Chapter 61: The First Collision Experiment

Words : 1442 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Constructing the large particle collider around Tianyuan IV required over 700 billion tons of materials. It was impractical to extract such an enormous amount solely from Tianyuan A. However, Xiao Yu had a plan: part of the resources would come from Tianyuan A, while the rest would be mined from the asteroid belt. To achieve this monumental goal, Xiao Yu built two supermassive metal processing plants, along with associated equipment manufacturing facilities, at two of the stable Lagrange points between Tianyuan B and Tianyuan IV. Following the completion of the Tianyuan A relocation project, more than 20,000 cargo transport ships were left idle. Xiao Yu divided them into two groups: one responsible for transporting materials from Tianyuan A, and the other for mining minerals from the asteroid belt. Xiao Yu commanded the Tianyuan, accompanied by a fleet of escort ships, stationed in the orbital path of the particle collider’s construction. From this central location, he oversaw the construction efforts across the entire Tianyuan IV star system. However, a significant issue soon became apparent: communication delays. The minimum distance between Tianyuan A and the collider’s orbital path was 18 million kilometers, resulting in a two-minute signal delay. Meanwhile, communication with the asteroid belt incurred an 80-second delay. Such delays were unacceptable, but Xiao Yu had yet to develop superluminal communication technology. Reluctantly, he built a giant photon computer at both Tianyuan A and the asteroid belt. These photon computers were programmed with a highly sophisticated automation system, painstakingly designed by Xiao Yu, to handle the majority of the data processing. Only critical information would be transmitted to Xiao Yu for manual oversight. This approach allowed Xiao Yu to achieve a level of efficiency he could grudgingly accept, though he remained dissatisfied with the limitations. “Superluminal communication relies on quantum entanglement, which pertains to the microscopic world. To study the microscopic world, I need the large particle collider. It’s such a frustrating paradox,” Xiao Yu lamented. Caught in this conundrum, Xiao Yu had no choice but to rely on the relatively outdated technology of radio communication to coordinate construction on Tianyuan A and the large particle collider. Constructing the collider entirely in one location was inefficient. After careful calculations, Xiao Yu decided to simultaneously construct four segments of the pipeline, which would later be connected to form a complete structure. This segmented construction method required extreme precision. If the pipelines were misaligned at the connection points, the entire project would fail disastrously. Xiao Yu set a stringent standard: the vertical alignment error across the collider’s 200-million-kilometer length must not exceed one decimeter. The level of craftsmanship required was mind-boggling. Fortunately, with neutron star positioning technology, Xiao Yu utilized 16 neutron stars to determine the pipelines’ positions with unparalleled accuracy, ensuring the required precision throughout the construction process. After resolving all technical challenges, Xiao Yu launched the colossal construction effort. Thousands of ships shuttled continuously between the asteroid belt, the construction site, and Tianyuan A, transporting an unending supply of materials. Meanwhile, Xiao Yu commanded millions of robots to carry out the assembly work. The transported materials consisted of pre-manufactured components from the surface of Tianyuan A or the large space factories at Tianyuan B–Tianyuan IV Lagrange points. Xiao Yu’s task was merely to direct the robots to assemble them, which enabled a staggering construction speed. At Segment A’s two endpoints, pipelines extended outward at a rate of over 8,000 kilometers per day. This meant Xiao Yu was laying more than 8,000 kilometers of pipeline daily in just Segment A—surpassing Earth’s diameter. Such rapid progress was only possible due to Xiao Yu’s unparalleled computational capabilities, the vast number of robots, and a robust interstellar transportation network. Xiao Yu divided the large particle collider around Tianyuan IV into four segments: A, B, C, and D. Stationed at Segment A, Xiao Yu oversaw its construction, which progressed the fastest. Segments B and C, located on either side of Tianyuan IV, progressed slightly slower. Segment D, positioned on the far side of Tianyuan IV and the most distant from Xiao Yu, faced the greatest delays due to the need for satellite relays to manage communications. As a result, D segment’s construction was the slowest. Xiao Yu estimated that the entire construction project would take at least 20 years