Chapter 100: Full Harvest

"You'll give me whatever I ask for?"

Lin Qing raised an eyebrow slightly, sizing up the little girl before him, and asked, "Are you the intelligent system of this research institute?"

"Yes." The angelic-looking little girl looked at him and said calmly, "You may call me Chen Guang."

"Chen Guang?"

Lin Qing did not probe deeper, simply asking, "Can you access the information database of the Patrol Headquarters?"

"Father originally had this permission." Chen Guang said.

Lin Qing pondered for a moment and asked, "You just said... because my strength is high?"

Chen Guang said slowly, "Before you entered the research institute, I had already tested you. Your gene optimization rate is only 51.9%, yet your strength exceeds the limit the institute can withstand."

Lin Qing suddenly understood.

Indeed, combat techniques are about the application of skill; it is hard to judge true strength.

Moreover, even with gene optimization, there are differences in strength; some optimized genes provide a significant boost to combat power, while others do not increase combat power at all, so the specific strength is hard to say.

For instance, enhancement, though very common, can directly double combat power.

Formless Edge is even more purely an offensive killing ability, slicing through many alloys as simply as cutting vegetables.

Add to that the instinct-level combat techniques, and his combat power is indeed far superior to that of an average Senior Patrol Captain.

Lin Qing did not waste more time and asked, "Are you sure you will give me whatever I ask for?"

"Whatever I can give, if you can obtain it, I can give it to you." Chen Guang looked at him, her expression calm: "You are here for the Level Four gene optimization method, right?"

"Yes." Lin Qing said.

"There are three mature theories regarding Level Four gene optimization in the laboratory."

Chen Guang said: "Among them, Type B Superpower Radiation Mutation can be attempted by you on the spot. Do you want to try it now?"

"Type B Superpower Radiation?" Lin Qing immediately recalled one of the gene optimization methods provided by the Dawn Group.

It was simply because of the risks, and it was not as good as the Bloodline Evolution Method, that he had not chosen it at the time.

He did not know what the risks of the Type B Superpower Radiation provided by this research institute were? If the risk of gene degradation was very low, it could be worth a try.

"What effect does it have?" Lin Qing asked.

"Type B Superpower Radiation can induce mutations in your genes."

Chen Guang said: "There is a 17% chance to increase the gene optimization index by 20% and randomly obtain one Level Four gene ability; a 38% chance to increase the gene optimization index by 10% and randomly obtain one Level Three gene ability; a 31% chance of failure; and a 14% chance of gene degradation."

"Then forget it." Lin Qing shook his head slightly.

He still remembered that the Type B Superpower Radiation provided by the Dawn Group had better data in all aspects than the superpower radiation provided by this underground research institute.

Randomly obtaining a gene ability was already difficult to determine.

Moreover, there was a 14% chance of gene degradation; that probability was too high.

Better to forget it.

If it were 1.4%, it might be worth considering.

"What about the other two?" Lin Qing asked.

"The other two cannot be attempted directly."

Chen Guang said: "One is the 'Energy Stabilizer', which can make the Level Four energy entering your body more stable and release more slowly."

"Oh?" Lin Qing's eyes brightened slightly.

Often, the reason high-level energy cannot be absorbed is mainly because the energy is not stable enough; secondly, the absorption efficiency is too low, and the body cannot withstand it.

For example, the Level Three energy contained in the Zhihe Elixir can be easily absorbed precisely because the energy is stable enough and the energy release is slow.

"With the Energy Stabilizer, if you take it before absorbing Level Four energy in the future, it will make the Level Four energy easier to stabilize."

Chen Guang said: "Of course, the Energy Stabilizer alone is not enough. Normally, even the most stable Level Four energy cannot be withstanded by a person whose genes have not yet awakened, so the Energy Stabilizer must also be used in conjunction with a special cultivation method."

"Special cultivation method?" Lin Qing looked at her.

Chen Guang said: "In the civilization where the Wisdom Star Group is located, anyone with decent talent has cultivated a special method called 'Star Refining Art', which is the key reason they can absorb high-level energy."

"Star Refining Art..." Lin Qing had never heard of it before.

"However, the Star Refining Art is not suitable for us Earthlings to cultivate."

Chen Guang said: "Father founded the research institute, and actually spent nearly half his energy on this Star Refining Art, always wanting to create a version of the Star Refining Art suitable for Earthlings."

"Did you succeed?" Lin Qing asked.

"Partially succeeded." Chen Guang said.

Lin Qing couldn't help but ask in confusion, "What do you mean by partially succeeded?"

