life at school. Zhao Xiyue always presented herself as a perfect, well-mannered young lady. Recently, she had even participated in the school¡¯s choir competition as the lead singer for her class and had performed exceptionally well.


    After ending the call, Yun Yi couldn¡¯t help but smile. This little princess behaved so well at school and even participated in choir competitions. Why was she always so temperamental at home?


    "Xiyue, open the door."


    Yun Yi walked to the little girl¡¯s room and gently knocked a few times.


    There was no response from inside. After thinking for a moment, Yun Yi took out his key and unlocked the door.


    Zhao Xiyue was sitting on her small bed, which was covered with a cute bear-patterned sheet, hugging a large stuffed bear that was over a meter tall. When she saw him come in, she immediately turned her head away.


    Yun Yi was at a loss, unable to figure out why the little girl was so upset.


    "Xiyue, do you like singing?"


    Yun Yi asked, but when Zhao Xiyue didn¡¯t respond, he casually opened his computer and started playing a few songs. Ever since leaving the war-torn base, he had developed a fondness for songs that stirred the soul¡ªwhether they were joyful, exciting, sorrowful, or filled with anger. He enjoyed quietly experiencing the emotions they conveyed.


    Moreover, he had noticed that as he spent more time listening to music, many of the songs seemed to influence his martial arts training¡ªspecifically, his state of mind. Regardless of whether this influence was positive or negative, or what effects it had on him, he found that while listening to music, he could reflect on his past experiences: the warmth of his childhood, the resilience of his youth, the loneliness of being stranded on a foreign planet, the courage to move forward amidst the flames of war, the sorrow of losing comrades, and the pain of leaving the base¡­


    To his surprise, he found that his state of mind actually improved while listening to music.

 Chapter 42: Lin Moxue

    It was a mysterious feeling. According to the martial arts materials from the imperial family that Zhao Xuanxin had once shown him, one¡¯s state of mind and martial arts were complementary realms. If one¡¯s state of mind did not meet the requirements of martial arts, it would be impossible to achieve a breakthrough. Only by comprehending the myriad aspects of life or experiencing an unprecedented impact on one¡¯s inner world could one elevate the realm of their mind.


    For example, in the history of the Zhao Song Empire, there was once a Level 2 innate expert who had been unable to break through for a long time. One day, his beloved wife was attacked by pirates during a trip, and her fate was unknown. In his grief and anger, he piloted a mech alone to the pirates¡¯ lair, single-handedly killing all the pirates and successfully rescuing his wife. Shortly after returning, despite being severely injured, his martial arts cultivation unexpectedly made a breakthrough under his wife¡¯s meticulous care, even jumping directly to Level 4.


    This was the result of a change in his state of mind¡ªfrom calmness to grief and anger, to the madness of slaughter, to the excitement of rescuing his wife, and finally to the warmth after returning. The intense fluctuations in a short period allowed him to break through the shackles of his state of mind and achieve a breakthrough.


    However, all the materials indicated that changes in one¡¯s state of mind could only be felt after reaching the innate level. At the acquired stage, even at the peak of Level 10, there would be no change in one¡¯s state of mind before breaking through to the innate level.


    The state of mind was the most significant change from the acquired to the innate stage.


    Although Yun Yi didn¡¯t know why he could sense changes in his state of mind, he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to think he was about to enter the innate stage.


    But in any case, a change in his state of mind should be considered a good thing.


    The melodious music filled the small, cozy room. Gradually, Yun Yi¡¯s mind became calm. He glanced over and saw Zhao Xiyue sitting quietly on the bed, holding her stuffed bear and listening intently. Her beautiful eyes, like black obsidian, sparkled with a slightly confused light, as if she was savoring something in the music.


    As the song ended, Yun Yi stepped forward and gently stroked Zhao Xiyue¡¯s smooth hair, softly saying, "Xiyue, if there¡¯s something bothering you, tell your brother."


    Zhao Xiyue looked up at Yun Yi, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately shook her head and whispered, "I¡¯m fine. Brother, go attend to your own matters."


    "What could be more important than Xiyue?" Yun Yi smiled warmly, tapping her forehead with his finger.


    After hesitating for a while, Zhao Xiyue said, "Meow, Xiyue doesn¡¯t want Brother to get to know those girls at school."


