Chapter 391: Mechanical Crown

Wu Chang shifted his gaze from the skill description, returned to reality from the inner world, and made his way to the rooftop.

He stood on the roof, overlooking Wanghai City below, activated his ability, and expanded his spatial domain.

As his intent was issued, countless threads composed of the power of spatial origin radiated from his body, extending into the surroundings.

The threads wove into a grid, dividing a massive spherical space centered on him into countless tiny square fragments.

This spherical space was his spatial domain; within this domain, he felt incomparably at ease.

He was not only the physical center of this domain but also its substantive center; everything here obeyed his commands, and he felt as if he were omnipotent.

Is this the power of the power of origin?

No wonder both Leng Shan and Phantom possessed such strong confidence upon entering S-rank instances.

Anyone who masters the power of origin and can turn an area into their own world would have that kind of confidence.

However, the range of his power of origin was somewhat different from other players.

In the Desolate Realm, players' attribute points are not abundant, and every point must be spent where it counts.

Willpower and Inspiration, in the vast majority of cases, do not directly increase combat power, so they are recognized as useless attributes in the Desolate Realm.

When ordinary players reach the level cap, their Willpower attribute is mostly between 20 and 25; even top-tier breakers like Leng Shan would not add their Willpower attribute above forty.

If other players were to master the spatial power of origin, the spatial domain they condensed would at most be a spherical space with a radius of 400 meters.

This area is already considered huge among players who possess the power of origin; after all, it is the spatial power of origin—it would be unjustifiable if the domain range were smaller than that of other powers of origin.

In the Steam Phantom plane, Wu Chang had observed others using the power of origin.

When Leng Shan’s cold power of origin was unleashed, it could only affect a hundred meters around him; Phantom’s speed power of origin had powerful effects, but the affected range was smaller, less than fifty meters.

God’s Tongue did not use his ability in actual combat, so the effect is currently unverified, and Jianxing’s power of origin had just reached the entry level, so he had not yet mastered his own domain of origin.

Compared to the domains of origin of these players, a spatial domain with a diameter of 400 meters is definitely worthy of being called huge.

But compared to Wu Chang’s spatial domain, it seemed far too meager.

After clearing the Steam Phantom instance and mastering Lord-level spatial magic, Wu Chang’s Willpower attribute reached an astonishing 283 points.

Standing at his home in the Jinjingyuan residential complex, his spatial domain could directly influence the distant commercial street.

Wu Chang looked at the Emotion Gallery at the entrance of the commercial street; because of the Painter’s disappearance, this once-viral gallery was currently closed for business.

The straight-line distance between him and the Emotion Gallery was about 2600 meters.

He reached out and grabbed at the air, and the Emotion Gallery’s sign was crumpled into a metal ball.

The change that occurred to the Emotion Gallery’s sign came from the distortion of space; if the target were replaced with an unsuspecting transcendent, the outcome would be no different.

He flicked his finger, and the gallery sign that had been twisted into a ball vanished from its spot and appeared directly in front of him.

He bounced the metal ball in his hand, let go, and let it fall freely; just as it was about to hit the ground, he kicked it.

He was currently using his original body, but even in his original body, without any bonuses, he possessed 126 points of Strength.

With that kick, the metal ball vanished into the night sky with a piercing whistle.

He brushed the non-existent dust off his hands; if the national team had his kicking power, they wouldn't be unable to even qualify for the World Cup.

He felt very satisfied with the range of his spatial domain; the only fly in the ointment was that the spatial domain could not benefit from the "Efficient Spatial Utilization" bonus.

If he could benefit from the hundredfold amplification of Efficient Spatial Utilization, then when he expanded his spatial domain, he would truly have the bearing of a Spatial Lord.

As for the methods of using the spatial domain, they certainly went beyond simple teleportation and spatial distortion; he already had several ideas for high-level applications of the spatial domain, but to use them in actual combat, he needed to become more familiar with the power of origin.

Dismissing the spatial domain and maintaining the application of spatial magic only deducted ten points of energy.

Faced with his normal 241 points of Energy attribute, combined with the high recovery brought by his Stamina value, if spatial magic was not used frequently, it was effectively zero-cost.

