Chapter 39: The Power of a Saint Is Infinite

In the spirit of "since we're already here," Bai Yujing decided to take the opportunity to conduct an in-depth inspection of the Imperial Academy of Sciences' primary projects.

This tour was an eye-opener for Lucia, who accompanied him, as if she had stepped into a museum of future weaponry. Many pieces of equipment that had previously existed only in science fiction or video games were now presented before her in incredibly realistic metallic forms.

For instance, the streamlined AI military goggles not only integrated night vision, thermal imaging, and ballistic protection but also enabled real-time perspective sharing and battlefield data interconnectivity among squad members. The built-in AI could perform high-speed calculations based on ambient temperature, humidity, wind speed, and architectural structures, instantly analyzing the enemy’s most likely hiding spots, blind spots in firepower, and even suggesting optimal tactical advancement routes.

What was even more remarkable was that these goggles could seamlessly link with a matching lightweight exoskeleton armor and a fully automatic AI rifle. A soldier only needed to roughly lock onto a target area, and the AI would assist in precise aiming, ballistic calculation, and even predicting evasive maneuvers, completing the attack automatically.

According to simulation tests, once this "Falcon" system was fully deployed, even an ordinary soldier without rigorous training would see their battlefield survivability and firepower efficiency approach that of an extraordinary-level emitter-type superhuman. The only drawbacks were its astronomical production cost and extremely demanding maintenance requirements, meaning it still had a long way to go before mass production for military distribution.

But it was undeniably cool. Lucia’s eyes shone with excitement, nearly fixed on the equipment, which was filled with a sense of power and technological aesthetic. As a seasoned gamer, she harbored an almost instinctive romantic fascination for gear like mechs and exoskeletons.

The subsequent tour continued to push the limits of her perception. There were ramjet engine prototypes on roaring test stands, sixth-generation fighter models with sharp, stealthy contours suspended on giant assembly racks, and the most breathtaking of all: the Spacecraft R&D Center.

The Dahan Empire’s current aerospace technology could reliably achieve manned moon landings and had successfully built a small experimental nuclear power plant on the lunar surface to provide energy for a permanent research station. However, to realize large-scale troop transport between Earth and the Moon, or even to establish a permanent military base on the lunar surface, many critical technical bottlenecks remained to be broken—especially concerning high-thrust reusable launch vehicles and long-term life support systems in lunar space.

"Give me just two more years, and I guarantee I can overcome all the obstacles and even build a mature planetary transportation system!" Bentley said, his tone full of confidence as he stood before a full-scale model of the silver-white, disc-shaped "Lingxiao"-class experimental spacecraft.

Bai Yujing remained skeptical. This fellow had a long history of "drawing big cakes"—frequently making bold claims of "finishing such-and-such project in two years" to secure massive funding, only to drag it out for "two years after two years," finally delivering results a decade later.

"How exactly do you plan to achieve this transportation system?"

"By integrating the arrays of Shenzhou with modern cutting-edge technology!" Whenever technical concepts were mentioned, Bentley’s dark brown eyes would erupt with a startling radiance, like two small suns. "I am already preparing two core research groups. One is the 'Essence of Mana Analysis and Energy Application' group, dedicated to researching how to extract, store, transmit, and utilize mana as an energy source, just like electricity. The other is the 'Modern Array Structure and Materials Science' group, committed to interpreting and optimizing array formations using the language of science."

He grew more excited as he spoke, waving his arms. "Sage, please imagine! If mana could become a controllable, next-generation universal energy source, what a subversive leap our technological tree would experience. The power of spacecraft, the energy of weaponry, and even ordinary humans might be able to extend their lifespans with the help of mana!"

Bai Yujing had to admit that this "cake" was grand and alluring. Yet, he remained rational and asked, "Even with Nangong's full assistance, this kind of cross-system knowledge integration isn't something one can master just by listening to lectures, is it?"

"No matter how dull a person is, if the same knowledge is imparted five times, they should have mastered it," Bentley replied as if it were obvious.

