The exhilaration of such an opportunity was something money couldn't buy, yet the resulting feeling was one of being overwhelmed; guided by so many masters, he absorbed a chaotic mix of knowledge that was broad but shallow, making the path to his own Martial Dao even more difficult.

"Kid, the Martial Path that is hard to walk is the strongest one," the Master seemed to peer right into Qin Fen's thoughts. "Because of our existence, you might never walk your own Martial Path in this lifetime, never becoming the ultimate powerhouse. But if you once step onto it, and master your own unique Martial Way, hehe…"

Qin Fen nodded; some things—whether they were blessings or curses—depended entirely on one's own effort.

"Let's continue discussing the Martial Dao of Slaughter," the Master said again. "I have also dabbled in this path…"

The Master's instruction time was brief, lasting only half an hour before he vanished ahead of schedule because Qin Fen required quality sleep.

Before leaving, he advised Qin Fen to engage in gravity training, suggesting that exercises under atmospheric pressure would aid in rapidly boosting his strength.

Ejected from that dreamscape, Qin Fen had no other dreams. That night, the recruit camp roared with snores; Deng Biao was jolted awake by the sound, staring at Qin Fen in disbelief. How could a super recruit with boundless stamina produce such deep snoring? What exactly had exhausted that seemingly bottomless reserve of physical energy to make him so weary?

The next morning.

Qin Fen awoke feeling incomparably refreshed, and his performance during the subsequent military training was astonishingly excellent.

When it was time for specialized training, Qin Fen still felt no fatigue. Today was the day for the Mobile Armor 'Mangfu' and Instructor Hao to teach.

As the Mobile Armor instructor, Mangfu appeared refined and even slightly shy, making it hard to associate his appearance with his nickname, 'Mangfu' (which implies recklessness or brute force).

Through his interactions over the past few days, Qin Fen understood that these nicknames usually held an inherent connection to a person's personality or method of operation; judging anyone solely by their outward appearance would only lead to disadvantage.

"The external shape of the Mobile Armor doesn't align with aerodynamics, so it's better suited for ground combat," Mangfu spoke with the measured tone of a high school lecturer. "For you, as an Army specialist, learning a bit about Armored Unit skills is justifiable."

Qin Fen nodded; aerial combat was better suited for flexible entities like various fighter jets. If one sought significantly greater firepower, massive space battleships were better suited for that role; Mobile Armor in an air battle was completely superfluous.

"But it can still handle anti-air duties," Mangfu added, a hint of pride in his voice. "So, you see, the Mobile Armor still has considerable utility."

Qin Fen suddenly felt a return to his school days, nodding frequently like a diligent student, indicating that he understood.

Mobile Armor still possesses distinct advantages when executing ground missions; at the very least, they are more agile and possess greater offensive power than the tanks and armored personnel carriers of the past. Especially since many Mobile Armors are equipped with rocket boosters, allowing them to glide or fly when performing high-intensity leaps, they have now become a vital component of ground military strength.

"Because they shoulder diverse missions, the pilot requires an outstanding physique," Mangfu observed Qin Fen's body with satisfaction. "Your body is excellent; based on appearance alone, you qualify as a suitable Mobile Armor pilot. Simulation practice is never as real as actual operation, so we will proceed directly to practical training."

Mangfu lifted a large canvas situated not far behind him, revealing two Mobile Armors Qin Fen had never seen before.

Of course, due to the ceaseless struggle to make a living, Qin Fen never had the time to familiarize himself with diverse matters like other young people.

Never mind two new-model Mobile Armors; even the most primitive ones, placed before him, he might not have been able to differentiate the model types.

"Does this... is this really useful?"

Qin Fen rarely doubted the guidance offered by the instructors, but the Mobile Armor was one of the few things that caused him genuine skepticism.

Mangfu stood beneath the Mobile Armor, looking slightly puzzled. "Do you have any doubts?"

Qin Fen did not wish to conceal his thoughts and stated honestly, "Based on my conjecture, could a master of a Planet-level New Martial Art, specifically one controlling magnetic flying swords, cut through this Mobile Armor?"

Mangfu first showed a flicker of surprise, then broke into a genuinely delighted laugh. "You are truly interesting. Young people nowadays see a Mobile Armor and immediately want to pilot it; yet you are pondering other issues."

"I'm afraid that if I spend time learning something that ultimately proves useless, it will be a waste of time."

The habit cultivated by years of poverty resurfaced; the result of a hard day's labor turning into scrap—such time-wasting, inefficient activities felt more acutely painful to Qin Fen than to others.

"Thinking is good," Mangfu affirmed Qin Fen's perspective first. Then he opened the combat armor's cockpit and jumped inside. "A Planet-level New Martial Arts master, especially one controlling magnetic flying swords, can indeed cut through a large portion of a Mobile Armor. But does that mean the Mobile Armor is useless?"

The cockpit sealed rapidly after Mangfu entered. As his voice paused, the armor’s shoulders and legs suddenly sprang open, exposing a battery of warheads aimed directly at Qin Fen. Four Metal Storm weapons mounted on the armor’s arms emitted a chilling gleam.

Mangfu’s voice echoed from within the Mobile Armor: "Tell me, can these warheads combined with the four Metal Storms not kill a Planet-level master?"

Qin Fen fell silent. How could he judge without seeing a Planet-level master in action? But the weaponry visible to the eye was indeed formidable.

The Metal Storm, in particular, possessed astonishing destructive power, capable of instantly deploying over three thousand one-inch square sharp metal fragments, creating a veritable storm of steel upon firing.

"Perhaps they could?"

"Even if they don't kill him, it doesn't matter," Mangfu's voice continued. "If these attacks fail to defeat the opponent, how much strength will he have left? Will he still have the capacity to damage my Mobile Armor? On a further retreat, if he damages my armor, and I, the pilot, leap out—whose stamina will be superior? Who will gain the upper hand?"

"I will learn."

Qin Fen had witnessed the immense tactical advantage Mobile Armors provided in combat.

He also suddenly realized that should he retire from service, being proficient in operating a Mobile Armor would be a significant benefit. Whether joining an adventuring party or a large trade consortium, someone skilled in piloting Mobile Armor would be highly sought after.