Recaps

Chen Mo and the researchers conducted the Star Ring's fifth experiment, achieving stable, sustained fusion burning and confirming that controlled nuclear fusion had succeeded. The command center erupted in celebration, while the outside world remained unaware of the breakthrough on the island.

• Chen Mo started the fifth Star Ring experiment after the earlier tests had refined its parameters.
• The plasma ignited successfully and remained stable as its temperature and sustained discharge time continued to rise.
• After more than half an hour, the plasma began burning spontaneously, with lower fuel consumption indicating tritium self-sustaining had formed.
• The plasma continued operating stably for over an hour, and Chen Mo declared the experiment a complete success.
• Wang Nian, Li Jian, and the other researchers cheered and embraced as Zhao Min congratulated Chen Mo.
• Chen Mo said he wanted to go home, take a hot bath, and sleep, while the outside world remained unaware of the achievement.

After the successful Controlled Nuclear Fusion experiment, Li Chengzhi asked Chen Mo to delay announcing it for two months so the authorities could prepare for its effects. Chen Mo agreed, returned home to spend time with pregnant Xiao Yu, and fell asleep beside her.

• Li Chengzhi told Chen Mo that the authorities wanted him to delay announcing Controlled Nuclear Fusion for two months while they prepared for its domestic and international effects.
• Chen Mo agreed to the delay, and Li Chengzhi passed along the Chief’s offer of support for Chen Mo’s future research.
• Chen Mo returned home, where Wang Lan welcomed him and said she would leave him and Xiao Yu to spend time together.
• Chen Mo reunited with Xiao Yu, told her his experiment was finished, and promised to take her out while he was on leave.
• After showering, Chen Mo relaxed beside Xiao Yu and fell asleep, while she quietly stayed by his side.

After the Star Ring’s plasma remained stable for five days, Chen Mo confirmed the nuclear fusion experiment’s success and returned to Army Ant headquarters. Zhao Min presented plans for Bin Hai City’s Holographic City and proposed founding Fire Ant Company to expand into culture and entertainment with a holographic amusement park.

• Chen Mo returned to Science Island and learned from Wan Yuanxi that the Star Ring’s plasma had remained stable, with the experiment reaching a generating capacity of 760,000 kilowatt-hours.
• Wang Nian told Chen Mo that higher-ups wanted an assessment of a 20-million-kilowatt-hour nuclear fusion power station, and Chen Mo estimated that each Star Ring reactor cost roughly ten billion to build.
• Chen Mo told Wan Yuanxi and the others that the successful experiment made preparation for nuclear fusion power stations their next task.
• Zhao Min showed Chen Mo the planned Holographic City project, including public attractions, nearby buildings, and a floating stage.
• Zhao Min told Chen Mo she had acquired an island and planned to establish Fire Ant Company to develop cultural and entertainment businesses, including a holographic amusement park.

Chen Mo approved Zhao Min’s 15-billion-budget holographic amusement park and discussed delaying the announcement of controlled nuclear fusion. As he prepared to travel abroad for the Nobel Prize ceremony, he worked with Mo Nv on a holographic design for Binhai Square.

• Chen Mo reviewed Zhao Min and Lan Xi’s amusement park proposal and signed off on the project.
• Chen Mo told Zhao Min that the authorities had asked him to wait at least two months before announcing the successful controlled nuclear fusion project.
• Chen Mo decided to travel abroad for the Nobel Prize ceremony, and Zhao Min warned him to be careful.
• Chen Mo asked Mo Nv to design a holographic plan for Binhai Square, including projection pillars, rooftop projectors, and projected flower beds.
• Chen Mo added a seafront tower inspired by Guangzhou Tower, which Mo Nv covered with a holographic image of the Binhai Fisher Girl.

Chen Mo learned that Huaxia had announced a sweeping coal reduction plan to prepare for his planned Controlled Nuclear Fusion announcement. He left for Sweden to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony with four retired guards assigned as his bodyguards.

• Huaxia announced plans to reduce coal production and promote nuclear power, confusing observers and unsettling coal markets.
• Chen Mo understood that the authorities were preparing the public and workers for his Controlled Nuclear Fusion announcement two months later.
• Chen Mo ate breakfast with Xiao Yu and Chen's Mother, then left for the airport to travel to Sweden for the Nobel Prize ceremony.
• Li Chengzhi introduced Chen Mo to Fire Hibiscus, Mount Tai, Luo Yu, and Zhong Lei, who would provide personal and outer security during the trip.
• Chen Mo offered the four guards jobs at his company after they retired, and all four accepted.

