Under the protection of the psychic shield, the group was able to safely observe the Mechanoids’ main planet. Beyond the insect-themed golden statues that Shu Bao loved, their attention shifted more toward the inhabitants of the planet—the Mechanoids themselves.
The Mechanoids nearby came in all shapes and sizes. Some appeared indistinguishable from humans, while others retained simple steel exteriors. Massive jellyfish-like Mechanoids floated through the city, while tiny, bird-like ones flitted about. Even though the group had settled in a secluded area, they could still glimpse the vibrant diversity of the Mechanoids’ capital city.
This place was a wondrous paradox—strikingly similar to human society, yet with significant differences. Everything was new and fascinating to the newcomers.
But the curious observers weren’t limited to Shu Bao’s group. Countless viewers were glued to their screens, watching the Mechanoids capital through the live stream. For the first time, they were witnessing the heart of the Mechanoids. The excitement in the air was palpable, with many activating first-person viewing modes to fully immerse themselves in the thrilling experience.
The livestream had attracted not only curious audiences but also experts from various fields eager to gather firsthand data about the Mechanoids. The content being streamed far surpassed mere entertainment—it was a groundbreaking source of information from another universe.
This unique streaming advantage energized Yu Lingqi, who had always aimed to increase his livestream’s popularity. Since the survival game began, his goal had been straightforward: gain more viewers. Back then, his fame had received a significant boost simply because he lived next door to Shu Bao.
Although a mishap with a protective barrier had cost him his original base, leading him to think he’d lost his competitive edge, the bizarre twists of fate that followed—along with his signature laid-back “slacker” lifestyle—unexpectedly brought him closer to his dream.
“I never imagined I’d one day be live streaming from the Mechanoids’ main planet! Look, over there! See that golden grasshopper statue? Next to it, a trashcan-shaped Mechanoid is cleaning up!”
With such an extraordinary opportunity, Yu Lingqi’s “slacker” persona was suddenly infused with professional zeal. He switched into full-on streaming mode, excitedly narrating to his audience. If he made it back to his home universe alive, he figured he could spend the rest of his life just telling stories about this adventure.
After all, how many people could claim they’d stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Mechanoids, critiquing their behavior from mere feet away?
Shu Bao, impressed by Yu Lingqi’s enthusiasm, used Lan Qing’s claw to poke the two Lan snakes and said, “You two should learn from him. This is the kind of passion and attitude a bait should have!”
The two royal princes glared at him. Why are you using someone else’s claw to poke us? If you’re so bold, why not use your own?
Although they scoffed at Shu Bao’s “cowardly” yet audacious words, they realized they had indeed been overly tense. Feeling somewhat competitive, they quickly adjusted their mindsets and began observing their surroundings with renewed focus.
The second prince started exploring within the range of the psychic shield, meticulously surveying every inch of the area. Meanwhile, the third prince focused his attention on the various Mechanoids in view. He understood that escaping on his own was impossible under the circumstances. His only hope of survival lay in cooperating with these lunatics to complete the mission.
The group’s resting spot was in a quiet corner, with few Mechanoids passing by. Even when one occasionally did, Tesla skillfully adjusted the psychic shield to avoid detection.
As an hour passed, the sky began to darken, much to the group’s surprise. Despite their steel bodies, the Mechanoids seemed to adhere to a regular schedule, retaining habits reminiscent of human life.
With the dimming light, the activity of the Mechanoids visibly decreased. However, the city’s defenses showed no signs of relaxation. Most of the defensive systems were concentrated in the air, as the Mechanoids likely never anticipated that someone could bypass their powerful aerial defenses and land directly on the ground.
The reduced activity provided the group with a window of opportunity. To ensure everyone’s safety, Shu Bao distributed storage rings to each team member. These contained an array of tools for the mission, including magical potions and invisibility spell scrolls.
Unlike the psychic shield, the invisibility scrolls allowed for greater flexibility and were perfect for split-up operations.
“The effectiveness of a single scroll lasts for one day. Each ring contains 30 invisibility scrolls. You must return here before they are used up—assuming, of course, you don’t expose yourself. If you uncover valuable information, jot it down in the magical notebook. The first page is for urgent information, and the second page…” Fu Qing calmly laid out the precautions while assigning specific areas for everyone to investigate.
Fu Qing wasn’t particularly worried about the three baits. After all, given the current circumstances, anyone with half a brain would know there was absolutely no chance of escaping the Mechanoids’ planet on their own.
Because the capital city was vast, even this divided approach to exploration would take about twenty days. To prepare for unexpected situations, everyone was provided with an additional ten invisibility scrolls.
