This is really not mechanical ascension-Chapter 217 - 123 Layout in Many Places_2

"The people in Professor Xia’s lab are experts in this field, yet you don’t go to them and instead come looking for Li Ming?"

Luo Chuan didn’t see panic at the exposure of his plan on Liu Zeng’s face; instead, there was a touch of peculiarity, "Expert?"

"They were experts before, but not since a month ago."

"Hmm?" Luo Chuan’s eyebrows furrowed.

"Mr. Li Ming is the real weapons expert, his craftsmanship is of the highest order," Liu Zeng said with admiration:

"They say you don’t even need to tell him your requirements, just hand over your own weapon and he can make the most suitable weapon based on your habits, without even needing a design drawing."

"No matter the length, width, weight, or even auxiliary functions, or details you weren’t even aware of, he handles it perfectly, as if he truly understands the weapon, a genuine mechanical crafting master."

"As for those tutors in Professor Xia’s lab... they are skilled indeed, but they also have quite the temper," Liu Zeng scratched his head and said:

"Some of the older brothers said that when they altered the design drawings, they didn’t dare ask for too much."

"And there are some things that don’t quite fit, that they just have to bear with, and then get used to on their own."

Luo Chuan looked skeptical. If people were praising Li Ming for his astounding development speed and formidable strength, Luo Chuan could understand.

But he never imagined he would hear such a statement from the person in front of him.

A weapons expert? Li Ming?

Li Ming indeed had visited Professor Xia’s lab a few times and Luo Chuan thought he was just there to learn and observe, but it seemed it was not as he had imagined.

"Are you sure you’re talking about Li Ming?" Luo Chuan still had his doubts.

"Of course." Liu Zeng said decisively, "Our colleague Zhao Lei has a chainsaw knife that was crafted by Li Ming."

"Last time we took a security job, we were robbed by raiders along the way, ran out of bullets during a boarding combat, and he managed to kill the raider leader with that chainsaw knife, who was 20% more developed than him!"

Luo Chuan’s expression changed, this was too... bizarre.

Li Ming really was a weapons expert; the abundance of metal materials he bought wasn’t just for fun.

"Alright, I get it, follow me." Luo Chuan pondered, deciding to personally take Liu Zeng to find Li Ming.

After knocking on the workshop door, Li Ming opened it and was momentarily startled, "Senior Brother?"

"Met someone outside the lab looking for you," Luo Chuan stepped aside, revealing the slightly excited Liu Zeng.

"Oh, Liu Zeng, right? You know my rules?" Li Ming said, ushering the two in a familiar manner.

"I know." Liu Zeng nodded eagerly, "You must bring the weapon you were using, no matter whether it’s damaged or not."

"The materials I brought are all here, and the labor fees will be transferred to your account."

"Hmm, come back to collect it in three days, or I can send it to you," Li Ming said, taking a glance at the weapon and tossing it onto the workbench.

Liu Zeng started rummaging through the materials he had brought in the box.

Luo Chuan watched the whole process, looking around with a slight frown and hesitated before he finally spoke up, "Junior Brother, you also do weapon upgrades on the side?"

"Yeah, I take a few orders to help with household expenses," Li Ming glanced at him with an underlying meaning.

Luo Chuan acted as if he didn’t hear the latter part of the sentence, "Your level is that high?"

"It’s okay, I guess," Li Ming replied.

"Just okay?" Liu Zeng, who had been sorting through materials, looked up: "You are too modest. Mr. Ding Hui told me when he introduced you that in a few years, not even Professor Xia would be able to compare to you."

"Don’t listen to him blabbering," Li Ming added, feeling speechless himself. What kind of rumors had Ding Hui spread to promote him?

However, speaking of weapons, given metal energy and Mother Ore, he could even build an A-grade weapon.

Well... maybe not necessarily. To rise to A-grade might require certain conditions such as Special Energy.

But the ability to make B-grade weapons was already astonishing, so for now, he was only taking orders for D-grade weapons, slowly building a reputation, and after some time, he would start crafting C-grade weapons.

"Even Professor Xia is not your match?" Luo Chuan swallowed hard, feeling more and more like he was in a fantasy.

