A Piece of Divine Ingenuity Unlocks the Marvelous Key, the Breech-Loading Sharp Weapon Establishes Majestic Might

Wu'an City, Northern Suburbs Industrial Zone.

Before the morning mist had even dispersed, it was torn to shreds by a thunderous roar of steam.

The expansion site of the Mohist Pavilion workshop had already become a sea of steel and flame.

Qin Guli stood atop a temporary command platform, his gray work uniform pressed tight against his body by the hot wind.

In his hand, he held a brass-cased telescope specially made by the Mohist Pavilion, its barrel aimed at the center of the site.

There, a pitch-black steam crane let out a low, rumbling roar.

Coal fire in the boiler turned water into surging power, driving massive pistons back and forth. The chain winch clattered deafeningly as it slowly hoisted a steel reinforcing frame five zhang long and weighing several tons.

The frame was a newly developed reinforced concrete prefabricated component from the Mohist Pavilion, its surface still crusted with dark-red rust and gray-white cement residue.

Four Mohist Pavilion disciples in short brown tunics stood at the frame's corners, colored flags in hand, directing the crane arm with signal flags.

The steam crane's long arm stretched out, steadily delivering that colossal object into its designated position with an error of less than half an inch.

"Lower!"

At the command, the frame slammed into the foundation with a boom, making the ground tremble slightly and kicking up a ring of dust.

On the other side of the site, an even more ferocious steel beast was howling.

It was a Steam Stone Cutter, its steam engine driving a flywheel that powered a gigantic circular saw blade.

The blade measured a full half zhang across, its edge flashing with icy light.

A Mohist Pavilion disciple operated the feed lever, slowly pushing an entire block of granite hauled from the foothills of the