Chapter 223

At nine-thirty, carrying a half-finished bottle of Lao Liang, he swayed up the steps and returned to the teacher dormitory of Zi Fu No. 9 Middle School.

Although the school had already switched from public to private operation, the dormitory building was not reclaimed, and continued to let the originally tenured teachers keep living there.

But these days, Lao Liang started looking for a suitable residence, preparing to buy a cheap bungalow to spend his retirement years.

Before, he had considered whether to continue running a tutoring class, but after thinking it over, it would inevitably carry the suspicion of using Qin Shi's name to make money.

Especially since his own disciple said this today, the students signing up afterward, and parents hoping their sons would become dragons, would surely swarm in.

Actually, ever since Qin Shi won first place in the Hengzhou Hundred Strong Competition, there were wealthy bosses in the Tai'an Region who sincerely invited him to join some cultivation hall, offering both shares and high salary.

"At this old age, I still have to bask in my disciple's glory."

Logically speaking, a powerhouse like Lao Liang who has entered the Professional Realm should be impossible to affect with alcohol.

Yet he drank North Warehouse while recalling the past — apprenticing in Jingzhou, serving in the war corps, those scenes vivid in his mind.

The wine doesn't intoxicate; the man intoxicates himself. It left Lao Liang a bit tipsy. He passed through the corridor, pushed open the teacher dormitory door, and muttered:

"Liang Zhengxiong, oh Liang Zhengxiong, in this life you entered the martial path, met a good master, and ran into a good disciple.

Fought wars as a soldier, and had good comrades, good superiors.

Heaven has not treated me thinly; it counts as breaking even, breaking even."

Lao Liang didn't press the wall switch; in pitch darkness he sat on that hard plank bed welded from an iron rack.

He silently tilted his head back, drank the high-proof liquor in big gulps, and when the bottle was empty, raised his hand to cover his chest.

As if sensing that heart's beating.

Thump-thump-thump!

The dull booming like a war drum made the Fourth War Corps' clarion calls flash through Lao Liang's mind.

He suddenly clenched his palm tight, pressing hard against his chest.

Bang!

The heart paused for a beat, then suddenly calmed down.

Chain-like patterns spread across its surface, like pitch-black brands, flashing strange light.

Inside it seemed to parasitize some terrifying creature, faintly emitting a heart-palpitating aura.

"Behave yourself. My disciple has use for you."

Lao Liang's face squeezed out a trace of a smile. The Nanhuang Dao Guan's Universe Furnace Secret Canon and Qin Shuai's created Soldier Conquest Combat Method are simply a perfect match.

The former pushes the cultivation body progress to the percentage mark, the latter squeezes potential to the limit, raising life force purity, approaching that perfect boundary.

"A King-grade Divine Machine requires part Star God Flesh and Blood, under the witness of the Pillar, to hold a conversion ceremony, smelting it into an energy core."

Lao Liang closed his eyes, mouth moving, saying soundlessly:

"If it were a complete Star God, what kind of effect would it produce."

……

……

"Supreme Emperor-grade! You really dare to think, Lao Fang!

The Nanhuang Dao Guan's Bixiao Imperial Edict - Hunyuan Doukui, plus the Giant God Soldier, barely qualifies to take a shot at Supreme Emperor-grade!"

At the Tai'an Education Commission Building, Chen Ruofu stepped out the gate into the night, heard Fang Butang's wild fantasy, and was nearly angered into laughter.

"Even if you became Hengzhou's Planetary Governor, you couldn't produce a Supreme Emperor-grade Divine Machine! That thing, in the Ancient Era, was practically a nation-stabilizing heavy weapon. If you possessed one, never mind rebelling and crowning yourself emperor, at the very least you'd be enfeoffed as a king!"

Fang Butang tucked his briefcase under his arm, sheepishly said:

"This is just a hypothesis. What if, your Xiao Qin directly pulls off a Supreme Emperor-grade, overtakes Yu Li, becomes first in the Star Cup Youth Group..."

