Li Ziqian took off his clothes, revealing the interface. Qi Ze squatted beside him, slowly tightening the newly assembled mechanical arm.
"Give it a try moving around?" he instructed.
Li Ziqian moved in every direction, smiling. "It's very smooth. It seems I'll have to ask my junior for more help in the future."
"As long as I'm available." Qi Ze put the remaining parts into a box, stood up, and said, "Anything else? If not, I'm going back to my room to sleep."
"Goodnight, junior." Li Ziqian bowed politely, his gaze following the youth until he disappeared behind the door.
Ouyang Ye saw that Young Master Qi had left, so he also went to the basement to practice swordsmanship. Mo Tianlei really wanted to chat with his idol, but before he could start a conversation, he noticed his idol's warm expression turn extremely cold. The golden-brown vertical pupils gave him a faint glance, and it was enough to chill him to the bone. He realized then that this person, despite his disability, was still the young patriarch of the Li family and the future leader of the First Legion. The beastly blood flowing in his veins destined him not to be an easy person to get along with.
"Senior, I'll go to sleep too. Goodnight." Mo Tianlei hastily got up to leave.
"Goodnight." Li Ziqian smiled, but there was no warmth in his eyes.
Yan Junyu pointed to the wheelchair and asked, "Should I take you back to your room? Where are Deng Feng and Meng Kui? Can Uncle Li feel at ease?"
"This is the safest place; how could they not be at ease?" Li Ziqian nodded. "Then I'll trouble my junior to give me a push. Back when you were just a little kid, I didn't expect you to grow up so fast. How did you and Junior Qi Ze meet? Seems like you have a good relationship?"
Yan Junyu didn't want to discuss Qi Ze and avoided the question. "I used to be his instructor. Speaking of which, Senior, you should be changing your major this time, right? Mu Ran is a 4S mental power user. You can have him take a look at your wound. If he can eliminate those elemental forces, the chances of recovery are quite high."
"I'll switch to the Command Department." Li Ziqian laughed coldly. "You should know very well why I ended up like this, Junior. As I said, even if I die, I won't beg the Mu family for help. Oh, right, I almost forgot. The Mu family no longer exists."
Yan Junyu didn't say anything further, silently pushing him back to his room. Mu Qi had also died in that war, and Mu Yun blamed Li Ziqian for it, refusing to treat his wound and forbidding any S-level mental power physicians from assisting him. The Mu family had great power and could get others to follow their lead, so Li Ziqian's injury was delayed, and it became worse year by year, quickly turning him into a half-dead cripple. The Li and Mu families went from being in-laws to enemies.
But who would have thought that Mu Yun, who once wielded power in the empire, would now become a charred corpse? This was probably what the ancients meant by "the fickleness of life."
Neither of them spoke, and the atmosphere became awkward. Yan Junyu thought for a long time and continued, "Senior, as long as you're alive, there's always hope. You won't know until you try. Based on Mu Ran's character, he won't stand by and let someone die."
Li Ziqian stood up, supported by the edge of the bed, his smile somewhat strange. "You're right. As long as I'm alive, there's always hope. I've already found my hope, so I don't need you to worry. You value Mu Ran, that's your business. In any case, I will never have any dealings with anyone surnamed Mu for the rest of my life. Did you know? In fact, the heavens weren't that cruel to me. They took away my limbs and abilities but didn't rob me of my dignity as a man. Thinking about it this way, I feel much better."
Yan Junyu, "...Senior, if you can sort out your thoughts, it's good. After all these years, I thought you had become quite depressed. But now, you seem a bit more optimistic than before."
Li Ziqian smiled genuinely. "Good things happen, and people naturally become optimistic. Alright, you should go back."
Yan Junyu left, and after closing the door, he stood in the hallway for a while, feeling more and more uneasy. Those words didn't sound like the senior's style; they were too coarse. Just as he left, Qi Ze appeared in Young Master Li's room using earth penetration and sat down on the soft sofa.
Li Ziqian was not surprised by the sudden appearance, respectfully saying, "Master, visiting so late at night, you must have some ideas for the modification plan?" He feared not the master's sudden appearances, but rather his disappearances. Otherwise, he wouldn't have hurriedly chased him to the school.
"I have some ideas and need your help to collect some materials," Qi Ze gave him a heads-up.
"What kind of materials?"
"How much do you weigh?" Qi Ze asked instead of answering.
Li Ziqian was taken aback, hesitating. "Are you asking about my current weight or the past?"
"In the past."
"116 kilograms." Li Ziqian had a nostalgic look on his face.
"Then collect five times that weight in energy stones, and don't make the grade too high. If you can find those discarded scraps, that would be best." Seeing Young Master Li's puzzled expression, Qi Ze explained, "These energy stones will be used to create your body. If the grade is too high, the extracted demonic qi will be less, only wasting the cost."
