Chapter 1 Recovering the Gaze

Withdrawing his gaze from the attribute panel, Han Xiao turned his head and saw that Kesuye was eager to try out the powers of the Supers grade, so he smiled and waved his hand.

"Sparring is unnecessary. I've just stepped into the Supers level and am not yet familiar with my power. I don't have good control, and I'm afraid I might accidentally kill you. Then I'd have to resurrect you, which would just be more trouble for me."

Is that human language?

Kesuye tilted his head.

Seeing that Han Xiao didn't want to demonstrate at the moment, Kesuye didn't press the issue, resigned to waiting for the future, when he would inevitably witness it.

Scanning the four people, Han Xiao smiled and said:

"Everyone, I still need to consolidate and familiarize myself with my power, so I'll take my leave first… Oh, right, Urnos, about unsealing the Wonders of the Universe Scepter, let me know when you're ready."

After speaking, he nodded goodbye and vanished in a flash.

The remaining four exchanged glances, the atmosphere somewhat subtle.

Han Xiao had demonstrated the way to reach the Supers grade right in front of them. Such a secret was most valuable when possessed alone. At the moment, none of the four were willing to leak it. If it were in the past, they might have considered eliminating each other to keep it quiet. But now, times had changed. With Han Xiao looming over them and the association unifying the Super-A grade group, and with enemies outside, they could only endure sharing this secret with others.

"Don't forget Black Star's instructions. It's enough for us to know his advancement method. Without his approval, don't reveal it to anyone else," Serraon said in a deep voice.

"Heh, do I look like someone who would blabber?" Milizaus snorted.

"Black Star is the president, and we're also members of the association, so of course we wouldn't speak carelessly, but the civilization's direct descendants might not be so scrupulous." Kesuye narrowed his eyes at Urnos.

Hearing this, Milizaus and Serraon also turned their heads to look at Urnos, their eyes subtly questioning.

None of the three had any motive to leak the secret, but as a direct descendant of the Arcane Church, if the civilization's higher-ups demanded this method from him, would he keep it a secret?

As members of the association, the three considered from the perspective of their faction. If the method to advance to the Supers grade was solely controlled by the association, then it would be a new bargaining chip to attract espers and could also give them an edge over the three major civilizations in terms of individual power.

Urnos remained calm, offering no verbal compromise, and casually said, "I will also try to advance. Even if I don't say anything, they will know by then."

"Tsk." Serraon snorted, without refuting.

Seeing that the three had nothing more to say, Urnos didn't linger and turned into a stream of light, hurrying away.

He only wanted to return to the Arcane Church as quickly as possible, eager to study Han Xiao's advancement method.

Kesuye and the others watched him leave, making no move.

"The Arcane Church's national treasure is in this guy's hands. With Black Star's successful example, the Arcane Church probably won't lend it to outsiders for advancement again…" Milizaus clicked his tongue.

"Yeah, in that case, I'm afraid only Urnos and the Arcane Church's direct descendants can replicate the method Black Star used. We can forget about it," Serraon nodded.

"Black Star is a mechanic and has reached a higher level. Perhaps he can research a substitute. We'll know when we ask him."

Kesuye's expression was calm.

Considering that the Arcane Church's national treasure was an indispensable tool for Black Star's advancement method, the few people had a faint idea of ​​snatching it, but after thinking about it, they gave up. Urnos was not easy to deal with, and the three of them represented the association, so it was not appropriate to create trouble and bring trouble to Black Star.

Black Star has now pioneered a new grade, and his position as the head of the association is even more stable. Originally, everyone was at the same grade, and even if they obeyed temporarily, they would not regard themselves as Black Star's subordinates.

However, as Black Star entered a new grade, the relationship was subtly changing, but the three of them had not yet felt the subtle change in their subconscious.

At this time, Milizaus remembered one thing and asked, "By the way, although the advancement method must be kept secret, shouldn't we hide the fact that Black Star has entered the Supers grade from the association?"

Kesuye shook his head and said:

"Black Star didn't specifically tell us, so we don't need to, and there's no need to hide such a great thing. However, it's limited to high-level association circulation and shouldn't be spread out. As for the three major civilizations, they will probably learn about the situation through Urnos's retelling, but they won't publicize it casually."

…

On the other side, Arcane Church.

"What did you say? Black Star actually succeeded?!"

The Arcane Church Leader's eyes widened, his face revealing astonishment.

Urnos, who had come to report, nodded calmly and slowly said:

"That's right, Black Star has successfully stepped into a higher level of individual power. He named it the Supers grade. I witnessed it with my own eyes."

“…Didn’t you say that the difficulty of entering a new grade is very high, and that lending the Arcane Church’s national treasure wouldn’t hurt because Black Star would fail several times?”

The Arcane Church Leader stared at Urnos, his heart filled with shock and anger.

If you hadn't repeatedly emphasized that this transaction was guaranteed to make a profit, where would we have lent out the Arcane Church's national treasure to help Black Star advance?

You're probably colluding with Black Star, deliberately speaking up for him and tricking me, right?!

I really believed your nonsense!

"Then what do you want?" Urnos glanced at him.

