This is really not mechanical ascension

The room was dim, the walls all grey metal, and around the central round table were five seats, four of which were filled with black projections that occasionally flickered with white noise, obscuring their faces and allowing only their voices to be heard.

Only Qin Xiao was there in the flesh, his data likewise recorded by the equipment in front of him and projected elsewhere.

"...Old Qin, your City Guard Department really made a spectacle of itself this time," one of the projections spoke up, "but for such a big operation, why didn't you inform us beforehand?"

Qin Xiao chuckled, "Internal operations of the City Guard naturally don't need to be disclosed to everyone."

"Fair enough..." said the speaker, nodding, before continuing, "But now that it's over, shouldn't you tell us where the information came from and exactly how did Pang Wenlong die?"

"The tip came from someone below me; I don't bother with such trivial matters," Qin Xiao paused before saying, "As for how Pang Wenlong died, don't you all already know? Killed by Li Ming."

"Li Ming? The guy who was too scared to show his face half a month ago and then a few days later he slaughtered Pang Wenlong? Don't act like your City Guard Department has the power to completely transform someone," another person interjected rudely, with a meaningful tone: "Old Qin, don't overreach."

Qin Xiao ignored the remark, looking around solemnly, he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the interstellar inspection team and the accompanying personnel from Blue Star are coming. Who would like to be the one pulled down from their high horse?"

Silence, no one spoke.

"It's time to start cleaning house. If you're too attached to your own hands, then let others do the chopping," Qin Xiao said with a mix of satire and laughter, "Tomorrow, the Wild Dog Gang will have a shipment arriving. Who's interested?"

...…

Taking the day off, Li Ming stayed at home until late afternoon; feeling weak from being electrocuted, he stepped out of the tub.

"I'm almost out of nutrient liquid anyway. It's a good time to buy some development agents and bring them back on the way."

After changing his clothes and stepping outside, he greeted Elder Yang.

"Not working today?" Elder Yang asked, surprised.

"No, I took a leave," Li Ming replied succinctly.

Elder Yang chatted idly for a bit, then scolded, "You little rascal, you lied to me last time saying there was no danger. And you didn't even tell me about killing Pang Wenlong, such a big deal."

"I found out from the news!"

"There really wasn't any danger, Uncle Yang is looking out for me," Li Ming explained helplessly.

"Don't make excuses for that scamp!" Elder Yang tapped his cane repeatedly but his eyes were reddening, "Just do well, do well..."

He was very pleased. When he had first suspected Li Ming of contemplating suicide, he had been terribly worried, but now seeing how well he was doing, he could not help but feel a lump in his throat.

Smiling, Li Ming said, "Don't worry, I will."

...…

It was the same place where Li Ming last bought his nutrient liquids -- Old Zhang's Nutrient Liquids. This time, Li Ming bought twenty tubes as a large customer and got a 20% discount.

He also had the owner get a tube of F-grade developmental agent from a friend's store to save another trip, totaling 21,000 Star Coins. They agreed on a time for the owner to have someone deliver it to him around ten o'clock that night.

Then he went to collect scrap, earning 3,000 Star Coins in nine hours, along with 60 units of metal energy and three tons of materials.

Timing it perfectly, he got home just as the developmental agent and nutrient liquids were being delivered.

Possibly noticing the commotion, Elder Yang's shop door opened, and Yang Yu dashed out, moving very quickly, causing Li Ming's eyes to narrow slightly.

"You took the day off today?" Yang Yu, wearing a white nightgown, bare-armed, with her collarbones and a large expanse of pale skin on display, asked excitedly, "Never mind, never mind. How do I look?"

"What do you mean 'where'?"

"What do you mean 'where'?" Yang Yu gave him a look and said, "If you can't tell, forget it. I'll just tell you straight up, I fused with a gene seed today."

"It's really amazing, I feel incredibly strong now. My dad said that, if developed to the fullest, I could even control water."

She was very excited, chattering away. Li Ming had actually noticed the difference in her immediately: her speed had increased significantly, clearly having fused with a gene seed.

"Sigh, the only trouble is it's so difficult to develop, I even have to exercise in the water," she said, sounding frustrated.

All of a sudden, Li Ming asked, "Is every student at the Capital University of Science and Technology at least an F-grade life form?"

Yang Yu shook her head, "There's no strict requirement, but it's more or less the case. Students from the six star systems under the jurisdiction of the Blue Star Civilization all aim for Capital University of Science and Technology. Most people's families will generally have it arranged before they enroll."

"Some are especially wealthy, even more formidable..."

Li Ming suddenly understood.

After sharing, Yang Yu hummed a tune and turned to go back.

"Let's try out this development potion," Li Ming said as he returned to the upper floor, clutching the slender, pale blue vial in his hand.

According to the instructions, this development potion could increase the development speed by 10%-30% over the course of three days.

He downed it in one gulp; it tasted sour and sweet, much better than nutrient fluid.

Then, he felt a ball of fire rising in his abdomen, spreading towards his limbs.

Striking while the iron was hot, he changed into the development suit and immediately started electrotherapy. The heat flow, as if awakened, coursed through his body at an extremely fast speed.

The next morning, at the break of dawn, nearing July, it was getting increasingly hot.

"28%," Li Ming's eyes shone. According to his usual development speed, he estimated that it should have been 26% today.

"The amplifying effects of the detection device can stack with the development potion."

Li Ming stretched his limbs. Because of physical condition and exercise time, not everyone could fully absorb the efficacy of the development potion, with much variability.

But he was different, able to absorb more of the potion's effects in a shorter period of time, giving high cost-efficiency.

"Almost at 30%, I should be able to learn combat skills. However... lower-tier combat skills are just a waste of time, only the core ability--Triggering Lightning is worth looking into..." Li Ming shook his head and temporarily put the matter aside.

He arrived at the City Defense Department on time today, receiving much less attention than before.

"Where did you go yesterday?" Li Ning asked casually while eating breakfast at her seat.

"Just wandered around, bought some nutrient fluid," Li Ming replied.

Li Ning didn't pay much attention and asked, "By the way, your permanent position paperwork has come through. Do you want to take the gun training? You can only carry guns after passing this training, and I saw you seemed quite interested last time."

"Let's go," Li Ming got up decisively, and the two entered the elevator to the 143rd floor.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The muffled sounds came through from the practice room, where many people were training. Firearms accuracy was extremely important at this stage.

"Come on, let's start with the basics," Li Ning led Li Ming into the practice room and picked an empty spot.

"Entering data... Li Ming, practice permitted." After the information was verified, the barrier rose, and in front of him lay a silver-white pistol.

"Balkan pistol, 7.62mm bullets, effective range 50m, the recoil isn't too big, very suitable for beginners," Li Ning said as he picked up the pistol, his eyes sharp.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Three consecutive shots.

"10.9.10"

The scoring sound played, and Li Ning grinned and appeared somewhat complacent, "A bit rusty."

"Here, let me teach you..." For some reason, as Li Ning said these words, an indescribable feeling welled up inside him.

Ever since he took Li Ming under his wing, nominally Li Ming was learning from him, but he hadn't actually taught Li Ming anything; instead, the young man had given him quite the shock.

Now, finally, it was his turn to shine in his area of expertise.

Firearms mainly relied on experience, and he was after all a graduate from a formal police academy, having handled guns for five to six years.

Normal firearms training for those with good talent would still require at least about a month to be able to fight with a gun.

"Your grip on the gun is wrong!"

"What did I just tell you!?"

He had already started fantasizing about scolding Li Ming, unexpectedly finding it a peculiar kind of enjoyable.