Lights and Undercurrents

Afterwards, Su Ming, led by Chloe, arrived at another area nearby.

This is the above-ground structure.

Upon entering the factory, Su Ming quickly spotted some pipelines leading up from under the ice.

Several Feather Race staff members are conducting an inspection.

One of the small pipe outlets still had a steady blue flame burning.

"It's very pure methane," Su Ming said.

Guided by the technical data provided by Su Ming, the Feather Race's understanding of subsurface mineral deposits is now vastly different from what it used to be.

This methane hydrate reservoir was discovered for this reason.

This is what is commonly known as combustible ice.

As the magical power surged, the tiny ice crystals in the air were swirled up and slowly circulated around Su Ming.

A few breaths later, a silver-gray unit gradually solidified from the void.

Sharp edges and corners, settled firmly.

A methane generator set.

Chloe walked around it once.

It's not big, about the size of a small truck.

The air intake and exhaust pipes are neatly arranged, and the outer casing is also printed with square-shaped text.

Mechanical products from Earth always exude a sense of precision that seems out of place in this icy landscape.

The Final Bone Mad Machines team quickly surrounded them and began connecting the methane pipeline.

Some side access panels were opened, revealing a dense network of pipes and control modules inside, allowing for initialization checks.

"Is it big enough?" Chloe asked.

One megawatt.

Su Ming replied.

"Enough to light up this whole area, and power hundreds of motors."

Chloe sighed, "It's a pity this methane reservoir is too small."

"It'll only last for a few years."

Su Ming didn't care.

"Once you find the first one, you can find the second."

Chloe shook her head.

"We've searched it; the surrounding area is covered with layers of carbon dioxide hydrate."

"This can't be burned."

Su Ming.

Carbon dioxide, or dry ice, doesn't really have any large-scale applications right now.

For small-scale use, there's no need to make a special trip to Northern Ice Island to build a production line.

There's no need for long-distance transportation.

****

Later, the generator set started operating.

It emitted a steady, powerful hum that echoed throughout the factory.

It was as if something had finally opened its eyes deep within the icy plains.

One by one, the power indicator lights lit up.

After the operator checked and confirmed that everything was correct, they switched on the power.

The current flows along the newly laid cables to the streetlights along the main roads and to the factories.

The lighting units were turned on one by one from the inside out, dispelling the last layer of shadow in the workshop under the ice.

The sound of the ventilation system running also filled the air.

The cold, silent, and enclosed space beneath the ice was forcibly pried open.

For the first time, a once barren and frigid land was filled with the low hum of equipment and the pulse of pipelines.

There was light from the industrial world.

All the Feather Race who were busy with their tasks stopped working at the same time.

Immediately afterwards, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted.

Su Ming leaned against the deck railing, looking at the area on the shore that had lit up, a slight smile playing on his lips.

In the middle of nowhere, the first lamp is lit.

This kind of thing is really fulfilling.

Wu Ling organized a celebration ceremony.

He excitedly announced to everyone, "The Northern Ice Island White Spinel Integrated Industrial Park is officially established!"

Many Feather Race shed tears on the spot.

It even let out a sob.

"Not bad, another map point has been lit up." The light reflected in Zijin's eyes, like a sea of tiny stars.

It can help a good friend, and it's a transformative change.

She was genuinely happy.

In the distant celebration area, Chloe was clearly drunk.

Clutching the "Yinglong" mecha, she mistook it for Lanmo, crying as she asked, "Why are you so cold? Should I turn on some electricity to warm you up?!"

We're not cold now.

She cried like a child.

"We won't be poor anymore."

"No more worries about not surviving winter----"

"Yu Yao ----"

Chloe was rambling incoherently.

This was the first time Su Ming had seen this Feather Race scholar truly lose his composure.

****

The renovation of the Pansy was completed later than expected.

Of course, it's definitely not because Su Ming suddenly wanted to add a wind-type formation.

However, the overall testing of the "Yinglong" mecha went remarkably smoothly.

As each detail was adjusted to the perfect fit, the entire mech began to operate more and more smoothly.

As the "playmate," Saxon gradually gained experience from the beatings.

He moved quickly, rolled and dodged, and changed direction in unpredictable zigzag patterns.

If he really can't dodge it, he can still rely on the Saint Rank skills of the Trickster to save his life.

"Can you stop always hiding?" Miao Xin, clearly dissatisfied.

Compared to the agile small size of goblins, the "Yinglong's " massive size became a disadvantage.

"Miao Xin, adjust the energy balance of the elements to 60/40."

