More than ten days later.
In the central area of the Black Star Palace, a long-handled battle blade stretches across the starry sky. Its appearance is like a mechanical Guan Dao magnified countless times. With a black background and gold patterns, its complex structure makes it look quite luxurious and exquisite. At first glance, one might mistake it for some kind of exquisite figurine.
Mechanical rings were fitted around different parts of this long mechanical sword. Countless flexible mechanical arms extended from the inner rings, transforming into various tools that moved across the sword, generating arcs of electricity. These rings were manufacturing aids specifically designed for megastructure projects, called "megastructure assembly rings," and were currently connected and operated under Mechanical Force Mechanical Force.
The other end of the lightning-fast chains of Mechanical Force linkage converged above this massive construction site, where a black figure floated—it was Han Xiao. The giant mechanical longsword was the "Star Slaying Blade," Universal Treasure exclusive to the Mechanical Deity under construction.
Han Xiao maintained a Perfect Mechanical Sense perspective, closely monitoring every minute energy flow during the construction of the Star Slaying Blade, much like a chef watching the heat closely, adjusting it at any moment.
As the robotic arm of the giant assembly ring inserted the last bolt-type power button, Han Xiao's panel emitted a notification sound that was like heavenly music to him.
[You have crafted a gold-quality equipment (Universal Treasure)]
[You received feedback from the [Divine Equipment]]
[You have gained 1 Divine Transformation Point (the same blueprint cannot be obtained repeatedly)]
[Your random attribute has decreased by 425 points... Ranking is in progress, randomization complete, your charm has decreased by 425 points.]
[You have gained 425 free attribute points]
[You have gained the third tier of the [Divine Equipment] bonus: Basic crafting success rate for gold blueprints +2.5%, basic research success rate for gold blueprints +1.2%, and mutation rate of Cosmic Wonder +0.4%]
"Finally done..." Han Xiao's tense nerves finally relaxed after seeing the successful judgment.
This is the third Universal Treasure he has personally crafted. It is even more difficult to make than the Great Emperor's Robe. He failed many times and burned through a huge amount of money before finally succeeding in making it today.
However, compared to the terrifying profits that the Evolution Totem and the Black Star Cup bring in continuously, this expense is nothing.
Han Xiao retrieved all the megastructure assembly rings, stored the Star Slaying Blade in the Dimensional Factory, then opened the attribute list and threw the Divine Transformation Point into the main profession's transformation path, allowing [Divine Transformation - Mechanical] to successfully unlock the fifth stage.
[Fifth Stage: [Mechanic Dominator], [Divine Throne Mechanic] stage mechanical skill level +3, you gain a total mechanical affinity bonus of 1.1x, ability strength +28%, attack power bonus of 1.2x, shield strength bonus of 1.2x, mechanical creation energy core power +40%, output power +20%]
"Wow, this boost is awesome!" Han Xiao exclaimed in delight.
In the previous stages, the main focus was on improving production and research capabilities. However, upon reaching the fifth stage, a significant boost to combat power was finally achieved. The total affinity coefficient increased by 1.1x, which increased Mechanical Affinity by at least 2000%. Not to mention the most powerful ability strength bonus, and the other effects are also geared towards combat.
The abilities of [Mechanic Dominator] and [Divine Throne Mechanic] are his current main combat skills. Breaking through the upper limit and increasing by 3 levels will greatly help his combat power, at least giving him 3 more slots for Apostle Weapon.
"So, the focus of the fifth stage is to enhance one's efficiency in utilizing machinery... Hmm?"
Han Xiao muttered something to himself, then suddenly realized that the notification on the panel hadn't ended yet.
[[Divine Transformation - Mechanism] has reached the fifth stage]
[An unknown change has occurred in your level of life]
[You have gained a new understanding of mechanics, increasing the chance of developing a unique skill by 15%, and enhancing the [All Things Simulation] skill.]
[You have sensed a portion of the power of the transformation path -- [Unknown Talent]]
[You have obtained 1 [First Sanctum] skill fragment]
Seeing this, Han Xiao's heart stirred, and he secretly made a guess.
"It seems that the fifth stage of Divine Transformation is a threshold, just like there are bottlenecks in energy level standards within the Beyond Grade A... If we extrapolate from this, could it be that every 5 levels is a threshold? What would be the upper limit of Divine Transformation? 10 levels? 15 levels?"
Han Xiao seemed to be deep in thought. He had a panel where he could directly add points, but the normal method for Beyond Grade A experts to improve their Divine Transformation level was not as convenient and quick as his. It took them many years to improve each level.
Having reached the fifth stage of the Divine Transformation on the Mechanical Route, I obtained a skill fragment of [The First Sanctum]. I now have three fragments, but there's no sign of synthesizing them yet, and I don't know how many fragments I'll need in total.