In Stockholm, Lirik assigned his team an operation targeting an old man and warned them not to pursue Chen Mo. Meanwhile, Chen Mo prepared to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony, where he joked that his formal tailcoat made him look like a penguin, and the staff arrived to escort him to the venue.

• Five operatives debated whether their target would be Chen Mo until Lirik arrived and distributed files naming an old man as the target.
• When one operative suggested capturing Chen Mo too, Lirik warned that they were not to complicate the organization's plans by going after him.
• Bai Di chose Aisha to go first in the operation.
• Chen Mo dressed in a black tailcoat and white bow tie, joked that he looked like a penguin, and reviewed the ceremony schedule with Lan Xi.
• Staff notified Chen Mo that the ceremony was about to begin and escorted him toward the venue.

Xiao Man livestreamed the Nobel Prize ceremony while Chen Mo attended in Stockholm to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics for his geomagnetic research and seismograph. His award sparked celebration across Huaxia, while Xiao Yu and Chen Mo’s family watched with pride.

• Xiao Man explained that she had founded Man Yu Platform with Chen Mo’s startup funding and watched the ceremony livestream with her viewers.
• At the ceremony in Stockholm, Chen Mo entered with the other laureates and drew attention as the youngest and most conspicuous winner.
• Aipusi introduced Chen Mo’s Geomagnetic Anomaly Detection Theory and the seismograph’s record of accurately predicting earthquakes and saving lives.
• Chen Mo accepted the Nobel Prize in Physics medal from the King of Sweden.
• People across Huaxia celebrated Chen Mo’s achievement as Xiao Yu, Chen Mo’s family, and Zhao Min watched proudly.

At the Nobel banquet, Chen Mo spoke with Princess Sivili, who admired his technology and wedding, before the two entered the Blue Hall together. Chen Mo delivered a speech criticizing the rejection and ridicule of unproven fundamental science, leaving the audience to consider his call for greater tolerance.

• Princess Sivili congratulated Chen Mo and asked about Huaxia, his company, and whether his wedding dress could be custom-made.
• Princess Sivili linked arms with Chen Mo as they descended the stairs, drawing reporters’ attention at the banquet.
• Chen Mo told Princess Sivili that the banquet food had not filled him, making her laugh.
• Chen Mo took the stage and gave his speech in Chinese, describing the ridicule his paper had faced and calling for society to support exploration in fundamental science.

Chen Mo attended a Swedish Academy forum after his Nobel Prize speech sparked worldwide debate, and he tried to recruit Professor Doliviz to Starfish Company. Meanwhile, Doliviz guarded his research files and Lirik’s team prepared a mission at the academy, leaving Chen Mo among the guests as the gathering continued.

• Chen Mo’s Nobel banquet speech renewed online arguments as people recalled experts who had mocked his earthquake-predictability paper.
• Professor Doliviz rejected an offer to buy his research, retrieved a memory card containing his files, and left his room.
• Lirik instructed six associates to carry out a mission without harming anyone besides their target, then entered the Swedish Academy; Aisha arrived shortly afterward.
• Si Li Yang welcomed Chen Mo to the academy forum and introduced him to the gathered guests.
• Chen Mo congratulated Professor Doliviz and offered him a position at Starfish Company, but Doliviz declined for the time being and accepted Chen Mo’s business card.

At a Swedish Academy forum, Chen Mo began outlining his vision for an intelligent future city, while his security chief Wang Hai sensed something familiar in the crowd and placed the team on alert. Chen Mo described how artificial intelligence could coordinate roads, buildings, transport, and homes, leaving his speech in progress.

• Wang Hai monitored the packed forum and coordinated Chen Mo’s bodyguards as the speakers took their places.
• Wang Hai noticed a familiar flicker in the crowd, alerted Mount Tai and A-Lei, and began searching the audience.
• Doliweizi delivered his speech and answered questions before Chen Mo took the stage as the final speaker.
• Chen Mo explained that artificial intelligence would be central to future cities and described smart roads, buildings, and homes that could save residents time.

Chen Mo defended the rapid development of intelligent cities and argued that Artificial Intelligence was a tool whose dangers depended on humanity. He also challenged the idea that Huaxia’s few natural-science Nobel Prizes proved its education or technology was backward, leaving the audience applauding his explanations.