"Rune amplifier upgraded to level three."

Beianqi issued a series of instructions from the backend.

"The superconducting circuit has been calibrated here."

"Effective output will be increased by another 8%."

Miao Xin made the adjustments as instructed.

"That's more like it!"

She immediately noticed the difference, and her voice rose sharply.

"Beianqi is awesome!"

The next moment, "Yinglong" suddenly lunged forward, closing in.

The arc light spread out first to block the movement, then cut into the standard cutting state, and the blue and white light blade swept out.

The entire combo was executed flawlessly, so fast that even Miao Xin herself thought it was beautiful.

Then it became too beautiful.

Saxon had just recovered from the aftershocks of the previous electric arc when the intense plasma beam struck him.

He instinctively tried to create an illusionary clone, but he was a millisecond too slow.

"Laugh""

There were no screams, and not even a true "cutting".

Where the plasma blade passes, the material evaporates directly.

Saxon's upper body, along with his green head, disappeared.

Only half of its body remained swaying in place before collapsing limply.

The cross-section is blackened, and smoke is still rising from the edges.

The training ground fell silent.

Miao Xin looked at the screen and knew something bad had happened.

"----I didn't mean to."

As she looked at the backend data, Beianqi's tone was as calm as if she were reporting the weather.

"Plasma blade output exceeds specifications."

"Target evaporated."

She paused for a moment, then added a sentence.

"The game companion has died."

****

When the news reached Su Ming, he was discussing the factory's production schedule with Chloe.

As more equipment arrives, the density of production lines here continues to increase.

Feather Race workers, Final Bone Mad Machines, mages, alchemy facilities, and technological equipment are all mixed together.

Despite its chaotic appearance, it somehow exudes a strange sense of order.

Unlike the other bases which are monopolized, the White Spinel Industrial Park is owned 50% each by the Final Bone Mad Machines and the Feather Race.

This can be considered the first joint venture pilot project.

"Saxon is a non-renewable resource, we should use it sparingly," Su Ming sighed with a pained expression.

Chloe crossed her arms.

"What a pity, such a rare and interesting toy."

Su Ming turned to look at her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Chloe asked, her feathers bristling.

"I was hoping you could help me find another sparring partner."

Chloe's expression suddenly became somewhat subtle.

"Where am I supposed to find one?"

"Your student, I suppose."

Upon hearing this, Wu Ling, standing nearby, nearly had all her feathers stand on end.

But he quickly realized that the words weren't directed at him.

The group's gazes all turned to the outside of the factory.

Lanmo was lying there sunbathing.

Its large head rested on its front paws, its eyes half-closed, looking quite relaxed.

Chloe smiled slightly.

"I had a hard time recruiting them," Su Ming quickly replied, "And I've agreed to your request to expand production by another 20%."

"Deal!" Chloe agreed readily.

****

On the training field, Miao Xin had already emerged from the "Yinglong" mecha.

When Su Ming came over, she had her head down, her hands behind her back, and her toes shuffling across the snow.

Like a primary school student who has gotten into trouble.

"I really didn't mean to."

Behind her, Lanmo was half-coaxed and half-dragged by Chloe, her face full of reluctance.

"Don't worry," Chloe reassured her, but her words were utterly unconvincing.

"With your size, you're not so easy to kill."

"We won't activate the plasma," Beianqi said.

"Let's use the simulation mode, the kind where we just skirmish and call it a day."

Lanmo was finally able to relax a little.

"Let's get this straight, you're not allowed to use that gun either!"

"Certainly."

Miao Xin, who was standing next to her, immediately objected.

What's the point if you don't use real weapons?

Su Ming glared at her.

"Who sent their ex away?"

Miao Xin immediately shut up.

Therefore, the "Yinglong's" weapon system was switched to training mode.

The plasma lightsaber has been replaced with a metal rod;

The shooting weapon has been changed to flare mode; upon hitting it, only a bright spot remains, without causing actual damage.

Lanmo stood at the other end of the training field, stretched her wings, and took two steps back.

"Please be gentle when exerting yourself."

"You're Saint Rank dragon," Beianqi reminded him, "Don't be so cowardly."

"Even Saint Rank beings don't like to fight to the death with mechs," Lanmo muttered.

"Besides, someone like me who lives alone in the North Pole, I haven't been in a fight for over a decade."

"Don't have too high expectations for a lazy dragon!"

"Start!" Beianqi ignored him.

Miao Xin didn't say a word and simply pushed "Yinglong" out.

