This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 172 - 105: Genetic Mutation? Ongoing Impacts Professional [Knight]_2

Chapter 172: Chapter 105: Genetic Mutation? Ongoing Impacts Professional [Knight]_2

"Mechanic?" Professor Bai, standing by the windowsill, looked over, seemingly puzzled.

Professor Xia chuckled, and Dean Chen didn’t stay long; after being previously ridiculed and trampled upon by the Sela Royal Academy, it was naturally time to regain some face.

After straightening his cuffs, Dean Chen pushed the door open and left; the corridor was already occupied by security, stationed every five steps.

At the same time, a man quickly approached, slightly balding, disheveled, in a hurry, and wearing a nameplate that read "Duan Chunsheng," one of Dean Chen’s students.

Just as he was about to speak, Dean Chen waved his hand.

The two walked to a more distant area, and Duan Chunsheng opened his smart terminal, a virtual screen popped up showing an array of data waves, and then he spoke, "Teacher, after testing, Li Ming’s blood is very normal, no abnormal factors were found."

"Even..." He hesitated slightly, and Dean Chen gestured for him to continue, "Even more ordinary than the average student."

Dean Chen didn’t understand, "What do you mean?"

"According to my test, his developmental potential isn’t just less than level eight, it’s not even at level two," Duan Chunsheng said, somewhat unsure of himself.

If this had been discovered before today, he would definitely have thought that Li Ming had cheated during the assessments.

But now Li Ming was definitely a D-level life form, with astoundingly strong combat abilities; whoever said his potential was low would likely be immediately bombarded with criticism.

Dean Chen frowned slightly, "It seems Wu Yanqing has made arrangements, but it’s not right for the developmental potential to be suppressed this low either."

"Wait half an hour, then let these blood samples leak out, Sain is very interested, isn’t he?"

Duan Chunsheng nodded.

...

In the room, Li Ming put away his smart terminal, looked around, and finally settled his gaze on Roth who had just rushed over,

"Old Roth, I have a friend who is a reporter for the Blue Star Times; she wants to interview me. She was stopped, though. Can you bring her here?"

Roth nodded, "Small problem, what’s her name?"

"Xu Wei, she should be right outside."

......

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The relentless knocking forced Qi Xing to open the training room door in resignation, and as he did, the shadows enveloped him, "Big brother, couldn’t you have just sent me a message? Why run all the way over here?"

Standing in front of him was Zhao Jingang. Observing Qi Xing drenched in sweat, bare-chested with well-proportioned muscles, he was silent for a moment before saying, "I sent you several messages, you didn’t reply."

"Oh," Qi Xing shrugged, letting Zhao Jingang come in, "I left my smart terminal in another room. That thing keeps shifting my focus. It’s toxic."

"What’s up? What’s the matter?" He said casually, lying down on a nearby sofa: "Let’s see, today should be the day of the competition. You didn’t come over specially to give me this bad news and mess with my workout mood, did you?"

At Qi Xing’s words, a strange expression appeared on Zhao Jingang’s face as he said slowly, "I came to tell you, Li Ming is already a D-level life form."

"Hm?" Qi Xing, who had been indifferent, suddenly jumped up from the sofa as if his butt was on fire, gritting his teeth and said, "That damn jerk, I still remember what he said last time. He got you to come over in person to provoke me because he couldn’t get in touch with me, right?"

He remembered clearly that Li Ming had said he would be the first to know once he became a D-level life form.

He thought it was just a joke, but had not expected the other party to follow through so thoroughly.

"I knew it, his development potential couldn’t possibly be level eight. Hiding something, for all we know it might be above level ten!" Qi Xing cursed, pointing at the ceiling.

"I didn’t come just for this matter."

Zhao Jingang’s expression became even more peculiar, his rocky cheeks forming a creepy smile that made Qi Xing shudder.

"Today, at the exchange conference, Li Ming defeated Youke, Midunson, and Balkan in a one-versus-three, sweeping first, second, and third places."

Hearing this, Qi Xing, who had been grinding his teeth and muttering curses about Li Ming, stiffened.

