A middle-aged man with messy hair, squatting at the inspection port of the Mech's foot, muttering curses, was Mu Ye.
"Just a little bit more... where is it exactly..."
Seeing Arthur approaching, he immediately became excited: "You've come at the perfect time, I have something great to show you!"
Mu Ye's eyes lit up. He pulled Arthur back a few steps, and in his hand, he now held a strangely shaped Soul Tool Remote Control.
He took a deep breath, an unconcealed smugness on his face: "Little Arthur, watch closely! Let me show you the results of my research on the Star Luo Continent for so long!"
Before his voice faded, he fiercely pressed the largest red button in the center of the remote control.
Buzz—!
A deep and powerful energy hum resonated from within the giant Mech at the center of the platform.
The dark silver-gray metal shell began to ripple with a wave-like halo. The soul guidance patterns at the joints suddenly brightened, emitting a high-frequency'sizzle' sound.
Immediately after, under Arthur's slightly widened gaze, the huge, slender, and powerful humanoid Mech came alive.
It was a smooth process, as if a metallic lifeform was stretching its limbs.
Both arms spread out to the sides, the hand armor retracted and reconfigured, transforming into sharp claws covered in scaled metal.
The leg joints clicked crisply, bending in reverse, and sharp talons extended from the feet.
The folded wing assembly on its back snapped open, the metal feathers clearly defined, flashing with cold light.
The most astonishing part was the head and torso.
The Mech's head retracted towards the chest cavity, while the entire chest and abdomen bulged and stretched forward.
A metal arc full of power extended from the spine area—it was a thick, powerful alloy tail covered in barbs.
It was growing out from the tailbone!
In just a few seconds, the original humanoid Mech vanished.
In its place was a metallic Dragon, crouching on the platform, entirely covered in dark silver-gray scales.
It had wings on its back and a tail like a steel whip—a colossal metal Dragon!
It appeared even larger than in its human form, with smooth lines brimming with savage explosive power.
It was clearly in the style of the beast-form Mechs from the Star Luo Continent.
"Holy crap... Transformers?!" Even the well-informed Arthur couldn't help but exclaim.
Mu Ye was so proud his mustache was practically standing on end. He clapped Arthur on the shoulder: "How about it? Shocked, aren't you?"
He had always enjoyed researching this kind of Mech transformation. His Mech, little red, could turn into a giant broadsword.
Mu Ye pointed at the metal Dragon: "The human form maintains flexibility and overall combat power, suitable for urban areas, complex terrain operations, and precision tasks."
"And this Spirit Beast Form sacrifices some long-range weapon mounts and fine control, but its close-quarters combat ability, assault speed, and defensive strength—especially against the air and terrain—increase by over seventy percent! Combined with the burst power of the specially made Soul Tool Core, it's simply perfect!"
"Teacher, you are simply a god!!"
Arthur became visibly excited.
After all, what man could ever refuse something like this!
He walked quickly around the metal Dragon, his fingers tracing shapes in the air: "Since the human form and beast form can convert both ways, theoretically, there shouldn't just be these two forms!"
"Can we add a Vehicle System?"
Mu Ye was stunned: "What do you mean?"
Arthur gestured: "Um... like an ordinary-looking Soul Tool Sports Car that, when attacked or needing to fight, goes *click-clack*, the tires retract, the chassis reconfigures, the body unfolds... instantly turning into a tall, mighty Mech holding an Energy Cannon..."
He babbled on with his fantasy.
Mu Ye's expression shifted from confusion, to contemplation, and finally to sudden realization.
"Oh!"
"Damn it! You truly are a Genius!"
Mu Ye was already imagining his little red turning into a sports car, driving him around discreetly, and transforming into a Mech to shock everyone when necessary.
Just thinking about it made him so excited he felt like raising a flag.
"What's all the excitement about?" Zhen Hua walked into the Workshop. He hadn't seen Arthur in a long time, so upon hearing a subordinate report Arthur's arrival, he followed the scent right over.
The two explained their recent idea to Zhen Hua.
Zhen Hua scratched his head after listening: "Uh... what's the point of that?"
"Isn't it obvious," Arthur and Mu Ye said in unison: "It's cool!"
Zhen Hua was momentarily choked up by the master and disciple answering in unison.
Looking at the majestic metal Dragon crouching on the platform, and then at the excitement written on Arthur and Mu Ye's faces, he couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"You two..." He shook his head helplessly, walked up to the Mech, and tapped the scale armor shell, producing a dull metallic sound, "Can being cool be eaten as food?"
"Have you considered the technical difficulties involved?"
"The Mech technology on the Star Luo Continent was originally derived from the Federation."
"So the change from human form to beast form has a traceable basis."
"But the change to a vehicle form is unprecedented. What are you going to use to create it?"
Mu Ye became displeased: "You think I can't do it? When it comes to Mechs, no one dares claim to be number one but me!"
"That's not the same thing," Zhen Hua said helplessly: "What about the time cost?"
"Even if you are amazing, no one knows how many years it will take to research a topic that has never existed before."
Mu Ye frowned slightly: "Are you challenging me?"
"?" Zhen Hua responded.
He quickly waved his hands: "I didn't mean it that way, I meant..."
"Fine! I accept your challenge!" Mu Ye pointed his sword at Zhen Hua: "Notary!"
Arthur stepped forward: "Reporting!"
Zhen Hua was stunned by Mu Ye's sudden declaration of war. He looked at the flame burning in the other man's eyes, and then at Arthur next to him, standing solemnly as a notary.
"When did I challenge you?" Zhen Hua sighed, holding his forehead.
Mu Ye stiffened his neck and pointed at the metal Dragon, "Five years! No, three years! I will definitely figure out the vehicle form."
"If I win, you provide the Materials!"
Arthur immediately cooperated, raising his hand: "The notary hereby witnesses that within three years, the completion of the Mech's vehicle form will result in Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua providing the Materials!"
"If you lose..." He looked at Mu Ye, "What's the penalty for losing?"
"If I lose, I will retire to the Jianghu and stop researching Mechs." Mu Ye said fiercely: "I will focus on Cultivate and find a way to achieve a Breakthrough to Super Douluo."
"No." Zhen Hua was displeased: "What does this have to do with me? You don't lose anything whether you win or lose, do you?"
"Besides, you are already in a state of retirement from the Jianghu! How many people in the Federation even know you?"
But no one paid him any attention; Mu Ye was already engrossed in research.
Arthur, meanwhile, rode the metal Dragon with great interest.
"Teacher, can I go inside and try it?"
"This one is a bit difficult. Wait a few days. There's still one difficult problem left to solve."
"Then I won't leave these few days."
Zhen Hua watched from the side, shaking his head repeatedly.
He walked to the control console, brought up the Materials list, and quickly scrolled on the light screen, marking the relevant Materials inventory for priority supply.
"What a pair of goofballs," he muttered under his breath, though a smile was hidden in his eyes.
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