Yuan Manqiu paused for a moment and said slowly,
"There are still three critical problems that need to be solved.
"First of all, the technical difficulties.
"Over the past year, I've been reflecting on the thousands of structural designs. There are no major problems in other areas, but the Super Compressed Crystal Reactor was indeed too simple.
"The biggest feature of the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit is that it doesn't use Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures as much as possible. As a result, the strength and durability of the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit will be greatly reduced. Other parts of the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit can be fixed by the structural design, but the Crystal Reactor is completely out of the question.
"To compress the violent spiritual energy as vast as an ocean into a crystal reactor the size of a human head, and to output spiritual energy of varying degrees at any time according to the situation of the battle, it is not hard to imagine the pressure that the crystal reactor is under.
"Common alloys are simply not enough to bear such pressure.
"Last time, it was because a crack appeared on the crystal reactor that the Super Compressed Crystal Reactor shot out instantly, which led to the tragedy.
"I haven't figured out how to solve this problem yet. If we use Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, the cost will be greatly increased, because most of the other Crystal Suit's Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures are also used to refine the Crystal Reactor. If we do that, we will be violating our original intention.
"Now, together with all the specialists, I will try my best to overcome this problem!
"Li Yao, take this jade chip with you. It contains all the files of Project Mystic Skeleton. You can study it when you have the time.
"Although you are just a fledgling refiner, I know that your ideas are bold and unconventional. Maybe you can give us some inspiration from a different perspective."
Yuan Manqiu handed over a jade chip and transmitted a unique telepathic thought, which was the key to activate the jade chip.
All the files of Project Mystic Skeleton were invaluable. Only a unique telepathic thought could activate the jade chip. Besides, the jade chip was engraved with self-destruct rune arrays. Once it was lost, Li Yao could erase all the files with a telepathic thought to ensure that the secrets would not be leaked.
His mentor trusted him so much. Li Yao felt warm that all the confidential files were open to him. He nodded solemnly.
Yuan Manqiu continued.
"The second key issue is money."
"When I said that we have ample funds, I was only referring to the reconstruction of the Refining Department. Actually, the school has a different opinion. "
Speaking of which. She laughed self-deprecatingly. "It's not just the school. I'm afraid that in the entire Xing Yao Federation, besides the two of us, no one is 100% sure that Project Mystic Skeleton will succeed."
"Most of the school's funds are used to recruit experts, purchase and modify floating mountains, and nurture students. There aren't many that I can use freely. Based on my initial estimation, I'll need at least 5 billion to 10 billion to complete Project Mystic Skeleton. "
Li Yao nodded. He was not surprised by this number.
The Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit claimed that its cost could be reduced to less than 100 million, but that was only if it was mass-produced. It did not mean that the first Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit could be produced with only 100 million.
This also involved a large amount of initial investment, testing, and research and development funds.
Some experiments cost three to five million each time. Or even tens of millions.
In order to get the best result, it was normal that more than ten experiments were conducted.
On the market, the Crystal Suit, which was specially designed for experts like Jin Dan and Yuanying, cost more than 10 billion. The research and development budget of the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit could be reduced to less than 10 billion. It couldn't be any cheaper.
Yuan Manqiu said.
"The problem of funds and the problem of technology are one. Right now, because we can't solve the technical problem of the crystal reactor, other people don't have confidence in us and are unwilling to invest in us.
"As long as this problem is solved, with our current funds, we will be able to produce a prototype of the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit even if we have to forge it manually.
"With the prototype, everything will be easy. Not only will the school invest more in us, we can also bring the prototype to the major sects and the military for investment. I believe that there will be people who will be willing to invest in us. Not just 10 billion, even 30 to 50 billion will be a piece of cake!"
Speaking to this point, Yuan Manqiu paused and looked at Li Yao with a very serious expression.
"Last but not least, the third critical problem. Who should be the pilot of the first prototype of the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit?"
Li Yao thought for a moment and realized that it was indeed a big problem.
The prototype had just been produced. There were bound to be a lot of hidden problems and defects. It was not something that could be piloted by ordinary people. Only experienced Exos who were adept at refining would be able to discover the problems during the experiments.
Such people were like the 'test pilots' in Li Yao's previous life. They were a hundred times better than ordinary pilots!
Yuan Manqiu opened her hands and smiled bitterly.
"I can't find a suitable candidate to pilot the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit. After all, the failure of the last experiment has been known by everyone. Right now, the entire Xing Yao Federation knows that the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit is a cursed Crystal Suit that can explode at any time. Hundreds of people have been killed even before it is produced.
"Tell me, which elite Exo is willing to risk their life to pilot the prototype of the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit, which has not been finalized and is full of flaws?
"It is possible to find some fearless desperadoes among the common Exos at a high price. But those people have never received professional training in refining. Even if they notice the problems, it will be difficult for them to describe them clearly. Besides, many things are related to the secrets of Project Mystic Skeleton. I don't want to reveal them to outsiders in advance, either.
