Chapter 1 Entering the Academy

The group entered the central administration building of the academy. The mechanical engineering students who had followed them were not allowed to enter freely. They lingered outside for a while, still savoring the moment, before slowly dispersing.

The group arrived at the dean's reception room. The dean instructed a mechanical assistant secretary, draped in artificial skin, to serve refreshments. He invited Han Xiao and his companions to sit down before saying, "Black Star, please wait a moment while I report your request to the higher-ups."

Han Xiao nodded and watched the dean leave. The others remained in the room to wait.

Nilo leaned against the window, curiously observing the scenery of the academy. Small mechanical floating islands drifted in the sky, and the ground was covered with neatly arranged metal buildings, their outer walls painted in alternating yellow and blue. Students on mechanical skateboards zipped between the buildings. The red, yellow, and green forests planted within the academy swayed and undulated in the wake of the thrusters, resembling waves of trees. The coexistence of alloy structures and artificial greenery created a harmonious color scheme, a special aesthetic that balanced machinery and nature.

"This place is so different from Aquamarine, so beautiful!" Nilo found everything new and fascinating.

"This is nothing. The Imperial Academy on the Red Empire's home planet is many times more magnificent than this," Han Xiao said with a laugh. Besides benefiting from Nilo's luck, he had also brought him along to broaden his horizons.

"Really? I want to see it too," Nilo said with interest.

"I'll take you there when I have the chance." Han Xiao beckoned Nilo back and pointed to the drinks on the table. "Come and try some. This is good stuff."

On the table were several cups of steaming white liquid, radiating a rich milky aroma. The fragrant scent filled the air. It was a special dairy product provided by the Terra civilization. The liquid shimmered with a faint golden light as it moved, like the sunlight of dusk scattered on a river of milk, sparkling with ripples.

Nilo picked up a cup and took a small sip. His eyes widened, and he immediately tilted his head back and gulped down a large mouthful. He exhaled comfortably, licked the white residue from his lips, and looked utterly satisfied.

"Is it good? Good milk is good."

"Godfather, what is this? I've never had such delicious milk."

Han Xiao smiled and explained, "When the Terra civilization was developing a colony planet, they discovered a nearly extinct interstellar creature in the universe called the Herebolier beast, commonly known as the Nebula Beast. They are extremely large, blotting out the sky, and their physical bodies can travel through interstellar space. Some people even call them god-giant steeds. Nebula Beasts have a very low reproductive rate, mating only once every hundred years or so. After giving birth to a young beast, they enter a three-month lactation period. After three months, the young beast is weaned, and Nebula Beasts only produce milk during the lactation period. It's rare, precious, and has a unique flavor, and it's very nourishing. What you're drinking is their milk; it's priceless."

"I see," Nilo said, enlightened. He rubbed his stomach. "No wonder my body feels warm after drinking it."

"Want some more? Have mine," Han Xiao said with a smile.

Nilo licked his lips, a little tempted. After a moment of internal struggle, he shook his head. "Such precious things shouldn't all be drunk by me. Godfather, you should drink some too."

Hearing this, the others laughed.

"I don't need any," Han Xiao said, waving his hand. What was an extremely precious luxury item to ordinary interstellar citizens was just so-so to him. He could always get more if he wanted.

He just wasn't interested in luxury consumables. With that spare money, he'd rather buy a few more special nutrient pastes. That was his favorite, convenient to eat, and it quickly restored his stamina. The cost performance was extremely high.

After chatting idly for a while, the dean still hadn't returned. Han Xiao turned to look at the mechanical assistant secretary standing motionless against the wall.

"How may I serve you?" The mechanical assistant secretary sensed the gaze and immediately reacted.

Han Xiao waved his hand and began to observe the mechanical assistant secretary's artificial skin.

To say the least, the dean looked like a venerable old man, but the artificial exterior he had chosen for his mechanical secretary was incredibly charming and seductive. Perhaps it truly possessed all the functions of a "secretary"...

After waiting a while, the dean pushed open the door and finally returned.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting, Black Star. The higher-ups have agreed to your request and have authorized me to use my access to search for the data for you."

"Good. Please thank the Terra civilization's higher-ups for me." Han Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. Things were much easier when he could resolve them with his influence.

He couldn't help but think that back when he was a Galaxy-level civilization that wouldn't give him face, he had to ask others for help. Now, the face-saving ability of a Super-A grade was much more powerful. Even Star Cluster civilizations were willing to give him face directly.

The dean pressed a few buttons on his desk, and the color of the tabletop changed, immediately turning into the internal database's operation screen. He looked up and asked, "Black Star, do you remember the data's date and location?"

