Chapter 79: Mechanical Overlord (Third Update, Requesting Subscriptions, Requesting Monthly Tickets)

The Evil Moon shone brightly overhead as ash resembling willow catkins drifted down from the sky like snowflakes, corroding the earth.

Countless evil spirits converged into a towering Black Tide, rampaging across the region of Emperor Tomb Mountain Range.

North of the Ancient Battlefield lay the region of Earth Fissure Furnace.

Qi Sheng's gaze looked down upon the land from high above; he could see a massive gathering of players here, engaging in a life-or-death battle against the surging Black Black Tide evil spirits, while an endless stream of players reinforced the front lines to replace casualties.

Twenty-five hours ago, a team of players discovered something strange while exploring the Earth Fissure Furnace region.

The rampaging evil spirits were organized and digging up underground spiritual stones, transporting them north in bulk.

The players were unclear about the evil spirits' purpose, but they were extremely interested in snatching the spiritual ore stones being transported by the spirits.

After a fierce battle, this player squad seized a batch of spiritual ore being carried by the evil spirits, and after sacrifice statistics, the harvest was substantial.

After this news was posted on the forum by the players, it attracted the attention of major guilds, which promptly organized personnel to join the snatching operation.

Today, a joint snatching operation launched by these major guilds was underway.

During this time, Qi Sheng's consciousness followed the evil spirit convoy transporting the spiritual ore and discovered that the final destination of this batch of ore was precisely the tower where the Earth Nian Evil Spirit resided.

The transported spiritual ore was fed into the furnace at the center of the tower to be smelted, converting it into the energy required for the Black Black Tide's growth.

However, there was a question here that left Qi Sheng puzzled.

The Black Black Tide possessed the characteristic of devouring all energy; why then did it need to go through the time-consuming and laborious effort of transporting ore to obtain energy from spiritual ore stones? It could simply devour the spiritual ore stones on the spot, integrating their internal energy directly into the Black Black Tide.

The Guide provided the answer, stating that in a low-Black Tide state, the Black Black Tide's efficiency in devouring and converting energy was not high; for stable structures like spiritual ore stones, the loss during conversion after being devoured was extremely high, but sending them to the Evil Eye Tower for smelting could maximize conversion efficiency.

This was also the very reason for the existence of the Evil Eye Tower.

A powerful Black Black Tide, however, required no auxiliary tools whatsoever; it was itself the most powerful energy devouring and converting engine.

After understanding the reason, Qi Sheng began to focus on the players' operation to snatch the spiritual ore stones.

After twenty-five hours of continuous snatching, the Earth Nian Evil Spirit had already detected the players' actions and manipulated more Black Black Tide forces to escort the spiritual ore stones.

The difficulty of snatching the spiritual ore subsequently climbed, which was also the reason why the major guilds chose to fight jointly.

One could see dozens of pits of varying sizes had appeared on the ground at the foot of the volcano; these had all been dug recently by evil spirit lives, with the purpose being the spiritual ore resources beneath the earth.

Whenever evil spirit lives transported a batch of spiritual ore stones out from the pits, players would push forward vigorously in that direction, attempting to snatch some of the ore.

As more and more black mist clusters gathered, the pressure on the player legions increased dramatically, and the number of deaths continued to rise.

During this time, the regional voice channel was incredibly lively:

"Brothers, I can't hold on anymore; I'm going to the little black room to sulk for an hour. See you all after my sulking session ends."

"Is there any friend nearby who can send a bottle of healing potion? I can still fight; I'm just a bit of experience short of leveling up, and it hurts me not to level up."

"The Clone Fireball Flow is truly fierce; aside from the high consumption issue and the need to constantly drink potions to replenish mental energy, it can completely be called the strongest team battle flow of the current version. It feels amazing; if only you tanks at the front hadn't collapsed, I would have had the capability to keep fighting; you all dragged me down."

"It's almost over; our guild snatched a lot of spiritual ore stones, and now we're just waiting for the sulking session to end so we can divide the spoils, hehe."

