7 hours ago

The Mech Touch by Exlor

The Age of Mechs has arrived! Unfortunately, Ves Larkinson lacked the genetic aptitude to become a... Read more
The Age of Mechs has arrived! Unfortunately, Ves Larkinson lacked the genetic aptitude to become a famed mech pilot. Fighting against his fate, he studied mech design in order to express his love for mechs in a different way and make his father proud.

When Ves graduated from college, he returned to a new but empty boutique. His dad had disappeared. Left with a small, newly founded mech workshop… Collapse
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Comments 191

  1. Offline
    adrielpirate
    92
    Quoting myself in this very site back in 2021 (go 8 pages back) reader
    the story was in the middle of the sandman war

    Quote: adrielpirate
    this novel is a futuristic Xianxia, you can read on your own risk.

    Space Peasant - Mortal
    Novice Mech Designer - Qi Condensation
    Apprentice Mech Designer - Foundation
    Jouneyman Mech Designer - Core Formation
    Senior Mech Designer - Nascent Soul
    Master Mech Designer - Transcend Mortality/Spirit Severing
    Star Mech Designer - Imortal/Dao Seeking
    ?????????? - God/True Dao

    i told that this novel is a Cultivation Novel, and you guys never believed me. ehh
    sucks to be right. wiseacre
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    1. Offline
      ruwei
      00
      People really thought you were wrong? Should've been abundantly obvious even back then that the novel borrows heavily from other cultivation novels to make a unique sci-fi/sci-fantasy setting.
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  2. Offline
    Dodonn_1000
    00
    I read this on another site but lost my progress. Does anyone know which chapter he makes his first mech for a virtual tournament? I think it was still in the earlier chapters.
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  3. Offline
    Ambarish7
    10
    How old ves is when he reached senior level??
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    1. Offline
      wizerdo37
      20
      Less than forty yo.
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      1. Offline
        Ambarish7
        01
        Dude...he reached forty in ch41xx..he became a senior in ch 4943..he should be more than forty years old
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  4. Offline
    Sprrow
    37
    Quote: ruwei
    It's a good story well worth sticking to if you can since it gets better the more you read. You've ended up stopping before what is widely considered the worst arc which is 400-1000. And it's expected that his vow doesn't mean much, he basically has next to no power to decide his own fate as a mere 3rd-class Apprentice.

    Even 5000 chapters later he's still beholden to someone or something. He's simply climbed up the ladder where the vast majority of humanity is beneath him. Achieving complete and absolute agency over his own life is not a easy thing to do but he's made a massive amount of progress compared to his early days.
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    1. Offline
      ruwei
      132
      ??? Why did you quote this? You didn't type anything.
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      1. Offline
        Melpah
        50
        Lazy a** mf be like:
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  5. Offline
    Harrydick9
    59
    This story is so good, i have to drop it after , 400 chapters. What a piece of garbage that filled with filler and what a pathetic human being this MC is. It is still amused me that the MC vow to not let other run over him when his cousin got assassinated for his sake and everyone in the comments section is like "what chu gonna do 'bout it" lol. He then straight being run over the next chapter
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    1. Offline
      ruwei
      94
      It's a good story well worth sticking to if you can since it gets better the more you read. You've ended up stopping before what is widely considered the worst arc which is 400-1000. And it's expected that his vow doesn't mean much, he basically has next to no power to decide his own fate as a mere 3rd-class Apprentice.

      Even 5000 chapters later he's still beholden to someone or something. He's simply climbed up the ladder where the vast majority of humanity is beneath him. Achieving complete and absolute agency over his own life is not a easy thing to do but he's made a massive amount of progress compared to his early days.
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    2. Offline
      reign_333
      110
      the MC vow to not let other run over him when his cousin got assassinated for his sake