    "Huh¡­ why?" Yun Yi was stunned, not understanding why Zhao Xiyue would say such a thing.


    Zhao Xiyue turned her face away and, after a long pause, said, "No reason. Just don¡¯t."


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    Yun Yi laughed. "How is that possible? The school isn¡¯t just for boys. Many things require communication with everyone. Just like how Xiyue participates in choir at school, with both boys and girls, everyone shares their singing experiences. Doesn¡¯t that help you gain more experience?"


    "Meow, although¡­ although that¡¯s true¡­" Zhao Xiyue didn¡¯t know what to say. Her delicate hands twisted together, and her face clearly showed her hesitation. After a long time, she whispered, "Then you¡¯re only allowed to exchange experiences with them. You¡¯re not allowed¡­ not allowed¡­ not allowed to have lunch with them!"


    "Uh¡­ alright, alright. I promise I won¡¯t have lunch with them." Yun Yi smiled and patted Zhao Xiyue¡¯s head.


    Perhaps in the little girl¡¯s eyes, eating lunch together was the easiest way to build relationships.


    Seeing Zhao Xiyue¡¯s joyful expression, Yun Yi felt a warmth in his heart. After comforting Zhao Xiyue, Yun Yi returned to his room and sighed, "I really don¡¯t know how Her Majesty the Empress taught her daughter back then. This is too difficult!"


    The next day, Yun Yi thought of that girl again and got up early, arriving at the school gate before dawn. But even as class was about to start, the timid girl didn¡¯t appear.


    "Maybe she¡¯s not coming to school today either."


    With this doubt in mind, Yun Yi headed to class. After lunch, during his break, Yun Yi found the teacher in charge of off-campus accommodations and, without much effort, obtained a list of first-year students living off-campus.


    There weren¡¯t many freshmen living off-campus. After some screening, he quickly found his target.


    Lin Moxue, female, 17 years old¡­


    In the series of details that followed, Yun Yi was shocked to see a line that read: Due to physical reasons, she has applied to live at home to ensure treatment effectiveness. In addition, there were four words that left him even more astonished: Martial Arts Level 8.


    So she was the Level 8 martial arts girl¡­


    But as a Level 8 martial artist, why was she so timid that she didn¡¯t dare fight back against a boy who was at most Level 4? And even more puzzling was her illness. Normally, martial arts experts rarely fell ill¡ªtheir strong bodies made them immune to diseases. Moreover, in today¡¯s advanced technological age, even severed limbs could be restored using regeneration technology. What kind of illness required her to return home every day to monitor her condition and prevent it from worsening?


    This only intensified Yun Yi¡¯s curiosity.


    But to his dismay, Lin Moxue¡¯s file didn¡¯t include her detailed home address, not even a photo. Perhaps she didn¡¯t want to fill it in, or perhaps someone deliberately concealed it. Either way, it was clear that Lin Moxue came from an extremely noble family with significant influence.


    A young lady from a powerful family, a Level 8 martial artist, a girl suffering from a serious illness, a timid and shy student¡­ These completely unrelated traits had all appeared in this one girl.


    During lunch, Yun Yi shared his findings with his friends.


    "Huh? There¡¯s such a mysterious person in our school?" Gudrian was utterly amazed, even forgetting to eat his meal as he listened to Yun Yi¡¯s story.


    Yang Yue¡¯er pondered and said, "How is that possible? What kind of illness could a Level 8 martial artist have that can¡¯t be cured?"


    Chris thought for a moment and said, "There are some rare and strange diseases that still don¡¯t have effective treatments. But those illnesses are extremely rare¡ªbasically, one in billions might get such a disease."


    Omir also nodded. "Yes, they¡¯re very rare. Usually, only one case appears every few decades or even centuries. But I¡¯ve never heard of an illness that requires daily monitoring at home."


    For a moment, everyone¡¯s curiosity was piqued by Yun Yi¡¯s story. They sent messages to ask around and searched on their computers.


    "Could it be¡­" Suddenly, Yang Chengling¡¯s words caught everyone¡¯s attention.


    "What?" they all asked in unison.


