C15 If You Don't Go Crazy You Won't be Able to Live!(1)
Just as Pelia had suspected, Bai Chengcheng was only looking for a shortcut. "Learning that many courses? No way, don't even think about it. I'd rather be a blissfully ignorant freeloader, no, a free and easy, worry-free freeloader. As if learning all that nonsense could fill my stomach! Pfft. But with the cheating device my mom gave me, I'll begrudgingly learn just a little. Yeah, a little should do. A hundred million, a hundred million micro-robots, aren't they enough for me to flaunt my stuff?
Wahaha, a mech suit! Making one myself would be insanely cool. But no, that's too much hassle; I'll have the micro-robots conjure one up for me.
Oh, oh, here we go, school's starting. Pelia, is it enough to just illuminate the book title?"
The panel responded: Reading the book title will suffice.
Bai Chengcheng was ecstatic. "Hold on, let me put on the device." He quickly donned the helmet and activated the learning system.
"Uh-oh. The Pelia System's book list is displayed directly on the optic nerves inside the body, not as a physical object. I wonder if the helmet system can scan it?" A pang of anxiety hit Bai Chengcheng as he asked Pelia, "Can you project the virtual screen outside my body?"
The panel replied: If you're prepared to be hunted by the entire world, then yes.
Bai Chengcheng smacked his forehead in frustration. "Right, of course. If anyone found out I stumbled upon an original ecosystem, I'd instantly become a fugitive. Better keep it inside then." He had no choice but to see if the helmet system could scan, copy, and store the panel's image from the optic nerves.
Bai Chengcheng silently recited the "Book of Songs." An ancient-looking copy of the text appeared on the panel. Next to it stood a stunningly beautiful teacher, who, with her delicate, jade-like hands, tapped the book, flipping it open to the first page and began her explanation.
Bai Chengcheng's focus wasn't on the beautiful teacher or her explanation; instead, he concentrated on the text, eagerly activating the helmet system's scan, copy, and store functions. Wow, it actually worked.
Brimming with excitement, Bai Chengcheng interrupted, "No need to explain further, it's a waste of time. Just flip the pages, keep going. Yes, just like that. OK, I'm done learning. Panel, panel, show me my points." Having convinced himself that he had completed the first lesson, he was eager to see his points tally increase.
The display read:
System Name: Pelia
Host: Bai Chengcheng
A Language Studies: Level 1 (0/100) Current Course: "The Book of Songs" (20) (Exam Score: 0)
B Mathematics: Level 1 (0/100) Current Course: ??? (Exam Score: 0)
C Physics: Level 1 (0/100) Current Course: ??? (Exam Score: 0)
D Mechanical Engineering: Level 1 (0/100) Current Course: ??? (Exam Score: 0)
E Informatics: Level 1 (0/100) Current Course: ??? (Exam Score: 0)
F Life Sciences: Level 1 (0/100) Current Course: ??? (Exam Score: 0)
G Sociology: Level 1 (0/100) Current Course: ??? (Exam Score: 0)
H Military Science: Level 1 (0/100) Current Course: ??? (Exam Score: 0)
I Martial Arts: Level 1 (0/100) Current Course: ??? (Exam Score: 0)
Mission: Not Triggered (Exam Score: 0)
Rewards Earned: Number of yoctometer robots (0) Number of psychokinetic controls available to the host (0)
Bai Chengcheng was indignant, "Where are my points? My points, where are they? Oh, oh, I see, there's an exam, right? Come on then, let's get on with it. How does the exam work?" This might be the first time he was actually excited about an exam, and the first time he wasn't scared of one. He knew it all by heart, so what was there to fear?
The display updated:
There are fifty questions in total, each worth two points. Scoring 60 to less than 70 earns 12 points; 70 to less than 80 earns 14 points; 80 to less than 90 earns 16 points; 90 to less than 100 earns 18 points; a perfect score of 100 earns 20 points. Scoring less than 60 earns 0 points.
The first question asked for a translation and explanation of the phrase: "Guan guan go the ospreys, on the islet in the river."
"Translate, translate? I thought it was just recitation?" Bai Chengcheng muttered to himself, scratching his head in confusion. "It's probably about, well, a bird being trapped by the river, right?"
