Chapter 41: Tianlan Planet Doesn’t Mind!

Chapter 41: Tianlan Star Isn't Picky!

Deafening silence.

A silence so thick it was suffocating.

Sheng Qingquan calmly pressed a few keys, and the mecha began to rise according to his commands.

At least he had successfully relied on himself to break through the sand above and fly out of the deep pit.

This was good, worthy of encouragement.

Once airborne, he overdid it, causing the mecha to zoom up like a rocket. By the time he realized he'd flown too high, his landing was awkward.

Stumbling unevenly, the whole person sitting in the cockpit was lopsided.

But at least the goal was achieved—he had successfully stood on the surface of the desert, hadn’t he?

Since no one was watching, Sheng Qingquan pretended nothing had happened and kept practicing hard.

First, he needed to make the mecha’s limbs respond to commands.

Giant, crooked footprints appeared on the desert. A few minutes later, the originally messy but still recognizable footprints became utterly chaotic.

There were footprints, and also many small pits—much smaller than the previous large deep pit—but the number of these small pits was several times that of the large deep pit.

Sheng Qingquan manipulated the mecha to take two steps, then inevitably fell. Even though the AI responded swiftly, each time the corresponding corrective actions appeared on the teaching panel in time.

But following the instructions on the panel, Sheng Qingquan's operations couldn’t prevent the mecha from falling.

"Nothing, there's progress."

"At least it has gone from flat on its face to kneeling on one knee."

"Thinking carefully, such an awesome mecha, like toppling a mountain, falling like a pillar, kneeling on one knee, is actually quite handsome!"

Sheng Qingquan consoled himself.

Totally ignoring that the mecha’s kneeling on one knee now, and the mecha kneeling on one knee when it first appeared in front of him, were completely different feelings.

It was as obvious as in a costume drama—an actor with good posture kneeling on one knee to salute, and one with bad posture kneeling on one knee to salute. The difference was so big that anyone with eyes could see the difference between the two.

But Sheng Qingquan said he was indeed blind at this moment.

The craters and divots on the ground increased, which could have been restored with tools. But in order to exercise control over the mechanical arm, after finding that there was no slightly flat place on this desert to practice walking, he switched to manipulating the mechanical arm to start digging sand to fill the pits.

The mechanical arm lifted, and the crater was instantly filled.

Not only filled, but also a lot more.

Sheng Qingquan looked at the small sand dune in front of him, pursed his lips, and quickly covered his tracks.

Accidentally digging too hard, creating an even bigger pit.

Just barely restoring the ground to its original state made Sheng Qingquan, sitting in the temperature-controlled cockpit, break into a sweat.

After such repeated efforts, struggling for most of the day, and falling countless times, Sheng Qingquan finally got the hang of the limbs.

He resumed his flight practice.

After disabling the automatic flight mode, he took manual control of the takeoff.

Sheng Qingquan either shot up and spun out of control or flew erratically, bobbing like a roller coaster, which was nerve-wracking to watch.

Occasionally, it was like a paper airplane losing momentum, nosediving into the sand.

After numerous embarrassing attempts, he finally managed to fly a short distance with some stability. Before Sheng Qingquan could even savor the moment—

"Aaaahhh!"

"Where the heck did that bird come from?"

A small bird in the sky flew toward the mecha. Sheng Qingquan frantically steered the mecha to dodge it.

His fingers were practically tied in knots on the control panel. Yet, he could only watch helplessly as the mecha was about to smash into the bird.

If they collided, the mecha would be unscathed.

The mecha was built to withstand crashes.

Sheng Qingquan knew its specs—it could endure high-destructive weapons and heavy attacks without a scratch.

After all, despite all the earlier crashes, its surface was still pristine.

At high speed, hitting the bird would surely kill it. As for the mecha, it would just plummet from the sky and plow into the sand, leaving another deep crater.

The mecha itself wouldn't sustain a single crack.

"Activate auxiliary mode!" Sheng Qingquan blurted in panic.

He gave up, pulling his hands back and slumping into the seat, which firmly cradled him.

