Forbidden Nightmare

Chapter 146 Extraordinary Training
The processing of alchemical materials is extremely cumbersome and time-consuming.

If these materials were processed by only one alchemist, it would take at least several days.

At this time, with the help of modern high-tech equipment, not only the time for material processing is greatly reduced, but the finished product is also better than the limit of alchemy level that can be achieved in the other world.

Pinocchio was amazed.

With the help of these magical machines, as long as you continue according to the standard process, it will not be easy to fail in the final refining.

The last step in the process is - refining.

For refining items like the 'Battle Totem Pole Generator', a refining array needs to be carved.

After carving the alchemy array, the materials are placed at specific positions in the array, and the alchemist's powerful mental power is used to drive the alchemy array to operate, so that the various materials can be reorganized and fused, and finally form alchemical props.

It is not difficult to carve out an alchemy array. You won't make any mistakes if you follow the steps.

The difficult part is the process of using mental power to drive the refining array. This process is like the heat that needs to be adjusted at any time when cooking a dish.

Li Nanke has zero practical experience.

So, even though he had processed all kinds of materials to perfection, he was still worried whether he would succeed in the end.

Just like a person who has never been in the kitchen, even if he provides the best ingredients, writes a professional recipe and provides detailed cooking procedures for each step, if the heat is not adjusted properly, the chances of failure are still very high.

"Boss, how about letting me take the last step?"

The puppet boy suggested quietly.

After Pinocchio was transformed into a puppet, he no longer possessed the mental power that only humans have, but his power heart can still output the power for the operation of the alchemy array.

Moreover, his original body, Carlo, was the son of Geppetto and had been influenced by him since childhood. Although his alchemy attainments could not be compared with Geppetto's, his practical experience was much richer than that of Li Nanke, a young boy.

"Let's do it together. You take the lead and I assist."

Li Nanke, who had no relevant experience, naturally would not be arrogant. Under the guidance of Pinocchio, he carved out the complicated alchemy array and placed various materials in the array.

The two stood at the energy input position of the magic circle.

With Pinocchio as the leader, Li Nanke also put his mental power into the formation.

However, he did not activate the magic circle. He just acted as an observer to carefully observe Pinocchio's operation in order to gain experience in refining.

Li Nanke skipped the cube and made his own alchemical items. Not only did he want to save on synthesis costs, but he also wanted to truly master the essence of alchemy and become an alchemist who could make his own items.

Pinocchio half-crouched with his palms pressed on the ground, his palms touching the alchemy formation.

The powerful heart in his chest was beating so violently that even Li Nanke, who was watching nearby, could hear the heartbeat clearly.

With the injection of dynamic energy, the circular lines around the alchemy array gradually lit up, and the strange alchemical symbols in the array also glowed one by one.

As time passed, the light in the refining array became brighter and brighter, and the entire laboratory was filled with strange light.

If the laboratory was not empty due to holiday and Li Nanke had already closed the door, such an unusual phenomenon would have attracted other people's attention.

Pinocchio's face was very serious, and his dynamic energy was like small streams merging into rivers, continuously pouring into the refining array.

Li Nanke concentrated on every detail and experienced the secret of refining.

"Boss, you can also add your mental power and try to control these alchemical symbols. Be careful to stabilize your mental power and not allow any unnecessary fluctuations."

Pinocchio gave up a small part of the control of the magic circle and handed it over to Li Nanke.

Li Nanke carefully controlled his mental power and manipulated several alchemical symbols. Although he was only an assistant, he also felt the complexity and subtlety of the alchemy.

The runes in the refining array gradually became more active, and the frequency of flashing light became faster and faster.

Suddenly, a strong light came from the center of the refining array, and the entire array seemed to come alive.

Pinocchio's energy output almost reached its limit, but he still persisted and did not dare to relax at all.

"Boss, hurry up, increase your mental output!"

Li Nanke responded quickly, increasing his mental power to the maximum, merging it with Pinocchio's output energy to jointly drive the operation of the alchemy array.

The runes in the alchemy array began to spin rapidly, and the light became brighter and brighter.

As time passed, the light in the refining array gradually dimmed and eventually returned to calm.

At this time, the refining array had disappeared, replaced by a strange small device.

"Success!" The puppet boy's voice was filled with excitement that was hard to conceal.

