Chapter Summaries

As the sun’s imminent helium flash ended humanity, Lü Yongchang lost consciousness and awoke in his university classroom in 2030, apparently reborn with knowledge from a mysterious technology tree. He resolved to prevent humanity’s extinction, but the chapter ended as he prepared to make an impression in class.

• Lü Yongchang and Su Yutong left Underground City No. 1183 to witness the sun’s helium flash, and Su Yutong confessed that she loved him.
• The helium flash engulfed Earth, and Lü Yongchang lost consciousness as humanity faced extinction.
• Lü Yongchang saw a fluorescent-green technology tree unlock controlled nuclear fusion, filling his mind with knowledge.
• Lü Yongchang awoke in a 2030 physics class at Sandao Kou University, where Professor Guan Hualiang was reprimanding him.
• Lü Yongchang realized he had been reborn and resolved to change humanity’s future, then focused on the knowledge in his mind to make a stunning debut.

Lü Yongchang interrupted Professor Guan Hualiang’s lecture to write extensive derivations for controlled nuclear fusion and a new material. He claimed the material could withstand fusion temperatures and asked Guan to help verify his work.

• Lü Yongchang took the board during Guan Hualiang’s lecture, ignoring the professor’s warning and startling the class and his roommate Wu Qi.
• Lü Yongchang filled the board with equations and diagrams about controlled nuclear fusion, prompting Guan to watch with growing interest.
• When the board ran out of space, Lü Yongchang continued writing on the projection screen, and Guan ordered students to stop recording and remain in the classroom.
• After half an hour, Lü Yongchang said the new material could withstand fusion temperatures and make fusion achievable with a Stellarator.
• Lü Yongchang asked Guan Hualiang to help verify his derivation.

After Lü Yongchang derived a material for nuclear fusion, Guan Hualiang summoned professors to review his work. While waiting, Lü Yongchang explored the technology tree system and discovered that it pointed toward future research without supplying knowledge; the chapter ended as Dean Tian Zhixuan arrived to assess the material.

• Lü Yongchang asked Guan Hualiang to review his derivation, and Guan called professors at Sandao Kou University to gather for a joint review.
• Guan questioned whether Lü Yongchang had developed the work himself, and Lü insisted that he had.
• Lü Yongchang examined the technology tree system and found fusion reactor miniaturization required sonoluminescence analysis.
• Lü Yongchang saw technology paths including electric propulsion, quantum communication, and energy weapons, with Type I Civilization highlighted.
• Dean Tian Zhixuan entered with several professors, and Guan introduced him to Lü as the person who could assess the new material.

Lü Yongchang presented his derivation to a group of professors, prompting Tian Zhixuan and Jiang Yongxing to compete to recruit him for their schools. After Lü answered every question flawlessly, the professors were left stunned and Guan Hualiang sent him back to his dorm while they discussed the result.

• Tian Zhixuan offered Lü Yongchang guaranteed admission to the School of Materials Science and a place in the Distinguished Young Scholars program, while Guan Hualiang objected to the poaching.
• Jiang Yongxing arrived and offered Lü the same incentives to join the School of Nuclear Physics.
• Guan Hualiang redirected the professors to examine Lü's material formula and derivation.
• Lü demonstrated a mathematical derivation and answered the professors' increasingly difficult questions flawlessly.
• Guan Hualiang told Lü to return to his dorm and stay on campus while the professors discussed his work.

After Lü Yongchang presented his controlled nuclear fusion proposal, the professors considered whether its calculations and unprecedented heat-resistant material could make it feasible. As the university prepared to discuss it, Lü Yongchang chose a research career and spoke with his parents, while his father still hoped he would take over the family business.

• Tian Zhixuan said the new material's molecular formula had never appeared before and that his intuition told him Lü Yongchang's derivation was the most valuable part.
• Jiang Yongxing proposed an immediate faculty-wide meeting for professors from the School of Materials Science and the School of Nuclear Physics to examine the proposal.
• Lü Yongchang recalled regrets from his previous life and resolved to make amends for them.
• Lü Yongchang told Zhou Qingru that he planned to pursue research, and she supported his decision while Lü Guoqing objected.
• Lü Guoqing complained at home about Lü Yongchang's career choice, but Zhou Qingru said their son would decide for himself.
• Lü Yongchang wondered what the professors thought of his controlled nuclear fusion proposal.

