Chapter 81: The Success of the Second "Sunfire" Experiment!

The research on "Solar Fire" had truly entered a proper stage.

Radium was added to the photosphere for experimentation.

This was a rather dangerous endeavor.

First, it required meticulous calculations to determine a reasonable range, ensuring both the safety and effectiveness of the experiment.

The calculations went swiftly, for the world's brightest minds had gathered here—this was no trifling matter!

In just one day, the preliminary experiments were completed. Now came the most difficult and dangerous part: the actual trial.

Everyone chose to go home and get a good night's rest in preparation for the shocks of the following day.

After all, after a sleepless night, a sudden fright could easily prove fatal!

The next morning, everyone donned thick protective suits, ready for the experiment.

Ren Boyuan took the lead. After all, he was the first to agree to the proposal. Chu Xiao, upon receiving the news, hurried over just in time to see Ren Boyuan, clad in heavy protective gear, conducting the first experiment.

Ren Boyuan silently counted the steps in his mind.

He installed the radium components onto the weapon and proceeded to calibrate the equipment.

He was acutely aware of the dangers involved, which made him all the more cautious—careful, careful, and more careful still!

The experiment was about to begin.

Everyone held their breath, dreading any mishap. Fire extinguishers, medical personnel, and other safety measures were all in place, ready to respond to any emergency.

Ren Boyuan secured his mask and, consulting the previous calculations, carefully measured the amount of radium.

This was no trivial task!

Should anything happen to him, the entire experiment might be terminated!

Every step, Ren Boyuan took with utmost care, terrified something might go awry. The explosive power of this device was no joke—it could pierce a thirty-meter-thick plate of titanium alloy. Even with two layers of protective gear, he dared not slacken.

Aiming carefully, Ren Boyuan pressed the launch button without hesitation and darted aside in a flash.

Chu Xiao arrived at the testing ground just in time to witness this scene and promptly suited up as well.

No explosion occurred.

The first experiment failed.

As Ren Boyuan prepared for a second attempt, a hand landed on his shoulder.

"I’ll do it! Since it was my proposal, I should be the one to see it through! How could I let you take the risk on my behalf?" Chu Xiao pushed Ren Boyuan aside.

He watched for a moment, then silently pulled Ren Boyuan back.

"Tell me what to do first!"

Laughter broke out among the onlookers; at that moment, Chu Xiao seemed almost adorably foolish.

But Ren Boyuan did not laugh. Instead, he explained the procedure to Chu Xiao with utmost seriousness, repeating it a second time to ensure nothing was missed.

"Be careful! You must strictly control the amount of radium! We can't risk anything happening to you! The nation still needs you!" Ren Boyuan spoke from the heart.

He understood the dangers. He knew how important Chu Xiao was to Jiuzhou, and he was even more familiar with Chu Xiao's temperament.

That was precisely why he acted as he did.

"Alright! Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing!" Chu Xiao pushed Ren Boyuan aside again and promptly set the radium to the calculated median value.

Ren Boyuan’s eyelid twitched. Had he not listened at all?

But Chu Xiao was confident. By setting the amount to the median, he thought the process might go faster—testing bit by bit was far too slow!

"Fire!" Chu Xiao pressed the launch button and, without even dodging, was met by an explosion the instant his shout rang out!

He had chosen the median perfectly!

Everyone thought Chu Xiao would be blown to pieces and instinctively shut their eyes.

But when they opened them again, they saw Chu Xiao had succeeded!

It had truly exploded!

The blast radius covered a full twenty meters—a vast improvement over the previous ten!

The scientists from the other three major nations could not help but marvel.

Such an absurd idea had actually worked!

They didn’t know whether to praise Chu Xiao or Ren Boyuan.

But clearly, when it came to weapons, the two of them were indispensable.

Chu Xiao conducted several more experiments, but none yielded results as ideal as the median amount.

Thus, the dosage of radium was firmly set, to be strictly controlled.

All soldiers, as a precaution, would undergo group training before use—otherwise, they might lose limbs!

The researchers from the other three countries hurried to bring this achievement back home, warning of its dangers while preparing for mass production and deployment.

Dangerous though it was, it was a formidable weapon—superior even to the second-generation Radium Cannon.

As everyone threw themselves into preparations for war, the Lord of the Underworld returned!

This time, the Lord of the Underworld came with a plan, using all his forces to attack the weakest—Ouqiang!

Ouqiang, having suffered grievous losses in the last conflict, had barely recovered with Jiuzhou’s aid. Now, the Lord of the Underworld had turned all his might against them!

It was clear: this time, he meant to swallow Ouqiang whole.

But Ouqiang would not be so easily devoured!

Euris slammed the report onto his desk. “The Lord of the Underworld has grown cleverer! But does he really think he can consume us so easily? Impossible! Gather all soldiers! Prepare for battle!”

“No—send four-fifths to the front. The remaining one-fifth will organize the evacuation of the population!”

As a national leader, Euris had to consider all angles.

The Lord of the Underworld’s onslaught might be aimed at crippling or even annihilating Ouqiang.

But the situation was dire.

Even if the other countries wanted to help, it would be in vain!

Ouqiang now had to stand alone against the Lord’s mighty machine army, resisting the invasion with flesh and blood.

Within the fortress lay millions of Ouqiang’s people; outside, the mechanical legions of the Lord of the Underworld.

“Everyone, listen! Do your utmost to resist the Lord of the Underworld—until our last breath!”

The call was answered with a mighty roar.

“We swear to defend Ouqiang! We will protect our homeland!”

The spirit soared, shaking the heavens.

In times of disaster, the people always build a Great Wall with their will, using their bodies to resist calamity and shield the land behind them.

The fierce battle had begun.

The rattle of gunfire was unceasing!

One explosion after another shook the very soul!

The other three nations were, of course, aware of Ouqiang’s plight.

The United States and Northsha both declared their helplessness.

Jiuzhou made no statement.

Chu Xiao, watching the screen, spoke gravely to Number One, “I think we should try to help. Such a mighty assault—we in Jiuzhou barely survived it ourselves, let alone Ouqiang, still reeling from the last disaster.”

“How should we help?”