Chen Guang explained: "The Star Refining Art of the Wisdom Star people is divided into an upper and a lower part. The upper part is for children to cultivate, allowing them to absorb Level Four energy more easily, while the lower part is for adults whose genes have awakened, allowing them to absorb Level Five energy more easily."

She shook her head slightly and said, "Even though Father woke me up to help with the calculations and conducted experiments time and again, we ultimately only created a somewhat crude upper part."

Lin Qing suddenly understood.

The gap between the two civilizations is indeed enormous.

On the Earth side, despite all the effort, only the level used by children in the Wisdom Star civilization to lay their foundation was created.

"The Star Refining Art created by Father, which consumed nearly half his energy, was envisioned to have a lower part, but the experimental data is still far from sufficient."

Chen Guang said: "The upper part of the Star Refining Art can also allow Earthlings to absorb Level Four energy more easily before their genes awaken, but compared to the Wisdom Star Star Refining Art, the cultivation difficulty created by Father is higher."

Lin Qing couldn't help but ask, "Is the entry difficulty high, or something else?"

"The entry is very simple."

Chen Guang said: "Mainly, the Star Refining Art involves genes. You can regard it as an alternative combat technique. Its cultivation difficulty is equivalent to mastering the original combat technique before gene awakening; very, very few people can achieve this."

"Oh?" Lin Qing roughly understood the difficulty.

Looking at it this way, it is indeed very difficult.

Among the Senior Patrol Captains at the Patrol Headquarters, most are gene awakeners; the few who have not yet awakened their genes are those who mastered the original combat technique before gene awakening.

The Patrol Headquarters is said to gather the elite patrols from across the globe; among the Senior Patrol Captains who came this time, aside from one who is a Gene Awakener, all others mastered the original combat techniques before their genes awakened, yet there are only a dozen or so of them in total.

Although the Patrol Headquarters surely has more Senior Patrol Captains of this caliber who have not yet arrived, one can still see how rare this talent for combat techniques truly is.

"However, your talent for combat techniques is astonishing; I believe you can succeed in cultivating it," Chen Guang said.

She extended her slender fingertips and tapped once; sheets of white paper floated into the air, displaying dense text and images upon them.

"Write it down."

Chen Guang said, "This is the formula for the Energy Stabilizer; hand it over to the Patrol Headquarters, and you will receive the Energy Stabilizer for free."

She tapped her fingertips again, and more sheets of white paper with text floated up beside them. "This is the Star-Refining Art suitable for Earthlings; you can hand this over to the Patrol Headquarters as well." Lin Qing immediately began reading it silently.

With his current photographic memory, reading it once was enough.

After writing it down, Lin Qing asked, "Just hand it over to the Patrol Headquarters like this? If the Wisdom Star Group discovers it, won't they feel threatened by Earth and strike early to crush us?"

Chen Guang fell silent for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't know if you are overestimating Earth's civilization or underestimating the civilization over there in Wisdom Star."

"Hmm?" Lin Qing looked at her.

"To the people of Wisdom Star, this research achievement is like the elementary education universally available among us Earthlings."

Chen Guang said, "In the eyes of the people of Wisdom Star, we are merely a group of ants that happen to look somewhat similar; compared to Wisdom Star's civilization spanning hundreds of thousands of years, Earth is far too weak."

"Then why haven't the people of Wisdom Star directly occupied Earth?" Lin Qing asked in confusion. "Could it really be to help civilization develop? What exactly does Wisdom Star see in Earth?"

"The reasons are complex; I am not entirely clear myself."

Chen Guang shook her head. "But what is certain is that this situation is related to the laws of cosmic civilizations; at the same time... Earth also has figures like Qi Lingxiao, the founder of the Morning Sun Martial Hall, and Chu Hongjun, the founder of the Dawn Group. Since the Wisdom Star Group is willing to invest in them, they naturally extend a certain degree of respect."

Lin Qing pondered for a moment, then said, "So, these two great figures only made the people of Wisdom Star feel they were worth investing in, but they did not perceive them as a threat?"

"That is natural."

Chen Guang nodded slightly and said, "Do not mistake the Wisdom Star Group for the civilization where the people of Wisdom Star reside; this is like a multinational corporation on Earth. Can it represent the strength of an entire nation?"

Lin Qing's heart gave a jolt, and he nodded gently.

"In other words, to the people of Wisdom Star, figures like Qi Lingxiao and Chu Hongjun are merely natives with talent worth investing in."

