Chapter 963: Call Me Han Bu Kui

Chapter 963: Call Me Han the Unscathed

"Two blueprints, two skills, one specialty..."

Gazing at the five pending rewards drawn, Han Xiao fell into deep thought.

Among the abilities drawn this time, the most valuable was undoubtedly the growth-oriented specialty [Innate Mechanical Spirit]. At his current level, it would grant him a total of 220% Mechanical Affinity and a 150% Virtual Technology bonus, classifying it as an advanced mechanical specialty.

As for the other four options, [Apostle-Level Mechanical Affinity] was out of the question. [Legion Volley Fire] was decent, but its cost-effectiveness was limited by comparison. The two blueprints were indeed of high tier, but since he already possessed similar equipment, he had little need for them.

"Not a bad result," Han Xiao thought, quite satisfied.

As fellow Mechanics, the vast majority of their skills were compatible, meaning the pool of drawable abilities was far larger than for other classes. Mechanics were notorious for their sheer volume of skills; a Mechanic of Manison's caliber must have mastered countless blueprints. To draw an advanced mechanical specialty from such a massive pool was truly a stroke of immense luck.

Manison's strength was built upon a mountain of specialties. Only with such a vast foundation could a qualitative leap occur. Although he hadn't drawn a top-tier template specialty, acquiring an advanced specialty from the Mechanical Nation had nonetheless narrowed the gap.

The wool comes from the sheep; these abilities were drawn from Manison himself. The more he learned, the smaller Manison's advantage over him would become. Gaps were closed step by step, and against a figure brimming with advanced specialties like Manison, one could hardly swallow a whole elephant in a single bite.

The 300-level [Innate Mechanical Spirit] Mechanical Affinity bonus surpassed [Dominator-Level Mechanical Affinity], yielding even better results in Virtual Technology. Combined with the 2.5x multiplier of [Virtual Dominator], it provided a 375% Virtual Technology bonus. Calculated out, the overall effect was roughly equivalent to a core class specialty like [Mechanical Emperor].

With his mind made up, Han Xiao made his choice.

[You have obtained [Innate Mechanical Spirit]!]

It was as if a spark of inspiration pierced through his mind, causing the theoretical structures within his brain domain to undergo subtle shifts, birthing a new understanding and realization of mechanical technology.

Adjusting to the changes, Han Xiao exhaled a breath:

"Manison not only has [Perfect Mechanical Sense], but also a series of mechanical specialties like [Innate Mechanical Spirit]. This guy's talent is just too absurd."

To be honest, he was a little... cough, extremely envious!

Han Xiao then turned his attention to the Manison character card drawn this time. The effects of this card were even more formidable: Intelligence +20%, Mystery +10%, and all skill levels +2. It was not a mechanical ability, but stemmed from an ability known as [The Elder].

He wondered if this ability required joining the Elder organization, or if simply surviving for a long time would suffice...

Over seventy billion experience points, more than double the reward from the Overlord quest, replenished his dwindling reserves of experience.

However, this quest did not grant any Legendery. Glancing at the quest's name, Han Xiao formed a hypothesis. The title specifically emphasized "Virtual Combat," suggesting that perhaps only formal, bloody battles would award Legendery.

After studying his new abilities for a while, Han Xiao closed the panel, pondering the gains and losses of this encounter.

"Manison's sudden arrival this time was premeditated. He stole some data and forced me to use up a Perfect Mechanical Sense character card. If I hadn't gained two new abilities, I would have suffered a loss... Manison suppressed me in my primary domain and achieved his goal, but he also alerted the Empire. Therefore, the likelihood of him causing more trouble in the short term is slim."

Han Xiao's eyes flickered slightly.

He had been a bit too conspicuous lately; it was the perfect opportunity to use this incident to lay low.

His foundation was still too thin. He needed to focus on farming and development. Before the leeks returned, he should first loosen the soil and nurture its fertility.

Losing one Perfect Mechanical Sense character card wasn't a major issue. Han Xiao had several blank character cards in his inventory, some drawn from random rewards and others given as rewards for [Shining World] quests. They were meant as backups anyway. He just needed to find a time to use one on Leonard and copy another [Perfect Mechanical Sense].

Speaking of which, he had accumulated several random reward opportunities recently. He could find time for a consecutive draw to see if he could pull out something good.

Hmm, it's better to wait until Fuding and Niluo are gathered before drawing. One can neutralize my bad luck, and the other can bring me good fortune...

In the eyes of the Great Technician Han, Fuding and Niluo were his two guardian deities, one on the left and one on the right.

Summarizing his losses, Han Xiao stood up, opened the Legion's internal network, swiped his fingers across the virtual holographic screen a few times, and wrote a brief internal statement:

"To all colleagues of the Black Star Legion:

Not long ago, the intelligent central hub of the Legion's headquarters was invaded by Manison of the Mechanical Nation. With the help of all members and the Empire, we successfully repelled him. During this time, various fluctuations occurred in the internal network, which have now been perfectly resolved.

