Chapter 201: Chapter 141 Reading Through a Thousand Sails, Yet You’re Still the One in My Heart_2
The repair difficulty of the primeval mecha hadn’t increased by much.
The repair time for a 1st Rank had already been reduced to two hours, and now it had only become three hours.
However, for the steam mecha, after its body height was increased to twenty-three meters, equal to the height of a seven-story building,
the repair time extended to seven hours.
It was the repair process of the abyss mecha that followed the rules of the abyss.
The process did not require too much fuss over the internal details; overall, it was relatively simple and convenient.
Otherwise, the repair time for the steam mecha would likely need to be calculated by days.
Under normal circumstances, the combined repair time for both mechas would total around ten hours.
Now, however, the situation had changed.
Jiang Chen had absorbed the Mechanical Tentacles module and stacked its effects fourfold—
The stacking of Mechanical Tentacles involved increasing the number of tentacles and improving the control precision of each tentacle.
The base number allowed the summoning of four Mechanical Tentacles, and fourfold meant sixteen.
These tentacles could extend up to ten times the length of their body, meaning up to eighteen meters.
Therefore, Jiang Chen didn’t need to use his body.
All he needed to do was release the two mechas, activate the Bio-organic Force Field, and float between them.
After removing his shirt, sixteen slender Mechanical Tentacles would unfurl from his back, swiftly picking up various repair materials and tools.
Frantically waving in the air, he would conduct high-speed repairs on both mechas.
During this process, Jiang Chen could also communicate with the souls of the two mechas simultaneously through the Mechanical Soul trait, waking Zero and Yun from their slumber.
This was the fundamental reason he absorbed the Mechanical Tentacles module!
As for combat situations…
Having absorbed it, he might as well make use of it.
However, due to the limited surface area of the human back, even if many more Mechanical Tentacles were stacked, only a limited number could be summoned at one time—
If he forced the summoning, he would have to reduce the thickness of the Mechanical Tentacles, which would diminish their strength.
In the end, they might become as thin and fragile as hair.
Therefore, Jiang Chen planned to stack four more times, increasing the number of Mechanical Tentacles to a limit of eighty before replacing the module with another type.
As for the type of module to replace it with…
Jiang Chen had already set his sights on a target.
[Simulacra Module]
This type of module could alter the appearance of a mecha, as well as change its form.
It could be used for disguise during abyssal explorations and for altering appearances in everyday life. It was a highly practical functional module popular among mecha pilots.
However, like the [Intelligence Module], [Limb Module], and [Perception Module],
[Simulacra Module] is not the name of a specific module, but a broad category of modules.
It includes technological aspects such as [Optical Camouflage] and [Virtual Disguise],
as well as magical aspects like [Illusory Appearance] and [Rapid Transformation].
There are also biological aspects such as [Flesh Simulation] and [Physique Transformation].
Elemental side, energy side, mutation side…
There are many types, and although all can achieve the effect of altering appearances, they cannot be generalized.
The ten simulacra modules previously collected by Jiang Chen, which Yun used, were called [Monster Morphing].
They originated from the Enigmatism side of the Age-Old Shadow and were a unique ability of monsters.
They could generate a human appearance, specifically for morphing into humans, and their attributes would change accordingly.
It was already sufficient for everyday mecha use.
Yet, it was not suitable for absorption.
As a pure-blooded human, did Jiang Chen even need to morph into a human?
Ridiculous!
Thus, he set his target on the biological side, the Physique Transformation class of modules.
The principle behind this class of modules was similar to how Zero compresses and changes into human form, both involving the control of one’s own biological body to manipulate blood, flesh, and bones to achieve various effects.
As a human, Jiang Chen’s absorption of such modules would also be transformed into his own abilities.
This would enhance his control over his body.
He could use this bodily control to change his appearance freely and walk through the city without fear of being recognized by fans.
It would also boost his command over his physical form, allowing him to develop various remarkable effects.
