Novel Full Chapter 79: Extreme Race
The TV in the living room was actually a large holographic AI computer, and Moon Song pushed a button to call up a notice that Heaven Execution Training Camp had announced last month.
The notice stated that an extreme hovercar race would be happening on the first weekend of the camp opening. Cadets could form their teams to participate, and the winning team would win five thousand points as a prize, be given a tour of the internal division, and be allowed to use its Stygian Training Center for twenty-four hours.
Moon Song pointed at the projected screen with her finger as she beamed. “This is a great opportunity; winning those five thousand points—if we win, we’ll be given one chance to participate in the elite training of the internal division. I’ve already formed a team in preparation for the upcoming race; are you two crazies interested?”
Chen Dong shook his head firmly. “Nope. I’d rather increase the intensity of my cultivation and training during this time. I will most definitely make it into the internal division, but I will do so through my strength!”
Moon Song was dissatisfied with this answer. “Big oaf, read carefully; it’s not just a day of training in the internal division. There’s also a prize of five thousand points! Do you know what those points are?”
Xia Fei and Chen Dong shook their heads.
Moon Song sighed, evidently annoyed. “Has either of you properly grasped the basics of Heaven Execution Training Camp? To actually have no inkling of points.”
Though Chen Dong had already been in the camp for two months, he had spent all his time training or challenging people. He had not even properly read the training camp’s charter before this, while Xia Fei had just arrived today, so his understanding of the training camp was essentially blank.
Moon Song used the computer to enter the intraweb of Heaven Execution Training Camp, pulling out a screen full of information. “Points are like currency here. You’ll be facing roadblocks after roadblocks if you don’t have any points. See for yourselves; even though the basic facilities are free to use for all, the higher-level training facilities require a large number of points to be used.”
“Then, there’s also the item exchange; the training camp provides a large quantity of quality medicinal ingredients and topnotch equipment, but all these things can only be exchanged with points.” Moon Song carefully briefed Xia Fei and Chen Dong on how the points exchange worked.
Xia Fei stood up and went right in front of the holographic display to examine the ingredients and equipment in detail.
“Very good.” Phantom suddenly appeared. “I have to hand it to the Heaven Execution Training Camp. Many of these ingredients aren’t even available on the market.”
Due to the injury Xia Fei had sustained from opening the seventh region of his brain, part of its effect was his inability to increase his special ability’s rank without external aids, so he was largely dependent on large quantities of medicinal concoctions to rank up. Such top-grade ingredients were very important to Xia Fei.
Moon Song looked at Chen Dong and Xia Fei, somewhat pleased with herself. “So, are you guys interested in joining my motor team?”
“None whatsoever,” replied Chen Dong bluntly. This battle maniac was unmoved by anything aside from training and fighting. Besides, as an Ice Ability user, Chen Dong essentially had no need for equipment.
Xia Fei gave it some thought and very calmly said, “Five thousand points and a chance to step into the internal division to train for a day are indeed very tempting, but from the previous one hundred races, eighty-seven of them were won by the mechatronics division, while the remaining thirteen races ended up being won by other divisions. This clearly shows that the mechatronic division has a clear edge in becoming the champion of the race.”
“Besides, those teams who won before all consisted of top-class cadets that have been studying in the training camp for four years or more, and there were no exceptions. A comprehensive analysis tells us that our chances of getting the first place won’t be any higher than one percent.”
Xia Fei did not get giddy from the temptation. Instead of chasing after unrealistic and hard to achieve goals, it was better to get on his feet and take things one step at a time.
Even if he wished to earn points, he could also slowly accumulate them through completing the missions the training camp assigned. Xia Fei never believed that there was such a thing as free lunch; a corresponding effort must be put in to see a return.
Moon Song glared at both Xia Fei and Chen Dong, shaking her head over their lack of zeal. “You guys don’t even understand the circumstances you’re in.”
“Do you know why we’re staying together? It’s because we are all specially-enrolled cadets! Chen Dong, you’ve been here longer; has anyone taken the initiative to greet you this whole time?”
Chen Dong did his best to recall before shaking his head, unconcerned.
“Actually, we’ve been isolated ever since the first day we stepped into the training grounds. Forget about you two; just this beautiful lady in front of you hasn’t even gotten an offer of flowers since arriving. Isn’t that a clear indication that something’s off?” Moon Song very vainly pointed out.
Specially enrolled cadets were directly pulled into the training camp without needing to go through the assessment, so it was normal for the other cadets to view them differently.
After all, everyone had massacred and slaughtered others just to get this chance, while the specially enrolled cadets had no means of convincing others of their capabilities. Unless they had proven their strength to be worthy of the special enrolment, the average cadets would all treat them like a different species altogether.
Thinking back to everyone today, pointing and gawking behind his back, Xia Fei completely understood what Moon Song was insinuating.
After walking Chen Dong and Moon Song out of his room, Xia Fei randomly tossed the things he had brought into a cabinet and went into the training room.
Not only would continuous training help promote his body’s microcirculation and make him sweat profusely but also would help speed up the process by which the drug residues in his body could be absorbed.
Absorbing the medicinal residues in his body one day earlier meant that Xia Fei could raise his cultivation one day earlier. Meanwhile, he had no interest in that extreme hovercar race. In his eyes, the chances of winning the race simply could not justify the time he needed to spend on it, believing it to be a completely uneconomical expenditure of time altogether.
There were still over a dozen days left before the training camp officially started, and Xia Fei did not intend to be idle during the waiting period; aside from eating with Chen Dong and Moon Song in the dining hall or caring for his body through sleeping, showering, et cetera, Xia Fei wisely spent his time training in his room
He spent each day in an orderly and simple manner.
