After the commendation ceremony, if there are no other scheduled activities, Qin Shi should take the special train back to the Tai’an Metropolitan Area.
"We still need to pay attention to safety. I’ll first communicate with the Governor’s Mansion and have them arrange personnel."
Holvren deliberated as he spoke.
The body of Ying Lin, a direct descendant of the Ying family, had already been sent onto a spaceship, expected to arrive in Hai Province in a few days.
As for the first-ranked heir Ying Huang, he remained in Heng Province.
Overall, the environment in the Central City is considered unstable.
Mo Qihuan from the Education Department had been silent for several days, even calling in sick and missing the commendation ceremony where he was supposed to deliver a speech.
Considering that Heng Province is about to lift the blockade, many "black households" originally stranded here are eager to leave as soon as possible.
Based on the above considerations, Holvren opted for a relatively prudent arrangement.
"Thanks for the trouble, Brother Huo."
Qin Shi didn’t feel his personal freedom was restricted; as a "celebrity," naturally, he garnered a lot of attention.
After dining with his third senior sister Yu Weiwei, it was around four in the afternoon.
The sunset’s afterglow bathed the steel forest as if coated with layers of gold edges.
The aircraft landed on a spacious lawn in the second ring area, and a long gangway was lowered.
Officers from the Security Department led the charge, followed by Qin Shi, who was surrounded and escorted into the venue.
"Tsk! This treatment, even top leaders don’t get this!"
Zhang Hai gritted his teeth, speaking somewhat jealously.
"Not convinced yet? Old Zhang, if your mortal body was as tough as your mouth, you might stand a chance to exchange a few moves with Qin Shi."
Zhou Yuanchen crossed his arms.
The two were appointed by the Education Department as reception personnel, accompanying Qin Shi for the entire free activity.
According to official personnel, "Geniuses staying together have more common language."
"Zhou Yuanchen, what are you so proud of? Speaking of defeat, I didn’t directly lose to Qin Shi, unlike you who was beaten across the specialized barrier, looking for your teeth all over the ground!"
Zhang Hai, always hot-tempered like a powder keg ready to explode, couldn’t tolerate Zhou Yuanchen’s sarcastic remarks.
"Ha, as if you’ve ever won against me. Old Zhang, need me to remind you of our battle record win rates?"
Zhou Yuanchen gave him a sidelong glance. As a supernova, his brilliance slightly dimmed only when standing next to Qin Shi.
"Both of you are pillars of Central City, don’t cause a conflict, don’t become a laughingstock for the Tai’an region."
The official personnel played the peacemaker, but neither Zhang Hai nor Zhou Yuanchen showed a kind face.
"Old Zhou, long time no see."
After the security officers surrounding Qin Shi dispersed, only then did Qin Shi breathe a sigh of relief.
In reality, with his third senior sister Yu Weiwei ensuring his safety, he wasn’t worried about personal safety.
But the people in Central City needed to express their stance, so Qin Shi could only accept this extravagant display.
"Old Zhou, are you taking the exam too?"
Qin Shi went forward to ask.
"The Governor’s Mansion asked the two of us to accompany you, to discuss, exchange, and learn together."
Zhou Yuanchen shrugged; in public, he needed to maintain a distance from Qin Shi, to foster the image of "lifelong rivals."
"But I feel there’s no need for this at all! I, Zhou Yuanchen, am never weaker than others, and will eventually prove to the world once again that I’m no inferior to you!"
Zhou Yuanchen, while recalling the "lines" noted in his little notebook, rendered them with emotion and expression.
Qin Shi shook his head; Old Zhou’s performance was too exaggerated, even somewhat pretentious.
Hastily picking up the act, he coldly said:
"Old Zhou, your current vision is still narrow, seeing me is like a frog at the bottom of a well looking at the moon. When you one day reach my level, possess my talent, and fortunately touch the edges of the Scorching Sun level, you’ll understand what it means to be ’an ant looking at the sky from a grain of sand.’
Zhang Hai widened his eyes.
First looking at Zhou Yuanchen, then at Qin Shi.
The tension between them is so strong!
Moreover, how can Qin Shi say such ostentatious words!
"If only I could say these words!"
Zhang Hai clenched his fists, gritting his teeth.
His talent might not compare, and he lost even in the domain of "public manifestation" without any suspense.
Zhou Yuanchen displayed an expression of surprise; do geniuses really speak ?
It seems that I was too mild before, lacking a bit of youthful arrogance.
