The maglev train slid silently along, leaving the bright and glamorous Inner City behind.
In an instant, the world outside the window switched from a technological paradise to a gray, oppressive jungle of steel.
A single wall separated two different worlds.
Han Feng leaned in a corner. The familiar sight reminded him of when he had first arrived in this world.
If it weren't for the "Commoner Genius Selection Program," which a newly appointed Outer City councilman had pushed through three years ago...
...he, an orphan with a textbook tragic backstory, would probably still be struggling in the mire of the Outer City just to get by.
Unfortunately, the program only ran for a single term before other councilmen banded together and shut it down, citing its exorbitant costs and lackluster results.
He became its sole survivor, and also its greatest beneficiary.
'If I ever get the chance, I'll have to properly thank that councilman I've never met.'
The train arrived at the station.
「Half an hour later, at the Airplane Graveyard.」
Han Feng expertly navigated the forest of rust-covered fuselages and arrived in front of an iconic deck chair.
"You're here, kid."
Uncle Sun wasn't pretending to be asleep today. His cloudy eyelids lifted, and his gaze swept over Han Feng. He let out a soft grunt of surprise.
"Kid... there's something different about your whole bearing today."
In the past, Han Feng's sharpness was always restrained.
Today, however, he radiated a keen intensity.
"Just had a good meal."
Han Feng just smiled.
Uncle Sun pursed his lips but didn't press the matter. He took the chip card from Han Feng and swiped it on an old terminal.
"Kid, be careful when you're flying today."
He tossed the card back and pointed to the familiar Initial Training-3 in the distance.
"The Outer City defense radars have picked up some reckless Flying Demon Beasts circling the area a few times recently."
"They haven't dared get too close, but you never know."
"Look, the autocannon under the wing—I loaded it for you. A hundred Armor-Piercing Bullets."
Han Feng was taken aback. Sure enough, he saw that the old autocannon's casing had been polished to a shine, and the ammo feed showed signs of recent maintenance.
"This old bird is slow. If you really run into one, just run for it."
Uncle Sun's tone grew more serious.
"If you don't end up using them, consider the ammo an investment in you."
"But if you do, you'll pay me back ten times the price later!"
"And if you wreck this piece-of-junk plane, your flying days are over."
A warmth spread through Han Feng's chest, and he nodded solemnly.
"Got it, Uncle Sun. Thanks."
He knew this was the old man's unique way of showing he cared.
He walked a lap around the Initial Training-3. As his palm once again brushed against the cold fuselage, the system prompt sounded right on cue.
[Detected "Flying Sword." Model: Initial Training-3. Grade: Pseudo-Magical Artifact.]
[Establish Spiritual Link?]
'Yes.'
HUMMM!
Han Feng's consciousness was no longer just touching the plane; it instantly merged with it.
He could "see."
The hydraulic line connection for the left landing gear was loose by a minuscule 0.01 millimeters.
The third stabilizer cable in the tail assembly had lost two percent of its tensile strength due to metal fatigue.
Countless flaws, so minute that even precision instruments would struggle to detect them all in one pass, formed a clear 3D structural diagram in his mind.
His mechanic's instincts kicked in. His palms started to itch, and he wished he could pull out his toolbox right then and there to give his old partner a complete overhaul.
But he could also sense that these were just signs of aging and wouldn't affect low-stress flight.
He suppressed the urge, pulled open the canopy, and deftly vaulted into the cockpit.
Startup, taxi, accelerate, pull back the stick!
All in one smooth motion!
Amidst the familiar roar, the fighter jet that carried his dreams of cultivation once again broke free from gravity and soared toward the heavens!
[Host is currently engaged in Sword Flight...]
[Sword Control Technique·Entry Level Skill Proficiency +1]
[Body Tempering Cultivation increasing... Qi Blood +0.1]
Han Feng flew in a steady circle. Looking down from high above, the massive East Sea Fortress City looked like a giant brand seared upon the land.
In the "Safe Zone" that stretched for dozens of kilometers around the perimeter, a patchwork of farmland and factories housed countless people toiling away, sustaining the breathing of the metropolis of ten million souls.
Farther out was a grayish-yellow, barren expanse—the wasteland, a paradise for Demon Beasts.
After a little over ten minutes, a faint warmth spread through his body. He had consumed over a hundred points of Qi Blood.
'It's time.'
Without further hesitation, he pulled a Basic Level Qi Blood Potion from his pocket, twisted off the cap, and downed it in one gulp.
The cool potion went down his throat, instantly transforming into a surging torrent of heat that rushed through his limbs and into every fiber of his being.
[Using Basic Level Qi Blood Potion. Restores 20 Qi Blood per minute. Duration: 10 minutes.]
His depleted Qi Blood rapidly refilled and continued to climb.
A surge of power filled him!
The next moment, Han Feng gripped the control stick, his eyes suddenly sharp!
He frantically channeled the Qi Blood Power in his body according to the Sword Control Technique, pouring it unreservedly through the Spiritual Link and into every inch of the plane's steel frame!
"Let's do this, old friend!"
He slammed the control stick hard to the left!
Normally, the plane should have banked left to make the turn.
But this time, empowered by Han Feng's powerful will and vast Qi Blood, the Initial Training-3's fuselage only shuddered for a moment.
Then, the entire aircraft abruptly shifted dozens of meters to the left in midair!
Its fuselage remained perfectly level!
Its attitude was unchanged!
It completely defied the laws of aerodynamics!
"Hahaha! Awesome!"
Han Feng roared with laughter. He was intoxicated by this feeling of absolute freedom, of perfect Human-Machine Unity!
He began to experiment wildly!
He slammed the throttle forward, brutally forcing his Qi Blood Power into the engine!
The ancient propeller let out a tremendous groan, as if unable to bear the load, and the RPM needle instantly shot past the redline on the instrument panel!
The plane shot forward like a cannonball!
[Learned New Skill: Body Technique·Spiral Charge (Entry Level 0/100)]
He yanked back on the stick again, pointing the plane's nose straight at the heavens, bringing it to the verge of a stall!
Yet, he forced the fuselage to twist, making the clumsy old plane perform a nearly impossible maneuver in midair.
A "Cobra Maneuver" flowed into a "Falling Leaves," and he recovered smoothly!
[Learned New Skill: Body Technique·Reversal of Heaven and Earth (Entry Level 0/100)]