The Strongest Brain in the Interstellar

The day before school started, Jiang Hui didn’t sleep at all the night before, only dozing for a few hours in her mental space. The rest of the time was spent organizing her things and contemplating what else she needed to buy, giving her a strong sense of returning to her student days. Well… she really did come back to life to be a student again.

It wasn’t that she was nervous, but tomorrow clearly marked a new beginning for her—a fresh start in this world. She was still a bit concerned.

So, she unusually refrained from researching the holographic pod yesterday and went to bed early to prepare.

Speaking of the holographic pod, it was a miscalculation on Jiang Hui’s part.

She had originally bought it to better understand the interstellar world, to experience the advanced technology unique to this realm.

However, once she got it, she became completely engrossed in the highly developed virtual world of the interstellar realm.

Interstellar technology had essentially achieved everything that people on Blue Star had once fantasized about in terms of holographic tech, and even things Blue Star people hadn’t imagined were possible here.

Moreover, the experience and sensations of entering the holographic zone were virtually indistinguishable from real life, allowing one to travel thousands of miles without leaving home. Consequently, interstellar residents developed an entire range of professional roles in the holographic world, enabling them to sustain themselves from home without needing to work in real-time—as long as they had the skills.

Moreover, because holographic technology is a virtual world, many things cannot be realized in the real interstellar world but can easily be achieved in the holographic zone. This makes it easier for people to gain a sense of satisfaction and realize their self-worth in the holographic world.

It sounds like paradise for internet-addicted young people and homebodies.

Jiang Hui suddenly understood why the interstellar authorities were so strict about account management for those who had not fully awakened, enforcing limits on time and area. They were worried that these minors, whose worldviews and values were not fully formed, would be overly influenced by the holographic world.

After all, whether in the interstellar realm or on Blue Star, young people are the future pillars of the nation. If these undeveloped youths invested their time in virtual illusions and immersed themselves in a fantastical world, the nation would be heading for disaster.

In her past life, Jiang Hui had been a relatively mature member of society and had long since moved past the stage of being easily tempted and lost in entertainment.

Unexpectedly, she found herself captivated by the diverse entertainment options and projects in the interstellar realm, almost unable to extricate herself.

It wasn’t until she received the enrollment notification from Beska Intermediate Academy that she realized she had spent several consecutive days immersed in the holographic zone. Each time she entered, she completely lost track of time, and during this period, she hadn’t studied properly at all.

Looking back, aside from the fleeting joy of experiencing new technology, she hadn’t accomplished much at all. The past week felt less meaningful than the initial days she spent after arriving in the interstellar realm.

What had she been doing?! Jiang Hui deeply reflected on her recent lackadaisical life.

In reality, it wasn’t as serious as she thought. The interstellar holographic zone wasn’t just about gaming; it was a virtual social space open to everyone, offering a comprehensive range of activities: work, study, food, music, entertainment, and literature. There were also projects unique to the interstellar realm, such as mechs, starships, simulated military games, and exhilarating simulated space battles.

Interstellar residents could enter the holographic zone through the holographic pod, freely customizing their appearance and even gender, and choose to engage in activities across the nine fundamental domains within the holographic zone.

They could shop in the holographic zone, taste gourmet food, customize stylish outfits to wear, and use the smart platforms built in the zone for remote work. There were also various large-scale gaming projects available for relaxation.

Among these, the most popular area for awakened individuals was the simulated mech battle zone. Many awakened users actively initiated battles here, and the zone regularly hosted mech tournaments of various scales, including individual and team competitions. Winners had the chance to receive prizes from the organizers, and even opportunities for academic scholarships.

This zone was naturally Jiang Hui’s main area of activity. She spent a lot of time exploring the various functions of the holographic zone, experiencing everything from daily necessities to popular interstellar holographic games.

However, she had only visited the simulated mech battle zone once. It wasn’t that Jiang Hui lacked interest; the place simply wasn’t accessible to ordinary people. She couldn’t resist going there on her first day.

Once inside, she found herself surrounded by towering figures. Many participants seemed to adopt fierce and intimidating appearances, making Jiang Hui, who had not adjusted her avatar at all, feel like a malnourished little cabbage—completely out of place and somewhat pressured.

Of course, Jiang Hui knew that due to technological limitations, direct attacks between ordinary users were not allowed in the holographic zone, except in the designated combat simulations where spiritual power could be transformed.

Moreover, any aggressive actions in the simulated battle arena were also restricted; once an opponent conceded, further attacks were prohibited, especially lethal ones, as this could lead to mental disturbances or even brain death in real life for the awakened. If someone were to defy this rule, they could receive a citation from holographic police, and in serious cases, it could lead to real-world detention.

So, she really had no reason to fear. While she might encounter criminals in real life, the holographic zone was under comprehensive surveillance, making the actions of all uploaded interstellar users virtually transparent to the main system.

But as soon as she entered, she didn’t know if she was being targeted or if it was just coincidence; before she could even take in the scenery of the area, she was hit with over a dozen battle invitations.

Jiang Hui: ?!

Before she could decline, another wave of battle invites flooded in, overwhelming her notifications. Did she stir up a hornet’s nest or was her username too ostentatious? But that wasn’t the case; her ID was “Contentment is Happiness,” a typical name for middle-aged groups, and her avatar was just a straightforward landscape picture, with her appearance set as an average-looking passerby… Could that really provoke others’ malice?

Jiang Hui was confused and shocked.

Was the community this enthusiastic towards newcomers? The problem was, she didn’t understand mech combat at all; accepting these challenges would only lead to her own suffering.

So, watching the growing number of battle invitations, she panicked and quickly exited the zone.

This world was truly terrifying; she preferred to stay in the ordinary zone, enjoying the scenery and food in peace.

Thus, during the last week before school, Jiang Hui spent her time in the holographic chamber and browsing youth forums.

After waking up well-rested from the mental space, she organized and packed her school supplies into her storage button, ready to embrace the start of classes the next day.