139: Professional competition puppets appear in the world

Three days passed in a blink of an eye, and the third stage of the competition officially concluded. Out of nearly a thousand participants, less than two hundred successfully passed, which was quite brutal.

With the end of the third stage, each contestant's score officially began to draw attention from the major forces present.

Unlike the first and second stages, the total score for the third stage was 200 points, while contestants who qualified for the previous two stages all received a perfect score of 200 points.

Starting from the third stage, all contestants truly participated in the competition. To assess their overall strength, one could get a glimpse from their current scores.

When everyone from Sea and Land Academy looked at the rankings on the soul tool column, their mouths twitched almost simultaneously.

Ranked first was Shen Guyan, going by the alias Gongzi Yu, with a perfect score of 400 points... followed by Zhou Hanyou, Zhou Tianer, Xian Lin, and others.

Many were so shocked by the perfect score in first place that they were speechless. While feeling amazed, they couldn't help but look around, trying to find this mysterious top scorer. However, the column only displayed names, not photos of the contestants.

Shen Yue, Shen Canghai, and other members of the Shen Family in the audience were also inexplicably shocked. They had tried their best to overestimate Shen Guyan, but they still underestimated him.

To get a perfect score in a survival assessment like this, one must be a super monster among their peers.

Death Forest speed run was not just about surviving in the Spirit Ascension Platform; it also required constant vigilance against other teams and breaking through the final beast tide, among other things. Whether it was individual ability, teamwork, or other aspects, any slight flaw would result in deductions from the Spirit Pagoda evaluators.

Even two Spirit Emperors, though they could charge through relying on their individual strength, would still be penalized for lacking teamwork. Moreover, scores would vary due to the subjective opinions of each evaluator.

In other words, it was basically impossible to get a perfect score in any stage of the competition that involved both survival and speed.

How did this Gongzi Yu manage to get a perfect score?

In just one night, the name Gongzi Yu was remembered by all the forces watching the competition.

Only Shen Guyan's companions knew what kind of miracle Shen Guyan had led them to achieve.

He left the team alone, returned with all their heavenly stems and earthly branches tokens, and then led the team to the finish line before the beast tide fully formed... His speed was so astonishing that even the high-ranking officials of the Spirit Pagoda, the organizers, were dumbfounded.

His companions also benefited, with each of their scores exceeding 180 points.

The excitement of the Youth Genius Competition continued to rise, now entering the thrilling fourth stage — the Sub-profession Competition. This stage covered various fields such as Blacksmiths, Mecha Designers, Mecha Manufacturers, and Mecha Repairmans, attracting countless young Spirit Masters with dreams and talents. Among them, the Mecha Designer and Manufacturer competitions were the most anticipated, compared to the relatively boring metal forging and repair, with elites from all walks of life gathering to showcase their skills on this stage.

The competition venue was still Spirit Ice Plaza, and the surrounding stands were already packed, with people eagerly chatting, full of anticipation for the upcoming competition.

The Spirit Messenger of the Spirit Pagoda, Tiansheng Douluo Heavenly Saint Douluo, wearing magnificent Spirit Pagoda attire, strode onto the high platform in the center of the arena. His figure was tall and straight, his eyes bright and piercing, and his face exuded confidence and authority. He cupped his fists to the entire audience in greeting. "Esteemed Spirit Masters, and all distinguished guests who have traveled far! Welcome to the Sub-profession Competition of the Youth Genius Competition!" Heavenly Saint Douluo's voice echoed throughout the arena through the soul tool amplifier. "In the upcoming competition, we will witness the exciting contest of the younger generation in the fields of Blacksmiths, Mecha Designers, Mecha Manufacturers, and Mecha Repairmans!"

Tiansheng Douluo's reputation was considerable, and a round of warm applause and cheers immediately erupted below the stage, instantly igniting the atmosphere.

For all contestants, this was not only an opportunity to showcase themselves but also an excellent chance to improve their strength and accumulate reputation. Shen Guyan looked around; other contestants had various expressions, some confident, others slightly nervous as they checked their design blueprints and tools.

The vast competition venue was divided into independent design areas, each equipped with the most advanced soul tool technology devices and abundant design Materials.

