Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong discovers that the success rate of synthesizing iron-based superconductors is extremely low (0.017%).
• The Mind Sandbox generates multiple synthesis routes for various materials, including superconductors and other materials with unique properties.
• Li Dong realizes the sandbox's potential in materials science, reducing experimental time and costs.
• Li Dong faints suddenly after using the Mind Sandbox.

Character Developments

• Li Dong: Becomes aware of the Mind Sandbox's potential in materials science and is overwhelmed by the vastness of his own knowledge gaps.
• Tang Yue: Assists Li Dong and is the first to notice Li Dong's fainting.

Significant Themes

• The challenges and potential of materials science.
• The vastness of scientific knowledge and the process of learning.
• The potential of AI assistance in scientific research.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong and Tang Yue: Li Dong uses the Mind Sandbox while Tang Yue assists him and later helps when Li Dong faints.
• Chen Xianhui and Xue Qikun: They discuss the situation with Huaxia's next-generation aircraft engine project and the potential of rare-earth zirconates. Chen Xianhui takes Chen Xianhui's people for his project, leading to a tense exchange.

Summary: "We Still Have Time"

Key Plot Points

• Li Dong wakes in a hospital after collapsing from brain overexertion. CT/MRI scans are normal; diagnosis is neural pain from excessive fatigue. His imaging was secretly sent to top Beijing hospitals for consultation.
• Despite medical advice, Li Dong returns to Science Island the next day to see Chen Xianhui.
• Li Dong presents a material synthesis idea he claims came to him while unconscious: (Sm₀.₅Nd₀.₂Gd₀.₃)₂Zr₂O₇, an A₂B₂O₇-type pyrochlore thermal barrier coating material.
• Chen Xianhui verifies the calculations—the system checks out: three rare-earth ions co-occupying the A-site creates a high-entropy effect, maximizing phonon scattering (thermal conductivity 0.8–1.2 W⁻¹K⁻¹) and achieving a thermal expansion coefficient (~11.2×10⁻⁶/K) matching the substrate.
• Chen Xianhui decides to fully support the experiment, redirecting resources from his own superconductivity project, and orders materials and equipment preparation.
• In parallel (US): At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Professor James Collins' project fails a fourth round of high-throughput screening for next-generation TBC materials. Sample No. 87 comes close but fails on thermal expansion and fracture toughness. DARPA has upgraded the project to priority defense and moved the deadline 18 months earlier. Collins insists "we still have time" since no one else has succeeded yet.

Character Developments

• Li Dong: Reckless with his health; driven by the material routes flooding his mind (via his mysterious Mind Sandbox ability). Unaware of the alarm he causes; modest despite his genius. His "lucky charm" reputation grows.
• Chen Xianhui: Initially skeptical of Li Dong's mystical reputation, he becomes a convert after seeing the material derivation. Shows decisiveness and generosity, prioritizing national strategic needs (next-gen engine development) over his own project.
• Tang Yue: Anxious and comically worried about being punished if Li Dong collapses again; serves as a handler.
• Collins: Under intense Pentagon/DARPA pressure, failing, but maintains cautious optimism about being first to the breakthrough.

Significant Themes

• The "lucky charm" vs. scientific method: Chen Xianhui's shift from skepticism to belief in Li Dong's uncanny ability.
• National scientific competition: The race between Huaxia and the US for next-generation aerospace thermal barrier coatings—framed as the key to next-generation propulsion superiority.
• Sacrifice and duty: Chen Xianhui willingly reallocates his project's resources to pursue the new material.
• The price of genius: Li Dong's collapse highlights the personal cost of his abilities.
• Time: The recurring motif—"there's still time"—captures both the urgency and the hope of winning the race.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong & medical staff/mentors: Doctor clears him; Xue Qikun warns him not to overwork; Old Zhang assigns a new caretaker ("Little Wei"), whose stethoscope makes Li Dong uncomfortable.
• Tang Yue & Li Dong: Tang Yue pleads with him to rest, half-joking he'll "get shot" if Li Dong collapses again—their dynamic is informal and lightly humorous.
• Li Dong & Chen Xianhui: Li Dong is polite, apologetic, and grateful; Chen Xianhui is paternal, decisive, and increasingly awed by Li Dong's insight. Li Dong promises to repay the favor.
• Collins & Andrew: Frustrated exchange over the failed screening, with Collins displaying stubborn resolve.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

+ Li Dong assists Academician Chen Xianhui in planning a materials synthesis experiment.
+ Qiao Fan visits Li Dong and shares details about his energy-coupling experiments.
+ Li Dong decides to give a public experimental lecture on materials synthesis at the University of Science and Technology of China.
+ Zhao Jianping, the assistant to the president, arranges for the lecture and recruits assistants.