A look of stupefaction and confusion appeared on his face, overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information.

First place in all three categories?

To sweep first, second, and third places?

Li Ming had become a D-level life form, which was shocking enough, but what happened next was like a tale from Arabian Nights.

"What did you say!?" he clutched at Zhao Jingang’s clothes, with a mix of inquiry and disbelief, he urged, "That joke really isn’t funny."

Zhao Jingang, feeling helpless, said, "The internet is already boiling over with the news, why don’t you just check your smart device?"

Qi Xing let out a howl and dashed out the door, followed by a series of crashing sounds, and after a brief silence, another wail echoed, "If there has to be a Qi Xing, why the hell is there a Li Ming!"

...

"...Then I’ll publish the interview as is." Xu Wei put away her pen, killed the virtual screen with a pinch, and smiled, "Thanks to you, I got the first interview."

"No biggie." Li Ming shook his head, and curiously asked, "How come you haven’t been promoted yet? That last piece of news was a big deal, wasn’t it?"

"I don’t want to be stuck in an office, these stories are so interesting, and my position is already quite high." Xu Wei explained.

"Let’s get together for a meal sometime, it’s always just me and Xiaoyu, and I heard you two don’t see each other much either." Xu Wei hinted meaningfully.

"There will be a chance." Li Ming responded noncommittally.

Li Ming asked Roth to escort Xu Wei out. When he returned, the blond, blue-eyed handsome man couldn’t help but remark, "That reporter’s really talented, her interviews have such an... angle."

Li Ming had long been aware of Xu Wei’s journalistic charm, and he couldn’t help but chuckle.

Before long, Professor Xia pushed open the door, which made the infirmary’s door open wider, and gestured for Li Ming to enter.

Then, a large green iron box was brought in, measuring two meters tall and one meter wide.

The students who helped move the box looked excitedly at Li Ming, asked for two autographs, and then left in high spirits.

"The retro craftsmanship of the Sela Royal Knight Armor is quite remarkable," remarked Professor Xia, patting the iron box, which popped open.

In the box’s support fixture hung a suit of light golden full-body armor, with a green tree engraved on the breastplate.

Since Sela people naturally have green hair, green is an important totem in their civilization, with many legends around the Tree of Life, claiming they were born from trees, their hair matching the leaves.

The helmet almost entirely wrapped around the head, leaving a ’T’-shaped opening; the shoulder guards ended in upward curves like hook blades, with the gold and green intertwined patterns complementing each other, and the skirt armor had clearly defined layers.

Professor Xia sighed, "The Sela Royal Knighthood is a long-standing royal Guard with a symbolic meaning far greater than its combat purpose, and it’s highly collectible."

"What do you mean by ’highly collectible’?" Li Ming had a bad feeling and couldn’t help asking.

Professor Xia explained further, "The armor’s craftsmanship is very precise, featuring fiber thread embroidery, alloy reconstruction, and nearly flawless tempering with no stress.

"And beneath the retro surface, it also hides modern enhancements like multi-frequency amplitude reduction, information scanning, joint assistance, etc..."

"However, due to its delicate retro look, its combat capabilities are lacking, but this item wasn’t made for battle, so no harm done."

Li Ming hesitated, "Not made for battle? Aren’t they all C-level life forms?"

Professor Xia laughed, "Yes, but who said they only have this one set of armor? This isn’t a battle suit, it’s a ceremonial armor, only worn for significant events."

Li Ming fell silent and reached out to touch it.

[Sela Royal Knight Armor--C-level: A retro-crafted armor, reminiscent of everything once pertaining to the Sela civilization.

Control Conditions: 30,000 points of metal energy

Control Effect: Knight Skills--Master level

Control Ability--Ceremony: Temporarily enhances Knight Skills, granting the profession -- Knight.]

Hmm, Knight Skills at the master level? The Knight profession?

It’s certainly a showpiece, but possibly for that very reason, the metal energy required to control it isn’t excessive. If this profession has some utility, then it might be acceptable.

Li Ming felt some anticipation, but now obviously wasn’t the time for activation, he would have to wait.