Just as Qi Yuan was intensely preparing to "copy homework", his personal communicator suddenly rang.
Qi Yuan stopped what he was doing and looked at the time. It was already 9 PM.
There were only two people added to his communicator, Tanqiu and Su Li. Qi Yuan originally thought that Su Li was calling him for a drink, but when he opened it, he saw that it was Tanqiu.
"Why are you calling me over at this hour?
Could it be that you can't sleep and want me to warm your bed? "Qi Yuan thought mischievously.
For Tanqiu to take the initiative to send a message at this hour, it must be something serious. After thinking for a while, Qi Yuan recalled the Blazing Angel back into the energy heart and went to Tanqiu's laboratory.
Although there was no need to worry about personal safety in the laboratory, Qi Yuan was worried that the Blazing Angel would not be able to hold back and secretly eat the Asterite in the warehouse when he was not around.
After arriving at the private lounge of Tanqiu's laboratory, Qi Yuan discovered that there were two other people aside from Tanqiu.
One of them was a middle-aged man with a somewhat pale complexion. He sat opposite Tanqiu without the slightest bit of restraint.
The other person was a young girl with short chestnut-colored hair. She stood silently behind the man.
Tanqiu and the man seemed to be discussing something. Following Qi Yuan's arrival, the three of them turned their gazes over.
Following the man's gaze, Qi Yuan's body suddenly tensed up, as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on him, making it difficult for him to breathe. Even the Blazing Angel in the energy heart started to tremble, as if it had met its natural enemy.
Just as Qi Yuan was about to suffocate, his body suddenly became lighter. The invisible pressure that had suddenly appeared also disappeared, as if it had been an illusion.
Only the Blazing Angel was still curled up in the energy heart, playing dead. Qi Yuan could clearly feel its deep fear.
"I'm very sorry, my body is injured and I'm unable to completely restrain the dissipating power!" The man said with an apologetic expression.
Qi Yuan's expression did not change, but his heart was incomparably shocked.
Just a single glance from him was enough to suffocate her and make her, a Tier 4 Blazing Angel, tremble in fear. Just how strong was this man?
Tan Qiu quickly introduced the man to Qi Yuan. Only then did Qi Yuan realize that the man in front of him was Mo Sheng, the powerful man who was worshipped and idolized by all Wilderness Hunters.
The girl standing behind him was Fu Qingqing, who had risen to fame in the Iron Chariots a few years ago.
Qi Yuan sat down on a chair beside the two of them, leaving Fu Qingqing standing behind Mo Sheng alone.
"To be able to enter the Black Steel Shelter under the combined efforts of Ke Shoulin and Feng Qian, and become a second-level researcher in the laboratory, you're even more outstanding than I thought!" Mo Sheng said with a smile.
"I was forced to protect myself," Qi Yuan said modestly.
Facing an expert who could kill him with a single glance, Qi Yuan had no choice but to be careful.
"No need to be so nervous." Mo Sheng coughed lightly, and Fu Qingqing immediately patted his back.
"I asked Tan Qiu to call you over because I wanted to see what kind of young man could actually make Feng Qian and Ke Shoulin, those two old foxes, suffer."
"Other than that, I wanted to see if there was anything I could help you with."
Qi Yuan looked at Mo Sheng in surprise. Although he had long heard of this person's name and knew that he was willing to help Wilderness Hunters who entered the Black Steel Shelter, being willing to help and taking the initiative to help were two completely different things.
Qi Yuan did not believe that he had the charm to make an expert of Mo Sheng's level take the initiative to help him for no reason.
Qi Yuan glanced at Tan Qiu and found that Tan Qiu's expression was slightly different. Obviously, she did not expect Mo Sheng to suddenly say these words.
"Don't think too much."
Mo Sheng seemed to have seen through Qi Yuan's thoughts and explained with a smile.
"With your talent, Feng Qian and Ke Shoulin's blockade will not be able to stop you."
