Before long, the helicopter was circling above the research center, waiting to land.
Looking through the window, Haiyang saw countless construction machines working around the Nanotechnology Department's Longevity Chamber area. In the distance, several iron bridge piers had already been erected to replace the destroyed bridge.
Wang Jianguo was saying something to Haiyang, but the helicopter's thunderous noise made it impossible to hear. He could only nod instinctively.
As the helicopter descended, its rotors stirred up a fierce wind, sending dust and pebbles flying in all directions like a miniature storm erupting over the construction site. The swirling dust created a screen that obscured the surrounding buildings and machinery. Haiyang squinted as he exited the aircraft, vaguely making out several fully armed personnel standing at the edge of the site, their cap brims blown back, holding their helmets firmly in place.
"Director Wang, thank you for coming. The working group is waiting," said a middle-aged armed officer to Jianguo. His rank suggested he was in charge of the on-site security personnel.
"Group Leader Liu, we should thank you for your efforts. How's the project reconstruction going?" Jianguo asked as he and Haiyang followed the group deeper into the research park.
"It's reached operational conditions. The remaining auxiliary works will be completed soon. Everything follows wartime production standards, with all materials receiving priority supply," Group Leader Liu explained as they walked.
"Wartime status? Why?" Haiyang asked, confused.
"We are at war—a technological war. Without breakthroughs in research, we can only expect defeat," Jianguo said sternly.
As they walked along the road, the surroundings filled Haiyang with an odd sense of oppression. The wide river curved in the distance, isolating the park from the city between its green banks and rippling waters. One bridge was being rebuilt, with steel frame piers supporting it in the river as workers bustled about.
Deep in the park, Haiyang could see the Longevity Chamber under reconstruction. The once Taoist-styled building now stood as a broken framework, with cranes hoisting massive metal components back into place. Dust hung in the air amid the constant rumbling of machinery. Workers in hard hats directed the construction while staff in research institute uniforms checked construction drawings.
At the Nanotechnology Department's entrance, reconstruction work was in full swing, the air thick with the smell of rebar and concrete.
Fully armed personnel guarded the entrance, scanning the surroundings vigilantly. They saluted upon seeing Wang Jianguo's group and opened the doors to let them in.
The lobby looked exactly as it had before, except the reception desk was now unmanned.
"Director Wang, Dr. Wang, you're finally here. Please hurry to the conference room—everyone's waiting," a man wearing a classic black leader's jacket emerged from the lobby.
"Director Li, thank you for being here personally. We didn't expect to see you on site," Jianguo replied respectfully. Haiyang could tell this person significantly outranked his father.
They hurried into the conference room, which was nearly as large as the entrance hall, filled with rows of people. The layout followed standard Chinese official meeting style: a wide platform at the front with several tables arranged with microphones and folders, a solemn backdrop bearing the words "Technological Innovation, Leading the Future, Ethereal Refinement Project, Forging Glory," complete with the Party emblem and national symbol. Below, seats were arranged in sections by rank, with department heads in the front rows and staff of various levels behind them. The atmosphere was formal and austere.
Jianguo sat in the first row of the materials supply section, while Haiyang was assigned to the expert group area. His eyes wandered the room. Despite being a branch of the Celestial Dao Society, everything here contradicted his image of a cult. Each researcher wore an expression of concentration, as if this were purely an academic discussion.
As the meeting began, several leaders spoke in turn about the Ethereal Refinement Project's research progress and challenges. Haiyang noticed the atmosphere was serious yet energetic. A senior biological materials researcher presented a report on "Applications of Synthetic Biomaterials in Human Tissue Repair": "We've developed a biological scaffold material highly compatible with human cells. It not only promotes natural tissue regeneration but provides an ideal operating platform for nanobots. For complex tissue structures, especially neural networks, this scaffold provides a stable microenvironment ensuring uninterrupted nanobot repair work."
Haiyang watched intently as various biomaterial patterns appeared on the projection screen, feeling immersed in a feast of advanced technology. The intricate structures of the biological scaffolds formed tree-like porous networks.
The discussion then turned to energy supply and control mechanisms. A researcher from the energy group proposed a novel concept—powering nanobots through internal micro-batteries. "We're attempting to convert the body's metabolic energy into electrical power for the nanobots. While current conversion efficiency remains low, we believe that with advances in bioelectrochemical technology, the human body itself will become the ideal power source for nanobots."
This proposal sparked widespread discussion. Many whispered among themselves about the feasibility of such micro-batteries. Haiyang was surprised—if they could achieve this energy self-sufficiency, nanobot operations within the body would become far more efficient and sustainable.
The meeting then shifted to nanobot applications in the nervous system. The chair announced: "Next, we invite Dr. Wang Haiyang to explain our current breakthroughs in nanotechnology and share his unique experience with the Beneficial Element Complex."
Haiyang froze momentarily. Seeing his father's persistent gestures from across the room, he finally stood and approached the platform. Taking the microphone, he quickly gathered his thoughts: "Regarding nanobot applications in the Beneficial Element Complex, we face many challenges, particularly immune system rejection. However, in my experience, I've noticed the nanobots demonstrate autonomous adaptation capabilities under certain conditions. This might offer new directions—perhaps we can explore how they adjust to different internal environments and even form more harmonious symbiotic relationships with host cells..."
His speech received considerable approval and affirmation, even applause.
A middle-aged man in a lab coat stood up and activated the projector, displaying a 3D animation of nanobots operating within the human body. "At this stage, our Beneficial Element Complex has achieved preliminary integration standards within the human body, but we still face conflicts between nanobots and the immune system. Despite using biomimetic chemical membranes to reduce immune rejection, some test subjects have shown severe adverse reactions. All groups need to strengthen coordination and research on this issue."
Haiyang watched the animation—nanobots freely navigating through blood vessels, repairing cells, even precisely targeting damaged areas along neural networks. It all looked so scientific and advanced, completely at odds with his negative impressions of the Celestial Dao Society cult.
A young female scientist took the microphone next, discussing nanobot integration with the nervous system: "Our next goal is to enhance nanobots' self-adaptation capabilities within neurons, improving their ability to recognize neural signals for precise tissue repair. While technically challenging, we believe breakthrough in this area could revolutionize medical applications, especially for spinal cord and brain injuries."
As the meeting progressed, discussions entered the intersection of molecular biology and information technology. An elderly scientist proposed using quantum computing for nanobot control, suggesting that combining quantum technology with existing control systems might significantly improve nanobot response times in complex environments. This sparked whispered conversations throughout the room.
Sitting there, listening to the experts' discussions, Haiyang felt transported into a world of pure scientific exploration. Whether it was nanotechnology breakthroughs, immune system regulation, or quantum computing applications, these topics were cutting-edge challenges crucial to humanity's future. He momentarily forgot the complex background, forgot this was a Celestial Dao Society branch, forgot the initial fear the Ethereal Refinement Project had instilled in him.
Suddenly, he noticed someone sitting behind the neuroscience expert watching him. The face was familiar—it was none other than Xu Jing.