"Brothers nearby, back off; before I die, I want to pull off a self-detonation to kill another wave of evil spirits."

Just as this round of the snatching operation was about to fizzle out and Qi Sheng was preparing to shift his gaze to other player perspectives, a sudden mutation occurred.

Suddenly, a massive black vortex appeared in the sky; as it rotated, countless fine black cracks emerged along its edges, the churning cloud layers were instantly shattered by an invisible force, and the surrounding space distorted accordingly.

Countless dark gold, human-shaped shadows fell from the spatial vortex like raindrops.

Qi Sheng zoomed in his gaze and discovered that these dark gold figures were actually mechanical lives.

The moment they landed, the mechanical warriors began a sweeping devastation of the nearby area, with players also becoming targets of their attacks.

The weapons used by these mechanical warriors included both close-combat beam swords and long-range energy cannons; their arms could reconfigure to switch into different weapon forms, and whether it was players or evil spirit lives, none could withstand even a single strike from these mechanical lives.

The sudden appearance of the mechanical warriors left the player legions, which were already in a rout, completely devoid of any ability to resist.

During this time, curses filled the regional voice channel; players used beautiful linguistic arts to express their dissatisfaction with the mechanical warriors, while others asked what exactly was the situation with this group of suddenly arrived mechanical warriors.

The battle lasted less than one minute; the scene, originally chaotic with demons dancing wildly, was cleared completely, with all players and evil spirits vanishing.

This scene clearly terrified the Earth Nian Evil Spirit, which was manipulating the Black Black Tide's direction from behind the scenes; the black mist clusters in the distance stopped approaching and began to turn around and retreat.

The sudden arrival of the mechanical warriors also sparked Qi Sheng's curiosity.

"Guide, analyze!"

[Understood.]

Instantly, a massive amount of information surfaced in Qi Sheng's mind.

[Iron Soul]:

Hunting Rank: 83

Target Introduction: Living metal warriors, the pinnacle works of technology and bio-engineering; the Mechanical Overlord perfectly fused cold, hard machinery with the resilience of life, creating a new form of warrior that possesses flesh and blood yet surpasses machines, naming them Iron Souls; all Iron Soul warriors can grow their own strength by devouring iron ore stones.

As the Guide's analysis information was presented, a 3D model image of the Iron Soul also formed before Qi Sheng.

The Iron Soul stood 2.5 meters tall; its dark gold shell was covered with transparent glowing lines flashing with cold light, every inch of its body seeming meticulously sculpted, possessing both the precision of machinery and the fluidity of life.

Its head design was particularly unique, shaped like a cheetah poised to spring, with two electronic eyes emitting red light embedded where the eyes should be, and a slightly protruding sensor in the center of its forehead.

Swiping the 3D model, the floating Iron Soul phantom rotated, sharp blades popping out from the tips of its fingers, while a "humming" sound emitted from its body as its energy core operated.

Zooming in the view, under Qi Sheng's microscopic perspective, the biological tissues and metal structures of the Iron Soul warrior connected seamlessly, its bodily construction Kancheng perfect.

"Guide, can you invade and control this thing?"

[Tried it, cannot; these mechanical lives are different from the Star Net, seemingly lacking channels to connect externally, likely adopting a control Cultivation Mode such as an internal area network... Of course, there is another possibility: these mechanical warriors are protected by the power of laws, thus they cannot be manipulated via neural network invasion.]

Qi Sheng nodded, switching his gaze to the battlefield from earlier.

After clearing away the players and Black Black Tide evil spirits, the Iron Soul warriors scattered and stood in an alert posture; suddenly, dark red energy ripples appeared in the black hole above the sky, expanding ring by ring, as if accumulating energy.

Shortly after, a dark red pillar of light suddenly shot out from within the black hole, piercing into the earth.

Under Qi Sheng's perceptual perspective, the countless spiritual ore stones beneath the earth rapidly melted upon contact with the pillar of light, and the energy dissipated after being crushed was sealed by the light pillar, flying up into the black hole in the sky.

