438: Chapter 438 Chen Xiaodao's Test Drive, First Experience with the New System

The morning light had just gilded the rooftops of Qiming Plain when Chen Wuwang stood on the trial plaza at the end of the assembly area.

He didn't enter the dispatch room or go to the main console; he walked straight up to the new mech and stood there, his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye scanning the energy patterns on the surface of the hull.

Individual spiritual energy circuits were glowing faintly along the gaps in the armor, pulsing like the blood vessels of a living creature.

"It's stable," he said in a low voice, his fingers tapping the hilt of his blade unconsciously.

Footsteps sounded behind him—not heavy, but crisp and decisive, leaving a mark with every step.

Chen Xiaodao walked over from the corridor entrance. The hem of his black robe was dusty, and faint heat was still rising from the joints of his Mechanical prosthetic limb on his left arm.

"Clan Master," he said, stopping in his tracks, his voice not loud. "Can I give that thing a try?"

Chen Wuwang turned his head to look at him but didn't speak. Two seconds later, he nodded.

"Thanks," Chen Xiaodao grinned and turned to head toward the mech.

This mech was different from the previous ones.

The frame was narrower and the lines were sleek; instead of missile bays on the back, there was a pair of foldable spiritual energy wing panels.

The cockpit was located at the chest; when it opened, it looked like a cracked-open seashell, revealing the pitch-black seat inside.

Chen Xiaodao leaped up, his movements as practiced as if he had done it a thousand times. The hatch closed, the external sealing runes flashed, and the entire mech shuddered slightly.

A few seconds of silence followed.

Suddenly, two streams of silver-white flames erupted from the soles of the mech's feet, and the bluestone ground instantly turned red.

It hovered three feet off the ground, motionless, the body swaying slightly as if adjusting its center of gravity.

"Signal connected," Chen Xiaodao's voice came through the communicator, tinged with a hint of hesitation. "The navigation System... is responding."

"Move it," Chen Wuwang said.

The mech began to move. It started with a low-altitude translation, gliding just above the ground. The speed wasn't fast, but the trajectory was absurdly stable; even the arc of its turns looked as if it had been measured with a ruler.

Then it turned in place, a sharp ninety-degree pivot, without slipping at all.

"It's light," Chen Xiaodao's voice revealed his surprise. "Too light. It feels like I'm not gripping the control stick, but my own thoughts."

"Increase the intensity," Chen Wuwang said.

As soon as he spoke, the mech shot upward, soaring straight to a hundred meters in the air.

The next instant, it flipped over and dove headfirst, the speed so fast it tore through the air with a boom.

Just as it was about to hit the ground, the fuselage suddenly banked sideways, and the spiritual energy wing panels deployed, forcing the downward momentum into a ground-hugging glide. It brushed past the flagpole at the edge of the plaza, the flag flapping violently from the shockwave.

"Awesome!" Chen Xiaodao roared.

Immediately after, the mech pulled up vertically, completing a spiral roll in mid-air. After three and a half rotations, it hovered precisely, with even the flickering of the exhaust flames appearing perfectly synchronized.

"Do another set," Chen Wuwang said.

"Are you testing me, or the System?" Chen Xiaodao chuckled, but his tone grew serious. "Alright, I'll show you something real."

The mech started up again. This time, the movements were even more aggressive—a high-altitude dive followed by a ground-hugging serpentine maneuver, changing direction seven times in a row, with each turn sharper than the last.

Older models would have lost control under such maneuvers, but this one was different; every step seemed pre-calculated, and the attitude correction was so fast that there was almost no visible delay.

Finally, it braked suddenly at an altitude of fifty meters, arms outstretched, spiritual energy wing panels fully deployed like an eagle tucking its wings.

After three seconds of stillness, it descended slowly, its feet landing as lightly as a leaf.

The hatch popped open.

Chen Xiaodao jumped out, his mechanical left arm still dissipating heat, emitting wisps of white smoke.

He strode toward Chen Wuwang, his face flushed with excitement.

"Clan Master!" His voice cracked. "This new System is amazing! Controlling it feels like it's grown inside my brain; its predictions are even more accurate than my sword strikes! If the whole team upgrades, our mech regiment could chase those scumbags from the Northern Territory until they're crawling on the ground!"

