Hope of Returning to Molten Emperor Star!

To determine what had happened, the Universe Level crewman left the Nutrient Fluid storage room and flew toward the enhancement room.

Though A-grade Nutrient Fluid was not particularly valuable and he could buy plenty with his wealth, he would still be held responsible if anything went wrong.

He did not want to take responsibility!

Click!

As soon as the hatch opened, he saw a robot standing before the nutrient pod, operating it.

Fresh Nutrient Fluid was being injected into the nutrient pod through the pipes. This was already the ninth unit.

The Universe Level crewman stepped forward, shoved the robot aside, and hurriedly connected his communicator to the nutrient pod to inspect its operation records.

"Phew..."

When he saw that the records indeed showed that many injections, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. Nothing abnormal happened."

After disconnecting his communicator from the nutrient pod, he looked at Li Qi, who was submerged in the Nutrient Fluid, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat!

Afraid that his senses were wrong, he probed again with Gene Origin Energy. Once he confirmed Li Qi's strength, he could no longer hold back.

"What is going on? He absorbed eight units of Nutrient Fluid! How is he still at Planetary Level sixth rank?"

The Universe Level crewman was utterly shocked. How could someone still be at Planetary Level sixth rank after absorbing eight units of Nutrient Fluid?

What was happening before his eyes was far too bizarre, utterly beyond his understanding, and it left him flustered.

"This is a serious matter! I have to report to the captain immediately!"

Shocked and panicked, he even forgot to use his communicator to report it. Instead, he flew swiftly toward the control room.

Inside the lounge closest to the control room.

Borsway sat on the sofa watching a holographic film, occasionally taking a small sip of the wine in his glass. This was his favorite way to relax.

Only at times like this could his mind become peaceful, his thoughts drifting freely and unrestrained.

"Eight years. Only eight years remain."

As his thoughts drifted, this idea rose in his heart.

Borsway was a member of the Molten Emperor's Imperial Guard, responsible for protecting the imperial palace.

The Molten Emperor's Imperial Guard was quite famous within the Molten Empire and even among the nearby medium-sized universe nations.

After all, not every emperor of a medium-sized universe nation possessed an imperial guard led by three World Lords.

World Lords served as commanders!

Domain Lords served as captains!

Universe Levels served as members!

The cost of maintaining an imperial guard of this caliber would make even ordinary Immortal Deities feel the pinch. Only the Molten Sector Lord, whose wealth rivaled that of a Marquis-level Immortal, could afford such extravagance!

Borsway took pride in being a member of the Molten Emperor's Imperial Guard, because only Universe Levels who had initially comprehended the Laws could become members of the guard.

Later, however, he was selected to serve as the captain of Sand Sea 1, responsible for transporting talents valued by the empire to and from the Stellar Training Camp.

This had once left him disappointed and dejected, but fortunately, he only had to serve as captain for a hundred years. After that, he could return to Molten Emperor Star.

Now, he had already worked as captain of Sand Sea 1 for nearly ninety-two years. In just eight more years, he could return.

"Captain! Captain!"

A subordinate called out from outside the lounge, waking Borsway from his wandering thoughts and bringing his focus back.

His leisure time had been interrupted. He frowned slightly, somewhat displeased.

Using telekinesis to open the lounge door, he asked, "What is it?"

"Captain! Something happened!"

The Universe Level crewman cried out in panic.

Seeing that his subordinate's demeanor was off, as if something incomprehensible had unsettled his mind, Borsway said, "Speak properly. What exactly happened?"

"The little guy we picked up a few days ago has a problem!"

"What?" Borsway, who had remained fairly calm, jumped to his feet. "What happened to him?"

"That little guy absorbed eight units of Nutrient Fluid, yet he has only been enhanced to Planetary Level sixth rank! He is currently absorbing the ninth unit!"

"Let's go take a look!"

Borsway had no mood to hear more. He had to quickly see what had happened to the genius named Li Qi.

He could not help worrying. If something had gone wrong with that little guy, then as the captain of Sand Sea 1, he would have to take responsibility.