"Therefore, Li Yao, do you want to be the pilot of the prototype of the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit?"
Li Yao was dazed. He pointed at his own nose.
"Me?"
He was caught unprepared.
Or rather, happiness was like a flying sword that came too fast!
Yuan Manqiu nodded and said solemnly,
"I've thought about it for a long time. You are the best candidate.
"First of all, since the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit is a low-cost MP Crystal Suit, its pilot must be a Refinement Stage Cultivator. Cultivators in the Building Foundation Stage have better and more expensive options.
"Therefore, we have targeted the Refinement Stage Cultivators when we were refining the Crystal Suit. All the specifications have been tailored for the Refinement Stage Cultivators.
"The first pilot will be a Refinement Stage Cultivator, too.
"Secondly, you are a hybrid-type Cultivator. You have both the talents of fighting and creation. If you are the pilot, you will be able to bring out the full potential of the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit. You will also be able to find a lot of problems during the experiment. It will be very convenient for us to communicate with each other in professional terms.
"Lastly, you are my true disciple in the first place. Naturally, you don't have to worry about leaking the secret. Besides, the experiment cannot be completed overnight. Other Exos might not be willing to stay in the Grand Desolate War Institution for a year and a half. But for you, there won't be any problem at all. "
Li Yao listened carefully. His eyes were as bright as the dawn.
To be able to participate in Project Mystic Skeleton in such a way … It was too perfect.
"But I don't know how to use the Crystal Suit."
Li Yao was in a dilemma.
The Crystal Suit was different from battle armor. It was an ultimate weapon made of countless magical equipment controlled by a crystal processor. Not only was it difficult to refine, it was also difficult to use. Only the Cultivators who had received professional training could use it and become another powerful profession in the world of Cultivators — Exo!
"It doesn't matter."
Yuan Manqiu tapped on the virtual keyboard softly. A tremendous amount of information immediately appeared on the light beam.
Li Yao scanned it carefully. It was a detailed file about an 'Exo Training Camp'.
Yuan Manqiu said,
"There are many ways to become an Exo. The top ten sects of the Federation, Deep Sea University, Star Nebula University, and the First Military College of the Federation all have their own Crystal Suit Refining Department. Naturally, they have their own training system for Exos, too.
"In the military, there are very elite battlesuits, too. Some of them are even powerful legions made of Exos.
"However, it's hard for us to squeeze into the Exo Training Camp.
"Private Exo Training Camps are different. As long as you pay enough money, they won't refuse you. "
Exos, like refiners, were popular professions in the world of Cultivators. The organizations that trained Exos were as numerous as carps in a river. There were all kinds of good and bad Exos among them.
Many private training camps were just places for scamming money. You couldn't learn any real skills at all.
However, the four private Exo Training Camps listed by Yuan Manqiu were the golden signboards of the training camps. They were all established by the top-tier experts in the circle of Exos. Although they charged tuition fees without batting an eyelid, they did have real skills that could be learned from the training camps.
"Thunder Training Camp, one of the four private Exo Training Camps of the Federation. Founded by Lei Tingwei, an expert from Jin Dan, it has raised countless strong Exos. It is best known for its crazy training and cruel style!"
Yuan Manqiu pulled up the information of one of the training camps and said, "The Thunder Training Camp will open a three-month beginner class in five days. It is open to middle and high level Refinement Stage cultivators. You just happen to meet the conditions."
"If you are willing to be a test pilot for the prototype of the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit, the school will pay the tuition fee and send you to the Thunder Training Camp for three months to become a strong Exo!
"However, there is one thing you have to know first. Lei Tingwei, an expert from Jin Dan, is a tough man with a harsh personality. He advocates cruel training methods. His Thunder Training Camp follows the law of easy entry and strict exit. Although it's easy to enter the camp and you only have to pay the fee, you have to go through many rounds of elimination in the camp. Only a few people can survive until the end and win his approval.
"Do you have the confidence?"
Li Yao's eyes quickly glanced over the files of the Thunder Training Camp. His lips curled into a fanatical smile.
"Cruel? Harsh? Elimination? Only a few people can survive until the end? "
"I like it!"
…
Five days later.
In the depths of the Grand Desolate Plateau.
A small transport ship that was neither new nor old was flying slowly at a low altitude. The two sides of the transport ship were engraved with the image of rolling thunder.
After passing countless boring sand dunes, a small oasis appeared in front of the carrier.
Around the oasis, there was a large area of glittering silver buildings.
Countless light spots that looked like fireflies were shuttling, flying, and colliding with each other agilely above the buildings.
With a closer look, one would discover that they were all Cultivators wearing Crystal Suit!
Although these Cultivators were training, they were fighting very seriously. Explosions of spiritual energy could be heard from thousands of meters away, which sounded like thunder and furious waves.
Now and then, someone would be hit in the vital parts. The Crystal Suit would emit colorful brilliance and fall to the ground.
This was the Thunder Training Camp! (To be continued ~ ^ ~)
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