Section 160: The List
Bone Artificer—a little-known profession that uses various bone materials to craft components for light mechs. However, crafting a light mech engine was something Ye Zhong had never considered. This process required altering the inherent properties of the bone materials, which, one could say, fell outside the scope of a Bone Artificer's expertise. In Ye Zhong's view, a Bone Artificer's role was to maximize the utilization of the excellent inherent characteristics of bone materials. Yet, the problem before him now involved changing those very properties—these were fundamentally different concepts. Nevertheless, with the challenge staring him in the face, Ye Zhong had no choice but to brace himself and tackle it.
He requested a large quantity of bone materials from Wei Xi. Although Ye Zhong himself possessed a considerable stock of high-quality bone materials, he wasn't foolish enough to waste the hard-earned resources on this endeavor. At the same time, he specifically asked for a high-precision analyzer used by Bio-Engineers. This piece of equipment was far more advanced than the one at Madman Guan's place and was also highly user-friendly.
Given the extreme variety of bone materials and the significant differences between them, Ye Zhong had no choice but to test each one individually.
He first selected types of bone materials with excellent physical properties and placed them into the analyzer. Using the optical computer, he initiated the automated analysis mechanism.
This step involved an enormous amount of work. After the initial screening, there were still a considerable number of bone material types. The materials Wei Xi delivered filled Ye Zhong's entire room, including many rare varieties. Ye Zhong had no energy to concern himself with notions like "rare materials could impact your final evaluation." In his view, successfully creating a full-bone engine would be nothing short of a miracle!
After spending a month, Ye Zhong finally completed this step. Not only did he obtain potential Bio-Engineering formulas for various bone materials, but he also gained additional benefits. This, however, was thanks to Shang. When Shang managed to emerge for a breather, he suggested that Ye Zhong take this opportunity to collect other data on these bone materials. Ye Zhong thought it over and found the idea quite reasonable. Since they were already analyzing, why not conduct a comprehensive analysis? This data might prove useful in the future. Of course, the collection work was naturally handed over to Shang. The vast information database of Mu Shang still had too many empty sections.
Ye Zhong couldn't help but mutter to himself that Shang had actually managed to propose a useful suggestion.
Naturally, this remark provoked a strong reaction and immense indignation from Shang.
Thus, in addition to obtaining various potential formulas for the bone materials, Ye Zhong also acquired comprehensive data and information on these materials analyzed by the instrument.
The formidable nature of the Guan-style automated analysis mechanism was once again demonstrated. Ye Zhong obtained a total of over 300 formula groups. When Shang presented him with this data upon completion, Ye Zhong nearly fell off his chair!
Over 300 groups? This... this was simply astounding! Initially, Ye Zhong had predicted that even thirty groups would be quite an achievement. He never expected over 300! This figure was truly staggering!
Wei Xi was currently very frustrated. She had to find time to visit Ye Zhong every day, and his room had almost turned into a bone graveyard. Despite Wei Xi's rigorous training, being surrounded by all kinds of bones sometimes made her shudder involuntarily. However, her job responsibilities didn't allow her to leave. She could only hope that this assessment would end soon, allowing her to return to the Institute for further training.
This seemingly young Mr. Ye was not an easy person to serve. The last list of bone materials he gave her was so long that she nearly fainted on the spot. When she went to the warehouse, the supervisor informed her that many of the bone materials were unavailable, citing a recent emergency requisition of rare bone materials by the Institute, which resulted in shortages for many items on the list.
Wei Xi was dumbfounded. She knew exactly what that "emergency requisition" referred to—it was the batch exchanged with Mr. Ye for the bone components. Left with no choice, Wei Xi sought out Master Fan, who was in charge of this fourth-level assessment. After a moment of contemplation, Master Fan directly ordered seven standard combat units to the nearest base to transport the lacking bone materials as quickly as possible. This left Wei Xi stunned once again. Deploying seven standard combat units just to deliver a few bone materials for one person—wasn't this a bit too exaggerated? Hearing Master Fan issue the order via communicator, Wei Xi stood frozen like a wooden chicken!
