This is not how you drive a machine!

Chapter 195 The Rally Begins

"Here I am, finally here."

Ning Yuan held instant noodles in his left hand and the mouse in his right hand. He opened the video editing software and edited the first episode of the Light Year Project frame by frame.

Looking at the Lightyear Project logo in the video, he felt a little relieved.

Ever since the Light Year Project released the list of contestants, the Cai Nan Province team that came to inquire about him has finally quieted down, and he can finally open his business!

Now as the head of Zhou Yun’s video editing, the pressure on him is really great.

Death Star’s fans all came to his building to ask for more updates!
So just one hour after the show came out, he came to edit Zhou Yun's modification competition video.

"Hahaha, Death Star is really good at giving surprises. Oh my god... the production team is really overdoing it."

In the first modified race, Zhou Yun's style was completely different from other drivers!
While other drivers were diligently modifying their mechas, adjusting their data, and trying every possible way to push their mechas to their limits...

Zhou Yun is testing the limits of his driving posture!

No driver has ever done this before, and it really opened the eyes of the fans.

"Hahahaha... What kind of driving posture is this? Is it even possible like this?"

"Oh my god, I guess there will be a lot of people trying this in the next couple of days..."

While laughing, he had finished editing his [Driving Posture Art Award]. After adding some exciting music to it, he decisively uploaded it to the video website.

There’s no other way, it has to be this fast!
Otherwise the fans would rush upstairs.

"Damn, I need to find another place to rent quickly. I can't stand having fans living downstairs...and the Lightyear Project has a rally live broadcast coming up soon. It's really rushed."

I guess I'll be working non-stop tonight.

Suddenly, a window popped up at the bottom right corner of the screen. He clicked it and his face turned dark.

[Your "Driving Posture Acrobatics Award" contains illegal content and has failed review. Your account will be given a yellow name warning...]

"Fucked!"

Immediately afterwards, another message popped up, saying that the first phase of the Lightyear Project Rally would be broadcast soon.

"Forget it, let's watch the game first."

After the Lightyear Project logo flashed for a while, accompanied by the roar of the engine, the program team showed a high-energy racing confrontation scene.

"I'll go, sure."

Watching the passionate confrontation on the field, Ning Yuan seemed to smell the smell of burning money.

"Wow, these special effects, this music, this texture, it's amazing! How much did it cost?"

He couldn't help but look forward to the content of the show. What kind of shocking effect could Zhou Yun create this time?

On the other side, in the Yunyi team, Manager Ye called out, "Feng, stop busying yourself, the race has begun!"

……

"Why did you come to participate in the Lightyear Project tryouts?"

Across from the camera, a driver wearing a racing suit with the "Lightyear Project" logo sat on a bench. Facing the questions from the program crew, he fell into deep thought.

After a moment, he said, "Because..."

"Don't look at me, look at the camera."

The racer turned to look at the camera: "Oh, it's because the races in small cities are boring. I hope to challenge stronger opponents here."

"Why did you come to participate in the Lightyear Project tryouts?"

The camera cuts to another racer: "Because... I want to rush into the S race stage, so I came here."

"Why did you come to participate in the Lightyear Project tryouts?"

"Because of love?"

"It won't happen easily... Be serious and broadcast it nationwide."

Bi Chen smiled at the camera and said, "Wait a minute, I'll make one up... Why don't you just ask the next question?"

"Okay, who is the opponent you most want to challenge in this game?"

"Zhou Yun, and Jiang Xiyue, just the two of them."

"Do you think you can beat them?"

Bi Chen shrugged: "We'll know on the track."

The camera cuts again.

"Who do you think is your biggest opponent in the challenge? Who do you want to challenge the most?"

"Han Yu? It was originally him. I've wanted to beat this lunatic for a long time."

"now what?"

"Zhou Yun, killing him is almost equivalent to defeating Ye Qing."

"Who do you want to challenge the most?"

"Zhou Yun, the founder of the Drift Stream. It would be great to race against him."

"Who do you think is worthy of being your opponent?"

"Zhou Yun, if I can defeat him, I will be the most handsome guy in the village."

"Zhou Yun."

"Death Star."

"It must be Zhou Yun."

"Zhou Yun..."

"Come, look at the camera. Everyone wants to challenge you. Who do you want to challenge the most? Or..."

The background voice paused and continued, "Who do you think is worthy of being your opponent in the first Lightyear Project?"

"It's all right. When it comes to being rivals, there's no such thing as being worthy or not."

Zhou Yun looked towards the camera: "The question is, can you win?"

"Right, right, right!" Jackdaw echoed, "Let me translate it again. What Zhou Yun meant was that he thinks you can't beat him."

Hearing Jackdaw's words, Zhou Yun couldn't help laughing a few times, then stood up.

"I'm Zhou Yun, a contestant from Jingyun City, Cainan Province. I'll rush to the podium and wait for you to challenge me."

"No matter where you come from, if you dare to challenge me, come and chase me."

"The premise is that you can really catch up." As Zhou Yun finished speaking, the camera suddenly changed.

The camera flashed across the sky, then suddenly moved downwards, all the way to the starting platform beside Dripping Lake. The Lightyear Project's flag fluttered in the wind in the air, and the thirty-one drivers below were already ready.

