Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

After three months of training at the Imperial First Military Academy's boot camp base, Wang Chen and tens of thousands of freshmen returned to the main campus.

The academy, to its credit, finally showed a bit of mercy and gave everyone three days off for rest.

But Wang Chen didn't idle away the time. Instead, he began organizing his study materials and listing the subjects he needed to study independently.

He was enrolled in the Mecha Combat Department of the Imperial First Military Academy.

In total, there were over twelve thousand freshmen in the Mecha Combat Department, including commissioned students like Wang Chen.

The Mecha Combat Department was a large division within the academy. Freshmen did not declare a specific specialty yet; they would choose or be assigned to different specialties after the academic results for the year were released.

This was because even among mecha operators, there were subcategories like Heavy Assault, Ground Warfare, Sniper, Guardian, Commander, and so on.

The Imperial First Military Academy trained mid- to high-level mecha warriors and mecha masters. Apart from mastering a vast array of combat techniques and tactical strategies, freshmen had many academic subjects to tackle.

Mathematics, physics, electronics, communications, computer science, mechanics…

Additionally, the core curriculum included advanced body skills, swordsmanship, martial arts, and more.

An outstanding master warrior must undoubtedly be an elite with extensive knowledge!

"Master warrior" was the honorable title for high-tier mecha fighters.

As for Wang Chen, who came from a civilian background, the knowledge he needed to master was even more extensive.

Students from the Noble Clans, Scholar Families, and Military Martial Families had been receiving elite education since childhood. Once they displayed talent in this area, their families would spare no effort or resources to nurture them.

Their starting point was far higher than Wang Chen's. Even with a "cheat code," Wang Chen would have to work incredibly hard to catch up and surpass them.

As Wang Chen was busy, the door of his dorm suddenly rang with a pleasant chime, and the holographic screen instantly displayed the scene outside the door.

Wang Chen glanced at it and felt a slight sense of surprise in his heart.

After a moment of thought, he got up and opened the door.

Standing at the doorway was, quite startlingly, a catgirl. She had an exceptionally curvy figure, skin as flawless as jade, and a charming and adorable face, looking like a character straight out of a fantasy game!

Her cat ears and tail were indistinguishable from the real thing.

Wang Chen wasn't all that shocked, as the empire's biological simulation technology was highly advanced. If one had the money, cosplaying as a beastkin, elf, or demon in a flawlessly realistic fashion was entirely achievable.

Back on Azure Star, he had seen plenty of otaku youths dressed as beastkin, elves, or demons.

The empire was quite tolerant in this regard.

Still, in the context of the First Advanced Military Academy, a sudden appearance by a cosplaying catgirl did feel a bit out of place.

"Meow~"

The catgirl waved her paw with a cheerful smile and said, "Hello, Wang Chen. I'm Tang Mo from the Exceptional Insight Club, a second-year student in the Communications Department. Nice to meet you!"

Exceptional Insight Club?

Wang Chen searched his memory and found nothing related.

That was normal. With a student body of over a million, the First Military Academy was bursting with all kinds of clubs, popular and obscure alike.

There were many things he'd never heard of!

"Hello."

Wang Chen asked, "Tang Mo, what brings you to me?"

Generally speaking, students in the academy could easily connect and communicate via the network. Door-to-door visits like this were a rather formal gesture.

"You should call me 'senior sister'!"

Tang Mo wrinkled her nose and said irritably, "Wang Chen, don't you have any gentlemanly manners? Are you really going to make a beautiful woman like me stand at the door to talk business?"

Wang Chen couldn't help but chuckle: "Please come in, senior sister."

After the catgirl entered and sat down, he closed the door and asked, "What would you like to drink?"

Tang Mo thought for a moment and replied, "I'd like some red tangerine juice from Swan Star. Do you have any?"

What in the world?

Wang Chen had never even heard of such a thing. He spread his hands and said, "No idea. Feel free to order whatever you like."

The dorm's network system supported food and beverage delivery services. Besides regular meals, drinks, snacks, and desserts could also be ordered.

As long as there was money in the account, indulging one's cravings was no problem!

"Tsk!"

Tang Mo pouted. "No sincerity!"

"Fine."

She said, "I won't beat around the bush. I'm here this time to invite you to join the Exceptional Insight Club."

Wang Chen frowned: "Tang Mo, I currently have no intention of joining any clubs."

Many students joined academy clubs to expand their networks or enhance their résumés.

But Wang Chen had no such needs for now. Joining a club could also easily entangle him in student feuds and grudges, or even make him a pawn in power struggles between different factions.

Currently, Wang Chen was still too weak; steering clear of trouble was the best course of action.

As for the future, that would depend on the situation.

Faced with Wang Chen's rejection, Tang Mo tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous smile: "Wang Chen, you clearly don't know who the members of the Exceptional Insight Club are!"

Wang Chen stayed calm: "Who are they?"

"People like you—superpowers!"

Tang Mo sighed and revealed her claws, the tips crackling faintly with electrical sparks!

Wang Chen immediately understood: "Are you with the Imperial Security Bureau?"

Since his encounter with two special agents from the Imperial Security Bureau, Wang Chen hadn't received any further updates, as if he had been forgotten.

The promised commendation was nowhere to be seen either.

Wang Chen wasn't too concerned about it, though he couldn't help but feel curious.

Was the Imperial Security Bureau truly so indifferent to a superpower like him?

Finally, someone showed up!

"You could say I'm an unofficial member."

Tang Mo giggled and said, "I'm currently acting as your guide. The Exceptional Insight Club was established to create a safe haven for superpowered individuals in the academy. We support and help each other while jointly exploring the mysteries of our abilities!"

She extended her hand to Wang Chen: "What do you think?"

The catgirl's small hand was white and tender, but her fingers gave off an impression of sharp, lethal claws.

However, her claws quickly retracted.

Wang Chen hesitated for a moment but still shook hands with her. "Not bad."

For superpowered individuals, the empire undoubtedly had various control and regulatory measures in place. A club like the Exceptional Insight Club was likely a way to incorporate superpowered students into the system under the guise of a student society, using comparatively gentle methods.

Not joining was, of course, an option, but it would probably subject him to tighter surveillance and scrutiny.

If he was always going to be watched, Wang Chen reasoned it made more sense to join openly and gain some benefits from it in return.

Joining such a club would certainly have its advantages!

"Trust me…"

Tang Mo smiled mischievously. "This is the smartest decision you'll ever make. I guarantee you won't regret it!"

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