Forty Millenniums of Cultivation, page 672
The arrangement of 'two leaders, four plans' ensured the normal functioning of the stabilization room.
So, this is the case. Most of the debugging has been completed. There is no complicated work anymore. I only need to sit here and monitor everyone's progress!
Excellent. As I expected, Jin Zhenyi's No. 1 stabilization plan did not adopt any extraordinary rune arrays or spiritual stripes. I can figure out all the details.
Luck is truly on my side. The operation this time is too smooth and immaculate!
Li Yao's pupils sudden constricted to the minimum as he felt a bad omen.
Not good!
According to my battle experience over the past ten years, whenever I was greatly relieved and thought that I had completed a certain mission smoothly and perfectly, something would go wrong the next moment!
It was almost like my luck likes to play tricks on me!
Therefore, I cannot relax, and I cannot think that I'm doing great!
That's right now. I must hypnotize myself. I must convince myself that the mission is too arduous, too complicated, and full of peril. Endless dangers and obstacles are still waiting for me…
Right at the moment…
BOOM!
The ten or so rune arrays on the dome of the stabilization room suddenly emanated dazzling brilliance, as if they had been heated by a thousand degrees within a moment, before they exploded simultaneously in earsplitting noises!
Chapter 1018: Unresolvable Paradox? |
You've got to me kidding me!
Li Yao was dumbfounded by his own luck, which seemed to always go wrong at the critical moment. Why was the stabilization system that was functioning normally suddenly faulty? And what was the abrupt wave of energy all about?
The four cooling towers were rotating faster and faster, and they were uttering louder noises. The temperature inside the stabilization room had increased by more than ten degrees. Many tubes of cooling liquid were colliding in cracking noises, as if a minor earthquake was breaking out right above their head.
All the rune arrays carved on the dome were glowing and fading. They were emanating dazzling brilliance one moment, only to turn completely dark the next, absorbing all the rays of light in the room!
"The No. 1 rune array group is overloading!"
"The No. 3 rune array group is overloading!"
"The No. 4 rune array group is overloading and on the verge of crash!"
All the workers were sweating hard. They moved agilely among the rune array groups. The specialists of the Feather Clan all opened their wings and flew to the dome, urgently repairing the rune arrays that were about to go out of control while holding back of the scorching steam.
The stabilization system was running very abnormally right now!
Li Yao grabbed Wu Dawei, Jin Zhenyi's disciple, and gnashed his teeth. "What's happening?"
Wu Dawei's face was a little bit pale, too. Shuddering, he replied, "Were—weren't we informed yesterday that the final extreme test would be conducted today?"
Li Yao was slightly dazed. Then he realized what was going on.
For a large magical equipment system such as the Eye of Blood Demon, countless extreme tests were mandatory after any modifications.
Since the tidal force triggered by the three satellites when they were aligned varied, nobody could estimate precisely how strong it would be and how many warriors the tidal force would be able to teleport to the Heaven's Origin Sector.
Therefore, all kinds of extreme states had to be simulated during the tests on the entire system in order to determine the maximum capacity and weight.
Since it was 'extreme state', it was certainly a great examination on the stabilization system, which was equal to a 'live-fire drill'.
However, even though it was an extreme test, the scene was still a bit out of control. What was all the shaking about?
Li Yao glanced over the dome of the stabilization room. Then, attracted by an inconspicuous rune array in the corner, he frowned. "What's with the 'Three Moons Array'? Its resonation frequency seems to have been improved by 15%, doesn't it?"
Every specialist of rune arrays had their own style. Jin Zhenyi was one of the conservative ones. The rune array that was adjusted to a relatively radical state, mixed among so many conservative rune arrays, was as out-of-place as a crystal train in a painting of nature in the eyes of an expert such as Li Yao.
Wu Dawei replied nervously, "It was—it was Director Li. After you were sent to the hospital due to mental derangement in the morning, Director Li took over everything according to the rules. Considering that the extreme test would be conducted at noon, he performed minor adjustments on the stabilization system."
