Vermilion Bird Machine

Si Ming's cheerful and sunny personality made him very popular in class. In addition, his body was very attractive, and he also had many admirers among the girls. However, everyone thought that he was having an affair with the class monitor. Even girls who wanted to confess their feelings would subconsciously compare themselves with Murong Qing and then give up the idea because they felt ashamed.

"What are you all saying? You're making me sound like I'm really upset. It's not like I can't handle losing, and besides, this 'wave' wasn't actually a loss!"

Si Ming looked at his palm and recalled the sensation he felt when he instinctively pushed out his palm and touched something when he was attacked.

"Although it looks like a smooth road, there are actually some ups and downs. I remember what this level is called again... Oh right, it's yogurt."

For the next few days, everything was calm and nothing noteworthy happened on campus.

Although Yu Shuying is aloof and doesn't like to communicate with others, speaking coldly and unapproachably, she is not the kind of rebellious person who deliberately causes trouble or breaks discipline. In group activities such as cleaning, she completes her assigned tasks conscientiously and never drags the group down.

That's enough. No matter which class it is, not everyone will be optimistic, positive, and enthusiastic. There will always be some people who are not very noticeable. They study quietly and participate in group activities quietly. They never raise their hands in class or liven up the class atmosphere after class. But undeniably, they are still a part of the class.

Yu Shuying was just one of many "low-profile" members. Although people wouldn't actively accept her, they wouldn't deliberately ostracize her either. Besides, in this world that values appearance, pretty people always get preferential treatment. Quite a few boys liked her because of her face, and some busybodies even started messing around with the ranking of school beauties.

Therefore, Yu Shuying integrated into the group very smoothly and was able to get along peacefully with her classmates in her own way.

The only exception is Si Ming.

Ever since that fight, Yu Shuying has never given him a kind look. Every time they meet, she either snorts and turns her head away, or she uses her sharp tongue to mock him.

This puzzled the classmates greatly. Why did the winner act as if he had lost? Where was the tolerance and magnanimity of the victor?

Si Ming knew the reason. Although it wasn't intentional, he had still taken advantage of the other party, so he deserved to be targeted. Therefore, he had no complaints and generously showed his magnanimity.

This continued until one evening two weeks later, when Si Ming received a call from his doctor asking him to go to the research lab.

"Your exclusive Profound Armor has been issued! Aren't you happy? Because you've been recommended as a candidate for the Grandmaster Candidate, the Mohist Academy of Science reluctantly provided a prototype built with the latest technology— the Vermilion Bird Machine, one of the Four Divine Machines —and it's now yours!"

Chapter 205 Vermilion Bird Machine

Si Ming stood in front of the huge mirror, examining his reflection. He was wearing a set of bright red Profound Armor, exuding a sharp, rapid, and aggressive style.

Putting everything else aside, its dazzling appearance alone is enough to make many mecha and armor enthusiasts scream in amazement. Compared to it, the Heaven-Soaring Armor is like the difference between a low-priced family car and a luxury sports car.

With a thought, Si Ming circulated his True Qi and activated the Edict Circuit. Immediately, a pair of three-meter-wide wings unfolded behind him. The wings were not made of warm-colored feathers, but of crystals resembling swords, giving the impression of sword feathers that could easily cut through objects.

The professor standing beside him explained, "The Vermilion Bird Machine enters flight mode after unfolding its wings, but the flight function is achieved by an anti-gravity device installed in the Profound Armor. The wings themselves do not have flight capabilities; they are actually brakes that help you adjust your direction during flight."

Si Ming touched his lower back and asked, "There's a trigger-type Edict Circuit here. What's its function when activated?"

"Oh, that's a vector thruster. Once activated, it will enter supersonic mode. Be careful, though, supersonic mode consumes a lot of True Qi. With your level 5 Internal Cultivation True Qi, it will probably only last for about a minute."

What are those five tails on its rear end? Are they decorations?

Si Ming knew that the phoenix had a tail feather, which was said to symbolize virtue, righteousness, propriety, benevolence, and trustworthiness, but its appearance on the Profound Armor was somewhat superfluous. Its decorative significance outweighed its practical function, similar to the tail of the Phoenix Bronze Cloth, which was of little use except to enhance its appearance.

The doctor glanced at the instruction manual and said, "Oh, that's a heat sink."

"Well, it seems the designer really put a lot of thought into it, combining form and function seamlessly with no unnecessary elements. It's very cost-effective."

The doctor proudly stated, "Of course. Don't be fooled by the simple layer of armor you're wearing; it's actually the culmination of the wisdom of countless brilliant scientists. There are thousands of design drawings alone, and from materials to functions, it has undergone tens of thousands of comparative experiments. Because it's a prototype, there's still room for expansion, and adjustments were made according to your requirements during the finalization."

Si Ming's initial requirements were "ability to fly, high speed, and a certain firepower coverage capability." As for the armor's inherent defensive capabilities, that was irrelevant, since his body was tough enough; if he encountered an attack he couldn't dodge, he could simply withstand it with his bare hands.

"Of the Four Divine Machines, only the Vermilion Bird Machine and Azure Dragon Machine can fly. The White Tiger Machine is a pure land combat type, the Black Tortoise Machine is an amphibious type, and the Azure Dragon Machine is not yet completed. All we can give you is the Vermilion Bird Machine. Fortunately, it perfectly meets your requirements, saving you the trouble of making modifications. This is why the Mohist Academy of Science is willing to give you the Profound Armor for trial use."