    Yang Chengling shook his head. "I¡¯m not entirely sure, but based on what Yun Yi said¡ªa Level 8 martial artist who doesn¡¯t fight back when bullied by a boy, coupled with the difficulty of curing her condition¡ªthere¡¯s a more than 90% chance it¡¯s¡­ a mental illness!"


    "Mental¡­ mental illness?"

 Chapter 43: The Marshals Residence (Part 1)

    "Grandpa, I want to go back to school."


    On Chang''an Third Star, a planet teeming with the empire''s most elite aristocratic families and political figures, it was evening. In the most expensive area of Hanwu Continent, a sprawling palace-like villa complex stood. Inside, a 17-year-old girl was pleading earnestly.


    The Lin family, one of the five great aristocratic families of the Chu Tang Empire, was known for producing military generals. The family patriarch, Lin Jiaoyang, was 92 years old and had served as the empire''s marshal for nearly a decade, concurrently overseeing the Ministry of Military Affairs. Under his influence, numerous members of the Lin family and their affiliated clans controlled nearly 30% of the empire''s fleet.


    Despite their immense military power, the Lin family had never incurred the emperor''s suspicion.


    The Lin family was renowned for their loyalty. Lin Jiaoyang''s father and grandfather had both died in wars, and his only son had perished in the Fifth Unicorn Fortress Defense Battle shortly after the birth of his granddaughter, Lin Moxue.


    As for Lin Moxue''s mother, she had joined the military against all advice after her beloved husband''s death, taking up the banner of revenge. The entire empire had mobilized three million warships, and under Lin Jiaoyang''s capable command, they had gained significant advantages. In the final battle, Lin Moxue''s mother had led the charge, successfully breaching the Unicorn Fortress and landing troops, capturing the massive fortress that had obstructed the empire''s eastern expansion for centuries. She had achieved great merit.


    However, Lin Moxue''s mother, the emperor''s own sister and a Level 3 innate martial artist, had exhausted herself fighting tens of thousands of enemy troops within the fortress and had ultimately perished.


    The Lin family, a lineage of tiger generals, was a family of loyal martyrs!


    This was the golden plaque the emperor had personally sent to the Lin family after Lin Moxue''s mother''s death. How could a family that had sent all its direct descendants to the battlefield to serve the empire possibly betray it?


    This generation of the Lin family had only one daughter left: Lin Moxue.


    For this pitiful girl, even the emperor, who felt deep remorse toward the Lin family, showed great affection. On her fifth birthday, he had personally attended the celebration and formally adopted her as his goddaughter.


    "Tiger, I¡¯ve told you several times already. Your illness hasn¡¯t fully recovered. If something like what happened a few days ago occurs again, it would be difficult to explain to outsiders, and it might even expose you."


    Although Lin Jiaoyang was 92 years old, his martial arts cultivation had long since reached the innate level, making him appear as young as an ordinary 30-year-old. At this moment, he bore none of the commanding presence he displayed at the Ministry of Military Affairs. Instead, he looked like a kind uncle, gazing affectionately at Lin Moxue.


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    "My name isn¡¯t Tiger; it¡¯s Lin Moxue," the girl said softly, her head lowered.


    "Ah¡­" Lin Jiaoyang sighed heavily, turning away as his eyes moistened. After a moment, he raised his voice and said, "Tiger¡­ Moxue, since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll have Heizi take you to school tomorrow. It¡¯s getting late; go and rest."


    The girl nodded gently, her light footsteps echoing as she walked deeper into the vast villa.


    "Marshal, we¡¯ve found out what happened."


    Shortly after the girl left, a figure hurried in.


    Lin Jiaoyang, hearing the voice, shed the kind and gentle demeanor he had shown to Lin Moxue, replacing it with an air of authority.


    "Heizi, it¡¯s you. Have you found out what happened?"


    The man who entered was tall, standing at about 2.2 meters, with a broad and muscular build. As he walked, his footsteps made heavy "thudding" sounds. Even more astonishing were his ears, which were pointed and stood upright like those of a beast.


    Despite his fierce appearance, there was a hint of awkwardness in his demeanor.


    Bulaiteige, nicknamed Heizi, was of the Tanyak race, a subhuman species. The Tanyak people had lived for generations in the Tanyak Star System in the far east of the southern universe. Once an independent nation, they had been conquered by the Galactic Empire and reduced to third-class citizens, forbidden from leaving the Tanyak Star System.


