Chapter Summaries

Xia Chujian watched eight noble freshmen transfer out of Star Destroyer Command and met Chen Yanjun, who admired her because she had saved his brother Chen Yansheng. After questioning the security of the Interstellar Joint Class, Xia Chujian and Yan Xu helped ignite public outrage against the Cabinet Academic Department, leaving the controversy spreading across the Star Net.

• Yan Xu held a vote, and eight noble freshmen signed agreements to leave Star Destroyer Command for the Interstellar Joint Class while Chen Yanjun refused to transfer.
• Xia Chujian learned that Chen Yanjun was Chen Yansheng's younger brother, and he declared his admiration and loyalty to her.
• Yan Xu told Xia Chujian that the university had selected eight high-scoring freshmen to replace the departing students in Star Destroyer Command.
• Xia Chujian challenged the Interstellar Joint Class's access to sensitive majors, and Yan Xu posted a trending topic criticizing the class's access to Star Destroyers and Second Generation Mecha.
• Xia Chujian used an untraceable account to condemn the Cabinet Academic Department, prompting students and others to flood the Star Net with criticism.

Xia Chujian fueled Star Net outrage over Tantai Hongqing’s defense of welcoming students from enemy nations, and the Emperor removed him from office and petitioned to strip his succession status. Yan Xu’s office then received eight transferred male freshmen, while Xia Chujian wondered why there were no girls among them.

• Xia Chujian used an anonymous account to accuse Tantai Hongqing of betraying the country, and furious netizens made his replies go viral.
• Tantai Hongqing ordered the Academic Department to find Xia Chujian’s account, but the Special Security Bureau provided a false location at the Royal Sanatorium and Huo Yushen protected her account.
• Yan Xu and Chen Yanjun realized Xia Chujian was behind the account, while the Emperor’s Royal Official Secretary announced that Tantai Hongqing was under investigation and would lose his status as an Heir to the Throne.
• Tantai Sinian replaced Tantai Hongqing as Minister of Academic Department, and Yan Xu opened his office door to eight transferred male freshmen.
• Xia Chujian looked disappointed that the freshmen were all boys, and Yan Xu reassured her that she could recruit female soldiers and officers if she became a captain.

Xia Chujian welcomed eight top-scoring commoner students into Star Destroyer Command and uncovered Yan Xu’s strategy for rebuilding the major. Yan Xu explained why the academy’s noble students had long outperformed commoners and revealed he had struggled to attract the brightest applicants before Xia Chujian’s example changed their choices.

• Jiang Sheng and seven other commoner freshmen introduced themselves to Xia Chujian, and Yan Xu welcomed them to Star Destroyer Command.
• The new students revealed that four had ranked in the top ten and the other four in the top twenty on their planets, and they said Xia Chujian’s example had led them to apply.
• Yan Xu arranged for Chen Yanjun and Wei Lanye to help the eight students replace their Student IDs and move into single dormitories.
• After the others left, Xia Chujian questioned Yan Xu about his plan, and he said he had begun organizing the Interstellar Joint Class after Second Generation Mecha was announced for mass production.
• Yan Xu explained that noble students gained early advantages in practical skills such as shooting and piloting, while commoners had fewer opportunities to train before entering the academy.
• Yan Xu said Star Destroyer Command offered a level starting line but depended on exceptional comprehension, and he had been frantic when the brightest students avoided Military Academy.

Yan Xu explained how he used the Interstellar Joint Class to recruit outstanding students into Imperial First Military University’s advanced majors while thwarting the foreign nations’ plans. The international students then considered influencing Wang Shiying’s rise in the Cabinet Academic Department, while their disagreements over diplomacy and violence remained unresolved.

