CHAPTER 365: CHAPTER 8: MECHANICAL MONK

It was only after these people left that Tassia walked over, full of surprise, and asked dubiously, "Did you conquer all the gangs nearby?"

The gangs in the settlement are nothing, more like local ruffians.

The real tough guys.

They all leave the settlement and rule the no-man’s land in the lower levels of Nest City. Within the settlement, there is the Mechanical Divine Sect suppressing things; killing someone has to be done sneakily. If discovered by the Defender Army, there might even be a wanted notice issued. Outside, killing is much simpler, and the bodies can be easily disposed of, considered a kind of resource.

Duncan shrugged upon hearing this and said indifferently, "No."

"I’m just using them for some exercise."

Gang members aren’t significant enough to be brought to the table.

Duncan just wanted to test the combat prowess of Human Form No. Three; real tough guys are not as weak as these amateurs.

To put it bluntly, they can’t even defeat Duncan’s soldiers.

But even the worst type of people has their uses.

With these low-level informants around, if cultists attempt something secretly, Duncan can respond immediately.

Looking at Duncan in front of her, Tassia whispered, "Are you planning to join the Steel Divine Sect?"

Duncan has frequently visited the prayer room these days; she must’ve sent someone to investigate secretly.

Duncan squinted slightly and said, "Yes."

"Having a church identity will make things much easier in the future."

Tassia looked around at this point, lowered her voice, and said, "If you pass the test, make sure not to directly choose a Mechanical Tutor."

"I can help you when the time comes."

Duncan showed slight surprise, seemingly waiting for Tassia to explain.

Tassia pondered for a moment and then said, "The internal situation of the Steel Divine Sect can’t be explained in just a few words."

"You just need to know that some High-tier Cultivators of the Steel Divine Sect implant thought impressions in their apprentices. Once you are imprinted, you’re at their mercy."

Such things exist?

Seeing Duncan’s shocked expression, Tassia smiled wryly and said, "It’s not just the Steel Divine Sect; the Insight Sect implants chips in your brain too."

"Especially those apprentices that Mechanical Tutors invest a lot in."

"They treat apprentices as their private property!"

Generally, the lower a Mechanical Priest rises from the social rung, the more likely they are manipulated by a Mechanical Tutor. However, the Mechanical Divine Sect also has an internal rule where they usually trap you with loan contracts.

For example, if a Mechanical Tutor conducts a prosthetic modification for you and you can’t afford the expenses, you sign a decades-long servitude contract.

Those unsuspecting individuals joining the Mechanical Divine Sect might unknowingly fall under someone’s complete control.

As long as you are willing to pay the price.

If it’s in the Insight Sect, Mechanical Sages will modify you to be quite advanced, converting your entire body into machinery. Whether you continue to listen to your own commands is no longer up to you.

Seeing Duncan’s thoughtful expression, Tassia continued, "There are no problems with standard promotions in the Mechanical Divine Sect."

"Just remember, there’s no such thing as a free lunch here."

"Every bit of kindness comes with a purpose!"

Duncan heard this, suddenly smiled, stared at Tassia in front of him, and said slowly, "Including you?"

"Of course." Tassia nodded frankly and said, "Including me."

"I’m counting on you to rise."

Before leaving, Tassia told Duncan some good news: they had obtained a pioneer license, effectively becoming mercenaries in Nest Capital World.

In the afternoon.

Duncan once again headed to the prayer room, now quite adept at it.

Today, clearly fewer people passed the first test, as those who could get through the past few days have already done so. For some reason, Duncan felt the existence of the prayer room had a self-brainwashing effect on others, something like an unconscious transformation into fanatics after reporting daily, year after year.

This time, only three people.

Duncan found that the pass rate for the tests by Mechanical Priests was about one in ten thousand; these days, those who passed were either assigned to the Defender Army or the Technical Logistics Department.

In Dimension Space, under the projection page.

Duncan completely released his perception while switching to the Observer viewpoint, directly cheating the test with a semi-autonomous mode.

This time, he not only recited the Mechanical Prayer in front of him but also secretly mobilized a trace of power.

"Praise the Mechanical God!"

At the moment of reciting the Mechanical Prayer, Human Form No. Three’s fingers touched the Steel Cast Mark, and surprisingly, there was a sensation like electricity flowing, as if a ’Static Electric Field’ appeared within his body.

——"Resonance completed!"

——"Perception match."

——"Analyzing Mechanical Prayer!"

Everything on the projection page started to change; the Steel Cast Prayer Duncan saw was no longer just characters; it was like a network engraved on an iron plate, and the lines of the engraved prayer were runes, akin to an integrated circuit board, a highly precise circuit rune laid out on a complete piece of Steel Armor through the engraving of the Mechanical Prayer.

"So that’s how it is?!"

Duncan’s eyes widened instantly, and as Human Form No. Three recited the Mechanical Prayer, a power similar to Magic Power surged into it, making the Steel Rune engraved above emit a faint Spiritual Light.

At this moment, under the opposite Mechanical Angel statue, a Mechanical Priest said in surprise, "Another promising one."