12: Su Wan's Class

Star Rail Group, "Young Talent Cultivation Center," First Enlightenment Classroom.

It would be more accurate to call this a small holographic immersive learning pod than a classroom.

There were no traditional blackboards or desks; soft light radiated naturally from the curved capsule walls, and the air was filled with the faint, refreshing scent of energy particles that helped focus the mind.

A dozen or so children, aged between five and seven, dressed in uniform silver-blue student outfits, sat in ergonomic levitating chairs. In front of them, holographic projections of massive star maps, complex molecular structures, or alien ecosystems were slowly rotating and evolving.

Chen Xi sat in a front row seat, her posture upright, her gaze focused.

She had just turned six, but her composed demeanor made her look older than her actual age.

Beside her was her slightly more lively younger sister, Chen Yao, who was blinking her large eyes and curiously poking a holographic model representing the strong nuclear force in front of her, watching it ripple away like water.

Today's lesson was "Introduction to Basic Science in the Interstellar Era," taught by Su Wan.

Although she had already advanced to an Elementary War God, under Qin Qingxuan's arrangement, she still personally handled the foundational courses for this core class containing Chen Xi and Chen Yao.

Su Wan stood on the circular platform in the center of the classroom. She used no teaching aids, but the gentle yet powerful energy field she exuded was the best focus-puller for their attention.

"Children,"

Su Wan's voice was clear and gentle, echoing within the learning pod.

"Over the past few months, we have studied the classification of Universe energy affinity, learned about the preciousness of the 'Innate Martial Body,' and conducted basic physical and mental training. You all know that powerful strength is the cornerstone of protecting our Federation."

The children, including Chen Yao, subconsciously straightened their backs.

Becoming a powerful Martial Artist was a dream branded in the heart of every child in this era.

However, Su Wan changed the subject. She waved her hand gently, and the holographic image in front of her changed into a winding, flowing galaxy, with massive warships and starry fortresses looming in and out of view within it.

"But today, I want to tell you that in this interstellar era, what measures the height of a civilization is not just the strength of its martial power, but the depth of its wisdom and the level of its technology."

She pointed to those warships and fortresses:

"A single most advanced 'Star Dome-class' battleship—the energy of one volley from its main cannons is enough to rival the full-power strike of a high-level Planetary Level expert. And the energy conversion and space warp technology involved in the engines that drive it for inter-galaxy travel are far more complex than any individual's energy control."

"You all know about the lifespans of Martial Artists."

Su Wan's gaze swept over the children.

"Warrior Rank, about 200 years. War General Rank, about 500 years. War God Level can reach a thousand years. And Planetary Level experts have lifespans measured in ten thousand years! The lifespans of great Stellar Level figures are even as long as one hundred thousand years!"

A low murmur of exclamation arose from below, especially from the newcomer Chen Yao, whose little mouth opened into an 'O' shape. A thousand years, ten thousand years, one hundred thousand years... These were unimaginable timescales for her.

"What does a long lifespan mean?"

Su Wan asked and answered herself:

"For ordinary people, even for the top scientists, the golden creative period of their lives is often only thirty to forty years. Before thirty, they accumulate knowledge; thirty to sixty is the period when their thinking is most active and most likely to produce Breakthrough innovations. After sixty, although they are experienced, their patterns of thinking tend to solidify, and the sparks of innovation often diminish."

She paused to let the concept settle. Then, her voice rose, carrying a guiding passion:

"But Martial Artists are different! Especially high-tier Martial Artists! A War God has a lifespan of a thousand years! He can spend the first one hundred, or even two hundred years, systematically learning all the scientific knowledge accumulated by humanity, laying an incredibly solid foundation! And for the long eight hundred-plus years that follow, his body remains in a Peak state, and his brain's activity level will not decline due to age! He has sufficient time, energy, and a calm mindset to think, to explore, and to overcome those ultimate problems that would require the painstaking efforts of several generations of ordinary scientists!"

"Imagine if a Planetary Level, or even a Stellar Level expert were to dedicate themselves to scientific research..."

Su Wan's eyes also revealed a sense of longing.

"Ten thousand, one hundred thousand years of lifespan, nearly infinite energy—their understanding of Universe rules itself can verify and be verified by technology... What kind of terrifying creativity would that unleash? How many light-years would that push civilization forward?"

The children's eyes lit up; for the first time, they understood the significance of a Martial Artist's lifespan from another perspective.

It was not just about living; it was a form of capital for continuous exploration and creation!

"Of course,"

Su Wan added gently,

"Not all Martial Artists are suited for or willing to engage in scientific research. Innovation often also requires the unrestrained, imaginative sparks of thinking from ordinary people, free from the constraints of power Systems. Many explosive developments in technology have stemmed from an inadvertent new idea. The technological brilliance of the Federation is the result of the joint efforts of countless Martial Artist scientists and Mortal scientists."

She changed the subject again. The holographic image transformed into a map of the Federation's territory, and... opposite it, a much larger, faintly oppressive Star Domain, with countless red lines marking battles between the two powers.

"But, children, we must value technology for another heavy reason—war."

The atmosphere in the classroom instantly became solemn.

"Our Human Federation has developed for nearly one hundred thousand years to this day, possessing 99 star Systems and over a thousand life-bearing planets. Our strongest are Stellar Level existences; they are the pillars of the Federation, guarding our territory."

"However, around the 80,000th year of the Star Calendar, we encountered another interstellar civilization—the 'Tristan Empire'." On the holographic image, that vast Star Domain lit up with a scarlet glow, its territory appearing slightly larger than the Federation's.

"The Tristan Empire is an aggressive Empire that practices absolute hegemony. Their individual power System is similar to ours, but they advocate more for barbaric evolution. From the very beginning of contact, conflict was inevitable. For over ten thousand years, war has been intermittent and has never truly ceased."

Su Wan's voice became low: "I must tell you a cruel fact: in terms of overall military strength and top-tier experts, our Federation... is currently at a slight disadvantage. The Empire's territory is larger, its resources are richer, and the number of experts born there is slightly higher than ours."

The children's faces revealed nervousness and worry, and Chen Yao subconsciously grabbed her sister Chen Xi's hand.

"But!"

Su Wan's tone suddenly became sonorous and forceful. "Our Federation still stands tall to this day! What does it rely on? Aside from the heroic sacrifices of countless soldiers, to a large extent, it relies on our leading technology!"

"Our warships are more sophisticated, our energy shields are more durable, and our long-range strikes are more precise! More importantly, we possess some... 'strategic deterrent' technological existences that are enough to make the Empire wary and afraid to launch an all-out war! That is the trump card that ensures the Empire dares not perish together with us, even if local wars are lost!"

"So, children,"

Su Wan's gaze became incomparably serious, sweeping one by one over these hopes of the Federation's future.

"Do not limit your gaze only to personal combat strength. Strength is used for protection, and wisdom is the key that determines how long and how well we can protect!"

"Whether you choose to become a powerful Martial Artist, a wise scientist, or both, you need to understand that what you carry on your shoulders is the future of the entire human civilization. Every choice you make, every effort you exert, is crucial."

For Chen Yao, this class was a shocking enlightenment; for the first time, she clearly recognized the situation the Federation was in and the weight of technology.

For Chen Xi, although it was her second time hearing it, she still listened with utmost seriousness, and in her clear eyes, thoughts deeper than those of her peers flickered.

Strength, technology, war, trump cards... these words intertwined in her heart, making her vaguely feel that the talent of herself and her sister was perhaps not just personal luck, but even more closely connected to the fate of the Federation.