Swollen

Zhang Xuqiang was momentarily speechless.

The person who had just agreed with him also looked a bit embarrassed.

He quickly looked around and saw that most people were still in a state of stunned disbelief, wondering what had just happened. He immediately felt relieved.

Cai Xiaodong, while surprised, felt a surge of secret satisfaction.

Lin Hua stood in a corner, her eyes filled with determination. She thought to herself:

"This is how it should be. Those who can easily defeat me among my peers should strive harder. That's what makes them worth chasing and surpassing."

After a moment, someone broke the silence first:

"Is Li Yi's mech skill really that strong? He knocked out the pilot, an evolved human, with a single blow?"

The physical resilience of an evolved human was naturally insignificant compared to the massive size of a Divine Mech.

But an evolved human was still an evolved human.

As pilots, they could withstand mech skills better than non-evolved humans.

Furthermore, in everyone's perception, Li Yi's slim victory was primarily due to his skillful maneuvering in close combat.

As for mech skills, weren't those typically used against opponents of the same level?

Could it really be effective when fighting across levels?

"Old Fang, have you ever seen anything like this? Can mech skills really achieve such an effect?"

Someone asked the class monitor, Fang Tao.

Fang Tao pondered for a moment:

"I haven't seen anything like it on the Jade Pool (Yaochi) No. 7, but I did witness a master during the Deep Space Fleet competition last year. His mech skills were incredibly potent, able to induce pilot incapacitation in just a few moves. Perhaps he could achieve cross-level knockouts through skill."

"I see. Although everyone here is among the top ten from various years on the Jade Pool (Yaochi) No. 7, or a rookie king, and possesses talent, their talent rarely focuses on close combat. Li Yi, however, might be someone whose talent is entirely dedicated to close combat."

Someone thoughtfully speculated on the reasons why Li Yi might have won.

"Ah, so that's why his Divine Mech activation is so slow? Because his talent is skewed?"

Someone quipped.

"You're getting off track. Let's stick to the facts. Li Yi has a very high combat quotient; his fighting style is very intelligent. This allowed him to guide Zhang Qingjian step by step into a trap he meticulously set, even without any initial advantage. That's the key to his victory."

"Indeed, while the leveraging punch in the decisive blow was spectacular, it would have been useless without all the preparations beforehand."

"Exactly. Who doesn't have a few ultimate moves that can significantly increase damage? But being able to use those moves effectively is the real key."

As they spoke, some people began to turn their attention to Zhang Xuqiang.

"Old Zhang, you said earlier that you could have handled it better at the same level. Is that true? I recall that two years ago, before you became an evolved human, you were always ranked in the eighties or nineties in the Special Selection Class, right at the back?"

"Weren't you constantly getting beaten when you were not an evolved human?"

The person speaking was named Qi Yuqiang. Like Zhang Xuqiang, he was a top ten contender from three years ago and had been in the Special Selection Class for three full years.

The two had always been at odds, so Qi Yuqiang showed no respect for Zhang Xuqiang and directly challenged him.

Zhang Xuqiang snorted coldly:

"He won by taking a shortcut. In a real interstellar battlefield, there aren't so many lucky breaks and coincidences. It all comes down to solid, head-on combat with skill!"

"Winning against a comrade here is nothing to be proud of. Winning against alien adversaries is what earns the respect of all mech pilots!"

"You're just giving Li Yi undeserved praise out of curiosity because his fighting style is unique. But if this trend continues, it will eventually affect all mech pilots!"

Qi Yuqiang was speechless:

"Fine, you just keep throwing out accusations. You've said it all, haven't you? It's boring. How about a one-on-one duel in tomorrow's practical combat session?"

Zhang Xuqiang glared at Qi Yuqiang and turned to leave.

The few people watching immediately chuckled:

"That Zhang Xuqiang, without Zhang Xuyang backing him up, he can't even talk tough anymore. I've disliked that guy for a long time."