I do not wish to make an enemy of the Mechanical Nation, but reality does not always bend to human will. Today's events serve as a signal. I ask everyone to mentally prepare for the day we might face the Mechanical Nation.

The Black Star Legion has been established for over twenty years, growing from a mercenary group with shallow roots into the leading armed force in the star region. Such achievements are inseparable from your dedication. Over these twenty years, we have walked side by side through wind and rain, encountering all manner of hardships and dangers. This is a path destined to be uneven, and more difficulties await us ahead.

The universe is vast and boundless, but even the broadest expanse cannot contain endlessly expanding ambition. As long as intelligent species exist, competition will be the eternal melody. It was so in the past, it is so today, and it will be so in the future.

In the past, I have created many miracles. In the future, I am equally unafraid of competition, and I hope you will all strive forward alongside me.

Your Legion Commander, Black Star.

Star Sea Calendar, September 11, 710."

Glancing over it and finding no issues, Han Xiao made a few minor tweaks before sending it out to notify all members.

The intention behind this move was to calm the restless hearts within the Legion, boost morale and cohesion, and mitigate the negative impact of Manison's antics. Although he didn't need to care about the thoughts of most members, doing it was better than not doing it.

Having dealt with this matter, Han Xiao swallowed a few tubes of nutrient paste, returned to his room to rest for a while, and then went back to the mechanical modification room to continue manufacturing and enhancing his machines.

Recognizing the gap in strength between himself and the Mechanical Nation, Han Xiao's enthusiasm for bolstering his foundation grew even more fervent. Thus, for the time being, he planned to seclude himself in forging, garrisoning the headquarters to prevent Manison from making a comeback... though the probability of that was low.

Once he confirmed that the storm had completely passed, he prepared to head to the Shining World to personally oversee the development of the Mechanical Civilization and the Black Spirit Race.

...

On the other side, in the Star Spirit Sea, at the headquarters of the Infinite Consortium.

In the massive, pure white office, Sorokin was multitasking, reviewing business reports from various regions, when his communicator suddenly rang.

When he was working, the communicator was set with priority levels; only important figures with high priority could contact him directly.

Sorokin put down the financial report in his hand, picked up the communicator, and saw Manison, who had just completed the invasion, on the screen.

"Lord of the Mechanical Nation, did you succeed?"

"Mm. Black Star's virtual technology is not weak, and the Empire sent Kant over. So, I only managed to get a part of the intelligence you wanted, which I've already sent to you," Manison said indifferently.

Glancing at the data Manison had transmitted, Sorokin shook his head:

"These internal materials are somewhat helpful to me, but they aren't exactly classified documents... Forget it, one can't force such things. By the way, why are you contacting my main body directly? Just send the intelligence to my avatar in the War Domain."

"Just being cautious."

Manison's tone was casual. He was highly experienced and didn't want to transmit data within the Broken Star environment, eliminating any possibility of being tracked and intercepted by Black Star.

Dealing with Black Star this time was merely a routine task for him, used to consolidate his position. Aside from growing increasingly interested in Black Star, there were no other ripples in Manison's heart.

"Alright." Sorokin nodded. "You defeated Black Star this time and have already formed a grudge with him. Aren't you afraid he'll make a move?"

"If he remains unconvinced, I wouldn't mind defeating him a few more times."

"Heh, Black Star is no match for you now, but that might not be the case in the future. Don't forget his terrifying potential..."

Manison gave him a faint glance. "Put away those little schemes of yours."

Sorokin smiled playfully and changed the subject:

"By the way, last month's shareholder dividends have been calculated and will be distributed in a few days. If you need to purchase any resources, give me a list, and I'll directly convert it into a discounted equivalent for you."

"The usual."

Manison was indifferent. Although the consortium's dividends were generous, at his level, he no longer cared much about money.

After chatting for a few more sentences, the two ended the communication.

Putting down the communicator, Sorokin's eyes flickered slightly as he murmured to himself:

"The Mechanical Nation... Black Star..."

...

In the Central Star Sea, on the capital planet of the Crimson Dynasty, in the Monarch's office.

A virtual screen floated before Ulanruel, displaying the internal statement Han Xiao had just made public, presented by the Empire's main intelligence, "Heroic Soul."

After reading it through once, Ulanruel nodded gently:

"It seems Black Star has grasped our meaning and refrained from any drastic reactions."

Standing nearby, Cloti, the Dark Emperor, crossed his arms and remarked with a faint air, "Black Star is a transcendent genius unseen in all of history. Typically, geniuses harbor immense pride. Though he has been exceptionally sharp of late, he swiftly recognized reality. Such a mindset is truly commendable."

Even the Crimson Empire, renowned for its iron-headed stubbornness, understands the art of endurance. Black Star has revealed astonishing potential, and while the Empire was pleasantly surprised, it also harbored fears that he might break from being too rigid. Yet it now appears that Black Star remains remarkably clear-headed, refusing to clash head-on with the Mechanic Kingdom.