"I don't have any ulterior motives for helping you. I just want to help this student of mine gain some good karma."
Fu Qingqing, who was standing behind Mo Sheng, was obviously stunned. Mo Sheng only had one student, and that was her. But before this, Mo Sheng had never mentioned this to her.
"Fu Qingqing is too straightforward. My injuries are a bit troublesome, and I might not be able to survive. So, I was wondering if I could find her a helper in advance."
Mo Sheng coughed a few times as he spoke.
Fu Qingqing opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but Mo Sheng gently waved his hand to stop her.
Mo Sheng looked at Qi Yuan and said slowly, "Although you're only a second-level researcher now, once you're free from Feng Qian and Ke Shoulin's restrictions, I believe you'll soon be promoted to a third-level researcher, or even a fourth-level researcher. When that time comes, help me take care of Fu Qingqing. Don't let her get bullied."
"You and Fu Qingqing both came from the Iron Chariots to the Black Steel Shelter. You can be considered half a fellow countryman. If you can support each other, your future path will be easier."
Qi Yuan glanced at Fu Qingqing and said with a bitter smile, "Fu Qingqing has already stepped into the fourth-level. With my current strength, I'm afraid I can't help her much."
"It's okay!" Mo Sheng shook his head.
"I believe you'll be able to soar into the sky very soon. When you have the ability, just help me take care of her a little."
Qi Yuan could only smile bitterly and nod.
"If there really comes a day when Fu Qingqing needs my help, I won't stand by and do nothing."
Mo Sheng nodded with satisfaction and continued.
"I heard that Xiao Yu didn't hesitate to put aside his pride and snatched three of your project applications in a row?"
Qi Yuan's face darkened. He said helplessly, "You have to pay a price for offending Feng Qian."
Tan Qiu glanced at Qi Yuan. With your acting skills, you can trick Xiao Yu, but you want to trick Mo Sheng?
"It's not my place to interfere with the laboratory, but if you need it, I can sponsor a project for you," Mo Sheng said.
Sponsor a project!
Qi Yuan looked at Mo Sheng in shock. He didn't seem to understand why he would do such a thing.
As long as the project wasn't too outrageous, it would be approved by the project review team. After all, this kind of project didn't require much investment from the laboratory.
However, the amount of investment needed to sponsor a project wasn't small. For Qi Yuan, projects below the third-level didn't have much meaning. Therefore, if Mo Sheng really wanted to help him, he would definitely sponsor a third-level project.
Even an ordinary third-level project would cost no less than five hundred academic points. A slightly more complicated third-level project could easily cost more than a thousand academic points.
Although Mo Sheng was powerful, because of his background, he didn't have his own business in the shelter. All of his wealth came from killing in the wilderness. In addition, he trained Fu Qingqing. Mo Sheng definitely didn't have enough wealth to sponsor a project.
Just as Qi Yuan was surprised, Mo Sheng suddenly said to Fu Qingqing, who was standing behind him.
"Take out the Death Dance."
Fu Qingqing nodded. She extended her hand and grasped at the air. A pitch-black scepter that resembled a sickle appeared in her hand.
With the appearance of the Death Dance, Qi Yuan felt a sharp murderous intent fill every corner of the room.
Mutated Energy Weapon!
Qi Yuan recognized the Death Dance in Fu Qingqing's hand at a glance. It wasn't a common mechanical weapon, but a rare mutated Energy Weapon.
Qi Yuan had seen this mutated Energy Weapon in the Iron Chariots before. It was Sickle's blood-red Reaper's Scythe.
However, Sickle's Scythe wasn't completely mutated, so it didn't give off a strong feeling.
However, Fu Qingqing's Death Dance was different. It was far more powerful than Sickle's weapon. With Qi Yuan's current strength, just looking at it gave him the illusion that his soul was being harvested.
"After Fu Qingqing got her hands on this Death Dance, she tried many times to activate it, but she never succeeded. So, I want you to help!" Mo Sheng said.