"Use energy stones to build a body? And the lowest grade energy stones?" Li Ziqian was a bit bewildered.
"Strictly speaking, it's not energy stones but the impurities separated from them." Qi Ze took out an energy stone from his Interspatial Button and reversed the Fusion Force, separating the violent energy inside for Li Ziqian to see. "This black energy stone shares the same source as the demonic qi in your body but has no radioactivity, so it can perfectly encapsulate the demon seed within you. However, it also has excellent conductivity. By simply inputting a thought, the energy inside can be quickly extracted, making it the most suitable choice for shaping your body."
"Can it encapsulate R-type ore and completely isolate the radiation contamination?" Li Ziqian thought of something, his eyes becoming incredibly sharp. "Master, was it you who blew up the Mu family's old residence?" He couldn't think of any other god-like person in the Black Eye Galaxy who could be so bold and adept at controlling radioactive elements. They could detonate at will and dissipate at will. Aside from the Mu family, there wasn't a single innocent victim in the Imperial Star. Those so-called experts and professors still couldn't find any clues.
If Master did it, everything would make sense. The Mu family was too prone to seek trouble, even when Master was just taking an exam. They jumped out to assert their presence and even threatened to mete out the severest punishment. With Master's strange temper, there was no way he would just sit there and take a beating.
Li Ziqian thought for a moment and became even more certain of his guess. Then he remembered Master's technique for separating energy stones and was startled. Taking an energy stone and separating it into one black and one white piece, the black was deep and the white was crystal clear. Was the energy inside also as pure as the appearance, at a hundred percent purity?
Back then, even Master Mu Feixing only managed to purify 88%! Li Ziqian didn't dare to think anymore, and his attitude towards Qi Ze became even more respectful. He even suspected that under this youthful facade, resided a monster that had lived for several hundred or even thousands of years.
Qi Ze neither confirmed nor denied it, continuing, "The lower the grade of an energy stone, the more impurities, and the more demonic qi you can extract. Five times the weight should be about enough."
"Alright, I'll have someone prepare it right away. Master, what else do you need?" Li Ziqian opened his notebook, ready to make a list, but the master waved his hand, disappearing as he had come. Li Ziqian stared at the empty sofa for a while before contacting his subordinates. On the very first day of moving in, he developed a strong anticipation for his future.
Yan Junyu pondered for an entire evening, eventually bringing Qi Ze to the principal's office.
"You want him to take the Mecha Engineer Qualification Exam? But he's a transfer student. Although his transfer grades are good, they are all basic things. It's not hard to get high scores. In fact, I've already seen his application for skipping grades, which I was planning to reject. Learning is a process of accumulation, not something that can be achieved overnight," Principal Helian spun the electronic pen in his hand.
"He has a natural talent for learning but doesn't have the time an ordinary person does. Principal, please give him a chance," Yan Junyu was resolute. Since Qi Ze wanted to fly, he couldn't be the rope holding him back.
"But you must understand that each student only has three chances to take the exam," warned Principal Helian. "You're indulging him like this, not helping him but harming him. Wasting one chance will narrow his path significantly. Even a genius like Mu Ran only applied for the exam in his third year. He's only been in school for half a month and had his first class yesterday."
"I believe he can do it." Yan Junyu didn't change his mind.
Principal Helian had no choice but to persuade Qi Ze, "Student Qi, think it over clearly. If you don't pass this time, you'll only have two chances left. I looked at your transcript, forty-seven S's, indeed remarkable, but they are all the most basic things, not even counting as an entry-level. Have you listened to Instructor Mu Ran's class? Do you know how old he was when he took the Qualification Exam? Twenty-four years old, how old are you now? Do you have confidence to surpass him? You must know that he started learning mecha manufacturing technology from a young age and was exposed to the core things, yet he didn't dare to be as rash as you."
"Mu Ran is Mu Ran, I'm me. We're not comparable," Qi Ze's tone was calm. "Wasting a chance is my own business. Thank you, Principal, for your concern."
How can this kid not listen to advice! Principal Helian looked at Yan Junyu again, but the other nodded, saying, "Sign your name, Qi Ze knows what he's doing." From now on, he wouldn't hinder any of the youth's decisions.
Principal Helian had no choice but to sign the application letter, immediately arranging a single-person examination room for Qi Ze. Before Qi Ze entered the examination room, he still nagged, "You'll regret it. There's an old saying â spoiling a child is like killing them. You're spoiling him like this, and sooner or later, you'll harm him. Just wait and see, when he comes out of the examination room, he might even resent you for not stopping him. I've seen too many kids like this, rebellious, bold, yet fond of avoiding reality. Once they encounter setbacks, they blame the heavens and others, shoving the blame onto others. Who are you to him? His father or mother? Signing a guarantee is enough, how can you always stand up for him? You're just a hair's breadth away from being completely subservient! Hey, you wouldn't be trying to harm him by spoiling him, would you? Do you hold a grudge against him for leaking the Mu family's source code? I heard you even got Mu Ran over to your side. What are you thinking?"
