7: Graduation and Departure

Four years later, on the day of Jiangnan Medical University's graduation ceremony.

The campus was bathed in sunlight, and graduates, dressed in their gowns, took photos on the lawn. Amidst the laughter and cheer, no one noticed that a student who should have been present, Chen Hao, was currently in a closed factory less than twenty kilometers from the school, intently staring at the Imperial-class frigate taking shape before him.

What? Why a medical university? This was just what his family requested. Anyway, with the system, any university was the same, and it could serve as a cover. After all, even if some unexpected leak occurred later, with so many people sharing the same name, who would think to investigate an engineering talent at a medical university?

What? Why wasn't he attending the graduation ceremony? Simple, isn't it perfectly reasonable to take a rest due to a stomach upset?

What? Why were the four years in between skipped? Can't this author be lazy? Besides, adhering to the guiding principle of low-key development, it would be abnormal to make a big fuss.

It took him half a year to complete the analysis of the industrial module, and then he spent nearly 300 million dong yuan to purchase and renovate a small factory in the suburbs of Hangcheng. During his sophomore and junior years, besides completing his coursework, he continued to study the Imperial-class and other black technologies.

As for the factory, Chen Hao directly affiliated it with Interstellar Peace Corporation. Yes, a company Chen Hao registered in his sophomore year. It's strange, but in this world, Mi Ho Yo appeared several years earlier, and the suppression from Zhu E was even more fierce. Even stranger, Honkai: Star Rail didn't appear; instead, Honkai: Star Rail Zero, was released early. But that didn't matter; since it wasn't in the game, he'd just make one in reality.

Taking advantage of Mi Ho Yo's project for Genshin Impact, he directly used a check, provided a lot of engine technology, and easily became the fourth major shareholder. Out of a certain sentiment, he couldn't bear to see this company hindered by Zhu E.

Anyway, he was one of the major shareholders of Mi Ho Yo in this world, so using his own stuff couldn't be considered plagiarism, right? He just didn't know what kind of scene it would be when Dawei-ge found out that the person responsible for daily contact with him was Ya Ya, hehe.

At the end of his first year of university, Chen Hao, during a break, prepared to revisit a classic comic from his childhood. Then, a comic he had read as a child before transmigrating, 'Star Sea Bodyguard,' suddenly popped into his mind. It featured a BUG-like item called the 'Devil's Formula.'

The 'Devil's Formula' was a mechanical theory puzzle invented by a master of the Mechanical School. Legend has it that depending on the solver's understanding of 'mechanics,' there could be many solutions. Generally, someone who could solve this problem with one method could be considered an entry-level member of the Mechanical School.

Out of curiosity, Chen Hao directly had Xiao Jixiang analyze this formula. He was initially a bit surprised when he learned it would cost nearly ten billion dragon coin, but he was astonished when he saw the analysis results.

After 'World Tree' analyzed and modified it, the result description characterized it as: 'Mechanical Formula: A formula that provides an integrated description of the fundamental theories of physics, chemistry, materials science, and all other fields applicable to the broadly defined products of mechanics.'

Simply put, the deeper one understood this formula, the more directly one could calculate all the parameters required for a certain mechanical creation through this formula. The Mechanical Formula itself was the synthesis of all mechanical creations. The understanding and cognition of relevant knowledge determined the extent of creations one could derive from it.

For example, as long as you can solve this formula using two methods, you can, with known performance and parameters, use the Mechanical Formula to deduce all the information needed to manufacture an airplane: the materials and smelting/forging methods, the specific dimensions and blueprints of the plane, electronic equipment, and so on.

It was simply a BUG!

Knowing how to build an airplane would allow him to use the Mechanical Formula to deduce all the data needed to build an airplane, but if he knew how to deduce an airplane, wouldn't he already know how to build an airplane? Did he still need the formula to prove he could build it?