Jiang Yongxing convened Sandao Kou University’s professors to assess an undergraduate’s controlled nuclear fusion proposal, which stunned nuclear physicist Fang Xu with its completeness. Fang Xu and Jiang Yongxing called for an immediate report to Parliament and synthesis experiments, but someone objected.

• Jiang Yongxing told the assembled researchers that he and Tian Zhixuan could not confidently assess an undergraduate’s controlled nuclear fusion proposal.
• Fang Xu arrived and joined the meeting after hearing about the proposal’s potential significance.
• The professors examined photographs of the proposal while Fang Xu checked its calculations.
• Fang Xu said the proposal was more complete than his laboratory’s work and had already revealed three flaws in it.
• Jiang Yongxing celebrated the proposal as a blessing for Xia Country, and Fang Xu requested that it be reported to Parliament and that synthesis experiments begin.
• An unidentified voice objected to the plan.

Jiang Yongxing and Fang Xu defended a sophomore undergraduate’s controlled nuclear fusion proposal against Mao Jinquan’s accusations, then voted to submit it to Parliament. After hearing their report, Minister Hong Qiming said he would take the matter to the First Parliament Chairman.

• Mao Jinquan objected to the proposal, calling it fraudulent because it lacked experimental data, but Jiang Yongxing and Fang Xu challenged his criticism.
• Jiang Yongxing suspended Mao Jinquan from college affairs, and Mao left the conference room in anger.
• Jiang Yongxing invited the professors and researchers to question the proposal, then held a vote on submitting it to Parliament.
• Jiang Yongxing called the Xia Kingdom Parliament and explained the proposal to Minister Hong Qiming.
• Fang Xu assured Hong Qiming that the proposal was highly feasible, and Hong said he would report the matter to the First Parliament Chairman.

Xia Country learned that ITER planned to accuse its researchers of stealing data and force the country out of the project, leaving it to pursue fusion research alone. Lü Yongchang returned to his dorm after impressing Professor Guan and remained determined to prepare Xia Country to escape Earth before the sun’s destruction.

• Fang Xu told Jiang Yongxing that Xia Country had encountered trouble at ITER.
• Hong Qiming informed Senator Li of Fang Xu’s confidence in a proposal, then read a document accusing Xia Country’s ITER researchers of stealing experimental data.
• Senator Li told Hong Qiming that ITER would demand Xia Country’s withdrawal and that the country would have to research controlled nuclear fusion on its own.
• Hong Qiming agreed to go to Sandao Kou University immediately.
• Lü Yongchang gave Wu Qi a vague explanation for his physics-class actions and learned that the students had signed a confidentiality agreement.
• Lü Yongchang resolved to lead Xia Country and humanity away from Earth within twenty years.

Lü Yongchang studied sonoluminescence in the university library, hoping its collapsing bubbles could help him miniaturize a fusion reactor. He was startled by a young woman who reminded him of Su Yutong, then found a speculative paper by Tao Yuda and considered contacting its author.

• Lü Yongchang went to Sandao Kou University's library and researched sonoluminescence as a prerequisite for Fusion Reactor Miniaturization Technology.
• Lü Yongchang concluded that the extreme heat inside collapsing bubbles might offer a starting point for fusion reactor miniaturization.
• A young woman sat beside Lü Yongchang, and her resemblance to Su Yutong stirred memories from his previous life.
• Lü Yongchang read Tao Yuda's speculative paper linking sonoluminescence and cold fusion, found it offered little research, and considered recruiting its author if he showed potential.

Lü Yongchang helped Su Yutong solve a calculus problem before a news alert reminded him that Xia Country was about to withdraw from the ITER Project after being targeted. Determined to change that outcome, he left to ask Professor Guan Hualiang about his review results, while Su Yutong grew curious about him.

• Su Yutong's pen-clicking distracted Lü Yongchang, so he offered to help with the limit problem in her workbook.
• Lü Yongchang explained that the problem could be solved with L'Hôpital's Rule, then wrote out the steps when Su Yutong could not follow.
• Lü Yongchang and Su Yutong introduced themselves, and he returned to reading a paper on sonoluminescence.
• A news alert announced Xia Country's withdrawal from the ITER Project, reminding Lü Yongchang that the withdrawal had been engineered through frame-ups.
• Lü Yongchang gathered his things and left to ask Professor Guan Hualiang about his review results, while Su Yutong noticed his solution and wondered if he was a master's or PhD student.

