Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

Wang Chen actually underestimated the impact of his score of 289 in the Martial Examination.

Across the entire Azure Star Cluster, more than a million third-year students took the Advanced Martial Examination, and his score was ranked third!

Although Wang Chen did not receive a ranking from the results on his personal terminal, anyone at the top of Azure Star with an interest in this college entrance exam could easily obtain more detailed data, including assessment videos.

Wang Chen naturally entered the sight of many people.

His third score was extraordinary, because not only the first and second, but even several dozen candidates behind him were from rich families, with rich survival and hunting experience on the Ecological Experimental Star.

True fairness never really exists; the empire's Advanced Martial Examination can only ensure procedural fairness and cannot enable the noble and scholar families' children to stand on the same starting line as those of commoners.

In this way, Wang Chen's 289 points stood out greatly.

Its gold content was extremely high.

Zhou Jun acted first, but in fact, the solicitation from the Tianfang Corporation wasn't slow at all.

"Sorry,"

Wang Chen replied, "I have already promised to join the Azure Star Cluster Garrison Legion."

These age-old foxes didn't need to play tricks anymore; he had never been indecisive, nor did he intend to sell himself to the highest bidder, so he gave a direct refusal.

"Is it because of the sponsorship spot from the Garrison Legion?"

However, the deputy manager of Tianfang Corporation's HR department did not intend to give up: "Lu Yuan, the commission training is not the best choice. With your talent and strength, why start from the bottom of the Imperial Army?"

"Our Tianfang Corporation can help you enter Shenjing University!"

Wang Chen believed Tianfang Corporation had such capabilities, but what price would he have to pay?

Wang Chen smiled and said, "Sorry, I've already signed a contract."

In fact, he hadn't signed, but it was the most convenient excuse.

Sure enough, the other party gave up, after a few polite sentences the call ended.

On his way back to the dormitory, Wang Chen received several more contacts, all invitations from various corporations.

This couldn't help but make him sigh at the pervasive nature of these financial consortiums.

However, presumably due to many rejections, by the second day, no similar contact messages came in, allowing Wang Chen to regain some peace.

A day later, he applied for and received his new ID documents through the internet.

He became an imperial citizen with the rights to vote and be voted for!

That evening, at the Blue Right Cafe across from the academy, Wang Chen signed the formal commission training contract with Zhou Jun.

He gained a sponsorship quota from the Azure Star Cluster Garrison Legion, and at the same time became an enlisted reservist of the legion.

This meant that from this moment on, Wang Chen was considered half a soldier!

"Welcome to the Imperial Army!"

Zhou Jun extended his hand to Wang Chen: "Trust me, you won't regret it."

Wang Chen shook hands with this major captain: "Thank you!"

The most immediate benefit of joining the Azure Star Cluster Garrison Legion was securing admission to the Imperial First Military Academy.

Secondly, his tuition fees were fully waived for four years, and he would receive a monthly living allowance sufficient for his daily expenses at this advanced academy.

More than just that, the legion would also award variable scholarships based on Wang Chen's performance at the academy!

Zhou Jun asked, "Lu Yuan, no, Wang Chen, which department do you want to apply to?"

Wang Chen, now using his real name, answered without hesitation: "Mecha Combat Department."

The Mecha Combat Department is also known as the Mecha Battle Department, one of the most popular departments at the Advanced Military Academy, second only to the Command Department, with very fierce competition.

But Wang Chen, as a special commissioned student, naturally had the right to choose his department.

Zhou Jun wasn't surprised at all, smiling and saying, "Good."

With Wang Chen's combat talent, not choosing the Mecha Combat Department would be a real waste; he'd have to work hard to persuade him otherwise.

Now everything was easier.

This major captain presented a prepared gift: "Congratulations on coming of age, Junior Officer Wang Chen!"

The lowest rank in the Imperial Army is Private, followed by Senior Private, Petty Officer, Sergeant, Sergeant Major, then Junior Officer, Field Officer, and General Officer, with Marshal being the highest.

Wang Chen's sponsorship qualification for the First Military Academy automatically made him a member of the Garrison Legion and an enlisted reservist.

A Junior Officer isn't part of the formal "Officer" rank but isn't the lowest in the army either; his status is quite delicate.

Once Wang Chen graduates successfully from the First Military Academy and joins the Garrison Legion, he would start as at least a Petty Officer, maybe even a Sergeant!

The gift Zhou Jun gave Wang Chen was a brand-new personal terminal of the latest model.

Wang Chen had been using the cheapest basic model for several years, lacking in both functionality and speed compared to the new model.

This coming-of-age gift was indeed very practical and showed Zhou Jun's thoughtfulness.

Wang Chen was not reserved, thanking him once more.

Unfortunately, Zhou Jun had a mission to attend to, so after handing over the gift, he left in a hurry, agreeing to keep in touch online in the future.

Next up was Wang Chen's vacation time.

No matter if it's an elementary or advanced school, the empire grants a summer vacation and a New Year holiday each year.

Although "summer vacation" is an outdated concept in the interstellar age and not applicable to all living planets, as some life-hosting planets enjoy eternal spring, while others are locked in snow and ice year-round.

This ancient term was retained and passed down by the empire.

During this two-month summer vacation, Wang Chen had no intention of lying idle in leisure; on the contrary, he scheduled his daily time fully.

Body Refinement and strengthening, refining spiritual energy, and practicing swordsmanship were his daytime agenda.

At night, Wang Chen would enter the Star Sea network.

To make money.

He had found a very suitable path for earning Star Currency, which was the Starry Seas Arena!

Wang Chen spent a few days in this virtual arena and discovered that it allowed for wager challenges.

Essentially, it means betting on oneself, wagering on one's own victory.

So long as someone accepted the challenge and he defeated the opponent, he could win their stake.

Though the wager limit for these challenges wasn't high, capped at 1000 Star Currency, it was considered entertainment rather than gambling.

But for Wang Chen, it was an opportunity to hone his swordsmanship and spiritual energy while earning Star Currency, a win-win situation.

Earlier, he realized that engaging in fierce combat in the Starry Seas Arena could enhance his spiritual power.

Though the improvement was slight, it accumulated over time.

Spiritual power is indeed the foundational force of spiritual energy!

Moreover, the stronger his spiritual energy, the sharper and more outstanding his reactions in the virtual space.

After a month, Wang Chen's Imperial Bank deposit account had increased by hundreds of thousands of Star Currency.

And this was after purchasing numerous mutant biological products!

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Here's the second update.