• Yan Xu told Xia Chujian that he had recruited promising students under her name and tested them by placing them in the Radar Operator Major, while securing the majors he wanted for them.
• Xia Chujian realized Yan Xu had turned the imposed Interstellar Joint Class into an opportunity to bring talented commoner students into the Empire’s best majors.
• The international students angrily confronted Wang Shiying over the limits on their major choices, and he pointed to the Principle of Reciprocity and the Emperor’s support for the university’s decision.
• Fan Ruisi and Shan Jingsheng offered Wang Shiying connections and favors, and he hinted that he might help them if he gained decision-making authority.
• The students discussed helping Wang Shiying rise within the Cabinet Academic Department, while Wenren Sanshang threatened Xia Chujian and Dun Like praised violent warfare.

Xia Chujian settled into her Military Academy dormitory, caught up with her family, and returned to the Villa with Xia Yuanfang and Wufu. That night, the Teacup Dog and Little Chubby Bird spotted an invisible man outside the window, and Xia Chujian released the Shao Siming Black Silver Mecha as he fled.

• Xia Chujian returned to her dormitory, greeted her family over a Video Call, and learned that the Phoenix-Tailed Luan Birds and Wild Rhinoceros Pigs were doing well at home.
• Xia Chujian and Xia Yuanfang shared dinner with Wufu, and Xia Yuanfang explained the Military Academy's dormitory and food arrangements.
• Xia Chujian, Xia Yuanfang, and Wufu took the School Suspension Train and a Flying Vehicle back to their Villa District, where they encountered Qiu Shenxing.
• After Xia Chujian, Xia Yuanfang, and Wufu fell asleep, the Teacup Dog and Little Chubby Bird noticed a man in invisibility clothing outside Xia Chujian's window.
• The man attempted to flee when the household woke, and Xia Chujian released the Shao Siming Black Silver Mecha.

Xia Chujian chased an intruder from her Villa to Qiu Shenxing’s pond, where Qiu’s servants captured him, then returned home before anyone discovered her involvement. She reassured Xia Yuanfang and planned to move into the university dormitory the next night.

• Xia Chujian used her mecha and submachine gun to flush a stealthed intruder out of hiding and chased him toward Qiu Shenxing’s Villa.
• The intruder plunged into Qiu Shenxing’s pond, triggering an alarm, and Xia Chujian fired into the water before hiding when Qiu came outside.
• Qiu Shenxing used a detection display to locate the intruder, and his servants pulled the injured man from the pond.
• Xia Chujian flew back to her bedroom, hid her mecha, and pretended she had slept through the commotion when Xia Yuanfang checked on her.
• Xia Chujian told Xia Yuanfang she planned to move into the school dormitory the next night so she could familiarize herself with campus before classes began.

Xia Chujian saw Xia Yuanfang, Wufu, A Wu, and A Yuan off as they left for Mulan City, then secured the empty villa and prepared to visit Imperial Royal First Military University before classes began. She left for the Flying Vehicle Station, determined to familiarize herself with campus.

• Xia Yuanfang arranged to leave with Ning Sa the next morning and reassured Xia Chujian that she understood Ning Sa’s devotion to her son.
• Xia Yuanfang told Xia Chujian that a thief had died after being shot while trying to steal flowers from the neighboring villa’s pond.
• Xia Yuanfang departed with Wufu, A Wu, and A Yuan, while Xia Chujian secretly placed the two Heavenly Mist Lotus buds in Wufu’s backpack for San Zong.
• After they left, Xia Chujian reset the villa’s electromagnetic security and Electronic Fence, checked the house, and decided to buy a Housekeeping Robot later.
• Xia Chujian left the villa with her backpack and Gun Box and headed toward the Flying Vehicle Station to visit Imperial Royal First Military University.

Xia Chujian studied the university’s rules and Star Destroyer Command curriculum, then chose four electives that suited her interests. She learned that Shooting was already full and would have to compete for course registration when enrollment opened.

