96: Chapter 96: How to Escape the Oil Crisis? Heroic Construction Foundry

Various types of crude oil?

Su Yang's brain began to race.

Taken literally, it meant that crude oil capable of being refined into fuel was not limited to just petroleum.

What else could be refined into combustible liquid fuel?

Su Yang crossed his arms in thought, memories of the past few days flashing by rapidly.

Liquid fuel, combustion, Xenomorphs...

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, connecting all the images to form a conclusion.

In the Forbidden Ground, liquid fuel resources like petroleum were not unique, nor were they scarce.

At least, for him, possessing the Shennong Creation Institute, it was not unique.

When battling the Lord of England, the flying barrels used by the goblins contained a type of yellow liquid fuel.

That was not some 'Arawana 1:1:1 blended oil,' but an excellent fuel with combustion performance comparable to petroleum.

Another image was that final shot from the evolved Exterminator that ended the match when fighting the Korean Lord.

Unlike the Skyfire Guard, which scorched the earth entirely upon explosion, the Exterminator's shell had a smaller blast radius.

However, after the shell exploded, it sprayed a type of black liquid fuel, and it was that very fuel that burned the entire Korean Lord's territory to the ground.

These two images were strong proof that other liquid fuels with excellent combustion performance existed in the Forbidden Ground.

So, where did this fuel come from?

As Su Yang pondered, the technology examples mentioned in the System's introduction to the Xeno Experiment Station flashed through his mind.

Among them was Biomass Fuel.

Refining oil using organisms!

At this point, Su Yang's train of thought suddenly opened up.

Soybeans, peanuts, and Arawana oil could all be used to extract oil, so why couldn't the Insect Swarm be used!?

If his hypothesis was correct, the seemingly unsolvable petroleum problem would cease to exist.

Petroleum resources were scarce, but the Insect Swarm was inexhaustible.

If he could really refine oil using the Insect Swarm, the Alliance of the Middle East would have to call him the 'Petroleum Prince'!

To verify this hypothesis, he had to first unlock Biomass Fuel.

The technology tree of the Shennong Creation Institute was neither linear nor did it follow a predictable pattern; everything was triggered by chance.

It was highly likely that the key to unlocking Biomass Fuel lay with that Exterminator that threw the incendiary shells!

With that thought, Su Yang opened the Sonic Detector panel, hoping to see traces of the Insect Swarm.

Unfortunately, speak of the devil and he didn't appear.

Su Yang, who had previously been somewhat worried about an attack from that Insect Swarm, was now incredibly eager for their arrival.

Why not throw a couple of grenades?

Su Yang recalled Piao Daosi's actions.

Although it was a bit humorous, it did teach him a trick.

He would handle the upgrade matters first, and if the Insect Swarm hadn't arrived by then, he would lure them over using the Skyfire Cannons.

As he thought, Su Yang looked at the Troop Type tab; now, only troop upgrades remained.

The Level 4 Imperial Armor Camp required steel to upgrade, so it had to be put on hold for now.

The Level 2 Generals Mansion also required steel, so the tasks of upgrading General Li Xin and summoning General Meng Tian had to be shelved as well.

The upgrades that did not require steel were basically all completed, and only one possible upgrade remained on the entire panel: Hero Building.

After reaching the Level 4 Main Base, he could unlock a new Hero Building.

Referring to the changes General Li Xin had previously brought to the troops, the new Hero Building would certainly also greatly enhance the territory's combat power.

The remaining two Hero Buildings were the Foundry for the Heavenly Artisan class and the Astrolabe for the Tactical Aide class.

One building was related to industrial manufacturing, while the other was related to resource production.

Su Yang did not overthink it and chose the Hero Building he needed most right now—the Foundry!

[Hero Building: Foundry]

[Summon Hero Class: Heavenly Artisan]

[Great Qin Heavenly Artisan, forging all phenomena; inheriting the techniques of ancient sages, creating chapters of the future; all that is created is a magnificent and majestic work, its glory shining through the ages]

[Building Trait: The Foundry is the research facility for Heavenly Artisan units. Unlocking the Foundry allows access to exclusive weapon research and upgrades, exclusive Imperial Armor manufacturing, modification, and a series of other craft-related content]

[Development Strategy: National Heavy Weaponry]

[Establish academies, open workshops, forge National Heavy Weaponry, uphold the majesty of Great Qin, illuminate all directions with the light of a thousand machines, and flourish for ten thousand generations]

[Strategy Effect: All research and construction time within the territory is reduced by 20%]

The Foundry was about the modification of exclusive Imperial Armor and weapons. Back when he had the Level 3 Main Base, he had wanted to build it to see the effects.

Unfortunately, there were great enemies at the time, and he had to summon generals.

Now, selecting it was just right to make up for that past expectation.

Su Yang's thoughts flickered, and he selected the Foundry.

[Selection complete, Foundry under construction...]

After choosing the location and placing the blueprint, the Foundry immediately began construction.

The floor area and height of the Foundry were almost the same as the Generals Mansion.

Amidst the crisp sounds of mechanical operation and metal clashing, the Foundry was completed.

Like all Level 4 buildings, the Foundry also possessed a silver-white exterior composed of steel.

Overall, it was heavy and steady; in terms of details, various precision components were combined together, complex yet not lacking in order.

Compared to the building exteriors of the Bronze and Iron Age, the buildings crafted from steel Materials were more capable and had a sense of technology.

With a feeling of anticipation, Su Yang opened the Foundry panel.

As soon as he opened it, various complex modules and options popped out.

This was one of the most complex panels Su Yang had seen since arriving in the Forbidden Ground; one would think they had opened a Paradox Interactive game.

However, although there were many modules and options that popped out, most were currently still locked.

Su Yang closed the modules he could not use yet, leaving only the parts that were currently operable.

[Foundry Panel]

[Name: Iron Power Armor]

[Wearer: General Li Xin]

[Quality: Common]

[Loadable Skill Modules: 1]

[Loaded Skill Modules: 0]

[Power Core: Steam Power]

[Upgrade Available: Internal Combustion Engine Drive]

[Modification Effect: Completely replace the power core, improve engine propulsion effect]

[Modification Cost: 20 units of Steel, 10 units of Iron Ore, 5000 command points]

[Armor Body: Iron Armor]

[Upgrade Available: Steel Armor]

[Modification Effect: Comprehensively improve armor protection attributes, increase flexibility]

[Modification Cost: 30 units of Steel, 20 units of Iron Ore, 20 units of Copper Ore, 8000 command points]

[Equipped Weapon: Silver-Iron Spear]

[Upgrade Available: Steel Spear]

[Modification Effect: Change power device, improve rotational torque, improve damage and armor-piercing attributes]

[Modification Cost: 20 units of Steel, 10 units of Iron Ore, 5000 command points]

[Completing the full set of upgrades can upgrade the armor to Steel Power Armor, quality does not improve]

[Armor Evaluation: A set of assembly-line armor without a Soul, suggest replacing as soon as possible]

Armor without a Soul; is the evaluation that sharp?

Could there be any armor with a Soul?

Su Yang quickly digested this massive amount of content, then continued to scroll down.