Due to the damaged martial arts field, Li Qingyang had no heart to continue fighting, so this informal sparring ended with Shangguan Xinyao’s victory.
In the brief exchange, the improved Zhushan Mark I not only demonstrated powerful combat capability but could also fly, deeply shocking Ding Xingwang and the others again.
You should know, that was just a pile of bamboo wood—did it have to be this awesome!
Moreover.
The one controlling the bamboo armor was Shangguan Xinyao!
This woman was extremely strong in researching martial techniques and formations, but her martial cultivation was quite ordinary. Now relying on Zhushan Mark I, she could spar with the Core Rotation Realm, simply refreshing everyone’s martial understanding!
“Kid.”
Taixuan Elder said proudly, “What do you think?”
“How’s the energy consumption control?”
Without question, Zhushan Mark I was an epoch-making product in the martial world, but its biggest flaw was high fuel consumption—using it was basically burning money like crazy.
“If using profound stones as the energy unit, maintaining the battle strength intensity just now, one hour’s consumption is around ten thousand,” Taixuan Elder said.
“…”
Jun Changxiao was speechless.
Ten thousand for one, a hundred thousand for ten, a million for a hundred…
To popularize this throughout the sect, equipping everyone with Core Rotation Realm mechs—they simply couldn’t afford to burn through that!
The System said, “Giving every disciple a Gundam—this idea is somewhat hardcore.”
“What else?”
The Eternal Sect had only been in the Upper Realm a few years. Even with continuous cheats, surpassing forces with thousands or tens of thousands of years of history was naturally difficult, so Jun Changxiao could only take an unconventional approach.
If Zhushan Mark I could be mass-produced, even if its strength only reached first-revolution level, it would still bring qualitative change to the sect. After all, a hundred thousand disciples meant a hundred thousand first-revolution cultivators—just thinking about it was beautiful!
The System complained, “Haven’t achieved sect-wide Skybreaking Realm yet, but already thinking about sect-wide Core Rotation Realm. Aren’t you afraid of overreaching?”
“Can energy consumption be further reduced?”
“Yes.”
Jun Changxiao was overjoyed.
“But…” Taixuan Elder continued, “Low energy consumption will reduce combat capability.”
Because it involved core mech technology, he wouldn’t elaborate too much on Zhushan Mark I research. In short, currently possessing first-revolution combat capability was already the optimal solution under current capability constraints.
Low energy consumption? Possible!
High power consumption? Possible!
But the cost was sacrificing either combat capability or profound stone expenditure.
“Fine.”
Jun Changxiao accepted Zhushan Mark I having first-revolution strength with hourly consumption of ten thousand profound stones as the optimal solution, saying, “Can it be mass-produced?”
“How many?”
“A hundred thousand units.”
“…”
Taixuan Elder nearly fell over.
Zhen Dejun collapsed, saying, “Sect Master, Zhushan Mark I has tens of thousands of large and small formations. The improvements alone took us over two years!”
“Doing scientific research naturally requires time.”
Jun Changxiao said, “However, if you’ve mastered the core technology, mass production should be possible.”
“You’re speaking from a position of comfort!” Taixuan Elder glared at him, saying, “Never mind whether a hundred thousand units can be made—just the materials alone cannot be supplied.”
Mentioning materials reminded Jun Changxiao of something, “Master, can ironwood be used to make mechs?”
“Not only possible, the effect should be quite good,” Taixuan Elder said.
“Perfect, we brought back quite a bit from our previous outing.”
“How much is ‘quite a bit’?”
“Go see for yourself at the back mountain.”
Taixuan Elder came to the back mountain with doubt, and upon witnessing tree after tree of iron-hard wood, his mouth twitched, “Did this kid move an entire ironwood forest back?”
“How many Zhushan Mark I can this ironwood make?”
“Roughly… five hundred units.”
“Then I’ll trouble Master to put more effort into making them as quickly as possible.”
“At least five years.”
“What? Only fifty units per year?”
“Modeling, assembly, engraving formations—all need time!”
“No problem, Master can use the Spacetime Secret Realm.”
“…”
Taixuan Elder had his work arranged.
However, returning to the Formation Hall, he counted on his fingers, “Five hundred units in five years, fifty units per year?”
…
The next day.
The Formation Hall began bustling with activity.
Jun Changxiao took out mech design sketches he’d drawn overnight, saying, “Master, can you make it in this style?”
Taixuan Elder’s Zhushan Mark I was really too LOW. He planned to make some changes to the appearance—at least it should look particularly intimidating at first glance.
Gou Sheng’s design had Gundam elements but different overall structure, especially with a dragon painted on the left and auspicious clouds on the right, fully displaying Chinese culture.
“No way!”
Taixuan Elder said, “Too ugly!”
This design couldn’t exactly be called ugly, but mainly the combination of ancient style and technology made it somewhat difficult for him with his old-fashioned thinking to accept.
“This matter doesn’t need discussion. Listen to me,” Jun Changxiao said seriously.
“…”
Though Taixuan Elder was unwilling, he still went to the Casting Pavilion, placing the gaudy design on the table, saying, “Hall Master Fan, the components for Zhushan Mark I are entrusted to your Casting Hall.”
They were outsourcing?
“No problem.”
Fan Yezi had nothing better to do anyway, so he retrieved a large batch of ironwood from the back mountain and began crafting according to the design specifications.
Must be said, being proficient in casting, he was also a master carpenter. The components he successively created had identical dimensions and shapes—simply a walking carving machine tool.
Zhushan Mark I component production was simple; the difficulty lay in formation engraving after assembly, because every detail must be meticulously perfect, otherwise small accidents would result in wasted effort.
Formation Hall members lined up neatly in the Spacetime Secret Realm, holding engraving pens to draw patterns on components, appearing exactly like overtime workers on an assembly line.
When Jun Changxiao came to inspect, he couldn’t help sighing, “It would be even better if we had batch production mechanical equipment.”
“Check the Shop!” the System said.
“…”
Jun Changxiao rolled his eyes.
With only over two hundred thousand contribution points in hand, he felt somewhat anxious.
Under time acceleration, in just a few days, ten Zhushan Mark I units were completed. Because the material was ironwood, they were uniformly jet black, and due to the changed style, they indeed looked quite intimidating.
“Master.”
Jun Changxiao said, “The name is too old-fashioned. How about changing it?”
“Change to what?”
“Diablo II!”
Diablo for the mech’s color.
Destruction God representing power and annihilation.
As for the ‘II,’ it denoted the second-generation improved version.
Jun Changxiao never realized he had a talent for naming, so he silently gave himself a thumbs up in his heart.
Taixuan Elder originally planned to refuse, but who let the other party be the Sect Master? With one phrase “listen to me,” he was immediately left speechless and could only compromise, “Then Diablo it is.”
From this point on.
Zhushan Mark I was officially renamed Diablo.
Whether there would be versions three or four in the future depended on whether the Formation Hall continued improvements.
“Possessing absolute core technology and intellectual property rights,” Jun Changxiao stroked his chin, saying, “When the second-generation mechs become nearly obsolete, we can also take them out to sell, truly benefiting the people.”
“…”
The System said speechlessly, “By then, when Upper Realm martial artists go out in mechs to greet each other, the art style will totally shift from fantasy to sci-fi!”
—