To be admitted to the mecha class, she was granted an exception due to her family's contributions to the Interstellar Academy, overlooking her spirit power.
The others were filled with shame, not expecting the new girl to have more solid foundational skills than them, who had been studying for years. They secretly resolved to review their basic knowledge.
On the day of the mecha competition,
"What is bound to come will come. Accept the baptism of the storm!" Hong Bo from the mecha class donned his tight-fitting combat suit, entered his mecha, and prepared to pilot it to the competition venue.
The Interstellar Academy and the Imperial Academy exchanged insights on mecha research annually.
In essence, it was a competition to see whose mecha was superior.
In recent years, the Imperial Academy had produced a steady stream of geniuses, and their mechas were both beautiful and practical, completely dominating the Interstellar Academy.
"Ahhhh, it's over! My mecha just discovered a malfunction during a test run, and it can't be fixed in a short time. This is my officially registered mecha for the competition, my livelihood depends on it. It's all over now!" Suddenly, a miserable scream rang out.
"Host, your chance has arrived," Xiao Shazi cheered.
"??? I already told the instructor that I had a spot," Qiao Ci shrugged. While Xiao Shazi had confined her to a dark room, she had already accomplished many things.
Everyone gathered around the boy who had just spoken, Fang Ming, their expressions heavy.
Fang Ming's mecha was considered one of the best among the mechas participating this time. Without it, their chances of winning the competition would be even slimmer.
"Make way."
At this moment, a cold female voice was heard. Everyone looked and saw it was Qiao Ci.
She beckoned to Fang Ming, who was sitting in his mecha, signaling him to come down.
Although Fang Ming didn't know what she intended, he obediently got down.
Seeing Qiao Ci ascend, he knew she was going to help him check for the problem. Fang Ming said despairingly, "Qiao Ci, it's no use. It will take at least three hours to fix that malfunction, and many parts need to be replaced. The competition is only half an hour away..."
"Alright," Qiao Ci's voice came from within the mecha. Then, she emerged and said to Fang Ming, whose eyes were red, "Go in and try it."
"Ah?" Fang Ming was stunned. The people around him also looked at Qiao Ci in disbelief.
"What are you spacing out for? Aren't we competing?" Qiao Ci said, then walked to her own mecha.
Fang Ming quickly got into the mecha. After a while, the mecha slowly started. His excited voice came from inside: "Great, great, it's really fixed."
Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Qiao Ci. She was also getting into the old mecha, seemingly preparing to start it.
Yu Jiangyan walked over and asked, "Do you want to learn to pilot a mecha? I can take you around the school in a mecha."
The gossipy eyes of the crowd immediately darted over.
Is something going on here?
"Thank you, no need." Qiao Ci politely refused, "Aren't we competing? When are we departing?"
What "we"?
Yu Jiangyan was a bit confused.
"I've also signed up for the mecha competition. I wanted to ask when you are departing?" Qiao Ci explained, remembering that everyone didn't know she was participating.
Yu Jiangyan's expression was dazed, showing a touch of natural adorableness, "Don't you have no spirit power? How can you control a mecha?"
"Who said I have no spirit power? Wasn't it tested last time?" Whether others acknowledged it or not, she had already presented the results.
"You mean?" Yu Jiangyan's eyes widened.
The people around them also sighed with emotion.
Everyone had heard about Qiao Ci's spirit power test.
It was said that her first test result was 0, and the second time it directly broke the intelligence system. As for the SSS-level displayed before the intelligence system crashed, everyone dismissed it as a malfunction.
Could it be...
As everyone was in a state of shock and uncertainty, Qiao Ci's mecha started moving, and it instantly ascended into the air.
Qiao Ci: ...
It's been a while since she operated it, a bit rusty.
But no panic, it's not a big problem.
Everyone's faces were filled with question marks. Was this the speed an old mecha could achieve?
Yu Jiangyan's eyes were filled with excitement. He turned and got into his mecha, "Assemble! Depart!!!"
The other contestants also drove their mechas and followed.
Knowing that Yu Jiangyan was the leader, Qiao Ci slowed down, positioning herself at the rear of the team.
Seeing that the speed of the mecha controlled by Qiao Ci had returned to normal, everyone sighed. Such a mecha did not deserve Qiao Ci, especially if her spirit power was truly SSS-level.
Over ten mechas flew towards the competition plaza. The left side of each mecha was covered, concealing its designation, which would be revealed during the mecha introduction.
Xiao Shazi remembered the name of Qiao Ci's mecha and proudly straightened its back. That was a name it had come up with, and Host had adopted it!
The spectators from the Interstellar Academy filled the entire outer perimeter of the plaza, and the event was being broadcast live.
The mechas of the Interstellar Academy slowly landed. The pilots inside one by one appeared in the sight of everyone.
Some sharp-eyed individuals spotted Qiao Ci and doubted their eyes, rubbing them. "What's going on? My hallucination is too persistent. I actually saw the useless Qiao Ci!"
The person next to him also said, "Brother, you're not alone. I'm hallucinating too and see Qiao Ci."
The surrounding people began to discuss:
"What is the useless Qiao Ci doing up there? And piloting such an old and outdated mecha, is she here to embarrass our Interstellar Academy?"
"Exactly. And she's acting like it's the real deal... Wait, did she bribe her instructor? Otherwise, why would she be here?"
At this moment, a weak voice chimed in, "Did no one else notice that Qiao Ci came in a mecha... Without spirit power, a mecha simply can't be piloted. For an old mecha like this, spirit power below A-level can't control it well..."
As he said this, everyone's gaze collectively shifted to the mecha behind Qiao Ci.
Their eyes were practically twitching, but they couldn't spot any suspicious figures inside.
However, Qiao Ci's spirit power was clearly 0 when she tested that day. What was going on now???
At this moment, that weak voice sounded again, "I remember that Qiao Ci's spirit power was SSS on the second test. Is it possible..."
"Impossible!"
"Absolutely impossible!"
"For the Qiao family to have one SSS-level genius is already a huge blessing. If there were another, wouldn't the Qiao family become unstoppable?"
"I don't believe it either. The intelligence system for testing spirit power must be broken! And even if she had spirit power, what's the point? Piloting such a broken mecha will only lead to defeat and shame!"
...
Qiao Xi did not come. She was watching the broadcast at home, wanting to cultivate a relationship with Long Mieshi, the Emperor of the Insectoids, thinking that perhaps the Emperor of the Insectoids would become her subordinate in the future.
Casually raising her head, when she saw Qiao Ci's figure, her eyes widened so much that they almost popped out, startling the little black insect who was enjoying being fed by a beauty...