The competition rules were clear: designers had to create an 'Innovative Multi-functional Mecha' within the stipulated one-day period, based on a given theme. This theme was undoubtedly a huge test of the designers' creativity and wisdom, requiring them to break through the traditional mecha design framework and build a mecha that was both multi-functional and uniquely innovative.

The competition required designing a complete and innovative mecha blueprint, followed by an on-site demonstration and explanation. Judges would score from multiple dimensions, including design concept, innovation, practicality, and adaptability to complex combat situations.

With Heavenly Saint Douluo's command: "Mecha Designer competition, begin!" Shen Guyan and other contestants quickly immersed themselves in mecha design.

At the beginning of the competition, the scene was bustling with activity. Shen Guyan quickly took his seat in his design area, already outlining the prototype of his mecha in his mind. Looking around, other designers also threw themselves into intense creation.

Inside the arena, contestants were seen using all their skills, various soul tools shimmering with strange light, complementing their Soul Power. Some contestants were adept at using flame Soul Power to preheat design Materials, making them more malleable; others used ice Soul Power for precise cutting, ensuring accurate material dimensions.

One by one, contestants meticulously drew sketches of mechas on large blueprints, their pens seemingly endowed with life, dancing rapidly across the paper. Each stroke outlined the mecha's lines and contours, from its sleek body lines to its complex power System, from its clever weapon layout to its exquisite defensive structure, all demonstrating their unique understanding of mecha design.

Most contestants' eyes revealed focus and confidence, as if the entire World consisted only of them and the blueprints before them.

The audience's gaze slowly swept across the entire venue, first looking at the bustling designer competition. One contestant focused on powerful defense for his design. The mecha he conceived had an outer shell crafted from a Fusion of various rare Ores, making its hardness beyond imagination. The mecha's limb joints were designed with retractable shields that could instantly deploy upon attack, fully protecting the mecha. At the same time, the mecha's back was equipped with a large energy shield generator, capable of providing additional energy protection at critical moments. Moreover, the mecha's weapon System was also ingenious: its dual arms could transform into two heavy soul tool cannons, possessing powerful long-range strike capabilities, while its legs concealed sharp blades, capable of delivering a fatal blow to enemies in close combat.

Another contestant focused on speed and flexibility. The mecha he designed was relatively small and lightweight, using special light alloy Materials, significantly reducing the mecha's weight. The mecha's legs were equipped with powerful propulsion devices, allowing it to burst out with astonishing speed in an instant, moving like Gui Mei on the battlefield. Its dual arms were equipped with freely retractable energy swords, their blades condensed from high-energy lasers, making them incredibly sharp. Furthermore, this mecha also possessed a unique stealth function, capable of entering an invisible state for a certain period through a special energy wave interference device, making it difficult for enemies to detect.

Amidst the busy and focused atmosphere, Shen Guyan appeared exceptionally calm. The exquisite structures of Tang Sect's Puppet Technique and Mechanism Technique, taught by his wife, emerged in his mind, becoming the source of his inspiration.

Shen Guyan decided to innovate boldly, based on Tang Sect Puppets.

He abandoned the traditional Tang Sect Puppet control method of relying on threads, instead using his powerful Mental Energy, which had just broken through to the Spirit Sea Realm. This would make the mecha's control more flexible and precise, and free from the limitations of thread length and quantity.

Shen Guyan meticulously designed the mecha's structure, allowing it to be equipped as a Battle Armor attached to a Spirit Master, perfectly fitting the Spirit Master's body and greatly enhancing their combat power and defense. At this time, all parts of the Battle Armor would react accordingly to the Spirit Master's body movements and mental commands, achieving a seamless combat mode.

At the same time, this mecha could also fight as a complete standalone mecha. In standalone combat mode, the mecha would display powerful autonomous combat capabilities. Because it was operated by Mental Energy, it could keenly perceive changes in the surrounding environment and enemy movements.

Being a combination of various high-grade metals, its weapon System was even more diverse, not only equipped with multiple small soul tool cannon launchers for precise long-range strikes but also concealing a main energy cannon barrel, capable of releasing powerful energy beams with considerable destructive power after charging; its hands could transform into energy shields and melee weapons, capable of both blocking enemy attacks in defense and delivering heavy blows in close combat.

