Machine Race Life: Machine

That night, Shi Fen was shaken to an unimaginable degree by his three innate talents.

As Shi Fen stood there, stunned and struggling to accept reality, the Eight Trigrams Reincarnation Mirror transmitted a piece of information to him. Once he finished reading it, he was even more shocked and bewildered.

So, the Clone Secret Technique was only a part of the rewards for the Foundation Trial? The Foundation Trial actually contains other treasures? And the talent detection function is one of my special rewards?

Metallic auxiliary life, botanical garden, Tree of Life, grains of life, countless aged medicinal wines, massive amounts of secret manuals, Heaven-Reaching Hall, three worlds, three detection functions...

My god, am I dreaming?

Shi Fen cross-referenced the list of gains provided by "Yi," and his ten clones set out, acting separately to verify his harvest item by item.

As each reward was confirmed, all ten of Shi Fen's clones fell into a state of profound shock.

Teacher Yi is truly generous. It's as if he's afraid my cultivation progress might be even a fraction too slow—this is the pace of forcing growth by pulling up the seedlings... But it seems Teacher Yi has truly recognized me and has begun to tilt resources directly toward me.

Shi Fen finished taking inventory of all his gains, and his ten clones sat together in the Meditation Hall, dazed, contemplating life and questioning reality.

Standing beside Shi Fen's ten clones was a metallic being, about a meter tall, shimmering with a silver metallic luster, and shaped exactly like a human child with a very cute appearance.

"Machine, is what you said true? Are my next stage of trials and special trials really like that?"

The metallic being spoke in a milky, childish voice using Chinese with an extremely certain tone: "Master, apart from Chinese, this is the only information in my database. It cannot be wrong."

"Hmm."

Shi Fen's main body stared at the milky-voiced metallic being before him, the corners of his mouth and eyes twitching uncontrollably.

This metallic being was one of Shi Fen's extra rewards—a genuine Machine Race metallic life form, a sentient being destined to assist Shi Fen in the future.

Shi Fen named it "Machine."

"Machine" had originally been a small metal sculpture standing near the Three-Basket World Ring. When Shi Fen was taking inventory, his Spiritual Force had inadvertently swept over "Machine," accidentally causing it to recognize him as its master. Once "Machine" was activated, it took on its current, milky-voiced appearance.

Although "Machine" looked like an "alien" on the outside, its inner self was exactly like a human child—a clean, blank slate. The only words on that slate, aside from language, were all tasks related to Shi Fen's future trials.

Even though "Machine" was a child, its strength was not weak. Its current strength was the same as Shi Fen's: "Planetary Level 1" in both martial artist and Spiritual Master capabilities.

The moment Machine was born, its strength was already equal to that of Shi Fen, who had struggled for eighteen years.

Having such a child "issue orders" to him and tell him about his future tasks made Shi Fen's heart twitch, more or less.

While Shi Fen's heart was twitching, Machine hugged Shi Fen's thigh again and said in a milky voice, "Master, when will you get me the basic data? My brain feels so empty, it's so uncomfortable, wuwuwu..."

Machine lay on Shi Fen's thigh, whimpering in grievance.

Shi Fen's heart twitched violently once more; Machine's demeanor was too similar to the children he had once adopted, who would hug his legs and cry.

Shi Fen gently stroked Machine and said tenderly, "There is a sentient being outside; I'll help you get the data in a few days."

Hearing this, Machine remained lying there, whimpering.

Shi Fen couldn't bear it and said, "How about we first store all the book information from the Library Hall into your database?"

Upon hearing this suggestion, Machine immediately lifted its head in excitement and nodded frantically.

Shi Fen gave a dry laugh, thinking to himself that Machine was truly just like a child. He felt a bit envious of Luo Feng, who had the experienced Babata to help him from the start, while he had to raise a child...

Shi Fen brought Machine to the Inheritance Hall and asked, "Are you ready?"

Machine hurriedly nodded repeatedly in excitement.

