Chapter 609 - New Mine

Han Wu was equally surprised at this revelation. “So that’s what it is!”

The microscopic machines were behind the turning of flesh into machinery. None of them had expected this level of risk when entering the Weeping Mines. They had all entered without any precautions and had been breathing normally.

Does that mean our bodies are filled with machines?

Han Wu wondered. It was a terrifying thought, and he felt his head dizzy despite his extensive experience with danger.

“These machines parasitize biological life forms, but it only happens once they die and their vitality has dissipated. Only then will they activate and turn them into mechanical components. You don’t have to worry about them while you’re still alive.” Kerry reassured him.

Han Wu nodded but found it hard to relax regardless. Just imagining the microscopic machines inside him brought a suffocating feeling to his throat. His goal here was not only the Nanite Mythril but also the core of the Machine God. He could never be too careful when it came to the Machine God.

“Ms. Kerry, they turn lifeless flesh into machines, right? In that case, what would happen to them if they were to encounter a biological life form with powerful vitality?”

Kerry was stumped. “I’ve not tried that.”

“Let me help you then.”

They gathered some of the microscopic machines from the air into a container. Han Wu then placed a piece of flesh into it and watched as it slowly gained a metallic sheen.

Han Wu then activated his Life Aspect, infusing powerful Life Energy into the flesh. The mechanical part didn’t turn back, but the conversion miraculously stopped.

Checking it under the microscope, Kerry saw that the microscopic machines had been deactivated. Powerful vitality could stop the invasion of the microscopic machines in one’s body!

Han Wu sighed with relief. He first infused himself with powerful Life Energy to ensure that his vitality remained at its peak. Then, feeling a dull throb in his chest, he exhaled. A cloud of dirty air made up of millions of microscopic machines was expelled from his lungs.

The discomforting sight brought a wave of reassurance at having them out of his system. He then did the same for Kerry, Akanzor, and Bart. Han Wu felt much safer without the threat of microscopic machines in their bodies.

They continued to delve deeper, destroying any automatons they encountered. Carefully following Ji Dezhu’s information, they eventually found the hidden cave that had been purposefully sealed away.

Usually, a sealed cave indicated that the ores within had been fully mined out, but both Kerry and Han Wu could sense mining coming from the depths. Someone was mining in a decommissioned shaft.

Han Wu commanded Jumen to remove the boulder blocking the shaft so they could enter. Not far inside, they found a group of hunters guarding the miners.

The hunters were surprised to see Han Wu’s team. They were certain they had sealed the entrance to prevent outsiders from coming in. However, since they had already been discovered, they had little choice but to kill them. After all, dead men—and automatons—told no tales.

The two parties didn’t bother to exchange pleasantries. The hunters from the Machine God Cult attacked first.

Three mechanical beasts pounced, and six powerful guns let out a barrage of bullets. Having expected this, Han Wu’s team swiftly dove behind a boulder to avoid the attacks. The four automatons tanked the bullets and started firing back with their own.

Luxun and Jumen attacked too. One turned into its humanoid form while the other turned into its mechanical python form, each tanking the bullets as they fought against the mechanical beasts.

Luxun’s rapid learning meant it could use all the martial techniques that Han Wu had taught it before. Its mechanical body twisted and turned. While not fully proficient yet, it still moved with grace.

Han Wu nodded with pride and satisfaction at the level 10 chip, Anthropomorphization. At this rate, they could probably kill the hunters in half an hour.

Still, Han Wu wasn’t one to sit back idly and waste time. Turning his right arm into a massive laser cannon, he gathered his energy into it, causing it to glow brightly.

“Move away!” he shouted.

The four automatons dodged swiftly to the side. Luxun and Jumen turned into their original box-like forms and stuck themselves to the ceiling.

Han Wu unleashed his attack. The massive laser cannon had destroyed both the mechanical beasts and hunters. Even the stone wall to the side had been blasted apart, revealing a group of startled miners behind it.

“You fool! How dare you cause trouble in the Machine God Cult’s territory! I’ll kill you!” the head miner shouted angrily, climbing into the cockpit of a massive mech and barreling toward Han Wu.

Faced with a powerful mech, Han Wu opted against using his laser cannon and instead activated Cable Form. The sharp ends of the cables stabbed into the chinks of the mech, releasing explosive currents of electricity alongside signal jamming frequencies.

The mech stalled mid-flight, then crashed to the ground like a pile of scrap metal. The head miner was a fanatic of the Machine God Cult. Since the mech couldn’t harm Han Wu, he unhesitatingly pressed the self-destruct button.

The powerful explosion sent Han Wu crashing back into the stone wall, leaving behind a human-shaped cavity. The force of the blast had knocked the others back as well.

Blood dripped from Han Wu’s nose, but as it was only a minor wound, he soon healed. The head miner’s decisiveness had caught him off guard. If he were to place them in the Divine Civilization’s ranking system, that level of self-sacrifice would require them to be Zealots at minimum.

When the miners saw their head sacrifice himself in the explosion, they immediately rode their mining machines or grabbed their alloy pickaxes before charging at Han Wu.

Akanzor and Bart stepped forward, easily dispatching them with their overwhelming might. The pair also swiftly dealt with the automatons that were converted from the miners’ bodies.

Han Wu expanded his senses and finally found the long-sought Nanite Mythril.

“Let’s mine this quickly before the people from the Machine God Cult arrive,” Han Wu said, grabbing a pickaxe and getting to work.