Heimerdinger and Viktor were momentarily puzzled as to why Li Lin would produce blueprints for demon-sealing devices but instead present diagrams for "intelligent chips" and "computers."
But when he went on to propose plasma thrusters, rocket launches, artificial satellites, and even runic technology, the stunned Heimerdinger and Viktor finally grasped his meaning.
Turning the impossible into possible—these were concepts and ideas they had never dared to consider.
If even artificial orbital runic satellites could be realized, then combining magic to create a runic technology device to contain demons posed no real challenge, did it?
Furthermore, runic technology differed slightly from Hextech.
Although both employed technology to control magic, Hextech had a slightly higher proportion, with only one magic-related component, the energy core.
Runic technology, on the other hand, incorporated more magical elements, inscribing ancient runic magic onto mechanical devices, essentially enchanting them to achieve different effects.
Using magic to defeat magic, that saying held true.
Attempting to seal demons with Hextech was bound to fail.
And so, Heimerdinger and Viktor's tasks expanded beyond researching the Void to include studying runic technology...
As for Li Lin, he prepared to upgrade his skills first, arranging for the construction of network base stations and the manufacturing plant for intelligent chips.
Artificial satellites and the rockets needed to launch them were costly and unlikely to turn a profit. Lady Cassandra would probably only provide limited financial aid, if any.
Li Lin could only seek cooperation from Piltover University, having Professor Heimerdinger appeal to the major families for sponsorship. Perhaps he would succeed.
By then, by using the line "This is a small step for Piltover, but a giant leap for the entire Rune Terra," at least those families fond of reputation would contribute a significant amount.
Before the funds were secured, there was no hurry to manufacture artificial satellites.
In addition, with Nocturne dealt with, Valentina's situation had temporarily reached a resolution.
With Lady Cassandra's orders and Sheriff Grayson's leadership, it was only a matter of time before the hidden hand behind Baron Raymond Keane was exposed.
The family that supported Baron Raymond Keane in the shadows probably wouldn't dare to act against Valentina again.
At least her personal safety could be guaranteed, allowing her to continue researching her miniature Rune Terra.
Saying their farewells to Heimerdinger and the others, Li Lin and Caitlyn returned to the Kiramman household.
Having gone nearly a whole day without sleep, Li Lin rested properly for a while, then proceeded to create the Hextech Blade, Hextech Gunblade, Hextech Prototype Belt-01, and Hextech GLP-800.
Unexpectedly, he even utilized Heimerdinger's proposed principle of "Stattik Electric Arc" to create the Stattik Shiv!
In total, he created five rare-quality equipment pieces for the first time, giving him 15 skill points. His level also increased by two, effectively gaining him 17 skill points.
Now, Li Lin had a total of 70 skill points, enough to upgrade many skills.
Firstly, he invested four skill points in the Inventor branch, the foundation of the other two branches.
He used four skill points to unlock the level 40 technologies of "Electromagnetic Matrix," "Artificial Intelligence Self-Evolution Logic," "Rocket Launch," and "Artificial Satellite," which could only be learned at level 40.
He then spent three skill points to unlock the level 45 technologies of "High-Strength Compression Material," "Thermodynamic Equivalence Control," and "Particle Control."
In the Combat branch, he unlocked the level 40 technologies of "Mechanical Repair" and "Plasma Cannon," and the level 45 technologies of "High-Density Compression Ammunition," "Ammunition Loading Efficiency," and "Ammunition Improvement," costing a total of 10 skill points.
Moreover, to Li Lin's surprise, the Combat system also contained two sets of designs for "Colossal Mechs."
They were respectively designated as K-XZ, the Colossal Exosuit inspired by the Void Predator Kha'Zix, and RNGR-7, the Colossal Warrior Fully Automatic Mech.
The "Exosuit" was the first-generation stealth suit mech based on the design of the Void Predator Kha'Zix, specifically developed for urban combat and equipped with flight capabilities.
In the parallel universe where colossal mechs and deep-sea monsters coexisted, the Exosuit was a mass-produced first-generation mech used to resist small deep-sea monsters invading cities.
As a second-generation stealth suit mech, the "Warrior" referenced the Vastayan Bone Tooth Beast Rengar, designed specifically for urban combat.
Not only could it perfectly blend into various environments for extended periods, but its maneuverability was also enhanced compared to the "Exosuit," capable of transforming into a four-wheeled armored vehicle.