Shi Fen manipulated the most basic information transmission permissions of the Treasure Refining World, using the "Inheritance Hall" as an "information relay core" to transmit massive amounts of data into Machine's consciousness.

As Machine felt the vast sea of information flooding into its database, a satisfied, brilliant smile spread across its face.

"My head isn't empty anymore." Machine was very simple-minded.

Seeing the micro-expressions on Machine's face, Shi Fen's heart twitched again. When he received the information, he had been pressed to the point of semi-consciousness, but Machine was perfectly fine, looking completely satisfied. The gap between the two of them was not small.

As expected of a Machine Race sentient being; its consciousness processing power is incomparable.

Shi Fen didn't know how long it would take for Machine to complete the transmission, so he didn't wait there. He dived straight into the Library Hall to look for what he needed.

Because the information received by his consciousness this time was so overwhelming, and because he hadn't finished organizing it, Shi Fen couldn't immediately find the data he needed. Rather than rummaging through his Sea of Consciousness, it was better to check the book titles on the shelves.

Luo Feng has already received the inheritance. I believe that in a few days, Babata will definitely urge Luo Feng to come find me and take me as a personal disciple.

As long as I find that information, Babata will never escape my grasp. No matter how many millions of years you, Babata, have roamed the universe, with all your experience and knowledge, you will still have to bow down before my inheritance. Shi Fen laughed wildly in his heart.

Ever since he had finished organizing all the gains from the Foundation Trial, Shi Fen had changed his original plan.

He intended to act in a high-profile manner and stir up the entire Earth!

Shi Fen's main body searched for the desired book materials inside the Library Hall.

His other nine main clones sat in the Meditation Hall, eyes closed, organizing the book information transmitted into their consciousness.

All the books in the Library Hall were related to his next Treasure Refining Trial; Shi Fen could not afford to be careless.

On the afternoon of August 15th, Luo Feng successfully found the Black Ink Star Ship and, under the witness of Babata, took Hu Yanbo as his master.

After receiving the inheritance, Luo Feng was brainwashed by Babata, who instilled all sorts of common knowledge about the universe into him.

A long time later.

Babata transformed into a stern little devil and began to fiercely lecture Luo Feng about his arrangements.

"In the fifty thousand years I have lived, I have contemplated countless potential futures.

I simply never expected that in reality, I would be so fortunate as to encounter two geniuses capable of comprehending a Domain while still at the Apprentice Level.

Luo Feng, your brain region width is 21, exactly one index higher than Shi Fen's. Furthermore, you managed to forcibly comprehend the Gold Domain by relying on the Blade of Willpower. In some respects, you could even be considered stronger than Shi Fen. This is why I have chosen you as my first personal disciple; I hope you do not disappoint me.

Luo Feng, once your Spiritual Force breaks through to the Planetary Level, we must hurry to find your brother, Shi Fen. We shall take him under your teacher's tutelage as well. If you two prodigies work hard together, you will undoubtedly be able to carve out a great career in the universe."

Luo Feng listened to Babata's lecture intently, nodding repeatedly in spite of himself.

Luo Feng felt secretly smug; this was the first time he had managed to surpass Shi Fen, and he was very much looking forward to seeing Shi Fen's reaction when the time came.

He had not only obtained a legacy that could be described as "terrifying" even in the vast universe, gaining access to astonishing wealth and resources, but he also had the guidance of the intelligent life form "Babata." Achieving the status of Earth's strongest being in the future was a trivial matter.

The feeling of "turning the tables" was incredibly intense for Luo Feng. To be able to surpass Shi Fen by such a margin all at once—it felt fantastic!

What Luo Feng did not know was this.

Trying to turn the tables on Shi Fen?

That was a beautiful dream! Just wait until you get a reality check!

Moreover.

There were things Babata truly wanted to say that he kept from Luo Feng.