The remaining crowd included those who laughed heartily and those who watched with cold indifference.

Cai Xiaodong observed everyone's positions and, combining it with the information he had gathered earlier, thought to himself:

"Most of those supporting Li Yi come from Mars and the Jovian Moons Series. The main group questioning Li Yi originates from the Sirius System. This is quite interesting."

The practical combat session concluded, and it was time for self-training.

Since Li Yi's activation speed had not improved, he simply didn't shut down his mech and continued practicing in the combat arena.

As everyone knew, the daily duration for receiving Divine Radiation was limited.

However, even without activating Divine Radiation, simply piloting allowed for subtle radiation from the omnipresent Divine presence within.

Therefore, Pushing the piloting duration as close to one's limit as possible was still beneficial.

Inside the cockpit.

Li Yi withdrew from his meditative state, exhaling a long breath.

"As expected, the immense, constant load of the mech truly helps boost my memory digestion."

He had formed this hypothesis the last time he quickly activated the Pluto Mech to rush for the finals.

Now, after putting it into practice, the results were remarkable.

"Why don't I just skip going back to the dorm and sleep here tonight? That way, I can capture more memory fragments related to the Pluto Mech."

Li Yi knew himself well.

Although today, through a series of predictions, setups, and manipulations, he had successfully used his mech combat skills to defeat Zhang Qingjian's Flame Crow Mech, which was a significant feat.

However, that was essentially the limit of his current stage.

To defeat Zhang Xuqiang, he was still a bit short.

He either needed to become an Evolver or advance his combat techniques further.

"Perfect-level combat techniques should be the limit of ordinary human skill."

"But as my physique improves, I'm sure I can develop more techniques."

"Perhaps, after everyone else leaves, I can try using the technique I discovered last time to stimulate my divinity and strengthen my physique."

Thoughts flashed through his mind as he meticulously planned, Li Yi confirmed his upcoming improvement plan.

After his solo training session, the starship's standard time had reached 7 PM.

At the edge of the combat arena.

Cai Xiaodong called out to the Pluto Mech:

"Li Yi, how are you still training? Didn't your active duration just exceed an hour? Rest early and let's go eat together."

The Pluto Mech's voice responded:

"I have an A-class Assist Module, and I don't even know my current active duration limit. You go ahead and eat. If it's convenient, bring me something. My dorm is in Building A, room 4308. Thanks, and preferably bring enough for five people."

"..."

Cai Xiaodong was speechless for a while after being hit with that, then gritted his teeth and said resolutely:

"Fine, you're really something. Considering you taught Zhang Qingjian a lesson for me, I'll bring you ten servings of dinner today. Happy?"

"Great, thank you so much. Stop with the nonsense and hurry up, don't go too late or they'll run out of pre-made meals."

Cai Xiaodong's mouth twitched, and he decided to ignore Li Yi, turning to leave.

Not long after, only the Pluto Mech remained in the entire Zone 8, still powered on and standing silently.

In the vast space, it felt as if it had gained the silence of the deep universe.

After a good while.

A Pluto divinity, as if emanating from extreme cold, extreme darkness, and extreme hell, slowly emanated from within and without the Pluto Mech's body.

Li Yi, inside the cockpit, couldn't help but let out a soft "Oh?"

"Chen Qiong Zhi's Divine Mech is still powered on? She hasn't left?"

Li Yi immediately realized it was Chen Qiong Zhi's method of erasing her presence that had made him subconsciously overlook her.

It wasn't until he stimulated the Pluto divinity that he broke through some kind of psychological barrier.

At that very moment, a voice suddenly came:

"Hiding your strength, huh? You can already stimulate divinity on your own?"

Li Yi was startled, then smiled and replied:

"Instructor, you're still here."

"That's right, I also need to train and improve."

"Since that's the case, Instructor, are you interested in sparring a few rounds with me to warm up?"

Li Yi decisively extended the invitation.