Chapter 1291: The Direction is Correct

The senior researcher nodded.

"Yes. Based on the new model using high-purity crystals. This might take... a few months."

Dian's brow furrowed even tighter.

A few months. He could not wait a few months.

"Can't it be faster?"

The senior researcher shook his head.

"Doctor, Psionic Physics is not engineering. If data is wrong, it can be retested; if a model is wrong, it can be revised. But something like Resonant Frequency—once calculated incorrectly, it is not a failure, it is a disaster. The lesson of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance is right before our eyes."

The room was silent for a moment.

Dian leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.

"Then rebuild the model. But do not stop. While modeling, prepare for the second experiment. This time, keep the energy controlled at sixty-five percent, no higher.

The Canaan Star Alliance needs this. For self-preservation. The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance has stationed troops at the border of the Ashes Star Alliance; who is next? Is it us, or Daikong? We have no time to wait."

He turned, looking at the scientists present.

"The Feng Qi Xing Alliance failed because they were stupid. We will succeed."

After the experiment ended, Dian remained alone in the control room, watching the record of the recent failure over and over again.

Energy went Out of Control at seventy percent. Phase Lock lost. Resonance Collapse. The rift vanished.

Seventy percent.

The data from the Feng Qi Xing Alliance said that they had appeared to have a stable rift at sixty percent.

Although it was only for a few seconds, it had indeed appeared.

Yet the Canaan equipment could not maintain it even at seventy percent.

Why?

He pulled up the theoretical model and began to check it item by item.

The Energy Output Curve was fine, the Phase Synchronization was fine, and the calculation of the Resonant Frequency was also fine.

Everything looked perfect, yet it had failed.

"Doctor."

A voice came from behind him.

Dian did not turn around.

"Speak."

A young researcher walked to his side.

"Doctor, I think the problem might not be in the calculations."

Dian turned to look at him.

"Then where is it?"

The researcher pointed to the rift image on the holographic screen.

"On the other side."

Dian's brow furrowed.

"What do you mean?"

The researcher said.

"The report from Veriks of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance mentioned that there is something on the other side of the rift. That thing is observing, waiting. If that is true, then our experiment failing might not be a technical issue, but that the other side does not want us to open it."

Dian fell into Silence.

Then he asked.

"Do you believe that report?"

The researcher hesitated for a moment.

"Not entirely. But I cannot completely disbelieve it either. Doctor, if there really is something on the other side, and it does not want us to pass through..."

Dian raised a hand to interrupt him.

"Even if there is, so what? It doesn't want us to pass, so we just don't pass? The fleet of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance is right at the border; the today of the Ashes Star Alliance is our tomorrow. We have no choice."

He turned, looking back at the holographic screen.

"Continue preparing for the second experiment. This time, keep the energy controlled at sixty-five percent. If it still fails, adjust the Resonant Frequency to avoid that Resonance Point."

The researcher nodded.

"Yes, Doctor."

On the third day after the experiment failed, in the orbit of planet X-7-009-3, a scout ship was operating quietly.

The ship was not large, only fifty meters long, painted entirely black, with no markings and no hull number.

It was a secret Asset of the Canaan Star Alliance Intelligence Department, specifically responsible for monitoring abnormal activities in the border star sector.

On the Bridge, the duty officer was watching the sensor screen listlessly.

There was nothing on this planet; not even a bug existed.

But the people above said that an "important experiment" was being conducted here and ordered them to monitor it the entire time.

"Any anomalies?" the deputy captain walked in.

The duty officer shook his head.

"None. It's been three days, not even a signal fluctuation."

The deputy captain looked at the screen.

"The higher-ups said yesterday's experiment failed. They might need to try a few more times."

The duty officer yawned.

"Then let's do it a few more times. We're idle anyway."

The deputy captain did not reply. He walked to the viewing window and looked at the grey-brown planet below.

"Tell me, what do you think they are researching?"

The duty officer shook his head.

"I don't know. And I don't want to know. Knowing too much is not a good thing."

The deputy captain was in Silence for a second.

"You're right."

He turned and left.

The duty officer continued to watch the sensor screen.

Five days after the experiment failed, Dian locked himself in his office, his desk piled high with draft paper and Holographic Data Pads.

There was no problem with his theoretical model.

Energy output, Phase Synchronization, Resonant Frequency—every parameter had been precisely calculated, and every link had been repeatedly verified.

But the experiment had failed nonetheless.

Why?

He reopened the Feng Qi Xing Alliance files and read Veriks's report word for word.

"... The existence on the other side of the rift can perceive our attempts. It is observing, waiting..."

"The higher the energy output, the more unstable the rift becomes. It seems some kind of force is actively interfering..."

"Recommend pausing the experiment and re-evaluating the risks..."

Dian put down the files and rubbed his temples.

Veriks was a coward. A scientist defeated by fear. His report was full of subjective speculation and exaggeration.

But those data points would not lie.

He pulled up the experimental data again and compared it with the public data from the Feng Qi Xing Alliance.

The energy curves on both sides matched almost perfectly in the early stages, but after sixty percent, a divergence appeared.

The Feng Qi Xing Alliance's curve continued to rise smoothly, while the Canaan curve began to fluctuate violently.

Why?

He stared at the two curves, the light in his three eyes growing brighter.

Suddenly, he stood up abruptly.

"Resonant Frequency. It's not a problem with the materials; it's a problem with the Resonant Frequency."

He quickly pulled up his theoretical model and recalculated.

The Psionic Crystal used by the Feng Qi Xing Alliance had low purity, a wide Resonant Frequency, and stable energy output.

The Canaan crystal had high purity, a narrow Resonant Frequency, and energy output concentrated in a specific band.

When the energy reached seventy percent, that band happened to resonate with the rift's inherent frequency.

It wasn't a technical problem; the other side was responding.

Dian's hands trembled slightly.

He had guessed right. There really was something on the other side. And it was responding.

He sat back in his chair with an excited expression.

Veriks was right. There was something on the other side, and it didn't want this side to get through.

"Responding. That means the direction is correct. I just need to adjust the frequency to avoid that Resonance Point."

He reopened his Data Pad and began calculating new parameters.

Canaan Star Alliance Capital Star, Viridius's official residence.

"The experiment failed?"

Viridius looked at the intelligence chief.

The intelligence chief nodded.

"Yes, Speaker. The equipment was slightly damaged, with no casualties. Doctor Dian says he needs to rebuild the theoretical model, which will take about a few months."

Viridius was in Silence for a few seconds.

"Did he say what the cause of the failure was?"

The intelligence chief said.

"Preliminary analysis points to a Resonant Frequency issue. The characteristics of the high-purity crystal do not match the theoretical model, leading to energy being Out of Control."

Viridius leaned back in his chair.

"Just a technical problem?"

The intelligence chief hesitated for a moment.

"Speaker, what do you mean?"

Viridius looked at him.

"I mean, is it possible that it's not a technical problem?"

The intelligence chief was in Silence.

Viridius stood up and walked to the window.

"Have you read the report from that Veriks of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance?"

The intelligence chief nodded.

"I have."

Viridius said.

"He said there is something on the other side. Observing, waiting. If that is true, then our failure might not be a technical issue."

The intelligence chief asked.

"Speaker, do you think Doctor Dian will stop?"

"There being something on the other side means the direction is correct."

He turned around and looked at the intelligence chief.

"Notify the planetary fleet to increase vigilance. If the experiment fails again and some accident occurs, destroy that facility immediately."

The intelligence chief nodded.

"Yes, Speaker."