In the end, Zheng Hai didn’t say anything more.

The materials for the Anti-Magnetic Battle Armor were quickly prepared. The two men once again stood on opposite sides of the manufacturing table. The difference was, this time, the one standing before Gao Neng was Zheng Hai.

The technical director of the Third Manufacturing Plant.

Meanwhile, Gao Neng, as usual, picked up the manufacturing blueprints for the Anti-Magnetic Battle Armor and began flipping through them page by page.

Time ticked by, second by second.

Zheng Hai watched this scene, his expression flickering. He was tempted to start first. After all, if he lost this round with the Anti-Magnetic Battle Armor, the Third Manufacturing Plant would truly be disgraced.

But to start while his opponent was still reading the blueprints...

It seemed a bit dishonorable.

Zheng Hai was torn.

He had already figured it out. Gao Neng could use energy materialization, making him much faster at manufacturing parts. Zheng Hai’s main advantages were his experience and proficiency.

If Gao Neng made a mistake manufacturing the parts, or fumbled the assembly, then he could naturally win the competition.

’But what if he doesn’t make any mistakes?’

’Impossible!’

’Even the most skilled Manufacturing Master is bound to make a mistake when creating something as complex as a full-body battle armor. There’s no reason he wouldn’t slip up...’

’But what if...?’

"Director Zheng, you don’t have to wait for me. You can start first. After all, I’m faster at making parts than you are. Your advantage lies in your familiarity with the blueprints. If you give that up, I’d be the one getting a bargain," Gao Neng said with a slight smile, glancing at Zheng Hai’s conflicted expression.

"How arrogant!"

"That’s just outrageously arrogant!"

"Director Zheng, show him the real skill of our Third Manufacturing Plant!"

Hearing this, the surrounding Manufacturing Masters all flushed slightly.

Zheng Hai took a deep breath, glanced at Guan San, and finally gritted his teeth. "Since Mr. Gao has put it that way, I won’t be polite!"

As his voice fell, Zheng Hai got to work.

Compared to Zhuo Bing, Zheng Hai’s movements were clearly more practiced. With his left and right hands, he drew two completely different streams of liquid energy from the ore.

"Look, Director Zheng is using both hands!"

"Manufacturing two parts at the same time! He’s our Third Manufacturing Plant’s technical director, all right."

"If only I could be as amazing as Director Zheng one day... Sigh. A shame. I’ll probably never reach that level in my lifetime."

The surrounding Manufacturing Masters cheered at the appropriate moment.

Gao Neng, however, wasn’t too surprised.

’Home-field advantage.’

’We’re competing in the Third Manufacturing Plant. If the people here didn’t cheer for Zheng Hai, there’d be no point in him being the technical director anymore.’

He continued to study the blueprints.

The structure of the Anti-Magnetic Battle Armor was far more complex than the Electric Saber’s. There were a total of thirty-four pages of blueprints, each covered with diagrams of parts, both large and small.

The notes on their functions and positions were incredibly detailed.

Moreover, there were numerical labels like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... and the last few pages detailed the assembly process according to these numbers.

Normally, it would take at least half an hour just to read through the blueprints once. As for memorizing the entire structure, that would probably be impossible in less than half a month.

Of course, one could also read and assemble at the same time...

But doing so would naturally slow one down considerably.

Gao Neng wasn’t in a hurry. He took his time reading.

’Hasn’t he started yet? It seems he’s never made an Anti-Magnetic Battle Armor before...’ Zheng Hai thought, inwardly sighing in relief as he watched Gao Neng, who was still studying the blueprints.

His advantage lay in his familiarity with the construction and size of every part, and with the entire assembly structure. He had manufactured no fewer than a thousand sets of Anti-Magnetic Battle Armor with his own hands.

If Zhuo Bing had lost due to the speed of part manufacturing...

...then how could he possibly lose?

The Electric Saber had a total of 27 parts.

Its manufacturing difficulty could be considered D-rank at most.

But the Anti-Magnetic Battle Armor had a total of 305 parts. If even one of them was faulty, completing the armor’s assembly would be impossible.

Although both were considered basic equipment, the manufacturing difficulty for this one reached B+ rank.

’There’s no way I can lose!’

Time flowed by again...

「Fifteen minutes later.」

Zheng Hai had already produced 53 parts.

This manufacturing speed was at least a third faster than Zhuo Bing’s. Furthermore, based on his experience, at least 90% of these parts should be up to standard.

’There’s no way I can lose now, right?’

’I’m already performing way above my usual level!’

Just as he was thinking this...

Gao Neng set down the blueprints.

’Finished reading in just fifteen minutes? That’s so fast. Normally, you couldn’t get through it in under half an hour. What a genius... Still, even so, he’s probably only read it once, right? When it comes to making the parts, he’ll probably have to keep picking up the blueprints to check...’ Zheng Hai was slightly startled. The part he was halfway through crafting suddenly developed a small crack.

’Dammit!’

Zheng Hai cursed inwardly and tossed the faulty part aside.

’Calm down...’

’I have to stay calm!’

’I have an absolute advantage right now. There’s no way I can lose to Gao Neng. After all, he’s just a freshman who’s barely started university.’

