Although departing at night was cool, Myriad Stars City was located in the middle of the Dark Star Domain, a transportation hub, which ant…
There was still half the journey to go.
Ti to wash up and go to sleep!
There was just a small hiccup in the middle.
The disturbance caused by the Archbishop of Dusk of the Church of Finality was so great that it had already spread through the Internet, causing a small-scale panic.
So the attendants began distributing the newly printed, still-fragrant-of-ink Anti-Evil God Cult Manuals, and assured everyone that all was safe, quickly placating the passengers.
So people hadn't expected such a huge incident to occur in Star-Gulf City while they were out on a shopping spree.
"Good thing we're leaving the Dark Star Domain.
We shouldn't run into this insane guy!"
"To think another Church of Finality would pop up after the Cult of Dusk was destroyed. This world is really getting more and more chaotic."
"A Sword Saint who uses tentacles as swords… although it's crazy, it's inexplicably cool.
Absolute crushing power is a man's romance!"
"A great family like the Lin Family probably isn't clean either. Maybe it was a dog-eat-dog situation."
"Where'd you get that victim blaming from? Stop with the resentnt for the rich, will you?"
"…"
The crowd was abuzz with discussion, most expressing fear or the attitude of a spectator, while a small portion gloated over the misfortune.
As for Lu Yu, three female attendants also brought him an Illustrated Folio. Although they couldn't have him, won, like n, have a great interest in looking at beautiful things.
Moreover, they knew that one person's charm was not enough, so they changed their approach and invited him to a five-person group to rank up in a ga, but Lu Yu politely declined.
Boys must protect themselves outside.
Don't just assu others are infatuated. Once so people latch onto you, they're not easy to shake off!
Lu Yu closed the door and looked at the cover of the Illustrated Folio.
Since no photo was taken, it was a Yellow-Robed Hundred-Tentacled Figure hand-drawn by a profiler based on the accounts of the Lin Family survivors.
A figure in a yellow robe stood at the boundary of light and darkness, a broken Ring of the Sun shining behind him.
A snake-like golden mist of light coiled around his body, as countless tentacles descended from the darkness!
Huh!?
How does this look even better than when I did it?
'This artist must have majored in Photoshop beautification. They have no professional integrity at all.
To keep them from losing their job, Great Benefactor Lu will copy this image!'
Lu Yu did another good deed. When he turned his head, he saw Little Mouse sitting on the Soul Cloud, sighing.
He casually asked:
"What's wrong with you?"
"Cultivator, can we not train in the Nightmare Dream Prison today?" Little Mouse pleaded weakly.
Lu Yu nodded.
"Sure, then tomorrow it is!"
He had rushed thousands of miles overnight, engaged in a battle of wits with an Undying Magnate, and even got hand cramps from counting money. He was a little tired too.
Balancing work and rest is the right way!
However, after hearing this, Little Mouse didn't seem happy and continued:
"Then… can we not go tomorrow either?"
Lu Yu frowned upon hearing this, thinking this Lewd Hamster's lazy cancer was acting up again!
However, after hearing the explanation, he couldn't help but roll his eyes.
It turned out that this Little Mouse… had ended in disaster!
Because this ti, a large number of Mouse Clones were used as disguises.
They abused their power for personal gain, and in their spare ti, they used thods like buying and "leading away a goat in passing" to hoard a large batch of potato chips, Fatty's Happy Drink, and other miscellaneous snacks.
To put it simply, it was like winning the lottery and getting rich overnight.
They didn't want to work for others anymore!
Now, the big pie Little Mouse had drawn was no longer effective!
Lu Yu was puzzled.
"When they return to you, won't all of this be yours?"
When did this Lewd Hamster beco so easy to talk to?
Shouldn't it be a case of "You have chosen the path of death," and then have it all confiscated for the national treasury?
Little Mouse pouted and said, "Although they didn't inherit Little Mouse's diligence and hard work, they did inherit its world-shocking wisdom.
They already anticipated this outco, so they went to find Sister Spider and partitioned off a small area in the Void Treasure Chest to use as a granary!"
It felt like he'd woken up on a strange day!
The Mouse Clones were even opening accounts at the Little Spider Bank!
He glanced at Little Spider, who was hugging a large waterlon and nodding vigorously.
