Chapter 1716: Unexpected Factor

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Mechanical structures in the Other World were often not as precise as similar products on Earth.

It was not because the material processing technology was not up to par.

It was because the Other World possessed spirit energy, and its molecular activity of matter was far more intense than that on Earth. Hence, materials would easily and visibly become deformed.

If the mechanical structure was too precise and seamless, leaving no room for reconfiguration, it would lead to frequent failures, scrap, or even explosions on the spot.

Hence, there were a lot of gaps between the crystal engines and the Golden Roc’s giant propellers.

Although the gaps were only as thick as a strand of hair, the spirit magnets that were surging out of Meng Chao’s body could be absorbed like translucent mercury.

Once the thousands of spirit magnets gathered inside Golden Roc, they turned into small snakes.

These “small snakes,” which were as hard and soft as liquid metal, became Meng Chao’s hands that reached into the Golden Roc’s interior. They were able to fully display the delicate touch he had cultivated from his harvesting technique.

Right then, a faint buzzing sound came from behind Meng Chao.

Two drones were about to fly past the airbags and near the core unit where he was.

There were still twenty-five seconds left.

But Meng Chao’s eyelashes did not even flutter.

It was as if his eyes were emitting penetrating light.

The maintenance hatch cover, which was blocked by composite armor, was reminiscent of a crystal-clear glass artifact. Its internal structure was visible at a glance.

Soon, a light and beautiful cracking sound rang out.

The maintenance hatch’s first “deadbolt” had been broken by Meng Chao from the inside.

Right before the lock was unlocked, sharp blades that were as thin as a cicada’s wings and condensed from liquid metal had cut off the monitoring and alarm system just in time. Moreover, a circuitous line was set up on both sides of the broken line.

The maintenance hatch cover sent a signal to the monitoring center that it was ‘opening’.

However, the signal soon turned into the circuitous line designed by Meng Chao and fell into an endless loop.

There were only twenty-one seconds left.

Next, he faced the second line of defense inside the maintenance hatch, which was also relatively complicated.

Meng Chao began to focus.

His ten fingers danced lightly and played with the invisible strings.

The electric current from his nerves danced in the air. Then, through the gap between the crystal engine and the propeller, the spirit magnet near the maintenance hatch turned into streaks of dark silver brightness. It performed all kinds of marvelous operations.

Like a fog of light that possessed life, it seeped into the maintenance hatch in the gentlest manner.

Three seconds later, the second line of defense was also broken.

Following that was one last line of defense, which was also the simplest and most brutal one.

Basically, it was a wider and thicker door latch with a lead core embedded in it.

It was mainly used to guard against monsters in the air that would crash into the maintenance hatch from the outside and break it open.

Even without the spirit magnet, Meng Chao could move it with the help of his vitality magnetic field.

However, just as Meng Chao was about to move the latch, he suddenly heard faint footsteps coming from inside the passageway facing the Golden Roc’s maintenance hatch.

At that moment, there were only 19 seconds left before the drone would fly over from behind and discover his secret.

Meng Chao immediately stopped the spirit magnet’s operation.

He then made sure that his breathing and heartbeat were at their weakest.

Even his pores were all locked, strangling the cold sweat that was about to ooze out of his forehead.

‘D*mn it, someone’s coming!

‘Eighteen seconds left, seventeen seconds, sixteen seconds!

‘What should I do?’

Meng Chao’s heart was in his throat.

He had completed 90% of his infiltration work.

Lu Siya had been escorted to the core cabin too, and she was only one step away from him.

There was no way that he could fail at this critical moment.

Besides, he had already broken the two locking systems inside the maintenance cabin with the spirit magnet’s help.

If the approaching person was a maintenance worker, a careful inspection would allow him to discover any abnormality.

Meng Chao only had one chance.

He had no choice but to gamble!

Meng Chao took a deep breath. Every cell in his body was like a sprinter in the crouching starting position, surrounded by invisible flames.

In his mind, he removed the latch, lifted the hatch cover, and shot in like lightning. Before the other party could react, he had completely controlled each of the other person’s limbs and every strand of muscle fiber. It took him an instant to repeat the whole process seventeen times.

He could not accurately determine the other person’s realm.

He also did not know how many alarms, physiological parameters monitors, and self-destruct systems the other person had implanted in his body.

Meng Chao only had 49% certainty, but he had no other choice because the two drones would appear behind him in ten… no, nine seconds.

Meng Chao made up his mind.

The part of the spirit magnet that invaded the Golden Roc immediately twisted into a spiral cone, eager to attack.

However, just as Meng Chao was about to break in recklessly, the guy who had stepped into the maintenance channel turned around and left.

“What’s going on?”

Meng Chao was confused by the guy’s reaction.

Time was of the essence, and he had to make a decision immediately.

There were only two scenarios.

Either the guy was just conducting a routine patrol and did not find anything unusual, hence he returned to the next patrol point, or he had sensed that someone was invading but chose to remain calm so that he could call for reinforcements.

If it was the former, Meng Chao would not have to act ruthlessly, alerting the enemy and risking the 49% chance.

If it was the latter, Meng Chao would immediately take action and cut off the alarm that the person might release!

There were only seven seconds left.

The veins on the back of Meng Chao’s hand churned violently like electric arcs, but he did not make a move.

After combining all the current information and reconstructing the entire scene in his mind and deducing it dozens of times, Meng Chao came to the conclusion that the other party should not have noticed him.

Even though they were separated by heavy armor, Meng Chao closely monitored the person’s breathing, heartbeat, and pace.

If that person had really discovered an intruder, his breathing, heartbeat, and pace would not have been so stable without the slightest change.

In other words, if the person inside had been able to maintain such stable breathing, heartbeat, and pace when he discovered that the Golden Roc’s core cabin had been invaded—so stable that he could deceive a Deity Realm expert—he was not someone that Meng Chao could easily deal with during the break-in.

There were only three seconds left.

At this point, the guy had already reached the corner.

The humming sounds of the two drones behind Meng Chao were becoming clearer and more tangible. It was as if they were haunting him.

Meng Chao could not wait any longer. He manipulated the spirit magnet as if he was manipulating thousands of feathers. With the lightest, gentlest, and most delicate movements, he lifted the latch that had locked the maintenance hatch bit by bit.