Mo Sheng and Fu Qingqing didn't try to hide their whereabouts. The news of them meeting with Qi Yuan at Tanqiu's laboratory quickly reached Xiao Yu's ears.
Hearing his assistant's report, Xiao Yu suddenly felt uneasy.
Although Tanqiu was a level four researcher, he wasn't too afraid. That was because of the special status of researchers. Although Tanqiu's position was high, it was far from being powerful.
Unlike him, Tanqiu wasn't able to put down his face, so there weren't many areas where she could influence him. Adding on Feng Qian's protection, even if Tanqiu wanted to deal with him, she wouldn't be able to do so.
But Mo Sheng was different. As the vice head of the Wilderness Exploration Department, although Mo Sheng didn't have many subordinates, there were many powerhouses who were willing to risk their lives for him. More importantly, Mo Sheng himself was a peak level six powerhouse. He was only one step away from becoming a high level powerhouse and awakening his Fate Power.
Although Mo Sheng couldn't influence the internal arrangements of the laboratory, his influence outside of the laboratory was terrifying.
Although the laboratory had all kinds of equipment, some special research could only be done in the wilderness. For example, the Wilderness Wonder.
There were many strange wonders in the wilderness. These things couldn't be copied or moved. Research on them could only be done in the wilderness.
In order to research these wonders, the laboratory had set up many bases in the wilderness.
The laboratory had invested a lot of manpower and resources into the research of these wonders. Although many researchers didn't want to go into the wilderness, sometimes they had no choice.
Due to a lack of manpower, the Wonder of the Wastelands project team often had to forcefully recruit researchers to the Wastelands.
Apart from level four researchers, even level three researchers couldn't resist this kind of recruitment.
The safety of the researchers in the lab was guaranteed, but once they left the lab, left the shelter, and entered the wilderness, many things would become complicated.
Although the shelter would arrange for powerful security to protect the researchers in the wilderness, this couldn't guarantee one hundred percent safety. Moreover, the security mostly came from the combat division and the Wilderness Exploration Department.
In the wilderness, with Mo Sheng's position, he had the ability to make a researcher die in all kinds of sudden accidents.
Xiao Yu didn't dare to guarantee that he wouldn't be recruited to the Wilderness Research Department. Once he entered the wilderness, Mo Sheng's attitude could affect his life and death.
Mo Sheng was born in the wastelands, and it was no secret that he was willing to help the younger generation from the wastelands. However, he rarely interfered with the affairs of the other departments. Most of the time, he recruited the wastelands refugees to the Wilderness Exploration Department and gave them some help with resources.
He didn't expect that Mo Sheng would take the initiative to come to the laboratory and interfere with Qi's matters.
With Mo Sheng's status, meeting with Qi Yuan was like sending a signal.
And with Mo's personality, since he had met with Qi Yuan, he would definitely make a move.
The news of Fu Qingqing going to Qi Yuan's laboratory made him even more restless.
Fu Qingqing was Mo Sheng's only student. Regardless of the reason why she went to Qi Yuan's laboratory, it meant that Qi Yuan and Mo Sheng had reached some sort of agreement.
More importantly, compared to Tan Qiu, Mo Sheng was definitely a protective person. Even Ke Shoulin might not dare to touch the people under Mo Sheng's protection.
Just as Xiao Yu was hesitating, unsure of how to deal with this, Feng Qian suddenly pushed open the door and entered.
Feng Qian walked to the main seat and sat down. His expression was calm, as if nothing had happened.
Seeing the calm Feng Qian, Xiao Yu, who'd been somewhat anxious, slowly calmed down.
"What's the matter? Why are you looking for me in such a hurry?" Feng Qian asked calmly.
Xiao Yu was silent for a few seconds, then slowly said,
"Mo Sheng and Qi Yuan met at Tan Qiu's laboratory. Fu Qingqing also went to Qi Yuan's laboratory."
Feng Qian glanced at Xiao Yu coolly.
"So, you're afraid?"
Xiao Yu wanted to nod, but when he saw Feng Qian's deep, cold eyes, he stiffly shook his head.
Feng Qian didn't like cowards. At least, he couldn't show his cowardice in front of him.
"Mo Sheng is about to step into the seventh level. Being afraid of him isn't something to be ashamed of!" Feng Qian said coolly.
Xiao Yu looked at Feng Qian in shock, as if he hadn't expected Feng Qian to say something like this. After a while, he finally caught another piece of information from Feng Qian's words.
The seventh level!
Mo Sheng was about to step into the seventh level!
Once Mo Sheng stepped into the seventh level, the position of head of the Desolate Reconnaissance Department would be his.
Although there was only a one-word difference between the positions of head and deputy head, the difference in power was like heaven and earth.
Even without the addition of a position, the will of a seventh level fighter would be respected enough in the Black Steel Shelter. As long as Mo Sheng was willing, he could even enter the board of directors.
Seeing the fear in the depths of Xiao Yu's eyes, Feng Qian silently shook his head.
