Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 382 Advancement to Sagehood (Eighth Update)

As the frigate pierced through Mars's murky atmosphere, the view through the portholes was breathtaking.

The planet has a sickly rusty red color, and orbits a magnificent structure known as the "Iron Ring"—a continuous network of docks, spaceports, and starship construction facilities that bind the entire planet tightly like a metal belt.

Countless ships shuttle back and forth on the tracks, like worker bees circling a hive.

As altitude decreases, surface details gradually become clearer.

The massive industrial complex covered the entire field of vision, the towering casting temple spewed thick smoke, and the light of the volcanic furnace was clearly visible even in daylight.

A crisscrossing network of pipes, like blood vessels, spreads across the land, discharging toxic industrial waste into rivers that have long since deteriorated.

The air was filled with metallic dust and the pungent smell of chemicals, which could be faintly sensed even through the ship's internal circulation system.

The fleet slowly landed at Hope Airport.

This airport itself is a steel city, with take-off and landing platforms stretching to the horizon and giant cranes as dense as a steel forest.

As the hatch opened, a dull mechanical roar instantly filled the room, interspersed with the sharp friction of gears turning and the low-frequency hum of the plasma engine.

Sigismund was the first to step down the gangway, his black power armor looking particularly grim in the dark red Martian sky.

The Templars behind him spread out in battle formation, their powered weapons ready to be deployed at any moment.

Chen Yu's mechanical body slowly descended the gangway, his optical lenses calmly scanning the welcoming party.

Representatives from Mars had been waiting for a long time.

Leading the group was a tech sage clad in a scarlet robe, his mechanical eye flashing a subtle red light during calibration, and a precisely modulated binary greeting emanating from his speaker.

Behind him, dozens of technical priests of different ranks stood solemnly on both sides. Their mechanical modifications varied, but they all exuded the same cold aura.

"Welcome to Mars, explorer Chen Yu." The red-robed sage's universal language carried a unique mechanical tone, "The God of Machines witnesses this historic meeting."

Chen Yu nodded slightly in return, his voice steady and clear: "I hope this meeting will enhance understanding and promote cooperation."

On the way to the negotiation site, Chen Yu noticed that every detail of this steel city reflected the tenets of the Mechanicus.

On the streets, tech priests, modified to varying degrees, hurried along, their mechanical prosthetics creating a bizarre contrast with their original bodies.

A large number of machine servants work silently in the pipes, performing repetitive tasks that have been set for them.

In the distance, the Guardian Corps patrol marched in perfect unison, their weapon systems gleaming coldly in the dim red light of the day.

The negotiations took place at the famous Gamma Temple.

The building itself is a symbol of the power of the Mechanicus, with its towering spire reaching for several kilometers and pointing straight to the sky. Its exterior walls are covered with constantly updated data streams, and huge gears turn slowly inside the building, emitting an eternal roar.

When Chen Yu and Sigismund entered the main conference hall, they were greeted by a huge round metal table, around which sat twelve of Mars' highest-ranking technological sages.

Their prosthetic eyes were focused on Chen Yu at the same time, and an invisible pressure permeated the entire space.

Sigismund stepped forward, and the power armor joints emitted a slight hydraulic sound.

"We come representing the Emperor's will." His voice echoed through the hall. "Let the negotiations begin." The Great Sage, the leader of the Martian side, slowly raised his mechanical prosthetic arm, and countless tiny servo motors started running simultaneously.

“Then let’s see,” his voice came through the cold electronic speaker, “whether this technology, which is so highly regarded, is truly as revolutionary as the legends say.”
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The negotiations officially began in the circular conference hall of the Gamma Territory Casting Temple.

The judging panel, composed of twelve Martian sages, had their mechanical eyes simultaneously locked onto Chen Yu, and data streams were rapidly scrolling across the retinal display screen.

The Mars mission first demonstrated astonishing efficiency.

Within just a few standard hours, a professional team of high-ranking technical priests had completed an initial assessment of the warp drive's core technology.

Countless data cables rose from beneath the conference hall floor, connecting to the brain interfaces of the Great Sages. The entire analysis process was carried out in near-absolute silence, with only the occasional slight hum of the servo motors.

Finally, the chief sage broke the silence.

His microphone emitted a series of precisely modulated binary codes, these high-frequency sound waves echoing throughout the conference hall, transforming into a stream of information that only cyborgs could directly understand.

Chen Yu's auditory sensor immediately picked up the binary message: "Technical verification complete. The warp drive theoretical framework is complete, the technical path is feasible, and it conforms to the sacred laws of Omnissiah."

Chen Yu's mechanical body leaned forward slightly, sending out an encrypted binary response: "Thank you for verification. This technology will open up new routes for humanity."

A faint sound of mechanical joints turning echoed through the hall; this was the great sages' special way of expressing their approval.

The Chief Sage continued to convey through binary code: "Based on the immense value of this technology, the Martian Council has decided to bestow upon you the title of 'Forging Sage'."

At this point, another great sage issued a different binary sequence: "But it is necessary to discuss whether to grant the title of 'great sage'."

The conference room was immediately filled with the sounds of rapid data exchange.

The great sages were engaged in a heated discussion using binary code, their mechanical eyes constantly shifting the light of the data stream.

A conservative binary message circulated in the air: "The title of Great Sage must follow tradition and be examined in terms of understanding of doctrine and qualifications."

Supporters immediately responded with binary code: "This technology is far more valuable than conventional methods, and promotion standards should be adjusted."

Just as the debate was heating up, Chen Yu posted a calm yet firm message in binary code: "Thank you for the recognition, but I must decline the title of Great Sage. I am currently focused on improving and promoting the technology."

This response brought a brief silence to the chamber. The Archsages quickly exchanged opinions via the binary network, and finally, the Chief Archsage, representing the council, issued a final resolution: "The decision is respected. The title of 'Forging Sage' is formally conferred, granting corresponding authority on Mars and its associated forging worlds."

A team of technical priests entered the venue, carrying red robes woven with conductive fibers and gear badges with embedded data chips.

Chen Yu's shoulder armor was removed, and the red robe was connected to his mechanical body via a magnetic interface, while the gear badge was directly implanted into the data port of the breastplate.

The entire process was accompanied by precise robotic arm operations and flashing indicator lights for data transmission. There was not a single prayer, only the precise clicking sound of components engaging.

As Chen Yu and Sigismund left the conference hall and entered the connecting passage, Sigismund finally asked, "What did they say?"

Chen Yu slightly adjusted the focus of his optical lens: "They recognized the technical value, awarded me the title of Sage of Casting, and discussed the qualifications for Great Sage. I declined the higher title."

Sigismund nodded slightly: "A wise choice. Obtaining too high a title too early will only make you a target of criticism."

Chen Yu gazed at the newly acquired golden gear badge, his synthesized voice remaining steady: "Now, we should focus on the upcoming technology demonstration."

(End of this chapter)