18: Chapter 18 The Tumultuous Scenes of the Capital! A Low-Key Entrance Leads to Underestimation, But a Stunning Skill Shocks the Entire Audience (1)

The private jet landed smoothly on the runway at Beijing Capital International Airport, the roar of the engines gradually fading into the clear autumn sky.

As soon as he stepped out of the cabin, a crisp autumn breeze greeted him, carrying the distinct, refreshing scent of the North, sweeping away the lingering humidity from his trip to Nanyang.

Mu Li had shed the suit and leather shoes he wore in Longman City, opting instead for a simple white casual shirt and black cargo pants with neatly cinched cuffs. He wore a pair of slightly worn sneakers and carried a faded black backpack.

His posture was upright, and his face was youthful, his brows carrying a sense of calm. He looked like a fresh university graduate. Among the entourage of entrepreneurs and experts in custom-made suits, he seemed out of place, yet possessed an aura all his own.

"Engineer Mu, over here!" Not far away, Xiao Wang, a staff member from the China Energy Administration, was tiptoeing and waving at him, his face full of eager smiles.

Xiao Wang was wearing a well-fitted light blue shirt with an ID badge pinned to his chest, looking capable and enthusiastic. Standing beside him were several officials in dark gray formal suits, ties neatly knotted, red identification badges pinned to their chests, and solemn expressions—clearly there specifically to pick him up.

Mu Li walked over quickly, a gentle smile on his face, and reached out his hand: "Brother Wang, sorry to trouble you with a special trip. You're too kind."

"Engineer Mu, you've brought glory to the country!" Xiao Wang shook his hand vigorously, his tone full of admiration. "Defeating international energy giants at the Nanyang Summit and promoting our Wireless Power Transmission Technology globally—never mind picking you up, even a higher-spec reception wouldn't be too much!"

As he spoke, he turned to introduce the officials beside him. "These are Deputy Director Li, Department Head Zhang, and Director Zhao from the Energy Administration. They specifically came to take you to tonight's pre-event banquet for the National Energy Industry Summit."

Several officials stepped forward one by one to shake hands with Mu Li, their words filled with sincere admiration.

Deputy Director Li was nearly sixty, with graying hair, but his eyes were exceptionally bright. He held Mu Li's hand for a long time without letting go: "Engineer Mu, you are young and promising! Your performance in Nanyang not only made Huaguo's new energy technology proud but also struck a heavy blow to the arrogance of those international giants, winning great face for our national energy industry! You are the pride of our Huaguo energy sector!"

"Deputy Director Li, you flatter me. I only did what I had to do." Mu Li responded humbly, his tone calm and without a hint of boastfulness. He knew well that the promotion of technology could not be separated from national support, and this honor belonged to the entire Huaguo energy industry.

On the way to the banquet venue—the Beijing International Convention Center—Xiao Wang sat in the passenger seat and turned to give Mu Li a detailed introduction to the event: "Tonight's banquet is of the highest specification; it can be considered a 'gathering of heroes' in the domestic energy sector."

"Many big names in the domestic energy field have come, such as Chairman Zhao Shanhe of Huaguo Huadian Group, General Manager Chen Jianjun of Oriental Energy, General Manager Wang Li of Northwest Power, and many local government leaders, such as Director Liu from the Shanghai Macro-Regulation Bureau and Secretary Zhang from the Shen City High-Tech Zone. They are all here for tomorrow's National Energy Industry Summit."

"Everyone has long heard of your achievements and is especially looking forward to your technical sharing. Many have come with cooperation intentions, just waiting to discuss things with you in person. Especially some government representatives from remote areas, who are hoping that your technology can solve their local power supply problems." Xiao Wang became more excited as he spoke, his eyes full of admiration for Mu Li.

Mu Li nodded, his gaze fixed on the rapidly passing Beijing streetscape outside the car window.

The wide roads were filled with endless traffic, skyscrapers stood in rows, and the streetlights on Chang'an Avenue were neatly arranged, reflecting the prosperity and solemnity of an international metropolis.

