433: Chapter 433 Gathering Everyone to Discuss the Grand Research and Development Plan

Morning light spilled onto the plaza of Qiming Plain, the gravel ground shimmering with a faint glow.

Chen Wuwang and Chen Xiaodao walked side by side, their footsteps falling into the gaps between the blue bricks, one after another, steady and unhurried.

A few people were already standing on the high platform in the center of the plaza, all clansmen who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

There were young apprentices holding recording boards, and old craftsmen carrying tool bags, gathered in small groups, whispering to each other.

"I heard there's some big move being planned?"

"Wasn't it about preparing for war? How did it get involved with research and development again?"

"The Family head summoned us personally, it definitely isn't a small matter."

Before the words could fade, Chen Wuwang had already stepped onto the high platform.

He didn't speak, just stood there, his silver-white hair gently lifted by the wind, the Mechanical Prosthetic Eye in his left eye sweeping across the crowd, a cold light flashing by.

The crowd immediately fell silent.

Chen Xiaodao did not go up to the platform, but stood half a step behind him to the side, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his expression calm and steady, like an immovable guardian deity.

Chen Wuwang raised his hand, his voice not loud, yet it penetrated the entire plaza: "Just now on the ramp, I said something to Xiao Dao — the Family is going to take a new path."

Some below looked up, some frowned, and more held their breath.

"This path is not about changing our Cultivation Technique, nor is it about changing the Sect, but about making our mechs smarter."

"Smarter?" A young clansman in the back row couldn't help but ask out loud.

"Yes." Chen Wuwang nodded, "Current mechs rely on human control, fighting entirely based on experience."

"But what if it could recognize enemies, lock on, and predict on its own? Even if it's only half a breath faster, it's the difference between life and death on the battlefield."

"You mean... installing a brain for the mechs?" Another apprentice from the Artifact Refining Workshop widened his eyes.

"Something like that." Chen Wuwang's lips curled slightly.

"We call it the 'Spirit Energy Navigation System'. It doesn't build new mechs, nor does it modify the old frames, but it allows every mech to accurately find the enemy, as precise as a hound smelling blood."

The crowd below erupted in a buzz.

"It sounds impressive, but is this thing actually doable?"

"No one has ever mentioned such a thing before, what if we waste the Materials?"

"Our resources are tight right now, is it worth betting everything on something so impractical?"

Several elderly craftsmen looked at each other, their brows remained furrowed.

Just then, a hoarse voice rang out from the front row of the crowd: "I support it."

Everyone was stunned and turned to look.

Chen Tiezhu was leaning on an alloy cane, walking forward step by step.

His right arm was a metal prosthetic limb, with gray dust from last night's grinding still on the joints, clearly having just rushed over from the Artifact Refining Workshop.

He stood still at the edge of the high platform, looking up at Chen Wuwang, speaking word by word:

"If you say you want to do it, I believe you can succeed. The furnaces, Materials, and manpower of the Artifact Refining Workshop are yours to use at any time. I will lead the effort."

After speaking, he turned to face the crowd, his voice suddenly raised: "Thirty years ago when the Zerg invaded, who believed we could survive?"

"Who believed we could build this Qiming Plain? But what about now? We not only survived, but we also stood up!"

He paused, pointing to the cluster of workshops behind him: "Those mechs, which one wasn't forged by us, hammer blow by hammer blow?"

"Now the Family head wants to take another step forward, what the hell are you afraid of! Afraid of failure? Afraid of waste?"

"I welded ten furnaces into scrap back in the day and never took a step back, and you lot are shrinking away here?"

The crowd was silent for a moment.

Then, a young apprentice suddenly shouted: "I'm in too! I know a bit about rune circuits, I can help draw the diagrams!"

"Count me in! I've run three hundred positioning tests at the training grounds, I remember all the data!"

"I can coordinate the spiritual plant energy supply module from the Medicinal Field side!"

Voices popped up one after another, at first scattered, then merging into one.

Chen Xiaodao still didn't speak, but his shoulders relaxed slightly.

He glanced at Chen Tiezhu, then at Chen Wuwang on the platform, and nodded slightly.

Chen Wuwang stood on the high platform, his gaze slowly sweeping over every face — some excited, some hesitant, and some still carrying doubts.

He didn't rush to incite them, nor did he preach any more grand principles.

He just said: "This is not my business alone, it is the business of every person in the Chen Family. What we want to do is not to fight others for a bite to eat, but to let our future children be able to stand on a higher place and look down the moment they are born."

He paused, his voice lowered a bit: "I don't want to see any more children being carried out of the ruins, clutching only a piece of wood in their hands."

Once these words were spoken, even the people in the farthest corners fell silent.

Chen Xiaodao's fingers tapped lightly on the hilt of his sword, as if in response.

Chen Wuwang took a deep breath and said loudly: "From today on, we will concentrate our efforts to develop the Spirit Energy Navigation System. Whoever is willing to participate, you can sign up now."

"Artifact Refining, Formation, control, energy, every link needs people. I'm not afraid that you don't know how, I'm only afraid you won't come."

As soon as his voice fell, the crowd began to move.

Several young people rushed to the front desk to grab the registration book, almost knocking over the table; two old craftsmen argued about the material ratio while walking, saliva flying; others directly took out their personal Jade Slips to start recording suggestions for division of labor.

Chen Tiezhu leaned on his cane and walked into the middle of a group of apprentices, roaring loudly: "Don't crowd! One by one! First, list the requirements, I will go to the warehouse myself to allocate the Materials!"

"Uncle, are you really planning to start the new mech yourself?" A young apprentice with a face full of grease looked up and asked.

"Nonsense!" Chen Tiezhu glared, "I have never let anyone do the key steps for me in my whole life! This time is no exception!"

Over there, Chen Xiaodao finally spoke, saying to several young people from the training grounds: "Once the navigation System is complete, I will personally test my sword on the first test-equipped mech. Whoever wants to practice along, go and apply for the group now."

"Young Lord, are you really going to spar with a mech?"

"What, afraid it might be faster than me?" He sneered, "Then we must try it even more."

Laughter broke out everywhere.

Chen Wuwang stood in the center of the high platform, not speaking again.

He watched the figures rushing about below, listened to the rising and falling shouts, his fingers tapping unconsciously on his cuff, one tap, then another, as if typing on some invisible keyboard.

The sunlight became brighter and brighter, shining on the gravel on the plaza, making it shimmer.

The humming sound of the workshops in the distance became denser and denser, like some sleeping beast waking up.

He suddenly remembered the instruction that hadn't refreshed in the System interface last night.

But now, he didn't need to look. He knew that in this battle, there were people carrying it with him.

The crowd gradually dispersed, each rushing to their posts. Some turned back to nod at him, others gave a thumbs up from afar.

Before leaving, Chen Tiezhu looked up at him, grinned, and raised his hand to pat the prosthetic limb on his chest, meaning: It's ready.

Chen Xiaodao still stood in place, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his gaze calm.

Chen Wuwang stood on the high platform, the wind blowing his clothes.

He didn't move, nor did he order a dismissal, just stood there, watching the busy backs of his clansmen, watching the fire reignited on this land.

Matters for the next chapter can wait until the next chapter. For now, the fire has already been lit.