“Indeed, we can’t afford to rest on our laurels now, Your Excellency!” Zu Chongzhi chimed in in an excited voice. “Scientific research is a very unpredictable thing, and if the Prometheus plan also somehow stumbles upon the proton Yin rune, then we still won’t know what the final outcome is going to be!”

Qin Ye didn’t reply.

In reality, he had been constantly monitoring the progress of the Prometheus plan. During the past two years, they had also been progressing extremely quickly, having already extracted the electron Yin rune from voidsilver as well. However, according to last month’s report, their research into proton Yin runes had only reached the fourth layer.

Qin Ye could even guess the opposition’s thought process. The electron Yin rune was situated in the fifth layer, which would lead them to believe that the corresponding proton Yin rune would be in the same layer or a nearby one. Thus, they were searching through the fifth layer.

However, the proton Yin rune was in the fourth layer. Instead, it was in the third one.

Upon failing to discover the proton Yin rune in the fifth layer, they would perhaps go to the fourth layer or the sixth layer.

Even if their search went to the third layer, there was definitely no way that they would anticipate that this incredible energy stemmed from string theory!

Particle theory was used when it came to the structure of matter in the mortal realm. Everything was made up of particles such as electrons and protons, but that wasn’t the case in string theory. According to string theory, things like protons and electrons didn’t exist as particles. Instead, they existed in the form of strings or lines.

All matter that existed in the form of strings would have a membrane on the outside.

The electron Yin rune, Kui, and the proton Yin rune that had just been discovered were enveloped within a membrane of immortal energy. If they hadn’t gleaned the final form of the new energy resource, there was no way that anyone would’ve thought that string theory would be proven in the underworld. Due to this factor alone, their victory was already virtually completely assured.

Of course, this was the case in theory. Perhaps there was an extremely minuscule possibility that the new energy resource could be assembled in a different way.

Countless thoughts were flashing through Qin Ye’s mind, and he finally raised his head as he asked, “Are you sure? You’re not the only ones who need to be considered, the other researchers need rest as well.”

“There’s no need for that!” Xu Chengyang replied with a wide smile. “You don’t understand what makes us scientists tick, Your Excellency. If we find a worthwhile goal, we’re willing to even sacrifice our own lives for it! There’s no way anyone would be willing to take a break when we’re so close to reaching our final target! This will go down in history as one of the most monumental breakthroughs ever, and I’m willing to bet that everyone would fight for the right to continue working!”

Qin Ye rose to his feet and slowly paced back and forth in the room as he asked, “What do you plan to do next?”

Lu Ban immediately replied, “The electron Yin rune and the proton Yin rune have already formed a perfect electric current. What we have to do next is examine the timing of its formation, as well as its sustainability and power. This is the final step! If the energy can remain in a stable form without dissipating after being stored in a generator for over 15 years, then we’ll be able to declare to the entire world that we’ve succeeded! The Argosian Underworld and the western world have always led the rest of the world when it comes to science, but the new energy resource that can be made available for widespread usage will have arisen in the east!”

Qin Ye’s breathing was beginning to accelerate a little as he asked, “How much longer will that take?”

“We’re not sure at the moment. If everything goes well, it could only be several months, but if progress is slow, then it could take one or two years.”

“Alright,” Qin Ye finally decided. “But make sure to constantly monitor your own mental and psychological state! Yin spirits don’t get sick, but your mental state will directly affect your soul. If your soul fluctuates too violently, then I’ll have no choice but to send you to the six paths of reincarnation.”

“We’ll be sure to do so, Yanluo Qin!” The five architects didn’t look as if they had been toiling away for three whole years at all. Instead, it was as if they had just been injected with shots of stimulants!

A faint smile appeared on Qin Ye’s face as he waved a dismissive hand. “Go on, then. I’ll stay here with all of you until the very end.”

Thus, everyone departed, leaving Qin Ye to sit alone in his office. Instead of continuing to read through the documents on his desk, he picked up his teacup and sipped on some tea for half an hour before suddenly knocking on the desk.

