Chapter 168: Arrangements

David, as long as you become a Transcendental, you will be able to use the space storage devices manufactured by the Federation!" Transcendent Galen smiled and consoled when he saw David's disappointed expression.

With a wave of his hand, a grade two warhammer appeared in his palm.

A warhammer of this size could not possibly be hidden on one's person; only a space storage device could hold it.

Under David's envious gaze, Transcendent Galen put away the grade two warhammer, revealing the bracer on his arm.

It was a metallic bracer, densely covered in intricate circuits, making it look like a piece of precision machinery with a strong sense of high technology.

"You don't need to think about this for now. Activating this kind of technology requires transcendent power, and the materials are extremely scarce. The Federation only permits Transcendents to purchase them, and each Transcendent is limited to one!" Transcendent Galen explained with a smile.

David nodded, his desire to become a Transcendent growing even stronger.

Although seeing Blay's condition made him realize how difficult it was to become a Transcendent, he possessed a huge advantage compared to ordinary armor-disciples: the Shadow Servant was the foundation of his confidence in achieving transcendence.

"Blay, go and rest first!" Transcendent Galen said hurriedly when he saw the look of pain on Blay's face.

"Teacher, I'll take my leave!" Blay bowed to Transcendent Galen, then forced a smile and said to David, "My body is taking a bit of a toll. Once I recuperate for a few days using the 'Elixir of Youth', I'll come to see you!"

David returned the smile. He had a very favorable impression of Blay—steady and calm, possessing a trustworthy temperament.

"Furness, Helena, you two go down and help entertain the guests. I need to discuss some matters with David!" Transcendent Galen said to Helena and Furness.

Knowing that Transcendent Galen had matters to discuss with David, the two of them bid farewell and left the small parlor, leaving only David and Transcendent Galen in the room.

"David, I want to talk to you about your future developmental path!" Transcendent Galen pointed to the seat opposite him, motioning for David to sit down, and then said with a smile.

"Uncle Galen, I'll listen to whatever you say!" David knew Transcendent Galen would not steer him wrong, so he replied directly.

"Given your current strength, you can already be considered a powerhouse among armor-disciples on Boulder Star!" Transcendent Galen looked at the overly young disciple across from him. Seeing that David looked slightly embarrassed by the praise, he continued, "But this is just Boulder Star. The Federation is immense, and there are many young geniuses. Although these geniuses might not be as well-rounded as you, some of them surpass you in pure strength."

David was not surprised by this. The Federation had trillions of people; although he had the help of the Shadow Servant, his foundation was ultimately shallow.

Compared to those geniuses who had access to precious resources since childhood, Transcendent Galen's willingness to compare him to such prodigies showed how highly he regarded David.

"David, your previous goal was Naan University, but for your current self, Naan University no longer has anything that can help you improve!" Transcendent Galen continued.

"Uncle Galen, does that mean I don't need to go to university?" David could not help asking.

He had come to Naan City precisely to attend Naan University. In his memory, Naan University was the best university, and entering it had always been his goal.

Yet now, Transcendent Galen was telling him that Naan University would be of no help to him, leaving him momentarily feeling as though he had lost his direction.

"David, of course you have to go to university. Or do you intend to enter the military immediately and complete ten years of active service?" Transcendent Galen asked with a shake of his head.

Only then did David recall the Interstellar Federation's military service regulations. Military service had always seemed too far removed from him, so he had never paid attention to this aspect.

Military service was a mandatory law of the Interstellar Federation; university graduates were required to serve in the military within three years of graduation.

Similarly, once an armor-disciple obtained their official certification, they were also required to serve. Of course, the military service conditions and benefits for armor-disciples were much better, primarily revolving around the supply of cultivation resources.

However, if one had already served in the military prior to becoming an armor-disciple, they could choose not to enter active service after obtaining certification, though they must become reservists.

Naturally, not everyone was eligible to enter the military. Anyone found unqualified in physical fitness, intelligence, mental state, or other aspects would be screened out.

Physical fitness was the fundamental requirement for a soldier, and a great number of people were eliminated at this stage. Candidates had to be free of disease while meeting military standards in coordination, athletic ability, vision, hearing, and various other metrics.

Intelligence was divided across different military branches, each with its own standards, and examinations in this area determined one's prospects for promotion after entering the service.

As for the mental aspect, various testing instruments were used to check for mental disorders, and background checks were conducted on both the individual and their family to ensure no criminal record for the applicant or their immediate family.

In fact, the young people who entered the military each year were elite selections from dozens of candidates, and countless eager applicants were unable to fulfill their dreams of becoming soldiers.

In the Interstellar Federation, entering the military was the dream of the vast majority of young people because the armed forces represented the quickest path to advancement.

On one hand, this stemmed from the Federation's intensive propaganda; countless news outlets, film and television works, songs, and more constantly guided citizens to respect soldiers and yearn for military life.

On the other hand, with technology advanced to its current level, most traditional industries had long made rapid social advancement impossible. Many occupations involved a lifetime of busyness without any rise in social standing.

Whether to achieve a higher social class, gain greater authority, or become a hero, a myriad of reasons drove the citizens of the Interstellar Federation to desire military service.

Because military entry relied on tiered selections, the extremely low acceptance rate only made citizens flock to it all the more eagerly.

If David chose not to attend university, he would have to consider entering the military upon reaching adulthood. Given his qualifications, he would inevitably be assigned to a combat sequence, and after experiencing a year or two of low-intensity warfare, he would be deployed to a war star.

However, given that David was currently in a period of rapid growth, choosing to enter the military right now was not a wise move.

What he needed at present was better learning opportunities and greater strength.

"Uncle Galen, what should I do then?" David asked aloud.

"In about four months, you will take the college entrance examinations. With your strength as an armor-disciple, your physical combat exam scores will undoubtedly be very high. I will apply for you to take the entrance examinations for Eridia First Academy. That is where geniuses belong!" Transcendent Galen smiled as he stated the conclusion of his recent deliberations.

Regarding the monstrously talented David, Transcendent Galen had long been pondering how best to develop David's potential.

David was the most prodigious child he had ever seen, and they shared a deep bond. Because of this, he planned the most suitable developmental path for David with utmost dedication.

"Eridia First Academy?" David searched his memory, finding no relevant records, though he had learned about the name Eridia during his general knowledge studies.

The Eridia Star Sector was a large star sector bordering a theater of war, boasting as many as eighty administrative planets alone.

"Eridia First Academy is located on Lenka Star, the capital planet of the Eridia Star Sector. It is the finest university in the entire sector and a gathering place for geniuses. If you can enter there, your path to transcendence will be much smoother," Transcendent Galen explained with a smile.

Doubt began to stir in David's heart. If he left Boulder Star and the entire theater of war, his encounters with death would decrease significantly.

While this would undoubtedly help ensure his safety, it would simultaneously reduce the opportunities for the Shadow Servant to absorb souls.

"David, if you are admitted to Eridia First Academy, the duration of study there is generally four years. After graduation and the completion of your military service, you can choose to return, or of course, choose to remain in the Eridia Star Sector, which is much more peaceful!" Transcendent Galen said, assuming David was reluctant to leave his home.

David made his judgment internally. Even if he entered Naan University, it would still require four years of study, during which the chances of facing death on campus were extremely slim.

Passing the examinations for Eridia First Academy and graduating from there—with his strength, he would inevitably have to serve his military tour. By that time, with his abilities further enhanced, returning to the battlefield would make it even easier for the Shadow Servant to harvest souls.

"Uncle Galen, I'll follow your arrangement!" David nodded heavily and replied.