First, he pulled off a stunning comeback under the heavy burden of his grievous injuries, defeating the hot favorite Ouyang Duanhua. Then, he was arrested for a murder case only to be cleared later. And now, he stood firmly on the grand stage of the finals. If one were to say that Ouyang Ye was the biggest dark horse in the tournament's history, it would certainly receive widespread agreement from the audience.
His opponent today was Zhou Zhaolin, a metal-type meta-human, a student with both formidable strength and luck. When the match began, he was only at the initial stage of the fifth level, but he broke through continuously in combat, even reaching the threshold of the initial stage of the sixth level yesterday.
A combat-oriented player like him should have been the heavy favorite to win the championship. However, Ouyang Ye had cut down too many favorites, and the organizers did not dare to easily predict the outcome of this match. The betting company's website had closed before the preliminaries ended, so even as Ouyang Ye continued to upset the odds, they had no chance to adjust the odds.
The host introduced the two contestants and lamented, "I'm sure very few people bet on Ouyang Ye. Most people lost their underwear in the match two days ago. Unfortunately, I was one of them. I never would have thought that Ouyang Duanhua would lose so miserably. Well, enough talk. The two contestants have already taken the stage and are saluting each other."
"They've moved simultaneously. You can see that in this tournament, the contestants who have reached the final stages are all incredibly strong geniuses, skilled in both long-range and close combat. Ouyang Ye is still using his reckless style. He still isn't wearing a signal transmitter, and if he loses, he might never walk out of here alive. Both are berserkers, so they've abandoned long-range attacks right from the start, although it could be due to the greater energy consumption of long-range attacks. It seems that Zhou Zhaolin is very smart, knowing that in a contest of total energy, he would definitely lose to Ouyang Ye."
Some of the audience booed in disagreement, and the host, eager to show off his knowledge, quickly added, "In theory, the level of a meta-human's energy is determined by their rank. The higher the rank, the greater the energy reserve, and the longer they can fight. However, this principle does not apply to contestants who have mastered elemental manipulation. Why? Because their use of elements has reached the peak of perfection, causing virtually no waste. To unleash a major attack, an ordinary meta-human might expend 5% of their energy reserve, but they would need only 1%, or even less. You can do the math; after this kind of battle, others' energy will be depleted, but how much will they have left? It could be said that under the same rank and energy reserve, their endurance is at least twice that of ordinary meta-humans."
The host took a sip of water and continued to brag, "Moreover, Ouyang Ye has also mastered mental manipulation. What is mental manipulation? It means that when he uses his abilities, he does not need to make any preliminary gestures; he only needs to think to trigger the energy within him. When his mental power is dispersed, it has a high probability of causing a chain reaction of elemental particles in the air. Everyone should know the principle of a dust explosion, and the concentration of elemental particles in the air is much higher than the proportion required for a dust explosion. In other words, when one elemental particle is ignited, it can likely ignite other elemental particles of the same attribute, causing unimaginable destruction. I once had the privilege of witnessing a battle between level ten experts. A whole forest was completely destroyed and turned into scorched earth under their attacks."
"A meta-human who has mastered elemental and mental manipulation can only be described with the word 'terrifying.' This is why Ouyang Ye, at only the initial stage of the fourth level, has continuously defeated fifth and sixth level contestants. To a genius like him, challenging higher levels is nothing. This reminds me of the former Young Master Yan, who..."
Yan Bo, sitting beside him, coughed, and the host immediately interrupted his topic, redirecting his attention back to the contest. "You can see that Ouyang Ye is always attacking and never defending. His tactic can be summed up in one sentence - the best defense is offense. No matter where Zhou Zhaolin attempts to attack him, he does not dodge, but instead aims for his opponent's vital points. Others are not like him, willing to risk their lives, so they have no choice but to abandon their previous offensive actions and switch to defense. This reminds me of an old saying - the barefoot are not afraid of the shoed. When cautious people encounter those who are willing to risk their lives, the cautious will always suffer."
The battle on the stage gradually became intense, and the host's speaking speed significantly increased. "After several failed attacks, Zhou Zhaolin is forced to create distance and choose long-range attacks. His metal shield on the surface of his body has been melted into a liquid by Ouyang Ye's fire element and is dripping down. Although metal-type meta-humans are heat-resistant, they are far from being as heat-resistant as fire-type meta-humans. He seems to have been burned, quickly wiping off the molten metal and retreating far to the corner."
"Oh no, he's raised his hand, a sign of a major attack. But I must say, it's not a wise choice to unleash a major attack at this time. He will soon enter a period of exhaustion, and Ouyang Ye hasn't even broken a sweat yet."
"He has summoned a rain of swords, dense and powerful, almost enveloping every corner of the contest stage. Unless Ouyang Ye can instantly disappear, he will have to take this critical hit. Hmm? Ouyang Ye has also swung out a fire dragon, intending to clash head-on with Zhou Zhaolin."
