Chapter Fifty: Explosive Growth

On the surface of the Luo Shen planet, about fifty kilometers above, the massive space laboratory gradually took shape amid an environment running at peak efficiency, with 700,000 clones tirelessly working at full capacity.

The structure resembled a long rod piercing through a series of circular rings of varying sizes and diameters, stretching to a total length of 1.6 kilometers. The central shaft measured about fifty meters in diameter and was divided internally into numerous laboratories, large and small. Each laboratory housed different experimental apparatus, while the outer rings rotated at varying speeds to simulate different levels of gravity. The lowest gravity achieved was one-thousandth that of Earth, far less than the planet below, while the highest gravity reached twice that of Earth. Gravity levels could be easily adjusted to suit diverse experimental needs.

Inside, there was a rest area accommodating thousands, where clones could recuperate after a day’s toil before seamlessly returning to their posts to relieve their colleagues. At any given moment, ten thousand research clones maintained operational status, with at least that many engaged in scientific tasks across various disciplines.

Powering this colossal laboratory were five enormous generators with a combined capacity of 300,000 kilowatts, producing roughly 7.2 million kilowatt-hours daily. This required a daily consumption of about 2,500 tons of methane or torin and seven to eight hundred tons of oxygen. Factoring in other experimental supplies, personnel needs, and equipment replenishments, Li Qingsong had to transport nearly 4,000 tons of materials daily, necessitating around 600 spacecraft shuttling ceaselessly between the surface of Luo Shen and the space station. The logistical support for just these supply runs consumed a significant portion of Li Qingsong’s mental bandwidth.

Though it was merely a 1,600-meter-long laboratory, its resource consumption surpassed that of all ten of Li Qingsong’s other bases combined. Yet, undeterred by the immense investment, Li Qingsong had built it without hesitation. Now, with construction complete and logistical processes firmly established, the space laboratory was fully operational. Experimental equipment and over ten thousand clones assigned to research tasks had all been stationed within, ready for normal operations.

Simultaneously, thousands of experiments spanning more than a dozen major scientific fields began.

In just half a month, the first technological breakthrough emerged — a novel metal alloy formula. In microgravity, atoms arranged themselves in a unique pattern, greatly enhancing hardness and toughness. “This material is ideal for spacecraft hulls,” Li Qingsong observed, “significantly reducing weight while ensuring strong protection.”

Next came the second breakthrough: an innovative photolithography and etching technique. Utilizing specialized photoresists and etching processes, Li Qingsong could now produce chips with features around ten microns in size. Compared to existing chip manufacturing technology, these chips exhibited performance improvements exceeding 150% while reducing power consumption by over 30%.

Following that was the third advancement: a new spacecraft attitude control system, paving the way for developing combat spacecraft. Because the weapon systems generated tremendous recoil when fired, precise attitude control was crucial to maintaining accuracy.

Among all breakthroughs, Li Qingsong valued most the high-sensitivity space radar technology. Thanks to the successful development of new materials and experimental structures, he finally created a practical space radar system. This radar acted as the spacecraft’s eyes. Previously, his radar systems were bulky, power-hungry, and insensitive, causing multiple accidents. From that moment on, the new radar scanned at incredible speeds with high sensitivity, easily detecting reflections from even supersonic spacecraft.

More technological breakthroughs followed rapidly. Although the space laboratory’s construction had demanded vast resources and effort, its operation yielded unprecedented returns. Nearly every day brought a dozen to hundreds of new technological advancements.

These innovations, emerging like a fountain from the continuous efforts of ten thousand research clones, dazzled Li Qingsong. They spanned electrical control, sensor technology, high heat-resistant materials, voltage stabilization systems, radiation-shielding materials, rapid engine adjustment technologies, and highly reliable communication devices.

Each new technology brought improvements to all of Li Qingsong’s bases and factories. They were swiftly applied on a large scale and refined continually through feedback during real-world use. His scientific progress had never been faster.

Consequently, power plants saw ever-increasing efficiency with decreasing fuel consumption per kilowatt-hour; trains grew faster and more stable; agricultural yields increased even as fewer clones worked the fields; cargo spacecraft became lighter yet more reliable, with payload capacity soaring from two to five tons, reducing daily supply runs from 600 flights to just over 200.

Factories operated with fewer clones while boosting output. The spacecraft industry was the most striking example: once relying on tens of thousands of clones to produce four outdated ships daily, it now required only four-fifths of that workforce to manufacture six advanced new ships each day.

Time quietly slipped by.

On one particular day, another significant breakthrough emerged — the production of low-expansion, high-purity, and highly uniform glass. With this special glass, Li Qingsong could finally build high-performance space telescopes, gaining the ability to actively conduct searches across the cosmos.