'Ying!'
It's true!
Little Mouse continued aggrievedly, "Originally, I wanted to make an under-the-table deal with Sister Spider, have her give it all to , and write it off as a bad debt.
If asked later, I could pull a 'Fire Dragon Burns the Granary' move.
But Sister Spider is too righteous.
She said the Mouse Clones are also family mbers, and each mouse's property is sacred and inviolable. Plus, they've ford the [Mouse Clone Rights Protection Union], uniting the other Mouse Clones to reject all malicious exploitation.
They've already started demanding back pay and a raise in wages, or they'll go on strike!"
Little Spider smiled, offering no opinion. For the sake of household harmony, fairness had to be the priority.
Not even Master could bend the rules, unless he stroked its head!
Thinking of this, Little Spider took a bite of the waterlon, a look of contentnt on its face.
'So sweet!'
Lu Yu was also surprised.
He didn't expect the Mouse Clones not only knew how to hoard food but had even developed a worker mouse union to unite the majority of mice and fight back!
This combination punch was far more exciting than any business war tactics like pouring boiling water on a money tree, throwing shared bikes, or bribing security to cut the power, wasn't it?
What's the next step… surely not to hang the Great Capitalist Rat from a lamppost?
Lu Yu listened with great interest, but still found a blind spot:
"Then can't you just pay them what you owe? I seem to have bought you quite a lot of potato chips, right?"
"How could I do that!!"
Little Mouse shook its head like a pellet drum and said seriously:
"They are . I'm exploiting myself, so what right do they have to complain? Besides, if they dare to ask for wages today, they'll dare to ask for the Cultivator tomorrow.
Little Mouse will absolutely not tolerate this unhealthy trend!
What's more, last ti Eggy ate all the potato chips I had in storage. Even if I wanted to pay their wages, I can't!"
'Roar?'
Nearby, the half-asleep Eggy heard the keyword 'To Eat', raised its savage Dragon Head, its hundred eyes opened, and it looked around curiously.
Where's the food?
Isn't it ti to eat?
"So that's how it is!"
Lu Yu understood now. Little Mouse had embezzled public funds but was now facing a withdrawal frenzy, about to trigger a bank run.
Looks like this fellow isn't far from ending in disaster!
Lu Yu said with sudden realization, "So you ca to to shift the debt!!"
Trying to find external funds to fill the gap, huh? This hamster is getting smarter and smarter!
But isn't this just—[Hitting a Mouse with Potato Chips, the Mouse (Chips) are Gone]!
"Hehe!"
Little Mouse scratched its head with its little paw, revealing a fawning smile. It sidled up and said:
"Cultivator, what's this about shifting debt? That sounds so ugly.
This is called an angel investnt. You invest in my project, and we'll grow bigger and stronger together.
With just a few hundred bags of potato chips, you can fill up the Little Mouse Bank and get a group of diligent Working Mice, all at your disposal, Cultivator!"
Although its way of speaking was still strange, Lu Yu wouldn't fall for it this ti. He flatly refused:
"I've already paid your wages.
You'll just have to wait for your weekly funds. Since you say they are you, then you'll pay for the snacks the little little mice bought.
It's not expensive, I'll round it off for you. Let's say eight hundred yuan!"
Lu Yu still wanted to see the subsequent 'A Miserable End for the Mouse', so of course, he wouldn't step in to help.
Moreover, the intelligence of the Mouse Clones was increasing, which was actually a sign that the proficiency of the [Soul Doppelganger] skill was constantly improving. It had already reached Perfect-level 99%!
It was just one step away from breaking through to Pinnacle of Perfection!
Let Lu Yu be the one to give it a push, to help Little Mouse ascend to heaven in a single step.
If it failed… he could only bla this Lewd Hamster for going too far in the past, thoroughly provoking public indignation!
"What!?" Little Mouse was petrified on the spot. Not only did it fail to get funding, but it also took on an additional debt.
What a tragedy!
Actually, the problem wasn't that serious. Because tomorrow was Monday, the new weekly funds would arrive, and it wouldn't be difficult to pay off an extra debt.
The problem was the subsequent wage raise…
This way, the comfortable life Little Mouse had gained by exploiting its clones would be completely shattered, and its days would beco tight.
It's hard to go from extravagance to frugality!