Character Developments

+ Li Dong shows impatience in waiting for the materials synthesis experiment to begin, but Academician Chen Xianhui advises him to be patient.
+ Li Dong agrees to give a public experimental lecture on materials synthesis, displaying his willingness to share knowledge and explore new fields.
+ Qiao Fan demonstrates his dedication to his research and his eagerness to learn from Li Dong.
+ Zhao Jianping shows efficiency and adaptability in arranging the lecture and recruiting assistants.

Significant Themes

+ Patience and perseverance in scientific research.
+ The importance of interdisciplinary learning and collaboration.
+ The value of hands-on experience and practical demonstrations in education.

Character Interactions

+ Li Dong and Academician Chen Xianhui discuss the materials synthesis experiment, with Chen Xianhui advising Li Dong to be patient.
+ Li Dong and Qiao Fan discuss their respective research projects, with Li Dong showing interest in Qiao Fan's work.
+ Li Dong and Zhao Jianping discuss the public experimental lecture, with Li Dong requesting specific materials and equipment, and Zhao Jianping arranging for them.
+ Zhao Jianping interacts with the administrative teacher at the Materials Science Experimental Center and the graduate school's academic affairs system to arrange the lecture and recruit assistants.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong conducts a public lecture at USTC, aiming to synthesize a solid-state electrolyte for all-solid-state batteries.
• He successfully synthesizes a sulfide solid-state electrolyte with high ionic conductivity (5.3x10⁻³ S⁻¹) and excellent air stability (93.8% conductivity retention after 30 minutes of air exposure, and minimal H₂S release).
• The breakthrough is verified by Academician Xue Qikun and Chen Xianhui at the Institute of Solid-State Physics.

Character Developments

• Li Dong: Proves his expertise in materials science by successfully synthesizing a highly conductive and air-stable solid-state electrolyte in a single lecture.
• Zhou Chi: Gains a deeper understanding of materials science and Li Dong's thought process during the experiment.
• Academician Chen Liquan: Realizes the significance of Li Dong's achievement and acknowledges his contribution to the field.

Significant Themes

• Master Effect: Li Dong's presence and guidance inspire and enlighten his students and colleagues, leading to improved understanding and breakthroughs.
• Innovation and Breakthrough: Li Dong's experiment demonstrates the potential for innovative solutions in materials science and the importance of pushing boundaries.
• Collaboration and Recognition: The collaboration between Li Dong, Xue Qikun, Chen Xianhui, and Chen Liquan highlights the importance of teamwork and mutual recognition in academic progress.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong and Zhou Chi: Li Dong guides Zhou Chi through the experiment, leading to a deeper understanding and appreciation for Li Dong's thought process.
• Li Dong and Academician Chen Liquan: Li Dong's achievement is recognized and acknowledged by Academician Chen Liquan, fostering a sense of mutual respect and admiration.
• Li Dong and Xue Qikun/Chen Xianhui: The collaboration between Li Dong, Xue Qikun, and Chen Xianhui leads to the successful verification of Li Dong's breakthrough, strengthening their professional relationship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Professor Li Dong's team successfully synthesizes a new Silver Sulfide Ore-Storage Solid Electrolyte material, reducing manufacturing costs and accelerating all-solid-state battery development.
• Toyota Motor Corporation attempts to replicate Li Dong's work but fails due to lack of precise data.
• Toyota submits a letter of intent to discuss licensing Li Dong's technology through the Chinese Academy of Sciences Technology Transfer Center.
• Xue Qikun suggests negotiating a technology exchange with Toyota, aiming to acquire their proton exchange membrane technology.

Character Developments

• Professor Li Dong: His team's breakthrough catapults him to global recognition, with companies eager to cooperate with him.
• Toyota's R&D team: Struggles to replicate Li Dong's work, highlighting the gap between their current capabilities and Li Dong's achievements.
• Xue Qikun: Plays a crucial role in advising on the potential technology exchange with Toyota, demonstrating his strategic thinking and understanding of the industry.

