Liu Yong's doubts were evident as he contemplated the possibility of more giant holes beyond the three they had already discovered.
"Overlord, continue your efforts. Focus on these three massive cavities for now, and explore the surroundings to see if there are any more awaiting our discovery," Liu Yong instructed, his tone filled with determination.
"Okay, no problem," Overlord responded without hesitation, ready to undertake the task.
For Bawang, plunging to depths of over 4,000 meters was mere child's play, hardly exerting any pressure on the colossal creature. It could stay at such depths for days on end without issue.
Having agreed to the mission of searching for the next giant cave, Overlord became increasingly intrigued by the newly discovered one. It couldn't help but ask Liu Yong, "Master, may I enter this cave and explore its depths?"
Liu Yong nodded and replied, "Yes, you may venture inside and have a look."
In previous encounters, Liu Yong explored two giant holes only to find them unfathomable and devoid of significant findings. This time, he wondered if the newly discovered cave would be identical.
Curiosity got the better of Liu Yong, knowing that the two previous caves held no danger. He immediately granted Overlord's request, allowing the massive creature to swim into the newly discovered cave, delving deeper into the unknown.
Using a third-party vision, Liu Yong observed Overlord's slow descent into the depths, simultaneously taking in the vast expanse of the enormous cave.
Like the previous two caves, the newly discovered one possessed identical characteristics. It descended vertically, adhering to a standardized structure reminiscent of a colossal drill bit with a diameter of 1,000 meters.
As Overlord ventured deeper, surpassing the 6,000-meter mark, the pressure became increasingly apparent. However, undeterred, Overlord continued until reaching its limit of 6,800 meters.
6500 meters!
6600 meters!
6800 meters!
Overlord's pace slowed considerably upon reaching this depth, indicating a hint of hesitation. Seeking guidance, it communicated, "Master, the pressure is immense, but I believe I can descend another 100 meters."
Over the past few days, Overlord's weight had increased by over 20 tons, resulting in a slight boost to its attributes, each growing by over 100 points.
Liu Yong pondered momentarily before replying, "Go ahead and descend approximately 100 meters further."
Through the third-party vision, Liu Yong observed the depth of approximately 7,800 meters—an unfathomable abyss, hiding the bottom of the colossal hole from sight.
Speculating in his mind, Liu Yong postulated that the subsequent giant holes were likely similar to the first two—mysterious and unfathomable, with an unknown quantity yet to be discovered.
Despite the extensive exploration, no single item or deep-sea luminescent creature had been found within the massive cave, leaving Liu Yong perplexed.
Undeterred, Overlord continued its descent, reaching around 6,900 meters. Through the third-party vision, Liu Yong glimpsed the environment at 7,900 meters.
Apart from the seawater, the only visible entities were colossal holes, their bottoms visual—a mirror image of the previous two gigantic cavities.
Liu Yong mused, "It appears that this newly discovered cave is no different from the previous ones."
Overlord then relayed, "Master, the seawater pressure at this depth is exceedingly high. I can only hold on for a minute or two at most."
Just as Liu Yong was about to instruct Overlord to ascend and return to a depth of five or six kilometres, an unexpected revelation jolted him.
Could it be that my eyes deceived me?
A colossal shadow had momentarily emerged in the corner of Liu Yong's third-party vision, but it vanished within a mere second or two. The fleeting glimpse left Liu Yong bewildered, unable to discern its true nature except for its sheer enormity.
Was it a trick of the eyes, or had a colossal figure appeared before me? Liu Yong questioned himself, standing there in a daze.
His mind raced, contemplating whether it was a mere illusion or an actual occurrence. It didn't feel like a mere figment of his imagination.
Breaking Liu Yong's reverie, Overlord interjected, "Master, I can't hold on any longer. I need to ascend."
Only then did Liu Yong snap back to reality, urgently responding, "Ascend, Overlord! This enormous hole is no different from the previous two—it seemingly has no bottom. You need to grow even larger."
Relieved by the command, Overlord turned and swam towards the cave's entrance. Gradually, the depth decreased from 6,900 meters to 6,000 meters and then to over 5,000 meters.
Upon exiting the colossal hole, Overlord experienced a wave of relief, no longer burdened by the oppressive pressure of the seawater.
Liu Yong instructed, "Overlord, your next task is to explore this plain further and ascertain if there are additional giant holes."
"Understood, Master," replied Overlord with determination.
Liu Yong added, "Furthermore, strive to grow in size. I hope you can reach a weight of 1,000 tons or even surpass that threshold."
Overlord affirmed, "I will dedicate myself to growing as you have instructed."
After exchanging a few more words and clarifications, Liu Yong concluded the third-party vision, leaving his mind immersed in the realization that three immense abysses lay scattered across the submarine plain, forming a perfectly triangular arrangement.
Liu Yong believed he had seen an immense figure within the third colossal hole. Uncertain whether it was a figment of his vision, he couldn't shake the feeling of its sheer magnitude.
Meanwhile, at China Shipping Communication Co., Ltd., a world-leading provider of comprehensive communication solutions, Wei Zhengde, the company's president, was burdened with numerous challenges. Comparable to Qingyun International in communication, the company's prowess in cloud computing, big data, and data centres remained at the forefront of the industry.
Yet, much like Qingyun International, China Shipping faced sanctions from country M. Chip supplies had dwindled over the past six months, with imports almost entirely severed.
Wei Zhengde sat in his office, his head heavy with the weight of these troubles, a cigarette smouldering between his fingers.
During a recent high-level company meeting, some executives had proposed releasing the source code and divulging core technologies to country M in exchange for chip supplies. However, Wei Zhengde staunchly objected, refusing to bow down to threats.
He believed that it was better to be self-reliant and face adversity head-on. Months earlier, he had invested billions of dollars in establishing a chip design and development centre.
China Shipping required chips, but instead of relying on imports, Wei Zhengde took matters into his own hands. Designing and developing chips in-house, the company planned to entrust their manufacturing to chip foundries.
Frustrated by the constant pressure imposed by country M, Wei Zhengde sought to break free from their grip. Establishing the chip design and R&D centre was the correct path to pursue.
Just then, a knock interrupted Wei Zhengde's thoughts, and Shi Xinyuan, the company vice president of technology, entered the room.
Wei Zhengde extinguished the cigarette, and his tense expression eased as he recognized Shi Xinyuan. "President Xinyuan, what's the progress on the chips we've been designing and developing?"
Shi Xinyuan replied, "The design progress is going well. If things continue smoothly, we may be able to hand over the first batch of three chip designs to the foundries within three months, or even as early as two months."
Wei Zhengde felt a sense of relief wash over him upon hearing the news. It felt like a glimmer of victory in the face of adversity.
In his mind, he acknowledged the importance of his decision to reject external opinions and invest heavily in establishing the chip design and R&D centre. The ability to rely on self-designed and self-developed chips, rather than relying on imports from country M, brought him a sense of empowerment.
However, Wei Zhengde failed to notice that Shi Xinyuan seemed to have something more to say, leaving an unspoken tension in the air.
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