    After the collapse of the Galactic Empire, the Tanyak region and its surrounding star systems remained highly chaotic, with several subhuman tribes and human nations constantly at war. Bulaiteige¡¯s father had left the Tanyak Star System in his youth to escape the war. After enduring countless hardships, he had met a human woman during his travels and married her. However, when they reached the Chu Tang Empire, his wife had died during childbirth due to complications. Overwhelmed with grief, he had entrusted Bulaiteige to Lin Jiaoyang, who was then a major general, before taking his wife¡¯s body and piloting a broken mech into the sun.


    A few years after adopting Bulaiteige, the Fifth Unicorn Fortress Defense Battle had occurred. Having lost his son and daughter-in-law, Lin Jiaoyang had been devastated. During his journey back, he had been in a daze, and the 6-year-old Bulaiteige had cared for him throughout. After recovering, Lin Jiaoyang had passed on the family¡¯s secret martial arts technique, "Twelve Floors of Ice and Fire: Fire Chapter," to Bulaiteige. Bulaiteige had shown remarkable talent, mastering the technique with solid progress and speed. Impressed, Lin Jiaoyang had formally adopted him as his grandson.


    Over the years, despite being a subhuman, Bulaiteige¡¯s formidable martial arts skills and fierce mech piloting had earned him a reputation in the military. Even the emperor had heard of this fierce general, granting him the title of viscount and, because of Bulaiteige, improving the social status of the Tanyak people throughout the Chu Tang Empire.


    Now 23 years old, Bulaiteige had reached the innate Level 1 last year, becoming Lin Jiaoyang¡¯s right-hand man.


    Bulaiteige strode forward and knelt on one knee before Lin Jiaoyang. "Marshal, after a thorough investigation by the Military Intelligence Division, the sequence of events is as follows."


    With that, Bulaiteige stood up and took out several photos from his pocket. "This is Henard, the only son of Bobiler, the chairman of the Xiagal Group, who was injured by the young miss." Lin Jiaoyang looked at the pale face in the photo and let out a disdainful sneer.


    "This is the young miss¡¯s classmate, a fellow freshman named Yun Yi."


    Lin Jiaoyang took the photo and examined the young man with a handsome face and a slight smile, saying nothing.


    Bulaiteig placed the two photos on the table and continued, "The incident unfolded as follows: the young miss was about to leave school when Henard stopped her and began harassing her. Given her introverted nature, she didn¡¯t fight back but endured it alone¡­"


    "Henard, you say? I¡¯ll remember that name," Lin Jiaoyang muttered, his cold gaze fixed on the pale young man in the photo.


    Bulaiteig went on, "At that moment, this student named Yun Yi happened to be leaving as well. Seeing the young miss being bullied, he immediately stepped in and kicked Henard away¡­"

 Chapter 44: The Marshals Residence (Part 2)

    "Were there no other students or teachers present at the time?" Lin Jiaoyang suddenly interjected.


    Bulaiteig shook his head. "It was right after school, and many students who lived off-campus were present. However, Henard had revealed his background, so¡­"


    "I see. Those people were afraid of Henard¡¯s retaliation and didn¡¯t intervene," Lin Jiaoyang said, his gaze shifting to Yun Yi¡¯s photo. He frowned. "Yun¡­ I don¡¯t recall any major figure in the empire with the surname Yun. If he¡¯s just an ordinary student, how could he disregard Henard¡¯s background? Could he have deliberately approached Tiger?"


    "Marshal, our investigation into Yun Yi has revealed some very suspicious details," Bulaiteig said. "But let me first finish reporting on the young miss¡¯s situation. After Yun Yi kicked Henard away, Henard didn¡¯t dare fight back because Yun Yi¡¯s martial arts level had already reached Level 7. Additionally, the two had previously clashed over a mech modification issue at a mech company, so Henard threatened Yun Yi, but Yun Yi remained unmoved."


    "In the days that followed, since the young miss and Yun Yi¡¯s classes ended at the same time, Henard, despite gathering a few friends, seemed unsure of Yun Yi¡¯s background and didn¡¯t act. It wasn¡¯t until the seventh day, during the school¡¯s martial arts assessment, that things escalated. The young miss, being in Class 5, finished her assessment earlier and left the school. At the school gate, she encountered Henard and his group, who began harassing her."