The Empire also knew the Mechanic Kingdom was not to be trifled with. Calculating across status, combat prowess, and influence, Manison's tier was even a notch above Old Dragon and Kant. He was the paramount ally of the Shining Federation, an existence on the level of the Alien God, and only the Empire's direct, supreme enforcer, the Dark Emperor, could barely stand shoulder to shoulder with Manison.

If one were to select the foremost Beyond Class A from each of the three great civilizations, the Shining Federation's trump card would be the Mechanic Kingdom, Manison; the Crimson Empire's would be the Dark Emperor, Cloti; and the Virtual Spirit Sect's would be the Void Sovereign, Ksuye.

The three great civilizations approached matters from the perspective of the entire civilization. Unless absolutely necessary, they would not lightly entangle the civilization in the squabbles of Beyond Class A's. Thus, for sparring and contests among them, as long as no lives were lost and the authority of the civilization was not provoked, the three civilizations adopted an attitude of tacit approval, maintaining a balance, for they could not completely restrain the daily activities of their allies.

Kant's remote projection was also in the room, swaying its leaves as it sighed, "That may be so, but Manison has sat firmly upon the throne of the Supreme Deity of the Mechanic Faith for far too long."

"That is simply unavoidable; it is not just a predicament for mechanics. Even the experts at the Virtual Spirit Sect who toy with deities are at their wits' end," Cloti sneered coldly. "Even if we could slaughter every single believer of the Mechanic Faith, faith itself cannot be killed. It would only forever eliminate the possibility of the Mechanic Faith venerating the Empire's mechanics."

Ulanruel tapped the table, "There is no need to dwell on such words. After this incident, Black Star may harbor quite a few grievances against the Empire. He needs to be appeased."

"Why not gift him some blueprints? Nothing soothes a mechanic's wounded little heart quite like high-tier blueprints."

Kant spoke irresponsibly, glancing at the immensely imposing Cloti nearby. Suddenly taking a fancy, he activated his talent, and his radish-like body swiftly transformed into Cloti's exact likeness, down to the very last detail.

"Do not take my form."

Frowning in displeasure, Cloti couldn't be bothered to look at Kant. Turning to face Ulanruel, he said slowly, "I, Kant, and Milizaus will all pass away sooner or later. Black Star is the next generation's pillar among the Empire's Beyond Class A's. He must shoulder the heavy responsibility of guarding the Empire. He has already proven himself worthy of great trust. I suggest we be bolder in our resource support for him."

"Hmm..."

Ulanruel pinched his fair and flawless chin, falling into deep thought.

...

In the interstellar era, the efficiency of information dissemination was exceedingly high. The virtual duel between the Mechanic Kingdom and Black Star in the Broken Star Ring quickly spread like wildfire.

Many interstellar citizens gained new gossip for their tea and meals, yet in terms of sheer impact, the event paled in comparison to the battle between Black Star and the Overlord.

After all, a virtual duel lacked the sheer spectacle of Beyond Class A's throwing caution to the wind and brawling. With no restricted-level footage leaking, the event's influence naturally could not swell to great proportions.

Although rumors claimed Black Star had suffered a defeat, to most, this seemed nothing to make a fuss about. The name of the Mechanic Kingdom was deeply ingrained in people's minds, and Black Star losing to the current strongest mechanic was hardly surprising; after all, countless souls had fallen to the Mechanic Kingdom throughout history.

The major interstellar factions cared little for the outcome; instead, they focused on the friction between the Mechanic Kingdom and Black Star, with a considerable number of factions feeling secretly delighted.

Sisko was a prime example of this. The more formidable the opponents Black Star provoked, the happier he was. Being watched by the four pro-Empire Beyond Class A's in the Broken Star Ring, he was now living an exceedingly low-profile life.

While the event's impact on the outside world was rather ordinary, it caused quite a stir within the mechanics' circle. Black Star was a rising star who had recently ascended to the Divine Throne mechanic, while the Mechanic Kingdom was a veteran powerhouse; both were under intense scrutiny. When the two collided, the Mechanic Kingdom's elegance remained undiminished from his prime. Suppressing the junior who sought to challenge him, he proved he was still the formidable titan who could piss three yards against the gale, reaping a wave of heated discussion.

After this battle, in the eyes of most mechanics, there were still only two kinds of mechanics in the world: the Mechanic Kingdom, and all the rest.

Han Xiao paid no heed to the interstellar rumors. Whether Manison profited or not, he himself was certainly not at a loss.

Moreover, reducing the outside world's attention on him perfectly aligned with his desire to quietly accumulate strength. In the short term, Han Xiao had no intention of challenging the Mechanic Kingdom's status.

After all, he was not like the Overlord; he rarely did things that exceeded the scope of his abilities.

The logic of his past life as a player was already ingrained in his very marrow:

What do you do when you can't beat the boss? Grind levels first, of course! What else could you possibly do?!

Having laid low at the headquarters for over half a month and confirming that the Mechanic Kingdom would not cause further trouble, Han Xiao assembled a fleet and set sail for the Shining World, leading an expedition to inspect his territory.