Chapter Summaries

Wang Chen broke through to Four Rings psychic energy after months of training in the Full Simulation Fighter Pod, though he knew simulated combat was becoming less effective and real combat would be needed for further growth. He discussed his training results and future combat specialties with Zhang Wuxuan as the profession selection approached.

• Wang Chen secretly scanned the Full Simulation Training Hall, discovered his psychic energy had reached Four Rings, and reflected on how simulated combat had accelerated his growth.
• Wang Chen told Zhang Wuxuan that he had earned three As and two B-pluses, while Zhang Wuxuan envied his consistently strong results.
• Wang Chen admitted that his psychic energy could not be used in simulations and that he still needed to gain experience in stellar warfare.
• Zhang Wuxuan asked which specialties Wang Chen planned to choose, and Wang Chen said he would study assault and ground warfare.
• Zhang Wuxuan said he planned to become a defender, and Wang Chen agreed that the choice suited him as he thought about the selection five days away.

Wang Chen devoured expensive Black Scale Lancer Fish to advance his body-tempering art and planned to earn Battle Class privileges, while also considering the cost of his first Gene Enhancement. After choosing his Mecha Pilot specializations, he accepted a lucrative order to teach exclusive martial arts techniques.

• Wang Chen ate more than ten kilograms of Black Scale Lancer Fish and advanced his Heavenly Dragon Vajra Righteous Dharma through a night of cultivation.
• Wang Chen decided to seek Imperial Battle Class certification and planned to undergo Gene Enhancement so his strength would attract less suspicion.
• Wang Chen earned a first-year comprehensive score of 668 and chose Assault and Ground Combat as his Mecha Pilot specializations.
• Sun Xinhong arrived with two classmates to request custom martial arts, and Wang Chen charged each of them 1.1 million Star Yuan.
• One classmate agreed to buy Wang Chen's biological formulations as well as the martial arts instruction.

Wang Chen underwent his first Gene Enhancement at the First Imperial Higher Military Academy, where his unusual body consumed far more nutrient fluid than expected. After the Primordial Dao Stele calmed his out-of-control spiritual power, he refused Chief Physician Fan Qingyun’s offer to participate in an experiment.

• Wang Chen arrived at the Gene Center with Akemi and entered the Life Modification Pod for his enhancement.
• Wang Chen’s body rapidly consumed nutrient fluid, repeatedly triggering alarms as the Gene Center staff replenished the supply.
• Wang Chen’s intensified brain activity nearly caused his psionic energy to lose control, but the Primordial Dao Stele suppressed the storm in his mind.
• Wang Chen emerged from the pod and accidentally splashed a staff member and Chief Physician Fan Qingyun with nutrient fluid.
• Fan Qingyun offered to make Wang Chen’s first and second enhancements free if he joined an experiment, but Wang Chen refused.

After his successful Gene Enhancement, Wang Chen applied for C-class Battle Class certification at the Taiwu Star Battle Class Association. He began the one-minute combat assessment against a B-class examiner.

• Wang Chen emerged from surgery after more than two hours and told Akemi his Gene Enhancement had succeeded, greatly improving his physique and psionic power.
• Wang Chen promised to pay for Akemi’s first Gene Enhancement after she passed a physical examination and said he would teach her another skill set afterward.
• Two days later, Akemi went for her physical examination while Wang Chen applied for C-class Battle Class certification.
• A staff member warned Wang Chen that failing the C-class assessment would prevent him from applying again for three years, but he proceeded.
• Wang Chen entered the examination arena and faced a B-class examiner, who charged at him to begin the one-minute assessment.

Wang Chen passed the C-class Battle Class practical assessment and officially registered with the Empire. He then took Akemi for her first Gene Enhancement after her physical test score rose above the required threshold.

• Wang Chen endured the B-class Battle Class examiner’s attacks, avoided his traps, and passed the practical assessment.
• Wang Chen received his Combatant Badge and gained two levels of citizen privileges.
• Akemi showed Wang Chen her physical test score of 14.6, nearly twice her score before learning the Spirit Serpent Body Forging Method.
• Wang Chen took Akemi to the First Military Academy’s gene center, where she completed her first Gene Enhancement with most of the cost advanced by Wang Chen.

