In the city of Bingyuan, in the Pingcheng District.
Lin Hongnian, the master of the Bamboo Stone Martial Hall, was meditating in the hall.
Suddenly, a phone call interrupted his cultivation.
"Xuzhu?"
Seeing the caller, Lin Hongnian was slightly taken aback.
For the past half month, he had been calling Lin Xuzhu every day to inquire about the progress of the investigation at the Iron-Eater Beast site.
And the news he received was not good, with little progress.
Today, his daughter had actually called him first. Could there be some progress?
With a mix of anticipation and anxiety, Lin Hongnian answered the call.
On the other end, he was given a big surprise right away.
"Dad, Shiyu has preliminarily determined the evolution method for the Iron-Eater Beast, but it requires the Iron-Eater Beast to master the 'Mastery Level Hardening.' Do you want to come and try it out?"
Whoosh!
Master Lin sprang up, eyes wide open.
"Really?"
He asked, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Um, but the cost of the experimental materials might be a bit 'expensive.'"
"Can you bear it?" Lin Xuzhu said.
A Level 5 resource is equivalent to what a regular Master Beast Tamer would use.
A Level 6 resource is equivalent to what a top Master would use.
A Level 7 resource is equivalent to what a Legendary Beast Tamer would use.
The evolution materials for the Iron-Eater Beast include two Level 5, three Level 6, and one Level 7 resource. The cost is unimaginable.
Moreover, as the first batch to attempt this, if something goes wrong halfway, the experimental costs will definitely not be small.
"There's nothing to hesitate about. Money is meant to be spent."
"Anyway, all our savings will eventually be your dowry. If the dowry is gone, Xuzhu, you'll have to rely on yourself in the future." Master Lin was straightforward.
Panda Senior: ???
What he said wasn't wrong, after all, Lin Xuzhu was an only child...
"Whatever!" After a moment of silence, Panda Senior said.
She didn't need these things; the evolution of the Iron-Eater Beast was more important!
The Bamboo Stone Martial Hall, the Iron Bamboo Breeding Base, and two energy crystal mines were all part of the Lin family's assets. They had a mine at home.
As for some additional food-related businesses, they were just icing on the cake.
Although Master Lin was just a regular Master Beast Tamer, he was far wealthier than other Master Beast Tamers of the same level, and could be considered the richest person in Pingcheng.
After all, his family had been operating the Iron-Eater Beast breeding base for generations, with substantial assets.
However, this also gave them an unusual obsession with the Iron-Eater Beast.
If it were a regular Master Beast Tamer, they would have long phased out the Iron-Eater Beast from their team.
But the Lin family was different, and they had invested a large amount of resources into the Iron-Eater Beast.
Generally, the racial level determines the upper and lower limits of the growth level.
For example, a creature with a racial level of Extraordinary, under sufficient nutrition and good growth conditions, reaching the Extraordinary growth level is not difficult, it's just a matter of time.
However, when the growth level exceeds the racial level, it becomes very difficult to continue growing, and the difficulty gradually increases.
At that point, the amount of resources needed for cultivation must be increased several times over, far more than the cost of cultivating a high-race pet beast.
Despite these limitations, Master Lin had managed to cultivate a medium Extraordinary racial Iron-Eater Beast to nearly the Sovereign level.
If it weren't for the racial limitations, Lin Hongnian would have been willing to invest heavily to push the Iron-Eater Beast to the Sovereign level.
After all, a pet beast with a growth level of Sovereign is the standard for a regular Master Beast Tamer.
Before the feasible plan was confirmed, Master Lin had already invested a lot of resources into the Iron-Eater Beast. Now that there was a concrete and feasible plan, he was even more willing to invest resources.
"That's good, I'll head to the ancient capital right away!"
For Master Lin, nothing was more important than the evolution of the Iron-Eater Beast.
...
In the suburbs of the ancient capital, at the Iron-Eater Beast site.
After informing her father, Panda Senior fell into deep thought.
"How's it going?"
Shiyu and Panda Senior almost simultaneously asked.
"Director Li said that the University of the Ancient Capital will provide us with some technical support."
"They will invite experts to help us forge the alloy armor," Shiyu said.
Those metal minerals were highly unusual and advanced resources, and forging them into an alloy was not easy.
At least, the students like Shiyu and the others definitely couldn't handle it alone.
"My father said he will come immediately."
"So, if the evolution method is correct, it's basically a sure thing?" Zheng Yingjie asked.
Everyone looked at Shiyu.
In the end, it all came down to whether the evolution method was reliable.
"Don't worry, history doesn't lie."
Shiyu said with some confidence.
However, if the site lied to him, he would definitely come here and complain for a month before leaving.
Grudge.jpg
"It's getting late, let's go have a meal first." Shiyu rubbed his stomach and said.
Everyone: "Agreed!"
...
That day, Master Lin arrived at the ancient capital.
It's not clear whether he used his Master privileges to cut the line and fly over, or whether he used his flying pet beast to get there.
