Chapter 307: New Chapter of the Ministry of Works

In the northwestern corner of Huangcheng, deep within the Ministry of Works office.

Inside a newly opened, heavily guarded compound, lamps burned day and night.

The air was filled with a strange odor mixing minerals, grease, and some peculiar energy field.

Zhao Lao nian wore a Ministry of Works uniform stained with oil, his hair tied haphazardly, his eyes bloodshot yet flashing with an almost fanatical focus.

He stood before a bronze pedestal half a person tall, its surface inlaid with dozens of uneven pieces of dim Nether Energy Crystal Ore, linked by a pattern traced in silver thread that exuded a certain rhythmic beauty.

And at the pedestal's center lay a small jade seal imprint representing the Great Chen dynasty, upon which flickered an ineffable glow representing Fortune Momentum.

"Record!"

Zhao Lao nian's voice was hoarse, yet carried undeniable authority.

"Thirty-seventh coupling trial, inject standard unit of Nether Energy, activate the 'Guidance' rune array!"

A young clerk of the Ministry of Works immediately picked up his brush, nervously watching the hourglass and record book before him.

Another artisan carefully operated a specially made mechanism, guiding a faint wisp of energy glowing with a deep blue sheen into an interface on the edge of the bronze pedestal.

Hum—

The Nether Energy Crystal Ore fragments on the pedestal instantly lit up, emitting an unsettling blue light.

That icy, corrosive energy surged swiftly along the silver-thread patterns, striking straight at the central jade seal imprint.

However, just as the Nether Energy was about to touch the imprint, the faint Fortune Momentum glow on the seal flared up like an angered lion, radiating a warm, heavy, vibrant golden halo.

Hiss—!

Like a red-hot branding iron plunged into icy water.

Blue and golden light clashed violently, annihilating each other, emitting a piercing, energy‑tearing sound.

The bronze pedestal shuddered violently, its silver‑thread patterns flickering erratically, with several nodes even emitting faint green smoke.

"Hold steady! Record the intensity of the repulsion!" Zhao Lao nian shouted, eyes locked on the conflict's core.

The young clerk's hand trembled slightly, but he quickly recorded:

"Repulsion intensity, Class A; energy dissipation rate, seventy‑three percent; structural stability, on the verge of collapse…"

Finally, with a soft pop, several key silver‑thread traces melted away, the pedestal's light instantly dimming, leaving only a burnt smell and the jade seal imprint still radiating a soft golden glow.

It failed.

But Zhao Lao nian's face showed no dejection; instead, a hint of excitement appeared.

"Good! The repulsion response is clear and distinct; the self‑protective nature of Fortune Momentum is beyond doubt!"

"Record, the key lies in 'buffering' and 'channeling', not in forced 'fusion'!"

"Our previous approach was wrong!"

He immediately crouched, disregarding the heat, inspecting the melted traces, murmuring to himself:

"We need to replace the 'straight‑guide' rune with a 'vortex'‑style rune to delay the Nether Energy impact;"

"At the same time, we must place a 'filter' structure before the Fortune Momentum convergence point to filter out the most aggressive Nether Energy bands…"

Just as he was immersed in the new idea, a clerk hurried into the compound and reported in a low voice:

"Sir Minister, His Majesty has arrived at the main hall of the office."

Zhao Lao nian snapped back to attention, a flicker of haste crossing his face.

"Quick! Wash your face and change clothes!"

After half an incense stick's time, Zhao Lao nian, somewhat tidied up, hurried into the Ministry of Works main hall.

Chen Wen stood with his hands behind his back in the hall, examining the drawings of various new farming tools and weapons hung on the walls.

"Your subject, Minister of Works Zhao Lao nian, pays homage to Your Majesty!" Zhao Lao nian hurried forward to salute.

Chen Wen turned and gave a slight supportive gesture.

"Minister Zhao, no need for excessive ceremony."

His gaze fell on Zhao Lao nian's face, still hard to hide fatigue yet spiritually exhilarated, and he smiled.