"Is that so?"
Li Yao narrowed his eyes. He hurried to run to the main biochemical brain and connected two synthesized nerves to his temples.
Shua! Shua! Shua! Shua!
Data and information immediately poured down like a storm in his eyes.
Li Yao was frowning harder and harder. He glanced at Deputy Director Li Zhengzhi, who was standing far away.
The fat owl grinned at him with utmost delight.
Li Yao immediately realized what Li Zhengzhi was up to.
Jin Zhenyi and Li Zhengzhi were both specialists of stabilization rune arrays in the Blood Demon Sector. They were on par with each other when they taught at the Thousand Feathers Institute, too. In the academic world, they were at loggerheads with one another and in a very bad relationship.
Then, when they were summoned to the Eye of Blood Demon, Jin Zhenyi's stabilization plan was adopted as the primary plan, and Jin Zhenyi was appointed as the director of the stabilization room, while Li Zhengzhi was merely the deputy directory and a substitute for him.
Naturally, Li Zhengzhi was not very happy about it.
As it happened, right before the final extreme test before the final activation of the Eye of Blood Demon, which would influence a lot of procedures, Jin Zhenyi was mentally deranged and sent into hospital!
Was it not the greatest opportunity for Li Zhengzhi?
According to the rules, when the director was absent, the deputy director would supervise everything. Naturally, Li Zhengzhi was authorized to perform minor adjustments on the stabilization system. Also, Li Zhengzhi knew how long the treatment of mental derangement would take. He was clear that, when Jin Zhenyi was back to work, the extreme test would have already begun!
Therefore, judging from Li Yao's observation, the guy had played tricks on a few inconspicuous, yet critical, parts.
He had adjusted the frequency and the circulation pattern of the key rune arrays to a relatively radical state.
If the entire system had been adjusted to radically, it might be all good.
However, if most of the parts were designed conservatively and only a few parts were set to a radical state, there would be discordance when the system was running under high pressure, which would further affect the stability of the Eye of Blood Eye.
Li Zhengzhi was a master, too. The tricks he made escaped everyone's attention. Others might even have felt that the stability of the system had been improved after his adjustments.
Only the experts in the level of Li Yao could see through it instantly!
Something had indeed gone wrong at the last moment!
What's his goal?
Li Yao immediately thought it through. It's too obvious. Li Zhengzhi is trying to sabotage the No. 1 stabilization plan so that his No. 2 stabilization plan will be adopted!
If the No. 2 stabilization plan under his lead is adopted in today's extreme test and successfully passes it, since there is only one day to go, the system will never switch back to the No. 1 plan again.
Then, when the Eye of Blood Demon is really activated, Li Zhengzhi will be the leader of the stabilization room. Or even better, in the future, he will be the well-acknowledged best master in the field of stabilization rune arrays!
Figuring everything out, Li Yao was both stunned and amused.
He had not expected that his thorough scheme would be disrupted by the office politics of two scholars.
Speaking of which, it was his own fault, too.
If he had not planned to swap Jin Zhenyi, Jin Zhenyi would not have been mentally deranged, and Li Zhengzhi would not have had the chance to play tricks at all.
However, if he had not pretended to the Jin Zhenyi, how could he have snuck into the place?
It was an irresolvable paradox. Since the moment he chose Jin Zhenyi as his target, the outcome was already destined.
Should I simply let the owl get it his way?
Li Yao was not the real Jin Zhenyi. He could not care less whose plan was adopted and who was the leader. After all, even if the No. 2 stabilization plan was adopted, he would still be staying in the room and blowing everything up one day later.
However—
No!
According to the intensity of vibration, fifteen cooling tubes will be broken in three minutes. The 'Blood Rain Liquid' in the No. 9 cooling tube and the 'Smoke Net Water' in the No. 14 cooling tube will immediately volatilize when exposed in the air. After they are mixed, they will turn into venomous gas that is slightly corrosive for the central nerves!
