Chapter 26: Zero Element = Big Bucks
Overall, energy weapons and kinetic weapons certainly each have their own advantages and disadvantages, and a mature fleet and a mature Commander would never go to extremes.
However, this is on the level of Universe naval battles.
Yet, if the perspective is shifted to within the atmosphere or even to individual soldiers, the miniaturization of energy weapons has always been one of the problems that plague all civilizations in the Universe.
Mounting phase ion cannons on heavy tanks is the current limit of what can be done.
Otherwise, wouldn't a soldier with a kinetic rifle, a blaster, and a cutting Lightsaber be amazing?
What, you're talking about the Lightsabers and light spears used by Guerrillas and Star Realm Knights that can cut through warship armor and shields?
Haven't I said it already?
Those things, which can only be forged using the concentrated crystals within the Zero Element, are simply in the realm of alchemy.
Can something that cannot be mass-produced and widely used even be called a weapon?
At most, they are just garlands used by transcendents to adorn their status.
However, these two blasters, salvaged from the “Large Bakugan,” are energy weapons that can be used by individual soldiers.
With the barrel, they are only about two meters long, weigh no more than ten kilograms, and there is no heavy ammunition, so an adult can carry them and walk.
As for their power… Yu Lian had witnessed it “back then,” and they were perfectly capable of beating up Sand People and their stitched-up tanks.
“Keep it up,” Yu Lian enthusiastically cheered at Uncle Karl’s back.
“If you can also repair that beehive missile and laser cutting ray, I’ll admit that you are a super technical genius, a culmination of spiritual essence and the essence of the sun and moon.”
So, how could such a talented person be forced to only make a living in the colonial garrison? If this broken country doesn't fall, who will?
While lamenting, Yu Lian fumbled out a thumb-sized, pale green crystal from the pile of “Bakugan” and held it up to the light.
The light passed through the crystal, seemingly reflecting a pattern of a Star Ring inside.
He expressed his satisfaction, then casually handed it to Ina.
“No,” the girl shook her head.
“…Why aren’t you playing by the rules?”
“I can tell from your expression that it’s something very valuable, certainly much more valuable than those two large guns.
What’s our relationship that I should accept such a valuable gift?” Ina continued to shake her head.
“This is a weapon…”
“Oh,” Sergeant Major Ina took the item without another word.
Miss Belinda, who saw this scene from afar, looked dejected, but unfortunately, no one paid attention to her, and only Doctor Banks patted her shoulder comfortingly, then emotionlessly motioned for her to get back to work.
Why are you still not playing by the rules?
Yu Lian glanced at Ina and continued, “This is a Perception Gem, a type of Spiritual Gem, and of course, also a type of Zero Element.
You can find a large company’s transcendent material laboratory, and they can completely use it as the main material to create a transcendent equipment; of course, if you know a private craftsman, that’s also good.
The former’s price will be so high that it will make you doubt life, while the latter will have the risk of being double-crossed.
It’s purely a matter of choice.”
“I have no money, and I grew up in the Veterans’ Hospital, so I don’t know anyone in the underworld,” Sergeant Major Ina said with a smug expression, as if to say, “I’m a well-behaved good girl, and I have an advantage over you scoundrels who walk the crooked path,” and handed the gem back.
What’s there to be proud of?
“It also has another use… Sensitive individuals can sense its rhythm and absorb the primal energy within to strengthen themselves.
Of course, if one has a certain talent, they can directly activate the Star Ring of Star Hunter.
The end point of this path is the legendary ‘Starfall Hand’!”
“Starfall Hand?” Ina was a little tempted.
Although she didn’t know what this was, it sounded very powerful.
“Yes, it’s the Nine Rings title of Star Hunter, and also the highest realm for spiritual energy users.
As the name suggests, it can shoot down stars!” This was not a metaphor but a literal meaning, which is why spiritual energy users above Seven Rings can already be considered living deities.
In fact, if the power of high-level spiritual energy users were placed in “primitive civilizations” that had not yet left their birth planet, they would truly be gods whose words became law.
However, the so-called “shooting down stars” was, in the final analysis, only a semi-legendary feat.
In a vast galaxy with thousands of civilized polities and trillions of Wisdom beings, if three to five Nine Rings could be born in a millennium, it would already be considered a “golden age” for spiritual energy users.
And the peak of the Star Hunter path, the Starfall Hand, had not appeared for over two thousand years.
Thinking of this, Yu Lian felt a bit emotional for a moment.
He had been… no, in the future, caught off guard by this suddenly activated Large Bakugan, but at that time, he was at least a high-ring character, and after a three-hundred-round battle with it, he finally took down the opponent.
Of all the spoils on its body, the only thing of some value (to Yu Lian at that time) was this Perception Gem.
He had originally wanted to give this thing to that young man, that young sharpshooter with the most talent after “Scorching-Eyed Witch” Ina Hilika… But the turbulent and cruel winds of the grand era always swallowed up those lights of hope that never had a chance to grow.
Uh, wait?
That light of hope hasn’t even been born yet.
Her most admired idol, the legendary “Scorching-Eyed Witch,” isn’t she right in front of him?
“How do I use it?” the idol of the yet-to-be-born light of hope asked excitedly, “It’s not for oral consumption, is it?”
