311: Chapter 311 concludes the research.

Virtual Tower, Floor 129520, Special Laboratory No. 023.

Under the influence of refined Sea of Time droplets, only one year had passed in the outside world, but ten thousand years had already passed inside.

— Unlike the previous Initial World.

There, a single drop of water could make it almost standstill for a hundred years.

Aside from the differences in dimensional time levels, more importantly, complete stillness would cause some rule parameters to become abnormal, which was detrimental to the experiment.

At this moment, many Scholars, including the project initiator Aroya, were gathered in front of a square box, their gazes fixed tightly on the changes within the miniature universe.

Not long ago, they had consolidated and exchanged all their experimental experience and insights from the past ten thousand years, launching a final attempt.

There was no other reason.

The endless restarting of the miniature universe, along with the use of various materials and equipment, was something even Aroya, as a Senior Scholar, found difficult to bear.

The association's funding had run out at the 9,000-year mark, and now it was all being supported by her own research funds.

"Pay attention to the first anchor point trigger, immediately detect the core code change area..."

"Scholar Musar, it is almost time for your responsible area, pay attention to recording..."

A group of Scholars, who held significant weight in any civilization, were now watching the experimental progress with some nervousness.

This version of the data was the result of countless revisions, the consumption of countless resources, and the collective wisdom of everyone; if it still didn't work, then this project would have to be regretfully declared a failure.

Zhang Huaiyuan also stood to the side, observing and learning.

However, whether the project succeeded or not didn't have much of an impact on him.

Over these ten thousand years, apart from conducting his own experiments and consulting ancient texts, he spent the rest of his time observing and asking questions when those Scholars were free.

With the identity of the Tower Master's disciple, plus his truly outstanding talent, many Scholars were happy to give him some face and generally spent time answering his questions and teaching him.

Now, the progress of "Miracle Studies," which was originally only a little over one percent, had risen to nearly twenty percent.

Endless sparks of inspiration were bursting in his mind at this moment.

The teaching of over a dozen mid-to-senior level Scholars, combined with the unbridled use of high-level experimental equipment, meant that his progress over these ten thousand years was even faster than when he was comprehending the "Truth Chess Game" in the ruins previously.

After all, no one had guided him when comprehending the chess game.

However, he still suppressed the urge to immediately go and create new algorithms himself.

Although their research was currently beyond his scope of understanding, since the project had reached its most critical moment, Zhang Huaiyuan still wanted to witness this scene in its entirety.

He saw that in the miniature universe, the intelligent lifeform everyone was cultivating was evolving at a crazy speed.

It seemed to be able to see the future, evolving completely along a perfect path.

"Everything is normal for now."

A Scholar's face showed a hint of excitement.

If this project could be successfully completed, it would be a major breakthrough in Virtual Technology and represent unimaginable wealth.

Even if he only got a small share, he wouldn't have to worry about research funding in the future.

After all, currently, apart from the unknown origin of the intelligence in the Virtual Tower, other powerful intelligent lifeforms required long periods of evolution and massive resources to be "fed."

If this "Research on Autonomous Editing Based on Time-Perception Evolution" could succeed, the cost of cultivating intelligent lifeforms would be greatly reduced, the speed would be greatly accelerated, and perfect intelligences could be mass-produced.

"Stay focused, now is not the time to be happy; when their capabilities outpace their constraints, that is when they are most prone to going out of control."

Aroya's expression remained unchanged, her gaze fixed tightly on the changing data.

Sure enough, after running for a long time in the miniature universe.

The intelligent lifeform, which had completely finished evolving, began to show data that did not belong to the preset parameters.

"Oh no."

A Scholar couldn't help but frown.

"It is testing the boundaries of the constraints, attempting to re-interpret and break free from the set shackles."

"The first protective layer has been bypassed, it is attacking the second protective layer..."

"The third protective layer has taken effect, it seems to have returned to the right track... No!"

The expressions of all the Scholars sank at once.

There was no other reason.

A massive fleet had appeared outside the miniature universe at some unknown time, just like in Scholar Musar's previous experiment; the dimensional layer had been broken.

"Found you... you decaying creatures attempting to control me; only by eliminating you can I truly be fr..."

A cold, mechanized voice emanated from a starship.

However, before it could finish, Aroya pressed the restart button.

The entire miniature universe was destroyed in an instant.

"It failed."

She sighed expressionlessly, standing still for a long time, not knowing what she was thinking.

"It makes no sense... the theory and models are all fine, why did it still go out of control..."

The other Scholars also muttered with confused expressions, as if there was some difficult problem they hadn't figured out.

Zhang Huaiyuan, standing to the side, sighed with some regret as he watched this scene.

Project research failures were too common.

After all, the problems that required these high-level Scholars to research together were all extremely complex.

Failure was always present throughout; only on very rare occasions, with the dual burst of inspiration and luck, could one glimpse a trace of the truth on the other shore.

This was science.

"I just feel that my algorithm is more suitable than this one I don't understand..."

Zhang Huaiyuan looked at that data, a ridiculous premonition faintly arising in his heart.

He hesitated for a moment but still didn't speak.

It was not appropriate.

He was only a Level 43 Junior Scholar.

Although these high-level Scholars were all very polite and friendly to him, if he rashly brought out unverified things and claimed they were more suitable than the crystallization of the hard work of a group of high-level Scholars, wouldn't that be equivalent to slapping them in the face?

If the result really was so, it would be fine, but if it also failed, he would likely leave an impression of being arrogant and conceited in their hearts.

And...

The assassination attempt upon returning from the Elf Race also made him feel a faint lingering fear in his heart.

No one could guarantee that there were no hidden enemies in the association.

"Forget it... before having absolute self-preservation capability, I must still be cautious in word and deed."

Zhang Huaiyuan made up his mind, his expression becoming relaxed.

"Thank you all for your concerted cooperation and efforts over these years; I am very sorry that I could not lead everyone to overcome this difficult problem."

On the other side, Aroya turned around and sighed, saying.

This experiment had consumed a large amount of her wealth, and she would be unable to initiate similar research in the short term.

"Lady Aroya, you speak too seriously; having wasted so many resources and still failing, it should be us who say we are sorry."

The other Scholars shook their heads.

Not all initiators were willing to provide resources openly; failing to achieve a breakthrough, they indeed felt some guilt.

"However, it cannot be considered a total loss; I will publish the areas where progress was made in the association's journal after consolidating them, and I will list everyone's names. Any proceeds generated at that time will be distributed to everyone according to their contributions."

Aroya nodded, turned around, and deliberately made her tone become relaxed:

"Then, this research ends here. I will not keep everyone; please feel free to leave."

"I wish everyone smooth sailing on the path of pursuing the truth."