Chapter 741: Chen Dynasty Observation

East of the light curtain.

Chen Dynasty Bei Jing, Jue Ling Observation Platform.

This gray stone fortress built on the cliff's summit has stood here for over four hundred years.

The top level of the stone fortress has no windows.

Only a huge sphere woven from countless strands of strange iron hangs suspended beneath the dome.

On the sphere's surface, flowing light pours like a waterfall.

That is transformed potential energy, simulating the energy flow on the other side of the light curtain.

Zhang Cheng stands before the sphere.

He is one of the Five Ministers, in charge of "Star Observation" and "External Observation".

At this moment, his brow is tightly furrowed.

On the sphere's surface, the dull gray blocks that once represented the Yuan dynasty's ruled territories are now fading and crumbling in large patches.

In their place is a blazing, continually expanding crimson-gold halo.

At the center of the halo, two characters are marked:

Haozhou.

"The expansion speed exceeds all simulation models."

Behind Zhang Cheng, the young computer operator's voice tightens.

"Three months ago, this halo only covered a ten-li radius around the riverbank."

"Now it covers three prefectures and seventeen counties."

"And it is still spreading."

Zhang Cheng does not turn back.

His gaze falls on the edge of the crimson-gold halo.

There, several faint, barely perceptible blue threads wind down from the north, attempting to entwine and infiltrate the crimson-gold halo.

One of these blue threads, at the position marked "Stabilize Far", collides violently with the crimson-gold halo.

The blue thread suddenly flares bright, then dims.

The crimson-gold halo contracts inward for an instant, ripples spreading at its edge, but overall it does not dissipate.

"What are the losses?"

Zhang Cheng asks.

The computer operator quickly manipulates the abacus-shaped potential-energy device before him.

The strange-iron beads on the instrument's track keep jumping.

"Based on reverse inference from the energy counteraction model..."

"In this contact, the crimson-gold side lost about fifteen percent of its 'cohesion'."

"But it quickly rebounds, even slightly strengthening."

"The strength of its 'condensed core' has increased."

Zhang Cheng's eyes flash with a faint light.

"It has withstood the first formal erosion."

"It also leveraged the momentum to complete integration."

He pauses.

"This Zhu Yuanzhang is more resilient than we anticipated."

At this moment, the opposite side of the sphere suddenly bursts with piercing blue light.

Zhang Cheng whirls around.

That is the north.

The region representing Liaodong is now covered with a rich, near-viscous dark blue.

Within the blue light, countless writhing shadows squirm and multiply.

Even more alarming, a thick blue column of light shoots skyward from the position of Hetu Ala.

At the top of the column, the outline of a giant crow is faintly traced.

The giant crow spreads its wings.

Shadows are cast toward the south.

"The dark energy concentration has broken the threshold!"

The computer operator's voice changes tone.

"The pollution index across all of Liaodong has reached the 'Dead Land' level!"

"The energy reaction… is still rising!"

Zhang Cheng stares fixedly at that dark-energy giant crow.

He sees at the base of the column countless fine blue lines extending in all directions.

The largest of these strands is now writhing southwestward along the Great Wall defense line.

The target points directly to——

Zhongyuan.

"Send word."

Zhang Cheng's voice is cold and hard.

"Emergency report to the sovereign."

"Liaodong has changed; dark energy shoots to the heavens."

The 'Star Spark' has ignited, but the north wind is coming.

Half an hour later.

The Chen Dynasty's central hub, the Heaven-Observing Pavilion.

Chen Wen stood before the star chart, having listened to Zhang Cheng's report.

There were four others in the pavilion.

Zhao Lao Nian, Yue Fei, Lin Chong, and the newly appointed head of the Heavenly Works Institute, formerly the ordnance officer of the Northward Aspiration Army, Gongsun Sheng.

Everyone heard it.

Chen Wen turned.

Speak.

Zhao Lao Nian rubbed the strange iron walnut in his hand, speaking first.

That yin energy reaction in Liaodong is off.

Previously, the Iron Crow Army's pollution efforts were sneaky, dispersed infiltration.

This time it shot straight up into the sky, afraid others wouldn't see it.

Either they couldn't hold it in any longer.

Or...

He paused.

It's a demonstration.

Or perhaps it's calling for something.

Yue Fei continued.

I, as a subordinate, am more concerned about that southward flow of yin energy.

From its direction, the target is likely the Haozhou region recently taken by Zhu Yuanzhang.