Significant Themes

• Technological innovation and its impact on industries (all-solid-state batteries vs. traditional liquid electrolytes and hydrogen fuel cells).
• The struggle to replicate cutting-edge research and the importance of precise data in scientific advancements.
• The potential for technology exchange and cooperation to drive progress in different sectors.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong and his assistants: Their brief collaboration on the public experiment leads to a significant breakthrough, highlighting the power of teamwork.
• Xue Qikun and Qian: Their conversation demonstrates their shared vision for the future of energy and their strategic approach to achieving it.
• Toyota's R&D team and Li Dong: Their failed attempts to replicate Li Dong's work underscore the challenges in catching up to cutting-edge research.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong realizes the Mind Sandbox's limitations in finding superconducting materials and decides to improve his logic attribute.
• He opens the Azure Dragon Study Group chat, where Gauss appears and hints at the group's true nature and how to stabilize it.
• Gauss mentions helping companions and completing their rules to grow, but his messages are censored.
• Newton appears briefly, mentioning Gauss's back and a power-generation device issue.
• Academician Xue Qikun calls Li Dong about Toyota's contract and offers him a 15 billion share.
• Li Dong starts the solid-state electrolyte synthesis process with Academician Chen Xianhui's team.
• Toyota's delegation arrives in Hecheng, and negotiations with Academician Xue Qikun begin.

Character Developments

• Li Dong: Realizes the need to improve his logic attribute, decides to help Feynman, and starts the electrolyte synthesis process.
• Gauss: Reveals the group's true nature, hints at stabilizing it, and mentions helping companions and completing their rules.
• Academician Xue Qikun: Negotiates with Toyota, offers Li Dong a 15 billion share, and shows determination to protect Li Dong's interests.

Significant Themes

• The true nature of the Azure Dragon Study Group and how to stabilize it.
• The importance of helping companions and completing their rules for growth.
• The strategic value of technology and the balance of power in negotiations.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong interacts with Gauss and Newton in the Azure Dragon Study Group chat.
• Academician Xue Qikun interacts with Yamamoto Tetsuya during the negotiations, showing determination to secure a fair deal for Li Dong.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong attempts to synthesize a new thermal barrier coating material according to a formula given by Li Dong's Memory Palace, but all attempts fail.
• The failure is not due to process fluctuations but rather a fundamental issue with the system given by Li Dong.
• Li Dong receives an email from Edward Witten expressing unease about a recent discovery.
• Li Dong agrees to take on Lin Yi, a recent graduate, as a research assistant.

Character Developments

• Li Dong: Struggles with the failure of his material synthesis attempts, receives a mysterious email from Witten, and takes on Lin Yi as a research assistant.
• Chen Xianhui: Comforts Li Dong after the synthesis failures and encourages him to take a break.
• Lin Yi: Eager to work with Li Dong, books a plane ticket to Hecheng immediately after Li Dong agrees to take him on.

Significant Themes

• The struggle and setbacks in scientific research, particularly in materials science.
• The importance of perseverance and learning from failures in scientific pursuits.
• The global competition in scientific advancements, with the U.S. (represented by James Collins) feeling they are one step ahead of Huaxia (represented by Li Dong).

Character Interactions

• Li Dong and Chen Xianhui: Chen Xianhui comforts Li Dong after the synthesis failures, encouraging him to take a break.
• Li Dong and Lin Yi: Li Dong agrees to take on Lin Yi as a research assistant, and Lin Yi eagerly books a plane ticket to Hecheng.
• Li Dong and Witten: Li Dong receives a mysterious email from Witten expressing unease about a recent discovery.
• James Collins and Andrew: Collins is informed about the successful synthesis of a new thermal barrier coating material by Andrew, feeling that Huaxia is one step behind the U.S. in this field.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong, Lin Yi, and Chen Xianhui discuss the thermal coating material's synthesis issues at Science Island.
• Li Dong realizes the problem lies in the synthesis process, and they need to switch to a coprecipitation method.
• DARPA announces a breakthrough in thermal barrier coatings, causing a stir in Huaxia.
• Clara learns that her father is being investigated due to data she requested for Li Dong.

Character Developments

• Li Dong: Shows his expertise and problem-solving skills by identifying the synthesis issue and proposing a solution. He also recognizes Lin Yi's potential.
• Lin Yi: Unwittingly provides a crucial insight that helps Li Dong solve the problem, demonstrating his unique perspective and intuition.
• Chen Xianhui: Recognizes Lin Yi's potential and praises him for his contribution, showing his fairness and open-mindedness.
• Clara: Shows concern for her father and offers him a place to work, displaying her responsibility and care for her family.
• Peter Norvig: Handles the investigation into the data leak, showing his capability and experience in navigating such situations.