Han Xiao nodded and recited them. The dean immediately entered the relevant parameters, ran the search system, and began searching for the relevant data.

Although he had agreed to help, he naturally wouldn't easily allow a Super-A grade Mechanic to operate the internal database himself. The dean was still handling it himself.

Countless items flashed across the screen like flowing water. After scrolling for a while, only one item remained, perfectly matching the search parameters.

The dean let out a breath. "Found it. It seems that Herlous previously uploaded the file. The date and location are correct. Let's see if it's the data you're looking for."

Han Xiao leaned over and carefully examined it. Although he wasn't as specialized in wormhole research as Herlous, he had relevant professional knowledge and could understand the positioning coordinate data. However, this set of coordinates was not in the star chart of the explored universe. The parameters were very complex. Without a reference star chart, it was impossible to tell where it ultimately led based on the data alone. It would take some research to find out.

"The Otherworldly Overlord is so concerned about this set of data. I wonder which corner of the universe his avatar was thrown into back then..." Han Xiao thought to himself.

After confirming that this set of data was from the time when Herlous banished the Otherworldly Overlord, Han Xiao blinked and instantly took hundreds of photos, transmitting them to Phillip's database. Then, he nodded to the dean.

"It seems I'm in luck. I've already made a backup. Thank you for this."

The dean turned off the screen, restoring it to its original state, and smiled. "I'm glad you're satisfied. There's something I'd like to ask of you."

Han Xiao wasn't surprised at all. The Terra civilization naturally intended to trade something with him. They wouldn't help for nothing.

"If it's within my capabilities, I'll help."

"Oh, you've misunderstood. We simply want to, in the name of the academy, hire you as an honorary professor of the Terra official mechanical academy."

Was it that simple? Han Xiao was a little surprised. After thinking about it, he suddenly understood.

As the only Super-A grade Mechanic in the Shattered Star Ring, if he became a professor at the Terra civilization's official mechanical academy, the academy would become famous, and its appeal to students would greatly increase. Many mechanical engineering students would apply to the academy for his sake, providing the Terra civilization with more talent resources. Moreover, his appointment as a professor at an official academy would represent a certain degree of political alignment. The Terra civilization would definitely not lose out.

Since they had just helped him, Han Xiao wouldn't refuse such a small request. He nodded. "I agree."

The dean's face lit up with joy. "I'll have someone take care of it immediately. By the way, since you're an honorary professor of the academy, we hope you can hold a lecture here. It can be arranged for tomorrow or the day after. It won't take up too much of your time. If you have no objections, I'll have people promote it within the academy."

"Sure, then I'll be bothering you for a few more days."

As soon as he finished speaking, Han Xiao thought for a moment and suddenly said, "Oh, since I've become a professor at the academy, could you copy a set of your academy's basic and advanced courses for me?"

The courses at such official academies were carefully compiled. The basic teaching materials would be very useful to the legion. Taking them back would allow him to systematically cultivate the legion's Mechanic Supers.

Some high-level Supers were strong individually, but they weren't necessarily good at teaching... For example, Ray, the cramming education Nadir, was like that. Now, the legion's mechanical courses could basically be summarized as "from entry to burial, from advancement to the coffin." The players didn't care, but ordinary new recruits were much worse off.

Since he had become an honorary professor of the academy, Han Xiao might as well take some benefits as well, making the best use of everything.

...

The next day, the Terra civilization loudly announced that they had successfully hired Black Star as an honorary professor of the official mechanical academy, contacting a large number of interstellar media outlets to spread the news.

Now, many civilizations in the Shattered Star Ring were business allies of the Black Star Army, and becoming an honorary professor of the official academy was a step further than a business relationship. The first to receive the news were the few Star Cluster civilizations in the Shattered Star Ring, who were all surprised and caught off guard. How did Black Star suddenly get together with the Terra civilization?

The Purple Crystal civilization was even more suspicious and uncertain. Getting on the Red Empire's thief ship was one thing. They couldn't afford to provoke them, so they accepted it. But you're actually flirting with our shameless neighbor, you deadbeat! Do you still have me, your original partner... cough, the ally that formed the earliest and invested the most, in your eyes?!

Bombarded by Leif's phone calls, Han Xiao barely managed to appease him.

This news also caused a great stir within the Terra official mechanical academy, and countless students were shocked.

Black Star is serving as our honorary professor and giving a lecture?!

How did that perverted dean manage to persuade Black Star?!

Countless students were excited, feeling honored and proud.

Originally, the lecture was arranged inside the teaching building. However, there were too many students who came to listen, and the academy ultimately decided to have Han Xiao give an open-air lecture in the central square.

