Reinforcing the Mechanical Kingdom

The Mechanical War God glanced at the Giant Wolf War God and spoke coldly:

"This isn't something we wanted. If we could have prevented the breach from falling, we would have. How many regions of the Mechanical Kingdom have been corrupted by Aberration during this time — you think you don't know? You think we're happy about this?"

"Hmph! That's the price of your breach falling! What does that have to do with the rest of us?! The fact that we came to help at all is already more than generous. Haven't our three races suffered casualties during this time too? If not for you, would we have taken those losses?!"

Spirit Power surged around the Giant Wolf War God, his aura wild and violent, as if he might strike at any moment.

Seeing this, Bu Chang stepped forward.

"Enough — both of you, cool down!"

"Yingu, none of us wanted to see these losses. But you know as well as I do — if we let this breach keep expanding, it won't just be the Mechanical Kingdom that suffers. Our three kingdoms will be corrupted too. When the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold. Surely you understand that."

The Giant Wolf War God Yingu glanced at Bu Chang and let out a cold snort, the Spirit Power around him gradually subsiding.

But his expression remained frigid as he looked at the Mechanical War God.

Bu Chang turned to the Mechanical War God, his face growing serious.

"Mados, you know that our three races have taken heavy losses because of your fallen breach. We're willing to provide reinforcements, but the Mechanical Kingdom needs to compensate us."

Beside him, an Elf whose entire body appeared sculpted from ice crystal nodded, their voice bone-chillingly cold.

"I agree with Bu Chang. Our losses need to be made whole by the Mechanical Race."

Besides the War Gods currently guarding other breaches, the Mechanical Race had five War Gods present — all of them gathered here.

They exchanged glances. After a moment of silence, Mados spoke slowly:

"Agreed."

The tense atmosphere eased slightly at his words.

The expressions of the three races' War Gods softened — even Yingu's.

Bu Chang smiled and continued.

"Let's discuss the specifics, then."

Land of Origin, Upper Layer. Inside the Gravity Room.

Lu Yuan was training.

Though he sat within the Gravity Room, his surroundings had transformed into a forest. Warm sunlight streamed from the sky above, the crisp songs of birds mingling with the murmur of flowing streams — a scene of perfect tranquility.

All of this was a phenomenon produced by Fantasy Manifestation during his training.

While Fantasy Manifestation wasn't quite as precious as time-attribute Transcendent Genes, it was extraordinarily rare in its own right — only slightly less so than fate-attribute Transcendent Genes.

It also required roughly twenty million Ninth-tier Spirit Crystals to temper to perfection.

For the current Lu Yuan, however, that was hardly a challenge.

In a remarkably short time, he had already tempered this Transcendent Gene to nearly the halfway mark.

He could complete the tempering during this stay in the Land of Origin.

Once that was done, he could use the Heart of Laws to comprehend one of the Laws contained within it.

Or he could descend to the Lower Layer of the Land of Origin and seek out other Guardians.

Just then, Lu Yuan's eyes snapped open.

The illusory forest around him slowly faded as he produced a Communication Crystal, its surface flickering with white light.

He glanced at the caller's identity and raised an eyebrow, surprise flashing through his eyes.

He activated the crystal. When Ruoshui's elegant, beautiful face appeared, a smile crossed his lips.

"Senior Ruoshui, what can I do for you?"

Ruoshui laughed lightly.

"I do have something to discuss with you. But first — congratulations on reaching War God rank. Your cultivation speed far exceeds anything I imagined. Truly unbelievable."

Wonder still lingered in her eyes.

After Lu Yuan's breakthrough to War God, his name had vanished from the Saint Rankings. Naturally, the news had spread to everyone.

The entire Land of Origin had been shaken.

After all, it had been barely a year in Origin Time since Lu Yuan reached Battle Saint.

Breaking through to War God in just one year — how absurd was that?

Almost no one could believe it.

Ruoshui had received word earlier, but she'd been dealing with the remnants of the Heavenly Calamity Cult at the time and hadn't entered the Land of Origin, so she'd never had the chance to congratulate him directly.

Now she took that opportunity first.

Lu Yuan smiled. "Thank you, Senior."

Ruoshui returned the smile, then continued:

"The reason I'm contacting you involves the situation in the Mechanical Kingdom."