As a master mechanical craftsman, Professor Xia was famous throughout Blue Star, with many C-level life forms, and even B-level life forms, seeking him out to forge weapons suited for them.

Now, people are saying that Li Ming might surpass Professor Xia in a few years?

He subconsciously doubted it was marketing, Li Ming might indeed be talented, but surely not to such a heaven-defying degree.

Liu Zeng dragged out the materials and left with his battered box.

"You’re not going to work? I’m quite curious," Luo Chuan looked at Li Ming.

"Senior brother, I have a strange habit. I can’t have people watching me while I’m working," Li Ming explained.

"Oh, okay," Luo Chuan didn’t suspect anything and was about to leave when something caught his eye from the corner of his eye.

That was...

He stopped in his tracks, hesitatingly walked toward the other side where a tall Mecha stood. The clearly defined alloy blocks, covered with earthy yellow striations, exuded a rich beauty that made one feel as though they were beholding a mighty mountain.

Luo Chuan sized up the Mecha, vaguely sensing something, his gaze sharpening as he suddenly launched a strike with his palm, producing a muffled thud. The Mecha’s surface did not budge in the slightest, amidst the agitation of the air.

"Senior brother?" Li Ming came over quickly, his face a picture of astonishment.

Luo Chuan asked him, "What’s this?"

"Tan Guard Mecha. I crafted it little by little in my spare time, all the Flame Blue Alloy from several rooms went into this," Li Ming explained.

"Flame Blue Alloy," Luo Chuan realized, his expression turning even more complex as he surveyed the surroundings, "You created this Mecha here?"

"Yes," Li Ming nodded as if it were only natural: "The main thing is refining the Flame Blue Alloy takes so much time. It’s a good thing that the electromagnetic furnace matrix and the Tungsten Alloy High-Speed Forging Platform were up to scratch."

"And that photon heavy hammer that Ding Hui brought for me, without it, I couldn’t have hammered and refined the final fusion metals."

Exposing this Mecha was partly to explain where the Flame Blue Alloy had gone and partly to satisfy the application needs of the small University of Science and Technology laboratory.

Luo Chuan swallowed hard, looking at the "rudimentary" surroundings.

To think a Mecha could come out of all this?

He now really wanted to crack open Li Ming’s head and see just how it was put together.

This Mecha’s alloy surface could even withstand his attack—not at full strength, but still remarkably so, as its defensive capabilities had already reached C-level.

He was beginning to believe that in a few years, Li Ming might really surpass Professor Xia in weapon forging.

"Junior brother," Luo Chuan suddenly said, "Senior brother has been good to you before, hasn’t he?"

"If senior brother has something to say, just say it," Li Ming’s eyes instantly became wary.

Luo Chuan’s face broke into a smile, "Later on, when you’re capable, remember to forge a weapon for your senior brother."

"No problem, it’s a small matter," Li Ming assured.

As he was seeing Luo Chuan to the door, the lights in the room flickered, accompanied by a humming sound, darkening the entire corridor.

Luo Chuan’s expression suddenly turned grave as he protectively placed his hand on Li Ming, cautiously looking around.

However, within two seconds, the lights in the laboratory came back on.

Checking the intelligent terminal, the head of security had already sent a message explaining.

"The surveillance system crashed, causing the security system to reboot?" Luo Chuan’s face turned ugly: "Took a few days off, and all your skills are gone?"

After cursing a few times, he instructed Li Ming to be careful and then left with an overcast expression.

Li Ming agreed, closed the door, opened the intelligent terminal to look, and smiled smugly, "Finally, the virus went in. The firewall isn’t bad; it took me so long."

This crash was not accidental. Over the recent holiday period, when the laboratory had fewer people, Li Ming had been trying to hack into the security system.

Thankfully, his technical skills were solid, and even through internal operations and subsidiary systems, he had planted several sporulating, fissile viruses and had finally succeeded.

"Old Wu’s underground laboratory, I’ve been curious about it for quite some time."

The Genetic Purification Particles in his body held many secrets, yet he knew so little about them, leaving him feeling unsettled.

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