Make money by hiding in the interstellar battlefield!

The choice of record breakers

Jian Sheng's mobile shooting score was displayed on the big screen in the arena, and the entire audience erupted in a frenzy of discussion that nearly lifted the roof off the stadium.

"This result is definitely the best it's been in the last five years!"

"They could even go toe-to-toe with the God of War, Percival!"

"How can you compare? Percival has 38!"

"But he only took 12 seconds to miss a shot. In the same amount of time, he didn't lose in terms of quantity!"

Amidst the noisy debate, the next test taker reluctantly stepped forward. Perhaps spurred on by Jian Sheng's performance, most of the candidates temporarily increased the number of challenges they faced, resulting in chaos. Many were attacked and mauled by the six-legged dog, and were eliminated in disarray. The test time was extended by a full hour. Finally, the rankings were finalized, with Jian Sheng taking first place in shooting by a clear advantage. The second-place finisher barely managed 28 seconds, 20 bullets, and 16 kills – a huge difference.

Back in the dormitory that evening, all five of his roommates had failed to make it past the top 200 and could only pack their bags and leave dejectedly, leaving Jian Sheng alone in the large six-person room. He held Bai Sheng, who had just been released, and casually stroked the little guy's soft white fur, teasing him with his fingertips, but in his heart, he already had a plan—the strength he had displayed today was enough to attract the attention of the four major powers, and it was only a matter of time before they came to recruit him. It all depended on who could offer him a satisfactory deal. The Windsor family? They probably only wanted to use him as a pawn to be manipulated.

Sure enough, the door was pushed open in less than half an hour.

Two Windsor family guards entered first, scanning the room inside and out twice with detectors. After confirming there was nothing amiss, they stood guard at the door, their posture ramrod straight, their eyes cold and hard, showing not a trace of extra emotion. Then a blond young man entered, his brows and eyes carrying the characteristic arrogance of the Windsor family, his expression distant, as if surrounded by an invisible barrier.

"Hello, my name is Windsor Vincent, and Louise is my seventh sister."

Vincent spoke, his tone as flat as if stating something insignificant. His condescending gaze swept over Jian Sheng, carrying the instinctive disdain of a nobleman for the lower class. He was just a wild boy who had climbed up from the outer city, and had only managed to stand out in the test. Did he really think he could stand on equal footing with the Windsor family? If it weren't for Seventh Sister saying that he had some use, I wouldn't even have the interest to step into this shabby dormitory.

"My name is Jiansheng."

Jian Sheng glanced up and responded, then lowered his head to continue teasing Bai Sheng. His face remained expressionless, but inwardly he sneered. The arrogance of the nobility was truly ingrained in their bones. They clearly needed something from me, yet they acted with such a condescending attitude. Did they really think I was some pushover from the sixth ring road? If they didn't give me face, why should I bother trying to win them over? We'd just wait and see who lost their temper first.

The two remained locked in a stalemate, not uttering a single word, the air thick with a suffocating stillness. About twenty minutes later, Vincent could no longer bear the silence. He turned and stormed off, his retreating figure radiating resentment at being slighted. "You ungrateful wretch," he thought, "there will be plenty of ways to make you realize your place in the future!"

Half an hour after Vincent left, the door opened again, and a young man in an exquisite suit, with a gentle and refined demeanor, walked in slowly. The process was exactly the same as before: after the guards cleared the area and checked it, the young man sat down in the spot where Vincent had been. His features were gentle, and his manners were impeccable, but beneath that ingrained refinement lay an undeniable aloofness, much like how Jian Sheng had first met Percival.

He is George Thorne, the double A+ genius of the George family.

"Hello, my name is George Thorne. I've come specifically to invite you to join my team." Thorne spoke, his tone humble yet carrying an undeniable confidence. A sniper from the outer city who could achieve such results was indeed a rough gem. Bringing him under the George family's wing and giving him some polishing would surely make him an asset. 500 million blue crystals plus a C-grade mech would be more than enough to make him grateful.