After everyone gathered, Shiyu, Panda Senior, the Seven Heroes of Archaeology, Tutor Ding, Director Li, and Master Lin all met in a conference room at the University of the Ancient Capital.
In addition to them, there was also an expert invited by Director Li, a mechanical engineer.
A skilled mechanical engineer is proficient in materials science and forging, and many mechanical life pet beasts are created by them.
For them, as long as they have the materials, making a giant robot is not that difficult.
High-level mechanical engineers are rarer than dragon tamers, and in general, the rarity of mechanical engineers is at least one level higher than that of pet beast tamers specializing in other pet beasts.
"This is Dean Hao, the dean of the Mechanical Engineering College at the University of the Ancient Capital and a top mechanical engineer."
Director Li introduced everyone very politely.
"Dean Hao, hello!"
Master Lin was flattered, not expecting that the research on the Iron-Eater Beast's evolution would attract such a large-scale effort from Shiyu, Lin Xuzhu, and others.
A director from the Archaeology Department and a dean from the Mechanical Engineering College of the University of the Ancient Capital, combined with the presidents of all the associations in Bingyuan City, couldn't match their influence.
"Master Lin, you're too kind."
Dean Hao, in his sixties, didn't look old. He smiled at everyone, especially at Shiyu, who was sitting with Lin Xuzhu and the Seven Heroes of Archaeology.
He knew that these people had gathered here because of Shiyu.
He himself was also here because of Shiyu's identity.
When Dean Hao heard from Director Li that this project was led by a young member of the Eleventh Bureau who would join the University of the Ancient Capital in the future, he immediately decided to help without hesitation.
Even at his level, even when facing official members of the Eleventh Bureau, everyone is equal, but that didn't stop him from doing a favor for this young member of the Eleventh Bureau.
Moreover, Director Li had also asked him for help, and cooperation between different departments of the University of the Ancient Capital was common, so there was no need to decline.
Everyone quickly got to the point.
"If we have that metal piece as a reference, forging these six materials into alloy equipment is not difficult."
"If everything goes smoothly, it should be completed within three days."
"However, the wisdom of the ancients is truly remarkable. Even with modern technology, achieving such craftsmanship is not easy."
Dean Hao gave everyone a boost of confidence.
What the ancient blacksmiths could do, modern mechanical engineers can do too!
"The current issue is what style of equipment Master Lin plans to forge."
Everyone looked at Shiyu and Master Lin, as the data provided by Shiyu indicated that the style of the armor did not affect the Iron-Eater Beast's evolution.
Even a pair of claws or a shield could assist the Iron-Eater Beast in evolving.
However, if one follows the normal line of thinking, the more materials used, the greater the potential after evolution.
Moreover, the rarer and higher the quality of the materials used, the greater the potential after evolution.
The latter is clearly unreliable, as many pet beasts require specific materials for evolution, and even a slight difference can lead to failure.
The same food can provide different nutrients to humans, animals, and plants, and compatibility and need are most important.
In the field of evolution experiments, using high-level materials randomly has led to countless failures.
Now that the specific evolution materials have been determined, trying to innovate would be putting the cart before the horse.
However, the current situation is that the types of evolution materials do not need to change, but the amount of evolution materials can vary, and a quantitative change might lead to a qualitative change.
Shiyu had already discussed this with Master Lin.
Regardless of the scale of the armor, it can assist in evolution, and it all depends on Master Lin's decision.
Master Lin said, "Let's go all out. From head to toe, including the head, body, limbs, and claws, full armor."
He decided to go big.
After all, the amount of evolution materials might determine the potential of the Iron-Eater Beast after evolution.
"Based on the already determined alloy ratio, the amount of materials needed is not small." After careful consideration, Dean Hao estimated a value.
At least nine figures, possibly in the billions.
When this enormous amount was mentioned, Shiyu, Panda Senior, and the Seven Heroes of Archaeology all felt a pang of pain.
If the evolution fails, will it all be for nothing?
"Maybe we should just try a claw." Shiyu rubbed his nose, thinking that even if it fails, the loss won't be too great.
Master Lin: "Can it still wear new equipment after evolving?"
"Uh." Shiyu was taken aback, feeling it might not work.
"Let's do it this way!" Master Lin mustered his courage, feeling that the family business passed down by their ancestors would likely be spent on researching the evolution of the Iron-Eater Beast.
However, to restore the glory of the Iron-Eater Beast, it was worth it.
Moreover, even if it fails, the forged alloy armor can still be used.
Even if it can't be used as an evolution material, it can still be worn, like buying a piece of clothing for the Iron-Eater Beast.
Given the material of the metal piece, the Iron-Eater Beast should be able to withstand the skills of a Sovereign-level creature.
Forced not to lose.jpg
At this moment, Shiyu felt the madness of this father and daughter and couldn't help but glance at Eleven on his shoulder.
Good guy, you were still lamenting the high cost of the Green Silk Worm's evolution materials.
Turns out, yours aren't cheap either!
Eleven: "Mmm."
...
Next, with the help of the Mechanical Engineering College, Shiyu and the others focused entirely on researching the evolution of the Iron-Eater Beast.