Watching the Cultivator turn to wash up, Little Mouse's expression changed.
It suddenly slapped its little paw and murmured:
"I have a way. The Great Capitalist Rat will not fall!"
It had thought of a brilliant thod.
With just a period of preparation, it could make the Mouse Clones obediently submit!
Then, it could do whatever it wanted, and at the sa ti, enjoy the Cultivator's amazed gaze!
'Jie Jie Jie…' Little Mouse's sinister laughter rang out, only to be physically sealed with a piece of tape by the now-washed Lu Yu.
In the following days, Lu Yu lived a stable work and rest schedule.
He ate and drank during the day and entered the Nightmare Dream Prison to train at night.
During this ti, Little Spider's [Phantasm] skill successfully broke through to Pinnacle of Perfection 1%, gaining an effect that was simple to the extre.
Sublimation!
It directly upgraded the Mid-tier [Phantasm] skill to the High-tier [Illusory Realm Aegis]. While the skill's power remained unchanged, the illusory realms it wove beca more realistic, and the consumption was halved.
Although the illusion system was no longer Little Spider's main ability, one shouldn't forget it also had the Imagination Object [Illusory Bubble]!
The more realistic the illusory realm, the more powerful its ability to deceive!
Reversing illusion and reality!
As for Little Mouse, after the money arrived, it imdiately paid out half the wages to most of the Mouse Clones. Although the [Mouse Clone Rights Protection Union] was dissatisfied, after Little Mouse used the Cultivator's na in a passionate rally speech that moved the clones, they began their skill training.
It even surprised Lu Yu. This Lewd Hamster was actually willing to make a painful sacrifice.
He was sowhat gratified.
The effect was also obvious.
Although Soul Doppelganger didn't break through, the Super-tier skill [Shadow Control] had already reached Pinnacle of Perfection 90%!
It was about to beco Transcendent!
As for Eggy… its other skills hadn't budged, but [Undying Hunger], in just a few days, had already broken through to Perfect-level 1%!
Even with the Proficiency Template, this progress was incomprehensibly fast!
This fellow's compatibility rate with "eating" was too high!
If this were a Xianxia world, it would at least have a Heart of a Newborn!
Ti passed bit by bit, and finally, on the noon of the fifth day aboard the [Star-Piercer] train, they left the Dark Star Domain.
As the Star-Piercer sped along, they soon saw a three-hundred-ter-high platinum-gold Wall of tal, like countless tal giants standing side by side, stretching as far as the eye could see.
However, this heavy tal flowed like water, constantly moving and changing, revealing the forms of various weapons. From ancient to modern, all kinds of chanical creations erged, only to sink back into the tal, in a state of constant flux.
Such a scene brought a terrifying oppressive aura to all life, both within and outside the domain!
At the sa ti, one could feel the beauty of machinery!
"Cultivator, is this the Machine King Domain? Why did it build such a big gate? What's the use? Aren't they afraid people will just go around it?" Little Mouse exclaid in amazent.
Lu Yu looked at the giant tal gate through the window, heard the question, and said with a smile:
"This is the Gate of All Machines, one of the masterpieces of the chanic Alliance.
It encompasses the entire Machine King Domain!"
"The entire Great Domain!"
Little Mouse's eyes widened, its expression one of disbelief as it said:
"For real?"
Lu Yu nodded and explained, "Of course it's real. The Beast Tar Alliance in the Machine King Domain is actually called the chanic Alliance, and they have another nickna: the Infrastructure Maniacs.
The Gate of All Machines is one of the masterpieces of the chanic Alliance, capable of protecting the entire Great Domain.
These chanics have built countless chanical Spiritual Inscriptions within it, as well as over ten thousand types of advanced weapons, innurable turrets, electromagnetic and laser technology, and so on…
All of this is controlled by the top-tier Smart Brain of the Machine King Domain's Alliance, [Machine Mother].
It possesses computing power close to the True King rank, but only computing power, not spiritual energy or martial force.
But even so, it can respond differently to different demonic beasts.
It's also connected to hundreds of large-scale munitions factories for supplies, allowing it to handle over a thousand demonic beast battlefields simultaneously, as well as all matters big and small throughout the Great Domain.
It's also one of the base stations for the Internet we use, responsible for structuring the network, connecting signals, and even participating in writing a large amount of the underlying code and programming.