But then, Ye Zhong asked her for an analyzer, which surprised her even further. As a pharmacy student, her studies involved extensive knowledge of Bio-Engineering, so she was no stranger to the field. The analyzer Ye Zhong requested was specifically for Bio-Engineers. Could it be that he was also a Bio-Engineer?
Deeply suspicious, Wei Xi began to pay even closer attention to Ye Zhong in the following days. However, over the course of this month, Ye Zhong was only frantically analyzing these bone materials. What was he doing? Unaware of Ye Zhong's test topic, Wei Xi was completely baffled by his behavior. After reporting to the Elder, the instruction given to her was to continue monitoring him closely.
Ye Zhong and Shang had long noticed Wei Xi's unusual behavior. The use of the automatic analysis mechanism was only employed when Wei Xi was absent, and it was always kept in a state ready for destruction at any time. If this thing fell into the hands of the Zong Suo, the trouble would be immense!
There were over three hundred sets of formulas. Each formula required no less than ten types of raw material reagents, some even needed over a hundred, and the vast majority of these reagent materials were completely unfamiliar to him.
Shang gave him another list of items: "Leaf, this is the master list of all required items!"
Although it was considerably shorter than the previous list, it was still dizzying. Furthermore, Shang had added many cultivation instruments and various reagent bottles to it.
When Ye Zhong handed this list to Wei Xi, the lengthy list directly caused her to instantly石化 (turn to stone). It took her half a minute before she managed to utter with difficulty: "Are... are all of these necessary for you?"
Ye Zhong nodded. Meanwhile, Shang sympathized within Ye Zhong's heart: "Poor little girl, Leaf, you've frightened her!"
Although receiving this list was undoubtedly a painful matter, it also allowed Wei Xi to confirm one thing: this young Mr. Ye was not only a skilled bone craftsman but also an extremely proficient cultivation master. Wei Xi couldn't judge how skilled Ye Zhong was as a bone craftsman, but she could state with great certainty that he was an exceptionally outstanding cultivation master.
Perhaps the word 'outstanding' was no longer sufficient to describe him. The list revealed too much information; it involved countless reagent materials, some extremely obscure, and many instruments typically only used for advanced procedures.
Wei Xi did not immediately give the list to Master Fan. Instead, she first submitted it to the Elder and elaborated on her own views. As the Elder looked at the list and listened to Wei Xi's explanation, his expression grew increasingly grave. He activated the communicator on his desk and issued a low command.
Within moments, a middle-aged man entered. Wei Xi was startled and exclaimed involuntarily: "Teacher Haite!"
This middle-aged man named Haite was Wei Xi's cultivation teacher. Handsome and always polite and refined in manner, he was generally very popular among the female trainees within the Zong Suo.
The middle-aged man turned his face to Wei Xi, smiled slightly, then turned to bow to the Elder: "Elder, may I ask what instructions you have for summoning me?"
"Haite, take a look at this list." The Elder's hoarse, low voice echoed in the room. As he finished speaking, he lightly tapped a point on the desk's optical computer.
A holographic projection of Ye Zhong's list immediately enlarged and floated in the air before Haite.
Seeing the first few instruments, Haite couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly, a look of considerable interest appearing on his face. But soon, his relaxed expression vanished, replaced by a face full of gravity.
"Have you discerned anything? This is the list of items requested by an applicant taking the fourth-level assessment this year. We have no information regarding his background in cultivation. I thought you might be able to deduce something from this list. Most importantly, can you roughly estimate his level in cultivation? This is very important to us. A bone craftsman proficient in cultivation – how can we let such talent slip away?" the Elder said leisurely in conclusion.
Haite pondered for a moment before speaking: "Judging from this list, the applicant should possess a fairly high level of cultivation skill. For example, this item, Biming Powder, is extremely obscure. Even many cultivation masters within our Zong Suo are unaware of this material. Biming Powder needs to be used in conjunction with Fiertesi Liquid – even fewer people know this. I only discovered it once by chance in the notes of a cultivation master. Sure enough, I found Fiertesi Liquid listed later. Furthermore, based on the list, there is a considerable number of plant materials, ores, and other non-extractive reagents listed. This is very different from the prevailing trends in modern cultivation science. Hmm, I suspect he might be a cultivation master from some ancient school."