• Xia Chujian learned that students who lived near the Imperial Royal First Military University could commute and save on accommodation and living expenses.
• She reviewed the Star Destroyer Command graduation requirements and concluded that its broad warship curriculum reflected the lack of commissioned Star Destroyers in earlier years.
• Xia Chujian questioned why the Emperor would receive one of the Beichen Empire’s only two Star Destroyers and its advanced long-distance Space Warp fighter jets.
• She selected Shooting, Space Ion Beam Cannon, Mechanical Intelligence, and Second Generation Mecha as her four elective courses.
• Xia Chujian found Shooting was full and asked Wei Lanye why she could not register; Wei Lanye explained that each elective had a fixed quota and told her to enroll as soon as registration opened.

Xia Chujian reviewed her first-semester schedule, asked Seven Lù to watch for an opening in the Shooting elective, and met fellow freshmen on the way to the cafeteria. When Wang Shiying gave international students priority at the entrance, Xia Chujian and the other students were left waiting outside.

• Xia Chujian confirmed that her required courses were fixed and told Seven Lù to register her for Shooting if a slot opened within the month.
• Xia Chujian checked the classrooms for her two required courses and then rode the Suspension Train to the Central Teaching Building’s Freshman Cafeteria.
• Xia Chujian met Tao Pao and other freshmen on the train, and Tao Pao joked that putting their names together made them sound like deserters.
• Xia Chujian noticed that most of the freshmen had ordinary majors and thought it was unfair that Commoners had to work so hard to match the Nobility’s opportunities.
• Wang Shiying arrived with international students and ordered the freshmen to let the foreign guests enter the cafeteria first.
• After the international students went inside, Wang Shiying continued to block the waiting students from entering.

Xia Chujian and Tao Pao defied Wang Shiying’s attempt to make freshmen wait for international students, then discovered the Freshman Cafeteria served only Nutrient Solution. Wang Shiying sought permission for the foreign students to use the Faculty Cafeteria, while Xia Chujian and Tao Pao returned to their dorms and arranged to visit each other.

• Wang Shiying tried to keep freshmen out of the Cafeteria until the international students finished eating, but Xia Chujian and Tao Pao walked in and the other freshmen followed.
• Mai Aotuo attacked a Cafeteria worker after seeing that only Nutrient Solution was available, and a security robot threw him outside.
• Wang Shiying caught Mai Aotuo, then learned that freshmen were served only Nutrient Solution and offered to seek Faculty Cafeteria access for the international students.
• Xia Chujian and Tao Pao bought Advanced Nutrient Solution and rode the Suspension Train back to their dormitory.
• Tao Pao told Xia Chujian where he lived and asked to visit her on weekends, and she agreed.

Xia Chujian began her first day at the academy, discovered that the online textbooks were tied to class, and found a children’s battle book that suited her better than her assigned reading. After completing a ten-kilometer morning run with her small cohort, she returned to the teaching building with Chen Yanjun, who brought her food.

• Xia Chujian bought her textbooks, struggled to read the dense history book, and fell asleep before waking early for class.
• Xia Chujian logged into the classroom system and learned that her Digital Account would not open until class began.
• Xia Chujian asked Seven Lù to find entertaining illustrated battle books, bought the children’s book Interesting Battles: One Hundred Episodes, and read it until morning.
• Xia Chujian joined Chen Yanjun and their classmates for morning training, and Wei Lanye led their small cohort on a ten-kilometer route around the teaching building.
• Wei Lanye took the students back by Suspension Train, and Chen Yanjun bought human food and Unicorn Milk to bring Xia Chujian.

Xia Chujian attended Qiu Shenxing’s first lecture, which introduced the Beichen Empire’s military history through a vivid holographic account of humanity’s early struggle against Fierce Beasts. The lesson ended with an Ancient Human defeating a gigantic beast with a Raw Iron Staff.

• Xia Chujian sat with Chen Yanjun and eight other boys, and Chen gave her Unicorn Cattle Breakfast Milk he had bought from the Sophomore Cafeteria through a senior.
• Qiu Shenxing began teaching the Required Public Course and introduced himself as a graduate of Imperial Royal First Military University.
• Qiu Shenxing played Emperor Tantai Hongyuan’s recorded welcome message, and the students joined in an oath of loyalty to the Emperor.
• Qiu Shenxing explained that military theory and historical battles would be taught together, then introduced five major milestones in the Beichen Empire’s military history.
• Qiu Shenxing showed the students a holographic scene of Ancient Humans suffering attacks from Sea Beasts and Fierce Beasts.
• An Ancient Human struck a mountain-sized Fierce Beast with a Raw Iron Staff and killed it with a second blow.