Sheng Qingquan felt like a noob in a game, desperately watching their health bar plummet, clueless about how to fight back or flee.

What button do I press?!

No clue, just mash whatever lights up. The health bar kept shrinking.

Finally, he just gave up and called in a pro to take over.

"Acknowledged."

"Obstacle detected. Avoidance successful."

The pro was on it, swiftly stabilizing the situation. Only once the bird was gone did Sheng Qingquan dare to take back control and keep practicing.

...

The authorities initially had no idea where Sheng Qingquan had taken the mecha.

Although they had been sending people to follow and protect him, they hadn't installed any surveillance or listening devices in Sheng Qingquan's home.

So, the authorities only knew that Sheng Qingquan had likely gone out to practice, but they didn't know he had flown to the Chenxu Desert, let alone his exact location within it.

The Chenxu Desert was the largest desert on Tianlan Star, without a doubt.

Plus, Sheng Qingquan had gone in stealth mode, making his location even harder to track.

Even with Tianlan Star's technological advancements, finding him would still be a challenge.

Unless, of course, satellites spotted anomalies in the desert.

Deep in the uninhabited heart of the Chenxu Desert.

Animals were scattering in every direction.

One moment, a deep pit appeared; the next, footprints everywhere; then, a surface more cratered than the moon, followed by sand dunes rising and sand erupting like a geyser.

They’d never seen sand erupt like lava from a volcano before.

The disturbance was so massive that the authorities couldn’t miss it. Clearly, something had burst from the sand, scattering it everywhere.

When they figured out where Sheng Qingquan was, the staff gasped in disbelief.

"We knew interstellar mechs were powerful, but flying from Yunteng City to the Chenxu Desert in under two minutes? That’s insane."

What’s more, it was clear this wasn’t even the mech’s top speed.

At full speed, the mech could reach speeds beyond imagination.

And then there were the massive disturbances Sheng Qingquan caused in the desert.

Only because he stayed in the uninhabited zone did the outside world stay calm.

Every move he made, though not apocalyptic, was still seismic. From the scene, it was clear this was done without weapons, just the mech’s raw power.

Who wouldn’t be in awe?

He even carved out a small lake in the uninhabited zone.

This lake formed after another crash, so deep the mech struck an underground river.

Water seeped from the sand pit, and when the first dampness touched the sand, Sheng Qingquan froze.

His first thought: he’d just caused a catastrophe.

Would such drastic changes to the desert cause chaos? Would it wreck the ecosystem?

Luckily, the mech’s AI scan showed no damage. The area would just sprout a small oasis.

As Sheng Qingquan sighed in relief, the mechanical voice blared again.

Sheng Qingquan’s heart leapt into his throat.

Had something gone wrong?

"Beep beep, Cobalt Blue Crystal detected."

"Beep beep, Cobalt Blue Crystal detected."

"Beep beep, Cobalt Blue Crystal detected."

The alert blared three times before Sheng Qingquan recalled the Cobalt Blue Crystal.

Cobalt, an element on Tianlan Star, gives its name to cobalt blue—a pure, vivid hue. But this Cobalt Blue Crystal isn’t the same as the pigment used for paint on Tianlan Star. It only shares the same color, which is why their translated names are similar.

Cobalt Blue Crystal is a high-quality energy source.

If he recalled correctly, Cobalt Blue Crystal was one of the energy sources the mecha could use.

With Cobalt Blue Crystal, he could freely use weapons without worrying about energy consumption.

Realizing this, Sheng Qingquan didn’t feel joy.

After confirming that Cobalt Blue Crystal was indeed the energy stone that could replenish the mecha's energy, only four words suddenly flashed in his mind—possession invites calamity—a saying that warns of the dangers of holding valuable things.

The result of a child carrying gold through a busy market is obvious.

And now, how is Tianlan Star any different from that kid with the gold?

Especially since Sheng Qingquan had checked and found that the Cobalt Blue Crystal he had discovered wasn't just one or two pieces.

It was a whole mine.

