In the Mechanical Race Barracks Base, within the public lounge area.
A team of six Immortals sat at a metal table.
Intimidated by the formidable reputation of this team on the Universe Battlefield, the tables and chairs in their immediate vicinity were empty, yet despite this, they still communicated via telepathy.
"Sarin," a Mechanical Race member, whose body was primarily silver with touches of gold at the joints and whose face bore a striking resemblance to a Human, transmitted, "If we want to kill that Cloud Vine Human World Master, we need to upgrade our Puppet Legion. It must at least be capable of holding off the 108 Main Vines Cloud Vine, which can rival a High Stage Marquis-level."
Sarin, whose body was composed entirely of metallic components, resembling a cheap robot, replied, "Mantis, your and my Puppet Legions are already comparable to Hou-level Initial Stage. With just one more upgrade, our combined forces will certainly be able to hold off that Human World Master's 108 Main Vines Cloud Vine."
"Although that World Master Cloud Vine's strength is decent, it only rivals a High Stage Military Lord-level Immortal. Without the 108 Main Vines Cloud Vine to protect him, he is no match for us."
"The ordinary members of our team all possess the strength of a High Stage Military Lord-level Immortal. If multiple team members combine their efforts, they will certainly be able to kill that World Master Cloud Vine."
"However, if we want to receive rewards from our race, we must personally carry out the kill."
Sarin confidently stated, "With our Pinnacle Military Lord-level Immortal strength, jointly killing a Human World Master Genius comparable to a High Stage Military Lord-level Immortal is as easy as pie."
"That may be true, but we still need to be cautious. I have already contacted my Master." Mantis nodded slightly and said, "Master has already sent the Puppet Legion to our Barracks Base through military channels. It is expected to arrive in half a month."
"You're quick." Sarin murmured, then said, "I'll go contact my Master now."
The Mechanical Race has a very unique distinction from other races, because every Mechanical Race member is born as an intelligent life form.
And as intelligent life forms... they are inherently capable of recognizing a Master.
Within the Mechanical Race, a Universe Venerable Rank Mechanical Race member will have some 'Mechanical Race Immortal' recognize them as Master!
Similarly, a Universe Master of the Mechanical Race will also have 'Universe Venerable Mechanical Race members' recognize them as Master!
This recognition of a Master happens from their intelligent life stage. Unless the servant's strength surpasses the Master's one day, the Mechanical Race high-level will order the Master to directly dissolve the Master-servant relationship; otherwise, the Master-servant relationship will remain forever.
The entire Mechanical Race is structured like a pyramid.
A Universe Master controls a large number of Universe Venerables, and these Universe Venerables control even more Mechanical Race Immortal!
They possess emotions; they experience resentment, jealousy, anger, excitement, happiness, and many other feelings, which is no different from other intelligent life forms.
However, "recognizing a Master" is a core ability of intelligent life. Once a Master is recognized, they will absolutely and fundamentally obey their Master, without the slightest thought of betrayal. They may feel jealousy or dissatisfaction towards other members of their race, but their loyalty to their Master is absolute!
A pyramid-like ruling structure!
This is the Mechanical Race, a race with an absolutely strict hierarchy and no betrayal whatsoever, making them an extremely terrifying race.
"Go ahead." Mantis nodded slightly, "While we wait for the Mechanical Puppets to arrive, I'll go gather information on that World Master Cloud Vine."
"Alright, then I'll leave the information gathering to you." Sarin's electronic eyes flickered, then his consciousness entered the Mechanical Race's Virtual Universe.
...
Mechanical Race, Virtual Universe Headquarters (Yulan World).
In a room adorned with gold, silver, and precious gems, Sarin, a Mechanical Race Immortal, respectfully bowed and saluted, "Master."
Across from Sarin was another Mechanical Race member, whose body also seemed to be composed of metallic components, primarily silver-gray in color.
That Mechanical Race member asked, "Ah, Sarin, what is it?"
Facing his Master's question, Sarin did not hide anything and directly replied, "Master, I discovered a Human World Master whose strength rivals a High Stage Military Lord-level Immortal. Because he is protected by a 108 Main Vines Cloud Vine, we are unable to kill him. Therefore, I would like to request that you upgrade my Mechanical Puppets so that they can hold off that 108 Main Vines Cloud Vine."
"Oh? A 108 Main Vines Cloud Vine?" That Mechanical Race member seemed surprised, "That's equivalent to a High Stage Marquis-level Cloud Vine. The resources required to Cultivate such a Cloud Vine would even make a Marquis-level Immortal feel pained. It seems that Human World Master's identity is not simple."