On the day of the lecture, the scene was a sea of people, completely packed. There weren't enough seats at all, and countless students listened in the air on mechanical skateboards. More than 90% of the entire academy had come.

Most of the teachers, instructors, and professors also came running over to listen. In front of a Super-A grade Mechanic, they were all students.

On the temporary platform built in the center of the square, Han Xiao stood in the middle, surveying the entire scene, and smiled wryly.

He thought he would only be imparting experience to a small group of students. He didn't expect the academy to create such a large scene. Being the center of attention was one thing, but there were also many video recording devices next to him, recording his every move, making it feel like a concert, or even a sermon.

Stage fright was impossible. He didn't care when he and Heber fought shirtless in front of trillions of interstellar citizens. Giving a lecture now wouldn't change his mentality in any way. With his Super-A grade level, he could satisfy these students by simply sharing some of his experiences.

However, Han Xiao always felt a little unaccustomed to this style. Currently, the one who used lecturing as a core competence was that old geezer Austin.

"Ahem, let's begin..." Han Xiao cleared his throat and began to speak.

...

"Black Star went to give a public lecture at the official academy of a Star Cluster civilization? He's about to go to the Flickering World, and he still has the leisure to do this?!"

At the headquarters of the World Tree, Heber was confused and couldn't make heads or tails of it.

"This kid, is he trying to learn from me and create an organization like the Mechanic Hermit Order?"

At the Arcane Church, Austin had a strange expression on his face.

"Tsk, I hate Mechanics."

On the home planet of the Star Pupil Civilization, Sisko shut off the screen without saying a word. He didn't want to see Han Xiao at all. Every time he saw the Evolutionary Cube worn around Han Xiao's neck, his heart ached... however many hearts he had, they all ached.

"Oh, this guy's starting again?"

At the Red Empire's embassy, Sui shook his head and smiled. In his opinion, Han Xiao was dissatisfied with the status quo and was going to ally with other Star Cluster civilizations.

He was happy to see it. As long as it didn't interfere with important matters, Sui wished that the Empire's allies would have more and more influence in a star field.

And the players who were playing together at the Black Star Army's headquarters also discovered the broadcast on the interstellar channel. One person told ten, and ten told a hundred, and soon it spread among the player community. More and more players opened their communicators and watched Han Xiao's lecture curiously.

"Strange, I thought the Army Commander was always staying at the headquarters. I didn't expect that after not seeing him for a few days, he'd run off to another civilization."

"What is he talking about? It's gibberish, I can't understand a word."

Just as many players were curiously watching, suddenly, all the Mechanic players watching were startled. Prompts appeared on all their panels:

[You are listening to Black Star (Lv: ?) talking about knowledge of the Mechanic class. Due to the large gap, an Intelligence and Luck check is being performed... Check complete, you have a vague understanding - a random one of your Mechanic class skills has gained 50,000 experience points]

[You are listening to Black Star (Lv: ?) talking about knowledge of the Mechanic class. Due to the large gap, an Intelligence and Luck check is being performed... Check complete, you have some thoughts - a random two of your Mechanic class skills have gained 120,000 experience points]

...

[You are listening to Black Star (Lv: ?) talking about knowledge of the Mechanic class... Check complete, you have a flash of inspiration, a sudden realization - a random four of your Mechanic class skills have gained 350,000 experience points]

All the Mechanic players watching the broadcast were greatly surprised.

"This is... imparting skill experience?!"

Many Mechanic players were overjoyed.

This was the prompt when NPCs imparted skills or experience to players, but it was rare to encounter events where skill experience was gained randomly. Many Mechanic players didn't expect that they would trigger such a good thing just by curiously watching the Army Commander's broadcast?!

Soon, the news was revealed on the forums, spreading like a hurricane to the ears of all Mechanic players, who were pleasantly surprised and opened the broadcast to watch.

"Holy crap, my Mechanic skills leveled up!"

"This is probably a random event!"

"This is much faster than doing quests... I'll go, my [Intermediate Mechanic Affinity] is level nine, only one level away from being full!"

"The Army Commander is awesome, that's all!"

Leveling up skills has always been a bottomless pit of experience consumption, and Mechanic players were almost celebrating wildly.

Players of the other four classes could only envy, be jealous, and hate, watching the Mechanic players encounter random events and earn a fortune.

It had been a long time since Han Xiao had personally imparted skills to the players. Because there wasn't much frequent interaction, many players had gradually forgotten his past deeds. And this wave of accidents, coincidentally, made countless players suddenly recall his identity as a mentor.

His image in the minds of the players was instantly solidified - a recognized top-level professional mentor of the Mechanic class!