Pelia was seething with rage at Bai Chengcheng. She had survived the chaotic torrents of space-time and evaded dissection at the hands of the Alien Thief, only to find herself nearly dying of laughter because of Bai Chengcheng. And yet, she had to maintain her guise as the system.
System: Confirm?
Bai Chengcheng nodded, "Confirm."
The system then displayed an enormous duck egg on the screen.
Bai Chengcheng's anguished screams reverberated through the air, growing more sorrowful as the exam progressed. When the 50th question was answered, a massive '2' appeared on the screen, seemingly mocking Bai Chengcheng for his foolishness.
With a loud clang, Bai Chengcheng slumped backward in utter defeat.
Was he really so aimless and ignorant, content to drift through life without ambition? Not exactly. He had always had his all-powerful mother to fall back on. Hungry? She was there. Clothes? He never lacked for any. Pocket money? Just a word away. Fights? His mother wouldn't intervene, but she could heal them quickly and painlessly, so he and his friends never feared a brawl. Poor grades? No problem. His mother had promised that if he chose to strive for better, she would grant him a divine artifact with photographic memory. With such a tool at his disposal, why bother with studying?
But high hopes often lead to deep disappointments. The photographic memory was real, but it only duplicated images; it couldn't help him comprehend the material. Bai Chengcheng had come to realize that some things had to be tackled on his own; no one else could do it for him. Textual material was manageable; translating ancient texts and copying the translations wasn't too difficult. And understanding? With enough reading, that wasn't a big issue either. Wasn't it said that even if you couldn't compose poetry after reading three hundred Tang poems, you could still recite them? But what about the 'arcane texts' of mathematics and physics?
Mecha was a different story; it was just a hobby. But with the college entrance exams looming, Bai Chengcheng had been planning to make a spectacular last-semester comeback that would stun everyone. His classmates had ridiculed him for his academic failures, but he had always brushed it off. Why? Was it a lack of shame? No, it was because he believed he could access the photographic memory artifact at any moment and outshine the top students whenever he wished.
It's that age-old adage: humans are inherently social creatures. "Walk your own path and let others talk." "We once craved validation from the world, only to realize in the end that the world is ours, and it has nothing to do with anyone else." Are these famous quotes accurate? They're only relatively true. They hold water when you're old and behind closed doors, but not so much otherwise. If they were, why would we have expressions like "walking in brocade under the cover of night"?
Now, it seems that having a photographic memory is of no use. Full of confidence, yet met with a crushing blow, Bai Chengcheng's disappointment is palpable. Could he make a different choice? His mother likely wouldn't allow it; she's quite the autocrat. Oh, but that's not a fair term for her; she's more of a person whose word is law. Naturally, Bai Chengcheng is too embarrassed to back out now. Like any child, he yearns for his parents' approval, to prove he's not worthless.
Bai Chengcheng is disheartened, and surprisingly, Pelia is the one who's most anxious. Without residing in a living body, she can't repair her soul. Without soul repair, she can't consume vast amounts of matter and energy from the outside world, and thus, she can't regain her strength. If Bai Chengcheng didn't have such a formidable mother, Pelia could simply eliminate him and find a new host. But now, she truly doesn't dare.
Since she can't bring herself to kill Bai Chengcheng, she's left hoping he'll grow stronger. The guy gets disheartened just because he failed an exam – it's infuriating!
He needs to find a solution, stay calm in the face of adversity. People can't resist temptation unless the stakes aren't high enough. It looks like she'll have to up the ante. But let's not make the next test too hard. Is translating "Guan Guan Jiu Jiu, on the isle in the river" really that difficult?
Pelia is caught between laughter and tears.
Ding. The panel lights up automatically. An electronic voice announces, "It's now time for a break." Soft music plays, accompanied by visuals.
The scene depicted someone meticulously handcrafting a screw, followed by another, and then another. The video sped up, showcasing an array of small and large components taking shape under the person's nimble hands, all neatly arranged and filling the screen.
The assembly process commenced with the individual expertly and methodically piecing together the components into several major modules.
At this sight, Bai Chengcheng bolted upright, exclaiming in awe, "A mecha!"
Indeed, even in its incomplete state, it was unmistakably a mecha—a humanoid one at that.
As the framework came together and the modules were attached one by one, Bai Chengcheng's eyes shone with excitement, his heart racing with anticipation.