As time passed, the competition drew to a close. Contestants successively completed their design blueprints and presented their design concepts and mecha models to everyone through special display devices.

Heavenly Saint Douluo led the judging panel, carefully scrutinizing each design. They considered various aspects, including innovation, practicality, feasibility, and relevance to the theme.

"Gongzi Yu, please present your design and describe your ideas in concise language." The voice of the judging panel quickly sounded, and the three words 'Gongzi Yu' immediately attracted the attention of countless spectators.

Shen Guyan slowly walked onto the podium, his dark robe rippling like waves on a night sea, his loose silver hair with a cold iron gleam falling to his waist. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, illuminating his face as if carved from ice crystals – eyebrows like broken blades slanting into his temples, eye corners long and slender like poisoned sword edges, yet his lashes were thick and black like raven feathers, dividing the shimmering starlight in his eyes into a dark river of light and shadow.

His warm jade-like complexion faintly revealed a cold light of non-human quality, with a translucent appearance as if frost flowers had condensed on his cheekbones, yet when his lips pursed, a sharp, blood-tinged edge suddenly broke forth.

Shen Guyan did not disguise himself. After all, years of Cultivating various martial arts from the Great Sorrow Scripture had drastically changed his appearance compared to his childhood, so even revealing his true face to the public would not cause trouble.

He then projected his design blueprint and mecha model onto the giant light screen. He explained in detail the control method of replacing threads with Mental Energy, and the multi-functional characteristics of the mecha, which could be equipped as Battle Armor or operate independently.

The audience and other contestants below the stage could not help but exclaim in admiration. They were impressed by Shen Guyan's unique design approach and innovative concepts. The judges also highly praised Shen Guyan's design, nodding in approval.

However, just as everyone was captivated by Shen Guyan's wild imagination, an unexpected event occurred.

A judge raised a question: "Contestant Shen Guyan, although your design is highly innovative, controlling a mecha with Mental Energy consumes a great deal of Mental Energy, and it might be difficult to operate skillfully. Also, how can you ensure a continuous supply of Mental Energy during prolonged battles to maintain the normal operation of this mecha?"

To this, Shen Guyan merely smiled slightly and calmly replied, "Judge, I have already considered this in my design. The rare metal Materials used for the mecha are not inferior, and it is equipped with a special Mental Energy energy storage device. It can, during the mecha's operation, absorb and convert surrounding environmental energy to replenish the Spirit Master, converting excess energy generated during mecha combat into Mental Energy supplements, thereby ensuring a continuous supply of Mental Energy."

"Additionally, if Mental Energy is insufficient for control, it can also be controlled by transmitting Soul Power through threads made of Shadowless Crystals..."

As he spoke, Shen Guyan waved his arm, and countless metal pieces flew from his body, quickly forming a humanoid object beside him.

What is that...? The people present couldn't help but exclaim, and even the judging panel couldn't resist standing up and approaching to observe.

When this thing floated out from Shen Guyan's body, there were no Soul Power fluctuations at all, meaning that even if this thing wasn't made of sentient alloy, it was very convenient to carry.

Wild imagination is certainly appealing, but if the finished product is actually created, it becomes somewhat terrifying.

Shen Guyan's operation method felt a bit like a Puppet show, but how could there be only a few threads connecting these hundreds of thousands of metal pieces?

How did he make this thing move and assemble?

Evidently, people in this World did not know Puppet Technique. At least, the Tang Sect of this World had not demonstrated Puppet Technique.

The Tang Sect's Mechanism Puppet Technique was far more technically advanced than the so-called Hundred Solutions to Hidden Weapons.

The thing Shen Guyan threw out could be called a mecha, or Battle Armor, or even a... Clone?

The judges felt up and down this Puppet, exclaiming in wonder, and only after a while did they return to their seats.

"Alright, I think my score should be out now." Shen Guyan smiled lightly, curled his five fingers, and the Puppet quickly disintegrated into countless metal pieces, reattaching to various parts of his body.