Based on years of experience in judging people and the data he had gathered on Luo Feng, Babata felt that Luo Feng's heart was simpler and more susceptible to his "coaxing." As long as he treated Luo Feng well enough, if Luo Feng could become a powerhouse, there was a high probability he would dare to strike at the "Demon Hand King," his mortal enemy.

Furthermore, the indomitable, frenzied momentum Luo Feng possessed suited Babata's tastes perfectly.

As for Shi Fen?

Babata had countless massive question marks in his heart.

What exactly was Shi Fen's Domain? Why could this Domain guide others to comprehend their own?

Was this a Domain that transcended the laws of the universe?

Why was Shi Fen's brain region width only 20? Why would someone with a brain region width of 20 be so heaven-defyingly intelligent? How could he perfectly control 33 flying knives at the Apprentice Level 9 with only a brain region width of 20? Was it truly possible to achieve this level relying solely on the Basics of Spiritual Reader?

Was Shi Fen's brain region width data even accurate?

Why was Shi Fen so formidable, yet chose to keep a low profile for 18 years? Why was Shi Fen uninterested in learning, despite being so gifted at it? Why was Shi Fen only interested in forging or physical training? Why did the new forging techniques Shi Fen invented bear the hallmarks of advanced cosmic technology?

Could it really just be innate talent?

Why did Shi Fen's behavior sometimes make it seem as if he were two different people? Why were his sense of crisis and counter-surveillance awareness so strong? Was this something a normal human child should possess? Why did Shi Fen's life experiences seem as if they had been meticulously arranged?

What exactly was Shi Fen hiding behind his bizarre behavior?

Why could Shi Fen completely ignore the subtle guiding power of "Spiritual Waves"? Was this something a native of a primitive planet could resist? Was Shi Fen truly a native born on Earth? If he wasn't, why did Shi Fen have complete video records of his birth?

Why could I not find a single trace of forgery in that footage?

Why was I unable to hack into the electronic devices around Shi Fen? Why could I not detect his vital signs? Why have I recently had the feeling of being watched? Yet, I cannot infiltrate the electronic devices near him; I even have to rely on monitoring Shi Fen's teacher to discover clues about his new technology. Why am I so weak?

Am I still the invincible Babata of the Silver Blue Empire?

Babata had countless questions about Shi Fen, to the point where he began to doubt himself.

Although Babata was trapped within the spaceship, his capabilities were infinitely superior to Earth's civilization. By controlling all of humanity's satellites, he could easily master the vast majority of information on Earth.

Ever since discovering that the super-powered Spiritual Reader on Mist Island was Shi Fen, Babata had scoured Shi Fen's background countless times. He had found countless things that defied logic and common sense.

Faced with so many uncertainties, although Babata favored Shi Fen the most, he still chose Luo Feng as his first personal disciple without hesitation. As for Shi Fen, it would depend on fate and sincerity.

If Shi Fen knew what Babata had uncovered, he would surely break out in a cold sweat. He would certainly be grateful that every time he used the Eight Trigrams Reincarnation Mirror, he chose to do so in a sealed environment, avoiding the possibility of being captured by satellites.

Otherwise, under Babata's surveillance, the secret of the Eight Trigrams Reincarnation Mirror would likely have been exposed.

In truth, Shi Fen was already nearly exposed in Babata's eyes.

In Babata's judgment, the most likely explanation for Shi Fen's strangeness was that he had obtained an unknown legacy from Earth at a very young age, and that this unknown legacy must have an intelligent life form like himself, assisting Shi Fen in utilizing all the information around him. That was why he kept hitting walls whenever he investigated Shi Fen.

If Shi Fen knew of Babata's conjectures, he would surely be terrified out of his wits.

For Babata to have discovered the "truth" based on various clues, one had to admit that he was indeed formidable. If not for the Eight Trigrams Reincarnation Mirror helping Shi Fen shield his information, he would have been completely exposed before Babata.

The intelligent life forms born from the vast cosmic civilization were truly worthy of their reputation.