To date, Han Xiao still doesn't know how to develop a unique skill. If the prerequisite is to immerse oneself in a certain field, then he has spent a lot of time in the field of mechanics, but he has never received any hints.
As for [All Things Simulation], Han Xiao was quite familiar with it. He had often used this ability to try to develop blueprints for Universal Treasure, but the progress was disappointing.
Upon seeing the panel prompt, he reactivated the skill, entered the familiar field of vision, and carefully experienced it, feeling that there seemed to be some subtle changes in the unseen world.
However, this feeling is hard to explain. The most direct manifestation is that the mind is more active than before. No matter what you are looking at, the brain maintains a kind of "insight" thinking mode.
"It always feels like it gets straight to the heart of things... Hmm, kind of like the pursuit of knowledge through investigation?"
Han Xiao tested it out but didn't discover much, so he withdrew his ability, tidied up the area, and flew towards the palace.
Back in his room, Han Xiao went online to check the Black Star Cup tournament schedule.
With Phillip's management and massive resource investment, the qualifiers are progressing rapidly, eliminating nearly a third of the players.
Before this, many interstellar citizens in various regions were only aware of the players' existence but had not paid special attention to them. However, this time, because the Black Star Cup was broadcast to the entire universe, the players' performances came into the view of more ordinary people, arousing the interest of a large number of people.
Most ordinary people are both curious and terrified of these immortal madmen, much like encountering an exhibitionist who instinctively covers their eyes but can't help peeking through their fingers.
Coupled with the players' behavior in the Shattered World, the nickname "Cancer of the Universe" gradually spread and gained more and more approval.
On the other hand, the excitement surrounding the Black Star Cup also attracted a large number of foreign players who came specifically to experience it.
The number of Legion players had been steadily increasing, and a few days ago it finally broke the 10 million mark. Han Xiao estimated that the final number of Legion players at the end of the version would be higher than his previous estimate of 11.5 million.
The Cancer of the Universe represents chaos, making it virtually impossible to recruit all players. However, the Black Star Army is now able to guide the behavior of the players somewhat. If they can do something good in this regard, reducing the damage caused by players from the previous era, that would be a great merit.
"Speaking of which, my biopic seems to be coming out soon..."
Han Xiao suddenly realized he hadn't touched Fording in a long time, which reminded him of this incident.
He searched online and found that the movie had already finished filming and was scheduled for release next month.
Because interstellar society has advanced productivity, ordinary people can afford the cost of making films, leading to a proliferation of movies. In addition, the advancement of portable communication devices and the widespread adoption of quantum networks have rendered the low-profit cinema business model almost obsolete. The mainstream model has long since become the online video platform model, where new films are simultaneously released on platforms in various star systems and can be watched online.
The film's title is simple and unpretentious: * Black Star: Origins*. It tells the story of Black Star's journey on Planet Aquamarine, from his escape from the Germinal to his journey into interstellar space. Due to time constraints, director Benny Travolta cut many events, retaining only the main plot to control the film's pacing.
Han Xiao had seen a rough cut of the film before. This famous director was indeed capable, making his experience full of twists and turns, and even leaving room for a sequel before he finally stepped into the interstellar world.
In the trailer, Fording, after being made up, wears the outfit from the time of the Korean mastermind Black Phantom, and moves around the screen with a face that appeals to both men and women.
Seeing this scene, all he could think of for a moment were descriptions like "graceful as a startled swan, lithe as Wandering Dragon."
"So handsome..." Han Xiao was very satisfied, "You captured my character's image very well."
He glanced at the forum; the players were equally interested in the movie, partly because they wanted to see Black Star's story made into a film, and partly because they wanted to see them appear in it.
The movie also features the Immortals, and seeing their own stories made into a movie by NPCs is a novel experience for players, creating a strong sense of immersion.
"After this film is released, it might boost the cohesion of the legion players, just like Meat Bun's video did... If it works, we could ask that director to make a few more sequels."
After making a mental note of this, Han Xiao continued browsing the internet for a while and discovered another news item that caught his attention.
The Crimson Dynasty announced that in ten days, the Dark Emperor would publicly execute two Beyond Grade A individuals: one Traveler, and the other an innocent person hired by the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
"Is it finally time to establish authority...?" Han Xiao pursed his lips.
As a result, the conflict between the Super A Tier and cosmic-level civilizations will become increasingly acute. Although there is still a long way to go before an explosion occurs, the seeds of discontent will only grow.
However, this time the Three Universal Civilizations ' target is not the Super A Tier, but the Super Star Cluster Alliance, to scare away those Beyond Grade A members hired by the Super Cluster, thereby clipping their Wings — the Three Universal Civilizations have already begun preparing for future suppression.
On the other side, in the Shattered World Free Competition Zone, lies the territory of the Star Arc Civilization.
In a remote conference room, a group of high-ranking officials with powerful positions looked grim.