The Vermilion Bird Machine is a mobile Profound Armor a type of armored vehicle) primarily designed for close combat, but also possesses mid-range shooting capabilities. It has four types of weapons, one of which is two True Qi Beam Cannon mounted on its shoulders. The principle is similar to the 'Kamehameha' you invented, which can be used to bombard buildings and densely packed enemies. However, it is useless against skilled one-on-one opponents because it is affected by the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and earth. The farther the distance, the lower the hit rate, and beyond ten kilometers, it will directly disperse and scatter.

There are two slots at the waist. The right one holds the Vermilion Bird Machine's exclusive weapon, the Vermilion Flame Sword. Its blade is made of Glazed Gold. Although it is a physical weapon, it possesses the characteristics of a beam weapon. Theoretically, it can infinitely increase the temperature, but in actual combat, the efficiency of conversion and energy consumption must be considered. The higher the temperature, the lower the conversion rate and the more energy consumed. It can heat up to 3,000 degrees Celsius in one minute, but it takes five minutes to heat up to 4,000 degrees Celsius, and one hour to heat up to 5,000 degrees Celsius.

Si Ming had never heard of a material called "Glazed Gold" in his previous life, but since this world has divine weapons and immortal artifacts, it is not surprising that some materials beyond common sense appear.

He drew the Vermilion Flame Sword and swung it a few times, quite satisfied with its feel. The Vermilion Flame Sword's blade was a four-sided crystal, resembling a stick in its normal state, without any sharp edge.

Si Ming tried to inject his True Qi into the sword. The sword quickly lit up like an electrified fluorescent light, turning bright red and covered with a layer of flame. The sword also changed from a crystalline state to a fluid state, becoming malleable.

Once swung, the sword was pulled outward by centrifugal force, and it actually lengthened considerably. It slightly grazed the ground and melted a sword mark on the surface.

Clearly, the destructive power of the Vermilion Flame Sword lies in melting enemies with high temperatures rather than cutting them with a sharp blade. Therefore, the shape of the sword is not important, and whether it has a blade or not is irrelevant.

The temperature of the Vermilion Flame Sword quickly rose to three thousand degrees. Si Ming felt his internal True Qi burning rapidly. Based on the rate of consumption, without the replenishment of solar energy, he could only maintain it for two and a half minutes at most, which was shorter than the time Ultraman spent on Earth. Even if the conversion rate remained unchanged, he could not possibly raise it to four thousand degrees.

"From a cost-effectiveness perspective, I'll stick with 2000 degrees Celsius as my normal operating temperature; that way, I can at least last for ten minutes."

2000 degrees is actually quite high. It should be noted that the temperature of magma is only 700-1200 degrees. The melting point of iron is 1538 degrees, and the melting point of steel is lower than that of iron. As for alloys, their melting points are usually lower than those of the metals that make them up. In other words, during combat, Si Ming could directly melt the opponent's weapon.

Some novelists frequently have their characters summon flames of millions or tens of millions of degrees, as if they want to add a string of zeros after the temperature numbers. This is probably because they didn't study chemistry well and have no concept of temperature. It should be noted that the surface temperature of the sun is less than 6,000 degrees, and the highest temperature at the Earth's core is only 7,000 degrees.

After withdrawing his True Qi and restoring the Vermilion Flame Sword to normal, Si Ming touched his left waist and asked in confusion, "Why is the slot here empty?"

The doctor explained, "This spot is reserved for the psionic gun. You can fuse Vermilion Bird and White Eagle into their sniper form and insert it here. Additionally, there are two high-frequency oscillating particle short swords mounted on the lower legs of the Vermilion Bird Machine, which can be used in emergencies."

Given the length of the high-frequency oscillating particle dagger, it can only be used in emergencies; under normal circumstances, Si Ming would never use it.

"Actually, the Vermilion Bird Machine has other weapons as well. For example, its shoulder armor contains two Yin-Yang Magnetic Pole Stones, which can be used to launch the Yin-Yang Spiral Piercing Kill Cannon. This is an idea inherited from the Heaven-Soaring Armor. And if the Vermilion Flame Sword is fully unleashed, it can deploy the Heavenly Pivot Spiritual Fire Formation. However, all of these require the support of Spirit Transformation level Internal Cultivation, which is far from your reach. You can only look at them to satisfy your craving."

"Is this considered satisfying? It only makes me more envious!"

For the first time, Si Ming felt that the "Blazing Yang Battle Art" was too slow in improving his Internal Cultivation. He was only at level five so far, and it seemed like it would be a long time before he could cultivate it to the point where he could use all the functions of the Vermilion Bird Machine at will.

Unfortunately, apart from the "Blazing Yang Battle Art," he had no other Cultivation Method to practice, and he couldn't find a quick way to master it.

Suppressing his anxiety, Si Ming put on the Vermilion Bird Machine and experienced it out in the training field, running, jumping, and flying. He also tested a True Qi Beam Cannon, experiencing the feeling of "firing weakly."

Generally speaking, it takes at least half a month to get used to a new set of Profound Armor and master its operation. After all, the higher the performance of the Profound Armor, the higher the technical requirements for the user, just like pilot training.