Psionic Bomb

Back in the Workshop, Qin Ye began testing the Psionic Bomb's power.

He placed it on the workbench, and the four mechanical arms at the corners of the table automatically followed their preset program, moving rapidly around the Psionic Bomb crystal.

Fluctuating energy intensity readings appeared on the virtual screen hovering in the upper right corner.

The energy feedback data showed that the Psionic Bomb's power measured only 10.92, nowhere near as powerful as the Green Goblin Race merchant had claimed.

But the preliminary test alone proved nothing. He immediately took the Psionic Bomb out to the hazardous materials disposal facility in District D.

After verifying his identity and entering the sealed room, he placed the Psionic Bomb in the center of the Destruction Room, then went into the adjoining compartment to observe its explosive power through the transparent glass.

When he pressed the Green Rune in his hand, the energy shield inside the Destruction Room activated, and a dazzling white light instantly obscured his vision.

Boom!

After a brief tremor through the floor, everything went quiet.

The energy fluctuation data from the explosion then appeared on the Destruction Room's transparent glass, displaying a value of 1228.

Its power had increased more than a hundredfold compared with the initial reading.

The discovery immediately excited Qin Ye.

When he bought it, the Green Goblin Race merchant had said that making Psionic Bombs was very simple. Once someone mastered the technique, they could quickly make a Psionic Bomb from an Energy Crystal at any time on the battlefield.

Over the years, more and more alien factions had arrived, including no shortage of hostile invading forces.

This kind of technology that could be used in actual combat was exactly what he needed.

Qin Ye immediately left the Destruction Room and found the Green Goblin Race merchant, who was still selling various goods at his stall.

When he said he wanted to buy the technology, the Green Goblin Race merchant held up one finger, and a shrill voice came from the translator hanging around his neck:

"One hundred thousand Earth Coins."

"Why don't you just rob me!"

"Given our relationship, I can give you thirty percent off if you buy Psionic Bombs, but buying the technology is another price entirely. Charging you a hundred thousand Earth Coins for this technology isn't expensive. I know you're authorized to handle technology purchases under one million. This amount is no problem for you at all."

"How do you know my technology purchasing limit?" Qin Ye's eyes widened.

The Green Goblin Race merchant seemed to realize he had misspoken and immediately fell silent.

"Have you planted spies inside the Human Federation?" Qin Ye continued probing.

"Absolutely not. Our Green Goblin Race is on friendly terms with the Human Race. This is intelligence we bought elsewhere."

"Where did you buy it?"

"I can't disclose that. We of the Green Goblin Race value integrity above all else... so are you buying the technology or not?"

Realizing he could not get any useful intelligence out of the Green Goblin Race merchant, Qin Ye stopped pressing him and nodded.

"Yes, but the price needs to come down."

After some bargaining, Qin Ye finally bought the technology for making Psionic Bombs for seventy thousand Earth Coins.

Returning to the Workshop with the green Information Orb containing the technology, Qin Ye eagerly began his experiments.

The production technique was actually very simple. He only needed to alter the Psionic Bomb's internal structure through consciousness engraving, then leave behind a strand of consciousness as the fuse.

But Qin Ye soon encountered a problem during testing that he struggled to resolve.

He used the Consciousness Amplifier for the engraving process, but he was only halfway through when he became too dizzy to continue.

"This is bad!"

Qin Ye suddenly realized there was a major problem.

The Green Goblin Race could easily make Psionic Bombs, but the Human Race might not be able to with their mental strength.

The technology seemed simple and practical, but its use was limited to assembly-line production in munitions factories. Human Race soldiers could not use consciousness engraving to make a Psionic Bomb whenever they wanted, the way the Green Goblin Race could.

Qin Ye's expression immediately turned bitter.

The seventy thousand Earth Coins had already been spent. Getting a refund was out of the question.

He now had two choices: cover his purchasing mistake with his own savings, or submit a procurement report to his superiors explaining his mistake.

Faced with the choice, Qin Ye decisively chose to cover the shortfall in the procurement funds with his own savings.

If money could solve a problem, he would never trouble his superiors.

His family did not offer much support for his career, with one exception: he never had to worry about not having enough money.

Sitting blankly in the Workshop, Qin Ye sighed dejectedly.

To him, this Psionic Bomb technology was of little use, nowhere near as practical as he had imagined.

For assembly-line production, the Human Federation had better options.

Looking up at the time displayed on the wall, he realized his respawn cooldown had ended and immediately stood to head toward the Game Pod.

Just then, an idea suddenly flashed through his mind.

Darklands, created by the Eclipse Race, was a game with one hundred percent realism. In theory, the Psionics inside it was no different from that in reality. The Human Race's weak mental power was not a problem in the game.

That was because Monster Forms could significantly increase his mental strength.

Bonefire and the Eagle-Headed Demon, for example, were both Monster Forms with several times the mental strength of humans.

So could he apply this technology in the game?

I'll try it right now!

With that idea, Qin Ye immediately decided to enter the game and conduct a practical test.

After logging into the game and appearing at the Respawn Point in Emperor Tomb Village, Qin Ye checked his balance. It showed that he still had 232 points of sacrificial power.

He had purchased 200 of those points of sacrificial power with Credits.

Bringing up the shop panel, he began searching for energy stones.

After he entered "energy stone" in the search bar, the page automatically switched to the relevant product listings.

After comparing them, Qin Ye chose the cheapest Level 1 Energy Stones for his test. Each cost 30 points of sacrificial power, and he bought five at once.

Once the purchase succeeded, the goods automatically entered his personal Spatial Inventory.

Taking one out, Qin Ye found an empty spot in Emperor Tomb Village to conduct his test.

The engraving process required a powerful infusion of mental energy. His human form clearly could not accomplish that, so he decisively switched to his Eagle-Headed Demon form.

He extended his consciousness outside his body, and the Spirit Stone's internal particle structure became clearly visible within his perception.

He rearranged the energy particles according to the structure provided by the Green Goblin Race.

Several minutes later.

Boom!

With a deafening blast, the unstable structure caused the Level 1 Spirit Stone to explode instantly. Qin Ye's vision went black, and game notifications popped up in his mind:

[Challenger notification: You have entered the death respawn cooldown!]

[Challenger notification: You have damaged Emperor Tomb Village's environment. 13 points of sacrificial power have been automatically deducted for repairs.]

Qin Ye: ...

Watching the screen gradually turn black, Qin Ye's resentment toward the respawn cooldown mechanic erupted once again.

He had finally waited out the cooldown, only to be forcibly logged out less than five minutes after entering the game.

Trash Eclipse Race, stupid game!

Even as he cursed inwardly, Qin Ye grew increasingly eager for his next login.

Because he had confirmed his conjecture.

Darklands could indeed simulate reality perfectly, and the Green Goblin Race's Psionic Bomb technology could absolutely be applied in the game.

As for this accidental explosion, it was purely the result of his lack of proficiency, which he could improve later.