Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Doomsday Disc (Requesting Full Subscription)
Qi Xinzhu and Qiao Xing had already returned, and Lu Luo refocused his attention on himself.
What does the Doomsday Halo do?
[Above the Sequence, it cannot be evaluated; all must be explored by the host independently.]
Lu Luo could feel the presence of the disc in his consciousness world, but he didn’t know how to use it.
When he attempted to touch the Doomsday Disc with his mind, the Observer even provided hints, giving three options this time, though these hints were not as straightforward as the Observer’s usual messages.
[Would you like to spin the Doomsday Disc? One opportunity remaining.]
[Would you like to enter the Disc World? One opportunity remaining.]
[Do you wish to enhance your Sequence? There is one disc sequence particle remaining.]
Lu Luo had a bit of experience regarding spinning the Doomsday Disc; it had automatically rotated once on the 400th New Year’s Eve.
Every New Year’s Eve, the area outside the ring would undergo changes, making the area beyond the wall an ever-changing, enormous maze that could never be fully mapped.
Lu Luo could understand the first option; it seemed similar to the last time.
He also understood the third option. The last time his strength, constitution, and agility merged to the extreme, forming a Sequence Chain, a disc sequence particle had been used.
It was only the second option, entering the Disc World, that Lu Luo wasn’t quite clear about.
The Disc World—what did it refer to? A mini-world? A palm-sized world? Or a dungeon?
Lu Luo pondered this a great deal, but on the question of the disc, even the Observer wouldn’t give him an answer, so he had to figure it out himself.
Forget it, I’ll play it safe. Right now, I should focus on prudent development; it’s best not to act rashly.
Lu Luo directly dismissed the first two options. What he needed to do now was to obtain a complete swordsmanship inheritance from Qiao Xing as quickly as possible.
He lacked systematic combat training in a transcendent system, something Ludie also lacked. Only Qiao Xing could truly make up for Lu Luo’s deficiencies.
Lu Luo had only two enhancement plans at the moment. The first was "Extreme," geared towards combat effectiveness, and the second was the Devourer.
"Extreme" already had a clear enhancement plan that could be resolved with money, so he wasn’t very anxious about it.
Currently, there was no upgrade plan for the Devourer, not unless the Observer upgraded to LV2.
Moreover, enhancing the Devourer would significantly increase his talent efficiency and save him a considerable amount of Dark Spirit Stones.
Dark Spirit Stones equaled money. Not just for himself; Circle Studio also needed money, which was what he currently lacked most.
"Choose to strengthen Sequence S-02-Devourer."
[Strengthening Sequence S-02-Devourer, please wait...]
The Doomsday Disc’s work efficiency was obviously much higher than that of the Fusioner. In just five seconds, it had completed the enhancement of the Grade S Sequence.
[Sequence S-02-Devourer enhancement complete, advanced to LV3]
[S-02-Devourer, basic effects of the Devourer have been comprehensively improved.]
[Your Devourer’s mimicry of Dark Energy talent efficiency increased to 160%.]
[Your devouring speed has increased by 100% from its original basis, able to detect lower energy values.]
[The number of your Devourer’s tentacles has increased to 8.]
[An additional Sequence effect, Rainbow Demon, has been granted to you.]
Effect 1 - Devour: You can devour energy substances.
Effect 2 - Exotic Species: During the process of devouring, copy energy to form Exotic Species, up to two types. Energy currently saved: Fire Poison.
Effect 3 - Rainbow Demon: Any of your effective attacks will temporarily absorb a portion of the opponent’s stamina, life, and energy. This can be toggled on or off at any time.
Description: Devour the core of the world.
Lu Luo looked at the effects of the Devourer. Not wanting to use a tasteless comment like "Holy shit," he eventually managed to squeeze out a phrase.
"Very good!"
But in fact, this evaluation was about the same as "Holy shit."
The power of the Devourer was so great it defied logic.
The appearance of the Rainbow Demon essentially meant that Lu Luo had completely overcome the problem of stamina depletion.
Although it was temporary absorption for temporary use, his body’s physical energy would also slowly recover.
If I keep the Rainbow Demon activated while pedaling a tricycle, wouldn’t that be a perpetual motion machine? No, no, as a martial artist, my constitution is already quite formidable. Unless the woman is an incredibly strong female Transcendent, she wouldn’t be able to handle it either.
Speaking of Transcendents with astonishing stamina, there seemed to be one right beside him!