For instance, he could actively reduce the toughness and recovery ability of a piece of flesh or even control the division and expulsion of his blood—
In the future, when drawing blood to create gene serums, he wouldn’t have to bother others to harm himself; the direct expulsion would suffice.
Not to mention,
after absorbing the Weapons Master trait, Jiang Chen had already become a martial arts master.
When a martial arts master is able to master and transform their own physique, what happens is naturally self-explanatory.
These are latent bonuses beyond the Mecha Modules!
“Speaking of which, it’s time to consider the 2nd Rank traits too…”
Regarding the traits for mecha pilots.
Jiang Chen had thought about this for a while.
In the end, he gave up the flashy styles of combiner mecha and summoning mecha…
Since he was a physique type mecha pilot, he naturally intended to follow this path to the end.
Besides the essential Mech Soul Perception Trait, the other traits should, like those of the Weapons Master, enhance the mecha pilot themselves.
However, physique type mecha pilots were the minority, not the mainstream.
The number of related traits was also relatively scarce.
Jiang Chen hadn’t yet encountered any that truly satisfied him, so he planned to check out the endless mode before making a final decision.
Besides…
This time upon returning from the Stargazers Civilization, no special Fire Transmission conditions were triggered.
Clearly, it was because the favorability wasn’t high enough.
Jiang Chen planned to create an attractive and striking special effect pose to improve others’ favorability towards him.
When it comes to attractive special effects,
one naturally cannot avoid Luminance Type effects.
Light can nurture life, dispel darkness, warm hearts, and bring hope…
Many wonderful elements are associated with the attribute of light.
Thus, Jiang Chen also needed Luminance Type modules…
“Shapeshifting biology, physique traits, Luminance Type modules.”
All these needs combined,
brought an old acquaintance to mind.
They perfectly met all his requirements and were generous as well.
Jiang Chen touched the Abyss Rune, opening the interface of the Age-Old Shadow.
He saw the grayed-out Abyss Level 1 and the unreachable Star of Mutation.
Scenes from the past surged into his heart.
His gaze was nostalgic.
“Master Chao, I miss you so much.”
After seeing all that the world offers, he ultimately realized that the path of Master Chao was the best match for him.
Unfortunately, that was a past he could not return to.
Jiang Chen painfully shifted his gaze to the Abyss Level 2.
Even without Master Chao at his side, he had to move forward.
Fortunately, he had found a substitute for Master Chao.
The Age-Old Shadow of the Abyss Level 2, the Bio-organic Planet.
This was a special Abyss Level 2 that Jiang Chen selected based on the [Large Disaster Theory].
Its background was extremely similar to the Star of Mutation, both were about a meteorite from the sky bringing an unknown alien virus, leading to the planet’s mutation.
However, this time, the chosen evolutionary subject was not [Root-Vine],
but [Fungus].
Moreover, the immune abilities of the humans on this planet, or rather, their adaptability to the virus’s evolution, were somewhat stronger.
They nearly adapted to the power of the fungus, achieving a symbiotic evolution.
Regrettably, in the end, they were completely devoured by the fungus and reduced to bio-organic puppets.
Many years later,
this planet also nurtured the strongest of beings.
These similar backgrounds led Jiang Chen to believe that the disasters on this planet were most likely from the same source as the Star of Mutation.
An unknown calamity was using meteorites as a carrier, continuously spreading this evolutionary virus.
It utilized human civilization as nourishment to create evolved life forms like Master Chao.
Therefore, within this shadow of the abyss, he would likely encounter the alien brethren of Master Chao and possibly acquire evolution, recovery, life, and Luminance Type-related modules.
They could just fit the path of Zero and perhaps add new high-compatibility modules.
He could also try for the bio-organic side’s Simulacra Modules or physique-based traits.
It was a somewhat adequate match to his requirements.
Jiang Chen sighed.
“Without Master Chao, I’ll have to make do with his brethren as a substitute meal.”