Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

The teardrop-shaped integrated cabin cover opened silently and without a sound, and the light from the dome of the Full Virtual Reality Training Hall instantly poured evenly onto Wang Chen.

Wang Chen did not immediately rise and exit the cabin as he usually would, because at this moment his spiritual energy was spreading in all directions, silently and imperceptibly enveloping the enormous venue.

Around Wang Chen, thousands of Full Virtual Reality Combat Cabins were densely arranged, many of their covers already open. Numerous students from the Mecha Combat Department were either sitting or standing, with some swearing angrily.

No one sensed the scan coming from Wang Chen's spiritual energy!

A moment later, Wang Chen withdrew his outwardly dispersed spiritual energy.

Fourth Ring!

Just now, his spiritual energy tier had broken through the limit of the Third Ring, smoothly advancing to the Fourth Ring level.

Fourth Ring-tier spiritual energy not only meant an expansion in Wang Chen's Perception range, but most importantly, it possessed the power to interfere with reality, dramatically amplifying his combat strength.

In recent months, Wang Chen's spiritual energy had progressed at lightning speed, leaping from Second Ring to Third Ring, and now to Fourth Ring, with unstoppable momentum.

Much of this progress could be attributed to the Full Virtual Reality Combat Cabin beneath him!

The Full Virtual Reality Combat Cabin was a pinnacle of Imperial technology, with extremely high technical content—it could simulate mecha combat almost perfectly and approached real combat in many aspects.

Thanks to the features of the Full Virtual Reality Combat Cabin, Wang Chen was able to hone his spiritual energy using this device.

Time and again, he performed extreme operations during simulated combat, experiencing the process of death repeatedly, with his spiritual power strengthening significantly, propelling the enhancement of his spiritual energy.

Yet Wang Chen knew very well that once he became fully accustomed to and reliant on Full Virtual Reality combat, the training's effectiveness would inevitably diminish drastically, even to the point of no improvement whatsoever.

In fact, he had already begun to sense this distinctly over recent times.

It seemed that to achieve such meteoric upgrades again, he would need to experience true combat!

Wang Chen suddenly leapt up and landed steadily outside the simulation cabin.

"Wang Chen."

At that moment, a fellow classmate who had just exited his cabin greeted him, "How was today's performance?"

Wang Chen shrugged and replied, "Three A's and two B+'s."

Full Virtual Reality combat is no mere game; each training session is scored by the Intelligent Systems, linked closely to the students' academic results.

If the overall scores are too low and show no improvement over time, it signifies that the student is unfit to become a true mecha pilot and is vulnerable to being advised to leave the academy.

Thus, no one took it lightly; every battle had to be approached with full effort and focus.

The Imperial First Military Academy regularly weeds out a batch of underperforming students!

"Damn!"

The classmate couldn't help but curse, "Your performance is insanely consistent!"

The fellow student's name was Zhang Wuxuan. His family background was fairly wealthy, and coupled with his straightforward and generous personality, he got along well with many classmates. He was a social hub among the first-year Mecha Combat students.

Zhang Wuxuan's combat training scores were average, usually earning grades of C or D. Occasionally, when his small burst of brilliance occurred, he might squeak out a B, which for him was akin to a festival.

Therefore, upon hearing Wang Chen's scores for today, his envy was palpable.

The Mecha Combat Department was teeming with geniuses, many of whom were elites groomed from childhood by Rich Families and Noble Clans, often achieving multiple A's in simulated training. While Wang Chen's performance wasn't particularly exceptional today, it was his consistency that set him apart.

No matter which battle simulation Wang Chen participated in, his performance never faltered.

The virtual battlefields of Full Virtual Reality combat simulation were modeled after classic space warfare, incorporating superintelligence-driven rules and designs, making the outcomes unpredictable.

Thus, a single stunning performance in combat paled in comparison to consistently solid execution over multiple battles.

Wang Chen smiled, "It's okay."

In truth, Wang Chen wasn't very satisfied, for in simulated combat, his greatest trump card—spiritual energy—could not be utilized, leading to a very high death rate.

Of course, part of the reason for the high death rate was his lack of experience in space warfare. But as the number of virtual combat rounds increased, Wang Chen was quickly compensating for this shortcoming.

He was profoundly experiencing the bottleneck and limitations of Full Virtual Reality combat!

But real combat remained out of reach for a first-year freshman like Wang Chen. For now, he still needed to lie low and accumulate experience.

"You're too modest."

Zhang Wuxuan shook his head and then asked, "With the career specialization selection coming up in a few days, have you decided which one to choose?"

The Mecha Combat Department, as one of the largest departments in the First Advanced Military Academy, had thousands of students per grade level. During the first academic year, students didn't specialize—instead, comprehensive scores determined whether they could choose or be assigned to specific specialties.

Even among mecha pilots, there were various career specializations such as Heavy Assault, Ground Warfare, Sniper, Guardian, Commander, and more.

Without hesitation, Wang Chen replied, "Heavy Assault and Ground Warfare!"

He had already made up his mind to study both specializations simultaneously.

Both Heavy Assault and Ground Warfare were combat-oriented mecha pilot professions—the former Kingpins in space warfare, while the latter frontline warriors within planetary or warship fortress environments.

These two specialties demanded exceptional strength, tenacious willpower, and fearless courage.

In contrast, mecha pilot specializations like Sniper, Guardian, Commander, and others had higher survival rates in future wars.

"You're amazing!"

Zhang Wuxuan gave Wang Chen a thumbs-up, "I'm planning to become a Guardian."

Zhang Wuxuan wasn't surprised by Wang Chen's choice. Given Wang Chen's performance scores, his talent was already apparent. Opting not to select these roles would be a waste of his potential.

Moreover, Heavy Assault and Ground Warfare offered the easiest paths to merit. Within the Imperial Army's ranks, they were among the high-stature professions.

For someone like Wang Chen, a military academy student from a civilian background without any influential connections, once he graduated and joined the military, he'd need to seize every opportunity to make his mark. Otherwise, he risked being cannon fodder.

The Imperial Army was a massive force; while the reputation of the First Military Academy might provide Wang Chen with an advantageous starting point, it didn't promise a smooth journey ahead!

Zhang Wuxuan, coming from a Military Martial Family, understood this well.

He also knew his own strengths, which is why he chose to become a Guardian.

The Guardian profession didn't involve leading frontline charges. Instead, it relied on the steadfast support of warships. If injured, Guardians could retreat to the safety of the vessel, significantly improving their survival odds.

Truthfully, Zhang Wuxuan most aspired to become a Command Specialist, but sadly, he lacked the aptitude and talent in that domain.

"Not bad."

Wang Chen nodded, "It suits you."

Exchanging thoughts with Zhang Wuxuan, Wang Chen's mind drifted to the career specialization decisions coming up in five days.

Unbeknownst to him, it had already been a year since Wang Chen arrived in this world.

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First update delivered.