Chapter 1

2198.

Star Imperium Federation.

Mars, Base 11.

"Applicant Li Yi, tell me why you want to become a mecha pilot."

"Because it pays well, and I can become an Evolver."

Lin Guotao tapped the table. As he reviewed the detailed resume provided by the AI, he scrutinized the slender, refined-looking youth standing before him.

His scores from the first five rounds of assessments were excellent, his physical constitution was qualified, and he had no criminal record.

Furthermore, coming from The Humble Clan meant a low income, which also implied a stronger motivation to succeed.

Overall, he was a promising prospect.

However...

His mecha compatibility rate was very low.

This meant he couldn't pilot most mechas and could only match with niche or rare models.

In other words, there was a high probability that any training resources invested in him would go to waste.

Still, rejecting someone solely for that reason wasn't Lin Guotao's style. After a moment of deep thought, he spoke:

"Your overall scores are decent for Base 31, but they are far from top-tier. Moreover, your low compatibility rate diminishes your value."

"We aren't running a charity, but we aren't heartless, either."

"I'll give you a chance to state your case. If you can impress me, I'll reserve a spot for you on the ship."

The other interviewers beside Lin Guotao were surprised that he hadn't simply rejected the applicant, but they said nothing; Lin Guotao's status spoke for itself.

Li Yi replied:

"My combat skills are very strong. As long as I have a mecha to pilot, I can boost its performance by one hundred percent."

"A one hundred percent boost?"

One interviewer chuckled. "A one hundred percent boost from combat skills is top-tier performance. Are you sure you have that kind of ability?"

"I can demonstrate it."

Li Yi said calmly.

Another interviewer flipped through the detailed resume on the desk for a moment, frowning.

"You have no history of spending at any combat arenas or martial arts gyms. Where did you learn these combat skills? You should know that deceiving an interviewer is a serious offense, and in severe cases, you will be barred from employment for life!"

As he reached the final words, his voice became increasingly deafening.

Even the water in the glass on the table began to ripple significantly.

This was a form of intimidation technique.

To their surprise, however, it had no effect on Li Yi.

Li Yi simply smiled.

"Virtual reality is quite advanced these days; it's reasonable for me to have self-taught using online resources, isn't it? Besides, whether it's true or false, wouldn't it be better to wait until I've demonstrated it before you judges make your final decision?"

The interviewer who had used the intimidation technique took a long look at Li Yi and offered a faint word of praise:

"Your mental resistance is quite good. Your assessed value has increased in my eyes, but it's still not enough. How do you intend to demonstrate your combat skills?"

Lin Guotao then smiled faintly.

"Lou Cheng, since you've raised your assessment of this candidate, why don't you go and spar with him?"

Feeling the near-unquestionable tone of Lin Guotao, Lou Cheng hesitated for a moment before immediately agreeing.

"Very well. Besides, there's still some time left in the interview window."

He stood up from his seat on the far left, tossed aside his pure black leather coat, and walked toward Li Yi like a bear, looming over the 1.82-meter-tall youth.

He was a burly man, 1.99 meters tall, with a stern, expressionless face and sharp eyes.

His aura exuded the scent of iron and blood, making it difficult for others to meet his gaze.

As he approached slowly, Li Yi began to feel a hint of pressure.

Lou Cheng unbuttoned his gloves and rolled up his sleeves, revealing two rough palms that looked as if they had been ground against iron plates. He came to a stop five meters in front of Li Yi.

Then, Lou Cheng smiled slightly and said proudly:

"I am Lou Cheng, a fourth-rank combatant of the Iron Crane Style. In recognition of your courage, I'll give you a chance to change your mind and leave now."

"Otherwise, once we start, fists and feet have no eyes. I can't guarantee I won't accidentally kill you."

Li Yi didn't speak; he simply stepped forward toward Lou Cheng.

The two interviewers on the right began to sip their tea with interest, exchanging glances and whispering to each other with amusement.

"Boss Lin actually asked Lou Cheng, a true top-tier combatant, to step in. Is he planning to teach this arrogant, ignorant kid a real lesson?"

"After all, it's already generous of Boss Lin not to reject someone with such a low synchronization rate; to think he'd actually boast about being able to achieve a 100% boost for a mech?"

"Indeed, a 100% boost is something many mech pilots can't achieve. As someone from The Humble Clan with no prior access to mechs, how could he just casually pull off a 100% boost?"

As they were discussing this, Lin Guotao tapped the table, his emotionless gaze sweeping over them, causing the two interviewers to fall silent instantly.

At the same time.

In the brief moment the interviewers' attention had drifted.

Li Yi suddenly accelerated, lunging violently toward Lou Cheng.

His opening punch was so fast it was almost impossible to track with the naked eye.

Then.

BANG!!!

Before the shocked eyes of the interviewers.

Lou Cheng, a first-class martial artist, flew backward like a ragdoll, slamming directly into the mechanical table's support pillar, which vibrated violently like a tuning fork.

