Chapter 972: Source
“We refuse to accept this!” After the results came out, the two other applicants were dumbfounded. “How is this possible…”
“I spent years studying inscriptions especially, yet I’m outmatched by a new student?” Hess’s face was full of disbelief.
“I knew that you two would be suspicious… Putting aside the written test and biochemistry test for now, take a look at this!”
The deputy mentor took out three plates. “Hess, you did well. To be able to inscribe a Dao Pattern on mechas already makes you an entry-level mecha inscriber. However, take a look at Lin Meng’s.”
“This is… the Breeze Spiritual Technique?” Hess took the plate and sensed it with his finger. “Impossible. How is it possible to inscribe an entire spiritual technique on such a small plate?”
He tried out the spiritual technique in disbelief.
Buzz buzz!
The plate immediately started resonating, and a breeze blew.
Hess’s knees buckled, and he sat down on the ground at the scene.
He had thought himself a genius, but it was now apparent that this so-called genius was nothing!
“It’s not just this. Student Lin Meng is extremely knowledgeable, especially his research in biochemistry… It must have reached the level of mentors!”
The deputy was not shy with compliments at all.
He now no longer believed that Fang Yuan had entered through the back door. With his abilities, he would be hired no matter which top research institute he applied to.
“You’re Lin Meng, a second-year student of the mecha department? Truly a genius…”
The deputy sent the other two away and lightly tapped Fang Yuan’s student badge. “I’ve already enabled your jurisdiction. From today onward, you will be a research assistant in this institute. The access control will no longer block you. Also, part of the research facilities will be open to you!”
Fu Hongxue walked out and said happily, “Okay, you can leave now. I’ll give this assistant a tour!”
“Okay!” The deputy did not dare to object and retreated respectfully.
“Come. I’ll let you see the Blood Dragon!” Fu Hongxue walked to a mechanical bridge, and Fang Yuan followed behind.
Rumble!
From the moment he stepped on it, the giant bridge rose and arrived at another level.
Crack!
Numerous floodlights lit up, and all the beams hit a mecha at the center.
“This is… Blood Dragon?”
Fang Yuan looked at the red mecha in front of him. It was large, standing at a full twenty meters. The mecha reflected a special blood-red luster, and it was decorated with dragon-shaped patterns, looking like a warrior that was about to enter the battlefield.
“Eh?!” Fang Yuan looked at it again and exclaimed in shock. “It… how can it… look like it has a life of its own?”
“Haha! Lin Meng, you’re truly the most talented junior that I’ve ever met!” Fu Hongxue praised with a hearty laugh. “Even most top researchers might not have this kind of sharp observation!
“That’s right. My Blood Dragon series has always walked the path of fusion between biochemistry and mechas in the hopes of reducing cost… The self-recovery ability of biological organisms leaves much for us to learn… For now, my Blood Dragon’s performance can rank in the top three among the King-grade mechas, yet its resource consumption is the least of all. The secret lies with flesh armor!”
“Bionics,” Fang Yuan guessed.
“That’s right!” Fu Hongxue nodded. “Mechas are, in fact, large magical weapons. There are some mecha pilots who intentionally mixed in their own flesh and blood in the forging furnace in the hopes of increasing the resonance… Do you know what happens eventually?”
“The refinement of life? Mechas that possess true life and wisdom?” Fang Yuan was impressed.
“I have a dream!” Fu Hongxue said emotionally. “I hope that all of our high-level cultivators will no longer need to risk their lives on terrifying cosmic battlefields. I hope that they will be able to do research in the main base and leave such missions all up to the Blood Dragon mechas!
“As you know, remote operation suffers interference by the complex universe environment and the various cosmic lifeforms. Therefore, to truly realize unmanned mechas, the only option is to bestow life and intelligence to them!”
“However, freedom of life is the most difficult to control. How would you guarantee that the mechas won’t betray us?” Fang Yuan asked.
“It’s too early to think about this problem… However, I have an idea. We can use prohibitions and preset programs to plant self-destruct measures in them to control them…” Fu Hongxue shook his head. “Besides… our research is still stuck in the initial phase of providing a few biological characteristics to the mechas. We’re still far from our goal…”
“This is already impressive enough! If you could produce them in bulk, they would be sure to change the tide of battle!”
The cost of building mechas had always been a significant issue.
Fu Hongxue’s research had circumvented this restriction incredibly, greatly reducing the cost since they no longer required rare materials.
Furthermore, the mechas had a certain degree of self-recovery, decreasing the cost of maintenance dramatically as well.
“The key to success is also stuck in this step!”
