"There’s no need to test it." Fang Yuan waved his hand dismissively.

"Why not? Grandpa Fang, do you think there’s a problem with what I made?"

"There’s no problem with your work. I just checked it. This is indeed the Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon that our Celestial King Group was researching. It’s just that..." Fang Yuan trailed off, hesitating.

"Gao Neng, the problem is with the manufacturing blueprint for the Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon. It has nothing to do with your ability," Guan San explained, seeing Fang Yuan’s hesitation. "The fact that you could build a model of the Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon in such a short time already proves your skill."

"Grandpa Fang, Elder Guan, I know the blueprint for the Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon is flawed. I knew it the moment I got it," Gao Neng said.

"You knew?" Guan San was astonished.

It wasn’t just Guan San. Even Uncle Bai, who had been silent the whole time, showed a hint of surprise. His gaze toward Gao Neng held a flicker of disbelief.

Fang Tangtang’s eyes were wide as well.

As for Fang Yuan, who had been on his way out the door, he stopped in his tracks.

"I’ve known all along that the blueprint for the Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon is flawed. This is an experimental product, right?" Gao Neng’s gaze was firm.

"Not experimental, but shelved. Research on the Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon was halted two years ago." Guan San’s tone became a little strange.

’Seems it’s even more serious than I thought...’ Gao Neng fell silent for a moment, but he soon looked up again. "But I still want to try."

"The younger generation is truly something else..." Fang Yuan suddenly sighed. As he looked at Gao Neng, a rare flicker of gratification appeared in his eyes. "To know something is impossible yet still dare to try—and on a bet, no less. Gao Neng, I, Fang Yuan, have underestimated you!"

"So, can we test it now?"

"You really want to test it?"

"Yes."

"Fine. Then let’s test it." Fang Yuan smiled, then looked at Guan San. "Make the arrangements. Find someone who can operate an Electromagnetic Cannon."

"Grandpa, I can do it!" Fang Tangtang immediately stepped forward.

"Tangtang, don’t mess around. Testing an Electromagnetic Cannon is extremely dangerous. If something goes wrong, Grandpa couldn’t bear it!" Fang Yuan shook his head, stopping her.

"I’m not afraid! I’m doing the test!"

"Absolutely not!"

"If you don’t let me test it, I’m not going back to the military academy!"

"Tangtang, be good! This is not up for discussion. There is no way I’m letting you test it!" Fang Yuan waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

"Grandpa!"

"I’d like to test it myself, if that’s okay," Gao Neng spoke up at this moment.

"You’ll test it?" Fang Yuan’s eyes narrowed.

"That’s right. Since I built it, it’s only right that I test it. Besides, I also have both the Iron and Copper talents. All I need is for the Celestial King Group to provide the ammunition for the Electromagnetic Cannon," Gao Neng said with a smile.

"Gao Neng, we understand how you feel, but this is too dangerous. If something were to happen to you, we wouldn’t be able to answer to the Eastern Capital Military Academy or the Shen Family. It’s better if I arrange for someone else to test it..."

"Wouldn’t it be just as dangerous for someone else? I’m the one who built the Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon. If I test it... the risk might be the lowest," Gao Neng countered.

"Well..." Guan San was at a loss for words.

"Alright. Since you’re willing to try it yourself, then go ahead. However, if you feel anything is wrong, I want you to stop the test immediately." Fang Yuan was silent for a moment before finally nodding.

"Don’t worry, Grandpa Fang!"

...

...

「Fifteen minutes later.」

「The Celestial King Group’s weapons testing ground.」

The news of Gao Neng building an Electromagnetic Cannon had already spread throughout the Celestial King Group two days prior. Now that they suddenly heard a test was about to begin, nearly every available Manufacturing Master and researcher from the R&D center had shown up.

Over a hundred "spectators" stood around the perimeter of the testing ground.

Fang Yuan, Gao Neng, Fang Tangtang, and the others stood at the edge of the testing area, with Uncle Bai personally standing guard by Gao Neng’s side.

"Gao Neng, don’t force it. The moment you sense a problem, protect yourself!" Guan San warned again.

"Okay." Gao Neng nodded.

"Uncle Bai, you have to protect Gao Neng. Don’t let him get hurt, understand?" Fang Tangtang also walked up to Uncle Bai’s side.

"Rest assured, Miss Tangtang. If something happens, it will happen to me," Uncle Bai nodded solemnly.

"Alright, Gao Neng, the ammunition is ready. You can fire at will. Just aim for that Alloy Shield up ahead," Fang Yuan said, pointing to the Alloy Shield set up in the distance.

"Understood." Gao Neng shouldered the Electromagnetic Cannon and entered the field.

When the surrounding spectators got a clear look at the small Electromagnetic Cannon on Gao Neng’s shoulder, they were momentarily stunned.

"Is that the Electromagnetic Cannon Gao Neng built? Why does it look a little off?"

"It’s less than half the usual size. What kind of Electromagnetic Cannon is that? Does our Celestial King Group even have one like it?"