Li Nanke let out a long sigh and his eyes were immediately attracted by the strange device.

He went forward and picked up the small device. The alchemical item was like a miniature cannon barrel, with delicate runes inlaid on the surface of the device, emitting a faint blue light.

The totem pole can be released by driving the device with mental force, which is the 'battle totem pole generating device'.

【Battle Totem Pole Generator】

[Type: Permanent props]

[Quality: Rare]

[Rating: 58/100]

【Details: ……】

Li Nanke noticed that the score of the device was 9 points lower than the score marked on the drawing.

The score indicated on the alchemy blueprint is the maximum score that the device can achieve after it is refined.

Only by letting the top alchemy master to make it, and occasionally having an extraordinary flash of inspiration, can it achieve the highest theoretical score.

Nowadays, all kinds of alchemical materials have reached the highest standards after being processed by high-tech equipment. It is only a slight flaw in the final refining process that causes the score to be slightly lowered.

"That's not a problem. As you become more proficient in alchemy, you'll be able to get closer to the maximum score."

"With the help of current equipment, we may even be able to break through the highest score. After all, the highest score here is set according to the standards of alchemy, and modern technological equipment has far surpassed alchemy in some aspects."

The success of making an alchemical item for the first time gave Li Nanke a great boost of confidence and also saved him nearly 130 points in synthesis costs.

At this time, it was almost late at night.

Time passed quickly as the two of them immersed themselves in the alchemy process.

"I always feel like a thief... Fortunately, it's holiday time now and no one in the research team is here."

Li Nanke returned home after completing the alchemy.

The 'Battle Totem Pole Generator' has a large range of effect, so it is not suitable to try out its effects within the Control Bureau, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble.

He came to the other side in his dream and tested the effect of the device. The amplification effect of the alchemical item was quite good. Within the range of the totem pole, both physical attack and energy attack could be improved.

The gain Pinocchio received was much higher than his, probably because the puppet boy's strength rating was still at the second level.

Surprisingly, when Li Nanke tried to put the totem pole device up in a trading house for price appraisal, he actually got a suggested retail price of 480.

"The profession of alchemist seems to be profitable?"

Li Nanke was surprised and happy.

The material cost of the totem pole device is just over 400. If it is synthesized using cubes, the cost will increase by 130. If it is sold, it will be a complete loss-making business.

But now, after deducting the synthesis costs, he can earn a difference of eighty yuan by making it purely by hand.

By making and selling a few totem pole devices, you can not only earn back the money from the lottery drawings, but also create a considerable profit.

"But I am using the bus for personal purposes now. I secretly occupy the lab to do alchemy during holidays. It's okay to use it occasionally."

"But if you want to make money as an alchemist, you have to keep using the laboratory. I'm afraid someone will find something wrong sooner or later."

"It would be great if I had the authority to control a laboratory all to myself."

In the research department, you need a B-level position of "Research Supervisor" to apply for an independent laboratory.

If Li Nanke wants to become a research mentor, he must first be promoted from an assistant researcher to a full researcher, then be promoted to a senior researcher at the same level as Senior Brother Jiang Lei, and finally become a research mentor after learning from Director Frank.

Even with the powerful talent of the Universal System, it would be difficult to complete such a three-level promotion without enduring for a few years and gaining more merits.

Li Nanke's heart moved, and he suddenly thought of Minian.

The cost of building an advanced laboratory is measured in tens of millions or even hundreds of millions. For ordinary people, it would take several lifetimes to save up that much money, but for the Wistaria family, it is just a drop in the bucket.

If he maintains a good cooperative relationship with Minnian, not to mention borrowing the laboratory of Gospel Biotechnology, it is not impossible for the Wistaria family to fund the construction of a separate laboratory for him.

At least it should be easier than becoming a 'research instructor'...

……

Two days later, Li Nanke received a courier and a call from Bastian, the leader of the inmate team.

When the trading option appeared in the other side, Li Nanke had a premonition that he might encounter other nightmares in the future, so he asked Bastian to find some training programs and combat projects for the operations department.

His own extraordinary power increased too quickly, and he lost fine control over the power, making it difficult for him to exert his full strength at the current stage.

When it comes to the issue of controlling extraordinary powers, the Operations Department not only has extremely professional training programs, but can also compete with other detainees and gain experience from fighting with extraordinary people.