The host slapped the table in shock, "Another stunning reversal! Ouyang Ye's strength is too difficult to gauge! He's advanced, he must have advanced, his fire dragon coiled into the sky, melting all the swords into liquid. The scorching metal solution did not cause him any harm. The temperature of the fire dragon, capable of instantly dissolving so many metal swords, can be imagined. This level of skill is far beyond what a fourth-level meta-human could achieve. Ah, an amazing scene has unfolded. The liquid metal is floating, rapidly coalescing into a sword, and under the guidance of the wind blade swung by Ouyang Ye, it counterattacks Zhou Zhaolin. What kind of move is this? What principle is involved? Can wind-type abilities be used in such a way?"
"Zhou Zhaolin is indeed very experienced in actual combat. He had already condensed layer after layer of metal shields around his body, blocking this sudden counterattack. Good, he perfectly avoided the rain of swords."
The host narrowed his eyes in horror, "No, wait, there's another sword! It's a black-red longsword that emerged from the tip of Ouyang Ye's black-cyan longsword after the rain of swords fell, striking through Zhou Zhaolin's defensive layers and piercing his abdomen. The fire element did not explode, and Zhou Zhaolin narrowly escaped death. But it could also be because Ouyang Ye had no grudge against him, so he held back. Even so, his vital functions have rapidly declined to 20%, triggering his energy shield. The match is over, without a doubt. Compared to a genius, ordinary people are still ordinary, no matter how high their rank, it's hard for them to gain an advantage."
The host took a swig of water and sighed, "Who could have imagined Ouyang Ye's achievements before the match began? He had originally been abandoned by his family, but after today, he will surely be welcomed back with great honor. This is truly a model of an inspirational story! And his brother, once hailed as the first genius of Neptune, Ouyang Duanhua, is now a cripple. By the way, I have to clarify that Ouyang Ye had nothing to do with it. The police official website has released a statement that on the night Ouyang Duanhua had his mishap, Ouyang Ye was outside partying with friends, leaving him with no time to commit the crime. It can only be said that Ouyang Duanhua offended too many people and has now received his retribution."
The host looked at his buzzing smart-brain and gossiped, "Just received news that contestant Ouyang Duanhua, who had left Neptune, has returned. No, no, no, he's not here to watch the match. The Supreme Court's verdict has come down. He previously committed willful harm and will serve a fifty-year sentence in prison. What bad luck he has."
Seeing the host's excitement, Yan Bo also picked up a topic to chat about. "I'm still more interested in Ouyang Ye's sword within a sword. I clearly saw the black-cyan one break that day, but I didn't expect it to still be in use today. It seems he had a blacksmith repair it in time. Forging weapons out of spatial materials is a truly bold and innovative approach, and it has been a huge success. Now, some arms dealers have already started selling such weapons. Limited by the superposition of the three-dimensional space and the six-dimensional space, this type of weapon can at most conceal nine layers. But that's enough. To meta-humans adept at stealth attacks or assassinations, they are absolutely the best option."
The audience had long forgotten Ouyang Ye's sin of making them lose money, standing up to applaud and cheer for him. Some people were even eager to log onto the Star Network to buy a sword within a sword to play with. It could be imagined that this type of weapon would become a fleeting fashion.
Ouyang Ye pulled the fire sword out of Zhou Zhaolin's abdomen, shook his hand, and informed him that he hadn't left any fire elements in the wound, so he could rest assured to treat it. They became friends in an unexpected twist, and as they left the contest stage, he looked up to the VIP room on the third floor, placing his fist against his heart in a salute and shouting, "All my honors belong to you."
The audience interpreted this as a declaration of love, whistling in response. No one dared to say that Qi Ze had climbed higher branches or was a scheming bitch anymore. Because the Ouyang Ye standing beside him was no longer the worthless Ouyang Ye, but a promising, potential-filled super rookie.
Qi Ze sat calmly on the sofa, clapping slowly, his eyes and eyebrows filled with uncontrollable smiles. Yan Junyu, however, held a cigarette in his mouth, staring deeply at the holographic screen. He routinely transferred two thousand more from Qi Ze's account, gently saying, "In a few days is the mecha competition, will you come?"
"Yes, I'll bet on Wang Xuan to win everything," Qi Ze opened the backstage, tirelessly counting how many zeros were in his account. Saving enough money, he planned to open a store, pay tuition fees, and buy energy stones. Energy stones in the Black Eye Galaxy were not cheap, and those of high purity could be sold at astronomical prices, on a different level from antiques. Moreover, not just anyone could buy them; one needed a specific identity.