Fang Xu learned that ITER had accused Xia Country scientists of stealing experimental data and that Xia Country had withdrawn from the project, so he redirected his laboratory toward preparing a new material. Lü Yongchang discussed the incident with Guan Hualiang, then learned that his controlled nuclear fusion proposal had already been submitted to the Xia Kingdom Parliament.

• Fang Xu told the Nuclear Physics Laboratory that ITER accused Xia Country scientists of copying data and that Xia Country had voluntarily withdrawn from the project.
• Fang Xu ordered everyone to suspend their current work and prepare a new material using photographs of Lü Yongchang's blackboard notes.
• Lü Yongchang visited Guan Hualiang and discussed the ITER incident, while privately resolving not to reveal what he knew about the scientists' innocence.
• Guan Hualiang told Lü Yongchang that a University-Wide Meeting had approved his proposal and submitted it to the Xia Kingdom Parliament, surprising him.

Professor Guan Hualiang told Lü Yongchang that his controlled nuclear fusion proposal would go before Parliament, then brought him to meet Minister Hong Qiming at the Nuclear Physics Laboratory. Hong revealed Xia Country had withdrawn from ITER and asked Lü whether he dared take on a task tied to his proposal.

• Guan Hualiang told Lü Yongchang that Dean Tian and Academician Fang Xu had submitted his proposal to Parliament for consideration.
• Hong Qiming told Fang Xu that Xia Country would pursue fusion independently, and that Lü's proposal might make withdrawing from ITER an advantage.
• Fang Xu realized Xia Country was staking its chance at a technological lead on Lü's proposal.
• Guan Hualiang introduced Lü Yongchang to Hong Qiming, the minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• Hong told Lü that his proposal appeared highly feasible and asked whether he dared accept a task assigned by Senator Li Chief.

Hong Qiming appointed Lü Yongchang chief engineer of Xia Country’s controlled nuclear fusion project and challenged him to achieve preliminary results within a year. Lü presented a detailed reactor blueprint, stunning the researchers, and claimed it had taken him only a little over a year to complete.

• Hong Qiming appointed Lü Yongchang chief engineer and Fang Xu his deputy, tasking them with achieving controlled fusion results comparable to ITER within a year.
• Lü accepted the assignment and promised Xia Country would master controlled nuclear fusion technology within a year, alarming Fang Xu and Guan Hualiang.
• Lü handed Hong Qiming a USB Drive containing a detailed reactor blueprint, and Fang Xu projected it for the laboratory.
• Fang Xu and the researchers were stunned by the blueprint, while Lü confirmed he had completed it himself.
• Lü said the blueprint had taken a little over a year to finish, leaving Fang Xu incredulous.

Lü Yongchang explained why his reaction chamber design used a Stellarator rather than a Tokamak Device, arguing that Tokamaks faced dangerous limits as fusion runs lengthened. He left Fang Xu and Hong Qiming stunned by offering to solve the Stellarator’s main obstacle: room-temperature superconducting materials.

• Fang Xu recognized that Lü Yongchang's reaction chamber was a Stellarator, and Lü said ITER would soon reach the Tokamak Device's limits.
• Lü Yongchang told Fang Xu to test his claim by building a basic Stellarator using the material he had derived.
• Hong Qiming asked Lü Yongchang to explain the difference between a Stellarator and a Tokamak Device.
• Lü Yongchang explained that plasma currents in Tokamaks could cause disruptions and potentially lead to explosions during longer fusion runs.
• Fang Xu explained that Stellarators were difficult to build because their external coils had irregular shapes and required superconducting materials.
• Lü Yongchang asked what would happen if he could solve the problem of room-temperature superconducting materials.

Lü Yongchang promised to develop room-temperature superconducting materials and asked for a carbon nanomaterials laboratory and assistants. He inspected Sandao Kou University's best lab, judged it barely adequate, and prepared to begin his work under Fang Xu's watch.

• Fang Xu explained that the reported room-temperature superconducting material required enormous pressure and existed only in a picoliter-scale sample, so it could not yet be used for fusion.
• Lü Yongchang assured Hong Qiming that he could solve the problem and requested a standard carbon nanomaterials laboratory, a few assistants, and several days.
• Fang Xu asked to watch Lü Yongchang work, then guided him to Sandao Kou University's Carbon Nanomaterials Laboratory.
• Lü Yongchang called the laboratory barely adequate, prompting Fang Xu to protest that it ranked among Xia Country's top ten.
• Fang Xu followed Lü Yongchang into the lab, wondering whether the undergraduate could even identify its newly upgraded equipment.