“Uh, it actually can be orally consumed…”
“Just directly orally consume it?”
I feel like I’ve heard this somewhere before.
If I told her to first have a glass of Alliance-produced Saint Venerable Red Wine, then smoke a Green Court Bay torpedo, then hum a melodious Mil Yang ditty, dance an elegant Imperial court dance—hmm, the Wookie gorillas and Endor bears’ spirited war dance would also work—and finally play a game of Star Cards or something, it would surely be quite annoying, wouldn’t it?
Most importantly, it feels particularly inauspicious.
“You don’t need anything, just take it orally.”
Ina glanced at Yu Lian, confirmed that he was not joking, and then simply tossed the shiny, seemingly radioactive item into her mouth like a candy.
“…Although I know you have such a decisive persona, being too decisive can leave everyone at a loss.”
In any case, despite being a gem, when consumed by a sensitive individual who is destined to have it, it truly melts in the mouth and leaves a pleasant taste.
Ina smacked her lips, seemingly still wanting more.
“Is that it?”
“Soon you should have other sensations.
For example, you’ll feel hot, agitated, feel full, or even feel like something is being injected… I’ve already said it varies from person to person.
Just experience it slowly, I’m very optimistic about you anyway.”
Yu Lian was actually looking forward to seeing if Ina would have red, green, yellow, black, or other colors gush out, but the girl only showed a thoughtful expression, her eyes slowly straightened, and she entered a state of meditation, commonly known as staring blankly.
This made Yu Lian feel dull.
If it were anyone else, he might have carefully observed and watched over them, but the other party was the “Scorching-Eyed Witch”!
Could she really go berserk when breaking through the First Ring?
So, Yu Lian left Ina, who was digesting her power, and after “many days,” once again stepped into this familiar hall.
Except for a few who stayed behind to watch the vehicles, the spoils, and Ina, everyone else also hurried to follow.
Compared to the rather majestic statue at the entrance, the main part of this ruin seemed less conspicuous.
Everyone originally expected to see a grand and solemn underground palace, but it was just a hall about twenty meters long and wide, and no more than five or six meters high.
The main hall of the Starry Rose Bank branch in Tulon Port was more impressive than this.
A starry sky pattern hung from the ceiling, which was the only decoration; the wall tiles on both sides were likely metal, bare with nothing on them; the hall was divided into several areas, with many unknown instruments scattered about.
And on the front wall, there was an instrument similar to a control console, but there were no buttons visible, nor any crude and intuitive circuit control panels.
“This is… a laboratory? Or rather, a workshop?” However, Uncle Karl, who had just entered the hall, immediately froze, then revealed a look of longing and reminiscence.
He didn’t understand or know how to use any of the instruments here, but as a self-taught technical genius, he felt a sense of empathy for the first time, as if he was already connected in spirit with his counterparts from countless millennia ago.
Or perhaps, he was just reminiscing about the career to which he had dedicated his entire first half of life?
“All the facilities here are antiques, Youyou, don’t touch them!” Yu Lian shouted.
The big black sergeant shivered in fright and quickly pulled his hand back.
“If you break one, your merits will be discounted when reported, and you might even be disciplined!” Yu Lian said.
“Merits? You’re going to report it?” Doctor Banks asked.
“We can’t take the things here, so it’s better to report it to the Governor’s Office for some merits and bonuses after this matter is settled.
The Commonwealth Government has clearly priced rewards for discoverers of Enlightener Ruins.
Believe me, I will argue reasonably, and no one will embezzle everyone’s credit.”
Everyone nodded stiffly.
If Yu Lian hadn’t already gained significant prestige among this group, someone would probably have already voiced opposition.
Anyone with normal intelligence knew that the profits from handing it over to the public and selling it privately were two entirely different matters.
Although none of these garrison squad nobodies could find a reliable way to sell it, they couldn’t help but overthink it!
The stories of impoverished scavengers in a remote Star Ring digging up Enlightener relics while digging mud on an asteroid and selling them to kind-hearted passing collectors, thus reaching the pinnacle of their lives, are countless throughout the Universe.
“True human nature!” Yu Lian thought.
However, precisely because it was true, there was nothing to be disappointed about.
Moreover, he was already prepared.
So, under everyone’s gaze, Yu Lian walked directly to the central control panel, reached behind it, picked up a box, and opened it directly, and the silver light that instantly burst forth immediately attracted everyone’s attention.
Yu Lian took the opportunity to slip a small chip from a crevice in the control panel into his pocket.
His movements were swift and concealed; even the nurse who had been secretly watching him didn’t notice.
“This is Netheril Silver, also known as Mithril, a type of active metal,” Yu Lian explained to everyone.
The Alliance explorer named Netheril was the discoverer of this substance, but the term from mythology and legend was the best choice for naming it.
“Of course, it’s also a type of Zero Element!”
Everyone’s breathing suddenly became heavy.
They didn’t know how many Zero Elements there were in this Universe, nor did they know their various forms and uses, but the simple common sense that “Zero Element equals big bucks, lots and lots of big bucks” was definitely something they knew.
By the way, if I named one of the heroines Lucy Belencaster or Lucy Linne, would old readers consider it a toxic point?