Back in the lab, Qi Yuan put the metal sphere into the warehouse. Just like the Veda, they both had the ability to activate new Tier 3 talents, but he couldn't fuse them now. He had to wait until all the check-ins were completed. If the two abilities could be fused into a core Tier 4 ability, he could fuse them at any time. If not, he would have to give up.
Qi Yuan silently calculated the progress of his check-ins. The prison's two check-ins, the disciplinary department's interrogation room's check-ins, and the two check-ins on White Elephant Street's check-ins. Unknowingly, he had already completed five check-ins.
Including the Tier 3 talent point he got from the Shattered Pass, he had six Tier 3 abilities. As long as he wanted to, he could become the strongest person below Tier 4.
However, this didn't mean much in the Black Steel Shelter.
No matter how strong a Tier 3 ability was, it was still a Tier 3 ability. It might be able to fight against a fake Tier 4, but against a Tier 4 with core abilities, it was impossible to escape death.
The Blazing Angel was a good example of how strong a Tier 4 ability was. If he couldn't reach Tier 4, it didn't matter how many Tier 3 abilities he had.
There were only five check-ins left before he could reach Tier 4.
The check-in point in warehouse 27 belonged to the Desert Exploration Department. As long as he found a suitable excuse, Mo Sheng should not reject him.
As for the check-in point in the Army, he could also complete the check-in once he finished activating the mutated energy weapon.
The check-in point on the second floor of the lab was a little troublesome. The explosion in the lab made the process of entering more stringent.
However, if he could find a way to get in through Tanqiu, he should be able to enter once. Even if he couldn't get in through Tanqiu, he could still enter after he became a Tier 3 researcher.
As for Feng Qian's laboratory, he couldn't do anything for the time being. After all, he was a Tier 4 researcher. He couldn't use any tricks on Feng Qian. However, he could imitate the Black Gold Merchant Guild. If he could make Feng Qian feel threatened and realize the conflict between him and Feng Qian, it would affect him greatly. Feng Qian might take the initiative to invite him into the laboratory for a peace talk.
Finally, there was the meeting room of the board of directors. This place represented the highest authority of the Black Steel Shelter. Most people would never be able to set foot in it in their entire lives. Only the board of directors could enter and leave the meeting room freely. Other than that, even the ministers of various departments or Heaven Awaken powerhouses like Wei Jing could not set foot in at will.
"Take it slow. First, I'll complete the sign-in at the few sign-in points that I can use. I'll think of a way for the next few. At most, I'll use the activated energy weapon to befriend a few big shots. I'll definitely be able to think of a way."
Qi Yuan let out a sigh. The Combat Division had sent news that Ke Shoulin had left for a mission in advance due to the declaration of war against the Mech King Court. Pang Jiuchuan would be heading to the frontline base in half a month.
If he wanted to complete the check-in at the combat division, it would be best to go to the combat division before Pang Jiuchuan went out.
Thinking of this, Qi Yuan communicated with the Blazing Angel. With the temptation of more food, the Blazing Angel actively increased his work efficiency. In about ten days, he would be able to complete the activation of the mutated energy weapon in his hand.
Just as Qi Yuan was planning for the sign-in, early the next morning, the order department sent four tons of Asterite in the name of project sponsorship.
Other than the two tons of Asterite that emptied Xue Hong's private storage, the other two tons of Asterite were the order department's thanks for their help this time.
Unknowingly, Qi Yuan had accumulated more than four tons of Asterite that was measured in kilograms or even grams in the hands of the other Level Two researchers. Even among the Level Four researchers, there were not many who had such a rich family background.
The next morning, Qi Yuan went to visit Mo Sheng. Mo Sheng did not ask much about Qi Yuan's request to go to the warehouse to take samples. Instead, he asked Fu Qingqing to take Qi Yuan to the warehouse.
Compared to the warehouse of the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce, the warehouse of the Desolate Exploration Department was several times bigger, and the things inside were even stranger. Not only were there all kinds of mechanical wreckage, but there were also a few huge insect corpses. All kinds of strange metals and stones were also placed everywhere. It was filled with the smell of the wilderness.
"These were all brought back from the wilderness by the staff of the Desolate Exploration Department."
