"Intelligent Chip, organize all the data collected today!"
Back home, the first thing Shane did was to tally up his "spoils."
[Host initiating Administrator Mode!]
The next moment, a transparent VR-like contact lens interface appeared in Shane's pupils.
Following that, turbulent streams of data converged into three globes of light, materializing before Shane as holographic projections.
[File 1: Su Yuntao, Martial Soul: Lone Wolf, Data Collection: 40%]
[File 2: Tang Hao, Martial Soul: Clear Sky Hammer, Other data: Unknown…]
[File 3: Tang San, Martial Souls: Grass and Hammer, Data Collection: 99%]
Of the three files, Su Yuntao's data had been collected when Shane first awakened his Martial Soul, using him as a handy guinea pig.
"Analyze all three files. Filter out data usable for mecha design!"
Shane, in his capacity as host administrator, continued to operate the Martial Soul chip, issuing commands.
[As per host's request, filtering in progress…]
[Analysis complete. File 1 is suitable for mecha design!]
Seeing this result, Shane was initially a bit surprised, but upon closer inspection, it made sense.
Firstly, no usable data had been collected from File 2, Tang Hao, so it was out.
Secondly, File 3, Tang San, had only just awakened his Martial Soul, so his data in this regard was also blank, making him unsuitable as well.
After this calculation, Su Yuntao was indeed the only one left who met the requirements!
"Fine, fine, something is better than nothing!"
Shane consoled himself. There were no other suitable candidates at the moment, so he'd just have to make do with Su Yuntao's data for now.
"Intelligent Chip, hey, wait a second!"
Shane was about to proceed to the next step when he suddenly stopped.
"Always calling it 'Intelligent Chip' feels a bit weird. Since you're my Martial Soul, I should give you a pet name… how about…"
"Jarvis? No, no, that's Iron Man's AI, and it ended up being implanted into someone else. Not auspicious."
Just as Shane was racking his brains, he had a flash of inspiration!
"Hey, Siri!"
"From now on, your nickname will be 'Siri'!"
[Administrator has added new designation: Siri. Successfully added.]
Shane was quite pleased with the new name he'd chosen, nodding as he continued.
"Siri, using Su Yuntao's data as a base and myself as the subject, begin designing the mecha!"
[Host initiating Creation Mode, activating Mecha Master function!]
In an instant, Shane's house seemed to vanish as if it had been formatted, replaced by a high-tech, three-dimensional holographic projection!
Shane looked around in amazement. His every movement seemed to stir up a cascade of data streams; it was as if he had stepped into a digital world!
[Design Subject: Host Shane]
[Template Data: Su Yuntao – Martial Soul: Lone Wolf]
[Mecha Creation commencing!]
Beams of light scanned him, and currents flowed through, analyzing Shane's body to determine the best proportions. Gradually, a model of a humanoid mecha appeared before his eyes.
As the data was refined and spirit power was infused, a mecha embodying the characteristics of the Lone Wolf and tailored to Shane's physique was born!
Its streamlined design, sharply angled mechanical components, and a color scheme of fluorescent green and silver-black exuded an icy, murderous aura!
[Creation Complete. Mecha is ready!]
[Name: Wind Wolf Mecha]
[Characteristics: Retains and enhances the Lone Wolf's agility and aggression.]
[Mecha Soul Skill: Lone Wolf's Blood Claw]
Shane's eyes burned with passion as he gazed at the mecha before him!
He reached out his hand, took a step, and pieces of the armor suddenly flew towards him, attaching themselves to his body, quickly encasing him entirely!
[Wind Wolf Mecha, equipping complete!]
Shane excitedly began to move his limbs. He hadn't expected that while the mecha looked like metal armor, it didn't hinder his movements at all; in fact, it made him even swifter!
"Interesting, very interesting!"
Shane felt like he had become an Armor Hero or a Kamen Rider – a childhood dream come true!
Night had now fallen, and the sky was dark.
Yet Shane, transformed into a "wolf-man," zipped across the rooftops!
"So fast, and such strong jumping power!"
