CHAPTER 318 - Gene Editing Project

The new technologies in the two invention fields, one combat field, and two individual enhancement fields cost Li Lin a total of 10 skill points. Upgrading the basic prerequisite skills across the three different paths from level 8 to level 12 required another 12 skill points.

Currently, Li Lin had 24 skill points remaining, and there was no immediate need to spend them on skill upgrades.

As soon as the skills were allocated, a vast amount of knowledge surged into his mind in an instant.

Fortunately, having previously consumed the "Activating Enhancer," his physical attributes had been further boosted, so he did not experience the discomfort he had felt before.

Li Lin quickly organized the newly acquired knowledge.

The "Quantum Theory" was purely theoretical, outlining principles related to quantum fields, but largely amounted to mere "academic exercises."

Nevertheless, with this technology, Li Lin could greatly enhance the computing power of computers and AI, and apply it to communication, expanding both the range and speed of data transfer.

Issues of communication security and encryption were not a concern at this stage.

Apart from "Quantum Theory," the most pressing concern for Li Lin was the "Genetic Engineering" within the individual enhancement route.

He uploaded the "Zero-Sum Synthetic Materials" technology to the AI's database and instructed it to arrange the relevant production lines.

With more advanced new materials at his disposal and to cover funding gaps and avoid financial issues, Li Lin decided to start selling various types of compressed materials that he did not need.

The heavily downgraded mechanical laborers, now essentially fit only for menial tasks, would be marketed under the Kiramman family name, offered via a pre-order production and delivery method.

There was no need to worry about the workers' employment issues, as the price of a low-spec mechanical laborer was several times that of a low-spec power armor set.

Even with the added costs of workers' food, clothing, and housing, and providing each worker with a set of power armor, it would still be cheaper than replacing the mechanical laborers.

This was precisely why Li Lin opted for the pre-order production and sale method.

In fact, this was intentional.

Otherwise, the recently stabilized Twin Cities might face new social conflicts due to unemployment, leading to a sharp decline in stability.

Even so, the major families that had seen the normal version of the mechanical laborers would compete fiercely to purchase the downgraded versions.

Li Lin anticipated that these families might either study the mechanical laborers or use them as fearless guards, even though they lacked weapon systems.

As for those families attempting to reverse-engineer the mechanical laborer blueprints, he had no concerns.

Not only did other families lack similar technology, but even if they managed to decode and study it, it would take decades at the very least.

Additionally, to be cautious, Li Lin had programmed the mechanical laborers with a self-destruct protocol. If forcibly disassembled or damaged, the laborers would activate this protocol to destroy their internal key components, leaving no advantage for others.

After making the necessary arrangements, Li Lin headed to the basement of the Kiramman estate.

What was once a blast-proof chamber and training ground had been partially transformed into a secure warehouse for storing star iron, and another section had been converted into a sterile chemical and biological laboratory, equipped with various high-precision devices he had developed himself.

Since he had not had much time to research genetic technologies, Li Lin decided to use the cells recently cultivated from the gift of Zac, which had become a near-impossible life form with human-like thought.

The birth of Zac, who evolved from alchemical waste venom into a life form with human thought, was a rare and nearly impossible event.

His cells, having been severed from the parent body, retained only a certain biological instinct and exhibited strong regenerative capabilities. The principles behind the creation of the Shimmer agents were based on such cells.

Using these special cells proved more effective for genetic research than using white mice.

Of course, for future applications to humans, testing with white mice would still be necessary.

Li Lin donned a full set of protective clothing and carefully operated the mechanical arm to cut a small piece of cell from the culture dish, placing it on the workbench.

To avoid complications, this genetic engineering project required AI analysis and support, using specialized equipment tailored for microscopic-level "genetic engineering."

Li Lin took a deep breath, focused intently, and began by taking the sharp scalpel handed to him by the mechanical arm. He sliced through the thick skin of Zach's cell and injected it with nanobots, the "main character" in microscopic genetic engineering.

After nearly a full day and night of relentless research without eating or sleeping, Li Lin applied the individual enhancement route's practical technologies.

For instance, "Neural Tissue Engineering" focused on studying cell regeneration, enhancing the development of neurons, axons, and synapses.

Through this microscopic engineering, if Zac's original regenerative ability was "1," it had now increased several-fold to "5-8."

Furthermore, Li Lin performed a "gene test," determining its highly unique gene sequence. Combining it with "Gene Map Records" and using "Gene Editing" tools, he successfully isolated the "flesh" from the "regenerative" aspect, treating them as "independent" entities.

However, the "Gland Adaptation" technology, unlocked at level 65, was unsuitable for Zac's cells as they lacked "gland" structures.

Nevertheless, through gland adaptation genetic surgery, Li Lin could customize a biological environment's adaptability by altering glandular organisms' characteristics.

For instance, he could enable humans without gills to extract oxygen from water through their lungs and filter out the water, allowing them to breathe underwater to the limits of their body's pressure tolerance.

Alternatively, by enhancing the characteristics of human lungs, he could significantly improve their activity and oxygen storage capacity, allowing a person to engage in intense activities using stored oxygen for up to a couple of hours.

However, compared to the later-learned "Evolution Secrets" and "Gene Recombination," which could enable ordinary humans to operate like the Vastaya sea-dwelling race in deep-sea environments, this technology was less advanced.

The advantage of "Gland Adaptation" is that it involves less engineering and requires fewer modifications to the human body, keeping one within the realm of "humanity."

In contrast, with "Gene Recombination," the entire gene sequence would be thoroughly reorganized and altered.

If Li Lin were to assess it, he would argue that a person subjected to such a transformation has essentially transcended the human level, evolving into a new intelligent species.

The new technologies applied to Zac's cells went smoothly, and despite having theoretical knowledge but lacking hands-on practice, Li Lin did not falter.

However, compared to the new technologies available at level 70, these earlier techniques seemed like mere "child's play."

After a brief meal and some rest to recover from the physical and mental exhaustion of intense focus, Li Lin continued his work.

In the following days, Li Lin performed "Gene Editing" and "Gene Targeted Expression" procedures on Zac's cells.

He even exhausted his personal reserve of Zach's cells, having to borrow some from Heimerdinger's academy collection to complete the micro-surgery on Zac's genes.

"—Hah!"

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow caused by tension, Li Lin sighed deeply and slumped into a chair, finally allowing himself to relax.

The days of sleepless research had left him profoundly weary, and even the energizing "Shimmer Agents" struggled to keep him going.

Nevertheless, the rewards for his efforts were considerable.

Li Lin, now proficient with these techniques, could complete what initially took days of gene editing in just a few hours.

Moreover, with his understanding of Zac's cells, he could alter Zac's genes to transform him from the current greenish "monster" into a normal human appearance.

If Zac desired, Li Lin could even preserve his liquid form ability and give his cells "mimicry" capabilities, allowing him to take on the appearance of clothing, so he wouldn't be out of place on the streets as a "human."

After synchronizing all experimental data with the AI's database, Li Lin's mind relaxed completely, and his eyelids grew heavy.

This was the first time since enhancing his body that Li Lin felt such exhaustion.

"Thus... future gene modifications may not require my direct intervention…"

His murmured thoughts faded as he drifted off into a deep sleep.

(End of Chapter)

=========================================================

DROP THEM POWER STONES PLEASE

SUPPORT ME ON P@TREON IF YOU'D LIKE ACCESS ON ADVANCED CHAPTERS

PAT REON . COM / TurdTranslations (Just remove the space).