Above The Sky

Chapter 1933 - 1: Prototype Pioneer Space

For a moment, it seemed as if the world had suddenly improved.

So, would ordinary people really dare to criticize the Sublimators with just their vote, even to the point of making suggestions?

Of course not.

Ultimately, only those ’strongest’ contenders, those at the Fifth Energy Level, care about the votes, while the Sublimators below them who lack the ability to compete don’t care much.

What they care more about, instead, are the anger and commands from above.

In the end, betting one’s life on a vote is rather foolish. Moreover, if you really anger someone, those with power won’t mind the significance of one vote or two; they will resort to violence.

The Perpetual Engine Declaration provides for Sublimators and ordinary people not one side winning over the other, not one being victorious and the other losing.

But rather, a starting point of respect.

"Speaking of which."

As Aina was about to get up and leave, the topic in the tavern shifted to another subject.

"Have you heard? The boy from the Pusen family next door suddenly went crazy for some reason, suddenly clamoring to study mechanics... He doesn’t want to inherit his family’s fine Blacksmithing skills, instead wanting to dabble in these fancy things. It’s said that just because you know how to forge iron doesn’t mean you can learn mechanics."

"Perhaps he was mentally influenced by that renowned figure from before... but that notable person truly is remarkable. They can memorize a book as thick as a brick in one go, while even if we improve a bit, reading feels like a dog gnawing at clay, requiring to read a small booklet seven or eight times. In comparison, is there any point in reading at all, when smart people’s one month’s reading outstrips our whole life?"

Hearing news about the aftereffects of Inega II, Aina paused with his glass, continuing to listen.

Since everyone came out of nationwide brainwashing, many indeed saw a better version of themselves, thus striving hard, wanting to read and learn martial arts, become Sublimators, and embark on a path of self-transcendence.

Equally, some people saw the gap between themselves and real geniuses... It’s not that they are disheartened; they always knew the gap with other ’notables’, but they never expected it to be so vast, so they simply chose to lay down, better live their lives without thinking about those unreachable fantasies.

Nevertheless, similarly, people have become much more tolerant towards the choices of the next generation—since there’s no hope for themselves, who knows about their successors’ futures? Thus it’s rare for anyone now to talk behind someone’s back about aspiring to read and become Sublimator.

This boy from the Pusen family is indeed extraordinary.

Aina listened patiently and indeed heard some different rumors.

"If he is really striving upwards, that’s fine; although old man Pusen loves drinking, he will definitely grit his teeth and pay for his education. But everyone suspects that the kid is having a nightmare!"

"He says in his dreams, he was chosen by something called... ’Pioneer Space,’ claiming he has an exceptionally high talent in mechanics, only that his current foundation is poor and cannot be fully utilized."

"He is solving problems and studying in his dreams every day, and it has been a while, but the time isn’t enough, and the progress isn’t fast enough. He must study during the day too."

"Listen to this, how could such an absurd dream exist? Dreaming of writing homework and taking exams, perhaps someone is interfering with him mentally!"

Hearing this, Aina couldn’t help but frown slightly, revealing a contemplative expression.

He had a somewhat different view of their talk about ’nightmares’ and ’illness.’

Because the ’Pioneer Space’ they talked about, he too had received an invitation.

And he had been there!

Moreover, he had seen several ’acquaintances’ in that Pioneer Space!

...

Gaer Ximor, the youngest son of the Great Khan of the Azure Sky Royal Court, a young strongman of Terra, though in terms of age, he doesn’t really belong to the young generation.

This matter had always troubled Gaer. According to age, people often compare him with Aina Sertar from the Setar Empire or Golan and Anfa from Canaan Moore, but actually, his peers are Carlos and Yafada.

This was quite awkward, as Gaer often encountered nephews and nieces at the Royal Court who were about the same age or even older than him. To say they are rivals, yet they sweetly called him ’Uncle,’ and to say they are not, should he go and compete with his older siblings who are already at the peak of the Third Energy Level or the Fourth Energy Level?

Fortunately, Gaer himself recently broke through the Third Energy Level, barely catching up with his siblings’ progress, otherwise he’d have more awkward situations.

However, breaking through the Third Energy Level isn’t necessarily a good thing.

At least, amid the scenario of the ’Old Khan being gravely ill’ and all the kings returning to the Royal Court in full force, catching up in progress and becoming a theoretically qualified contender is indeed not favorable.

The Moving Royal Court rumbled across the land, and most of the time, it remained fixed in the center of the three great plains, serving as the capital of the Azure Sky Royal Court to receive merchant caravans and envoys from various places, but now, it started like during wartime, gliding over prairies and swamps without regard to gravity.

Contrary to everyone’s imagination, the Moving Royal Court of the Azure Sky Royal Court is not a vehicle, a battleship, or a gigantic mobile city; rather, it moves akin to a Land Tortoise, bearing the Royal Court on its back.

Essentially, it is a base.

A foundation.

A.....