This time, it wasn't just Qi Yuan. Even Tan Qiu looked at Mo Sheng with some surprise.
With the strength of this Death Dance, it would take at least a Tier 4 research project to activate it. Even the Tier 3 researchers in the laboratory didn't have the confidence to say that they could complete the activation. Why would Mo Sheng give it to Qi Yuan?
Based on her understanding of Mo Sheng, he wasn't a careless person. Fu Qingqing was his only student, and the rarity of the Death Dance meant that Mo Sheng wouldn't use it as an experiment. So, he must have his reasons for doing this.
Unless he was sure that Qi Yuan could complete the activation of the Death Dance!
But how could he be so sure?
Although Qi Yuan had taken out the Berserker and received Ai Xin's approval, Qi Yuan was still only a Tier 3. Let alone activating the Death Dance, he couldn't even complete the analysis.
"Activating the Death Dance is a Tier 4 research project!" Qi Yuan said slowly.
Heterogeneous energy weapons were not only rare, but activating them had always been a very difficult problem. Many researchers had applied for related projects, but no one had ever been able to come up with a mature activation plan.
After many failures, the research on the activation of heterogeneous energy weapons was not shelved. However, due to its difficulty, this research project was split into many sub-projects. Xiao Yu's research project was one of them.
The majority of the sub-projects had become Tier 3 research projects. Although there were some who had completed the research, they were still very far from the success of the final project.
"I know." Mo Sheng said with a smile.
"I'm willing to sponsor a Tier 4 research project. At the same time, I believe that you can complete the activation!"
Hearing this, Qi Yuan wasn't happy at all. Instead, his heart trembled.
He had discovered the Blazing Angel!
At this moment, Qi Yuan could feel Mo Sheng's suffocating strength.
With his current strength, he obviously couldn't complete the activation of the Death Dance. Even if he strengthened his Energy Control to Tier 3, it was still impossible!
The strength of the Death Dance was definitely not something a Tier 3 ability user could activate. Even a Tier 4 ability user would have a hard time activating it. Otherwise, Fu Qingqing wouldn't have failed.
But for the Blazing Angel, activating a heterogeneous energy weapon wasn't too difficult. After all, it was an energy life form. When it came to activating the Death Dance, it had a unique advantage.
The Blazing Angel living in the energy heart was one of his trump cards. After entering the Shelter, although he had seen many strong people, no one had ever discovered the existence of the Blazing Angel.
But now, Mo Sheng had seen through it. Although he didn't expose it, Qi Yuan was still shocked.
In the end, I still underestimated the strong people of the Shelter. Qi Yuan thought.
Since Mo Sheng had discovered the Blazing Angel, he naturally couldn't avoid the task of activating the Death Dance.
After pondering for a moment, Qi Yuan looked at Tanqiu and asked.
"Can a Tier 2 researcher apply for a Tier 4 research project?"
"No!"
Tanqiu looked at Qi Yuan like he was looking at an idiot.
"Even if someone sponsored it, the project review team wouldn't agree. Unless you don't apply to the project team, don't need funding from the laboratory, don't apply for materials from the laboratory, and do it yourself."
"A Tier 2 researcher isn't qualified to touch a Tier 4 research project!"
Being called a noob in front of others, this was a bit awkward …
Qi Yuan felt awkward, but his face didn't show it. As long as he didn't feel awkward, it would be others who felt awkward.
"It's okay. There's no need for the project review team to set up a project. I can personally sponsor it all!" Mo Sheng said.
"What do you need? You can make a list. I'll think of something."
So rich!
Qi Yuan's eyes lit up. It was as if he saw a rich person waving a cheque, crying and begging to invest in him.
Since Mo Sheng said so, if he didn't take the opportunity to buy some money, he would feel sorry for himself!
"There's no need to set up a project." Qi Yuan said.
