Chapter 284: with translation of chapter title

【3】

At dusk, Luo Sen stretched and walked out of the underground laboratory of Swan Castle.

【5】

The Soul Amplifier's progress is extremely slow, nearly stagnant.

【7】

He wasn't disappointed either.

None.

【10】

Life Tree Branch maybe generic? Not a proper name. Could be considered a named item? It's a specific object but not a proper name; likely generic. We'll skip.

【13】

None.

All that remains is to inch forward bit by bit until the end is reached.

None.

【17】

None.

The first version boosts his soul's scale by over five thousand times—slightly less than a mighty demon god—but with the planar magic ring's protection, he no longer needs to fear being crushed by a demon god.

【19】

After leaving the lab, it was almost dinnertime, so he went to Swan Castle's Lakeview Restaurant.

【21】

Since dinner would take a moment, Luo Sen sat down, picked up today's Imperial Capital Evening Post, and began idly browsing.

【23】

The Imperial Capital Evening Post provides timely updates, yet Luo Sen ignores the politics section since he already knows all those stories.

【25】

He only reads the bizarre anecdotes and curiosities from society's obscure corners.

None.

【28】

Entity: tavern (generic).

【30】

Entity: bloodline technique (generic).

【33】

None.

As he continued reading, Luo Sen's gaze settled on a particular oddity.

【35】

According to the report, a mare on a farm in the outskirts of Mondalia gave birth to a dwarf.

【37】

This dwarf could run and jump right after birth, and it spoke words that nobody could understand.

None.

【41】

None.

Over a dozen witnesses were present at the scene, but their ties were weak, suggesting it was not a coordinated scheme.

None.

【44】

Entity: mage (generic).

【46】

Entity: Luo Sen.

【48】

Entity: traveling mage (generic).

【50】

Entity: Phase Observation Bureau.

【52】

Entities: Void Gods/Demons (generic) and Descent Technique (generic).

【54】

Entities: Laifu (given glossary), database (generic), natural believers (generic).

【57】

None.

The believers generally believed the mare had birthed a demon, and they were all on edge, fearing an unexpected disaster.

【59】

Luo Sen was also curious, saying, 'Let's send someone to investigate.'

【61】

He then contacted the Security Bureau and ordered a few agents to investigate.

【63】

After taking care of that, he kept reading the paper for a bit and then saw Qi Ge Rui La Na walk into the restaurant with two maids.

【65】

Now Swan Castle is the Imperial Capital Palace; the hostess is naturally Empress Qi Ge Rui La Na, while Seleina has returned to Aidelian Family Castle.

【68】

Also, Aidelian Family Castle.

【72】

Also, we have Aidelian Family Castle.

Now continue lines.

As for Luosen, he would sometimes be at Swan Castle, sometimes at Dawn Castle, sometimes in Shire County, or perhaps some other place that cannot be spoken of.

【77】

Entities: Qi Ge Rui La Na and Luo Sen.

On the other side, Qi Ge Rui La Na, upon seeing Luosen, immediately broke into a smile and ran toward him, startling Luosen so much that he hurriedly warned.

【81】

None.

"My dear, how could I be that fragile?"

None.

【84】

Entities: Qi Ge Rui La Na, Luo Sen, Imperial Capital Noblewomen (generic).

【86】

Entities: Luo Sen, Qi Ge Rui La Na.

【88】

Entity: Qi Ge Rui La Na.

【91】

None.

Her expression grew slightly serious.

None.

【94】

Entities: Sorcery Department, Heart of the Ocean (given glossary).

【96】

Entities: Black Stone Power Plant, Energy Core (generic).

【98】

Entities: Imperial Sorcery Department, Annual Plan Bulletin (generic).

【101】

None.

Of course, only a few truly understand it—just a handful of mages from the secret laboratories.

【103】

Qi Ge Rui La Na wondered, 'Why is it called the Heart of the Ocean?'

【105】

Luo Sen smiled and said, 'The Black Stone Power Plant burns black stone, but the fuel for this new‑generation energy core is extracted from the sea, so it's called the Heart of the Ocean.'

【107】

Qi Ge Rui La Na half‑understood, but grew more curious: 'Extracting fuel from seawater? Seawater is just salt—what else is there? Can salt even burn?'

None.

Qi Ge Rui La Na half‑understood, but grew ever more curious: "Extracting fuel from seawater—aside from salt, there's nothing else in seawater, right? Can salt burn?"

【112】

None.

The imperial empress grew more confused the more she listened, instinctively tilting her head and giving Luo Sen a bewildered, doubtful look, as if trying to tell whether he was joking. Fortunately, dinner was ready, and Luo Sen said, 'My dear, let's eat first; I'll explain in detail after dinner.'

【115】

The empress grew more and more confused as she listened, instinctively tilting her head and looking at Luosen with a bewildered, doubtful gaze, as if trying to tell whether he was joking with her. Just then dinner was ready, and Luosen said, "Dear, let's have dinner first; I'll explain in detail after."

After the delicious dinner, she immediately gazed at Luo Sen eagerly.

【117】

Luo Sen then took her arm, and they strolled slowly through Swan Castle's garden, saying, 'This is a new achievement born from the cooperation of all the major laboratories.'

