Chapter 327

Bian Liang, northwest corner of Huangcheng, the Investigation of Things Institute directly under the Ministry of Works.

Although the security here is not as strict as that of the False Song's Divine Machine Workshop, the atmosphere is equally solemn and focused.

Unlike the eerie, icy atmosphere of the Divine Machine Workshop, the Investigation of Things Institute reveals an orderly bustle and… an indescribable vitality that subtly resonates with the whole of Bian Liang.

In the deepest core laboratory, the lights are blazing.

Zhao Lao'nian's short work clothes are smeared with all kinds of oil stains, pigments, and metal shavings; his hair is disheveled like a bird's nest, his eyes bloodshot yet flashing with an almost manic gleam.

He stares fixedly at the center of the experimental table, where the core area is surrounded by complex rune arrays and exquisite copper components.

There, a fragment of Nether Energy Crystal Ore the size of a fingernail, of poor quality and dim light, is being carefully placed atop a miniature "Momentum Field Generator" forged from some kind of momentum-guiding alloy.

This "Momentum Field Generator" is a simplified device that Zhao Lao'nian devised based on certain characteristics of Chen Wen's internal Fortune Momentum vortex, combined with the skills of the Ministry of Works' artisans, after repeated trials.

It can simulate an extremely weak yet pure dynasty Fortune Momentum force.

At this moment, that weak Fortune Momentum force, like an invisible shroud, envelops the Nether Energy Crystal Ore fragment below.

The boundary where they meet is invisible to the naked eye, yet every perceptive artisan and assisting cultivator present can clearly feel a heart-pounding repulsion and clash emanating from there.

The energies violently annihilate and repel each other, emitting a faint yet sharp hiss, as if capable of tearing the soul.

The air inside the laboratory is thus slightly distorted.

This is the most direct manifestation of the natural mutual antagonism between Nether Energy and Fortune Momentum.

It is also the fundamental reason why all previous attempts to directly use or fuse these two energies have failed.

Forced confrontation only leads to rapid energy depletion and uncontrollable explosions.

But today, what Zhao Lao'nian attempts is not confrontation, but—guidance!

"Activate the 'Vortex' array!" Zhao Lao'nian's voice hoarse, yet carrying an unquestionable command tone.

An assistant beside him nervously pulled a delicate mechanism.

Hum—

Around the experimental table, the newly designed runes, etched onto special jade plates by Zhao Lao'nian's painstaking effort, light up one after another!

These runes are not traditional reinforcing, energy-gathering, or offensive symbols; their lines are more rounded and winding, filled with peculiar spirals and volutes, like tiny vortices.

This is the "Vortex Rune".

Its inspiration comes from Zhao Lao'nian observing floodwaters striking embankments, where vortices formed at bends can effectively dissipate and disperse the flood's impact force.

When all the "Vortex Runes" are activated, forming a complete array, a strange change occurs!

The energy that originally clashed fiercely and mutually annihilated at the boundary between the momentum field and the crystal fragment, as if guided by an invisible force, no longer collides head‑on but begins to follow the trajectories traced by those "Vortex Runes," starting to… rotate!

Like two torrents of utterly opposite nature, roaring and raging, skillfully diverted into a pre‑dug flood‑release channel brimming with vortices!

The conflict still exists, annihilation still occurs.

But that sharp, soul‑rending sense of opposition has suddenly lessened!

The rate of energy consumption has noticeably slowed.

Even more delightfully, at the core of those vortices, due to the high‑speed rotation and friction of the energies, a strange secondary energy fluctuation arises—neither pure Nether Energy nor pure Fortune Momentum…

This fluctuation carries a chaotic yet powerful "thrust"!

"Quick! Connect the conductive copper wire! Attach it to the impeller!" Zhao Lao'nian, excited to the point of trembling voice, pointed to a nearby, palm‑sized, exquisitely crafted copper impeller already prepared.

The assistant, trembling, took a specially made copper wire wrapped in insulating material, connected one end to the energy leakage point of the "Vortex" array, and the other end to the axle of the tiny copper impeller.

At the moment the connection was completed—

Hiss!

The stationary impeller jerked, then began to spin at an uneven but genuine speed!

Faster and faster!

Although it occasionally stuttered and its speed fluctuated, it indeed continued to rotate without external push, relying on the secondary energy generated when the Nether Energy and Fortune Momentum clash was "guided."

"Success! It really worked!" a young artisan exclaimed, then realizing his lapse, hastily covered his mouth, but the excitement in his eyes could not be concealed.

The others in the laboratory all wore looks of wild joy, unable to contain their excitement.

They succeeded!

They found another way to utilize this mutually antagonistic energy—not by forcing fusion, but by guiding the conflict and harnessing the power born from the clash itself!

Zhao Lao'nian drew a long, long breath; amidst his bloodshot eyes, a faint glimmer of tears appeared.

No one knows how many failures he and his team endured, how many sleepless nights they pulled, or how much pressure they bore for this moment.

Every experiment carried risk.

Loss of energy control, small‑scale explosions, mental trauma to participants… these were everyday occurrences.

Yet they all endured.

Relying on loyalty to the sovereign and to Great Chen, on the indomitable perseverance of engineering folk, and even on a faint, almost imperceptible blessing seemingly emanating from the dynasty's very fortune.

"Record! Immediately record all data!" Zhao Lao'nian suppressed his excitement, his voice still hoarse but regaining its usual steadiness: "The stability of the rune array, energy conversion efficiency, impeller speed and duration, crystal fragment consumption rate… every detail, meticulously noted!"

"Yes!" the assistants replied in unison, immediately diving into the tense task of data recording.

Zhao Lao'nian walked to the impeller still stubbornly turning, extended his hand covered in old calluses and scars, and felt the weak yet genuine flow of energy.

He knew this was only a beginning.

The "Vortex Runes" are far from perfected; energy conversion efficiency is extremely low, stability is worrisome, and a long road lies ahead before practical use.

But this proves the viability of the "guidance" approach!

This opens a brand‑new door for them!

No longer merely passively studying how to defend against or nullify Nether Energy, they can now actively guide and exploit this antagonistic trait, transforming it into a usable driving force!

Given time, if this technology matures, it might find application in powering armaments, civilian devices, and even… some bolder fields.

This will be a technological path unique to Great Chen, one that the False Song could never imitate!

Because the False Song lacks the glorious dynasty's Fortune Momentum as its foundation!

"Prepare the carriage!" Zhao Lao Nian suddenly turned around and shouted to the outside, "This old man must enter the palace immediately and see His Majesty!"

He needed to report this good news immediately to the emperor who had always trusted him, supported him, and borne all pressure for him.

He wanted to let His Majesty know that Great Chen's Ministry of Works had not disappointed expectations!

On this technological route competing with False Song from afar, they have taken a crucial step!

In the night, a carriage sped out of the Investigation of Things Institute, heading for Huangcheng.

Inside the carriage, Zhao Lao Nian tightly clutched a freshly organized experimental report, the ink still wet, and his weary face glowed with the light of hope.

And in the laboratory, that small impeller continued to spin stubbornly under the guidance of the rune array, as if heralding a brand‑new possibility.