Gao Neng carefully weighed his options and quickly came to a decision.

’The skills from the system are definitely good. But usually, you get them randomly from a lucky spin. There’s no guarantee I’d even draw an escape skill.’

’Most importantly, even if I did draw one, there would be restrictions.’

’For example: money!’

’And while I have a workshop and future earnings, I have no cash on hand...’

’So, for now, it’s more practical to learn an escape-focused Body Technique!’

’After all, once I’ve learned a Body Technique, it’s not just for escaping. In a fight, I can also use it for positioning, positioning...’

Having made his choice, Gao Neng called Gui Zian.

After confirming Gui Zian was in his office at the War Academy, he ran over.

"I’ve already submitted the application for your military merit. Vice Commander Chen personally approved it. I’ve thought about this carefully, and I think the path I was on before might have been wrong..." Gui Zian said the moment he saw Gao Neng.

"Wrong?" Gao Neng hadn’t expected Gui Zian to bring this up.

"Yes. I used to think the Alliance’s resources were limited. If everyone was scrambling to report military merit for every small contribution, how could the Alliance ever build up its reserves? But I understand now. Resources aren’t meant to be saved; they’re meant to be seized. To seize them, we need to become stronger! It’s just like this current reform—a few people aren’t enough. We need everyone to grow stronger together. And if that’s the case, we might as well distribute the resources." Gui Zian’s eyes lit up as he reached his conclusion.

"So, I’m getting the military merit?"

"Mhm, if all goes well, you should get a personal Third-Class Merit. The Military Department will also give you some resource-based rewards. With a Third-Class Merit, your military rank might change as well. I helped you push for all of that," Gui Zian said, then took another sip of water.

"Thank you, Teacher."

"Don’t thank me. You earned this by risking your life. Anyway, what did you come to see me about?" Gui Zian shook his head.

"Teacher, my heart... it’s broken! Shattered into a thousand pieces!" Gao Neng suddenly clutched his chest, his face a mask of unbearable pain.

"???" Gui Zian.

’What the hell?’

"Teacher, as you know, I’m practically a celebrity at the Eastern Capital Military Academy now. But the academy announced that our Invincible Team could go to the battlefield, and now we’re not allowed! All the students are talking, saying our Invincible Team is afraid to die, that Fang Tangtang used her connections to get her grandfather to beg the Military Department, and some are even saying Shen Ning’Er did it to protect me... and that’s why I can’t go to the battlefield. This is an outrageous injustice..."

"Nonsense. Removing you from the roster was a decision from the Military Department. I couldn’t do anything about it. Besides, weren’t you told not to make this public?" Gui Zian’s brow furrowed slightly.

"But you can’t wrap fire in paper! Someone already knows, and now it’s spreading all over the academy. On my way here, at least a dozen people were pointing at me," Gao Neng continued to wail.

Inwardly, however, his mind was already turning.

’So it really was the Military Department?’

’It seems that what Fang Tangtang said was true, nine times out of ten.’

’The Military Department is making a big move this time. They might actually be attacking the core territory of the Dark Night Elf Clan. This is an opportunity I can’t afford to miss.’

’Of course, the precondition is that I have to survive.’

"The matter is settled. There’s nothing I can do, even if you ask me," Gui Zian said with a sigh of resignation.

Gao Neng knew, of course, that Gui Zian couldn’t possibly get him back onto the battlefield. But as the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. He was the aggrieved party now, so he had to cry about it.

"But I won’t accept it! What gives the Military Department the right to take away our spot? We earned our place on that battlefield through our own merit! This is unfair! I’m going to take it up with them!"

"Don’t cause trouble. The Military Department did this for your own good. Your strength is still a little lacking. Once you’re stronger, the academy will naturally arrange for you to go to the battlefield." Gui Zian was rather surprised to hear this.

In his mind, Gao Neng should have been happy that the Military Department had removed his name from the list. ’Could it be? Is this kid’s resolve really that high?’

’Is he already thinking about slaying enemies to serve the Alliance?’

"Teacher, I want to kill our enemies! I’m willing to make the ultimate sacrifice!"

"Do you really mean that?"

"Of course! I’m a member of the Alliance! Even though I can’t go to the battlefield this time, I understand that opportunities are for those who are prepared. I hope Teacher Gui can teach me a real fighting skill! Even if I can’t go to the battlefield this time, I will absolutely kill the xenos on the battlefield in the future and defend the Alliance with my life!"

"Gao Neng, you seem to have... matured!" Gui Zian’s eyes lit up.

"One has to grow up eventually. What happened in that small building made me realize how weak I am. I also understand that to get stronger, the only way is to learn, and to never stop learning!"

"It seems you’ve truly become a soldier."

"Then will you teach me, Teacher? I want to learn the strongest fighting skill to kill enemies on the battlefield. I don’t want to miss the next chance. I want to protect the Alliance and protect humanity!"

"Yes, of course, I’m willing to teach you!" At this, Gui Zian finally stood up. "Gao Neng... to be honest, I used to be a little disappointed seeing you run off to the Manufacturing Academy every day. While the Manufacturing Academy can also contribute to the Alliance, how can that compare to the thrill of slaying enemies on the front lines? A man with ambition should be galloping across the battlefield! You have great talent, but without a heart that does not fear death, you can never become a truly strong warrior!"