The pillar of light was like a straw piercing into the earth, extracting spiritual ore energy from the depths of the ground and continuously sending it to the other side of the spatial vortex.

This scene made Qi Sheng secretly curse in his heart.

The resources in the Emperor Tomb Mountain Range region were already within his grasp in his eyes; even if swallowed by the Black Black Tide manipulated by the Earth Nian Evil Spirit, they could eventually be converted into sacrificial power benefits for his side through the players, at most being temporarily stored in the hands of the Earth Nian Evil Spirit.

But this pillar of light was sucking away all the underground spiritual ore in the Earth Fissure Furnace region.

Banditry!

The process of extracting spiritual ore energy from the earth lasted for half an hour; once the dark red pillar of light dissipated, countless Iron Soul warriors flew up towards the rotating spatial black hole in the sky.

"Guide, follow them and take a look," Qi Sheng commanded immediately, filled with curiosity.

Upon hearing this, the Guide carried his consciousness flying toward the black hole.

Following the Iron Soul warriors through a colorful spatial tunnel, the scene presented before their eyes left Qi Sheng awestruck.

His consciousness quickly retreated and pulled back; he saw a mechanical creation comparable in size to the moon suspended above the earth; its shape resembled a planet, its structure made entirely of metal, constantly tearing open spatial vortices around it to deploy groups of Iron Soul warriors to areas outside the black hole.

Subsequently, it fired collection light beams, passing through the spatial black hole to extract spiritual ore resources from the other side.

The Guide's analysis information subsequently floated into Qi Sheng's mind:

[Mechanical Overlord]:

Hunting Rank: Demigod Level

Target Introduction: The ultimate weapon of the Starry Illusion Sea World; a world law has been integrated into its mechanical shell, possessing comprehensive combat power at the Demigod Level.

World Law Characteristic: Divine Metal

Rule Characteristic Introduction: Animate metal substances, turning them into living metal capable of growth and healing; after solidification, any damage can be repaired and regenerated by devouring metal substances, returning to the form set during solidification while retaining the functions created at the time of setting (the strength of living metal can be enhanced by devouring other metals; the more metal substances devoured, the higher the strength of the living metal and the faster its self-healing speed).

"Hiss, Demigod Level!"

Seeing the two characters "Demigod" in the Mechanical Overlord's hunting rank evaluation, shock was unmistakable in Qi Sheng's eyes.

He had originally intended to see which eyeless faction had come to the Emperor Tomb Mountain Range region to plunder spiritual ore resources, but he never expected the other party to be a Demigod-level powerhouse, and moreover, a mechanical life from another world.

Regarding Demigod-level combat power, he had temporarily only seen one such entity in the Monster World.

It was Ice Blade, which now remained only as a shell.

In other words, the Mechanical Overlord's strength had already reached a level comparable to Ice Blade.

But compared to Ice Blade, this ultimate weapon possessed one huge advantage.

It mastered a world law, possessing the blessing of law power.

As for why the Guide could analyze information outside the Monster World, even information on rule characteristics of other worlds, Qi Sheng did not find it strange.

The Guide was one of the controllers of the four strongest laws of the Monster World; all matter entering the Monster World would be registered in the World Information Database, from which the Guide could read and analyze information.

It could be understood that the operating Monster World had a database storing all information; whenever a new life was born, its information would be recorded within the World Information Database, which also included lives from other worlds.

As long as one entered the system of the Monster World, they would be analyzed and registered.

As one of the four gods controlling the operation of the Monster World, one of the Guide's abilities was to access the World Information Database.

This rule characteristic remained effective even when used in other worlds, though the analysis effect would be somewhat affected, requiring forceful breaking of the World Information Database to access it.

"Go in and take a look."

Under the Guide's escort, his consciousness entered the interior of the Mechanical Overlord, continuously delving deeper.

The metal structures along the way were complex and precise; every layer was equipped with an energy defense system, wrapping the internal core layer by layer.