Lu Yuan's brow furrowed slightly. He knew the Mechanical Kingdom had a breach that had been seized by the Aberrant Beasts.

"Has something gone wrong with the breach?"

A trace of bitterness crossed Ruoshui's lovely face. She sighed.

"The Aberrant Beasts are even more powerful than we anticipated. Even though it's only an outpost, the combined might of most of the Mechanical Kingdom's forces and reinforcements from the three races still hasn't been enough to take it back. They need more reinforcements."

Lu Yuan drew a sharp breath, unable to hide his shock.

"That many War Gods and they still can't take it?"

Ruoshui shook her head. "The outpost alone has over ten Divine Grade Aberrant Beasts, all incredibly powerful. Taking it won't be easy. Many of the beasts have already passed through the spatial corridor into other regions of the Mechanical Kingdom. Corruption has appeared in multiple areas. If this continues, the Mechanical Kingdom will eventually fall — and when it does, our three races won't be spared."

Lu Yuan's frown deepened. "So you're contacting me because you want me to go reinforce them?"

Ruoshui nodded gently.

"Yes. Thanks to you, the Heavenly Calamity Cult has been eliminated, so there are no hidden threats left within Human Race territory. We can afford to leave fewer defenders behind, which frees up two more War Gods. You and Nuxing will go together."

Lu Yuan considered for a moment, then nodded.

"That shouldn't be a problem."

If the breach situation deteriorated further, the consequences could be catastrophic. He wanted to see it reclaimed as quickly as possible.

After all, he had no idea how long comprehending Laws would take. If the breach tore wide open and the Aberration Mother Nest itself came pouring through before he'd mastered even a single Law — that would be a death sentence for everyone.

Ruoshui smiled.

"This time, it's not just War Gods and Battle Saints. The Mechanical Kingdom has implemented a Merit system — any warrior Battle King rank or above can volunteer. For every Aberrant Beast killed, they earn Merits, which can be exchanged for various resources in the Mechanical Kingdom. This is how they're compensating the three races for their losses. War Gods who go will receive resources as well. Whatever you need, don't hold back with those Mechanical Race folk — just ask. Their original strength rivaled or even exceeded the Human Race's. They've accumulated considerable wealth."

A smile spread across Lu Yuan's face.

"Then I won't be shy."

Truthfully, his own cultivation no longer required much. As for Spirit Crystals — his Evolution Cube no longer needed to evolve any more Transcendent Genes, and his Gene Armaments had already been evolved to divine artifact grade. His entire body was equipped with divine artifacts now.

Training resources? He still hadn't exhausted the Merits he'd accumulated in the Upper Layer, and probably never would.

But just because *he* didn't need them didn't mean Qinghe and the others couldn't use them.

Nurturing them required substantial resources too.

Sure, he could evolve treasures and sell them himself, but that took time to accumulate. How could that compare to simply claiming them from the Mechanical Kingdom?

Ruoshui smiled.

"Don't hold back at all. We'll spread the word in Sky-Mending City shortly. Anyone who wants to go to the Mechanical Kingdom to hunt Aberrant Beasts can travel with you and Nuxing. It'll be about one month in Origin Time — get yourself ready."

Lu Yuan nodded. "No problem."

After ending the call with Ruoshui, he thought for a moment, then resumed training.

There was still time, and he had nothing special to prepare. He'd simply head out when the day came.

If he had to "prepare" anything, it was probably... getting stronger?

He chuckled to himself and let the thought go.

Inside the villa's living room.

Li Qinghe and Si Tingyu had finished their training and were resting on the sofa.

Si Tingyu was reading while Li Qinghe lay sprawled nearby, playing a game.

Just then, Shuangyue pushed through the door, excitement lighting up her face. She started shouting the moment she stepped inside.

"Girls! Big news! Big news!"

Si Tingyu and Li Qinghe both looked up.

Si Tingyu closed her book and set it aside, expression serious.

"What happened?"

Shuangyue took a deep breath.

"I was just outside and saw warriors under War God Hall posting an announcement. They said the Mechanical Kingdom is facing a massive crisis — one that could threaten the safety of the entire universe. They're recruiting forces right now, with War God-level powerhouses leading the expedition. Oh, and they said the Mechanical Kingdom is using a Merit system. Merits earned there can be exchanged for resources, and the exchange rate is apparently about five times the Upper Layer rate here in the Land of Origin."