A glint flashed in the Elder's eyes, and he asked with interest: "Oh? A cultivation master from an ancient school? That sounds intriguing. What distinguishes them?"
Vivien, on the side, pricked up her ears. It was usually rare to have the chance to hear such secrets.
Hesitating for a moment, Haite finally said, "The philosophy of the ancient school of Tuners is completely different from that of the prevalent modern Tuners. They崇尚自然 (venerate nature), are quite low-key, and are not widely known. Most of them follow family-based inheritance. Due to their long history, the depth they have reached in the field of Tuning far surpasses that of modern Tuners. They have their own specialized fields, and there seems to be a certain默契 (tacit understanding/agreement) among them. Well, I don't know much about it either; this is also revealed from fragments found in that Master Tuner's notes."
"If he is an ancient school Tuner, and he can enter our Sect, what do you think his value would be?" The Elder asked with a hint of amusement.
"Ah! His value would be incomparable! Absolutely incomparable! We know nothing about these ancient school Tuners. They possess a theoretical system completely different from modern Tunery. Moreover, their family-based inheritance holds too many things that seem incredible. If we can learn all this, I believe our Sect's Tuning level will certainly enter an era of rapid development and will definitely leave the Black Horn and the Masters Association far behind. The benefits this would bring us are also incomparable! Elder, we must not let this person get away!" Haite's face was flushed red with excitement.
Vivien looked surprisedly at Teacher Haite, who was always gentle and refined, now so agitated because of one person.
"Hmm, you are quite right! Since we have learned that he might be an ancient school Tuner, naturally there's no reason to let him go. Those good-for-nothings in the Sect still can't even produce the simplest bone components. Well, if we keep him here, this problem could also be solved. Bone components are good things, after all!" The Elder's muddy eyes were now growing brighter and brighter.
Vivien withdrew from the room, but her heart could not calm down for a long time. She never expected that this young Mr. Ye would be valued so highly by the Elder and Teacher Haite. But thinking that such a genius's fate had been decided just like that in that dim room, and not by himself, for no reason, Vivien couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow in her heart.
Alas, this kind of matter wasn't something someone as insignificant as her could decide. Furthermore, the Elder made this decision for the sake of the Sect. Perhaps staying in the Sect would be more beneficial for him. She comforted herself thus, rallying her spirits. Yet, that faint feeling of sadness in her heart simply wouldn't go away.
The Elder's instruction to her was to fully cooperate with Mr. Ye and report his every move to the Elder.
When Vivien handed that list to Master Fan, the almost bulging eyes and the精彩 (splendid/spectacular) expression on Master Fan's face made Vivien want to laugh.
Ye Zhong quickly received all the reagents and instruments.
Three hundred-plus formulas... If not for the high level of intelligence of these instruments, just preparing these formulas would be enough to make Ye Zhong spit blood. Even so, preparing these three hundred formulas still took three days. What troubled Ye Zhong, however, was that Vivien, who initially only came for a short time each day, now basically stayed by his side the entire day.
The only thing Ye Zhong felt庆幸 (fortunate/relieved) about was that Shang no longer showed that terrifyingly enthusiastic passion towards Vivien. Ye Zhong's ears also enjoyed rare peace.
Seeing Vivien watching his every move, the vigilant Ye Zhong sneered inwardly. The complexity of these formulas was such that even Ye Zhong, with his exceptional memory, couldn't memorize them quickly just by looking at the formula list. Moreover, the infiltration of bone materials involved much more knowledge. Without guidance, an outsider couldn't discern any clues at all.
So the possibility of stealing the knowledge approached zero infinitely.
Sure enough, before long, Vivien gave up this meaningless action. These formulas were like a book from heaven in her eyes. She exhausted her mental effort to memorize one of the simplest formulas and brought it back to Teacher Haite. Surprisingly, Teacher Haite was also completely baffled and couldn't make head or tail of it.
This made her admire Mr. Ye, who was about her age, even more.
But such a genius, his fate...