Weapon factories, energy converters, mechanical research labs... Qi Sheng was surprised to discover that there was not a single sign of life inside this super weapon.

Engineering Iron Souls, Combat Iron Souls, Medical Iron Souls... within the vast mechanical fortress, only countless Iron Soul machines were operating, as if stepping into a mechanical empire woven from metal and circuits.

"Go to the deepest part and take a look."

The Guide's movement speed suddenly accelerated, breaking through layers of metal barriers, arriving at the deepest part of the Mechanical Overlord.

Presented before Qi Sheng's eyes was a room that appeared extremely simple, completely different from the mechanical technological feel outside.

In the corner of the room, beside a metal workbench, lay a human-shaped skeleton draped in a black robe; it appeared to have been dead for some years, its flesh and blood already dissolved, leaving only a skeleton emitting a faint glow.

After Qi Sheng's consciousness form circled the room once, he approached the corpse and looked at the Guide, asking curiously:

"Guide, can you extract any useful information from this skeleton?"

[Yes. By expending Sacrificial Power, I can piece together the fragmented images of information it left behind in this world before death.]

"How much Sacrificial Power will it consume?"

[Its life intensity was not high; one hundred thousand Sacrificial Power is sufficient.]

"Use it."

Upon hearing this, the Guide water sphere nodded, activating its analysis ability. Countless illusory fragments were extracted from the World Information Repository to reconstruct illusory flesh and blood for this skeleton.

After completely piecing together an illusory physical body for the deceased humanoid life, numerous fragmented memory sequences flooded into Qi Sheng's mind.

Looking around, the scenes within the memory images had not changed significantly.

Gazing at the light curtain hovering on the wall, he saw the world displayed before him, entangled by countless black, rotting tentacles.

This was a projected image of the external scene.

Wherever the invisible power in the image passed, the outlines of stars ceased to be clear. Originally brilliant and dazzling fixed stars rapidly dimmed, like candles burned to ash, gradually extinguishing in the endless darkness. Once-shining nebulae resembled watercolor paintings contaminated by pollution, chaotic and messy.

This scene was exceedingly familiar to Qi Sheng.

When he had once followed Ye Ming to search for living worlds, he had witnessed similar scenes countless times.

This was precisely the sight that only appeared when a world was completely eroded by the terrifying Black Black Tide.

Looking up into the distance, Black Black Tide rifts resembled the gaping maws of abysses, devouring everything around them, including light and matter. The number of rifts continuously increased during this period.

Throughout this process, the world's colors vanished accordingly, leaving behind only a blackness devoid of any hue.

Looking behind him, Qi Sheng saw a Iron Face twisted to the point of madness. It possessed the biological structure of a humanoid lifeform; its greatest difference from humans was a slender, single horn growing from its forehead, topped with a dark red bead.

"We have lost, but the war is not over."

Speaking thus, the humanoid figure turned to Iron Face the dark golden light curtain behind it and roared with a hoarse voice:

"Mechanical Sovereign, you were created by our race expending all our resources. We have lost, but your journey is not yet finished. The final rule of this world has been integrated into your body. Follow the Black Black Tide to their world; that is a higher-stage world possessing countless material energies to be seized. There, you will possess greater room for growth. Go forth and devour, create endless Iron Soul Warriors, destroy everything in that world, until the Black Black Tide is completely annihilated."

Accompanying the humanoid figure's hysterical roaring, the massive Mechanical Sovereign slowly sailed toward the spatial vortex at the end of the darkness.

"Slaughter, grow, destroy... Mechanical Sovereign, carry the final wrath of our race to destroy everything there and avenge us."

Amidst the designer's hysterical roaring, the Mechanical Sovereign pierced through the black mist and slowly merged into the Black Black Tide vortex.

The fragmented images continued to jump rapidly.

Qi Sheng saw the Mechanical Sovereign pass through the black curtain and descend upon the Earthsong Continent of the Monster World.

