Apocalyptic Mechanist

The massacre that lasted for hours had not left him entirely unscathed, but whenever he felt his sanity being eroded by the bloodlust, a slight increase in his Spirit Energy Intensity was enough to make the urge to kill recede like a tide.

After all, Spirit Energy was intrinsically linked to willpower and consciousness.

As for why he continued to kill even after the bloodlust subsided?

Because his rationalized mind told Jiang Xiao that when facing aliens, killing was the right course of action!

His gaze shifted to the Experience Points requirement, and Jiang Xiao frowned.

"At the Tier 2 Elite stage, each point of Source Energy Intensity requires three thousand Experience Points, and Spirit Energy Intensity starts at five thousand... Is there no other way but to brute force it?"

Normally, it shouldn't require so many Experience Points. Killing a Tier 2 Elite Martial artist with an 80-point strength only yielded three to four thousand Experience Points. This cost-effectiveness was simply too low.

As soon as the thought arose, an interface suddenly popped up.

[Notification: The higher the Talent Value, the higher the Experience Points required per unit of strength.]

The Endless System's sudden response startled him, and he immediately understood: "That's not surprising..."

After all, the time and energy required for a dragon to grow to its youth stage would naturally differ from that of a human.

Doran's database also mentioned similar phenomena.

The resources required for Martial artists of advanced civilizations to advance far surpassed those of their counterparts in primary civilizations. Of course, this wasn't a balancing mechanism but an inevitable consequence of the law of conservation of energy.

"If that's the case, does it mean Experience Points also follow the law of conservation of energy? What exactly is Experience Points? Is it the life energy and soul energy absorbed by the system?"

The Endless System didn't reply, and Jiang Xiao pondered.

"Never mind, improving my strength is the priority. Let me think... Increase Spirit Energy by six points, and Source Energy by five points."

He set aside six thousand Experience Points as a contingency.

As soon as Jiang Xiao finished speaking, a familiar warm and clear current intertwined and spread within his body. His Source Energy and Spirit Energy gradually solidified, and their total amount surged by nearly fifty percent.

"Personal Panel."

[Player: Jiang Xiao]
[Level: Tier 2 (Evolution: 64%)]
[Life Template: Primary Starfield Human]
[Consciousness Template: Primary Intuitive Thought]
[Innate Ability: Origin Data]
[Talent Value (Dual Talent): 2.58]
[Spirit Energy Affinity: Medium (5 Exp/h)]
[Source Energy Affinity: Medium+ (7 Exp/h)]
[Source Energy Intensity: 82 (0/3000)]
[Spirit Energy Intensity: 57 (0/5000)]
[Skills: Basic Machining (Lv10)]
[Specialization: Primary Data Construction]
[Research Slot (1/2): Floating Laser Module, Research Progress... (Estimated Remaining: 5 days)]
[Fusion Slot (1/1): Precision Box + Broodmother Egg... (Estimated Remaining: 12 days)]
[Item Slot (2/2): Black Dragon Sniper Rifle, Power Suit]

It was only then that Jiang Xiao was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Research Slot had gained an extra slot!

"Does increasing Source Energy tier add Item Slots, while Research Slots require increasing Spirit Energy tier to unlock?"

What about the Fusion Slot?

Jiang Xiao felt that the Fusion Slot was the most unreasonable function. The Research Slot still required the Mechanist to delve deeper into learning and understanding, gradually transforming memories and knowledge into nourishment.

The Fusion Slot, however, was completely indiscriminate. As long as it was within the allowed tier range, it could modify anything, regardless of its form or the potential it contained!

In Jiang Xiao's understanding, this clearly belonged to the realm of idealism.

After a moment of thought, he decided to leave the newly added Research Slot empty for now.

The existing equipment and items were not worth investing time in, and analyzing Tier 1 Source Energy technology, even with significant increases in Spirit Energy and Source Energy, would take twelve years, far too long to address his immediate needs.

The priority was to obtain the Electromagnetic Tank technology first.

'Those guys in the Kasar Street Block probably won't retreat. Perfect, it's time to harvest the leeks.'

Jiang Xiao took a sip of water and looked at Xi Guang.

[Xi Guang Arsophie (Silver Elf)]
[Level: Tier 2 Elite]
[Ability: Particle Destruction]
[Talent Value (Dual Talent): 6.34 (Foundation Damaged)]
[Source Energy Intensity: 75 (76)]

Spirit Energy Intensity: 62 (87)

Xi Guang's recovery speed exceeded expectations. With her ability's intensity, she could take on multiple Tier 2 ordinary Aliens alone, and even put up a fight against a Tier 2 Elite.

Jiang Xiao had seen it with his own eyes a few days prior: Xi Guang, with her Spirit Energy Intensity only recovered to 55, had disintegrated a giant rock blocking the underground passage into neatly arranged small cubes with a single palm strike!