During the academy vacation, Wang Chen focused on earning money by coaching students while Akemi went home. His training room was then confronted by members of the Twin Lions Brotherhood, who had reason to resent his refusal to join them.

• Wang Chen said goodbye to Akemi at the spaceport after her father arranged for her to return home, and she warned him not to let Tang Mi take advantage of her absence.
• Wang Chen continued coaching Sun Xinhong, Bi Yuanlong, and Qi Junhao, whose physiques improved quickly under his training.
• Tang Mi paid Wang Chen 1.1 million Star Yuan for one hundred lessons, and he accepted the payment for the body-tempering method he had prepared for her.
• A group from the Twin Lions Brotherhood arrived at the training room, and Tang Mi recognized them as Jaster's association.

Wang Chen faced a challenge from the Twin Lions Brotherhood and revealed that he had earned C-class Battle Class certification. The group abandoned its challenge and left, while Tang Mi and Wang Chen’s classmates learned how strong he had become.

• Li Yongsheng and members of the Twin Lions Brotherhood entered the Unusual Sightings Society’s training room, and Jaster accused Wang Chen of tarnishing the academy’s honor.
• A burly member of the Iron Lion Combat Club challenged Wang Chen, demanding that he leave the society if he lost.
• Wang Chen revealed his C-class Battle Class badge and required a life-and-death contract for the fight.
• Li Yongsheng withdrew the challenge and led the embarrassed group away, while the burly challenger left relieved.
• Tang Mi checked Wang Chen’s profile and confirmed his certification, and Sun Xinhong and the others celebrated his achievement.

After Wang Chen passed the C-class Battle Class assessment, Zhao Rongcheng invited him to the Taiwu's Light Class Reunion, a gathering of the First Military Academy's most influential students. Tang Mi explained the invitation's significance and agreed to accompany Wang Chen as his female companion.

• Wang Chen's assessment results spread through the First Military Academy, and he received invitations from clubs and girls.
• Zhao Rongcheng invited Wang Chen to the Taiwu's Light Class Reunion, and Wang Chen forwarded the invitation to Tang Mi.
• Tang Mi visited Wang Chen and explained that the reunion offered access to the academy's highest student circle, with only 350 invitations.
• Tang Mi told Wang Chen that each guest could bring one female companion, and Wang Chen asked whether she wanted to go.
• Tang Mi agreed to accompany Wang Chen and warned that noble girls at the reunion might take advantage of him.

Wang Chen attended a banquet at Starlight Building with Tang Mi, where he ignored the high society atmosphere and enjoyed the food. After he humiliated Jaster for mocking him, Zhao Rongcheng arrived and praised Wang Chen’s wit, leaving the gathering in good spirits.

• Wang Chen and Tang Mi entered the banquet hall at Starlight Building, and Tang Mi noticed Zhao Rongcheng had not arrived yet.
• Wang Chen told Tang Mi not to worry about Zhao Rongcheng and began sampling the buffet with her.
• Jaster mocked Wang Chen for treating the banquet like a buffet, and Wang Chen retorted that Jaster understood neither love nor food.
• Jaster became furious but recoiled under Wang Chen’s sharp gaze, drawing contempt from nearby guests.
• Zhao Rongcheng arrived, praised Wang Chen’s remark, and restored the banquet’s cheerful atmosphere.

Wang Chen declined Zhao Rongcheng’s invitation to join the Taiwu Alliance, warning that an enormous war might be coming. Zhao Rongcheng accepted his reasoning and promised to keep Jaster and the Twin Lions Brotherhood from bothering him, leaving their relationship on friendly terms.

• Zhao Rongcheng invited Wang Chen to join the Taiwu Alliance and offered him resources, support, and help ending his military service obligation.
• Wang Chen refused, telling Zhao Rongcheng that war might soon draw them both onto the battlefield.
• Wang Chen explained that rising prices for Energy Blocks, Mutated Creature Products, and military manufacturing materials pointed to preparations for war.
• Zhao Rongcheng admitted he had overlooked the signs and guaranteed that Jaster and the Twin Lions Brotherhood would leave Wang Chen alone.
• Wang Chen accepted Zhao Rongcheng’s promise and said he could repay the favor when the opportunity arose.