Stop. Women would only slow down my progress to becoming stronger.
Snuffing out that perilous thought, Lu Luo refocused his gaze on the enhancement of his qi points.
He now possessed three qi points, and according to the enhancement plan, he needed to improve all three simultaneously.
[The qi required for qi point enhancement increases proportionally, just like the energy required for attribute enhancement.]
Looking at this prompt, Lu Luo quickly grasped the meaning: a qi point of 100 needed 100 units of qi; for a qi point of 200, an additional 200 units of qi were required—that was roughly the concept.
Originally, the Dark Spirit Stones Lu Luo had left were only enough to enhance two qi points to 200, forming a dual channel.
But now with the LV3 Devourer, resource consumption was much more optimized, enough to enhance all three qi points to 200, creating a triple channel.
The talent efficiency after the Devourer’s enhancement had reached 160%. Previously, 600 units of qi required 500 grams of Dark Spirit Stone, but now only 375 grams were needed.
Lu Luo currently had 420 grams of Dark Spirit Stones and a small lump of grayness in his hands.
If he could save some resources, then he would be able to repay part of the money to the studio.
Circle Studio still needed to develop. He had already used over 300,000, so it was only right to leave some profit for the company.
Hmm, I still have a batch of small yellow bottles. This time when I return, I’ll distribute them as benefits to Brother Gu and the others.
The attribute enhancement ceiling of the Type I small yellow bottle was only five points, which had long become useless to Lu Luo. If not distributed as company benefits, should he keep them to sell?
Even Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals seldom sold such enhancement potions; they prioritized in-house use.
"Continue devouring Dark Spirit Stones."
Eight Devourer tentacles increased Lu Luo’s resource-conversion efficiency once again, also taking him further down the path of becoming more and more like a tentacled monster.
With 350 grams of Dark Spirit Stones and a small lump of grayness, Lu Luo rapidly accumulated 600 units of qi.
The conversion was complete; what followed was very straightforward.
"Synchronize the enhancement of qi points."
[Fusioner activated, currently synchronizing qi point enhancement for the host. Please wait patiently.]
[The objectives are ’Qi He’, ’Tian Zuo’, ’Di You’; qi point strength at 200.]
[A total of 600 units of qi consumed. ’Qi He’, ’Tian Zuo’, ’Di You’ enhancement complete.]
[Three major qi points synchronized. A triple qi channel has been established.]
The breakthrough was complete, and dawn was breaking.
According to the time provided by the Observer, the entire enhancement breakthrough took about 15 hours, many times faster than the last time.
Lu Luo felt he had grown a little taller, but the robust muscles gained from the previous overall attribute boost of 20 were now deflated.
He checked his muscle mass; it seemed a bit smaller than before.
This was not because his weight had decreased, but because the increase in height made his muscle dimensions appear more slender.
Sigh, at this rate, I’ll never become a hulking muscle-man in this lifetime. Although I won’t become a hulking muscle-man, the little steel cannon is getting stronger, heh-heh-heh!
While Lu Luo was simultaneously self-deprecating and self-aggrandizing, Li Lan’s voice came from the doorway of Qiao Xing’s home.
"Xiao Lu, Old Qiao is calling you to eat."
Old Qiao? That’s a nice way to address him! Lu Luo hurriedly responded.
"Alright, I’ll be right there."
Inside the house, Qiao Xing, who was sitting at the table, gave Li Lan a disgruntled look.
"When did I ask him to come over for a meal? Why are you making things up?"
Others might fear Qiao Xing, but Li Lan surely did not.
"Hey, Old Qiao, you were muttering all morning while taking a pee that the young man should be finished by now. Weren’t you deliberately saying that for me to hear? We’ve known each other for over a decade; how could I not know what you’re thinking?"
Qiao Xing, having lost the argument to Li Lan, decided to stay silent and feign aloofness, continuing with his meal.
Proud and contrary as he was, he would never admit to doing something even if he had done it.
Qi Xinzhu, who had been praying all night, and Bai Yuetong, who had been cooped up in her room for a whole day, also came downstairs.
Seeing the lively cottage, Li Lan busied herself preparing their not-so-appetizing breakfast.
At breakfast, Qiao Xing looked at Lu Luo.
"Breakthrough successful?"
"Yes, it was."
"Do you need me to create an opportunity for you?"