At first, Chen Hao thought this way, but when he tried to deduce the spaceship he was currently studying and analyzing using the formula, a surprise appeared. The analysis time, which was normally decreasing, suddenly shortened by a segment. Startled, Chen Hao instantly understood the BUG-like aspect of this BUG formula.

Originally, the analysis of the spaceship's nanomaterials would have taken at least another half a month, but now it was already resolved. Using this formula and his existing knowledge, he skipped the theoretical calculations for new material synthesis and directly obtained the optimal results.

In other words, with this formula, in the field of materials science, while everyone else was still using brute force to solve the chicken and rabbit problem, Chen Hao had mastered linear equations with two variables.

Something else that couldn't be openly discussed was that, out of curiosity, Chen Hao also tried to analyze the Isu from Assassin's Creed II. After spending one billion to empty his wallet, he saw the Biotechnica modified by 'World Tree.'

After understanding the serum's effects, Chen Hao borrowed a laboratory from a good friend who was a teacher and created a finished product. This meant that DNA wasn't checked during physical examinations, and DNA strands weren't visible to the naked eye. Additionally, the serum's reinforcement process on the body lasted half a year, preventing absurd mistakes like crushing a water cup. Otherwise, he probably would have been discovered long ago to possess 'superhuman' abilities.

The effects weren't extensive: just physical and brain enhancement, plus a 'little bit' of increased lifespan.

With this artifact that significantly boosted his learning speed in specific fields, and a brain enhanced by the serum, Chen Hao's learning speed also began to grow exponentially. Starting from his university enrollment, he completed a learning task that would normally take ten years in just two and a half years.

His university life was almost without a single day of rest, working frantically, only returning home during the New Year. After all, his parents were usually quite busy, and he could only properly accompany them during the New Year.

It definitely wasn't because his parents were primarily a 'forgetful couple'!

It must be said that having Ya Ya's help was truly convenient. Except for when he had to show up for signing contracts and handling procedures, she took care of everything else. As for being suspected of how a university student could have so much money? Heh heh, first, you'd have to find out that I'm a university student. Besides, is it difficult to disguise oneself as a rich second generation?

When his fourth year, his internship year, began, the factory was completed. So, Chen Hao directly moved into the super factory, interning during the day and starting the spaceship construction and assembly work at night. Fortunately, he chose a medical technology major; otherwise, he wouldn't have had so much time. In his free time, he would browse a certain video sharing platform to see if there were any good ideas to spark new inspiration.

After all, after acquiring the Mechanical Formula, many unplanned projects were added. By the last six months, Chen Hao had simultaneously completed projects such as the Titan power armor, hoverbikes, and liquid magnetic rifles from COD11, modified first aid injections, multi-antidotes, and first aid gels from the Resident Evil series, and the flying cars and cybernetic prosthetics from Cyberpunk 2077, among others.

Simply put, Chen Hao had already mastered nearly a hundred technological products that were at least 20-50 years ahead of the world.

With the technology, it naturally had to be converted into physical objects.

Although the factory was only 6 hectares large, it was sufficient. After all, except for some key materials, 70% of the rest could be outsourced, and the factory was only responsible for the production of core components and the reprocessing of semi-finished products.

Although there was an overpowered artifact like the molecular furnace, small-batch production didn't warrant such a massive cheat. Thanks to picometer-level 3D printing and a modular full-vector assembly workshop, the entire production and assembly process was controlled by Ya Ya, making it exceptionally smooth.

Because of Ya Ya's help, there was no one else in the entire factory besides Chen Hao. Anyway, as long as taxes were paid on time and in full, no one would care about such a small factory.

Watching the frigate gradually take shape before him, Chen Hao's heart couldn't help but quicken. Although he had seen Emma's starter ship countless times in EVE, he was still awestruck when he saw it appear before his eyes.

After analyzing the frigate's technology, Chen Hao redesigned its size and subtly adjusted its appearance to make it more aerodynamic. Although aerodynamics weren't a concern in space, the need to enter the atmosphere still had to be considered.

