by <unknown>
“This is……”
Li Yao had somewhat of a toothache. He figured out that his circumstances would be very hard to explain clearly with just a few sentences.
The middle-aged disabled serviceman spoke, “Student Li Yao, Doctor Gu and I have talked. I understand your circumstances clearly. I know you can’t possibly accept your circumstances in such a short time, but…”
“The nation has national laws. The military has military rules. Rewards and penalties are defined clearly. Only in this way could we have strict compliance!”
“Before you entered the Limit Challenge Competition, you should have signed a document letting you know that all competitors are considered to be ad hoc enlisted military during the competition, possessing the status of a serviceman and having to comply with the orders of the military. Of course, you get to enjoy benefits provided by the military!”
“You faced a mutated large-eyed ape in the competition. You fully demonstrated the bloody battle spirit of the Federal Army by fighting face to face on a treacherous road and braving out victory by slaying the Demon Beast in the end!”
“If you had not struggled in a blood-soaked battle undaunted by danger, there would have likely been much more competitors meeting their bitter ends!”
“You received injuries for the sake of protecting your comrades in the midst of battle while under the status of a serviceman. You are obviously 100% a Disabled Serviceman of the Federation and are qualified to enjoy receiving the treatment of a war hero!”
“Remember this: The Federation never forgets each warrior who struggles for the nation. This compensation belongs to you, not a single cent can be missing!”
“If the nation was unconcerned with their heroes, if the nation remains indifferent when their heroes sink into bad circumstances… Who would defend this kind of nation? Who would fight their battles to the bloody end?”
“So no matter what you say, our nation will at least provide you with all basic necessities for this next half of your life since we can’t help you recover your ability to cultivate. And we will let you receive respect from the masses of society… This is what a nation ought to do. It’s what a nation absolutely must to do!”
The eye’s of this disabled veteran was like two scorching warblades deeply stabbing into Li Yao’s neural field.
Without waiting for Li Yao’s explanation, the disabled serviceman saluted, turned his body, and walked out of the room with large strides.
Despite half of his body being completely made of metal, when he walked, he still maintained a tall and straight posture like a pine tree. The distance between each step was completely identical, as if accurately measured by a ruler.
After the disabled serviceman left, Li Yao sat stunned on the edge of the medical treatment pod for a long time.
“Forget it. There’s no need to think about other matters. My priority is to restore my actual strength completely. This fact should naturally explain everything clearly.”
Even though this man had promised that he wouldn’t need to take the entrance exams and could directly enter the Federation’s First Military College’s and go to school as part of the Disabled Serviceman Special Class.
Li Yao immediately rejected this thought still.
One of the only reasons was that he was unwilling to take up the convenience of the Federation’s Disabled Servicemen.
A more important reason was that Li Yao still had not given up the idea of entering Deep Sea University.
“Only 7% remains of my Actualization Quotient, but this is just a temporary state. As long as I have enough energy and I go through appropriate cultivation training, I will soon be able to recover to my peak state!”
“There’s still a month’s time until the entrance exams. I can still give it my all!”
Upon discovering that he had actually consumed the memory shards of the Hundred Smelting Guild’s leader, Ou Yezi, larger ambitions were expanding at flying speeds in Li Yao’s heart,
Ou Yezi represented the highest level of crafting techniques in the ancient era of cultivation — an unsurpassable pinnacle.
And similarly, Deep Sea University possesses the strongest crafting techniques in the modern cultivation world.
If he could combine these two together…
“Godsword Lithe, Warblade Carnage Dragon, Spear Soul Devourer… These masterwork weapons crafted by Ou Yezi are powerful enough to slay old Spirit Transformation Stage monsters!”
“Although the treasures of heaven and earth needed to craft these masterwork weapons are hard to come by and there are many critical steps in crafting that are hard to reproduce in modern techniques, the theory of the essence operation is still the same!”
“If I could one day engulf these memory shards of Ou Yezi crafting these masterwork weapons, mastering the techniques behind these ancient weapons, figuring out the principles of the essence operations driving them, I’ll take these techniques and implement them into modern artifacts.”
“For example, if I can analyze and figure out the essence operation model of the three masterwork weapons Godsword Lithe, Warblade Carnage Dragon, and Spear Soul Devourer and apply it to the main cannon of crystal battleships, I’ll be able to craft three joint main cannons for battleships possessing the characteristics of these three masterwork weapons!”
“A single shell would be able to explosively kill an old Spirit Transformation Stage monster!”
“I can eliminate a mountain full of old Nascent Soul Stage monsters with a single volley from these three joint cannons!”
“How unreasonably powerful would that be? What tyranny! What a crisp and ecstatic matter!”
Li Yao’s heart stirred as he thought to this point. He took out his microprocessor from his bedside drawer and opened his e-crane application.
There were several hundred unanswered messages in his e-crane. Li Yao skimmed over at lightning speeds; the majority of the messages were from friends.
