This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 419 - 223 The Role of Genetic Essence_2

Chapter 419: Chapter 223 The Role of Genetic Essence_2

"You make a fair point," Langna nodded, but before Cessi’s expression could ease, he continued: "However, I’m here specifically to outbid maliciously."

Cessi gritted his teeth; they could even forgo redeeming Tiago, but couldn’t afford to see him fall into the enemy’s hands.

"And our A-level life forms wouldn’t just run wild in the Land of Stars like this," Langna twisted the knife, "Or, you give me 35 billion, and I’ll back off."

Cessi was fuming, cutting off communications immediately, his chest heaving with agitation.

After ending the communication, Li Ming headed down to the third sub-level of the steel castle, where Ulrich held those disobedient yet valuable life forms.

As an A-level life form, Tiago enjoyed very high treatment, being held in a specially-made cell at the end of a corridor.

After verifying his identity, Li Ming entered the room and was hit by the stench of blood. Tiago’s injuries seemed worse, with several slap marks on his face.

His gaze swept over several surveillance cameras in the corner, a burst of electromagnetic energy flashed, and the cameras burst into sparks.

"Who hit you?" Li Ming frowned, staring for a long while, "It wasn’t Sandro, was it?"

Tiago looked at him expressionlessly with a cold gaze.

Li Ming pulled up a stool and sat in front of him, asking with interest: "What offer did Asimara give you to ambush me?"

"I have nothing to say," Tiago’s voice was cold.

Li Ming shook his head. A-level life forms were tough nuts to crack; conventional interrogation wouldn’t work.

Moreover, due to their highly evolved states, resulting in numerous transformations of their brain structures, ordinary Spiritual Ability Users struggled to break through, while higher-level ones were extremely rare.

"Forget it..." Li Ming pulled out a syringe from behind and approached Tiago.

"What are you doing?" Tiago didn’t understand, but he had a bad feeling inside.

"Taking something." Li Ming moved to the side, aimed at the body structure, and inserted the syringe into his artery, triggering the [Genetic Warrior]’s trait with his fingers on the skin.

This syringe was just a diversion; his real goal was to extract the genetic essence.

Tiago was puzzled and said coldly, "What’s the use of interrogating me? I simply obey Asima’s orders."

"You know exactly why I’m here, even more than I do. Is there any need for questioning?"

"You definitely know things that I don’t," Li Ming shook his head. His main goal was to extract the genetic essence, the interrogation was just a byproduct.

Tiago frowned involuntarily, "What you mean is, you also don’t know what I know, but you assume that I have some secrets. What are you prepared to do if I can’t give you the satisfying answers, kill me?"

Li Ming felt something being drawn out from Tiago’s body, reminiscent of absorbing metal energy, and said simultaneously, "You followed Asima’s orders to attack me, and I’ve killed your subordinates."

"To be frank, there’s no deep hatred between us. I’ve already contacted your civilization; I’m waiting for their bid."

Tiago wasn’t surprised; this was the choice that maximized interests. Although the other party killed a few B-level life forms, he couldn’t attack again for this reason.

He twisted his body, feeling as if something besides blood was being drawn out from him.

This made him extremely uncomfortable.

"However, the trade isn’t finalized yet. To tell you the truth once more, I want to fully extract your value," Li Ming said warmly, appearing quite sincere.

Tiago felt a chill at heart, the sensation was unsettling, and he said gravely, "I’m only acting on orders; I truly don’t know anything."

"Perhaps," said Li Ming, noncommittally.

Unable to help himself, Tiago asked, "What are you actually doing?"

"What are you feeling right now?" Li Ming asked, turning his head.

Tiago was stunned for a moment. Did this [Mechanic] have some illness?

Now drawing his blood, and still asking how he felt?

"This really is a question," emphasized Li Ming.

"Very uncomfortable. Although you’re just drawing blood, it feels like you’re taking it from all over my body," said Tiago with a dark face.

Li Ming pondered; the sensation of extraction was very palpable, and the duration was long. It would likely be difficult to stealthily steal it.

"By the way, I’ve also made contact with the Duke insectoids, they seem quite interested in you too. So in the end, it’s not certain whose hands you’ll fall into." Li Ming added.

"What!?" Tiago paused, then writhed in anger, "You... you... how could you do this?"

"Why not? Are there unspoken rules?" Li Ming inquired, puzzled.

Gasping for air and with eyes bloodshot and filled with veins, Tiago knew the Duke insectoids would deliberately make them suffer. If he fell into their hands, the outcome would likely be very grim.

While silently cursing in rage, sudden excruciating pain assaulted his body as if someone was chipping away at his bones inch by inch, extracting the marrow, and mixing it with his flesh and blood.

"Ah--"

Tiago howled, black veins bulging on his red skin, and blood seeped from deep within his gums. The wounds on his body’s surface, which had begun to heal slightly, were now being torn apart again.

"Ah!"

The pain seemed to intensify. Li Ming frowned slightly, his fingers had already left Tiago’s skin. Seeing the latter’s miserable state surprised him and piqued his interest further.

"Genetic Essence, what exactly is this stuff?"

Tiago’s agony was due to the completion of the Genetic Essence extraction.

His gaze became vacant as he opened the Control panel; there was something new among the neatly arranged energies.

[Genetic Essence (A): Extracted from an A-level life form, containing a mix of its genetic traits and development potential.]

Li Ming’s eyebrows rose slightly, internally shocked. How was it possible to mix genetic traits and development potential?

Beyond the description, more related information surfaced in his mind.

Genetic Essence can be used as upgrade energy for gene-related Controlled Objects, abilities, and professions.

For example, a Genetic Warrior would require a hundred portions of A-level Genetic Essence for an upgrade.

He clicked his tongue in wonder and felt exhilarated. With this, both Evolution Theory and Secret Record of Liberation could be upgraded with Genetic Essence instead of wasting metal energy and the precious Mutated Energy.

Meanwhile, Tiago’s howls gradually stopped. He gasped heavily, his body still twitching from time to time, and his eyes revealed a hint of fear and dread as he looked at Li Ming.

"You, what exactly have you done to me? I... I feel like... feel like..." He began, yet was unable to articulate the specific sensation in his body.

It just felt as if something was missing from his body, as if... as if...

"As if your path to evolution has been blocked," Li Ming finished the sentence for him.

In an instant, Tiago’s aura of dread deepened.

In fact, according to the explanation about Genetic Essence, Li Ming had essentially extracted all the evolutionary potential of a life form.

While it didn’t damage the current strength of the life form, it would prevent any further advancement, locking away the possibility of evolution.

Li Ming even wondered if Tiago would devolve over the long years to come, but it was unknown if he would fall from being an A-level life form.

A sense of indescribable loss arose in Tiago’s heart. The longing for evolution was rooted deep within the genes of every life form.

Even when he had been defeated before, he had not felt such loss.

He was a life form specially cultivated by the higher echelons of civilization, with tremendous genetic potential.

He might even reach the level of an S-level life form; while the process was incredibly difficult, it was still a glimmer of hope.

Now, this hope was blocked, and what frightened Tiago even more was that he had never heard of such a terrifying method before.

This made Tiago clench his teeth and, with a stiff resolve, said, "I... have an important piece of information. Exclude the Duke insectoids from the deal, and I will tell you."

He no longer dared to stay under Li Ming’s control for fear of other dreadful methods.