Squeak!
A cacophony rang out through the laboratory as numerous devices were moved into place by mechanical arms.
Forging furnaces, high-energy ray emitters, force-field restraints, and raw materials piled like a small mountain were all arranged in orderly fashion under Qiming's control.
"I have no intention of using that stupid hammer. Qiming, I'll leave it to you. Let me see what you can do."
"Command received, Master. Beginning equipment inspection:
Stellar energy forging furnace: inspection complete.
High-energy ray accelerator: inspection complete.
Force-field restraint emitter: inspection complete.
Vanadium crystal: inspection complete. Fusion Material: inspection complete. ...Inspection complete.
Beginning equipment connection. Mechanical installation program activated."
Under Yuan's command, Qiming began renovating the laboratory as streams of data flowed beneath its tactical visor.
The remotely controlled machinery bustled about the laboratory, installing and securing each piece of equipment.
Cables and signal devices were tightly linked together. Once the final device had been secured, all of Yuan's preliminary preparations were complete.
Yuan nodded. He was very satisfied with Qiming's current efficiency. Then, dense Dark Energy surged over his right hand, and around twenty grams of Fusion Material slowly rose from the ground.
Under Yuan's careful control, it gradually entered the force-field restraint device.
"Alright, start the high-energy particle acceleration."
Bzzzz!
Bzzzz!
As energy poured in, the high-energy particles firmly locked within the force field instantly reached the speed of light.
Under Qiming's control, the ion-beam device directed them toward the Fusion Material. Dense high-energy rays glowed silver-white as they continuously bombarded it.
At the same time, the force field securing the Fusion Material changed as well. It continuously altered the pressure points and adjusted the material's core composition.
Soon, after two minutes of continuous bombardment by high-energy particles, a crystal core flashing with dazzling golden light appeared before Yuan.
The crystal core was extremely stable. Without Yuan activating it, it barely radiated any energy outward.
After the bombardment stopped, the surface of the crystal core cooled rapidly. Its once-dazzling glow gradually faded, leaving it plain and unremarkable.
However, the data transmitted by Qiming made Yuan realize that he had truly succeeded.
Despite being only the size of a fist, its energy endurance and radiation output surpassed the Taotie Civilization's Stellar Furnace.
It could be said that the Fusion Material piled on the laboratory floor alone was enough for Yuan's needs—unless he began conducting experiments involving God-making civilizations.
While researching the Dark Dimension, Yuan had discovered that it seemed to transcend the primary material plane. Replicating the energy patterns within it was beyond his current abilities.
The massive material conversion and astronomical energy consumption made him curse that damned Dark Dimension as nothing more than a bottomless money pit.
"Master, the crystal core has stabilized. Its energy efficiency is extremely high, surpassing the Taotie Civilization's records. You may give it a name, and I can record it in the knowledge base."
Qiming controlled a mechanical arm and handed over the fist-sized core. Yuan took it, then carefully held it up before his eyes for inspection.
"Fusion! Stellar! Let's call it Sky Star. Qiming, enter it into the knowledge base. While I'm on a roll, make a few more."
"Command received. Mobilizing Fusion Material. However, I must remind you, Master: according to your plan, one Sky Star will supply the laboratory, while one will power the armor. Two are enough for your daily needs!"
"No! No! No! Two are nowhere near enough. Not even counting the God-making technology research we may get into later, I need at least five for the armor alone.
"With the laboratory reserves included, prepare at least thirty for me. Remember, Qiming: truth lies only upon the edge of a sword. Strike first, talk later, and blanket the enemy with firepower. Understand?"
"Insurance?"
"That's right!" Yuan nodded in satisfaction at Qiming's answer.
"Understood. Sky Stars are now being manufactured. To better accommodate the Master's planning requirements, Qiming is recording the Master's operational style: cautious. Record complete."
Inside the laboratory, Sky Stars were produced one after another under the constant bombardment of high-energy particles.