Not only the original team, but even Director Li and Tutor Ding joined the investigation at the Iron-Eater Beast site.
The reason was simple: the evolution materials were incredibly expensive!
Generally, such high-level evolution materials would at least bring the Iron-Eater Beast to a Sovereign level after evolution, right?
If successful, there would be a news headline:
"The Archaeology Department of the University of the Ancient Capital discovers the method for the Iron-Eater Beast to evolve into a Sovereign race," which would undoubtedly be a major news story, and Director Li and Tutor Ding couldn't ignore it.
"It feels like at least a Low Sovereign level."
"Even a Medium Sovereign level is possible."
"I've always felt that the racial potential of the Iron-Eater Beast is low. After all, their basic attributes aren't bad. Now it seems that, like the Green Silk Worm, they need to train their racial skills to a certain level to fully unlock their potential through evolution."
Everyone was discussing.
Master Lin was smiling throughout, as if the Iron-Eater Beast had already evolved successfully.
Lin Xuzhu said, "Maybe the racial potential is determined by the amount of evolution materials used. For example, if only the claws are equipped, the racial level after evolution might be Commander level, but if fully equipped, it might reach Sovereign level."
Her view was deeply agreed with by Master Lin. It had to be this way, otherwise, wouldn't their money be wasted?
"Shiyu, what do you think?" Master Lin looked at Shiyu with a smile.
"I think, at least Mythical level." Shiyu said.
Everyone: ?
Eleven: ?
Shiyu: "Just kidding."
Everyone: ...
Shiyu laughed.
However, was it really just a joke?
Now that a connection between this site and Earth's mythology has been discovered, could the theory that the Iron-Eater Beast was Chi You's mount be true?
The evolution form of the Iron-Eater Beast is almost entirely equipped with various weapons and armor.
Shiyu felt that this evolution method somewhat matched Chi You's title as the "Lord of Weapons."
Additionally, historical records on Earth state that Chi You was the first to invent metal smelting, and the tribe that forged armor for the Iron-Eater Beast was also very skilled in forging alloys.
So, if the two histories are indeed related, he felt that a Mythical-level potential for the Iron-Eater Beast wouldn't be excessive.
Of course, this potential wouldn't be unlocked in a single evolution.
"I actually have another question."
Shiyu continued.
"What do the special inscriptions on the metal piece represent?"
"Could they be a medium to activate a certain skill, or even a requirement for a second evolution?" Shiyu said.
He saw in the vision that the Iron-Eater Beasts carved special inscriptions on their bodies, and their posture seemed like they were undergoing a second evolution.
It was hard not to suspect.
"These inscriptions are indeed unique, the first time I've seen them, but they are more likely to be the exclusive symbols of their own tribe," Director Li looked at the symbols on the mural.
"If a symbol could make a pet beast awaken a skill or evolve again, it would be unscientific."
"Um, if it's as Shiyu suggests, it would only be possible if the inscriptions were made with some rare resource. However, no other energy components were detected on the metal piece," Tutor Ding also judged.
Not with other resources, but with their own claws!
If Shiyu hadn't seen the Iron-Eater Beasts' actions, he would have found Director Li and Tutor Ding's explanation scientific.
It's normal for a tribe to have its own exclusive symbols.
On the contrary, evolving by drawing on one's own body is unscientific.
"Anyway, it's not hard to look at. If the Iron-Eater Beast really evolves, let it carve one as a keepsake." Master Lin stared at the stone wall and said casually.
Everyone laughed, it could work.
As a way to thank the site for providing the evolution method.
"Your path has widened." Shiyu was taken aback.
...
Time flew by.
In just one day, the Mechanical Engineering College had, according to Master Lin's requirements, forged a set of alloy armor.
This speed was unexpected by Shiyu and the others.
So, the three-day estimate was conservative.
Everyone was pleasantly surprised.
It seems that when estimating the time for a task, it's always better to say a few more days.
Completing it ahead of time is a pleasant surprise.
Not completing it ahead of time and taking it easy along the way is also quite nice.
"How about it, ha ha!"
In a large exhibition room at the Mechanical Engineering College of the University of the Ancient Capital, a set of exquisite armor was hung on the wall.
The armor material was similar to bronze, but darker, more of a dark green, no, black-green would be a better description.
At a glance, it was just a black armor.
"Perfect, it looks exactly like the metal piece." The Seven Heroes of Archaeology exclaimed.
Director Li and Tutor Ding also looked at the armor with interest.
Panda Senior's eyes sparkled as she imagined the Iron-Eater Beast wearing this armor.
Although the panda bed was gone, it would look cool in battle?
"Shall we try the evolution method you mentioned now?" Dean Hao laughed.
This armor was forged by his own hands.
He also wanted to see what the armor could do for the Iron-Eater Beast.
"Master Lin." Shiyu looked at Master Lin Hongnian.
At this moment, Master Lin was more nervous than anyone else.
Of course, Shiyu was also very nervous. He telepathically asked Eleven on his shoulder, "How about it, does it look cool?"
"Uncle Lin is doing this experiment with his own Iron-E