Lü Yongchang impressed Academician Fang Xu with his knowledge and flawless handling of advanced laboratory equipment, then tested his prediction that twisted graphene layers could superconduct at room temperature. Three days later, they confirmed they had produced a carbon nanotube sample, though Lü Yongchang said the results would take until the next day.

• Lü Yongchang identified the laboratory instruments and accurately recited their operating procedures, surprising Fang Xu despite admitting he had never used them in this lifetime.
• Lü Yongchang told Fang Xu that stacking two graphene layers at a twist angle of roughly 1.1° would produce superconductivity, and Fang Xu tested the prediction and confirmed the effect.
• Lü Yongchang operated the laboratory equipment for three days while Fang Xu mostly assisted and ran errands.
• Lü Yongchang and Fang Xu examined a cylindrical sample under a Scanning Electron Microscope, and Lü Yongchang confirmed it had the standard structure of a carbon nanotube.
• Lü Yongchang estimated they would have to wait until the next day for results because their production speed was slow.

Lü Yongchang and Fang Xu tested a carbon nanotube wire and confirmed that it maintained zero resistance as the pressure inside its chamber fell. They decided to begin modifying the Stellarator that afternoon.

• Fang Xu arrived at the laboratory early and found Lü Yongchang already working on the carbon nanotube wire.
• Lü Yongchang explained that his calculations predicted the wire could operate from minus fifty to eighty degrees Celsius and withstand up to two standard atmospheres of pressure.
• Lü Yongchang connected the wire to the testing equipment, and the screen showed zero resistance as he increased the current.
• Fang Xu switched on the vacuum pump, and the wire continued to show zero resistance as the pressure dropped.
• Lü Yongchang declared the test a success and told Fang Xu to prepare the Stellarator modifications.
• Fang Xu agreed to notify the laboratory staff and begin modifying the Stellarator that afternoon.

Lü Yongchang completed the superconducting coil calculations for modifying the stellarator, and the Tianhe-1 confirmed his results. With the modifications finished, the laboratory prepared for its first ignition test under heavy security.

• Room-temperature superconducting wires arrived at Sandao Kou University, where Lü Yongchang examined the stellarator’s specifications and calculated the coil layout.
• Lü Yongchang finished his calculations, and Fang Xu had the Tianhe-1 verify them successfully.
• Lü Yongchang and Fang Xu oversaw the final installation of the stellarator’s coil supports and completed the modifications three days later.
• Lü Yongchang told Fang Xu to report that the first ignition test would begin that afternoon.
• Special forces sealed off roads around the Nuclear Physics Laboratory, while snipers took positions nearby to secure the experiment.

Lü Yongchang and the researchers at Sandao Kou University's Nuclear Physics Laboratory successfully ignited a controlled nuclear fusion reaction in the Stellarator and confirmed the reactor remained safe. The university and Xia Country announced the achievement, drawing a flood of reactions online.

• Students at Sandao Kou University speculated that roads had been closed because the Nuclear Physics Laboratory was preparing a controlled nuclear fusion experiment.
• Lü Yongchang ordered the researchers to power up the Stellarator after they checked its components and confirmed a 50 T magnetic field.
• Fang Xu initiated the laser ignition, and the deuterium-tritium plasma reached over a hundred million degrees as fusion reactions began.
• Lü Yongchang ordered an inspection after the fuel ran out, and researchers reported that the Stellarator was in good condition with no radiation damage.
• Fang Xu invited Lü Yongchang and the team out to celebrate their successful ignition experiment.
• Sandao Kou University announced the experiment's success, and Xia Country's achievement became a trending topic as netizens debated it online.

President Albert confronted Defense Secretary Anthony over Xia Country's successful controlled nuclear fusion ignition, but Professor Collins argued the experiment did not threaten the United States' lead. Collins urged Albert to build a separate U.S. fusion apparatus as ITER prepared a longer experiment.

• Albert angrily demanded that Anthony explain how Xia Country had achieved controlled nuclear fusion after being excluded from ITER.
• Anthony said Xia Country's ITER membership had given it fusion technology and dismissed the ignition as no cause for concern.
• Professor Collins explained that Sandao Kou University had used an outdated Stellarator, which he believed could not lead Xia Country to master fusion.
• Collins contrasted Xia Country's two-minute ignition with ITER's twenty-six-minute fusion runs, easing Albert's worries.
• Collins warned that the United States should build its own fusion apparatus before ITER attempted to sustain fusion for over thirty minutes.