Energy stones were mostly used in industry and the military, and individuals who wanted to purchase them had to present a mecha fighter or mecha engineer's certificate. Only these two types of people needed energy stones in their daily lives. Therefore, Qi Ze was preparing to transfer to the Mecha Engineering Department to obtain a legal identity and rights.
Knowing that the young man would still come, Yan Junyu's heartstrings relaxed slightly. He sent the boy back to the dormitory and gave him some instructions before leaving. Ouyang Ye had been waiting in the living room, hugging the Wind Forest and Fire Sea to clean, while the golden trophy was thrown aside.
"Why did you take so long to come back? I originally wanted to meet you, but there were too many people congratulating me, and I couldn't spare the time. Do you know," Ouyang Ye looked up to the youth, slowly saying, "my uncle cried. He hugged me and cried like a child. He said my mother would be proud of me. It was all like a dream. I slapped myself several times and didn't wake up."
After saying this, he chuckled foolishly.
Qi Ze walked over and slapped his handsome cheek, asking, "Awake now?"
"Woke up. You're real, I'm real, and Wind Forest and Fire Sea are even more real." Ouyang Ye instantly returned to his carefree demeanor, wanting to kiss Young Master Qi but was kicked away with disdain. His smart-brain kept ringing with dings, indicating many people wanted to contact him. Some asked which master had crafted the two swords, others asked for his training secrets. The two most important emails came from the Ouyang Family and the Imperial Military Academy.
Ouyang Ye opened the Imperial Military Academy's email, his excited mood slowly calming down. He sighed, "Young Master Qi, I got the admission notice. They want me to register in early October. Are you going? If you're not going, I won't go either. They want me to study the Mecha Fighter Department, but I'm not a true meta-human, without mental energy. I can't control a mecha at all."
"Other than the Mecha Fighter Department, what other departments can you apply for?"
"There's also the Command Department or the Infantry Department. The Command Department doesn't suit me. I don't have the brains for it. The Infantry Department is also called the Cannon Fodder Department. Mecha fighters destroy enemies in the air, while we provide strategic support on the ground. The death toll is several times higher than theirs. But I'm not afraid of death, so this department is quite suitable for me."
"Then apply to the Infantry Department, I'm also transferring to the Imperial Military Academy," Qi Ze decided. "I've already submitted the department transfer application and am waiting for the Academic Affairs Department's notification."
Ouyang Ye's anxious heart turned to surprise in an instant, asking, "What department are you thinking of applying for?"
"The Mecha Engineering Department. I want to learn your forging techniques here."
Ouyang Ye was stunned, hesitating. "I've heard that the Mecha Engineering Department is the hardest department to get into. You're also changing majors, and you need to take at least thirty exams to prove you have a solid foundation. Additionally, you need to undergo a mental energy test, and only those who reach level A can be admitted. Shao Qi, your mental energy is definitely not a problem, but the academic exams are a bit of a hassle. You don't usually read books, let alone understand the basics of chemistry and physics, let alone spatial science, mechanical science, quantum science, genetics, and mechanics. Why don't you first apply for a department that's easier to get into, and when we get to the Imperial Star, we can slowly figure out a way?"
Qi Ze, since he had this idea, naturally had already made preparations. He opened his smart-brain and said, "It's not thirty exams, but forty-six, and you need to reach an A+ in every one." There was a ding sound, and an email had arrived. He opened it, and his expression instantly became very strange. "The Academic Affairs Department just rejected my application, citing 'respect for life' as the reason. What does this mean?"
Ouyang Ye glanced at it a few times, worried. "Carbon-based beings' bodies are very fragile. Once their mental energy is too high, they will die from cerebral failure. In history, no carbon-based beings with high mental energy have lived to adulthood. That's why the school rejected you, afraid you'd die before graduating, causing them trouble. By the way, Shao Qi, are you okay?"
The extent of Young Master Qi's mental energy was something Ouyang Ye knew a little about. He could remain calm in an elemental vortex and freely absorb elements of various attributes into the weapons he forged. This was something no one else could do. Ouyang Ye had seen him create various small trinkets of various attributes more than once: wind-type shoes, wood-type whips, earth-type staffs, water-type vials. If he wasn't a full-attribute meta-human, Ouyang Ye wouldn't believe it himself.
Moreover, his physique wasn't at the level he filled out on his profile. Judging by the intensity of his weapon forging every day, he was at least level B. This kind of person was a carbon-based being, how could silicone beings live?
Qi Ze shook his head. "I won't die even if you die. Don't worry about it. What should I do if I insist on applying to the Mecha Engineering Department?"
"In that case, you need to find a guarantor. I'm not clear on the specifics, I've only heard my uncle mention it once. The guarantor will be responsible for your every move in school. If something happens to you, they won't be able to escape either. To put it bluntly, if you die from overuse of mental energy, they will have to clean up your remains, pay a huge fine, and bear all negative public opinion. You also know that human rights organizations have been paying close attention to disadvantaged groups recently, stirring up endless trouble. Once this matter gets out, the person who guarantees you will first be labeled with the cap of 'disregarding human life,' which can't be taken off."