Lucia felt insulted and retorted, "That's impossible no matter how you look at it."

"To me, these are just technical problems waiting to be solved," Bentley replied nonchalantly before explaining further to Bai Yujing. "Moreover, Nangong can directly infuse the complex knowledge—such as the principles of arrays and mana flow charts—into my sea of consciousness through spells, allowing me to understand and absorb it in the most intuitive and efficient way."

Bai Yujing looked at Nangong Lin, who stood beside him. She gave a slight nod of confirmation. After receiving the memories of all the clones stationed at the research academy, she realized she had underestimated Bentley’s mind. An ordinary person, even if given profound knowledge through divine infusion, would find it like reading a heavenly book, unable to comprehend the content. It would be like force-feeding the most advanced mathematical theories and proofs into the brain of an average student; the result would likely be a mental breakdown.

But Bentley’s uniqueness lay in the fact that his brain could not only completely withstand this information overload but could also analyze, absorb, and even innovate at an astonishing speed. His ability to never forget and to draw inferences about other cases from one instance was in no way inferior to her own.

"Within three years, his goal of realizing mana-based energy and building a mature Earth-Moon transportation system is basically impossible," Nangong Lin provided an objective assessment. "But with my help and the resources he requires, the probability of him eventually achieving results is very high."

Bentley immediately changed his tone. "Sage, the current bottleneck is mainly the severe shortage of manpower at the Imperial Academy of Sciences. As long as you can continue to send more personnel and approve more funding, I guarantee you that I will produce significant, phased results within three years!"

"Very well." Bai Yujing decided to bite into this alluring "future cake." "I will have the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Finance prioritize your funding when I return. If you have any specific talents you desire, compile a list and submit it directly to me."

As the Emperor of the Dahan Empire, Bai Yujing held infinite power. This was the framework he and his fourteen companions had agreed upon at the founding of the nation. Under the unique conditions of that time, it was difficult to achieve comprehensive equality instantly, so they elevated the status of the Emperor, placing him above all laws and institutions, thereby achieving equality in rights and obligations for all subjects under him. Therefore, he could confiscate anyone's property, dismiss any official, and decide anyone's fate at will. However, Bai Yujing never used this power for private gain; it was almost always for the public good.

Bentley’s spirit soared. He had not expected that this nearly delusional "PPT" presentation would yield such immense support. Had he known the Sage was this generous, he wouldn't have spent so much effort concocting those tedious feasibility reports; he should have just served up his craziest ideas sooner. The Sage is truly wise!

Bentley’s inner praise was nearly overflowing, and his enthusiasm for the presentation reached an unprecedented high. He led Bai Yujing and his group to continue touring the combat robot testing grounds, the drone swarm control center, and the low-altitude hovering assault vehicle platforms.

Once the inspection was complete, Bai Yujing said with satisfaction, "Very well, I won't continue to delay your precious research time."

"Your Majesty personally coming to inspect and provide guidance is the supreme honor of the Imperial Academy of Sciences; how could it be a delay!" Bentley answered with conviction.

Bai Yujing smiled and turned to Nangong Lin. "Let’s go."

"Yes." Nangong Lin nodded slightly and raised her right hand. In an instant, light and shadow flickered along the sides of the corridor, and clones identical to her true self emerged silently—their clothing, appearance, and even that indifferent temperament were perfectly replicated. These clones would remain behind to absorb the top-tier technology of Earth and assist Bentley with experiments requiring a profound foundation in cultivation knowledge.

Truth be told, as Bentley watched these dense rows of clones, his eyes were filled with envy. He wished he could split himself into hundreds of pieces to conduct all his research projects simultaneously. Unfortunately, he lacked that ability.

Watching the figures of Bai Yujing and his two companions disappear into the air, Bentley withdrew his gaze, swept his eyes over the silent "Nangong Lins" before him, and clapped his hands firmly, his voice returning to the manic excitement of a research fanatic: "Alright, let's begin the experiment on dissecting the Demon!"