Chen Ruofu said helplessly:

"Don't dream in the middle of the night. That's no different from you going out and picking up Qin Shuai on a micro-service inspection, recognizing him as your god-grandfather, then inheriting the Fourth War Corps.

A Supreme Emperor-grade Divine Machine — New Dongxia doesn't have many; they're basically the Nine Marshals' mounts. Aside from them, no one else can pilot one; it's practically equivalent to half a Star God. Where would you go find one!"

He and Fang Butang talked Divine Machines all afternoon, and Lao Fang got obsessed, starting to fantasize all kinds of "chance encounters."

"Qin Shuai's 'Myriad Heavens Sovereign - Mila Shangzhen' was also forged through countless hardships, using three Star God Carcasses as main materials, even mobilizing the Highest Research Institute's Star Furnace. Lao Fang, I'm saying you're of advanced years too; can't you be steadier, think less about these unreliable things."

Chen Ruofu hurried down the steps. Hengzhou's new Grand Expansion was about to begin; the Tai'an Urban Circle was designated as the frontline; the Patrol Department's workload would surge.

By comparison, Education Committee head Fang Butang gets to be leisurely.

"Lao Chen, let's calculate this again — setting up a propaganda model? When your Xiao Qin returns, do we hold a grand welcome ceremony?"

Fang Butang stepped forward, grabbed Chen Ruofu, and asked.

"Just go through the motions. Xiao Qin isn't the type to like the limelight. As long as you max out the treatment, don't let outsiders think our Tai'an Region is less generous than Central City."

Chen Ruofu shook his head. In Hengzhou's new round of Grand Expansion, Qin Shi would undoubtedly be the vanguard.

Thinking of this, he suddenly frowned and asked:

"Xiao Qi's ranking examination — hasn't he passed it yet? Hurry up and prepare the venue and personnel, get the certificate issued early."

……

……

"Take an exam?"

In the State Guesthouse's bright dining hall, hearing Qin Shi say he wanted to take a certificate exam, Huo Erwen couldn't help but stare in surprise.

"Lao Zhou sent a message saying Central City actually set up a dedicated mecha master exam venue, which can issue both civilian and military pilot licenses."

Qin Shi swallowed the plump, juicy medium-rare barbecue, and said slowly:

"Rare opportunity, so I thought I'd give it a try."

Huo Erwen thought for a moment, didn't stop him.

After the commendation conference ends, if there are no other scheduled arrangements, Qin Shi should take the special train back to the Tai'an Urban Circle.

"Still need to watch safety. I'll contact the Governor's Mansion first, have them arrange personnel."

Huo Erwen spoke after some deliberation.

The body of Ying Lin, a direct descendant of the Ying Clan, had already been sent aboard the spaceship and was expected to arrive in Haizhou before long.

As for that First Sequence inheritor Ying Huang, she still remained in Hengzhou.

Overall, the environment in Central City could not be considered peaceful.

Mo Qihuan of the Education Bureau had been silent for several days, even taking sick leave from the commendation conference he was supposed to attend and speak at.

Furthermore, considering that Hengzhou was about to lift the blockade line, the many "black households" originally stranded there all had to seize the time and rush to leave this place.

Based on the above considerations, Huo Erwen chose a comparatively steady arrangement.

"Trouble you, Brother Huo."

Qin Shi didn't feel his personal freedom was restricted either; becoming a "celebrity figure" naturally brought more attention.

He and Third Senior Sister Yu Weiwei had a meal together, waiting until roughly four o'clock in the afternoon.

The evening glow shone through the Steel Forest, as if gilding it layer by layer with golden edges.

The flying vehicle landed on the spacious flat ground in the Second Ring area, and a long gangway was lowered.

Security Bureau officers took the lead, and only then came Qin Shi, surrounded in their midst, escorted into the venue.

"Tsk! This treatment — even a top leader doesn't get much more than this!"

Zhang Hai ground his teeth, speaking with a sour tone.

"Still not convinced? Old Zhang, if your mortal body were as hard as your mouth, you might be able to exchange a couple moves with Qin Shi."