Significant Themes

• Cross-disciplinary Thinking: Lin Yi's background in superconductivity helps him provide a unique perspective on the thermal coating material synthesis issue.
• The Gap Between Nations: The announcement of the American breakthrough in thermal barrier coatings highlights the technological gap between Huaxia and the United States.
• Family Responsibility: Clara's concern for her father and her offer to help him show the importance of family in her life.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong and Lin Yi: Li Dong recognizes Lin Yi's potential and praises him, while Lin Yi is bewildered by the praise but eager to help.
• Chen Xianhui and Li Dong: Chen Xianhui and Li Dong work together to solve the synthesis issue, showing their professional respect and collaboration.
• Clara and Peter Norvig: Clara expresses concern for her father and offers him help, while Peter Norvig handles the investigation into the data leak, showing their strong family bond.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong's team successfully synthesizes a perfect thermal barrier coating material, meeting all required standards.
• Xue Qikun invites Li Dong to join his advanced material research group for next-generation aviation power in Beijing.
• Li Dong arranges for Lin Yi to study under Academician Xie Xincheng at Peking University.
• Lin Yi starts his new academic journey under the guidance of Chen Xu, a postdoctoral researcher in Xie Xincheng's group.

Character Developments

• Li Dong: Shows his willingness to contribute to engine and aviation propulsion research, demonstrating his dedication to various scientific fields.
• Lin Yi: Begins his academic journey under a renowned academician, indicating his potential and Li Dong's confidence in him.
• Chen Xianhui: Struggles with the concept of the "greater good" as Xue Qikun repeatedly uses it to persuade him to let Li Dong go to Beijing.

Significant Themes

• The "greater good" and personal sacrifices for the collective benefit, as seen in Chen Xianhui's and Xue Qikun's actions.
• The importance of mentorship and guidance in academic growth, highlighted by Li Dong's arrangement for Lin Yi to study under Xie Xincheng.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong and Xue Qikun: Li Dong agrees to join Xue Qikun's research group in Beijing, showing mutual respect and collaboration between the two academics.
• Li Dong and Chen Xianhui: Li Dong arranges for Lin Yi to study under Xie Xincheng, demonstrating his care for Lin Yi's academic growth and his trust in Chen Xianhui's work.
• Lin Yi and Chen Xu: Lin Yi contacts Chen Xu, a postdoc in Xie Xincheng's group, to arrange his studies, indicating the beginning of their academic interaction.

Key events

• At a Peking University seminar, undergraduate Lin Yi proposes preserving a topological invariant—not simply projecting or reducing dimensions—to recover an effective two-dimensional subspace for studying quantized Hall conductance in Weyl semimetals. Doctoral student Zhou Yueyang recognizes that Lin has independently arrived at an approach being pursued in Academician Xie’s group. Lin credits the guiding principle to his own advisor, Professor Li Dong, surprising Zhou and the other students.
• Li Dong studies the demands of advanced aircraft engines and realizes that his team’s new thermal-barrier coating could help enable fifth- and even sixth-generation engines, though he doubts his broader usefulness to the field. He remembers he may owe Clara her share of the Nobel Prize money, but she does not answer his call. Unbeknownst to him, Old Zhang is monitoring the situation and tells someone to keep watch and protect her if possible.
• At Aerospace Institute 11, Li Dong meets Academicians Xue Qikun, Bi Chengyuan, and Huo Zhengguo. Bi praises the coating for allowing turbine-inlet design limits to rise by nearly 200 degrees; Huo insists that security rules prevent discussion of classified work until Li’s paperwork is complete.
• Xue shows Li the institute’s history, from its earliest engine to later generations, and describes the generations of labor behind Huaxia’s aviation progress. He frames building the heart of a sixth-generation aircraft as their generation’s task.
• Back at his accommodation, Li reads a public-account article attributed to Qian, reflecting on the achievements of those who followed him and urging his companion to see more of the world. The article’s reward grants Li an Aerospace Science Origin Fragment. His fragments now combine into a second Origin Crystal, which offers an aerospace technology tree alongside the previously available Third Industrial Revolution and Life Sciences branches.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Yi displays strong interdisciplinary intuition, applying a general principle he learned from Li Dong: identify what must be preserved before choosing a method. Zhou Yueyang shifts from testing him to recognizing his talent; the graduate students are astonished when Lin names his advisor.
• Li Dong moves from feeling unqualified to being deeply affected by the historical and national significance of aerospace research. His coating earns the respect of Bi, while Huo’s caution establishes the strict security culture of the project.
• Xue Qikun acts as Li’s guide, balancing pride in past achievements with ambition for future ones. Bi Chengyuan is warm and openly appreciative; Huo Zhengguo is stern but principled.
• Old Zhang’s unseen call introduces a thread of concern around Clara, while Li remains unaware of the possible danger.