Plus, based on the reserves, it was a rich mine. The ore was so pure it didn’t need processing—it could be used directly in the mecha.

You can imagine how valuable it was.

Sheng Qingquan didn’t just use the mecha to detect the mine; he also activated the Imperial Seal.

Using the Imperial Seal, Sheng Qingquan found more than just one Cobalt Blue Crystal mine under the newly formed lake.

As his senses spread, he 'saw' up to 68 Cobalt Blue Crystal mines of all sizes on Tianlan Star.

Most didn’t need refining and were ready to use.

The rest? Only a few needed complex refining; the others just needed a quick clean-up. With Tianlan Star's tech, purification wouldn’t be hard.

In fact, he’d 'seen' such mines before, but at the time, he didn’t recognize them and simply ignored them.

He never guessed they were Cobalt Blue Crystal mines.

Now, Sheng Qingquan didn’t feel like practicing anymore.

He piloted the mecha out from the bottom of the newly formed small lake.

"Turn on auxiliary mode." Even though he’d practiced hard and knew the basics, the idea of the mecha crashing in populated areas after leaving the desert made him...

Sheng Qingquan wasn’t taking any chances. Like before, he turned on auxiliary mode.

He set a destination and let the mecha fly itself.

Unlike the last destination of Yunteng City, this time the destination was the capital.

He was eager to tell the leader about the Cobalt Blue Crystal. Plus, if the mecha hadn’t been bound, he’d planned to play with it a bit before handing it over.

It was a straightforward idea.

Should he keep a deadly machine like the mecha as a toy, or hand it over? The choice was clear.

But since it was bound right away, and he learned it couldn’t be unbound, he stopped worrying. They didn’t even give him the option to hand it over.

Most importantly, Sheng Qingquan also discovered something else.

"The mech cannot be unbound; perhaps other alien mechs might be able to, but this one certainly cannot."

"More importantly, with the physical fitness of an ordinary human, it's completely impossible to operate a mech."

"Even a seasoned soldier who has honed his body to the extreme cannot do it. I only barely met the requirements after consuming the Gene Serum. Where else on Tianlan Star can you find a second tube of Gene Serum?"

Has Sheng Qingquan arrived,?

Hearing the familiar thoughts, Xu Tianan put down his pen, assuming the kid had gone out to enjoy himself and was now back in high spirits, only to hear him thinking about the mech.

Xu Tianan was not surprised by the mech's limitations.

Tianlan Star, though considered backward, has taken the first step in space exploration.

Astronauts require special training to be qualified for their roles.

How could a mech pilot have no requirements whatsoever?

To claim that the authorities are not curious about the mech is false. Those in the know have already lost their minds multiple times, with some even buying Gundam models online to satisfy their cravings despite their old age.

But as for coveting the mech in Sheng Qingquan's hands, that's not true.

One reason is that Sheng Qingquan is no ordinary person; his contributions are significant, and he has been quietly dedicating himself. It would be too much to covet the good things in the hands of such a person.

Another reason is that everyone knows it's bound, so scheming would be pointless.

Unexpectedly, Sheng Qingquan has been continuously preoccupied with this matter.

His genuine enthusiasm puts some people to shame.

Just as Xu Tianan thought Sheng Qingquan would use trees to write and 'speak', he saw a giant robot, as tall as a one-story building, suddenly appear in the courtyard.

"A sharp intake of breath!" Xu Tianan heard the young Guard's soft gasp.

Clearly, he was in awe.

Even Xu Tianan himself, looking at the robot that could be called the epitome of alien technological beauty, couldn't help marveling at its magnificence.

Although its size was obviously compressed, not as towering or majestic as a mountain, looking at this robot, Xu Tianan immediately remembered the feeling when his little granddaughter first watched a tokusatsu show and Ultraman appeared.

His mouth slightly opened involuntarily.

A mix of astonishment and longing. The feeling of something long-awaited finally appearing before your eyes.

"So, this is what a mech looks like!"

When will Tianlan Star manage to develop and manufacture its own mech?!

Xu Tianan was moved.