to complete. During this period, his focus would remain entirely on this endeavor, leaving little time or energy for other pursuits. Still, Xiao Yu believed the effort was worthwhile. In the Dark Universe, technological prowess was the ultimate safeguard. No price was too high to ensure scientific advancement. Due to the long distances and severe communication delays, the construction of space gun turrets around Tianyuan A had stalled. For now, maintaining the operation of mining bases, metal processing facilities, and equipment foundries on Tianyuan A was the top priority. Despite the logistical challenges, the construction of the large particle collider progressed steadily and methodically. As the project advanced, Xiao Yu was surprised to discover that, even while managing tens of thousands of cargo ships and millions of robots, he still had spare computational capacity—something he had not anticipated. On Tianyuan A, managing the combined operations of millions of robots, turrets, and spacecraft had pushed Xiao Yu’s computational resources to their limit. He had even considered building a new computer system immediately. However, overseeing the collider construction, while hampered by communication delays, turned out to be far less taxing than he had expected. Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Yu began work on developing a new generation of computers and continued compiling the Chronicles of Heroes Across the Cosmos. Over millennia of development, Xiao Yu’s Chronicles of Heroes Across the Cosmos had cataloged over 200 billion stars. Excluding dwarf stars, stars obscured by dense dust clouds, or those too faint or distant to observe, most of the Milky Way’s stars had been recorded. Of the galaxy’s estimated 200 billion stars, approximately 140 billion were included in the chronicles. Time passed, and 20 years slipped by. The particle collider, spanning over 200 million kilometers, was now 95% complete, with 190 million kilometers of pipeline constructed. Finally, the day arrived for Segment A to connect with Segment B and C. The first connection was between Segment A and one end of Segment B. To ensure success, Xiao Yu personally piloted the Tianyuan to the connection point to oversee the process. The distance between the two segments was less than a kilometer—something Xiao Yu could typically bridge in a matter of minutes. However, given the critical nature of the connection, Xiao Yu intentionally slowed the pace, carefully directing robots to assemble the pipeline section by section. As the segments drew closer, Xiao Yu reached the critical moment of alignment. To his astonishment, the vertical alignment error between Segment A and Segment B was less than one centimeter—an almost negligible deviation. In the vast darkness of space, aligning two pipeline segments, stretching from points separated by tens of millions of kilometers, required unparalleled precision. This feat, which bordered on the impossible, was achieved using ultra-precise neutron star positioning technology—a testament to Xiao Yu’s technological mastery. “Twenty years of hard work was not in vain,” Xiao Yu thought joyfully. After a thorough inspection, he left the connection point. Following the successful connection of Segment A to Segment B, Xiao Yu turned his attention to Segment C. Once again, he personally supervised the operation. As expected, the alignment error between Segment A and Segment C was just 1.2 centimeters—well within expectations. With the connections between Segment A and Segments B and C complete, Xiao Yu directed hundreds of thousands of robots to enter the pipeline, laying critical systems, conducting equipment inspections, and preparing for the final integration. Next, Xiao Yu moved to the connection point between Segments C and D to oversee the last major assembly. Across all four connection points, the vertical alignment error never exceeded two centimeters—a result that filled Xiao Yu with pride. With all four segments connected, the large particle collider around Tianyuan IV was 95% complete. The remaining 5% involved system calibration, minor positional adjustments, critical line installations, and final modifications—tasks expected to take only one year. Xiao Yu poured his heart into this pinnacle of his engineering capabilities. Along its length, he installed meteorite-defense laser cannons every 100 kilometers and resource storage points every 1,000 kilometers. Over 10 million robots were dedicated to maintaining and operating the collider. With everything in place, Xiao Yu piloted the Tianyuan to the control room of the large particle collider and solemnly issued the command: “Begin the first collision experiment of the large particle collider around Tianyuan IV!”

Chapter 61: The First Collision Experiment

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