Fu Qingqing pointed at an insect corpse that was the size of a small hill and said,
"This insect was a Level Six insect that the teacher hunted in the red zone. Because its ability was very compatible with the teacher's ability, the teacher wanted to capture it alive and make it into a mutated energy weapon. However, this insect was too strong. With the teacher's ability at the time, he could not capture it alive. In the end, he could only kill it and bring its corpse back."
Qi Yuan looked at the wounds on the insect's body and the hole between its eyebrows. He could totally imagine the bloody battle between Mo Sheng and this insect in the wilderness.
The red zone was the territory of the insect beasts. The fact that Mo Sheng could go deep into the red zone to hunt such a powerful insect beast was enough to show his strength.
The flesh and blood of these insect beast corpses contained powerful energy. Even if they were not frozen and preserved, their corpses would not rot. When the energy in the corpses naturally dissipated, the corpses would slowly turn into dust and dissipate.
Therefore, even if there were several insect beast corpses in the warehouse, there was no rotten smell. The thick smell of blood was handled by the members of the Desolate Exploration Department with special methods so that it did not spread throughout the warehouse.
Although the corpses of powerful insect beasts could not be made into mutated energy weapons, their corpses were still priceless. Most of these corpses were eventually bought by the laboratories and turned into all kinds of experimental materials.
"Department Head Mo always hunts alone?" Qi Yuan asked.
Fu Qingqing nodded.
"Compared to the danger of the insect beasts, Teacher is even more unwilling to face those who plot against him from behind. Therefore, Teacher always goes out alone."
Qi Yuan nodded. Although Mo Sheng had climbed to the position of deputy head of the Desolate Exploration Department and had the strength of a peak sixth-order powerhouse, there was still a deep gap between him and the residents of the shelter. Therefore, some people did not want to see him reach the high order and awaken his Fate power.
Just like the difference between a fourth-order powerhouse and a third-order powerhouse, the difference between a seventh-order powerhouse and a sixth-order powerhouse was huge. Once Mo Sheng reached the seventh-order, it meant that no one could suppress him anymore.
Even the directors of the board of directors only had the protection of a high-order powerhouse.
Qi Yuan walked around the warehouse and finally arrived at the checkpoint.
It was a black half-shield with sinister-looking spikes on its surface. There were faint traces of dried blood on the spikes.
"This is a shield?" Qi Yuan asked.
Fu Qingqing nodded.
"This is the spoils of war that Teacher obtained after killing a mechanical body. That mechanical body was a creation of the Mechanical Palace. When Teacher met it, it had just slaughtered a patrol team of the shelter."
"The mechanical body has been completely destroyed and abandoned in the wilderness. Only this shield is a bit special. It seems to be able to reflect part of the damage received to the attacker. It can even reflect the damage of elemental attacks and long-range attacks."
Qi Yuan looked at the shield in shock.
It can even reflect elemental and long-range attacks?
Is this a blade armor?
Or a thorny armor?
This powerful reflection property already exceeded the attributes of a shield. It vaguely felt like a mutated energy weapon.
Qi Yuan reached out and touched the spikes on the surface of the shield. When he completed the checkpoint, the spikes left a clear cut on his finger.
This degree of sharpness!
This shield's property was simply terrifying!
If the Mechanical Palace could really mass-produce this kind of shield, it would not be good news for the Black Steel Shelter, or even the entire Doomsday Arms.
"In the Mechanical Palace, does this shield appear frequently?" Qi Yuan asked.
Fu Qingqing shook her head.
"I have contacted the soldiers in the frontline base. The frequency of this shield appearing is not high. Moreover, there should be a certain limit to the use of this shield. Other than the Mechanical Palace, others can't use this shield even if they obtain it. I have tried to use this shield, but I can't activate the damage reflection function of this shield."
It has a special control method!
Qi Yuan looked at this shield and felt that it was even more similar to a mutated energy weapon. A mutated energy weapon that had completed its activation could only be used by its owner. If others tried to use it forcefully, they would even suffer a backlash.
Qi Yuan touched the shield again and tried to move the talent point closer. The familiar feedback appeared.
Sure enough, it can fuse with a new level 3 ability!
