"But, when combined with Controlled Objects, the explosion also exceeded 30D, and I had just begun fusion. With a little more development, even if I only cross the 30% threshold, I’ll be able to contend with those who are 100% developed,"
"Mmm..." Li Ming shook his head, "Others also have combat techniques to boost them. Conservatively estimated, 50% should make them invincible."
Of course, the D-level Life Forms he used to measure himself with were also inevitably the top-notch batch of D-level gene seeds.
Ordinary D-level gene seeds, newly fused, may even struggle to reach the energy level standard that qualifies as a D suffix, not within the measuring range.
Glancing at the time, it was near two o’clock, today was the day to visit Professor Xia’s laboratory for observation and learning.
This Professor Xia, whose real name was Xia Yuanlun, primarily researched advanced mechanical structures, and Ding Hui, the Mechanical Engineer instructor, was his student.
His laboratory should house many mechanical creations, which is why Li Ming was interested and had made preparations early on.
The huge palace made of metal materials stood on the island, its surface a bronze color, over 200 meters tall, with three spires.
The highest one in the middle also hung a huge metallic clock face, with thick hands for the hours, minutes, and seconds, incessantly moving; gears meshed precisely, and the time was spot on with the intelligent terminal down to the minute.
With the enhanced vision of Li Ming, the Mechanical Engineer, it was apparent that this metal clock face was not powered by an external energy source.
The mechanical palace served as the center, surrounded by many smaller buildings, all filled with a heavy industrial style, and a few even had thick chimneys.
They were likely just for show, as Blue Star’s smoke treatment technologies were advanced enough to ensure no visible smoke.
The main mode of transportation on the island relied on rugged armored vehicles, each with a unique character as if individually modified, and the air was permeated with a mix of exhaust and metal scents.
There were also statues sculpted from various alloys.
This place did not seem advanced but rather in decline.
"I didn’t expect Professor Xia, outwardly mild-mannered, to be quite wild inside." Li Ming looked around and couldn’t help but remark, the architectural style of the laboratory clearly reflected its owner’s personality.
"Professor Xia was a die-hard fan of death metal when he was young." Qi Xing said, standing by, "He has a preference for nostalgic technologies, this place looks like it’s from Blue Star’s pre-interstellar era... no, even from a more ancient tech era."
Three out of ten people did not come, not much interested in the mechanical side of things.
Worth mentioning, Nuo Xing was present, wearing a gleaming blue ankle-length dress, her delicate waist seemed not wide enough to grasp, and her usually still eyes now carried a hint of curiosity and scrutiny.
Professor Xia’s assistant waited at the door, leading them inside.
"I’m telling you, you can’t just hide away and secretly train this time, can you?" Qi Xing sidled up to Li Ming on the way.
"You misunderstood, I really wasn’t interested in drinking last time," Li Ming explained.
Roth added, "When you train, make sure to tell me."
Li Ming was speechless; even Roth with his thick eyebrows and broad eyes wanted to join in the fun.
"Now you know, the shock we felt when we opened the door and saw the gene development drugs in your blanket," Qi Xing said with a wistful tone.
If Li Ming had been developing normally, they wouldn’t have felt anything special, but under those special circumstances, it had been different.
"I would have even preferred if the one under the blanket was Nuo Xing"
When Nuo Xing heard their conversation, she glanced over coldly, causing Qi Xing to raise his hand and say:
"Nuo Xing, you don’t know, last time you left early, this guy started drinking and then sneaked off to his room to develop his gene seed."
Nuo Xing was momentarily stunned, disbelief evident in her eyes, momentarily forgetting Qi Xing’s tease.
"The king of cramming, really, it makes us dare not rest for a moment," Qi Xing complained.
"Old Qi, you care so much about me. When I fuse with a D-level gene seed, you’ll be the first I tell," Li Ming retorted irritably.
"Damn it! Don’t rub it in," Qi Xing shouted, then went on, "Only because this guy had a brain fart, choosing to major in mechanical engineering and still having to attend professional classes, otherwise we wouldn’t stand a chance."
