253: Star core resonance and "flowing silver" web

After the theoretical direction for the "star core engine" was determined, the entire power development team entered the critical stage of tackling the problem. The biggest hurdle was how to safely and efficiently "borrow" energy without disturbing the stable cycle within the star core fragment.

Wen Youyi practically "welded" himself into the main control room, engaging in day after day of deep resonance with the main star core fragment, which was gradually recovering. This was unlike simply guiding and using energy before; it required him to act like the most precise surgeon, sensing its most subtle energy pulses and understanding every "meridian" through which the energy flowed.

The process was tedious and dangerous. Several times, when his probing Mental Energy delved slightly too deep, it provoked the star core energy's instinctive counterattack. Although the crystal key neutralized it in time, it still caused his blood to surge and his Divine Sense to suffer damage. Mu Wanqing had to stay nearby frequently, ready to use a Medicinal Pill to stabilize his state of mind at any moment.

"This is simply harder than taming an ancient Vicious Beast..." After one near-loss of control, Wen Youyi, his face pale, regulated his breathing and said with a wry smile to Mu Wanqing.

Mu Wanqing tenderly handed him a calming Medicinal Pill and said softly, "Haste makes waste. The star core has a spirit; perhaps... you should try to 'negotiate' with it instead of 'conquering' it."

"Negotiate?" Wen Youyi was momentarily stunned, then thoughtful.

Indeed, he had always tried to guide and control it using force, forgetting that this star core fragment had experienced ages, perhaps already developing a faint spirituality. Especially since it shared the same origin as the star core fragment and key within his body, they naturally possessed an affinity for each other.

He changed his strategy. Instead of forcibly investigating, he sat quietly beside the star core every day, treating it like a silent and venerable elder, circulating his own Star Power Cultivation Technique, allowing his aura to gradually synchronize with the star core's fluctuations, conveying intentions of friendliness, need for assistance, and shared goals.

At first, the star core showed no reaction. But Wen Youyi was extremely patient, day after day, like water dripping through stone.

Gradually, a change occurred. When he attempted to guide the energy again, it was no longer a harsh 'extraction,' but more like issuing a 'request.' The vast energy flow within the star core actually separated a sliver—extremely subtle yet exceptionally docile—which slowly flowed out along the 'channel' constructed by his Mental Energy!

Although the flow rate was so small it was almost negligible, this was undoubtedly a milestone Breakthrough! It meant the star core had 'acknowledged' his request!

"We succeeded! Boss, you're incredible!" Senior Brother Zhang, who had been monitoring the energy readings, shouted excitedly.

Wen Youyi also breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face. He knew this was only the first step, and they were still far from powering the starship, but at least it proved that the path of 'negotiation' was feasible.

Just as Wen Youyi established preliminary 'tacit understanding' with the star core, Senior Brother Li's "Flowing Silver" Web Weaving plan also achieved key progress.

The core of the "Flowing Silver" ship spirit System was to enable the Flowing Silver collective to form a 'living neural network' spread throughout the starship, capable of understanding and executing complex instructions. To achieve this goal, Senior Brother Li and Xiao Wu designed a scheme called 'Resonance Web Weaving.'

They utilized specially made fine threads of star pattern gold as the base grid; these threads could conduct Star Power and specific signals themselves. Then, they guided a large number of individual Flowing Silver entities to attach themselves to these grids, allowing them to 'inhabit' them and connect and communicate with each other via the grid.

But that wasn't enough. The grid was merely the 'highway'; they still needed a set of 'traffic rules' and an 'instruction set' that the Flowing Silver entities could understand.

Xiao Wu's role became prominent again. He had become intimately familiar with several of the 'smartest' meritorious Flowing Silver entities, almost acting as their 'spokesperson.' Combining this with the Flowing Silver entities' sensitivity to energy fluctuations, he designed an extremely complex, multi-layered 'energy coding language.'

Simple instructions, such as 'monitor temperature in Area A3,' would be encoded into energy pulses of specific frequencies and intensities, transmitted through the grid. Nearby Flowing Silver entities would receive it and spontaneously 'sense' the temperature in Area A3, feeding the information back.

Complex instructions, such as 'coordinate the repair of hull damage between Sections B7 and C2,' would be broken down into hundreds of minute tasks, distributed through the grid to all Flowing Silver entities along the path. They would then work like an ant colony, each completing a small part of the repair, seamlessly connecting under the grid's coordination.

To help the Flowing Silver entities better understand these 'codes,' Xiao Wu even devised 'scenario simulation teaching.' In a specially constructed testing cabin filled with grids, he simulated various situations the starship might encounter—energy leaks, structural cracks, external impacts, and so on—and repeatedly used the 'energy coding' to guide the Flowing Silver entities in responding. They were rewarded with pure Star Power for correct actions and corrected with re-demonstrations for mistakes.

The process was akin to talking to a wall, fraught with constant mishaps. Often, a Flowing Silver entity would interpret 'repairing a crack' as 'licking the crack smoother,' or 'regulating energy output' as 'sucking the energy away themselves.' Xiao Wu was often so frustrated he jumped up and down, yet helpless.

But patience paid off. After consuming massive amounts of patience and Star Power, the Flowing Silver entities finally began to understand and execute those complex instructions in a presentable manner! Inside the testing cabin, they could now cooperate to complete various preset maintenance and monitoring tasks, achieving efficiency far surpassing that of mechanical Puppets!

When the first 'living neural network' powered by stably operating Flowing Silver, covering an entire small simulated cabin, successfully passed the comprehensive test, Senior Brother Li and Xiao Wu embraced excitedly. This meant that every corner of the future hope would potentially be covered in these loyal and flexible 'silver nerves'!

The star core began to 'lend power,' and the Flowing Silver learned to 'obey.' The two core technical hurdles of the hope were being overcome bit by bit. The blueprint for the journey back through the sea of stars was gradually transforming from paper into a tangible reality.

(End of Chapter)