      ur on drugs, that never happened.
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    3. Offline
      SquidInk
      010
      lizard trying to read troll8 troll8
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  6. Offline
    s5vish
    00
    #panic 5345 is missing and 5348 was posted twice
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  7. Offline
    aSmokez
    00
    Quick question, does he (ves of course) himself get stronger? Yes or no.
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    1. Offline
      Thenoid
      40
      Yes but only recently so around 4900-5000
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    2. Offline
      hillsidejohn
      54
      depends on your definition, Ves up to now (5k chap) is still consistently a mech designer. he has things up his sleeve but he's not traditionally strong
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      1. Offline
        lantean
        00
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  8. Offline
    Fickle as light
    150
    wait the f#ck does being inspired by Warhammer 40k means this will have 40k chapter
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    1. Online Offline
      CyborgBomb
      30
      The author said that he wouldn't stop until he reaches 10k chapters.
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      1. Offline
        Fickle as light
        50
        I see
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  9. Offline
    theNightStalker
    16
    Is this novel inspired from Mobile Suit Gundam?
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    1. Offline
      Emmisar
      111
      More like WH40K for cultivators.
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  10. Offline
    Void Progenitor
    1722
    Maaan, I'm infuriated everytime I think about this novel.

    The most infuriating thing about it:: Ves.

    The dude is the exact representation of what happens when a loser gets a system.

    He is sooo pathetic I could die. Peanut butter got more backbone than the MF!

    When one loses he's parents, you expect one of two things.

    A - Turns to the dark side to make everyone suffer as he does

    B - Work to make sure no one suffers as he did.

    With the sheer amount of opportunities in form of family members, mentors and even organizations, you'd expect that their influence would grow on him.

    But no, this motherf#cker got abandoned and trashed by 'family members' cause he was born wrong, sneered at by the public as just another wannabe, just another number on the planet.

    And in spite of all this, develops love and patriotism, no, fanaticism-cause that's the only way to explain it-for them throughout, like a bitch with Stockholm syndrome.

    He's a workaholic, able to calm assemble such high tech mechs, yet can't straighten out his relationships.

    Worst of all, this bitch doesn't know how to say 'No'

    They just throw him around like an inanimate object

    And upon all his active brain cells, he doesn't seem to understand that staying in the republic slows his growth by at least 40%

    The bastard had reality breaking technological knowledge at his fingertips...and just wastes away like every other random nobody

    Beyond his mech skills, he's average at every thing else

    His character is infuriating in that it makes no sense and makes perfect sense at the same time.

    He's the exact imprint of what would happen when you give the most average factory worker a system

    It takes him hundreds of chapters to do simple thinking.

    I'll give you one example.

    I still cannot understand why he did not steal just a salt shakers worth of that exotic material on that planet that can only be visited...was it once every 26 years?

    Btw, I stopped around 400's I think.

    As an author, i can tell a story's trajectory, and all I could forsee was disappointment

    On that note, I also hate Exlor.

    That bastard has really good writing skills, which is exactly why everytime think of how different and awesome this book would be if he simply increased Ves' IQ by just 3%! I get extremely annoyed.

    But NOO, he JUST HAD TO set 10,000 CHAPTERS as the end goal, and wow, what a horrible job he's doing.

    If you scrubbed filler and useless information, half of this book would vanish.

    If you then scrubbed Redundant words, maybe you'll have 1k remaining?

    THE MECH TOUCH he call it.

    You'd expect the Mc to ascend to become an Absolute Mech Lord or something where he becomes a living version of the AllSpark...but better!

    Not only can he grant life to all pieces of technology, he can remotely control minerals to create something akin to autobots.

    It would be glorious!

    He would wage war against maybe some Absolute summoner before creating a dimension for all Mechanic life.

    Or maybe something lower, he became the disciple of the Polymath, cause that would be dope, and inheriteds all her skills in just ten years! Shocking the universe

    From then on, he becomes an hegemony of his own right, where this Bitch FMC would only dream of marrying him.

    That would've been a good place to now start laying down world building and politics as we get a view of the interstellar age from the top.

    This is an example of what COULD'VE BEEN!

    But NO, you just had to make the MC the most depressing asshole I've ever seen.

    We're supposed to root for MC's, I hope Ves just dies and rids the Universe of this disgusting existence.

    Fu#king waste of space.

    Of all people to give a system, they gave f#cking Ves.

    I say it again.

    Exlor, I hate you for laying down blocks for greatness only to fill it with trash.

    At the same time, I also thank you for showing me just how wrong a book can do.

    I feel better now.
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    1. Offline
      ruwei
      239
      Uhh, what kind of crack are you on? Reading through this review, I think the problem is that you're too used to specific kinds of webnovels and aren't really able to handle stories that are more grounded with a slower pace. Since it's a more grounded story, you can't expect the MC to rise through the ranks at ludicrous speeds like its The Legendary Mechanic or Infinite Mana in the Apocalypse.