Before him stood an incredibly stylish mecha, reminiscent of a robot from a science fiction tale. Its cool, pale blue metallic finish and sharp lines exuded strength and dominance. With the final module in place, the mecha seemed to spring to life, radiating a fierce aura of contempt for all challengers.
Mounted on its back were two high-powered vector jet engines, signaling that its acceleration and top speed would be nothing short of phenomenal. Each limb was outfitted with small, fine-tuning engines, suggesting remarkable agility in combat. A laser reflection shield on the left hand demonstrated its formidable defensive capabilities, while the right hand wielded a melee light blade capable of slicing through metal with ease.
The assembly process revealed concealed carbon-sulfur alloy blades within the arms, thighs, and calves, ready to spring forth for a piercing thrust, a sweeping kick, an elbow strike, or a knee jab—each potentially lethal and deviously hidden.
For ranged combat, the mecha sported two compact plasma cannons on its shoulders. The left arm was equipped with a rapid-fire grenade launcher, and the right arm boasted a laser rifle, making it a superior mecha with exceptional prowess for close, mid, and long-range battles.
Despite his lackluster academic performance, Bai Chengcheng had an impressively sharp eye for mechas. This particular model was operated by keyboard controls, unlike the latest neural sensor type.
The fact that it was keyboard-controlled only heightened its allure for Bai Chengcheng. Mechas with neural sensors were among the most advanced weapons globally, their circulation strictly forbidden. They were exclusively deployed by elite military squads of various nations, likely to remain out of public reach for decades—a tantalizing yet elusive technology.
The avatar leaped into the cockpit and sealed the door. A faint hum signaled the start-up. The mech's engine emitted a soft blue stream of air. With a series of heavy thuds, the mech broke into a sprint and soared into the blue sky, heading straight for a group of black mechs of similar size.
The pale blue mech plunged into the swarm of black mechs like a tiger diving into a pack of wolves, unstoppable in its assault.
Suddenly, the screen went black, the visuals gone.
Bai Chengcheng, his adrenaline surging, nearly had a heart attack from the abrupt end to the action. He bellowed, "Pelia!"
The display read:
It's study time. Please select a course.
Bai Chengcheng clenched his teeth. "You're tough. Fine, I'll study. I refuse to let this minor setback defeat me. I choose... Wait, Pelia, do you have the precise engineering schematics for that mech we just saw?"
The display confirmed.
"How can I access them?" Bai Chengcheng inquired.
The display responded: When you possess enough yoctometer robots to create precision handcrafted tools and acquire the requisite mechanical engineering knowledge.
"Wow," Bai Chengcheng exclaimed, eager to proceed, "Let's get back to studying. I'll start with 'Introduction to Drafting'—the first book in mechanical engineering."
The display indicated that a prerequisite for studying mechanical engineering was Mathematics Level 2.
Frustrated, Bai Chengcheng grumbled, "Fine, 'Elementary Geometry' it is."
The display corrected: Please start with 'Elementary Algebra.' Without knowledge of algebra, you cannot grasp three-dimensional geometric drawing.
Bai Chengcheng took a long, calming breath to quell his irritation. "Okay, you call the shots. 'Elementary Algebra' then. By the way, what's the model of that mech? I've never come across it online."
The display replied: Once given to you, it becomes yours. You may choose the name and model. Ready to begin your studies?
Bursting with excitement, Bai Chengcheng replied, "Really? Let's start."
This time, Bai Chengcheng didn't fast-forward. He attentively absorbed the lesson. Unlike school, where each class covered just one concept, the system's virtual instructor delivered the material swiftly, without pause, until an entire book was covered.
Interest is the driving force behind learning efficiency. Bai Chengcheng surprisingly understood everything. Naturally, this was because he had previously studied all the related material; it was merely a matter of revisiting it. Even a poor student isn't entirely without a foundation.
He learned and applied his knowledge immediately, eagerly signing up for the exam. Bai Chengcheng was overjoyed with his perfect score—a rare feat. Unbeknownst to him, Pelia had lowered the exam's difficulty, hoping to spare him any discouragement.
Seizing the momentum, he doubled down on his studies. "Elementary Geometry," "Elementary Functions," "Linear Equations," and finally, "Calculus."
Ding. The sound was like music to his ears. His mathematics skills had advanced.
Yes, mission accomplished. One hundred million robots are now at my disposal.
