32: Chapter 32 System Guidance: Exchanging for an "Artificial Sun"
Inside the rented apartment, the atmosphere was so oppressive it felt like water could be wrung out of it. The faint sound of news broadcasts drifting in from outside the window repeatedly emphasized the severe situation brought about by the energy crisis and sanctions, each word striking Lin Mo's heart like a heavy hammer.
He stared at the tantalizing option on the system interface—【Detailed Explanation of Full Technology for "Golden Crow" Miniaturized Fusion Reactor (Including Key Processes)】—the price tag below it marked as 2500 points. Yet, his current points stood at a mere 980. The massive gap was like a chasm, lying between him and the hope of resolving the national energy crisis.
"Not enough... far from enough!" Lin Mo furrowed his brows, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the desk. He knew the "Golden Crow" fusion reactor was the ultimate answer to breaking the energy stranglehold, but the steep point threshold left him feeling a wave of powerlessness. Although the system was powerful, it followed a strict principle of equivalent exchange.
【Ding! Detected that the host is facing a civilization-level energy crisis, and point reserves are insufficient. Triggering emergency assistance mechanism.】
【Temporary High-Yield Task Chain: "Energy Breakthrough" has been released!】
The system's notification sound was like music to his ears, instantly capturing Lin Mo's full attention. He immediately opened the task panel.
Task One: 【Design and Submit a Regional Smart Grid Optimization Plan】
Requirements: Based on existing technical foundations, design a smart management system architecture capable of significantly improving energy utilization efficiency and enhancing grid resilience. The plan must possess forward-looking qualities and features that partially exceed current levels.
Reward: Points × 800, 【High-Efficiency Superconducting Transmission Theory (Basic)】 Knowledge Fragment × 1.
Time Limit: 72 hours.
Task Two (Follow-up task, unlocks after Task One is completed): 【Assist in Completing the Trial Production of the First Core Component of the "Golden Crow" Demonstration Reactor】
Requirements: (Content to be unlocked)
Reward: Points × 1500, (To be unlocked).
Lin Mo's eyes suddenly lit up! A task chain! High rewards! Especially Task One; 800 points plus the knowledge fragment would be enough to bring his point reserves close to 1800, taking a huge step closer to redeeming the "Golden Crow" technology! And the 1500 points from Task Two could directly solve the problem!
"Smart grid optimization..." Lin Mo took a deep breath, his brain whirring at high speed under the system's assistance. This was not the direction he had been focusing on before, but the energy control parts of 【Basic Energy Core Theory】 and 【Ion Thruster】 both involved precise energy management and distribution logic. He could draw on this advanced knowledge and apply it to the existing power grid system in a dimensionality-reduction manner.
Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately accepted Task One.
For the next three days, Lin Mo barely slept or rested. The walls of the rented apartment were covered in whiteboards drawn with complex circuit diagrams and energy flow paths, and various simulation programs ran on his computer screen. He combined some of the advanced concepts he had obtained from the system (such as AI-based real-time load forecasting and dynamic scheduling, plug-and-play access management for distributed energy, and the idea of using special materials to improve power transmission line efficiency) with the actual situation of the Long Country power grid, conceiving an optimization plan that could solve immediate pain points while leaving sufficient interfaces for future fusion energy integration.
He did not need to provide specific equipment manufacturing blueprints, but rather focus on system architecture, control algorithms, and technical transformation ideas for key nodes. This would demonstrate value without being too shocking.
Just before the 72-hour time limit expired, Lin Mo finally completed the final revision of the plan. He checked it carefully, ensuring it included several core innovations that would make the country's top experts sit up and take notice, while not exposing the anomaly of the system itself.
He did not choose to send it anonymously immediately. Instead, he first spent 50 points to exchange for a one-time 【Information Flow Obfuscation Service】, ensuring this communication would be even harder to trace than before.
Only then did he, under the identity of "Patriot X", send the plan, titled 《Architectural Concept for Regional Power Grid Resilience Enhancement Based on New Scheduling Algorithms and Material Applications》, to that special channel monitored by Su Xiaowan.
After finishing all this, a huge wave of exhaustion washed over him, yet Lin Mo's spirit was in a state of high excitement. He stared intently at the system interface.
A few minutes later, the notification arrived as promised:
【Task One completed. Rewards issued: Points × 800, 【High-Efficiency Superconducting Transmission Theory (Basic)】 Knowledge Fragment × 1.】
【Current total points: 1780.】
【Task Two unlocked...】
Watching the digits jumping in the points column, and the brand-new knowledge appearing in his mind regarding near-zero-loss energy transmission, Lin Mo clenched his fists tightly.
He was only one last step away from redeeming the "Artificial Sun"! He accepted Task Two without hesitation.
【Task Two: 【Assist in Completing the Trial Production of the First Core Component of the "Golden Crow" Demonstration Reactor — "Plasma Confinement Chamber"】】
Requirements: Based on the provided "Golden Crow" conceptual design, in the real world, using available resources, guide or indirectly participate in completing the prototype manufacturing of the first "Plasma Confinement Chamber" that meets the design requirements.
Reward: Points × 1500, 【Fusion Material Irradiation Data Package】 × 1.
Time Limit: 15 calendar days.
Lin Mo's gaze instantly turned sharp. Guide or indirectly participate in real-world manufacturing? This was much more complex and dangerous than simply submitting blueprints, but it also meant that his interaction with the state's power would enter a deeper, closer stage!
"Confinement chamber..." he muttered to himself, a spark of challenge flashing in his eyes, "Then let's start with this!"
The road to the "Artificial Sun", driven by both points and tasks, was clearly laid out before him. And he would no longer be just an anonymous provider, but would also begin to become an invisible "guide".