Chen Tian’s figure also appeared before everyone’s eyes, along with Wu Que Nan Fei, Brother Shu Zi, and Ye Ge. Qing Ling had also arrived, drawn by the sound of explosions.
Chen Tian looked at his interface. Though it wasn’t of much use to him, being merely the kill reward for a clone, the experience and some equipment were valuable. He couldn’t utilize anything else.
After this battle’s rewards, Chen Tian’s combat experience had undergone a substantial, qualitative change.
He then walked over to Shui Li. Shui Li smiled upon seeing Chen Tian; it was wonderful that Chen Tian was alive and had won.
“Chen Tian, Chen Tian, we’re here!”
Familiar voices reached Shui Li and Chen Tian’s ears. Chen Tian’s lips curved into a smile as he heard them. “You’re here! Is everything prepared?”
Wu Que Nan Fei said excitedly, “Of course! How could we miss out on such a thrilling battle?”
Shu Zi and Ge Zi nodded. Qing Ling came to Chen Tian’s side. Shui Li looked at the four of them and asked, “Chen Tian, who are they?”
“My friends, my brothers, my family. This operation requires their participation!”
“Oh!”
Shui Li said mildly, then made a friendly gesture, speaking kindly, “Welcome, friends, to the Water Spirit Tribe’s territory. Since you are Chen Tian’s friends, you are also my friends, Shui Li’s friends. There’s no need to be overly formal.”
“It’s alright, it’s alright!”
The three of them smiled in unison. Chen Tian was then led by them to the center of the City Lord’s Mansion.
Chen Tian looked at the four of them solemnly and said, “Bring it all out!”
“Alright! Brother!”
“Got it, Chen Tian!”
Then, the four of them slowly swung their arms, and countless items rained down from the sky. A massive hexagonal magic circle appeared in the sky, and numerous items plummeted to the ground like rain.
With sounds of thuds and clinks, after a few minutes, a mountain of steel, the size of a small hill, appeared before Chen Tian.
Chen Tian picked up a piece of iron and nodded with satisfaction. “Very good. Level seventy weapon materials, and rare materials too. I’ll leave this to you all!”
“Chen Tian, don’t be so formal. Take these. Consider them a gift.”
Wu Que Nan Fei said heartily. Shu Zi and Ge Zi had no objections, nodding contentedly.
They had profited from this. These materials didn’t cost much, but the experience and rewards from annihilating a race were immense!
Chen Tian was willing to let them participate, and they were already grateful. To be stingy about materials on top of that would mean they were unworthy of being friends.
Chen Tian understood and nodded. Qing Ling then came to Chen Tian’s side, looking confused. “Brother, what do you need these weapon materials for?”
“Yeah! Chen Tian, we’re curious too. Do you happen to be a blacksmith class? Can you forge weapons?”
“We’re curious too!”
“Same here!”
The three of them looked at Chen Tian in unison. Chen Tian waved his hand, and with a whoosh, the mountain of weapon materials instantly vanished, nowhere to be seen by anyone.
Then, Chen Tian slowly opened his eyes before everyone. In his left eye, deep within the pupil, a gate constructed of machinery slowly materialized. Chen Tian then extended his left hand and slapped the void.
With a swish, a gate composed of mechanical gears appeared before everyone. A male figure emerged from the gate, and then the mechanical gear gate slowly closed. Xue Yuan Long spoke, “Master, what do you need me for?”
“An NPC?”
The four looked at each other, as their information indicated the man before them was an NPC. How had Chen Tian managed to subdue an NPC? They couldn’t believe it.
After all, NPCs were pre-programmed in the game. Only Qing Ling knew why, but she didn’t say anything.
This was more than just a game. She only hoped her brother could grow stronger quickly.
Chen Tian then approached Xue Yuan Long and said, “Open your mechanical heart. I will implant a program for you. The materials are sufficient now; you can be modified!”
“Yes, Master!”
With a creaking sound from Xue Yuan Long’s chest, the flesh around his heart slowly opened, like a blooming lotus. Simultaneously, everyone could see that his heart was a mechanical one. The silver mechanical heart beat continuously, just like a real heart.
Chen Tian brought up his panel, and instantly, a socket appeared within the mechanical heart, plugging into the edge of Chen Tian’s interface, like connecting to a computer port.
Ge Zi exclaimed, “That’s a Technician class! There are only five slots in the entire server, and it’s a hidden class! Chen Tian actually has it! I can’t believe it!”
“Ge Zi, what is a Technician class?”