Jian Sheng looked up, without the slightest bit of politeness, and asked directly, "What are the benefits?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Thorne's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and slowly said, "The George family will fully support you in the future, providing you with the latest C-grade steel-core mech, plus 500 million blue crystals." In his view, this offer was already an immense favor for a boy from an outer city.

Jian Sheng understood perfectly well that the benefits offered by these nobles were always condescending handouts, and that was not what he wanted. "I want a spot as a reserve captain."

Upon hearing this, Thorne's lips curled into a faint smile. A candidate for captain? Quite ambitious, isn't he? But a mere out-of-town brat dares to make such a request? Does he really think the George family's position is as cheap as cabbage at the market? Fine, give him some time to face reality. When he's desperate, he'll naturally come begging to me. He calmly said, "You can think it over carefully. My invitation remains valid until the selection tomorrow." With that, he rose, extending his hand politely and gracefully, before turning and leaving.

Jian Sheng watched his retreating figure, his fingertips lightly tapping the table as he pondered to himself. He certainly maintained a refined demeanor, but this composure essentially stemmed from his certainty that I couldn't leave the George family, and his assumption that I had no better choice. Proud and dignified, he was more pleasing to the eye than Vincent of Windsor, but he was also the most arrogant, believing everything was under his control. And what I hate most is being controlled.

Twenty minutes later, a representative from the Fujiwara family arrived. Their attitude was far more polite than those of the George and Windsor representatives, and the conditions they offered were similar to those of the George family. They were all smiles throughout, their words dripping with attempts to win him over. But Jian Sheng saw through them. This politeness was merely driven by self-interest. The Fujiwara family was slightly weaker and desperately needed reinforcements. They seemed easy to talk to, but in reality, they were calculating and shrewd. Once Jian Sheng lost his usefulness, they would likely be discarded like trash, showing no sincerity whatsoever. He gave them a few perfunctory replies and sent them away.

The last to arrive were representatives from the Church of the Mother Goddess.

The door opened, and a girl of about sixteen or seventeen years old walked in. She was slender, with a youthful innocence in her eyes and brows. Her skin was fair, and her features combined several distinct Chinese characteristics. Her eyes were clean and clear, without the arrogance and scheming of a noble child. She exuded a peaceful temperament.

"Hello, my name is Lin Lan."

The girl spoke, her voice soft yet carrying a hint of certainty.

Upon hearing this pure Chinese name, Jian Sheng's heart skipped a beat. Having been in this world for so long, this was the first time he had heard a familiar surname and a familiar language, instantly overwhelmed by an indescribable sense of familiarity. He carefully examined Lin Lan; her mixed-race features clearly showed her Chinese heritage. A surge of emotion welled up within him. Finally, he had met someone of his own kind. In this Seven Rings City, filled with aristocratic discrimination and class barriers, to meet someone of Chinese descent was incredibly rare. Her eyes were pure, devoid of the scheming of the nobility; perhaps… she was someone he could trust?

"Hello, Jiansheng, Jian as in strong, Sheng as in life."

Jian Sheng deliberately slowed down his speech, uttering his name slowly and deliberately, his tone unconsciously becoming gentler.

Lin Lan was taken aback for a moment, then a glimmer of light appeared in her eyes. She instantly understood the deeper meaning in his words, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. He was deliberately emphasizing his name in Chinese. It was truly wonderful to meet someone like him in this foreign land. He came from the sixth ring road of the outer city and had made his way to where he was today through his own efforts. His inherent resilience was far more valuable than that of pampered aristocratic children. This was exactly the kind of person the church needed.

"I believe the three major families have already stated their conditions. If you are not satisfied, feel free to share your thoughts." Lin Lan didn't beat around the bush; she went straight to the point, her tone sincere and without the slightest perfunctoriness.

This directness actually made Jian Sheng feel favorably towards him. The feeling of meeting an old friend in a foreign land spread in his heart, and he no longer hid and said directly, "I want the spot as the reserve captain."

