This is not mechanical ascension...

Chapter 96: Inventory of the Horror of the Self-Scroll King

[Thunder Burning Equipment Ball] requires high metal energy but must be controlled. After all, it is the cornerstone for developing gene seeds, and its ability will not be superimposed with other abilities.

Seventy thousand metal energies were lost. Looking at the remaining metal energy, Li Ming sighed again. It was really like flowing water.

Adding the 180,000 metal energies, now only a fraction is left.

Just then, a control column was unlocked. Taking this opportunity, Li Ming carefully reviewed everything he controlled.

The most important ones are four pairs of D-level shoes, [Fusion Particles], [Tank Guard 211], [Construct Crystal Shield], [Justice Gloves], [Thunder Exoskeleton]...

Low-level items cannot be upgraded, but most of the objects he controls are D-level and do not need to be upgraded for the time being, except for the commonly used smart terminals.

He usually uses this thing to check surveillance probes and remove remaining traces, and it has been upgraded as his life level improves.

This thing doesn't require much to upgrade. It only takes 3,000 points to upgrade to D now, which is a piece of cake.

[Starlink Terminal Advanced Edition - Class D: The seventh generation of smart terminal produced by Katai, with a full range of functions

……

Mastering the Effect: Hacking Techniques - Advanced
Control ability - Intelligent assistance: can mimic the environmental information within 50m around the host and assist in processing. 】

His hacking skills were improved to a considerable level. He no longer needed to rely on the cracking software he had written before. When the field was expanded, he could see a full range of 50 meters.

Now this thing is only the size of a palm, like a thin metal plate, controlled by a pop-up virtual screen.

He thought that the cost of upgrading to C-level was too high. It would cost tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands, and it might not make any difference.

The people in the lab are almost driven crazy by him. Last month he spent eight million alone.

When Luo Chuan brought the things over just now, the look in his eyes seemed to want to eat him alive. He seemed to want to say something but stopped himself several times, which might be related to this matter.

Of course, his terrifying development progress is enough to overshadow all of this.

After listening to the lectures of those professors a few days ago, he realized that there are many obstacles that hinder the evolution of life.

The difficulty of developing high-level gene seeds will increase, and after the gene seeds are developed to a certain level, the difficulty of development will increase further.

Not only that, the cells themselves also have iterations and weaknesses.

Countless laboratories and research institutes are dedicated to solving or alleviating this problem, and the development potential of living organisms themselves will weaken these evolutionary obstacles.

For people with extremely mediocre development potential, even if they pile up resources at all costs, they can only reach C-level life forms at best, and it will be difficult to continue to improve.

The rate of development will drop to an alarming rate and potential will be exhausted.

This also made him realize that the external detection equipment had misjudged his development potential.

The so-called development potential is some factor hidden deeper in the genes, an interstellar detection device.

At least most of the testing equipment he had come into contact with could not detect it, and could only be judged by the apparent speed of development.

There is actually a difference between what the outside world thinks of the development potential and what he perceives as the development speed.

After Li Ming realized this problem, he didn't have any special reaction. He just smashed the metal energy. The terrifying development speed could cover everything.

Now he has five control bars. If all are filled, the gene radiator, plus the [Thunder Burning Equipment Ball], the development blessing can reach 18 times.

"So, it should be no problem to get some more from the lab." Li Ming muttered, and glanced at the smart terminal, and raised his eyebrows: "Speak of the devil."

Zhang Huaiyuan is here again.

.........

"Senior, where is Brother Ming?" Zhang Huaiyuan greeted the laboratory staff familiarly as they unloaded the iron boxes.

Then he handed them a cigarette one by one. After coming two or three times, he became familiar with most of the people here.

Li Ruoning hesitated to speak, looking at the large iron boxes in front of him, and recalled Luo Chuan's expression at the morning meeting.

"He should be resting. Look, he's here." Li Ruoning forced a smile as he looked at the boxes being moved down in front of him.

Zhang Huaiyuan's eyes suddenly lit up, and he trotted along, "Brother Ming."

His attitude seemed to become more enthusiastic and respectful, and not without reason.

The last time he told Li Ming about what happened to several people, not long after, all their troubles disappeared.

Originally, Zhang Huaiyuan was not sure whether this matter had anything to do with Li Ming.

But a few days later, the top brass of the local city guards came to him and revealed that the troubles they had encountered were all instigated by Bian Li.

