Chapter 195: Change
"He mentioned in the report that he wants us to visit the test site in a few days to see the model. I suggest everyone make a decision after reviewing the sample. A plan of this magnitude requires thorough consideration."
"Then I'll have Rong Jingya notify him later. We'll proceed with the acceptance inspection at the test site with the rest of the Research Institute staff in a week."
"Understood."
"This plan will be handed over to the staff committee for an initial review. Let them conduct a feasibility assessment."
"It's settled then." The meeting adjourned.
The timeline rewound to two months prior.
"The ability broadcast tower system is finally complete. Unfortunately, it requires Primal Matter as its core, and its energy consumption remains a major problem."
With the assistance of the United States' major financial magnates, Bai Mo exchanged for a wealth of secret research data from various nations and private wealthy research institutions.
The thoroughly secularized governments of Burgundy, the Franco-British United Kingdom, and Castile secretly formed a research alliance to jointly develop Spirit Qi. Their aim was to counter the rapidly rising Luminous Holy Church, which leveraged Faith Power, and to prevent Europe from once again descending into a dark age where religious authority superseded political power.
Building on this, they gradually developed numerous runes of practical value, which, after undergoing confidential packaging, began to be mass-produced using printing and engraving machinery.
Through numerous transactions with Bai Mo, the various nations acquired a batch of individual cultivation research data from the Huaxia Federation, while he obtained a considerable amount of rune technology data.
Naturally, both sides tacitly kept certain reservations.
Using the Primal Matter that constituted his very being, Bai Mo mixed it with spirit fluid at a ratio of one to three thousand. He then used this mixture as ink to etch numerous runes designed for resonance and amplification onto the Spirit Energy machinery that formed the circuit system.
Through a preliminary analysis of Primal Matter and complex circuit scheduling, he theorized that he could transform the entire Spirit Energy Network system into something akin to a part of his own body, amplifying his various abilities to a terrifying degree.
However, as a price, this part of his body would have virtually no way of leaving the system.
With a detailed plan in place, Bai Mo then proceeded to construct a coverage model for testing, using the core area of the test site as its boundary.
In the core area, spanning nearly a hectare, he directed the engineering teams, working tirelessly to lay out the test network according to his own blueprints.
"Approximately a fivefold amplification of abilities, but the energy consumption is already nearing seventy percent of the test site's power supply limit. Further improvements are still needed." After toiling for over half a month, he, controlling his new "body," arrived at this conclusion.
After confirming its effectiveness, Bai Mo gradually proceeded with fine-tuning and optimizing the network, as well as installing external equipment like Spirit Energy shields.
...
"Everyone's here?" At the pre-arranged time, Bai Mo appeared at the entrance of the test site.
"Your plan is far too significant. This isn't some small project worth two or three hundred million; we had to come see it for ourselves."
He said nothing, merely leading the group to the core area.
"This nearly one-hectare area is equipped with a small Spirit Energy Network system," Bai Mo said. "The shield is now active, and we can begin testing."
As he finished speaking, a shimmering light membrane instantly rose from the ground, rapidly enveloping the entire area before them.
"I'll go," Chen Bo said, stepping forward and lightly tossing out a specially enhanced Spirit Energy fire ball.
"Bang!" The moment the fire ball violently collided with the shield, the nearby ground trembled slightly. However, most of those present were already Ability Users in the Unmelting Realm, so this residual impact had no effect on them.
Although it was a casual strike, the mutated fire ball, empowered by his abilities, still possessed over ten times the destructive force of a normal Spirit Energy fire ball.
The colossal fire ball and the shield became locked in a stalemate of attrition, with the shield noticeably denting at their point of contact.
Nevertheless, the shield, bolstered by the entire network's support, ultimately held firm against the previous attack.
"Good. Let's try its physical defense capabilities next."
This time, there was no energy overflow; it was purely Chen Bo's full-force punch, heavily striking the Spirit Energy shield. Yet, there was no sound.
The kinetic energy carried by his fist was rapidly absorbed. He felt as though he were punching in water and hitting a wad of cotton, experiencing an ineffable discomfort.
"According to the report, as long as an attack is within the network's coverage, any destructive attack can be absorbed?" Chen Bo asked, rolling down his sleeve and withdrawing his fist.
"Absorption is based on the control room's settings, which define the attack absorption range," Bai Mo said, pointing to a large circle drawn with red lines behind the shield. "Currently, the set range is within that circle."
"This experimental shield can defend against my ordinary attacks, but what kind of effect can a city-sized shield truly achieve?"
"With sufficient energy supply, it can withstand two nuclear warheads of the same yield as those that attacked Tianhai previously, repelling most of the shockwaves and heat, while simultaneously absorbing approximately one-third of the explosion's radiation."
"For a city of a million people, the energy deficit from simply laying down the network and its auxiliary shields within the urban area would require the generating capacity of a small nuclear power plant to offset. Is there no way to reduce this consumption?" Yan Jie, also a council member overseeing environmental and energy matters, furrowed his brow.
"Current technology only allows for this level of performance. My suggestion is to pilot it in one city first, and then expand after improvements are made," Bai Mo replied.
"We share that view. It's safer to start with a pilot program and then expand gradually, given that this is a transformation of the nation's entire infrastructure. It's best to proceed cautiously, one step at a time," Cheng Mu nodded in agreement.
"Next is the Spirit Energy surveillance tower. This is a security system built upon the Spirit Energy Network, capable of linking with street camera surveillance systems for targeting and firing highly destructive light beams."
After the Tianqing incident, the photoelectric cannons, previously only secretly deployed in Ziliu Sea, were exposed. Bai Mo, integrating the structures of photoelectric cannons with the United States' Spirit Energy laser cannons, designed this weapon.
Furthermore, with the concept of the Spirit Energy Network, he adapted the surveillance towers into derivative weapons of the network, forming a comprehensive system of offense and defense alongside the shields.
"The 'Heaven-Man Unity Tower' and 'Space Distortion Shield' mentioned in the report can only begin construction after the Spirit Energy Network is fully deployed. For now, they are merely a concept of mine, or rather, the latter half of the plan's content, and do not require consideration at this time."
"Just the total budget expenditure for laying out the Spirit Energy Network nationwide will exceed ten trillion. Even if spread out over twenty years, it's still an incredibly massive sum," Liu Chen, who oversaw the Federation's finances, said with a wry smile.
"How about I personally donate a bit from the Contribution Points system?" Bai Mo quipped.
"Why are you so enthusiastic about this plan?" Ye Zi, who had remained silent throughout, suddenly spoke. Subconsciously, she felt that his zeal for the entire project seemed a bit excessive, almost unsettling.
"People always want to do something. You and I, we're just changing this world in different ways."
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