They widened their eyes and looked toward Li Yi, whom they had just been dismissing with disdain.

What just happened?

He's that fierce?

The lean, thin-framed young man tilted his head, seemingly puzzled himself as to why a tough guy like Lou Cheng couldn't take a single hit.

"My apologies. I assumed that with Teacher Lou's strength, he would easily dodge that punch. I really didn't use that much force."

Li Yi realized he had caused the others to lose significant face and quickly apologized.

Hearing this, the other interviewers couldn't help but twitch their lips, feeling like they had been caught in the crossfire.

They then looked at Lou Cheng in unison.

Could Lou Cheng be a fraud?

Lou Cheng noticed their gazes and wanted to defend himself, but he felt an obstruction in his lungs and immediately broke into a fit of coughing.

Lin Guotao studied Li Yi thoughtfully for several moments.

"Li Yi, is it? Your combat skills are indeed impressive. Your performance just now proves your claims. Not bad."

"So, have I been accepted?"

Li Yi asked.

"Yes, you've been accepted. Remember to report to the ship in three days. Detailed instructions and requirements will be sent to your personal communication port; be sure to check them."

Lin Guotao smiled.

"By the way, after boarding, all mech pilot cadets will participate in a martial arts tournament. You should prepare well over these next few days and strive for a good ranking. If your ranking is high enough, you might have the chance to select a Divine Mech. This is a rare opportunity. Good luck."

Divine Mech?

Li Yi held his breath.

He hadn't expected to have the chance to come into contact with a Divine Mech so soon.

As expected, his focused preparation for the Deep Space Fleet's test rounds had been the right move!

Only by piloting a Divine Mech could a human break through their limits under its Divinity Radiation and step onto the path of evolution.

After Li Yi left, Lou Cheng recovered from his state of playing dead and stood up.

Although Lin Guotao had already settled the matter by attributing it to Li Yi's superior combat skills.

The other interviewers remained curious and began to tease him.

"Lou Cheng, your Iron Crane Style fourth-degree certification—you didn't bribe the examiner to get that, did you?"

"Bullshit! If you've got the guts, let's spar!"

"Enough. Li Yi's level is the real deal; there's no need for you to question it."

Lin Guotao said calmly.

"Then, Boss Lin, how should we arrange Li Yi's position after he boards, and what should we write in the recommendation?"

The interviewer who spoke had an ulterior motive: he wanted to snatch the rights to claim Li Yi as his own recommendation.

After all, this was a mech cadet with top-tier, or perhaps even higher, combat skills; a low synchronization rate didn't matter.

If he had the potential to become an ace mech pilot, he was worth testing even if he was compatible with fewer mech types.

Conversely, what did it matter if those mediocre, talentless mech pilots had high synchronization rates?

"After boarding, he will undergo several rounds of training before positions are assigned. You don't need to overthink whether a recommendation can influence the decisions of those above."

"Everything will be left to the judgment of those in command."

Despite this, the interviewers still harbored some private grievances.

Isn't Lin Guotao himself the person sent by those above?

Li Yi walked out of the interview office, left the Deep Space Fleet compound, and stopped in front of a rail line on the outskirts of Base 11.

He did not have legal residency in Base 11, and his next objective was to return home.

However, how to get back was a problem.

The total distance from Base 31 to here was two hundred kilometers.

The ecosystem between bases was as fragile as ever, with extremely thin oxygen levels.

Therefore, it was basically impossible for an ordinary person to travel here on foot.

Most people traveled between bases via railcars or small airships.

But Li Yi was different from others.

He had a superpower.

He could capture memory fragments from parallel worlds within his dreams.

By organizing and absorbing these memory fragments, he could acquire various knowledge, skills, experiences, and insights.

Of course, some memory fragments were merely life experiences and could not all be converted into useful things.

The knowledge and skills he had currently mastered through parallel memories were:

Unrestricted Combat, Mastery Unrestricted Parkour, Proficiency Flame Breathing Technique, Competence Primary Meditation, Competence Standard Marksmanship, Proficiency Weapon Combat, Proficiency Standard Throwing, Proficiency Tracking, Competence Standard Cooking, Competence Knowledge System, Master of Science level

Relevant experiences included:

Life-and-death combat experience, 23 matches Major examination experience, 12 sessions Romantic experience, 35 relationships Major project organization and planning experience, 17 projects

It was precisely by relying on these skills and experiences that he had been able to overcome every obstacle and reach the final round of interviews for the Deep Space Fleet.

Of course, don't let the abundance of these skills and knowledge fool you.

In reality, they were only formed after filtering out the majority of dull memory fragments and putting in significant effort to integrate them.

Additionally, if he could come into contact with certain extraordinary items, there was a higher probability of obtaining parallel world memories related to those items within his dreams.

The only skill he currently possessed related to extraordinary abilities, the Flame Breathing Technique, was obtained in this way.

