The four of them dug in at once, practically inhaling the food.
Han Feng picked up a piece of braised Iron Feather Bird meat.
The meat was firm, its sauce a glossy, dark brown.
It melted the moment it entered his mouth.
A pure, warm current exploded outward, instantly spreading through his entire body.
It precisely replenished the Qi Blood he had expended during his Cultivation.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Liao Ming wiped his mouth.
He looked at Han Feng, his expression more serious than ever before.
"Han Feng, you performed very well this time, far exceeding my expectations."
He paused, then said, word by word,
"I will help you submit your recommendation letter."
"Early next month, the academy will be holding a promotion assessment for C Level Technicians. You should prepare for it."
"Thank you, Director Liao!"
Han Feng immediately stood up, his thanks coming from the bottom of his heart.
"Don't be so quick to thank me."
Liao Ming waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down.
"The proctor for this assessment is a B Level Engineer, Zhao Yu."
"Zhao Yu?"
Xiaoli and Zhou Wen gasped at the same time, shock written all over their faces.
Zhao Yu was a legendary figure in the Mechanical Repair Department.
The renowned "living dictionary of engines."
His skills were monstrously good, but he was stern, unsmiling, and terrifyingly strict.
"That Zhao Yu… he's our department's tech fanatic. He only has eyes for engines."
Liao Ming looked at Han Feng, his eyes filled with unconcealed expectation.
This was an investment.
"He's recently been put in charge of an improvement project for the third-generation 'Hunting Falcon' Spiritual Energy Engine."
"He's short on manpower, but even shorter on geniuses."
"During the assessment, don't worry about anything else."
"Just take all your understanding and skill with Spiritual Energy Engines and throw it right in his face."
"If you can catch his eye and get recruited into his project team as an Apprentice,"
"then you'll be able to skip the observation period for C Level Technicians and become a full-fledged one!"
"Plus, working under him, your future prospects will be a hundred times better than working under me."
Han Feng's heart skipped a beat.
This truly was a shortcut straight to the top.
"I understand, Director Liao."
"I'll spend the time until then focusing all my efforts on studying Spiritual Energy Engines."
Han Feng nodded solemnly.
"Good. With you saying that, I can rest easy."
Liao Ming smiled in satisfaction, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out.
The meal was a pleasant one for host and guests alike.
After leaving the restaurant, Liao Ming immediately used his terminal to transfer five hundred Contribution Points to Han Feng.
He then used his authority to buy a pound of packed, braised Iron Feather Bird meat from the service window.
Without taking no for an answer, he stuffed it into Han Feng's hands.
"Work hard. Don't disappoint me."
Liao Ming patted Han Feng's shoulder firmly again.
Then he turned and left, his retreating figure radiating an indescribable sense of relief and pride.
Staring at the oil-paper package in Han Feng's hands, which was still emitting the incredible aroma of Demon Beast Flesh,
Xiaoli and the other two's eyes went wide.
Their Adam's apples bobbed violently up and down.
"Madman…"
Pang Hu rubbed his hands together, giggling foolishly, practically drooling.
Han Feng laughed when he saw the greedy looks on the three of them.
He tossed the oil-paper package directly into Pang Hu's arms.
"Take it!"
"Tonight, we'll have a feast in our dorm to celebrate!"
"AWOO! Madman, you're my real brother!"
Hugging the package of meat, Pang Hu was so excited he nearly dropped to his knees and slid across the floor for Han Feng.
Xiaoli and Zhou Wen also started cheering.
The brotherhood in the dorm felt incredibly genuine at that moment.
"You hold onto the meat for now, and don't sneak any bites."
Han Feng pointed at Pang Hu.
"You guys head back first. I'm going to the library again."
"Again? Are you made of iron or something?"
Xiaoli's face was full of admiration.
Han Feng just smiled, said nothing more, and turned to walk toward the library.
Now that he had a clear goal, he had to give it his all.
At the library, he used his privileges as a D Level Student.
He checked out several specialized books: *Basic Principles of the Spiritual Energy Engine* and *Detailed Explanation of the Soaring Falcon Series Fighter Engine*.
