Metabolism

"Engineer Li, what do you think? How else can we modify this GTR of mine? The previous modifications weren't good; it couldn't pick up speed in corners, and I lost miserably. They say you, Engineer Li, are a true master of car modification. I came all the way from Jinling. Don't worry, there's the modification fee, and if you do a good job, I'll give you an extra reward."

The GTR owner, who clearly wasn't short on cash, said to Du Ke.

Inside the modification shop, Du Ke, who was using the alias Li Changyang, wore a simple mechanic's uniform and a safety helmet. He replied calmly, "Let me take a look first."

He then instructed the young mechanics following him to open the GTR's hood and remove a few outer panels to inspect the previous modifications.

After some tinkering.

Du Ke, who had already "seen" the structure clearly, said to the GTR owner, "I don't know where you had it modified before, and I can't say it was done poorly, but the craftsmanship is clearly subpar, especially the power transmission system... here, here, and here... there are obvious flaws in the workmanship."

"So, if you fix it, will it be able to handle corners?" the owner pressed.

"No, this modification plan wasn't designed for corners from the start. To pursue cornering acceleration based on the current setup, we'd need to perform major surgery."

The GTR owner grumbled indignantly about someone ripping him off, then said eagerly, "Fine, major surgery it is. As long as you, Engineer Li, can fix it for me, money is no object. Once I test it in the corners and it's good, I'll transfer you 500,000 directly as a bonus, not to mention anything else."

"Certainly. I'll draw up a list first. Some parts will need to be imported from abroad, and they're very expensive," Du Ke said, having systematically replicated almost every car structure.

While he couldn't materialize a complete car, no one in the world knew more about car parts than he did.

A list was quickly compiled, totaling over 1.7 million, which was almost enough to buy a new GTR. The modification fee was separate at 300,000, bringing the total to over 2 million.

However, the GTR owner didn't even bat an eye and transferred the money directly to Boss Xu.

Motivated by the 500,000 bonus, Du Ke became even more serious and personally got involved in the modification. He usually didn't get his hands dirty, but the GTR owner was paying so much that he could only mutter "It smells so good" and work diligently.

The future tech mogul was personally getting under the car to modify it for someone.

A few more years down the line, this GTR owner would have a story to brag about for a lifetime. Of course, that's assuming he knew Li Changyang was Du Ke; otherwise, it would just be a forgotten tale.

It was already a month later when the two GTRs were modified and ready for road testing.

After personally testing the car for straight-line acceleration and high-speed cornering, the owner was full of praise. "The power is so much stronger than before, amazing! Engineer Li, your skill is... I have only one word for it: I'm impressed!" After speaking, he immediately initiated a bank transfer via an app, and the 500,000 was transferred in minutes.

A text message arrived on his Mi 6.

Du Ke glanced at it and smiled faintly. "Boss, it's been a pleasure doing business with you. I wish you victory in all your battles!"

"Haha, thanks for the good words, Engineer Li. I'll have someone tow the GTR over right away. I need to race that scumbag again this week. How dare he rip me off! I'll beat him to a pulp!"

The GTR owner left excitedly, and Du Ke returned to his previous work attitude.

Infrared imager, night vision device, 360-degree panoramic camera, military telescope, astronomical telescope, toilet lid, clothes drying rack, AA battery, chewing gum.

Du Ke couldn't remember how many items he had replicated. If something could be replicated, even a stone, he would replicate it and store the data in his Mind Armor for future use.

Sequences, limits, calculus, analytic geometry in space, linear algebra, series, ordinary differential equations... condensed matter physics, quantum Hall effect, Maxwell's equations, Dirac equation...

Besides replicating items.

Du Ke's online self-study content had gradually moved from university fundamentals to more advanced topics. Especially in Mathematics, to understand some difficult problems, he not only paid professors who were teaching online to help him understand but also privately consulted with experts from research institutions he had become familiar with.

It could be said that over the past six months, he had been in a state of comprehensive improvement. Compared to his former self, who was muddled and aimless.

He had undergone a complete transformation.

"Phew!"

"Although it's exhilarating, it's also... truly tiring."

Du Ke rubbed his head. Even though cultivating Mind Power had improved his mental strength, he was still exhausted by the high-intensity learning.

"A single person's strength is truly limited!"

"Collaborating with the country would probably be the best solution."

He hadn't considered revealing the secret of the Mind Armor to the country, but he didn't dare. It wasn't that all countries were bad, but their perspectives were different.

The country would definitely handle it in a way that benefited itself, but that might not be beneficial for Du Ke. For example, from the country's perspective, stripping away the Mind Armor would undoubtedly be the best option. Only by having the Mind Armor in the country's hands could they feel secure.

But what would stripping away the Mind Armor mean for Du Ke?

He didn't want to think about it.

Even if it couldn't be stripped away, he would most likely become a lab rat, losing all personal freedom from then on.

Perhaps the country would treat him well, providing him with everything comfortably except for his freedom. But who could guarantee that there wouldn't be ambitious individuals within the country who would secretly seize the Mind Armor and use it for evil? He could guarantee that he would be a law-abiding citizen, but he couldn't guarantee that others would be the same.

Therefore.

He could only choose to go it alone, developing silently by himself. Once he reached a certain level, he might consider how to deal with the Mind Armor.

"Instead of thinking about these pointless things, it's better to focus on designing the Nano Armor and protecting my own life." As night fell, in a recently rented apartment, he continued to perfect the already very impressive Nano Armor.

He tried adding various devices to the Nano Armor.

Or, based on the Mind Armor, he would materialize sports car structures and conduct experiments to see if he could modify them like this, improving his work skills.

Time flew by.

It was already the end of September. The energy stored in the Mind Armor was gradually approaching the target, and he could start considering the matter of traversing worlds.

Dressed anew and looking in the mirror, he saw his strange self clad in the Nano Armor. The expression beneath the helmet was very complex. "Traversing to a new world... will it lead me to the pinnacle, or an untimely death on an alien planet?"

He had to reconsider.

Whether to take this step.

The Mind God Race has identified a habitable planet, but is it habitable for humans? What are the dangers, and can they escape in time?

All of this terrified him, making him want to retreat.

But Du Ke suddenly clenched his fist: "A life is like a single season for plants, a goose leaves its call, and a person leaves their name! I, Du Ke, would rather die unknown than live an ordinary life. I will conquer the world!"

His resolve hardened.

Then, Du Ke took leave to visit his hometown, preparing to settle his affairs... well, his current affairs.