Chapter 420 - Divine Research Institute Member: Lu Ran! (Part 2)

Capital of the Stellar Moon Republic.

Luxury cars and high-end aircraft crowded the vicinity of the National Mechanical University. Representatives from official departments and tech companies had flocked to the university for a single purpose: to meet Pedestrian A, the prodigy who had reopened the Elemental Era.

However, the university couldn’t possibly let Lu Ran make an appearance now. In their view, the only ones who should reach out to him next were the highest authorities representing the nation’s will. And the first such authority to contact the university was the Divine Research Institute.

Currently, the Stellar Moon Republic had three Epic-Legendary mechanics. Without a doubt, their contributions to the republic would be recorded as epic stories for millennia.

One of them had fully transformed into a digital lifeform, merging with the mechanical world to oversee, regulate, and maintain the forbidden mechanical weapons capable of annihilating the republic hundreds of times over. She was the nation’s Sword Holder.

The second was an Epic-Legendary mechanic who had successfully undergone mechanical modification, becoming a robot. He now served as the republic’s ruler, devoting himself entirely to its governance and micromanaging even small-scale development.

The third was Director Lin En of the Divine Research Institute, an Epic-Legendary mechanic who had dedicated their life to pursuing the realm of mechanical gods.

While everyone was searching for Lu Ran, unbeknownst to them, Dr. Cheng Kong had already secretly whisked him away.

“Just as I thought, the Divine Research Institute would definitely recruit Pedestrian A. After all, when Director Lin En heard that Pedestrian A was willing to hand over the Elemental Life Creation Device, he was very impressed with the kid.

“I wonder if the Divine Research Institute will allow him to share the technology with the university after he becomes a Divine Researcher. Regardless, the university has already hit the jackpot this time.”

Principal Deng and the others were exhilarated as they saw Lu Ran off.

Of course, not everyone shared their enthusiasm. The ascension mission only allowed one participant to succeed—a one-in-ten success rate. The final outcome left the other nine participants with mixed feelings.

Mark, who had been certain of victory, was the most devastated. Even after copying Death Gun’s invention, he had been annihilated beyond recognition.

Once news of this ascension mission spread to the Stellar Moon Federation, the entire federation would be shaken. After all, the Stellar Moon Federation had inherited much of the Republic’s mechanical knowledge, whereas Blue Planet was a mechanical backwater.

Yet, someone from such a place had created an invention capable of restarting an era. For the Stellar Moon Federation, this was a devastating blow.

“The Eagle Federation is finished.”

The participants from Blue Planet were also stunned. Recalling the wager between Blue Planet’s Father of Mechanics and Blue Planet’s Father of the Undead, they found the situation surreal.

Upon returning, Lu Ran would likely disdain the mechanical technology bet by the Eagle Federation’s president. Moreover, he would probably earn a new title as Blue Planet’s Father of Elements!

***

Meanwhile, aboard a spaceship.

Lu Ran gripped the armrest, wanting to chat more with Dr. Cheng Kong.

“Master...”

“Don’t call me master... I don’t deserve it.”

Dr. Cheng Kong pursed her lips, piloting the ship as she took a deep breath.

“Our call earlier was too brief. Can you explain now? What exactly is going on?”

Lu Ran laughed awkwardly.

Seems like more than one person has told me “Don’t call me master!”

“It’s hard to explain. Basically, my parents left me a lot of things—aside from the lightsaber dog and the robot, there was also an elemental lifeform. Then, just like I said at the competition... I had #18 tinker with the elemental lifeform they left me, and somehow, the device was created. Even #18 and I were baffled.”

Dr. Cheng Kong was at a loss for words, unsure whether to praise their talent or their luck. If only Lu Ran’s parents were still alive. She would’ve loved to meet the duo who had left him such incredible familiars.

Do they need a daughter?

She had thought the Legendary-grade material passed down in her family was impressive enough, but compared to Lu Ran’s inheritance, it seemed almost mundane.

The spaceship was fast. Within minutes, they arrived at the Divine Island. By now, Lu Ran naturally understood why Dr. Cheng Kong had brought him here. There was only one thing he was thinking.

Mission. Accomplished.

After yearning for it for over half a month, he had finally set foot in the Divine Research Institute. When Dr. Cheng Kong, on behalf of Director Lin En, extended the invitation to join the Divine Research Institute, Lu Ran accepted without hesitation.

“Welcome.”

As the spaceship landed on Divine Island, Lu Ran realized just how important he was. Seven or eight people had gathered outside the landing site, seemingly waiting to greet him. It was a grand reception.

“The director and some colleagues value your research highly. Aside from a few who are too engrossed in their work to socialize, almost everyone is here,” Dr. Cheng Kong said.

Lu Ran followed her off the ship. At the head of the group was a white-haired old person.

“Hello, everyone...” Lu Ran greeted the crowd of white-robed Legendaries.

Director Lin En smiled warmly. “Student Pedestrian A? Truly, genius emerges from the young. I assume Dr. Cheng Kong has already spoken to you, but let me reiterate. I watched your entire presentation at the invention competition.

“Your ambition to create an artificial Elemental God caught my attention. So, would you like to join the Divine Research Institute and work with us to explore the creation of artificial gods? With your talent, I believe you have the perseverance and capability to pursue this path. As you said, what you lack might just be some support, right?”

Lu Ran put on an excited expression. “Of course! The Divine Research Institute is every mechanic’s dream. I’ll cooperate fully with all the seniors here in our research.”