    "During the harassment, the young miss could no longer endure it. The electrical stimulation from the assessment had also triggered her condition, causing her to severely injure Henard and his group. Fortunately, our people responsible for picking up the young miss arrived at the school gate just in time, took Henard and his group away, and notified Principal Ilyas, preventing the situation from escalating further. That¡¯s the full sequence of events. Report complete."


    Lin Jiaoyang pondered for a moment and asked, "Why did your people only arrive after Tiger¡­ Moxue¡¯s condition was triggered?"


    Bulaiteig hesitated briefly before replying, "The young miss had instructed them to stay farther away from the school. Moreover, our people were unaware of the initial harassment by Henard. When the young miss¡¯s condition was triggered, she had only notified our people to pick her up after completing her assessment, which is why they arrived just in time."


    Lin Jiaoyang nodded. "That¡¯s not your fault, and the handling afterward was well done. By the way, how did you deal with Henard?"


    "I had the Yang family step in to resolve the matter."


    "The Yang family¡­ Given their influence in the Chang¡¯an system, a small company like Xiagal wouldn¡¯t dare make a fuss," Lin Jiaoyang said dismissively. The Yang family was a prominent merchant family in the Chang¡¯an system and one of the Lin family¡¯s affiliated clans.


    "This matter can¡¯t be left at that. Inform the Yang family¡¯s head that I don¡¯t want to hear the name Xiagal in the Chang¡¯an system again."


    Bulaiteig immediately saluted with the imperial military salute¡ªa tradition inherited from the Galactic Empire¡ªand responded loudly, "Yes, sir!"


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    Lin Jiaoyang then turned his attention to the other photo, gazing at the handsome young man with a slight smile. He said slowly, "Now, tell me about this Yun Yi."


    "According to our investigation, this person is not a citizen of our empire. He arrived here half a year ago aboard a Star Express interstellar train from Berik Star in the Lichma Federation. He currently resides on Chang¡¯an Fourth Star, working odd jobs to make a living. He is accompanied by a young girl around ten years old with the surname Zhao, whom he claims is his sister. Yun Yi has a stable personality and considerable talent. The martial arts technique he practices remains unclear, but his martial arts level has already reached Level 7. He also has some skill in mech repair and is one of only three intermediate-level repair technicians at Swift Mechanics, the company where he works. Strangely, he doesn¡¯t hold any mech repair certification, but according to investigations at Swift Mechanics, his technical skills in mech repair do surpass the other two technicians there."


    "In addition, during his time at Swift Mechanics, Yun Yi has developed close relationships with Stidkwell, an intermediate engineer at Weilong Group, and Count Xia Ya, the manager of the Baiwei Mercenary Group. He has received assistance from both of them¡­"


    "Wait a moment," Lin Jiaoyang interrupted. "Why haven¡¯t you mentioned anything about his life before the Lichma Federation?"


    "Well¡­" Bulaiteig hesitated. "We did investigate his past, but there are two issues. First, the distance between the two regions is vast, and even using military communication lines, it takes several hours to transmit information. Second, while we¡¯ve gathered some information, it¡¯s quite extraordinary and hasn¡¯t been fully verified yet."


    "Oh?" Lin Jiaoyang¡¯s interest was piqued. "Then tell me what you¡¯ve found. I¡¯m curious to hear what¡¯s so extraordinary."


    With Lin Jiaoyang¡¯s permission, Bulaiteig regained his composure and began to report his findings.


    "According to our investigation in the Lichma Federation, Yun Yi first appeared directly on an interstellar train. This train departed from South Eustace Star in the Lichma Federation, passed through seven or eight small nations, including Hilfanst, Iserlohn, and Telsy, before arriving at Berik Star. Our investigation of the train¡¯s personnel revealed that during its passage through Iserlohn, there was an incident involving the explosion and jettisoning of an escape pod. Shortly afterward, Yun Yi appeared in the carriage where the explosion occurred and bribed the person in charge to obtain a replacement ticket. However, our investigation of the previous stops along the train¡¯s route found no record of him boarding. Given the chaos in Iserlohn at the time, we can¡¯t rule out the possibility that he purchased a scalped ticket to board the train."


