Chapter 9

The best mecha designers are hard to come by, with both the underworld and the legitimate world kneeling to offer money, and they cannot accept it all; however, if you wish to join the military, engage in highly profitable interstellar smuggling, or become a top-notch enforcer, you must be a master in mecha operation; as for information technology, there is no need to elaborate. "Lu Bixing, that boy who keeps interrupting, asked, 'How should I address you, classmate?'"

On the southeast viewing platform, a burly young man was too lazy to walk in and refused to go to his own seat, instead plopping down on the outermost edge. This quickly sparked a brawl, with onlookers cheering and instigating, causing the conflict to escalate rapidly and dragging the entire section of the viewing platform into a chaotic and undisciplined melee

"John Wu" is an unknown figure, but his voice has undoubtedly established the entire atmosphere of the opening ceremony as one of vulgarity, with laughter erupting all around. The three deans in the front row, accompanied by a group of scholarly teachers, sat upright in a manner that seemed out of place, resembling a group of old Tang monks trapped in a spider's lair.

The boy who had just hacked into the sound system suddenly interjected: "Principal, do you teach how to flirt with girls and boys?"

Penny did not know that Zhanlu was not a living person and had always held a strong opinion against him. This was because Zhanlu was also a tall and robust man, who stuck close to the Fourth Brother every day as a "kept man". It was bad enough that he did this, but he also shamelessly engaged in acts of servility, such as reaching out to catch dust, which was quite an eyesore to witness

The hush spread like a tide, washing over the auditorium that had just been filled with a cacophony of noise, leaving it in a profound silence.

Of course, Lu Bixing replied without a second thought, "Otherwise, where do you think the money for building the auditorium comes from?"

The next question is quite pointed, as the randomly selected person immediately asks: "Is the background of your school really a black hole? How is it that I spent a whole year here last year and never saw the Fourth Brother?"

However, although the decoration of the auditorium is high-end and elegant, the "filling" piled up inside is somewhat lacking.

With a loud "bang," a student was directly pushed off the podium onto the nearest spectator stand, and soon, a cacophony of curses drowned out the sound system of the auditorium, turning the area beneath the podium into a battlefield

Fourth Brother pinched a cigarette and looked around for a place to ash it. Just as Zhan Lu was about to reach out to catch it, Penny was already prepared and handed over an ashtray.

The hot-tempered director of the mecha operation suddenly stood up, ready to leave his seat

Penny let out a soft laugh, and a pair of hooks peeked out from the corner of her eye: "Although I am not a young girl, I am not yet married. Is there even a place for a woman in Fourth Brother's life?"

Lu Bixing exchanged a glance with the old dean for a second, silently conceding defeat, and resignedly recited the elder's heartfelt words: "Dear students, I hope that from now on you will remember that knowledge is more precious than money, that an insatiable curiosity is more precious than knowledge, and that the starry sky above us is more precious than curiosity."

Fourth Brother is not a person who is capricious; he can even be considered reasonable... Otherwise, Lu Bixing would have been beaten to death by him long ago. It seems he prefers to reserve his temper for when it truly matters, not fussing over trivial matters, pretending not to hear unpleasant words, and remaining silent on topics he does not wish to discuss

Before he could finish his words, the back door of the auditorium suddenly opened, and a group of people swaggered in along the VIP passage, their presence exuding an air as if they were here to challenge.

In this era, our average lifespan has reached 300 years, with 200 years of youth, approaching a state of immortality. Historical data indicates that every decade, or even every five years, our lives undergo a tremendous transformation. In this era, individual talent and effort sometimes seem insignificant; whether you succeed or fail depends on where the tide of the times carries you. Throughout your long life, you may experience countless instances of soaring success and utter failure

Lu Bixing could only smile helplessly and added, "This starry sky dome cost 6 million. Before the mecha laboratory was completed, it was the most expensive item in our school. Please show some respect. The first rule of the school is that from now on, bringing lethal weapons into the auditorium is prohibited"

The chasing lights and fireworks suddenly dispersed, and Fourth Brother's figure vanished into the darkness. In the abruptly silent auditorium, Lu Bixing, overwhelmed by joy, momentarily forgot the lyrics

Lu Bixing replied without changing his expression: "It seems that this is a student who is adept at playing both sides and has a foot in every boat. I suggest that everyone present remember this voice and be vigilant in the future. Additionally, your suggestion is good; we will offer related elective courses in the future, focusing on how to avoid scoundrels in romantic relationships"

"I apologize, you have spoken too much; it is time to give others a chance as well," Lu Bixing said. As his words fell, a beam of light suddenly darted around the auditorium. He snapped his fingers in a stylish manner, and the light came to a halt, landing beneath a seat in the corner, transforming into a small arrow pointing at the person sitting there.