"Two dream data disks, one for the private dream of the flesh system supernatural ability training, and one for the public dream battle of the Operations Department."

"You are now a second-level extraordinary person, right? Just find some junior inmates to practice with. You can learn a lot of practical experience."

"If you receive a mission to go out with your colleagues in the future, if something unexpected happens, more practical experience can also protect yourself..."

The inmates in the Operations Department, like the researchers in the Research Department, have detailed divisions into different job levels.

Most of the 'primary containment personnel' are extraordinary second-level beings, and above them are 'senior containment personnel' and 'containment experts'.

"Thank you, Team Leader."

Li Nanke had initially mastered the main substance of 'Angel', which strictly speaking meant he was already at the third level of transcendence, but he did not correct Bastian's words.

After all, such a promotion speed is too outrageous, and it is difficult to explain it clearly.

He couldn't tell Bastian that he secretly took on a private job for the Wistaria family, and that he could eat the pheromones that others were willing to use to break through their bottlenecks as his staple food.

"You're welcome. Just two data disks."

"In fact, extraordinary abilities are different from cultural knowledge. Extraordinary abilities cannot be restored 100% in the dream data disk. There are still some differences from real-life training and combat."

"If you really want to join the Operations Department's training program, I can give you the green light, but you'll have to take care of Director Frank on your own..."

After hanging up the phone, Li Nanke couldn't wait to insert the data disk into the synchronization device.

The dream synchronization device he is using now is not the low-level stuff that was originally used to modify Black Dream, but the confidential model in the study room of the research department. Even without cheating, it can achieve a synchronization rate of 99% and can also adjust the flow of time.

In view of Li Nanke's overly diligent and serious attitude towards learning, Director Frank allowed him to take the device home to facilitate his evening self-study.

He first synchronized the stand-alone dream - the extraordinary ability training of the flesh system.

When Li Nanke opened his eyes again, he was already in a large indoor training ground.

The training ground was brightly lit, with solid ground made of exotic metal underfoot, and all kinds of cold weapons such as knives, swords, axes, and guns on the weapon rack on the side.

At the other end of the training ground, various unfamiliar technological equipment were placed, and a burly man stood in front of the equipment.

His muscles were bulging all over his body with distinct blocks. The bald, burly man looked like a gladiator about to go into battle, giving people an extremely fierce feeling.

The man had a gentle smile on his face that didn't match his stature:

"I'm Luke Hall, the containment team leader of the Operations Department's Assault Team B. I'm the only flesh-type team leader among the several containment teams."

"Newbie, since you can come here to train, you must be a flesh system recipient, right?"

The dream data disk that Li Nanke synchronized was a private dream, not a public dream. The team leader Luke in front of him was an AI-like existence, which was generated based on the person who recorded the dream.

"I am a flesh system..."

Li Nanke was interrupted by the man halfway through his words: "You must have heard such remarks before you joined the Operations Department, right?"

"Something like the combat effectiveness of the flesh system is poor in the early stage, the potential of the flesh system is low in the later stage, and it is difficult for the flesh system to have the same combat effectiveness as the extraordinary power of the same level..."

"I'm telling you, don't listen to them, they're all idiots."

Luke had a gentle smile on his face and said "They are all idiots" without changing his expression, just like a daily greeting.

Li Nanke nodded. He remembered that Matthew, a detainee from Special Service Group B, had said something similar.

But he didn't mind at that time, because he was not just a physical transcendent.

Luke crossed his arms, with an expression of 'I knew it', and continued:

"Yes, no matter what kind of extraordinary power those extraordinary people are born with, they can absorb particles through meditation and strengthen their physical bodies at the same time."

"Even some high-level extraordinary people of non-flesh system can surpass low-level extraordinary people of flesh system in terms of physical strength."

"Because everyone can easily obtain it, many people think that physical supernatural powers are common and worthless, but in fact, it is exactly the opposite."

"Because they only got the superficial knowledge, while we have the essence!"

Luke smiled gently, revealing his white teeth:
"Our physical system is not inferior to those of the electromagnetic system, telekinesis system, elemental system, etc. Once you have completely completed my training, I can guarantee that no other extraordinary person of the same level can defeat you!"

(End of this chapter)