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"How much?"
Xing Yu's expression also became momentarily dazed.
Ten percent?
He instinctively asked, "Junior, what level is your soul power at?"
"Level 45."
Xing Yu first let out an "Oh," then suddenly snapped back to attention, staring wide-eyed at Xu Yuan and shouting loudly.
"How much?!"
Xu Yuan rubbed his ears, exasperated, and replied again.
"Level 45."
"You're in the first year? Recently enrolled?"
"Yes, I'm only thirteen years old."
"Pfft!" Xing Yu was speechless. "I know you're thirteen."
First year? Could you possibly be twelve?
Twelve would be even more terrifying, wouldn't it?
After glaring at Xu Yuan with slight irritation, Xing Yu sighed in relief.
Now it made sense.
With Level 45 soul power, it was understandable that this Junior Xu Yuan had only consumed ten percent of his soul power.
Xing Yu had initially thought that a Soul Sage at Level 30 could perform all those operations while only expending ten percent of their soul power.
If that were the case, there'd be no need for any mecha control lessons—such efficiency in using soul power would already match Xing Yu's own level.
"Do you specialize in, um... elemental control abilities? Or something similar, like manipulating external ambient energy?" Xing Yu pondered for a moment before asking.
Xu Yuan nodded.
Xing Yu smacked his right fist into his left palm.
"Right! That makes sense."
Although consuming only ten percent was still somewhat exaggerated, it was now explainable.
"The foundational aspect of learning mecha control is achieving unity of mind with the mecha—making the mecha move according to the mech pilot's will. Through practice, one can initially grasp this. However, the core focus of our class is energy manipulation."
Xing Yu glanced at the two students from earlier.
Not just these two, but most of the other second-year students wouldn't bother learning energy manipulation. They'd simply master the unity of mind, earn their credits, and leave.
On the other hand, Xu Yuan was someone who could truly grasp the essence of the course—the true art of mecha control.
"Energy manipulation?"
Xu Yuan nodded thoughtfully.
He had studied ahead and understood the critical factors in a mech pilot's combat. By using a small amount of soul power to guide the stored energy within the mecha, soul masters could reduce their own consumption. From another perspective, this could be seen as amplifying the strength of the soul master themselves.
After all, a soul master's soul power has its limits. If they can perfectly utilize the vast energy stored in the mecha, it's equivalent to multiplying their soul power many times over.
As long as the mecha is advanced enough and its control isn't so cumbersome as to negate this cost-effectiveness, mechas will always have their advantages.
"Among soul masters, aside from those specializing in elemental control or similar abilities, we mech pilots are the ones who maximize the use of minimal soul power to control mechas for high-energy-consuming actions."
"Your current level of control is already exceptional, but you still need more practice."
"Unlike controlling ambient energy, mechas use pseudo-soul power. You can try more extreme ratios, using less soul power to guide or even manipulate greater amounts of pseudo-soul power to control the mecha."
Since graduating, Xing Yu hadn't experienced such an exhilarating teaching session.
What a fulfilling and enjoyable teaching experience!
Xing Yu was brimming with enthusiasm, wishing he could impart all his experience, insights, and techniques to Xu Yuan in a single lesson.
Unfortunately, time was limited.
But within that limited time, he kept sharing his knowledge. When he came back to his senses, Xing Yu felt slightly embarrassed.
"Uh, Junior, did you catch everything I just said? Write it down first, and you can slowly understand it later."
Xu Yuan was still reflecting on the techniques Xing Yu had taught him.
"Senior, let me try again."
With that, Xu Yuan entered the mecha on his own and started it up once more.
Boom!
This time, Xu Yuan immediately began practicing spear techniques with the mecha. A spear made of energy materialized in the yellow-grade mecha's right hand, and as the mecha wielded it, the spear seemed to pierce through space, exuding ferocity.
The mecha's large frame, even when driven by soul power, couldn't execute overly agile movements due to its structural limitations. However, as the mecha's grade increased, these issues would naturally decrease, and its flexibility would gradually improve. Red-grade mechas could essentially perform any action a normal soul master could during combat.
Of course, being able to do something and actually doing it are two different things.
This was part of what Xing Yu had just taught.
There was no need to perform overly intricate maneuvers.
A mecha's inherent advantage wasn't about finesse—it was about explosive power.
The mecha's massive size was its greatest asset, allowing it to harness and release vast amounts of energy. Naturally, it shouldn't sacrifice this strength for the sake of flashy techniques.
In this regard, Xing Yu's views differed from many mech pilots.
Many mech pilots nowadays focused on mastering flashy techniques, believing that precise control and intricate maneuvers were the hallmark of a skilled mech pilot and their proudest technical achievement.
But what did mecha combat really require?
The true romance of mechas wasn't about showing off fancy moves—it was about raw collisions, energy blasts, and unleashing incomparable destructive power far beyond what a small soul master's body could achieve.
Xing Yu's philosophy also influenced Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan himself envisioned mechas in the style of Gundam—giant machines wielding immense destructive power, rather than the technique-focused mechas he knew from the original storyline.
Yes, performing those flashy techniques with a mecha was highly challenging and required technical expertise—but what was the point?
Xu Yuan swung his spear.
At this moment, the spear techniques he practiced were different from the Five Elements Spear Art.
As the Spirit of the Five Elements Spear grew stronger and the duration of the first soul ring increased, the soul skill contained within Xu Yuan's first soul ring had long been perfected, evolving into a mature spear technique.
The spear technique Xu Yuan primarily practiced was derived from this first soul skill.
The Five Elements Spear Art was versatile, focusing on the application of the five elements' forces and adapting spear techniques accordingly—this was the core of the Five Elements Spear Art.
Such a spear technique wasn't suitable for mecha control.
Instead, what he practiced now was a heavy spear technique, characterized by immense power and weight, taught to him by Xu Shengqun.
Under Xu Yuan's control, this technique was displayed to its fullest potential through the mecha.
Xing Yu watched the overwhelming spear strikes, each thrust seeming capable of piercing through anything. The terrifying pressure, the explosive spear aura emanating from the spear tip—all of it was the result of immense energy being channeled.
Each strike mobilized vast amounts of energy, creating overwhelming pressure, condensing into spear auras, and posing a deadly threat.
Once unleashed, the power of these spear auras wouldn't be inferior to a Soul Ancestor's full-power fourth soul skill!
Every single strike was like this!
Using ultimate moves as basic attacks—this is what a mecha should be!
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