It was a refining workshop that was not very large. To be more exact, it was a suite that was connected to a refining workshop and a living room. There was also a small warehouse nearby where all kinds of experiment materials were stored. If possible, one could study in this place for months without going out at all.
From that point of view, this place was more or less like a 'residence' that was isolated from the rest of the world for training.
There was nobody else in the workshop except for an old refiner whose gray hair was messy and whose face was as wrinkled as a dried walnut. There was no telling how old he was, but he was studying a blood-red ball wholeheartedly, which was exactly the one that Cheng Xuansu had retrieved from Tang Xiaoxing's throat not long ago.
"This is … marvelous!"
In front of the old refiner was a magnifying and microscopic imager made of 251 chips, which helped more than ten super tiny probes that were as thin as hair or even as small as a mustard seed to peel off the shell of the scarlet ball layer by layer.
On the light beam triggered by the microscopic imager, the surface of the ball, which was no more than three millimeters in diameter, was actually full of almost a hundred complicated rune arrays. The rune arrays were scheming against each other, attracting, and resonating with each other, and emitting extremely feeble waves!
But that was just the first layer.
As a matter of fact, the ball, which was 2.78 millimeters in diameter, was divided into seven layers like an onion. Every layer could move independently, and almost five hundred rune arrays had been carved on it.
In the end, it was only a marrow crystal that was as tiny as a speck of dust that provided the energy for the rune arrays.
"What an unbelievable structure. It is already marvelous enough to separate seven metal shells that are as thin as paper but can function freely in a space the size of a grain of rice. Also, it is truly — truly marvelous to distribute spiritual energy precisely for 497 rune arrays with such a tiny marrow crystal."
The old refiner breathed heavily in excitement, as if he had seen his first love for the first time after hundreds of years of time.
His face was full of wrinkles. Even his facial organs were drowned in them, making him look extremely old.
But his hands were still as delicate as those of a newborn baby and as delicate as those of a young girl.
The movements of his hands were as light and gentle as if he was caressing the silky skin of his first love.
Squinting his eyes, he released spiritual threads from his fingers and rubbed all the rune arrays inside the bead. The more he rubbed, the more greedy and fanatical his eyes became.
"This is a set of localization rune arrays. However, compared to the localization rune arrays that I designed, the area of this set is 11% smaller, and the consumption of spiritual energy is 19% lower. The spiritual waves that it emits are less, and it is more inconspicuous!"
"This is … This is a set of space mapping chips that can scan the entire space along the way and turn it into the most accurate 3D map!"
"Yes. This is a transmission unit that is used to send concentrated spiritual waves to the outside world. With it, a certain receiver in the outside world will be able to receive all the information detected by the magical equipment. It is quite a delicate design. A lot of technology from the primeval relics seems to have been adopted, too. It is much more advanced than what we know!"
"Fortunately, this magical equipment was discovered in time and soaked in the 'blocking liquid', causing it to lose its effectiveness. Otherwise, it would be troublesome."
"Wait. What is this? The thirty-three rune arrays in the innermost layer don't seem to have anything to do with localization, detection, or teleportation.
The old refiner frowned and pondered for a long time. He adjusted the angle and magnification of the chips and searched for the files about rune arrays on the crystal processor every now and then. Three minutes later, he mumbled to himself and came to a conclusion. "It seems to be some sort of interference rune array. Once it is activated, it can interfere with the defense rune arrays and the alarm magical equipment nearby.
"However, there seems to be something wrong with the design. Such a design is unlikely to be activated remotely. It can only be activated at a close distance. What's the use of it then?"
"It does make sense. So many rune arrays and chips of different functions have been stuffed into the small space. Even a needle cannot be inserted into it. It is absolutely impossible to stuff a powerful remote activation rune array into it!"
Scratching his bearded chin, the old refiner wondered if it was possible for him to redistribute the space occupied by the rune arrays and the crystal chips and design a complicated, powerful remote activation rune array if he were the one designing the rune arrays himself.
After pondering for a long time, he still came to a conclusion that it was impossible.
"Who has produced such a piece of advanced tracking, surveying, and localization magical equipment? Does the Xing Yao Federation or the Imperium of True Human Beings, which has developed for a thousand years, boast such a formidable refiner? "
The old refiner mumbled to himself and began to write an analysis report on the crystal processor quickly.