If the main force of yin energy moves south, given Zhu Yuanzhang's current strength, it would be hard to resist.

Lin Chong nodded.

What General Yue said is absolutely correct.

But I think the Iron Crow Army's move may be intended to distract.

If the main force of yin energy truly moves south with its nest, its Liaodong base would necessarily be empty.

That doesn't make sense.

Gongsun Sheng stroked his long beard lightly.

What General Lin said has merit.

However, observing that the yin energy shooting up into the sky, it seems more like a kind of... 'ritual'.

Or said, it's an 'anchoring'.

Everyone looked at him.

Gongsun Sheng continued.

Yin energy erosion requires a 'source point' and a 'path'.

Previously, the Iron Crow Army's actions had a concealed source point and a covert path.

Now openly revealed, it may have already turned all of Liaodong into a 'source point'.

From then on, yin energy can flow endlessly along the set path.

That southward flow of yin energy may be the first 'fixed path'.

The pavilion fell silent for a moment.

Chen Wen walked to the star chart, his finger sliding across the light screen.

So, the Iron Crow Army has already completed the first stage of its layout.

Liaodong has become their nest.

Next, we need to lay pipelines to transport the yin energy to Zhongyuan.

And Zhu Yuanzhang...

His fingertip pointed at the halo over Haozhou.

It has become the first nail that needs to be pulled out on this pipeline.

Zhang Cheng said solemnly.

Your Majesty, should we increase the signal transmission strength?

Zhu Yuanzhang needs to know what's happening in the north.

Moreover, we need to know how to respond to this scale of yin energy invasion.

Zhao Lao Nian shook his head.

Difficult.

The pinhole channel is inherently unstable.

Now the yin energy shoots up, and the energy field on the west side of the light screen is in chaos.

Sending the signal over, there's an eighty percent chance it will distort.

It might even mislead instead.

Chen Wen fell silent for a moment.

The signal must be sent.

But it cannot be just a warning.

He looked at Gongsun Sheng.

At the Heavenly Craft Institute, how far along is the research on Yuneng purification nodes?

Gongsun Sheng bowed.

There's already a prototype.

Based on the resonant purification principle parsed from the eastern signal, we have designed the blueprints for a small-scale potential energy resonance tower.

In theory, it can form a potential energy field within a small range to neutralize Yuneng pollution.

But...

He gave a wry smile.

Blueprints are just blueprints.

To build it, we need a large amount of strange metal and precise potential energy guidance technology.

Zhu Yuanzhang has none of these.

Chen Wen nodded.

Then we'll send the blueprints.

Send the principle.

Send everything he can use.

Zhao Lao Nian widened his eyes.

My lord, this... this amount of information is too great!

The pinhole channel can't possibly bear it!

Forced transmission could cause the channel to collapse!

Chen Wen looked toward the floating star map.

In the map, the blue representing Yuneng kept spreading.

A gold-red halo before him appeared thin and fragile.

If the channel collapses, we can repair it again.

When a person dies, there's nothing left.

He turned and looked at the crowd.

Zhu Yuanzhang is the 'Star Spark' we have chosen.

He must not be extinguished.

At least, not now.

Issue the order.

The Heavenly Craft Institute, Observatory Platform, and Message Relay Office — the three offices will work together.

Gather all available potential energy and prepare to strengthen the pinhole channel.

【150】 Gather all available potential energy and prepare to strengthen the pinhole channel.

Within three days, I want you to send over the basic principle, structural blueprints, and Liaodong Yuneng intelligence of the resonant purification tower.

If you can't send the whole thing, send fragments.

If you can't even send fragments, send the key parameters.

He paused.

Even if only a single sentence can be sent——

Yuneng has a source; destroying the source can cut off the flow.

Zhang Cheng took a deep breath.

Your servant, I accept the order.

Zhao Lao Nian gave a wry smile, but also clasped his hands.

This old servant will do his utmost.

The crowd withdrew.

Inside the Observatory Pavilion, only Chen Wen remained.

He walked to the window and gazed westward.

That is the direction of the light curtain.

It is also the direction in which Zhu Yuanzhang fights.

Time is running short.

He muttered softly to himself.

You need to grow quickly.

Grow even faster.

Outside the window, twilight deepened.

In the distance, the glow of the potential energy furnace gradually brightened.

Preparations for a new round of signal transmission began.

It has begun.