Absolute Fluid

As AI Xiao Chi finished its explanation.

A bony white mech appeared before the Pluto Mech, its body slender, its limbs long, like a gigantic skeleton.

The skeletal mech began demonstrating its movements.

Its body weaved and shifted sideways, its steps coordinating perfectly with the force in its shoulders, arms, elbows, and wrists, all flowing as one.

Every punch thrown into the air unleashed a piercing screech.

The sound was so shrill, it felt like sandpaper scraping repeatedly across the eardrums.

From the Pluto Mech's panoramic view, Li Yi watched intently.

"Interesting. The so-called Pierce-Word Technique is essentially the mech-tech version of thrusting and stabbing moves in hand-to-hand combat."

"However, when used by something as massive as a mech, the destructive force created by concentrating immense pressure at a single point is far more astonishing."

"In actual combat, if the Pierce-Word Technique hits a mech's head, the pilot will most likely suffer impact injuries."

"The Quake-Word Technique transmits high-frequency vibrational force and can knock the pilot unconscious. The Pierce-Word Technique transmits highly concentrated penetrating force, so its harm to the pilot is more direct."

The former was more damaging to the mind and brain, while the latter inflicted greater physical damage.

Li Yi quickly grasped the principle and began practicing.

First attempt.

He weaved about, stirring the Pluto Mech's bodily strength and gathering it into a single point, then threw a punch that produced a screech that shook several kilometers around him.

Second attempt.

He made slight adjustments and added his own understanding, producing a broad-range screech powerful enough to make ordinary people dizzy and nauseous, reducing its transmission range to one kilometer.

Third attempt.

He adjusted again. There were barely any preparatory movements; right from the opening, he unleashed a high-frequency sound wave whose vibration frequency exceeded the limits of human hearing, reducing its range to within three hundred meters.

"Success!"

After completing that attempt, Li Yi's eyes lit up.

Just then, AI Xiao Chi's voice sounded at the perfect moment:

"Congratulations. Keeping your strength from scattering and concentrating it to the utmost is the essence of the Pierce-Word Technique. You have once again broken the record for the fastest mastery of the Pierce-Word Technique and independently mastered an activation method with no redundant movements. It is truly astounding."

Li Yi waited, only to find that AI Xiao Chi had nothing more to say. He immediately asked in disappointment:

"Didn't breaking the record this time trigger a hidden training mission related to the Pierce-Word Technique?"

"Sorry, it did not."

AI Xiao Chi explained:

"Although the Pierce-Word Technique is a foundational mech technique, no one has developed any derivative techniques from it. Moreover, the no-redundancy activation method you have mastered is already the optimal and fastest activation method currently available."

"So, you may now choose to learn a new foundational mech technique, or enter the training mission left behind by the Fourth Generation Instructor."

Li Yi thought for a moment, then said decisively:

"In that case, arrange for me to learn a new foundational mech technique."

"Understood. I will now arrange the Adhere-Word Technique for you."

"This move can effectively defend against all kinds of mech techniques. It can even defend against Divinity Techniques that lean toward physical attacks. Please study it carefully."

Chen Qiong Zhi sat in the virtual reality control room, examining the learning progress of the others through screens full of surveillance feeds.

Most of them could not quickly master the Quake-Word Technique in such a short time.

They could only passively enter virtual mech battles and get relentlessly beaten down by the virtual mechs summoned by AI Xiao Chi.

Some members of the Power Clan had learned the Quake-Word Technique before.

However, so long as their foundation was not solid enough, AI Xiao Chi would judge them to require actual combat tempering.

Thus, they too were crazily targeted by the virtual mechs and beaten until they suffered bitterly.

Only a very small number rapidly mastered the Quake-Word Technique through virtual mech battles and moved on to studying the Pierce-Word Technique.

Watching the entire class's performance, Chen Qiong Zhi could not help but shake her head inwardly.

Sure enough, compared with that generation, this generation of mine has still undergone far too little tempering. Many of them may not lack talent, but the moment they encounter difficulties, they subconsciously choose the easier path.