"Wait a minute... could that be the Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon?!"

"What?! The Type 4... I remember research on the Type 4 was halted two years ago, didn’t it? How could he possibly have built one?"

Whether they were Manufacturing Masters or researchers from the R&D center, their faces were filled with disbelief upon recognizing the cannon on Gao Neng’s shoulder.

But Gao Neng paid them no mind.

He had already walked into the middle of the training field and loaded a shell into the Electromagnetic Cannon.

’I hope this works. You damn scammer system, you better not screw me over!’ Gao Neng prayed silently, his eyes fixing on the Alloy Shield on the field.

100% success rate!

It has to succeed!

Gao Neng pulled the trigger of the Electromagnetic Cannon.

In an instant, he felt a strange energy envelop his body. It was a somewhat familiar sensation, like entering a simulation training room.

’Why do I feel this way?’

He couldn’t figure it out at the moment. More importantly, he felt a slight pain in his fingertip, but the Electromagnetic Cannon hadn’t fired.

"..." Gao Neng was speechless.

’Did it fail?!’

’A 100% success rate, and it still failed?’

’You damn scammer system! You liar!’

Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly felt a change in the energy covering his body. The energy seemed to come alive, pulsing and flickering with blue sparks of electricity.

"A Magnetic-Electric Protective Shield!"

"My God, a Magnetic-Electric Protective Shield just appeared on Gao Neng?!"

"How... How is that possible?!"

The surrounding researchers and Manufacturing Masters who knew the truth of the matter paled when they saw the electric sparks flickering around Gao Neng’s body.

It wasn’t just them.

Even the normally composed Fang Yuan shot to his feet.

"A Magnetic-Electric Protective Shield actually appeared?! He... How did he do it?" Fang Yuan’s eyes were bloodshot. He had been the chairman of the Celestial King Group for decades and had been through countless situations, but never before had he been this agitated.

"That kid... he actually managed to pull it off?!" Guan San was equally thrilled.

And just as everyone was reeling from the shock, a pillar of blue light appeared on the training field.

The beam shot from the muzzle of the Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon on Gao Neng’s shoulder, streaking in a straight line across more than half the testing ground to strike the Alloy Shield.

In that instant...

Everyone’s eyes went wide.

All eyes were captivated by that pillar of blue light.

BOOM!

A massive explosion rang out.

The Alloy Shield was completely pierced through.

But it didn’t stop there.

The blue beam passed through the Alloy Shield and then struck the protective metal barriers of the testing ground.

But in the face of the blue beam, the hard protective metal was like tofu, penetrated without the slightest pause.

CRASH!

A piece of metal from the edge of the testing ground fell to the ground.

It went through!

The testing ground was breached!

The damages were at least a million...

But at this moment, no one cared about the damage to the testing ground. All eyes were fixed on the pierced Alloy Shield and the metal wall. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

...

Silence.

Dead silence.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

A full ten seconds later...

An explosive roar erupted from outside the testing field.

"It worked!!!"

"The Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon! He actually managed to build it!"

"Am I seeing things? No, I’m not. I witnessed this miracle with my own eyes! A project that was shelved for two years has miraculously succeeded!"

"This is a groundbreaking achievement! Ah... did it really work?!"

The people from the R&D center and the Manufacturing Masters couldn’t believe it.

Fang Yuan and Guan San stared at each other, both completely dumbfounded. They never imagined that Gao Neng would actually succeed.

The Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon!

Successfully built by Gao Neng?!

’How is this possible?’

The Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon, which the Celestial King Group had spent five years and over five billion to develop without success, was built by Gao Neng?

And in less than two days...

Less than two days?!

"No, Sir! It’s not a complete success yet... There’s still one more problem. If we can solve that last issue, the Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon will truly become one of the Celestial King Group’s signature weapons!" Guan San was ecstatic, but he quickly remembered the fatal flaw.

The test of the Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon was a success!

But this success...

...was currently limited to Gao Neng alone.

Could it be mass-produced?

That depended on another condition: whether the Electromagnetic Cannon could be used by a second person. If not, it still couldn’t be considered a true success.

Of course, even if it couldn’t be mass-produced, this was already a monumental leap forward.

"It’s enough. This is more than enough. Even if it can’t be mass-produced yet, this is enough. It’s a huge leap forward. With this progress, the Type 4 Electromagnetic Cannon can eventually be perfected." Fang Yuan’s old face was flushed red. He knew the final problem would be difficult to overcome. The fact that Gao Neng had gotten this far was already astounding.

"Student Fang Tangtang, would you like to give it a try? I’m not sure about the power output, and I can’t really gauge the energy consumption. You might have a better feel for it." Just as Fang Yuan was thinking this, Gao Neng walked back over, carrying the Electromagnetic Cannon.

(Last day of January 2019, a quick summary: This month’s updates totaled nearly 220,000 characters. Not too slow, right? For the last day, I’m begging for monthly tickets and subscriptions, please?! Your support is what allows Xin Yi to keep going strong. How about turning on auto-subscribe?)