"Yes, Master." Sarin respectfully said, "When I learned about that World Master Cloud Vine, I started paying attention to him. At first, he only displayed strength comparable to an ordinary Immortal, but soon after, he revealed strength comparable to a High Stage Military Lord-level Immortal."
"Hiding his strength, huh... Interesting." That Mechanical Race member said in a deep voice, "I will give you a thousand High Stage Marquis-level Mechanical Puppets and ten Pinnacle-stage Marquis Mechanical Puppets. With these Mechanical Puppets, it will be enough to hold off that 108 Main Vines Cloud Vine."
"Bring back that Human World Master's corpse. If he is a super Genius cultivated by the Human Race, then we will certainly receive rewards from the race."
That Mechanical Race member then encouraged, "If we obtain valuable rewards, I will certainly not treat you unfairly."
"Thank you, Master." Sarin was overjoyed and excitedly said, "I will definitely bring back that Human World Master's corpse."
"I await your good news." That Mechanical Race member nodded slightly.
...
Several months later.
First Battlefield, Universe Battlefield 0383171 Area.
In a common planetary wreckage on the Universe Battlefield, with a diameter of over two kilometers, there was a lounge made of F9 metal.
Inside the lounge, Ender's team of Eleven members were either meditating, chatting, or relaxing in the Virtual Universe.
Because the one in the lounge was an avatar, and Little Dawn was monitoring with a detector, Ender was more relaxed than the others, with most of his consciousness immersed in the Virtual Universe.
His three Clones were also busy. The Gu Yu Ancient Tree Clone was skillfully Artifact Refining, while the No. 1 branch Clone was dedicated to studying the Space Origin Law secret patterns.
As for the No. 2 branch Clone, carried in his World Ring, besides occasionally separating Materials from weapons and armor, it also took on the important task of Cultivating Spirit Weapons.
A long time ago, Ender had designated his human main body as his primary combat Clone, but this didn't mean his other three Clones wouldn't be used in battle.
Due to the fact that tree-type plant life forms are far less flexible than vine-type or leafy plant life forms, he positioned his three Gu Yu Ancient Tree Clones as Spiritual Masters. In future battles, their attacks would primarily rely on Spirit Weapons.
On a vast land with numerous Beast God stone carvings, Ender's human main body sat quietly. Soon, his consciousness disengaged from the self-created Secret Technique project in the Virtual Universe.
"Having been on the Extraterritorial Battlefield for nearly a year, the military merits I've accumulated are approaching 800 million, which is very close to the 1 billion military merit quota for free movement. I estimate I can gather 1 billion in at most another year."
In the nearly one year on the Extraterritorial Battlefield, Ender had engaged in a moderate number of battles with alien races, totaling over ten times. In most of these encounters, he gained only ten to twenty million military merits. Only when he personally or participated in killing an Immortal would the military merits exceed 40 million.
It's likely that because the First Battlefield is relatively small, and Marquis-level Immortal mostly operate in the Secret Realm Battlefield, there are many Immortal teams in the Universe Battlefield 03 Area, and their team's strength allows them to earn military merits relatively quickly.
Furthermore, the main reason Ender was able to increase his military merits to nearly 800 million in less than a year was because his Cloud Vine killed five Immortals in one battle, earning a massive 250 million military merits.
"Hmm..." Ender thought to himself, "My comprehension of the Space Origin Law should have also reached the Tongtian Bridge Seventeenth Level."
After he broke through to the World Master Level, he Cultivated in seclusion in Primal Chaos City for 300 years, dedicating most of his energy to Artifact Refining and studying Secret Techniques. Although his Law comprehension had improved, it had only approached the Tongtian Bridge Seventeenth Level. Now, he had truly reached it.
"Life-and-death combat on the battlefield can give me some inspiration. My Law comprehension hasn't improved much, but the first stance of my self-created spear technique, 'Eternal Sky,' can now defeat nearly eight hundred enemies, which is considered a medium level among Top-tier Immortal Secret Techniques."
Secret Technique creation usually begins with an initial concept, then undergoes continuous refinement after its initial draft until it reaches its final form.
For example, the first stance of his created spear technique 'Eternal Sky' and claw technique 'Void-Rend' could initially only defeat six hundred opponents. With continuous refinement, they can now defeat nearly eight hundred opponents.
Moreover, he felt that as his comprehension of the Space Origin Law improved, there was still room for improvement in the first stance of both Secret Techniques. This was probably the terrifying aspect of creating Secret Techniques using the secret pattern flow!