Zhou Yuanchen crossed his arms.

The two of them had been designated by the Education Bureau as reception staff, accompanying Qin Shi throughout his free activities.

In the words of the official personnel, that was "geniuses staying together have more common language."

"Zhou Yuanchen, what are you getting cocky about? A defeated subordinate like you — I didn't lose directly to Qin Shi, unlike you, who got beaten all over the place by someone crossing a professional barrier!"

Zhang Hai was irritable by nature, like a powder keg that explodes at a spark; how could he endure Zhou Yuanchen's sarcastic yin-yang air?

"Heh, you talk as if you've beaten me. Old Zhang, need me to remind you of our head-to-head win rate?"

Zhou Yuanchen shot a sidelong glance at the other; his radiance as a Supernova only dimmed slightly when standing next to Qin Shi.

"You two are both pillar talents of Central City — absolutely no conflict, don't let the Tai'an Region see a joke."

The official played peacemaker, but got no good faces from Zhang Hai and Zhou Yuanchen.

"Old Zhou, haven't seen you in a good few days."

Once the Security Bureau officers crowding around Qin Shi dispersed, Qin Shi finally let out a breath of relief.

Actually, with Third Senior Sister Yu Weiwei escorting him, he wasn't worried about personal safety.

But the Central City side needed him to show his attitude, so for this grand mobilization, Qin Shi could only accept.

"Old Zhou, you're taking the exam too?"

Qin Shi walked up and asked.

"The Governor's Mansion had us accompany each other, discuss and exchange, learn together."

Zhou Yuanchen shrugged; in public he needed to keep distance from Qin Shi, had to cultivate the "lifelong enemy" image.

"But I feel it's completely unnecessary! I, Zhou Yuanchen, have never been inferior to anyone in my life — sooner or later I'll prove to the world again that I'm in no way inferior to you!"

While recalling the "lines" recorded in his little notebook, Zhou Yuanchen recited them with great feeling.

Qin Shi shook his head; Old Zhou's acting was too exaggerated, even a bit affected.

He hurriedly picked up the cue, saying coldly:

"Old Zhou, your vision is still narrow — seeing me is like a frog at the bottom of a well looking up at the moon. When the day comes that you reach my step, possess my talent, and by luck touch the edge of the Chaoyang Level, you'll understand what 'a single ant seeing the blue sky' means."

Zhang Hai stared wide-eyed.

First looking at Zhou Yuanchen, then glancing at Qin Shi.

Their gunpowder flavor is so strong!

And, this guy Qin Shi — how can he say such cool lines!

"If this passage were spoken by me, how great that would be!"

Zhang Hai clenched his fists, gnashing his teeth.

Talent can't compare, and even in the domain of "manifesting saintliness before others" he loses with no suspense.

Truly a crushing defeat!

Zhou Yuanchen's face showed surprise — so geniuses all talk like this?

Looks like I was too gentle before, lacking a few parts of frivolous pride.

After dropping the Manifest Saint quotes, Qin Shi, under the reception of staff members, arrived at a training ground that could be called huge.

Nearly thirty meters of clear height, used to accommodate various models of Divine Machine Armor.

Qin Shi looked up; several deep-black-painted "War-Grade" Divine Machines were lined up, like steel guards clad in armor.

"These were all transferred from the First Military Academy, but military-grade Divine Machines require the highest-level pilot license to board."

The staff member said in advance.

"If Qin Classmate wants to test-drive, there are a few civilian-grade ones on the side."

Although Qin Shi's identity was extraordinary, he still couldn't openly violate regulations.

"How does one take the pilot license exam?"

Qin Shi asked.

The reason he wanted to come this trip was because he heard Nanhuang Dao Guan had a King-level Divine Machine, belonging to Lao Zhang's exclusive mount, extremely formidable.

Then the most critical step of the Universe Furnace Secret Canon, forging a one-hundred-percent perfect merit body, also required a Divine Machine.