After going over all the instructions, the group bid farewell to Tesla and several semi-mechanoids who were staying behind. They then set off to explore the Mechanoids’ capital.
The invisibility scrolls didn’t just render their bodies invisible. They also offered several other enhancements, such as reduced gravity, increased agility, heightened speed, and improved jumping power. Such premium scrolls were highly coveted in the chaotic world. Only the sheer wealth of Shu Bao’s group made this extravagance possible.
With the aid of the scrolls, each person moved with incredible speed and agility, practically flying over rooftops. The group gradually dispersed, heading toward their assigned areas. Shu Bao, Lan Qing, and Fu Qing, however, had targets located close to one another, so they remained together for the time being.
When Fu Qing offered Shu Bao a cloak—styled like butterfly wings—for the second time, Shu Bao declined again, patting his furry chest confidently. “Mice are best at burrowing; I don’t need wings.”
Fu Qing glanced at the solid steel floor beneath their feet, silently doubting Shu Bao’s bold claim.
In truth, Shu Bao wasn’t particularly confident about maneuvering under such a surface. However, he wasn’t willing to rely on someone else’s unique skill, and he knew the wings would be far more effective in Fu Qing’s hands than his own.
Finally, Shu Bao promised that if he encountered danger, he would immediately flee to Fu Qing’s location for help. Only then did Fu Qing relax and don his cloak.
Watching the exchange, Lan Qing, who had repeatedly tried to borrow the cloak just to touch it, was completely ignored. Frustrated, he vowed to make his own cloak—on top of the hat and gloves he was already planning—once they returned home.
Not long after, the trio parted ways to begin their respective explorations.
Shu Bao initially thought his small size as a mouse would give him an advantage in exploring the capital. However, he quickly realized he had underestimated the situation. The Mechanoid City was home to numerous tiny Mechanoids of similar stature.
These miniature Mechanoids occupied the city’s nooks and crannies, responsible for defense, maintenance, and cleaning. They were particularly active at night, their movements swift and silent. They often appeared suddenly and disappeared just as quickly, making Shu Bao nervous. He was constantly worried about bumping into one. Fortunately, his treasure-seeking instincts, combined with his speed and keen senses, allowed him to narrowly avoid several close encounters.
After navigating through these challenges, Shu Bao finally arrived at his first target: the Mechanoids’ Cultural Museum.
On the numerous planets they had previously visited, all records had been about humans. None contained any documentation about the Mechanoids. Naturally, upon landing here, investigating their history and culture became a priority.
The exploration also served as preparation for approaching the core energy pillar in the capital’s center, ensuring they weren’t entirely clueless when confronting the central system.
Entering the museum wasn’t particularly difficult. Shu Bao tailed a miniature Mechanoid, bypassing several obstacles with ease. Thanks to the invisibility scroll, he also avoided all detection devices and slipped inside the museum effortlessly.
The moment he stepped inside, Shu Bao was captivated by the displays. The museum had a specific theme: the Mechanoids itself.
It was a gallery showcasing the evolution of the Mechanoids, arranged in chronological order. The displays featured their past forms—or perhaps “corpses” was a more fitting term. Much like the human corpse museum they had encountered previously, this museum preserved a similar aesthetic.
Shu Bao started at the very beginning. Encased in a transparent glass cover was a simplistic robot. Its appearance bore no resemblance to humans; if anything, it looked like a rudimentary toy car. It even had four wheels on its stubby legs.
Circling the display case, Shu Bao found it hard to imagine what purpose such a machine could have served. It was neither built for combat nor defense.
Leaving the toy car-like Mechanoid behind, Shu Bao continued forward. As he progressed, the Mechanoids on display gradually adopted more humanoid features. The once-blocky limbs transitioned to cylindrical shapes, and later to forms closely resembling human skeletal structures.
During this evolution, their capabilities visibly improved. The once-comical wheels and fragile-looking mechanical arms were replaced with sturdier, more powerful steel components. The designs became increasingly refined, flexible, and efficient.
Eventually, Shu Bao reached a display of Mechanoids that were nearly indistinguishable from humans. It was clear that replicating human skin posed no difficulty for them.
Staring at these almost-perfect Mechanoids, Shu Bao momentarily felt as though he were looking at a human. However, as he continued, it became clear that this was just an illusion.
Beyond the human-like forms, the Mechanoids’ evolution seemed to diverge wildly, breaking free of any constraints. Alongside insect-themed designs, there were animal-inspired forms, purely mechanical constructs, indescribable shapes, and even the liquid metal forms they had encountered in the Mechanoids’ ruins before.
