"Campus Belle?" Hearing that address, Zhong Yun felt a strange urge to laugh. Campus Belle, and the first one at that. For some reason, he found it almost comical. Still, maintaining appearances for his roommates, he managed to keep the smile from showing on his face.

Zhong Yun turned his head. The supposed number one Campus Belle, Weiwei, was situated with a young man off to his five o'clock. Her back was turned to them, so Zhong Yun could only take in a beautiful silhouette.

Perhaps it was the halo effect, but after Liu Ming’s description, his expectations had risen. Looking at her back again, the gracefully curved frame exuded an alluring charm.

She had a cascade of voluminous, golden hair, tumbling naturally down her back, reflecting a brilliant sheen under the soft, creamy white light.

Zhong Yun’s gaze finally settled on her bare, smooth arms—pale as flowing milk—and he found himself staring for a long time.

"Seen enough?" A sharp voice suddenly sounded next to Zhong Yun's ear, startling him.

Zhong Yun shifted his eyes upward to the man sitting opposite Weiwei. He possessed a handsome face that held a touch of martial spirit; his eyebrows were like drawn swords, his eyes like distant stars—truly an outstanding figure who stood apart from the crowd.

The man, seeing that Zhong Yun’s expression remained calm, even gave him a deliberately playful wink and a smile. The slight furrow in his brow deepened, suggesting surprise that his gesture hadn't been taken as an affront.

Zhong Yun’s friendly smile had been misinterpreted as a flirtatious gesture. Seeing that the man no longer paid him attention, Zhong Yun felt a flicker of boredom. He thought that while the man had a fine exterior, his skill level was mediocre, and his judgment was clearly lacking.

He had initially intended to strike up a conversation, but now all interest was gone.

His eyes swept around the restaurant, admiring the various beautiful women, each possessing their own distinct charm. The Mingsi Kingdom was home to a multitude of races, each with unique characteristics, and the beauty of these women varied in ways that made comparison impossible.

Zhong Yun felt his horizons instantly broadened, gaining his first true glimpse of exotic allure.

However, it was merely an eye-opener. In his heart, he always believed that people of the yellow race were the most beautiful. It wasn't based on any specific reasoning, just a pure, personal aesthetic preference.

“I originally thought you were different from ordinary men, but now it seems…” Liu Ming’s smile held a hint of suggestive teasing.

“Only someone impotent would be uninterested in beautiful women,” Zhong Yun scoffed. “A man whose mind and body are sound who claims no interest in women is either suffering from a crippling need to appear saintly, afraid of being judged by others, or has poured all his focus into another domain, distracting his primal urges.”

“You certainly make it sound convincing. Are you the latter?” Pi Geng, usually taciturn, asked.

Zhong Yun glanced at him. “I’m neither. I never said I wasn't interested in women.”

“It’s just that you always act like a study fanatic who’s uninterested in everything external,” Liu Ming retorted.

Just then, the server finally brought the food.

The cuisine at this restaurant was indeed excellent. Though the presentation was slightly unconventional, the taste was superb. It seemed that even across a distance of over a hundred thousand light-years, the taste buds of the Mingsi and Dawo people shared a similar structure.

During the meal, the conversation revolved incessantly around the first Campus Belle, Weiwei. The main speakers were Liu Ming, who was ruggedly built but talked almost incessantly, and Odin, the dark-skinned man who presented a refined demeanor.

From their discussion, Zhong Yun learned the name of that man—Suqik Dong. He was reportedly one of the heirs of the Dong Family.

Suqi wasn't just handsome; he was a genius who had entered Dong Academy with the third-highest score in history, currently majoring in spacecraft design in the Aeronautics Department. Furthermore, he was the champion of last year’s Kedo Star Youth Martial Arts Competition.

He was a pampered favorite of heaven, whose lineage, looks, intelligence, and combat prowess inspired intense jealousy. His arrogance, therefore, was somewhat understandable.

Although countless students at the academy harbored secret crushes on Weiwei, most males felt utterly inadequate in Suqi's presence, let alone dared to pursue her.

Weiwei and Suqi were in the same intake year as Zhong Yun, but because Zhong Yun had buried himself in his studies, he had never heard of their achievements.

Zhong Yun’s table finished first and departed. Before stepping out the door, Zhong Yun glanced back at the beautiful silhouette one last time, regrettably, she never turned around.

This minor interlude in the restaurant was quickly forgotten by Zhong Yun. He plunged once more into the ocean of knowledge, focusing not only on archaeological studies but also heavily on mecha training.

Over the course of a year, with the aid of the World Tree, combined with his own relentless training, Zhong Yun’s martial arts proficiency advanced by leaps and bounds. Now, he was hovering right at the threshold of the twentieth level.

Jumping eight levels in one year (with the last breakthrough occurring just a month ago) had been achieved by enduring the agony of ten thousand ants biting his flesh while submerged in the World Tree’s sap. Yet, he still felt his progress wasn't fast enough.

Because only upon reaching level forty could he hope to save Yu Daoqing.

Once he broke past level twenty, the current World Tree sap would cease to be effective. At that point, the only thing that could significantly boost his strength would be the World Tree evolving into its mature form.