He took a step and teleported back to his room; with a world instance imminent, he had to find someone to practice with in actual combat.

But before that, he had to go find He Yun and put the Wanghai City renovation plan and the reception of transcendent industrialization from the Steam Phantom plane on the agenda.

In the room, Ailin was meditating while holding the Eternal Lake, contemplating the power within the Holy Sword.

Wu Chang did not want to disturb Ailin, so he went to the Chant Company plane alone.

Chant Company, 99th floor.

Ever since it became Wu Chang’s private space, the flow of time in the Chant Company plane had been synchronized with the real world.

It was already the early hours of the morning, but for the Chant Company, overtime had just begun.

He Yun sat in the chairman’s seat, using the Chant Company’s actual operational procedures to familiarize herself with the knowledge left behind by Schultz.

Regarding the Primordial Armament, she already had further concepts; the Primordial Armament was not just a technology for refining divinity from human nature, but also a technology for adding characteristics to divinity.

The ability displayed by the Primordial Armament was to use human nature as a guide to attach characteristics to divinity.

The divine mecha she currently manufactured only possessed the most basic divinity without characteristics.

According to the classification Wu Chang told her, this form was between a demigod and a low-level god, a stage where the seed of divinity had just matured and the individual was beginning to attempt to control divine power.

Although the Primordial Armament was very crude, its final version, the artificial god "Hymn," already possessed divine power with true characteristics.

Only when divinity possesses characteristics does it indicate that one has truly become a lower god, reaching the intermediate stage of a lower god.

Taking Ailin as an example, it was equivalent to her Power Angel stage.

What He Yun was currently thinking about was how to combine the Primordial Armament with her divine mecha; if successful, the mecha she manufactured would go a step further.

Her power relied entirely on the mecha; she had to continuously enhance the mecha to keep up with Wu Chang’s pace.

Just as she thought of Wu Chang, the voice she wanted to hear came from behind her.

"How is it, any progress?"

He Yun turned her chair, stood up, gave Wu Chang a hug, and whispered in his ear:

"None at first, but as soon as I saw you, I had inspiration."

Wu Chang put on a bitter face and said:

"You have inspiration, don't tell me you're going to focus on research again and leave me aside?"

He Yun laughed: "Not this time."

Wu Chang was a bit surprised; he had been prepared to drop off the items, leave a message, and depart, but he hadn't expected He Yun to say he didn't need to leave.

Could it be that his charm had surpassed research?

"That doesn't sound like your style."

He Yun moved her chair aside, revealing the computer at her workstation; she wasn't operating the computer, yet the text on the screen was increasing rapidly.

He Yun tapped her head with her index finger and said:

"It seems you stayed in other worlds for a bit too long this time and forgot the ability I gained during the psionic excitation surgery."

"My consciousness can appear in any machine; I don't need to sit in front of a computer to continue working."

A service robot brought two cups of coffee to the two of them.

The task of delivering coffee was previously handled by a dedicated life secretary, who would provide other services besides delivering coffee to soothe Schultz’s mood.

Ever since He Yun became the chairman, it had been replaced by service robots.

The robot used He Yun’s voice to say:

"Actually, if you go to any department now, you can see me working there."

"Alright, stop talking, it’s getting creepy." Wu Chang pulled He Yun into a hug and blocked her mouth.

He had indeed stayed in the Steam Phantom plane for too long this time, staying for the full month required by the main quest.

The gloomy smog of Grimland had made him forget the Mechanical Heart ability He Yun awakened through the psionic excitation surgery.

When using the ability, He Yun could disperse her consciousness and appear simultaneously on any machine within a three-thousand-meter radius; it seemed she was using this method to multitask, mastering all the knowledge of the Chant Company as quickly as possible.

It sounded cool, but thinking that while He Yun was talking to him, her consciousness was split into dozens of parts, manipulating dozens or hundreds of computers and robots to conduct experiments, made him feel a bit strange. Although He Yun’s original body had its mouth blocked by him, the service robot on the side could still speak, and she said:

"Alright, let’s change the subject; how did you feel using the Peacemaker I made?"