    "Continue¡­" Lin Jiaoyang said, his curiosity clearly aroused.


    "Yes¡­ After further analysis, we concluded that if Yun Yi didn¡¯t board the train through normal means, he must have entered via an escape pod. Ten days before the escape pod explosion, a battle had occurred in the nearby star system. It was a conflict between the Iserlohn government forces and the last remnants of the Zhao Song Empire¡¯s fleet, which ended with the complete annihilation of the Zhao Song fleet¡­"


    "Wait, I thought the Zhao Song Empire¡¯s final military force was destroyed at their base. How could there still be a fleet?"


    Hearing Lin Jiaoyang¡¯s puzzled question, Bulaiteig explained, "This fleet was secretly dispatched a few hours before the Iserlohn government forces attacked the base. Since most of those who knew about it were Zhao Song survivors and almost all of them perished in the war, this information never became public. We only stumbled upon it during this investigation. Additionally, according to our intelligence network in Iserlohn, there was indeed a soldier named Yun Yi in the Zhao Song Empire before its fall. He was exceptionally brave on the battlefield, but that Yun Yi had already reached Level 8 in martial arts, and details about his age and appearance are unknown, so we couldn¡¯t connect the two."


    Hearing this, Lin Jiaoyang slowly opened the computer on his desk, pulled up a star map of the Iserlohn region, and studied it for a while. Then, he turned his gaze back to Yun Yi¡¯s photo.


    After a long silence, Lin Jiaoyang stood up, a faint smile appearing on his face.


    "This Yun Yi is the same Yun Yi from the Zhao Song Empire!"

 Chapter 45: The Marshal鈥檚 Thoughts

    "Marshal, why are you so certain?"


    Bulaiteig looked at Lin Jiaoyang with curiosity and couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Lin Jiaoyang laughed heartily and said, "Look, the little girl he¡¯s with has the surname Zhao. Based on your investigation, they boarded the ship from Iserlohn¡­" Seeing Bulaiteig about to interject, Lin Jiaoyang continued, "Don¡¯t say this still needs confirmation. The information you¡¯ve gathered already confirms it. The royal family of the Zhao Song Empire naturally bears the surname Zhao, just as our Chu Tang Empire¡¯s emperor bears the surname Chu, and the king of the Sun Wu Kingdom bears the surname Sun. That¡¯s the first point."


    "This Yun Yi works at a mech company and is highly skilled. The Yun Yi from the Zhao Song Empire was a mech genius, invincible on the battlefield. Generally, someone who can be called a mech genius must have an extraordinary passion for mechs. And to be a skilled mech pilot, besides a solid foundation in martial arts, one must also understand mechs. Like you, for example. If you were to work as an intermediate-level repair technician now, you could probably handle it, right?"


    Bulaiteig nodded confidently. In the past, when military affairs weren¡¯t too busy, he would spend a lot of time studying mech-related knowledge.


    "So, a skilled mech pilot must possess knowledge about mechs. The only difference is how much they know. Think about it. If the Yun Yi from the Zhao Song Empire suddenly found himself in a place where he couldn¡¯t use mechs, where would his passion for mechs shift?"


    Bulaiteig immediately understood and nodded heavily. He realized that if he were in such a situation, his first choice would probably be to work at a mech company too.


    "Heh." Lin Jiaoyang seemed to guess what Bulaiteig was thinking and smiled. "That¡¯s the second point. The third point, and the most crucial one, explains why his martial arts level dropped from Level 8 to Level 7!"


    "Why¡­" Bulaiteig couldn¡¯t imagine any situation that would cause a martial artist¡¯s level to drop. Even if someone suffered severe injuries or had their dantian destroyed, they would either be unable to cultivate or remain at their previous level. It was impossible for their martial arts level to decline.


    Lin Jiaoyang seemed to be reminiscing about something. After a moment, he said, "This is also thanks to the fact that I was able to enter the royal library in my youth and read many books. In the history of the Galactic Empire, the ancestors of the Zhao Song Empire were once granted a martial arts manual called ''The Righteous Qi of Heaven'' by the emperor of the Galactic Empire at the time. I found the name of this manual grand and became interested, so I looked into it. After several days of searching, just as I was about to give up, I finally found an introduction to this manual in an ancient book."


