Chapter 5: Super Kinetic Energy

Meng Yang hunched over, circling the vehicle in uncontrollable admiration. His expression was that of a starving man suddenly confronted with an extravagant feast, his eyes brimming with insatiable greed.

He knew well that this vehicle was equipped with four thermal-control fuel canisters and specialized propulsion thrusters, capable of a maximum payload of 400 kilograms and an ascent to an altitude of 5,000 meters in mere seconds.

For young people like Meng Yang, contemporary society offered an abundance of material wealth. Yet, driven by the dual catalysts of liberal ideology and the pursuit of individualistic existence, many were obsessed with being mavericks and seeking the unconventional. Novel pastimes like aerial racing became a pursuit to fill their spiritual void. Yao Kui was one such individual; a man infatuated with street racing, he was a quintessential representative of the "Speedster Gang."

When night fell, the sky transformed into their arena and playground for wild abandon.

Spurred by high-stakes gambling, everyone vied desperately to be the fastest, seeking only to leave their rivals in the dust. Thus, whenever a new model was released globally, Yao Kui would spare no expense to snap it up, subsequently hiring professionals to meticulously modify its power system to push its performance to the limit.

Meng Yang had never expected that Young Master Yao would entrust him with the heavy responsibility of modifying this super aerial racer today—an honor he considered supreme. Naturally, he possessed the confidence to undertake the task. After all, his workshop was equipped with high-precision lathes, stocked with various high-performance decoding chips required for supercar engines, and even possessed a collection of secret techniques obtained through hacking.

It is no exaggeration to say that, aside from high-end, complex equipment like controllable nuclear fusion, artificial suns, spacecraft, starships, and orbital space stations—which he lacked the means to build—any other form of modification or maintenance was well within his capabilities. He was the type who would refuse no job and dared to take on any challenge.

Watching Meng Yang’s greedy demeanor, Yao Kui shouted, "Hey, never seen one before? Hurry up and install it for me!" He pointed at the red canister on the table, but Meng Yang remained lost in his awe of the racer, failing to hear a word.

Yao Kui urged, "Take a look at this first!" With that, he placed the canister directly in front of Meng Yang.

Meng Yang’s eyes snapped to focus. The large characters "KC20" were emblazoned on the red canister, causing him another jolt of shock, his voice pitching high: "This… this is KC… KC20 Kinetic Fuel?"

He knew full well that this specialized KC20 fuel was an incredibly scarce energy source in the field of high-tech, extremely difficult to obtain and only harvestable by traveling to the moon via space shuttle.

"KC20!" Hearing Meng Yang’s exclamation, Gu Dajun, who had been busy under the car, scrambled out from beneath it.

Gu Dajun, nicknamed "Iron Hand," was a hulking figure, built like a towering fortress of iron, with arms thicker than an average person’s thighs. He was a fighter who frequented underground black-market boxing rings; one look at his appearance revealed his volatile temper.

Seeing the massive, hulking figure of Gu Dajun, Yao Kui was slightly taken aback, his expression one of surprise. "And who is this?"

Meng Yang quickly stepped forward to introduce him: "Brother Kui, this is Gu Dajun, whom I hired to help improve the system. This kinetic fuel canister you’ve brought is a rare treasure indeed!"

As he spoke, he gripped the red fuel canister tightly with both hands, his eyes revealing a greed that suggested he wished to absorb its energy into his own body instantly.

Yao Kui merely grunted, paying no mind to the steel-strong man before him. Little did he know, this fellow had recently beaten a contractor into multiple fractures over unpaid wages and had only just settled the compensation privately; he was currently working for his buddy Meng Yang to make ends meet.

***

Yao Kui turned and urged Meng Yang, "Hurry up and install it."

Gu Dajun popped the hood of the "Soul-Severer" and examined it carefully before frowning. "Listen, Monkey, you can't add any more fuel canisters to this machine. Look, it’s already equipped with four thermal-control canisters; adding another will definitely cause problems."

Chewing on something, Yao Kui replied arrogantly, "What do you care! I only want more power!"

Hearing this, Gu Dajun’s frustration flared, and he retorted loudly, "I said it can't be installed, which means it absolutely cannot be installed. Listen carefully: forget this measly car, even a rocket couldn't handle the energy in this canister!"

Yao Kui’s eyes widened in anger, and he barked, "Where does all this nonsense come from? Are you afraid I won’t pay you?"

The bodyguard standing nearby, Duan Jinhu, added his weight to the threat, roaring, "My boss told you to install it, so you’d better do it quietly. Why so much chatter?"

At this, Gu Dajun’s temper ignited. "Who are you calling full of nonsense?" He braced himself, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to throw a punch.

Seeing the situation spiraling, Meng Yang lunged forward, desperately holding Gu Dajun back.

