I Must Become a Mecha Master

"Brother Lu Li, where are you going?"

Wu Changkong had been waiting to leave with Lu Li. Seeing that he was about to head off, he asked in confusion.

"I'm going to Heaven Dou City. I left my Three-Word Battle Armor with President Zhen Hua to be modified, and now it's time to pick it up. If everything goes well, I'll be back by tomorrow at the latest."

Lu Li gave a faint smile and answered calmly.

"Your Three-Word Battle Armor was modified...?"

"Brother Lu Li, don't tell me—"

Wu Changkong's expression turned grave. Just hearing those few words was enough for him to realize how serious this was. Even his voice trembled slightly.

Since when had Zhen Hua started modifying Three-Word Battle Armor?

The only things he actually produced were the Heaven-Forged creations that numbered barely a dozen across the entire continent: Four-Word Battle Armor!

Which meant that the Battle Armor of the man before him had also...

"Exactly what you think."

"Brother Chang Kong, you'll have your day too. I just got there a little earlier than you."

Lu Li had naturally seen what Wu Changkong was thinking. Looking at his stunned expression, he smiled as he spoke.

He would have Four-Word Battle Armor too.

It was only a matter of time. Just as in the original story, Wu Changkong seemed to reach Rank 98 later than Tang Wulin...

That was indeed quite late, but there were advantages to being late. By the time Wu Changkong became a Titled Douluo, Lu Li would probably be close to God Rank himself. Becoming a Divine Craftsman would then come naturally.

And when that time came, he would give this old friend a set of top-tier Four-Word Battle Armor.

After saying this, he soon strode away, leaving Wu Changkong alone, frozen in place.

"So it really is true..."

His voice was anything but calm.

It was one thing for Lu Li to become a Titled Douluo at such a young age. But now he had even become the youngest Four-Word Battle Armor Master in the world?

What did that even mean?

With Four-Word Battle Armor, even a Grandmaster at the Titled Douluo level could become an absolute powerhouse. Their combat strength would be not far from that of a Quasi-God.

And Lu Li already possessed a Martial Soul with potential that stood above all others, making every genius in the world bow their heads. How terrifying would he become now?

A genius like that belonged to the Spirit Pagoda. He would be Shrek's greatest challenge in the future!

"Having been Lu Li's opponent was an honor I'll cherish for the rest of my life, but..."

"He'll also be the nightmare of every genius for the rest of their lives."

Wu Changkong sighed and murmured to himself.

"..."

"It's been a while since I used a mecha. Since I've got a task to become a Mecha Master, I may as well get started."

Lu Li flew through the air, golden-red wings shimmering behind him, and finally stopped in the outskirts of Eastsea City.

At the thought of it, the Black-Grade Mecha inside the Nian Wo storage ring appeared beside Lu Li with a thunderous boom.

"Da Hei, move out."

Lu Li chuckled and patted the mecha's metal body. The eight-meter-tall mecha in front of him immediately opened its cockpit, and he climbed inside.

The cockpit was enormous. It could fit at least two people, with plenty of room to even do yoga comfortably.

"Turn on Gaode Navigation. Destination..."

"Heaven Dou City."

He smiled and spoke casually.

The instant he finished speaking, a clear navigation route appeared before his eyes, and the intelligent mecha began moving under his control.

[Congratulations, host! You've piloted your own Black-Grade Mecha. You've already become an advanced Mecha Master—unbelievable!]

[Long-Term Task · I Must Become a Mecha Master]

[Task complete. Congratulations, host! You've received the rewards: full mecha body upgrade + mecha core upgrade. Would you like to use them on this mecha?]

[Full Mecha Body Upgrade: Upgrades all the metal in the mecha to the strongest available metal. For example, this mecha is made from a small amount of Soul-Forged Metal and a large amount of Spirit-Forged Metal; all of it will be replaced with Soul-Forged Metal.]

[Mecha Core Upgrade: Improves overall performance.]

"Hmm?"

"I won't use it!"

At those words, Lu Li's eyes lit up. So he could save the rewards and use them later?

As everyone knew, the biggest problems with mechas were their insufficient strength and high material costs. Most Mecha Masters couldn't afford to maintain a God-Rank Mecha, even over an entire lifetime.

But those two problems were connected. Mechas weren't strong enough precisely because they weren't made with enough top-quality materials.

So, just how perfect would a mecha made entirely from top-tier Heaven-Forged materials be, with a design by a top-tier Rank 9 Mecha Designer and a perfect mecha core to boot?

"What I need to do from here on..."

"Is learn some secondary professions related to mecha design. It's a good thing I got a top-tier buff reward from my blacksmithing task."

Lu Li chuckled and focused on his status panel. It was...

Supernatural Comprehension!

And as for who would make the best instructor, wasn't there the perfect candidate right beside Uncle Zhen?

"This trip to Heaven Dou City..."

"I'm really looking forward to it..."

"..."

Meanwhile, at Eastsea Academy.

After classes ended, Gu Yue left by herself, while the other five members of Class Zero headed back to their dormitory. They were all still caught up in what had happened earlier, shock written across their faces.

They were only nine years old, yet they'd already been introduced to mechas and Battle Armor. Their homeroom teacher was even a Titled Douluo. Before today, they wouldn't have dared imagine any of it.

And what had left the deepest impression on them...

Was still Lu Li's four black and five red Soul Rings!

"Teacher Lu Li is actually a Titled Douluo. Tang Wulin, even now, I still can't believe it."

Xie Xie sounded awestruck as he looked at Tang Wulin beside him. After all, he considered himself closest to him.

Tang Wulin, however, didn't respond at all. He silently watched the scenery along the road, his face no longer wearing the calm, friendly smile from before. Instead, it was grave.

"Tang Wulin?"

Xie Xie poked him, and Tang Wulin suddenly snapped out of it, looking completely dazed.

"Huh? What is it?"

Tang Wulin quickly put on a calm expression and smiled.

"You're asking me what's wrong? It's you, obviously. Anyone can see something's up. Are you okay?"

"You look really out of it!"

Xie Xie frowned and asked anxiously, concern for his friend clear in his voice.

"Yeah."

Zhang Yangzi and the others nodded too. Anyone could see how dazed Tang Wulin had just been—not even Wei Xiaofeng had missed it.

"I'm fine."

"I just got a little sleepy, that's all."

Tang Wulin smiled and shook his head, answering earnestly.

"Are you sure that's all?"

Xie Xie shook his head, unconvinced, and couldn't help asking.

"Yeah!"

"I'm going back to sleep..."

Tang Wulin blinked and smiled. But in his eyes, as lovely as a girl's, a flicker of helplessness passed, along with deep fear.

Ever since Teacher Lu Li released his Martial Soul earlier that day, Tang Wulin had felt something inside him being awakened. Just now, he'd even felt as if...

Something was about to come out.

He didn't understand...

Why was this happening?

Big Brother Lu Li, is there still time for me to come find you?

"..."

Tang Wulin: It's coming out... It's really coming out! (Terrified face)