Beastmaster King

Despite the University Invention Competition's seemingly unimpressive name due to the term "university," it was far from ordinary.

Universities not only had teaching responsibilities but also research tasks. Many outstanding student mechanics could even reach level 5 or 6, just one or two levels below the republic's top-tier Legendary mechanics.

Thus, these elite students were often core figures in university research projects. Due to their specialized fields and areas of expertise, even Legendary mechanics leading the projects sometimes sought their advice. To say their inventions were worthless would be unfair. Many skilled student mechanics could already develop mechas and fighter jets.

The annual University Invention Competition was highly anticipated, serving as a platform for over a hundred universities in the Stellar Moon Republic with mechanical programs to compete.

To help students achieve better results, many mechanical experts would even step in to mentor talented students. So while it appeared to be a competition among students, it was also a test of each university's foundation.

"The Mechanical Era is so convenient."

At the Orange Sky Research Institute, as the competition drew closer, Lu Ran and his team took a brief break after completing their invention. The past ten-plus days had exhausted Six-Paths Flower and #18, even with Six-Paths Flower occasionally slowing time with the Hell Path.

Clearly, even a Legendary being like Six-Paths Flower couldn't sustain the toll of manipulating time indefinitely. But fortunately, they succeeded in the end.

Another thing Lu Ran found convenient about the Mechanical Era was that the University Invention Competition wasn't held in the real world but in a Mechanical secret realm. Moreover, the main judges weren't human mechanics but a super artificial intelligence.

When the competition began, all participants could enter the Mechanical secret realm through their university's teleportation portal. Each participant would be assigned an isolated area within the secret realm, where they would be alone.

This area was monitored by the super AI and simultaneously live-streamed. Participants were required to talk to themselves while demonstrating their inventions in this space.

As they presented, the super AI would rank their inventions in real time based on certain criteria, with rankings updating every second. This would continue until all participants finished their presentations, at which point the initial rankings would be finalized. This was the first round of rankings.

Next came the audience vote and expert panel review. The top 100 inventions selected by the AI would be opened for public voting. Additionally, a panel of ten Legendary mechanics would adjust the rankings slightly based on the audience votes and their professional expertise. The final rankings would then be determined.

In other words, during the competition, there was no need to wait for each participant to present one by one. Tens of thousands of participants would demonstrate simultaneously, with the super AI summarizing the rankings in real time for everyone to discuss. This saved a tremendous amount of time.

***

As the competition drew nearer, the National Mechanical University—one of the top five mechanical universities in the Stellar Moon Republic—held a pre-competition meeting.

"Whether our National Mechanical University can achieve outstanding results in this University Invention Competition largely depends on these three individuals.

"Yu Su has spent the past two years improving the Spatial Jump Device. This year, he made significant progress. With his modifications, even ordinary people without any enhancements can achieve short-range teleportation and withstand the mechanical strain of spatial movement. If the cost can be further reduced, this could be applied in disaster prevention, evacuating civilians during emergencies."

Everyone nodded. While the strategic value wasn't immense, given that the cost of the device might outweigh the value of ordinary lives, this was still a university competition. An invention that could aid civilian safety and show care for ordinary people would undoubtedly garner many votes and influence the final rankings.

"Li Xingyao, the star student of Legendary Ke, has participated in the competition for three consecutive years, ranking in the top ten each time. This year, his Chameleon Battle Suit is predicted to secure another top-ten spot!

"The Chameleon Battle Suit is a special equipment inspired by the extinct Chameleon Dragon's abilities. Its primary function is to conceal the wearer's presence. While this might seem ordinary, the suit has achieved a breakthrough in cost and functionality, making it affordable for mid-level mechanics. During experiments, a level 5 beastmaster wearing the suit successfully evaded the detection of a level 70 Overlord, stealing resources from its lair unnoticed!

"And then there's Ji Xie. Her latest achievement, the Crimson Lotus Mecha, powered by geothermal magma, has finally broken through from King to Overlord..."

Similar discussions were happening in other universities, with faculty strategizing how to promote their top participants and garner votes.

***

Stellar Moon University of Science and Technology.

A young man excitedly stepped out of the research lab and looked up at the sky.

"Death Gun, I made it!"

He was a level 4 mechanic from Stellar Moon University's Mechanical-attribute department. Entering the Mechanical Era thrilled him as it was the least explored era across both worlds, filled with hidden wealth and opportunities.

Over the past ten-plus days, through relentless effort, he had successfully apprenticed under a Legendary mechanic. His method? Borrowing ideas.

"Senior Death Gun, thank you so much. If I can outperform that Blue Planet's Pedestrian A, you'll deserve all the credit. When I return, I'll sing your praises in every interview.

