157: Chapter 157 Formal Researcher, Galaxy Mining

"Yu Mo, send it!"

After hesitating for a long while, Chen Mo finally decided to join the Civilization Research Institute.

There was no other way; compared to the "potential" benefits of the Civilization Research Institute, both the Divine Arts Research Institute and the Kinship Research Institute were expendable.

"Okay..."

Before the word 'Master' could leave her mouth, another email suddenly appeared in Chen Mo's virtual mailbox.

And the signature on this email was no longer some research institute, but a name he was very familiar with.

Professor Xu Bo!

"Sigh!"

In the sky above the Peak of the Stars, Shen Xinghe, who had just left the research institute, couldn't help but let out a sigh.

In front of him, a virtual projection suppressed a laugh and asked softly,

"Feeling a bit unbalanced?"

"A little. It took me over a hundred years after graduation to transition from an intern to an Official Researcher, yet this kid is on equal footing with me the moment he enters the school," Shen Xinghe shrugged.

"Haha..." Tan Feng could no longer hold it in and burst out laughing.

"Alright, that's his own ability. But Professor Professor Xu Bo is truly fierce; he actually managed to get the application approved, and the key is that Dean Xue actually authorized it."

Tan Feng's tone was filled with disbelief.

To The Stars, every single researcher is indispensable.

Salary and benefits are secondary; the main thing is the "privileges" within The Stars.

Privileges that Students at the ordinary level simply cannot access.

"Alright, I'm done talking to you. Hurry up and send me that bottle of essence blood from the descendants of the 'Absurd Puppeteer' Bloodline."

"Whether I can be selected as a Level 2 Researcher depends on whether this research yields results," Shen Xinghe urged.

"No problem."

Tan Feng quickly agreed and then hung up the communication.

"Having such a Junior Brother, the pressure is practically explosive!"

Having already arrived at the Star Island cluster, Shen Xinghe couldn't help but shake his head again. However, the moment he landed on Star Island No. 78, a figure had already stepped out to block his path.

A pitch-black cannon muzzle gathered terrifying spiritual energy capable of shattering any Transcendent Kinship.

And behind the three-meter spiritual energy cannon stood a young girl with wine-red long hair.

"Who are you?"

Zero's cold voice rang out, her pale gold eyes full of vigilance and suspicion toward the stranger.

"I..."

Shen Xinghe sized up Zero before him with great interest.

As an Origin True God, he naturally wouldn't care about a Spirit Machine Kinship who was only at the ninth rank of the Transcendent level.

But in his impression, Chen Mo mainly cultivated virus-type Kinship.

And a ninth-rank Spirit Machine isn't something that can be built just with money; it also requires an extraordinary reserve of knowledge.

"Zero, this is an honored guest."

Chen Mo's voice suddenly rang out. Hearing this, Zero felt a wave of panic and quickly retracted her Spirit Machine armament: "Apologies, Zero was impolite."

"It's fine."

Shen Xinghe shook his head with a light smile, then looked at Chen Mo, who was already walking over from a distance.

"Hello."

"Hello."

The two shook hands, and Shen Xinghe then got straight to the point.

"The purpose of my visit, the Professor should have already mentioned to you in the email."

"Yes," Chen Mo nodded heavily.

"Good then." Shen Xinghe didn't delay and immediately took something out of his storage bracelet.

It was an identity card with faint starlight—an identity card belonging to Chen Mo as a researcher.

"Your identity information has already been entered into the research institute. With this card, you can go there at any time."

"Thank you for the trouble, Senior Brother Shen." Chen Mo politely took the card.

The affiliation with a research institute was not just about confirming one's future academic direction; it was also about confirming one's master-disciple lineage.

For Students of The Stars, a direct professor is effectively their university mentor for their four years at The Stars.

Of course, usually only after becoming an Intern Researcher will a professor acknowledge this status. Thus, many Students actually never confirm a lineage even by the time they graduate.

"No need for thanks." Shen Xinghe shook his head.

"The Professor also took into account that you've just enrolled, so for now, you should focus on your studies. The research institute matters can wait a bit, however..."

Shen Xinghe paused, hesitated for a moment, then still said,

"Being exceptionally promoted to an Official Researcher this time, the Professor is under some pressure. Once the Special Recruitment Class courses are over, you should report to the research institute as soon as possible."

"I will." Chen Mo quickly agreed.

Academic research and the Special Recruitment Class courses do have some conflicts, but for now, Chen Mo definitely had to prioritize his own growth. Professor Xu Bo clearly understood this as well.

"Keep it up."

Nodding slightly, Shen Xinghe prepared to leave.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to glance at Zero, seemingly very interested in this special Spirit Machine.

"Safe travels, Senior Brother."

Chen Mo waved his hand, and Shen Xinghe nodded in response, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

"Shen Xinghe, the second signatory for the digital virus, the young master of Star River Mining Industry."

Watching the small dot Shen Xinghe had become in the sky, Chen Mo couldn't help but murmur softly.

Undoubtedly, the digital virus was actually a future research result of Professor Xu Bo.

The current digital virus alpha was an improvement made on the basis of that prototype.

But Chen Mo's true focus wasn't the second signatory of that paper from his past life, but Shen Xinghe's identity.

Star River Mining Industry.

One of Blue Cave's main partners and also one of the Federation's leading mining giants.

The first batch of Spirit Machine cards he bought were the ones Xie Wei had intercepted from Star River Mining Industry.

However, Chen Mo vaguely remembered that Star River Mining Industry would seemingly encounter a great disaster before long and would eventually have no choice but to accept a takeover by Blue Cave.

"It seems to be related to the ruins discovered in that spatial mineral vein. Almost all of Star River Mining Industry's high-end combat power was lost in those ruins, which led to Star River Mining Industry having to seek Blue Cave's protection."

For any conglomerate or company, strength is often more important than wealth.

Otherwise, they would end up like the future Mi Su, becoming a 'pig' to be slaughtered after being fattened up.

"Star River Mining Industry has nothing to do with me, but the things in those ruins..."

Chen Mo's eyes shone, but he calmed down in an instant.

Although he coveted the treasures in those ruins, Star River Mining Industry definitely had Main God-level experts.

If even figures like that died in the ruins, going there now would just be seeking death for him.

This matter required further planning!