196: Chapter 196 We, the people of Xia, are the most peace-loving!

Lin Yuan's words drifted through the air beneath the dome of the testing hall.

A single, light sentence caused the hearts of the dozens of top experts in the hall to tremble in unison, followed by a burst of uncontrollable racing.

It wasn't that they hadn't anticipated this day.

From the day Lin Yuan set the "one-month deadline," they had been waiting for this moment, even rehearsing it countless times in their dreams.

But when the moment was truly within reach, that electric sensation surging up from the base of their spines still made everyone's hair stand on end.

Controlled Nuclear Fusion was a success.

The Chengying Mecha was about to be completed as well.

Two super-projects capable of overturning the course of human civilization were coming to fruition one after another within the same month.

If this had been suggested a year or two ago, anyone present would have thought a lunatic escaped from a mental asylum was spouting nonsense.

But now, it was happening so tangibly, right before their eyes—even within their own hands!

In the brief silence, dozens of pairs of eyes converged on Lin Yuan in unison.

In those gazes, there was awe and there was fanaticism.

But more than that, there was an irrepressible, extreme curiosity about "science fiction becoming reality."

A mecha.

Once that heavy mecha, standing five or six meters tall, truly stepped onto real ground, just what kind of world-shaking power would it possess?

Yet, the hall remained pin-drop silent.

No one spoke to probe further; they even kept their breathing light, fearing that a single word might break this unparalleled sense of solemnity.

Lin Yuan scanned the expressions of the crowd; he could clearly see the curiosity and shock they were forcing themselves to suppress, which were churning wildly in the depths of their eyes.

He gave a light chuckle and waved his hand.

"Seniors, I know what you're thinking."

"But anything I say now would be hollow. After all, language always seems a bit thin before one sees the actual object."

"I won't waste words here on the specific parameters and expected combat performance of the Chengying Mecha."

"Wait a few days for the mecha to officially roll off the line and be brought out to shine in the sunlight. Seeing it with your own eyes will be more effective than ten thousand words from me."

As soon as he said this, regret flashed across the faces of several old experts, but it was immediately replaced by an even more intense anticipation.

True.

They would see it with their own eyes in a few days, so what was the rush? A good meal is worth the wait!

Lin Yuan watched their lingering expressions, the corners of his lips curling slightly as he added another sentence unhurriedly.

"However, rest assured, seniors."

His tone suddenly dropped half a notch; it wasn't heavy, yet it carried an indisputable weight.

"The Chengying Mecha will definitely not disappoint you."

"Though it is only the first step of the south heaven gate project, it was built to safeguard the future development of our Xia country."

Then, Lin Yuan tilted his head slightly, a strange light flashing in his deep eyes as his lips curved up again, adding half-jokingly:

"After all, those people The Other Side of the Ocean have always been eyeing us like tigers, unable to bear seeing us do well."

"If Xia country wants to take big strides forward, we need to have some real hardware in our hands that can flip the table, or else others won't listen to reason so obediently."

"Don't you agree?"

At this point, Lin Yuan spread his hands and shrugged quite naturally, his expression even carrying a hint of innocence.

"Ultimately, we Xia people are the most peace-loving."

After his voice fell, the hall was silent for a full second.

Then, from a corner, an irrepressible muffled laugh burst out first.

Then a second, then a third.

A few seconds later, dozens of nuclear physics titans, who were usually dignified and serious, broke one by one, their laughter rising and falling.

Peace-loving?

Using a heavy war beast, capable of grinding all modern land-based armor into the dirt, to manifest being "peace-loving"?

This extreme, absurd contrast instead gave everyone present an unprecedented sense of confidence and exhilaration.

Yes, we love peace.

But peace has always been built upon truth and firing range; it is fought for with fists and feet!

Standing to the side, Elder Zhang couldn't hold it in either after hearing this.

He threw his head back and laughed a few times, his voice full of vigor, then nodded repeatedly with a tone of satisfaction.

"Good! 'Peace-loving' indeed!"

"With those words of yours, my old bones can finally rest easy!"

After laughing, Elder Zhang turned his head and looked directly at Zhou Ping standing nearby.

"Zhou Ping."

"Present!"

Zhou Ping straightened his back reflexively, his feet snapping together.

"You will take full lead and responsibility for the follow-up work of integrating Controlled Nuclear Fusion into the national power grid."

Elder Zhang's voice was full of energy, carrying the indisputable decisiveness of a superior.

"Start the integration today. Keep a hawk's eye on the timeline for the power to enter the grid."

"Make sure that all of Xia country, every single household, can use this infinite, clean energy as soon as possible!"

With a solemn expression, Zhou Ping accepted the mission with a resounding voice:

"Please rest assured, Elder Zhang! I guarantee the mission will be completed without a hitch!"

Elder Zhang nodded with satisfaction.

Then, he looked around the hall, his voice slowing down slightly.

"Alright, I'll leave the matters here to you all."

"I have to rush back now... to report this good news to Elder Long!!"

After saying that, Elder Zhang did not linger.

He turned around and walked toward the hall's exit with great strides.

His back was ramrod straight and his pace was steady, every step landing heavy and powerful.

The high spirits and sense of vindication radiating from that figure, even if it was just his back, made everyone watching him leave feel the immense weight of the moment.

The door closed with a hiss.

The atmosphere in the hall relaxed slightly.

The old experts began to gather in twos and threes, discussing the subsequent data organization in low voices.

Just then.

Zhou Changming suddenly sidled up to Lin Yuan surreptitiously.

He looked left and right, eyes shining, and lowered his voice to throw out a question he had been holding in for a long time.

"Academician Lin."

Zhou Changming rubbed his rough, large hands together, his face full of impatience.

"The Chengying Mecha is coming out soon, so what about the one mentioned before..."

"...Iron Man?"

As soon as this question was asked, a few sharp-eared researchers nearby quietly pricked up their ears.

Facing Zhou Changming's inquiry, Lin Yuan did not answer directly.

He only narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled enigmatically, a playful light flashing in his eyes.

He said nothing, yet it was as if he had said everything.

...

That night, at exactly seven o'clock.

Night had already enveloped the land of China, with city neon lights and the lights of ten thousand homes reflecting each other.

Countless Xia families were sitting around their dining tables, enjoying the warmth after a busy day, and crowds were surging in front of large LED screens on street squares.

At that moment, the stirring melody engraved in the DNA of over a billion Xia people sounded on time.

The screen switched.

A dignified news anchor sat before the camera, their expression carrying a hint more of restrained excitement than usual.

"Good evening, viewers."

"Welcome to this broadcast of News Broadcast. First, let us introduce the main contents of today's program."

"Led by Academician Lin Yuan, our country's independently developed Controlled Nuclear Fusion reactor successfully completed its final self-sustaining ignition test today..."