Sitting in the quiet reading area, Han Feng opened a book and immediately immersed himself in its contents.
As he read, the system's notification sound arrived right on cue.
[Ding! Detected Host is engaging in Professional Skills study...]
[Triggering Professional Skill—Spiritual Energy Engine Principles]
[Current Progress: Entry Level (0/100)]
'Another new Skill!'
The corners of Han Feng's mouth curled up uncontrollably.
Looking at the brand-new progress bar, he felt a boundless energy surge through him.
'The assessment is early next month. I have one week.'
He silently set a small goal for himself.
'Within one week, I'll grind this Skill to the Skilled Level!'
In the days that followed, Han Feng's life became a standard three-point routine.
Dorm, library, hangar.
During the day, he frantically absorbed theoretical knowledge in the library.
Rapidly increasing his Skill Proficiency in Spiritual Energy Engine Principles.
At night, he would run to the hangar and find Liao Ming.
He requested to perform hands-on practice on the fighter engines awaiting repair.
Liao Ming was delighted to see him in this amped-up state and opened every door for him.
Han Feng discovered that by combining theory and practice, the growth rate of his Skill Proficiency was terrifyingly fast.
Many theoretical concepts that had been incomprehensible in books were instantly understood the moment he disassembled and reassembled an engine with his own hands.
His progress was nothing short of miraculous.
「...」
Inside the hangar, Han Feng's work continued.
He was like a tireless, precision instrument.
He moved among a heap of complex machinery and Spiritual Power conduits.
Everywhere he went, he could accurately pinpoint the problem.
He would then mark or dismantle it in the most concise and efficient way.
Beside him, Xiaoli, Pang Hu, and Zhou Wen had been completely reduced to his dedicated movers and recorders.
They looked at Han Feng with a mixture of awe and bewilderment.
Was this still the same "Madman" who had eaten and lived with them for three years?
Liao Ming stood a short distance away, arms crossed over his chest, his expression calm.
But inwardly, he was reeling, absolutely overjoyed.
The more he watched, the more shocked he became; the more he watched, the more excited he grew.
Many of the problems Han Feng found were hidden faults that even he would need precision instruments and a great deal of time to diagnose.
But Han Feng?
A touch of his hand, a single glance, and the problem was found.
This could no longer be described as mere "Talent."
This was a "miracle" born for mechanical repair!
'No, I can't wait any longer!'
Liao Ming's sense of urgency reached its peak.
'If someone else discovers a peerless talent like this first, I'd be kicking myself forever!'
He had to submit Han Feng's recommendation letter right now, immediately.
He had to lock down this spot completely!
At this thought, Liao Ming couldn't stay put any longer.
He turned and strode quickly out of the hangar.
He left them with a parting sentence: "You lot, cooperate with Han Feng. I'll be right back."
「...」
The office area of the aviation branch was located on the upper level of the hangar complex.
Unlike the noisy, greasy environment below,
this area was quiet, clean, and filled with a cold, technological feel.
The smooth metal floors were spotless.
The faint smell of disinfectant hung in the air.
Holographic projections of departmental announcements and technical diagrams lined both sides of the corridor.
The few colleagues Liao Ming encountered along the way simply nodded at him. The atmosphere was serious and efficient.
He took an elevator straight to the floor where the B Level Engineers were located.
Just as he stepped out of the elevator, he ran into an acquaintance.
"Well now, Old Liao. What a rare sight."
The man wore a crisp C Level Technician's uniform.
The badge on his chest was one level higher than Liao Ming's.
It was a silver-bordered badge, representing a top-ten rank in technical skill.
Zhang Yi.
One of the absolute best among the dozens of C Level Technicians in the Celestial Craft Maintenance Department.
He and Liao Ming had been in the same batch of apprentices.
But now, the two of them were no longer on the same level.
Zhang Yi looked at Liao Ming with feigned surprise.
But deep in his eyes was an unconcealed sense of superiority.
"What wind blew you in here?"
"This isn't a place for technicians who just mentor apprentices."
His words were barbed.
Liao Ming ignored him, simply holding up the recommendation letter he had just printed from his terminal.
"Here to drop something off."