Ranking

"Kid, don't push your luck."

A frigid, piercing aura spread out, and Cai Xiaodong, seated beside Zhang Xuqiang, immediately shuddered.

Li Yi continued eating as if nothing had happened.

Zhang Xuqiang's gaze grew increasingly grim.

Li Yi said unhurriedly:

"It's already 2198, so why are you still making threats? This is the Mech Pilot Special Selection Class, with strict military rules and discipline. If you want to stir up trouble with that hooligan soldier routine of yours, are you the one with a broken brain, or do you think mine is broken?"

A flicker of surprise flashed through Zhang Xuqiang's eyes, and the gloom on his face gradually receded.

He sneered.

"Kid, you're pretty calm. Fine, I won't scare you anymore. You should think over the trade again. I can give you time to fully understand the benefits of exchanging Divine Mechs, and whether there are any drawbacks."

"Three days from now, I'll come talk to you again. I hope you can give me a reasonable answer."

"If you don't give me a reasonable answer, then don't blame me for reasonably making use of the elimination rules during training and eliminating you. Your access privileges will be downgraded directly!"

With that, Zhang Xuqiang picked up his tray, rose to his feet, and left.

Watching Zhang Xuqiang walk away, Cai Xiaodong could not help cursing under his breath.

"People like him are the cancer of mech pilots. I really don't understand how the Special Selection Class let someone like that in!"

"When the forest gets big, all kinds of birds show up. Especially in a Special Selection Class like ours, where people from different planets across the Star Imperium Federation have gathered with all sorts of experiences."

Li Yi casually said this after taking a bite of processed meat.

Cai Xiaodong stabbed his chopsticks into the processed meat and said viciously:

"On Saitan Star, people who undermine internal unity and bully the weak like this are challenged by everyone and forced to duel. Too bad the atmosphere here is still too soft. It doesn't have Saitan Star's iron-blooded spirit."

"If I were strong enough, I'd definitely duel him!"

"Li Yi, why are you acting so indifferent? He's trying to mess with you!"

"You have to know, it's easy to get your privileges downgraded but hard to raise them again. Once they drop, a lot of your benefits and resource supplies will be affected!"

Li Yi laughed.

"Don't get so worked up. He's nothing but a paper tiger. All bark and no bite—that's just his nature. Don't worry about it. Eat up, eat up. Get your energy back; there's mech training this afternoon."

Of course, he knew that being targeted by an Evolutionist at this stage put him under considerable pressure.

But he already had ample experience handling situations like this, so he was not afraid.

"Fine, if you say so, I won't worry about it."

"But if you need my help with anything, just say the word!"

As he spoke, Cai Xiaodong patted his chest, his voice booming with confidence.

In a corner, Lin Hua watched the scene and thought:

"Li Yi is so confident. Is he putting on a front, or does he have hidden strength? Being able to control a Divine Mech for over an hour means his physique must already be very close to that of an Evolutionist, right?"

"But he comes from The Humble Clan. Maybe he has never seen how truly terrifying Evolutionists are, which is why he is so unconcerned? Should I find an opportunity to warn him?"

The afternoon training began.

The subjects were Divinity activation training and the study of mech techniques.

Both required operating Divine Mechs, and the live training location was in the eighth, ninth, and tenth subsections of Cabin 12.

Before it began, Chen Qiong Zhi specifically took some time to tell the three of them how to use the Assist Module.

The so-called Assist Module was actually a mechanical pendant.

They only needed to wear it anywhere on their body before entering the cabin.

Once inside the cockpit, the Assist Module would automatically establish a link with the Divine Mech.

Then, when the operator was overloaded, it would automatically share the strain.

At that moment,

Chen Qiong Zhi held Li Yi's A-grade Assist Module in her hands and sighed.

"What a good thing. An A-grade Assist Module—even I don't have one."

Lin Hua could not help asking:

"Instructor, you should be a Mid-Level or even Advanced Evolutionist, right? How could you possibly not have an A-grade Assist Module?"

Chen Qiong Zhi smiled.

"That's why you need to treasure your beginner gift packs. Assist Modules have limited quotas aboard the ship. Even Evolutionists have a hard time getting one, and B-grade and A-grade modules are especially precious."

As she spoke, Chen Qiong Zhi handed the A-grade Assist Module back to Li Yi.

"With these, after your daily intensive training ends, you can practice privately for a while longer. Combat techniques do not need to be rushed for now, but activating your Divinity must happen as early as possible. Ideally, you should become Evolutionists before the intensive training ends."

Li Yi's heart stirred.

Chen Qiong Zhi was implying something.

If they could become Evolutionists by the end of training, would they have a chance to take part in exploring the ancient civilization ruins?

Li Yi had wanted to ask another question, but in the blink of an eye, Chen Qiong Zhi had already flashed to the center of the training field and shouted:

"Assemble!"

"There is no secret to Divinity activation. It depends entirely on your own insight!"

"High-intensity mech combat is also beneficial in stimulating Divinity activation. This afternoon's intensive training consists of each of you entering virtual reality to learn the mech techniques recommended by the AI!"

"Then, based on the combat power index determined by the AI, I'll assign you opponents and have you fight in pairs!"

"No tricks are allowed in battle. You must give it your all."

"Of course, you are also not allowed to maliciously attack an opponent after they have been defeated."

"If anyone performs too poorly, I will not hesitate to eliminate them directly."

"Now, I'll announce the current combat power index rankings evaluated by the AI!"

Chen Qiong Zhi's style was truly swift and fiery.

She covered all the key points in a few sentences, then waved her hand. A detailed holographic ranking list immediately appeared before everyone.

Li Yi quickly found his own name.

"Interesting. I actually ranked fifty-first? Are the older trainees behind me really that weak?"

There were ninety-five people in total, yet Liang Shaocong and Lin Hua were not even among the bottom few.

Lin Hua was eighty-fourth, Liang Shaocong eighty-seventh, and there were actually people behind them who were even weaker.

Li Yi guessed that those near the bottom were most likely among last year's and the year before's weakest top ten.

After reading the rankings, Cai Xiaodong abruptly turned to look at Li Yi, shock written all over his face.

"How are you ranked so high? You're actually four places above me? I'm only a few days' worth of Divinity Radiation away from becoming an Evolutionist."

Li Yi smiled. "You'd have to ask what the AI's evaluation criteria are."

As they spoke, Li Yi spotted Zhang Xuqiang's ranking.

He was actually twenty-third.

No wonder that guy was so arrogant. So this ranking was what gave him confidence?

Quite a few people who had watched Li Yi's matches were also in an uproar.

Newcomer Li Yi was actually this fierce. His ranking was already practically on par with Evolutionists, wasn't it?

Lin Hua was also somewhat dazed. The gap between Li Yi and me is actually this huge?

"Instructor, may I ask what logic this AI ranking uses? My degree of evolution is clearly higher than some people's, yet my ranking is lower. Isn't that unreasonable?"

Someone raised a hand to ask.

Chen Qiong Zhi smiled faintly.

"This is a combat index ranking calculated from your training data in the gravity chambers, combined with your recent combat performance."

"If you are dissatisfied, then perform more during the upcoming live mech training. The AI will naturally raise your corresponding evaluation score."

"By the way, this combat power index ranking updates in real time and will continue updating until the intensive training ends."

"At the final second of the intensive training, the rankings will be finalized. Your position will be your practical combat result."

"Additionally, I will also refer to this ranking list when selecting people for the ancient civilization exploration project."

"Work hard. From here on, you'll need to stay patient and level-headed, and build a solid foundation."