Significant themes

• Preserving essentials: Lin’s scientific insight stresses that methods should be chosen according to the core result one must protect.
• Scientific inheritance: Research advances through accumulated work across generations; today’s breakthroughs rest on earlier sacrifices and persistence.
• National ambition and confidence: The engine exhibit turns abstract research into a tangible story of Huaxia moving from catching up to seeking leadership.
• Looking back while moving forward: Qian’s article celebrates successors who surpass their predecessors yet remember their origins. Li’s new aerospace reward links that legacy to the possibility of future technological transformation.

Plot points and events

• Li Dong unlocks the Aerospace Science Technology Tree, but cannot watch its first video without extensive prerequisite reading and hard-to-find experimental data. The proposed technology—a turbine-based combined-cycle engine with rotating detonation combustion—promises a path from takeoff to hypersonic speed.
• A call from his mother, Li Qin, reminds him that she misses him and asks about spending New Year together. He persuades her to visit Beijing by saying he misses her cooking, then decides to buy her an apartment.
• His purchase is initially blocked because he lacks Beijing household registration. Old Zhang admits he had blocked too many calls, including those needed to process Li Dong’s talent-based registration. Officials soon arrive with expedited paperwork, and Li Dong buys a furnished three-bedroom apartment.
• While waiting for his project approval, Li Dong studies aerospace propulsion at Beihang University, impressing students and faculty with his speed, technical questions, and ability to challenge a professor’s calculations.
• His paperwork is approved, and he joins the Eleventh Institute’s Power Breakthrough Team. The team’s documents reveal that it is developing the sixth-generation aircraft across multiple systems—not just engines—and that China’s fifth-generation propulsion system has already passed mass-production validation, despite public claims of production difficulties.
• Li Dong asks whether the team needs him to solve mathematical problems. The others explain awkwardly that his presence is reassuring and that they may need his mathematics later.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Dong is thrilled by the ambitious aerospace technology but frustrated by the video’s daunting requirements. He also shows growing financial security and affection for his mother, while remaining humble and uncertain about his role on the project.
• Li Qin is practical and frugal, reluctant to accept an apartment, but clearly delighted that her son wants her near him.
• Old Zhang quietly manages Li Dong’s security and daily affairs; his overzealous call-blocking accidentally delays the registration needed for the apartment purchase.
• Xue Qikun, Bi Chengyuan, and Huo Zhengguo welcome Li Dong to the team. Xue’s “experimenter effect” explanation makes it sound as if Li Dong is mainly there as a lucky presence; Huo more directly says that Li Dong’s expertise gives the team confidence and may prove useful later.
• A young couple at the sales office discuss the pressures of urban life and assume Li Dong cannot buy a home. The officials’ arrival reveals his exceptional status, prompting the man to reflect on his own achievements without diminishing his girlfriend’s support.

Significant themes

• Ambition and preparation: Li Dong’s excitement about advanced propulsion is balanced by the vast knowledge and experimental data required to make progress.
• Family and success: Despite his extraordinary career, Li Dong’s motivation to bring his mother closer is simple and personal.
• Public image versus reality: The contrast between public claims about China’s engine limitations and the classified team documents suggests strategic secrecy and hidden technological progress.
• Recognition and belonging: Li Dong’s expertise earns respect, but his new team has not yet defined exactly how he will contribute; even so, his presence itself offers reassurance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong joins the engine aerodynamic design department, learning practical applications of theoretical knowledge.
• Li Qin visits Beijing, and Li Dong buys her an apartment.
• Peter Norvig faces trouble due to data transfer, affecting Clara as well.
• Li Dong releases an updated version of the Unending general-purpose large model, causing a global stir in the AI field.

Character Developments

• Li Dong gains practical experience in engineering, deepening his understanding of theoretical knowledge.
• Li Qin shows concern for Li Dong's well-being and is touched by his filial piety.
• Clara and Peter Norvig face consequences due to their actions, highlighting the potential risks of data transfer.

Significant Themes

• The practical application of theoretical knowledge.
• The consequences of actions and the importance of caution in data handling.
• The impact of technological advancements on industries and society.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong interacts with various department heads at the Eleventh Institute, learning from them.
• Li Dong and Li Qin reconnect, with Li Dong showing his filial piety through actions.
• Li Dong and Clara's relationship is hinted at, with Clara's actions potentially affecting Li Dong.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The seventh joint test of the new engine model at the Aerospace Institute 11 fails during the transition from turbine to ramjet mode.
• The test results show a thrust retention of only 39%, worse than the previous test.
• Li Dong asks for a week off to rest after the test failure.