Shu Zi asked curiously, as they had never heard of this class. Ge Zi explained calmly, “The Technician class has only five spots in the game ‘Epoch of Time.’ Players of the Technician class are different from ordinary players. They have no combat ability; they can’t even fight against ordinary NPCs. However, their strength lies in their ability to dismantle and reassemble the bodies of others.”
“Technicians can possess two mechanical hearts. Once a mechanical heart is implanted into any living being, that being loses consciousness and becomes mechanical, only obeying the Technician’s commands. Their maximum potential and combat power depend on how the Technician modifies their body.”
“Their bodies are composed of materials. Their entire being is a weapon, an undying warrior. However, this class consumes a lot of materials. For example, with level seventy materials, Chen Tian can modify his body to be comparable to a level seventy boss or weapon. Furthermore, depending on Chen Tian’s design, their entire body will have different abilities.”
Hearing Ge Zi’s explanation, Shu Zi and Wu Que Nan Fei were astonished. Good heavens, how terrifying! An undying warrior who can improve indefinitely as long as there are enough materials. It was too frightening.
“Fortunately, my friend Shu Zi and I, being noble players, can easily obtain these materials. Otherwise, Chen Tian alone might never gather enough materials for modifications.”
“So, Chen Tian asked us to collect materials to modify this guy? According to your explanation, Ge Zi, won’t this NPC, once modified, be comparable to a level seventy player boss?”
“Yes! Furthermore, subsequent upgrades will require even more powerful materials, and the materials used cannot be reused. This means it consumes too many resources.”
“I and Shu Zi cannot obtain materials beyond level one hundred. For now, at most level seventy materials. Otherwise, we would have already collected level ninety materials.”
Ge Zi waved his hands helplessly, explaining to Wu Que Nan Fei’s questioning.
Wu Que Nan Fei blurted out, “This Chen Tian guy is just not human. Fortunately, I’m not his enemy, or I’d be tormented to death!”
Ge Zi and Shu Zi looked at each other and nodded. It seemed so. To be Chen Tian’s enemy was truly torture.
Mainly, Chen Tian was too monstrous! Then, Chen Tian tapped on his interface. The game interface of ‘Epoch of Time’ was quite similar to a small laptop.
Chen Tian used it with no discomfort. As he tapped, sounds emanated from the mechanical heart. The sound of gears turning, which was absent before, slowly appeared.
Faint silver lines appeared on the silver mechanical heart, connecting to all the nerves. Inside the heart, a silver light sphere slowly emitted light.
Chen Tian watched the scene before him and accelerated his actions, his fingers constantly tapping on the interface. The interface now seemed like a keyboard. As Chen Tian tapped, countless beams of light flowed from the interface along the lines of the heart into the center of the heart.
Then, Chen Tian stopped his actions and looked at Xue Yuan Long, closing his interface. Xue Yuan Long’s heart slowly healed, covered once more by flesh. Xue Yuan Long opened his eyes.
However, this time, his eyes flickered with countless electronic sounds, and his entire body emitted mechanical noises.
Chen Tian looked at Xue Yuan Long. This was the program adapting to his body. However, after a while, Xue Yuan Long returned to normal. Because Chen Tian had chosen to retain Xue Yuan Long’s consciousness in the contract, Xue Yuan Long did not become a mere war machine that only knew how to fight.
Xue Yuan Long looked at his body calmly. It was unchanged from before, but he knew he had undergone a seismic shift. Terrifying information continuously appeared in his mind.
Chen Tian looked at Xue Yuan Long and said, “Alright, get acquainted with the program system first. I’ll need you to take action later.”
“Yes!”
Xue Yuan Long said respectfully, his gratitude profound. He understood the power he now possessed, the ability to wield such terrifying strength in an instant. It was all thanks to Chen Tian’s help, and he couldn’t be more grateful.
Then, Chen Tian walked over to Shu Zi and the others, then looked at Shui Li and said, “Shui Li, tell us about the current situation between the Water Spirit Tribe and the Fire Spirit Tribe. I need to formulate a strategy!”
“Alright! Currently, the Fire Spirit Tribe’s top lords have all mobilized, attacking various cities. Each lord leads their own army for troop warfare. Shui Yue City, which I guard, was initially supposed to be defended by me against Huo Yun Tian. But since he was killed by you and me, they’ve sent a level seventy-four lord named Huo Long Yun. This guy’s combat power is no weaker than mine; in fact, he’s even stronger.”
“We’ve fought before, and I was mostly at a disadvantage. Furthermore, most of my subordinates were withdrawn by the tribe, so I’ve been struggling to hold on. Thus, we haven’t fully engaged him yet.”
“However, because the Fire Spirit Tribe is short one lord, the Water Spirit Tribe will have one lord stationed at the tribal grounds to prevent sneak attacks. This is also why the Water Spirit Tribe can hold on. With one less lord on their side, we have less pressure.”
