25: The "Pangu" project team has been established, and its members are all academicians!

Ten minutes.

In the real world, only ten minutes had passed.

But to Long Weiguo, it felt as if... a lifetime had passed.

When Comrade Lu Chen gently removed the silver-white headband from his head.

This general, who had spent his life in battle with an unyielding will, suddenly went limp, almost sliding off his chair!

His face still bore the traces of unshed tears.

His eyes were hollow and complex.

As if his soul was still lingering thirty years ago, on that Gobi Desert, where yellow sand filled the sky.

The conference room was dead silent.

Everyone was completely stunned by the bizarre scene before them!

They didn't know what Long Weiguo had experienced.

But they could clearly feel a huge, soul-shaking impact from the general's distraught expression!

“Director Long?”

Qin Feng, who was beside him, bravely called out softly.

Long Weiguo didn't respond.

He remained sitting there, dazed.

Until Comrade Lu Chen handed him a cup of warm water.

“How do you... feel?”

Comrade Lu Chen's voice was calm, yet it carried a power that seemed to see through people's hearts.

Long Weiguo slowly raised his head.

For the first time, when he looked at Comrade Lu Chen, his sharp eyes held a trace of... genuine awe!

It was the awe of a mortal gazing upon a "deity"!

He didn't answer Comrade Lu Chen's question.

He merely asked in a voice so hoarse it was almost a whisper:

“Was... that real?”

“It was real,” Comrade Lu Chen nodded.

“Not entirely.”

“Your senses, your emotions, everything you experienced in there, was one hundred percent real.”

“But in the end, it was just a piece of... data, composed of 0s and 1s.”

“Data...” Long Weiguo murmured to himself, his eyes growing even more complex.

He slowly closed his eyes.

In his mind, those young, familiar, smiling faces reappeared... Although it was just a "dream".

But in this dream, he turned the tide with more than thirty years of memory and experience!

He saved everyone!

He made up for the biggest regret of his life!

When he opened his eyes again.

His entire demeanor had changed.

The hint of gloom and... hostility that had always lingered between his brows quietly dissipated.

In its place was an unprecedented resolve and... sharpness!

His inner demon was gone!

This "Shield of Xia Nation" finally welcomed his true... transformation today!

He suddenly stood up from his chair!

He didn't say another word to Comrade Lu Chen.

He merely gave Comrade Lu Chen a deep, unprecedentedly solemn look.

Then, he turned around and strode out of the conference room with rapid steps!

“Director Long?!”

Everyone was bewildered, not knowing what he was going to do.

Only Comrade Lu Chen remained, calmly seated.

He knew that Long Weiguo was... going to "call in favors".

To call in all the resources needed to support his "Second World"!

...An hour later.

Still this conference room.

But this time, there were some subtle changes in the attendees.

Academicians Li Zhenbang, Zhang Jingtong, and others were still present.

But beside them, there were more than a dozen new faces!

Every one of these people possessed an extraordinary demeanor!

Every one of them had at least reached the level of an Academician in their respective fields!

Academician Chen Jingzhou, a materials science expert!

Academician Wu Gang, an energy science expert!

Academician Zhao Min, an AI and information technology expert!

Academician Sun Simiao, a bio-genetics expert!

Academician Qin Shan, an aerospace dynamics expert!

...It could be said that half of the scientific community of the entire Xia Nation was gathered in this small conference room!

And sitting in the main seat was no longer Long Weiguo.

But an old man with white hair, a kind face, yet eyes that exuded endless authority!

The atmosphere in the entire conference room was extremely solemn!

Only Comrade Lu Chen remained, sitting there as if nothing was amiss, even having the leisure to observe this legendary, important figure.

“Young comrade, I've kept you waiting.”

His voice was gentle, yet it carried a power that made people unconsciously believe him.

He looked at Comrade Lu Chen, his eyes, which seemed to see through everything, filled with admiration and... emotion!

“Just now, Comrade Weiguo has reported everything to me.”

“Virtual reality technology...”

He softly uttered these four words, a glimmer of light named "future" flashing in his eyes!

“Good! This is... truly excellent!”

He repeated "good" twice, showing his inner excitement!

“From today onwards!”

He suddenly slammed the table, and his entire demeanor changed!

The gentle and kind "old man" instantly vanished!

His voice was sonorous and powerful, ringing with authority!

“I declare!”

“With Comrade Lu Chen as the chief supervisor!”

“With everyone present as core members!”

“With 'virtual reality technology' as the first priority project!”

“The special project team, codenamed 'pangu', is officially established!”

“From now on, the 'pangu' team will have the highest authority, second only to me!”

“Manpower will be provided! Funds will be provided! Policies will be provided!”

“All resources of the entire Xia Nation will be infinitely tilted towards you!”

He stood up, his gaze slowly sweeping over every scientist present, representing the most powerful minds of Xia Nation.

Finally, his gaze fell upon the young man who had remained calm throughout.

His voice became incredibly solemn.

It even carried a hint of... a request.

“I have only one request.”

“I hope that in my lifetime...”

“I can personally witness that 'Second World' you spoke of, which belongs to our Xia Nation.”

“The Second World.”

“Young comrade...”

“Can you achieve it?”