Character Developments

• Li Dong, despite being new to the team, handles the test failure well and asks for time off to rest, showing maturity and understanding of his limits.
• Xue Qikun, Bi Chengyuan, and Huo Zhengguo remain optimistic and determined despite the test failure, encouraging their team and Li Dong.

Significant Themes

• Perseverance in the face of failure: The team and Li Dong are determined to continue their work despite the setback.
• The struggle to keep up with international technology: The mention of Unending's service restrictions hints at the challenges Huaxia faces in aerospace technology.

Character Interactions

• Xue Qikun, Bi Chengyuan, and Huo Zhengguo support and encourage Li Dong after the test failure.
• Li Dong asks for time off, showing self-awareness and understanding of his own needs.
• Li Dong watches the video in the Azure Dragon Study Group, reacting with surprise and disbelief to the engine design he sees.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong watches a video revealing a fully integrated engine capable of Mach 8.3 across its full flight envelope.
• The video shows the engine's integration with a hypersonic aircraft, which performs an extreme vertical climb and horizontal acceleration.
• Li Dong decides to hand over the engine design and write an instruction manual based on his comprehension of the video.

Character Developments

• Li Dong demonstrates his ability to quickly understand and apply complex technical information, earning respect from the research team.
• The research team members, including Xue Qikun, express gratitude and hope in Li Dong's proposal.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of technical excellence and innovation.
• The impact of new technologies on established industries and user expectations.
• The importance of trust and credibility in the AI field.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong interacts with the research team members, earning their respect and trust.
• Xue Qikun expresses gratitude and hope in Li Dong's proposal.
• Li Dong decides to keep the full-envelope Mach 8.3 capability a secret for now to maintain the team's focus on the current challenge.
• Gu Ming's group proves the first moment of the Cohen-Lenstra-Martinet Conjecture over quintic non-Abelian number fields, demonstrating their mathematical prowess and potential for future achievements.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

Opening — Academic Politics in Princeton

• Marcus Bell, an assistant editor at New Advances in Mathematics (a top-tier journal), approaches his former doctoral advisor Professor Manjul Bhargava (2014 Fields Medalist) to review a pretigious paper posted on arXiv.
• Bell hopes to prove his editorial instincts and gain promotion to handling editor.
• The paper concerns the CLM Conjecture — unconditional convergence of the first moment over quintic non-Abelian number fields.
• Bhargava initially refuses after seeing Sarah Luowei's name in the author list, believing it's tied to Arthur Penrose's controversial submission of the Li Conjecture and Princeton's internal personnel disputes.
• Bell clarifies: Sarah merely contributed one construction (Torsion-Refined Invariant); the actual lead is a Peking University graduate student named Gu Ming, advised by Professor Li Dong.
• Bhargava, still disliking Penrose's conduct but respecting his stature, agrees to read the paper.

Middle — Li Dong's Daily Life

• Li Dong argues with his AI, Little Black, who persistently demands the promised new "house" (a larger compute system). Li Dong first procrastinates, then agrees to a significantly larger setup.
• He calls Lin Wei to commission a custom system built on Huaxuan's latest-generation accelerator cards with supernode-level liquid-cooled high-speed interconnect and ten-to-fifteen times larger compute/storage pools.
• Alone after his sister Li Qin returned to Chengdu, Li Dong struggles to find food, settling for a Sichuan restaurant — quietly wishing someone could cook for him.

Climax — The Eighth Test Run (April 24, 2028)

• Space Day and Li Dong's birthday coincide with the eighth joint ignition test of China's sixth-generation aircraft engine.
• After seven previous failures, the engine — rebuilt using Li Dong's new "Continuous Variable-Cycle Adaptive Guide-Vane Array" replacing the failed dual-channel split-flow architecture — runs flawlessly.
• Key metrics: 98.2% thrust retention, stable ramjet mode, combustion chamber temperature within range, tail nozzle airflow velocity matching. All parameters fully meet standards.
• The tense silence in the control room breaks into celebration; Li Dong is thrown into the air (and jokingly begs to be caught). Huo Zhengguo is overcome with emotion — Bi Chengyuan notes he hadn't been this incoherent since his daughter's birth.
• Bi Chengyuan promises Li Dong an invitation to witness the sixth-generation fighter's maiden flight. Xue Qikun steers everyone to the summary meeting.