"The first Light Year Project trials, the first stage, the Hundred Mile Gallery Rally, has officially begun!"

Below the starting grid, Zhou Yun held Jackdaw's hand and stood at the front of the driver's queue.

At this moment, his mind was constantly recalling the map of this rally.

The rally will be held in the 50km Bailihualang scenic area north of Kyoto.

Starting from the stone bridge of Dishui Lake, the race goes south along the dirt road, passes through a highway area, and then goes north to end at Anqing Gorge.

There are no maintenance stations along the way, so drivers are required to run from beginning to end.

"There's no way to go, so we just go straight ahead?"

Zhou Yun frowned slightly. This was a big test for a racing driver.

Although racers have 3D maps to assist in navigation and AI voice road books, the lack of specific track conditions means that there is a risk of error with every turn.

What is the condition of the dirt road like? Are there any rocks? What is the roadbed like? Where is there water accumulation? Where are the slopes...

It is completely unpredictable, so there is no way to make the best judgment and avoid risks in advance.

In addition, he couldn't observe the track and plan the route for a whole day like he could in the Hot Wheels race.

Because he took first place in the virtual running points and started as a starter!

Zhou Yun lowered his head and pondered. After a moment, he smiled carefreely: "Jackdaw, it seems this is a contest of experience."

With the arrival of the camera, the race officially entered the stage of preparation for departure.

Jiang Wuyang climbed up the platform next to the starting point step by step and stood under the joint banner of the Lightyear Project and the S Game.

He looked at the drivers in front of him with sharp eyes. After a moment of silence, he smiled heartily.

"I'm very happy that at this stage of the race, there are still 31 drivers who have advanced and stayed on through their merit."

"But don't be too happy too soon. If you want to truly enter the Lightyear Project and truly receive the 'resource support' it provides, you must overcome this hurdle!"

"Perhaps some of you feel that after passing the virtual test, you can sit back and relax."

He changed the subject and said, "Wrong, absolutely wrong!"

“The gap between dreams and reality is huge, and the gap between simulation and actual practice is still the same.”

"What kind of friction changes will occur when a tire passes over a gravel road and an asphalt road?"

"What kind of acceleration graph will appear when the engine speed encounters different road conditions? How will the suspension operation change?"

The breeze passed through the surface of Dishui Lake, across the stone bridge that served as the starting point of the track, across the flags of the Lightyear Project, and across the drivers and mecha girls.

All the drivers who had experienced the limited-time modified race lowered their heads in thought.

Jiang Wuyang stood on the platform, looked at the drivers who were lost in thought, and laughed.

"That's right. Without experiencing the actual tempering, we won't know."

"And in this process, some people will stay and some will leave, so what determines who goes and who stays?"

He held up two fingers: "Two standards."

"One, finish the race in fifteen minutes."

"Second, it must not be less than 50% of the speed of your 80km rally simulation during yesterday's virtual test."

After hearing these two pieces of information, most of the drivers present showed a hint of astonishment on their faces, although they knew in advance that the standards would fluctuate.

But I didn’t expect that it was based on last night’s mock test.

In other words, to become a true member of the Lightyear Project, one must run at least 80% of the theoretical limit.

On a track where there is no prior training and it is just a passing track, being able to achieve 70% of the virtual score is already considered a talent.

Many drivers looked hesitant, as they did not expect it to be so strict.

Of course, there are also many drivers who are excited. Their purpose of coming here is to prove themselves.

If that’s the case, then why should they be afraid of the harsh competition system? After all, this is the only way to prove their strength, isn’t it?
"Now that we understand the standards, let's not waste any more time and get ready!"

Jiang Wuyang's tone relaxed, his gaze looking past the other drivers into the distance: "This track marks the end of my racing career and the location of my last professional race."

"Now, I hope it can be the starting point for Project Lightyear."

After saying that, he walked down from the platform, and a staff member took his place.

"Please invite racing driver Zhou Yun and the robot girl Lin Ye Jackdaw to the starting platform for inspection."

……

"Inspection completed, data consistent with yesterday's, cleared to start."

"Competitor Zhou Yun, please prepare to start. The race will begin in 30 seconds. The countdown begins now. 30, 29..."

As a frost rose from the starting grid, the roar of the Jackdaw engine suddenly resounded throughout the venue.

The shock wave vibrated along the stone bridge, creating ripples on the lake.

Not far away, two little ones were holding a sign each and cheering loudly for Zhou Yun.

"Zhou Yun! Zhou Yun! Reiatsu Hot Spring!"

"Zhou Yun Zhou Yun, spiritual pressure hot spring!"

"..." Zhou Yun held a corner of the 'abstract steering wheel' with one hand, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

Are you two cheering each other on?

That's clearly bribery!

"Tsk, the two little ones can't wait any longer."

He stroked the modified wrench version steering wheel with one hand and gently gripped the gear lever with the other. The familiar operating environment made him feel happy in an instant.

"Countdown to the game, 5, 4, 3, 2..."

At the traffic light, the red light goes out and the green light lets you go.

"Let's get started, Jackdaw."

After saying that, Zhou Yun released the brake, and the crow rushed out like an arrow.

(End of this chapter)