You could say that [Machine Mother] is the Uncrowned King of the Machine King Domain, but a perfect king without desire, who abides by order and rules. It has invisibly spread its influence through the dium of electronic products, possessing an effect like a True King's Law."
This knowledge was exchanged for Lu Yu's profuse praise of Lilith's cabinet legs!
'Ying!' Little Spider also showed a look of surprise.
Just from the description, it could feel the power of the Gate of All Machines!
If it could be that strong, it could protect Master well!
It would no longer have to worry about external dangers disturbing him. He would only need to live quietly in the beautiful world it wove.
'Roar!'
Eggy raised its head and looked at this huge gateway, its Dragon Eyes filled with fighting spirit. Such a powerful thing sounded delicious.
It would have to find a chance to take a bite and taste it!
Little Mouse was mouse-struck dumb by what it heard, then thought of sothing and asked, "Is [Machine Mother] a creation of humans?"
"Of course not. Human technology has only been developing for a few hundred years, not enough to create a top-tier intelligence like [Machine Mother]."
Lu Yu shook his head, then asked Little Mouse, "Do you know what the Machine King Domain was like before?"
Little Mouse, Little Spider, and Eggy naturally didn't know. They had already sat down obediently, ready to listen to the story!
At the sa ti, they cast looks of adoration!
Lu Yu enjoyed this feeling and continued, "The forr Machine King Domain was called the [Sacred Gold Domain], a Great Domain filled with a tal ecosystem.
Inside, there was the [Gravelight Desert], which perpetually reflected sunlight and was hot enough to cook non-chanical life.
The [Forest of Myriad Gold], filled with steel needles, where even the leaves were sharp tal blades.
If you accidentally wandered in, you could be cut into countless pieces.
The [Petroleum Giant Marsh], which stretched for tens of thousands of kiloters, with constantly rising oil bubbles, where countless Petroleum Lifeforms fought.
And the [Copper-Nickel Mountain], which was always lting yet always enormous. Just getting close would contaminate you with heavy tal elents, causing physical lesions and so on…
In fact, the Machine King Domain at that ti was not suitable for human habitation.
The tal Lifeforms within were the overlords, until an explorer ca here and excavated an ancient ruin."
Lu Yu paused for a mont.
Just as he felt a little thirsty, Little Spider handed him a freshly brewed cup of barley tea.
He took a sip, moistened his throat, and continued:
"He discovered that it was an ancient chanical kingdom called the [Spirit-Machine Kingdom].
According to the remaining historical records, they once possessed terrifying technology capable of climbing above the Myriad Stars and approaching the main stream of the Mother River. Machines were their tentacles.
But they were completely wiped out due to a great catastrophe. However, the related chanical technology and all its creations were preserved.
In fact, many of the mystic realms now are caused by the leakage of creations from the Spirit-Machine Kingdom."
"And the first explorer who discovered it happened to be a Beast Tar with a tal Attribute Spiritual Puzzle, a branch of the elental type.
Because of form solidification, he couldn't perform elentalization, and his area-of-effect damage was insufficient, putting him in an awkward position. Therefore, no one would walk the path of a pure tal-type, basically needing to supplent it with other attributes.
But after he obtained a large amount of chanical knowledge from the ruins, he had a sudden idea. Could tal be used to make machines? So he modified his own pet beast into the first chanical Beast, and it gave birth to an even more powerful spirituality, automatically loading a large number of weapons left by the Spirit-Machine Kingdom, its strength increasing a hundredfold.
What was even more shocking was that self-created chanical creations could also give birth to a spiritual thought called a Machine Spirit through special technology, greatly enhancing the power of the machine and possessing the potential for evolution. Do you know what this ans?"
Little Mouse murmured, "The Age of Machines… had arrived!"
"Very smart!"
Lu Yu glanced at Little Mouse with appreciation and continued:
"After he returned, he swept through his peers at the ti with his special chanical-type pet beast, making them feel the fear of being dominated by firepower.
It instantly caused a sensation in the Alliance, and he thus gained the support of the Supre Council, organizing a large number of tal-attribute Beast Tars to explore.