Director Lin En said, “No need to rush. As a newcomer to the Divine Research Institute, your first task is to familiarize yourself with it. Let Dr. Cheng Kong give you a detailed introduction.

“The rest of you, don’t crowd around. Your enthusiasm might overwhelm Student Pedestrian A. There’ll be plenty of time to interact later. For now, let Dr. Cheng Kong show him around the institute. He’ll get to know you all gradually.”

“You’re right.”

“Ah, if only my son were half as bright as Student Lu.”

After Director Lin En’s words, the youngest mechanic, who was in their thirties, laughed. One elderly man in particular seemed to want to say something to Lu Ran but hesitated.

Lu Ran guessed the old man was highly interested in the Elemental Life Creation Device.

Later, I’ll visit each of them and gift them a few elemental sprites.

These sprites were born from the ascension mission and are part of the historical projection. They probably can’t be taken out of the mission. Rather than letting them vanish, I might as well give them to these Divine Researchers as gifts.

As elders, they wouldn’t accept them without returning the favor, right?

While Lu Ran had this plan in mind, he was already being pulled away by Dr. Cheng Kong.

“I’ll take you to your dedicated research lab. Divine Island is vast, about the size of a city. Every researcher has several independent labs. Besides that, there’s also the Divine Research Institute headquarters.

“As a newcomer, your lab only has basic equipment for now. But even the basics here surpass what I had at the university. If you need any additional machinery, just apply for it later. Director Lin En asked me to introduce the institute to you, so here goes.”

Lu Ran nodded, following her onto a flying car as she began her explanation.

“Currently, the Divine Research Institute has three research directions for artificial gods. Do you know what they are?”

“What are they?”

“First, the development of Legendary research-oriented mechanical lifeforms! We’re basically pooling the nation’s resources to create a Legendary research machine! Then, with its research capabilities, we’ll be able to mass-produce combat-oriented Legendary mechanical lifeforms.

“Unfortunately, this hasn’t succeeded yet. The gap between quasi-Legendary and Legendary is too vast. The highest species of mechanical lifeform humans can currently create is only quasi-Legendary. For now, we can only have them devour each other to enhance their mechanical energy, evolving through a battle royale.”

Lu Ran fell silent, wondering if he had come too early.

If the Divine Research Institute hasn’t even created a Low Legendary mechanical lifeform yet, does that mean the Mechanical God project hasn’t even started?

“Second, Mythical human modification. Through mechanical modification, we will be able to use mechanical energy to elevate humans to the Mythical level. Then, these Mythically modified humans will be able to cultivate Legendary lifeforms through mechanical spatial energy.

“Historical records show that during the legendary war between the Plant Gods and Beast Gods, there was a Mythical plantmaster who demonstrated power rivaling Legendary lifeforms.”

Lu Ran nodded. He knew this path had succeeded in the Stellar Moon Republic’s history. A Mythical mechanic had indeed emerged.

The flying car accelerated as Dr. Cheng Kong continued earnestly. “Last but not least, Legendary cloning and modification evolution! I’m currently part of this faction.

“Decades before the founding of the Stellar Moon Republic, the Plant God faction, led by the Divine Tree, and the Beast God faction, led by the Chaos Dragon God, had just concluded a prolonged legendary war! That war left both factions severely depleted. Many neutral Legendary lifeforms were even forced into the conflict.

“Though there are no precise statistics, the number of Legendary lifeforms that perished was significant. Thus, countless Legendary resources emerged in the world. For instance, during the battle between the Chaos Dragon God and the Divine Tree, even a single drop of the Chaos Dragon God’s blood—something it wouldn’t even notice—could reach the Legendary grade...

“It was a catastrophe, but for all living things, it was also an opportunity. During the war of the gods, Epic-grade resources were scattered everywhere, and Legendary-grade resources weren’t rare. A sudden blood rain might yield divine blood. Using these resources, humanity rose rapidly, while the two factions were too preoccupied to bother with such insignificant creatures.

“In short, during this period, humans amassed an enormous quantity of high-grade resources. Even now, many Legendary resources remain preserved. The main reason is that many resources from Legendary beasts were too potent for humans or familiars to absorb, even if they reached the Legendary grade. Thus, they could only be stored.

“My ancestors also obtained a Legendary material. Don’t let its grade fool you. It’s completely unusable for nurturing familiars. It’s like asking a human child to swallow a star. But with today’s technological advancements, sealed divine blood, sealed organs, and even sealed strands of hair have finally become valuable resources!

“With technology, humans can now research and use them. Our current batch of researchers is attempting to extract the genes of Legendary beasts from these resources through cloning technology, aiming to create infant quasi-Legendary species clones of Legendary beasts.

“Then, through mechanical modification and evolution, turn them into mechanical beast gods! This isn’t a secret. Let me tell you, the Divine Research Institute has already succeeded once. We cloned a quasi-Legendary infant resembling a Legendary beast.”

“Wait, did you just say... the Chaos Dragon God’s blood? Does the Divine Research Institute really have something like that?”

“Hm? Yes... The institute does possess the Chaos Dragon God’s blood. But the power of a Primary Divine’s blood is too much. Even the three Epic-Legendary mechanics have forbidden us from researching it. Just coming in contact with that blood would cause even a Superior-Overlord to collapse instantly.

“Who knows when we’ll have the foundation to study it. If we could research the resources of a Primary Divine being, perhaps the republic could create a Mechanical Primary Divine lifeform, haha...”

“Holy shit.”

Daddy Limitless City, I misjudged you. You really had the Chaos Dragon God’s blood all along?