Wang Chen used private body-technique lessons to fund Five-Colored Deer meat, breaking through to the fifth level of the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Righteous Dharma. As he began his second year, tensions between the Holy Light Empire and the Alliance escalated, and Wang Chen warned Akemi to stop investing amid the looming war.

• Zhao Rongcheng sent Wang Chen a hundred kilograms of frozen meat as an apology from the Twin Lions Brotherhood and offered to help him obtain Five-Colored Deer venison.
• Wang Chen earned Star Yuan teaching personalized body techniques and spent most of it buying Five-Colored Deer meat, advancing his cultivation to the fifth level.
• After the break, Akemi returned to the academy and became close friends with Tang Mi, while she and Wang Chen continued their relationship.
• Wang Chen focused on his studies throughout his second academic year as signs of an approaching interstellar war mounted and Energy Block prices nearly doubled.
• Akemi told Wang Chen she had more than tripled her investment by selling her Shining Star Energy shares, and Wang Chen advised her to stop speculating for now.

Wang Chen stopped Akemi from risking more money in the stock market and refocused his spending on her custom Valiant General mech. After a second Gene Enhancement brought him to the middle stage of the sixth level, he applied for A-Class Combatant certification, where two A-Class Combatants and senior Association members awaited his assessment.

• Akemi worried that she had earned less than a third of the funds needed for Valiant General, but Wang Chen persuaded her to sell her remaining stocks and stop trading.
• Wang Chen redirected money from high-energy ingredients toward the mech project after his cultivation stalled and higher-level resources proved inaccessible.
• Wang Chen told Akemi he would undergo a second Gene Enhancement before seeking A-Class Combatant certification, then spent the night with her.
• Wang Chen completed the enhancement at the First Military Academy's Gene Center and advanced to the middle stage of the sixth level.
• Wang Chen applied for A-Class Combatant certification at the Battle Class Association headquarters on Taiwu Star, where two A-Class Combatants and several senior members gathered to observe.

Wang Chen earned A-Class status and joined the Battle Class Association's Elite Corps after consulting Tang Mi. When he returned to the academy, four men were waiting in his dorm room.

• Wang Chen received his A-Class Combatant badge, and Zhang Rui invited him to join the Battle Class Association's Elite Corps.
• Zhang Rui explained the Elite Corps agreement and its benefits, while Wang Chen considered how it might interact with his commitments to the First Military Academy and the Azure Star Cluster Garrison.
• Wang Chen sent the agreement to Tang Mi, who assured him that joining the Elite Corps was a good choice.
• Wang Chen signed the agreement, gaining S-Class internal association clearance to purchase controlled supplies and intelligence.
• Wang Chen returned to his dorm room and found four men sitting on the living room sofa, all staring at him.

Wang Chen faced Akemi’s father and three older brothers, who had come to end his relationship with her. After Wang Chen revealed that he was an A-Class Combatant, her father accepted him and left the couple together.

• Ming Yibang introduced himself as Akemi’s father and said he had come with her three older brothers to judge Wang Chen.
• Ming Yibang prepared to tell Wang Chen that he was unsuitable for Akemi, while Akemi waited in her bedroom.
• Wang Chen displayed his badge and introduced himself as an A-Class Combatant and a member of the Taiwu Star Battle Class Elite Group.
• Ming Yibang changed his attitude, accepted Wang Chen as Akemi’s partner, and told her to cherish their relationship.
• Akemi came out of her bedroom, saw Wang Chen’s badge, understood what had happened, and embraced him.

Wang Chen was called up from the First Military Academy and made an active-duty Sergeant Pilot in the Seventh Imperial Rapid Response Fleet. Before leaving for his new assignment, he completed his academy graduation and said farewell to Akemi and Tang Mi.

• Major Rhode informed Wang Chen that he had been transferred from the Azure Star Cluster Garrison Army to the Seventh Imperial Rapid Response Fleet as a Sergeant Pilot in the 35th Mecha Squadron.
• Wang Chen accepted his active-duty appointment and completed the First Military Academy’s graduation procedures.
• Wang Chen told Akemi he was leaving, gave her a Star Diamond ring, and promised to stay by her side for life.
• Akemi gave Wang Chen a gift, and Tang Mi confessed her feelings, bringing the three of them together.
• As his reporting date neared, Wang Chen bid farewell to Akemi and Tang Mi and set off for his new assignment.