• Chen Mo said Bin Hai City could build an intelligent-city prototype within five years and cited improvements from its Smart Transportation project.
• Chen Mo argued that Artificial Intelligence was unlikely to destroy humanity and that human choices, not tools, caused disasters.
• A Western speaker questioned Huaxia’s low number of natural-science Nobel Prizes, and Chen Mo rejected the claim that this reflected backward education or technology.
• Chen Mo compared Nobel Prizes to a few fruits from a much larger tree of scientific achievement.
• Chen Mo said team-based research, Nobel Prize limits on recipients, and restrictions on publishing advanced technologies helped explain why Huaxia received fewer awards.

Wang Hai recognized Lirik as a likely terrorist at a forum where Chen Mo was speaking, and both men ordered their plans into motion. An explosion plunged the venue into chaos, and Chen Mo’s bodyguards evacuated him while an accomplice followed Doliweizi.

• Wang Hai spotted Lirik watching Doliweizi and alerted Zhong Lei, Fire Hibiscus, and Mount Tai to keep watch.
• Wang Hai recognized Lirik as a man he had seen leaving a terrorist stronghold, and Lirik realized Wang Hai had identified him.
• Lirik ordered his team to execute the second plan, while Wang Hai ordered Mount Tai and Zhong Lei to protect Chen Mo.
• Mount Tai and Zhong Lei rushed onto the stage as the forum lights went out and an explosion sounded outside.
• Wang Hai, Zhu He, Mount Tai, and Zhong Lei surrounded Chen Mo and evacuated him through a predetermined route.
• A scantily dressed woman followed Doliweizi as he fled with the crowd.

After an explosion at the Swedish Academy, Chen Mo returned safely to his hotel while his loved ones checked on him. He learned that Professor Doliviz had disappeared during the chaos, then left Stockholm with his team as the attack was investigated.

• Chen Mo reassured Xiao Yu and Zhao Min by phone that he was safe after the explosion.
• Lirik learned that the cargo had left port and told Bai Di their mission was nearly complete.
• News reports identified the explosion as a terrorist attack and reported that Professor Doliviz had disappeared.
• Wang Hai told Chen Mo he suspected the explosion had created cover for Doliviz’s kidnapping and explained how he recognized Lirik.
• Lan Xi informed Chen Mo that their flight was booked, and Chen Mo and his team left for the airport.

Chen Mo returned home safely after Professor Doliviz disappeared in an attack, then entered the Sci-Tech Library and chose an ecological technology project. He acquired Soil Oxygen Grass technology, a genetically engineered plant that could purify air and improve soil, and began reviewing the foundational technologies needed to develop it.

• Chen Mo returned home, and Xiao Yu hurried to embrace him while Chen's Mother and Aunt Zhen expressed relief.
• Chen Mo guessed that Professor Doliviz had been kidnapped during a planned diversion, and Chen's Mother urged him to stay home and rest.
• Chen Mo comforted Xiao Yu for worrying about him, and she fell asleep in his arms.
• Chen Mo investigated the disappearance but found no leads, even with Mo Nv's help, and then entered the Sci-Tech Library.
• Chen Mo selected the ecology book and acquired Soil Oxygen Grass technology, which could grow in barren or toxic conditions and improve soil and air.
• Chen Mo selected basic genetic engineering technologies needed for the project and left the Sci-Tech Library.

Yang Mingzhe reported that the government had chosen Ant Army Group to build and operate two controlled nuclear fusion power stations, while Chen Mo planned to announce the successful fusion experiment in five days. Elsewhere, Liu Yan Yi introduced her new boyfriend Dong Quan to her roommates, who remained wary as he charmed them.

• Yang Mingzhe told Chen Mo and Zhao Min that the government had selected the BOOT plan and confirmed station projects in Bin Hai City and Ji Province.
• Zhao Min asked Yang Mingzhe to prepare for construction, and Chen Mo said Science Island would announce the successful nuclear fusion experiment in five days.
• Zhao Min teased Chen Mo about researching plants, while he continued developing Soil Oxygen Grass in the biology lab.
• Liu Yan Yi told Zhang Xinxin, Ke Mei, and Li Lihua that her boyfriend Dong Quan was a wealthy London-educated entrepreneur and brought them to dinner with him.
• Dong Quan answered the roommates’ questions smoothly and offered to help them with jobs, leaving them unconvinced but accepting his offer to add them on WeChat.

Chen Mo authorized the announcement that the Star Ring Controlled Nuclear Fusion experiment had succeeded, and the news stunned Huaxia and the world. Huaxia Nuclear Energy Group then announced plans to build two commercial fusion power stations, establishing the next step toward making fusion Huaxia’s primary source of electricity.

