...

At the entrance of Third Senior High School.

Li Qingping didn’t find Gao Neng waiting for him, but he did find Shen Ning’Er.

And what Shen Ning’Er did next was so shocking his jaw nearly hit the floor.

A dignified Major of the Alliance Military Department!

Actually coming to Third Senior High in person to fill out Gao Neng’s university application?!

He wouldn’t have believed it if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes. And most importantly, Shen Ning’Er had filled it out for the Eastern Capital Military Academy.

One of the four great military academies!

’What on earth is she trying to do...’

A student from the Forgotten Land applying to one of the four great military academies was no laughing matter.

Not a single one had managed it in decades.

"Major Shen, could you have made a mistake? Even if you’re really helping Gao Neng fill out his application, you shouldn’t be choosing the Eastern Capital Military Academy, right?" Li Qingping finally asked after a long hesitation.

"Why not the Eastern Capital Military Academy?" Shen Ning’Er retorted.

"If I recall correctly, among the four great military academies, only the Southern Alliance Military Academy reserves half an admission slot for the Forgotten Land, right? The Eastern Capital Military Academy doesn’t accept students from the Forgotten Land," Li Qingping said after a moment of thought.

"Mm, starting this year, both the Eastern Capital Military Academy and the Southern Alliance Military Academy will reserve half an admission slot for the Forgotten Land," Shen Ning’Er explained.

"But that’s still only half a slot... If his scores aren’t absolutely outstanding, there’s no hope at all. There are many military academies in the City of Hope, and although the Southern Alliance Military Academy has reserved half a slot for the Forgotten Land for years, in reality, that half-slot has never once gone to a student from the Forgotten Land."

"Principal Li, you’re the chairman of the Supervisory Committee now. You can make a suggestion to your superiors," Shen Ning’Er said, then turned and left.

"..." Li Qingping was speechless.

’Make a suggestion? That’s right, I *can* make a suggestion!’

The Forgotten Land was different now. It was truly different from before. At the very least, Shen Ning’Er had given the Forgotten Land hope of seeing the light of day again.

...

After walking out the gates of Third Senior High School,

Shen Ning’Er took out her phone and dialed a number.

An old man’s voice soon came from the other end.

"Ning’Er, it’s been a long time since you last called this old man, hasn’t it?"

"Grandpa Song, I’d like to make a deal with you," Shen Ning’Er said, not beating around the bush.

"A deal?"

"Yes. A deal for a special admission slot," Shen Ning’Er replied with a nod.

"Oh? Now this is interesting. You, Shen Ning’Er, are actually asking for a special admission slot for someone? No problem. So, what are you planning to trade me for it?" The voice on the phone seemed to have gained some interest.

"I’ll trade you a student, of course."

"Trade a student for my special admission slot? Ning’Er... I don’t quite follow. I give you a special admission slot, and then you give me a student? By my calculations... I don’t seem to be getting anything out of this, do I?"

"If Grandpa Song isn’t willing, I can just call Grandpa Jin at the Southern Alliance Military Academy. He’s always been on the lookout for talented students."

"Wait, did you say a talented student? Go on, tell me more. If you, Shen Ning’Er, are calling someone a genius, I’m quite curious to hear just who this person is."

"Gao Neng, from Third Senior High School in the Forgotten Land," Shen Ning’Er replied.

"Gao who? The Forgotten Land... Ning’Er, you’re not joking with your Grandpa Song, are you? What kind of talented student could possibly come from the Forgotten Land? Even their top scorer would be at the bottom of the barrel at other military academies. Besides, my Eastern Capital Military Academy doesn’t have any admission slots in the Forgotten Land."

"That’s why I’m calling you. I want you to start reserving half an admission slot for the Forgotten Land every year, starting this year. That is the deal."

"..." The other end of the line went silent for a long time.

"If this is too difficult for you, Grandpa Song, I’ll just call Grandpa Jin at the Southern Alliance."

"Hold on. It’s not that it’s difficult. You, Shen Ning’Er, personally called an old man like me to ask for a special admission slot. Could I really refuse? But what I don’t understand is, why are you so insistent that I reserve half an admission slot for the Forgotten Land?" the voice came through the phone again.

"Because of hope!"

"Hope? Alright, since you, Shen Ning’Er, want to give them hope, I’ll go along with your wishes. But Ning’Er... you’d better remember that you owe this old man a favor for this one!"

"Grandpa Song, you’re the one who owes me a favor!"

"I’m giving you a special admission slot, and somehow I’m the one who ends up owing you a favor? You little rascal, you’re getting more and more out of line, even bullying your Grandpa Song now. Fine, fine. Just send me the student’s name. I’m in a meeting right now; I’ll arrange it for you right after!"

"Thank you, Grandpa Song!" Shen Ning’Er said nothing more and hung up.

"Major... you truly are a wonderful future daughter-in-law for the Gao Family!" Chen Bai blurted out, trying to suck up to her.

WHAM!

Chen Bai went flying out of the car.

Shen Ning’Er, on the other hand, moved straight into the driver’s seat. Without even a glance at Chen Bai, she stomped on the gas and sped off, her taillights vanishing in an instant.

Chen Bai sat on the ground in a daze.

For a moment, he had no idea what had just happened.

