Chapter 228

In the core laboratory of the "New Era," a massive holographic projection displayed complex energy flows and data slowly rotating like a galaxy. Qin Feng, Su Wenqian, and several core members of the Science Council—including Smith Professor and Evans from Deep Space Exploration—were intently observing the real-time crustal stress map transmitted by the 【Geological Leverage Resonance Harmonic Array】 and the monitoring data from the 【Void Energy Spectrum Resonance Probe】 on the near-Earth space environment.

Two systems—one piercing Earth's pulse, the other glimpsing ripples in the Star Sea—together formed the "New Era's" Heavenly Eye for perceiving both inner and outer realms.

"Sir, the array is operating stably. Geological activity along the Ring of Fire and surrounding seas is fully monitored, with warning precision and lead time far exceeding any existing system," said Smith Professor, his voice brimming with uncontainable excitement and awe; after being refined by the 【Geological Leverage Resonance Harmonic Array】, he had long become a staunch supporter of Qin Feng's technological path.

Evans continued his report: "The probe system has completed preliminary calibration. Its sensitivity in detecting gravitational anomalies, high-energy particle streams, and unknown energy residues within the near-Earth region (within one million kilometers) has reached design specifications. We have already identified three previously unrecorded minor gravitational ripples, suspected to be caused by passing small dark matter clumps."

Everyone's faces lit up with excitement. The success of these two systems meant the "New Era" now possessed unprecedented initiative in responding to natural disasters and deep-space navigation risks.

Yet Qin Feng's gaze swept across the three-dimensional map slowly rotating, depicting Earth's internal energy flows, then to the complex readings on the adjacent screen showing the near-Earth energy environment. Fragments of information in his mind began colliding and reorganizing.

The descriptions in Mu Zhaoxue's files regarding the energy signature and periodic activity of the 【Star Ring】… the faint resonance between the 【Honor and Responsibility Badges】 and unknown cosmic background radiation… the immense stress accumulated deep within the crust, sufficient to trigger plate movements… the omnipresent energy radiation in near-Earth space—from the Sun and even deeper cosmic sources… and… Lilith and 【Pandora】's persistent, nagging entanglement—trivial yet irritating…

A bold, even insane idea—like a lightning bolt slicing through darkness—suddenly illuminated his mind.

He slightly raised his hand, signaling a pause in the report.

The laboratory fell instantly silent; all eyes fixed on him.

Qin Feng stepped forward to the crustal stress map, extended his finger, and lightly pointed at a region approximately two hundred nautical miles southeast of the "New Era," located at the boundary between the Pacific Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate. There, the colors representing crustal stress glowed an ominous, deep crimson, indicating immense energy slowly and steadily accumulating.

"Here," Qin Feng's voice broke the silence, calm and clear, "according to the array's monitoring data, there is a 97.3% probability of a magnitude 7.5 intermediate-depth earthquake occurring within the next 72 hours, potentially triggering a localized tsunami."

Smith Professor immediately nodded: "Yes, sir. We have already issued warnings to vessels in potentially affected areas per protocol."

Qin Feng nodded, but his finger did not leave the spot; instead, it slowly traced along the invisible plate boundary line upward, finally resting on another high-stress zone near the Japan Trench.

"And here," he continued, "the energy accumulation is even greater, but the structure is relatively stable, with less than a 5% probability of large-scale release in the short term."

Everyone looked at him in confusion, unsure why he was suddenly emphasizing these known data points.

At that moment, Qin Feng turned his gaze to the adjacent 【Void Energy Spectrum Resonance Probe】 monitoring screen, which displayed a dynamic model of solar wind interacting with Earth's magnetic field.

"Evans," Qin Feng asked, "what if—just hypothetically—we used the probe system not to 'receive' cosmic 'echoes,' but to actively inject a highly concentrated, specific-frequency 【Energy Pulse】 into a targeted region of near-Earth space… say… the magnetotail, where solar wind interacts most violently with Earth's 【Magnetic Layer】—what effect would that trigger?"

