CHAPTER 1217: CHAPTER 623: GENETIC SEED MODULATION COMPLETE

After all, such a technical means can basically only be achieved through accumulated practice, not just evolutionary levels of life advancing to a certain stage for a leap.

But in any case, the task Azure Dragon gave him wasn’t botched, and the time spent was only a quarter of his original estimate.

"Wait a moment, after the genetic seed embryo is loaded, you can take it with you," said Shepherd.

The loading itself had no technical content and naturally didn’t require his personal touch. As he walked to the side with Li Ming, in the open area, he couldn’t help but remind him:

"However, just like last time, there was no stability adjustment this time either."

Stability adjustment is an extremely difficult part of the mixing process, ensuring that the genetic seed does not produce excessive mutations within the life form.

The last time Azure Dragon asked him to mix an S-level genetic seed, and this time as well, time was the highest priority, so this step was omitted.

Last time, it didn’t matter to him, but this time, it also practically eliminated a potential risk.

"X-level evolution, extremely intense..." Shepherd stopped at that, still unclear about who exactly this genetic seed was intended for.

"Rest assured, there will be no issues," Li Ming smiled.

Seeing that Li Ming didn’t care, he didn’t say much and tentatively said, "The gene fragments extracted from the body that Lord Azure Dragon gave me are enough to mix another genetic seed."

"If you’re in a hurry, I can hasten the mixing of another one."

Li Ming smiled slightly, shaking his head, "My teacher told me that we only need one, the rest are to be handled by you, Lord Shepherd."

Shepherd felt relieved, as this was an agreement he had made with Azure Dragon long ago to offset various costs.

However, times change, and given how much Azure Dragon valued this genetic seed, he couldn’t help but speculate about a change of mind, hence his probing.

"Lord Azure Dragon is truly a man of his word," Shepherd couldn’t help but remark, as the two exchanged a few casual words.

Li Ming then asked a question, "By the way, how difficult do you think it is to mix an ultimate genetic seed?"

"Ultimate genetic seed?" The smile on Shepherd’s face gradually faded, and an air of contemplation passed over him. After a moment, he spoke: "This... I dare not speak rashly. The main difficulty lies in the mixing materials."

"What if you have the mixing materials?" Li Ming pressed.

Shepherd’s heart gave a sudden jump, but he dared not speculate excessively and hesitantly said, "If there is a body of an ultimate life form as mixing materials, then the difficulty would be significantly reduced."

"Even if due to the intensity of the body, it can only be scratched little by little, the extraction of gene fragments and initial mixing is not mere grinding work,"

Li Ming seemed thoughtful and asked again, "If given the materials, how long would it take to mix?"

Shepherd couldn’t help but show a wry smile, wondering what kind of questions Li Ming was asking.

"I don’t have such capabilities..." Shepherd shook his head, but recalling his previous state, he changed his tone:

"This time, for Lord Azure Dragon, I mixed the genetic seed with unexpectedly good condition. If such condition can be maintained, then it’s not impossible."

"Including preliminary preparations, I estimate it’s no less than fifty years, no, a hundred years..."

Shepherd’s expression changed, admitting helplessly: "I can’t give a specific time either. No one knows what the gene traits of an ultimate life form are like."

"According to evolutionary traits, the genes of an ultimate life form should already approach a perfect state, allowing many useless environments to be eliminated, achieving an embryo state without too much time."

"However, as I said, I haven’t seen it, so it’s hard to make a definitive conclusion."

Li Ming’s eyes glimmered. Given Shepherd’s abilities, to dare promise such a thing under the best conditions says much, not to mention the three great civilizations.

"Thank you for the explanation..." Li Ming nodded, while Shepherd secretly wondered whether Li Ming was asking simply out of curiosity or under Azure Dragon’s instruction.

After waiting for about ten more minutes, the genetic seed was sealed, placed in a specially-made genetic injector, with its end being a transparent spiral glass.

The black viscous liquid faintly showed the genetic embryo radiating a grayish-white glisten.

Finally... Li Ming took it over, storing it into the folded space, finally feeling at ease.

With this, he could confidently face any unexpected situation.

"Since the seed has been successfully mixed, I won’t disturb you further." He immediately bade farewell, preparing to return to the Mechanical Court.

Shepherd made a show of trying to keep him, but seeing that Li Ming was determined to leave, he reluctantly saw Li Ming off to the spaceship with a slight regret.

Seeing the spacecraft leaving the dock entirely, he finally breathed a true sigh of relief, muttering: "I really overthought it."

"Father, you..." Monica, standing beside him, noticed the oddity first, confused.

Shepherd shook his head, the importance Azure Dragon attached to this genetic seed puzzled him.

Although he put his utmost effort into mixing, he vaguely felt a fear that once the genetic seed was mixed, Azure Dragon might take some action to eliminate future troubles.

Fortunately, it was all just his overthinking.

......

"Tsk tsk..."

Aboard the spaceship, Li Ming took out the genetic seed again, rubbing it in his hands like a precious treasure.

After several years, he had finally secured it smoothly.

Reluctantly admiring it for a moment, he put it away again.

He connected the spaceship to Vermilion Bird, heading toward the nearest Star Gate Channel, a journey of about a month.

Setting it to autopilot, he also released the Mechanical Guard.

While casually browsing the news, he saw that there was no major news recently, ever since the three great civilizations announced the killing of Istanbul, which had shifted public opinion.

The entire interstellar discourse had settled into a peaceful state, gradually resuming its previous status.

Once all preparations were in place, he descended upon the Holy Castle.

The Observer had long grown accustomed to it, as this guy had to check every few hours.

He monitored in real-time, and the enormous machinery built by the three great civilizations had entered its initial operating state, with layers of restraint rings spinning faster and faster.

The reaction within the Energy Core grew increasingly fierce, the surging energy slurry sending chills down one’s spine, and the entire structure was shrouded in a dense electromagnetic field.

"It’s probably happening within these few days." The Observer seemed somewhat solemn as he held faith in the Holy Castle.

However, those guys weren’t fools, having prepared for so long meant they had some power.

Leonidas was hiding in the corner, his throat working nervously.

Li Ming remained silent, as the confrontation at the Holy Castle was a well-known tacit understanding.

The three great civilizations, in discussing captives, deliberately ignored it as well.

It really only had one meaning, to rely on one’s own ability.

At the same time, they didn’t want things here to spread to the outside world, causing greater impact.

Competition, peace, and coexistence are the normal state of affairs between civilizations, just as is now.

Though it was destined not to create more significant waves.

The three great civilizations, however, were determined, pressing urgently so as not to give him time to respond.

...

Outside Holy Castle, in the united command room of the three great civilizations, the large screen was monitoring the operation state of the "Spear of Judgment" in real-time.

The three commanders and deputy commanders of Costate were present, each with a different expression.

Among them, Heins seemed the most dissatisfied, looking toward the nearby Heckler, "Prince, you’re still unwilling to disclose how to open the Holy Castle now that it’s at hand?"

According to Heckler’s requirements, they gathered various rare materials to build the current device named the "Spear of Judgment."

But based on estimates, this device’s extreme energy intensity hadn’t reached an astonishing level.

Whether it could open the Holy Castle with a frontal attack was up for debate.

Moreover, such a giant Energy Cannon shouldn’t need many advanced materials they provided.

Yet those materials disappeared silently, and besides the public blueprints, Heckler must be hiding something.

But he was secretive, unwilling to reveal what other secrets there might be.