Upon hearing this, Lin Lan lowered her eyes, her fingers clenching slightly as she fell into deep thought. The Church's strength was already inferior to the three upper races, and its team lacked truly talented individuals. Even breaking into the top three in team battles would be difficult. The reserve captain position was crucial, but Jian Sheng's strength was undeniable; he had broken multiple records in Percival and was an absolute core fighter. With his addition, the Church would have a chance to compete for a ranking. The Church advocated equality for all, and the children of the outer city should also have a chance. This gamble was worth taking.

After a moment, she looked up and said frankly, "The Church is not as strong as the three upper clans, and its overall strength is relatively weak, making it difficult to guarantee a good ranking. However, if our team can make it into the top three, I can honor the spot. The Church's mission is to support ordinary people like you from the outer city who are overlooked by different social classes, giving everyone an equal opportunity."

Jian Sheng listened to her words, silently weighing his options. She hadn't boasted, nor had she deliberately been evasive; she frankly admitted the church's weaknesses, showing she was a genuine person. But it also meant the church was currently weak, and even if he joined, getting a candidate captain position would be incredibly difficult. It seemed he had been too restrained today, hadn't truly impressed them, and his bargaining chips weren't strong enough. Tomorrow's sniper test required him to unleash his full potential.

"Sir Lin, why don't we discuss this further after the talent test tomorrow?"

Lin Lan nodded slightly, not lingering, and turned to leave with steady steps. He hadn't agreed immediately; he was observing, waiting to see more of his value. He was sure to have another amazing performance in tomorrow's sniper test. I had to be fully prepared. No matter what, I had to get him into the church; this was the best chance for the church to break the deadlock.

The following day, the sniper and artillery specialty tests officially began.

Of the remaining 200 candidates, 30 competed for 8 artillery positions. Everyone knew these core positions had already been decided by the four major powers; ordinary candidates without connections were merely there to make up the numbers. The artillery test was dull and uninteresting throughout the morning. Those who took the stage were mostly non-family members, numbering over a hundred. Even with their best efforts, they couldn't shake the established order. These people were nothing more than props used by the nobles to demonstrate "fairness." Jian Sheng stood in the crowd, observing coldly, a sigh rising in his heart.

In the afternoon, the highly anticipated sniper skill test began. Theoretically, there were eight spots available, but to everyone, the outcome was already a foregone conclusion.

The test consists of three parts: long-range shooting, mobile sniping, and hunting hidden targets.

The first test, long-range shooting, assessed both range and accuracy. Jian Sheng walked up to the examiner and calmly asked, "Examiner, what is the record for this test?"

"Fifteen years ago, Percival set the record at 1800 meters." The examiner remained expressionless and spoke indifferently. In his view, no one could break this long-standing record. Why was this kid asking this? Did he actually want to challenge the God of War's record? He was really overestimating himself.

Upon hearing this, Jian Sheng shook his head with feigned sigh and murmured softly, "So close."

The voice wasn't loud, but it was overheard by the examiner next to him. The examiner's face instantly darkened, and he snapped, "You only get one chance! Even if you can hit a 2000-meter shot normally, no one in the exam room would dare take that risk. Everyone will only choose a distance they're confident they can hit!"

Jian Sheng raised his eyes, his gaze resolute, without the slightest hesitation: "I know, I will challenge the 2000 meters."

His words caused a huge stir. The representatives of the four major forces and the school officials watching from the sidelines immediately sat up straight, all of them becoming alert. Louise clenched her fist tightly. This kid, at most, could only consistently hit the target 1000 meters during training at the manor. 2000 meters was far beyond the normal range of a C-level sniper cannon, and he was going to break his older brother's record. He couldn't afford to mess it up. They had just seen his potential, and they couldn't afford to fail here!

Jian Sheng took the WU-3 super-heavy sniper rifle. The moment his fingertips touched the gun, a familiar sense of dread swept through his body. He couldn't suppress his excitement. This was the feeling. This was the weapon that belonged to him. Sniping was his home turf! The patch system was running at full speed. Wind direction, humidity, light... all the data was on display. This distance was nothing.

