I Can Copy the Talents of All Creatures

Zuo Qinchuan calculated that he could earn 300 merit points for this delivery—not a bad haul.

"Mr. Yu, quick, look! It’s a cannon! A super-powered cannon! I’ve read about these in our general studies classes!"

Xiang Kun was ecstatic, constantly caressing and patting the three Mixed Element Magnetic Cannon Type V units with a look of pure infatuation.

The muzzles of these three devastating weapons were a full thirty centimeters in diameter, with barrel walls ten centimeters thick. They were forged from a special alloy, pitch-black all over, yet their construction was relatively simple.

The Mixed Element Magnetic Cannon required at least four Martial Artists with different Inner Qi attributes to energize its shells. Its purpose wasn’t direct lethality, but rather to disrupt the Primordial Energy Field in a target area. The Inner Qi of any Martial Artist within that zone would suffer a backlash from the world’s energy. For a time, their own energy would descend into chaos, making it impossible to command their qi flow, forcing them to retreat and heal.

These shells were specially treated; once filled with Inner Qi, the charge would hold for twelve hours, making them a top choice for defensive warfare.

They had studied this in their general studies classes, but this was the first time they had ever seen one in person.

The massive weapon drew a crowd of onlookers.

Yu Fei also stepped forward to examine it. He recalled that the Mixed Element Magnetic Cannon Type V had a maximum range of thirty kilometers. Its area of effect was a one-kilometer radius from the impact point, but its power diminished with distance. The truly effective range was only within a five-hundred-meter radius.

Suddenly, a heavy pressure descended from the sky. A Grandmaster wearing a black mask was floating in mid-air. Yu Fei glanced around and saw everyone’s face had turned pale, so he mimicked their expression.

’Looks like my Spiritual Core is on the same level as a Grandmaster’s. This pressure has no effect on me.’

"Attention, students! I am a member of the referee committee for this exercise. The exercise, codenamed ’Desperate Fortress,’ will officially commence tonight at 8:00 PM, when the sophomores will enter the battlefield. The exercise will conclude at 8:00 PM on November 9th, lasting a total of forty-eight hours. You have eight hours to prepare."

Everyone already knew this, so they just listened quietly for any new details.

"All ammunition in this exercise will be live. However, rest assured, this exercise is being officiated by four Great Grandmasters and thirty Grandmasters, with Arbiter Qing presiding as the chief referee. The entire battlefield is under full surveillance. If you are hit by a bullet, a portion of its power will be instantly absorbed, leaving you with the effects of a serious injury. Your Ghost Core will then determine if you have been eliminated..."

Yu Fei mused to himself, ’Ghost Core? I remember this thing has real-time monitoring. It’s how Zhuo Feiming tracked me back at Guye Ridge.’

"Shortly, you will all be required to put on your Ghost Core and personal information terminal. The regional map and mission objectives will be displayed on the terminal..."

"Everyone, do everything in your power to achieve victory. This exercise will be recorded live and broadcast to the entire Shenhan military. Give it your all!"

With that, his figure shot up into the clouds and vanished.

The news that the exercise was being recorded live left everyone stunned.

Liu Ze muttered to himself, "So that’s how there are video records of the sophomores losing. I always wondered. If we screw this up, we’ll be a laughingstock for generations!"

He wasn’t the only one. Many were unsettled by this news, while others grew excited at the prospect.

"Everyone!"

Yu Fei suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention.

"What’s there to be afraid of? I think the sophomores are the ones who should be worried. If we lose, it’s expected. The worst that happens is we get our asses kicked. But if they lose to us? They’ll be the laughingstock of the entire army, won’t they? So let’s fuck ’em up!"

"Yeah, the boss is right! Taking out even one of them is a win for us. Worst case, we just roll over and take the beating!"

"Let’s fuckin’ get ’em..."

Yu Fei nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Everyone else, start moving supplies. Group leaders, over here. We need to discuss tactics!"

The area instantly buzzed with activity.

Yu Fei was the first to put on his Ghost Core. He then opened the issued personal information terminal and projected the map.

The preset exercise zone was an irregular triangle. The three military outposts that the freshman classes had to defend were located at each of the three corners. The sophomores’ starting position was in the center.

The map had a warning marker forbidding them from approaching within thirty kilometers of the sophomores’ starting position. Yu Fei estimated the total distance between their forces was about 400 kilometers. For an Inner Qi Martial Artist traveling at top speed, that was a short distance—less than three hours away.

"Mr. Yu, what’s the plan?" Qin Hao asked, looking at him eagerly. The others did the same.