After structural optimization, the Imperial-class was 25 meters long, 14 meters wide, 5 meters high, with an empty weight of 15 tons and a maximum takeoff weight of 50 tons, capable of carrying 10 people. It used a miniature nuclear fusion capacitor device and ion thrusters, achieving a maximum speed of Mach 25 within the atmosphere and Mach 100 in space.

Because it could achieve electromagnetic silence, Chen Hao did not install a weapon system. Anyway, no missile on Earth could catch up to it, so it was very safe without one.

As for the warp drive, although it could be built, there was no need. As long as it could complete the mission, there was no need to make a complete version.

Of course, the main reason was that the fuel was too expensive.

"Ya Ya, how much longer until the Imperial-class is finished building?"

"Master, according to the current assembly progress, it is expected to be fully assembled in one hour." Bronya's voice carried a hint of excitement.

"Good, you keep an eye on it, don't let anything go wrong."

"Alright, don't worry, Bronya is very reliable in her work."

That was indeed true. Precisely because of Ya Ya, his secret development over the past few years had been incredibly smooth.

"Right, conduct tests after assembly is complete. The commotion will be quite large then, and the factory's soundproofing might not be enough. Be sure to increase network monitoring and hide any information."

"Yes, Master, I have taken over information processing authority within fifty kilometers of the factory. Hehehe, it feels like peeking into someone else's diary, so exciting~"

"Don't mess around," Chen Hao shook his head. "Be careful to protect others' privacy. Just monitor messages related to us."

"Yes~"

Chen Hao shook his head, returned to the lounge, and slumped onto the sofa, looking at the screen that almost occupied an entire wall. It displayed live footage of the factory's production line, as well as the Imperial-class's 3D design and improvement plans.

"Xiao Jixiang? Are you busy?"

"Why is Host looking for me? I'm taking a nap. Say what you need to say."

Chen Hao calmly ignored Xiao Jixiang's dissatisfaction and the strange requirement of a system needing to sleep. After all, he had been sparring with her for four years, and he was long used to it.

Although he had accidentally learned that Xiao Jixiang's origins were definitely not simple, after all, being able to view something as beyond system-level as the 'World Tree' as a work of art meant that restarting the universe was a minor matter.

But, a little grass god was still a little grass god. There was simply no way to place the same reverence he had for Greater Lord Rukkhadevata on this badminton shuttlecock!

"The frigate will be completed in another hour. Can you give me a sneak peek at what the beginner's gift package reward is?"

"Oh? I didn't expect Host to be so efficient?" Xiao Jixiang's tone carried a hint of regret. "What a pity, what a pity, no more extortion."

Chen Hao's mouth twitched a few times. What kind of grudge was this? Were you disappointed that I could complete the mission? Also, did you just say your internal monologue out loud?

"As for the reward, I can only say that it will definitely meet Host's needs. But, let's wait until Host finishes building the spaceship before we talk about it."

"(ˉ▽ˉ～) Hmph~~, so stingy. Revealing it a few minutes early wouldn't hurt, honestly."

Chen Hao pouted and opened the holographic projection on the table.

Don't be surprised. Compared to a spaceship like the Imperial-class, holographic projection technology was really nothing. When the factory was being renovated, Chen Hao had set up a virtual interactive system for himself, similar to the one in 'Iron Man.' First, it was cool. Second, it greatly improved efficiency.

"Ya Ya, bring up the electromagnetism data."

"Received. All known technical information on electromagnetism has been retrieved."

There was another not-so-critical but crucial technology in the Imperial-class's tech list: the electromagnetic shield. The first Imperial-class was primarily for completing the mission and would certainly not be used as a formal version; it was just a makeshift one. However, this technology was key equipment for his survival in space in the future, and it would definitely be installed on later formal versions.

"Let's get to work, let's try to thoroughly understand the principles of electromagnetic field shape control before noon."