Sky Stars had many advantages, but they also had drawbacks. Although they contained some Fusion Material that could continuously supply their consumption, their external structure had been fixed and could not be replenished by adding more Fusion Material. Once the last trace of energy had been drained, a Sky Star would become a nearly weathered stone, devoid of any further value.
Thus, Yuan set up a total of nine supply terminals in the laboratory's independent power zone, all capable of providing energy to the laboratory.
Once the first batch had been completed, all that remained was a repetitive mechanical process. Yuan no longer watched the Sky Star production. Once they were finished, they only needed to be connected to the power terminals.
Yuan narrowed his eyes and tapped out several design blueprints for modifying the armor. Its outward appearance remained unchanged, but Yuan had completely overhauled its interior.
Yuan replaced the armor's alloy with an ultra-strong alloy infused throughout with vanadium crystal. Though it could not adapt to Dark Energy, it worked extremely well with the light energy emitted by Sky Stars.
"Force-field shield, compact light-energy barrier, anti-energy wave, complete. High-energy particle rays, compact light-energy impact cannon, high-frequency vibration blade, and most importantly, the antimatter annihilator.
"Hahaha! The supreme secret of mutual destruction: you die, I don't. Heaven and earth in perfect harmony!"
"Qiming: ...Master's behavioral record profile: cautious → cautious, insufficient-firepower anxiety. Combat algorithm updated." While Yuan laughed wildly at the blueprints, Qiming silently revised his behavioral profile.
Once the blueprints had been compiled, Qiming activated the forging furnace and fed countless material resources into it. The modified printing equipment then began making localized alterations.
Before long, a suit of armor was produced. It was entirely metallic in color, appearing especially cold beneath the lights. Once the external energy layer had been sprayed on, it looked identical to the armor beside Yuan.
"Qiming, your new home is ready. Aren't you going to take a look?"
Yuan's voice brimmed with delight. With new armor for protection and Qiming's support, he finally had the means to protect himself.
What? The God-Slaying Spear? What the hell was the point of a powerful weapon? This was an age of technology, computational power, and algorithms. So what if your weapon was strong? Could you fire it? And if you could, could you hit anyone?
Woo! Woo! An unidentified signal has been received by the warship. An unidentified signal has been received by the warship. Commander, please review it.
Yuan, who was transferring Qiming's core, and Cole and the others, who were in the midst of a heated fight, all froze for a moment before lowering their heads and immersing themselves in their own affairs again.
The universe was so vast, and there were so many bored people. There would always be some idiots tossing message-in-a-bottle signals into the boundless void. Who had time to care about them?
Woo! Woo! A high-frequency transmission signal has been received. Transmission is ongoing. Commander, please review it.
Silence filled the room. Still, no one paid it any attention.
Woo! Woo! The high-frequency signal is being automatically translated. Commander, please review it.
"..."
Woo! Woo!
"Damn it, does this ever end?!" The repeated alerts finally infuriated everyone aboard the warship.
Having completed the data transfer, Yuan angrily donned his armor and strode toward the command center.
At the same time, Cole and the others, whose excitement had been interrupted, also rushed over in a fury.
"Damn it, system, are you done yet? Check it! What the hell did that bastard send?"
"Detection complete. Decryption results: Tiannü Galaxy—Dobilun Star. Signal source signature: Super Seminary instructor Wu Daozi. Communication date: thirty thousand years ago."
The moment those words fell, the previously noisy command center fell silent. Everyone looked at one another, unsure what to do.
"Your Excellency, should we go? That's the Super Seminary! The strongest academy in the universe, founded by countless gods. If it's a ruin, we'll strike it rich!"
Cole's voice was filled with longing. Having acquired the Taotie knowledge base, Yuan also had a vague understanding of the Super Seminary.
Yet, contrary to Cole's expectations, Yuan showed no excitement. His face was calm, save for the contempt curling at the corner of his lips.
"Ruins? More like a graveyard."
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