Noticing the amazed expressions of the people present, Sheng Qingquan instantly forgave himself for his naive reaction when he first saw the mech.

If even the big shots are like this, how much more so for him? He could understand himself immediately.

Choosing to cancel the stealth mode, Sheng Qingquan had carefully considered it.

Because, he found that although the mech cannot be unbound.

If there is enough energy, the mech can temporarily create a backup unit.

Although this backup machine is very simple, even rudimentary, compared to a real mecha, it serves its purpose.

It's called a backup machine, but in reality, it's just a simple assembly of mecha parts.

It's mainly used for battlefield emergencies.

For example, after a mecha undergoes intense combat, if the damage area is too large, to the extent that it affects the mecha's performance, and there is no way to replace it with a new mecha, one can only temporarily use energy to fabricate some parts from the scrap metal on the battlefield and replace them urgently.

If there's enough metal and energy, most parts of the mecha can be fabricated.

Someone once used this method to assemble a crude mecha on the battlefield, then boarded the backup machine and remotely controlled the mecha to lure the enemy away. This way, they survived and successfully brought the intelligence back to the country.

Therefore, better mechas later have more refined backup machine functions. Although the gap between the backup machine and the real mecha is as vast as heaven and earth.

Whether in attack or defense, the backup machine is far inferior to the mecha. It is very fragile and could disintegrate from a single random shot.

In the hands of someone who knows how to use it, it might be a game-changer for turning the tide.

In the hands of someone who doesn't know how to use it, it's just a waste of energy and an added burden to the mecha.

But for Tianlan Star, it's perfect!

Tianlan Star doesn't mind!

Hearing Sheng Qingquan's thoughts, Xu Tianan's eyes lit up with excitement.

If it were a mecha, Tianlan Star might not even know where to begin researching. But if it's a backup machine or parts, with some effort, it might be possible to analyze.

Since the child is already holding gold, to live well, they must use this gold to buy food, eat and drink well to become strong, and grow up quickly before others discover, rob, or kill them. Buy weapons and protective gear to arm themselves from head to toe.

It is dangerous for a child to hold gold, but what if the one holding the gold is a burly man with a submachine gun?

It was precisely because of this thought that, upon discovering the energy source and ensuring it was sufficient, Sheng Qingquan immediately drove over in the mech.

He noticed the chief's courtyard had high walls and a great location, making it very hidden. A mech as tall as a one-story building appearing in the courtyard would be completely invisible from the outside.

He needed to show the chief and his people the actual object first, to avoid spending half a day just trying to convince them.

Talking can only do so much; seeing a mech in action is way more convincing.

Sheng Qingquan opened up a direct line of communication.

Using a voice altered by the AI system, he spoke directly to the people outside.

Even after explaining his intentions, Sheng Qingquan was still a bit worried the chief might not buy it. He was considering whether to reveal his ability to control plants to strengthen trust when he heard Xu Tianan ask with excitement, "Are you saying that not only can you produce a backup machine, but you have also discovered a large amount of energy ore?"

I'm glad the chief believes me, but...

Sheng Qingquan looked at Xu Tianan, his expression complex.

Is the chief really that trusting?

Looking back, it seems he believed me as soon as the plants showed up. He didn't even think I might be pulling a fast one.

Sheng Qingquan suddenly became worried.

If the chief is so easily fooled, won't he end up giving away Tianlan Star to aliens someday?

...

Silence.

A silence as still as death.

The guards dared not even breathe. Xu Tianan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Good thing I was telling the truth."

Thinking this, Sheng Qingquan sighed and placed the Cobalt Blue Crystal he had just dug out from the bottom of the lake using the mech onto the ground.

As fluid as the lake, as clear as crystal, and as blue as a sky without a single cloud, it was like a piece of the sky had been sliced off and placed on the ground.

"This is the Cobalt Blue Crystal."

"Unlike cobalt blue pigment, it's non-toxic," Sheng Qingquan explained.

"No radiation, no pollution—it's a clean energy source."

"Though it can renew itself, the process is painfully slow. It can basically be considered a non-renewable resource. I verified it using the mech's AI."

