Li Qing became even more intrigued.
He felt as though he was akin to the natural Creator of biological evolution, just like this cellular civilization. Gene sequences were like building blocks in a child's hands or lines of code in computer software, ripe for experimenting with various templates.
Right now, he held three useful original gene templates in his hands.
1. Amphibious Water Jet Vehicle.
2. Sea Giant.
3. Ocean Fortress.
These undoubtedly had the potential to evolve into mythical Giant Dragons, Tidal Giants, or Giant Monster Islands; regardless of their specific abilities, they had a form first, even if they were robust outside but weak inside.
Li Qing began to study the literature written in their genetic code and prepared avian cell material, wondering if he could enlarge this small vehicle to create a finger-sized real Giant Dragon.
However, after more than three hours, he realized his skills just weren't enough.
Even though the basic embryonic life was there, the next steps were simply enlarging the body and piling on cells. But with more cells, the structure became unstable and started to collapse.
He attempted several times but failed each time.
Instead, his brain got extremely tired from repeatedly performing microscopic surgeries.
These cells were like building a house with bricks; the blueprint could easily construct a single-story brick house, but using it to build hundreds of stories without a steel framework would make it collapse.
He intended to use lightweight avian bone cells, interspersed within the flesh to hold it up, like skewers, patching it up, so it could even fly, but he just couldn't achieve the technique.
After several attempts, Li Qing completely understood:
"They currently have a population of six trillion, a thousand times the Earth's population. A single branch of fish species requires five to six billion people to conduct genetic engineering, with all citizens acting as scientists collaboratively, like a computer with efficient billions of computing power."
"Even after integrating Superpower, my thinking and intelligence have strengthened, but ultimately I am just one person."
It's like developing massive games of hundreds of gigabytes; could you handle it easily without hundreds of programmers divided into departments over several years?
He was certain he couldn't handle it alone.
Research shouldn't be treated as child's play; many of a top scientist's achievements take over a decade to produce.
What? Seventy billion top scientists researching one project together?
Moreover, with consciousness highly unified as if forming a star cluster of brain cells, could it be completed in one day?
That would resolve everything.
The more Li Qing thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.
My Superpower doesn't lie in wisdom or the advantage of a small body size; it's the ability to create life in quantities far surpassing Earth's population that is my greatest edge!
With an unlimited population, how terrifying would the explosion of civilization be?
However, this is also a suicidal "advantage."
After all, he could control them, but only a tiny bit, while the rest wouldn't listen, and might even grow rebellious, seeking to take over, capture his Superpower, making the more he creates, the faster he might die.
But no matter what, he immediately gave up on self-reliance.
This isn't a matter of personal competition; it's a matter of being unable to compete at all, and mimicking the achievements of the Atabians saves time.
He still had to target the accumulated civilization of the opponent!
Li Qing abandoned the study of Giant Dragons and directly announced defeat.
But he was someone unwilling to admit defeat; he sensed the Spirit Guard Team he could control.
Sure enough, as soon as he entered, a batch of people died, and there were vacancies for control.
He immediately opened his eyes and stared straight at the Giant Dragon the size of a mite.
One second.
Two seconds.
Seventy seconds.
With a swoosh.
The original stitched-up Giant Dragon composed of cells suddenly came to life.
These Frankensteins indeed hadn't departed from single-cell bacteria and could still undergo Awakening.
"Ah..."
"Oh... who are you..."
Some simple Consciousness Waves emerged.
Li Qing briefly introduced himself and then tossed the Atabians' corpses to them, "Study them well and strive to transform yourself into a Giant Dragon."
He described the Giant Dragon's abilities and then stuffed them into a test tube, dumping them into a culture medium for self-reliance.
Although their number was somewhat scarce and the gene construction estimated to be slow, having them at all was better than none.
Once he finished with these matters, Li Qing lay exhausted on his bed, arms and legs stretched out, and took a midday nap.
"Forget it, these biological evolution experiments don't hold much significance for my advancement; better to hit the gym."
At two in the afternoon, Li Qing decisively went out and found a gym.
For the past few days, his appetite remained large, his body was gradually increasing, and his Superpower intensified with time.
But since the mind stems from the body, having a good physique is sure to accelerate the process.
Although he didn't have much savings, he still opted for an advanced gym; after all, earning money shouldn't be difficult later on, and covering expenses for two to three months should be manageable.
"Yeah, I want to find a male trainer, preferably with private space, with fewer women around." At the gym's reception, Li Qing stated his requirements with clear logic.
Vigorous exercise could likely cause Hormones secretion, potentially attracting unusual attention, especially from bacteria-skinned women.
"No problem."
The beautiful receptionist gave Li Qing a peculiar look.
Such good temperament, but what a pity, turns out to be that kind of...
Don't most people come to high-end gyms for superior equipment?