Xia Chujian attended a history course that traced the Beichen Empire’s founding, expansion, breakaway nations, and recent wars before introducing a holographic simulation game for each era. The lesson ended with the students preparing to experience the nation’s military history firsthand, though Xia Chujian and Chen Yanjun did not understand what the games involved.

• Qiu Shenxing presented Tantai Lin as the Beichen Empire’s first Gene Evolver and founding emperor.
• Qiu Shenxing described the Empire’s expansion across the Beichen Galaxy and the rebellions that established three rival nations.
• Qiu Shenxing recounted the Empire’s losses over centuries and credited Marshal Huo Yushen with forcing the rival nations to negotiate peace.
• Xia Chujian asked why Huo Yushen was not kept in command to retake the lost nations, and the classroom fell silent.
• Qiu Shenxing introduced a final chapter about an approaching cold wave and explained that students would experience all five historical eras through holographic simulation games.
• Xia Chujian and Chen Yanjun remained confused about the games while the other students looked excited.

Xia Chujian and the freshmen prepared to enter a holographic game as part of their required course, with the textbooks serving as guides for its five checkpoints. After entering her Nutrient Cabin, Xia Chujian admitted she had never used a game helmet, so Qiu Shenxing agreed to explain it to the class.

• Qiu Shenxing explained that the freshmen would clear five game checkpoints and that they could leave only when their chosen time ran out, they died, or they cleared a checkpoint.
• Chen Yanjun learned from a Starry Sky Mothership Major student that the course involved an immersive game and excitedly said playing it was his specialty.
• The freshmen entered a vast room on the tenth floor and found Nutrient Cabins assigned by name and major.
• Xia Chujian entered her cabin, turned off its display, and confirmed that her Other Shore Flower Necklace passed the cabin’s metal scan.
• Xia Chujian put on the game helmet and told Qiu Shenxing she had never played before, prompting him to explain how to use it to the class.

Xia Chujian defended commoner students against noble and foreign classmates who mocked her exam skills and lack of game experience, then asked her teacher to begin the lesson. After learning how the helmet worked, she heard that students had to clear five game stages before winter break.

• Xia Chujian rebuked a noble student who mocked students admitted through the College Entrance Exam, and Qiu Shenxing urged the class to avoid conflict.
• Mai Aotuo challenged Xia Chujian’s abilities, but she argued that commoner students could catch up when given opportunities and mocked his intelligence.
• Shan Jingsheng ridiculed Xia Chujian for being poor and orphaned, and Mai Aotuo told him to stop; Xia asked Qiu Shenxing to return to the lesson.
• Qiu Shenxing showed the class an instructional video explaining how to use the Game Helmet.
• Qiu Shenxing explained that students had to clear five assigned game stages before winter break, consulting the textbook or him when they got stuck.

Xia Chujian entered the simulated Game, created her assassin character Seven Kill, and discovered that Seven Lù had joined her in the form of a tiny Lucky Cat. She learned that scanned-in items, including her Mecha, could enter the Game, then prepared to begin playing with Seven Lù as her guide.

• Xia Chujian entered the Game and sculpted an ordinary-looking character with an icy demeanor, named Seven Kill, whose occupation was assassin and specialty was marksmanship.
• Xia Chujian discovered that Seven Lù had entered the Game with her and appeared as a child wearing Wufu's clothes and Lucky Cat pendant.
• Seven Lù explained that scanned-in items could be brought into the Game, and Xia Chujian learned that her Mecha could be used there.
• Xia Chujian asked Seven Lù to stop using Wufu's appearance and transform into a pocket-sized golden kitten, which Seven Lù did.
• Xia Chujian planned to spend her three booked hours playing, then leave for lunch and study the Game guide with Seven Lù.