’Did I say something wrong? But I wasn’t wrong... She’s already playing the part of the perfect daughter-in-law: helping with his university application, and even calling Principal Song of the Eastern Capital Military Academy to pave the way. If you told me there was nothing going on between those two, I wouldn’t believe it!’ Chen Bai couldn’t for the life of him figure out what he had done wrong.

...

「Half a month later.」

Shen Ning’Er received orders from the Military Department and left the Forgotten Land.

Chen Bai stayed behind.

Because Gao Neng still hadn’t emerged from the sealed pod.

...

「One month later.」

Chen Bai stared at Gao Neng, who was still absorbing energy—suck, suck, suck—inside the sealed pod, feeling a little dazed.

’He’s consumed at least eight or nine million Alliance Coins’ worth of energy materials, right? Why isn’t he out yet? Can he still absorb more? This is unscientific!’

...

「A month and a half later.」

The university admission notices were sent out.

Gao Neng, the top scorer from the Forgotten Land, had been accepted by the Eastern Capital Military Academy!

The news shocked every middle school and high school in the Forgotten Land. Soon, banners emblazoned with the word "Hope" were posted all over the region.

The Forgotten Land can produce geniuses too!

There is hope for the Forgotten Land!

As the chairman of the Supervisory Committee and principal of Third Senior High, Li Qingping naturally knew a little of the inside story.

But he kept his mouth shut!

Because only by staying silent could he give the students of the Forgotten Land even greater hope. Just like with this year’s entrance exams, the number of applicants had surged, and the number of students accepted was at least double that of previous years.

This was the power of hope.

...

At the military training base.

Chen Bai was also praying for hope.

However, his hope was more along the lines of, ’Please, Master Gao Neng, will you just hurry up and come out? It’s been a month and a half! The fact that you’ve burned through over ten million in energy materials is beside the point now.’

’You absolutely cannot have something happen to you!’

"Dr. Lan, are you sure he’s okay? Please don’t lie to me. If something really happens to this kid, Major Shen will kill me!" Chen Bai was on the verge of tears.

"Lieutenant Chen, are you questioning my professional competence?!" Dr. Lan was furious. He turned to a group of researchers nearby and yelled, "Increase the injection rate! Push it to twenty-five times! I refuse to believe this kid can really suck all my energy materials dry!"

"Understood!" the researchers immediately nodded.

’Twenty-five times... If this kid actually survives this? What kind of monster would he be?!’ Despite the sweltering summer heat, Chen Bai’s sweat poured down like rain.

...

「Two months later.」

The school season officially began.

The students from the Forgotten Land who had been accepted into Military Universities officially set off for the City of Hope.

However, Li Caicai and all the other female high school students couldn’t find Gao Neng. They searched everywhere for him, but their efforts were ultimately fruitless.

Meanwhile, at the military training base.

Chen Bai’s face was ashen. He stared blankly at the console, which displayed an injection rate of thirty times the normal amount, and had been standing there motionless for a full two hours.

"There’s movement! Dr. Lan, Gao Neng is showing signs of activity!" a researcher suddenly shouted.

"Hm? Finally some activity? Run a scan, quickly!" Dr. Lan rushed out of an adjacent room and immediately came to the control console.

Chen Bai snapped back to his senses.

"Is he coming out? Is Gao Neng coming out?"

"Not yet, but it should be soon. What are the readings?" Dr. Lan asked calmly, his hands flying across the console.

"Blood pressure readings have reached the standard for an Energy Warrior!"

"Heart rate has also reached the standard!"

"Strange, he seems to still be absorbing energy!"

"Still absorbing? Then keep increasing it! Push it to thirty-five times in one go!" Dr. Lan made a snap decision.

"Thirty-five times?! Doctor... The pod’s maximum tolerance only ever reached thirty-three times during testing. Thirty-five times might make it explode!" a researcher warned.

"Let it explode. If we don’t let him absorb enough right now, Gao Neng could be in danger!" Dr. Lan said without the slightest hesitation.

"In danger?" Sweat dripped from Chen Bai’s face again.

He had been stationed here for a full two months. His mission was to wait for Gao Neng to come out, then escort him to the City of Hope. What if he ended up delivering a corpse instead?

What would the consequences be?

"The energy material injection rate has reached thirty-five times!"

"He’s still absorbing!"

"Increase it again. To forty times!" Dr. Lan ordered once more.

"Yes, sir!" The researcher said no more this time, immediately operating the controls to inject more energy materials into the sealed pod.

BUZZ!

Just then, the sealed pod suddenly began to vibrate.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Alarms blared all around.

Dr. Lan, the sealed pod might be about to explode.

"Increase it again! To fifty times! Don’t worry about whether it explodes or not!" Dr. Lan shouted.

"Still increasing it?!"

"Move aside, I’ll do it!" Dr. Lan didn’t answer the researcher. He shoved his way to the console and swiftly cranked the energy injection rate up to fifty times.

BZZZZZZZZZZZ!!

The sealed pod trembled violently.

Five minutes passed.

Ten minutes.

Fifteen minutes.

"It’s stopped! It’s stopped! He’s not absorbing anymore!" a researcher exclaimed with joy.

"Quick, open the sealed pod!"

BOOM!

Just then, a massive explosion erupted from within the glass room. The huge sealed pod blew apart, its lid slamming into the ceiling.

"Whoa, that was one hell of a rush! I’m really invincible now!" a voice rang out from the pod, followed by a soft sound of surprise. "Huh? Why’d the pod explode?"