296: Chapter 296 Steel Legion

One week later, the standardization tutorial for the Spirit Command Chapter was completed.

Tianheng broke down the entire Cultivation Technique into three learning stages.

Elementary — Single-unit close-range control.

First-Order Martial Artists can learn it.

The operator sits in the cockpit or stands within fifty meters of the mecha, using spiritual power to replace electronic signals to control the mecha.

Intermediate — Single-unit remote control.

Requires a Second-Order Martial Artist or above.

The operator can remotely connect to and control the mecha from several kilometers away without entering the cockpit.

Advanced — Multi-unit control.

Requires a Third-Order Martial Artist or above.

The operator can simultaneously connect to and control multiple mechas.

The tutorial comes with a detailed Divine Sense training manual, which was reverse-optimized by Tianheng based on the actual test data of Chen Rong and Zhang Dabiao, with precise spiritual power operation parameters and Divine Sense expansion techniques for every step.

The centralized training of over two thousand three hundred First-Order Martial Artists began in the east district of the Yaowu World Forward Base.

The training ground was expanded threefold, and one hundred training mechas were put into use simultaneously.

Every ten mechas were grouped together, assigned with one instructor.

The instructors were all Second-Order Martial Artists with the best spiritual power control scores over the past month; they had just learned the Spirit Control Technique themselves, but at least they could demonstrate.

The first day of training was exceptionally lively.

"Spiritual Qi outward — push it outward, not spray it outward! That's farting, not controlling —" An instructor shouted at the top of his lungs.

In front of him, the right arm of a training mecha was flailing out of control, like a noodle blown by the wind.

The soldier in the cockpit was sweating profusely, muttering, "I pushed it — but it won't listen —"

In another group nearby, a mecha took its first step.

Then, during the second step, its center of gravity wasn't controlled well, and the twelve-meter-tall white giant tilted —

The onlookers let out a burst of exclamations.

Fortunately, the mecha's self-balancing System intervened at the very last moment and stabilized it.

A long sigh of relief came from the cockpit.

Further over, a soldier in his forties — one of those re-conscripted after retirement — was cursing and complaining that the tutorial was wordy, but the mecha under his control walked steadily and straight, with even stride and smooth turns.

The instructor glanced at his data and froze for a moment.

"What did you used to do?"

The veteran rolled his eyes.

"I drove a tower crane for twenty years."

Driving a tower crane.

Controlling a large distant machine to complete precise movements — isn't this just a civilian version of the Spirit Control Technique?

Tao Zhe later wrote this case into his report.

The conclusion was — soldiers with heavy machinery operation experience learned the Spirit Control Technique an average of twenty percent faster than others.

The first batch of training lasted five days.

After five days, Tao Zhe compiled all the data.

Two thousand three hundred and seventeen First-Order Martial Artists participated in the training.

Eighty-five percent successfully mastered Elementary control, able to use spiritual power inside the cockpit to control the mecha to complete basic movements.

Twelve percent learned Elementary control but with lower precision, requiring continued practice.

Three percent failed to find the feel at all; Tao Zhe suspected it was related to personal Divine Sense talent, which required further research.

All sixteen Second-Order Martial Artists mastered Intermediate control — remote control.

The average effective distance was two to four kilometers, with control precision between eighty and ninety percent.

The data for Chen Rong and Lin Wan were listed separately.

Chen Rong: Three units controlled simultaneously, maximum remote distance of fifteen kilometers.

Lin Wan: Three units controlled simultaneously, maximum remote distance of sixteen kilometers.

Lin Wan's data was slightly better than Chen Rong's, and Tao Zhe explained in the report — the attribute of ice-type Spiritual Qi is more "stable", holding a natural advantage in precise control.

Lightning-type Spiritual Qi has strong explosive power but large fluctuations, making it suitable for attack output but less suitable for long-term stable control.

Su Mingyuan finished reading the entire report.

The data was even better than he expected.