There was one more thing Gui Zian didn’t say.

He had been looking for an opportunity to teach Gao Neng fighting skills, but Gao Neng had never brought it up himself. Besides, even the Seven-Step Kill he had given him had been turned into the Half-Step Kill...

So, how could he bring himself to swallow his pride and offer again?

"Teacher..."

"Enough. What fighting skill do you want to learn? I can teach you anything!" Gui Zian’s eyes burned with intensity.

"One for escaping!"

"..." Gui Zian.

Hope, as they say, can come in a flash and vanish just as quickly.

That was exactly how Gui Zian felt right now. He stared daggers at Gao Neng, looking like he wanted nothing more than to reach out and strangle him on the spot.

’So after all that talk about slaying enemies, the first thing you want to learn is how to run away?!’

’Could you be any more afraid of death!’ 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Only by staying alive do you get the chance to kill more enemies. Isn’t that what you taught me, Teacher? I’m still too weak. Even if I reach the Third Realm, I’ll still be too weak for the battlefield. If I learn a life-saving skill first, I can kill more enemies in the future!" Gao Neng explained hurriedly, seeing Gui Zian’s face, which was as black as thunder.

"Hmph, you’re not wrong..." Gui Zian mused for a moment, then seemed to make up his mind. "Escape techniques are a type of ’Swift Movement’ fighting skill. These skills focus on maximizing your speed in the shortest possible time. They can also be used for surprise attacks!"

"Do you know any, Teacher Gui?"

"I know a few, of course. However, the person at the Eastern Capital Military Academy who truly masters ’Swift Movement’ fighting skills is not me," Gui Zian explained.

"Then who is it?"

"The dean of the Logistics Academy, Gu Yi."

"Him?" Gao Neng recalled that Gu Yi had been the host of the freshman orientation assembly. ’Didn’t I manage to offend him pretty badly back then?’

"Don’t worry, leave it to me. I’ll go get it from him. In addition, I plan to teach you another fighting technique, one that can be used to complement your... Half-Step Kill!"

"Complement my Half-Step Kill?"

"Correct. Your Half-Step Kill is fast and quite powerful. It can be considered a decent Mid-Tier Fighting Skill. In terms of the skill itself, there’s not much room for improvement. If you want to increase its power, you have to work on the wind-up before the strike. Therefore, I plan to teach you Iaido!"

"Iaido?"

"Correct. Iaido is a technique for building up power before drawing the blade. This way, the power of your first slash will be two or even three times stronger than your second!"

"Two to three times stronger? Then couldn’t I take down a Third Realm opponent with a single slash?" Gao Neng’s eyes lit up instantly when he heard this.

"Mhm, more or less. Drawing the blade and striking happen in an instant. Even a Fourth-Order expert could be wounded by your first slash if they’re caught off guard."

"Only the first slash?"

"Of course. You build up power while the blade is sheathed. Once it’s unsheathed and you’ve delivered a slash, that built-up momentum is gone."

"I see. Thank you, Teacher!" Gao Neng nodded.

「Ten days later, it would be time to head to the battlefield.」

A mere ten days...

Mastering a Swift Movement-type escape skill and Iaido was already going to be extremely difficult. Being greedy and trying for more would likely be pointless.

He got his hands on the Iaido technique quickly.

That evening, Gui Zian called Gao Neng over again. This time, Gu Yi was also present, and on the table lay a secret manual for a fighting skill.

"Gao Neng, go on and call him Teacher Gu. At the Eastern Capital Military Academy, if Dean Gu claims to be number two in escaping, no one would dare claim to be number one!" Gui Zian said with a laugh.

"Old Gui... you really have a way with words, don’t you?" Gu Yi’s previously calm face instantly darkened.

"Hahaha..." Gui Zian chuckled.

Gu Yi ignored him and turned his gaze to Gao Neng. "Gao Neng, while you may not be my student, since Old Gui asked me, I, Gu Yi, won’t be stingy. This Swift Movement technique of mine is called ’Ghost’s Despair.’ It is divided into four realms. Take it and read it yourself."

"Dean Gu, may I ask, what realm have you cultivated ’Ghost’s Despair’ to?"

"The Third Realm."

"And... do you have any glorious... uh... accomplishments with it?"

"Ahem. When I was at the Fifth Order, I once outran a Seventh-Order opponent. Any other questions?" Gu Yi coughed twice. He naturally saw what Gao Neng was trying to ask.

"Nope! Thank you, Teacher Gu!" Gao Neng immediately changed his tune.

’Amazing! A Fifth-Order outrunning a Seventh-Order!’

’That’s not just a two-level gap, that’s a leap from Mid-Tier to High-Tier! No wonder Gui Zian said that when it comes to escaping at the Eastern Capital Military Academy, if Gu Yi calls himself number two, no one would dare call themselves number one.’

’Could it be that the rumor that upperclassman nurse from the Logistics Academy once mentioned was actually true?’