The Source Energy she mobilized at that time didn't even consume as much as he did when swinging his Source Energy Battle Blades a few times.

Extreme destruction and lethality!

And this was definitely not the limit of Particle Destruction. If the user were a scholar proficient in particle theory, its power would likely be even more terrifying.

Abilities had always been a more idealistic power; their effects and limits completely depended on the user's thoughts and imagination!

Origin Data, in comparison, was much more 'practical'.

In terms of data and virtual applications, interstellar society had long established a complete theoretical and application system, covering all sorts of peculiar uses.

He didn't need to painstakingly explore it at all; he could just learn and utilize it as needed.

"Data Construction…"

Thinking of this, Jiang Xiao couldn't help but recall the specialty called Primary Data Construction. Immediately, vague concepts about how Origin Data could be encoded, invaded, and constructed, which had appeared at some unknown time, surfaced in his mind.

After pondering for a while, Jiang Xiao took out an ordinary terminal with screen lock encryption.

Origin Data flowed, and then his vision changed, with dozens of visible data streams immediately appearing.

This time, Origin Data didn't bypass the encrypted data but directly touched it. Before he could even think about how to invade it, the moment Origin Data touched the encrypted data stream, it transformed into the exact same data structure as the encrypted data stream!

It didn't trigger any alarms from the encrypted data. Origin Data silently passed through the encrypted data stream.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiao's expression became subtle.

Then, almost instinctively, Jiang Xiao controlled Origin Data to climb onto a data stream, and a picture immediately appeared in his vision.

It was the Sin City network forum!

There was no holographic projection, no playback medium, but it appeared directly in his field of vision!

Mind Invasion?!

Jiang Xiao's eyes widened, staring at this scene in disbelief.

He quickly reacted, and a bold idea uncontrollably surged. Jiang Xiao unconsciously looked in the direction of the sky.

Could Origin Data penetrate the defense ship's data firewall and invade and control the defense ship's control system?

If it could truly do that, then the upcoming plan would need some adjustments. The Sin City Council's Zerg plan might become an aid for him and the other Pan-Humans to escape!

Of course, all of this was predicated on the assumption that the starport and the defense ship wouldn't detect the invasion when Origin Data infiltrated.

Chapter 45: Harvesting Equipment and Supplies

Compared to invading machinery through Origin Data, Jiang Xiao had no clue about Origin Data's programming function.

The composition of Origin Data was not data in the conventional sense; it wasn't any known mathematical base or geometric code. It could even influence matter and energy, so it couldn't be encoded in a conventional way.

It was not a virtual symbol.

The only vague concepts in his memory were "reorganization" and "analysis."

Ultimately, Jiang Xiao gave up thinking.

He decided to set aside this difficult problem for now and prioritize more pressing matters.

Holding his teacup, Jiang Xiao decided to properly sort out his current situation and plans. Facing an important matter, establishing clear goals and a general plan flow was his habit.

'First, the Sin City Council faction. They are mortal enemies. The Viper Race and Blade Armor Race are the best sources for gaining a large amount of experience next. Their plan is most likely to attract the Zerg swarm to attack Prison Star and use unknown means to seize the opportunity to escape. I need to confirm this point just in case.

So, assuming this is the Sin City Council's objective, the fact that they lost the Broodmother Egg without a large-scale search suggests two possibilities: either they have a backup plan, or they are worried about the starport's surveillance.

I lean towards the first possibility. If the starport could truly monitor unhatched eggs, they would have acted as soon as it was born. '

After drinking some tea brewed from an unknown source, Origin Data streams surged before Jiang Xiao's eyes.

After Origin Data was promoted to Tier 2, it could use equipment to extend its influence range. The specific extension range depended on the equipment's signal strength and its own Spirit Energy Intensity.

It seemed he needed to craft a signal amplifier first. He wondered if Origin Data could reach the Star Rail Defense Ships in the sky...

"I need to confirm this. If it's possible, I'll find a way to push forward the Sin City Council's plan."

There was also the Black Mech Gang, but he had too little known intelligence. All he knew was that many high-ranking members of the Black Mech Gang hadn't appeared for years, and each Black Mech Gang 'master' rarely showed themselves in Sin City!

If he were to say they weren't up to something, Jiang Xiao definitely wouldn't believe it. The Precision Industrial Box was proof enough.

However, after his rampage in the Wicked Soul Market today, he figured the Black Mech Gang would come looking for him soon. He should be able to get a lot of information then.

In short, the current goals are to confirm intelligence and test whether Origin Data can invade the Star Rail Defense Ships.

Of course, there was also the matter of finding ways to improve his strength!

The fastest way to improve his strength, besides killing, killing, killing, was to manufacture and optimize the equipment he currently possessed.

"This is so troublesome. I wonder how to unlock the sub-professions of Spellcaster or Curiosity Master. With the unique nature of these two professions, many difficulties wouldn't be a problem," Jiang Xiao said with a headache.