The situation on Jingnan Star was becoming increasingly complex and ominous, ensuring that enhancing one’s ability to survive was always wise.
He estimated that if he upgraded all these shoes to C-level, his speed would be comparable to a C-level life form.
But metal energy was far from sufficient, and it was necessary to save some for emergencies.
By evening, at his request, Zhang Huaiyuan had urgently delivered another ten pairs of shoes.
These were the most expensive power-assisted shoes available in the market of Jingnan Star, only at E-level,
Li Ming synthesized them into D-level; five pairs of shoes filled the Control Bar, and the burst of speed enhancement already reached tenfold.
If these objects were connected to each other using clamps, they would count as one Controlled Object; if separated, each would be calculated separately, and the enhancement data would be halved.
"The term ’physical strength’ is too vague...," Luo Chuan mused, tapping on the office desk:
"However, I understand your request, and there indeed exists such a method to enhance the weaker aspects of life forms."
Li Ming, sitting in front of his office desk, couldn’t help but sit up straight.
"You must be referring to the Tempering Method." Luo Chuan explained, "The Tempering Method is similar to the Training Method, but the latter targets gene seeds, stimulating the development of gene seeds."
"The Tempering Method, on the other hand, uses gene seeds to enhance a certain quality of oneself."
"Where can I find this Tempering Method?" Li Ming inquired.
"The Tempering Method...," Luo Chuan smiled inscrutably, "The Training Method is aimed at the general public’s gene seeds, like your Thunder Burn, which anyone with Thunder Element and Fire Element gene seeds can use."
"But the Tempering Method is different. It’s considered a high-level secret among the interstellar civilizations, unknown to ordinary civilizations." Luo Chuan shook his head,
"Moreover, the Training Method and the Tempering Method to a certain extent clash; they cannot be conducted simultaneously. At the low-level life form stage, it’s best to focus on developing gene seeds."
Li Ming appeared thoughtful.
"Of course, there’s another method that allows for both." Luo Chuan added, "Evolution Theory, it can develop gene seeds and then, in turn, further strengthen the life form itself."
"Evolution Theory? Are they compatible with gene sequences?" Li Ming speculated.
"Smart." Luo Chuan said with a grin, "A fixed gene seed fusion sequence, the more secretive Secret of Liberation, and the virtually leak-proof Evolution Theory, they make up the gene sequence."
"Gene sequences again..." Li Ming couldn’t help but feel helpless.
"Ha-ha...," Seeing Li Ming’s helpless look, Luo Chuan laughed, "Such is the interstellar way, the farther you walk on the path of evolution, the more you marvel at the vastness of the universe."
"Take it slowly, junior brother."
Leaving Luo Chuan’s office, Li Ming steadied his heart; gene sequences were still too far away for him; it was better to diligently develop gene seeds.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, three days had passed. Zhang Huaiyuan came again, but this time he did not bring more than Li Ruoning could handle; he only brought a few small boxes.
He didn’t even go to the finance office.
"Junior brother, what are you secretly up to? Many people in the lab are curious. You’ve poured tens of millions into Flame Blue Alloy, you’re not building a spaceship in your room, are you?" Li Ruoning discreetly inquired.
"The Blue Star and Sela Civilization are about to go to war; I built a spaceship just in case I need to escape." Li Ming casually fibbed, causing Li Ruoning to stare at him blankly.
Back in the studio, he locked the door; the studio was strictly no-entry. This might make people curious, though it wasn’t yet unreasonable.
The onlookers were merely curious and would not take things further.
Rubbing his hands, he opened the iron box in front of him, inside of which lay several slender short swords, a few packaged boxes, the patterns of which depicted a tall man holding a long sword, among other small items.
He first picked up a slender short sword. These items had been collected by Zhang Huaiyuan, who had visited several fencing gyms; Li Ming tried each one, a few of which he couldn’t even Control.
Li Ming was not surprised; Control also had its minimum requirements, and he was not disheartened. In the end, he found what he needed—
Sword Control, a temporary enhancement of skill level abilities, needing only a little over a hundred points.
Over ten thousand points of metal energy were invested, unlocking the career of Swordsman.
Two abilities: Sword Control, Sword Mastery
[Sword Mastery: Enhances physical strength by 100%.]
"Hmm?" Li Ming was surprised, feeling a sense of fullness surge through his body, as if he were stuffed, brimming with energy, making him itch to train for several hours.
