bookbashuk Chapter 425 A 7-Day Gamble!
Chapter 425 A 7-Day Gamble!
The sky was still dark when the Vermilion Bird ascended into the sky.
In the underground command room of the Northwest Military Launch Site, Zhang Yan sat in front of the main control console.
The screen displays various parameters of the Vermilion Bird in real time—energy output of the three-ring power furnace, reaction delay of the attitude control system, and stability of the sub-core.
Everything is within the green zone.
"T-10 seconds." Qin Xiao's voice came through the communicator.
Inside the Jinghai Villa, Nie Qingcheng watched the live feed via a dedicated line.
She didn't sit down, but stood by the window, looking into the distance.
Although the launch site was thousands of kilometers away, her gaze seemed to penetrate all distances.
"T-5 seconds".
Zhang Yan gently placed his hand on the control panel.
He could sense every ounce of energy flowing through the Vermilion Bird—through the quantum entanglement connection of the Heart of Heavenly Craftsmanship, the distance between him and the mecha was infinitely reduced.
"ignition."
The intense solar energy of the three-ring power furnace is released instantly.
The Vermilion Bird rose vertically from the launch pad, its tail flame illuminating the entire pre-dawn sky.
The stopwatch starts timing.
4 seconds.
12 seconds.
47 seconds.
The Vermilion Bird broke through the first layer of atmosphere.
2 minutes 31 seconds.
Entering the stratosphere.
4 minutes 12 seconds.
Break through the atmosphere.
The system prompts you to switch to ion propulsion mode.
Suzaku's acceleration changed from vertical ascent to continuous acceleration in outer space.
The numbers displayed on the screen began to change—38 kilometers from Earth, 45 kilometers, 52 kilometers.
"Stable," Qin Xiao reported. "All parameters are normal. Expected to reach L2 point in 72 hours."
Zhang Yan nodded.
He didn't relax, because he knew the real test was just beginning.
6 hours after Suzaku took off.
A system warning sounded.
The pressure readings at the first gate—the main control gate of Shennongjia—began to drop.
79%, 77%, 74%.
The presence of someone outside the door led to a change in strategy.
It abandoned its concentrated attack on the second gate and instead focused all its efforts on the main gate.
Zhang Yan immediately understood its intention.
The master gate is the central hub of the entire network.
Zhang Yan's remote consciousness access can only activate the sub-core through the core relay of the main control gate.
Destroying the main control gate is tantamount to cutting off communication between Zhang Yan and Zhuque.
"Qin Xiao." Zhang Yan's voice was cold.
"Understood. I'll arrange a helicopter immediately."
Zhang Yan was already packing his things.
He took out the activation chips for Baihu and Xingtian and stuffed them into his backpack.
He didn't tell Nie Qingcheng where he was going—she had already figured it out from the data on the control panel.
Nie Qingcheng's voice came through the communication.
"You're going to Shennongjia."
"Um."
"How long will it take?"
"I don't know," Zhang Yan said honestly. "It depends on when it stops."
Nie Qingcheng remained silent for two seconds.
"Then let's hold out until Suzaku arrives."
"Yes."
Zhang Yan hung up the communication and rushed out of the command room.
The helicopter landed in Shennongjia half an hour later.
Zhang Yan entered the underground passage without stopping.
He rode the white tiger and descended with Xing Tian at maximum speed.
Upon reaching the spherical space, the efficiency of the first gate had already dropped to 71%.
Zhang Yan did not attempt to repair it.
He directly uses the power of nature to "boost" – whenever efficiency drops by 0.1%, he injects an equal amount of energy to replenish it.
This isn't a repair; it's a pure war of attrition.
The reserves of the Heart of Heavenly Craftsmanship are continuously decreasing.
94.2%, 93.8%, 93.1%, 92.4%.
However, the efficiency of the first gate stabilized at 71% and stopped declining.
Nie Qingcheng reported the location of Zhuque in real time via the communication system.
"We are currently 190 million kilometers away from the L2 point. It is estimated that it will take another 54 hours."
Zhang Yan did not respond.
His entire attention was focused on the energy distribution of the Heart of the Creator.
Every replenishment must be accurate to two decimal places; there can be no waste, and there can be no shortage.
The war of attrition has entered its 18th hour.
Heavenly Craftsmanship Reserves: 88.7%.
First gate efficiency: 71.2% (stable).
There was continuous pressure from outside, but it couldn't break through.
Each impact was deflected by Zhang Yan using his energy.
Nie Qingcheng's voice became very soft over the phone.
"Zhang Yan".
"Um."
"Your heart rate is rising. Your blood oxygen is falling."
She paused.
"Body temperature fluctuations exceeded the safe range."
Zhang Yan knew she was looking at his physiological data.
He did not hide anything.
"We can still hold on."
"The Vermilion Bird's current location is 97 kilometers away from point L2." Nie Qingcheng's tone was flat, but Zhang Yan could tell she was calculating something.
"It will take another 41 hours."
Zhang Yan remained silent.
He did a simple math problem in his mind.
The reserves of the Heavenly Craftsman's Heart are at 88.7%.
Consumption rate is 0.8% per hour.
41 hours remaining.
88.7 divided by 0.8 equals 110.875 hours.
He can last 110 hours.
But he only needs 41 hours.
Nie Qingcheng's voice rang out again.
"Your reserves won't last."
This is not a question, it is a statement.
She had already done the same calculations.
"Yes, it will," Zhang Yan said.
"No." Nie Qingcheng's tone remained calm, but there was something decisive in that calmness.
"unless--"
She paused.
Zhang Yan waited for her to finish speaking.
"Unless someone helps you," she said.
The silence on the phone lasted for three seconds.
Then Zhang Yan heard her footsteps—she was leaving the command room.
He heard her pick up her car keys.
"Nie Qingcheng." Zhang Yan's voice was urgent.
"I'm going to Shennongjia," she said. "I'll be there within eight hours."
"No way," Zhang Yan immediately refused. "If you come, the beings outside the door will—"
"I know," Nie Qingcheng interrupted him.
"That's why I'll bring the Star Gazing Pavilion. The Celestial Pavilion should have a way to conceal my whereabouts."
Zhang Yan wanted to say something, but he knew that at this point no argument could change her decision.
"You wait for me there." Nie Qingcheng's tone was commanding, not requesting.
"No problems are allowed."
The communication was lost.
Zhang Yan turned around and looked at the black sphere that was continuously applying pressure.
The surface of the door was churning, like a giant heart beating.
He took a deep breath and continued to channel his energy.