65: Chapter 65: The heat-insulating tile experiment is a success; Dragon in the Sky lays a trap!

The tile remained fixed in place, its surface showing no significant color change, merely glowing with a faint dark red hue from the extreme heat, cooling at a rate visible to the naked eye.

"The data!" Fu Dong asked urgently.

"Maximum surface temperature, 2725 degrees Celsius. Maximum backplate temperature... 132 degrees!" The researcher's voice trembled with disbelief and excitement. "Heat flux density attenuation rate, 92%! Material deformation rate, 0.03%! All parameters... all exceed the design requirements! No, they far surpass the design expectations!"

The control room fell silent for a moment before erupting into hushed gasps and murmurs of admiration.

"132 degrees... how is that possible?!" a young researcher exclaimed. "Theoretical calculations put the backplate temperature at least above 300 degrees!"

Fu Dong snatched the data report, his eyes rapidly scanning each line of numbers, his fingers trembling slightly from the force of his grip. After a long moment, he looked up at Chen Fan, his expression incredibly complex—a mix of shock, elation, and a hint of ineffable emotion.

"Boss Chen..." He opened his mouth, but in the end, just gave Chen Fan's shoulder a firm pat. "This material of yours... truly didn't disappoint me!"

"I assure you the data I provided is real. Theoretically, it can withstand temperatures up to 10,000 degrees. We can verify that further later."

Chen Fan appeared calm on the surface, but internally, his heart was already a turbulent sea.

Success!

The successful heat shield test meant that stardust material had officially passed verification for aerospace-grade applications! It meant that from now on, Star of Fortune held a highly valuable 'passport' in the field of high-end materials! More importantly, it meant that the aerospace specialty materials market, long dominated by the Long family, was about to be torn open with a massive breach!

"Engineer Fu," Chen Fan said, suppressing the excitement in his heart, "since the test passed, I think we can expedite small-batch trial production and on-machine verification."

"Absolutely!" Fu Dong immediately nodded. "I'll file a report right away to accelerate the process! As long as the performance stability of the subsequent small-batch products is verified, the order for 'xuanyuan phase one' will undoubtedly be yours!"

Leaving the lab, Chen Fan's emotions took a long time to settle. He immediately sent a message to Lin Hao: "Hao Zi. We did it."

"Fan Zi, I knew you could pull it off." Receiving such thrilling news, Lin Hao was also overjoyed.

——

East Suburbs of Modu, Azure Dragon Lake Golf Club.

The 18-hole standard course gleamed a blinding green under the sun. Long Zaitian, dressed in a pure white limited-edition FJ golf outfit, stood on the tee box of the seventh hole, his movements as textbook-perfect as a pro.

Squinting, his gaze traversed the three-hundred-yard fairway, landing on the distant small white flagpole—the green for this par-four hole.

The surroundings were quiet, with only the soft rustle of the breeze through the grass. Several club executives and business partners accompanying him held their breath, not daring to disturb Third Young Master's crucial shot.

Long Zaitian adjusted his grip, extended his arms, channeling power from his feet through his hips and smoothly into his wrists—

"Whoosh!"

A crisp sound of impact. The white ball traced a beautiful parabola through the air, landing precisely in the center of the fairway, rolling forward another dozen yards before stopping in the optimal attack position.

"Beautiful!"

"Third Young Master, that shot was pro-level!"

Flattering remarks rose at the perfect moment. Long Zaitian offered a faint smile, handed his club to the caddie behind him, and took the iced lemon water offered by an attendant. Sipping slowly, his eyes seemed to casually sweep over the sparkling artificial lake in the distance, but the corner of his gaze remained fixed on his assistant, who was waiting just off the tee box.

The assistant held a tablet, his expression somewhat tense.

Long Zaitian set down his water glass, meticulously wiping his hands with a hot towel, cleaning every crevice between his fingers. Only after finishing did he give the assistant a slight nod.

The assistant immediately jogged over, lowering his voice. "Third Young Master, regarding Star of Fortune..."

"Let's talk while walking." Long Zaitian cut him off, striding toward the golf cart. His pace remained unhurried; he even nodded politely to a business owner nearby.

The cart glided smoothly along the immaculately trimmed fairway. The assistant, seated beside him, reported quickly: "We've found our opening." He promptly handed over the tablet, displaying Liu Dazhu's profile.

"This guy is desperate for money. His wife urgently needs funds for medical treatment. One million. He's already taken the bait. Tomorrow's convoy route and vehicle arrangements, he'll provide them. He'll also install an ignition device on the truck."

Long Zaitian glanced at the photo of the simple, honest face and smiled faintly, a hunter's pleasure at seeing his prey enter the cage.

"One million..." he snorted softly. "Tell him, after the job is done, we'll arrange an overseas study opportunity for his son."

"Yes, sir!" the assistant noted.

The cart stopped at the position for the second shot. Long Zaitian got out, took an iron from his caddie, and walked to his ball. He crouched down, picked up a pinch of grass clippings to gauge the wind direction, his movements as professional as a tour player's.

But his mind was now occupied with a different calculation.

Chen Fan escaped the first time through caution and unpredictability. But this time, he had an inside man, technical interference, and a carefully chosen, treacherous location with a three-part trap laid like a net... How could this plan fail?

He had even begun to imagine Chen Fan's expression tomorrow afternoon when he learned the cargo convoy had been completely wiped out. Would it be fury? Despair? Or feigned composure?

Thinking of this, Long Zaitian's swing became even more fluid.

"Thwack!"

The ball soared into the air, tracing a low, flat trajectory, landing precisely on the edge of the green, less than twenty yards from the hole.

Another round of applause followed.

But Long Zaitian paid it no mind, heading straight for the green. His steps were quicker now, his white trousers swaying against the green grass, like a leopard approaching its prey—composed yet impatient.

In Long Zaitian's family values, this society ultimately revolves around power, resources, intricate connections, and money—the kind that makes people shut up.

Which of these did Chen Fan possess? This was precisely why Long Zaitian had never taken him seriously.

It's a simple principle: even if you had the technology to turn water into oil, you wouldn't be allowed to exist or promote it. The capital controlling energy would make your technology disappear, even make *you* disappear! Many illnesses remain incurable because the formulas for miracle drugs were bought out long ago by capital. If even cancer could be cured, who would the pharmaceutical companies make money from?

In this society, having technology is useless!

He bent over and gave a gentle putt.

The little white ball rolled slowly along the grain of the grass. With a soft "plop," it cleanly dropped into the hole.

"Excellent!"

"Hole-in-one! Third Young Master, you're on fire today!"

The surrounding cheers grew even more enthusiastic. Long Zaitian straightened up, took the ball from his caddie, and casually tossed it to a nearby, envious-looking boss. "President Zhang, share in the good luck."

The boss accepted it, flattered, and thanked him profusely.

Long Zaitian smiled, his expression elegant and proper, as if he hadn't just given that sinister order moments before.

He turned and walked toward the next tee box. The sun cast his tall figure into a long shadow. His white outfit stood out starkly against the green field...