Cultivation: Being Immortal Chapter 782
Previously on Cultivation: Being Immortal...
In the year 6865 of the Xia Calendar, at Venus Base
As Liang Long exited Venus Base, his protective shield adapted right away. Venus's atmospheric pressure differs from Blue Star's, yet the standout factor is the heat, averaging above 500 degrees. Ordinary folks and even those cultivators shy of the Golden Core Stage struggle to endure here for extended periods.
Before Liang Long stretched endless arrays of solar panels, vanishing into the horizon without a break.
Solar power boasts a storied past. Ancient Huaxia tales speak of solar cookers in use. Prior to the tech boom and spiritual energy resurgence, solar sources were commonplace.
With spiritual energy's ascent, solar power faded into obscurity, hitting rock bottom until mixed energy applications revived its widespread adoption.
That said, solar tech remained rather primitive until Liang Long took charge, backed by Lin Jiang's endorsement. His direction sparked fresh innovations in solar energy, rendering the panels ahead with exceptional absorption and conversion rates.
"Chief Liang, here's our cutting-edge solar battery, born from your latest innovations. A single cubic meter unit holds one hundred million units of power and lasts beyond a century. It powers a town of one hundred thousand for ten full days…"
Beside Liang Long, a technician eagerly detailed Venus Base's solar operations, his tone brimming with awe like a true admirer.
Liang Long kept a steady smile while absorbing the rundown on local conditions and solar tech progress, encompassing not only panels but also breakthroughs in storage like batteries.
Amid the solar fields stood compact structures at regular intervals, sheltering the solar batteries. Each one spanned a meter in every dimension—one cubic meter total—and packed away up to one hundred million units of electricity. In an older vehicle, that would suffice to circle Huaxia's entire perimeter.
Still, for the moment, this tech targeted everyday applications, not vehicles. Across the centuries of spiritual energy revival, Blue Star's primary energy shifted from electricity to spiritual sources, draining cultivation assets for routine uses.
In response, the Spiritual Energy Research Institute suggested swapping out cultivation resources in daily scenarios with alternatives like nuclear and solar power.
Liang Long's team toiled for five or six years under his lead to crack these challenges, birthing the battery now on display. This success netted him vast gains, with stakes in multiple solar battery plants yielding at least ten billion Huaxia coins annually, propelling him into Huaxia's top one hundred richest.
"What's the scale of our solar panel coverage now, how many batteries do we charge completely daily, and what tech hurdles remain? Spill all the details. I've got just three days here, and in that span, I'll iron out every technical snag."
"Chief Liang, Venus Base's solar panels span three million acres. We're set to add another five hundred thousand by year's close. Right now, we fully charge ten thousand standard batteries per day, though our main trouble is…"
Eager not to waste time, the technician skimmed the overview and dove into numerous technical woes. Venus's solar setup was still young, plagued by various problems like panel degradation demanding swift fixes.
Liang Long reacted swiftly too. Back inside Venus Base, he convened a video conference to tackle these tech dilemmas. He sparked novel concepts, as his colleagues turned them into reality.
No one questioned Liang Long's brilliance. Puzzles stumping the solar firm's experts posed mere trifles to him.
After three days, Liang Long departed Venus Base for Lunar Base. Following a short stay, he headed back to the Spiritual Energy Research Institute.
"Dean Cao"
"Liang Long, Ancestor Lin has greenlit your voyage request. For the second interstellar migration wave, you'll serve as Chief Technology Officer."
"Thanks, Dean Cao."
Joy surged through Liang Long at the news. Blue Star had worn on him, and he yearned to explore Jiang Star, having applied ages ago. Cao Wang had stonewalled him, prompting Liang Long to appeal directly to Lin Jiang for approval.
"Save your thanks. Truth be told, I'd rather keep you. You're Huaxia's premier scientist, and I'd love for you to stick around."
"Dean Cao, folks ought to push their limits. Jiang Star matters greatly, and I crave the trial."
"Jiang Star's perils are real, given your cultivation…"
"I'll hit late-stage Soul Changing before departing."
"That bold?"
"Absolutely! My cultivation aptitude mirrors my scientific prowess."
"Music to my ears. Now, your Jiang Star stint caps at fifty years. Return when it's done—no dodging."
"No dodging from me. I swear it."
Liang Long let out a light laugh, adding, "Why dodge? Things are perfect as is."
"The second immigrant fleet won't depart for years yet. Meanwhile, clear up key matters at the institute."
"Dean Cao, talent abounds here. You can't pile it all on me solo."
"None match your breadth. I rely on your skills above all."
"Fine. I value your faith, Dean. Lay out the other big assignments for me."
"First up: tech for compressing and boosting energies like nuclear and solar to rival spiritual energy. Second: build a math model for space jump energy demands. They figure we'll face more than just worlds like Jiang Star; aliens loom ahead. Space Battleship armaments require further upgrades. Third…"
Cao Wang rattled off over ten weighty challenges, souring Liang Long's expression. Every one demanded deep dives and ages to grasp—talk about a bind.
Take energy compression and enhancement: the basics exist, but elevating to spiritual energy parity proved thorny. He grasped their aim to sub electrical power for Premium Spirit Stones, yet those stones offered unmatched purity. Decades of his study fell short.
"Dean, energy compression won't touch Premium Spirit Stones' level in 200 years. It can't supplant them on ships. Rather than chase this dead end, divert funds to spiritual energy compression and purification research. That's got real promise."
"I get it. That's somewhat simpler. The Spirit Gathering Formation purifies, sure, but inadequately. Handing this to another makes no sense; as top expert, the tough nuts are yours."
"You're roping me in."
"Trick or not, a breakthrough here crowns you Huaxia's wealthiest. Even Ancestor Lin couldn't match you—get it?"
"Haven't you drained Ancestor Lin dry? He's no tycoon."
"You… "
Cao Wang went tongue-tied, unable to retort since facts backed it. Endless funding pleas had left Ancestor Lin near penniless. Fixed asset yields mostly fed Cao Wang. Tally it up, and slim pickings remained.
"No haggling. Nail these before the second fleet's launch. Wrap the transition, and you're free. Else, you're stuck—clear?"
"Clear. High rank means heavy load. As director, you call the shots."
"Ahem, deputy still. Watch your words."
"Tch, he's out, he's out."
Liang Long waved offhandedly on his way out. Ease defined his bond with Cao Wang now, formalities be damned.
Settled in his office, Liang Long pondered. These projects were truly demanding, especially their volume. Cao Wang outdid any miser, squeezing him relentlessly.
"Solo's impossible. Time for aides. Cloning's off-limits, so proxies it is. I've honed the Split Spirit Technique for spirit division and control."
"Indeed, the Spiritual Energy Research Institute crumbles sans me."
After much deliberation, Liang Long devised a plan. Satisfaction swelled within him. In under two centuries, he'd scaled the institute's tech pinnacle—a feat to cherish.