The Arcane Church Leader closed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, calmed the turbulent emotions in his heart, and then spoke again:

"No matter what, what's done is done. Let's think about what remedial measures can be taken."

Because of a wrong decision, he helped Black Star reach a higher level of individual power, and his intestines were all turning green with regret. He knew he should have rejected Black Star's request!

However, now is not the time to pass the buck. The order was given by himself, and the responsibility cannot be shirked. The Arcane Church Leader quickly got rid of the interference of emotions such as anger and regret and thought about the gains and losses.

"Looking at it from a good perspective, at least we got back the Wonders of the Universe Scepter… provided that Black Star doesn't go back on his word." The Arcane Church Leader shook his head.

"He doesn't need to go back on his word." Urnos said lightly, "This universe treasure is no longer a threat to him."

"That's true…"

Hearing this, the Arcane Church Leader felt even worse, feeling that the Wonders of the Universe Scepter was no longer appealing at all.

This transaction was simply a blood loss!

But at this moment, Urnos slowly said:

"However, this is not without other gains. I watched Black Star's advancement process from beginning to end and have grasped his method. It's no longer as clueless as before. I can replicate this successful case and attack a higher level."

The Arcane Church Leader was slightly stunned, and then his eyes lit up.

Black Star's promotion to the Supers grade is beneficial to foreign wars, but in the long run, it is definitely not a good thing for the three major civilizations. However, if their own direct descendant learns Black Star's advancement method, as long as they succeed, they can have another Supers grade individual power to compete with Black Star and form a new balance, so there is no need to worry about Black Star losing control!

More importantly, it is their Arcane Church that currently holds this method. Even if the three major civilizations are united, there are still differences, and the Arcane Church can also overwhelm the other two in terms of individual power!

The Arcane Church Leader's mood suddenly improved, and he solemnly asked: "How confident are you of success?"

Urnos thought for a while and nodded: "About a 70% chance that I can reach the Supers grade level like Black Star."

"Good!"

The Arcane Church Leader's spirit was lifted.

A 70% chance is quite high! When they were chatting before, Urnos said that he had no confidence at all, but now the odds have increased countless times.

In this case, helping Black Star this time is not only not a loss, but even a small profit?!

Thinking deeper, it's fortunate that Black Star needed to borrow the Arcane Church's national treasure this time, otherwise he would have secretly advanced behind closed doors, and the civilization's direct descendants would have no way of knowing about it, and this advancement method would have been exclusively occupied by the association.

Wouldn't that be even more detrimental to the three major civilizations in the future?!

With this in mind, the Arcane Church Leader felt comfortable and finally smiled, saying:

"The Arcane Church will do its best to provide you with resources to help you step into the Supers grade. If you need anything, just ask, and don't be polite!"

"Don't worry, I won't be polite."

Urnos nodded in salute.

The Arcane Church Leader thought for a while and said: "Also, you know to keep the advancement method a secret for the time being and don't reveal it to anyone. As for the situation of Black Star's successful advancement, I will notify the leaders of the Guanghui Federation and the Scarlet Empire. We have common interests in this regard, and we can't hide it anyway. We have to talk to Black Star."

"Whatever, as long as it helps me."

Urnos didn't care about these trivial matters. He only wanted to replicate Han Xiao's advancement method with all his heart. He seemed to see the higher level he had dreamed of beckoning to him.

…

One day later, Black Star Army Territory, Exclusive Machinery Factory.

Han Xiao stared at a ball of lightning-like mechanical force suspended in his palm, his pupils shrinking, as if observing a microscopic world.

After a while, he suddenly clenched his fingers, crushing it into pieces, bursting out a faint golden shock wave of electric light.

"The mechanic's last career stage, the power is really strange…"

Han Xiao muttered to himself in a low voice.

This day, he mainly experimented with the new abilities brought by the job transfer, and now he has almost figured it out, secretly clicking his tongue.

[Transcendent Artifact] is the core specialty, like the advanced version of [God's Equipment], greatly increasing the success rate of developing and manufacturing golden blueprints, and there is also a slight chance of creating products of the universe wonder level.

The most important thing is that this specialty unlocks a higher special quality level, which is the red "artifact level". But this thing is not created, but a special enhancement based on the original machine, which greatly enhances the effect, and there is a limit to the number, and up to three "artifacts" can be enhanced.

However, the target enjoying the bonus can be replaced. The mechanism is similar to that of the apostle's weapon. If you want to strengthen the fourth machine into an artifact, just take back a previous artifact enhancement.

[Force Foundation - God of All Machines] is also a core specialty, which has something in common with Sorokin's [Soul Force Foundation Stone]. The effect of this skill is that the basic unit for producing force is no longer limited to cells, and machines and virtual data can also generate force.

If Han Xiao transforms himself into a mechanical body, a virtual life, or undergoes colonial transformation, it will be no different from the original, and his strength will not be affected - meaning that he can now freely exist outside of his body.

From this perspective, Hyperion's fusion of body and machine is just an incomplete version of this ability, and [Force Foundation - God of All Machines] is the final form.

In addition, this specialty also brings a high mechanical affinity bonus, which is very amazing.