In fact, the "Warrior" originally had short-range teleportation capabilities, but this technology was too immature and was scrapped during the mech's production stage.
However, in this world where Hextech Gate technology was mature, Li Lin could easily change the dangerous teleportation technology on the blueprint into "Blink" teleportation.
Each of these two Colossal Mech blueprints required five skill points and 500 orange essence to learn, as well as a prerequisite of the Combat branch's "Optical Camouflage" technology, which could only be learned at level 45.
And "Optical Camouflage" also had its own prerequisites, requiring not only "Intelligent AI" and "Intelligent Chips," but also the "Biomech Armor" technology from the Individual Enhancement route.
With 1000 orange essences, Li Lin had no problem, as he already had 3782. And he had long planned to upgrade the "Individual Enhancement" route.
After deducting the 12 skill points for the Colossal Mech blueprint and "Optical Camouflage," Li Lin had 41 skill points remaining.
Surprisingly, the recipe for "Corruption Potion" was also in this branch, which Li Lin didn't expect. However, since he had previously used "Data Mind" to examine the final version of the Shimmer Potion, he didn't need to spend skill points to learn the "Corruption Potion" recipe.
Furthermore, its effects were even better than the potion Kai'Sa had consumed before, significantly enhancing strength, cognitive abilities, and reaction speed. Additionally, it could restore a minimum of 30% of one's health and mana, depending on individual constitution.
Of course, these effects were only applicable to ordinary individuals.
Li Lin was particularly interested in the "Biomech Armor," a skill in the "Genetic Modification" branch, which could be learned at level 25 and required prerequisites of "AI" and "Intelligent Chips."
Without hesitation, he spent one skill point to unlock the first level of "Glorious Evolution" and then three skill points to learn the "Biomech Armor" technology. He then invested 12 skill points and 1000 orange essences in the Combat branch to unlock the blueprints for the "Optical Camouflage" and the Colossal Mech.
Next, he shifted his focus back to the Individual Enhancement page.
The trajectory of "Mechanical Modification" differed from that of "Genetic Modification," and the level significantly influenced individual enhancement.
"Mechanical Modification" leaned towards the early stages, with many technologies available at lower levels, some of which had already been implemented in Piltover.
"Genetic Modification," on the other hand, leaned towards the later stages. To improve genes, one needed the nanotechnology of the inventor line, which would only yield significant results after level 60.
Li Lin was only interested in "Genetic Modification," but there was a skill in "Mechanical Modification" that caught his attention— "Human-Mech Fusion."
With this skill, he could temporarily augment his own health by consuming mana and transfer a percentage of the damage received to the mechanical creation.
He spent three skill points to unlock it and then shifted his focus back to the Genetic Modification branch.
At level 15 in this path was the "Genetic Enhancement Potion," which, when ingested orally or injected subcutaneously, strengthened personal health, strength, and reaction speed. Oral consumption had no side effects but limited enhancement effects, while subcutaneous injection had a chance of irreversible genetic collapse and required enduring great pain, making it more dangerous but significantly effective.
The "Genetic Enhancement Potion" could be used three times, with subcutaneous injection potentially increasing an ordinary person's physical qualities by 10 to 20 times.
However, if an individual's physical qualities were already high, like Jayce, Vander, or Mundo, the effects of the Genetic Enhancement Potion would be less pronounced, at most doubling or tripling the enhancement.
The skill at level 20 was the "Genetic Decay" potion, an enhanced version of the "Genetic Enhancement Potion" mainly used for combat, causing the target's genetic sequence to collapse instantly.
At level 30 was the "Biodiversity Research," a prerequisite for later genetic modifications.
At levels 35, 40, and 45 were "Secrets of Life," "Design Evolution," and "Neural Tissue Engineering," respectively.
In other words, with Li Lin's current level, he could already undertake some basic neural microengineering.
Accelerating the development of neurons, axons, and synapses was just the foundation.
Once he reached level 50 and learned "Genetic Testing" and "Genetic Mapping," he could perform simple genetic modifications.
Having unlocked all the skills in the Genetic branch that were currently available for learning, Li Lin still had 10 skill points remaining.
He then returned to the Inventor path, spending eight skill points to enhance the skills "Mechanical Soul," "Mechanical Mastery," "Mechanical Affinity," and "Mechanical Enhancement" to level 13.
As for the remaining two skill points, Li Lin decided to keep them for now.
(End of this chapter)