"…"
Watching Wende and Stelle, a man and a woman, working in tandem to clear the Ambrosial Arbor branches from the ground, Master Gongshu sighed helplessly and put away the Lightflow in a Box he was holding.
Sigh, I'm getting old. I'm really getting old. It's better to leave the Artisanship Commission to these young people. I'll just go tinker with some small inventions and wait for retirement.
"It feels like Master Gongshu took a really big hit."
March whispered to Tingyun, watching Master Gongshu's desolate expression as he hugged the Lightflow in a Box.
"Hehe, Benefactor March, you mustn't underestimate him. Although I am from the Sky-Faring Commission, I have heard a little about this Master Gongshu. He is not someone who gives in to dejection so easily."
Tingyun said to March with a smile.
"Although most of his inventions aren't very useful, if you just make a few small modifications, they can become objects with great future potential."
"Hmm… future potential?"
March expressed her doubt.
"The range issue with that Lightflow in a Box, in my opinion, is not a major problem. If you modify the power supply and simplify the design, I believe it could easily be used as a melee weapon."
Welt, a seasoned man of science and technology, offered his expert opinion. Although the Xianzhou's golden automatons were powerful, their attack methods were too limited. If they were to truly use this Lightflow in a Box as their main weapon…
Hmm… I have a feeling the Xianzhou's whole aesthetic might change a bit.
"Hmm… that's true. Although this thing has a short range, if you think about it differently and use it as a melee weapon…"
Master Gongshu, who had been moping just a moment ago, actually began to ponder this seriously. He muttered something under his breath, and his eyes grew brighter and brighter as he looked at the device in his hands!
"Hiss! Oh no, Uncle Yang! In the future, are we going to have to fight golden automatons that can fire laser cannons and use lightsabers?!"
March stared in horror at Master Gongshu, who was now suppressing a crazed grin.
"Err… it probably won't come to that, right? From planning and production to assembly line manufacturing and the launch of the first prototype, we should have already left the Xianzhou by then."
Welt pushed up his glasses with his index finger and said with great seriousness.
"But… what if we use a Domain Anchor to come back to the Xianzhou for milk tea and run into that kind of freakish golden automaton? Wouldn't that be terrible?!"
March pouted.
"Little Mr. Welt… No! Mr. Welt! Listening to your words is truly more enlightening than ten years of study! I've finally found the future path for automaton modification!"
Master Gongshu decisively tossed the Lightflow in a Box aside, walked over to Welt, and grabbed his hands, his face flushed with excitement.
"Rest assured, I will definitely not keep your idea to myself! When the time comes for the academic report, I will make sure to write your name on it!"
"Err… thank you for your kind intentions, Master Gongshu, but there's no need to go that far."
Welt said, looking a bit awkward at the enthusiastic Master Gongshu.
He had only mentioned it casually. He didn't expect this Master Gongshu to be so passionate about improving the Xianzhou's automatons.
"No, it must be added! I can already foresee our Xianzhou's golden automatons winning awards at the Interastral Robotics Competition! As soon as this troublesome matter is over, I will immediately lead my apprentices to begin research on this topic! I will strive to make Mr. Welt's vision a reality as soon as possible!"
Master Gongshu looked as if he had found a kindred spirit.
"Err… in that case, thank you, Master Gongshu…"
"What's going on?"
Stelle and Wende, having finished clearing the Arbor branches, walked back over. Seeing Master Gongshu practically glued to Welt, Wende looked at March with a bewildered expression.
"Ah, it's nothing. Uncle Yang just gave Master Gongshu some ideas for modifying the golden automatons. But it looks like Uncle Yang's suggestions are very popular… I just hope we don't have to fight the kind of automaton Uncle Yang described in the future."
March threw up her hands in resignation.
"Err… as expected of Uncle Yang."
Wende shook his head and sighed, watching the two of them getting along like a house on fire. He still can't forget about mecha.
Rumble, rumble…
Just as Wende was about to walk over and remind the two, who were lost in their mecha fantasies, the ground suddenly trembled slightly.
"Hey, hey, hey! What's happening, is the pocket dimension collapsing?!"
Master Gongshu quickly steadied himself, looking panicked. But when he saw Wende and Stelle, who had already cleared the Arbor roots, he seemed to realize the cause and put on a calm and composed expression again.
"Oh, I know. It must be because you burned through the Arbor's root system, causing the Arbor sprite pain!"
"Alright, we can discuss our plan later. The urgent matter now is to get through the Changing Scenery Screen to the other side. I'm afraid the branches will grow back if we wait too long!"
With that, Master Gongshu walked over to the now-cleared Changing Scenery Screen. He demonstrated how to use it and then bravely went through first.
Watching Master Gongshu's body instantly transform into a streak of light, Wende and the others exchanged a look, then followed his lead, passing through the screen one by one.
"Blergh! Why do I feel so dizzy…"
March clutched her head, looking like she was about to be sick.
"Damn it, this thing… cough cough, I'd better let those brats keep experimenting on it!"
Looking back at the Changing Scenery Screen, Master Gongshu wiped his mouth, a look of lingering fear on his face.
"Cough cough cough… Why is this one different from the one in the Divination Commission…"
"Of course it's different! Because this one was used by the apprentices for practice!"
The disheveled Master Gongshu patted the dust off his clothes. Seeing the corrupted automatons that had been attracted by the commotion, he immediately hid behind the group.
"Aiya! Esteemed guests! Pull yourselves together! There are corrupted automatons up ahead!"
"Err… are you really okay with hiding behind us so shamelessly?"
March rubbed her forehead, summoned her longbow, and grumbled without turning her head.
"Let's deal with these automatons blocking the way first."
Welt stood at the front of the group, holding his cane.
"Right! Mr. Welt is the one with strategic vision! Little girl, you should learn more from your elder here!"
"Hey! How dare you take an inch and climb a mile!"
"March, Stelle, prepare for battle!"
Wende called out to the two. He then looked at Stelle, who was holding her lance, and gave her a nod.
"Mhm."
Understanding Wende's signal, Stelle decisively summoned her lance and threw it with all her might toward the approaching automatons.
KREEE!!
The tip of the lance instantly dug deep into the floor of the Artisanship Commission, carving a long, deep gouge.