Chapter 223

Just as beacon fires flared up on the Northern Frontier and Emperor Chen Wen quietly left the capital to personally go to the front lines, another battlefront was unfolding inside Bian Liang.

Translation: "Just as the beacon fires on the Northern Frontier flared up, Emperor Chen Wen quietly left the capital and personally went to the front lines, another battlefront was underway inside Bianliangcheng."

We need to keep as one line.

The term 'Northern Frontier' denotes the border region; beacon fires flared up; Emperor Chen Wen quietly left the capital and personally went to the front lines; another battlefront unfolded inside Bian Liang.

Ok.

— Research on the Iron Crow Army and its mysterious powers was also proceeding full steam ahead.

Translation: "——The research targeting the Iron Crow Army and its mysterious power was also being carried out in full swing."

Deep inside the Ministry of Works, within a sealed‑off experimental workshop designated as an absolute secret area, lights burned day and night.

Translation: "Deep within the Ministry of Works office, inside a laboratory workshop marked as an absolute secret zone, the lights burned day and night."

Minister of Works Zhao Lao'nian was presently squatting before an experimental bench constructed of thick blue stone and lined with lead plates.

Translation: "Minister of Works Zhao Lao Nian was currently crouching before an experimental table made of heavy blue stone and lined with lead plates."

His hair was messy like tangled grass, his eyes sunken and bloodshot, clearly he hadn't gotten proper rest for days.

Translation: "His hair was disheveled like wild grass, his eye sockets deep-set, filled with bloodshot veins, clearly he had not rested properly for several days."

Yet his eyes, which were normally a bit dull, now gleamed with an almost frenzied concentration.

Translation: "But his eyes, which usually appeared somewhat cloudy, now sparkled with an almost fanatical focus."

On the bench lay several deep‑blue crystal fragments of different sizes, the yuan‑energy ore gathered by Qian Gui's inspection bureau from all over.

Translation: "On the experimental table lay scattered several deep-blue crystal fragments of varying sizes—these were the Nether Energy Crystal Ore seized by Qian Gui's Inspection Bureau from various places."

One of the somewhat larger fragments was fixed in a specially crafted steel clamp.

Translation: "One of the slightly larger fragments was fixed in a specially made steel clamp."

Several thin copper wires surrounded it, their other ends attached to a few simple yet ingeniously designed instruments.

Translation: "Around it, several thin copper wires were connected, their other ends attached to several crude but ingeniously devised instruments."

— Some held mercury, some suspended a lodestone, and others featured a continuously slow‑rotating impeller.

Translation: "——Some contained mercury, some suspended lodestones, and some were a continuously slowly rotating impeller."

These instruments vibrated extremely faintly, their needles or mercury surfaces showing changes barely perceptible to the eye.

Translation: "These instruments were trembling extremely faintly, with needles or mercury surfaces undergoing changes almost imperceptible to the naked eye."

"Not right… still not right…"

Translation: "\"Not right…… still not right……\""

Zhao Lao'nian murmured to himself, gently using a small jade ruler to bring a fingernail‑sized piece of yuan‑energy ore close to the fixed main crystal.

Translation: "Zhao Lao Nian muttered to himself, carefully using a small jade ruler to bring a fingernail‑sized piece of Nether Energy Crystal Ore debris close to the fixed main crystal."

When the fragment came within roughly one foot of the main crystal, a nearby glass bottle containing murky liquid and two metal rods suddenly released several extremely tiny bubbles.

Translation: "When the debris entered within about one foot of the main crystal, a nearby glass bottle filled with turbid liquid and fitted with two metal rods suddenly emitted several extremely fine bubbles."

"I see it! It's happening again!"

Translation: "\"I saw it! It's happening again! \""

Zhao Lao'nian's eyes widened sharply; he was so excited he almost leapt up, but he forced himself to stay calm, held his breath, and watched intently.

Translation: "Zhao Lao Nian's eyes widened sharply; he was so excited he almost jumped up, but he immediately forced himself to calm down, held his breath, and observed closely."

"It's not steady…… it's a fluctuation…… like a heartbeat, like a tide……"

Translation: "\"It's not continuous…… it's a wave…… like a heartbeat, and also like a tide……\""

This was not the first time he had observed this phenomenon.

Translation: "This was not the first time he had observed this phenomenon."

These yuan‑energy ores are not inert.

Translation: "These Nether Energy Crystal Ores are not dead matter."

Within them appears to reside a strange, cold, repelling energy.

Translation: "Inside them seems to lurk a strange, icy, repellent energy."

This energy is not constant; it fluctuates at an extremely slow, barely perceptible rhythm.

Translation: "This energy is not constant; it fluctuates in an extremely slow, barely perceptible rhythm."

When another crystal draws near, this fluctuation appears to be briefly stimulated or disturbed.

Translation: "When another crystal approaches, this fluctuation seems to be briefly stimulated or disturbed."