"The Empire has captured Traveler and plans to publicly execute them. What should we do?"
"There's no other way but to abandon him. We can't afford to clash with the Three Universal Civilizations right now... Although it's inevitable, we're not ready yet."
"What a pity, the Traveler was so loyal to civilization; this is a great loss."
"The problem now is whether the Traveler has revealed his true identity. If the Empire knows his background, it will have an excuse to provoke conflict, and we will become the main target."
"The Traveler shouldn't betray civilization, but you never know. We need to be prepared and not admit his identity."
Everyone chimed in with their own opinions, looking worried.
The Three Universal Civilizations cannot simply launch an attack on the Supercluster Civilization without a reason. As advanced civilizations in the universe, they need a pretext to provoke trouble, even if it's baseless. As the rulers, the Three Universal Civilizations will inevitably occupy the moral high ground. Regardless of whether the reasons are true or false, as long as they have a legitimate cause and can give the public an explanation, that's enough.
Therefore, the Supercluster Civilization often keeps a low profile, unwilling to give the Three Universal Civilizations any leverage, and its presence in the universe is not strong.
On the other hand, the supercluster civilization's strength is second only to that of a cosmic-level civilization, and it cannot be easily bullied. Although the Three Universal Civilizations keep clamoring to suppress them, they also need to make full preparations.
Both the Three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance are maintaining restraint for the time being. Both sides understand that this is just the calm before the storm, and a battle is bound to take place over the development of the new star field.
The Supercluster is fighting for a sliver of hope for advancement, and the outcome of this conflict will determine the grand scheme of the future of the Explored Universe.
"Forty thousand Enas!"
Forty-five thousand!
"Forty-five thousand for the first time, forty-five thousand for the second time... No one else is bidding? Okay, forty-five thousand for the third time. This antique from the Dogo Civilization belongs to buyer number 068."
On a planet in the Ancient Star Desert, in a small private space station in outer space, a black market auction is underway.
The auction venue was a circular room with a central display stand showcasing the auction items. Auctioneers provided explanations, while the surrounding walls were covered with countless virtual screens. Each screen represented a remote black market buyer participating in the auction, and everyone's identity was kept secret.
Because it is a remote auction, the auctioned items will be delivered to the buyer's designated location via the black market's interstellar logistics channels after the auction ends.
The auctioneer tapped the table and announced loudly, "The next item for auction is a one-time use safe discovered by an archaeological team on a desolate planet. This item comes from the ruins of an unknown civilization, possibly a galactic-level civilization. It can be opened using quantum network decryption equipment, but it hasn't been opened yet, so what you get depends on your luck... Of course, you can also buy it for your collection. Starting bid: 4000 Enas."
Several staff members carried the smooth, black triangular device onto the platform; it was exactly what Harrison and his team had dug up.
Meanwhile, Harrison's team was in a VIP room, watching the live broadcast of the event.
"After all that work, the starting price is only four thousand Enas? This auction house is so stingy!" The short explorer said, looking frustrated.
"That's how black market auctions are," the captain said, sounding experienced. "Don't worry, the black market has no shortage of wealthy people who like to try their luck. I estimate the official transaction amount can reach over 20,000."
"Twenty thousand isn't much," the short surveyor muttered. "It's not even worth as much as tomb raiding or digging up antiques..."
Harrison, standing nearby, asked with some concern, "Is this auction house safe?"
"Don't worry, I'm a regular here. This place belongs to the Beast Ancestor Gortan, no space pirates dare to rob us, it's safe... etc."
The captain suddenly paused, and said uncertainly:
"It seems Gorutan fell from power recently?"
"No way, you've forgotten such big news?!"
The diminutive explorer widened his eyes and hurriedly asked:
"Won't the deal go wrong? I was thinking of buying A Xiang a gift!"
"It should be alright..." The captain hesitated now. " With the Beast Ancestor gone, this black market auction house should have found a new backer. There shouldn't be any problems... right?"
Harrison covered his face, unable to bear to look.
This group of people is so unreliable, I think I'll just go solo from now on...
Meanwhile, a dozen warships were lurking not far from this planet, belonging to a group of raiders that roamed the Ancient Star Desert.
Inside the flagship, the leader of the pirate crew, along with a group of his men, gazed at the planets beyond the porthole.
"Captain, are we really going to rob them? I heard this auction house is owned by the Beast Ancestor, and they're not to be trifled with..."
"What's there to be afraid of? Even the Beast Ancestor has been captured by Black Star. His power has fallen apart and he's been kicked out by other black market managers. They're taking over his forces, and they haven't even finished integrating them yet."
The pirate leader chuckled, his eyes gleaming with greed, his expression ferocious.
"I've already inquired; the Beast Ancestor warriors protecting the logistics of this auction have withdrawn. Without the Beast Ancestor's forces, they are now extremely vulnerable!"