Chapter 114: Refining Tang Ling

Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Refining Tang Ling

Upon hearing Lin Ji’s arrangement, Tang Ling adjusted her glasses, looking somewhat surprised.

She quickly retrieved the Red Quality blueprint from the spare parts storage.

[Basic Energy Shield Generator Blueprint (Red) x1]

Tang Ling spread out the blueprint, her eyes rapidly scanning the intricate patterns and material requirements.

A moment later, her fair, delicate hands trembled slightly as she looked up at Lin Ji.

"Captain, this thing... is a complete gold-devouring beast!"

Tang Ling swallowed hard, pointing to the energy core slot at the center of the blueprint as she explained.

"This device directly consumes Sea Beast Crystal Cores to operate."

"I just estimated that if we use a Level 3 Crystal Core, it can only sustain the defensive intensity for at most one hour."

One hour?

Hearing this astonishing consumption rate, Lin Ji’s eyebrows twitched sharply.

He quickly realized just how resource-intensive this device was.

If even maintaining a basic shield for one hour would burn through an extremely precious Level 3 Crystal Core, then how much energy must be consumed daily just to keep a behemoth like the Apocalypse Guild—with its Level 5 flagship and several Level 4 Escort Ships—operational?

"It seems those major factions have long since achieved industrialized monster farming, treating Level 3, or even Level 4, Sea Monsters as mass-produced fuel consumables."

A wave of vigilance washed over Lin Ji.

The foundations and resource accumulation speed of those large guilds were far more terrifying than he had imagined. The resource gap between them was being stretched to infinity.

Lin Ji took a deep breath to calm his emotions.

"What if we use a Level 4 Crystal Core instead? How long could it last?"

Tang Ling flipped open her Logbook of Navigation, her fingers swiftly performing calculations on the page.

"If it’s Level 4 energy density, it can maintain stable operation for at least ten hours or more!"

"However, that’s just standby consumption. If subjected to high-powered external attacks, the energy drain will increase exponentially."

Ten hours.

Lin Ji silently calculated in his heart. It seemed the energy contained in each level of Crystal Core grew geometrically.

An intense sense of crisis instantly enveloped him.

His current trump cards were still far from sufficient.

"Tang Ling, take these few hundred Evolution Points first."

Lin Ji decisively transferred all his remaining savings to her.

"Buy whatever auxiliary materials you need directly from the Trading House. If it’s not enough, trade the remaining Level 3 Crystal Cores in the warehouse."

"These things will only depreciate more and more. No need to cling to them desperately."

Lin Ji’s generosity and trust filled Tang Ling’s heart with warmth.

In this post-apocalyptic world, even blood brothers might not go this far.

She nodded firmly, her eyes resolute.

"Don’t worry, Captain. With these, I guarantee the Shield Grand Array will cover the entire ship within two hours!"

Lin Ji patted her shoulder, then turned to look out the window.

He had already set the course toward the secret realm coordinates provided by Ye Xinglan.

"At our current sailing speed, it will still take five hours to get there."

"It’s a bit slow. Can we go any faster?"

Tang Ling grinned, pointing toward the direction of the Power Chamber.

"The Heart of Fire Element is still in its charging cycle, but don’t we still have the [Moltenheart Source Crystal] we dug up in the volcanic cave?"

"If we stuff that into the steam turbine’s preheating chamber as well, the speed can double!"

Lin Ji immediately nodded, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Then use it. I want to reach those coordinates within three hours."

Watching Tang Ling hurry toward the Power Chamber, Lin Ji turned around and gathered all the women resting on the deck.

Shen Manyun was just coming out carrying a steaming pot of fish ball soup.

She had made this specially to improve everyone’s meals.

It had taken great effort to mince that tough Sea Beast meat bit by bit, then add the last remaining spices and hand-shape the balls.

Seeing everyone gathered, Shen Manyun asked somewhat puzzled:

"Captain, is there some new discovery?"

Lin Ji’s gaze fell upon Shen Manyun’s mature, full-figured form. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

"We’ll be reaching the island soon. No one can say for sure what the situation there will be."