However, [Information Uniqueness - Conceptual Immortality] is not an ability brought about by job transfer, but a specialty that reaches the x level. As Han Xiao guessed, entering a new level, his own information state existence form has also undergone tremendous changes, possessing the power of automatic resurrection.

Whether it is a living body or network data, as long as there is an information carrier in the entire universe that records his deeds, as long as he has not been forgotten by everyone, as long as someone chants his name, he will not completely die.

If he dies, he does not need the sanctuary to resurrect, but will spontaneously cause information state disturbances and be reborn in a certain area of the universe, approaching eternal immortality.

The most important point is that the rebirth brought about by this specialty will not damage the integrity of its own information, which means that unlike the sanctuary resurrection, each resurrection becomes weaker.

The only question that困惑s Han Xiao is whether the sanctuary is also an information carrier. If [Information Uniqueness - Conceptual Immortality] applies to all situations, can it be used to survive the iteration?

I don't know if there were any Supers grades existences in the previous iterations. If this guess holds true, shouldn't those Supers grades existences have remained and have a greater impact on the current universe?

"It would be nice if I could experiment with it."

Han Xiao shook his head.

He felt that the sanctuary, which was "outside the Three Realms and not in the Five Elements", probably did not belong to the information carrier that allowed [Information Uniqueness - Conceptual Immortality] to take effect, and that the range of effect of this specialty should be limited to this universe and the secondary dimension world.

But even so, it is strong enough, just as the attribute panel remarks say, all things in the world are one with me, and the information state is the source of existence. As long as there are no accidents, you can really live to the end of the universe.

All three specialties are very useful, and several skills are equally extraordinary. Among them, [Mechanical Divinity - Supreme Celestial Venerable] is an advanced version of Mechanical Divinity… no, it's better to say that the original Mechanical Divinity is just the prerequisite basic form of this skill.

The Mechanical Divinity can change its structure by itself, and also has the concept of blueprint templates. Some specific forms of the Mechanical Divinity have additional bonuses to their basic performance.

And [Mechanical Divinity - Supreme Celestial Venerable] is one of the final forms of Mechanical Divinity, and its power is much higher than Han Xiao's self-created "advanced version of Mechanical Divinity", and it is not at the same level at all.

The skill introduction shows that the three mechanical branches get different skills at this step. [Mechanical Divinity - Supreme Celestial Venerable] belongs to the virtual branch, while the armed branch and the energy branch are [Mechanical Divinity - Cosmic Emperor] and [Mechanical Divinity - Origin God Lord] respectively, corresponding to different final forms, which sounds very fierce.

And not only that, through the core specialty [Force Foundation - God of All Machines], he found that when transforming into a Mechanical Divinity, he no longer needs a physical body as the core to provide mechanical force, and can directly turn the machine into his own body!

This means that he has truly become a Mechanical Divinity, and there is no consumption at all. Even without means of quickly recovering mana, he can almost maintain the Mechanical Divinity state indefinitely and live in this form!

In addition, [Life Transformation - Virtual] and [Life Transformation - All Machines] also have similar effects. These two abilities can change their own life form and are blessed by [Force Foundation - God of All Machines], and the physical body is no longer a prison.

At the same time, these two skills not only work on themselves, but also on outsiders. As long as the judgment is successful, the target can be transformed into virtual data or a mechanical body in an instant, changing the other party's form of existence, allowing the entire planet to be transformed into mechanical bodies or virtual life, almost close to the power of "God".

[Virtual Creation (Pseudo)] is even more incredible. According to the skill introduction, this ability is somewhat similar to the virtual-reality conversion ability of the World Tree, and can transform things created in the virtual world into real objects, like a true creator god.

However, the reason why this ability has a "pseudo" suffix is that there are many restrictions. First of all, items that do not exist in reality, that he does not know, that violate the rules, etc., cannot be transformed.

Secondly, the transformation requires the consumption of an equal amount of resources. For example, copying and pasting the data of a mechanical army in the virtual world requires the preparation of corresponding materials, and then transforming it with this skill can directly skip the manufacturing process, which is very suitable for explosive soldiers.

It is also very useful in manufacturing, and even the universe treasures that you know can be mass-produced by this method, and the yield rate is basically 100%.

But the third restriction is the biggest problem, that is, the transformation is temporary and will disintegrate on its own when the time comes, and cannot exist for a long time.

"This kind of ability can also be regarded as a cosmic wonder in the eyes of ordinary people. It is said to be virtual technology, but it should be an ability in terms of information state and needs to be studied more…"

Han Xiao exhaled.

Although [Virtual Creation (Pseudo)] is very magical, it seems to be a bit lacking in usefulness because of these restrictions, but it is not useless, and temporary explosive soldiers can also be made through [God Body Fortress], but it is still far from the true cosmic wonders like the World Tree.

"However, this ability is quite similar to the World Tree, so is there any connection…"

Han Xiao's eyes flashed, thoughtful, and he had a bold idea.

Maybe if the World Tree ate him, it could make up for its own flaws, and vice versa, if he pulled out the World Tree, he might be able to complete this ability and remove the skill suffix…