Chapter 795: Technology Competition Preparation

Heavenly Craft Institute Seventh Workshop.

This is the largest energy-equipment production base in Wangbei City.

Originally neat and uniform production lines now appear somewhat chaotic.

The artisans and scholars from the Ming side have been assigned here.

They brought completely different work habits and ways of thinking.

"This flow-guide pattern can be optimized."

A Ming-side veteran craftsman pointed at the blueprint.

"Your current design is too conservative; energy utilization rate is at most sixty percent."

"If changed to a three-layer interlocking circuit, combined with pulse-style power supply, it could reach at least eighty percent."

The young craftsman of the Chen dynasty frowned.

"But the three-layer circuit demands extremely high purity of exotic iron."

"Moreover, pulse power supply increases core load, reducing service life."

"Then use an alloy." said the Ming-side craftsman.

"We tested this during the Great Ming: mixing exotic iron with thirty percent refined steel reduces conductivity by less than ten percent, but strength and toughness double."

"The lifespan issue can be solved by using replaceable core modules."

Both sides argued endlessly.

Similar scenes played out throughout the workshop.

What the Ming side brought was the pragmatism forced upon them during the century-long war.

They are accustomed to seeking optimal solutions under constraints, daring to trial and error, even taking some risks.

The Chen dynasty, on the other hand, adheres to meticulous planning.

Every process has strict standards, pursuing stability and repeatability.

Initially, conflicts were constant.

But after three days, changes began to appear.

The joint R&D team produced its first result.

"Energy-Piercing Armor-Breaking Crossbow."

Zhao Lao Nian personally demonstrated the new weapon.

"The crossbow body adopts the exotic-iron alloy forging proposed by the Ming side, increasing strength by forty percent."

"The flow-guide pattern has been redesigned, with measured energy utilization rate at seventy-eight percent."

"Most importantly—"

He fitted a specially made crossbow bolt.

On the arrowhead, a thin layer of crystal is wrapped.

"Yuneng Pollution inhibiting coating."

"The formula provided by the Ming side, combined with our dynasty's energy-crystal technology."

"When the arrow strikes a Yuneng Pollution shield, the coating rapidly diffuses, forming a localized 'energy-accumulation zone'."

"It continuously interferes with Yuneng Pollution stability, lowering shield strength."

He aimed at a test target one hundred meters away.

The target is a composite armor simulating Yuneng Pollution exoskeleton.

He pulled the trigger.

The crossbow bolt shot forth.

The bolt accelerated under energy propulsion to a speed indiscernible to the naked eye.

It hit.

The crystal on the arrowhead shattered.

Blue-white energy ripples spread outward.

The simulated Yuneng Pollution shield on the target's surface fluctuated violently.

Its brightness quickly faded.

After three breaths, the shield completely failed.

The crossbow bolt penetrated the armor and sank deep into the buffering layer behind.

"Effective penetration depth is fifty percent greater than the old model." said Zhao Lao Nian.

"Moreover, the suppression time against Yuneng Pollution shields is extended to five breaths."

The watching craftsmen exclaimed in astonishment.

But this is only the beginning.

Third Workshop.

The "Protective Equipment Group" led by Gong Sun Sheng and Liu Ji.

"The greatest threat of Yuneng Pollution is not physical harm, but mental erosion and rule distortion."

Liu Ji pointed at the blueprint.

"The 'Clearing Heart Talisman' we developed in the late Great Ming works by using a specific frequency of energy fluctuation to interfere with the mental-pollution band of Yuneng Pollution."

"But its effect is limited and its duration short."

Gong Sun Sheng added.

"Our dynasty's 'Stabilizing Spirit Pattern' can stabilize the wearer's mental field, but cannot actively cleanse invading Yuneng Pollution."

The two locked eyes.

"Combine." Liu Ji said.

The Purifying Heart Talisman provides active purification.

The Stabilizing Spirit Patterns provide a stable foundation.

"Add a layer of physical filtration." Xu Da's voice rang out.

He led several Ming army commanders into the workshop.

"We found on frontline corpses that when Yuneng Pollution penetrates dense fabric, its concentration drops."

"If we weave an exotic metal wire mesh into the armor lining and combine it with potential energy activation, it should form a third line of defense."

The three approaches collided.

Seven days later.

A new armor prototype was born.

Its appearance still followed the Chen dynasty standard armor style.

But the lining was increased to three layers of exotic metal wire mesh.

On the back of the chest-mounted heart-protection mirror, an improved version of the "Purifying Heart-Stabilizing Spirit" composite rune was engraved.

The shoulder armor embedded micro potential-energy crystals, providing continuous energy supply.

Test field.

A volunteer donned the armor and entered the sealed test chamber.

The chamber released simulated Yuneng Pollution.

Purplish-black mist filled the air.

Monitoring data showed that the armor's surface potential-energy shield activated first.

It blocked over seventy percent of the pollution.

The remaining portion penetrated the shield and contacted the exotic metal wire mesh.

Its concentration decreased by another thirty percent.

Finally, trace amounts of pollution reached the wearer's skin.

