Chapter 73

"Student Li Yao, you don’t need to worry. All the medical expenses incurred during your coma, as well as the costs for your recovery, will be fully covered by the state!"

"Starting this month, 30,000 yuan will be deposited into your account every month as a 'First-Class Disabled Veteran Allowance'!"

"If you want to find a job, our 'Disabled Veterans Association' will also help you!"

"If you want to go to school, we can arrange it so that you can attend the 'Special Class for Disabled Veterans' at the First Military Academy of the Federation without taking the college entrance exam!"

"Furthermore, if you encounter any trouble in society, feel free to come to us—the Disabled Veterans Association of the Federation is one of the most powerful organizations in the entire Tianyuan World. Once something happens, all 63 million disabled veterans of the Federation will be your strong support!"

The black-uniformed disabled veteran said with overwhelming authority.

"This is getting big," Li Yao felt a bit guilty.

In his memory, disabled veterans of the Federation were always those old soldiers with white hair, wrinkles all over their faces, and implanted mechanical limbs, limping with every step.

Every year, Chishao No. 2 High School would invite some disabled veterans to give speeches at the school, promoting the glorious deeds of combat heroes, most of whom were such old soldiers.

Some of these old soldiers, even when their ammunition and food were exhausted, and their spirit energy drained, would still charge towards the overwhelming tide of beasts with a few comrades, wielding immobile chainsaw swords!

Every time he heard such touching and heroic stories, Li Yao would be filled with passion and fighting spirit!

In his heart, "Disabled Veteran of the Federation" was a very honorable and sacred title, and he felt unworthy of such a title.

Thinking this, Li Yao decided to speak the truth:

"Actually, my injuries are not as serious as you think. I can recover with just a few days of rest. Really, I am not disabled."

The disabled veteran's eyes showed unmasked admiration, and he gave Li Yao's shoulder a heavy pat with his mechanical limb, making Li Yao wince.

"Good lad, I like you! We men stand tall and firm, and we should be like you—no matter what our bodies are like, we must always be full of fighting spirit and hope! Yes, of course you are not disabled. None of us 63 million disabled veterans of the Federation are disabled! Even if our bodies are disabled, our fighting spirit and will to fight will never be disabled! If the country really needs us, we can re-equip and return to the battlefield at any time, ready to punch a beast to death!"

"Um—"

Li Yao felt a bit uncomfortable. He realized that his situation was really hard to explain in just a few words.

The middle-aged disabled veteran said, "Student Li Yao, Dr. Gu and I have talked, and I am fully aware of your current situation. I know you might not be able to accept it right away, but—"

"The country has its laws, and the military has its regulations. Clear rewards and punishments ensure that orders are followed!"

"Before you participated in the Extreme Challenge, you should have signed a document, acknowledging that all participants are temporarily conscripted into the military during the competition, possessing military status and following military commands, and of course, enjoying the protection provided by the military!"

"During the competition, you faced a mutated giant-eyed ape and fully demonstrated the spirit of the Federation Army, fighting to the bitter end. You bravely defeated the beast!"

"If not for your selfless and bloody battle, many more participants might have been killed!"

"You were injured while fighting as a soldier, protecting your comrades. You are undoubtedly a 'Disabled Veteran of the Federation' and are entitled to the treatment of a combat hero!"

"Remember, the Federation will never forget any hero who fights for the country. You deserve every bit of compensation!"

"If the country ignores its heroes and lets them fall into difficulties without any action—what kind of country would that be? Who would defend it and fight to the death for it?"

"So, you don’t need to say anything more. Although the country cannot help you recover your cultivation abilities, it can at least ensure that you live a life of comfort and respect from the public—this is what a country should and must do!"

The eyes of the disabled veteran were like two burning war knives, piercing deeply into Li Yao's mind.

Without waiting for Li Yao to argue, the disabled veteran saluted, turned, and walked out of the ward.

Despite the fact that his left side was almost entirely made of metal, he walked as straight as a pine tree, each step measured with precision.

After the disabled veteran left, Li Yao sat on the edge of the medical pod, lost in thought for a long time.

"Forget it, there’s no need to say anything more. As long as I fully recover my strength, the truth will speak for itself."

Although the other party promised that he could enter the "Special Class for Disabled Veterans" at the First Military Academy of the Federation without taking the college entrance exam, Li Yao immediately rejected this idea.

Not wanting to take advantage of the benefits for disabled veterans was just one reason.

The more important reason was that Li Yao had not given up on the idea of entering Deep Sea University.

"Although my spirit root development is only 7% now, this is just a temporary state. With enough energy and the right cultivation, I can quickly return to my peak condition!"

"There is still a month before the college entrance exam, so I can still give it a try!"

After discovering that he could absorb the memory fragments of Ouyezi, the master of the Hundred Refinements Sect, Li Yao's ambitions were rapidly growing.

Ouyezi represented the highest level of ancient cultivation techniques, an unattainable peak.

Deep Sea University, on the other hand, possessed the strongest modern cultivation techniques.

If these two could be combined...

"Divine Sword Jinghong, War Saber Tuzhao, and Long Spear Shihun—these are all divine weapons forged by Ouyezi, capable of slaying 'Transformation Spirit Elders'!"

"Although the rare materials needed to forge these divine weapons are hard to find, and many key steps in the forging process cannot be replicated in modern times, the principles of spirit energy operation are the same!"

"If one day I can absorb the memory fragments of Ouyezi's forging process, master the ancient methods of forging these divine weapons, and analyze the principles of spirit energy drive, I can apply them to modern magical artifacts."

"For example, I can analyze the spirit energy operation models of Divine Sword Jinghong, War Saber Tuzhao, and Long Spear Shihun, and apply them to the main cannons of crystal warships, forging a triple-barreled main cannon with the characteristics of these three divine weapons!"

"One shot could kill a Transformation Spirit Elder!"

"A single round from the triple-barreled main cannon could wipe out an entire mountain of Nascent Soul Elders!"

"What a powerful, dominant, and exhilarating thing that would be!"

Thinking of this, Li Yao felt a surge of excitement. He took out a mini crystal brain from the bedside table and activated the Spirit Crane Message.

There were hundreds of unread messages in the Spirit Crane Message. Li Yao quickly scanned through them, most of which were from friends.

Among them, his close friend Meng Jiang had sent dozens of messages, all asking about his condition.

Judging by the time, they were all sent four weeks ago.

Li Yao quickly typed "I’m awake" and sent it. There was no response, so he must be in class.

Then, Li Yao entered Xie Tingxuan's Spirit Crane Message number, searched for it, and left a message: "I’m Li Yao, I’m awake."

This number was given to him by Dr. Gu.

Soon, Xie Tingxuan's wrinkled face appeared on the screen with a paper crane, looking both surprised and delighted, saying, "Student Li Yao, I just received the news from the hospital and was about to contact you. I didn’t expect you to wake up so quickly, truly a cause for celebration!"