The sudden turn of events left the onlookers exchanging confused glances. Whose robot was this? Bing Tianning engaged the robot in a beam struggle that lasted for several minutes, neither gaining the upper hand. The robot decisively abandoned the beam attack, realizing it was merely wasting energy. Its arms retracted, extending into long swords. With dual energy swords now in hand, it lunged at Bing Tianning. Bing Tianning ceased his beam attack as well, anticipating the robot's intent and activating the wrist blades on his arms.
Both combatants propelled themselves forward with jets of air, charging at each other. Bing Tianning's speed matched the robot's precisely. The robot's material composition was as robust as Bing Tianning's. "A worthy opponent at last," Bing Tianning thought. They collided, swords clashing against wrist blades, sparks flying. Both wielded energy blades, their movements fluid and constantly shifting. Bing Tianning found it easy to adapt, while the robot easily dodged and parried his techniques.
Numbers flickered rapidly in Bing Tianning's eyes, mirrored by the robot's optical sensors. Both were deducing optimal combat strategies based on the ongoing battle. However, Bing Tianning held a distinct advantage in deduction. This was due to inheriting Chen Tian's computational prowess, the extent of which was widely acknowledged. Chen Tian's abilities allowed for a near-prescient glimpse into future combat scenarios. In contrast, the robot operated on fixed data, highlighting the gap between them.
In an instant, two beams sliced across the robot's body, leaving a shallow gash. The robot retreated, its data indicating that Bing Tianning's weapons should be on par with its own. How could its chassis sustain damage?
The inherent weakness of robots lay in their reliance on data. They executed commands strictly based on programmed algorithms. This was precisely why Chen Tian had preserved Bing Tianning's consciousness; a sentient robot was vastly more powerful than one operating under fixed protocols. Bing Tianning sneered, "Is this all you've got? You call yourself a robot?"
"Interesting, very interesting!"
A series of claps echoed through the crowd. An old man emerged, distinguished by a circular monocle over his left eye and a mechanical left arm. His hair was entirely white. He spoke, "Number Seven, return."
"Yes, Master!"
The robot immediately complied, moving to the old man's side. The elder regarded Bing Tianning as if examining a rare artifact. "Impressive, quite impressive," he stated with satisfaction. "I've never seen or encountered a structural design or material integration method like yours."
"Most astonishingly, you are a human transformed into this state, yet you retain your human consciousness. This is something a robot cannot achieve."
"Young man, surrender your body to me. I wish to study it thoroughly."
The old man was a renowned scientist in the mechanical world, a fervent scholar dedicated to technological advancement. Upon witnessing Bing Tianning's unique physiology, his obsessive curiosity was ignited. He yearned to dissect Bing Tianning and understand its inner workings.
What was its power source? How were its materials seamlessly fused? And why did it retain human consciousness?
"I refuse. If you want to fight, then fight. But frankly, your robot seems rather unimpressive."
Bing Tianning rejected the offer outright. The idea of his body being subjected to research felt profoundly unsettling. Even Chen Tian, who had aided in his physical augmentation, had never thoroughly examined his body. Furthermore, Bing Tianning was now capable of handling himself and no longer required Chen Tian's assistance. There was no way he would agree to the old man's request.
"If that is your decision, then do not blame me. Did you think this was my most powerful robot? You are mistaken. This is merely a test model, Number Seven. Numbers Five and Six, play with him."
Two beams of light shot out from behind the old man. Facing Bing Tianning now were two humanoid robots, their forms identical to humans.
The eyes of both robots illuminated simultaneously, their systems activating. Bing Tianning entered combat mode. As if by prearrangement, the two robots attacked from both sides. One wielded dual pistols, the other dual blades. Bing Tianning activated his wrist blades, sparks flying as metal met metal.
Amidst a flurry of blades, Bing Tianning, surrounded by the two robots, defended himself with practiced ease. Their combat techniques were indeed far superior to the previous opponent's, on an entirely different level.
"Numbers Five and Six possess combat skills that can contend with cultivators of the Ninth Realm. Coupled with their internal computational chips, you are still too inexperienced, young man. I can make you even stronger."
The old man's face was etched with longing. Bing Tianning's body was a perfect ideal, the robot he had always envisioned. He was confident that Numbers Five and Six would subdue Bing Tianning and bring him here.
Despite the onslaught from the two advanced robots, Bing Tianning faced their attacks with apparent ease, handling them with a remarkable degree of composure. To put it plainly, robots were robots. Their attack patterns were predictable, and only when defending did they exhibit variations. During offensive maneuvers, their processing speed often lagged behind human thought. Bing Tianning could consistently counter their attacks, but this drawn-out engagement was not beneficial for him.
Bing Tianning's body expanded, and countless small ports opened, firing miniature beams. As the beams shot out, Numbers Five and Six immediately retreated. Bing Tianning seized the opportunity to attack. Two beams erupted from his shoulders, missiles launched from his back, and Gatling guns on his legs unleashed a torrent of fire to the sides.
Facing Bing Tianning's barrage, the two robots opened cannon ports in their chests. Two beams erupted, and they began to rotate, detonating all incoming attacks with their energy fields.
Bing Tianning hadn't anticipated this energy cannon capability. His rear wings deployed, enabling him to charge rapidly. Long swords extended from his arms, and their rapid rotation transformed them into drills as he charged forward.
Numbers Five and Six stood their ground, extending their arms to manifest massive energy shields in their palms, blocking his advance. Bing Tianning's drill-like attack was effectively halted. No matter how furiously the drill spun, the barrier remained unbroken.
Witnessing this, the old man's face showed urgency. He commanded, "Numbers Five and Six, initiate fusion. Do not prolong this engagement."
"Beep beep."
Upon hearing the old man's order, the bodies of Numbers Five and Six exploded into countless fragments of machinery, which then reassembled.
Bing Tianning observed this, marveling at the robots' ability to combine. "Indeed, a true practitioner of the mechanical world. They've mastered their craft."
He felt no apprehension. As the robots fully assembled, numerous new components appeared on their frames, though their general appearance remained unchanged.
Bing Tianning and the newly formed entity faced each other. Machine versus machine. A true technological battle was about to commence.
On another battlefield, beside Bing Tianning, Long Keling was struggling to hold his own.
He couldn't comprehend how Chen Tian's power could be greater than his own. How could this be?