When the talent point fused with this shield, it formed a new level 3 ability called Steel Thorns.
The ability of Steel Thorns was powerful and simple, which was to reflect damage. Just as Fu Qingqing said, Steel Thorns could reflect not only physical damage, but also elemental and long-range attacks.
"Have any researchers tried to decipher the secrets of this shield?" Qi Yuan asked.
"There should be. The combat division also obtained this shield and seems to have traded it to Feng Qian. However, there has been no follow-up."
Feng Qian also did not decipher this shield?
Qi Yuan looked at the blood-stained shield and fell into deep thought. Although Feng Qian's character was not good, his research ability was very strong.
He was able to rely on his own strength to grow from a wilderness refugee to a level 4 researcher. This was enough to prove this point.
However, even with Feng Qian's research ability, he still could not decipher the secrets of this shield. The Mechanical Palace's achievements in the field of machinery were really shocking!
Fu Qingqing also saw Qi Yuan's interest in this shield and asked, "Do you also want to try to decipher this shield?"
Qi Yuan nodded.
"If I can decipher the secrets of this shield and create it, I can be promoted to a level 3 researcher."
"It's yours," Fu Qingqing said directly.
So casual!
Qi Yuan was shocked. This shield was personally obtained by Department Head Mo. It was a spoil of war from the Mechanical Palace. Although it was not priceless, it was definitely not cheap. She was giving it to him just like that?
"Teacher said that these things are just decorations here. It needs to be placed in a suitable place to be useful," Fu Qingqing said.
Qi Yuan coughed and reluctantly accepted the shield.
Although he could not fuse it temporarily, judging from its attributes, it was very compatible with Steel Defense and Steel Self-Healing. It should be useful when he was constructing core level 4 abilities.
After completing the check-in at warehouse 27, there were only four check-in points left.
After returning to the laboratory, Qi Yuan closed the door of the laboratory and turned off all the lights in the laboratory. He sat in the darkness and looked at the faint light emitted by the Blazing Angel's activated energy weapon. He felt the surging energy waves within the protective shield.
Fu Qingqing was injured!
Although Fu Qingqing did not show it, the small differences in her movements did not escape the data center's notice.
After noticing Fu Qingqing's change, Qi Yuan quietly activated his area detection. Although Fu Qingqing was surrounded by a level 4 ability user's force field, it could not block the area detection this time. Qi Yuan could vaguely see the injury on her body.
On her abdomen, there was a fist-sized wound. Although the wound had already formed a scab, Qi Yuan could still imagine how terrible it was when she was injured.
On the wound, there was a destructive energy residue. It was this energy that destroyed Fu Qingqing's force field and allowed the area detection to see her injury.
This was a wound that could kill a normal person. Although it could not kill a level 4 ability user, the residual energy was preventing the wound from healing.
Thinking back to what Tan Qiu told him before about Mo Sheng being targeted, Qi Yuan could vaguely feel a storm brewing.
Mo Sheng was a peak-tier 6 elite, and he was about to break through to tier 7. To the entire shelter, he was a force to be reckoned with. Although the New Humans were strong, they would not dare attack Mo Sheng directly. So, they chose to target Fu Qingqing.
Fu Qingqing was not a smooth person. She was the type who would rather break than bend. Once the New Humans targeted her, it would be difficult for her to escape from the entanglement of their schemes.
If something happened to Fu Qingqing, the injured Mo Sheng would most likely attack in anger, falling right into their trap.
Of course, those people would not kill Mo Sheng. They only needed to detonate the injury in Mo Sheng's body, preventing him from advancing to level 7, and their goal would be achieved.
After entering the Black Steel Shelter, he had many enemies but few friends. Mo Sheng, this senior from the wastelands, had always taken good care of him. Qi Yuan did not want to see him fall into someone else's trap.
Moreover, he was still under Mo Sheng's protection. Since those people wanted to make a move on Fu Qingqing, they could also make a move on him.
Fu Qingqing was already at the peak of level 4, yet she was injured to this extent. If they made a move on him, how was he supposed to deal with it?
No matter how many abilities he had at level 3, in front of the New Humans, he was still just an ant. He needed to step into level 4 to barely have the strength to protect himself.