At that time, the Mechanical Sovereign's volume was only the size of two soccer fields, far from reaching a size comparable to the moon, yet its frenzied growth began right then.

Countless Iron Soul Engineering Soldiers fell like raindrops; wherever they passed, all spiritual ore resources were crushed and devoured, sent to the Mechanical Sovereign to become nutrients for its growth.

At that time, the Iron Soul hunting rank was not yet high, but their growth speed was terrifying.

Under the Mechanical Sovereign's control, the Iron Souls seized resources from the Monster World to develop rapidly.

During this process, the Mechanical Sovereign's body continuously expanded and updated. In the early stages, technical iteration even reached once every three days. Aside from the core room where the designer resided, the Mechanical Sovereign's evolution could be described as changing with each passing day, until it reached its current scale.

Throughout this period, countless living beings on the Earthsong Continent were slaughtered, including Black Black Tide forces that had spread to the Earthsong Continent.

The Mechanical Sovereign recognized no allies in its eyes; all energy and matter were enemies.

This was because its ultimate goal was to completely destroy the entire world.

At the end of the memory images, the Mechanical Sovereign had already become one of the strongest forces on the Earthsong Continent. Developing to the present day, it had fought countless large and small wars; although it suffered setbacks, it had never truly failed, even when facing powerful Black Black Tide legions.

The image cut off there. Qi Sheng lowered his head to look at the figure that had turned back into a skeleton, his expression helpless.

Through the memory images, he had already clarified the origins of the Mechanical Sovereign.

This was the masterpiece of a race before its extinction, attempting to use this ultimate weapon to achieve revenge and completely destroy the Black Black Tide.

But the situation did not develop according to the designer's script.

Because... they had gone to the wrong place.

The development trend envisioned by the designer was for the Mechanical Sovereign to enter the Black Black Tide World and rapidly devour and grow there.

The problem, however, was that after the Mechanical Sovereign passed through the Black Black Tide vortex, it did not descend upon the Black Black Tide World; instead, it arrived in the Monster World created by Di Zhao.

Therefore, the final command left by the designer, "completely destroy everything in that world," became "completely destroy the Monster World."

At the current stage, the Black Black Tide was also part of the Monster World, but only a part.

Since the Mechanical Sovereign possessed the ultimate goal of destroying everything, Qi Sheng had already classified it as a hostile force.

[This opponent cannot be underestimated. A rule of the Starry Illusion Sea World has been integrated into its body; theoretically, it already possesses the potential to become a god... Of course, compared to us Four Gods, it is still far inferior. After all, what we master are the rule powers of the Monster World, far beyond what rules from minor worlds like the Starry Illusion Sea can compare to. The world intensity is simply not on the same level.]

Hearing this, Qi Sheng chuckled helplessly, then nodded and said:

"Alright, let's go home."

[Got it, going home.]

His vision rapidly retreated from the designer's room. Intricate mechanical structures swept past from back to front, continuously shrinking in Qi Sheng's line of sight.

When the body of the Mechanical Sovereign, comparable in size to the moon, once again presented itself before his eyes, a smile floated on Qi Sheng's lips:

"Guide, it seems the situation in the Monster World is far more complex than we anticipated. Besides the ultimate goal of the terrifying Black Black Tide, there are clearly other potential challenges awaiting us, including revenge forces descending from other worlds similar to the Mechanical Sovereign... Myriad powerful races gathering together; the future will be very interesting."

[Boss, how can they compare to you? Lead the player legions and blast them apart!]

Today's three chapters totaling 15,000 words are complete; adding an extra update ahead of schedule.

Additionally, thanks to friends Gou Dan and He Zu for the Alliance Leader donations.

Thanks to Fire Red Duck for the 5,000 Qidian coins donation, thanks to Sponge Cake for the 1,700 Qidian coins donation, thanks to Iron Pillar Who Roams Ten Thousand Worlds for the 1,100 Qidian coins donation... Thanks everyone for your support of the new book.

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(End of Chapter)