Si Tingyu's and Li Qinghe's eyes both widened.

"Five times?!" Li Qinghe exclaimed. "If we sign up, we'd make a fortune!"

But Si Tingyu's attention was elsewhere. Her brow creased slightly.

"That crisis... could it be the breach Yuan told us about? Didn't they say two War Gods and powerhouses from other races had already gone as reinforcements? They still haven't taken it back? It's *that* serious?"

Shuangyue nodded.

"That's what I thought too. It's probably the only thing that would qualify as a major crisis. I didn't expect they'd need even more reinforcements — the situation must be dire."

Li Qinghe raised an eyebrow as the pieces clicked.

"Is this what you mentioned before? The thing War God Ruoshui came to talk to Yuan about?"

After Lu Yuan had left the Land of Origin last time, Shuangyue and Si Tingyu had explained his whereabouts and shared the situation with Li Qinghe and the others.

Naturally, Li Qinghe remembered.

Both Shuangyue and Si Tingyu nodded.

"Mm."

"No wonder they're offering so many Merits," Li Qinghe muttered.

Then she looked conflicted. "It sounds really dangerous, though. Should we go?"

Si Tingyu thought it over.

"Didn't they say War Gods would be leading? Yuan might be going too. Let's wait for him to come back and ask."

The others considered this and nodded. "That works."

When Lu Yuan finished training and returned to the villa, he found everyone in the living room, seated together on the sofas. The moment he walked in, every head turned toward him.

Lu Yuan blinked.

"Why is everyone here?"

Normally, they each had their own routines after training. Yeye and Amy would go shopping and exploring. Wang Lingling naturally tagged along with Amy, and Small White followed Yeye.

Anastasia sometimes returned to the Nightshade Race's territory — she was a princess, after all, and had begun inheriting certain responsibilities. There were matters that required her attention.

Si Tingxue was usually immersed in combat in the Virtual Room, often dragging Rebecca along. Though sometimes Rebecca managed to coax Si Tingxue into joining Yeye and the others for a shopping trip.

The ones who typically stayed behind were Li Qinghe, Si Tingyu, and Shuangyue.

Li Qinghe liked playing games, Si Tingyu preferred reading quietly, and Shuangyue had no particular hobbies of her own — she simply kept the other two company.

Finding every single one of them gathered here was truly a rare sight.

Li Qinghe spoke up with a smile.

"Yuan, people outside are saying something really serious happened in the Mechanical Kingdom, and they're recruiting. Do you know about this?"

Lu Yuan paused, then recalled what Ruoshui had told him. He raised an eyebrow, understanding at once.

He'd teleported back via spatial movement, so he hadn't noticed the announcement.

Seeing everyone's eyes on him, he smiled.

"That's right. The breach in the Mechanical Kingdom has been occupied by Aberrant Beasts and turned into their outpost. They still haven't taken it back, and more signs of Corruption have appeared across the kingdom. Things are getting urgent, so they're calling for reinforcements."

He gave a brief summary. Li Qinghe and the others drew sharp breaths, recognizing just how severe the situation must be.

Lu Yuan looked at them curiously.

"Why the sudden interest?"

Li Qinghe's eyes gleamed.

"Are you going?"

He nodded. "I'll be co-leading the expedition with another War God senior."

Si Tingxue's cool, clear gaze flickered as she looked at him.

"Yuan, we want to go too. Can we?"

The others watched him with the same eager anticipation.

Lu Yuan blinked, then swept a bemused look across their faces.

Seeing their expectant expressions, the corner of his mouth twitched.

"It's very dangerous there. The Aberrant Beasts are powerful — even I can't guarantee we'll take back that outpost."

Si Tingyu shook her head, expression solemn.

"You've been helping us grow stronger all this time precisely so we'd have the power to fight back when we face those Aberrant Beasts. Now that the opportunity is here, we want to test ourselves."

Yeye's usually vacant look gave way to firm resolve.

"Yuan, I want to go!"

Small White's face was dead serious. "I will always be at Her Highness's side."

Amy's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"I know I haven't broken through yet, but I still want to see it for myself!"

Wang Lingling wore a gentle smile. "I'll keep the young lady safe."

Anastasia smiled as well.

"Many of our Nightshade Race will be going. Lady Gladys will be there too. I'd like to go as well."

Every last one of them looked at Lu Yuan with unwavering determination.