    "This manual is indeed incredibly powerful and has immense benefits for cultivating one¡¯s physical constitution. Such a high-level manual is on par with our Lin family¡¯s ''Twelve Floors of Ice and Fire,'' each with its own advantages. However, this manual has one unique feature: if someone who has practiced other martial arts switches to this manual, their entire cultivation will drop to the level of Level 1 or 2. After more than a year of diligent practice, it will gradually recover. If I were the empress of the Zhao Song Empire and entrusted my daughter to Yun Yi, I would certainly give him ''The Righteous Qi of Heaven'' as well!"


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    "So, connecting the previous points, can¡¯t you figure it out now?"


    Bulaiteig pondered deeply. After a few minutes, he suddenly understood and hurriedly said, "Could it be that Yun Yi accepted the final entrustment before the fall of the Zhao Song Empire, bringing the empire¡¯s last bloodline with him, and after enduring life-and-death trials, finally arrived in Chu Tang?"


    As he spoke, Bulaiteig suddenly remembered his own father, that stubborn and proud Tanyak man who, after narrowly escaping death, left the Tanyak Star System and wandered among the stars, ultimately rushing toward the sun in despair¡­


    Unconsciously, Bulaiteig began to feel a sense of goodwill toward Yun Yi. Combined with the fact that Yun Yi had protected Lin Moxue, Bulaiteig even felt an urge to meet him immediately.


    "What should we do about him?"


    Bulaiteig¡¯s heart suddenly turned cold as he thought of the ugly politics he had witnessed. He feared that Lin Jiaoyang might capture Yun Yi and the Zhao girl, treating them as rare commodities to be hoarded.


    "Heh, we don¡¯t need to do anything to him. Let him continue as he was, and we won¡¯t interfere. In fact, I¡¯d like to see what kind of astonishing feats the once-dominant mech warrior of Iserlohn will achieve in the Chang¡¯an system."


    As he spoke, a look of anticipation appeared on Lin Jiaoyang¡¯s face.


    "Pass down the order: immediately seal all the information about Yun Yi and classify it as an SS-level confidential file. Erase all traces of Yun Yi¡¯s activities in Iserlohn, including his journey to the Chu Tang Empire. Also, silence all personnel in the Military Intelligence Division who investigated this matter. I believe you¡¯ve handled memory erasure before, right? No issues?"


    "Yes! No issues," Bulaiteig responded. Memory erasure wasn¡¯t anything unusual. All personnel who joined the Military Intelligence Bureau often had their memories of certain investigations erased afterward using specialized equipment, which caused no physical harm. An SS-level classification meant that, apart from the emperor and a few top officials like the marshal, no one had the authority to access such secrets.


    "Heh, after all, the Zhao Song Empire and the Chu Tang Empire are both descendants of the Han. This is the least I can do for them. Remember, don¡¯t tell anyone about this, not even the emperor."


    "Yes!"


    "One more thing." Lin Jiaoyang glanced at the two photos on the table, then turned his gaze away and said to Bulaiteig, "Tomorrow, personally take Moxue back to Chang¡¯an Fourth Star and escort her to school. Sigh, ever since Moxue fell ill, she¡¯s grown increasingly distant from me. But I can sense that she still sees you as an older brother; her illness hasn¡¯t changed that. When you have time, talk to her properly. To be honest, I regret it a bit. If I hadn¡¯t pushed her so hard those years, she wouldn¡¯t be like this now."


    Bulaiteig wanted to comfort Lin Jiaoyang, but his somewhat awkward nature left him struggling for words. After thinking for a while, he could only say, "Yes!"


    At lunchtime, the six of them gathered again. It seemed to have become a habit for them to meet here every day after school. Yun Yi didn¡¯t mind it either. For him, why settle for ordinary food when he could enjoy delicious meals? Moreover, every meal was paid for by Chris, so he didn¡¯t have to spend a single cent.


    As for Chris, the cost of these meals was a drop in the bucket compared to his monthly allowance. In this closed-off school with no entertainment venues, there weren¡¯t many places to spend money anyway.


    Their Class 15 had just completed a periodic exam the day before, and today the results were handed out. The group immediately gathered to compare their scores.