By comparison, Li Yi has effortlessly learned mech techniques. Even AI Xiao Chi has determined that he does not need virtual combat and can directly begin learning new material.

But one non-evolver like Li Yi alone cannot change anything.

Could Class Three really end up at the bottom of this year's competition?

Just as Chen Qiong Zhi sank into thought.

With a creak, the door slid open automatically, and someone walked in.

"Yo, busy? I heard your class produced a non-evolver who can beat evolvers. Things seem to be going pretty well for him."

The man was two meters tall, with rough features, a hooked nose, unshaven stubble, and casual clothing.

Yet his bearing made him resemble a mighty ancient general.

Busy watching the surveillance feeds, Chen Qiong Zhi casually glanced at him and replied flatly:

"Liang Zhishen, what are you doing here? Did you come to seek justice for Liang Shaocong?"

"What the hell does that brat have to do with me? My surname may be Liang, but I'm not close to the main family's branch."

Liang Zhishen said with a grin:

"There's been a little change regarding the ancient civilization ruins. The personnel list has been reduced, so I came to sound you out and see whether you could spare a few more slots for us."

"Oh? Looking for a beating?"

Chen Qiong Zhi's expression immediately darkened.

"Do you people from Class Two even know your own worth, coming here to take our class's slots?"

"I'm just trying to discuss it. Your class stole all the limelight last year, and the promising students all found their own paths and graduated directly. There aren't any real experts in your class this year. It should be our turn by now, right?"

Chen Qiong Zhi spat out one word. "Scram!"

"Fine. If you won't agree, then when the Class Three competition comes around, I'll openly take your slots from you."

"Fine. If these people are inferior to others in skill, then I have nothing to say."

Chen Qiong Zhi nodded.

"Hey, you could at least discuss it properly. It would make both our classes look better, wouldn't it?"

"Discuss it properly?"

Chen Qiong Zhi raised her head. A startling light suddenly burst from her almond-shaped eyes as she snapped:

"If we aren't strict now, then when these rookies reach the battlefield in the future, just wait to attend their funerals!"

"The interstellar border has been fairly peaceful for more than a decade. Don't talk nonsense and shake military morale!"

"Scram!"

Chen Qiong Zhi's hard-line attitude left Liang Zhishen with no temper left to lose. He muttered a few words under his breath and slunk away dejectedly.

After leaving the monitoring room, Liang Zhishen took a deep breath. A few doubts about himself could not help but arise in his heart.

Come to think of it, Chen Qiong Zhi may not have been wrong to scold me. She has painstakingly trained soldiers all these years, with remarkable results, while after the Tianheng Star War twelve years ago, I gradually let myself slack off without even realizing it.

If something suddenly happens later on, won't the soldiers under my command really be finished?

For some reason, AI Xiao Chi lagged for a long time.

After a while, AI Xiao Chi said haltingly:

"Congratulations on once again breaking the record for the fastest mastery of the Adhere-Word Technique. You have triggered a hidden training mission left behind by the First Generation Instructor, Tu Zhenyu. Would you like to accept it?"

Li Yi's eyes brightened slightly. Not bad. It seemed the drop rate for these hidden training missions was quite high.

And why was AI Xiao Chi lagging so badly for this hidden training mission?

Was the amount of information too great?

After thinking it over, Li Yi decided to accept the mission first.

"Accept."

"Understood. If you fully clear this hidden training mission, there is a certain chance that you will master the Divinity Technique, Absolute Fluid. Please participate wholeheartedly."

"But I do not intend to enter the hidden training immediately. Can I postpone it?"

"Yes."

"Please continue arranging new foundational mech techniques for me to learn."

Li Yi planned to clear all the foundational mech techniques in one go before challenging the hidden training missions one by one.

That would be the most efficient approach. It would also strengthen his foundation and raise his chances of clearing the hidden training.

After all, the number of attempts was limited. If he used them all up and wasted a good skill, that would truly be a waste.

"Understood. I will now arrange for you to study the Vortex-Word Technique."

"The Vortex-Word Technique is effective both offensively and defensively. Combined with any other mech technique, it can unleash tremendous power. Please study it carefully."