Chapter 293

The temporary retreat of external threats was like pressing a mute button on the bustling Bianliangcheng.

The focus of debate in the court gradually shifted from border military reports and diplomatic maneuvering to more concrete internal governance construction and fiscal allocation.

And in this pragmatic new trend, the Investigation of Things Institute of the Ministry of Works, located in the southeast corner of Huangcheng, became an inconspicuous yet crucial focal point.

Deep within the Investigation of Things Institute, inside a newly expanded, heavily guarded workshop.

The air was filled with the scorching heat of metal, grease, wood, and a faint, sweet‑savory scent reminiscent of after a thunderstorm, hard to describe.

Here, it felt like a world apart from the gentle spring outside.

Minister of Works Zhao Lao Nian, wearing a work uniform stained with oil and coal ash, his grayish-white hair loosely wrapped in a sweat towel, was leaning over a huge wooden workbench.

On the workbench, various oddly shaped tools were scattered, along with some fragments and powder that flickered with a deep blue or pale gold light.

Around him, seven or eight assistants dressed similarly in Ministry of Works work uniforms, but noticeably younger, stood gathered.

These young people were carefully selected by Zhao Lao Nian from among the many craftsmen of the Ministry of Works; they are quick-witted, skilled in their work, and above all, they possess an extraordinary enthusiasm for the Investigation of Things and an unyielding resilience in the face of failure.

"Quick! Record! In Area Three, the deep blue luster is fading!"

A young assistant, eyes fixed on the complex device fastened at the center of the workbench, spoke urgently.

The core of the device is a fragment of Nether Energy Crystal Ore about the size of a fist, with a deep hue, surrounded by and wound with a guiding structure mainly of refined copper, in which are set a few smooth-polished stones that contain a pale gold sheen, called Fortune Momentum Stones by Zhao Lao Nian—this is his term for the special ore that can resonate with Fortune Momentum.

At this moment, the device emitted a low hum.

The Nether Energy Crystal Ore fragment at the core, which had been steadily emitting a deep blue light, was now flickering visibly, like a candle in the wind.

And the few Fortune Momentum Stones set at the key nodes of the guiding structure were emitting an increasingly obvious pale gold halo, like warm charcoal embers.

"Fortune Momentum interference intensity is rising!"

Another assistant stared at a nearby crude gauge connected to many fine copper wires, its needle constantly trembling, his voice filled with excitement.

Zhao Lao Nian said nothing; his hands, covered in calluses and burn scars, firmly gripped a specially made small hammer that was neither metal nor wood, and he carefully adjusted the angle of a tiny guiding plate on the device.

His gaze was as focused as that of an artisan carving a peerless treasure.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, sliding down his cheeks, yet he was oblivious.

"Hold steady…… everyone, hold steady……"

He muttered to himself, his voice low and hoarse.

"Perception…… must rely on perception…… can't just look with the eyes……"

He seemed to be relying on some intuition beyond sight to guide this dangerous experiment.

Since returning from Jinzhou, bringing back fragments of Nether Energy Crystal Ore tainted with Fortune Momentum's aura and debris from the Iron Crow Army equipment collected on the battlefield, Zhao Lao Nian has practically been living in the Investigation of Things Institute.

In the decisive battle at Jinzhou, the scene of the Crystal-Disturbing Tower opposing Fortune Momentum's Huang Guang against the Nether Energy field gave him a tremendous shock and inspiration.

He realized that Nether Energy Crystal Ore and the dynasty's Fortune Momentum—these two utterly opposite, mutually repelling forces—were not merely simple opposition.

Under a certain extreme balance and guidance, could they produce a new, controllable application?

This thought burned like wildfire in his heart.

Thus, a series of research projects internally dubbed the "New Chapter Plan" quietly commenced.

The core of the research was to attempt to forcibly couple and channel the energy of the Nether Energy Crystal Ore with a trace amount of guided Fortune Momentum.

This process is extremely dangerous.

Nether Energy is violent and icy, full of corrosiveness;

Fortune Momentum is vast and mighty, bearing a will that brooks no profanity.

A slight mistake could lightly damage the device and waste the materials;

or severely trigger an energy backlash, causing casualties.

Over the past few months, they have already endured dozens of failures.

Explosions, freezing, strange energy leaks… various unexpected situations have arisen one after another.

If it weren't for Chen Wen specially approving vast resources and tacitly allowing Zhao Lao Nian to employ some young artisans who had undergone Ability Granting, possessing far greater stamina and endurance than ordinary people, this research could not have proceeded.