• Chen Mo told Mo Nv to have Wan Yuanxi announce the successful fusion experiment while he checked the progress of the Soil Oxygen Grass hybrid cells.
• Ant Army Company reposted Star Ring Research Institute’s announcement, and Li Tiejun and a news team reacted with astonishment to the fusion breakthrough.
• Huaxia’s official media announced that Star Ring had achieved stable, long-pulse controlled fusion and that fusion power generation could be commercialized.
• Foreign media, commentators, politicians, and the ITER director questioned the news or demanded access to Huaxia’s technology, while Huaxia’s authorities and Ant Army Company ignored them.
• Huaxia Nuclear Energy Group announced agreements to build two fusion power stations in South China Province and Ji Province over the next two years, with a combined output of 20 million kilowatts.

Protests against Ant Army Company erupted after its nuclear fusion project threatened coal jobs, and Zhao Min uncovered Black Soil Mining’s role in stirring them up. Tang Baiming’s retaliation brought swift business consequences, leaving him convinced his company was finished.

• Unemployed workers gathered outside Ant Army Company headquarters to protest technological change, while police maintained order and Zhao Min ordered an investigation into who was manipulating them.
• Li Huai told Zhao Min that police had arrested foreign spies and organizers linked to Cao Jiangmin, a former Black Soil Mining employee; Zhao Min decided to make an example of the company behind the unrest.
• Tang Baiming watched the protests and recalled that he had paid Cao Jiangmin to organize them in hopes of slowing coal’s phaseout and easing his company’s financial troubles.
• A business associate confronted Tang Baiming about targeting Ant Army Company and warned that Zhao Min was turning his partners against him.
• Tang Baiming’s partners canceled deals, an employee resigned, a bank halted a loan, and shareholders called an emergency meeting, leaving him certain he was finished.

After Ant Army Company’s retaliation ended the protests, laid-off miner Liu Qingguo found work restoring abandoned mining areas. At an ITER meeting, Li Jian rejected demands to share China’s successful Controlled Nuclear Fusion Technology, and the dispute began to strain the world order.

• Three days after Tang Baiming’s death, Cao Jiangmin confessed to bribing workers and inciting protests, and the demonstrations outside Ant Army Company ended.
• Liu Qingguo learned he had been laid off from the coal mine and worried about finding work to support his family.
• Manager Tong offered Liu Qingguo a job restoring vegetation in abandoned mining areas, and Liu accepted.
• At an ITER meeting in France, Li Jian refused foreign demands to share China’s Controlled Nuclear Fusion Technology and walked out after representatives threatened a technology blockade.
• China’s Foreign Ministry stated that the Star Ring Research Institute had developed the technology without outside assistance and was not part of the ITER framework.
• As news of the fusion breakthrough spread, smaller countries avoided taking sides while the established global order began to crack.

As Controlled Nuclear Fusion Technology threatened existing economic and political power, nations weighed how to respond while the global contest intensified. Dong Quan received orders to obtain the technology and began considering Chen Mo’s family as a way to reach him.

• The Arab King asked Mohammed whether Arab Kingdom should cut off oil supplies at the Westerners’ request, and Mohammed argued against it and urged economic diversification.
• The Arab King decided Arab Kingdom would wait and see, while OPEC and other parties stayed silent or pursued ways to respond to the Energy Revolution.
• Dong Quan read his superiors’ order to obtain Controlled Nuclear Fusion Technology as quickly as possible.
• Dong Quan reviewed his failed attempts to infiltrate Ant Army Company and concluded that kidnapping Chen Mo was currently impossible.
• Dong Quan studied photographs of Chen Mo meeting Zhang Xinxin and considered Chen Mo’s family his remaining weakness.

Zhang Xinxin went to Dihao Fang for her roommate Liu Yan Yi’s boyfriend Dong Quan’s birthday, while Xiao Yu arranged discreet protection for her. Chen Mo continued his Soil Oxygen Grass research and, after hearing about the outing, wondered if the invitation concealed ulterior motives.

• Liu Yan Yi invited Zhang Xinxin and her roommates to Dong Quan’s birthday karaoke gathering at Dihao Fang, and Zhang Xinxin accepted.
• Xiao Yu told Black Hawk to have two bodyguards follow Zhang Xinxin discreetly and pick her up that night.
• Liu Yan Yi gave Dong Quan a birthday gift, and Dong Quan said he had not invited business friends because they were away.
• Chen Mo used a successful drought-resistance gene transfer to advance his Soil Oxygen Grass research and placed the culture media in an incubator.
• Chen Mo learned that Zhang Xinxin had gone to Dihao Fang and suspected Dong Quan might have ulterior motives, while Xiao Yu told him she had arranged protection.

