430: Chapter 430 The Dawn of Technology, System Commands Lead to New Paths

The night had just receded, and the horizon turned a bluish-gray; the wind on Qiming Plain still carried the dampness of last night's dew.

Chen Wuwang did not stop; he broke away from the patrol queue and walked step by step up the stone stairs toward the main hall.

The mecha fragments on his shoulder had long been removed, his black martial attire was stained with a bit of dust, and his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye on his left glowed slightly blue in the morning light, like an instrument that hadn't been turned off yet.

He didn't return to his room, nor did he sit down to catch his breath; he walked straight into the Council Hall, plopped down into the main seat, and habitually tapped his fingers on the table—

Tap, tap, tap—three short and two long, the same rhythm as when he used to tap on a keyboard while writing code thirty years ago.

Suddenly, a "buzz" sounded in his head.

A voice, devoid of emotion, pierced into his Sea of Consciousness like a nail:

[Today's first heavenly secret instruction: The Chen clan's technology will see a major Breakthrough.]

Chen Wuwang's fingers suddenly froze.

He blinked, and his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye automatically scanned the surrounding Spiritual Qi fluctuations, confirming there was no interference from illusion techniques.

After waiting another three seconds, the System made no further sound, and there was no second instruction.

But this one sentence was enough.

The corner of his mouth twitched, his eyes shining with a terrifying brightness as he whispered, "Finally... it's here."

Before his voice faded, his hand had already slapped the communication array at the corner of the table, his fingertips sliding over the runes to activate the highest-level assembly order.

A flash of spiritual light occurred, and the entire communication network of Qiming Plain vibrated simultaneously.

"All clan members, assemble at the Central Square, immediately!"

After sending the command, he stood up and walked to the window.

The lights in the distant Medicinal Field were still on, with several figures moving about; over at the Training Grounds, someone was sheathing their sword, looking up toward the Council Hall.

He knew that with this order, no one would ask why.

In less than fifteen minutes, the square was already filled with people.

Youngsters ran until they were covered in sweat, craftsmen carried tool bags, medicinal farmers rolled up their sleeves, technical researchers held rune boards, and even the old veterans on night watch came leaning on canes.

No one was noisy, but their eyes were bright, like wolves that had caught the scent of meat.

Chen Wuwang stepped onto the high platform, the wind blowing his silver hair wildly; his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye scanned the crowd, seeing faces that were exhausted yet determined.

Some of these people were mining ten years ago, others were fleeing for their lives five years ago; now, they stood here not just to survive, but to become stronger.

He spoke; his voice wasn't loud, but it was amplified by spiritual waves, making it clearly audible to everyone present:

"I just received a System instruction—'The Chen clan's technology will see a major Breakthrough'."

The whole place went silent.

Then, it exploded.

"What?! For real?"

"The System said it? Then it's set in stone!"

"A major Breakthrough? Is a new mecha coming out?!"

A young technical researcher wearing glasses pulled out a rune board on the spot, his fingers moving rapidly: "I'll run the energy model first, just in case we need it!"

Someone nearby snatched the board: "Are you crazy? You're starting calculations before there's even a shadow of it?"

"So what? I want to! This is a historic moment!"

The two began to argue, and the people around them laughed; some slapped their thighs, some jumped up shouting "The Chen clan is about to take off," and an old craftsman even started crying, wiping his face while saying:

"Back then, I could blow up a furnace three times just trying to fix it. Now I can actually hear the Family Head say 'major Breakthrough'—it's worth it!"

Chen Wuwang raised his hand and pressed down.

The laughter and discussion slowly died down.

He looked at the group of people below, his throat moving as his voice deepened: "I know you're happy. I'm happy too. But this is not the time for celebration."

The crowd went quiet.

"A Breakthrough is an opportunity, but it's also a test." He stared at them, word by word, "Resources will be tighter, time will be shorter, and tasks will be heavier.

You might go to sleep tonight and have to submit a proposal tomorrow; a model just built today might have to be torn down and restarted Acquired. We have no way back and no room for error."

He paused and looked around: "But I believe in you—just as you have always believed in me."

There was a moment of silence below.

Then, a youth standing in the front row suddenly raised his hand and roared: "We will not fail your expectations!"

"We will not fail your expectations!"

"We will not fail your expectations!"

"We will not fail your expectations!!!"

Shout after shout spread from the Training Grounds to the Medicinal Field, from the refining workshop to the Dispatch Room, making the mountain walls hum.

Chen Wuwang stood on the high platform, listening to the waves of sound; he didn't smile or nod, but simply pressed his right hand to his chest, the blue light of his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye meeting the morning sun.

He knew that this fire had been lit.

He stepped down from the high platform, didn't return to the Council Hall, and didn't go to rest; he turned and walked toward the Dispatch Room. His steps weren't fast, but every step was firm.

Behind him, several core clan members immediately followed: one was the head of the Technical Research Group, one was the dispatch leader, and another was a young data analyst. The three of them pulled out rune boards as they walked, already beginning to discuss the division of labor.

"Temporary Technical Research Coordination Group, submit a preliminary labor division draft before tonight," Chen Wuwang said as he walked. "I want to see the personnel list, resource estimates, and time nodes—not a single one can be missing."

"Understood!"

"I'll arrange it immediately!"

"Family Head, should we fully activate the psionic arrays of the laboratory complex?"

Chen Wuwang paused and looked toward the east.

There, the windows of the rows of laboratories, which were originally dark, were lighting up one by one; the psionic lamp arrays were lit in succession, like a sleeping giant opening its eyes.

He whispered: "Turn them on. All of them. Let everyone know—the dawn of technology has arrived."

The group quickened their pace toward the Dispatch Room.

The people in the square also dispersed; some returned to their posts, some gathered to discuss, and some directly squatted on the ground to draw sketches.

The youngsters at the Training Grounds didn't go for extra training; instead, they gathered around an old mecha, arguing incessantly over a certain interface;

Over at the Medicinal Field, two young people held spiritual plant detectors, whispering over a mutated herb:

"Do you think... this Breakthrough will be related to life energy conversion?"

On the steps outside the Dispatch Room, Chen Wuwang stopped.

He didn't go in but just stood there, his back to the door, facing east.

The sun had just leaped over the mountain ridge, casting golden light on every inch of Qiming Plain. The lights of the laboratories had not yet been extinguished, reflecting the morning light like stars fallen to earth.

He stood there, motionless.

Behind him, the door to the Dispatch Room was pushed open, and the sound of hurried footsteps came.

"Family Head! The first batch of members of the Technical Research Group is in place and is organizing the current project list!"

Chen Wuwang didn't look back; he just raised a hand, signaling that he knew.

He continued to gaze at the sun.

The wind blew the hem of his clothes, and the blue light of his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye flowed slowly.

The first report was about to arrive.