This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 423 - 225: Seeing Feder Again, Nurturing the Young Sapling_2

Chapter 423: Chapter 225: Seeing Feder Again, Nurturing the Young Sapling_2

Glancing at the delivery time—half a year.

Li Ming’s mouth twitched slightly, as he added numerous restrictive conditions, including those related to delivery time and distance.

In the end, the one that appeared at the very top was "****" with a price of three billion Star Coins per ton, deliverable to a designated location in the Silver Star Cluster, with the longest time not exceeding half a month.

Li Ming’s hesitation stemmed from his unfamiliarity with these alloys, unsure of how much metal energy he could extract, and whether it would be a loss or a profit.

He tentatively locked in on this target, ready to place an order as soon as the money hit his account.

Glancing at the backend, the Borneost Civilization had yet to reply, likely pondering over his psychological state.

Just as he was about to close the Black Hole Network, a communication request suddenly popped up. Li Ming raised his eyebrows—this message was from his old friend, Feder.

This time, it was a direct video call. Li Ming hesitated for a moment, lifted his Mimic Mask, adjusted the environment, and chose to answer.

Feder’s large, weary face with bloodshot eyes and some grime appeared on the virtual screen.

Li Ming did not speak at first, while Feder exclaimed, "Big brother, you’re really impressive."

Li Ming smiled. Feder forced a bitter smile, "It’s me, I truly am Feder."

Li Ming remained silent. Feder scratched his head, his hair disheveled, "You’re not really going to make me prove it’s me, are you?"

Li Ming finally spoke up, "It doesn’t matter."

"It doesn’t matter?" Feder was momentarily stunned, not understanding.

"Whether you’re Feder or a little figure pinched out by Asimara, what do I care? What do you want to do?" Li Ming shook his head.

Feder finally got it. He went silent for a while before sighing helplessly, "As long as you’re interested in its value, even if Asimara is impersonating me, as long as she can offer you something valuable, you don’t mind making a deal with her."

"Too bad Asimara didn’t get it right and instead thought about setting you up."

Li Ming’s expression remained calm while Feder looked somewhat distraught as he recounted, "When Asimara proved that you had been captured, I almost said everything."

"But, my father saved me. Not through a direct rescue but with a subtle sense of giving up on me. This made me feel desolate, yet I came to the clear realization that no one can save me anymore, so what difference does it make whether I speak or not?"

"Lucky for me you’re formidable, so is your teacher. Asimara held me for over half a month and got nothing."

"Mmm..." Li Ming furrowed his brows, "Are you venting to me? Or complaining?"

"You’re surely not expecting me to console you, are you?"

Feder looked resigned, his expression more composed, "I have news to tell you, we’re about to arrive at the Land of Stars."

Li Ming’s eyes flashed, "I have news for you too. My teacher and Ulrich and others have already left the Land of Stars."

Feder was surprised, yet he laughed, "Asimara is one step behind again."

"Also, Asimara brought a [Subspace Folding Fortress], what news can this get me?" Feder let out another piece of information.

Li Ming’s eyes narrowed. The [Subspace Folding Fortress], he had heard of it long ago—an ultimate weapon used by the Yitelan Civilization to suppress the Silver Star Cluster, its power incalculable.

They’re really willing to invest... Li Ming marveled inwardly.

But he quickly realized that Feder must have known this piece of news not just today, yet he was telling him only now and without hesitation.

Interesting...

"My teacher is heading to the Torch Organization, they’re cooperating to create something that can open Ascender Relics." Li Ming revealed this information, and Feder’s expression flickered, but he shook his head, "Still not enough."

He had already known that the Torch Group was clandestinely approaching to create something.

"What if I tell you my teacher will definitely succeed," Li Ming added.

Feder looked astonished, surely a success? That was different.

In a fair trade, he believed Li Ming would not deceive him.

"Then some of Asimara’s plans are behind again," he mused.

"My teacher fished for someone from the Star Origin Empire, what’s their background?" Li Ming inquired.

"Gabriel..." Feder replied directly: "The son of Duke Bloodthorn from the Star Abyss Empire, and the brother of Asimara’s fiancé."

"Brother? Asimara is his sister-in-law?" Li Ming was surprised.

