Everyone's eyes instantly left the surveillance screens and converged on the little tree.
The sapling, originally only five meters tall, thickened at a rate visible to the naked eye. New branches sprouted from its trunk and spread out, tender green leaves budding along them.
In one minute, it grew ten centimeters taller.
In ten minutes, a full meter!
"Its size is increasing, and its energy requirements are growing exponentially, but its growth has slowed compared to the seedling stage," Liu Chengen analyzed calmly, his eyes fixed on the data streaming across the screen.
Qian Zhenhua nodded and added:
"As its volume increases, the World Tree needs more energy. It's normal for its growth to slow."
An hour passed.
No one at the site found it boring. Everyone stared intently at this life form that kept creating miracles.
It had already reached sixteen meters, almost five stories high.
A researcher reported loudly:
"Report! The energy absorption curve is steady, all readings are normal, and the World Tree is absorbing energy well!"
Liu Chengen and Qian Zhenhua exchanged a glance, reaching an understanding.
Liu Chengen grabbed the radio.
"Activate nuclear reactor two! Increase the feeding rate!"
At his command, deep underground, a second, even more powerful energy source was activated.
Reactor two appeared on the surveillance feed, and the deep blue glow representing its energy abruptly blazed brighter.
As though it had received a second shot of stimulants, the World Tree suddenly doubled its growth rate!
Changes that had previously taken several minutes to become visible were now happening almost every moment.
Its trunk shot upward, its branches and leaves growing wildly.
Another hour passed. After confirming that the readings were stable, Liu Chengen gave another order.
"Activate reactor three!"
This time, a new change appeared in the data on the screen.