Chen Wuwang stared at him, neither smiling nor nodding.

"During the high-altitude roll just now, at the third and a half rotation, the System's assistance was half a beat slow," he said.

"Slow?" Chen Xiaodao froze, then shook his head. "That's not it. I deliberately held it back for a moment, using that delay to change direction. Otherwise, how could I have pulled off such a clean tail-whip?"

"You adapt very quickly," Chen Wuwang finally tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Of course," Chen Xiaodao patted his own head. "My brain is naturally suited for this System. Believe it or not, after three more days of practice, I can complete the entire set of tactical maneuvers with my eyes closed."

"Don't boast," Chen Wuwang raised his hand and tapped him on the head. "The data hasn't finished running yet. If you're happy now and end up face-planting later, it'll be the entire Chen Clan that loses face."

"Hey, when have I ever made you lose face?" Chen Xiaodao said, unconvinced. "Last time at the training ground competition, who sent that arrogant bunch from Leiyin Pavilion flying with one sword strike? Last month during the Zerg raid, who was the first to rush into the hive and sever the neural pathways? Now you're saying I'm not good enough?"

"I didn't say you weren't good enough," Chen Wuwang looked at the mech, his voice dropping. "I'm saying, don't trust it too much."

"You don't trust it?" Chen Xiaodao narrowed his eyes.

"I am not you," Chen Wuwang said. "You are young, have fast reactions, and dare to fight. These old bones of mine rely on calculation. No matter how strong the System is, it is still a tool. A person uses a tool; they must not be used by the tool."

Chen Xiaodao was silent for two seconds, then suddenly laughed. "So you're afraid I'll get carried away?"

"I'm afraid you'll die," Chen Wuwang turned to look at him. "If you die, who will test new mechs for me? Who will scold that stubborn old donkey Tie Zhu for me? Who else will nag in my ear, 'Clan Master, it's time for extra training today'?"

Chen Xiaodao choked, then laughed even louder. "Then you can rest easy; I have a very tough life. I didn't die when the Zerg slaughtered my village, so now that I'm wearing such a sturdy iron shell, who can kill me?"

"Don't mention your past life," Chen Wuwang interrupted, his tone darkening slightly.

The two were silent for a moment.

In the distance, workers in the assembly area had already begun dismantling the test targets, and several apprentices were running back and forth carrying recording boards.

Sunlight flooded the plaza, and the energy patterns on the surface of the mech gradually dimmed, like a receding tide.

"What's the next step?" Chen Xiaodao asked.

"Wait for the data," Chen Wuwang said. "Have the R&D team pull the full logs to see if there are any hidden fluctuations. If there are no issues, we'll arrange the second batch of test drives."

"The second batch?" Chen Xiaodao raised an eyebrow. "You're not letting me continue?"

"You've already tested it," Chen Wuwang looked at him. "And, you were too smooth."

"What does that mean?"

"People who have it too easy are prone to stumbling into the first small pit they encounter," Chen Wuwang patted him on the shoulder. "Rest for a day and come back tomorrow. Don't be in such a rush to prove anything."

Chen Xiaodao curled his lip. "You just think I'm reckless."

"I think you don't know what pain is," Chen Wuwang turned and walked toward the dispatch console. "Go on, take a shower and eat a good meal. Stop running around the mountains like a stray dog all day."

"What about you?" Chen Xiaodao shouted from behind.

"I'm staying here," Chen Wuwang said without looking back. "Waiting for the data."

Chen Xiaodao stood still, watching his back stretch long in the sunlight.

His silver hair swayed gently in the wind, and his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye flashed red from time to time, as if reading something.

He suddenly felt that the Clan Master was actually more nervous than anyone else.

It was just that he never let anyone see it.

He looked down at his mechanical arm; the heat vents at the joints were still emitting white smoke.

During that set of movements just now, the System was indeed astonishingly fast.

But what he didn't say was—during the final roll, a very faint blue line had flashed in the bottom right corner of his vision, like the trace of code flowing by.

It was only for an instant.

He thought it was an illusion.

He raised his hand and waved it in front of his eyes.

The metal fingers reflected the sunlight, dazzlingly bright.