Chapter Seventy-Eight: Bearing the Weight Alone

Ye Chong followed the group, while Sun Xuelin kept rolling her eyes at him along the way. For actions that posed no threat to himself, Ye Chong usually ignored them outright.

The main building, with its eight hundred floors, resembled a colossal, circular beehive. Countless mecha suits buzzed about like hornets in their eyes, vanishing into the hive in an instant.

Though mecha suits had become the primary mode of transportation, there would always be those who preferred to walk. Blue Ocean Academy was the only comprehensive institution on Bluewave Star. To integrate educational resources, the government of Bluewave Star had poured all its efforts into building this academy, offering unwavering support in every possible way.

The academy lived up to expectations, breaking into the top one hundred comprehensive academies in the five star regions just two years prior, earning widespread acclaim. This achievement was a source of pride for all the planet’s inhabitants.

Blue Ocean Academy covered an immense area, roughly the size of a district—no small feat considering there were only four districts on the entire planet. This alone was testament to the local government's dedication.

Along the way, trees—rarely seen elsewhere—grew here in thick groves, all meticulously cared for. In today’s luxury market, the cost of timber had reached staggering heights; even a single twenty-centimeter diameter log fetched an astronomical price, let alone a living tree. Yet, here there were entire forests. The value of these alone was astonishing, and as the trees aged, their worth only continued to climb.

The academy boasted a student body of nearly half a million, including many who came from far-off worlds.

Students filled the walkways, fervently discussing the competition to be held that day. In the sky, mecha suits soared in uncountable numbers; to imagine thousands upon thousands flying overhead was to witness a truly awe-inspiring sight.

Today’s Mecha Warrior Tournament had captured nearly everyone’s interest. Mecha warriors were the icons of power in this era, the most adept navigators of the interstellar vastness. Often, they had stirring tales to tell, reminiscent of ancient wanderers, brimming with romanticism. With the government’s high-profile publicity, this heroic profession was wildly popular among the youth. Their superb skills left onlookers amazed and moved, drawing rounds of thunderous applause. For mecha enthusiasts, this was a feast for the senses—a chance to marvel at all manner of exotic mecha suits and to admire the ingenuity of the mecha modification masters.

Though Ye Chong’s face remained expressionless, inside he was deeply excited; he had never witnessed such a spectacle before.

For a moment, he found himself envying these students. Growing up and studying in such a place must be a wonderful experience, he thought—but the notion passed quickly. Sentimentality was not in Ye Chong’s nature. He knew well that everyone must live their own life.

Even in such an environment, Ye Chong remained exceptionally vigilant, keeping as much distance from others as possible. This made him stand out awkwardly among the crowd. Yet with so many people, his efforts seemed almost futile. He had encountered such situations before, but could only accept them with resignation. To him, such a setting was incredibly dangerous—the perfect place for an assassination. If he were the assassin, he was certain the chances of being discovered would be vanishingly small.

A sudden thought occurred to him, and he asked Yang An, “Why not hire a professional mecha modification master?”

Yang An replied, “The school has no issue with inviting outsiders. The only condition is that they must be under twenty-five. A certified mecha modification master under twenty-five? There can’t be more than ten such geniuses in the entire Farsar Star Region.”

Ye Chong was skeptical, but he understood the reasoning. Comparing himself to certified modification masters, he saw nothing remarkable about being qualified at twenty-five—he was only twenty, after all. But if he knew that most graduates from the Mecha Mechanics Department were already over twenty-eight, his thoughts might have changed. The assessment for mecha modification masters was extremely rigorous. After graduation, students had to undergo three years of advanced study, pass an evaluation, then serve as apprentices for two years. During their apprenticeship, their error rate couldn’t exceed five percent. Only after passing another assessment would they be granted the title of certified modification master. As a result, most were over thirty-three by the time they qualified.

Still, there were those under twenty-five who achieved full certification. If someone proposed a new theory or innovation recognized by the authorities of the five star regions and approved by the Mecha Modification Association, they could go straight to the apprenticeship. If their error rate stayed below three percent during the two-year period, they would be awarded full certification.