Wang Chen arrived at TK043 Space Fortress to join the Seventh Imperial Rapid Response Fleet and was assigned to Black Flag Squad. After Lieutenant Carter challenged his qualifications, Wang Chen revealed his A-Class Combatant Badge and was welcomed into the squad.

• Wang Chen disembarked at TK043 Space Fortress and completed his enlistment procedures at the Seventh Rapid Response Fleet base.
• A captain escorted Wang Chen to the 35th Mecha Squadron in the D4 Barracks Area.
• Lieutenant Carter disparaged Wang Chen and challenged him to prove himself before joining Black Flag Squad.
• The captain explained that Wang Chen was a First Imperial Higher Military Academy graduate, an assault and ground combat specialist, and a twenty-year-old A-Class Combatant.
• Wang Chen showed his Combatant Badge, and Lieutenant Carter accepted him into Black Flag Squad.

Wang Chen settled into Black Flag Squad as its new ranger, earned the team’s goodwill during training, and began his military career aboard TK043. After training, he joined several squadmates at their regular bar, Old Sailor.

• Lieutenant Carter introduced Wang Chen to Black Flag Squad and showed him his quarters aboard TK043.
• Wang Chen toured the space fortress and kept in touch with Akemi and Tang Mi over the Star Sea Network.
• Wang Chen received his SPB17 Phoenix combat mech and quickly joined Black Flag Squad’s daily training.
• Wang Chen’s modest attitude and obedience to Carter’s orders won the squad’s goodwill.
• Wang Chen went to Old Sailor Bar with several squadmates and ordered a Starry Sky Flame.

Wang Chen was summoned from Old Sailor Bar to join an emergency rescue mission against star pirates attacking the Changtai-class transport ship. After launching in his Phoenix Mecha, he engaged a pirate warship and destroyed one of its mechas.

• Wang Chen drank Starry Sky Flame at Old Sailor Bar when a B-class alert summoned him and the Black Flag Squad to Airport D72 Zone.
• Wang Chen boarded the Jiangyuan-class Destroyer, which launched with another destroyer to rescue the Changtai-class transport ship under attack near TK043 Space Fortress.
• Wang Chen learned that the pirates had breached the transport ship's shield, boarded it, taken hostages, and seized control, changing the squad's mission.
• Wang Chen was ejected in his Phoenix Mecha and charged toward a pirate warship while the destroyers concentrated fire on the suspected flagship.
• Wang Chen used his psychic power to anticipate two pirate mechas, then blasted one apart with precise particle-cannon fire.

Wang Chen led the first successful boarding assault on the Gray Fish, cutting through the Star Pirates’ defenses and pushing toward its Command Cabin. The pirates’ resistance collapsed, and Wang Chen blasted open the hatch to the command crew’s hiding place.

• Landeno failed to hit Wang Chen’s SPB17 Phoenix with the Gray Fish’s close-in defense guns as Wang Chen destroyed two pirate mechas.
• Wang Chen slashed through the Gray Fish’s energy shield and armor, destroyed Landeno’s turret with a particle cannon, and boarded through the breach.
• Wang Chen blasted through the ship’s passages and killed a pirate mecha that tried to ambush him, causing many of the Star Pirates to surrender or flee.
• Wang Chen charged to the Command Cabin and blasted open its metal hatch, telling those inside that the game was over.

Wang Chen captured the Gray Fish and then volunteered to help the Special Operations Team rescue hostages aboard the Changtai-class merchant ship. After entering the ship, communications and his armor’s detection system were disrupted, so he relied on his psionic power to search ahead.

• Wang Chen forced the star pirates aboard the Gray Fish to surrender, and Imperial forces seized the warship while destroying the other two pirate ships.
• Colonel Lin Qiangdong asked Wang Chen to join the operation to free hostages aboard the Changtai-class, and Wang Chen accepted.
• Wang Chen put on H79 Wuzu Battle Armor and entered the Changtai-class aboard an assault craft.
• The star pirates’ interference cut Wang Chen off from his comrades and disabled his armor’s detection system.
• Wang Chen spread his psionic power through the ship to search for threats and locate his allies.