      In cultivation novels it takes very few chapters for MCs to make breakthroughs. In Mech Touch, it takes thousands of chapters because that's what makes sense for the setting. Advancing through the ranks isn't about pumping up the numbers and learning pre-existing knowledge, Ves needs to create new innovations in order to achieve breakthroughs.

      Another thing is The Mech Touch isn't really a system webnovel despite having a system because the protoganist continually tries to reduce his dependence on it. You'll be met with instances of hundreds or even over a thousand chapters where the system doesn't appear at all. The system regains prominence after chapter 4000 though.

      If you take away the system from most protoganists, they'd almost be no different from everyone else. This emphasizes that the one that's special in this story is Ves himself, the system merely exists to save time.

      Anyways from here on I'll look at specific parts of the review.

      It's ridiculous to think that every orphan with a system would become either A)a revenge-porn psychopath or B)a kindly saint. I'm pretty sure most system protagonists are inbetween the 2 extremes.

      As for the complaints about Ves' so called love and patriotism, that turns an almost complete 180 in the next 1000-2000 chapters.

      Does the MC even have the power to say 'No' in the first place? He's a low ranking non-combatant. He has very little leverage to stand on.

      MC doesn't stay in the Bright Republic. Leaving it too soon and going somewhere else would have a lot of difficulties in itself and would disrupt his own growth.

      Aside from the time travel, most of what the system does isn't actually that reality breaking. Almost all of it's capabilities can be replicated to a lesser extent in more wealthier regions of human society. Not to mention it'll be bad if Ves ends up attracting too much attention since he can get his system taken away unlike most system protagonists.

      For the planet that can only be visited once every 26 years, is that the arc where Ves meets Dr Jutland and the CFA intervenes at the end? Stealing anything would piss off the CFA, one of the most powerful organizations in all of human civilization. There's no way he'd be able to get away with it.

      It might be for the best you stopped at chapter 400. 400-1000 is the worst arc in the series. It's worth it to push through or skip ahead since it's an amazing story but it's clear this story isn't for you.

      Although I don't mind and I like how detailed the novel can be, there's definitely a lot of filler.

      Seeing this part about the 'Absolute Mech Lord', it's clear you want a very different sort of story that the Mech Touch isn't. What you've suggested is way too fantastical that's already done by other series. It would be boring if every novel was the same. Also it'd be an absolute dead end if Ves became the Polymath's disciple.

      Anyways that's all I have to say to this review. As a side note, you mentioned you were an author. Are you Void_ on webnovel by any chance? Since we've met by chance I'll give your novel a shot I suppose.

      You'd expect the Mc to ascend to become an Absolute Mech Lord or something where he becomes a living version of the AllSpark...but better!

      Not only can he grant life to all pieces of technology, he can remotely control minerals to create something akin to autobots.

      It would be glorious!

      He would wage war against maybe some Absolute summoner before creating a dimension for all Mechanic life.


      I actually wanted to add a small tidbit to this point. From what we've learnt in the past 5000 chapters, this might actually be a thing in the story. It'll just only happen closer to the end since the MC needs to build up to that point. So you'll get your wish in 4 years *shrug*
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      1. Offline
        Void Progenitor
        72
        Apologies for the Harsh review, and thank you for taking the time to educate me unlike 'some people'

        It's true that the world building is spectacular, maybe because I'm into world building as much as characterization, many of the logical reasons for Ves' flew over my head.

        I did plan to give it a go once again in the future.

        Thanks to this. I longer feel it's too bad anymore.

        Though, I'm still wondering why Exlor decided to make Ves so disadvantaged.

        It's a far cry from the normal MC template which is what separates it from the rest, got it!

        Again, thank you.

        Also, if I delete my review, is your reply also deleted with it?
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        1. Offline
          ruwei
          40
          I'm glad my comment was able to convince you to give the story another go. If you end up with anymore questions about the novel you can feel free to ask me anytime.

          I also don't think Ves is that disadvantaged as it is fairly standard as far as webnovels go, especially for a lot of Chinese novels. It's so typical for a protagonist to start in the poorest and weakest family/city/kingdom/world/etc and rise up through the ranks. Mech Touch also has this trope with 3rd/2nd/1st rate as well as galactic rim/heartland/center.

