195: Chapter 195: If I said one month, I meant one month!

Elder Zhang's deafening words still echoed under the dome of the vast hall.

Dozens of nuclear physics titans stood tall, chests heaving, the fire in their eyes unextinguished.

While everyone was still immersed in that overwhelming pride and the thrill of vindication, Elder Zhang suddenly stepped forward.

He didn't walk toward the fusion device still running smoothly, nor did he head for the main control console.

Instead, he walked straight toward Lin Yuan.

One step.

Two steps.

...

With Elder Zhang's steady footsteps, the clamor in the hall gradually subsided.

Everyone's gaze, as if pulled by an invisible magnetic field, followed Elder Zhang involuntarily.

Finally, Elder Zhang stopped in front of Lin Yuan.

Only an arm's length separated them.

Elder Zhang slowly looked up, his gaze deep and focused as he watched the young man before him.

Silence lasted for two or three seconds.

Elder Zhang spoke.

"Lin Yuan."

His voice wasn't loud, and even carried a rare hint of raspiness.

"Thank you."

"If it weren't for you, I really don't know if this old man would have ever seen the rise of Xia Country in my lifetime."

The moment those words landed.

In the hall, everyone felt an uncontrollable ache in their noses simultaneously.

Everyone present understood the weight behind Elder Zhang's words.

This was far more than just an old man's sentiment.

This was the heart-wrenching voice of an entire generation who, through long technical blockades and unreasonable suppression, had grit their teeth and endured for most of their lives, finally waiting for the moment of dawn!

Facing this heavy expression of gratitude.

Lin Yuan showed no hint of arrogance or taking credit.

His back remained straight, a gentle and reassuring smile appearing at the corners of his mouth as he waved his hand slightly, his tone sincere and calm.

"Elder Zhang, you're overstating it."

"I am a person of Xia Country; what I've done is merely my duty."

At this point, Lin Yuan paused. He shifted his gaze from Elder Zhang and slowly scanned the hall, looking at the faces covered in tears, exhaustion, and fervor.

"Besides, Xia Country has deep roots and a strong backbone."

"Even without me, with the character and wisdom of our people, this dragon of the East would have taken flight sooner or later."

These words were perfectly spoken and extremely humble.

But only Lin Yuan knew in his heart that this wasn't just polite talk.

In the timeline of his previous life, Xia Country had also carved out a path through layers of encirclement.

It's just that the path was too difficult, too long, and paved with the blood and tears of countless researchers, yet it never stopped.

Everything he was doing now was simply using the system's power to drastically compress the time for that arduous path that was destined to be completed.

However, after hearing this, Elder Zhang shook his head and laughed without hesitation.

"Sooner or later? How soon is sooner or later?"

He asked back, his tone not heavy, but every word carried weight.

"Five years? Ten years? Or twenty years?"

Elder Zhang reached out and pointed forcefully at the fusion device emitting a low hum.

"Don't be so modest."

"From the Photolithography Machine, communications, Artificial Intelligence, Room-temperature Superconductivity, to today's Controlled Nuclear Fusion..."

Elder Zhang counted them off one by one, the gravity in his voice deepening with every point of his finger.

"The things you've produced in these few months are worth more than who knows how many years of normal scientific progress!"

He paused, his gaze burning as he stared at Lin Yuan, emphasizing every word.

"By your own strength alone, you have pushed the destiny of Xia Country forward by at least half a century!"

As Elder Zhang's words fell, the dozens of people in the hall were jolted, and then everyone nodded vigorously in unison.

They were the ones who understood the laws of scientific research best.

They knew how many generations had to trial and error, overturn, and rebuild for every technological breakthrough.

How many nights of hardship, how many lost hairs, how many times they had to grit their teeth and persist after being mocked or even blockaded by international peers.

But what about Lin Yuan?

A few months.

In just a few months, he had completed a journey that others might not finish in decades or even a century!

Every achievement was zero-error, zero-trial, reaching the goal in a single step.

Everyone's gaze converged on Lin Yuan once more, their deep-seated admiration so intense it almost overflowed from their eyes.

Feeling the gazes that almost ignited the air, Lin Yuan smiled slightly and didn't dwell on the topic.

Instead, he chose to turn the topic from the conclusion of "nuclear fusion success" to the starting point of another grand strategy.

"Elder Zhang, seniors."

Lin Yuan's voice wasn't loud, but it made the hall fall completely silent.

"The successful ignition of Controlled Nuclear Fusion is only the beginning. The work that follows is the top priority."

He calmly held up a slender finger.

"First, naturally, is grid-connected power generation."

"If the thermal energy generated by fusion isn't converted into electricity for thousands of households, then Controlled Nuclear Fusion becomes just an expensive ornament."

"We need to deliver this vast, almost infinite energy to every power line in Xia Country as soon as possible."

Saying this, he turned his head and looked at He Mingde.

He Mingde understood immediately, feeling a rush of blood to his head.

He stepped forward, puffed out his chest, and slapped it loudly.

"Don't worry, Academician Lin!"

"We have already made full contingency plans for the grid connection!"

"The technical route has been fully mastered, and the adaptation plan for the grid interface has run through three rounds of simulation verification—no problems at all!"

"With just one word from you, we can seamlessly connect to the national power grid!"

Lin Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

"Good."

Then, under the breathless gaze of the entire room, he slowly raised a second finger.

"Secondly, since we have this foundation of infinite energy..."

"Then, the south heaven gate project I mentioned before should also be fully launched..."

south heaven gate.

The moment these three words came out.

The hearts of the top experts in the hall, who were still immersed in the joy of nuclear fusion, skipped a beat in unison.

They knew all too well what those three words meant.

It wasn't some ethereal code name.

It was an Aerospace Carrier that would blot out the sky!

It was Aerospace Fighters with supersonic cruise capabilities!

It was directed-energy weapons that could melt anything!

It was heavy mechas that could tear through battlefields!

It was an entire ultimate dimensional reduction strike system capable of completely crushing existing military frameworks!

Nuclear fusion was only the beating heart of this system.

The south heaven gate was the peerless sword that would truly be brandished before the whole world!

He Mingde forced himself to take a deep breath, firmly suppressing his heart that was about to jump out of his throat.

He remembered what Lin Yuan had said before...

To produce the results of the first phase of the south heaven gate within a month.

Counting the days, more than half the time had passed since then.

He Mingde licked his dry lips, his eyes carrying an undeniable curiosity and nervousness as he spoke carefully.

"Academician Lin, about the south heaven gate project... the results you mentioned would be ready within a month."

He weighed his words, keeping his voice very low.

"What is the progress now...?"

As soon as this question was asked, everyone in the hall pricked up their ears.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan let out a light laugh.

"Dean He."

His voice was neither high nor low, his words neither fast nor slow.

"Since I said within a month, then naturally it will be within a month."

He raised his chin slightly, his gaze sweeping across the room, and naturally spoke the next words.

"The Chengying Mecha..."

"It can be ready in a few days."