Fu Hongxue shook his head and tapped the floor. The mechanical bridge rose again and brought them to another level.
Through a thick layer of glass, a sea of blood presented itself before Fang Yuan.
In the center, what looked like a nest was wriggling gently. It spat out pieces of flesh one after another, which were then collected by a mechanical arm.
“This the Blood Sea! This flesh medium is the basis of my entire Blood Dragon series…” Fu Hongxue explained. “Its core is a ball of flesh made by refining the various genes of strong lifeforms that I’ve scoured the universe for. It possesses endless reproductive ability. After fusing with various metals, the metals will have biological characteristics. Unfortunately… its fission speed is still too slow, and it’s hard to accumulate enough materials for mass production…”
Fu Hongxue was somewhat regretful.
On the other hand, Fang Yuan found the situation increasingly familiar. What was this sense of déjà vu?
He immediately asked, “Pardon my question, but does the Blood Dragon series have an uncontrollable state known as ‘Berserk?’”
“How is that possible?” Fu Hongxue frowned disgruntledly. “How could a mecha go berserk? This won’t happen unless the pilot suddenly goes crazy! Don’t slander my work!”
“Sorry!” Fang Yuan apologized quickly. “So, my task is…”
“Your task is simple. Follow the materials group and determine the components in the Wings of the Sky!” Fu Hongxue replied. “However, after seeing your test results today, I feel you have the potential to do something more. I hope you can keep up your performance!”
In fact, he was thinking of promoting Lin Meng and making him stay.
However, he did not need to divulge that right now. Everything was dependent on his actual research ability.
Besides, suddenly promoting someone to a high position was easy to shake up the system and cause dissatisfaction among the other research members. Although Fu Hongxue’s mind was preoccupied with his research, he was not a fool, so naturally he would not do something foolish like this.
…
After becoming an honorable research assistant, Fang Yuan spent most of his time in the research institute when he was not attending lessons. He would read everything he had access to and absorb the knowledge hungrily.
“Momon armor alloy—this is the main material of the Blood Dragon mechas. It is an alloy made from Momon flesh, which is a derivative of the flesh medium, and refined metal. It has low production cost, high ductility, metal memory, self-recovery, and a host of other advantages… I think the majority of the flesh medium must have been obtained from cosmic behemoths, right?”
Fang Yuan gave it some thought and shook his head slowly.
The main races of the Cosmic Lifeform Alliance were sure to comprise the majority of the strong lifeforms of this universe.
Of course, there were individual lifeforms who were an entire race by themselves that possessed unimaginable power, forming a polarity with the crowd society of humanity.
“But if I want to build my own mecha, the traditional workflow isn’t suitable for my needs… Instead, the flesh mecha concept is more compatible…”
Fang Yuan was focused on increasing his foundation so that he would have a higher chance of winning when he finally faced the Abominable Lord.
“What should a mecha that can accommodate a Demon God and unleash their full potential look like?”
He started doodling on a piece of paper, trying to find some direction in the mixture of clues he had.
After a few hours, Fang Yuan changed into a white lab coat and went to a research institute.
“Morning everyone!”
He looked at the two who were conducting research. They were Ross and Ye Piaoling, both on the level of university mentors.
“Hey! Lin Meng! You’re here!!” Ross looked at the time. “You’re just on time. Help us test the new material…”
“Is there any progress?” Fang Yuan put on his safety glasses and looked at a piece of blue metal undergoing laser forging in a transparent furnace.
“I have to admit, Emperor-grade is something else. The metal’s performance is outstanding…” Ye Piaoling sighed.
“But this type of alloy is too precious. The material is hard to find in all parts of the universe. It can’t be man-made either!” Ross retorted. “If we could make the Momon alloy perform at just half its level, the entire Emperor-grade mecha market would be sent into a frenzy…”
“Impossible!” Ye Piaoling dropped his voice. “There are already a large number of genes from the top star behemoths in the flesh medium. The flesh mechas that it can produce are able to reach at best King-grade… Of course, if we dismantle the medium and use the materials directly, we could produce an Emperor-grade mecha. But that would be killing the goose that laid the golden eggs.”
“Actually… there is something we can do about it. We need only to add in the flesh of stronger star behemoths!” Ross blinked. “I’ve received news that I don’t know what to make of it. You guys can take a look!”
Fang Yuan opened the screen, and his pupils constricted.
He saw the debris of many starships with the universe’s starry sky as the background.
“Unknown star behemoth attack! Three fleets in the Devil Galaxy were destroyed. The Alliance has suffered heavy losses!”