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Xu Yuan was well aware of the value he brought to this collaboration.
You provide the technology, and I'll provide the funding and practical capabilities.
Of course, both parties shared a common goal: to create the so-called "Stellar Mech" they envisioned.
Professor Zhang had conducted extensive research on space exploration.
The resources of Douluo Planet had long been facing foreseeable shortages. For years, the Federation had been attempting to explore outer space, seeking more resources in the universe and trying to make contact with other civilizations.
Unfortunately, up to this point, there had been no substantial breakthroughs in this direction. Space exploration was still limited to the star system where Douluo Planet resided.
However, despite the stagnation in progress, over time, a group of soul masters and researchers fascinated by space exploration had accumulated.
Though technological barriers had arisen, talent continued to grow. Experts in space exploration were researching various technologies to push forward from every possible angle.
Professor Zhang was one of them.
"Professor, I have a question."
Instead of diving straight into discussions about the Stellar Mech, Xu Yuan raised some doubts about his meditation technique.
"I've witnessed the operation of the observatory and even tried setting up similar formations. At most, I could only channel or gather stellar energy, but I couldn't replicate the effects of the observatory. The stellar energy drawn down here carries vitality characteristics."
Listening to Xu Yuan's confusion, Professor Zhang smiled and stroked his chin. He seemed to have anticipated Xu Yuan's question as soon as he began speaking.
After Xu Yuan finished explaining his issue, Professor Zhang confirmed that Xu Yuan was referring to the greatest hidden mystery of the observatory.
Though it was a secret, Professor Zhang didn't conceal it.
This secret had been asked about by many factions curious about stellar energy, and the Tian Ding Starry Sky Soul Academy had openly shared it.
To this day, no one else had managed to recreate another observatory based on their theory.
"Xu Yuan, let me ask you something. What do you think the stars in the universe are?" Professor Zhang asked.
Xu Yuan answered without hesitation.
"Stars, much like our sun."
Professor Zhang nodded.
"Do you think every star is identical?"
"No. Different stars have different properties. From what I understand, stars evolve through different stages. Some may explode and later form black holes."
Xu Yuan didn't go into specific details about the explosion process; he simply summarized what he knew.
Professor Zhang shook his head.
"I'm not talking about differences in stars at various stages of evolution. I mean stars at a similar stage of development to the sun. What differences might exist between them?"
Xu Yuan frowned, forming some guesses in his mind but unsure of their accuracy. He waited for Professor Zhang to continue.
"The same material can exhibit different properties depending on its location. For example, primal energy on Douluo Planet naturally converts to fire-attribute energy near volcanoes, while water-attribute energy is highly concentrated above the ocean. Even ten thousand years ago, deep within the Great Star Forest, primal energy carried traces of life energy."
"Similarly, stars in different locations possess distinct characteristics."
"After studying this phenomenon, we discovered that it's caused by stars forming structures akin to soul-guided formation arrays. Our observatory simulates one such structure formed by a group of stars, resonating with it. Under the influence of this group of thirty-six stars, the channeled stellar energy gains vitality."
Xu Yuan furrowed his brow.
He had actually considered this possibility.
In his mind, he had simulated the movements of celestial bodies in the sky.
He had also deduced that the structures he simulated should exhibit formation array effects.
"Stellar energy is the force emitted by stars, radiating throughout the universe and serving as the true energy source for all planes. To imbue stellar energy with specific properties requires more than just the effects of a formation array."
Professor Zhang seemed to know that Xu Yuan had attempted these experiments and directly provided him with an answer.
"Though we don't fully understand why, it's clear that the properties of stellar energy must be influenced remotely by the corresponding stars themselves. Only then can the energy gain various attributes."
"Of course, soul masters can artificially imbue stellar energy with properties through cultivation, but these properties differ from those induced by stars."
"It's like the difference between regular alloys and spirit alloys. The gap in effectiveness is vast, especially for soul masters."
When you use stellar energy and try to imbue it with properties, the resulting effects are negligible for soul masters and almost useless for cultivation.
Of course, channeling stellar energy itself is beneficial.
But the key lies in the properties induced by stars and projected across vast distances.
Professor Zhang categorized these properties into two types: innate and acquired.
Xu Yuan pondered deeply.
"So, the principle behind the observatory isn't about using this massive formation array to directly imbue the channeled stellar energy with effects. Instead, it uses the array to resonate with those thirty-six stars?"
Professor Zhang nodded.
"However, resonance isn't a one-sided phenomenon. There are countless similar formation arrays on the continent, but do they resonate with each other?"
Many soul-guided devices share identical circuits internally, yet they don't exhibit mutual resonance.
"Therefore, achieving resonance with the stars isn't easy. It requires a stroke of luck."
Professor Zhang was candid about this, admitting that the successful construction of their observatory had involved an element of fortune.
Xu Yuan nodded, agreeing with this assessment.
Stars are immense, and the goal is to resonate with multiple stars. As a tiny human soul master, one must first possess enough strength to stimulate them.
Resonance can be initiated by one side, but contact is still necessary.
Can the strength of an ant shake an elephant?
Of course, with sufficient skill, it's not impossible. By cleverly exploiting weaknesses, one might cause discomfort to an elephant.
However, size remains a crucial factor. While an ant with enough skill might disturb an elephant, how could something as minuscule as bacteria ever affect it?
That would require far more than just skill.
Setting that aside, even if size requirements were met, the universe is vast, with countless stars. Finding the corresponding ones wouldn't be easy.
Even if one attempted to follow the observatory's alignment with these thirty-six stars, ensuring precise calibration without accidentally aligning with other stars would be another challenge.
Understanding the principles of the observatory, Xu Yuan now grasped the difficulty involved.
But he had no intention of giving up.
On the contrary, he felt even more anticipation.
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