"This lab is smart."
"The design is amazing."
As the team of experts entered the institute, their eyes immediately lit up. The minimalist, futuristic interior design caught their attention, along with patrolling robots and a tightly controlled security system.
"Academician Chen, who designed this institute?" Li Jian couldn't help but ask.
"Artificial intelligence," Chen Mo replied.
At those words, surprise flashed across the faces of all the experts present. It was hard to imagine that such a complex and cutting-edge research facility had been designed by AI.
"This is from the Marching Ant Company's AI?"
"Yes. The Academy also has its own AI—Xia Wei. It should also be capable of designing architectural layouts. As for how intelligent or complex it is, or the level of assistance it provides to human designers, you'll have to ask the AI team directly. These days, artificial intelligence can do a lot." Chen Mo said casually.
"The future really is here," a senior expert sighed. "We're living in a new era."
Under Chen Mo's lead, the group entered the underground command center of the [Star Ring] experiment. Through the command center's enormous LCD display, they could clearly see the massive [Star Ring] device standing silently in the lab.
Compared to the fully superconducting Tokamak device from the Science Island Research Institute in Huizhou Province, this one looked quite different—though its "round, fat" profile made it instantly recognizable.
"This is the [Star Ring]," Chen Mo said, pointing at the image on the screen.
"Can we go and take a closer look?" someone asked.
"No need—it's easier to view it from here."
Chen Mo pressed a button on the console. Right before everyone's eyes, a full-scale holographic projection of the [Star Ring] appeared in the open space at the center of the command center.
Though they had heard that Chen Mo's lab had holographic tech, seeing it in person was still impressive. The experts circled the projection of the [Star Ring] with awe in their eyes, examining the new nuclear fusion device in detail.
Even Ke Jianye, who had been skeptical, was silent for once and observed carefully. Li Jian reached out, waved his hand through the hologram, and—unsurprisingly—touched nothing.
"Can we view the internal structure?"
"Sure," Chen Mo said, activating his wrist-mounted control bracelet.
The holographic system was intelligent, but not as advanced as Mo Nu. For now, it relied on manual control via the bracelet.
Under Chen Mo's gestures, the [Star Ring] model shrank in size and hovered in mid-air. It was like a scene straight out of Iron Man—but most of these experts didn't watch sci-fi movies, so they didn't know that.
Then, as Chen Mo continued his demonstration, the outer shell of the [Star Ring] peeled away, exposing the intricate internal structure of the fusion device.
As they saw the internal design, all the experts involuntarily gasped. Tokamak reactors were already incredibly complex, and this [Star Ring] was on a whole other level.
"You designed this all by yourself?" Li Jian's voice clearly carried disbelief. If this experiment succeeded, Chen Mo would practically be elevated to godhood in the scientific community.
"Not completely alone. I had help from my AI assistants for optimization," Chen Mo said.
That clarification didn't diminish the shock. A nuclear fusion device of this level involved numerous scientific disciplines—designing it alone, even with AI assistance, was staggering.
"AI helped design this?" said a senior expert in an old-style tunic suit, visibly stunned. "Is artificial intelligence really that advanced now?"
"Yes," Chen Mo replied. "Since launching our company's 'AI+' initiative, AI has become widespread. Professional-grade AI assistants now help improve work efficiency across various industries. The [Star Ring] Institute also has its own assistant AI, Xiaoxing."
Then, Chen Mo began explaining the structure of the [Star Ring].
"The vacuum chamber is irregular in shape. It's based on plasma turbulence models derived from multiple simulation experiments. This design increases the frequency of plasma collisions under high magnetic fields."
As he spoke, Chen Mo projected the chamber into a separate hologram. Inside, a simulation of purplish-red plasma flowed through a twisted donut-shaped pathway—beautiful, yet complex.
"Do you have the turbulence formula for that plasma model?" Li Jian asked.
"That formula is proprietary to our institute," Chen Mo replied. "If Academician Li is interested, you're welcome to apply to join the project."
Li Jian and the others exchanged looks, but said nothing.
Unfazed, Chen Mo continued:"Since we lack the intense gravitational pressure of a star, fusion doesn't occur spontaneously. However, if the plasma velocity is high enough and the temperature is sufficient, it will ignite spontaneously. The [Star Ring]'s magnetic confinement field can reach up to 60 Tesla."