Lu Bixing stood calmly on the podium, though no one paid him any attention

Dear students

Fourth Brother made a courteous gesture of listening: "Hmm?"

"Laughable," the girl who was called out cursed rudely. She was not shy at all and boldly asked, "Principal, why do you bookworms talk so much about money, your words are not pure at all."

"It is very simple, because poverty has a higher mortality rate than stupidity," Principal Lu, who had just sold himself, replied sincerely, "Next."

Fourth Brother did not give her face, but nodded to her in thanks

Lu Bixing temporarily fell silent, calmly took out a pair of headphones and put them on his head. He tapped his toes rhythmically on the podium a few times, and the entire auditorium resonated with a loud "buzz." All the teachers and students became like dice in a cup, with everyone who was not sitting properly in their seats being knocked down.

The lights in the auditorium suddenly dimmed, leaving only a beam shining on the podium. The podium slowly rose into the air, and the dome transformed into a scene filled with a galaxy of stars, which began to rotate gently, extending infinitely in all directions as far as the eye could see

Fourth Brother's gaze shifted slightly; he neither affirmed nor denied. He lowered his head and took a long drag from his cigarette, reducing the remaining half to a mere stub, effectively silencing himself.

Lu Bixing felt inexplicably a sense of loss, yet he had no time to ponder it in depth before encountering the greatest crisis since the establishment of the school—his three deans and sixteen outstanding faculty members collectively expressed their inability to bear the heavy responsibilities bestowed upon them by President Lu, urging him to seek more capable individuals.

The auditorium is grand and imposing, with a vast dome resembling a lifelike artificial sky. It can be clear and sunny whenever desired, or filled with stars and the ocean whenever one wishes. In the viewing area, intelligent directional markers weave beneath the feet of every attendee, and from a distance, those glowing paths resemble a meteor shower rushing back and forth.

Principal Lu, however, does not feel ashamed; rather, he takes pride in it and continues to speak eloquently: "I will accompany you all together with my colleagues through the coming years—perhaps the most important years of your lives..."

Principal Lu's speech has reached its conclusion: "I hope that when you find yourselves at the pinnacle of success in the future, you do not become complacent. Reflect on the boundless sea of knowledge within the academy; when submerged in the undercurrents, do not be swept away by the silt. Consider the foundation that the academy has laid for your soul."

Shh

Upon hearing these words, the faculty and staff in the front row collectively lowered their heads in a mournful manner, feeling as though their salaries had been tainted by the vile rogues

Everyone turned their heads in unison, and Lu Bixing nodded slightly, "This student, you may try to say something."

Some of the students are "rotten wood," while others are "walls of dung and soil." After hearing this, they fell silent for two seconds before erupting into a burst of hearty laughter, all feeling that Principal Lu's act was overly contrived.

However, since Principal Lu established the school, he has not caused the students to suffer from heart attacks, which naturally reflects his broad-mindedness. He quickly came to terms with it—if the fourth brother came, it would be a significant surprise; if he did not come, it was also to be expected, and he had not suffered any loss.

White

Isn't that Sister Penny?

A transformation occurs every five years? Since the time of my birth, this cursed place has remained in this half-dead state. And an average lifespan of three hundred years—this must be the average for people outside the Eighth Star System, right? Every year, I am called to attend funerals; more than half of those who grew up with me have already passed away. Thanks to Fourth Brother, I have nearly outlived the average lifespan.

When prickly individuals come together, it is inevitable that they will end up entangled with one another

Lu Bixing paused for a moment, glancing at the last sentence of the speech, truly reluctant to read it, as he felt it would be embarrassing. However, as his gaze swept over the audience, he noticed the old dean of the Information Science Institute craning his neck, looking at him with an expression of anticipation. In that instant, he realized who had penned this pretentious and insincere piece.

When Lin cast a glance over, Lu Bixing inexplicably felt that his eloquence was somewhat stiff, and after a great deal of effort, he managed to complete the latter part of his sentence: "... it is fate."

The boy again used the loudspeaker to interrupt: "So, can you teach me how to make a lot of money?"

However, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he could not awkwardly remain silent. Lu Bixing discreetly pressed his cufflink, and a layer of film appeared over his eyes, invisible to others. On it was a backup speech prepared by one of his subordinates: "Xinghai Academy may not necessarily enable you to achieve any academic accomplishments, and many of you may find it difficult to capitalize on what you have learned at school due to lack of skill or bad luck. If there is no money and glory, what else can the school offer you?"

He cast a glance at the empty VIP seats and sighed to himself—Fourth Brother did not come

On the first day of school, Principal Lu was dismissed by all the faculty and staff, becoming a figurehead principal

He walked with a cigarette in his mouth, not lifting his head as if he were oblivious to those around him, while a line of men and women behind him consciously fell back a few steps.

Penny? Who?

Principal Lu, with a mouth full of bravado, rarely stumbled for a moment, and then, without a hint of embarrassment or a racing heart, continued to deceive: "This relies on ... ... "

Quickly adjusting himself, Lu Bixing ascended the podium without changing his expression, amidst a roar that could lift the dome, shining exceptionally bright.

In the audience, the elderly director with white hair stood up, hunched over, and left his seat along the edge of the auditorium

"White, if your classmate next to you is financially comfortable, he would definitely be willing to spend some money to buy the small device you used to hack into the auditorium's sound system. However..." Lu Bixing said as he gently kicked the podium, causing a transparent screen to pop up. His hovering fingers quickly typed in a string of code, and the static in the amplifier immediately disappeared

Whispers arose as some recognized the identities of a few "followers".

Penny understood his meaning from his silence, her gaze dimmed, and she forced a smile as she curved her lips, compelling herself to turn and look at Principal Lu, who was delivering a motivational speech on the podium

The opening ceremony is about to begin, and the students in the four seats have already taken their places. Each student is a remarkable individual, and everyone seems to be a troublemaker, as if they have come not to pursue their studies, but to stir up trouble.

The girl pointed at by the fluorescent light whispered, "Damn it," and the loudspeaker immediately fulfilled its duty by broadcasting it widely, causing a burst of laughter in the auditorium

The crowd of monkeys did not expect him to be so frank, and the hall fell silent for a moment

"You are not old," said Fourth Brother without even raising his eyelids. After a moment, perhaps feeling that his response was too perfunctory and cold, he added, "I heard that girls like you in Capital Star are still unmarried."

"Where did Young Master Lu piece together this speech from?" Penny casually initiated the conversation

After the opening ceremony, Lu Bixing was unable to find Fourth Brother; it seemed they had arrived just in time to establish their presence and quietly disappeared after completing their task

In the northwest corner, a girl was groped on the buttocks by a small-time thug classmate. Without saying a word, she directly pulled out a laser gun from her bag and fired a shot, tearing a hole in the auditorium seats. Everyone was shocked, nearly causing a stampede. Security robots quickly arrived to subdue her, only to discover that the laser gun was actually homemade.

The auditorium fell silent in an instant.

In the center of the auditorium's viewing area, there was an extraordinary individual who adhered to the principle of using words rather than actions. He brought a miniature amplifier into the venue, hacked into the auditorium's sound system, and, utilizing the auditorium's 360-degree surround sound, bellowed with thunderous intensity: "John Wu, I will kill you!"

Lu Bixing removed his headset and continued speaking without changing his expression: "Hello everyone, welcome to Xinghai Academy. I know that many of you are eager to hit me, but I'm afraid you won't be able to reach me. I also know that you are planning to take action once I step down—my speech will take about fifteen minutes, during which you can seriously consider whether you really want to assault the principal. After all, as of yesterday, the largest shareholder of our school has turned into a black hole"

Just ... ...

Lu Bixing looked at the chaotic scene with chickens flying and dogs jumping, feeling remarkably stable in his mental state. This was because Principal Lu had always believed that geniuses like himself did not require others to teach them; self-taught success was sufficient. It was precisely those who were the hardest to teach that were the most worthy of instruction

Who is that person in front?

It cannot be ... ...

You must be from the countryside... It's her, damn, she looked at me!

The VIP passage is equipped with lighting, and a cluster of light descends from the top of the auditorium, slowly catching up with the arriving person. As the man in the long coat looks up, his deep gray eyes briefly meet Lu Bixing's from a distance, serving as a greeting before he takes his seat.

The first person wore a long coat made of very stiff material. The thick and rigid outer garment did not create the effect of "flowing robes". His coat reached down to his ankles, making it easy to appear as if he had no waist or legs. However, perhaps due to the man's tall stature, or perhaps because of the natural arch and strength of his shoulders as he walked, he looked completely at ease in this attire, as if he were born to wear such an armored outer garment.