Chen Guang said, "But my father once said that as long as the people of Wisdom Star are willing, no matter how high the talent of figures like Qi Lingxiao and Chu Hongjun may be, they could never threaten the civilization of the people of Wisdom Star."

Lin Qing pondered deeply.

Dr. Chu Hui was once a high-ranking member of the Illuminati, and both the Morning Sun Martial Hall and the Dawn Group seem to have broken away from the Illuminati.

It is quite normal for Dr. Chu Hui to understand these matters.

"By the way."

Lin Qing suddenly said, "Dr. Chu Hui and Chu Hongjun, the founder of the Dawn Group, both bear the surname Chu; is there a relationship between them?"

"Yes," Chen Guang said. "My father is one of Chu Hongjun's adopted sons."

Lin Qing suddenly understood.

Immediately, he looked around again and asked, "Is there anything else you can give me? I am too lazy to go searching everywhere and causing destruction."

"Do you need a First-Rank Star Battle Suit?" Chen Guang asked.

"Of course," Lin Qing nodded, glancing at his own tattered Patrol Captain uniform.

The intelligence brought out from the research institute by the patrols had already confirmed that Star Battle Suits existed within this institute.

To be precise, it is a type of spacesuit, just extremely lightweight and not hindering movement.

The Wisdom Star Group produces them for use by those whose genes have not yet awakened; they can change form to adapt to different environments and dangers.

"This is used by Wisdom Star children when landing on alien planets; you can indeed use it now."

Chen Guang tapped the ground with her fingertip; a section of the floor slowly sank down, and when it rose again, a small box appeared on that section of the floor.

Children's clothing, is it?

Lin Qing walked forward somewhat speechless and picked up the small box.

Upon opening it, he saw a transparent gelatinous substance the size of a fist.

"Let it obtain a bit of your bodily tissue, such as blood; after fusing, it will be able to sense your thoughts."

Chen Guang reminded him, "Conceive the form of clothing in your mind and infuse it with mysterious energy; it will then change according to your will. However, its maximum hardness has an upper limit, and its toughness is not very high; with your current strength, you could tear it apart. Nevertheless, it can repair itself quickly and can sustain life activities."

Lin Qing traced a faint, invisible edge with his thumb, sliced a cut on his index finger, and then let a drop of fresh blood fall onto the transparent gelatinous substance.

In the next instant, the transparent gelatinous substance wrapped around his finger and began extending along it continuously; very quickly, it completely enveloped his body, including his face.

Yet he felt no sense of suffocation whatsoever; instead, he felt quite comfortable.

So this must be the function of sustaining life activities?

Lin Qing pondered, then began infusing the mysterious energy within his body while conceiving the clothing he needed in his mind.

In the next instant, the transparent gelatinous substance covering his entire body suddenly began to change, displaying various colors; within just a few seconds, it transformed into the style of a Patrol Captain uniform.

Visually, it was identical to a real Patrol Captain uniform, and the texture and material were the same as well.

"Truly miraculous," Lin Qing couldn't help but exclaim.

"The technology of the Wisdom Star Group is indeed formidable," Chen Guang said softly.

Lin Qing shifted his form a few times, quickly removed his original Patrol Captain uniform, which was too tattered to wear anymore.

He looked at Chen Guang again and asked, "Is there anything else you can give me?"

"Do you need a Biological Detector?" Chen Guang asked.

"A Biological Detector?" Lin Qing asked.

"It can detect the life level of yourself and others; after extracting genetic material, it can also obtain the gene optimization index," Chen Guang said.

"I want it," Lin Qing nodded.

Chen Guang took out a black ring resembling a ring from beneath the floor again and said, "Just put it on; it will display the information directly on your retina."

After Lin Qing did as instructed, he found that this originally slightly large black ring automatically shrank by one size, fitting his finger perfectly.

Immediately, a slight pain in his fingertip appeared, and text displaying his own information floated before his eyes.

【Life Level: Human Limit】

【Health Index: 95】

【Remaining Energy: 94.9%】

【Gene Optimization Index: 51.9%】

"Not bad."

Lin Qing nodded slightly in satisfaction; this time, the harvest could be said to be full.

Immediately, he looked at Chen Guang again.

"There is nothing I can give you," Chen Guang said. "Medicines, weapons, and the like have all been taken by the patrols; everything else is something you cannot take away."

Lin Qing pondered for a moment, sized up Chen Guang, and said, "This underground research institute has been swept clean; in the future, I'm afraid no one will come here again. You alone here, won't you feel lonely?"

Chen Guang looked at him, fell silent for a moment, and asked in return, "Do you want me?"

(End of this chapter)