But Zhao Lao Nian and his team, relying on an almost obsessive perseverance, repeatedly drew lessons from failure and adjusted their plans.

They discovered that pure physical shielding or energy cancellation had limited effect.

They had to find a "medium" or "structure" capable of simultaneously withstanding and briefly accommodating both forces, and guiding them to interact along a preset path.

They tested dozens of metals, jade stones, and even biological materials.

Ultimately, they found that a specially tempered refined copper doped with a trace amount of Fortune Momentum stone powder worked best.

Moreover, the device's internal structure was further inspired by certain rhythms observed in the flow of Fortune Momentum's Huang Guang on the battlefield, making it exquisitely complex and ingenious.

At this moment, the device on the central workbench is the latest "Momentum-Energy Guidance Prototype, Version Seven".

"Hum——"

The device's hum suddenly turned sharp!

The core's Nether Energy Crystal Ore fragment burst forth with a final blinding blue flash, then, as if all its energy had been drained, instantly dimmed and turned ashen.

Almost simultaneously, the pale gold halo emitted by those few Fortune Momentum Stones swelled, racing along the refined copper guiding structure, and finally converging at the device's front-end horn-shaped opening.

"Whoosh!"

A condensed beam of light, gold with a hint of blue and about as thick as a finger, shot from the opening and struck a specially placed bluestone slab several zhang away, half a chi thick.

"Pfft!"

A soft sound.

The bluestone slab was not pierced, but at the point struck by the beam, a shallow pit the size of a bowl's mouth instantly appeared.

The pit walls were smooth as a mirror, presenting an eerie, partially crystallized state, with the edges still retaining faint traces of cold intertwined with a scorching sensation—a contradictory aura.

Success!

The workshop fell into a brief silence.

Everyone held their breath, staring in disbelief at the bluestone slab.

Immediately, the joyous cheers almost lifted the roof!

"Success! Teacher! We succeeded!"

The young assistants, excited until their faces flushed red, punched each other's shoulders, some even with tears welling at the corners of their eyes.

After months of hardship, setbacks, and even pain, at this moment it all seemed to be rewarded.

Zhao Lao Nian did not cheer.

He slowly straightened up, taking a long, long breath, as if exhaling the stale air that had been pent up in his chest for a long time.

He walked to that blue stone slab, extended his rough finger, and lightly touched the shallow pit.

Cold and scorching heat alternated.

He could feel that what it contained was not pure destructive force, but a more complex nature of tearing and annihilation coexisting.

"Not enough……"

He muttered, shaking his head.

"Energy dissipation is too severe, conversion efficiency too low, stability also far too poor……"

"This beam, it's fine for smashing stones, but against the Iron Crow Army's iron lumps, it's probably not even enough to tickle them……"

He turned around, looking at the excited assistants, his face showing a weary yet relieved smile.

"But…… the direction, we've sort of gotten a little bit right."

"At least it proves that these two kinds of Qi don't have to be mortal enemies; in our hands, they can also 'team up' and get some work done!"

The assistants all nodded, their eyes full of anticipation for the future.

"Teacher, should we next try increasing the input of crystal ore and Fortune Momentum Stone, or optimize the guide structure to boost power?" an assistant eagerly asked.

Zhao Lao Nian pondered for a moment, then waved his hand.

"No rush, first don't rush for power."

"First, thoroughly understand this 'seventh version', raise its stability and duration."

"Moreover……"

A glint of sharpness flashed in his eyes.

"This thing might not be only for hitting people."

"You think, if we can control the energy output well, it could be used to split mountains and rocks, dredge rivers, or…… smelt some ores that ordinary furnace fires can't handle……"

The assistants' eyes lit up, their train of thought instantly opened.

Yes, if this unique power can be tamed, its application prospects will far exceed the realm of weapons.

Just as everyone was immersed in the new ideas, a minor clerk hurried in and whispered a few words into Zhao Lao Nian's ear.

The fatigue on Zhao Lao Nian's face vanished, replaced by a sense of solemnity.

"Your Majesty wants to hear a report? I understand, I'll go prepare now."

He glanced at the device on the workbench still faintly radiating residual warmth, and already had a plan in mind.

The Ministry of Works' new chapter has just opened its first page.

And perhaps the achievement on this first page could bring some different changes for Your Majesty, for the realm of Great Chen.