However, when he inadvertently glanced at the light screen of the microscopic imager, he suddenly saw an incredible scene.
The interference rune array at the core of the small bead was emitting a feeble glow. It was staring at him quietly like a weird eye.
"This is impossible!"
The old refiner was so shocked that he almost exclaimed. The small ball had been completely paralyzed by his secret arts and was completely under his control. It was impossible for it to be activated remotely, unless the enemy poured their telepathic thoughts into the rune array from ten meters away!
The old refiner suddenly thought of the most unbelievable possibility.
But before he could react, a sharp pain came from his entire spine. The pain was like an unbridled flood that rampaged through his limbs and bones, entangling every single one of his nerves and tendons. Not only was he unable to move his finger, he couldn't even send out a single thought!
The old refiner fell back to his chair helplessly, only to be turned around together with his chair.
Then, he saw himself.
The same white, messy hair, the same wrinkled face, the same facial organs, and the same hands that were as delicate as those of a baby and as smooth as those of a young girl.
He had the absurd illusion that he was facing a mirror.
No. The intruder who had snuck in without alarming anyone had looked slightly different from him at the beginning. The biggest difference was his indifference and eccentricity, as if he did not care about anything except the arts of refining.
However, after observing him carefully for only a few seconds, the intruder seemed to have keenly grasped the critical parts of his temperament. After a few deep breaths, the intruder gradually showed the same affection, posture, and even heartbeat and breath as him!
"What a perfect refining technique!"
Naturally, the old refiner had intense fear in his heart. But what was even more intense than the fear was his curiosity about the intruder.
He could tell that the intruder had disguised himself with a certain secret art. However, such a secret art was not just about the modification of the human body but also involved the modification of the face with technology similar to 'skin masks'.
'Human skin masks' were a very underdeveloped technology in the first place. Nobody had used them on Firefly for a long time. The old refiner had never seen such a delicate human skin mask before.
The intruder extended his hand and stuck a cold chip above his Adam's apple softly. The old refiner swallowed and felt that he had regained the ability to speak. However, he could only speak softly and could not roar or chant spells anymore.
"Who are you?"
Although he knew that he would not get an answer, the old refiner could not help but ask.
As he expected, the intruder did not answer. Instead, the intruder held a hair with both hands and presented it to him, before he said softly, "Professor Luo De, one of the best specialists in materials science and super-tiny engraving on Firefly, and Tang Xiaoxing's mentor. The tracking magical equipment that is disguised as a hair was crafted by you in person, wasn't it? Tang Xiaoxing said that you were the only one on Firefly who had such super-tiny engraving technology that allowed you to carve more than a hundred rune arrays inside a hollow tube that was as thin as a hair. You were also the only one who had access to the new materials made of 'Exquisite Jade' and 'Venomous Spider's Ghost Silk'. "
The old refiner's eyes froze. Thinking for a long time, he gasped and said, "So — so, the ultimate target of the localization magical equipment is me!"
"Exactly," the intruder said casually.
"Neither Captain Tang Dingyuan nor Speaker Cui Lingfeng can be located or approached so easily. But the defense in your place is much more lax.
"Also, your role in the whole incident is quite critical.
"First of all, the tracker antenna that is disguised as a hair is identical to Tang Xiaoxing's own hair in terms of texture and luster. It is the result of careful crafting.
"Also, the other two tracker chips that are stuck to Tang Xiaoxing's body are in the same style as the antenna. They must've been made by you, too, right? In terms of appearance, they are a perfect match for her skin color, too. It is impossible to tell them apart at all.
"Both her hair and her skin color are unique. It means that when you were crafting the three pieces of magical equipment, you knew very well that they would be used on Tang Xiaoxing, Captain Tang Dingyuan's daughter and your student.
"Then, what role did you play in the whole incident, Professor Luo, who has always been eccentric and never bothered with the affairs of the outside world?"
Professor Luo De bulged his eyes, not just because of the facts that the intruder pointed out but also because the intruder's voice was gradually changing into exactly the same as his old and sharp voice!
Right now, except for the clothes that the intruder was wearing, even he could barely tell the difference between them!
"Generally speaking, I'm a man who values peace and persuades people with virtue. I don't agree with violent approaches."
The intruder sighed regretfully. "However, time is of the essence right now. If Professor Luo is still unwilling to tell the truth, I will have to resort to some minor tricks."
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