When facing weak prey, Xiao Yu wouldn't hesitate to bare his fangs and display his vicious side to the fullest.
But in front of a truly strong opponent, the cowardice in Xiao Yu's personality would be magnified.
This kind of person who bullied the weak and feared the strong would only be able to bully Qi Yuan. He wouldn't be able to achieve anything great.
"Even if Mo Sheng steps into the seventh level, he won't be able to affect the laboratory," Feng Qian said coolly.
"As for the recruitment to the wilderness laboratory, there are ways to deal with that."
Xiao Yu's eyes immediately lit up. If he could avoid the recruitment to the wilderness laboratory, he wouldn't have to worry about Mo Sheng targeting him at all.
"How much longer do you need to complete your research on the basic activation of energy weapons?" Feng Qian asked.
Xiao Yu thought for a moment, then said, "About half a year."
"Half a year —"
Feng Qian repeated in a low voice, then closed his eyes and muttered to himself. After about ten seconds, Feng Qian slowly opened his eyes.
"Half a year is too long. You must produce results within three months!" Feng Qian said in a low voice.
"Chief Mo Lin is planning a large project related to mutated energy weapons. The project will officially start in about three months."
"This project is too large. Apart from a few fourth rank researchers, we also need ten third rank researchers to assist us. Mo Lin won't restrict the publication of this project's results.
Thus, this project will produce a large amount of high-quality academic papers and bring in a large amount of academic points. When the time comes, there will definitely be many third rank researchers eyeing this project. As long as you complete the basic activation of energy weapons before the project officially starts, I have confidence in letting you join this project. "
"With your current academic points, if you join this project, there's a high chance that you'll be promoted to a fourth rank researcher after the project succeeds!"
Large project!
Fourth rank researcher!
Xiao Yu suddenly became excited.
For the majority of researchers, a fourth rank researcher represented the peak. As long as he could become a fourth rank researcher, even if Mo Sheng really awakened Fate Power, he wouldn't be affected in the slightest, let alone if he hadn't advanced to the seventh rank yet.
Large projects were always the best way for third rank researchers to step into the fourth rank!
But soon after, Xiao Yu's expression became a bit awkward.
"Although the project I'm working on is progressing smoothly, three months is still too short a time frame."
Feng Qian clearly already had a solution to this. He glanced at Xiao Yu and said, "I'll have Zhong Yunhai help you."
Zhong Yunhai was also a third rank researcher under Feng Qian. He had deep attainments in the field of energy. Although his participation would speed up the progress of the project, in exchange, Zhong Yunhai's name would definitely be added to the final thesis.
This meant that Zhong Yunhai would take a portion of the academic points. Even if he was only the second author, the amount of academic points taken away was enough to make one's heart ache.
The basic activation of energy weapons research project was progressing smoothly. Even without Zhong Yunhai's help, Xiao Yu was confident that he could complete it and obtain a considerable amount of academic points.
If it wasn't for the fact that he was in a hurry, Xiao Yu would definitely want Zhong Yunhai to come over and take a share of his academic points. But when he thought of Mo Lin's large project, Xiao Yu could only suppress his other thoughts and nod in agreement with Feng Qian's suggestion.
"I'll keep an eye on Qi Yuan. No matter what project he applies for, I won't let him succeed!" Xiao Yu said.
Hearing Xiao Yu's attitude, Feng Qian was satisfied.
"Zhong Yunhai will come over to find you tomorrow. The two of you should work well together and strive to get into the big project of Mo Lin's chief!"
Xiao Yu nodded. He had already snatched three of Qi Yuan's project applications. This grudge could be considered a deep-seated hatred. Even if he was willing to give up on suppressing him, Qi Yuan might not be willing to reconcile.
It was just that Mo Sheng's sudden intervention made it difficult for him to back down.
But now that the path to becoming a fourth rank researcher was in front of him, as long as he could obtain enough academic points from the big project of Mo Lin's chief and be promoted to a fourth rank researcher, no matter how talented Qi Yuan was, he would not be able to threaten him.
So what if he applied for three third rank projects in ten days!
No matter how talented he was, he was only a second rank researcher!
Xiao Yu had already made preparations to keep an eye on Qi Yuan, snatch the project applications, and strangle Qi Yuan's hopes of success. He never would have thought that Qi Yuan would also target him at this moment, and his methods were even more ruthless than his!
In the laboratory.
The Dance of Death was placed on the test bench, isolated by a special energy shield to prevent the powerful energy fluctuations from affecting the instruments in the laboratory.
Around the Dance of Death, there was a black shadow that seemed to be alive and was constantly moving around.
Outside the energy shield, there was a mechanical alarm clock. Every twelve hours, when the mechanical alarm clock vibrated, the black shadow would stop moving, revealing the pitiful face of the Blazing Angel. She stared intently at Qi Yuan, who was busy working on the test bench next to her.
If Qi Yuan did not respond within five minutes, the black shadow would transform into a strand of tentacles and rhythmically beat the energy shield, letting out a low sound to remind Qi Yuan that it was time to feed him Asterite.