His core goals for returning to the country this time were twofold: First, to promote the large-scale adoption of Wireless Power Transmission Technology domestically, allowing this technology to benefit more regions as soon as possible and solve power supply problems in remote mountainous areas and islands; Second, to leverage the platform of the National Energy Industry Summit to find more high-quality partners, integrate resources such as capital, talent, and venues, and accelerate the R&D process of Controllable Nuclear Fusion to build a complete energy industrial chain.

At 6:00 PM, the vehicle arrived smoothly at the Beijing International Convention Center.

The building was magnificent, its exterior walls made of dark gray stone, paired with large glass curtain walls that glowed with a steady luster in the setting sun.

The banquet venue was located in the top-floor ballroom of the convention center. The moment the elevator doors opened, a scent mixed with high-end perfume, champagne bubbles, and exquisite food wafted toward him, instantly immersing one in the atmosphere of a high-end banquet.

The interior of the banquet hall was luxurious and grand. A huge crystal chandelier hung in the center of the ceiling, composed of thousands of crystals, emitting a brilliant light that illuminated the entire space with colorful radiance.

The floor was covered with a deep red handmade carpet; walking on it was silent, and it felt substantial. Famous landscape paintings hung on the surrounding walls, and elegant potted plants were placed in the corners. The air was filled with a faint floral fragrance.

With rustling silks and clinking glasses, guests in magnificent attire gathered in twos and threes to chat. The voices were soft but carried an air of enthusiasm, everywhere showcasing the high-end and grand nature of this banquet.

Mu Li walked into the banquet hall alone with his backpack. Without an entourage or fancy attire, he stood in stark contrast to the surrounding environment, instantly attracting many gazes.

Most people's gazes merely swept over him briefly before turning away, evidently not taking this "ordinary college student" looking young man seriously.

Only a few people recognized him from news reports, but their eyes also carried a hint of disdain and doubt.

"That's Mu Li? He looks too ordinary, doesn't look at all like someone who could develop top-tier Wireless Power Transmission Technology." A lady in a purple evening gown whispered to her companion, covering her mouth with her hand.

Her companion, dressed in a silver suit with a shiny bracelet on her wrist, nodded upon hearing this: "Yeah, in my imagination, a tech genius should be suited up and have a powerful aura. I didn't expect him to be so young and so plain."

"I heard he beat the international giants in Nanyang. I thought he would be a big shot with a powerful aura. I didn't expect him to be so young and so low-key." A man with gold-rimmed glasses nearby echoed, his tone filled with disbelief.

"Low-key? I think he just hasn't seen the big stage." Another middle-aged man in a suit sneered, his eyes scanning Mu Li's attire with contempt. "Look at what he's wearing—casual shirt and cargo pants. Dressing like this in such a high-end occasion is too inappropriate; he simply doesn't know the rules. He probably just got lucky and stumbled upon a good project."

These comments were not loud, but in the relatively quiet banquet hall, they still clearly reached Mu Li's ears.

He, however, did not care at all. With a calm smile still on his face, he walked straight to the drink area in the corner, picked up a transparent glass, poured a cup of lemonade, and stood there quietly, sipping it while calmly observing the situation in the hall.

He noticed that the banquet hall was roughly divided into several circles: on the left, government officials were gathered together, discussing national energy policies and local development plans; in the middle were the heads of large energy enterprises, chatting and laughing, their words full of the confidence of industry giants; on the right were experts and scholars from various research institutions, discussing current technical difficulties in the energy field.

Not far away, Zhao Shanhe, the chairman of the domestic energy giant "Huaguo Huadian Group," was surrounded by several local government officials and entrepreneurs, chatting and laughing.

He was wearing an expensive handmade Italian suit, a priceless Patek Philippe watch on his wrist, and a huge diamond ring on his finger. His aura was powerful, and he was clearly the focal point of the hall.

