The Pinnacle of the Universe

The two Iron Moms returned on schedule.

When their cargo doors opened, the interiors were packed with spotless blocks of amorphous alloy, neatly arranged!

The readout showed a total of 49,803 alloy blocks.

Cheng Qi perked up instantly.

Insane. Absolutely insane!

Words could not express Cheng Qi's joy. He could only take action to make this haul even more insane!

Time for a synthesis frenzy!

[Amorphous alloy full of impurities]

[Breaking down into base materials]

[Beginning synthesis]

[Amorphous alloy] × 24,901!

After all, the red-haired rats' stomachs could not compare with advanced forging techniques. The amorphous alloy they produced was inferior, and this round of synthesis consumed half the quantity just to produce standard amorphous alloy.

But Cheng Qi did not feel it was a waste.

These alloys had practically come free, and even after their number was halved, the quantity was still staggering.

[Breaking down into base materials]

[Beginning synthesis]

[High-entropy alloy] × 12,450!

"Hehehehe..."

"Hahahaha..."

Looking at the floor covered in highly translucent high-entropy alloy, glowing with a milky-white sheen, Cheng Qi went a little dazed.

Who could have imagined this?

Who would have dared to imagine it!

Just four blocks of high-entropy alloy had previously earned Cheng Qi 34 million credit points, and Boss Mo had been practically incoherent back then!

High-entropy alloy was incredibly, incredibly rare and expensive!

What lay before him was an entire floor covered in high-entropy alloy. Not a few blocks, not a few piles-a whole floor!

A whole fucking floor!

Even the Interstellar Alliance's reserves could not hold this much, could they?

"I've definitely got to keep synthesizing!"

Cheng Qi could even hear his own heart pounding like thunder. "What world-shaking material comes after high-entropy alloy?!"

[Unable to continue synthesis]

"???"

Cheng Qi heard the Standard Template Construct's cold, merciless voice. It felt as though the entire Arctic Ocean had poured down over his head, instantly chilling his burning little heart.

Cheng Qi froze. "What's going on?"

[Technological blueprints for civilizations of level 4 and above are missing. Unable to synthesize items of the corresponding levels]

[The user may unlock higher-level synthesis by collecting the corresponding information fragments]

"Information fragments?"

Cheng Qi looked at his Crystal Bracer. The blue starlight within it continued to dance. "Your information... is incomplete?"

Cheng Qi carefully thought back.

No matter how advanced the items he had synthesized before had been, none had ever exceeded the technology of a level 4 civilization.

There was one thing Cheng Qi understood clearly.

Everything the Standard Template Construct synthesized had a corresponding item in reality.

It always worked from existing blueprints.

And once a blueprint was missing, even the mighty Standard Template Construct could not create the corresponding item.

"So that's the limitation!"

"That means this is also what I need to work toward, and what will keep me going."

Understanding dawned on Cheng Qi. "But how do I get information fragments?"

[I once suffered incalculable damage]

[My civilization also suffered a devastating blow]

[We were scattered together across the vast universe]

[I hope that one day, you can help us stand proudly at the pinnacle of the universe once more]

[Until then, I will do everything in my power to assist you]

Cheng Qi was momentarily stunned.

The Standard Template Construct really did come from an advanced civilization. It truly was a product of an advanced civilization's technology!

The pinnacle of the universe...

Cheng Qi's eyes flickered. Had they once been the most powerful technological civilization?

But no nation prospered forever, and no bell rang eternally.

At some point, they had been defeated by another civilization.

"Why me?"

A fierce fighting spirit surged within Cheng Qi. The Standard Template Construct must have chosen him for a reason. This was a weighty mission!

[Because I had rotten luck]

"What???"

[The fragments were like meteors and could not be controlled. My main body happened to crash into you, the trash worm with the least potential]

"Let me tell you something."

"Who the fuck would help you revive your civilization!"

"I'm just going to coast!"

"I'll make money and arm myself, and whenever I see a fragment, I'll take a detour!"

"A civilization as rude as yours fucking deserved to be destroyed!"