Among them were several dozens of messages sent by his bro for life Meng Jiang. They were all inquiries about his condition.
He looked at the times and found out they were all from within the last four weeks.
Li Yao typed out the three words “I have awakened” at lightning speeds and sent out the message. The other side did not respond; thinking about it, Meng Jiang should still be in class.
Then Li Yao entered Xie Tingxian’s e-crane number, searched him up, and sent him the following message: “This is Li Yao. I’ve awakened.”
Doctor Gu had just given this number to him.
Soon, Xie Tingxian’s wrinkle covered face flashed out with a paper crane from the hologram. He spoke with surprise and delight, “Student Li Yao, I just received the news from Doctor Gu. I was just about to get in touch with you. I didn’t expect you would wake up so soon. This is really something to celebrate!”
Chapter 74: Time and Tide Wait for No Man |
“Professor Xie, many thanks for your concern. I just finished a full-body inspection. The doctor said my body is a bit weak is all. I will start rehabilitation training immediately. I will attend the entrance exams in a month for sure, during which my number one ambition remains to be Deep Sea University.”
Li Yao had spoken filled with confidence.
Xie Tingxian’s smile stiffened. He said rather awkwardly, “Student Li Yao, I’ve recently discussed your condition with your assigned doctor. We’ve also discussed to a point of understanding about your situation… In my opinion, there’s no need for you to be hasty. The most important thing for you to do is to first properly take care of your body! Only a month remains until the entrance exams. No matter how much you try your best to cultivate, you won’t be able to produce a good score on the exam and there’s even the chance that you might completely break your body. Would that be worth it? It would be better to spend a year to recover and wait till next year. This would be good for everyone, right?”
Li Yao was stunned. His mind coursed with electricit
y and quickly understood. “Professor Xie, your school won’t give me a preferential score?”
Xie Tingxian’s old face went red. He hesitated for a long time before he nodded as he spoke, “Student Li Yao, you need to understand. To make the decision to give a preferential score treatment is an extremely serious matter in regards to time-established advanced education establishments such as Deep Sea University who possess deep inner resources. Every student given a preferential score need to go through a strict inspection. And the quota creates an utterly fierce competition. No one ever thought you would awaken in such a short time of a month according to your previous circumstance. So… someone else has seized your spot.”
After a pause, Xie Tingxian appeared to make a firm decision and continued, “And to tell the truth. Even though you’re awake now, only 7% of your Actualization Quotient is left. The chances of you testing into Deep Sea University this year are far too uncertain. Even if your required score decreases by twenty points or even thirty points, would that be of any use? Listen to me. Spend a year at home to properly recover and take a test for your Actualization Quotient next year. If your Actualization Quotient is restored to 70% or above, I will fight for you to receive a preferential score treatment or even special enrollment. I vow this to you, Student Li Yao!”
A person called from behind Xie Tingxian right at this moment. Xie Tingxian wiped off some sweat and said, “I’m terribly sorry, Student Li Yao. I’m in the middle of directing an extremely complicated project. We’re assisting the military with crafting the newest model of individual assault artifacts. I wasn’t able to make time to get in touch with you over the past few days… You are welcome to come contact me more in the future when there’s time. If you have any questions regarding cultivating, you can discuss them with me. I will help you with all my strength!”
“... I understand. Many thanks for your kindness, Professor Xie.”
Li Yao closed his e-crane application somewhat disappointedly. He blinked his eyes. He felt a sadness and frustration indescribable.
It was inevitable and expected that Deep Sea University canceled his qualifications to receive a preferential score treatment. According to the rules, he was “slain” by the large-eyed ape and totally lost all his points, even though his points beforehand was higher than the collective total of the next 9-10 students.
What’s even more was that all that remains of his Actualization Quotient was 7%. Anyone would take him to already have become a pile of trash through and through upon seeing this number.
Not a single school would give preferential treatment for this kind of trash.
But Li Yao still had a trace of disappointment born from the bottom of his heart.
“I know you don’t believe in me right now, Professor Xie. There isn’t anyone who would believe in me now. But that doesn’t matter. I’ll use my entrance exam score to speak for me a month from now!”
“I don’t need special enrollment, and I don’t need preferential score treatment. I will enter Deep Sea University properly and frankly using my own strength!”
“But if you were able to believe in me in this moment for just a little bit. How great would that be…”
After thinking and pondering, Li Yao decided to first go to school and check out what’s going on.
He remembered that Headmaster Zhao Shude treated him with complete importance while he was back on Devil Dragon Island. The Headmaster was even willing to represent the Crimson Nimbus Guild in signing an Entrusted Education contract with him.
He had turned into trash in the eyes of others; this contract certainly is null and void. But he could ask the teacher of the Important Class to create a thirty day final sprint training program for him and also divert some school resources to nurture him. To let him strive with all his might in the entrance exams… This single request wouldn’t be excessive right?
……
Upon leaving the hospital, Li Yao chose to ride the underground crystal rail in order to save on time.