But he did not show a satisfied expression.

Because he saw the problem.

"Our biggest Bottleneck right now is not the Spirit Control Technique." Su Mingyuan said at the afternoon meeting that day, "It is cultivation."

He projected the data from the report onto the big screen.

"What can two thousand three hundred First-Order Martial Artists do? Sitting in the cockpit using spiritual power to control the mecha — a bit better than traditional control, but with limited improvement. What truly has strategic value is remote control and multi-unit control."

He pointed to the numbers on the screen.

"Remote control requires the Second Order. How many Second-Order ones do we have? Sixteen."

"Multi-unit control requires the Third Order. How many Third-Order ones do we have? Two."

The main control room fell silent.

"Sixteen Second-Order ones can only remotely control sixteen mechas. Two Third-Order ones, added together, can control six." Su Mingyuan's voice was flat, "We have three thousand mechas — what this numerical comparison means, calculate it yourselves."

No one spoke.

Three thousand mechas, and only twenty-two can be remotely controlled.

Less than one percent.

"Therefore." Su Mingyuan stood up, "Starting today, concentrate all Spirit Stone and Medicinal Pill resources, and spare no effort to promote cultivation improvement. Target — within three months, expand the Second-Order Martial Artists from sixteen people to at least two hundred."

He glanced at Tao Zhe.

"Are the Spirit Stone reserves enough?"

Tao Zhe flipped through the data.

"If we go all out into cultivation, six thousand inferior Spirit Stones and two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones can probably support us for three months. Medium Grade and High-Grade Spirit Stones will remain untouched for now, reserved for higher-tier Breakthroughs."

"What about the crystal core output of the Zombie World?"

"Based on current production capacity, each month we can supplement first-order crystal cores equivalent to one thousand inferior Spirit Stones. Second-order crystal cores are about two hundred per month."

Su Mingyuan calculated.

Enough to use.

But if the scale of cultivation is expanded, the consumption speed of Spirit Stones will become faster and faster.

He needed more sources of Spirit Stones.

Put this question down for now and solve it later.

"There is one more thing," Su Mingyuan said.

His tone changed a bit — not a commanding tone, closer to a statement.

"The cultivation progress of Chen Rong and Lin Wan."

Tao Zhe nodded and switched to another piece of data.

"The spiritual power accumulation speed of the two is still maintained on an SSS-grade growth curve. According to Tianheng's calculation —"

He pointed to a steep curve on the screen.

"Distance to the Fifth-Order Grandmaster — which is the Qi Refining Peak — still needs about six to eight weeks."

Six to eight weeks.

Qi Refining Peak.

Moving up further is Foundation Establishment.

After listening, Su Mingyuan didn't speak.

He glanced at the bottom drawer of his desk.

That drawer was locked.

Inside the lock were two white porcelain bottles.

Inscribed on the porcelain bottles were two words — Foundation Establishment.

He withdrew his gaze and stood up.

"That's all for today. All tasks will proceed according to plan."

When he walked to the door, Tao Zhe called out to him.

"Group Leader Su."

"Hmm?"

"Should the digitization of the Creation Chapter of the Spirit Control Technique be started simultaneously?"

Su Mingyuan paused.

Creation Chapter.

The technology of making Puppets.

He thought for two seconds.

"No rush for now. Make the promotion of the Spirit Command Chapter solid first."

He pushed open the door and walked out.

In the corridor, from the window, one could see the direction of the training ground.

In the distance, several white training mechas could be seen moving slowly under the gray daylight.

That was the night shift soldiers practicing.

Twenty-four hours uninterrupted.

Su Mingyuan stood by the window and watched for a while.

Three thousand mechas.

Two thousand three hundred Martial Artists learning the Spirit Control Technique.

Sixteen Second-Order Martial Artists capable of remote control.

Two Third-Order Martial Artists capable of one person controlling three units.

And — two bottles of foundation establishment pills locked in the drawer.