The entire construction process that Xiao Yu was undertaking was so massive that it was simply impossible to conceal. The aging Specter knew that Xiao Yu was continuously obtaining technology from the Molian Civilization to build a colossal weapon, but it merely assumed that this was technology Xiao Yu had deceitfully acquired through schemes, and that the weapon construction was only for testing purposes. It had no idea that Xiao Yu’s ultimate target was itself.

The Molian Civilization also knew that Xiao Yu was continuously acquiring technology from them, but they were unaware that more than half of what Xiao Yu had told them was meant to intimidate them. Given the current state of the aging Specter, even if it did eliminate Xiao Yu’s Specter companion, it was uncertain whether it would even be interested in challenging the Molian Civilization.

It was through such careful deception and manipulation that Xiao Yu was struggling to carve out a slim chance of survival.

The current situation was nothing short of performing a dance on a tightrope. Should any part of the plan slip, Xiao Yu’s end would come immediately.

Amidst these tense circumstances, the development and construction of the stellar weapon proceeded intensely…

The Molian Civilization took on the main task of researching and developing the stellar weapon, while Xiao Yu handled all of the manufacturing work. Due to the Molian Civilization’s strict technological controls, they often directly transmitted specific sets of instructions that detailed the manufacturing processes. Xiao Yu would follow these instructions to produce usable devices, but he had little understanding of the underlying principles behind them.

This was the technological gap. Although Xiao Yu was highly unwilling to accept this situation, he had no way to change it. Thus, while constructing the stellar weapon, Xiao Yu simultaneously worked hard to analyze and reverse-engineer the Molian Civilization’s technology.

Time slipped away bit by bit. After three years, the energy supply module for the stellar weapon was finally completed. This energy supply module used a hybrid system combining antimatter energy and matter decay energy. Upon completion, its footprint reached 18.5 square kilometers. Like the heart of the stellar weapon, it was ready to supply immense power to the entire system at any moment.

With the combined efforts of Xiao Yu and the Molian Civilization, the development of the stellar weapon advanced at a staggering pace. During these three years, at least tens of thousands of technological challenges had been overcome. Once the energy supply module was completed, Xiao Yu immediately began constructing the second module: the tachyon generation module.

The tachyon generation module would utilize the power from the energy supply module to produce vast quantities of tachyons, which would then be confined within a specific range by strong magnetic fields. Once enough tachyons had accumulated, they could be fired.

Since the energy supply module employed more mature, previously developed technology, despite the enormous scale of the project, Xiao Yu had managed to complete its construction in just three years. However, once construction of the tachyon generation module began, Xiao Yu truly began to experience the agony of building without sufficient technological support.

Countless reworks, countless dismantlings, countless pauses… A module that had just been constructed one moment would, after the development of new technologies, be deemed incompatible with the updated requirements. Thus, it would have to be dismantled. Because the stellar weapon was an intricately integrated system, the removal of any single part could affect the entire structure. As a result, after dismantling one part, adjustments to surrounding components were often required to accommodate the new replacements…

The work was enough to drive anyone mad, as if their brain would explode.

During the construction process, Xiao Yu had countless moments when he thought about giving up, about abandoning the stellar weapon project altogether and leaving his fate to be decided by some higher power. Yet, at every critical moment of surrender, Xiao Yu relied on his astonishing willpower to persevere. Time and again, he reminded himself: never give up, endure, endure a little longer, victory lay just ahead.

The tachyon generation module occupied an even larger area, projected to cover nearly one hundred square kilometers. Its enormous scale vastly increased Xiao Yu’s workload. More mountain peaks were leveled and transported away, and during construction, Xiao Yu even filled in three small lakes. The number of altered river channels reached six. The surface of this planet was undergoing earth-shattering transformations at Xiao Yu’s hands.

During the construction of the tachyon generation module, the Molian Civilization seemed to have encountered a technological bottleneck. Dozens of critical technologies remained unresolved for a long time, causing severe delays to Xiao Yu’s construction work. This was the first major obstacle Xiao Yu had encountered since the start of the stellar weapon project. Xiao Yu waited for five full years before the Molian Civilization finally provided him with the key technologies, allowing construction to resume.

