Chapter 9

"Connection."

As soon as the order was given, a new signal wave appeared in Qin Tianji's mental perception.

"Hello, esteemed Commander Qin Tianji. I am 'Moonlight,' the main control system of the 'Moonlight' spacecraft. It is an honor to serve you."

"Conduct a ship self-check!"

"Self-check program running... Beep, self-check results: 100% damage to the living quarters, 99.03% damage to the weapon combat zone, 98.25% damage to the energy supply zone, 95.21% damage to the training zone, 62.11% damage to the daily maintenance zone, 11.21% damage to the main control zone... Beep, beep, beep! Insufficient energy, energy supply zone is lacking energy. Please provide an energy source!"

Qin Tianji looked at the three-dimensional holographic map projected by the Moonlight's AI. As expected, yet unexpectedly, he shook his head.

This spacecraft had a damage rate exceeding 85%, making it suitable for disposal in a space junk station. Even though some areas were still operational, they were merely clinging to life.

He checked the energy level.

The energy bar of a planetary-class spacecraft, with a maximum capacity of 30 million units, had only 71 units left. The fact that the AI of the spacecraft was still running was a miracle.

"Display the daily maintenance zone. Activate all available maintenance robots and use all available resources to repair the spacecraft. Activate all energy detection robots to search for energy. Activate all energy collection robots to gather energy. After the resource reserves meet the standard, establish a signal station and send a signal southward, covering a radius of 500 kilometers..."

Qin Tianji issued 134 orders in one breath.

At this moment, the only thing that made him feel relieved was that the energy supply zone had a damage rate of only 1.75%, leaving one energy detection robot and three energy collection robots. Otherwise, this spacecraft would have no chance of restarting.

Seeing many doors in the spacecraft open, maintenance robots began to extinguish fires and repair critical areas. Qin Tianji felt a bit regretful.

"Within three years, this spacecraft will likely not even be able to start normally, let alone fly again. With three energy collection robots, they can only gather about 30 units of energy per day, assuming there are energy mines."

Abandoning the idea of starting the spacecraft, Qin Tianji's figure had already reached the bottom of the spacecraft.

With the highest authority, entering the spacecraft was smooth sailing.

"'Moonlight,' display all medicines."

Upon entering the spacecraft, Qin Tianji first considered the issue of medicines.

Originally, to treat Qi Lingyun, it would require a lot of effort to gather herbs, boil ointments, and apply them internally and externally. However, if the spacecraft had enough medicines, other treatment methods could be used, and curing him would be easy.

"Beep! Medicine inventory displayed..."

After a brief look, Qin Tianji quickly selected a large number of medicines for treatment. Some of these medicines had significant effects on muscle strain recovery, physical strength, and cell activity. With these medicines, his physical condition could be further improved in a short time.

"Regeneration agent, BSM nutrient solution, A-31 type healing liquid, all available. After returning, Qi Lingyun will be able to recover quickly."

Glancing at the item list, Qin Tianji felt relieved.

If Qi Lingyun could recover, the Yunlai Sword Sect would have a high-level swordsman to rely on.

Within an hour, Qin Tianji had prepared all the medicines and packed them together.

"Next, the weapon area!"

This world was full of danger, and no one knew what would happen next. He needed to have enough power to ensure his safety.

Like at the Yunlai Sword Sect, where his life was completely in the hands of others, he absolutely did not want to, nor allow, such a situation to happen again.

"Check the weapon inventory!"

Soon, Qin Tianji arrived at the heavily damaged weapon bay.

"Beep! Weapon area damage rate 99.03%, all metals with a hardness below 85 are damaged. Remaining... one A-02 type mech, damage rate 15.28%, two B-09 type mechs, damage rates 71.35% and 61.22% respectively."

"71% and 61% damage rates... When a mech's damage rate reaches 40%, it will experience various malfunctions, endangering the pilot's life. At 60% or higher, it will not start, and at 80%, it is considered scrap metal, with no value in repair. Although these two mechs still have repair value, unfortunately, given my current situation and conditions, there is no possibility of repairing them..."

Qin Tianji analyzed in his mind and focused on the last A-02 type mech.

"A-02 type mech, total height 12.8 meters, weight 31.5 tons, made of 92 hardness Xian alloy, thrust 58,820 kg, acceleration 1.15 G, detection radius 10,500 meters, fixed equipment: head laser eye (damaged), left hand: 500 mm Thunder God cannon (damaged), right hand: standard combat sword made of 114 hardness Thunder alloy..."

At a glance, all the information about this silver A-02 type mech appeared in Qin Tianji's mind.

"All long-range weapons are damaged, and the engine is also damaged, unable to replenish energy. This means that the energy will decrease with each use... However, the spacecraft does not have any energy reserves for mechs, so even if the energy system is intact, there is not enough energy to use..."

As Qin Tianji spoke, the cockpit door of the mech opened, and he quickly entered the cockpit.

"Two, connect to the soul chip of this mech."

"Beep! Command received! Connection to the A-02 type chip established."

With the connection to the mech's soul chip established, Qin Tianji immediately felt a sense of integration with the mech.

The advanced realm of mech knights—human-mech integration.

Why can only high-level mental energy users become mech knights? Because of the existence of soul connections.

Piloting a mech requires extremely high mental response and problem-solving abilities. If the mental level is not at a high level, it is impossible to control a mech.

It's like a person who can only run 500 meters in 100 seconds, but suddenly needs to run 500 meters in 10 seconds. Once they start running, they are likely to crash into buildings along the way.