Li Jian sucked in a breath. "Chen Chen, is your magnet really that strong?"
"It is."
Chen Mo summoned the [Star Ring]'s field system hologram."These are the field components. The detailed specifications and magnetic field data are classified."
"What about the cooling system?" another expert asked.
"Here."
Chen Mo revealed the structure of the cooling system.
"You're using this to dissipate the heat from the circuit? But with superconductors, wouldn't the heat instantly destroy the circuit?" Ke Jianye interjected.
Full superconducting tech had previously required the industrial might of entire nations. Only a few Tokamaks globally had achieved it. He couldn't believe Chen Mo had solved that problem—but he had no idea that Chen Mo was using room-temperature superconductors.
"There's technology to handle that," Chen Mo said calmly.
"What kind of technology?" Ke Jianye asked, clearly shaken. If that hurdle had been overcome, the implications were massive.
Chen Mo just smiled mysteriously and said nothing.
His refusal to elaborate piqued everyone's curiosity, but he cut it off.
"No need to worry. Every technical issue has been considered during design. But the specific technology is not being disclosed for now."
He had indeed solved the issue with room-temperature superconducting materials, and his cooling system could easily manage the heat load. But he had no intention of revealing this breakthrough—once those experts saw the possibilities, they'd be all over him, badgering him for access to the material.
And scientists could be ruthless when it came to chasing new tech.
"What about the divertor? Can we see it?" Ke Jianye's skepticism had already lessened.
The [Star Ring] was far more advanced than he'd expected. After seeing its internal structure, he was convinced. There was no way an average person could've designed this.
"It's here."
Chen Mo switched to display the divertor module. The entire group was stunned again.
"This is a gallium–tellurium–graphite–tungsten alloy," Chen Mo explained. "It's been enhanced with rare elements and high-temperature-resistant metals. Synthesized in precise ratios, it retains gallium's metallic properties, has a low melting point, a high boiling point, and combines the heat resistance and low activation of tungsten. It can withstand impacts from high-energy neutrons."
"This is…" gasped Guo Xianming, a material science expert. His eyes gleamed. If this material was real, it was Nobel Prize-worthy.
"Academician Chen, I specialize in materials science. Mind if I test the alloy to confirm its properties?" Guo Xianming asked eagerly.
Chen Mo could see through his intentions, but replied with a smile, "No need, Professor Guo. We've already done extensive testing."
Guo Xianming was slightly embarrassed at being seen through, but didn't argue.
Chen Mo continued: "Over the next two days, Academician Wan will help you get familiar with the lab. If any of you want to join the project, you're most welcome. The tritium has arrived, and we'll begin the fusion experiment in two days."
After Chen Mo left, Guo Xianming still looked stunned. He turned to Wan Yuan and asked, "Old Wan… that liquid metal—are the properties really as he described?"
A liquid metal divertor material would be a major breakthrough.
Solid alloys degrade under prolonged neutron bombardment. Eventually, they flake and fail. But liquid metal, being fluid and self-healing, could discharge impurities and resist aging—an ideal solution.
Wan Yuan nodded. "Yes, it's real."
When he first heard about it, he'd been just as shocked. But after witnessing Chen Mo's endless stream of innovations, he'd become numb.
"Is there any way to get a sample?" Guo Xianming asked hopefully.
"No chance," Wan Yuan shook his head. "That material belongs to the Marching Ants. Even as deputy chief engineer, I don't have clearance."
From start to finish, his job had only been assisting the robots with assembly and equipment testing. He couldn't even keep up with Chen Mo's pace.
All design came from Chen Mo.
Guo Xianming sighed. "Such a shame. If that liquid alloy is really what he claims, applying it to the divertor of the superloop reactor would greatly extend its operational lifespan."
"Don't get your hopes up," Li Jian said, shaking his head.
The group fell silent, lost in thought.
In just a few hours, each of them had come to deeply respect the technical strength of the Marching Ant Company. Even Ke Jianye had stopped questioning the [Star Ring].
The construction was finished. The tritium had arrived. Final preparations were underway. The fusion experiment was about to begin.