Suddenly, Ethan felt a moment of disorientation, and his vision appeared in a pitch-ck cer. He couldn''t feel his surroundings, yet he could sense the status of the War AI Bionic Robot!


    It was like being in a school, taking a course on mech operation.


    What was most peculiar was that he had another perspective—that of the real world—where he was also using a mouse and keyboard, shifting views!


    He looked down.


    He could see mechanical arms. With just a thought, Ethan could manipte the arms to move, then the legs... the whole body!


    Moreover, on the War AI Bionic Robot, he sensed the presence of hidden weapons.


    **[Laser Sword/A]**


    **[Left Arm Laser Cannon/S]**


    **[Right Arm Laser Cannon/D]**


    **[Flight Mode/Q]**


    **[...]**


    "Can it really do this? This is so cool!"


    Ethan suddenly burst out of the cer, startling Julian who was worshiping in the shrine. This burly man, weighing over 200 pounds, was dumbfounded as he watched the robot take flight, "Forebearer''s showing off his powers, now this is what I call a man''s romance!"


    Not just him, everyone in ckwood saw the mech soaring!


    Ethan then piloted the mech around the ckwood residence, breaking through the clouds. Although he couldn''t precisely feel the world''s air or see the people who still looked animated, Ethan''s sensations became more and more vivid.


    He even stood in front of the descendants, observing them as if they were tiny animals, listening to their conversations, watching their astonished expressions—it was increasingly wondrous.


    "It''s like a real world."


    Finally, after using up most of the War AI Bionic Robot''s special abilities, Ethan piloted the mech back to the cer, his consciousness returning to the real world.


    But what Ethan was really focused on wasn''t just the perspective—after all, many VR games could achieve that.


    What he truly cared about was that in this way, he could personally operate the War AI Bionic Robot, maximizing itsbat capabilities, rather than letting it fight automatically against enemies, firing twoser cannons and activating the lightsaber, wasting energy.


    Soon, the in-game year reached [ckwood Year 33.]


    After many years of severe drought, the world outside ckwood was getting better.


    The farnds of ckwood could now expand outward, although they couldn''t delve deeper into the Silver Iron Forest. However, ckwood asionally hunted on the outskirts of the Silver Iron Forest, and the number of exotic beasts was increasing.


    Yet, Gratitude Vige didn''t add any more vigers.


    This was another downside of the drought ending.


    Wasn''t farming in ForestTown better than in a ce like Gratitude Vige? Especially since ForestTown was also bing vignt, starting to help civilians recover their livelihoods, and the Heath and Gonzalez families were spreading rumors that Gratitude Vige was a gathering ce for demons and monsters.


    At the same time, cracks appeared among the four major families of ForestTown. The dealings between the Martinez family and ckwood angered the Heath and Gonzalez families, but the Martinez family continued to do as they pleased.


    Over these three years of trade, the Martinez family had already reaped considerable benefits.


    Amelia''s concocted ''Body Fortifying Powder'' and ''Seven-vor Soup'' greatly benefited their Psychics. Julian would sell them parts dispersed from ''ck Iron Beast Blood Armor'' every so often, even some exotic beasts, which they could buy from ckwood, along with various psychic herbs.


    The cooperation between the two families deepened.


    The Martinez family even wanted to form a marriage alliance with ckwood, but unfortunately... When Nathan and the invincible Martinez family head nned to introduce Amelia to the young master of the Martinez family and cultivate a romantic rtionship,


    During a dinner with the young master of the Martinez family, Amelia would ask if he understood psychic medicines? Why not take psychic medicines? Taking pills increases drug resistance, is harmful to the spirit, what do you think about taking potions?


    While shopping, she would ask, what psychic medicine is good to grow in an alley without sunlight? In a noisy market full of dust, what psychic medicine can change the noisy environment?


    You don''t understand psychic medicines, how can you understand me? Will our children be born with defects?


    After just three days, the young master of the Martinez family no longer wanted to see Amelia, even feeling that marrying Amelia would disrupt family harmony.


    Then, the poor young master of the Martinez family was matched with ckwood''s fourth youngdy, Olivia.


    Ah, now the young master of the Martinez family''s spring hade.


    Olivia was extremely beautiful, and the young master of the Martinez family fell in love at first sight. Although Olivia was frail and often ill, she was knowledgeable, gentle, and kind. Everyone who met her felt refreshed.


    The young master Bradley of the Martinez family even had names picked out for their children.


    Olivia even agreed to the marriage with the young master of the Martinez family.


    But before the dowry was settled, three maidservants and a concubine of an elder from the Martinez family, all pregnant with the young master''s children, approached the Bradley, and the news spread throughout ForestTown, infuriating Nathan who immediately refused the marriage.


    Bradley felt utterly disgraced and even more guilty towards ckwood, breaking the young master''s legs that very day as a grand gesture of apology to ckwood.


    He dared not mention marriage with ckwood again.


    "Just with the Martinez family, they thought to marry into our ckwood? Wishful thinking."


    In the ancestral hall, Olivia proudly reported to Ethan''s Forebearer cards, "Forebearer, Olivia has followed your instructions and cunningly cut off the Martinez family''s intentions."


    "Ha ha ha, right!"


    The once furious Nathan, now all smiles, said, "They''re all wed goods. Forebearer was right, even in talks of marriage, we prioritize character over background, appearance, and potential."


    Lying in bed, watching a 500-inch screen, Ethan revealed a sinister smile.


    Marriage alliances were really not desirable... Few were based on genuine feelings, mostly just interests, full of deceit and intrigue.


    Ethan didn''t want to bring these things into the family, as they would cause unnecessary trouble.


    Today, what ckwood really needs is stable development!


    Though they managed to dodge a marriage alliance with the Martinez family,


    Lucas, even after splitting from Karen, had no ns to tie the knot.


    Thest person Ethan expected to see was hiding behind a big tree, gazing admiringly at a woman sprinting with a rock in hand. Thisdy, nearly 6''3" tall, was dressed in a sleeveless top showing off her biceps, even her eight-pack abs were on disy, her dark skin glistening with sweat in the zing summer heat.


    A total powerhouse of a woman.


    Julian, spying from his hideout, drooled.


    "Man, what a buff chick! If she had kids with me, we''d definitely have some real tough sons and warrior princesses."


    "Slurp~"