"Before that, I must further enhance your overall strength."

Hearing the words "enhance strength," Shen Manyun’s eyes instantly brightened a little.

A faint blush rose on her gentle face, and her fingers holding the soup tightened slightly.

"Um... Captain, I’m still stuck at C-grade."

"Yihan and the others are already B-grade, and even Qing Yue and the others are almost catching up to me..."

Shen Manyun’s voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, until she finally lowered her head in shyness and anxiety.

She was the second woman by Lin Ji’s side, yet she had watched helplessly as the later arrivals, Gu Yihan and Su Qingyue, shone brilliantly in battle.

Meanwhile, she could only cook and provide healing support from the rear, which had created a great sense of crisis within her.

She wanted to solidify her position in Lin Ji’s heart by leveling up.

Seeing her this submissive and aggrieved appearance, Lin Ji’s eyes instantly turned cold.

He mercilessly shattered Shen Manyun’s fragile self-esteem.

"Teacher Shen, are you pulling seniority with me, or do you think shedding a few tears will make me prioritize resources for you?"

Lin Ji’s voice wasn’t loud, but each word struck at the heart.

"On this ship, it’s always the team’s value that determines status. Tears are the most useless waste."

These icy, blunt words hit Shen Manyun’s heart like a heavy hammer.

She used to be a respected music teacher at the university, inherently carrying the pride and self-respect of a cultured woman.

Now, in front of all the women, being so ruthlessly stripped of face and reprimanded by Lin Ji,

an intense sense of shame and fear instantly surged in her heart.

Shen Manyun’s delicate frame trembled, her eyes instantly reddening.

Glistening tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes, and she bit her red lips, not daring to utter another word.

Seeing the atmosphere grow tense, Gu Yihan, as the Deputy Captain, immediately stepped forward sensibly.

She walked up and gently took Lin Ji’s arm, soothing him in a soft, coquettish voice:

"Husband, don’t be angry with Teacher Shen anymore."

"She just sees everyone else progressing and wants so badly to be more useful to you..."

Lin Ji snorted coldly, his expression calm, showing not the slightest hint of concession.

"Put away those little schemes of yours."

"Who gets my resources depends entirely on the needs of the upcoming battles."

Lin Ji’s actions left all the women present utterly speechless, giving them a genuine sense of this man’s absolute desire for control.

Then, Lin Ji turned his gaze toward Tang Ling, who was busy assembling shield components.

"Tang Ling, come here."

"This time, for the level-up, I’ve decided to upgrade you to B-rank first."

Lin Ji’s words instantly shocked everyone.

After all, in everyone’s understanding, even if Shen Manyun wasn’t being upgraded, the main damage dealers Qin Yao or Su Qingyue should have been prioritized.

"We’re likely to face high-intensity positional warfare next."

Lin Ji analyzed calmly, his tone carrying an undeniable authority.

"Whether it’s maintaining heavy artillery or operating this advanced shield system, we can’t do without a Machinist."

"Only by raising you to B-rank can the firepower value of our LV4 War Ship truly leverage our team’s strengths."

Hearing that Lin Ji intended to upgrade her, Tang Ling’s pretty face flushed bright red in an instant.

She certainly knew that Lin Ji’s method of upgrading required a certain kind of... interaction.

"But... but Captain, I’m in the middle of assembling these core components right now, I really can’t step away."

Tang Ling waved the heavy wrench in her hand somewhat helplessly, so nervous that even the tips of her ears turned crimson.

Lin Ji merely curled the corner of his mouth, his gaze brazenly sweeping over her alluring figure, tightly wrapped in a white T-shirt and seemingly ready to burst forth.

He spoke in an offhand manner.

"It won’t get in your way. Just keep doing the work in your hands."

"You do yours, I’ll do mine."

As soon as these words were spoken, the women were stunned at first, then expressions of extreme shock and bashfulness appeared on all their faces.

This... this could actually be done like that?!

Amid this suffocatingly ambiguous atmosphere.

Under the dazed gazes of the women, Lin Ji strode toward Tang Ling, who was already so embarrassed her whole body had gone weak.

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