Zhao Shanhe also noticed Mu Li in the corner. His brows furrowed slightly, a flash of disdain in his eyes, and he said to the people around him in a low voice: "Is that Mu Li? He looks a bit unreliable. Although Wireless Power Transmission Technology sounds impressive, whether it can be promoted on a large scale is uncertain. It might just be a flashy showpiece in a laboratory. I think you'd better not be in a hurry to cooperate with him, so as not to suffer a loss."

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

A local government head from a central province nodded and said with some hesitation, "Chairman Zhao has a point. However, his performance in Nanyang was indeed brilliant, and the media reports have been buzzing. Power supply in our province's remote mountainous areas has always been a difficult problem. If his technology can really be implemented, it would indeed solve a major issue. We should wait and see first; let's not miss a good opportunity."

Zhao Shanhe sneered, his tone full of confidence. "What do those small countries in Nanyang know? They were just fooled by his showy antics. The real energy industry still relies on large enterprises like ours with strength and heritage. He's just a young brat with no resources or channels. Even if his technology has some merit, it won't amount to much. Our Huaguo Huadian has been operating for decades, with thousands of power stations across the country and a power grid covering hundreds of millions of users. This is not something a youngster like him can compare to."

He had long since regarded Mu Li as a potential competitor. Huaguo Huadian Group mainly deals in traditional thermal and hydropower businesses, occupying nearly one-third of the domestic power market share. If Mu Li's Wireless Power Transmission Technology were promoted on a large scale, it would inevitably impact their traditional business, affect his commercial interests, and might even shake Huaguo Huadian's industry position. Naturally, he did not want to see Mu Li's rise.

An executive from Huaguo Huadian beside him also chimed in, "Chairman Zhao is right. To promote Wireless Power Transmission Technology on a large scale requires huge capital investment and perfect supporting facilities. He can't support it alone. Moreover, the technological maturity has yet to be verified. If a safety accident occurs, who will be responsible? Our traditional energy business is more stable."

Just then, the lights on the stage in the center of the banquet hall suddenly lit up, focusing on the center of the stage. The host of the dinner walked onto the stage. Dressed in a black suit and full of energy, he picked up the microphone and said in a loud and infectious voice, "Good evening, guests! Welcome to the National Energy Industry Summit pre-summit dinner! Tonight, we are honored to have invited many top experts, entrepreneurs, and government leaders in the field of energy to discuss the future development of the energy industry and cooperate on major plans!"

"Among them, the most anticipated is Mr. Mu Li, who recently shone at the Nanyang Summit, crushed international giants with his technical strength, and won glory for China's energy industry! The Wireless Power Transmission Technology developed by Mr. Mu has broken international monopolies and opened a new era of energy transmission! Let us welcome Mr. Mu Li to the stage with warm applause to share his technical achievements with everyone!"

Applause rang out, but it was not warm—sparse and scattered. Many people held a wait-and-see attitude, and some even showed disdainful smiles. Clearly, many people still had doubts about Mu Li, feeling he was just lucky or that the media had overhyped him.

Mu Li put down the lemonade in his hand, a calm smile still on his face, and walked slowly toward the stage. He didn't intentionally create an aura; his pace was steady and his expression indifferent. But as he stepped closer to the stage, perhaps because of the unique calm temperament he possessed, or perhaps because of everyone's curiosity about his 'Nanyang Apotheosis,' everyone fell strangely silent, their eyes involuntarily focusing on him.

Walking onto the stage, Mu Li took the microphone handed to him by the host. His fingertips lightly brushed the microphone casing. Without any redundant pleasantries or long-winded self-introductions, he said directly, "Thank you for the invitation. Today, I don't want to say too many empty or cliché words; I'll let the technology speak for itself."

As he spoke, he gave a crisp snap of his fingers. The heavy curtains on both sides of the stage slowly pulled back, revealing two portable wireless power transmission devices that were even smaller than the ones at the Nanyang Summit. The devices were silver-gray throughout, made of aviation-grade aluminum alloy, with a simple and smooth design and rounded corners. They were only the size of a carry-on suitcase and were placed on special black stands, looking exquisite and professional. There was a small display screen on the front of the device with jumping green numbers, and on the side were several ports and buttons, with a clear and concise layout.