The more Yan Junyu listened, the darker his face became, and he said in a low voice, "I won't harm Qi Ze, Principal, you're overthinking. By the way, I never saw him as a son."
Principal Helian looked at him with half-belief and half-doubt, then fell silent.
In just half an hour, the light on the examination board went off, and the main brain immediately graded the paper, with a large S appearing on the bulletin board.
Principal Helian was dumbfounded, just about to go into the examination room, when the light came on again. Qi Ze was planning to take the Level 2 Certificate Exam right away. The Imperial Academy didn't have strict regulations about the specific time for exams. If a student felt they were competent enough, they could submit an application. Some, out of fear of wasting opportunities, wouldn't take their first exam until seventh grade, with some taking three or four levels at once.
Qi Ze's actions were not uncommon, but the oddity was that he was only in first grade, having just had one day of class. Seeing the news on the bulletin board, his classmates almost thought there was something wrong with their eyes. Qi Ze? That carbon-based human who didn't even pay attention to Instructor Mu's class, had actually passed the Level 1 Qualification Exam? This world was too fantastical!
Mu Ran also raised his eyebrows, his expression slightly stunned.
"Well, quite capable!" Principal Helian praised.
"It's not just that capable." Yan Junyu smiled, his heart filled with a strong sense of pride.
The light went out again, and the bright red S reappeared on the bulletin board. Principal Helian thought Qi Ze would stop, but unexpectedly, he lightly tapped the desktop, pulling out the Level 3 Certificate paper.
"Still taking an exam?" Principal Helian was dumbfounded, confirming, "He's eighteen years old, previously studied in the Arts Department, and only started learning mecha manufacturing technology less than half a year ago. This information isn't wrong, right?"
"It's not wrong."
"Eighteen years old, getting a Level 2 Certificate is already a genius. Know when to stop," Principal Helian shook his head.
"When to stop, Qi Ze knows. He's very decisive. I'm only a guarantor, not his master. He wants to do what he wants, and I support him one hundred percent," Yan Junyu solemnly clarified his stance.
Principal Helian didn't say anything, only staring closely at the sign on the door. An hour later, the red light went out. The main brain spent five minutes grading, but Qi Ze didn't come out, indicating he planned to continue. The grade was still an S, as if history was repeating itself. All those staring at the bulletin board had to face the existence of Qi Ze. He was indeed a carbon-based human, but his abilities were no less than those of silicon-based humans. At least in terms of intelligence, he had surpassed his peers.
"Got the Level 3 Certificate, and I heard he's preparing for Level 4. Getting a Level 4 Certificate in first grade, is this even human? Just how high is his IQ? They should have tested it when he enrolled!" a student said with his tongue out.
"Level 4 Certificate hasn't been obtained yet, don't speak too confidently," someone countered.
"Getting Level 3 is already impressive. Why don't you try it?" The students who previously looked down on Qi Ze had completely changed their views.
"No wonder he always seemed absent-minded in class; it was because it was too simple!" someone suddenly realized.
Mu Ran stared at the bulletin board, feeling a strange unease in his heart.
The exam was still ongoing. After Level 4 came Level 5, after Level 5 came Level 6, immediately followed by Level 7, Level 8, and Level 9. If it weren't for the late hour and the main brain's decision to close the examination room, Qi Ze would have continued. He wasn't afraid of high-profile actions; with Mu Ran in front, no matter how high-profile, he had nothing to fear. Moreover, he still had a carbon-based human identity as a cover. In the eyes of others, he was just a gifted short-lived creature, not very useful. Appropriately gaining fame could broaden his network, generally beneficial.
"I guessed you'd take the Level 9 exam." Seeing the youth emerge from the examination room, Yan Junyu immediately went to meet him.
"Congratulations, Student Qi Ze." Principal Helian's attitude had completely changed, inquiring, "If you have time, can you share your learning experience on the campus network? You don't know, do you? Almost all the students were following this exam. They greatly admire your achievements. An eighteen-year-old Level 9 mecha engineer, although lacking in practical experience, is already remarkable."
"I actually don't have any secrets. I'm just good at seizing time. If they, like me, only have a short life of twenty or thirty years, or even just a dozen years, they would also study very well," Qi Ze politely replied.
Principal Helian was speechless, his impression of him greatly altered. This was not a rebellious, bold youth who didn't know responsibility. On the contrary, he was too clear about what he wanted and knew his limits. He would always put in his utmost effort, both in his studies and his life.