Wu Chang rolled his eyes, expanded his spatial domain, teleported the service robot directly to the plaza in front of the Chant Company, and said to the He Yun in front of him:

"It’s too weird, you should just use your original body to talk to me."

He Yun said flatly: "If you get used to it, this method of communication is quite efficient, and just now my mouth was blocked by you, so I couldn't speak."

Wu Chang sighed and said:

"Let’s talk about the Peacemaker; how did you know I used it?"

He Yun smiled and said: "I noticed the expression on your face when you received it; even if the situation didn't require it, you would find an opportunity to experiment with it."

The top-floor office was large enough, so Wu Chang took the Peacemaker out of his personal space and said:

"In fact, it helped me a lot."

A drone flew out from the corner; it connected to the Peacemaker and copied the usage records inside.

Wu Chang took this time to briefly tell He Yun about what happened in the Steam Phantom plane.

After all, He Yun would be going to the Steam Phantom plane later, so consider it getting to know the situation in advance.

After hearing Wu Chang’s description, a look of excitement appeared in He Yun’s eyes.

Whether it was the technological mysticism she created or Schultz condensing divinity from human nature, both had corresponding transcendent powers as a foundation.

The core purpose of the transcendent industrialization in the Steam Phantom plane was to create transcendence from ordinary materials; not only creating transcendence but also reaching the level of the power of origin, and even condensing divinity.

Just listening to Wu Chang’s description, she knew there must be something she could learn from it.

Wu Chang saw the excitement in He Yun’s eyes and said:

"I guessed you would be interested in the concept of transcendent industrialization, so I specifically prepared research materials for you."

He Yun’s eyes lit up, and she asked: "Is it the difference engine blueprints you mentioned earlier?"

Wu Chang said mysteriously: "No, that level of thing can be seen at will once you go to Stilan; what I prepared for you has higher research value than the difference engine, and especially for you, it is even more important."

As he spoke, he took a crown made of machinery out of his personal space.

"Item Name: Mechanical Crown"

"Item Type: Consumable"

"Item Grade: A"

"Item Skill: Mechanical Divine Soul"

"Skill Description: Within the Mechanical Crown, there remain traces of exploring the boundaries of divinity through pure mechanical power. Although it did not condense into a Seed of Divinity, it has transformed into a special existence under the stimulation of other Seeds of Divinity. After using the Mechanical Crown, you will gain the special talent: Mechanical Emperor."

"Talent Name: Mechanical Emperor"

"Description: All mechanical-type abilities you possess will be upgraded by one level and undergo mutation; each skill can only trigger this once."

"Note: Perhaps you cannot become the God of Machines, but you have already become the emperor of the mechanical world."

The Mechanical Crown Wu Chang took out was not the Industrial Crown Olivia spoke of at the Universal Industrial Exposition, but it could be said to be of the same origin.

This crown came from, came from the resentment of Xavier.

Xavier's blood-red last words were: [Find the truth behind the death of Luo En, and witness the pinnacle of the transcendent steam engine.]

Wu Chang had already deduced the truth behind the death of Prime Minister Luo En and had received Olivia's confirmation.

As for the pinnacle of the transcendent steam engine that Xavier wanted to witness, it referred to the industrial crown that Olivia took out at the Universal Industrial Exposition—the Difference Engine.

Upon seeing the appearance of the Difference Engine and experiencing its capabilities, Xavier's blood-red last words dissipated.

Fulfilling Xavier's blood-red last words brought Wu Chang 2 points of Health, 2 points of Inspiration, and 1 point of Will, as well as the Mechanical Crown now in his hand.

From Xavier's resentment, it could be seen that before the Steam Council was reborn and Prime Minister Luo En died, he had been constantly attempting to touch the divine realm using transcendent steam engines.

Unfortunately, until Luo En committed suicide and the plan between him and Olivia was officially launched, Xavier never succeeded.

In the end, when he became the God of Machines, the divinity he condensed was not Mechanical Divinity, but the Famine Divinity that Laiman had hidden within the Flesh Steam Engine.