He calmly set up the sniper rifle, closed his eyes to calibrate it, and the system instantly captured all the data, including wind direction, air humidity, and light refraction, analyzing and recording them one by one. Adjusting his heart rate and slowing his breathing, when the probability analysis value settled at 96%, Jian Sheng decisively pulled the trigger.

"boom--"

The deafening sound of cannons echoed throughout the arena. Two seconds later, the scoreboard displayed the result: a bullseye!

2000 meters, one shot, one hit!

On the sidelines, the representatives of the four major forces lowered their heads, their eyes grave, secretly calculating. Vincent Windsor's gaze narrowed, and he turned to look at Louise, his heart filled with urgency. This strength far exceeded expectations; he was fully qualified to become a core member of the fighting force. Should they change their plans and forcibly pull him into the Windsor team? With him, the team would surely win! But Louise gently shook her head, her eyes resolute. Now was not the time. He was a pawn planted by the family; they couldn't openly compete for him. They would observe the situation and wait until he was driven to desperation before he would naturally turn to them.

Meanwhile, the other sniper candidates waiting for their tests looked at their scores on the big screen, their faces pale, shaking their heads and sighing. They had completely lost their fighting spirit. The gap was too big; they were not even in the same league. They didn't even have the qualifications to compete for a spot, let alone be on par with him. This test was meaningless.

The second item is the mobile sniping test.

The expanded and merged terrain gave snipers more room to react. The rules were simple: seven sniper bullets to kill seven six-legged dogs in the shortest time.

Jian Sheng looked at the examiner and said calmly, "The record, how about Percival?"

The examiner paused for a moment, his tone softening unconsciously, no longer showing the previous disdain: "Yes, six shots in 18 seconds, one shot, two kills."

Upon hearing this, Jian Sheng couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Sure enough, his records were everywhere; he truly deserved the title of War God of Seven Rings City—his strength was indeed top-tier. "Since that's the case," he thought, "then I'll take another step forward, achieving multiple kills with a single shot, thoroughly proving my worth, and letting those nobles know that I, Jian Sheng, am not a pushover."

He stared at the cage door that was about to open, quickly calculating in his mind that to break the record, he had to kill more efficiently. Multiple kills with one shot was the only way. He had to guide the pack of dogs so that they overlapped on the same trajectory. The expanded area gave him just the right amount of space to maneuver.

"drop!"

The cage door opened, and the six-legged dog howled and ran out. The expanded area made the dogs' running distance longer, which was supposed to give the sniper a chance to catch up. However, Jian Sheng did not fire his gun. Instead, he controlled the mecha to move towards the edge of the area and then kept retreating.

The onlookers were immediately filled with confusion, and murmurs arose. "What is he doing? Ten seconds have passed, and not a single shot has been fired!" "Is he panicking? Or is he trying to pull some trick?"

Louise frowned, utterly puzzled. What was this kid thinking? Wasting time was unwise. Did he have some special tactic? Or was he just too arrogant, trying to pull off an even more amazing move?

Just as everyone was wondering, Jian Sheng came to life!

As he continued to retreat, he successfully lured the entire pack of dogs into a straight line. The six-legged dogs, running at varying speeds, were completely piled up on the trajectory of the bullet. Jian Sheng's eyes sharpened, and he pulled the trigger.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Four consecutive booming sounds, billowing smoke, and all seven six-legged dogs instantly fell to the ground!

The big screen instantly refreshed the results: 4 shots, 16 seconds, a brand new record!

A deathly silence fell over the arena. A few seconds later, thunderous applause erupted. This applause transcended power and class; it was the utter awe and respect of all the snipers present, a heartfelt acknowledgment of top-tier skill. Incredible! Multiple kills with a single shot—even the legendary Percival couldn't pull off such a feat!

The third test, concealed target shooting, requires exceptional eyesight and observation skills.

