Beastmaster King

"Participant Pedestrian A, have you completed your presentation?" the Ultimate Space asked again.

Lu Ran repeated. "Not yet. Elemental mechanical evolution and the elemental disaster weapon were just the first part, or rather, a prelude. I know the Elemental Era has ended, and elemental lifeforms are extinct. The world's environment no longer supports their birth. Thus, such inventions have limited applicability and real-world impact.

"There simply aren't enough elemental lifeforms to integrate into mechanical research. What if, however, I could reopen the Elemental Era, allowing countless elemental lifeforms to be reborn into this world?"

Lu Ran's deep black eyes locked onto the Ultimate Eye.

"Then, the impact on the Mechanical attribute wouldn't be limited to disaster weapons. It would be an entirely new frontier—a groundbreaking field!"

As more viewers tuned in, everyone fell silent, baffled by Lu Ran's bold claim. The replay continued. Lu Ran placed a mechanical scale-like device on the ground and activated it.

Ice elements gathered on one side of the scale, while a palm-sized, hexagonal ice crystal slowly formed on the other.

An ice sprite opened its eyes and chirped innocently, shaking off snowflakes.

"Nyeh!"

The tiny sprite was lively and adorable.

Lu Ran said, "Here. This is my true invention—the Elemental Life Creation Device. This device absorbs natural elemental energy and imbues it with life, creating true elemental lifeforms. This ice sprite is a small creature from the Elemental Era that thrived in glaciers and excels in Ice-attribute skills. Its body is made of hardened ice."

[Species: Elemental Lifeform]

[Attribute: Ice]

[Species Rank: Low Transcendent]

[Level: 1]

The Ultimate Eye's analysis left the viewers wide-eyed. This was even more unbelievable than the Superior-Overlord elemental lifeform or the mechanical evolution.

"Besides Ice-attribute spirits, it can also create Wind-attribute spirits, or even Light-attribute ones."

Lu Ran operated the device again, summoning a wind sprite and a light sprite.

Still unsatisfied, he opened his ruin space, releasing Dark-, Fire-, Water-, and other attribute sprites. Dozens of adorable elemental babies tumbled out.

The Legendary mechanics gaped at the sight of so many elemental lifeforms.

"You've got to be kidding... Is this for real?"

The viewers were floored.

"As you can see, as long as elements still exist, you can create an elemental lifeform through this device. Let's have them spell out 'Hello' for you." Lu Ran commanded, and the little sprites quickly arranged themselves into the characters. "Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, my device can only create Low-Transcendent elemental lifeforms. But like other lifeforms, they can evolve.

"With proper training, they could become an Overlord. They can also undergo mechanical armed evolution, but due to time limits, I won't demonstrate with each one.

"Additionally, we can upgrade the device to create higher species rank elemental lifeforms! With continuous upgrades, creating Elemental Gods might be possible! Unlike animal and plant gods, which are cultivated, the first elemental gods were natural-born deities. Thus, elemental lifeforms are the closest to the gods!

"Honestly, my vision for reopening the Elemental Era includes reviving history, or rather, creating innate elemental gods. Alright, now I'm done." Lu Ran grinned at the Ultimate Eye.

The replay ended, and the viewers snapped back to reality.

The rankings had completely changed.

[National Mechanical University, Pedestrian A. Invention: Elemental Life Creation Device. Presentation Status: Completed!]

[Rank: 1!]

Lu Ran's rise to the top pushed everyone else down a notch.

The audience stared at the screen, breathless.

"What the fuck? Is this guy human?"

"This is insane! Where did this monster come from? Why haven't we heard of him before?"

"I don't get it. What's happening this year? Is this even real?"

Foul language erupted across all groups. Even the Legendary mechanics were baffled.

How is this machine possible? Is this divine intervention?

Back at National Mechanical University's teleportation hall, the students who had exited looked at Lu Ran, who was still sitting in his pod deep in thought, as if he were a god.

"You... you..." Ji Xie, who was defeated by Lu Ran's lightsaber dog, now looked at him with utter disbelief.

But the most shocked were the participants from Stellar Moon and Blue Planet. They questioned whether Lu Ran was even from their world.

