Chen Gu had been listening the entire time, occasionally nodding, but not voicing any opinion.

Once they had finished speaking, Chen Gu thought for a moment, then approached the remains and activated his skill, "Mind Belief."

He silently sensed the entire remains. A researcher voiced his concern, "The radiation from the remains is extremely fearsome."

Chen Gu said indifferently, "My profession is 'Radiation Missionary'." Would I be afraid of radiation?

The researcher had no reply and fell silent.

About half an hour later, Chen Gu drew the "Riverwash Sword" he carried with him. The director flinched and hid behind the other researchers. "Wh-what are you going to do?"

Chen Gu merely fixed his gaze on the remains. "I am here to cut."

"Ah?" a researcher blurted out. "You need to be careful! If you mess it up, it's completely ruined. Over half a billion will have gone down the drain..."

The others either tugged at his sleeve, stopped him with their eyes, or directly placed a hand over his mouth. It's better for him to ruin it himself than for us, right?

Chen Gu ignored them. He invoked the "Nuclear Combat Technique" and, following the feeling in his heart, a flash of sword light suddenly streaked by!

WHOOSH—

The group of tech nerds didn't even catch his movement before Chen Gu had already sheathed his sword and said coolly, "It's done."

Curious, the researchers gently operated the lifting equipment and discovered that the remains had been cleanly bifurcated. Other researchers quickly began scanning with their instruments and then exclaimed in surprise, "No problems, a perfect cut!"

Their gazes towards Chen Gu had completely changed. They were highly skilled themselves and thus revered an even more advanced level of skill. To them, someone like Chen Gu was a truly mighty figure!

"You're amazing!" Even the young researcher, who was usually fearless, used honorifics and gave a thumbs-up.

Chen Gu asked matter-of-factly, "Can I start my promotion now?"

"We will prepare for you immediately," the director cooperated fully, but Chen Gu stopped him again. "Add this as well."

The director took it, saw its contents, and then lost his composure. "Fear-insect series supermatter, a full 8.21 grams!"

The amount of supermatter needed for promotion was relatively small. For someone like Chen Gu advancing to the Second Energy Level, 4 grams was usually enough; 6 grams would be more than sufficient if one wanted to be on the safe side. What a lavish spender!

Looking at the 'Great Demon Envoy' phalanx bone remains to the side... The director sighed internally. This must be the son of a magnate—the cost of this promotion alone has surpassed a billion Starshield!

My ordinary life may seem to have its achievements, but what he spends on a single promotion is more than I could earn in several lifetimes... The director suddenly felt everything around him grow dim.

He took the supermatter and personally added it to the generator. At the same time, several researchers operated machinery to hoist the bisected remains into the generator.

When the director came out, he found Chen Gu instructing the researchers responsible for the mechanical arms, "Bring this in as well."

Chen Gu had been carrying a metal case all along. Two researchers asked, "What's inside?"

"An organ from an Energy Gathering Mechanical Species."

A researcher eagerly ran over, reaching for the case. "I can carry it in."

Chen Gu, however, did not let go. "It's too heavy. Better use the mechanical arm."

The researcher was skeptical. "How heavy can such a small case be?"

"1.02 tons," Chen Gu answered truthfully.

The researcher sheepishly withdrew his hand. "Hahaha, better use the mechanical arm then."

Chen Gu's physical fitness was top-notch among Professionals. Just because he could lift it didn't mean an average person could.

The director asked in astonishment, "What Energy Gathering Mechanical Species has such a small organ weighing over a ton?"

After thinking for a moment, Chen Gu felt there was nothing to hide and said, "Khesla."

As soon as he said this, he felt the atmosphere around him suddenly become somewhat solemn. Glancing at the director and the researchers, he saw their expressions had also turned grave. A few from the research institute whispered among themselves:

"Could it be such a coincidence? Is it that Khesla from the Kamala Cluster 78?"

"It shouldn't be. There are many Kheslas; how could it be that particular one? Besides, the Queen of Freedom killed that Khesla purely for 'Freedom'. Given her wealth and status, she would have no need to sell it."

The director cautiously asked, "Excuse me... is it the one slain by the Queen of Freedom?"

Chen Gu was puzzled. "How did you know?"

An eerie silence fell over the room—it was indeed hers! That was a trophy of the Queen of Freedom; what a massive price must have been paid to obtain it!

The director felt the gloomy surroundings become even darker.

He explained to Chen Gu, "Because this Khesla was on a planet within the Kamala Cluster 78, not far from our Witch Star. The Queen of Freedom's hunt for the colossal beast caused a huge sensation on our Witch Star back then..."

Chen Gu murmured, "Such a coincidence..."

Two researchers operated the mechanical arms, hoisting the case inside. Then the director asked, "It's all set up. You can open the case once you're inside. Is there anything else we can do for you?"

Chen Gu shook his head. "No, give me a moment." He sat down and injected himself with No. 8 Additive.

Seeing this, the director exclaimed, "No. 8 Additive! That's a precious resource from the Atomic Holy Church, impossible to buy on the open market!"

The surrounding darkness... ah, it's completely engulfing me!

How foolish! Who said he was without backing? This might be the most influential figure our Barbarian Luo City branch has received in decades!

Chen Gu, now prepared, entered the generator at a signal from the staff.

HISS—

The airtight door descended, and the generator was completely sealed. The director spoke to Chen Gu over the communication channel, "Are you ready? We're going to start."

Chen Gu replied, "Begin."

The director slowly pushed the old-fashioned lever before him all the way up. A dedicated power line began to channel immense energy into the generator.

The aging equipment vibrated slightly, emitting clanking sounds. The light inside grew increasingly brighter, eventually becoming too dazzling to look at directly.

The director closely monitored the various readings. If any of them reached the red line, the process would have to be stopped immediately, and the promotion would fail.

Fortunately, all readings were still some distance from the red line. Seeing that everything was stable, the director breathed a small sigh of relief.

Suddenly, one of the readings spiked violently, shooting several times past the red line. The director was shocked. Just as he was about to terminate the promotion, the reading quickly dropped back into the safe range.

The director thought his eyes had played a trick on him and didn't pay it much mind.

"It seems I'm getting old, just like this generator," the director mused, his enthusiasm waning.

Inside the generator, Chen Gu once again experienced the agony he had felt during his initiation ceremony. It was as if every cell in his body was being utterly pulverized, only to be reformed anew. This process wrought profound changes within him, changes that even Chen Gu himself could not clearly define...

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