At the same time, the crystal chandeliers at the top of the banquet hall suddenly all went out, and the entire hall instantly fell into darkness. Only the two devices on the stage emitted a faint blue light, which was particularly striking in the dark. The sudden darkness caused many people to exclaim.

"What's going on? A power outage?"

"Could it be that something went wrong with his equipment, causing a short circuit?"

"I said he was unreliable, and now he's making a fool of himself!"

"This is too embarrassing, dropping the ball on such an important occasion."

A commotion immediately broke out below the stage, with discussions and exclamations rising and falling. Some people subconsciously took out their phones for light, the faint spots of light swaying in the dark. A smug smile curled at the corner of Zhao Shanhe's mouth, and he whispered to the executive beside him, "See, I told you he couldn't do it. Now look, he's making a fool of himself on such an important occasion! Let's see how he handles this."

Just as everyone was talking and panicking, Mu Li's voice rang out again with a faint smile, spreading through the entire banquet hall via the microphone: "Everyone, don't panic. The power outage just now was my deliberate arrangement, intended to give everyone a more intuitive experience of my technology. Next, it's time to witness the miracle."

He reached out his finger and lightly pressed the start button on one of the devices. The device emitted a slight hum, as soft as a hummingbird's wings, with almost no noise. The blue light became brighter, forming a faint halo around the device. Then, he spoke into the microphone, "Please look at the crystal chandeliers above your heads."

Everyone looked up and saw that the crystal chandeliers, which had been extinguished, actually lit up one by one. Starting from above the stage, like stars starting a prairie fire, the light gradually spread to the entire banquet hall, eventually converging into a brilliant sea of light. Moreover, the brightness of the light was softer and more uniform than before, without any flickering, making people feel exceptionally comfortable, as if they were in a dreamlike world of light and shadow.

What was even more shocking was that everyone clearly saw that these crystal chandeliers were not connected to any wires. The lamp bases were empty, and one could even see that the wire interfaces reserved on the ceiling were vacant—clearly, these chandeliers were powered by Wireless Power Transmission Technology!

The entire banquet hall instantly fell silent, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. Everyone stared dumbfounded at the crystal chandeliers above their heads, their faces full of shock and disbelief. Many people even subconsciously rubbed their eyes, thinking they had seen wrong. Some guests who had been sitting also stood up, craning their necks to observe closely, wanting to see how this magical technology was actually achieved.

"This... this is amazing! Power can be supplied without wires?" a white-haired old expert murmured to himself, his tone full of shock. He had studied energy technology for decades and had never seen such an advanced transmission method.

"And the coverage is so large; the entire banquet hall must be at least a thousand square meters, right? The transmission distance must also be dozens of meters. This technology is too advanced!"

"I underestimated him before! Engineer Mu is simply a god-like existence! This is the real core technology, the kind that can change the world!"

"No wonder he could defeat international giants in Nanyang. With this strength, who can compare? Those international giants didn't lose unfairly!"

"Our hometown is in a remote mountainous area, where wires can't be pulled in, and we've been short of electricity all year round. If we have this technology, wouldn't the power supply problem in our hometown be completely solved?"

The sounds of discussion rose again, but this time there was no previous contempt or doubt, replaced by full amazement and admiration. Many people excitedly exchanged views, their eyes filled with anticipation for this technology.

The smile on Zhao Shanhe's face instantly froze, his eyes filled with shock and fear, and his face turned pale. He never expected that Mu Li's technology would be so advanced, with both coverage and stability far exceeding his expectations. He originally thought that Wireless Power Transmission Technology was still in the stage of small-scale, low-power applications. He didn't expect it to already achieve simultaneous power supply for multiple devices over a thousand square meters, and with such high stability. If this technology were promoted on a large scale, it would not only impact Huaguo Huadian's traditional energy business but might even completely overturn the structure of the entire energy industry. At that time, his enterprise would surely suffer a devastating blow!