Therefore, if Li Yi wanted to come into contact with the extraordinary, the only opportunity he currently had was the Divine Mech.

Back to the matter at hand.

At this moment.

Li Yi was waiting quietly.

After a short while, a slight vibration came from the ground.

Li Yi turned his head to look and saw a pale red railcar, like a bullet, speeding toward him at nearly five hundred kilometers per hour.

BOOM!!!

A violent sonic boom tore through the thin air.

In an instant, the train brushed past Li Yi.

Li Yi began to accelerate, moving faster and faster, and just as the tail of the train approached, he leaped.

His right-hand fingers clamped onto the nearly sealed door frame at the rear of the railcar like a tiger's vice, and he followed behind like a swaying kite.

This was his method of hitchhiking—an astonishing feat accomplished on Mars, where the gravity index was 0.372, relying on the powerful physique and perfect technique brought by his Mastery-level combat skills.

Free (no ticket required), efficient (no security lines), exclusive to one person, and not to be imitated by ordinary people.

More than half an hour later.

Just as the railcar was about to enter the outer ecosystem of Base 31.

Li Yi took a deep breath amidst the high-speed airflow, drawing as much oxygen as possible into his body, and then released his grip.

His seemingly slender body performed a fluttering roll, landing him on the ground with ease.

From here, it would only take a five-minute walk to reach the Tree Shed District.

So-called tree sheds were dwellings created by using new breeding technology to modify tree-like plants into habitable structures.

On the outskirts of every major base on Mars, many unemployed people had to rely on these things to survive.

Of course, tree sheds were still a novelty, and since they hadn't been fully perfected, they harbored quite a few hidden dangers.

If humans lived in them for a long time, their health and lifespan would undoubtedly be significantly reduced.

"Stop right there! Where are you coming from?!"

Li Yi hadn't expected that as soon as he returned home, several white thugs with smoky makeup, sunken eye sockets, and gaunt frames would spring out from the thickets.

Each of them wore a fierce expression with sharp, piercing eyes.

However, the moment they saw it was Li Yi, their demeanor shifted.

"Yo, Brother Yi, you're back?"

The leader's face changed instantly; he hurriedly tucked away the Particle Gun in his hand and offered a warm greeting.

"Mm."

Li Yi responded indifferently. He had long since made a name for himself in this area, giving him the confidence to keep his distance from them.

After Li Yi walked past, one of the thugs spat on the ground, grumbling indignantly:

"Boss, we've got Particle Guns in our hands, why are we still afraid of him?"

"Yeah, shoot the bastard!"

Another one chimed in.

"These are just neutered versions of the Particle Gun; they're useless against a combat master. Remember, if you really want to go looking for death, don't hang around with me anymore, understand?"

"Fine."

Li Yi didn't care about the thugs' conversation.

In the Tree Shed District on the outskirts of Base 31, there were people he needed to be wary of.

But those guys certainly weren't among them.

Night fell, and beneath a sizable tree shed, the circle of light cast by a solar lamp faded into the surrounding darkness.

Several people were cooling off in the center of the light, their chests and bellies bared.

"Brother Yi, have you really been recruited by the Deep Space Fleet?"

"That's right. I came back this time for two reasons: to say goodbye to you all, and to thank you for taking care of me, my younger brother, and my younger sister over these past few years."

Li Yi raised a glass of berry juice, offering a toast to the others.

"I still remember six years ago when our family ended up stranded at Base 31. If it weren't for your family, Xiao Yu, helping us get registered, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been recruited by a regular fleet, and my brother and sister wouldn't have been able to return to our family so smoothly."

Xiao Yu chuckled and punched Li Yi lightly: "Why bring all that up!"

"And A-Xing..."

"Enough, Brother Yi, let's skip the thank-yous and get to the point."

The group of friends burst into laughter.

Amidst the laughter, some of the more sensitive ones felt their eyes grow moist.

Even with a powerful virtual reality network, it was impossible to communicate across several light-years.

Li Yi gave a light cough:

"Alright, then let's set a ten-year deadline. I hope I can make something of myself soon and become a true Evolver! Then I'll bring you all out of the Tree Shed District and into the central base! When that time comes, I'll be counting on you to help me manage my business."

"Once you head into deep space, it might take decades, so don't put too much pressure on yourself, Brother Yi."

Xiao Yu said with a smile: "Even if we never make it to the central base, it doesn't matter. Our lives are destined to be like this anyway. Being able to meet you, Brother Yi, is already the thing I'm most proud of and the most worth remembering in my life."

"So, Brother Yi, go ahead and head into deep space with confidence! Then prove to everyone exactly what those people who didn't take you back missed out on!"

Li Yi turned his back to the others to pour more berry juice.

Seeing Li Yi's back remain frozen there, the group fell silent for a long moment.

Then, Li Yi replied calmly:

"Mm, then let's head into deep space!"