After several more days of focused Cultivation in his World Ring, Ender's expression suddenly shifted, "Hmm... another enemy faction's team?"
The detector he had purchased with a huge sum of money was a detector used by King-level Immortal powerhouses, and it was a paired set of detectors for both detection and shielding. Without King-level Immortal miniature detector shielding, it was impossible to evade his detection.
"No detector warning, yet they suddenly appeared in this star field..." Ender murmured, "Since the opponent can evade my detector's detection, there's only one possibility... they warped directly out of the Dark Universe."
"A Demon race faction's World Master team." After a brief scan with his detector, he learned their identity and strength. "Hmm... they're quite bold to come to the 03 Area without an Immortal leading them."
"Captain and the others should have also detected this Demon race team. Let's hear their thoughts."
At this point, Ender's avatar in the lounge opened his eyes and looked at Captain Fortress, who was deep in thought.
Noticing Ender's gaze, Fortress, who was contemplating, spoke, "Everyone, a Demon race faction's World Master team just warped out of the Dark Universe. They are currently hidden in the spaceship wreckage at our 1 o'clock direction, 83 million kilometers away."
"A World Master team?" Lightning Flash asked, "Are there any Immortals?"
"No," Fortress replied, "A total of six World Masters."
"Something's off..." Lightning Flash frowned, "A World Master team without an Immortal dares to come to the 03 Area, that's one thing, but after leaving the Dark Universe, they didn't leave immediately. Instead, they found a place to hide. No matter how you look at it, there's a big problem."
Fortress said, "They probably hid their strength, with an Immortal concealed in their World Ring."
Ender spoke, "I suggest we don't make a move. Although we could take on that Demon race team with our strength, I just have a bad feeling about it."
Lightning Flash nodded, "Atlas is right, let's observe the situation first. If another team is willing to test them for us, that would be even better."
"Hmm..." Fortress nodded slightly. Although he agreed with Ender and Lightning Flash, he still turned to the other team members and asked, "What do you all think?"
"Captain, let's just wait and see."
"Yes, let's wait and see. I also have a bad feeling."
"A full World Master team should go to the 04 or 05 Area. Coming to the 03 Area is indeed abnormal."
The team members nodded, all indicating that they wouldn't make a move and would just observe, hoping that another team would test the waters first.
So, everyone observed the Demon race faction team, which was entirely composed of World Masters, through the images from their detectors, and this observation continued for nearly a month.
...
A month later.
Perhaps sensing the anomaly of that Demon race faction team, the surrounding teams from various factions had no intention of making a move, until a team from the Zerg Race, coming from another location, made a move. This immediately attracted the attention of all surrounding teams.
In the three-dimensional holographic display in the lounge, the Demon race faction team, attacked by the Zerg Race team, saw three Demon race Immortals directly emerge from their World Rings, reversing the situation and killing the Immortal of the Zerg team.
"As expected, there was a problem. That newly arrived Zerg Race team was really unlucky."
"I thought they only hid one or two Immortals, but I didn't expect them to hide three Immortals."
"That Demon race team is also ruthless enough; they let one member die before the three Immortals emerged from their World Rings."
After watching the scene on the light screen, everyone realized their previous guess was correct; there was indeed a problem with that Demon race faction team, and it was no small problem.
"Should we make a move?" Lightning Flash asked, seeing that the Demon race team had exposed three Immortals. "With our strength, we can completely take on that Demon race team."
Fortress felt somewhat tempted upon hearing this suggestion. Their team had three Immortal combat strengths, plus Ender also had an Immortal Cloud Vine comparable to a High Stage Marquis-level, so they could indeed take on that Demon race team.
So, he turned to Ender and said, "Atlas, what do you think?"
"Wait a little longer." Ender stared at the three-dimensional light screen and said in a deep voice, "I still feel that Demon race team... still has issues."
Upon hearing this, Fortress glanced at Lightning Flash, who was about to speak, and said, "Then let's wait a little longer, just to be safe."
Seeing that both Atlas and Fortress said so, Lightning Flash swallowed the words he was about to say, and the other team members, seeing that the three Immortal combat strengths indicated waiting, also remained silent and complied.
...
80 million kilometers away.
In a piece of planetary wreckage, there was an F-grade metal lounge, within which were three Immortal Puppet bodies and six Demon race World Masters.
However, within the World Ring of one of the Puppets, there were actually five large Demon race Immortals!
"Losak, are you sure that World Master Cloud Vine is here?"