This yields faint physical effects, such as generating tiny bubbles through water electrolysis or disturbing the alignment of a lodestone.

Translation: "Thus producing some weak physical effects, such as causing electrolysis of water to generate tiny bubbles, or interfering with the orientation of a lodestone."

"Record!"

Translation: "\"Record! \""

Zhao Lao'nian barked low without turning his head.

Translation: "Zhao Lao Nian shouted without turning his head."

"At the third moment of the Wu hour, when the child‑position crystal came within one foot of the mother stone, the glass electrolyzer produced three bubbles that lasted two breaths."

Translation: "\"At the third moment of the Wu hour, when the child-position crystal came within one foot of the mother stone, the glass electrolyzer produced three bubbles, lasting two breaths. \""

"The magnetic needle deflected…… about half a degree."

Translation: "\"The magnetic needle deflected…… about half a degree. \""

A young assistant hastily wrote in the nearby ledger, which was already packed with many similar data entries.

Translation: "A young assistant hurriedly scribbled on the notebook beside him, the pages already densely filled with large amounts of similar data."

"Sir, you haven't slept for three days."

Translation: "\"Sir, you haven't slept for three days. \""

After the assistant finished recording, seeing Zhao Lao'nian swaying on the verge of collapse, he couldn't help but urge him to rest.

Translation: "After the assistant finished recording, seeing Zhao Lao Nian swaying on the verge of collapse, he couldn't help but advise."

"How about taking a brief rest and eating something?"

Translation: "\"How about you rest a moment and eat something? \""

"Rest? What rest!"

Translation: "\"Rest what rest! \""

Zhao Lao'nian impatiently waved his hand, his eyes locked firmly on those few yuan‑energy crystals.

Translation: "Zhao Lao Nian impatiently waved his hand, his eyes fixed firmly on those few pieces of Nether Energy Crystal."

"This stuff is really sinister!"

Translation: "\"This thing is really sinister! \""

"His Majesty is on a northern campaign; those killers of the Iron Crow Army will surely use this stuff too."

Translation: "\"His Majesty is on a northern campaign; those killers of the Iron Crow Army will surely also use this thing. \""

"If we don't quickly figure out their nature, His Majesty and the frontline soldiers will face extra danger!"

Translation: "\"If we don't quickly figure out their details, His Majesty and the frontline soldiers will face extra danger! \""

He picked up a nearby stone made from ordinary iron ore, shaped to resemble the yuan‑energy crystal, and brought it close to the main crystal again.

Translation: "He picked up a nearby stone made by polishing ordinary iron ore, shaped and sized similarly to the Nether Energy Crystal, and brought it close to the main crystal again."

As a result, all the nearby instruments showed no reaction.

Translation: "The result was that all the surrounding instruments showed no reaction."

"Look, only this spooky thing reacts either with itself or when near certain specific objects."

Translation: "\"Look, only this damned thing itself, or when it approaches certain specific things, will produce a reaction. \""

Zhao Lao'nian panted heavily, sank into a nearby chair, picked up a cold steamed bun and took a bite.

Translation: "Zhao Lao Nian, panting heavily, slumped into a nearby chair, picked up a cold steamed bun and took a bite."

"It repels…… it repels almost all ordinary things."

Translation: "\"It repels…… it repels almost all ordinary things. \""

"It's like…… like oil and water, they just won't mix."

Translation: "\"It's like…… like oil and water, they just won't mix. \""

While chewing, he glanced at the experimental record, his brows furrowed tightly.

Translation: "While chewing, he looked at the experimental records, his brows furrowed tightly."

"What pattern does this fluctuation actually follow?"

Translation: "\"What pattern does this fluctuation actually follow? \""

"What is it related to?"

Translation: "\"What is it related to? \""

"The time of day?"

Translation: "\"The time of day? \""

"The location?"

Translation: "\"The location? \""

"Or……"

Translation: "\"Or……\""

Suddenly, as if recalling something, he leapt to his feet and walked to the iron cabinet in the workshop corner, locked with three copper locks.

Translation: "Suddenly, as if recalling something, he leapt to his feet and walked to the iron cabinet in the workshop corner, locked with three copper locks."

He produced a key, carefully opened the iron cabinet, and took out a tightly wrapped narrow wooden box covered in bright yellow silk.

Translation: "He produced a key, carefully opened the iron cabinet, and took out a tightly wrapped narrow wooden box swaddled in bright yellow silk."

He unwrapped the silk, opened the wooden box, and inside lay a brush once used by Emperor Chen Wen at his accession ceremony, now discarded.

Translation: "He unwrapped the silk, opened the wooden box, and inside lay still an imperial brush that Emperor Chen Wen had used during his enthronement ceremony, now discarded."

The brush itself is nothing special, but having been in prolonged contact with Chen Wen, it theoretically would have picked up a trace of extremely faint 'fortune' aura.