He didn’t know? Li Ming was surprised; he thought they all knew about him passing the assessment already.
Indeed... they were dealing with greater matters, and if one didn’t pay special attention, they wouldn’t know about them.
Nuo Xing glanced at them, the corner of his mouth twitching as if he knew something, but he quickly composed himself, expressionless.
Just as they entered the central metallic hall of the island, they heard someone calling out.
Li Ming felt the voice was somewhat familiar, but couldn’t immediately recall when he had heard it before. As he turned to look, he saw a person running towards them with an excited expression.
"Teacher Ding?" Li Ming was surprised.
The newcomer was indeed Ding Hui, his specialized course teacher.
"What are you doing here?" Li Ming exchanged a few pleasantries before asking.
Although Ding Hui was a student of Professor Xia, under normal circumstances he would have his own things to attend to.
"A senior brother took an order from the city’s guards and ran into some trouble, so he called all of us over here," Ding Hui explained offhandedly, glancing at everyone, "You guys are here to observe and learn, aren’t you?"
Seeing several people nodding, Ding Hui pondered for a moment, his eyes lighting up as he looked at Li Ming, and said to an assistant nearby: "Xiao Liu, you go ahead and get busy, I’ll take these few over."
"Let’s go, the teacher is over there." He led the group, walking through the corridor with mechanical gear structures hollowed out on both sides.
As they walked, he asked Li Ming, "You don’t have anything this afternoon, right? Stay here and give me a hand."
"Professor Xia still needs me here?" Li Ming shook his head.
"What are you talking about, the more people we have, the more ideas we get. The teacher won’t deal with these minor projects, especially when your level is not below mine..." Ding Hui persuaded, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by a startled shout.
Qi Xing pushed forward, his face full of disbelief, "This Teacher Ding, are you saying his level is not below yours? What level?"
Roth and the others also turned their gaze.
"Of course, the level of mechanical engineering, what else?" Ding Hui said, perplexed.
Qi Xing had an expression as if he were constipated, and the rest exchanged glances, also taken aback.
It was natural for Ding Hui to have the qualifications to be a specialized teacher, but Li Ming? He hadn’t even completed compulsory education, and yet his level could be mentioned in the same breath as Ding Hui’s?
The potential for development was something that could be explained, as it was innate, but how could this kind of scholarly knowledge be accumulated?
How could such an extraordinary person spring from some obscure corner of Silver Grey Star?
"Making a fuss over nothing, haven’t you ever seen a genius?" Ding Hui’s mouth curled into a smirk, finally it was his turn to say this phrase.
"I..." Qi Xing was at a loss for words, then suddenly realized something, his eyes wide: "If his level is almost the same as yours, does he still need to attend your classes?"
"Of course not, he passed my assessment on the very first lesson, and he doesn’t need to come for the rest of the year," Ding Hui said matter-of-factly.
"Passed on the first lesson?" Qi Xing muttered: "So does that mean you’ve been practicing in Professor Wu’s lab every morning?"
"More or less." Li Ming nodded.
Qi Xing looked pained, "Why didn’t you tell us?"
"I thought you were well-informed, that you already knew."
"I..." Qi Xing opened his mouth but said nothing, who had the leisure to pay attention to Mechanical Engineering, a niche field?
Zhao Jingang’s face turned dark; no, he couldn’t sleep tonight.
Roth’s gaze was profound; he couldn’t sleep for the whole week.
"I know." A cool and floating voice spoke up, Nuo Xing spoke: "There was a commotion in the Mechanical Engineering department on that day, it’s just that no one paid attention to the field."
Roth and the others certainly weren’t interested either; what mattered to them more was not Li Ming’s mechanical engineering level, but the theoretical time he spent on development training, which exceeded estimates.
Their enthusiasm waned, and they wished they could return immediately to train intensively, but they had already reached the door, and Professor Xia was inside; it wouldn’t be good not to go in.