Secretary Jiang immediately appeared in a wraith-like manner.

“Where are Qin Changxin and Li Lanzhi?” Qin Ye asked.

“They already arrived an hour ago. Should I instruct them to come and see you?”

Qin Ye nodded in response, and soon, Qin Changxin and Li Lanzhi made their way into the room together.

A reminiscent look appeared on Qin Ye’s face as he cast his gaze toward Li Lanzhi, the past mayor of Deadsend City. During the past decade or so, she had served various different roles, including administrative commissioner and governess, and in the end, she had risen all the way up the ranks to enter the ministry of education.

“Greetings, Yanluo Qin.” The current Li Lanzhi was far more steadfast than she had been during their first meeting in Deadsend City all those years ago. Her attitude was neither arrogant nor humble, and even in the presence of Qin Ye, she only extended a slight curstey as a gesture of respect.

She knew that Qin Ye valued capable subordinates far more than unnecessary formalities.

The GDP of Deadsend City had been able to outstrip that of the newly established capital of Shanxi Province, Changan, and it was exactly because of this that she had been climbing so rapidly up the ranks to her current position.

“Take a seat,” Qin Ye said with an inviting hand gesture, and a servant immediately entered the room before offering everyone cups of tea. The door was gently closed, and only then did Qin Ye turn toward Qin Changxin as he asked, “How are things going in Everburn?”

Qin Changxin was responsible for overseeing all matters in Everburn and Ashmound, which were currently the two most prosperous cities of the Cathayan Underworld. They were the spearheads of the national economy, and during the past few years, Qin Ye had only visited the cities once per quarter, so he had to enquire Qin Changxin for the specific details.

“Everything has been going quite well,” Qin Changxin replied. “Both cities have been serving their own purpose, and the positive effect they’ve had on the economy has been quite pronounced. Just like in the mortal realm, Ashmound’s capacity for economic development is clearly superior to that of Everburn due to its superior location. On top of that, urban clusters are beginning to take shape. The Cathayan Underworld is currently in a stage of rapid development, but at the moment, this rapid development only applies to these two cities. Once we remove the Array of the Nine Gods, the rate of development that our nation experiences will undergo another sharp rise.”

Qin Ye nodded in response before asking a seemingly unrelated question, “What about the netherworldly citizens? What role do they play on a microeconomic basis? I don’t want to hear a repeat of everything written in the quarterly reports you’ve submitted, I want to hear what you’ve seen and your thoughts based on those observations.”

Qin Changxin was silent for a moment before replying, “The contributions to the economy made by the netherworldly have mostly come in the recreation and catering industries. Most of the revenue is generated from all of the paid entry amusement parks and tourist attractions, and business in the catering industry is thriving at the moment. I think this is a result of the lack of diversity in the forms of recreation available at this point in time.”

This was not an issue that could be resolved in the short term.

Qin Ye nodded in response before finally asking the true question that was on his mind. “In that case, if we offer them another avenue through which they can spend their money, do you think they’ll be able to afford it?”

This question seemed to be quite an idiotic one as the answers had been clearly presented to him on the month and quarterly reports.

According to those reports, the answer was a resounding yes, but he still wanted to hear Qin Changxin’s opinion on this matter.

“Of course!” Qin Changxin replied with a slightly surprised expression. “Not only that, I think this is a necessary step to take.”

“Oh?”

“As time passes, more and more Yin spirits are coming into our Cathayan Underworld. After another 30 to 40 years, the children and relatives of our current netherworldly citizens will come down to the underworld as well, and the lack of consumer options we have for our netherworldly citizens will only continue to result in more and more dissatisfaction. Even during these past few years, modes of recreation such as Yin-beast-riding and opera have only just begun to emerge, but the future outlook is not very positive. We’ve thought about increasing new forms of expenditure and attracting some of the money currently being spent on recreation to those areas, but that’s going to be very difficult. If the new forms of expenditure won’t benefit Hell in any way, even if it can attract some of the money spent on the recreation industry, that won’t help to improve society in any way. I’ve considered establishing an insurance industry, but I decided against that in the end. Yin spirits are immune from illness, and they won’t die under normal circumstances, either, so there’s no way an insurance industry could survive. The idea with the brightest outlook that I can think of are mortal realm tours facilitated through temporary reincarnation, but the six paths of reincarnation are an extremely integral part of Hell, and seeing as you haven’t opened up them up for usage, it’s clear that the time still isn’t right. As for other industries…”

He heaved a faint sigh as he concluded, “I’m afraid I can’t think of much else.”