Chen Mo realized Zhang Xinxin had been targeted, identified Dong Quan as a suspected operative, and rushed to pursue him after Dong Quan kidnapped her. Dong Quan demanded Controlled Nuclear Fusion Technology and Artificial Intelligence Technology in exchange for Xinxin and drove toward an abandoned factory.

• Dong Quan signaled his accomplices while Zhang Xinxin and her friends sang in a private room.
• Chen Mo grew suspicious of Dong Quan, then learned that Wu Qiang and Cheng Chuanyu had been attacked at Dihao Fang.
• Chen Mo identified Dong Quan as a University of London graduate who had applied to Ant Army Company and ordered his team to pursue the kidnappers.
• Wu Qiang reported that Cheng Chuanyu had been shot and Dong Quan had kidnapped Zhang Xinxin; Chen Mo armed his team with protective equipment and headed toward the northern outskirts.
• Dong Quan called Chen Mo and demanded Controlled Nuclear Fusion Technology and Artificial Intelligence Technology within two hours, then drove toward an abandoned old factory.

Chen Mo arrived at the factory where Dong Quan held Xin Xin hostage and demanded Artificial Intelligence Technology. After the police failed to find a safe way to intervene, Chen Mo insisted on entering, and Zhuang Yan gave him protective gear.

• Chen Mo learned from Zhuang Yan that Xin Xin was trapped with an armed criminal amid Homemade Bombs, while Wu Qiang had been shot and taken to the hospital.
• Dong Quan called and demanded that Chen Mo bring Artificial Intelligence Technology into the factory, threatening to injure Xin Xin if anyone else came in.
• Chen Mo insisted on going inside despite Zhuang Yan, Wang Hai, and Zhu He trying to stop him.
• Chen Mo called Yao Yi and demanded permission to enter, and Yao Yi said he would find a way.
• Zhuang Yan received a call from the city bureau, then handed Chen Mo a bulletproof vest and helmet; Chen Mo put on a headset and said he was not that weak.

Chen Mo entered Dong Quan’s bomb-filled hideout and offered himself as a hostage in exchange for his sister’s release. Zhang Xinxin escaped, while Chen Mo remained under Dong Quan’s gun and began moving toward the computer to decrypt the files.

• Dong Quan threatened Chen Mo with homemade bombs and demanded the encrypted technical files.
• Chen Mo surrendered his earpiece, bulletproof vest, and belongings, then presented the hard drive containing the files.
• Chen Mo insisted Dong Quan release Zhang Xinxin first and offered to stay as his hostage.
• Dong Quan ordered Zhang Xinxin freed and warned her not to resist.
• Zhang Xinxin left the factory, and Chen Mo agreed to decrypt the files as he approached the computer.

Chen Mo escaped after triggering an explosion that killed Dong Quan, while Ant Army Group’s announcements on nuclear fusion, city development, and entertainment projects sent shockwaves through global markets and geopolitics. The chapter ended with world powers organizing a rival fusion research effort and Ant Army Group continuing to disrupt the international order.

• Chen Mo copied the files for Dong Quan, then used the robotic egg to distract him and ran for the door.
• Dong Quan tried to shoot Chen Mo and evade the robotic egg, but the explosion engulfed him.
• Zhao Min and Yang Mingzhe announced that construction had begun on two controlled nuclear fusion power stations, rattling global markets.
• The United States and Russia invited seven other parties to Geneva, where the nine parties agreed to invest 25 billion US dollars in high-temperature plasma research.
• Bin Hai authorities and Ant Army announced a counterespionage operation, the City of Science and Technology plan, and a partnership to build a holographic park.

Chen Mo welcomed his daughter, Chen Wushuang, nicknamed Little Cuttlefish, while Xiao Yu recovered at home. As Zhao Min discussed the global upheaval caused by controlled nuclear fusion, Chen Mo reviewed his stalled Soil Oxygen Grass experiment and said his next plan was to expand.

• Chen Mo rushed to the hospital and waited anxiously until a nurse announced Xiao Yu had safely given birth to a girl.
• Chen Mo held his newborn daughter, then learned Xiao Yu had named her Wushuang and nicknamed her Little Cuttlefish.
• After Xiao Yu stabilized, Chen Mo took her home, where the family and Zhao Min gathered around the baby.
• Chen Mo reviewed data from his experiment to grow Soil Oxygen Grass in harsh conditions, but the seeds had not yet shown signs of sprouting.
• Zhao Min told Chen Mo that the controlled nuclear fusion announcement had intensified global economic change, then asked what he planned to do next.
• Chen Mo answered that he planned to expand.