CHAPTER 680: CHAPTER 680: NO HOPE

Dr. Luo left out that last sentence.

But Ji You somewhat understood without it needing to be mentioned.

The situation with classmate Liu Beibei was such that she must enhance both her spiritual power and physical strength together to achieve the goal of piloting a Mecha. However—easy to say, but how hard is it to achieve?

Physical strength could still be improved. It could be gradually increased through exercise and using body refining medicine.

But what about spiritual power?

Spiritual power is not something that can be enhanced just by wanting to enhance it.

Chu Jiaojiao, Sheng Qingyan, Shen Changqing, Yue Qiguang, Yue Qiyuan... All of them were born privileged, didn’t they have access to items that could enhance their spiritual power? It’s not that they didn’t.

But for them to enhance their spiritual power, it still was not easy.

Sheng Qingyan, for example, even stooped so low as to send sexy photos to tempt the Green Glaze Master...

Cough cough...

Better not mention that dark history.

Spicy eye!

Ji You still refuses to recall it.

It’s fine for weirdos like Sheng Qingyan, who managed a small job as a salesperson in the Green Glaze Master Shop, but Shen Changqing, Chu Jiaojiao, Yue Qiguang, and a few other stingy goods, they could even painfully afford a few months of braised pork rib rice...

What does this indicate?

It indicates that they all greatly needed the support of a soul artifact maker like Green Glaze Master to be able to enhance their spiritual power.

It’s not just any Soul Device that can be useful to everyone; there’s also the matter of compatibility, and...

In short, the enhancement of spiritual power is a very complex matter.

...

After a moment of silence, Ji You said, "So, does that mean student Liu Beibei can only give up on becoming a mechanical warrior?"

Dr. Luo did not utter a word, merely nodded his head, which sufficed as an answer.

Ji You then fell silent.

Liu Beibei...

Ji You wasn’t really familiar with her, but—

Ji You understood very well: she was a very stubborn girl, somewhat similar to herself, who wouldn’t turn back until hitting a wall, probably she would only wake up after facing utter despair.

It’s unknown what made her so determined to pursue the path of becoming a mechanical warrior.

...

Feeling slightly distressed, Ji You thought for a moment and couldn’t help asking, "Dr. Luo, then—if her spiritual power was increased, say to Grade B, and then enhanced her physical strength, would she be able to achieve the goal of piloting a Mecha?"

Isn’t this question pointless?

Dr. Luo glanced at Ji You and said, "Of course, she could."

Ji You said, "Then..."

Dr. Luo raised his hand, interrupting Ji You, and said irritably, "Do you think spiritual power can just be easily increased? Without a compatible Soul Device, without a large amount of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to enhance spiritual power, do you think it can be done?"

Throwing out the question, Dr. Luo didn’t even pause before saying, "Or do you think Liu Beibei’s family conditions would allow her to earn so much money in such a short time to fund her enhancement?"

Ji You bit her lips upon hearing this.

Dr. Luo let out a long sigh, her tone carrying a hint of self-blame and annoyance, "The school’s resources are limited, and as the Beast Tide approaches, it is not possible to treat all students equally. We can only select and train a group of students, letting these outstanding students shoulder the responsibility when the Beast Tide arrives. For cases like Liu Beibei, the school can only offer limited help and cannot fully cultivate them."

After saying this, Dr. Luo seemed reluctant to continue speaking.

Having worked at Lanyue Star Military Academy for decades, Dr. Luo also taught students various medical and nursing knowledge. During this time, she had seen too many students like Liu Beibei...

She was powerless and could only watch as the students made compromises and faced reality...

After a brief silence, Dr. Luo gestured with her hand and urged, "Student Ji You, please go back, you’ve already delayed me by 20 minutes."

The disdain in her eyes was obvious.

Ji You: "..."

Ji You quickly said, "Dr. Luo, I won’t disturb you any longer."

Then, she turned around. As she was leaving, she saw Dr. Luo picking up her pen again and continuously writing and drawing. Ji You did not know the specifics of what was being written, but she knew that despite Dr. Luo’s words that the school couldn’t heavily invest in students like Liu Beibei, who could not become Mechanical Warriors, she still tried her best to find ways to help Liu Beibei...

Suddenly, Ji You felt admiration for Dr. Luo, for Teacher Mu, Principal Hong, and all the faculty members of Lanyue Star, and she developed a deep affection and sense of belonging towards the school.

This—

Was truly a place for teaching and nurturing.

...

After the Mecha assessment ended, the students of the Combat Department began their intense Mecha training. This time, the Mechas used by all students were no longer the castrated version, but real Mechas.

Since the weapons configured on the Mechas had large destructive powers, the whole training room was divided into individual compartments from a wide-open area, with each student training in their own compartment. The materials used for each compartment were of military-grade Protective Shield materials to prevent any accidental misfires that could cause unnecessary casualties...

This was a very costly setup. Although Lanyue Star was one of the Top Ten Military Schools of the Alliance, it was a recent addition, and most of the Alliance’s financial resources were still directed towards schools like the Alliance First Military Academy...

That is to say, Lanyue Star Military Academy was financially strained, hence the penny-pinching, and only allowed students to use real Mechas and equipment for training as the term exams approached.

Cough cough...

Let’s not dig into that for now.

Today, Ji You was still competing with the little fairy Chasing Sun. The Body Refining Medicine she had taken in the past two days had a very evident effect on Ji You. Even though she still couldn’t handle Chasing Sun completely, Ji You could now fully control one of Chasing Sun’s arms.

The progress was minimal, but as long as there was progress, Ji You felt very happy.

As the term exams approached, about half a month left, Teacher Mu Jianling only let the students train, still not announcing what the specific assessment projects were or where they were set. Knowing it was futile to ask, the students silently focused on their training.

The whole training room was bustling with activity.

Mu Jianling sat to the side, engrossed in watching the Alliance Flower Ye Lu starring in "Ugly Girl’s Spring." At exciting moments, she even burst into gleeful laughter, causing nearby students to feel a chill down their spine...

Mu Jianling was seated quietly in the corner, not far away, Liu Fufeng sat with his head down, occasionally writing and drawing, and at other times, folding some paperwork...

These two, compared to the entire training room’s atmosphere, were completely in different worlds.

This scene, seen several times, made the students gradually calm down.

After taking a fall and getting injured, Ji You dismounted from the Mecha, rested for a few minutes, and prepared to re-enter the Mecha. By chance, she glimpsed a small figure not far away, it was—

That girl named Liu Beibei, failing again and again, stubbornly trying, her face pale, her hand swollen, her mouth bleeding, but...

hopeless.

She was hugging her arms, curled up in a corner, secretly crying...