All four Spellflame Turbofan engines simultaneously pulled up, and the mech drew an arc across the snowfield, rapidly approaching Lanmo.

Lanmo spread its wings and took off, but as soon as it took off, it sensed something was wrong—the "Yinglong" was much faster than it had expected.

Even a dragon needs time to accelerate before it can take off.

In terms of straight-line acceleration alone, Lanmo is far inferior to this mecha.

Fortunately, he has the advantage of flexibility.

Lanmo immediately lowered his altitude and, using the ground as leverage, changed direction repeatedly.

The scene on the training field quickly changed to a dragon running wildly in front, with a mech relentlessly chasing after it from behind.

"How come they've all turned into free-range chickens?!"

Su Ming couldn't help but say.

"In a speed race, who can beat this machine that travels at three times the speed of sound?" Lanmo shouted.

Miao Xin herself was also a little unaccustomed to it.

This was completely different from the battle mode she had envisioned.

She quickly switched weapons and fired continuously.

A signal flare grazed Lanmo's left wing, leaving a bright spot in its wake.

"Hit the left wing of the useless dragon," Beianqi reported.

Lanmo's eyes widened in surprise.

Doesn't my shield count?

"You provide the shields, I'll use live ammunition," Miao Xin said. "How about that?"

"I won't do it!"

****

As Lanmo ran, he began to familiarize himself with the "Yinglong's" combat mode.

He seized an opportunity and unleashed a burst of dragon breath.

Miao Xin tried to dodge, but Lanmo predicted her route and she took the hit head-on.

Although it didn't use high output, it was still genuine dragon breath.

On the surface of the "Yinglong" mech, large areas of runes lit up instantly, and a shield expanded to block the attack.

"Hit, defensive energy reduced by 20%," said Beianqi.

Lanmo immediately became smug.

"Oh, it's a glass cannon!"

The two "dragons" chased and fought, causing snowflakes to fly everywhere.

Suddenly, Miao Xin stopped in her tracks.

"Alright, no electricity, no fuel!"

She maneuvered the "Yinglong" towards the maintenance area.

"Tch, weakling." Lanmo stopped and raised her head.

The next second, Miao Xin suddenly turned and accelerated back.

He raised his weapon high.

"Just kidding, I still have a little bit left!"

Lanmo was so frightened that he flapped his wings and retreated while spewing dragon breath.

"You bastard, you have no sportsmanship!"

He said angrily.

In an instant, snowflakes rolled across the training field, making the scene even more lively.

Su Ming and Chloe exchanged a glance, both showing helpless expressions.

****

A few minutes later, Yinglong truly ran out of energy.

Miao Xin obediently flew into the maintenance area and began inspection and maintenance.

Lanmo, however, seemed to want more.

Beianqi took off her headphones, picked up the control tablet, and walked over to Miao Xin.

"You don't like using a shield; you need to change that habit."

"Eliminating the enemy is definitely the priority," Miao Xin said confidently. "I think that shield is completely unnecessary; it's too heavy."

But Beianqi shook her head.

"If it were your body, Nether Sea could withstand a hit."

"Yinglong won't work."

"The mechs do not have self-healing capabilities."

"If it's broken, then it's broken."

On the other side, the logistics staff served Lanmo warm water and stewed meat rice.

Lanmo immediately beamed with joy.

"This is good!"

Su Ming was also very satisfied.

"Follow this meal standard, the same treatment as Saxon."

"It'll be calculated as a last meal before death."

Lanmo:

****

port.

Xiwo watched as the waves crashed against the shore.

His brows suddenly furrowed.

Something just doesn't feel right.

Xiwo immediately found the Hechun, retrieved the recent sea level records, and re-examined them.

Sure enough, after balancing the wave fluctuations -

Sea levels are five centimeters higher than normal!

Su Ming was somewhat puzzled when he received the report.

"Isn't there tide?"

The gravitational and tidal forces of the Moon and the Sun also exert their influence on the Arctic Ocean.

Although the tidal range in the North Pole is generally low, usually less than one meter.

But that fluctuation was far more than five centimeters.

Quail brought up the correction curve.

"We've already factored in the tidal effects."

"Wind increases water?" Chloe asked.

The wind also causes seawater to accumulate towards the coast.

"That's ruled out too," said the Hechun.

"Air pressure?"

"Normal."

Su Ming couldn't help but give Xiwo a thumbs up.

"You can spot an anomaly as small as five centimeters."

The old elf grinned.

"You think I got this nickname ' Sea Cudgel ' for nothing?"