"I see. So I need to find someone I trust completely and who also trusts me. That's you then," Qi Ze had the idea of enlisting Ouyang Ye's help.
Ouyang Ye was ecstatic, laughing foolishly while dialing his uncle's number. "You actually trust me so much, Shao Qi? Hahaha, I'll ask my uncle how exactly to handle this, what procedures need to be followed." After the call was connected, Li Yu immediately rejected the two's proposal, stating that a guarantor could only be a school tutor to ensure responsibility. Otherwise, if a student had an accident, and the guarantor ran away, the school would still have to help clean up the mess.
Ouyang Ye's excited mood sputtered out, wailing, "Who would be willing to do this shit? They don't know that Shao Qi isn't an ordinary person."
Li Yu said he would try to find a way and then hung up the call. As soon as he made a move, the news was passed on to Yan Junyu through Yan Bo. Yan Bo was as if he had heard some incredible news, whispering to his childhood friend, "You'd never guess, even if you died, that Qi Ze is actually a mutant of carbon-based beings, with his mental energy reaching level A. He's preparing to apply for the Imperial Military Academy's Mecha Engineering Department. Unfortunately, the school doesn't dare to handle his application, and Li Yu is helping him look for ways everywhere."
"Mental energy at level A? Has it been tested?" Yan Junyu's heart trembled violently, inexplicably feeling fear. He knew all too well what overly high mental energy meant for carbon-based beings. Perhaps in three to five years, or even one to two years, Qi Ze would no longer exist in this world.
"Not tested. But since he dares to apply, he definitely won't lie, unless he's crazy."
Qi Ze never did anything without assurance, something Yan Junyu could be sure of. He took out a cigarette, but no matter how he tried, he couldn't spit out thunder and fire from his fingertips. He helplessly crushed it and threw it into the trash can, then dialed Qi Ze's phone. The young man looked energetic, his eyes black and bright, full of spirit. But just thinking that in a few years, he would never see this familiar yet strange face again, Yan Junyu felt a stuffiness in his chest.
His Adam's apple moved slightly, and he said in a hoarse voice, "I heard you're planning to transfer to the Mecha Engineering Department? Is your mental energy really at level A?"
With a nutrient solution in his mouth, Qi Ze mumbled, "Yes, and it's still rising. In the future, it might reach level S, or even higher." He didn't want to hide his abilities anymore. Hiding them further could only mean a lifetime on a lower planet. Lower planets had extremely scarce resources, and many spiritual items were simply unobtainable, greatly hindering his cultivation.
There was a saying - golden scales are not creatures of the pond, once they encounter the wind and clouds, they transform into dragons. Thinking the other way around, how could one encounter the wind and clouds by staying in a small pond? To soar through the skies, one must first venture into a broader world.
The capital of the Empire, Imperial Star, was a place Qi Ze was determined to reach.
His eyes suddenly lit up, testing the waters. "Can I ask you for a favor? How about you being my guarantor? Don't you have a position at the Imperial Military Academy?"
Yan Junyu answered a different question, "Tell me the truth. Can your body withstand such a load? Will you..." He never dared to utter the word 'die'.
"People all die, you do too," Qi Ze didn't care, waving his hand. "But I can guarantee that I will definitely live longer than you. If you believe me, help me guarantee. If you don't believe me, I'll find another way." He would never force someone to agree to such an unreasonable request. Yan Junyu owed him a little favor, but whether he repaid it was his own decision. Moreover, he lost his memory, and to him, Qi Ze was only a student, or a former suitor, not that significant.
Yan Junyu lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, slowly nodding. "I believe you, I'll help you guarantee." He didn't say more, asking Qi Ze to transmit the related information before hanging up the call.
Yan Bo, who listened to the whole conversation, exploded in rage. "Junyu, you fucking really lost your mind! Do you know how much responsibility you'll be taking on by guaranteeing him? His academics, his life, his future, and even his life will need you to bear. He's applying for the Mecha Engineering Department. The students in this department must bind with a mecha pilot before graduation. This is an internship task, and if it's not completed, they'll never graduate. But he's a carbon-based being, who would choose him? And as his guarantor, you must take his place! What about Mu Ran? Who will be his partner? He says he won't die, and you really believe him? He may be dead in a few years, and then others will attack you over this. This is a mess, a super mess, you obviously know this, yet you step right in. I wonder how you'll explain this to Mu Ran when you get back!"
Yan Junyu was silent for a moment, uttering word by word, "I don't need to explain my decisions to anyone. I believe in Qi Ze."