Li Yi's ability to capture memory fragments from parallel worlds could adapt to his environment.
Whenever he encountered a challenge and was determined to overcome it, there was a chance he would encounter relevant memories in his dreams.
These memories either provided solutions or increased his likelihood of solving the issue.
Similarly, his relentless pursuit of improving his combat techniques had made it easier for him to encounter fragments related to martial arts. Over time, the accumulation of these fragments naturally pushed his combat skills to their peak.
For challenges beyond his current means, entering the dreamscape often proved effective.
"However, sleeping inside a virtual simulation risks my brainwaves being recorded by the AI. That might expose my ability, which is my only trump card. I can't risk it for such a low probability."
After a moment's thought, Li Yi abandoned this tempting idea.
"Searching for opponents is inefficient and random. Bad luck could cost me half a day or more."
"Wait... I might be overcomplicating this. There's no need to hunt blindly."
"All I need to do is target the top-ranking contestants. If I eliminate everyone in the top ten, the rest are just average players. First place will be mine by default."
"Not only that, I'll also claim all the points held by the top ten."
This realization gave Li Yi a clear and straightforward goal.
Twenty minutes later, Li Yi encountered a lone individual and was ecstatic.
In a matter of seconds, he subdued the person using joint locks, leaving them splayed on the ground like an octopus.
"Have you encountered anyone with a glowing number on their chest?"
"No."
Crack! Li Yi snapped their neck.
Thirty minutes later, Li Yi stumbled upon a duo armed with a long blade and a spear, both exuding a formidable aura.
Their combined strength nearly matched that of Luo Cheng, a Tier 4 Iron Crane practitioner.
Even so, against Li Yi's perfected combat skills and expert-level parkour, they were no match. After separating them through swift maneuvers, he crushed one with a heavy blow and disabled the other by breaking their elbow and knee joints.
"Have you seen anyone with a glowing number on their chest? Answer honestly, and I'll make it quick."
"Yes."
"Where and when?"
"Five minutes ago. I saw her in the inner city of Base 11, leading a ten-man team to hunt lone players."
"Do you know who it was?"
"It was Lin Qin, ranked third."
"Good. Anything else to add?"
"No."
True to his word, Li Yi granted the duo a swift end.
One of them carried a single point, netting Li Yi an additional score.
Now knowing Lin Qin's location, his next move became clear.
While a ten-man team sounded troublesome, it wasn't insurmountable.
As Li Yi's score climbed to 16 points, securing the top spot, the disparity between him and the second-place Liang Shaocong, with 14 points, attracted widespread attention across the fleet.
The broadcasts provided by the Yaochi Qingguo AI enabled fleet members of all ranks—citizens, instructors, squad leaders, senior mech pilots—to follow the action in real-time.
Li Yi's relentless tactics and interrogations stirred heated debates.
Some criticized his lack of camaraderie, deeming him overly ruthless and difficult to manage. Others praised his decisive and efficient style, arguing that such a cold-blooded approach was essential for a mech pilot to lead humanity against future alien threats.
In the spectator stands, discussions became heated.
"This is just a virtual simulation. Why escalate it to a debate about his character?"
"Precisely because it's a simulation, his true nature is laid bare."
"Nonsense. Some people haven't seen real combat in years and mistake kindness for law. A mech pilot isn't a saint—they're a weapon against alien invasions and the vanguard of human evolution. Without the determination to overcome any obstacle, they're unworthy of humanity's resources!"
Such debates weren't new in past tournaments but had rarely been this intense.
Some astute observers sensed a subtle shift in internal sentiments and ideological currents.
Meanwhile, Lin Guotao's personal communicator buzzed incessantly, leaving him exasperated.
"Old Lin, is this the promising recruit you mentioned? His methods are downright barbaric."
"Why did you insist on choosing someone from the impoverished class? Look at his approach—if he rises to prominence, who knows what the consequences might be?"
"Old Lin, I like this recruit. If he finishes in the top five, bring him to see me after the tournament."
The final message's signature made Lin Guotao's heart skip a beat.
It was Teng Baixin, the captain of the Yaochi's mech team.
Even during his heyday, Lin Guotao had limited interaction with Teng Baixin, whose true stance and intentions were always difficult to read.
"Is this attention a blessing or a curse?" Lin Guotao muttered to himself.
Following the intel he had obtained, Li Yi soon spotted his next target.
Lin Qin, currently ranked third with 13 points, was leading a group to hunt smaller teams.
She was petite and seemingly delicate, with an air of elegance. A faint red vertical mark adorned her forehead, complementing her round, fair face and deep black eyes, which gleamed like pearls. She wore an exquisite vintage red dress, making her appear like a life-sized porcelain doll.
Observing from behind a wall, Li Yi noted the team's composition and strategy.
Lin Qin stayed at the back, arms crossed, giving commands in a calm and collected manner. She looked entirely at ease.
"Which base is the Lin family from? I can't recall."
The team included another ranked contestant, Shi Zijun, who was in eighth place with a glowing chest number.
The group's combat abilities were formidable. One member even displayed a genetic skill, discharging electricity from their palms to incapacitate opponents.
"T
his group's overall strength surpasses any I've encountered so far. Each member is at least on par with Long Guanri."