This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 160 - 102 Gathering Clouds Why do you have to force me?_2

Chapter 160: Chapter 102 Gathering Clouds Why do you have to force me?_2

"However, that thing is only available to the first, so don’t even think about it." Luo Chuan shook his head. The so-called first and second were not in the conventional sense of first and second places.

They were the top of each of the three grades, and even if he defeated Youke, he could at most be the third.

After the two had eaten, they each went back to their own activities; Li Ming continued to train, shutting off his smart terminal and turning a deaf ear to the outside world.

Two days later, the referendum issue was escalating. Someone continued to fan the flames, and one of the Conclave Deacons, Fu Zongchen, called for an accusatory investigation against Wu Yanqing.

He claimed Wu had committed murder, intentional homicide, illegally hoarded heavy weapons... among thirty-six other severe crimes.

His student, Luo Chuan, was accused of murder among thirteen other serious crimes, and other students carried numerous grave charges as well.

It was said that his lab embezzled a large amount of research funds each year, but the outcomes were few and far between, pocketing the money for themselves.

The only one not accused was Li Ming.

Fu Zongchen, impassioned, aligned with the intensifying referendum of the Heluo Star System, called for Wu Yanqing’s detention!

"Fu Zongchen is seeking death!" Luo Chuan was furious, roaring repeatedly!

The laboratory staff looked at each other; this was the first time they had encountered such severe accusations since joining Wu Yanqing’s lab.

Luo Chuan’s expression was gloomy; Xu Pinghu hurried over, his face somber: "Fu Zongchen’s assistant is here with the people from the Secret Council, and the city guards have come too.

The lab’s team felt a chill, their throats tightening.

"They are trying to do this in one fell swoop." Luo Chuan composed himself, his face stern, "Come on, let’s see."

When Li Ming arrived, he saw both sides poised for conflict, the Secret Council personnel in dark gray uniforms, their expressions solemn, their responsibilities quite broad, allowing them to intervene in almost anything.

The city guards were spread around, with Luo Chuan’s lab members behind him.

Luo Chuan’s voice was detached: "Fu Zongchen merely raised the accusations, but no verdict has been reached. Are you insisting on sealing the lab?"

"We are also investigating according to the law," declared the leader from the Secret Council, none other than Wang Yan, Fu Zongchen’s close assistant.

His expression was friendly: "If Professor Wu is innocent, we certainly won’t misunderstand him, but please do not delay our investigation."

The leader of the city guard was an old acquaintance, Meng Wankui, his face extremely troubled, clearly not wanting to get involved. Seeing Li Ming’s arrival, he visibly relaxed and quickly pulled him aside:

"Advise your senior brother to endure it for a moment; a storm passes quickly. It would be troublesome if things actually escalated."

Li Ming frowned, about to speak, when a humming noise came from the sky.

Several hover cars slowly descended, attracting everyone’s attention; someone quickly got out and opened the side door.

"The University of Science and Technology’s professor-level laboratories have special regulations. This falls under the Yitelan Civilization’s special support category. No searches are allowed before a conviction is confirmed!"

Out stepped Professor Bai, his voice clear but his expression dark, "Even if Wu Yanqing is absent, we’re here!"

"Correct," Professor Xia spoke from the side, his tone mild: "If you indeed want to search, let the chair committee issue an administrative order, don’t fool around with a search warrant."

Several high-ranking professors had arrived, and there was a hover car at the forefront, its door still unopened, but everyone knew the Dean was inside.

Wang Yan’s expression shifted; these were heavyweight professors, unlike Wu Yanqing who had many enemies, they were very well-liked.

And the Dean didn’t need any introduction, officially designated by the Yitelan Civilization.

His staying inside the car indicated he was not yet ready to completely break with the Secret Council.

Meng Wankui let out a sigh of relief and stopped pulling Li Ming, whispering to Wang Yan: "We cannot afford to clash with these professors."

He just wanted someone to give in, not wanting today’s issue to blow up. As for who should give in, he did not care; it could be Luo Chuan or Wang Yan.

Wang Yan took a deep breath, realizing the attempt was futile; while suppressing his rage, he also felt very perplexed. Wasn’t it said that Wu Yanqing was hated and despised within the University of Science and Technology?

"In that case, we naturally will not force entry, but..." Wang Yan changed his tone, "Li Ming, may I have a word with you?"

"Junior brother..." Luo Chuan frowned, as everyone’s gaze converged upon them.

