Chapter 36: The Power of a Nation

Ten days since the cafe closed.

Academy of Engineering, High-Tech Ammunition Research Laboratory.

Two white-haired academicians looked at the blueprints and shook their heads helplessly

"It won't work. With a time limit of only ten days, we can't manufacture qualified Gauss ion ammunition with just the blueprints!"

The other one added

"If... if this gun truly exists, perhaps there is still hope!"

In the outskirts of Beijing, Li Xiao and Zheng Zha looked at the Dongfeng missile launcher beside them.

"It won't work. The volume is too large; it has already exceeded the limit of the compression capsule."

Li Xiao said helplessly, rubbing the corners of his eyes, "There's no other way. Abandon the launcher. Have the engineers dismantle the Dongfeng missile."

"Set it to manual activation. As long as we just store it, there shouldn't be a problem."

Zheng Zha stared blankly at the massive missile, over twenty meters tall

"Wait, hold on. You're going to activate this thing... manually?"

Li Xiao's expression remained unchanged, his voice carrying a hint of coldness

"Aren't that's exactly what androids are used for?"

Zheng Zha looked at Li Xiao with a look of madness

"Those people are human bombs; you're making a human missile."

Li Xiao desperately wanted to quip back. Forget a human missile—if pushed hard enough, even a human nuclear bomb wouldn't be out of the question.

A soldier standing rigidly nearby pressed his earpiece and stepped forward

"Gentlemen, news has just arrived from the Academy of Engineering's ammunition lab."

"With only blueprints and raw materials, it will be difficult to manufacture ammunition compatible with the Gauss sniper rifle in a short amount of time."

"The two academicians said they can only begin manufacturing once they see the actual matching Gauss ion sniper rifle."

Hearing this, Zheng Zha and Li Xiao exchanged a glance.

Simultaneously, they recalled a small incident from the Main God Space.

Just before their return, Chu Xuan had insisted that Zero lend the Gauss ion sniper rifle to Li Xiao.

Thinking back on it now, Zheng Zha realized the truth and looked on with admiration

"So that's what he meant. It looks like I need to stay far away from Chu Xuan in the future!"

"People who are that intelligent are a bit terrifying."

Li Xiao smiled and said to the soldier

"Fine. Tell those ammunition experts and the two academicians to wait. I'll have someone send it over immediately."

He then looked at Zheng Zha and curled his lip in disbelief

"You want to stay away from Chu Xuan?"

"I'm afraid that in the future, as captain, the person you'll be most dependent on is Chu Xuan."

"Regardless, we both share a consensus now: only Chu Xuan can lead this team toward strength."

"You're aware of Chu Xuan's status these past few days. As the sole survivor of the genetic modification, his intelligence and computational abilities have already reached the peak or the limit of what humanity can achieve."

"Even with the assistance of a miraculous drug like NTZ, I have only managed to close the gap between myself and him."

"In terms of strategic planning and calculation, I am no match for him!"

What Li Xiao didn't say was

*Under normal circumstances, I indeed am no match for him, but that is assuming we have the same information. Now? Even Chu Xuan won't be able to guess my next move!*

As the two finished their discussion, they were stopped by a doctor accompanying them.

Zheng Zha skillfully rolled up his sleeve, exposing the veins in his right arm.

After watching the doctor draw a large tube of blood and leave, he glared at Li Xiao

"I suspect the reason you aren't exchanging for a bloodline is because you knew today would come and didn't want to give blood!"

"Haha, how could that be? I am also a person who loves my country. Regardless, he gave me a relatively peaceful childhood."

Zheng Zha looked skeptical. *If you really loved the country that much, you would have contributed Gin to them long ago. At the very least, they could research him and provide the country with plenty of technology!*

While the two were debating heatedly, a soldier walked over.

Frowning, Zheng Zha took two cups handed over by another soldier.

A red one was given to Zheng Zha, and a brown one to Li Xiao.

Looking at the bright red liquid, Zheng Zha's expression was incredibly complex.

Even though he had been drinking it for several days, he couldn't help but complain to the culprit

"Li Xiao, this idea of yours is absolutely terrible. I don't know what's wrong with that leader, but they actually believed you!"

Li Xiao shrugged at his cup of "functional drink"

"Regardless, just tell me: does it work or not?"

"If you keep drinking this every day, I believe your Vampire rank can be promoted within a few months."

After all, in history, there has never been a vampire sustained by the strength of an entire nation—especially a nation of 1.4 billion people.

Seeing Zheng Zha still frowning, Li Xiao continued to comfort him

"Don't tell me you have a 'mental hygiene' complex. This isn't stolen; people are donating blood voluntarily."

"Besides, I believe the state will certainly provide the best possible compensation in this regard."

"Moreover, to ensure the quality of the blood, I specifically designated young, virginal females under the age of twenty-five."

At this point, Li Xiao seemed to think of something and suddenly laughed.

Looking at Zheng Zha, he said with a hint of amusement

"You should be glad you didn't exchange for a Zombie bloodline. Otherwise, when the state looks for a donor for you, they'd have to check your horoscope. That would be hilarious."

"Besides, this isn't pure blood. Eighty percent is blood, and ten percent is ancient plant essence."

"And then there are the final trace elements. Plus, the scientists specifically removed the metallic blood smell for you and replaced it with your favorite orange flavor. Are you still not satisfied? Just drink it like a functional beverage."

"Look at me—I don't feel the slightest bit of burden."

Zheng Zha, who had tilted his head back to drink, gave Li Xiao the middle finger.

Licking the liquid from the corner of his mouth, he complained

"You have the nerve? Yours is traditional medicine, mine is blood. How are they the same!"

"And these past few days, if it hasn't been pig blood soup, it's been stir-fried pig blood. I'm almost nauseous from eating it!!!"

Li Xiao looked at the traditional medicine in his own cup, which was as valuable as gold.

After taking a gulp, without needing anyone to urge them, the two quickly sat down cross-legged.

They began to circulate their internal energy.

Over the past ten days, setting aside other gains, Li Xiao had earned more than half of his reward points just from entering and refining his internal strength.

Combined with the items currently in the capsule, it could be said that a hundredfold return was not an exaggeration—and this was only a portion of it.

Although Zheng Zha had sacrificed time with his family, under the supply of the entire nation, his strength was improving every day.

At the Leadership Office.

The man in the Zhongshan suit said respectfully

"The Cheng, Zhao, and Chen families have all sent representatives. Do you need them to make contact now?"

The Great Being pondered for a long while, waved his hand, and said slowly

"No need. Dictate Zheng Zha's cultivation methods and give them to them respectively. See what they have to say."

The man in the Zhongshan suit acknowledged and withdrew.

The old man closed his eyes. After a long time, he gave an order to a corner of the room

"Tell the Longxing Military Base to send everything over!"

"Yes, Chief!"