Over the long years, they excavated a large amount of technology from the Spirit-Machine Kingdom and utilized it, giving pure tal-attribute Beast Tars a new na—chanic!
chanics create chanical creations and give birth to Machine Spirits.
Although they can still undergo aberration, the probability is greatly reduced. Even if a machine is contaminated, unlike a flesh-and-blood creature, it can be repaired by replacing parts, making its life force much stronger!
The only drawback is probably… money!
Not only do you need a wealthy family, but you also need the ability to make money yourself!
With the popularization of chanical technology, the originally barren and desolate [Sacred Gold Domain] transford into a land of gold and silver.
The ferocious tal Demonic Beasts all beca raw materials for making advanced machinery in the eyes of chanics. If they wanted to make machines, they could use local materials.
Later, the chanic Alliance was born. So among them pursued the ultimate martial power, while others derived a discipline called [Science] from chanics.
Combined with the extraordinary, they researched and promoted a large number of civilian machines, greatly increasing productivity levels. For example, cars, high-speed rail, the Internet, etc.
So were inherited technologies from ancient ruins, so were improved products. [Machine Mother] was found among them, a restored product.
The border battlefields also saw a great reduction in casualties because of the participation of chanics, who built war fortresses and used all kinds of firepower suppression, leading to a century of peaceful life within the borders!"
Speaking of this, Lu Yu also felt admiration in his heart for the human predecessors of this world. They selflessly contributed their research results, not simply pursuing their own power, but the power of their race.
In this world, what experienced aberration was spirituality, not human nature!
They… were shining brightly!
The other three pets also listened with great interest, as if they could see the sages of humanity, lifting up the glorious civilization of the Human Race with their own flesh and blood!
Rumble, rumble!
As they were talking, the Star-Piercer Train was already approaching the Gate of All Machines, and the railway seed to have reached its end.
It looked like it was about to crash straight into it!
Hum!
Suddenly, a large number of blue, circuit board-like patterns appeared on the Gate of All Machines, glowing brilliantly!
An electronic voice sounded:
"Detecting target… Serial number x942—Star-Piercer… Integrity 95%… Modification chanic Han Gu… Pass chip verification successful… Access granted…"
Rumble, rumble!
With a violent tremor, the electromagnetic field around the tal gate dissipated.
At the mont of near-contact, a hole just large enough to accommodate the Star-Piercer appeared.
Inside, one could see the railway track connecting to the other side!
The train drove into it.
The scenery around began to decrease at a visible rate. The roads beca neat.
If a broken tree appeared on one side of the road, the one on the other side had to be split in half to maintain symtry!
It was a gospel for those with obsessive-compulsive disorder!
The scenery also began to be dominated by tal creations.
Compared to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature in the Dark Star Domain.
The feeling the Machine King Domain gave was…
Order!
Like the countless gears that make up a machine, everything was constructed towards stability and standardization.
Maintaining a stable, benign operation!
But because of this, it lost its novelty.
After watching for a short while, it beca boring!
"Cultivator, this place doesn't feel as fun as before!"
Little Mouse was趴 on the window, boredly looking at the unchanging scenery outside. Suddenly… a flock of sparrows appeared, flying at a low altitude.
They turned their heads and looked at the passengers in the carriage with intelligent eyes, making many people laugh out loud.
The attendants just smiled without saying a word!
"These silly birds are a bit interesting, much better to look at than the scenery!"
Little Mouse made a funny face in response and asked:
"Cultivator, didn't you say that most of the demonic beasts in the Machine King Domain are tal? Why can this kind of ordinary flying bird also survive safely? It doesn't feel as dangerous as you said…"
Lu Yu said aningfully, "Take a closer look!"
"Okay!"
Little Mouse continued to look and found that the heads of these cute sparrows suddenly fell off!
"Ahhh, what is that!?"
It scared Little Mouse so much that it flew backward repeatedly, its expression terrified.
After all, it was most afraid of the dark and scary things!
It didn't dare to listen to ghost stories either, even though it was a Thousand-Faced Soul Mouse…
Many passengers were also frightened, their scalps numbing!
How could they see a ghost in broad daylight?
"Wait…"
Soon, Little Mouse discovered that the sparrows' severed heads hadn't fallen off. They were connected to their bodies by springs, and their insides were not flesh and blood, but a special tal structure.