Hidden in the grass 200 meters away are three herbivorous star beasts skilled in camouflage, extremely difficult to distinguish thanks to their natural camouflage.

Without much thought, Jian Sheng looked directly at the examiner and asked, "What is Percival's record?"

"Four shots, five seconds." The examiner's tone was now full of respect.

Jian Sheng smiled faintly, understanding the situation perfectly. He had relied on wide-area coverage fire, managing to hit the target by sheer luck, but with the system's support, he didn't need to go through such trouble. The positions of the three star beasts were crystal clear to him. He spoke slowly to the examiner, his tone firm: "Three shots, four seconds."

As soon as he finished speaking, he focused his attention on the grass. The system activated its information storage and pattern analysis, and in an instant, it accurately located the positions of the three star beasts. He pulled the trigger, the gun fired, and the target fell—without the slightest hesitation.

Three shots, four seconds, all hit!

In three sniper tests, Jian Sheng broke all three records of Percival, topping the sniper leaderboard and becoming the undisputed sniper genius of the entire event.

The test concluded, followed by a two-hour break, during which the four major powers would engage in their final showdown. This time, the order in which the representatives from each side arrived was completely reversed.

Lin Lan was the first to rush into Jian Sheng's dormitory, her eyes resolute, without the hesitation of yesterday. She got straight to the point: "I agree to the conditions you proposed last night. But I won't lie to you, the talent within the church team is far inferior to that of the three top races. However, if our team can make it into the top three, I will definitely reserve a reserve captain spot for you!"

As Lin Lan spoke, she was filled with certainty, yet tinged with trepidation. His strength had been thoroughly proven; with him, the church had no chance of competing for a ranking. This spot had to be given to him, even if it was extremely difficult. She had to take the gamble. He was the church's only hope to break the deadlock, and... he was Chinese, just like her. This bond might become the link for their cooperation.

Looking into her sincere eyes, Jian Sheng pondered to himself. She had indeed lost her composure; the three records had completely stunned her. But he also knew that the church's strength was at the bottom; getting into the top three was an impossible task. She was just making empty promises, trying to take advantage of his abilities. But it was alright. Compared to the Windsor family treating him like their private property, the George family's arrogance, and the Fujiwara family's hypocrisy, at least the church was treating him as an equal partner. He still had room to maneuver. Besides, meeting someone from the same hometown in a foreign land, he had to give them some face.

On the surface, Jian Sheng simply said, "I'll think about it."

The second to arrive was a representative of the Fujiwara family, whose attitude was even more respectful than yesterday. He directly offered two options: "Ken-sei-kun, if you want the reserve captain position, as long as you help our team get first place and prove your worth, the position will be yours; if you don't want the position, we'll double the bonus: 1000 million blue crystals, plus a set of exclusive C-class mechs!"

Representative Fujiwara had a well-thought-out plan. Getting first place in the team was extremely difficult, so he could exchange a elusive spot for top-tier combat power, a sure win. If all else failed, he could acquire him with a hefty sum to strengthen the team. He absolutely could not let him fall into the hands of the enemy; this kid's potential was limitless.

Kenji casually brushed off the other party, feeling completely unmoved. Both plans were calculated, aiming to gain an advantage without paying any real price, showing no sincerity whatsoever. The Fujiwara family's little schemes might fool others, but they're still too green to fool me.

The third person to arrive was from the George family, but it wasn't Thorne himself; he was just an ordinary family member. "Our young master said that he's only offering cash and mechs, there are no reserve captain positions. Come if you want, don't if you don't."

After the messenger left, Jian Sheng couldn't help but chuckle. He felt a surge of approval for Thorne. Truly, Thorne was proud to the core. He saw through his refusal to compromise and simply didn't show his face, preserving the family's dignity while making his stance clear—the George family didn't need to compromise, nor did they need another member of his force. Such arrogance from a young man suited his temperament, but alas, their paths diverged, and they could not work together.

Finally, Windsor Vincent arrived.