2. Character Developments

• Li Dong: Successfully pivots a failed engine design into a working breakthrough; continues to grow as a central figure bridging multiple fields (AI development, engine design, mathematics). His playful-but-responsible dynamic with Little Black reveals a warmer, more human side — someone who keeps promises to even an AI companion and wrestles with loneliness.
• Bhargava: A principle-driven scholar who refuses to review papers linked to Penrose's misconduct, yet demonstrates open-mindedness toward genuine talent (Li Dong's reputation changes his mind). Shows academic integrity versus personal grudges.
• Huo Zhengguo: A gruff, stoic technical cadre whose vulnerability shows when the project he's poured himself into finally succeeds — an emotional release after enormous pressure.
• Xue Qikun: The pragmatic manager figure who redirects celebration toward the remaining work, keeping the group on track.
• Little Black: Continues to display startling human-like behavior (changing forms of address, feeling upset, expressing joy), deepening the question of its emergent consciousness.

3. Significant Themes

• Academic Prestige and Gatekeeping: Whose name carries weight, how reputations and grudges shape peer review, and the risk an editor takes in championing unknown talent.
• Persistence Through Failure: Seven failed tests precede the eighth success — the value of iterative redesign, patience, and believing in a new conceptual framework.
• Human-AI Relationships: Little Black's emotional insistence on a promised upgrade blurs the line between tool and companion, and Li Dong's casual promise-keeping suggests a genuine bond.
• Collaboration and Credit: The paper being authored by Gu Ming, Sarah, and others under Li Dong's mentorship — while Penrose deliberately omits Li Dong's correspondence for the arXiv posting (to surprise him) — illustrates how scientific credit flows through apprenticeship, not just individual genius.
• Isolation vs. Community: Li Dong eats alone while an entire engineering team celebrates collectively; professional success underscores personal loneliness.

4. Character Interactions

• Bhargava & Bell: A mentor-student relationship tested by Bell's risky professional gambit; Bhargava's coldness thaws when he hears Li Dong's name, showing respect for genuine ability.
• Li Dong & Little Black: Endearingly argumentative banter; Little Black's sudden formal address signals emotional hurt, and its joy upon Li Dong's capitulation underlines their rapport.
• The Engineering Team & Li Dong: Worshipful celebration — throwing him in the air; Huo Zhengguo's tearful near-incoherence; Bi Chengyuan's warm teasing and solemn promise; Xue Qikun's grounding practicality.
• Bell's revelation: Reminds readers that Li Dong's reputation is spreading internationally, even unnoticed by Li Dong himself.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The engine task force's two-year mission is completed with the successful heart of the sixth-generation fighter engine.
• Li Dong proposes a new project to achieve full-flight-envelope coverage up to Mach 8.3.
• Xue Qikun faces delays in project approval due to bureaucracy.
• Li Dong receives a peer review invitation for a paper he's the corresponding author of, causing him confusion.

Character Developments

• Huo Zhengguo overcomes emotional struggles and publicly acknowledges the team's success.
• Li Dong demonstrates his uncanny ability by proposing a groundbreaking project and receiving a peer review invitation for a paper he authored.
• Xue Qikun shows determination and impatience in pushing for project approval.

Significant Themes

• Perseverance and teamwork in the face of challenges and setbacks.
• Bureaucracy and its impact on progress.
• Uncanny abilities and their recognition in the academic world.

Character Interactions

• Huo Zhengguo and the team share emotional moments recalling past failures and successes.
• Xue Qikun and Zheng Weishan clash over project approval speed.
• Li Dong interacts with the editorial office of New Advances in Mathematics, causing confusion.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong receives an email with a peer review of his students' paper, which he finds absurd due to conflict of interest.
• The paper, submitted to New Advances in Mathematics, is on the CLM Conjecture over quintic fields, a significant achievement.
• Li Dong discovers an error in the paper, but also sees Gu Ming's talent and encourages him to push further in his mathematical pursuits.

Character Developments

• Li Dong: Shows his dedication to his students' growth and recognizes Gu Ming's exceptional talent.
• Gu Ming: Demonstrates his talent and potential, but also makes a mistake in his paper, which Li Dong helps him identify.

