Chapter 160: Living Performance Mobile Battle Armor

Qin Feng stood before the holographic projection in the Super Technology space, his brow furrowed.

In the projection, a streamlined, biomorphologically elegant battle armor schematic rotated slowly. This was no conventional metal armor, but a special structure built on a high-strength bio-polymer base, embedded with biomimetic neural networks and energy conduits—the prototype design of the Living Performance Mobile Battle Armor.

Theoretically, it could perfectly conform to the user's body, sensing neural signals and muscle movements to deliver strength, speed, and reaction beyond human limits, even possessing limited self-repair and environmental adaptation functions. This would be a groundbreaking leap in individual combat equipment.

But theory remained theory. At the most critical step of material synthesis, the project hit a wall. Conventional bio-polymer techniques could not achieve the coexistence of strength and vitality; either the material lost vitality and became rigid, or its strength fell short, turning gelatinous.

"Mr. Qin, the 379th synthesis experiment has failed." The chief scientist, an elderly man with white hair but sharp eyes, spoke with exhaustion and despair, "We've tried every known catalytic method and energy injection pattern. Vitality and strength still cannot achieve balance at the critical threshold."

The lab fell silent, all researchers wearing expressions of gloom. This project had consumed Qin Feng's vast funds and their countless hours of effort; they were on the verge of success, yet held fast by this final barrier.

Qin Feng said nothing, his gaze sweeping over the complex molecular formulas and energy flow data. Even with his mind enhanced by various skills and attributes, facing this cutting-edge materials science problem left him at a loss. Investment Insight excelled at macro trends and value judgment; Language Proficiency offered no help; Combat Mastery was irrelevant.

He attempted to deploy his 35-point Spiritual Attribute to simulate possibilities. Countless scenarios flashed through his mind, yet each fell just short.

"Perhaps we need a non-traditional energy intervention—or… some kind of 'harmonizer' we haven't yet recognized?" Qin Feng mused.

"Theoretically, such a possibility exists. But with our current tech tree, we cannot determine direction or specific substance," the chief scientist sighed.

At that moment, Qin Feng's mind stirred.

He remembered the Replacement Key—recently upgraded, yet never used in scientific research.

【Replacement Key (Level 4)】: Capable of exchanging items, abilities, or information across time, space, dimensions, and concepts. Consumption depends on the value disparity and information entropy of the exchanged object.

This function description was extremely broad. He had always used it cautiously, due to unpredictable consumption and uncertain outcomes. But now, it seemed the right moment to try.

"I need a Quiet Chamber," Qin Feng told the chief scientist.

Though puzzled, the old man immediately arranged it.

Inside the Quiet Chamber, Qin Feng calmed his breath, summoned the system interface, and locked onto the mysterious gray-glowing Replacement Key.

"System, activate the Replacement Key. Target: Obtain key technical information or core catalyst capable of resolving the 'balance between vitality and strength in bio-polymer' problem."

He described his need as precisely as possible to minimize randomness and consumption.

【Command received. Scanning host's knowledge base for related information… Evaluating demand value…】【Evaluation complete. Required information/item value is high, located on a derivative path not yet clearly marked in the host's current tech tree.】【Beginning cross-dimensional information retrieval and matching…】【Match successful! Retrieved fragment from Pan-Galactic Technology Alliance—Basic Materials Library: 'Active Crystal Core Catalysis Theory (Fundamentals)'.】【Consumption: Three days' accumulated Blessing Key effects (one unused Vigor, one unused Quick Thinking, one unused Minor Fortune), and 1000 system points. Confirm replacement?】

Consuming Blessing effects and points? Qin Feng frowned slightly. The cost was high, especially since stored Blessing effects could prove crucial in key moments. But seeing the stalled project outside, he hesitated no longer.

"Confirm replacement!"

【Replacement complete! Relevant information transmitted to host's Sense of Sea. Primary catalyst 'Crystal Core Embryo' synthesis formula has been loaded.】

Instantly, a vast, alien stream of information flooded Qin Feng's mind: a new catalytic theory—using a special energy structure called an "Active Crystal Core" as a seed to guide bio-polymers into spontaneously forming a microscopic matrix with both strength and vitality. Simultaneously, a seemingly simple yet energy-frequency- and element-ratio-dependent "Crystal Core Embryo" formula was etched clearly into his memory.

When the transmission ended, Qin Feng felt a slight fatigue in his spirit, and his stored Blessing effects were gone—but his eyes gleamed with excitement!

So this was it! The key wasn't the material itself, but an "energy template" guiding its formation!

He immediately left the Quiet Chamber and returned to the Project Team.

Amidst the team's puzzled stares, Qin Feng walked straight to the synthesis control console and pulled up the parameter interface.

"Adjust energy injection frequency to pulsed mode. Base frequency set to…" He recited a series of precise, bizarre values, "Adjust elemental ratio: introduce trace amounts of ruthenium… and synthesize 'Crystal Core Embryo' as catalytic initiator using this formula immediately."

The chief scientist and his team stared at the data and the unheard-of "Crystal Core Embryo" formula. These parameters and formulas defied all their existing materials science knowledge!

"Mr. Qin, these… these parameters are abnormal. They might trigger energy runaway…" a young researcher couldn't help warning.

"Do as I say," Qin Feng said calmly, yet with unshakable certainty.

The chief scientist, seeing the unyielding confidence in Qin Feng's eyes, gritted his teeth: "Follow Mr. Qin! Prepare immediately! Adjust parameters! Synthesize catalytic initiator!"

The lab roared back to life, this time charged with a desperate, all-or-nothing tension.

When the faintly milky-white glowing "Crystal Core Embryo"—its interior swirling like a nebula—was successfully synthesized and, per Qin Feng's instruction, introduced into the new bio-polymer solution, everyone held their breath.

Inside the synthesis chamber, the previously violent, unstable energy readings stabilized instantly upon the Crystal Core Embryo's integration—and began pulsing with an arcane rhythm!

Through high-magnification microscopy, they observed polymer molecules linking and folding in an unprecedented, orderly fashion, forming a resilient, elastic mesh-like structure, as if alive with flowing light within!

Hours later, synthesis completed.

When a small sample of the finished material was displayed before them, the entire lab erupted in deafening cheers!

The material felt warm and supple, as if alive. When stretched, it remained unbreakably tough. High-intensity laser beams left only faint marks—and those marks slowly repaired themselves at visible speed!

Success! Vitality and strength achieved perfect balance—exceeding design expectations!

"We did it! We succeeded!" The chief scientist wept with joy, gripping Qin Feng's hand tightly, "Mr. Qin, how… how did you do this? It's nothing short of a miracle!"

Qin Feng looked at the material in his hand, as if alive, and smiled faintly without explanation.

He raised his gaze to the full holographic schematic of the complete Living Performance Mobile Battle Armor.

With the core material problem solved, this groundbreaking individual combat suit could finally move from blueprint to reality.

He could already envision the warriors equipped with this armor, and the staggering combat power they would wield.

And this was merely the beginning—his use of system technology to pry open the world's power structure.

The power of Super Technology was gradually revealing itself.

【Ding! Host successfully resolved a major technological challenge using system functionality, driving critical project breakthrough. Super Technology authorization stabilized. Hidden progress unlocked.】

The system's notification was the final icing on the cake.

Qin Feng knew: on the path to the summit, technology would be his sharpest spear and his strongest shield.