It was twelve noon, and Xia Fei left the dormitory as per usual to grab a bite with Chen Dong. Moon Song, as well as two other specially enrolled cadets, Beihai and Manjun, had joined them.
Beihai was the youngest out of the five specially enrolled cadets, barely past fifteen years of age. He was skinny and pale, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles, looking like a refined and simple lady.
Manjun was thickset, and the beard he had made him look like a middle-aged uncle. His voice sounded gruff and his body was covered with thick hair, which made him look like a black bear from afar.
The five occupied a table by the window in the dining hall; the other cadets deliberately avoided them, gazing at the five as if they were some sort of monsters.
Xia Fei was already used to such treatment. He had no choice in being a specially enrolled cadet, and though such a term ought to have been impressive, the reality was that the other cadets harbored plenty of suspicions toward them, even to a degree of jealousy, which caused them all to look upon the five with prejudice.
After they were done with lunch, Xia Fei and Chen Dong wanted to return to the dormitory to continue their training, but Moon Song stopped them.
“Our hovercar for the race is complete; would you guys like to go take a look? After all, your names are on it as well,” Moon Song said.
Those who wanted to participate in the race needed to be in teams of five, and because Moon Song was unable to find anyone else, she had no choice but to put Xia Fei and Chen Dong’s names in it. As for the actual work itself, it was mainly done by Moon Song, Beihai, and Manjun.
Beihai adjusted his spectacles and said, “Come take a look. Manjun and I have put in a lot of effort in that hovercar, and you two are members of the motor team at the end of the day. Even giving us some suggestions would be great.”
Moon Song was pouting when she unhappily protested, “Hey, how could you say that? Yours truly has also put quite a lot of effort into this.”
Manjun growled, “Why is it that I can’t recall any instances of you helping out?”
“I…” Words seemed to be stuck in Moon Song’s throat. “If not for me giving instructions, would you two be able to build that hovercar by yourselves?”
Manjun was a straightforward bloke, so he nodded. “Definitely.”
Moon Song stared at him, looking as if she was about to attack Manjun.
Xia Fei promptly stood up with a smile and said, “I’ve still got training to complete this afternoon. We’ll talk about this after that. I’ll be sure to cheer you guys on when it’s time for the race.”
Moon Song was, of course, not about to let this go. She thrust her massive curves to stop Xia Fei from leaving, her face all nasty. “Mr. Xia, if you don’t go, yours truly will sneak into your room tonight and castrate you. Do you wanna try me?”
…
Xia Fei adored women, but there were some whom he would be unwilling to provoke no matter what. Moon Song was one such person.
Fortunately, the garage was not too far from their dormitories. Taking a look would not waste too much of his time, so Xia Fei could only treat this as a leisure stroll after his meal.
Coincidentally, they bumped into Ye Xiaohan as they were making their way over. Xia Fei smiled and waved at her as he continued on his way.
Ye Xiaohan paused for a moment before she straightened her back. “Xia Fei, I have something to tell you.”
Moon Song used her elbow to give Xia Fei a discreet nudge. “That chick isn’t bad. Those slim and long legs of hers are just delectable. You gotta introduce me to her. This madam here wants to take her in.”
Xia Fei was already aware of Moon Song’s sexual orientation, and he was not bothered by it since it was none of his business. Rolling his eyes, Xia Fei approached Ye Xiaohan.
“What’s the matter?”
“I spoke to the commander, and he informed Ma Jian and the others not to harass you anymore. You may now make your choice on which division you wish to join,” said Ye Xiaohan softly.
Xia Fei was surprised. It was no wonder he had not seen any of the three division supervisors these last few days; it turned out that it was Ye Xiaohan’s doing.
Xia Fei smiled and nodded at her. Imparting a simple word of thanks, he turned to leave.
Watching him leave, Ye Xiaohan suddenly had an inexplicable feeling of disappointment inside. She secretly bit her lower lip. “Why is he unwilling to speak even a few more words with me?”
The huge garage had been partitioned into different areas, and each one served as an assembly for the motor teams who were participating in the race. In a bid for fairness, the vehicles had to be built out in the open and were not allowed to be taken out before the start of the race. Even the necessary parts and tools were all provided by the training camp.
There were quite a lot of people in the garage, and they were currently crowding around a red hovercar, gesturing and pointing.
“You could tell at a glance that amateurs have assembled this hovercar. The air pilot valve has actually been fitted below the compression pump… Are they not afraid that overheating will cause the air to expand and put unnecessary pressure on the draft tube?” derided one man, loud enough for those around to hear.
“That’s nothing. The real joke is this hovercar’s stabilizer; its ion engines are actually five meters apart. Considering that they will shake violently when doing high-speed turns, the stabilizer is sure to destabilize because of this; it may result in the vehicle to shake or overturn, which might even cause the death of the driver inside.”
The discussion continued, and Xia Fei curiously watched it all from the sidelines.
The outer shell for the hovercar had not been fitted yet, so they could all clearly see its internal structure.
Xia Fei’s repair and maintenance skills had been personally taught by Old Porter and his four expert apprentices, so he of course was no novice regarding such things, and he could tell what was wrong with the hovercar at a glance.
Turning his head, Xia Fei gloated as he told Chen Dong and the others, “Whose hovercar is this? To have actually assembled such a vehicle for a race, it’ll be a miracle if it can make it out of the garage.”
Just as he said those words, he realized that Moon Song was glaring at him hatefully, while Beihai and Manjun were both looking embarrassed.
“Could that be your hovercar?” Xia Fei was completely flabbergasted, commending himself inwardly for making the smart choice of not participating in their nonsense