I've roughly read Li Zhengzhi's plan just now. Even if it is adopted, those cooling tubes will still be breaking apart!
Although the venomous gas is not fatal, it will slightly paralyze the central nerves!
At that time, a large batch of doctors will certainly come here and perform thorough physical examinations on everybody, especially their brains!
Li Yao's wings were fake. His brain was entirely different from Jin Zhenyi's, too. There was no way that he could pass a thorough physical examination.
I am going to be killed because of the damn owl!
Li Yao glared at Li Zhengzhi, almost planning to slap the bald guy into a meat pie.
Not knowing that he had caused a great disaster, Li Zhengzhi stepped forward and smiled. "Director Jin, the No. 1 stabilization plan seems unable to sustain any longer. Should we switch to the No. 2 plan now?"
His eyes bloodshot, Li Yao tightened his lat muscles and raised almost a hundred feathers, declaring, "Wait a second!"
Within the breath, he had deduced countless scenarios in his brain. Should there be tremendous venomous gas spreading in the room, he would not have an excuse to shun a thorough physical examination at all!
The only solution was to carry on the No. 1 plan and stop the cooling tubes from breaking!
"Keep the No. 1 and No. 3 rune array groups running at 110% intensity!
"Turn off the No. 4 rune array group. Cool it down with 'Heaven Scorching Water' and 'Soft Fragrant Liquid'. Restart it after fifteen seconds. Then, keep it running at 60% intensity. It will survive!
"Switch the No. 9, No. 10, No. 11, and No. 12 rune array groups over and stabilize the core unit!"
Li Yao waved his wings hard and issued commands.
Wu Dawei hesitated. "But the No. 9 to No. 12 rune array groups are designed to stabilize and cool down the control center…"
"Don't bother about it!" Li Yao shouted. "Even if the control center is not cooled down for now, the temperature there will only go up by dozens of degrees at best. Those inside the control center are all experts. It's not a problem for them! Before the facilities and biochemical brains inside the control center are burnt, we will have finished the repairs and switched back!
"Chop! Chop! Chop!"
Li Yao took part in the repairs himself, too. Not only was he issuing a series of orders, he also personally replaced quite a few burningly hot rune arrays!
Five minutes… Ten minutes…
The cooling liquids did not break!
Fifteen minutes… Twenty minutes…
The roars gradually died down, and the quakes were slowly no more, as if a drove of horses that had run off the road were reined back again. The No. 1 stabilization plan survived the extreme test and did not crash.
"Hu!"
Li Yao took a long breath in relief and fell into the chair.
"The extreme test is over!" Wu Dawei exclaimed. "This time, the maximum capacity of the Eye of Blood Demon has been increased by 5%, and our stabilization unit did not crash. We were not forced to try the backup plan, either. The leadership are very satisfied with our performance. Master, you are truly marvelous!"
Li Yao smiled. How could the system have crashed when he was supervising it?
Everything was all good now. The last obstacle had been resolved perfectly. There should not be challenges or unexpected trouble anymore, should there?
Wu Dawei continued receiving messages from the control center. Suddenly, he beamed with joy and shouted, "Master, since our performance in the extreme test was too excellent, even the commander-in-chief has noticed us!
"Right now, the commander-in-chief is waiting to meet you in the control center!"
"…" Li Yao.
Chapter 1019: It's Acting Time! |
The control center of the Eye of Blood Eye was an arc-shaped building made of crystals right below the bloody lake.
The dome of the building was made of the purest crystals through which one could see the lake water, which was as deep and red as wine, as well as the rune arrays that were emitting a mysterious glow in the lake.
When the Heaven's Origin Sector was studying how to install underwater rune arrays, the problem of the corrosion of the flowing water was never satisfactorily addressed.
However, in the Blood Demon Sector, the demon race had combined the studies of spiritual stripes, rune arrays, and biochemistry.