Qiao Xing suddenly asked a question that Lu Luo couldn’t comprehend very quickly.
"What opportunity?"
"Sheesh, you really lack ambition. You were bullied yesterday; don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten about that?"
"Ah? This..."
Not only Lu Luo, but Qi Xinzhu was also astonished. Is Sir Qiao Xing arranging personal revenge under the guise of official business? And is there really a teacher who would instigate students to beat up other students? The key point is that this person is an Archbishop. Isn’t he afraid his classroom will descend into chaos?
From a face full of shock, Lu Luo’s expression turned eager. He had originally planned to carry out this matter in secret.
But now that Qiao Xing had brought the issue out into the open, there was no need for him to be secretive anymore.
"If Sir Qiao Xing supports me, of course, I’d like to take revenge."
"Hey, don’t talk nonsense. I’m an Archbishop from the East Ring. I have never entertained the idea of supporting someone in taking revenge. Hatred only dulls a person’s wits, causing them to sink. It’s better for you to be rational."
Qiao Xing’s face was the picture of sanctity, which made Lu Luo feel uneasy.
"Um, then what is the opportunity that Sir Qiao Xing mentioned?"
"Of course, it’s the practical combat in swordsmanship class. When the time comes, students will be arranged to spar. You don’t think my swordsmanship class is just about discussing theory, do you? We’ll draw lots then. This business of drawing lots, well, those who know, know; those who don’t, there’s nothing I can do about it."
Seeing Qiao Xing openly speak about rigging the swordsmanship class lottery, Lu Luo felt that Qiao Xing deserved a beating, but it was a pity that he couldn’t beat him.
"Sir Qiao Xing is correct; I understand. Then when the time comes, please help me arrange it, Sir Qiao Xing."
Qiao Xing shoved the last piece of cereal bar into his mouth, chewed it slowly, and then turned to look back at Lu Luo.
"You’re asking me for a favor like this; don’t you think you should offer a gift or something? You’re not really following protocol here, are you?"
Even Li Lan was bewildered. Her husband had been a Bishop for four years and an Archbishop for nearly ten. She had never heard of him accepting gifts before.
What’s this now? Openly soliciting a bribe? Qi Xinzhu and Bai Yuetong are still here. Isn’t this going too far?
"Dad, are you asking Brother Lu Luo for money? It sounds a bit like some of the bad kids in our class."
"Um, Xiao Mi, you should go to school now."
"HMPH!"
With Li Lan and Qiao Xiao Mi thus dispatched, the atmosphere grew increasingly strange.
"How much do you want? Is 200 enough?"
Lu Luo’s question, once uttered, made the atmosphere even weirder.
200 yuan? What can that amount of money do? Bai Yuetong had little to no concept of such a small sum.
Qi Xinzhu also covered her face. Is Lu Luo’s limit really just 200 yuan, and no more?
Yet, to everyone’s surprise, Qiao Xing wasn’t angry. Pondering his first time accepting a bribe, 200 yuan did sound like quite a bit, he thought.
"Hmm, first give the money to my wife."
"Alright."
Lu Luo headed straight for the kitchen, truly handing Li Lan 200 yuan, then, under her bewildered gaze, he returned to his seat.
Only then did Qiao Xing nod in satisfaction.
"Hmm, practice swordsmanship for the next couple of days; get familiar with your body. The practical combat portion of the course isn’t until the second week."
Lu Luo frowned slightly. He was naturally happy to have Qiao Xing’s support but thought that the second week was a bit too late.
"I appreciate Sir Qiao Xing’s support. However, I feel that I can’t wait that long."
Qiao Xing raised an eyebrow. He originally thought that Lu Luo, having just broken through, would need time to adapt to his physical condition. Now it seemed he wouldn’t need so long.
"Since you have your own plans, go ahead and proceed with them."
Lu Luo moved his mouth; he wanted to ask that since he didn’t need to wait for the second week, could the 200 yuan he had just given be retrieved.
Upon careful consideration, he decided to let it be. I’ll just consider the 200 yuan as money spent on toys for Xiao Mi.
This extremely peculiar act of bribery thus concluded, with the Archbishop from the East Ring accepting a bribe of 200 yuan.
No one asked Qiao Xing why he took the 200 yuan. Only after finishing his meal, he slowly walked to the doorway and uttered a lament unheard by others.
Where there is light, there must be shadows, he mused.