However, under the stimulation of the Famine Divinity, the unformed concept of Mechanical Divinity underwent changes. Coupled with witnessing Olivia create the Difference Engine using rules and the Primordial Pivot without condensing divinity, this power changed further and condensed into the current Mechanical Crown.

Although he had previously forgotten about He Yun's Mechanical Heart ability, he believed that with He Yun's talent, she would be able to research something from it, so he brought it over.

Now, recalling He Yun's talent, he became even more confident in her.

Mechanical Heart, Mechanical Crown—it sounded like a series of abilities.

The moment the Mechanical Crown appeared, it firmly attracted He Yun's gaze. She stared at the crown in Wu Chang's hand and said:

"May I take a look at it?"

Wu Chang handed the crown to He Yun and said:

"Of course, I prepared this for you in the first place."

As an A-grade consumable item, the Mechanical Crown was absolutely precious, but compared to the Peacemaker that He Yun had crafted for him, it fell far short; furthermore, under He Yun's constant improvements, the Peacemaker would only grow stronger.

One good turn deserves another; Wu Chang was never a stingy person, and he could certainly spare a mere Mechanical Crown.

He Yun stroked the Mechanical Crown. The crown, which was just an ordinary item in Wu Chang's hand, came to life in hers.

The Mechanical Crown seemed like a miniature transcendent steam engine, starting up in He Yun's hands and shifting its form.

Looking closely, after the transformation, the crown's band and arched top showed traces of the Difference Engine, yet it was also interspersed with the designs of other transcendent steam engines.

He Yun murmured:

"It is very special, more special than anything I have ever seen. I can feel that it is like a living thing, and it is calling out to me."

He Yun stared intently at the Mechanical Crown, while Wu Chang stared intently at He Yun. He said:

"That is not an illusion; it is truly calling to you."

In his eyes, he could clearly see He Yun resonating with the crown in her hands. Accompanied by this resonance, the Power of Origin surged from her body.

The Power of Origin belonging to machines.

This Power of Origin was triggered by the Mechanical Crown, but it did not come from the Mechanical Crown itself.

Wu Chang had been curious before: according to the standards of the Steam Phantom plane, at least one of either He Yun or He Yi should have been a Child of the Plane.

If not for the plane's rules, whether in strength or control over technology, the He siblings were superior to Xavier and Olivia. Why had they not awakened the Power of Origin to influence the plane?

Looking at it now, He Yun was indeed a Child of the Plane; she also possessed the Power of Origin within her.

Perhaps the Underground Shelter plane's level was insufficient; perhaps her talent was too strong, and after obtaining the Desire Stele, she skipped steps to research technological mysticism, no longer needing the Power of Origin, which caused the Power of Origin within her to remain unactivated.

Now, with the influence of the homologous Mechanical Crown, He Yun successfully retrieved her own abilities.

He Yun stood frozen in place, holding the crown and feeling the call from within it. On the office computer, He Yun's face appeared and said to Wu Chang:

"The call the Mechanical Crown is sending to me is causing some kind of change in the Mechanical Heart ability that exists in my main body. I cannot predict the final result for the time being, but I can be certain that this is a positive upgrade."

"I can use the Mechanical Heart to fully comprehend the power within the crown without destroying it, and it will not affect your subsequent use of it."

Wu Chang raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. If the Lake of Eternity was Yu Ailin's exclusive weapon, then the Mechanical Crown was He Yun's exclusive item.

He had intended to give the Mechanical Crown directly to He Yun when he came, but he had not expected He Yun to be able to reap the benefits of the Mechanical Crown without consuming its usage count—it was truly an unexpected joy.

He used his Transcendence talent to "freeload" items, and He Yun used her Mechanical Heart talent to "freeload" the usage counts of consumables; she was truly someone he had taken a liking to, and she was indeed the same kind of person as him.

He Yun's Mechanical Heart talent took nearly five minutes to complete its upgrade.

Just as she had said before, the Mechanical Crown in her hand did not disappear after use; it remained intact.

She placed the Mechanical Crown casually on the office desk, leaned close to Wu Chang, and said:

"I really like the gift you gave me. There is still a long time until dawn; how should I reward you next?"

(End of chapter)