"I'll think of a way to complete the activation of Death Dance. As for the materials, I'll make a list later."
Tanqiu glanced at the two of them. Since Mo Sheng dared to propose such a condition and Qi Yuan was willing to accept this mission, it meant that the two of them had reached some kind of tacit agreement.
Being able to connect with Mo Sheng was also good news for Qi Yuan. At least she could help Qi Yuan deal with the current situation.
She was also very curious about how many secrets Qi Yuan was hiding.
After reaching an agreement, Mo Sheng didn't stay for long. After chatting for a while, she got up and left.
Although Death Dance wasn't fully activated, it was still a powerful mutated energy weapon. Qi Yuan didn't dare to touch it directly. After Fu Qingqing personally sent the weapon to Qi Yuan's laboratory, Qi Yuan quickly made a list of materials and handed it to Fu Qingqing.
The list of materials was very simple. Compared to a normal level four research project, Qi Yuan's list was so simple that it made one's hair stand on end.
The Blazing Angel's activation of Death Dance didn't need the help of any materials at all. It only needed to eat until it was full. Therefore, the materials on the list were basically the materials that the other two level three projects lacked. It was just that the last project added a little food for the Blazing Angel.
Although Fu Qingqing didn't know much about research projects, her expression turned strange when she saw the list of materials.
"Just these?" Fu Qingqing couldn't help but ask.
"Of course." Qi Yuan smiled slightly.
"I'll give you the cost price for our first cooperation. The next time we cooperate, it won't be just these things!"
Fu Qingqing looked at Qi Yuan suspiciously. Although her rationality told her that there was something wrong with Qi Yuan's list, she didn't know how to refute it. She could only take the list and return to Mo Sheng's side.
After seeing Qi Yuan's handwritten list, Mo Sheng was obviously stunned. He didn't expect to see such a list.
"Teacher, why did you ask Qi Yuan to help me activate Death Dance?" Fu Qingqing asked, puzzled.
Before going to Tanqiu's laboratory, Mo Sheng had clearly said that he wanted to cooperate with Tanqiu. However, he didn't expect that after Qi Yuan's arrival, Mo Sheng would suddenly change his mind and hand Death Dance over to Qi Yuan.
After failing several times, Fu Qingqing knew very well that the difficulty of activating Death Dance was very high. It definitely wasn't something a rank three ability user could do.
"Qi Yuan isn't as simple as you think. Since he accepted the mission, he will definitely complete it!" Mo Sheng explained with a smile.
Fu Qingqing didn't understand the meaning behind Mo Sheng's words. She frowned and said.
"Teacher, I feel like Qi Yuan is lying to us?"
"Lying?" Mo Sheng smiled.
"Qi Yuan is a smart person, so he won't lie to you, and he definitely won't lie to me!"
"But there's something wrong with the list of materials he gave!" Fu Qingqing said.
As an ability user who was born in the wilderness, her basic knowledge was very lacking. However, from the number of materials, she could tell that these materials were far from enough for a rank four research project.
"The list of materials is just a cover. As long as he can activate Death Dance, it's enough!" Mo Sheng said.
"But, why is there Asterite in the list?
Didn't he trade a large amount of Asterite from Black Moon Merchant Guild? "Fu Qingqing was still a bit confused.
Mo Sheng thought for a bit and said, "Although Qi Yuan is only rank three, the pressure on him to feed his family isn't small. The Asterite from Black Moon Merchant Guild is far from enough for him to squander."
"Later, gather all these things, then take out two hundred kilograms of Asterite from my warehouse and send it to Qi Yuan."
Two hundred kilograms of Asterite!
Fu Qingqing was shocked by Mo Sheng's large spending. Qi Yuan clearly only wrote one hundred kilograms on the list!
"Go, Qi Yuan is worth this price!" Mo Sheng said.
"When Qi Yuan grows up, you will understand the true meaning of these two hundred kilograms of Asterite today!"