Li Ming signaled Luo Chuan not to worry and nodded slightly: "Of course."

The two went inside a hover car, shut the door, and Wang Yan sent the driver away before getting straight to the point, "I won’t conceal from you, this time Wu Yanqing is destined to lose, no one can save him."

"But the Conclave Deacon’s offer still stands. You have amazing potential, there’s no need to go down with Wu Yanqing’s sinking ship."

"You want me to betray my teacher?" Li Ming countered.

"Stop pretending. You’ve only been with him for less than two months; you can’t have that much attachment," Wang Yan sneered.

Li Ming pondered aloud, "You say my teacher is doomed to fail. I need to see the evidence."

Wang Yan frowned, gradually losing patience, with Li Ming’s previous cancellation still fresh in his mind:

"You don’t have the right to negotiate terms with us. The only reason I’m telling you this is because the Conclave Deacon still has a regard for talent."

Li Ming spoke softly, "Is that so? Or do you want me to lure the dragon out of its den?"

Wang Yan’s expression stalled, annoyance flashing on his face at being seen through, he said gravely, "So what if that’s the case? You know your own status. If you want to come over to our side, you need to show your allegiance."

"This is the last time I’m approaching you. You may not believe me, continue following Wu Yanqing until the day the ship sinks!"

Li Ming silently shook his head and turned to leave the vehicle.

"Wait, I still need you to do me a favor," Wang Yan spoke up again.

The next moment, clicking sounds emanated from the four corners of the hovercar as alloy panels rose up over the windows, locking everything in place.

"You want to make a move against me?" Li Ming stopped, looking at Wang Yan with a strange expression. He wasn’t particularly formidable, just a D-class life form.

He was originally just a minor official at the Secret Council, only climbing to his current position step by step by following the returning Fu Zongchen.

"No, I just need a bit of your blood," Wang Yan shook his head, pulling out a metal syringe from his chest—Li Ming was familiar with it; it was the same kind he had found on Youke.

It turned out Fu Zongchen and Sain were mixed up together, no wonder he suddenly moved against the teacher.

Wang Yan said teasingly, "You’d better not resist. I just want a bit of your blood. If things get too messy, it wouldn’t be good."

Those people have unquenchable greed. Li Ming indeed hadn’t anticipated this move from Wang Yan. Luo Chuan and the others were just outside; they had him cornered.

"A wise decision," Wang Yan noted, seeing that Li Ming made no move, and he praised while lifting up the syringe.

Yet as Li Ming’s mouth twisted into a smile, "I hadn’t planned on killing you. Why did you force me?"

Huh?

Wang Yan was puzzled.

The next moment, a stabbing pain hit the neck, and Wang Yan’s pupils shrank violently, his mind trembled, and his skin twitched as if he had seen a ghost!

The Li Ming before him had somehow changed his stance without notice.

In the cramped car, hunched over, he held an ion long sword in a reversed grip. The slender, crystalline blade pulsed with a faint blue light, the metal syringe now broken in half, sparks flying from the cut end.

The edge of the ion blade was just a hair’s breadth from his neck.

When had that happened?

Wang Yan could hardly believe it, his throat dry, his heart stirring up mighty waves of shock. Li Ming was too fast; he didn’t even notice when he had moved.

How could this be the speed of an E-class life form? Not even a D-class could achieve this, right?

And also, where the hell did you hide such a long sword?

His certainty turned into anxious dread. He had thought this would be an easy task, but now he deeply regretted it.

His throat bobbed, then pain erupted as his Adam’s apple touched the ion state, forcing Wang Yan to retreat, his face squeezing out a pallid smile: "This... this is a misunderstanding, I was just... just... acting on orders."

"I never intended to put your life in danger, don’t be alarmed, don’t be alarmed," Wang Yan explained, his body shaking, aware of the lethal power of the ion state which his body certainly couldn’t withstand.

Li Ming pondered, "You never intended to harm my life?"

"Yes, yes," Wang Yan nodded hastily, feeling a slight relief in his heart. There were too many people waiting outside. If Li Ming killed him, he too would struggle to get away.

He wouldn’t be so foolish.

"Sorry, but I intend to hurt you," Li Ming grinned, and with a speed hard to catch with the naked eye, the ion long sword changed its posture again, piercing through his forehead.

Wang Yan’s body jerked sharply, his eyes wide with unwillingness, then slowly dimming as the wound charred, without even a drop of blood spilling out.