Liu Yong stood there, stunned by the revelation. It took him a while to regain his composure, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just discovered. If there was no trace of that distinct grey-black metal within a few hundred nautical miles, it was highly likely that it didn't exist nearby.
A profound sense of loss engulfed Liu Yong's heart. The realization hit him hard that this exceptional metal, with its unique properties, could only be found within the confines of that massive round hole, and even then, only in quantities of two or three hundred tons. Oh, how he yearned for several thousand or tens of thousands of tons of this extraordinary material.
These metallic fragments were undoubtedly remnants of ancient alien civilizations. Could they be the artifacts left behind by extraterrestrial visitors who had graced Earth with their presence some 50,000 years ago? Liu Yong pondered the purpose of the colossal hole and whether the aliens themselves had abandoned it, opting not to delve any deeper. What could have compelled them to excavate such an immense cavity in the first place?
Lost in his thoughts, Liu Yong's solitary contemplation was interrupted by the voice of Bawang, his loyal companion, resonating within his mind.
"Master, I have discovered a vast trench nearby, seemingly bottomless. It is inhabited by gigantic octopuses. Perhaps we might find traces of the same metal at the trench's depths," Bawang informed him.
With a tinge of regret, Liu Yong replied, "That's a possibility, but alas, you are too small to reach the bottom of that trench."
Fear not, Master. I shall strive to grow stronger," Bawang reassured him with determination.
After a brief conversation, Liu Yong ended the telepathic connection, feeling slightly disappointed. Perhaps, he mused, he could venture deeper into the trench when Bawang matured and reached a more substantial size. It held the potential for new discoveries. Alternatively, Bawang could revisit the three enormous holes in the North Atlantic Ocean, delving further into their mysteries. Liu Yong found solace in the hope of future revelations.
In the realm of aerospace engineering, progress was being made. The turbine's working blades and guide blades for the first machine had been meticulously manufactured, setting a near-record pace. What would typically take 20 days or even a month had been accomplished in less than a week.
Inside the aero-engine assembly workshop, a turbofan X engine was being carefully pieced together. A crowd of onlookers surrounded the engine, including Liang Wencheng, the chief designer, and a team of 20 to 30 people. The assembly process progressed smoothly, guided by skilled workers and technicians who were well acquainted with the intricacies of the turbofan X engine.
As the assembly neared completion, the engine underwent thorough inspections before being promptly transferred to the test workshop for trial runs. The test bench stood ready, awaiting the engine's arrival. The tests proceeded systematically, and all the data indicated average performance, even during the afterburner test run. Liang Wencheng and his team breathed a collective sigh of relief.
After successfully completing the test run, the engine was dismounted from the test stand and swiftly transported back to the assembly workshop while still radiating residual warmth. The next step was to remove the turbine section, inspecting the individual turbine levels one by one. Liang Wencheng and his team wasted no time scrutinizing the turbine blades even before detaching from the turbine disc.
Gradually, a wave of excitement rippled through the crowd. The turbine blades had endured the baptism of high temperatures during the test run, yet their appearance remained unchanged. Each blade retained its original grey-black colour without signs of bluishness or ablation. It was as if they hadn't been tested at all.
"Look at these blades; they appear brand new, completely unaffected by the extreme conditions," remarked one observer.
"I must admit, if I hadn't witnessed the test run myself, I would have assumed these were pristine, untouched blades," another chimed in.
"Our long-standing predicament has been resolved! These blades, made from this incredible material, meet all our requirements," exclaimed a delighted team member.
"Haha, we no longer need to go through the trouble of importing so-called single crystal superalloys. This material surpasses them by leaps and bounds," added another, unable to contain their excitement.
The atmosphere in the assembly workshop shifted. An air of exhilaration, joy, and anticipation enveloped the room. The turbine blades were meticulously dismantled and professionally examined, confirming their flawless condition.
Liang Wencheng waved his hand, signifying that the engine was ready for an extensive 300-hour long-term test run. With the plans in motion, he made a decision. He would personally travel to Huahai City to meet Liu Yong and discuss procuring more of this remarkable metallic material.
The two pieces of metal they currently possessed only met the requirements for a single engine. Liang Wencheng intended to purchase several tons of the material to support small-scale production of the turbofan X engines.
Meanwhile, in the Global Shipping Group office, Liu Yong contemplated the idea of relocating all the metal from the gigantic round hole in the North Pacific Ocean to their seaside warehouse. The warehouse, now emptied of its previous contents, had made way for transporting advanced lithography machines to other factory areas. Liu Yong considered the feasibility of storing the metal in this coastal facility, especially since the security personnel had already been withdrawn.
Opening his pet panel, Liu Yong activated the third-party vision, observing the Overlord resting peacefully in its temporary cave. As his gaze wandered, Liu Yong couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss with the hole itself. Its rectangular shape seemed peculiar, and a sense of unease lingered within him.
Expressing his gratitude, Liu Yong addressed the Overlord telepathically, "Overlord, I sincerely thank you for relocating some of the metal from the enormous round hole to our seaside warehouse."
The Overlord, ever dutiful, responded, "Master, I will proceed immediately."
The massive spear was temporarily positioned at the cave entrance, ensuring its contents' security. With stealth and ease, the Overlord embarked on its journey back to the enormous round hole, a mere sixty or seventy nautical miles away. Swiftly swimming into the cave's depths, it carefully collected several more significant pieces of metal and held them securely in its mouth. The weight varied, ranging from 30 to 40 tons for the most tremendous fragments to several tons for the smallest. Altogether, the Overlord carried over a hundred tons of the grey-black metal in its formidable jaws.
Emerging from the colossal round hole, the Overlord set course for Huahai City, its precious cargo safeguarded within its grasp. Meanwhile, he concluded his observation in Liu Yong's office, closing the third-party vision and indulging in a sip of coffee. At that moment, his phone rang, and he recognized the number as Liang Wencheng's.
"Mr. Liu, I will be traveling to Huahai City tomorrow morning. I hope it's not an inconvenience; I would like to pay you a visit," Liang Wencheng conveyed.
Liu Yong immediately surmised that Liang Wencheng's visit had everything to do with the grey-black metal. Realizing the significance of the call, Liu Yong pondered momentarily and responded, "Tomorrow at three o'clock in the afternoon works for me. I'll be waiting for you in my office."
With their meeting scheduled, Liu Yong eagerly anticipated Liang Wencheng's arrival, knowing that their discussion would revolve around the extraordinary grey-black metal. Little did he know that the Overlord was already en route to Huahai City, carrying a substantial amount of the prized material that could potentially revolutionize their production of turbofan X engines.
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