Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest-Chapter 1197: Star Sea (2)

The lives of billions of civilians in the Holy Light Empire are largely predetermined.

A civilian child typically enters a local elementary academy at the age of six or seven to study academics and martial arts. On one hand, they must master knowledge in math, literature, and governance, while on the other, they must practice Body Skills and Combat Skills.

The elementary academy follows an eight-year curriculum, during which a person’s talent, intelligence, and capabilities are fully displayed.

If one excels in martial arts, they naturally proceed to the martial arts program of a secondary academy for further studies. After three years, if they pass the martial arts assessment for higher academies and obtain professional certification, their future is undoubtedly promising.

Those lacking martial arts aptitude but possessing high intelligence can specialize in clerical positions, which still offer great employment prospects.

However, if they excel neither in academics nor martial arts, they can only enter society early to take on exhausting, low-status jobs—or venture to newly discovered planets to pioneer and settle new lands.

The empire does not support idlers; in this vast nation, everyone finds their place.

This time, the target Wang Chen transmigrated into—Lu Yuan—had some talent in martial arts. Coupled with his tremendous effort, he was all set to participate in next month’s martial arts assessment for higher academies.

Meanwhile, his childhood friend Mu Yu was studying in the clerical program. Her academic performance ranked slightly below average in the third secondary academy, leaving her with little hope of qualifying for the higher academy’s clerical division. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Mu Yu, however, started dating a fellow student who was repeating a grade—a certain Zhang Zhaocheng, whom Lu Yuan had recently faced in the arena.

This senior student, Zhang Zhaocheng, had mediocre talent in martial arts, but his "reincarnation skills" were outstanding, as his wealthy family belonged to the scholar families. Their status and influence crushed Lu Yuan, an orphan.

Poor Lu Yuan had loved and protected Mu Yu for over a decade, only for her to choose a boyfriend who then knocked him out with a single punch, utterly shattering his soul.

Despite Lu Yuan’s superior Combat Skills compared to Zhang Zhaocheng, the latter had applied for gene enhancement status through family connections after failing the entrance exam for higher academies last year.

Gene enhancement is one of the empire’s most advanced technologies. While in principle any adult citizen can apply for it, the costs are exorbitant, making it unaffordable for most ordinary people.

Given Zhang Zhaocheng’s gene enhancement, his victory over an un-enhanced Lu Yuan was all but inevitable.

But Zhang Zhaocheng’s ruthlessness and poisoned intentions were what led to Wang Chen’s opportunity to transmigrate into Lu Yuan’s body in the first place!

"舔狗不得House!" (Translation: Simps never win!)

After sorting through the memories of this new body, Wang Chen let out a sigh.

While combing through the memories, Wang Chen detected no remnants of the original soul or lingering consciousness.

Perhaps Lu Yuan, upon being defeated, experienced utter despair, letting go of all attachment to this world and leaving behind an impeccably clean vessel for Wang Chen.

In this way, Wang Chen bore no karmic ties and wouldn’t be disrupted by the remnants of the original soul.

Moreover, as the body’s original owner was a war orphan with no close friends except Gao Jing, there were no attachments to worry about—a clean slate.

All in all, it was an excellent starting point.

Yet, this vast world was far from simple.

First of all, the complete absence of Spiritual Energy—a hundred percent energy void—meant it was impossible for Wang Chen to practice Spells.

Secondly, he couldn’t summon his Cultivation Panel, effectively leaving him without any cheats.

Most critically, this world’s technological level was staggeringly high. The Holy Light Empire’s most formidable Annihilator Starship was capable of destroying planets in a single strike. It also had countless types of cutting-edge and beyond-comprehension advanced technology, along with numerous extreme destructive weapons.

The empire’s War Professionals were also extraordinary. A few top-tier warriors could undergo gene enhancement once, twice, three times, or even up to four or five times. Piloting Combat Mechs through space, these warriors wielded frightening power capable of severing starships!

It’s rumored the empire was cultivating superpowered warriors whose strength was even greater.

But details about such high-level secrets were inaccessible to someone like Lu Yuan—just a small shrimp. He only learned rudimentary information through the Star Sea Network.

Meanwhile, the mighty Holy Light Empire naturally had rivals and enemies, and true peace hadn’t existed for centuries!

After scouring the original body’s memories and discarding anything useless, Wang Chen gained a basic understanding of this vast world.

What puzzled him was why cultivators from Haotian Realm who transmigrated to the Starry Seas Realm all perished, with none able to safely return from projecting Divine Soul consciousness into this world.

What was the true danger awaiting the Descendants?

Wang Chen didn’t believe the Nascent Soul True Immortals who transmigrated to the Starry Seas Realm were reckless individuals. Given the realm’s laws were entirely different from the Haotian Realm’s, any newcomers would surely act cautiously.

Their priority would certainly be survival.

Wang Chen pondered this over and over but couldn’t arrive at an answer.

By now, the sky was gradually dimming, and the small room lit up automatically with a soft, gentle light.

Though Wang Chen’s dorm measured only about ten square meters, it was equipped with every essential amenity. Its decor was simple yet cozy.

As the orphan of a fallen soldier, he was entitled to imperial aid for education and living expenses until the age of eighteen.

Once he reached adulthood, he would be fully responsible for himself.

For the original body, there were essentially only two paths forward: either pass the martial arts assessment for higher academies or join the military!

While meditating on this, Wang Chen reached out and activated the display screen on the wall to order dinner.

Within just half a minute, the metal panel behind his desk opened automatically, revealing a steaming, aromatic bowl of noodle soup with ribs sitting neatly in the tray.

Wang Chen took the bowl and devoured the cheap yet satisfying meal to the last drop, leaving not even a trace of broth.

While Lu Yuan’s tuition and lodging were covered by the academy, he also received monthly pension grants.

However, these grants were just enough for daily expenses. Eating at an outside restaurant or purchasing necessary electronics required Lu Yuan to work part-time jobs.

Previously, Lu Yuan had taken on several odd jobs but had poured his hard-earned money into Mu Yu.

Gao Jing had once discreetly advised him against this, but Lu Yuan remained obstinately devoted.

It wasn’t until he had to prepare for the martial arts assessment for higher academies that he abandoned part-time work.

Because he could no longer afford to spend on dating Mu Yu, it provoked complaints and dissatisfaction from her, ultimately leading to his arena battle against Zhang Zhaocheng.

Wang Chen placed the empty bowl back into the wall compartment and then lay back on the bed.

Instinctively, he picked up the Virtual Access Instrument sitting beside his pillow, donned it, and turned it on.

In an instant, Wang Chen’s vision plunged into darkness, and he felt as though he was entering a boundless cosmic space, his soul momentarily detached from his body.

However, this sensation lasted only a few seconds.

His consciousness successfully connected to the hyperspace Star Sea Network!

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First Chapter delivered.