A single word, crisp and decisive.
Ji You’s ability to take action was outstanding; she didn’t allow herself the chance to regret, and immediately went on the Star Network to look up the enrollment details for Lanyue Star Military Academy, with particular attention to the procedures and process for sponsored admission.
After figuring everything out, Ji You promptly visited the enrollment office of Lanyue Star Military Academy, filled out her application form, and carefully reviewed it before clicking send.
All she needed was a few days of patience. After the enrollment office received her application, they would review the materials she submitted, and upon passing the review, they would conduct an online interview with Ji You on Star Network for admission.
As long as she succeeded in the interview, she would have the opportunity to enroll. On the day of registration at the start of school, she would pay the sponsorship fee and tuition to the school’s finance office and officially go through the enrollment process.
Waiting was always excruciating.
To keep herself from overthinking, Ji You immediately started making the Grass Seed Fruit Pendant.
Out of the last dozen grass seeds, twelve were wasted, and now, she only had three left in her inventory. This time, with her mind’s iron plate gleaming fully and her own spiritual power quite abundant.
Ji You perked up and began turning the bead.
With her hands in motion, the small lathe clattered—
Quickly, the husk of each seed was peeled away, revealing the rounded, smooth core of the grass seed fruit.
Ji You picked up one, following the memory of her previous attempt, and started the process step by step. At first, it went very smoothly, but when Ji You wanted to carve the lines of the flowers along the predetermined pattern and connect them to the stems and leaves, she suddenly hit a snag.
Ji You’s face tensed.
This simple stroke, if drawn down, would connect with the foliage, but—no matter how hard she tried, her fingers always veered slightly off course.
Ji You raised her hand, rubbing her brow.
The steps and methods were correct, with not one misstep. Where did the problem lie?
Thinking hard but finding no solution, Ji You vaguely knew that her trouble lay in her feeling; she lacked that seamless integration of mind and spirit, like a fish in water, where hands, feet, and consciousness were perfectly unified... That feeling of freedom.
Of course—using lack of sentiment or inspiration as descriptions was also fitting.
This was a very mysterious matter.
By now, Ji You had finally understood why soul artifact makers had such low success rates.
Soul devices just weren’t something you could mass-produce.
Briefly out of ideas, Ji You turned to Star Network and entered the Beikena Mountain range specialty store. She stared at a 250-gram bright red apple for over ten minutes, her gaze growing more resentful and irritated as she looked until the gleam in her eyes started to reek of credit points...
Ji You thought to herself:
[Whether I buy the apple or not, it’s right here, neither more nor less. When the money’s paid, it comes or goes, and it’s all up to me...
—Earn credit points, of course.]
After such consolation, Ji You felt full of drive, as if she could make eight or ten soul devices in one go. Right when she was about to log off, she caught a glimpse in the corner of her eye of people hurrying about, darting off in one direction.
Ji You followed instinctively.
Soon enough, she learned what happened—it turned out that at the very center of the East District’s main square on Star Network, a battle video was being shown.
—A video of a human battling a Star Beast.
Ji You had just squeezed into the square and looked up when she collided with a pair of huge blood-red pupils. Her body shivered, only then realizing it was but a virtual image. However, just a quick glance at the massive beast was enough to scare someone to death.
Before Ji You could calm her pounding heart, she was shocked by the scene before her.
The monstrous beast’s fangs parted, its bloody maw wide open, ready to swallow a few weak, exhausted humans in its line of sight. Just then, a silver-white mecha suddenly crashed into it. The mecha’s sleek form hammered against the beast’s sharp teeth, and everyone heard a crisp ’crack.’
The beast’s teeth showed a crack—
Clearly enraged, the beast spat out the bite-sized humans and lunged at the swiftly retreating mecha with its mouth open...
"Ah ah ah... Admiral Bai Ji is truly Admiral Bai Ji, his bravery and attention to detail are incomparable. Just now, those few were about to fall into the mouth of the Thunder Leopard Beast and rescuing them while avoiding collateral damage meant there was no chance to fire the energy cannon, yet he thought to ram into the Thunder Leopard Beast with the mecha itself! So bold! The control of force was incredibly precise... Splendid! Just splendid! Keep in mind that the mecha Admiral Bai Ji is piloting is a lightweight Wind Wing, designed for speed and agility. It doesn’t have the thickness and toughness of a heavy-duty mecha! Yet, he dared to ram into the teeth of an eight-level Thunder Leopard Beast!"
"That’s an eight-level Thunder Leopard Beast!"
What does eight-level even mean?
Ordinary people, such as Ji You, upon encountering a level 1 or 2 Star Beast, would turn tail and scurry away in panic...
At least it’s a king among beasts.
On the screen, the battle between Bai Ji and the level 8 Thunder Leopard Beast was intense. Ji You’s spiritual power was insufficient to make out the details; she could only see sparks flying across the screen...
The crowd around the square couldn’t help but burst into waves of shouting—
At the critical moment of the screen, Ji You only saw the silver-white Mecha retreat, move back, turn around, and look back... A series of moves performed seamlessly in one go, quickly aiming the Energy Cannon at the gaping mouth of the Thunder Leopard Beast—
—Amidst the roar of the Thunder Leopard Beast, a dazzling Particle Cannon shot out.
Fireworks that shock the heavens—
The crowd thought it was over, but the Thunder Leopard Beast was still alive, suddenly leaping towards the Mecha to attack. Amidst the exclamations of the people, they saw a smooth sword light slashing down from the silver-white Mecha, a sword that seemed to carry the power to split heaven and earth, cutting the Thunder Leopard Beast in half—
Only then did the Thunder Leopard Beast truly die.
Applause erupted from all around, and men and women, young and old on the square... all cheered!
Ji You’s eyes were also full of admiration.
Is this what Mecha is like?
Is this what strength is like?
This is the power and strength she strives for!
Is the direction and guiding light of her future struggles and efforts.
The Thunder Leopard Beast was dead, but the battle was not over. The silver-white Mecha, after a fierce close-range collision with the Thunder Leopard Beast, was already severely damaged. As the crowd listened to the cracking and crumbling of the Mecha with bated breath, suddenly, a slender figure leapt out from the Mecha.
It was a very young man with distinctive features, thin lips, and phoenix eyes. Jumping out of the Mecha, he took big strides, his gaze unblinkingly fixed on a certain spot, a sharp light shining in his dark pupils. With just this fleeting glimpse, before the audience could fully appreciate his refined features, they suddenly heard him say: "The Mecha, give it to me."
The soldier with a broken leg and smashed face, holding on to his last breath, tossed the Space Button to the young man.
The young man strode forward with an incredible speed, logging into another Mecha.
He turned around and swiftly, with the efficiency and speed of a meat grinder, cleaned up the remaining Star Beasts around.
The screen went black.
Ji You was speechless for a long time.