No, it's because certain high-end gyms basically have a batch of handsome men and beautiful women trainers, which is the selling point of the competition. Men look for female trainers, women look for male trainers, but there are also special preferences, with males specifically naming muscular handsome men.
Li Qing did not pay attention to those strange, worldly glances.
Soon, he walked into the room with a fitness trainer.
But at this moment, Susan walked out from next door, also accompanied by a beautiful Asian trainer. She noticed Li Qing and gave him a meaningful look as he entered the room with the muscular, handsome male trainer.
"So that's how it is."
Susan thought to herself.
With her own beauty, the supermodel physique honed by years of fitness, most men can't look away at first sight. Yet his eyes were deliberately avoiding her face and figure at first glance.
Susan just smiled knowingly, seeing him as a kindred spirit, not paying much attention.
Fitness lasted until dusk.
After Li Qing returned and finished dinner, it was already past seven o'clock.
Carrying the ultraviolet lamp, he arrived at Ning Guochang's former residence a few hundred meters away.
On opening the door, he first put down the ultraviolet instrument on the ground and walked over to see how the other was faring.
At first glance, he was somewhat astonished.
There was surprisingly no movement this time, still dead and desolate.
This time, why hasn't the other developed a means to counter the ultraviolet within a day?
Actually, Li Qing was too presumptuous.
They initially had fifty to sixty trillion population; after this wave, only more than ten trillion remained, only 20% of the population base had decreased, naturally affecting the speed of biological evolution.
And there's another difficulty.
What is alcohol?
It's something any creature's skin can ignore; once applied, it can even disinfect. They, with seventy trillion people, evolved alcohol-resistant skin overnight, which is normal. Failing to evolve is brain-dead.
But ultraviolet is different.
Resisting high-intensity ultraviolet rays is not something just any creature can do; almost no earth biology can withstand it.
Humans exposed to high-intensity ultraviolet quickly develop cancer.
Just like Li Qing's researcher friend said, it's lethal!
"Finally seeing your speed slow down, since you can't withstand it, here comes another wave."
Li Qing showed no mercy.
Daily finishing blow, then back to sleep.
The following days were quite repetitive in his life.
Extinction.
Extinction.
He currently only had ultraviolet and alcohol, and hadn't searched for new extinction means, lacking money, being Asian, and other items were difficult to find; even if found, it might accelerate evolution.
He planned to let magic defeat magic, causing the inside subordinates to disband internally, kill the opponent, seize power, and turn the entire Empire into his own...that would be once and for all, otherwise searching for new extinction means at each turn, clashing with their evolution, is truly self-destructive.
Well, ultimately, it's due to lack of money.
The following days, researching superpowers, going to the gym to work out, Li Qing met Susan again, and grew familiar over these days, became friends.
During the chat, she even coquettishly smiled with her bacteria-laden ugly face, stroked the golden hair entwined with black microbial clusters, and deliberately shook her plump, trypophobia-inducing honeycomb, observing Li Qing's reaction.
But Li Qing moved further away from her.
She instantly found Li Qing peculiar, just as she thought, unbeknownst to her, Li Qing considered her even more peculiar.
"Even her grandma seemed interested in me, which is a genetic longing for life instinct, but she isn't influenced, treating me as an ordinary person."
Li Qing pondered deeply.
Guessing this might be due to her being a lesbian.
Some studies suggest that such individuals aren't mentally deranged but are affected by genes leading to the tendency issue.
She likely favors women due to liking females even genetically, thus not being affected by himself, a man.
Having figured out his rough idea, Li Qing knew she's not a flood beast, wouldn't harbor thoughts toward him, and chatted with her openly; she also seemed quite friendly, sharing common interests.
Soon thereafter.
Working out together, this woman actively became Li Qing's trainer, forming a good neighbor friendship.
After all, her family was truly wealthy and had quite extensive connections; establishing contacts was good, potentially becoming a new Doraemon embryo for himself, perhaps aiding him.
"Someday, I'll introduce my girlfriend to you, she's an Asian."
On this day, Susan drove Li Qing home and said,
"My grandma thought I liked Asians, hence fancifully thinking of introducing you to me."
"But my girlfriend is ill, with a terminal illness."
Susan sighed, "It's stomach cancer, barely hanging on; my mom wanted to exploit the situation. I was rude to you at the first meeting, so I apologize."
Li Qing listened with interest.
This woman truly loved her gravely ill girlfriend unconditionally.
Yet regarding stomach cancer, Li Qing pondered thoughtfully.
Alighting, heading home.
Currently, it's the sixth day with ultraviolet.
He witnessed astonishing changes.
Within the glass window, beneath the ocean, corals, shells, swimming fish, countless green underwater forests, and the handsome Sea Race wielding bone spears, formed a beautiful fairytale underwater kingdom.