Yu Fei stared at the map, a clear idea forming in his mind. According to the rules, they had to hold their position for two days to complete the basic objective. That meant they couldn’t lose the dilapidated building behind them.

That meant they needed to ensure sufficient fire suppression. But the sophomores had roughly the same number of people, and their cultivation realms, martial skills, and combat experience were all superior. Even with the high ground, they might not win a long-range skirmish. If they took too many losses, a single enemy charge would force them to abandon their position.

’No, we have to thin their numbers beforehand.’

As Yu Fei looked at the map, a bold idea suddenly struck him.

"Jiang Nianwei, you’re in command here. I’m going to scout the terrain."

With that, he leaped away and sped off toward the objective.

"Hey—you!"

Jiang Nianwei shouted, but Yu Fei had already dashed so far away that he was just a blurry dot in the distance.

She thought with resignation, ’He really is a ’Wind-Chaser,’ just as they say. He acts completely on impulse. He calls us over to discuss tactics, then has a brainwave and just runs off.’

"Ma’am... what do we do now?"

Yu Fei had left command to Jiang Nianwei, who always looked out for everyone, so no one questioned the decision. Besides, other than Yu Fei, while Jiang Nianwei might be slightly weaker in combat, she was more than strong enough to keep the rest of them in line.

Jiang Nianwei’s expression turned serious, and she instantly took on the air of a commanding general.

"All units, listen up! Group One, Li Pengfei, you will organize and distribute the Ghost Cores and personal information terminals. Establish a reporting procedure and make sure no one is left out.

"Group Two, Yi Shuang, distribute the super-powered firearms. Each person receives ten rounds of ammunition and is limited to two weapons: one for primary use, one for backup. Label your backups with your names.

"Group Three, Wuu Qifeng, take your team and categorize all supplies. Establish a wartime logistics depot. You must also charge the super-powered shells as quickly as possible. Be sure to rotate personnel for charging to keep everyone’s Inner Qi above the safety threshold. All living provisions and Inner Qi and Qi Blood supplements will be centrally managed and distributed...

"Group Four... clear the fortress area, mark safe firing positions, and establish a medical area for casualties...

"Group Five... patrol a twenty-kilometer radius around the fortress. Identify any blind spots or concealed approaches. If you find any, level them.

"..."

One command after another issued from her lips, and the chaotic scene instantly became a model of order. Problems that arose during execution were fed back to her, and she adjusted her orders in real-time. She had prepared countless contingency plans and had studied the details of various border-zone wars. Aside from her lack of real combat experience, her tactical acumen was on par with an active-duty regimental commander.

「In the Shenhan University Principal’s Office」

Ye Shuping stood before a giant holographic screen. He watched Yu Fei sprinting across the wilderness. He watched Li Jueyin and Zhang Xunyi’s argument drag on. He watched the other "experts" and Lin Zihao come up with one harebrained idea after another, while their actual command devolved into a total mess.

Jiang Nianwei’s unit was the only one that looked competent, but unfortunately, she was just another blockhead.

Sigh...

Ye Shuping sighed. So these were the prodigies of Shenhan, the so-called reserve corps for the Martial Saints. They were a pile of dogshit.

Not a single one of them had a brain.

They had every advantage: unlimited supplies, an eight-hour head start, a defensible position. They were dealt a winning hand and were playing it like absolute trash.

Didn’t they think to set traps and ambushes in advance? Did it not occur to them that the three freshman classes could group up, create local superiority, and wipe out one of the sophomore classes first? Couldn’t they just haul all nine cannons over and give the sophomores a nice little surprise as they landed?

Sixty shells from nine cannons... what kind of chaos would that wreak on the Primordial Energy Field in the central zone? Could anyone even remain standing there?

Ye Shuping’s chest rose and fell. It was the same every year. This bunch of idiots never failed to disappoint him.

And that moron, Yu Fei, running off alone to "scout the terrain"? Did he really intend to take on 135 opponents by himself?

He expected Yu Fei to have a crushing advantage in terms of combat power, but not like this! Not now!

Even if you can crush your enemies, you still need to use some strategy!

Ye Shuping picked up a cup of Long Lake Forgetful and slowly savored it.

’Don’t get angry. Not everyone in this world is a normal person. Some people can eat, take care of themselves, speak, and even practice Cultivation Techniques on their own, but they lack the ability to think and solve problems. These people are morons!’

In Ye Shuping’s view, of the six billion souls in the world, ninety-nine percent of them were morons!