Chapter 407 - Return of the Sword-wielding Dog

"Okay, is that how you want to play this?"

The Six-Paths Flower regretted feeling bad for the mechanical angel. It was insanely stubborn, and now it even dared to provoke its senior. The Six-Paths Flower had never been underestimated like this before.

"Master, you only talked about two of the options. What is the last research topic?" #18 asked out of curiosity. The two research topics were so outrageous that it wasn’t confident in succeeding even if it weren’t pressed for time. It was hoping that the final topic would be a little more realistic.

"The last one? Let me think... I got it! You know what Limitless City is, right?"

"I do not," #18 answered.

"Then let me catch you up to speed."

Lu Ran went on to tell #18 about Limitless City and the ascension realm. Although #18 was just born, its analytical ability far exceeded humans.

"I see. Limitless City is possibly related to the Four Supreme Divine Dragon and is set up like an MMORPG."

#18 mulled over the information and suddenly had a bad premonition.

"Limitless City generates a variety of items such as skill cards, trait crystals, and so on. Can you research the fundamental principles behind how they’re created and invent a machine to manufacture skill cards and crystal coins?

"If I can open a shop in the Stellar Moon Federation, then the local beastmasters will be knocking down my door to hand me money. From what I know, they’ve long coveted Blue Planet's evolution process."

“...”

"I knew it!"

The Six-Paths Flower knew that Lu Ran was going to come up with some crackhead idea to screw #18.

Realistic? How is researching the fundamental principles of Limitless City remotely realistic? I’m just a baby!

"Master, I think we should focus on the other two ideas first."

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Is that so..." Lu Ran nodded.

I’m glad that it’s interested in those two ideas.

"I have a small request! If you want me to complete the research you mentioned as soon as possible, master, I will need a state-of-the-art research lab."

"OK, I’ll figure out a way to get you one. Stay here for now."

Lu Ran was also aware that it was impossible for #18 to cook something up without the right tools, and the lab was a necessity. Luckily, the National Mechanical University had a research department. His plan was to see if he could join a mentorship program that would give him access to a private lab. Either that, or he could always pay to win and rent one.

Lu Ran left the ruin space and picked up the student ID on the table. It had his picture along with his name, Pedestrian A. He shelled out another 10,000 crystal coins to change his name back after he cleared the Mythical secret realm because the Six-Paths Flower noticed someone trying to divine information on him through his ID. He didn't want anyone finding out where he was, so he changed his ID to stop the divination technique.

The only issue remaining was that he didn’t know who performed the divination technique or what information they had already obtained. Regardless, he was pretty sure that he should be fine now that he had changed his ID. At the same time, if he got identified in an ascension realm as Beastmaster King, then it would blow his cover as well. Even if he didn't summon the Six-Paths Flower, it would still be too easy for someone to connect him to that ID. It went against his low-key style.

Lu Ran was about to head out when he noticed a laptop sitting on the table. Rather than wandering around, Lu Ran fired up the laptop to do some research. He almost forgot that he was in a period of time gifted with technology instead of some stone-age backwaters. Although the Mechanical Era was supposedly super advanced, their computers weren’t much different from the ones he was familiar with.

Lu Ran happily began browsing the web and found exactly what he needed after just fifteen minutes. The University Invention Competition was held once a year and was open to students attending a hundred and nineteen universities around the Stellar Moon Republic.

Although it was held so frequently, there was still a flood of applicants every year. Based on the competition’s official website, there were over fifty thousand participants this time.

"Holy shit." Lu Ran was stunned.

That’s so many people! That’s a level 4 ascension realm for you. It gets harder every time

.

Not only was there a horde of Non-Player Characters, but the ascension realm only allowed one person to level up. Getting into the top one hundred was no walk in the park. Lucky for him, he had an Overlord mechanical angel on his side. Most of the other participants were probably going to invent some small gadgets. The real threats were the ones with good backgrounds, rich parents, good mentors, and natural talent.

While he was looking around, Lu Ran found out that he wasn’t registered for the competition and that there were qualifications for joining in the first place—the minimum of which was a recommendation from a professor. Obviously, Lu Ran, being new to engineering, was going to make getting a recommendation quite a hurdle. It looked like he had some side quests to do before he could take part in the competition.

"This should be easy. The registration is open until three days before the competition starts. Once I figure out this part, then not only will I have access to a top research institute, I’ll even be able to get close to a high-level mentor."

Lu Ran clicked open the National Mechanical University’s official webpage. To gather more participants and encourage better results, the university provided certain resources. For example, it provided fifty-six research labs that have been available for students for a week.

These labs had varying levels of equipment and of course, the nicer labs had higher requirements for usage. Some required academic achievement, others required participation in previous competitions. There were even some that require combat prowess. In short, better individual capabilities translated to better conditions.