He knew that the bodyguard accompanying Young Master Yao was named Duan Jinhu, a man who had studied martial arts at the foot of Mount Wudang and had later won the Thai King’s Cup Gold Medal for boxing. His skills were formidable. Meng Yang had no desire to see his hard-earned repair shop destroyed in a brawl.

Wearing a sycophantic smile, Meng Yang tried to smooth things over: "No misunderstandings, no misunderstandings. What kind of status does Brother Kui have? We’re all just relying on Brother Kui for a living!"

As he spoke, he signaled Gu Dajun with his eyes while stammering, "However… Brother Kui, this kinetic fuel is contraband. If we install it, the engine might disintegrate from exceeding its limit. I’m truly worried about an accident…"

Yao Kui remained stubborn. "Do you have any idea how hard this stuff is to get? It only exists on the moon! If you won't install it, I'll find someone else. I want that superior power!" He slammed his fist on the table to emphasize his resolve.

Terrified that Yao Kui might actually leave, Meng Yang quickly interjected, "Brother Kui, Brother Kui, don't do that! Dajun, hurry and find a way to install it for Brother Kui… Brother Kui’s 'Soul-Severer' must have the most powerful output. Imagine it sweeping away all opponents on the track—what a magnificent sight that will be!"

Meng Yang knew that his "Smart-Build Garage" survived thanks to wealthy young masters like Yao Kui. Offending them would make business impossible in the future.

"Install this, and I think it could travel through time and space. If something goes wrong, don't come looking for us..." Gu Dajun grumbled, filled with reluctance as he began the installation.

The Dragon Mountain people had ventured out to find the Moonstone but were blocked by the Kalaha people and returned empty-handed. Meanwhile, the Celestial Furnace Gourd suffered an unexpected impact and exhausted its energy; without the Moonstone, it could not be activated.

In this dire situation, Nuka, the patriarch of the Dragon Mountain tribe, decided to lead his people to the mysterious Eight-Direction Valley.

***

After divining, the elder tribe shaman, Nisegu, announced that a thunderstorm would strike the region inhabited by the Dragon Mountain people that evening. Upon hearing this, Nuka immediately decided to take the risk and depart, utilizing the power of the lightning.

Three vine-ships sat silently in the clearing of the Dragon Mountain village. These ships were meticulously woven from thick, sturdy vines, stretching over a dozen meters long. They resembled medieval sailing ships but contained astonishing energy.

The vessels featured not only frames woven from plants but also sails and roofs made of animal hides. The most unique component was the energy pool located at the bottom-rear of the ship—a rectangular groove carved from natural meteorite, fitted with a sliding parallel lid made of the same material. This was the critical section where the special mineral, Moonstone, was placed to generate gravitational fields and magnetic levitation.

As the storm raged, Patriarch Nuka and Vaza, the greatest warrior of Dragon Mountain, boarded the first ship. Below, the Dragon Mountain people held torches aloft, dancing a solemn ritual accompanied by the incantations of the elder shaman, Nisegu.

Once all the tribespeople were aboard, Vaza was the first to erect a slender, black meteorite-iron pillar above the energy pool.

Simultaneously, led by the craftsman Longshou and the Dragon Mountain warrior Xinrang, the other two ships began their pre-departure preparations.

In the sky, lightning darted like silver serpents. In an instant, intense bolts of lightning struck the tall, black meteorite-iron pillars on the ships, and the current was instantly channeled into the power pool constructed of specially arranged Moonstones. Amidst the deafening thunder, the Moonstones in the control pool emitted a mysterious, deep-blue radiance.

Seeing the control pool successfully activated, Patriarch Nuka knew that once the Moonstones were ignited, they would not extinguish until the energy was exhausted. He immediately ordered Vaza to pull the mechanism, collapse the meteorite-iron pillar, and close the power pool lid, allowing the ships to enter a shielded gravitational field state.

Seeing this, the other two ships likewise collapsed their meteorite pillars, started their vessels, and embarked on their journey into the unknown.

The ships seemed to be undergoing a harrowing trial of ascension. Amidst the ravages of lightning, thunder, and torrential rain, they trembled violently, slowly climbing toward the firmament as if infused with some ancient and magical power. Every inch of ascent was fraught with danger and the unknown.

Patriarch Nuka stood tall and proud on the forward deck of the ship, his long, pitch-black hair dancing wildly in the gale like a fluttering banner.

Vaza stood as a loyal guardian at the stern. He was wrapped in animal skins from the waist down, his upper body bare, revealing a tattoo of the Dragon Mountain totem—a treasure gourd. On his sturdy chest hung a protective turtle shell emanating an archaic aura, and a massive Dragon Mountain cleaver was strapped firmly across his back.

Unlike the patriarch, his black hair was short, exuding an air of efficiency and readiness.