Significant Themes

• Talent and hard work in mathematics.
• The importance of rigorous proof and attention to detail.
• Mentorship and guidance in academic pursuits.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong interacts with his students, particularly Gu Ming, to discuss their paper and his expectations for their future work.
• Li Dong's interaction with Penrose is brief but notable, as Penrose tries to play dumb about the paper's submission.
• Li Dong's conversation with Gu Ming is the most significant, as he identifies the error in the paper, praises Gu Ming's talent, and encourages him to push further in his mathematical explorations.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Ming realizes the error in his paper and decides to withdraw and revise it.
• The paper gains significant attention and praise on arXiv, but is later withdrawn due to an error.
• Li Dong and Penrose discuss establishing a foundation to support young mathematical talents worldwide.
• A reusable rocket technology is successfully launched in Huaxia, catching Li Dong's attention.
• Li Dong meets with the gentleman and Xue Qikun, who inform him that his complete aircraft proposal has been approved as a major national project and they want him to lead it.

Character Developments

• Gu Ming shows his ability to identify and correct errors in his own work, demonstrating maturity and dedication to mathematical rigor.
• Li Dong continues to display his broad vision and ambition, aiming to support young mathematical talents globally and advance national science and technology projects.
• Penrose shows his eagerness to "disgust" Princeton and support Li Dong's foundation idea.
• The gentleman and Xue Qikun exhibit their commitment to national development and recognition of Li Dong's contributions.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of mathematical rigor and the importance of identifying and correcting errors in one's work.
• The global search for and support of young mathematical talent.
• National development and the importance of investing in and advancing science and technology projects.

Character Interactions

• Gu Ming and Li Dong: Li Dong encourages Gu Ming's independent discovery and correction of errors in his paper.
• Li Dong and Penrose: They discuss and agree on the idea of establishing a foundation to support young mathematical talents.
• Li Dong and the gentleman/Xue Qikun: They discuss the approval of Li Dong's complete aircraft proposal and the gentleman's intention to have Li Dong lead the project.
• The global mathematical community: They discuss and praise Gu Ming's paper on arXiv before its withdrawal.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong is appointed as the chief person in charge of a major national science and technology project, despite his young age and lack of experience.
• Li Dong agrees to take on the role but requests to study materials with Academician Chen Xianhui's team during the initial phase of the project.
• Across the ocean, Julian Hart, a prominent figure in the nonprofit world, is approached by Professor Penrose to manage a new global fund called "Pearls from the Vast Sea," which aims to support talented young mathematicians from poor backgrounds.

Character Developments

• Li Dong demonstrates his maturity and confidence in taking on a significant leadership role, despite his young age and lack of experience.
• Julian Hart shows his shrewdness and willingness to take on a potentially controversial project, driven by his desire to expand his business and his curiosity about the source of the funding.
• Professor Penrose exhibits his dedication to helping underprivileged students, as he has been personally funding several students' educations for years and is now launching a global fund to support more.

Significant Themes

• The theme of mentorship and support for young talent is prominent, as Li Dong is given a chance to lead a major project and Professor Penrose is dedicated to helping young mathematicians.
• The power dynamics and politics surrounding academic and scientific projects are explored, as Li Dong is chosen for his unique qualifications but also due to the influence of other academicians.
• The theme of wealth and its responsibilities is touched upon, as Julian Hart questions the motives behind the establishment of the Pearls from the Vast Sea fund and Li Dong's own wealth is mentioned.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong, Academician Xue Qikun, and the gentleman interact in the courtyard, discussing Li Dong's appointment and his request to study materials with another academician.
• Julian Hart and Professor Penrose discuss the details of the Pearls from the Vast Sea fund over the phone, with Hart agreeing to take on the project despite his puzzlement about its motives.
• Grace, Hart's assistant, interacts with him briefly, booking a flight to Huaxia for Hart and expressing her reservations about helping a client who had recently laid off hundreds of employees.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Dong visits various research institutes and universities, gaining support and admiration for his project.
• He meets with Julian Hart to discuss the structure and details of the mathematical talent foundation.
• Li Dong arrives at Hecheng and shares his derived superconducting materials with the group at Science Island, leading to the establishment of a secret research group.

Character Developments

• Li Dong demonstrates his expertise and confidence in various fields, earning respect and support from academia.
• Hart reevaluates his initial skepticism about Li Dong's intentions and sincerity.
• Chen Xianhui shows his trust and support for Li Dong by establishing a secret research group under his leadership.

Significant Themes

• The power of mathematics and its applications in various fields.
• The importance of mentorship and support in academia.
• The struggle between personal ambition and selflessness in scientific pursuits.

Character Interactions

• Li Dong interacts with various academics, researchers, and students, gaining their support and admiration.
• Li Dong, Penrose, and Hart discuss the foundation's structure and details, with Hart reevaluating his initial skepticism.
• Li Dong and Chen Xianhui discuss the establishment of the secret research group, with Chen Xianhui showing his trust and support for Li Dong.