And that Bian Li died the day after he found Li Ming.

He wasn't sure if there was any connection between the two, but it probably wasn't a coincidence.

"Three million of Flame Blue Alloy." He pointed at the boxes and said, "It's all in here."

"Yeah." Li Ming nodded. Li Ruoning walked over slowly. She was a little afraid to take Zhang Huaiyuan to the finance office again.

Li Ruoning couldn't help but ask, "Were the millions of materials we bought for development a few times consumed so quickly?"

"It's almost done. It's better to be prepared." Li Ming said casually.

Li Ruoning nodded reluctantly and led Zhang Huaiyuan to the finance office in a trance.

Three million flame blue alloys could provide him with approximately 50,000 points of metal energy.

Now, with 50,000 points of metal energy, it can only barely restore blood. Li Ming shook his head helplessly.

By mid-afternoon, Li Ming came out of the training room, and the E-level gene refining potion had been used.

"The basic energy level can now reach about 6D. The combat skills of low-life gene seeds do not have such a huge impact on high-level gene seeds."

"But the combined control of the object has an explosion of more than 30D, and I have just merged it. After a little development for a while, even if I can only get past the 30% mark, I can compete with the 100% development progress."

"Hmm..." Li Ming shook his head: "Others also have combat skills. Conservatively speaking, 50% should be invincible."

Of course, the D-class life form he used to measure himself must have been fused with the top-level D-class gene seeds.

Ordinary D-grade gene seeds, after they have just been fused, may even find it difficult to reach the energy level evaluation standard of the D suffix and are not within the measurement range.

I looked at the time and it was almost two o'clock. Today was the day to go to Professor Xia's laboratory to observe and study.

Professor Xia, whose original name was Xia Yuanlun, mainly studied advanced mechanical structures. Ding Hui, the tutor of the mechanical engineering major, was his student.

There should be quite a few mechanical creations in his laboratory, so Li Ming was interested and made preparations early.

……

A huge palace made of metal machinery stands on the island. It has a bronze surface, is over 200 meters high, and has three peaks.

The middle one is the highest, and it also has a huge metal dial hanging on it. The three thick hands of hour, minute, and second are constantly ticking. The gears are interlocked, and the division of labor is precise. The time on it is exactly the same as that on the smart terminal. With the eyesight of Li Ming [Mechanical Engineer], he can see that this metal dial is not powered by an external energy source.

With this mechanical palace as the center, there are many small buildings scattered around, all of which are full of heavy industrial style, and some of them even have thick chimneys.

It should just be a decoration, and Blue Star's smoke treatment technology is enough to make it invisible.

The main means of transportation on the island are rugged armored vehicles, each of which is very distinctive and seems to have been individually modified. The air is filled with the smell of exhaust gas and metal.

At the same time, you can also see statues carved from various alloys.

This place doesn't look advanced, but rather a bit decadent.

"I didn't expect that Professor Xia seems kind on the surface, but is actually quite wild inside." Li Ming looked around and couldn't help but sigh that the architectural style of the laboratory can clearly show the personality tendencies of its owner.

"Professor Xia was a big fan of death metal when he was young," Qi Xing said. "He's more into nostalgic technology. It looks like Blue Planet hasn't entered the interstellar era yet... no, it's even older technology."

Li Ming nodded.

Three out of ten people didn't come because they were not very interested in the mechanical aspects.

It is worth mentioning that Nuo Xing came, wearing a bright blue corset skirt that reached her ankles. Her slender waist was not big enough to be held in one hand. Her eyes, which were usually calm, were now filled with curiosity and scrutiny.

Professor Xia's assistant was waiting at the door and took them in.

"I say, you can't hide and exercise secretly this time, right?" Qi Xing came over on the way.

"Misunderstood. I really had no interest in drinking last time." Li Ming explained.

Rosser added: "When you exercise, remember to tell me."

Li Ming was speechless. Why did Rosser, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, also join in the fun?

"Now you know how shocked we were when we opened the door and saw the development agent in your quilt." Qi Xing said sadly.

If Li Ming was doing normal training, they wouldn't feel anything special, but in that special situation, the feeling was different.

"I would even rather it was Noxing lying in the quilt"

Nuo Xing glanced over coldly when he heard the others talking, and Qi Xing immediately raised his hand and said:
"Nuo Xing, you don't know that last time you left early, this guy was drinking and secretly ran to the room to develop gene seeds."

