186: The electrical revolution begins

The car drove forward along the dirt road, its headlights casting two beams of light.

Shen Xiaochuan sat in the passenger seat, the copper gear on his sleeve swaying back and forth.

He didn't speak, keeping his eyes fixed on the lights at the construction site ahead.

The car stopped, and he opened the door to get out.

A damp breeze blew over.

Zhou Mingrui walked over, wearing a hard hat and holding blueprints in his hand.

"You really came," Zhou Mingrui smiled. "I thought you were just saying that."

"No," Shen Xiaochuan said, walking toward the river. "Where is the stone?"

"Over there, on the concrete slab. I had a shed built over it, fearing the night dew. It's also fenced off; no one dares to touch it."

They walked over to the large stone.

Under the lights, it was clear that the stone's surface was covered in patterns, shimmering with a dark golden light.

Most of the workers had left, leaving only two night-shift Technicians squatting in front of the control box, checking the wiring.

"This stone won't affect the dam, will it? Could something go wrong?" Zhou Mingrui asked, sounding a bit worried.

"It won't," Shen Xiaochuan shook his head. "It has no master and hasn't activated any Formation. Right now, it's just a good piece of Materials; it won't explode or cause trouble. But it's blocking the closure gap, and the water can't pass, so it has to be moved."

"How do we move it? The crane won't arrive until tomorrow morning."

"We don't need a crane." Shen Xiaochuan took off his coat and rolled up his pant legs. "I'll go down."

"The water is so cold, and the mud underneath is soft. What if you get stuck?" Zhou Mingrui froze.

"It's fine." Shen Xiaochuan was already walking into the water. "Is the rope still there? Can the pulley still be used?"

"Yes, it works, the steel cables are all secured."

He walked step by step toward the middle of the river. The water reached his waist; it was very cold. He crouched down and braced his hands against the bottom of the stone. The stone was buried in the mud, its patterns facing upward, as if someone had placed it there deliberately.

He pushed with all his might.

At first, it wouldn't budge. He gritted his teeth, put his shoulders into it, and his feet dug two pits into the mud.

Suddenly, the stone loosened. With a soft "creak," the ground shook slightly, and ripples spread out. A few workers in the distance turned to look, but the vibration quickly faded.

The stone slowly left the riverbed, revealing its full appearance. As soon as it emerged from the water, it began to shrink. It first became shorter, then smaller, until it was the size of a palm, landing in Shen Xiaochuan's hand. It felt warm to the touch, and its light was no longer blinding.

"You packed it away?" Zhou Mingrui's eyes widened.

"Yes." Shen Xiaochuan put the stone into his tool bag. "This Materials is special; it shrinks when exposed to air, making it easy to carry. Now, there are no more problems."

He walked back to the bank and took a towel to dry his hands. The wind dried his hair, but he wasn't in a hurry to leave.

"How is the power station coming along?" he asked.

"The main structure is topped out, the concrete meets standards, and the rebar is qualified. The water pumps and turbines are all installed; we're just waiting for the water to flow." Zhou Mingrui's voice was tight. "But we never dared to start it up, fearing this stone was the core of a Formation, or that it might trigger some mechanism... Now that you've clarified it, I feel at ease."

"Rest assured." Shen Xiaochuan patted his shoulder. "It's just Materials, not the core. You can proceed according to the plan now."

Zhou Mingrui took a deep breath: "Then... shall we officially start it up?"

"Yes," Shen Xiaochuan nodded. "We'll send the power out tonight."

The news spread. The workers who had originally left returned one after another, standing on both sides of the dam to watch. The Technicians returned to the main control room. Lights turned on one by one, and the needles on the gauges began to move.

Shen Xiaochuan and Zhou Mingrui stood on the platform outside the main control room. The wind grew stronger, whipping their clothes around.

"Everyone, pay attention!" Zhou Mingrui picked up a megaphone. "Begin the final check! Pump No. 1 is normal! Pump No. 2 pressure is stable! Open the floodgate to 30%, let the water flow into the diversion canal—"

He reported the data point by point, his voice steady. The workers looked up to listen, some clenching their fists.

"The turbine units are ready! The voltage regulators are set! The transmission lines are fine!"

"We can close the switch now." A Technician turned back to look at him.