He pushed open the door and entered, without uttering a word. He simply stood there, his arrogant eyes filled with anger and resentment as he stared intently at Jian Sheng. His hostility was undisguised. "You're nothing but a pawn cultivated by the family, yet you dare to break my elder brother's records one after another and openly challenge the authority of the Windsor family! If it weren't for the family's prior plan, I would have made you understand the consequences of offending the Windsor family!"

Jian Sheng raised his eyes, calmly meeting his gaze. His eyes were indifferent, without the slightest fear. So what if he broke the record? Percival is strong, but I have my own strength. The Windsor family doesn't treat me like their private property, trying to manipulate me at will. That's impossible. What can you do if you're unhappy? I never intended to depend on the Windsor family. From now on, I, Jian Sheng, will walk my own path!

The two stared at each other for a full five minutes. Vincent was finally defeated by the composure in Jian Sheng's eyes. He gritted his teeth, turned around, and left angrily.

The door closed, and Jian Sheng leaned back in his chair, his fingertips lightly stroking his chin. A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination. He wasn't confused about the choices, but rather about how to completely break free from the Windsor family's control. Windsor had offered the worst conditions and been the most arrogant, treating him like their possession from beginning to end, summoning him at will and dismissing him at will; while the Church, though weaker, had given him basic respect, offering equal cooperation rather than condescending charity.

Having made up his mind, he had already made his choice.

Two hours later, the two-way selection meeting officially began in the large gymnasium of the Mech Officer School.

George Thorne stepped onto the stage first, his posture upright and his expression arrogant, and directly announced the list of candidates. For the sniper position, he didn't choose Jian Sheng; his eyes were calm and unwavering. Since he was unwilling to compromise, the George family wouldn't bow down and beg. The strong have their pride; there's no need to lower themselves for a pawn. Besides, the George family could still take first place without him. To strengthen the team, he relaxed the standards for flamethrowers and support personnel, attracting many candidates from other cities without connections. After all, boarding the George family's ship was an opportunity countless people dreamed of.

Following closely behind is Fujiwara Taro, whose selection strategy is exactly the same as that of the George family. He only relaxes the requirements for peripheral positions, focusing on consolidating the core strength of the team. He is unwilling to make any more compromises on Kenjiro. It would be best if he could be won over, but if he cannot be won over, he should not let him become an ally of the opponent. However, judging from his appearance, he probably already has someone in mind.

The Windsor family was the third to announce their list, and there was no wavering throughout the process. The 29-person list had already been finalized, leaving no room for outsiders. Their firm stance fully demonstrated the confidence and arrogance of the upper three families.

Finally, Lin Lan from the church took the stage.

Unsurprisingly, Jian Sheng chose to join the church team under the spotlight.

He knew perfectly well that although he seemed to be enjoying immense success, he was still essentially a pawn crossing the river, only able to use others' strength against him. None of the forces in Seven Rings City would openly offend the deeply rooted Windsor family for his sake. Choosing the church now was the safest way to "play it safe"—to become a valuable and irreplaceable pawn, making anyone who wanted to touch him think twice about the consequences.

After the selection process, the strength of the four teams on paper was clear: Windsor and George were the strongest, having recruited many geniuses from the lower six clans and having the most highly talented players on their teams; the Fujiwara family was slightly inferior, but still far superior to the Church; the Church team had the lowest talent and the weakest lineup.

Jian Sheng glanced at his teammates, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth as he inwardly scoffed. With this lineup, even making it into the top three would be an impossible task, let alone second place. That little brat Lin Lan was clearly just making empty promises, freeloading off my top-tier strength. It seemed he was in for a tough time this time. What was she hiding? Did she really have some secret weapon?

Lin Lan stood at the front of the line, looking at Jian Sheng who had joined the church. A confident smile flashed in her eyes, and her fingers clenched tightly. "Jian Sheng, I will not let you down. The church's secret weapon will be revealed soon. This time, we will not only be in the top three, but also make those nobles who look down on people from the outer city look like they've been thoroughly shocked!"