The composite rune on the chest lit up instantly.

Blue-white ripples spread, neutralizing the remaining pollution.

The test lasted a quarter of an hour.

The volunteer walked out of the test chamber.

His complexion was normal, and he was clear-headed.

"Mental contamination index: zero."

"Physical erosion traces: zero."

"Armor energy consumption: thirty-seven percent."

The data was announced.

Cheers erupted in the workshop.

But that wasn't all.

The most crucial breakthrough occurred in the secret research lab beneath the Heavenly Works Institute.

Only Chen Wen, Zhang Cheng, Zhu Yuanzhang, Liu Ji, and Gong Sunsheng entered here.

"Research into the essence of the Light Curtain."

Zhang Cheng called up the data model.

"Based on data from multiple rift appearances, and the Yuneng Pollution observation records provided by the Ming side..."

"We can now confirm——"

The Light Curtain model hovered in midair.

"This wall is not a physical barrier."

"But rather a kind of 'rule filter'."

"It allows matter to pass through, but filters out specific 'information' and 'energy characteristics'."

"Yuneng is one of those filtered characteristics."

"Thus, for a hundred years, Yuneng Pollution has never been able to spread eastward."

Liu Ji picked up the conversation.

"But filtration consumes energy."

"When Yuneng concentration is too high, or a certain 'resonance' occurs, the filtration mechanism overloads."

"Causing local rules to fail——"

"That is, a rift."

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at the model.

"So, the Qing's continual escalation of Yuneng activity is constantly applying pressure to the Light Curtain."

"Until it can't hold up?"

"Yes." Zhang Cheng nodded.

"But this process is not one-way."

"We have found that potential energy—the energy used by our dynasty—and Yuneng possess a certain 'oppositionality' at the rule level."

"The stronger the potential energy in an area, the more the Light Curtain's stability actually increases."

Chen Wen finally spoke.

"So, if we can establish a strong potential-energy field on the front lines."

Could it then delay or even stop the formation of the rift?

Theoretically feasible. Gongsun Sheng said.

But it requires massive energy reserves.

And precise deployment and control technology.

"Then let's develop it." Chen Wen said.

"Concentrate all resources, prioritize development of the 'Regional Energetic Stability Device'."

"I want to establish an energetic barrier on the outskirts of Point Seven."

"Weld the rift in the light curtain shut for me."

The order was issued.

The Heavenly Works Institute entered full operational mode.

The research and development cycle, which originally required three months to complete, was compressed to thirty days.

New weapons began mass production.

Armor-piercing crossbow.

Purification grenade.

Energetic mine.

The new armor was first issued to the frontline troops.

The first prototype of the Regional Energetic Stability Device was assembled on the fifteenth day.

It was a three-zhang-tall strange-iron tower.

Its surface was engraved with complex flow-guiding patterns.

The tower's top was inlaid with a fist-sized energetic crystal core.

On the day of the test.

The device was transported to a point ten li outside Point Seven.

Activation.

The tower's body shone with a blue-white light.

The light radiated outward from the tower in all directions.

It formed an energetic field with a radius of fifty zhang.

Within the field, the air became fresh.

The soil originally infiltrated by Yuneng Pollution began to slowly lose its purplish-black discoloration on the surface.

The most crucial—

The dim area on the light curtain showed a noticeably slowed pulsation frequency.

The ripples at its edge became gentle.

"Effective!" the monitoring personnel reported excitedly.

"Within the energetic field's coverage, the light curtain's stability increased by twenty-two percent!"

"Yuneng infiltration rate dropped by forty percent!"

Chen Wen stood before the command vehicle, watching the data.

"Build three such towers."

"Arrange them in a triangular formation."

"To cover the entire front of Point Seven."

"Yes!"

The engineering team immediately began construction.

But on the very night the first tower's foundation was completed.

On the other side of the light curtain.

A lurid green light blazed forth.

Three massive Yuneng energy beams shot from the opposite side.

They precisely struck the foundation under construction.

A violent explosion.

The energetic field was forcibly torn apart.

The construction crew suffered seventeen casualties.

The news was transmitted back to Wangbei City.

Inside the command tower, Chen Wen watched the footage sent back from the front.

The beams came from three mobile Yuneng emplacements.

They hid in the shadows on the other side of the light curtain.

Only their muzzles were exposed.

They fired once and then withdrew.

"They know what we're doing." Zhu Yuanzhang said in a low voice.

"And they won't allow us to do it."

Chen Wen fell silent for a moment.

"Then let them know—"

"Some things cannot be stopped by them."

He turned around.

Order the Heavenly Craft Institute to develop defensive energy shield towers.

Around each Stable Tower, establish shield arrays.

At the same time, form a rapid response force and equip it with the latest weapons.

Next time they dare show their heads, I'll hit them back.

Technological competition...

Only now does it truly begin.

In the night, the lights of North City shine brightly.

The workshop's furnace fire burns all night.

Both sides of the light curtain.

Two civilizations.

They are vying for the future of the same world in completely different ways.

And the outcome will decide the fate of countless beings.