Nuo Xing was slightly stunned, with a hint of disbelief in her eyes, and even forgot about Qi Xing's teasing of her.

"The King of Rolls, he's really the King of Rolls. He made us not dare to rest for a moment." Qi Xing complained
"Lao Qi, you care about me so much. When I fuse the D-level gene seed, I will be the first to tell you." Li Ming said unhappily.

"Fuck! Don't provoke me." Qi Xing yelled, and then said: "It's just that this guy is crazy. He chose mechanical engineering as his auxiliary major and has to take professional courses. Otherwise, we will have no way to survive."

He didn't know? Li Ming was surprised. He thought they all knew that he had passed the test.

That’s right…the things they deal with are bigger, and if you don’t pay special attention, you won’t know about them.

Nuo Xing glanced at them, and the corners of his mouth twitched as if he knew something, but he quickly restrained himself and his face remained expressionless.

"Hey, Li Ming!?"

As soon as they stepped into the metal hall in the center of the island, they heard someone shouting.

Li Ming felt that the voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't remember when he had heard it. Turning around, he saw a man running towards him with an excited look on his face.

"Teacher Ding?" Li Ming was surprised.

The visitor was Ding Hui, his professional course teacher.

"Why are you here?" Li Ming asked after exchanging a few pleasantries.

Although Ding Hui is Professor Xia's student, he normally has his own things to do.

"There is a senior brother who accepted an order from Bichengwei and encountered some troubles, so he called us all over." Ding Hui explained casually and glanced at everyone, "You are here to observe and learn, right?"

Seeing several people nodding, Ding Hui pondered for a moment, looked at Li Ming with bright eyes, and said to the assistant beside him: "Xiao Liu, you go ahead and do your work. I will take them over."

"Let's go, the teacher is over there." He led a few people forward and walked through the corridor, with hollow mechanical gear structures on both sides.

As they walked, he asked Li Ming, "You don't have anything to do this afternoon, so stay here and help me."

"Professor Xia, can I still be of use here?" Li Ming shook his head.

"What you said is true. More people and more brains are needed. The teacher will not care about these small projects. What's more, your level is not lower than mine..." Ding Hui advised, but he was interrupted by a surprised shout before he finished speaking.

"What did you say?"

Qi Xing came up to him, his face full of disbelief, "Teacher Ding, you said his level is not lower than yours? What level?"

Rosser and the others also looked over.

"Of course it's the level of mechanical engineering. What other level could it be?" Ding Hui asked curiously.

Qi Xing had a constipated expression on his face, and the others looked at each other in surprise.

Ding Hui is a professional teacher, so his level is beyond doubt, but what about Li Ming? He didn't even finish compulsory education, so how can his level be compared with Ding Hui?
There are explanations for developing potential, after all, it is innate, but how do you accumulate knowledge?

How could such a powerful guy suddenly appear from that corner of Silver-Gray Star?

"What a fuss! Haven't you ever seen a genius?" Ding Hui's mouth curled up. It was finally his turn to say this.

"I..." Qi Xing held his breath, and then suddenly realized something, his eyes widened: "If his level is almost the same as yours, does he still need to listen to your class?"

"Of course not. He passed my assessment in the first lesson, so he doesn't need to come this year." Ding Hui said as a matter of course.

"You passed the first lesson?" Qi Xing murmured, "Does that mean you practice in Professor Wu's lab every morning?"

"That's about right." Li Ming nodded.

Qi Xing looked painful, "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I thought you were well-informed and knew it a long time ago."

"I..." Qi Xing opened his mouth but said nothing. Who has the time to pay attention to the unpopular major of mechanical engineering?

Zhao Jingang's face turned dark. No, he couldn't sleep tonight.

Rosser's eyes were dark and he hadn't been able to sleep for a week.

"I know." A cold and floating voice sounded, and Nuo Xing spoke: "The mechanical engineering major was noisy that day, but no one paid attention to this major."

Of course, Rosser and the others didn't pay attention to it. What they cared more about was not Li Ming's mechanical engineering level, but the fact that Li Ming's theoretical development and training time exceeded expectations.

Several people were losing interest and wanted to go back and exercise vigorously, but they had already reached the door and Professor Xia was inside, so it would be bad not to go in.

(End of this chapter)