Evans froze, instinctively adjusting his glasses: "Actively injecting an energy pulse? Sir, this… this could violently disturb the local magnetic field, possibly triggering a minor geomagnetic storm, interfering with satellite electronics, and intensifying auroras over the poles…"

Before he finished speaking, Qin Feng's lips curled into an extremely subtle, yet deeply unsettling smile—one that sent a shiver through everyone present.

"Geomagnetic storm… intense magnetic disturbance…" Qin Feng repeated the words softly, his gaze returning to the crustal stress map, his finger lightly tapping the high-stress zone near the Japan Trench—vast in energy, yet structurally stable.

"What if," his voice carried the calm of stating a physical law, yet held the power to shatter the heavens, "if a sufficiently strong, precisely shaped geomagnetic storm generated global geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) that, in a subtle, non-uniform manner, acted upon certain conductive rock layers within the crust already at critical stress states…"

He paused, scanning the room, watching the scientists' eyes widen as they began to grasp his meaning, then slowly voiced the core of his insane idea:

"…could we, then, like gently nudging a block balanced on the edge of equilibrium…"

"…artificially and precisely 'guide' or 'trigger' a geological energy release we 'need'?"

"For instance, diverting or redirecting part of the energy from that massive, stable but ultimately hazardous stress zone through a controlled, moderate-scale earthquake or crustal creep—into the region already poised to naturally release energy in a 7.5-magnitude quake?"

"Could we make a 7.5-magnitude quake, which might otherwise cause scattered destruction, 'absorb' the potential energy from another zone, thereby 'upgrading' it into a more efficient 8.0- or even 8.5-magnitude quake—while concentrating its destructive force in uninhabited deep sea or specific barren regions?"

"Or even…" Qin Feng's eyes flashed a cold glint, "if calculations were precise enough, could we use this 'Geological Leverage' principle to 'prematurely detonate' geological hazards located beneath critical regions of hostile forces—hazards we 'do not wish' to remain stable?"

The laboratory fell into deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned by Qin Feng's wildly imaginative yet terrifying idea—grounded firmly in the foundation of their two existing perception systems!

Using deep-space detection technology to actively trigger geomagnetic storms, then indirectly manipulating crustal activity?! This was no longer geological prediction or disaster prevention! This was… treating the planet's internal and external energy systems as controllable weapons and tools!

The idea was too insane! Too horrifying!

Yet upon closer thought, from a technical standpoint, it seemed… not entirely impossible! The 【Void Energy Spectrum Resonance Probe】 could emit highly concentrated energy pulses; the 【Geological Leverage Resonance Harmonic Array】 could precisely map crustal stress distributions and critical states; combined with the "New Era's" immense computational power for simulation and extrapolation…

This… this was almost divine intervention!

Smith Professor stood with his mouth agape, speechless. Evans's eyes burned with fervor—as if a vast, revolutionary new field in planetary science and space physics had just opened before him!

Su Wenqian stood behind Qin Feng, gazing at his back—unimposing yet seemingly capable of holding up heaven and earth—and felt an indescribable shock. The Master's vision had already transcended mere defense and confrontation; he was contemplating how to harness the forces of heaven and earth as his own tools!

Qin Feng looked at the stunned, deep-thinking crowd and calmly added:

"Of course, this is merely a preliminary idea. The energy calculations, model construction, and risk control involved are extraordinarily complex, requiring the strictest validation and most cautious testing."

He turned, his gaze returning to its usual depth and calmness.

"But I have an idea," he said slowly, "perhaps we could begin by 'guiding' a trivial, insignificant geological event occurring in an absolutely safe region, to test the feasibility of this theory."

"If successful…"

He did not finish, but everyone understood what it meant.

It meant the "New Era" would not only possess the Heavenly Eye to perceive heaven and earth—but also the fingers to pluck at the planet's veins.