Qin Ye set down the teacup in his hand, then paused momentarily before analyzing, “The main issue here is a lack of knowledge.”

He stood up, and with a casual flick of his wrist, his beaded bracelet fell into his grasp. He began to gently massage the beaded bracelet as he said, “Everything in the underworld is dependent on Yin runes. However, we have no one to teach our netherworldly citizens about Yin runes. If we don’t master Yin runes, then we won’t be able to establish supply chains, and we’ll have to resign ourselves to being a resource export nation on the world stage.”

He turned around to face Qin Changxin and Li Langzhi as he continued, “Global economics is actually very simple to understand. To put it in rudimentary terms, there are three types of nations in this world, namely resource providing nations, resource processing nations, and technology export nations. In the mortal realm, Cathay is currently a resource processing nation, while Usonia is a technology exporting nation, the latter of which earns the most money. These three types of nations form a cycle of supply and demand to ensure that the world’s economy runs smoothly. However, in order to become a technology exporting nation in the underworld, we have to master Yin runes.”

Li Lanzhi heaved a faint sigh. “That’s not going to be an easy task. Yin runology is an extremely complex field, and in our Cathayan Underworld, there are very few people well versed in the field of Yin runology. Our ministry of education may be called that, but we don’t even possess the knowledge to provide education to the masses…”

Qin Ye didn’t say anything. Instead, he merely watched the two underworld emissaries in silence with a faint smile on his face.

The two underworld emissaries looked back at him with puzzled expressions, but shortly thereafter, their eyes lit up in unison, and they almost sprang out of their seats as Li Lanzhi asked in an incredulous voice, “Could it be that you’re planning to establish the education industry? Is it time?”

These two certainly weren’t idiots.

Qin Ye’s previous questions had already allowed him to determine whether netherworldly citizens had leftover disposable income, and it would naturally be ideal if this disposable income could be used to reciprocate society.

In the past, there weren’t any options to choose from, but one of the deputy ministers of education was present, and the education industry had been mentioned, so Qin Ye’s intentions were as clear as day!

Education was essential to a prosperous society, and it would be the ideal area for netherworldly citizens to spend their disposable incomes on!

“I see…” Qin Changxin drew a sharp breath as he asked, “Does this mean that the researchers of the Yin Mountains Research Center are about to produce the final product? After the conclusion of this project, this massive research center will have to be disbanded. After that, where will all of the scientists go?”

Li Lanzhi immediately chimed in in an excited voice, “It’s not just the scientists! Everyone has already been working here for three years, and the project still isn’t over yet. By the time the conclusion of the project is reached, even the average researcher will be an expert in the context of the entire nation! They would be more than qualified to serve as lecturers and professors in an infantile education industry!”

Once all of these scientists were disbanded and could contribute to the nation in other ways, the Cathayan Underworld’s education industry would have the skilled personnel it needed to succeed!

The excessive expenditure of disposable income on recreation and catering would undoubtedly be transferred to the education industry!

After all, there wasn’t a single Yin spirit who didn’t want to become more powerful!

Qin Changxin was stunned into silence for a few seconds. He was stunned by just how brilliant this opportunity was, as well as Qin Ye’s perfect timing. After a long while, he suddenly cupped his fist in a salute as he said, “Your wisdom is truly unmatched, Your Excellency! I… I don’t even know what to say! I can already envision the bright future that is awaiting our Cathayan Underworld.”

Qin Ye smiled as he said, “Gathered here, all of the scientists form a ball of fire, but when released, they’ll be the sparks required to light up the entire nation!”