"I haven’t thought of my question yet." Feder didn’t have anything to ask. Li Ming then said, "One last question, how’s Old Wu?"

"Wu Yanqing?" Feder’s expression was odd, "Take this as a gift from me, he’s fine, at least a lot better than I am."

Feder hesitated, "Logically, as a member of the Yitelan Royal Family and with my father watching over, it makes sense that he wouldn’t dare to torture me or probe my memories, but Wu Yanqing being well is strange."

"I’m beginning to believe that some rumors might not be unfounded."

"Rumors?" Li Ming smiled wryly, "You’re not talking about the scandal between Old Wu and Asimara, are you?"

"I can’t think of any other explanation," Feder shook his head.

Li Ming neither agreed nor disagreed, "I’ll give you another piece of advice, don’t ever go to Ulrich’s castle."

"Also, I wish you a new lease on life."

Feder was slightly stunned, then he nodded, and as the screen turned off, he felt a sense of unreality.

Turning his head, he saw a corpse lying on the ground, clad in armor with the symbol of the Double-tailed Scorpion on the chest,

He broke the smart terminal in his hand and ignited a flame, melting various components and mixing them together, then he picked up a metal short blade and stabbed it into the root of his thigh.

Moments later, Asimara arrived with an icy expression, Feder lay in the corner, pale-faced and indifferent, "He attempted to assassinate me, but I killed him in self-defense."

Asimara stared at him coldly, "Take him to the medical room."

"Commander." Yet Feder said, "I’ve just recalled something, are you interested to hear about it?"

Meanwhile, Li Ming was clearing up background information, replying to messages from Luo Chuan, Ya Ro, and others, and noticed an unexpected person had sent him a long string of messages.

"Kay?" His expression was odd, he clicked into the message and saw it was the other’s recent itinerary.

He had secretly returned to the Judger Civilization and rallied a group of his father’s old troops, seemingly planning to overthrow the government.

The Interstellar Alliance was pleased with him because he played the role of a puppet very well, following their arrangements.

At the end, it expressed immense admiration for him, stating that they had seen his battle with Tiago and would take him as an example, lying in wait for the opportunity to overturn everything.

"A puppet of the Interstellar Alliance?" Li Ming pondered, why had the Interstellar Alliance thought to intervene in the internal affairs of a civilization?

If successful, Kay’s status would likely rise sharply, considering the Judger Civilization was an advanced one.

Hmm... This should be nurtured...

After some thought, he composed and sent a message.

After handling these matters, Li Ming then opened the Control page, ready to try out the specific function of the Genetic Essence.

This thing could upgrade the Evolution Theory or the Secret Record of Liberation, and it should be different from upgrading directly with metal energy.

He attempted, preparing to upgrade the Evolution Theory first, sailing on the journey was the best time to develop the Genetic Seed.

He chose the Evolution Theory given to him by Old Wu, named [Gale Lord], the Genetic Essence merged into the Evolution Theory, lighting up the Control page with a gentle glow.

There was no evolution pathway selection, clearly, that was a choice exclusive to using metal energy and mutated energy.

Soon, the glow dissipated, and the Evolution Theory originally symbolized by a USB drive had turned into a crystal clear crystal.

[Gale Lord Evolutionary Source – Level A: A special item that greatly enhances the development speed of life forms.

...

Control Ability – Gale Furnace: Stimulates the interior fire and wind elements, enhancing cell activity.]

Hmm? No control effect?

Li Ming was surprised and immediately experimented, and after various switches, he confirmed.

The development speed buff brought by this Evolutionary Source was nearly equal to that of the Level A Flame Thunder Evolution Theory, which is sixteen times.

However, it was originally a Level B Evolution Theory with a sequence of lesser quality than the Flame Thunder Evolution Theory by two levels.

Theoretically, there would be a gap even if it was raised to Level A, but unexpectedly, it was evened out.

"The effect was removed and instead the ability was enhanced?" Li Ming mused, given the [Genetic Warrior]’s abilities, he didn’t need the effects, so it was equivalent to no weakening.

This was no coincidence, the Genetic Essence was also a product of [Genetic Warrior], naturally, there was a special reaction between them.

He would have to get more Genetic Essence in the future, but this stuff could only be extracted from Level A life forms, not an easy task, Li Ming pondered silently.