Once he put on the Wind Wolf Mecha, he was completely hooked. And through some experimentation, he discovered an unexpected bonus.
Even though he didn't have any spirit rings, he could actually use the Mecha Soul Skill!
This was like a spirit bone granting an auxiliary skill, unaffected by the need for spirit rings.
With this ability, Shane's combat power directly surpassed that of his peers; thrashing little runts like Tang San would be a piece of cake!
However, as powerful as it was, the spirit power consumption was indeed rapid.
After just a few minutes, Shane was already panting heavily, feeling completely drained…
He went home, drew some water, and took a quick bath. Just as Shane was about to sleep, a "咚咚咚" (dong dong dong) – a knocking sound – came from outside the door.
Who would come at this late hour?
Shane was a bit puzzled but got out of bed nonetheless.
The moment he pushed the door open, the impatient expression on Shane's face instantly turned into a delighted grin.
"Little Shane, what were you doing in there? All that banging and clanging scared me to death~"
Outside the door, the beautiful young widow Liu Ruyan stood, holding her child in one arm, while her other hand patted her surging chest, a worried look on her face.
"Sorry, Auntie Liu, I was just exercising."
Shane smiled; his innocent, boyish looks made it easy for others to believe him.
"What are you exercising for so late at night, you child? Wasn't today your Martial Soul Awakening? Come quickly and tell Auntie Liu all about it."
Liu Ruyan finished speaking and directly took his hand, pulling Shane towards her house. For once, he was surprisingly docile, offering no resistance at all.
The homes of the beautiful young widow and the young boy were actually just a wall apart. Once Shane entered her house, he quickly smelled a special fragrance – a faint, milky scent.
The two had barely sat down and chatted for a moment when the baby girl in Auntie Liu's arms began to cry: "Waaahhh~!"
"Oh, oh, don't cry, don't cry, time for milk~"
Saying this, Liu Ruyan lifted her slender hand, and with a deft movement of her fingers, one side of her outer garment and bodice slid down smoothly.
"Little Shane, you continue talking, I'm listening~" the beautiful young widow said with a smile, completely unreserved.
"Ah? Okay…"
Shane gulped, forcing himself to divert his attention and continue speaking.
An unknown amount of time passed. Liu Ruyan had fed her daughter, who was now sleeping soundly in her cradle. Shane, too, was parched from talking so much.
"Here, Little Shane, you must be thirsty after talking for so long, right?"
"Auntie still has some left, you can drink it~"
Shane, true to his name – Chen for "sincere," Shi for "honest." (Translator's note: This is a pun on his Chinese name 陈实.)
Since Auntie Liu had invited him so graciously, how could he refuse?
Lying down in Liu Ruyan's embrace wasn't a first for Shane; he was already quite familiar with the routine.
But this time, as Shane was drinking, he suddenly realized something was wrong!
[Anomaly! Detecting a large influx of life force and spirit power into the host's body!]
[Attempting analysis… Identification complete!]
[Substance: Milk of Life]
[Characteristics: Contains a vast amount of extremely pure life force and spirit power.]
[Consumption Effect: Thoroughly and permanently improves physique, forges a Life Affinity Constitution!]
[Note: A Life Affinity Constitution will automatically absorb surrounding life energy, which is not only beneficial for cultivation but can also, to a certain extent, achieve eternal youth and longevity.]
Wait, Shane was a bit stunned.
What on earth was going on!?
"What's wrong, Little Shane?"
Liu Ruyan looked at Shane, who had suddenly opened his eyes wide with astonishment, and smiled gently.
And as Shane looked at the beautiful young widow before him, he realized for the first time that perhaps… Auntie Liu wasn't so simple!
"Siri, detect Auntie Liu's attribute data!"
Overcome with curiosity, Shane secretly issued a command to his Martial Soul.
A data panel appeared shortly after, but Shane only grew more confused…
[Target: Liu Ruyan]
[Sex: Female]
[Martial Soul: ???]
[Spirit Power Level: ???]
[Preliminary analysis complete. Insufficient permissions, unable to conduct in-depth mining…]