As the first in the Stellar Moon Federation to combine the Mechanical attribute with the Undead attribute, Death Gun's reputation in the Mechanical field rivaled that of Legendary mechanics.

He had developed numerous soul-related black technologies, some of which had even been publicly released, such as the Soul Massage Device technology, which Stellar Moon University had adopted to train more talents.

Mark had experienced and studied the Soul Massage Device at Stellar Moon University. This device could relax a beastmaster's soul, temporarily boosting learning efficiency.

By simplifying and replicating Death Gun's invention, Mark had impressed a Legendary mechanic. While future mechanics might pale in comparison to those in the Mechanical Era, there were exceptions, like Death Gun, who was favored by the Underworld God and had created some groundbreaking gadgets combining souls and technology.

Mark felt he was the biggest beneficiary of Death Gun's inventions. In his view, even if Lu Ran from Blue Planet succeeded in mechanically modifying an Overlord familiar, his replicated Soul Massage Device—further improved under his Legendary mentor's guidance—would have far greater significance for the Mechanical attribute's development than a single Overlord-level modification.

***

"Although I've given up on completing the ascension mission or ranking high, having the chance to evolve a Mechanical familiar is still good... I've also gained a lot of mechanical knowledge. When I return to Blue Planet, staying in my country could make me a top-tier figure, given how rare mechanical talents are.

"If I defect to the Eagle Federation, which is heavily investing in the Mechanical attribute, they'd surely welcome me with open arms! The Eagle Federation offers the best treatment for talents worldwide!

"Alternatively, Xia is also a good option. With its recent diplomatic ties with the Divine Amazon Nation, its potential is limitless. Plus, Lu Ran is there—I could connect with him early in the ascension realm."

Meanwhile, participants from smaller Blue Planet nations were also fantasizing about their bright futures. Regardless of their identities, NPCs or participants, everyone had quickly found their niche in the short span of ten-plus days, aiming to maximize their gains.

As for Lu Ran, apart from a few participants who knew how formidable he was, he seemed forgotten amid the pre-competition frenzy.

Dr. Cheng Kong, who was busy with projects at the Divine Research Institute, was unaware of his participation. Vice Principal Fu, who had registered him, assumed Lu Ran was just participating for fun, given his lack of mechanical expertise.

Although Lu Ran had confirmed studying under Dr. Cheng Kong, ten-plus days were hardly enough to produce significant results, especially since Dr. Cheng Kong's busy schedule had delayed formal instruction. Thus, on the day of the competition, Lu Ran arrived at the National Mechanical University's Mechanical secret realm teleportation hall like an orphan, unnoticed by anyone.

Well... not entirely unnoticed.

While searching for a spot in the spacious hall, Lu Ran encountered the owner of the Thunderstrike Mecha, whom Captain Doofus had previously defeated.

"It's you!"

"You're... Ji Xie Shi, right?" Lu Ran paused, recalling.

Ji Xie glared at Lu Ran. "No! No 'Shi'! You're actually participating in the invention competition? Perfect. I've been too busy developing a new mecha to challenge you. After the competition, let's have a rematch."

"Nah."

Freed from the research institute's rules, Lu Ran had no interest in wasting time on weak NPCs. He found his teleportation pod and sat inside, infuriating Ji Xie.

The other participants from the National Mechanical University were stunned.

"Damn, Pedestrian A is competing too"

"Didn't the investigation say he had no prior mechanical experience? He's a total newbie!"

"Could he have already developed the mechanical evolution device for that lightsaber dog in such a short time?"

As speculation spread, a broadcast echoed through the hall.

"All participants, please proceed to your designated teleportation pods... All participants..."

The students dispersed, taking their seats. Ji Xie, though furious at Lu Ran for denying her a rematch, prioritized the competition.

"Here we go." Lu Ran relaxed in his pod as the countdown began...

[300... 299... 298...]

Five minutes later, a brilliant light enveloped Lu Ran, and he vanished from the hall, reappearing in a vast experimental field covered with withered grass.

Above him, a massive eye hovered in the sky, almost making Lu Ran mistake it for the Evil God's Eyes.

But in reality...

[Species: Ultimate Space]

[Attribute: Mechanical]

[Species Rank: Quasi-Legendary]

[Level: 92]

[Description: A spatial mechanical lifeform developed by the Stellar Moon Republic, capable of combat, research, and other functions. Its Ultimate Eye can monitor millions of lifeforms within its domain.]

"Quasi-Legendary creation... Impressive."

Lu Ran shrugged.

The strongest human era indeed lived up to its name.