After breakfast, Bai Yuetong, who had been silent throughout, stopped Lu Luo and handed him the draft she had rushed out overnight.
"What is this?"
Lu Luo took the manuscript, his expression a bit strange. I don’t understand these things that look like mechanical formulas, so why give them to me?
"This is the design I made based on what you mentioned last time, the jet propulsion mobility device. Don’t tell me you can’t recognize your own stuff?"
Bai Yuetong felt that if she continued at this rate, she would never be on the same wavelength as Lu Luo. Compared to mechanical designs, he seemed to prefer money and power more.
Since that was the case, she could only bring out something more substantial. Equipment was a major part of power; Lu Luo should be interested, right?
Lu Luo’s expression remained unchanged, but he smiled inwardly. A jet propulsion mobility device? That was just a wild idea from a manga in my past life. This person is really dreaming big.
In order not to crush Bai Yuetong’s spirits, he pretended to carefully examine the designs. However, as soon as he finished looking at them, the Observer provided a clear prompt.
[Jet propulsion mobility device design, viability 87.3%, minor calculation errors in 11 places, moderate calculation errors in 4 places, no major flaws.
Overall assessment: This is a set of mechanical device designs that can be implemented. It is extremely valuable.]
Damn it! Why does every person I randomly meet turn out to be some kind of monster who can turn virtual items into reality? What’s the deal? If this thing could really be made, then its significance in battle would be enormous. With my steam-based Qi He, I’d be the perfect carrier for a jet propulsion mobility device.
"Cough cough, well! This design, I must say, captures about 80-90% of the essence of a jet propulsion mobility device. However, there are still some mistakes that need to be addressed. It’s not your fault though. Mainly because you lack practical design experience and data. I’ll mark the flawed parts for you to review and ponder."
Lu Luo didn’t know jack about design, but he had the Observer. The Observer’s calculations and simulations were error-free within the existing Wasteland mathematical framework.
So, the few mistakes he pointed out to Bai Yuetong were definitely based on incorrect numerical parameters in her calculations.
When he marked all the errors on the design, Bai Yuetong’s expression changed.
The parts that Lu Luo pointed out were precisely the areas where she had hesitated while designing the parameters. She herself was unsure whether they were correct or not and had simply written down approximate parameter values.
Now that Lu Luo has identified all those areas in one go, there’s definitely something noteworthy about him, she thought.
"You bastard!"
Bai Yuetong gritted her teeth as she looked at Lu Luo. His level... by what right? I’m not convinced!
"If you can optimize the errors in this design, then come find me at Circle Studio, and we can discuss the possibility of turning this into an actual item."
He was merely putting up a front, planning to string her along with bluffs for now.
"Turn this item into a real object?"
"Yeah, that’s right. But you’d better correct those erroneous parameters of yours first."
While Bai Yuetong continued to examine the blueprints, Lu Luo had already walked away with Qi Xinzhu.
No way. If I don’t leave now, I’ll be exposed. If Bai Yuetong asks me any specifics about mechanical knowledge, I’ll be completely clueless, he thought.
On the way, Qi Xinzhu looked at Lu Luo with some surprise. Bai Yuetong had told her that she came to find Lu Luo, but she never said why.
But the shock on Bai Yuetong’s face just now made Qi Xinzhu somewhat curious.
"You understand design, too?"
"So-so."
"Do you know she won the Alliance Elite Award at 17?"
Lu Luo really wanted to retort that the Alliance Elite Award was nothing, but the Observer stopped him.
[The Alliance Elite Award is a distinction given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the Wasteland Alliance. In 400 years, only 263 people have received this award, symbolizing the pinnacle of the Alliance’s elite.]
Hearing how prestigious the Alliance Elite Award was, Lu Luo immediately put on another face.
"Ah, Bai Yuetong is also very impressive. But she’s still a bit too impulsive. Young people need to settle down and mature."
"Aren’t you guys the same age?"
"The accomplished are always first, understand?"
Upon returning to the swordsmanship training field, Lu Luo seemed much more composed than before.
They arrived later today, so as soon as they got there, they saw the group from the Knight of Justice.
Qi Gefei, who was seriously injured by Lu Luo the day before, approached calmly. It was apparent that he had completely recovered from his injuries.
This kind of superior treatment evoked some envy in Lu Luo. It’s good to have support, he mused.
Then he looked at Qi Xinzhu beside him and sighed again.
Thankfully, my support isn’t too shabby either.