Xia Chujian entered the “Empire Dawn” simulation aboard a storm-tossed ancient ship, where her mecha and other advantages were restricted. After the Leather-Clad Man attacked her, she killed him and suspected that his resemblance to a Haidagong was connected to someone the Qiu Clan sought on Senze Star.

• Xia Chujian entered the “Empire Dawn” level with Seven Lù, but discovered the pet could not return to the Shao Siming Mecha.
• Xia Chujian found herself on an ancient sailing ship amid a violent storm, and her Shao Siming Mecha had become antique chainmail that could deploy only a dagger.
• The Leather-Clad Man claimed he was seeking death and hoped an Immortal from the Unknown Land could cure him, then attacked Xia Chujian for her blood.
• Xia Chujian stabbed the Leather-Clad Man to death, cut off his head, and threw both his head and body into the sea.
• Xia Chujian concluded that the Leather-Clad Man was human and wondered whether a future person resembling him was the one Qiu Zijun or the Qiu Clan had sought on Senze Star.

After killing the Leather-Clad Man, Xia Chujian was swept into the newly activated Raging Sea Cataclysm side quest and survived the shipwreck in her restored Shao Siming Black Silver Mecha. She explored the sunken city of Arkham, where she found the Beichen Royal Family’s emblem.

• The Game System activated the Raging Sea Cataclysm side quest after Xia Chujian killed an important plot character, and a storm sank the sailing ship.
• Xia Chujian lost consciousness underwater, and her Chainmail transformed into the Shao Siming Black Silver Mecha, protecting her and Seven Lù.
• Xia Chujian awoke on the seabed with her mecha restored and learned from Seven Lù that she was still in the game and the side quest was underway.
• Xia Chujian swam toward a vast shadow that Seven Lù could not scan because of severe Magnetic Interference and discovered a ruined seabed city.
• Xia Chujian entered the city of Arkham, deciphered the words “Unknown Land” on its wall, and found a sculpture bearing the Beichen Royal Family’s emblem.

Xia Chujian explored the sunken Arkham City and discovered an immense library filled with ancient bamboo-slip books before entering a strange laboratory. The chapter left her outside the laboratory after an unseen researcher ordered her to change into a lab coat, with name plaques and photographs beside the entrance.

• Xia Chujian crossed Arkham City's deserted streets and found a white, Sanctuary-like building that contained a vast library.
• Xia Chujian and Seven Lù identified the library's books as advanced bamboo-slip volumes, and Seven Lù explained that its historical database could not be accessed inside the Game.
• Xia Chujian recorded book titles and passed through a dark corridor to a brightly lit laboratory beneath the sea.
• Xia Chujian discovered that her Mecha and Helmet were gone and that Seven Lù was asleep in its Pocket Lucky Cat form.
• An unseen researcher reprimanded Xia Chujian for entering without laboratory clothes, and she found White Coats and name plaques with photographs beside the entrance.

Xia Chujian explored a game laboratory that resembled the ruined biology lab she had visited, and learned from its researchers how Mechanical Intelligence might access memories. After reading the Scientist’s Oath, she was plunged into darkness, then saw candlelight appear in the laboratory.

• Xia Chujian recognized her game-made face under the name Hua Yixin and put on a white lab coat to enter the laboratory.
• Xia Chujian found that the laboratory’s layout and equipment matched the abandoned biology lab in Mulan City, making her suspect the game might be using her memories.
• A researcher told Xia Chujian that brain sensors could only extract memories she actively recalled, while chips and brain-computer interfaces could potentially have backdoors.
• Xia Chujian learned that Major General Huo opposed installing brain-computer interfaces on researchers and was mortified to discover the game had made her a Special-Grade Professor and doctoral supervisor.
• Xia Chujian read the Scientist’s Oath, darkness fell, and she saw candlelight when the laboratory lit up again.