"Very good."

Sitting in the cockpit, Qin Tianji felt a bit excited.

Mech!

Even as an elite student at Starlight University, he had never truly piloted a mech. The training mechs used at school were far from the real war machines like the one in front of him.

"Energy will decrease with each use... better to conserve it."

Suppressing the urge to fly the mech in the sky, Qin Tianji selected the weapon storage compartment and removed the Thunder God cannon shells, placing the medicines he had gathered inside.

The Thunder God cannon was completely damaged, and the shells had lost their value.

"Spent a lot of time in the Never-Setting Mountains, it's time to return."

Thinking this, Qin Tianji's gaze fell on the command interface of "Moonlight": "Open the weapon area doors."

As the order was given, the heavily damaged weapon area above emitted a hissing sound. Amidst the flashing of electricity and flames, a 20-meter-wide circular exit was slowly opened.

"A-02, activate the thrusters!"

Qin Tianji's mind was connected to the mech's control center.

However, just as he was about to disconnect from "Moonlight" and focus on piloting the mech, his gaze suddenly fell on a blood-red mark in the weapon database.

"What is this?"

"Beep! This is S-level top-secret information. As the host with the highest authority, you can view it. Do you want to view it?"

"S-level top-secret information!"

Qin Tianji's heart raced.

S-level!

Throughout the entire federation, only those at the rank of general and in key positions could access such information. The lowest of these were the commanders of a space fleet.

"View!"

"Beep! One of the supply weapons carried by the 'Moonlight' is the latest product of the Federation's highest scientific institute, the X-01 type mech!"

"X-type mech? The highest level of mechs is S-level, which can only be piloted by mental masters. Then there are A-level, B-level, C-level, and D-level mechs. The level does not equal the model. Although there may be differences in data between the 10th and 11th models, the difference is not significant. However, the difference between levels is qualitative. In the same level of knight skills, two B-10 type mechs might defeat a B-11 type mech, but even ten B-11 type mechs would not be a match for an A-01 type mech! X-level mech!? Has the highest scientific institute made a breakthrough in mech research?"

Surprised, Qin Tianji quickly issued the command: "Extract the X-01 type mech!"

"Host has the highest authority, extraction is possible."

The command was given, and soon, a small opening appeared in the transport channel inside the spacecraft. A 20-centimeter square alloy box emerged from the opening.

Seeing the box, Qin Tianji was slightly taken aback.

"What is this?"

"X-01 type mech."

"Mech?"

Qin Tianji looked at the 20-centimeter alloy box with a speechless expression. When did mechs become so small and delicate? Was this a toy for children?

"Display X-01 type mech information."

"X-01 type mech, the latest product of the Federation's highest scientific institute, made from a meteorite captured in a space storm, is a liquid bio-metal. It is injected into the human body, and mental masters can activate it with their mental power, using energy and mental power as the driving force. This mech is unique, and currently, only simulation data exists, with specific values to be determined."

"Liquid bio-metal? Mental masters can inject it?"

Qin Tianji repeated these two sentences.

The highest scientific institute had actually developed such a mech?

Although mech knights have the power to dominate local wars on the battlefield, they are essentially just strong humans once they leave their mechs. Most weapons can easily kill them.

Mental masters are similar to mech knights, but instead of piloting mechs, they can control a spacecraft alone.

However, this does not change the fact that their bodies are fragile. Most mental masters do not die on the battlefield but are assassinated by enemy countries after the war.

If the X-01 type mech can be put on the market and injected into a mental master, the mental master would always have a mech with them. Who could assassinate a mental master then?

"No wonder it's named X-level. This mech is far more advanced than S-level mechs and could even change the world's power structure. However, the material for this mech is unique and cannot be mass-produced, otherwise..."

Qin Tianji calmed down and decisively put the alloy box away.

In this world, his mental power was under great pressure, unable to extend outside his body. Even a short-range mental technique drained him instantly. However, in this environment, his mental power was constantly being honed.

Like a furnace, constantly refining, becoming purer.

In the Federation, he never imagined he could reach the mental master level in his lifetime, but now...

He could sense that he was touching the barrier of mental masters.

"Returning with a full load, now, let's go back!"

After gathering all the useful items in the spacecraft, Qin Tianji gave the order for the Moonlight to self-repair, then boarded the mech and soared into the sky.

However, just as he rose less than 100 meters, the mech's massive body began to descend, and a warning sounded in his mind.

"Beep, beep! Gravity anomaly, gravity anomaly, please use level 3 power."

"Activate level 3 power!"

The command was given, and two jets of fire suddenly erupted from the thrusters on the mech's back.

"Boom!"

The mech, which was about to descend, suddenly accelerated, producing a loud roar as it flew toward the outskirts of the Never-Setting Mountains.

Speed!

Swift as a bolt of lightning!

"This is true technological power! Su Yihan! Zhou Zhong! Qingxuan? What about an 8th-level swordsman? What about a 9th-level swordsman? What about a grand swordsman? I will return, pilot the mech, and destroy your Xuansheng Sect!"

Qin Tianji's emotions surged as he watched the mech tear through the air and clouds, feeling a surge of heroic spirit.

"Xuansheng Sect, your end is near!"

Qin Tianji let out a long cry, and the direction of the mech's flight suddenly changed.

"Let's not return to the Yunlai Sword Sect for now. Target: Xuansheng Sect!"