Shen Xiaochuan didn't speak, just looked at Zhou Mingrui.

Zhou Mingrui paused, then raised his hand: "Close the switch!"

The operator pressed the button.

"Click—"

The power was on.

In the distance, the first transmission tower lit up with a lamp. Then the second, the third... The streetlights along the road lit up one by one, connecting into a ribbon of light that led straight to the center of Skydome City.

The whole scene was silent.

A few seconds later, everyone cheered.

"It's lit! It's actually lit!"

"The power is here! We generated it ourselves!"

"After half a month of hard work, it was worth it!"

Workers jumped up, patting each other on the shoulders, some sitting on the ground laughing out loud. An old electrician wiped his face and muttered: "I've lived fifty years, and this is the first time I've seen a power station I helped build turn on."

Shen Xiaochuan stood on the high ground, watching the ribbon of light extend. The light shone on his face, warm.

He said to Zhou Mingrui: "You've worked hard."

"It was your plan," Zhou Mingrui smiled. "If I had known you were a Mechanical System graduate, I wouldn't have doubted your ability to handle infrastructure."

"It's normal that you didn't believe it," Shen Xiaochuan said calmly. "When I first underwent Awakening, I didn't even have any combat talents; who would look up to me? But things are different now. We rely on progress, not fame."

He took a small cloth bag out of his tool bag and handed it to Zhou Mingrui.

"What is this?"

"A bonus," Shen Xiaochuan said. "Three days off, plus this money, go back and spend time with your family."

Zhou Mingrui weighed it; it was heavy, filled with silver coins.

"And you? Aren't you going to rest?"

"I have other things to do." Shen Xiaochuan looked at the city. "The power is on, the next step is how to use it. The Industrial Zone is waiting to start production."

He raised his voice: "Today, the power station is officially in operation! Every worker who participated in the construction will receive one hundred silver coins, and tomorrow is a day off! You all did a great job!"

The crowd erupted again.

"Long live the Deities!"

"Skydome City is about to take off!"

"We have to have a drink tomorrow!"

Laughter and cheers mixed together. The workers walked out in groups of three or five, some turning back to take a few extra looks at the dam, as if wanting to remember this moment.

The technical team stayed behind to continue monitoring the data. Shen Xiaochuan didn't leave; he remained standing by the platform.

Zhou Mingrui finished submitting the documents and walked over: "Everyone's left, you should head back too."

"Stay a while longer," Shen Xiaochuan said. "I want to watch the reservoir fill up."

"It's already rising, it will reach the safety line within two hours." Zhou Mingrui thought for a moment. "Are you still thinking about that stone?"

"Yes." Shen Xiaochuan touched the tool bag. "It shouldn't be here. The Desolate Blade is a divine weapon; how could its fragments be buried at the bottom of the river? Who put it there? When? Are there any others?"

"You want to study it?"

"Of course." Shen Xiaochuan's eyes darkened. "This kind of Materials cannot be wasted. It might be usable in important equipment."

"Then be careful," Zhou Mingrui warned. "Don't mess around with it; what if you trigger some Formation..."

"I know my limits," Shen Xiaochuan smiled. "I'm not a fool."

The two didn't speak again. In the distance, the city lights grew more numerous, as if tearing through the night.

"The electrical age has begun," Zhou Mingrui said.

"This is just the first step." Shen Xiaochuan looked at the Industrial Zone. "With electricity, we can build machines; with machines, we can mass-produce; after mass production, that will be the true industrial revolution."

"When do you plan to start?"

"Tomorrow," he said. "Once the workers have rested, the first batch of production lines must be laid."

"I'll keep an eye on the energy sector and ensure power supply," Zhou Mingrui nodded seriously.

"With your word, I can rest easy."

The wind stopped. The water surface was flat, reflecting the lights on both banks. The dam lay across the valley like an iron spine.

Shen Xiaochuan took one last look at the power station, then turned and walked toward the parking spot.

The off-road vehicle started, and he sat in the passenger seat, his hand resting on the car door. The tool bag was by his leg, the small stone lying quietly inside.

The car drove onto the dirt road and began to bump along.

He closed his eyes, his mind focused on only one thing: the first order of business tomorrow is to find the person in charge of the Industrial Zone and arrange new tasks.

The electricity was already there.

Next, let the whole city get moving.