The Lingxiao Sword Sect's message bell echoed through the mountains, clear and long, startling countless birds. Hearing the bell, the disciples flocked to the announcement stone tablet at the foot of the mountain. It was a jade tablet radiating spiritual energy, and a new announcement from the sect slowly emerged on it.

"The Lingxiao Sword Sect will offer an introductory course on mecha control on the 15th of this month. We've hired a senior mecha master from the main sect to provide instruction. The course will cover basic mecha operation and spiritual energy fusion techniques. The optional fee is one low-grade spirit stone."

Just a few lines of text stirred up a commotion, like a stone dropped into a lake. The previously silent martial arts arena suddenly became lively. The disciples gathered in front of the stone tablet, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation, and their whispered discussions gradually became a boiling clamor.

"I heard that the mecha master of the main sect is a master in the foundation-building stage! His courses are usually impossible to learn."

"Yes, although it costs a low-grade spirit stone, it's definitely worth it to learn how to control a mecha! Nowadays, it's a trend for cultivators to control mechas. The future of interstellar development depends entirely on this."

"If you can master the fusion technique of spiritual energy and mecha, that will be the true combination of cultivation and technology!"

Some in the crowd were eager to try, others were brimming with excitement, and even more couldn't wait to begin planning how to arrange their spirit stones. For many disciples, this wasn't just an opportunity to learn, but also a bridge to a broader future.

Xiang Fan, standing outside the crowd, gazed silently at the stone tablet. He didn't approach, nor did he discuss the matter with the others. He simply stared at the words on the notice, his eyes filled with a burning desire.

"Mech... control..." He muttered softly, as if afraid to be heard. Those few words seemed to evoke the deepest passion in his memory.

Ever since he could remember, he'd harbored an innate passion for mechas. The cold yet precise metal construction, the intricate yet fluid mechanical designs, even the crude models assembled from scrap parts, would immerse him in them, obsessing over them until he forgot all about food and sleep. But now, the sect had actually offered a true mecha course, and for him, it was a colossal temptation.

However, his enthusiasm was dampened by a chilling sense of reality. He slowly reached for his waist, pulled out a storage bag, and lowered his head to open it. Inside was a few low-quality spirit stones, with a dull luster and weak spiritual energy fluctuations, making one doubt whether they could even be exchanged for a decent meal.

"A low-grade spirit stone..." Xiang Fan repeated in a low voice, his voice thick with helplessness. His fingertips held the spirit stones for a moment, then slowly lowered them, as if afraid they would wear out. He knew these spirit stones were all he had saved, and the very foundation of his daily cultivation and livelihood.

The sounds of laughter and chatter around me gradually reached my ears. Fellow disciples excitedly gathered in groups of two or three, eagerly rushing to the registration desk. Their faces were filled with anticipation. Some excitedly discussed the structure of the mecha, while others yearned to imagine themselves showing off their skills on the virtual battlefield.

In the crowd, Xiang Fan recognized several of his fellow apprentices whom he secretly admired. Their confident and composed demeanor, their voices tinged with pride and yearning, formed a stark contrast to his own.

He could only stand silently in the shadow of the bamboo forest, watching all this from afar. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, but he never took a step forward.

He turned, head lowered, and moved slowly, as if afraid of disturbing anyone. His back seemed particularly frail as he walked further and further away through the mottled light and shadows of the bamboo forest. The sunlight on the ground outlined his lonely figure, forming a sharp contrast with the energetic pace of the others.

"Mecha..." He whispered to himself, as if talking to himself, or as if to comfort himself, "There will always be a chance in the future."

There was a hint of bitterness in his voice, and even he found it difficult to convince himself.

The wind blew through the bamboo forest, picking up a few fallen leaves and landing them at his feet. He stopped and looked into the distance, as if trying to find some faint hope for himself, but in the end, he sighed, started walking again, and his figure gradually disappeared into the path leading to the back mountain.

The world around him was still bustling, but he remained silent. This contrast was deeply engraved in his heart, like a lingering shadow.

Xiang Fan lowered his head, dragging his somewhat heavy steps back home. In front of the cabin, his father, Xiang Su, was skinning a captured spirit beast. Its fur was neatly peeled, and the scent of blood drifted in the night breeze, filling the air. Xiang Su's sleeves were rolled up high, revealing his sturdy arms. Several half-crusted wounds still clung to his skin, clearly from the hunt.

"Fan'er, you're back?" Xiang Su looked up and saw Xiang Fan approaching. He noticed the worry on Xiang Fan's face and asked with a smile, "What's wrong? You look so worried, it's not like your usual self."

Xiang Fan opened his mouth, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered, "The sect has opened a mecha course. I heard it's very good... But, you have to pay a low-grade spirit stone to attend the class."

Xiang Su paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. "So that's what it is! Boy, haven't mechas always been your favorite thing? What are you hesitating about?"

Xiang Fan raised his head and glanced at his father, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. He quickly lowered his head and said in a softer voice, "But I don't have any spirit stones. It doesn't matter. There will be opportunities in the future anyway..."

Xiang Su cleaned the blood from his hands, wiped them, and walked over to the storage rack with a smile. He opened his storage bag and rummaged through it for a while, his eyes settling on a few low-grade spirit stones. After a moment's hesitation, he picked one out. The stone had a dull luster, clearly of low quality, but for this family, every one of them was extremely precious.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!