Lu Ran quickly took a fancy to one of the top research labs. It was filled with all sorts of equipment and had everything a researcher could wish for. It was clear that a lot of funding went into it. In fact, it was one of the best-equipped labs in the university. It was set up by a Legendary mechanic. To sweeten the pot, the requirement for getting the lab was combat-based.

It was kind of a “king of the hill” situation. Whoever got the lab was the “king,” and challengers could fight them to take over the rights to the lab. If the challengers won, then it would be their turn to defend.

Only someone strong enough could stay in the lab long term. There were also some additional rules, like the battles being 1v1, and the familiars having to be of the Mechanical attribute or mechanically enhanced.

"This is good. As long as I stomp the other students, I will be able to stay in the lab for as long as I want. This is perfect. Captain Doofus is about to be back in the spotlight. Wielding a lightsaber technically counts as being mechanically enhanced.

“It looks like I can issue a challenge between 9:00 and 10:00 am every day. It’s too late today, so I'll give it a shot tomorrow. The sword-wielding dog is about to take the stage once more. #18 will be able to start its research once we win. Captain Doofus will effectively become a guard dog and fight off intruders."

Lu Ran looked up the information on the current occupant of the lab.

Ji Xie, female, 21 years old, level 5 mechanic.

Often uses a familiar specializing in defense. Thunderstrike Mecha, level 58 Low-Overlord.

"Alright, let’s give it a shot. Maybe we can become mecha slayers. Right now, I only have an Advanced lightsaber, and it’s quite tattered. I think I’ll need to buy a new one. Wait, now that I have #18, why am I still buying stuff?"

Lu Ran quickly returned to the ruin space. #18 was still sitting on the rock, analyzing the two research subjects that Lu Ran proposed. Lu Ran couldn’t help but feel that its eyes looked a little lifeless. It didn’t look like an Overlord creature at all.

"#18!"

"Master..." #18 finally looked up.

"Can you make a lightsaber?"

"Lightsaber... a lightsaber!" #18 jumped up in excitement. "Yes, I can! Compared with those topics from earlier, this one is a piece of cake. Give me the materials, and I can make a Rare one right now."

"Why are you so excited?" Lu Ran asked.

"No, a Rare lightsaber isn’t enough to demonstrate my awesomeness. Master, I need you to find me some Epic-tier Mechanical materials. I'll enter the Hell domain and create you an Epic lightsaber in the next 30 days!"

#18 was eager to prove itself and was confident that it could make an Epic lightsaber. Lu Ran was asking for too much previously.

"Let me make the lightsaber!" #18 clenched its fists. The manufacturing process would help it increase its levels. With its current processing capacity, it couldn’t come up with any plausible way of creating an elemental life incubator or soul evolution machine.

"Alright... go ahead." Lu Ran didn’t know how to react. "I have a bunch of forging materials with me. See if any of them are useful. If not, I'll find you some more."

Lu Ran dumped out the pile of materials he had been accumulating. Forging and manufacturing were essentially the same thing. Twenty percent of forging materials could be used for manufacturing Mechanical attribute items. The main difference was in the process.

#18 looked at the materials on the ground. Scanning over them, it zeroed in on two pieces of metal and snatched them up immediately.

"This is a top-tier material for manufacturing a lightsaber. Master, you don't have to look for anything else. This is all I need."

"Huh?"

Lu Ran looked at the two pieces of metal in its hand.

[Name: Star Iron]

[Grade: Epic]

"What? This can be used as material for a Mechanical weapon? Wait, I don’t have much Epic material left. Are you a hundred percent sure that you can make an Epic lightsaber?"

"Yes! Do you not believe in me? Once I make an Epic lightsaber, my level will increase pretty significantly for sure. I am familiar with the manufacturing process for lightsabers; all I lack is hands-on experience. I can make up for it quickly in a Time domain.”

Lu Ran was astonished. The Star Iron was also perfect for forging a Starlight Sword. He didn’t expect the empire’s treasury would have something so valuable that it would still be desirable in the Mechanical Era. He was planning on forging a shield for Sudden Death King, but splitting half of it for Captain Doofus wasn’t a bad idea.

"Fine, if you say so. Go ahead and make the lightsaber. I will let Senior Six Paths open the Hell domain for you. I will try to improve the Mechanical space and contract you before you’re done. This way you can get a bigger boost and improve faster."

"Okay!" The mechanical angel was beaming with confidence. It finally got assigned a simple task.

The Six-Paths Flower appeared from its contract card.

"Alright, come on then. Let's try speeding up time by 60 times. Let’s see if you can endure it."

The Six-Paths Flower refused to believe that it could be outdone by some teensy robot.