So Qin Shi planned to familiarize himself a bit.

"Qin Classmate, are you referring to Civilian Level? That's actually relatively simple, for a genius like you."

The Staff Member introduced enthusiastically:

"Divine Machine Armor and other types of armor-class weapons don't have much difference. The only existing difference between the two lies in the driving core.

The crystal energy source of Divine Machine Armor comes from the Highest Research Institute's technological breakthrough; the pilot must develop Life Force to a considerably deep level to be able to complete the operation.

The passing standard for Civilian Level junior pilots is roughly in the Amateur Level 5 to Amateur Level 1 range; for mid-to-high level, it requires Professional Realm.

Qin Classmate, your Life Force Purity has basically reached Professional Realm; no need to worry about this problem..."

Qin Shi's gaze remained fixed on those several Divine Machine Armors like sky-supporting giants.

He said softly:

"What about Military Level? If one wants to drive Military Level, and obtain a pilot qualification meeting the requirements?"

The Staff Member froze, suspecting whether he had misheard.

"Qin Classmate, for Military Level, one must first pass the Civilian Senior Pilot Qualification Certificate."

He said euphemistically.

Every one young man has a dream of piloting mecha.

The Staff Member understood very well.

Even Supernovas from the Education Bureau and Security Bureau coming here, seeing those "big guys".

Would all act very excited, proposing the idea of wanting a test drive.

But to open by saying he wants to drive Military Level, this was the first time he had encountered it.

"Then let's start from Civilian Level."

Qin Shi rubbed his hands, face full of expectation.

This kind of clearance challenge feeling filled him with fighting spirit.

"Does he plan to serve in a war regiment and apply to a military academy in the future?"

Zhang Hai was confused; the Professional Realm martial path rarely emphasizes Divine Machine driving, unless they are fierce generals and elite soldiers from war regiment backgrounds.

"Maybe. I heard he refused the Four Great National Universities' recruitment; perhaps he wants to walk another path."

Zhou Yuanchen frowned.

Mainly driving Divine Machine is a complete systematic framework; wanting to master it is not easy.

Besides the fusion and interconnection of Life Force and Energy Core, basic operation, there is also extremely complex "Machine Language".

How to cooperate, how to coordinate, how to complete tactical maneuvers... related works could fill an entire house.

Twenty minutes later.

Zhang Hai and Zhou Yuanchen looked at each other in dismay, then gazed at Qin Shi exiting the cockpit.

How long has it been, and the Civilian Junior Pilot Qualification Certificate is already obtained?

Before the on-site issuance could even happen, Qin Shi started challenging the intermediate exam again.

Forty minutes passed in a flash.

Zhang Hai and Zhou Yuanchen bulged their eyes, staring tightly at the training field, where the Civilian Level mecha stepped, walked, and made various poses like ordinary people.

In just forty minutes, Qin Shi had already progressed to throwing punches, twisting his body, and then completing an aerial spinning kick with ninety-nine percent precision.

"I can understand that a genius's learning speed is always faster than others. But this kind of monster who is fierce at learning everything, isn't it a bit excessive?"

Zhang Hai gripped the railing with both hands, his eyes revealing thick incomprehension.

"Pervert, truly a pervert! Even top students from military academies don't have this speed, right?"

Zhou Yuanchen rarely agreed with his mortal enemy.

One hour ended.

Qin Shi still swiftly exited the cockpit, rushing toward the Senior Qualification Certificate.

The sky outside the training field gradually darkened, like a mysterious veil draped over it.

Zhang Hai and Zhou Yuanchen, while eating boxed meals, watched the steel armor on the huge open space.

After a full two hours, the Civilian Senior Pilot Qualification Certificate was also obtained by Qin Shi.

Only seeing that tall figure in combat suit, ejected from the mecha's shoulder.

Making a "continue" gesture toward the Staff Member.

His voice buzzed through the speaker, resonating through the whole venue.

"Everyone, hard work. I have to leave Center City in two days. So I plan to speedrun the exam venue tonight."

(Chapter End)