Chapter 24: Announcement of the Maiden Flight of the 'Ascending Dragon' Fighter

A month's time slipped by quietly in Qin Hao's regular routine and efficient charging.

At this moment, the system's energy reserve figure had reached a new height—25 billion points exactly.

Adding the previously consumed energy, the total accumulated was about 3.4 billion points, not far from the 10-billion-point upgrade condition.

"Xiao Qin, have you been resting well lately?"

That morning, Luo Lao's phone call came through.

Since the previous feat of copying a hundred tons of alloy, he basically inquires every few days about Qin Hao's physical condition and study progress,

That care made Qin Hao feel the warmth of home in his heart.

"I'm doing fine, please rest assured." Qin Hao replied.

"That's good. Also, Xiao Qin, you grew up in an orphanage since childhood, and we're so familiar, yet you're still so formal; if you don't mind, just call me Luo Grandfather."

Luo Lao's tone was very kind, the meaning of his words went without saying.

Qin Hao didn't hesitate either; having lacked affection since childhood, now having someone care for him this much gave him a sense of belonging.

"Luo... Luo Grandfather!"

"Good, good, good! Then it's settled." Luo Lao was very happy at this moment.

Immediately afterward, he stated the purpose of this call.

"Xiao Qin, according to the current situation, our country still needs 200,000 units of 4-nanometer crystals for the subsequent strategic equipment upgrades and the layout of high-end civilian industries."

"The demand for starfall alloy remains huge; the preliminary plan is to copy another six hundred tons—do you think the system's energy is enough?"

200,000 crystals, six hundred tons of alloy!

Qin Hao silently calculated: the crystals would consume one billion points of energy, and the six hundred tons of alloy, which is 1.2 million catties, at a consumption of one thousand points per catty, would be twelve billion points of energy.

Added together, that is twenty-two billion points of energy.

His current reserve of 2.5 billion points of energy is sufficient, leaving three billion points remaining.

"No problem, I currently have 2.5 billion points of energy." Qin Hao spoke frankly.

"Hmm! Good, I will send someone to pick you up."

……

Inside a secret military base.

Qin Hao had already been brought here; after a few brief pleasantries, he began the copying.

First came the copying of crystals; the process was already second nature, Qin Hao reached out and touched the 4-nanometer crystal serving as the master copy.

With the drive of his will, system energy was consumed rapidly; in the dust-free area, brand-new crystals appeared out of thin air, piling up into small hills.

Qian Bowen and Li Academician, et al., watching this miracle-like scene, had long since turned from initial shock into accustomed habit.

"Old Qian, Old Li, crystal copying completed."

Not long after, Qin Hao's calm voice came through.

"Good, good, good! Great!"

Qian Bowen Academician excitedly rubbed his hands, "With this batch of crystals, many of our projects can be accelerated."

After a brief rest, Qin Hao began copying six hundred tons of "starfall alloy".

This time it took less than an hour to finish.

Luo Lao and several leaders of the military-industrial conglomerate, looking at the six hundred tons of alloy before them, all showed smiles.

Adding the previous hundred tons, a total of seven hundred tons of super-alloy representing world-top level, was thus born miraculously in just over a month.

"Xiao Qin! You are the undoubted hero of our Yanhuang Guo!" Luo Lao stepped forward, firmly grasped Qin Hao's hand, his eyes full of kindness.

The several usually stern military-industrial magnates now looked at Qin Hao as if gazing upon a peerless treasure.

They wished they could possess it for themselves.

With the strong infusion of these crystals and alloy, Yanhuang Guo's defense industry and cutting-edge technology sector seemed to have hit the accelerator.

Numerous projects that had progressed slowly due to material and core component shortages now began to speed up.

Among them, the most eye-catching is undoubtedly the new-generation "Ascending Dragon" series fighter.

Inside the final assembly workshop of a certain core aircraft manufacturing plant of the state, lights blazed.

A silver-gray fighter with sci-fi appearance, smooth lines, full of power and beauty, stood still in the center.

Its fuselage largely adopted "starfall alloy", which, under the lighting, emitted a unique metallic texture.

Its internal complex avionics and flight control computer were equipped with the latest batch of copied 4-nanometer crystals.

"Commander, all systems self-check complete, data all normal!"

An old engineer in work clothes, with white hair but spirited, reported to the aviation group's person-in-charge, General Zhang Xianzhong, his voice trembling slightly from excitement.

Zhang Xianzhong gazed at the fighter before him, which embodied the efforts of countless researchers, his eyes glistening with tears.

How many years have they spent, striving to catch up and surpass, paying how much hardship and sweat.

And now, they finally possess a national weapon capable of looking down on all peers.

"Good! Very good!" Zhang Xianzhong nodded firmly,

"Immediately report to central headquarters, the 'Ascending Dragon' No. 1 prototype has completed final assembly and can undergo its maiden flight at any time!"

The report was relayed up the chain and soon received approval from the highest level.

Three days later, Yanhuang Guo's official news media, in a relatively low-key manner, issued a bulletin.

"Our independently developed new-generation fighter 'Ascending Dragon' has completed the first prototype's final assembly and will soon conduct its maiden flight test."

This news, like a heavyweight bomb, instantly caused a huge uproar worldwide.

"What?"

"Yanhuang Guo's new-generation fighter?"

"They call it 'Ascending Dragon'? That name does have quite an Oriental flavor."

Inside the Yingjiang Guo ten-corner building, an intelligence analyst looked at the translated news on the screen, curled his lip, his tone carrying a hint of disdain, but deep in his eyes there was a trace of solemnity.

"They've always been strangled by us, haven't they? High-performance engines, advanced avionics, especially high-end crystal cores—where did they get those?"

Another official furrowed his brow, unable to figure it out.

"Hmph, just making a mystery out of nothing. Probably they just took an old model, tweaked its appearance, slapped on a new coat of paint, and came out boasting. Once it flies, we'll see whether it's a 'Rising Dragon' or a 'Crashing Dragon'!"

A hawkish general snorted coldly, but the atmosphere in the room was not relaxed.

Yanhuang Guo's recent series of movements has already made them feel something unusual.

And internationally, other countries have also reacted in various ways.

Some countries friendly with Yanhuang Guo have expressed congratulations.

Some countries taking a wait-and-see attitude are secretly assessing the truth of this news and its possible geopolitical impact, while those that have long regarded Yanhuang Guo as a potential rival feel unprecedented pressure.

For a moment, the world's gaze focused on this ancient yet vibrant land in the East, awaiting the maiden flight of that "Rising Dragon".

Online, in military forums, speculation about the performance of the "Rising Dragon" fighter jet has sparked an uproar.

There is praise, doubt, anticipation, worry—various emotions intertwined, forming a global public opinion whirlwind.

Qin Hao looked at these news items, his heart also stirred with some waves.

He knew that the "Rising Dragon's" ascent was not merely the maiden flight of a fighter jet, but also a concentrated display of Yanhuang Guo's technological strength, and the best proof of the fruits of his efforts over this period.

He likewise awaited that day's arrival, from the moment the "Rising Dragon" soars into the sky, the world's pattern might thus quietly change.