"I'll urge the Ministry of Education to issue the Level 9 Certificate to you as soon as possible. Of course, after passing the exam, you still have to take the corresponding practical assessment. The score will be determined by your instructor. Li Bingchen called me over a dozen times. Later, return his call." Principal Helian held the youth's tender hand, shaking it hard, feeling a mix of pride and regret. He was proud that the Imperial Academy had produced another talented student; the regret was that this talent was likely to perish before shining.
Qi Ze's post-exam reflections soon appeared online, jealousy toward him was balanced, and more people admired him. But there was no doubt that from this moment on, he had an undeniable status in the Mecha Engineering Department.
Yan Junyu accompanied the youth out of the examination room, his joy sinking, as if bottomless.
"What's wrong? Not happy?" Qi Ze looked at him steadily.
"I was thinking," Yan Junyu opened the car door, settling the youth in the front passenger seat, slowly saying, "whether to order psychic inhibitors for you. No, forget it," he immediately laughed bitterly, "you wouldn't like living in mediocrity but longevity."
"I told you, even if you die, I'll live well. Don't worry about that," Qi Ze reiterated.
"Okay, I won't mention it anymore." Yan Junyu smiled helplessly, as if remembering something, turning the steering wheel and changing the direction of the car.
"Why are you taking me here?" Qi Ze walked into the brightly lit maintenance hangar, looking up at the towering mechas.
"To work." Yan Junyu walked to Position 67 and pointed to his T3, "I'm leaving it to you."
Several subordinates who had been very dismissive of Qi Ze yesterday hurried over, respectfully saying, "Master Qi Ze, you're here." A Level 9 mecha engineer absolutely deserved the title of "Master." No wonder Young Patriarch was willing to vouch for him. It turned out he possessed an IQ no less than Mu Ran's. It was just a pity that his lifespan wasn't long.
"This mecha was the one you were driving when the incident happened?" Qi Ze asked knowingly.
"Yes, the fault has never been found, but I trust my judgment, so I'd rather leave it in the maintenance hangar than drive it rashly," Yan Junyu had always been cautious.
During the conversation, Li Ziqian slowly wheeled in, Deng Feng and Meng Kui following behind. Seeing Qi Ze, his eyes slightly brightened, immediately speeding up a bit, "I heard you took the Level 9 certificate in one go?"
"Anyway, I was idle, so I took the certificate. Otherwise, I couldn't even buy an energy stone," Qi Ze's attitude was familiar, making Yan Junyu keep glancing over.
Li Ziqian was about to reply when the sound of an engine roaring from outside the door interrupted him. A transport vehicle brought in an old mecha, Yan Zhongkui personally accompanying it and occasionally reminding the driver to be careful not to bump into anything.
"G9, didn't expect to still see this model," Deng Feng whistled, admiring, "It's been maintained really well, the shell is like new. When did your second uncle develop a hobby for antiques, how come I didn't know?"
Yan Junyu smiled, his gaze unintentionally sweeping over Qi Ze. He had always felt that this mecha and Ouyang Ye's sword had some connection with Qi Ze. After today, this feeling became even stronger. An eighteen-year-old Level 9 mecha engineer, even Mu Ran couldn't achieve it, let alone the old Mu Feixing. Did Qi Ze really only start learning mecha manufacturing technology in the past few months? The answer was probably debatable.
Li Ziqian caught sight of the four ancient characters carved on the feet of G9 and couldn't help but understand: it was Master's work, no wonder Yan Zhongkui attached so much importance to it. But the Yan family didn't seem to have gained Master's trust, otherwise, they wouldn't be ignorant of Master's abilities. It was that Young Master Ouyang who had a very close relationship with the Master, always following him step by step, holding a weapon personally crafted by the Master.
Sweeping back and forth a few times, Li Ziqian already knew who to cultivate a relationship with and who to maintain a proper distance from. Honestly, he felt sorry for Yan Junyu. Clearly, there was such an outstanding person beside him, but he was fixated on Mu Ran. 4S mental power users were indeed rare, but compared to the Master, they were still far behind.
In the middle of his thoughts, the maintenance hangar echoed with Yan Zhongkui's anxious voice, "Stop, slow down, back up slowly. Let the landing gear move over first. Don't use this steel cable, it will damage the mecha's outer shell, switch to glass rope, quickly!"
"Hey, when did you develop a hobby for collecting antiques?" Deng Feng went over to ask.
"Who doesn't have a hobby? I don't have time to chat with you. I have to transport this big guy to my workshop." Yan Zhongkui directed the transport vehicle to slowly back into his private workshop, then tightly closed the door. Deng Feng wanted to inquire further but was secretly stopped by the boss.