There was an unexpected joy in professional abilities, passive enhancements were also present, ones that did not occupy the Control Bar.
He was very satisfied, having found another way to boost his stamina, which was his energy reserve, and he also possessed considerably advanced swordsmanship skills.
After sweeping the remaining rubbish to one side, Li Ming walked to the workbench, where a drawing of a design resembling a dagger lay.
The design was more complicated than he had imagined; his mental reserves were still insufficient. After three to five days, a small electric heat dagger was still incomplete.
Being a Mechanical Engineer, Ding Hui’s level was just as Professor Xia had said, Mechanical technology was truly a group activity, the power of one person was too weak.
Li Ming pondered, but did not give up, since it was his first blueprint. He decided to train while exploring.
So another ten days passed.
"9%, I thought it could reach 10%." Li Ming looked at the display on the screen and could not help shaking his head.
After cleaning himself, he casually picked up the smart terminal beside him, opened the interstellar net, and a message popped up, sent from Xu Wei.
This time it was not about inviting him out to eat, but a news link.
[Breaking news! Heluo Star System Management Committee announces a public vote to secede from Blue Star Civilization!]
"Heluo Star System?" Li Ming raised his eyebrows slightly, feeling the name of the star system sounded somewhat familiar.
Then he remembered, wasn’t that the place Old Wu had gone to?
"Speaking of which, hasn’t he already dealt with that virus crisis? Why hasn’t he come back yet, it’s been over half a month." Li Ming muttered as he opened the news.
As his eyes scanned, his eyebrows gradually furrowed, "Could this also be related to Old Wu?"
The Heluo Star System was a significant commercial star under the jurisdiction of Blue Star, boasting two life planets and two mineral stars, with a total of over ten billion citizens.
If the support rate in this referendum exceeded 70%, then the Heluo Star System Management Committee would secede from the Blue Star Civilization and become autonomous.
This sounded rather absurd, but in reality, the Heluo Star System was akin to a colonial star system.
They had their own civilization, but when the Blue Star Civilization was in its early stages and had not yet made contact with the interstellar alliance, they were discovered and joined only because they were not defeated.
For this reason, they had considerable autonomous governance rights.
The cause of this referendum was the virus crisis that had erupted a while ago.
Wu Yanqing from the Blue Star Civilization, although he had resolved the virus crisis of the Heluo civilization, had also sparked considerable protest.
"Old Wu is quite ruthless, conducting human experiments straight away." Li Ming scrolled through the news.
Human experimentation was explicitly prohibited in interstellar space, but it was also the most efficient method.
Upon arriving, Old Wu did not hesitate and gathered thousands of infected patients, confined them, and then began his research.
The results were, of course, good, as a vaccine was developed, but the issue was that such morally dubious human experimentation had been exposed.
Then, the local citizens of the Heluo Star System began to hold them accountable afterwards, believing that Blue Star had trampled on their sovereignty, and used this as an excuse to hold the referendum.
"It feels like it was a setup from the very beginning." Li Ming murmured. The higher-ups of Blue Star must have been aware of Old Wu’s methods and wouldn’t have proceeded conventionally.
And such shady activities as human experiments had to have been done secretly by Old Wu, there must have been an insider involved.
This matter caused an uproar within Blue Star, with Old Wu’s reputation polarizing many. Some thought it was a necessary evil in a crisis when time equated to life.
But others criticized those individuals for being insensitive.
Arguments ensued incessantly.
The higher echelons of Blue Star naturally started by pacifying, then rebuked Wu Yanqing, but with ambiguous language that didn’t seem like they intended to take serious action.
Li Ming immediately went to find Luo Chuan.
"...As we can see, downstairs at the Heluo Star System Management Committee Building, thousands of protesters have already gathered, demanding severe punishment..."
The virtual screen shut off, Luo Chuan was expressionless, "A bunch of idiots, the teacher should have let them perish on their own, it would be better if they were extinct."
He glanced at Li Ming, his expression softened, "You know about this too?"
"The teacher won’t be in trouble, will he?" Li Ming looked slightly worried.
Luo Chuan replied impatiently, "As long as the higher-ups aren’t fools, they know there must be someone behind the scenes pushing this matter. If they really deal with the teacher, they might as well give their position to a three-year-old kid."