The demon race produced a type of special demon beast named 'rune beasts' through secret techniques. Most of the runes were carved on the cellular level and etched into the rune beast's body. Then, the rune beasts were released into the water.
As the rune beasts swam freely, the rune arrays would turn into different forms. Together with the countless runes engraved below the blood red lake, the Eye of Blood Demon was established!
Right now, undercurrents were flowing everywhere in the lake. Countless translucent rune beasts were gathering and dispersing. The colorful brilliance that they emitted showered on the control center like scattered stars.
The control center was packed with super large biochemical brains that looked like black hills. They were connected to countless synthesized nerves that were as thick as boas.
Countless specialists were tied up by the 'boas' and connected to the biochemical brains. They were breathing deeply and steadily without moving, as if they were dead bodies that could still breathe.
When Li Yao stepped into the control center following four guards, the first thing he saw was such a weird, horrifying view.
Naturally, the second thing he saw was Jin Tuyi.
The commander-in-chief was not tall or strong, now that Li Yao had seen him in reality. He was even slightly hunched, and his furrowed brow gave Li Yao a feeling that he was actually exhausted.
Even though he was wearing glamorous golden armor, he was still not the dominating, charismatic type. Indeed, he looked more like an indifferent technocrat who only wanted to do his own job well.
Perhaps only such a plain-looking guy, who would not look like a king even if he were wearing a crown, could lurk for decades in the darkness and push the dreadful Red Tide Plan forward!
Jin Tuyi was surrounded by more than ten specialists who were reporting the information of all the procedures in the extreme test just now. Occasionally, he would also receive messages from the ground. Other demon emperors there must have been communicating with him about the military affairs.
There was only one last day to go before the Red Tide Plan was really activated. He was at the busiest moment.
Li Yao was more or less relieved. Judging from the situation, Jin Tuyi was not likely to focus all his attention on him.
It was time for him to resort to his acting skills!
The acting skills were not all about acting. More importantly, he had to precisely control every detail, such as his heartbeat, flow of blood, change of pupils, and even sweat glands!
Li Yao walked to Jin Tuyi and waited next to him patiently.
After settling the detailed information on a certain procedure with two specialists, Jin Tuyi turned around and glanced at Li Yao.
"Chief."
Li Yao manipulated his facial muscles to put on a nervous, excited, and even somewhat wronged expression as he greeted Jin Tuyi drily.
In the meantime, the feathers on his wings constricted like the leaves of a mimosa.
Jin Tuyi was both the commander-in-chief of the coalition army of demons and the chief of the Feather Clan. The honorable nobles in the Feather Clan often preferred to call him 'chief' instead 'commander-in-chief' to indicate that they were his own people.
As for the 'wronged' expression, that would be even more reasonable. The stabilizers, which were the bottom level of the magical equipment system, were working in the dirtiest and noisiest environment, and yet they were hardly ever inspected by the higher officials. It was only natural that they felt wronged.
"You've been troubled, Master Jin."
Jin Tuyi patted Li Yao's shoulder neither too softly nor too heavily.
Li Yao's soul was almost shocked out of his body.
Thankfully, he performed the most thorough micro adjustments on the muscles and bones in his shoulder within the moment, completely simulating the status of a non-combatant of the Feather Clan who was more than a hundred years ago.
Jin Tuyi did not grow suspicious. He retreated his gaze and browsed through the structural designs and flowcharts while he explained, "The situation has changed. I am hoping to teleport as many warriors as possible in the first wave of the teleportation. Therefore, the parameters have been improved during the extreme test. In the end, fourteen demon emperors were teleported in the first wave, which were four more than we had calculated!
"I thought that, even if the stabilization system could handle the pressure, you would have to switch to the backup plans. If so, the gap between the first wave of teleportation and the second would be very huge. Perhaps, the Eye of Blood Demon would have to be cooled down for half an hour after the first wave of teleportation was conducted in order to begin the second wave of teleportation.