Blue Ocean Academy’s approach had far-reaching effects. The school’s own elite needed no introduction—senior students took the event as seriously as their year-end examinations, and promising juniors were eager to participate. Other groups sought out top talents from other schools, and even scoured for prodigies among the general populace. The academy’s real targets were these external geniuses and naturally gifted youths. For outstanding students from other schools, Blue Ocean Academy would offer even more generous terms to lure them in. Such exchanges also fostered the institution’s own growth. Self-taught prodigies were especially sought after; the school spared no effort in recruiting talent. Not letting any potential slip through its fingers was central to Blue Ocean Academy’s philosophy.

The group made their way toward the arena. There was still some time before Yang An’s team would compete.

Speed racing offered a thrill on par with the most intense mecha fights—the howling rush of velocity, the fierce soundwaves produced by mecha clashing with the air, sweeping across the ground like a storm, driving the crowd to wild cheers. Even Ye Chong found his blood stirring at the sight.

He hadn’t watched for long before Yang An brought him to the entrance of Passage Five.

The entrance featured a touchscreen holographic terminal. Yang An turned to Ye Chong, “Your ID card.”

Ye Chong produced it, and Yang An pointed to a slot on the machine. “Insert it here.”

He did as told. Instantly, the holographic display changed, and Ye Chong’s details appeared—his age, prominently marked as twenty. Yang An, though confident there would be no issues, breathed a sigh of relief.

“Select ‘external participant’ under contestant type,” Yang An reminded him.

Ye Chong followed the instruction, and a synthetic voice sounded: “Ye Chong, age twenty, meets the requirements for external participants. Please choose your role.”

Without further prompting, Ye Chong selected ‘Mecha Modification Master.’

“Please input your team code!”

Ye Chong glanced at Yang An, who quickly supplied, “It’s hl659874!”

After entering it and double-checking, Ye Chong submitted his registration.

“Registration successful!” the terminal announced.

Blue Ocean Academy had made the registration process simple and accommodating, hoping to attract as many non-students as possible.

Yang An said, “This is the entrance you’ll use when it’s time to enter. Take a moment to focus and organize your thoughts. With Ning absent, we’re counting on you.”

Ye Chong replied coolly, “Understood.”

He consciously regulated his breathing, calming himself while maintaining a slight edge of excitement. He treated this as a battle—one that demanded his full attention. Only by giving his all could he maximize his chances of success. That was Ye Chong’s creed in combat.

They waited for half an hour. Ye Chong never showed any impatience or restlessness, which left Yang An quietly impressed by his composure.

A tone sounded from the terminal: “Mecha Modification Master Ye Chong, team number hl659874, please prepare. Your event will begin in five minutes. Please be ready.”

Yang An, a little anxious, said, “With Ning not here, I really don’t know what to expect inside. Just do your best once you’re in.”

Ye Chong nodded.

Five minutes passed quickly. The electronic voice returned: “Competition about to begin. Mecha Modification Master Ye Chong, team hl659874, please enter the modification chamber.”

Ye Chong walked calmly to the entrance.

“Scan complete. Identity verified. Credentials valid. Please enter.”

The doors slid open soundlessly. Ye Chong stepped inside, only to find another door ahead. Once the one behind him closed, the next opened.

Without the slightest ripple in his heart, Ye Chong entered the room.

The previous round had just concluded. The audience erupted in thunderous applause at the dazzling display, eagerly awaiting the next match. High-definition holographic screens were installed in every corner of the campus—some towering a hundred meters tall, others only ten centimeters—but each was surrounded by a sea of spectators. The event was open to the public, though there was no external broadcast; if you wanted to watch, you had to come to the academy. Thanks to Blue Ocean Academy’s immense influence, vast numbers of planet residents attended every year.

The holographic feed offered every angle on each contestant, and the directors’ skill ensured the most brilliant moments were captured, drawing gasps from the crowd.

Axiu clung nervously to Sun Xuelin’s sleeve, her bright eyes darting among the holograms in search of Ye Chong. Ke Han had already gone off to prepare, while Yang An waited outside the modification chamber. Only Sun Xuelin and Axiu remained to watch.

The competition began. The contestants onscreen sprang into action, the modification rooms ablaze with energy.

The images shifted rapidly, almost overwhelming the senses.

Suddenly, the entire crowd gasped in unison—a storm of awe sweeping through Blue Ocean Academy. Almost immediately, everyone seemed to realize their outburst, and the second half of the gasp was abruptly stifled. All eyes locked onto a single figure on the main screen.

A deathly silence fell over the arena.