After leaving behind words of manifestation, Qin Shi, under the staff’s reception, arrived at a training ground of considerable size.
With a height approaching thirty meters, it accommodated various models of divine mecha armors.
Qin Shi looked up; several of the dark black painted "Soldier Level" divine machines were aligned, resembling armored iron-clad warriors.
"These were transferred from the First Military Academy, but military-grade divine machines require the highest-level driver’s license to board."
The staff explained in advance.
"If you want to test drive, Qin, there are a few civilian models over there."
Although Qin Shi’s status was extraordinary, he couldn’t openly violate regulations.
"How do I get a pilot’s license?"
The reason he wanted to come here was that he heard the Nanhuang Daoist School had a king-level Divine Machine, which was Old Zhang’s exclusive vehicle, extremely powerful.
Then the most crucial step of the "Cosmic Furnace Secret Manual," forging a one-hundred-percent perfect Power Body, also required a Divine Machine.
Thus, Qin Shi planned to get familiar with it a bit.
"Are you referring to the civilian models, Qin? It’s relatively simple for a genius like you."
The staff enthusiastically introduced:
"Divine Mecha armor isn’t much different from other types of armored weapons. The only difference lies in the driving core.
The crystal energy of the Divine Mecha comes from a technology breakthrough at the top research institute, requiring pilots to develop their Life Force to a very deep level to operate it.
The passing standard for a civilian junior pilot ranges from Amateur Level Fifth Rank to First Rank, whereas for intermediate and advanced, a Specialized Level is required.
Your Life Force purity is basically at the Specialized Domain, so there’s no need to worry about this issue..."
Qin Shi’s gaze remained fixed on those towering giant Divine Mechas.
"What about military-grade? How do I obtain a pilot’s license for military-grade vehicles?"
The staff was stunned, wondering if they had misheard.
"Qin, for military-grade, you first need to pass the civilian advanced pilot’s license."
Every teenager dreams of piloting a mecha.
The staff totally understood.
Even the supernova from the Education Department and Security Department who came here would get very excited and express a desire to test drive those ’big guys’.
But saying you want to fly a military-grade one right away was a first for him.
"Then let’s start with the civilian models."
Qin Shi rubbed his hands, full of anticipation.
This feeling of clearing challenges filled him with fighting spirit.
"Is he planning to join the Battle Group and apply to a military academy in the future?"
Zhang Hai was puzzled, as the Martial Arts Path of the Specialized Level rarely focuses on Divine Machine piloting unless one is a fierce soldier from a Battle Group background.
"Maybe. I heard he rejected the Four National Universities’ offers, perhaps he wants to take another road."
Zhou Yuanchen frowned. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel⦿fire.net
Mainly piloting a Divine Machine is a systematic and complete framework, and it’s not easy to master.
Apart from the fusion and communication of Life Force and Energy Core, the basic operation also involves extremely complex ’Mecha Language.’
How to cooperate, how to coordinate, how to execute tactical actions... The related literature can fill an entire room.
Twenty minutes later.
Zhang Hai and Zhou Yuanchen exchanged glances, and then watched Qin Shi exit the cabin.
How long did it take to earn the civilian junior pilot’s license?
Before on-site issuance could take place, Qin Shi had already started challenging for the intermediate exam.
Forty minutes flew by.
Zhang Hai and Zhou Yuanchen widened their eyes and closely watched the training field, where the civilian mecha walked and made various poses like an ordinary person.
In just forty absurdly short minutes, Qin Shi had already progressed to punches, twists, and executed a spinning kick in the air with ninety-nine percent accuracy.
"I understand that geniuses learn faster, but isn’t his monstrous way of mastering everything a bit excessive?"
Zhang Hai clutched the railing with both hands, a strong confusion in his eyes.
"Freakish, really freakish! Even the top students from military academies don’t have this speed, right?"
Zhou Yuanchen uncharacteristically agreed with his rival.
Qin Shi quickly exited the cabin again, heading straight for the advanced license.
Outside the training ground, the sky grew dim, like a mysterious veil had descended.
Zhang Hai and Zhou Yuanchen munched on boxed meals while watching the gigantic iron armor in the vast open field.
After a gruelling two hours, the civilian advanced pilot’s license was secured by Qin Shi.
The figure, clad in a combat suit and ejected from the mecha’s shoulder, stood upright.
He gestured "continue" to the staff.
His voice, through the loudspeakers, buzzed throughout the entire venue.
"Thank you all for your hard work. I have to leave the Central City in a couple of days, so I plan to speed-run the exam tonight."