Chapter 129 - New Energy Source (Part I)

The high-pitched "zzzt... zzzt..." of a soldering iron echoed through the laboratory. Wearing protective goggles, I was hunched over a workbench, meticulously assembling the circuit board for my third large-scale computer mainframe. The raw materials had been sourced from across the country by Zhang Jing, but the assembly was purely my own handiwork. Of course, this wasn't a solo endeavor; I had to introduce my two new companions: Research Unit One and Experimental Unit Two.

Research Unit One was a specialized, mainframe-controlled semi-robotic arm, the first generation of artificial intelligence I had developed by integrating alien biotechnology with terrestrial knowledge. Do not underestimate it; its multiple tentacles could handle dozens of different circuit boards simultaneously, executing my blueprints with perfect precision. While its appearance was somewhat rudimentary—consisting mainly of a thick, stationary pillar with internal wiring running beneath the floor—it possessed a genuine intelligence, roughly equivalent to that of a teenager.

If Research Unit One was a versatile technician with detachable, nimble appendages, then Experimental Unit Two was the heavy-duty electrician and assembly specialist. It was designed for the integration of large components and high-precision welding. Though it shared the same core AI architecture as Unit One, it moved on a tracked chassis and featured a humanoid metal torso, giving it a surprisingly lifelike presence.

"Unit One, install this section according to Blueprint Three, understood?" I tapped its metal head, gesturing with the soldering iron toward the upper-right corner of the motherboard. With a unique, low metallic hum, the unit sprang into action.

"Unit Two, finish welding these modified sections. That is your task for the evening." I gave the unit a satisfied pat and then collapsed into a chair in front of my monitor, picking up a cup of coffee.

This monitor was no ordinary piece of hardware. It was a massive thirty-inch display—a custom build I had spent over a week crafting from premium materials gathered by Zhang Jing. In reality, it housed a powerful computer mainframe, serving as the "head" of my other assistant, the AI known as Xiao Kai.

In 1997, LCD technology was far from mainstream; even in Japan, it was still in the experimental phase. Most computers relied on bulky, low-resolution CRT monitors. My thirty-inch display not only matched the quality of 2010s-era liquid crystal technology, but I had also integrated the entire computer system into the back of the chassis. Initially, I had hoped to build a pure particle display—a piece of alien tech that would project images directly into the air without occupying space—but the Earth of 1997 lacked the necessary materials, forcing me to settle for this LCD masterpiece.

"Xiao Kai, show me the recent prototypes," I said, sipping my coffee.

A beautiful girl appeared on the screen, looking slightly annoyed. "Master, I was busy debugging the design schematics. You’ve made me lose my train of thought."

"Thought, indeed. Who knows if you were just slacking off?" I sighed, looking at the virtual beauty I had designed. I had named her Xiao Kai—a play on the Chinese word for 'slacking off'—because, despite being synthesized from the most attractive features of hundreds of women found on the internet, she suffered from a persistent tendency to daydream. It was unclear if this was a glitch in the alien software or a conflict with earthly hardware.

"Master, you’re slandering me again! Just because I got distracted last time and didn't hear you, you keep holding it over me!" Xiao Kai was the most advanced intelligence in my lab, with a cognitive capacity comparable to a twenty-year-old human. Of course, the knowledge stored in her metallic mind far exceeded that of any human; her capacity to simulate human thought was remarkably sophisticated.

"Enough, enough. Just show me the drawings. I need to study them tonight. By the way, did you make any progress on that thing I asked you to design?"

"Heh, Master, you’ve finally asked the right question. I’ve been working very hard on it. Look at these designs—and see if you dare call me 'Slacker' again." The image on the screen was stunning. Xiao Kai’s playful pout was enough to make one’s head spin. I sometimes regretted making her so beautiful; it was hard enough to focus as it was. But since she had developed self-awareness, she refused to let me alter her appearance. A mistake made in haste, I suppose.

*Beep, beep.* With a soft chime, a dozen blueprints appeared. My eyes lit up. "Xiao Kai, this is excellent! This is exactly what I wanted. Though, the head design needs a slight tweak; it's a bit too ugly."

The blueprints depicted a high-tech, form-fitting metal suit. If you had seen the 2008 film *Iron Man*, you would instantly recognize the inspiration. I had tasked Xiao Kai with designing an armored suit based on that concept, tailored to my own height and weight. The project involved immense technical hurdles—miniaturizing AI chips to fit inside the suit, creating high-strength, low-thickness composite armor, and integrating weapon systems. Seeing such perfect schematics in so little time was unexpected, though I suppose it was only possible because I had fed my database of alien tech into her system.

While the *Iron Man* armor reflected American aesthetics, I preferred the refined, ornate style favored in Asia. I had instructed Xiao Kai to avoid the bulky look of the film's armor, and she had delivered something resembling the Gold Cloths from the anime *Saint Seiya*. It was currently "gold" only in design, as it hadn't been painted yet.

I nodded in approval. Designing this wasn't just a whim; I understood the necessity of power. While I possessed the Ziyang Divine Art and various martial skills, they were only effective against humans. Against modern military firepower, they were useless. But with this armor, I would become a high-tech offensive machine.

Supersonic flight, laser weaponry, micro-missiles, and bulletproof plating—this suit would allow me to traverse the skies and the earth, and single-handedly dismantle a modern army. This was the invincible power I needed to clear the obstacles in my path.

"Xiao Kai, I’ll call this the Alloy Armor. Have you designed the power source? Let me see what you’ve chosen." I suppressed my excitement and asked calmly. Without a potent energy source, such a suit would remain nothing more than a fantasy.