"Shrink the production capacity of mobile turrets, tanks, and some low-grade mechas?" Jing Hongchen was momentarily stunned. "Why?"
"Is there any place left on the continent that the Sun Moon Empire can't conquer?" Xu Cheng sipped his tea and asked leisurely.
"Well… Shrek?" Jing Hongchen raised his eyebrows.
"Shrek is one, yes. So why can't it be conquered?" Xu Cheng smiled.
"Because of interference from the gods?"
"Bingo. That's right. So even if we produce ten thousand more mobile turrets, can we slay a god with them?"
"You mean…" Jing Hongchen understood instantly and nodded slightly. "Even if we mass-produce more low-tier turrets (referring to soul tools below level six), we still can't break through a god's defense. Sure, quantity can result in qualitative change, but there's a limit. It's not simple addition. The further we go, the more we approach a ceiling—the upper limit is locked."
"Exactly. And I never said to stop production outright. Ever since the defense of Mingdu, the empire's deterrence already blankets the continent. If we keep producing low-grade gear, it's a waste. Once we've maintained enough to uphold strategic deterrence, we should redirect the freed-up capacity toward high-level R&D—what I call… god-slaying." Xu Cheng smiled faintly.
"Goodness, going that far, huh?" Jing Hongchen smacked his lips, though there was a visible gleam of ambition in his eyes.
The Sun Moon Empire's millennium of accumulated strength had now exploded into a great leap forward.
Just having defeated the old Continental Alliance had filled the entire empire with confidence. The whole nation was still celebrating the victory.
Even without a formal treaty marking them as victors, avenging the shame of four thousand years ago was enough to inspire most people.
"Don't stop mecha development—it has high potential…" Xu Cheng pondered aloud.
As a direct beneficiary, he knew the terrifying potential firsthand.
The current mecha bottleneck was around his Thunderbolt-class—capable of rivaling a rank 99 Limit Douluo. That was basically the peak of this continent's power ceiling.
And what limited mecha wasn't the laws of heaven, but the strength of metals and optimization of soul formations. In other words, if a mecha were made by a soul engineer of Limit Douluo level, infused with that level's spiritual power, it might just stand against a demigod.
Their aim now was the stars and sea—transformation wouldn't happen overnight. It needed to be gradual. Ground-based weapon systems would inevitably be optimized, but the shift couldn't be rushed.
"So what direction should we go in?" Jing Hongchen asked, thoughtful.
"The sky!" Xu Cheng answered without hesitation.
He'd previously considered the God's Scepter project, but that idea had been shelved—it was still focused on ground targets. With the Sun Moon Empire already dominant on land, it was no longer necessary.
However, its foundation—the satellite—was a crucial step toward reaching space.
Though many aspects of the Douluo Continent defied physics, easily explained away by the soul power system, rockets were still viable—just replace the combustible gas with soul power. The reverse thrust could still propel them skyward.
What was nearly impossible on the old continent wasn't so difficult here. Xu Cheng had already calculated that a single Title Douluo's soul power was enough to launch a rocket into space—and then some.
Satellites could help establish better communication, control over the continent, and act as interstellar relays, laying groundwork for future space warships.
"There's also space…" Xu Cheng's eyes flickered.
"But… forget it." He waved his hand dismissively.
Maybe the system would give him a finished product before long…
"All riddlers should just die!" Jing Hongchen was just getting excited when Xu Cheng suddenly cut off, making him grumble in frustration.
"Anyway, we have a direction now. With teacher's artificial soul rings emerging, the overall strength of the Sun Moon Empire's soul masters is bound to improve drastically." Xu Cheng smiled, hands behind his back, overlooking the Royal Academy of the Sun Moon Empire below, lush and green, full of boisterous students. "That's the foundation of everything."
"What does the empire need most right now?"
Without waiting for Jing Hongchen's reply, Xu Cheng's expression turned firm as he declared:
"Talent!"
Meanwhile…
"They've gone too far!"
On the imperial throne—
Xu Jiawei clenched the armrests, veins bulging in his neck, eyes bloodshot, glaring fiercely at the trembling minister kneeling below.
"Did I beg them to invest?"
"They saw the profits and wanted a stake in the empire. I gave it to them, considering they're hidden clans that once made great contributions to Star Luo. I didn't mind, even shared some of the profits. But now? The scam's exposed, and they want me to pay them back?"
"Do I owe them anything?!"
His voice echoed through the great hall.
Xu Jiawei looked at the ministers kowtowing on the floor, his chest tight with pent-up anger.
He took a deep breath.
Looking toward the sky outside the palace—since the Sun Moon Empire brought the war to their doorstep, those hidden clans and old nobles had become increasingly brazen, showing him no respect. And now they dared demand money from him?
Over four hundred million gold soul coins!
Even the former Star Luo Empire would struggle to come up with that, let alone now—after Xu Cheng had emptied the imperial treasury.
Bottom line was: when the Sun Moon soul engineer corps stormed into the imperial capital, Xu Jiawei lost all face. The allied forces were defeated. Of the four worshippers they sent, two died, and two were severely injured. His strongest supports had crumbled, and with the scam exposed, the capital's entire reserves had been sunk. The imperial finances were a mess. His last shred of pride was shattered.
"Hmph…"
Overlooking the ministers, Xu Jiawei's eyes suddenly showed a hint of madness.
Pushed me?
You all pushed me?
Xu Cheng just wants my piece of land, huh? Then I'll give it to him!
You parasites feeding off this empire—you want to force my hand? Fine! Fine! Then I'll flip the table. I'm done playing!
Go deal with Xu Cheng yourselves!
A cold, gleeful smile spread across Xu Jiawei's face. Xu Cheng was no kind negotiator. If Star Luo really ended up in his hands, those old noble clans wouldn't have a good ending.
The ministers looked at each other in confusion, not understanding why the emperor was suddenly smiling.
"Your Majesty, we…" the finance minister began cautiously.
"Dream on if you think I'll pay that back!" Xu Jiawei sneered.
He looked at the kneeling finance minister coldly.
You think I don't know you've long since been bought by those nobles?
"But…" The minister was dumbfounded—this wasn't the outcome he expected.
"Call the princess."
Xu Jiawei gave him a cold glance, flung his sleeves, and turned to leave.
"Court dismissed!"
Came the eunuch's shrill voice.
(End of chapter)