On this bumpy, thorn-covered road, Xiao Yu pressed forward with unwavering determination. With an unyielding heart that refused to give up, he had made it to this point.

The tachyon generation module was finally completed and passed the engineering inspection. By now, less than thirty years remained until the aging Specter’s appointed end.

Xiao Yu didn’t even have time to celebrate the current progress. Without rest, he immediately dove into the construction of the next module.

“My junior, at what stage is your technological development now?”

Just as Xiao Yu was struggling under the enormous pressure, something unexpected happened. The aging Specter, who had remained silent for nearly twenty years, suddenly sent him a message.

Xiao Yu’s mind instantly tensed. After thinking for less than one-thousandth of a second, he gave his reply.

“Senior, my technological development is proceeding very smoothly. The Molian Civilization has been deceived by my lies. With the weight of your great name, I’ve forced them to continuously share their technology with me. I am now verifying the authenticity of these technologies and attempting to build a high-powered negative matter cannon myself…”

“Very good, very good. You must accelerate your progress. My lifespan has very little time left; I won’t be able to protect you for much longer. The dangers of this universe, you will have to face them yourself one day. Quickly push your technological advancement forward. In this dark universe, technology is your only means of survival.”

“Thank you for your guidance,” Xiao Yu replied respectfully.

“Hmm… the negative matter cannon you’re building this time seems quite powerful… Let me see, hmm, judging by its current scale, it already seems capable of threatening a star.”

This sentence sounded casual, yet also carried a hint of something deeper. Xiao Yu felt as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head, making his entire spirit tremble.

“Did it… did it sense something? Why would it say that?”

If Xiao Yu still had a physical body, he would be drenched in cold sweat at this very moment.

“Senior, you overpraise me. Although this negative matter cannon is powerful, it’s still far from being able to affect a star. In fact, most of the technology for this cannon comes from the Molian Civilization; I have not yet fully mastered these technologies. However, I’ve recorded detailed data from the construction process, and in the future, with the help of these records and parameters, I should be able to reverse-engineer the technology relatively quickly,” Xiao Yu answered, forcing down his inner anxiety.

“Very good, very good. I’ll go rest now. You continue your work.”

The aging Specter fell silent once more after speaking, leaving Xiao Yu to stew in his extreme unease.

“Did it… did it sense something, and that’s why it said this? Luka Two, Luka Two, the situation has changed, I need your wisdom.”

After pondering for a while, Xiao Yu contacted Luka Two.

“Master, how may I assist you?” Luka Two answered respectfully.

Their communication was still encrypted using the latest dictionary.

“This is what the aging Specter just said to me.” Xiao Yu shared the message with Luka Two and continued, “I need you to analyze this for me. What did the aging Specter mean? Has it started to suspect our actions?”

There was a moment of silence from Luka Two.

“Master, I do not know.”

Surprisingly, after careful thought, Luka Two responded bluntly. “I do not know. There is insufficient information; I am unable to analyze the intelligence you’ve provided.”

“Then… do you have any suggestions?” Xiao Yu asked nervously.

“My only suggestion is to act as if we know nothing and continue our current work,” Luka Two said in a low voice. “There are two possibilities behind this message. First, it may have developed some minor suspicion towards you, so it issued a subtle warning, hoping to keep you cautious and prevent any destabilizing thoughts. Second, it may have simply spoken offhandedly. However, regardless of which possibility it is, our response can only be to proceed, even if it does suspect us, should we abandon our work? We have no retreat. Ever since we engaged with the Molian Civilization, we’ve already set foot on this path. Whether we live or die, we must keep moving forward.”

Hearing Luka Two’s words, Xiao Yu fell silent. Countless possibilities drifted through his mind as he cautiously examined each one. After a while, Xiao Yu realized that Luka Two was correct.

At this point, Xiao Yu had no way out. It was either life or death.

“Very well. We will continue… and keep moving forward resolutely.”

Xiao Yu made his decision.