The Committee's Smoke of Gunpowder, Heavenly Origin and Intercepting Sect Conflict

Chen Ran's proposal received a response from all factions.

The "Heavenly Net Technology Committee" was officially established in the City of Origin.

For a time, this Holy City of the Human Race became unprecedentedly lively. Immortals and Gods from all paths arrived in droves, with auspicious clouds swirling and divine light piercing the sky, creating a unique spectacle that blended with the city's technologically advanced architecture.

The Heavenly Origin Sect sent several elites from the Twelve Golden Immortals, led by Guang Chengzi. Each of them possessed an imposing demeanor, with auspicious clouds rising above their heads and powerful innate and acquired Spiritual Treasures in their hands, displaying the air of a true Mystic Sect orthodox lineage.

The Intercepting Sect, unwilling to be outdone, had Lord of the Heavens dispatch his personal disciple Zhao Gongming, along with the Three Ladies of Sanxiao: Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao. Behind them followed the Ten Heavenly Lords and other masters of formations, a large group with an overwhelming presence.

In addition, Zhen Yuanzi sent his two young Daoist attendants, Qingfeng and Mingyue. The Western Sect sent a few ascetics, and even the Four Dragon Kings, who had always lived in seclusion, sent their Crown Prince to learn.

A "study group" of unprecedented scale, bringing together most of the Primordial Era's technical elites, was thus inaugurated.

The committee's headquarters was located in a colossal building within the Central Academy of Sciences in the City of Origin. This was the core research and development zone for the Human Race's Rune Technology. When Guang Chengzi, Zhao Gongming, and the others first stepped inside, they were stunned by the sight before them.

There were no carved beams or painted pillars, no meditation cushions or incense burners.

Instead, there were massive metal rooms, screens flashing with countless data streams, robotic arms automatically transporting materials on aerial tracks, and countless Human Race engineers in white research suits, moving with purpose, engrossed in various instruments they couldn't comprehend.

A sense of rigorous, efficient beauty, filled with logic and order, washed over them, forming a stark contrast to the familiar immortal abodes they knew.

"Hmph, ingenious but useless tricks," Guang Chengzi remarked, though inwardly he was shocked. Naturally arrogant, he disdained those with fur and horns or those born from eggs and moisture. He naturally held a degree of contempt for the Human Race's "heretical path" of focusing on external objects rather than cultivating the Primordial Spirit.

His not-so-quiet snort was overheard by Zhao Gongming, who stood nearby.

Zhao Gongming, known for his righteousness and fiery temper, was immediately displeased. He glanced at Guang Chengzi and sneered, "What? Brother Guang Chengzi, you look down on us 'heretical paths'? Then why are you here? Go back to your Jade Void Palace and embrace your Fan Tian Seal!"

"You!" Guang Chengzi's face darkened. "Zhao Gongming, don't be so arrogant! This is the Holy City of the Human Race. I respect Junior Sister Nuwa and will not stoop to the level of a brute like you!"

"Who are you calling a brute!"

As the two were about to argue at the entrance of the R&D center, Youchao Shi, one of the Three Sovereigns and the Human Race's reception officer, had no choice but to step forward to mediate.

"Esteemed Immortals, please calm down, calm down. Mister has been waiting inside for a long time."

The two glared at each other, then snorted coldly and followed Youchao Shi inside.

In the core laboratory of the R&D center, Chen Ran was already waiting. He dispensed with formalities and got straight to the point.

"Fellow Daoists, welcome to the City of Origin."

"Time is of the essence, so I won't waste time with pleasantries. From today onwards, you all have but one goal: to thoroughly understand the principles of Rune Technology in the shortest possible time, and then combine it with your respective immortal arts to jointly complete the prototype of the first main node of the 'Primordial Heavenly Net'."

As he spoke, a massive screen behind him lit up, displaying an incredibly complex design diagram.

"This is the blueprint for the prototype, containing three thousand six hundred and fifty basic rune arrays and one hundred and twenty-nine thousand six hundred energy circuits..."

Chen Ran began to explain the design principles in detail.

Initially, Guang Chengzi and the others listened with a critical and discerning gaze. But the more they heard, the more solemn their expressions became, eventually turning to shock.

What Chen Ran was explaining was a completely new knowledge system they had never encountered before. It deconstructed and recombined formations, artifact refining, energy science, and even some basic Laws of the Great Dao in a purely rigorous and quantifiable manner.

In their understanding as immortals, setting up formations and refining artifacts relied on their own cultivation, their comprehension of the Great Dao, and a touch of inexplicable "inspiration."

But in this Human Race system, everything became calculable formulas and standardized processes.

This completely overturned their worldview.

After the explanation, the session moved into group discussions and practical application.

The conflict, at this point, erupted completely.

"Regarding this 'Psionic Compression Core' formation, I believe it should be inscribed using the Nine Revolutions Profound Art cultivation method of my Jade Void Palace to ensure its stability and purity!" Guang Chengzi insisted.

"Nonsense!" Qin Wan Tianjun, one of the Intercepting Sect's Ten Heavenly Lords, slammed the table. "While the Nine Revolutions Profound Art is exquisite, it is too rigid and unsuitable for an energy core! We should use my Intercepting Sect's Myriad Immortals Array Diagram, which is all-encompassing, to provide the most powerful energy!"

"My Heavenly Origin Sect emphasizes 'quality,' while your Intercepting Sect only knows how to pile up 'quantity.' A mob like you, what do you know about exquisiteness?"

"What did you say! Do you want to fight!"

The two groups, due to a disagreement on a technical route, argued heatedly, their magical powers surging, on the verge of fighting.

Chen Ran, responsible for mediating, watched them silently.

Only when both sides' anger reached its peak, nearly tearing the laboratory apart, did Chen Ran slowly walk to the central experimental bench.

He did not try to break up the fight or reprimand anyone.

He simply asked calmly, "Are you done arguing?"

"Since you both believe your plan is the best. Then, let the facts speak for themselves."

He commanded the screen: "Activate the 'War Sandbox' simulation."

Buzz--

The entire laboratory's scene instantly changed. They felt as if they were in a cold, cosmic starry sky. Before them, a diamond-shaped black warship slowly emerged from a spatial wormhole.

It was the "Gestalt" explorer warship that had struck everyone with such dread.

"Now, I will use this warship as a hypothetical enemy," Chen Ran's voice echoed in the vast simulated space, sounding particularly cold.

"I will use the Heavenly Origin Sect's and the Intercepting Sect's plans separately to create two virtual 'Heavenly Net nodes' and organize a defensive battle centered around them."

"Whose plan can hold out longer against the enemy, whose plan is correct."

"The loser shuts up, and then unconditionally executes the winner's plan."

Chen Ran's gaze swept over everyone, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Here, there is no Heavenly Origin Sect, no Intercepting Sect, no sectarian differences, no personal grudges."

"Only right and wrong."

"And life and death."