After Shui Li finished speaking, Chen Tian fell into contemplation. Images flashed through his mind, and a sinister smile appeared on his face.
Just as he was about to say something, a voice rang out, “Report! Huo Long Yun, along with three generals and three commanders, is leading the entire army towards the city walls!”
A guard rushed to the entrance of the City Lord’s Mansion and shouted. Chen Tian said calmly, “Wu Que Nan Fei, Shu Zi, Ge Zi, be careful. The opponent’s three generals are players. Be extremely cautious. Their levels should be similar to yours!”
Wu Que Nan Fei replied dismissively, “Finally, some fighting! I’ve been itching for a battle. My quest is done anyway, and I can test my new class’s abilities. Let’s go!”
“Sigh! Wu Que Nan Fei is truly a combat enthusiast!”
Shu Zi knew Wu Que Nan Fei best. Wherever there was a fight, he had to get involved. This guy was a pure combat junkie; he couldn’t stand not fighting.
Then, the group headed towards the city walls. With a whoosh, a streak of light shot across the sky towards the city walls.
It was Xue Yuan Long. On Xue Yuan Long’s back, giant rhomboid wings made of machinery spread out to the sides, and a jet of air expelled from the center, propelling him through the sky.
Chen Tian’s modification was complete, and he had adapted to the program system. With a mere thought, all his mechanical abilities could be activated.
Watching Xue Yuan Long swiftly charge towards the city walls, Shu Zi and the others were dumbfounded. Shui Li admitted he couldn’t keep up with such speed. Was this the terrifying power of a Technician?
On the city walls, three hundred Water Spirit Tribe guards stood at full alert. Below the walls, a dense army, as large as a forest, appeared before everyone’s eyes.
The fiery red army exuded a terrifying aura as it approached the walls of Shui Yue City. Their numbers totaled a staggering ninety million, all of them adult-stage elves.
Xue Yuan Long landed instantly on the city wall. The Water Spirit Tribe guards pointed their weapons at Xue Yuan Long. Xue Yuan Long said calmly, “Not an enemy, but a helper!”
The guards then lowered their weapons, having thought an enemy had arrived.
Xue Yuan Long then looked at the army before him, numbers flashing in his eyes. He said calmly, “The numbers are approximately ninety million, all adult-stage elves. Three level seventy generals, three level fifty commanders, and one lord-class monarch in command. Information acquired!”
The numbers in his eyes stopped flashing. With a thought, his mechanical wings spread out. This time, they were bird-like wings made of machinery, with a silver body and silver feathers. At the base of Xue Yuan Long’s wings, on either side, were glowing rings. Within each ring were three blades, resembling fans embedded within.
He then stepped forward and soared into the air, blue flames spewing from beneath his feet. His wings spread and then flapped in unison. The mechanical feathers slowly shot out.
Instantly, with tinkling sounds, they embedded themselves into the ground around the Fire Spirit Tribe army. Then, silver lines began to emanate from the feathers, connecting to form a massive silver light shield that enveloped the entire Fire Spirit Tribe army.
The Fire Spirit Tribe army looked at the light shield with disdain. Did they really think a mere light shield could block their path? They were dreaming.
“All troops, attack! Crush this light shield!”
One of the generals said contemptuously. Countless fireballs, fire swords, fire arrows, and fire blades were shot out, striking the light shield. But with explosions, the light shield remained intact before everyone’s eyes.
The three generals and three commanders nodded, and then the generals attacked together with all their might. Terrifying, scorching flames coalesced into the shape of great suns, smashing against the light shield. The three great suns struck the light shield but had no effect; the light shield remained.
Xue Yuan Long looked at the attacking Fire Spirit Tribe forces below, a smirk on his lips. This was an energy-based light shield. Xue Yuan Long’s entire mechanical power was derived from his heart. As long as his heart continued to function, energy would be generated endlessly.
The light shield was composed of energy emitted from the mechanical feathers. Xue Yuan Long could use any mechanical energy as a power source to activate it. This meant that as long as Xue Yuan Long’s mechanical heart continued to operate, the mechanical feathers would continuously receive energy, maintaining the light shield.
It could be said that this single light shield had halted the advance of the entire Fire Spirit Tribe army.
Xue Yuan Long, this was the terror of a Technician. Xue Yuan Long was completely self-sufficient, a pure war machine that did not need to rest, and one that could not be easily destroyed. It was impossible to kill unless completely obliterated.
Xue Yuan Long had no health bar, no numerical stats. All he had was mechanical ability and the program system Chen Tian had loaded.
His entire being was a weapon.