Although the mech's AI wasn't connected to the internet, it had internal data storage.

After discovering the new type of ore, Sheng Qingquan was worried about potential issues. He only dared to take a small amount after confirming it was safe.

Otherwise, while he’d have proof of the Cobalt Blue Crystal’s existence, everyone in the chief’s courtyard and the surrounding area would probably be wiped out.

Sheng Qingquan made it clear he had no intention of becoming a historical villain—wiping out Tianlan Star’s leadership before the aliens even showed up.

Upon hearing Sheng Qingquan’s explanation, Xu Tianan crouched down and reached out to touch the crystal.

While inspecting it, he couldn’t help muttering, "This is amazing, truly amazing!"

It wasn’t until he heard it was nearly non-renewable that he frowned slightly.

After a long pause, Xu Tianan stood back up.

He knew everyone would covet such a treasure.

Especially since it regenerated so slowly, making it even more scarce. No matter how much Tianlan Star possessed, it would never suffice, and the aliens would surely think the same.

Without question, Tianlan Star was now in even greater peril!

Sheng Qingquan requested a map from the guards and marked the locations of the Cobalt Blue Crystal deposits. He then instructed the guards to bring over a large amount of metal.

If it was just for the backup unit, the metal requirements wouldn’t be as strict. Many of the metals already found on Tianlan Star would work.

At best, the parts produced wouldn’t be top-quality or long-lasting.

But with the current limitations, this was the best they could manage.

The materials arrived quickly. Sheng Qingquan soon had everything ready.

Watching a pile of metal turn into an assortment of intricate parts, both large and small, under Sheng Qingquan’s skilled hands.

The larger parts were noticeable, but the tiniest ones were finer than a hair.

If it weren’t for their sharp eyes, they wouldn’t have noticed it.

They couldn’t figure out how Sheng Qingquan used the massive hands of a mech to craft such a delicate part.

He noticed the curiosity of the people around him.

Sheng Qingquan stayed quiet, not saying a word.

“It’s easy—just let the AI handle it.”

“Assist mode is a beginner’s best friend! The robotic arm can move as smoothly as you need.”

“You don’t seriously think I, a native of Tianlan Star, could just figure out how to build mechs on my own, do you?”

“Come on, that’s impossible—even for spare parts or backup mechs.”

Even though they knew the mech made it, they were still amazed. Usually, big things are clunky, but this mech was surprisingly nimble and precise.

No matter how intricate the part, the mech worked with smooth, effortless motions.

To an outsider, it looked more like creating art than assembling parts. The whole process was mesmerizing to watch.

Once all the parts were ready, they watched in awe as a mech came together right in front of them.

Everyone was left speechless, marveling at what they saw.

Even though this mech was nowhere near as impressive as Sheng Qingquan’s, the gap was like comparing the real deal to a knockoff.

Everyone was buzzing with excitement.

Sheng Qingquan kept going, creating a second, third, all the way up to the tenth mech. By the time he left, hungry and exhausted, the crowd finally settled down.

But word spread fast, and soon the courtyard was packed with people scrambling to get their hands on the mechs.

“Weapon research is our department’s specialty—we absolutely need one of these mechs!”

“No question about it—my team deserves one too. These mechs can fly in space, which is exactly what we’re studying!”

“This mech is a game-changer for my research. Look, this part here—it’s almost identical to what I’m working on! I need one of these mechs, plus some extra parts. Who knows? I might crack the code in no time!”

A crowd of seasoned researchers and their young assistants argued heatedly, nearly coming to blows.

Sheng Qingquan had no clue that the mechs he left behind sparked a near-riot.

He’d gone almost a full day without eating.

After hours in the desert, he was already feeling hungry. But he hurried to report to the chief, skipping a meal in the process.

Without the Gene Serum boosting his hunger tolerance, he wouldn’t have lasted through even one mech.

Back at his meal, Sheng Qingquan, much like someone scrolling through their phone while eating, absentmindedly activated his golden finger.

And then he discovered:

“A new post-apocalyptic novel so soon?!”