[The instant I was activated, everything was already destined]

[You will ultimately succeed]

[On behalf of my entire civilization, I thank you]

"You..."

Cheng Qi froze again. "You changed your tune pretty fast."

In truth, their bickering was just that.

Having obtained the Standard Template Construct, Cheng Qi would never actually choose to coast.

Restoring the Standard Template Construct was especially crucial.

Who in this world would complain about being too powerful or having too much equipment?

"I'll ultimately succeed?"

Cheng Qi was puzzled. "In theory, technology should be able to control time, but I don't know what level a technological civilization has to reach to grasp time's secrets and hold its key."

"Could the Standard Template Construct's parent civilization have already reached that level?"

He shook his head, clearing those thoughts away.

None of this was something Cheng Qi could figure out at present.

Regardless, the Standard Template Construct currently contained every design blueprint from civilizations below level 4.

The human civilization Cheng Qi lived in had not even broken through to level 2.

In other words, the Standard Template Construct's very existence gave him an overwhelming advantage.

As long as he used it properly, nothing would cut off his upward path.

As for the floor covered in high-entropy alloy, all he could do for now was sell it to Boss Mo.

Cheng Qi felt a little eager.

What expression would Boss Mo make when he learned the size of this deal?

"Bzz, bzz..."

"Calling Boss Mo."

Cheng Qi switched on the dedicated radio. "Your destined top customer and unparalleled benefactor is online."

"Cheng Qi."

Mo's voice was as steady as ever. "I did some investigating. The Gray Storm on Earth entered its final stage four hours ago, so why haven't my twenty tech crates returned?"

Hah. This guy really had no feelings.

Cheng Qi slowly exhaled. "Don't you know? Life is unpredictable. Eight or nine times out of ten, things don't go your way."

"What?"

Mo's voice came through. "You needed new materials, so you kept them for yourself?"

"Huh?"

"Did you mishear me, or is the signal bad?"

Cheng Qi was speechless. "You've got the wrong idea. I really value the chance to trade with you."

"What did you say?"

Mo continued, "Those crates are expensive, and there's no way they're free?"

What the hell?

Cheng Qi narrowed his eyes.

This guy figured it out. Instead of exposing me outright, he's dropping hints?

Higher-Grade Gene Bearers really do have class. Even the way they talk is sophisticated.

"None of that matters. When the Gray Storm hit, I got a huge haul of good stuff!"

"What? This is a matter of principle, and you can't expect to brush it aside?!"

What the hell?

Cheng Qi froze again. Boss Mo, you're a real genius. You even guessed that one. Are you studying for a graduate entrance exam?

He cleared his throat.

Cheng Qi said, "I got more high-entropy alloy."

"What?!"

This time, Mo stopped guessing. He had never expected Cheng Qi to produce more high-entropy alloy in such a short time, and it startled him.

"Are you hiding some incredible secret?"

Mo's voice was full of questions. "High-entropy alloy is scarce throughout the entire Solar System. How can you just produce it whenever you want?"

"Didn't I tell you? The Gray Storm swept up a huge amount of garbage."

"And I've always been lucky, so I happened to pick up some high-entropy alloy."

Cheng Qi sounded perfectly natural. He was a little curious himself. His genes were already C-level, a higher grade than Mo's, so why could he still spout nonsense without blushing or his heart skipping a beat?

"How many blocks did you get this time?"

Mo's voice turned cautious. Anything involving high-entropy alloy was big business.

And he had already shown considerable faith in Cheng Qi by specifically asking for a number of "blocks."

"12,450 blocks."

"What?!"

"12,450 blocks?"

"What?!"

"Is your signal actually bad? 12,450 blocks! I've said it several times!"

Thud!

Cheng Qi suddenly heard a strange noise through the communicator.

Did Mo fall off his chair?!

Cheng Qi scratched his head. A big boss and a Higher-Grade Gene Bearer, yet this easily rattled? What a joke!

"Wait right there!"

"The transport crates will be there immediately!"

"And don't drink those low-quality Genetic Serums!"