Just as Li Xingkong was quietly beginning his Core Formation, the Divine Land also had its own plans.
There are already a few cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage, but their cultivation speed after Foundation Establishment is so slow that it seems impossible to see the end of their path.
Even for Tang Cheng, who is currently the fastest cultivator, it would take him nearly 300 years to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, and that's assuming he spends a full 300 years in seclusion.
To make him remain motionless in seclusion for three hundred years? That's worse than killing him; he hasn't even lived a third of his 300-year lifespan yet.
Therefore, the cultivation speed after the Foundation Establishment Stage is something many people find hard to bear.
However, at the same time, it also relieved some people. The longer the Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation takes, the more gradual the corresponding changes in strength will be, which is not a bad thing for the overall development of Divine Land.
After all, the size of a country is very large, and all reforms and changes cannot be accomplished in a short period of time. Compared with personal cultivation, time is more precious to a country.
Even the Luo Shu that Li Xingkong gave to Old Tang has only just begun to be implemented from top to bottom after so many years. Moreover, it is currently only being piloted within the Imperial Capital. It may take several more decades before it can be officially implemented.
Power is a subjective thing. Some people hold a position simply to contribute their share, while others, once they gain power, become completely different and cling to it desperately.
The implementation of the Luo Shu) faced significant resistance because it placed a lock on the heads of those in power.
Because of the slow pace of cultivation Foundation Establishment Stage, Divine Land has significantly increased its research efforts in scientific research.
Although most people are close to the Qi Refining Perfection, much of what Qi Refining Stage involves is still considered cutting-edge technology in Divine Land today. They only know the effects, not the underlying principles.
People's spiritual practice nowadays is like chimpanzees playing on their phones—a practice that many scientists find very difficult to accept.
It wasn't that they were worried about the cultivation system itself, but rather that, compared to other systems, the Divine Land People were like unintelligent animals, which made them feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Therefore, the current main research focus is basically on the reverse cultivation system.
Of course, in addition to reverse engineering the cultivation system, there is also reverse engineering of various formations and props.
The most popular and largest-scale research project was on spatial portals.
After all, Li Xingkong provided Divine Land with several pairs of spatial artifacts, which meant there were many basic samples, so the number of people researching them naturally increased.
Moreover, human beings have already delved quite deeply into theoretical research on space. By studying these spatial portals in reverse, we can quickly verify theories and even deduce some effective space utilization tools.
"Group 1112, using particle bombardment to simulate the spatial structure near the beacon."
In a research lab in the Imperial Capital, a pair of Spatial Ring were unfolding spatial gates on either side of the lab, while in the middle of the two Spatial Ring, a large number of researchers were using various research methods to study the spatial gates.
"The experiment is complete. There are slight fluctuations in the space, which are initially considered to be due to insufficient energy output."
As the experiment unfolded, several researchers were diligently recording something inside a large instrument.
Modern scientific instruments are very different from those of the past. Thanks to the use of Spiritual Qi, there are better ways to observe the microscopic world. The design of modern scientific instruments is vastly different from that of the past. The entire instrument is sealed, and there is not a single visible observation lens.
All observations require channeling Spiritual Qi into the instrument's internal location to minimize experimental problems caused by the observation process.
"According to records, the Spatial Ring was connected to the Liaohe Nuclear Power Plant during its manufacturing process, consuming all the electrical energy converted over several days. It is estimated that more targeted energy input will be needed to impact space."
A middle-aged man with completely white hair looked at the record in his hand and quickly said something.
"Then increase the energy input. Our experimental direction is correct; the problem might be the lack of energy. Let's apply to have all the energy from the entire institute transferred here."
After a moment's thought, the other person gave the order.
Soon, all other projects in the lab were suspended, all the energy was supplied here, and the other researchers gathered here to see the experimental results.
Although concentrating this energy is very risky, and the entire laboratory could be destroyed if one is not careful, the researchers who can stand in this laboratory are all of similar cultivation level. After all, if one's cultivation level is too low, many research devices cannot be used.
Their combat strength may not be that great, but they should have no problem escaping with their lives.
With the concentrated input of energy, new changes occurred inside the instrument. After a large amount of energy was injected, the spatial structure inside the entire instrument began to twist, as if it were being roasted by fire, and the surrounding air also showed irregular rhythms.
"It looks like it's going to work out. It seems the spatial structure isn't as difficult as I thought."
One of the people who was using Spiritual Qi to observe spoke up, saying, "Judging from this, putting everything else aside, they have indeed touched the edge of the operational space."
"Don't make any promises at a time like this."
Another younger woman complained that people who say things like that at times like this usually end up causing some kind of trouble.
"My mouth is blessed; if something happens, it'll be a good thing, not a bad one."
The man muttered a couple of things under his breath, then dared not say anything more.
"Situation alert! Level 1 warning."
Just as they were exchanging a few words, the middle-aged man in charge suddenly narrowed his eyes and shouted something.
Everyone present knew what a Level 1 warning meant: it meant abandoning some data and immediately escaping.
In any case, for researchers who have undergone spiritual practice, all the data and information are in their minds. The data is just a tool for sharing; as long as the person is there, it can be copied at any time.
Upon hearing this, everyone scattered like birds and beasts. Without saying a word, they smashed through the transparent glass ceiling above them and flew into the sky. Hearing the sound of breaking glass, the security personnel in the surrounding facilities immediately began to notify everyone nearby.
In less than a few seconds, everyone had evacuated several kilometers away.
What did you see?
Having positioned themselves in a relatively safer location and feeling that their sixth sense had diminished, the others then turned their attention to the middle-aged man who had issued the warning.
"I saw the internal spatial structure suddenly begin to collapse at an extremely rapid speed; something terrible is about to happen."
He had barely uttered a sentence when a strange fluctuation suddenly emanated from the laboratory they had just emerged from, causing all the cultivators present to feel dizzy and disoriented, as if they had been drinking fake alcohol.
And then an astonishing scene unfolded before our eyes: the entire laboratory seemed to have been swallowed up by something, disappearing from the inside out.
There was no sound at all; the entire laboratory, along with the surrounding facilities, seemed to have been swallowed up by a mysterious opening.
This strange phenomenon covered most of the factory area before it began to dissipate. Inside the entire factory area, centered on the laboratory, a perfectly hemispherical cavity appeared.
They reached out and touched it to make sure the strange phenomenon had dissipated before approaching the hemispherical laboratory ruins.
"Oh no, it's over, the Spatial Ring is gone!"
The people ran away too fast and didn't bring the research equipment with them, which will result in a huge loss.
"This is terrifying. If it were made into a weapon, even Foundation Establishment Stage wouldn't be able to withstand it."
"Sigh, let's not talk about anything else for now. Let's prepare the self-criticisms first. Twenty thousand words each. Don't think I'm being harsh; in this situation, it would be the same no matter who does it..."
Meanwhile, in an unnamed galaxy near our Solar System...
A massive instrument located at the core of the entire planet issued a warning.
"Warning: Unknown spatial oscillation detected; suspected contact with space-related knowledge by an unknown civilization. Risk level upgraded to three stars. Execute Plan Three: Extinction Order."
As the warning was issued, a colossal warship, capable of blotting out the sky, began its ascent towards the location that had caused the spatial turbulence.