Dr. Jing's gaze returned to the blueprints, landing on the engine section.
"Perhaps the engine can be modified," she said, her voice growing excited. "Since utilizing petroleum energy requires a supporting refining and storage system, why not skip a stage? We can use Soul Power as the power source and design a Soul Power Engine."
"If we do that, we'll need a corresponding Soul Power storage device... existing Milk Bottle Soul Tools have too small a capacity and short durations; they must be modified."
She quickly pulled out a blank sheet of paper and began sketching. Her pen moved rapidly across the surface, drawing intricate gears, pipes, and Soul Power circuits. If the Soul Power Engine succeeded, it would be a revolutionary Breakthrough.
Without relying on external fuel, a Spirit Master could directly drive a vehicle with their own Soul Power, and even ordinary people could use pre-charged Soul Power storage units...
But her train of thought soon jumped in another direction.
"However, compared to cars, weapons are more important." Dr. Jing put down her pen, her gaze becoming sharp.
She stood up and walked to the other side of the workspace, where various metal creations were displayed on the table: pistols, rifles, submachine guns, sniper rifles, and several rugged rocket launcher prototypes. Each piece gleamed with a cold metallic luster, and some were embedded with spirit tool cores, emitting faint energy fluctuations.
"If war breaks out in the future..." Dr. Jing picked up an improved spirit tool rifle, skillfully checking the bolt and Soul Power conduction grooves, "these firearms we are mass-producing, and the new types of spirit tools modeled after them, will change the form of warfare."
Her voice carried a nearly cold certainty: "His Holiness's goals are not limited to just one Star Luo Empire. Although high-level Spirit Masters are still irreplaceable on the front lines, with these new spirit tools, we can gain a decisive advantage in encounters, guerrilla warfare, and urban combat."
She put down the rifle, walked to the window, and looked into the distance. "Think about it: a rank thirty Spirit Master, holding a fully charged spirit tool sniper rifle, could threaten an opponent at the Spirit Saint or even Spirit Douluo level from a kilometer away. Ten ordinary soldiers, equipped with fully automatic spirit tool rifles, could suppress or even take down a Spirit Saint."
She turned around, a certain burning light in her eyes: "Ten thousand years ago, the Tang Sect Hidden Weaponss of Sea God Tang San could slay experts at the Spirit Douluo or even Titled Douluo level."
"Now, we have more precise mechanical structures, more powerful spirit tool technology, and these beyond-the-era blueprints provided by His Holiness..."
She spread her hands as if to embrace the entire future. "We can completely create new weapons and equipment that far exceed the current level of the Sun Moon Empire. No, not exceed—crush."
The other scholars in the research lab all stopped their work and listened quietly. They had heard these ideas countless times, but every time they heard them, they still felt their blood boil.
Dr. Jing walked to the wall where a massive map of the Douluo Continent hung.
"With His Holiness's talent, and using the Star Luo Empire as a springboard, conquering the entire continent will not be a problem." Her voice was low and powerful, as if reading a prophecy. "The Douluo Continent belongs to our Axis Cult. Those decaying Empires, rigid Sects, and hypocritical nobles... they will become the foundation of the new world. And the filthy Evil Soul Masters—"
Her gaze suddenly turned icy, "—will be slaughtered by us to the last man, leaving none behind."
She paused for a moment and suddenly laughed, a laugh filled with reverence and fanaticism: "As expected of Your Majesty the Pope, to think so thoroughly. From people's livelihoods to military affairs, from technology to philosophy... and our goal is to help Your Majesty achieve this ideal. With our hands, we will build the tools she needs; with our wisdom, we will realize the blueprint she has drawn."
She became more excited as she spoke, her voice echoing in the lab: "And those things His Holiness mentioned—'airplanes,' flying spirit tools that can transport large numbers of people at once; 'rockets' that can pass through the clouds, break through the sky, and even reach the moon... these are simply cross-era ideas! They are grand undertakings that Mortals wouldn't even dare to dream of!"
Dr. Jing spun around to face all the researchers, an excited flush rising to her face, her eyes frighteningly bright: "Surely even the Sun Moon Empire couldn't achieve this, right? While they are still complacent about sixth-tier spirit tools, we are already standing at a much higher starting point."
Her voice suddenly rose, carrying a nearly crazed piety, "So beautiful, so wise—only a god could think of this, only a god could do it! And only our Axis Cult's Pope, Lady Furina, can lead us toward such a future!"
She spread her arms wide, as if to embrace the entire research lab, the silent machines, and that new world that had yet to arrive.
The surrounding scholars watched her quietly. No one was surprised, and no one tried to stop her.
They had long since grown used to it.
Usually, Dr. Jing was as calm and rational as a precise spirit tool computer, but whenever the topic turned to Pope Furina's vision or those beyond-the-era concepts, she would become like this: fanatical, obsessed, as if filled with some sacred mission.
She wasn't much different from the Dr. Dayou she spoke of. But no one dared to say that out loud.
A few seconds later, Dr. Jing slowly lowered her arms and took a deep breath.
The flush on her face gradually faded, and clarity returned to her eyes. She straightened her slightly messy white lab coat collar, walked back to her workstation, and picked up her pen again.
"Continue working," she said, her voice having returned to its usual calm. "The chassis welding for the first car must be completed this afternoon. I want to see the revised proposal for the third version of the Soul Power Engine blueprints before dinner."
The sounds of metal clashing, blueprints rustling, and low-voiced discussions filled the lab once more. Everything was as usual.
Only in the intervals when Dr. Jing lowered her head to draw, the corners of her mouth would unconsciously curl upward in a smile that mixed yearning, loyalty, and boundless ambition.
Meanwhile, in the distance, Neuvillette had just finished reviewing a report on the construction of the new research building.
The research department seemed to have quieted down.
He didn't know that beneath that temporary silence, what currents of thought were surging, what creations were being nurtured, and what burning faith was blazing.
But perhaps, not knowing was a good thing.
At least tonight, he could get a peaceful night's sleep.
...
On the other side, Furina inexplicably sneezed. "Achoo! Is someone thinking about me?"
After all, even she didn't know when she had gai
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