"It seems, Minister Zhao, your 'New Chapter of the Ministry of Works' has been written with sleepless nights and forgotten meals."

Zhao Lao nian rubbed his hands together, a little embarrassed.

"Your Majesty laughs, but I… I have merely made occasional gains and dare not be lax."

"Oh? What have you gained? I came today precisely to hear about the Ministry of Works' progress." Chen Wen walked to the main seat, sat down, and gestured for Zhao Lao nian to elaborate.

Zhao Lao nian's spirits lifted, and he immediately ordered the bronze pedestal—simply repaired and partially reworked according to the new idea—to be brought forward.

He did not dwell on the hardships of failure, but went straight to the core.

"Your Majesty, after the Battle of Jinzhou and hundreds of subsequent trials, my colleagues and I have confirmed that the power of Nether Energy Crystal Ore and our dynasty's Fortune Momentum are truly incompatible, mutually restraining and repelling."

"The earlier 'Crystal‑Disturbing Disk' and 'Crystal‑Disturbing Tower' employed this principle, using Fortune Momentum to interfere with and neutralize Nether Energy."

Chen Wen nodded; he had personally experienced this and deeply felt it.

"However, my recent thoughts are not limited to mere interference and defense," Zhao Lao nian said, the fervent light rekindling in his eyes.

"They can use Nether Energy; why can't we make use of this mutually opposing principle?"

He pointed to the reconstructed pedestal.

"What we are attempting is the 'Nether Energy‑Fortune Momentum Coupling' technique!"

"It is not about forcing them to merge, but about guiding Nether Energy to strike Fortune Momentum, harnessing the tremendous force generated by their violent repulsion!"

Chen Wen's gaze narrowed.

"Borrow strength?"

"Exactly!" Zhao Lao nian replied firmly.

"Your Majesty, imagine if we could controllably guide and release this repelling force; its power might far exceed that of using Nether Energy or Fortune Momentum alone!"

"It could be used to drive larger, more precise machinery;"

It could be crafted into a weapon of infinite power to defeat the enemy;

Perhaps… perhaps we could even find a way to influence, even penetrate, that western border's light curtain!

This bold idea also moved Chen Wen.

He rose, walked to the bronze base, and carefully examined those intricate and profound patterns.

"How confident are we?"

Zhao Lao Nian pondered for a moment, then answered honestly:

"Your Majesty, we are still groping; the chance of successfully guiding and utilizing the repelling force is less than ten percent;

but the direction is surely correct!

Moreover, according to scattered intelligence sent back from the False Song domain by the Peace and Stability Office, that Zhao Kuangyin, with the support of the Iron Crow Army, is also vigorously researching yin-energy armaments.

He raised his head, his tone firm.

"This battle is not only on the battlefield, but also among the artisans' workshops!"

"I, as a subject, must not fall behind those nefarious schemers!"

Chen Wen looked at Zhao Lao Nian's eyes, seeing the stubbornness and conviction of technical obsession, and nodded slowly.

"I understand."

"Whatever you need, speak to me, to Zhang Cheng."

"Manpower, funds, materials—all will be allocated first."

He patted Zhao Lao Nian's shoulder and said in a low voice.

"Zhao Qing, go ahead and do it."

"I believe the wisdom of Great Chen's artisans is inferior to no heretical external power!"

"This 'New Chapter of the Ministry of Works,' I expect it to become another sharp sword piercing the hidden mastermind and his puppets!"

"I, as a subject, will spare no effort and not betray Your Majesty's great trust!" Zhao Lao Nian spoke, his voice choking with excitement.

Leaving the Ministry of Works office, Chen Wen glanced back at the still-lit courtyard.

He seemed to see, within the workshops entwined with mineral and energy auras, the gestation of hope that could change the future of war.

The competition with False Song had, silently and invisibly, spread into another dimension.

And he, full of confidence in Great Chen's artisans and in his own subordinates, felt assured.