He was just about to take out his gold transfer card and swipe at the underground ticket window when a crystal processor monitor within the window suddenly shot out with faint green ray. The ray scanned Li Yao’s face and went beep beep, turning gold.
An utterly stiff voice sounded out on the spot, “This passenger should be a Class 1 Serviceman of the Federation according to facial recognition. This passenger may ride all public transport within the Federation free of charge.”
The missus behind the ticket window went “ah!” and her face was full of admiration. As she passed over the ticket covered with glyph script, she looked through the window with curiosity to size up Li Yao.
Her beautiful eyes immediately sparkled and shined as soon as she found out how unexpectedly young Li Yao was. She shouted with amazement: “Oh my! You’re so young and yet you’re already a Class 1 Disabled Serviceman of the Federation? How amazing! My name is Li Sisi. Can we get to know each other?”
With that hungry appearance of hers, she would probably have directly leapt out if it were not for the counter blocking her way.
Li Yao didn’t expect to enjoy the status of being a Class 1 Disabled Serviceman of the Federation so soon. His cheeks burned red from the hungry fixed eyes of the ticket seller missus.
“Crazy! So the status of a Class 1 Disabled Serviceman of the infantry actually has this kind of power? No wonder so many hot-blooded youths strive over each other to enter the Federal army, to be willing to struggle and be bathed in blood — to purge evil!”
It was already four in the afternoon by the time he arrived at Crimson Nimbus Second.
At this time, the first and second year students were starting to be dismissed one after another. Quite a few flying shuttles were descending and rising at the parking lot to the side of the school.
The third year students also finished up their heavy morning classes. They were right in the middle of walking beneath the shade of the trees on campus or on the sports field to get fresh air; they were preparing to continue with an all night cramming session after dinner.
As Li Yao walked through the school gate, he raised his head to take a look. The entrance exam countdown sign was still there. Upon it were the words: “Time until the entrance exams: 31 Days 7 Hours 44 Minutes and 32 Seconds remain!”
Time and tide wait for no man!
Li Yao clenched his fist tight and he felt his hot blood start to boil in every vein of his body. He itched to start cultivating like crazy right now.
He walked with large strides towards the classroom.
At first, nobody recognized him due to his quite petite figure; he simply was just skin and bones. But soon, a student pointed at him and shouted, “Isn’t that Li Yao?”
“What? Li Yao? That fleeting and passing Fiend Star? Wasn’t he in an accident on Devil Flood Dragon Island and is still sleeping in a coma?”
“It really is Li Yao! He actually woke up! But he’s gotten so skinny. It’s like he’s shed his form!”
“Ah! He was quite buff in the video of him in Devil Flood Dragon Island. I never expected he would turn into this purely miserable and ghastly appearance!”
“I’ve heard that his brain took a mental attack and his spirit root to be torn to shreds. Only 7% of his Actualization Quotient is left. He’s simply a cripple… What has he come to school for?”
The numerous students whispered secretly in each others’ ears.
The students who were just about to leave also halted in their place. Some students even faced towards their parents to explain the situation. They dragged their parents to come look at the lively scene.
After all, Li Yao was still the man of the hour at Crimson Nimbus Second, even though it’s more of the negative type of famous.
Li Yao’s five senses were quite keener than they were in the past. He heard the whispers of the numerous students clearly; however, he did not stop moving to explain himself.
Many things don’t need to be explained. Just wait
until the entrance exams scores are announced, then everyone will naturally know that this Fiend Star absolutely isn’t fleeting and passing by!
Only, a tall figure appeared right in front of him before he could enter the school building.
This guy brought a smile on his face. Faint sneering and ridicule were contained deeply in his irises. It was Helian Lie.
Chapter 75: Abandoning All Civility |
“Fellow Student Li Yao, I never thought you would wake up so quickly. Your vitality is quite astonishing, just like an unkillable cockroach. Really, congratulations!”
Helian Lie towered above him arrogantly. He stooped down next to Li Yao’s ear and spoke softly.
The surrounding students were unable to hear his words. They could only see the overflowing cordial smile on his face. They even believed that these two people had already resolved their conflicts and that Helian Lie was welcoming Li Yao back to school!
Li Yao raised his eyebrows. After swallowing a great amount of Ou Yezi’s memory shards, his true strength had increased astonishingly. This fellow Helian Lie was completely reduced to the same level of existence as cannon fodder. He really wasn’t worth getting angry over.
Once again, Li Yao thought of Zheng Dongming.
Only those monsters like Zheng Dongming who can cultivate in both spiritual energy and tenebrum were qualified to become his enemy or prey, to force him to bring out his full spirit in the hunt.
Helian Lie was indistinguishable from the food between his teeth!
“Fellow Student Helian Lie, please pardon me.” Li Yao’s face was expressionless. He had spoken completely undisturbed.
Helian Lie’s eyebrows shot up. It seemed that he didn’t anticipate that Li Yao would still dare to be undisturbed in front of him, even to the point of unconcern.