If they understood correctly, his invention had just plunged the entire Mechanical Era—the entire Stellar Moon Republic—into stunned silence.

Reopening the extinct Elemental Era in the Mechanical Era? Only Legendary beings could usher in a new era. The Divine Tree had to reach Primary Divine to bring in the Plant Era! But Lu Ran had just recreated extinct elemental lifeforms with a simple machine?

Mark, who had plagiarized Death Gun's work, lost his mind upon seeing Lu Ran's ranking.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Outside the National Mechanical University, chaos erupted as faculty members rushed over.

"Where's Pedestrian A?"

***

Divine Island, Divine Research Institute.

This was Stellar Moon Republic's top research facility. News from a university competition rarely reached here, as the nation's finest mechanical researchers only checked the results in their spare time. However, this time was different.

The mechanical assistant of Lin En, a level 8 mechanic and the head of the Divine Research Institute, burst in with urgent news.

"Master, something huge has happened. A student at the University Invention Competition created something unbelievable!"

Lin En frowned at his assistant. "Calm down... A university competition can't possibly—"

The assistant interrupted, "The student invented an Elemental Life Creation Device! It's already created dozens of elemental lifeforms! Elemental lifeforms have been extinct since the Elemental Era ended billions of years ago! Elemental lifeforms!

"Legends say that after the Elemental Gods were sealed by the Four Supreme Divine Dragons, elemental lifeforms could no longer be born. The world's rules no longer allowed it. This student's invention broke a rule maintained for ages. Master, this guy's a freak!"

Lin En stood abruptly. "What did you say? Say that again? Elemental Life Creation Device? How is that even possible?"

"I don't know, but it's real. The student is apparently a disciple of our institute's Dr. Cheng Kong. Should we ask her? She must know something!"

The Divine Research Institute was in an uproar. A mundane invention wouldn't have drawn their attention, but reopening the Elemental Era was explosive enough for their mechanical assistants to alert them immediately.

"What's going on?" Dr. Cheng Kong stepped out of her lab to find a crowd outside.

"Dr. Cheng Kong! Your student is incredible! Did you guide him secretly?"

"Student?"

"Pedestrian A from National Mechanical University! Isn't he your student? He just won first place in the invention competition with a device that creates elemental lifeforms! He's already made dozens! It's like he's restarting the Elemental Era!"

"Huh?"

"Contact the director immediately! We must recruit your disciple! Elemental lifeforms born from breaking the rules could be key to our artificial god research!"

Dr. Cheng Kong was dumbfounded. She felt like she was dreaming.

What the hell is happening? Pedestrian A? That kid I left to self-study? What... just happened?

***

With the phrase "reopening the Elemental Era," Lu Ran had achieved an invention that shocked even Epic-Legendary mechanics, sending tremors through the entire Stellar Moon Republic. Universities, corporations, and government agencies scrambled to contact him. Everyone recognized this young man's boundless potential.

For now, Lu Ran was under the protection, or rather confinement, of National Mechanical University's leaders. He wasn't sure if the competition was still ongoing, but he waited patiently for the ascension mission's final rewards.

Finally, after a long wait, the competition concluded, and he secured first place as expected.

[Congratulations on completing the ascension mission.]

[University Invention Competition Ranking: 1]

[Score: SSS]

[You have received 20,000,000 crystal coins.]

[You have received a Contract Card (Bound).]

[You have received an Epic mechanical weapon: Nature's Wrath (A bomb condensed with massive elemental energy, capable of harming Low Legendary lifeforms. One-time use, affects allies and enemies alike. Use with caution.)]

[You have received a trait crystal: Mechanical Heart (A mechanical lifeform fused with this trait can discern the structure, manufacturing method, weaknesses, and flaws of any mechanical product upon touch. Note: Higher-level products require greater proficiency.)]

[You have received a beastmaster skill: Super Modification (A unique beastmaster skill. Upon learning, the beastmaster can modify their own and their familiars' physiques, making them highly compatible with mechanical evolution, significantly increasing success rates and enhancement effects.)]

[You have met the requirements for a level 5 beastmaster. Would you like to level up now?]