However, beating the energy shield was the last of the Blazing Angel's stubbornness. No matter how hungry she was, she would not break the bottom line that Qi Yuan had set. She would not arbitrarily open the energy shield that isolated the Dance of Death.
On the huge screen, a huge amount of data flowed down like a waterfall. Qi Yuan was focused on the data, the data center operating at full capacity, so much so that he did not have the time to pay attention to the sound coming from the energy shield.
The Blazing Angel's face appeared from the black shadow, staring blankly at the side of Qi Yuan's face. Although her expression was somewhat aggrieved, when she saw how focused Qi Yuan was, the Blazing Angel slowly stopped beating her tentacles, quietly reducing the disturbance to Qi Yuan.
When other researchers carried out research projects, they mainly relied on their rich knowledge reserves, the powerful computing power of supercomputers, and all kinds of advanced instruments.
Although all kinds of superpowers were helpful to the progress of research projects, they were basically in a supporting role.
However, Qi Yuan was different. In these two Level 3 research projects to catch up with Xiao Yu, the information provided by the Blazing Angel already had detailed answers. When Qi Yuan carried out repeated experiments, he mainly relied on his own superpowers. These experimental instruments were only in a secondary supporting role.
Although Qi Yuan had studied in Qu Shi's laboratory for a period of time, the foundation that he had laid was not solid. As he continued to copy homework, Qi Yuan's research foundation also became solid bit by bit.
As the data on the screen stopped rolling, Qi Yuan, who had been working hard, finally stopped the data center that was operating at full capacity and let out a soft sigh of relief.
After exiting work mode, Qi Yuan realized that his body was in a state of hunger.
Ever since he had absorbed Asterite, Qi Yuan slowly realized that his desire to eat ordinary food was getting lower and lower. Ordinary food could only relieve the hunger in the stomach, but it could not eliminate the hunger that came from every cell in his body.
Qi Yuan had also tried to eat the flesh of Insectoids that contained powerful energy. Absorbing the energy in the flesh could relieve the hunger in his body, but even Rank 4 Insectoids could not compare to the absorption of various metals and energy.
Perhaps it was due to the influence of the Blazing Angel, but after stepping into Rank 3, Qi Yuan realized that his body's desire for Asterite was gradually increasing. Ordinary metals and energy could no longer replenish his body's consumption.
His body was thirsting for foreign metals and powerful energy. Among the foreign metals and energy that he had come into contact with, Asterite was obviously the most suitable. It had the characteristics of both metals and energy, and it was easier for the body to absorb.
Qi Yuan pondered for a moment. Strands of Asterite energy were released from the Energy Heart to replenish his body's consumption. The omnipresent hunger was slowly alleviated.
Dong!
Dong dong dong!
The sound of knocking could be heard again.
Qi Yuan turned his head and saw the Blazing Angel staring at him pitifully while waving its tentacles to hit the energy barrier.
Seeing this scene, a line suddenly popped up in Qi Yuan's mind: Poop picker, it's time to eat!
Opening the energy barrier that isolated the Death Dance, Qi Yuan fed it a strand of Asterite energy. Only then did the Blazing Angel settle down in satisfaction.
Every time he fed it, the black shadow would be the most active. Sometimes, he could even hear the faint sound of saliva dripping.
After feeding it, the black shadow would settle down once again.
With the recovery of its strength, the Blazing Angel's appetite slowly grew. In its working state, it would need at least 2000 grams of Asterite to maintain its strength and not weaken.
Although feeding it consumed a lot of energy, the Blazing Angel's efficiency was astonishing. It only took it three days to activate 10% of the Death Dance. According to this speed, the Blazing Angel would only need a month to fully activate the Death Dance.
Of course, the premise was that the regular feeding could not be stopped. Once it stopped, the Blazing Angel's efficiency would plummet.
This was not because the Blazing Angel was deliberately slacking off, but because it consumed a lot of energy to activate the Death Dance. Only by eating Asterite could it quickly replenish its energy.
In other words, the working Blazing Angel would need to eat 4000 grams of Asterite a day!
Although Qi Yuan's current Asterite reserve was still abundant, according to the Blazing Angel's eating speed, the remaining Asterite would not be able to last for too long.
The only good news was that Mo Sheng was extremely generous. In order to activate Fu Qingqing's Death Dance, in addition to the materials on the list, he directly sent over 200 kilograms of Asterite. Even if he deducted the consumption of the Blazing Angel for a month, he would still have a lot left. It could be considered a small profit.
Qi Yuan looked at the time. From the time the third project application was taken away by Xiao Yu, half a month had quietly passed.
After half a month of hard work, he had finally completed a repeat experiment and obtained complete experimental data.
Compared to Xiao Yu who had not completed this project in half a year, Qi Yuan's speed could be said to be miraculous.
After the experiment was completed, the next thing to do was to write a thesis and submit it to < Hope >. This slap would completely land on Xiao Yu's face!