          And besides, when a protagonist starts at such a low point, it makes him much more of a badass when they've risen to power later on. Ves 5000 chapters later is just a completely different beast compared to when he started.

          As for whether the replies get deleted along with the review, I have no idea. I'm going to assume yes so maybe don't delete. Edit your review if you really want to.
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      2. Offline
        Void Progenitor
        00
        Why is it a deadend if he becomes polymaths disciple though?
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        1. Offline
          trpunz00
          10
          the answer is a spoiler.
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      3. Offline
        Alx2hawk
        00
        Can you tell me what arc I should skip, like what you said, I can skip chapters 400-1000 without lost much storyline?
        That's a lot of chapters!!
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        1. Offline
          ruwei
          30
          I said skip with the intention that you'll go back to read it at some point. Although 400-1000 is the worst arc, it introduces many important characters who are still relevant 4000+ chapters later. However most of those characters only become relevant after 2000+ so you don't necessarily need to read their introductions till then. As long as you're aware of who Calabast, Ketis and Qilanxo are, you can enjoy reading the story from 1000-2000

          As for why 400-1000 is the worst arc, in my opinion it mostly revolves around the fact that the MC has too little agency. He's drafted into war and is beholden to the commands of others who don't look out for his interests. That becomes far less of a problem in future arcs as he gets more powerful and influential and gradually forms his own organization that he commands.
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      4. Offline
        s5vish
        51
        you are absolutely right. people got too used to the wuxia novels with high speed development of the mc with respect to the rest of the novel verse.

        unfortunately, we are now in the era where the latest authors are ones who lived through the old era of high speed development. and these authors feel the need to write stories where the development happens even faster.

        you get these novels where the mc gets accepted to an academy, and even before he starts the first class, he uses his cheat to become stronger than the final year students. you get novels where even the next best genius takes a decade to reach the top, and the chea.. er mc takes a few months to do the same.

        i love this novel because even with system, this is not one where the mc breaks the advancement system. he only barely matches and maybe slightly overtakes the other genius.
        not only taht, he also helps his friends and family increase in level with him.

        that is important. all the wuxia novels will ahve the mc go from the edge to the main continent. only to find he is at the edge of the continent, in the weakest sector and moves to the capital. only to find he is in the capital of the weakest sector again. and each time, he leaves everyone he knew.
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      5. Offline
        Nothing34
        00
        by the way Is MC also a fighter? Or does MC just sit in the back and design mechs Is there an element of fantasy or cultivation?
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        1. Offline
          ruwei
          00
          MC isn't really a fighter though that might change closer to the end. The amount of situations he has personally had to fire his gun in the past 5000 chapters could probably be counted on two hands.

          There is a heavy mix of sci-fi and fantasy/cultivation but it's not readily apparent until later.
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          1. Offline
            Nothing34
            00
            Thanks bro
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    2. Offline
      reign_333
      118
      you could have left quietly, instead you choose to leave your stupidity here. And just because you are a loser scribbling his unreachable fantasy, that doesn't make you an author.
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      1. Offline
        Void Progenitor
        132
        Bro, why did you have to state your relevance by replying when you have nothing sensible to say????

        Must you make your lack of Brain cells so apparent?
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    3. Offline
      Avidreaderman
      10
      Bro chill, and if you've read till some 5000 chapters you'd know that bright republic is like the worst kinda dump that you wouldn't even know it existed on the map....and whatever exotic you talk about he should have stolen, at about 5000 chapters and so on, lucky feeds on exotics metals that exceed whatever junk he found back then by atleast a 1000 times in credits rates.
      Plus the progression is all about exploring ideas and concepts....let's say it's like finding a piece of dao and expanding on it till they have an epiphany that is a result of cumulative knowledge and experience. If in the average Chinese novels the MC advance when he kills progressively higher leveled bad guys, in mech touch it's something along the lines of finding a design philosophy and making progressively harder mechs using that design philosophy, ultimately every mech designer needs to work on quality of their work and thier design philosophy.
      And Ves is not even the most annoying character, yes he is childish when he starts, only until he gets out of that third rate dump, nowadays even Komodo star sector rarely comes up, much less being mentioned.
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