If things went badly, his ninety-two years as captain would have been for nothing, and returning to Molten Emperor Star would become nothing more than a dream.

The two quickly arrived at the enhancement room and carefully examined Li Qi, who was submerged in the Nutrient Fluid inside the nutrient pod.

After confirming it, Borsway muttered, "He really is at Planetary Level sixth rank. But his aura is strong, and he seems about to break through to Planetary Level seventh rank."

He looked at Li Qi, narrowing his eyes as he thought, He does not look like anything has gone wrong. The Nutrient Fluid is taking effect, and his aura is slowly growing stronger.

At this rate, he will break through to Planetary Level seventh rank today. That looks perfectly normal.

But it is highly abnormal that nearly nine units of Nutrient Fluid have been absorbed just to raise him close to Planetary Level seventh rank!

In terms of knowledge and experience, Borsway had once served as an imperial guard for His Majesty the Molten Emperor, so he naturally knew far more than the Universe Level crewmen under his command.

He knew certain secrets that even some Domain Lords knew, such as Special Life!

Letting his imagination run wild, Borsway's thoughts raced. Those with large bodies and noble bloodlines require more Nutrient Fluid than ordinary people when being enhanced, but there is still a limit.

Absorbing one or two extra units of Nutrient Fluid would already be astonishing. How could someone absorb eight units and still be at Planetary Level sixth rank?

Could he be a Special Life?

With that thought, Borsway's heart surged with excitement. Discovering a Special Life would be an enormous merit. Being transferred back to Molten Emperor Star would be a certainty.

"Wait! Keep waiting! Wait until he breaks through to Planetary Level seventh rank!"

Unlike the breakthrough from Apprentice Level to Planetary Level, the first through ninth ranks of Planetary Level were simply an accumulation of Gene Origin Energy. Every breakthrough to a higher rank required absorbing a massive amount of energy.

If this little guy absorbed an enormous amount of energy upon breaking through to Planetary Level seventh rank—enough to require one or two units of Nutrient Fluid—then the chances of him being a Special Life would rise dramatically.

Borsway waited, while the Universe Level crewman beside him saw that the captain was not speaking and seemed to be thinking. He could only wait quietly as well.

The two waited like this for over an hour before Li Qi's aura inside the nutrient pod changed slightly.

"It is coming. It is finally coming!"

After waiting for more than an hour, Borsway had finally seen what he wanted to see.

Without turning his head, he ordered, "Prepare to inject Nutrient Fluid!"

"Yes!"

Though the Universe Level crewman had no idea what was happening, he obeyed and placed his hand over the Nutrient Fluid injection button.

Li Qi's aura inside the nutrient pod abruptly changed. He broke through from Planetary Level sixth rank to Planetary Level seventh rank, and his starving cellular genes began drawing in enormous amounts of energy.

At the same time, the Nutrient Fluid in the pod rapidly decreased at a visible rate. In only five seconds, more than half had been absorbed. Without further replenishment, it would be drained in another two or three seconds!

Just then, the Universe Level crewman beside them pressed the Nutrient Fluid injection button. Nutrient Fluid poured into the pod through several pipes with a whoosh, whoosh.

The newly injected Nutrient Fluid was quickly drained as well, forcing the Universe Level crewman to press the button again.

The sound of whoosh, whoosh rang out again. Moments after fresh Nutrient Fluid entered the pod, more than half of it had been absorbed.

Fortunately, the hunger of Li Qi's cellular genes was eased. His absorption speed slowed considerably, while his body grew even stronger.

"That is right!"

"That is right!"

"He is a Special Life! I must report this to His Majesty!"

Borsway's hands were trembling slightly. He was too excited!

"You stay here. Give him Nutrient Fluid whenever he needs it!

"Other than the specially reserved C-grade Nutrient Fluid, all A-grade Nutrient Fluid can be supplied to him!"

After saying that, he did not wait for a response. He immediately left the enhancement room and returned to his private lounge to report to His Majesty the Molten Emperor.