Chapter 590 - Flesh is Weak but Steel is Eternal

The sequence of images contained the 739 movements needed to execute Stellar Plunder. Each movement came with a detailed explanation from an expert. To execute the technique and plunder another’s Microcosms, Han Wu had to perform all 739 movements within a second. Even then, success was not guaranteed. The chance was only 50%.

Han Wu found the technique somewhat inefficient, but he had little choice. If he failed to master it now, gathering Microcosms through energy accumulation or by nurturing his units would take an unacceptably long time. With no alternative, he started practicing.

He carefully emulated each movement. On his first attempt, it took him three hours and twenty-eight minutes to replicate the full sequence. At that pace, he wouldn’t even be able to absorb so much as a strand of hair, much less their Microcosm.

Han Wu practiced repeatedly to improve his muscle memory. Five days later, he could complete the sequence within one minute. Even though he had reduced the activation speed by more than 200 times, the outcome was still the same. He still couldn’t complete the entire sequence within one second. If he couldn’t, plundering another’s Microcosm would be impossible.

With no other option, he pressed on. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t overcome the barrier for now. The failure weighed on him. He had invested a great deal of time, yet he still couldn’t achieve his goal.

Death was somewhat at a loss too. He knew Han Wu excelled in combat, but he never expected him to fail to meet the requirements for using Stellar Plunder.

In the end, Death had no choice but to admit defeat. He acknowledged that everyone had strengths and weaknesses. No one was perfect.

Han Wu had nothing more to learn from Death, and continuing upward was too dangerous for the time being. He had only just reached the World rank, and the difficulty could overwhelm him. Instead of forcing his advance, he would wait for the other God Kings to clear the higher levels and follow after them. His next objective was to learn and master Stellar Plunder. Without it, he would have to abandon gaining more Microcosms if he encountered other World life forms in the future.

Han Wu returned to the college and saw that most of the facilities had been rebuilt, though the dead students and lecturers couldn’t be revived. A thin veil of sorrow hung over the entire campus.

𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

At present, the college had many vacant lecturer positions. To ensure that the student quality didn’t decline, the administration had started recruiting prospective lecturers from across the Divine Civilization.

Many responded to the call and submitted applications. Even though they were open for recruitment, the requirements were still strict. At a minimum, the applicants had to be at least Gods with powerful units or have substantial teaching experience. Those with special Skills could receive slight concessions. Many Gods and even Major Gods applied, drawn by the generous benefits and the prestige attached to the position.

As Han Wu walked through the college grounds, his thoughts focused on how to increase his movement speed to execute Stellar Plunder. Lost in thought, he didn’t pay any attention to his surroundings and collided with a woman.

Instead of her face pressing into his chest, his struck hers. The woman was very tall. Han Wu was close to two meters tall, yet his head barely reached her chest.

She apologized. “

Aiya

, sorry there, little handsome fella. I was thinking about something and didn’t watch where I was going. Are you hurt?”

Han Wu touched his head and felt no pain. Instead, he felt something soft. The realization nearly made him gasp, because he had landed his face somewhere he shouldn’t.

“I’m... I’m fine,” Han Wu replied, then looked up at her.

Her clothing looked distinctive, the sort of style common to another region. She wore a modest top that revealed nothing, paired with a skirt cut high along the side. Her caramel-toned legs were exposed, exuding strength and toughness. Two revolvers rested in holsters, their surfaces shining with a brilliant sheen. He could tell that they were high-quality weapons.

“As long as you are fine, handsome young man. I’m a bit in a hurry for an interview, so toodles.” With that, she strode off at a brisk pace.

Han Wu shook his head, put the encounter out of his mind, and headed back to rest.

On the second day, he attended class, which he rarely did. With most students mobilized to invade the Heaven Stair Civilization, there weren’t a lot of students here. Many of them were busy earning points to gain resources.

Han Wu took his seat, his thoughts still circling the problem of how to quickly unleash Stellar Plunder.

Just then, a tall figure entered the classroom and greeted the few remaining students warmly. “Hello, everyone. I’m Kerry, your new lecturer for mechanical engineering. I am also the deputy head of the Imperial College’s Mechanical Engineering department.”

Han Wu heard the familiar voice and looked up. It appeared the Imperial College was very small. He never expected the long-legged beauty he had collided with the day before would turn out to be his new lecturer, and not just that, but the Mechanical Engineering Department’s deputy head. That position alone suggested real ability.

Kerry didn’t cut corners just because there were a few students. On the contrary, she spoke with enthusiasm and passion about her experience in mechanical engineering. She believed that flesh was weak and steel was eternal. In her view, machines were more sensitive and complex than human flesh, which allowed them to perform actions that flesh couldn’t.

Han Wu’s eyes lit up the moment he heard that.

Kerry is right! Flesh is weak, but steel is eternal!

A machine could usually complete tasks that physical strength struggled to achieve. If he couldn’t complete the Stellar Plunder’s sequence within one second, then he could build a machine to assist him.

Excitement surged through him. He finally found a new path toward his problem. Unfortunately, his knowledge of mechanical engineering was close to nonexistent, which meant he couldn’t do it alone. He needed Kerry’s help.

After the class ended, he quickly approached her before she left. “Ms. Kerry, please wait a moment.”

Kerry recognized him. “Hey there, handsome. We meet again. You are a second-year too?”

“I am Han Wu, a second-year student,” he said. “Ms. Kerry, I have a problem. I need to create an auxiliary machine that can help me complete certain sets of movements within one second. Unfortunately, I’m inexperienced in mechanical engineering, so I need your help.”

Kerry looked him over and teased him lightly. “My private classes are very expensive. You should be ready to see your wallet emptied.”

Han Wu was relieved that she didn’t reject him outright. “That’s fine. I’m rich.”