Also there is 【67】? Not present. 【68】 present. 【70】 present. 【72】 present. 【76】 present. 【77】 present. 【79】 present. 【81】 present. 【83】 present. 【84】 present. 【85】 present. 【86】 present. 【87】 present. 【88】 present. 【89】 present. 【91】 present. 【93】 present. 【94】 present. 【95】 present. 【96】 present. 【97】 present. 【98】 present. 【99】 present. 【101】 present. 【102】 present. 【103】 present. 【104】 present. 【105】 present. 【106】 present. 【107】 present. 【110】 present. 【112】 present. 【113】 present. 【115】 present. 【116】 present. 【117】 present. 【118】 present.

Luosen then took her hand and strolled slowly through the garden of Swan Castle, saying, "This is a new achievement born from the cooperation of all the major laboratories."

The "burn" in "boiling water" is not ordinary combustion, but the aggregation of basic elements.

Qi Ge Rui La Na had been empress for several years; being beside Luosen, she had been subtly influenced and had also kept up with some of the latest magical developments, so at this point she somewhat understood.

After aggregation, what situation will appear?

According to the experimental results of the High Energy Institute, aggregation will release an astonishing amount of power and simultaneously produce new basic elements.

Astonishing power? How astonishing is it?

It's hard to say specifically, but it's not much less than Black Stone. Moreover, it's not yet mature, so verification experiments are needed.

Luosen did not want to overly publicize this matter, so he spoke very plainly.

In fact, if it weren't because this matter really cannot be hidden from keen people, verification experiments also need huge funding, he even couldn't be bothered to write this in the Arcane Department's announcement.

Why can't it be hidden? Because the plan to forge a 2-kilometer-diameter power magic ring will cost over 14 million Ogres.

With such a huge commotion and so much money spent, not following procedure is simply unjustifiable.

On the other hand, Qi Ge Rui La Na is interested in the new developments in arcane arts, but not much.

She is not a research mage either, so after receiving her husband's rough explanation, she thought she understood it, and immediately lost interest in this so-called 'Heart of the Ocean'.

Compared to arcane arts, she prefers to stick with Luosen, even if they do nothing, just taking walks and chatting, which makes her feel content.

Thus, her conversation next turned to various worldly trifles, chatting with great enthusiasm, her little face flushed and cute, eyes sparkling.

Luosen just accompanied her in chatting.

Don't look at Qi Ge Rui La Na now appearing like a little woman; that's because she is by his side.

If she were with a stranger, she would be the noble, dignified, restrained empress of the empire, the incarnation of the true god in the mortal realm.

During casual chat, Luosen's mind remained on the 'Heart of the Ocean'.

According to his initial expectation, the function of the so-called 'Heart of the Ocean' is to provide power.

But with the continual deepening research of the High Energy Arcane Institute, they discovered many profound arcane secrets.

Thus, the 'Heart of the Ocean' gained many entirely new arcane uses, some of which are extremely astonishing.

The most astonishing of these is 'forging an artificial magic ring'.

All along, mages generally believed that magic rings are created by the Creator, exist independently, and are the supreme absolute existence.

But research from the High Energy Arcane Institute shows that elements and magic rings are mutually co-existent.

Or put another way, a magic ring is a fundamental attribute of an element.

As long as there are enough elements, or the energy contained in the elements is high enough, the magic ring attribute can become very evident.

According to this theory, the sun should possess the strongest magic ring, and as long as a stable high-energy environment is simulated in the mortal realm, together with some special methods, a stable small-scale artificial magic ring can be forged.

At the same time, forging an artificial magic ring is extremely important, a prerequisite for star‑realm navigation.

In short, once the 'Heart of the Ocean' succeeds, it will be a milestone event of a wholly new arcane civilization.

What it ultimately brings may be an unprecedented new world that no one could have imagined, yet astonishing enough to leave everyone speechless.

This matter has also surpassed Luosen's comprehension; he now does not know where it will ultimately lead.

But no matter what, as long as we keep moving forward, we will eventually see it.

At night, even Luosen's puppet far away in the Radiant Empire was questioned by Zhuo Ya.

"Heart of the Ocean? Is that the boiling water thing you mentioned?"

Saying this, her cheeks uncontrollably turned red.

She looked puzzled.

"I still don't understand, what's good about boiling water?"

Toward Zhuo Ya, Luosen did not give further explanation, merely smiling faintly: "Don't rush; after the experiment succeeds, you'll know."

Zhuo Ya gave a soft hum: "Our Radiant Empire also has an Arcane Department; if you won't tell me, I'll just ask the Arcane Department."

Luosen chuckled lightly: "I bet they definitely don't know the answer."

His knowledge of the Radiant Empire's Arcane Department is not much less than Zhuo Ya's; he knows they have not yet touched the frontier of high‑energy arcane arts.

Zhuo Ya disbelievingly said: "Then I'll set up a dedicated 'boiling seawater' lab; I refuse to believe we can't figure it out."

Because of Luosen's low‑key handling, the Heart of the Ocean matter hardly caused any ripples.

After a few days, the already lukewarm public interest faded, reaching a point where hardly anyone paid attention.

But the matter itself continued to advance steadily, step by step.

Originally it was thought everything would go smoothly, but about ten days after the announcement was released, a bizarre incident occurred.

In the morning, when Emperor Luosen entered the Lakeside Study, he faintly sensed something was off.

Soon he discovered that the study had been burglarized, with signs that his documents had been disturbed.

Today, two chapters.

(End of chapter)