During flight, they quickly reattached their heads through their own vibrations. Looking at the terrified people, they let out "caw caw" sounds!
It seed to be mocking them for their cowardice!
Lu Yu's voice sounded again, "These are Spring Sparrows.
Their entire bodies are made of tal springs. They are one of the species born after a creation that escaped from the Spirit-Machine Kingdom radiated a [tal Spring Ecosystem].
They feed on rust and like to scare other life forms with pranks. Their nature isn't bad.
Their racial skill is [Spring Fission]. When they encounter danger, they can split their bodies to escape, and they can repair their bodies by eating tal.
Their evolved form is the [Spring Raptor].
A much larger, hawk-like pet beast that can scatter a large number of sharp springs to pierce enemies.
They live all over the Machine King Domain and can help remove rust from chanical creations, maintaining friendly relations with many species."
Speaking of this, Lu Yu also marveled at the wonders of creation.
Even springs were part of the ecosystem.
And although the probability of aberration for chanical pet beasts in the Machine King Domain was far lower than for other pet beasts, they faced another problem.
[Rust-Aberration]!
Machines are tal, so they naturally rust. In mild cases, it affects the machine's operation; in severe cases, it corrodes the Machine Spirit, leading to its demise or loss of control!
Even so Monarch Rank chanical demonic beasts are troubled by this, affecting their own advancent.
However, the solution was to let so weak, low-tier demonic beasts eat the rust.
All things in balance, mutual generation and restraint!
It ford a special ecological chain!
Rumble, rumble!
With a harsh screech of friction, the Star-Piercer Train suddenly stopped.
Lu Yu's body also lurched forward with the inertia.
Swish! Swish!
However, Little Spider acted quickly.
A large amount of spider silk spread out, securing Lu Yu and the luggage. Little Mouse was unaffected as it was floating in the air, and Eggy was as steady as a rock.
"Nice job!"
After steadying himself, Lu Yu patted Little Spider's head, then looked out the window, wondering what had happened.
However, after a quick scan, his gaze froze, and he said in surprise:
"This is…"
anwhile, the passengers in the other carriages or the second-class seats weren't so lucky.
Even with seatbelts, they were shaken dizzy and confused, almost throwing up last night's al.
There was even an unlucky fellow who had just unbuckled his seatbelt to stand up and was slamd into a big lump.
Fortunately, the tickets were expensive, and those who could afford them were at least Silver Rank Beast Tars with good physical fitness, so there were no major injuries.
"What happened?"
"Damn, a sudden stop almost took my old life!"
"Are you kidding ? There are children on this train! I'm going to file a complaint with the Alliance Railway Bureau!"
"…"
The crowd was full of resentnt.
The attendants also fell unexpectedly, and after getting up, they endured the pain and kept apologizing.
This slightly cald everyone's anger.
After all, there was no point in making things difficult for the workers.
The chief attendant quickly went to find out the reason:
Several sections of the railway track ahead had been bitten through by so unknown demonic beast, and the surrounding protective chanical turrets and repulsion barriers were all damaged.
Personnel would be arranged for repairs imdiately, and the Star-Piercer would refund half the ticket price as compensation, provide free lunch, and so on.
After hearing the answer and the compensation, the passengers gradually quieted down, instead starting to snark about how the Machine King Domain's reputation as an infrastructure maniac was undeserved.
"What's that outside the left window?"
Soone suddenly exclaid, attracting everyone's attention. They turned their heads to look.
They saw that beyond the tal road in the distance, a black-red line had appeared, constantly twitching…
Slowly rising!
No, that's not a line!
It was a group of chanically constructed mice!
They were rushing across the land. From the gaps in their tal joints, a black pasty oil continuously oozed out, quickly covering more than half of their bodies.
Within those tal-structured bodies, under the effect of this mysterious black oil, red tendons and flesh tissue actually began to grow, stacking crazily like diseased flesh sprouts.
This half-machine, half-flesh structure not only looked exceptionally twisted,
What was even more terrifying was…
They seed to have gone mad.
Their eyes were crimson, and they roared as they transford into a massive rat tide, charging towards the train!
A large 7,500-word chapter, thank you all for your support. It's the beginning of the month, so I'm asking for so monthly tickets! I'd also like to recomnd a new book by a veteran author; the quality is guaranteed.
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