’How can he compare to a veteran Manufacturing Master like me, with over twenty years of experience?’

Zheng Hai did his best to calm himself.

But the scene that followed made it rather difficult for him to remain calm.

Because Gao Neng once again revealed his wild side. His hands swept over a pile of ore, and a massive surge of energy gushed out.

’What a f—... What a strong talent! At least 80% to 90% efficiency! And with that control over his Spiritual Power... a decent opponent. Too bad he’s just a rookie!’ Sweat began to bead on Zheng Hai’s forehead.

But he clenched his jaw, his hands becoming rock-steady, no longer making mistakes like before. He quickly finished crafting the part in his hands.

But just as he completed it, he heard a series of clanging sounds... 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Gao Neng had also begun manufacturing parts.

The difference was...

...he was making seven or eight parts at once.

"..." Zheng Hai finally understood how Zhuo Bing had felt earlier.

’This is so fucking ridiculous!’

’Using a killer move like energy materialization just to make parts...’

’It’s just bullying!’

’Calm. I need to stay calm.’

’I still have the advantage. He made seven or eight parts in one go. Logically, he should have to go back and check the blueprints again now.’

Zheng Hai constantly tried to console himself.

Then, he heard another series of clangs.

Another five or six parts of varying sizes appeared in a pile in front of Gao Neng. Moreover, after the parts landed, they were arranged neatly in the order of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7...

"Do you have to be this fast?! Do you have to be so damn fast?!" Zheng Hai’s eyes went red. He had spent fifteen minutes making over fifty parts.

And Gao Neng?

In half a minute, more than ten parts had appeared.

’Stay calm...’

’Zheng Hai, you have to stay calm!’

’You have over fifty parts. You still have the advantage...’

Zheng Hai forced himself to be calm, but his back was already unconsciously soaked with sweat. Never before had he felt such immense pressure.

In fact, it wasn’t just him.

The surrounding Manufacturing Masters also felt a powerful aura erupting from Gao Neng. It was like watching a king who ruled over the factory.

With a wave of his hand, several parts appeared.

Another wave...

...and a few more parts appeared.

"Elder Guan, what do you think now?" Fang Tangtang’s face was blooming with a smile, as if she had completely forgotten her own bet. Her gaze turned to Guan San.

"His speed is fast... but being a Manufacturing Master isn’t just about speed. If the parts don’t fit together, they have to be remade. Plus, it’s easy for problems to arise..." Guan San shook his head lightly, but he subconsciously wiped a drop of sweat from his forehead.

Because, even he had to admit in his heart.

Gao Neng’s speed was damn fast!

"CLANG CLANG CLANG!"

"CLANG..."

"..."

Amidst the surrounding chatter,

Gao Neng’s speed at materializing parts only grew faster. One by one, the parts condensed in mid-air like raindrops before falling onto the manufacturing table.

More and more, and more and more...

「Five minutes later.」

Gao Neng had already made over 60 parts.

And Zheng Hai, likewise, had over 60.

"Keep it up, Director Zheng. I’m about to catch up to you," Gao Neng said, pausing. He then casually flipped through the manufacturing blueprints in front of him.

"..." Zheng Hai’s face was dark.

He had started manufacturing fifteen minutes early and thought he had an absolute advantage. But after a short five minutes, that advantage had been completely erased.

’We’re even?!’

’Son of a bitch...’

’This guy is a real monster!’

"Alright, I’m starting again. Take your time, Director Zheng, no need to rush," Gao Neng added consolingly when Zheng Hai didn’t respond.

Then, he resumed manufacturing.

After looking at the blueprints, his speed was even faster than before. With a wave of his hand, ten parts dropped down.

Zheng Hai’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

He was the technical director of the Third Manufacturing Plant. He had manufactured over a thousand sets of Anti-Magnetic Battle Armor and was as familiar with each part as if it were his own child.

As such, he certainly wasn’t blind. He could tell whether the parts in front of Gao Neng were qualified or not.

’They’re all qualified!’

’These parts... they’re all perfectly acceptable products!’

’He made over 70 parts in one go...’

’And they’re all qualified.’

’That’s the most terrifying part, isn’t it?’

’Am I going to lose? Am I really going to lose...? No, there’s still the assembly. If he’s not familiar with it, assembly is the hardest part!’ Zheng Hai’s mind was in turmoil, but he kept trying to psych himself up.

’I can’t lose.’

’How can I possibly lose?!’

The speed of Zheng Hai’s part manufacturing began to accelerate unconsciously. His hands constantly picked up various tools to hammer at the parts.

He started to focus completely on his work.

He no longer watched Gao Neng’s every move.

This was a necessary skill for a mature, high-level Manufacturing Master: focus, imperviousness to external influences, and refusing to be led by the opponent’s rhythm. He possessed all these qualities.

’Calm!’

’I’m in top form today.’

’I can perform beyond my usual level. If I can’t beat him in speed, I’ll compete on quality. And if my quality isn’t enough... No, my quality can’t be lacking. As a last resort, I can bet on success rate?’

’Could he possibly succeed at assembly on his first try?!’