Translation: "The brush itself is nothing special, but having been in prolonged contact with Chen Wen, it theoretically would have picked up a trace of extremely faint \"Fortune Momentum\" aura."

— This is the only thing Zhao Lao'nian could think of that might have any connection to extraordinary power while remaining relatively safe and harmless.

Translation: "——This is the only thing Zhao Lao Nian could think of that might have any connection to \"extraordinary\" power while remaining relatively safe and harmless for experimentation."

He took a deep breath, grasped the imperial brush with tweezers, and moved it extremely slowly toward the main yuan‑energy crystal on the bench.

Translation: "He took a deep breath, gripped the imperial brush with tweezers, and moved it extremely slowly toward the main Nether Energy Crystal on the experimental table."

Just as the brush tip entered within about three feet of the yuan‑energy crystal, a sudden change occurred!

Translation: "Just as the brush tip entered within about three feet of the Nether Energy Crystal, a sudden anomaly occurred!"

"Hum——!"

Translation: "\"Hum——! \""

That piece, which had only been weakly fluctuating, suddenly emitted a low yet clear hum!

Translation: "That crystal, which had only been weakly fluctuating, suddenly emitted a low yet clear hum!"

Its surface blazed with blue light, not blinding but carrying a chilling sensation that made the heart race!

Translation: "Its surface blazed with blue light, not blinding but carrying a chilling sensation that made the heart palpitate!"

At the same time, all the surrounding detection instruments went berserk.

Translation: "At the same time, all the surrounding detection instruments went berserk"

——The mercury column jerked violently, the magnetic needle spun wildly, and bubbles surged inside the electrolyzer like boiling!

Even the main crystal stone fixed in the clamp began to vibrate at high frequency, as if trying to break free of its restraints!

What was even more shocking was that Zhao Lao'nian clearly felt it.

From that imperial brush came an intangible, yet real sensation of 'repulsion'.

It fiercely opposed the icy chill emanating from the Nether Energy Crystal, like water and fire meeting, utterly incompatible!

"This... this is..."

Zhao Lao'nian was so startled he stepped back two paces, and the tweezers in his hand almost fell.

He quickly moved the imperial brush away.

As the imperial brush was moved away, the anomaly of the Nether Energy Crystal quickly subsided, the blue light faded, the equipment's frenzy gradually ceased, and it finally returned to its previous faint fluctuation.

The workshop fell into dead silence.

The assistant opened his mouth wide, stunned.

Zhao Lao'nian's heart pounded, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, yet his eyes blazed with an unprecedented excitement.

"Repulsion... a powerful repulsion!"

His voice trembling, he excitedly grabbed the assistant's shoulder.

"Did you see that?"

"This thing is mutually antagonistic with the Fortune Momentum on His Majesty's person!"

"They repel each other!"

This discovery startled Shi Potian!

The energy of the Nether Energy Crystal Ore, and the 'Fortune Momentum' force of the legitimate Dai Biao Dynasty, which the people's hearts turn to.

They are actually two utterly opposite, mutually clashing forces!

This perhaps explains why the Iron Crow Army always hides in the shadows and acts furtively.

Because the power they use is itself repelled by this splendid world and the gathered popular spirit of fortune!

This also explains why they spare no effort to eliminate variables like Chai Rong and Chen Wen, who can gather great momentum.

For the Fortune Momentum gathered on these people is itself the nemesis of their dark power!

"Quick! Record! Record everything!"

Zhao Lao'nian almost shouted it out.

"At the end of the third quarter of the Wu hour, when an object contaminated… contaminated with imperial aura approaches the Nether Energy Crystal Mother Stone, the crystal reacts violently, the blue light flares, energy fluctuations surge dramatically, producing a strong repulsion phenomenon with the imperial aura!"

"It lasts three breaths, then ceases when moved away!"

He panted, adding.

"Note, this phenomenon is extremely dangerous; do not lightly repeat the experiment!"

The assistant also realized the importance of this discovery, flustered yet extremely earnest in recording.

Zhao Lao'nian calmed his excitement a bit, and when he looked again at those pieces of Nether Energy Crystal, his gaze was completely different.

Before it was curiosity and inquiry; now it carries deep wariness and a hint of understanding.

"So that's it… no wonder… no wonder they're like rats in a gutter, unable to see the light…"

He muttered.

"The very source of their power is fundamentally incompatible with this bright universe!"

He immediately bent over his desk and wrote hastily, seeking to swiftly present this major discovery to the emperor of the Northern Patrol in the most encrypted form.

This discovery not only reveals part of the essence of the Nether Energy Crystal Ore, but may also provide a wholly new and crucial strategic path for future resistance against the Iron Crow Army.

The Ministry of Works' new research, in an unnoticed corner, achieved a breakthrough concerning the future battlefield.

The contest on this silent battlefield is of importance no less than the clash of golden spears and iron horses on the northern frontier.