However, separated from Saintess Yu Daoqing, waiting for the World Tree to mature naturally could take an indeterminate number of years before it reached the towering form.

This was why Zhong Yun was so desperate to locate the treasure trove left by Xiao Ling’s previous master. That hoard contained not only the items necessary to awaken Yu Daoqing but also resources capable of rapidly increasing his own strength.

Xiao Ling had provided him with this information.

Between studying and training, Zhong Yun also joined one of the school clubs: the Mechanics Enthusiasts Club. Since many of the measuring devices he needed weren't available commercially, and he didn't want others knowing the special functions of the devices he was building, he couldn't order custom work from major corporations.

Self-sufficiency was the key to prosperity.

The clubs at Dong Academy were voluntary organizations; the administration neither restricted nor intentionally supported them. This atmosphere allowed the clubs at Dong Academy to flourish with vibrant diversity.

Many clubs had won major awards in national competitions, whether they were amateur or professional in nature.

The club Zhong Yun joined was particularly renowned; several members had once secured the highest award in the mechanical design category at a national competition, demonstrating the club's formidable strength.

Joining was voluntary, requiring only a small membership fee and no other restrictions. This surprised Zhong Yun, who had come fully prepared for stricter protocols.

Seeing his expression, the senior student handling new admissions smiled. He had seen this look many times; most mechanical enthusiasts approaching the registration desk for the first time with a near-reverent attitude displayed this exact expression. "Are you surprised the enrollment process is so simple?"

Zhong Yun smiled in return. "I expected the Mechanics Enthusiasts Club, given its reputation, to have more stringent membership requirements."

"That was set by the very first club president; he believed anyone who loved mechanics should be welcome to join." Since the semester had already passed two months, most freshmen interested in joining clubs had already signed up. Students like Zhong Yun, who were slower to realize the opportunities, were rare, so the senior student in charge was happy to chat.

"That first president sounds truly remarkable," Zhong Yun praised. Sincere flattery cost nothing and readily gained goodwill—a tactic Zhong Yun never hesitated to employ.

Indeed, hearing Zhong Yun’s admiration, the senior student’s eyes crinkled at the corners. He puffed out his chest proudly and said, "You're not wrong about our first president…" and began recounting the legendary tale of the founder and first president of the Mechanics Enthusiasts Club.

Zhong Yun listened with great patience, treating it as a story. After about ten minutes of listening, he skillfully steered the conversation toward other topics.

The senior student’s enthusiasm was piqued, and once started, he couldn't stop talking. Under Zhong Yun’s subtle guidance, he revealed much about the club’s operations. Having been a member for two years, he knew the club inside and out.

In less than half a day, Zhong Yun grasped the general operational framework of the club from him. Although membership was open, members had to cover the costs for anything they wished to fabricate themselves.

Parts could be purchased from the club; this was the internal price, set at seventy percent of the market rate. Tools and manufacturing equipment owned by the club could be used for a fee, though the charges were very low. After all, the club wasn't a profit-making entity; merely covering daily maintenance costs was sufficient.

Additionally, the club could facilitate contacts for various competitions, making participation more convenient.

Zhong Yun wasn't overly concerned with these details. Once he had the general picture, he excused himself from the enthusiastic senior.

The next day at the same time, Zhong Yun returned to the Mechanics Enthusiasts Club. Balancing coursework with mecha and martial arts training meant he could squeeze out only about an hour and a half of free time daily.

The senior student saw him and waved enthusiastically, which Zhong Yun returned with a smile.

"Let me show you around the workshops," said the third-year mechanical engineering student named Duan Yi.

"But... who will be watching things here..." Zhong Yun hesitated.

"It's fine, there aren't many people around at this time," Duan Yi dismissed the concern, leading him inside.

The Mechanics Enthusiasts Club had brought the school considerable prestige, and the administration was generous, allocating an entire building for the club's activities.

This building had been converted into numerous specialized workshops, resembling a large factory complex where each workshop functioned as a separate bay.

As they passed each workshop, Duan Yi explained its purpose—whether it was the cutting room, the assembly bay, or the micro-parts room…

Even through the thick soundproof doors, Zhong Yun could sense the heavy thudding sounds of machinery in operation.

Then, Duan Yi asked, "What kind of devices do you prefer making?"

"Um, something small and intricate," Zhong Yun replied after consideration. The archaeological tools he needed were all single-user devices.

"Have you built anything before?" Duan Yi’s gaze became inquisitive, focusing on Zhong Yun.

Zhong Yun touched the manual assist device on his wrist and answered, "Yes."

"I see." Duan Yi paused, then suddenly had an idea. "I'll introduce you to a mentor. Having someone to guide you will help you get started much faster." Clearly, he didn't rate Zhong Yun's current fabrication skills very highly.

Before Zhong Yun could decline, he was being pulled along. He could only offer a wry smile—what an enthusiastic senior.

"Azhu, I’ve found you an apprentice," Duan Yi called out loudly as he stopped before a workshop and pulled the door open.

Upon entering, Zhong Yun’s eyes immediately lit up.