Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

After resolving the language system issue, Lü Yongchang and Mao Zhengzhi turned their attention back to the giant fish's skin.

Looking at the various test data displayed on the holographic projection, the two fell silent.

"This is absolutely not something a living organism could grow," Mao Zhengzhi said confidently. "If this thing grew naturally, I'd go eat a giant fish from the Ice Giant!"

Lü Yongchang: "...Are you sure?"

Perhaps thinking of the promise made by Academician Cao Liangcai back then, Mao Zhengzhi, seeing Lü Yongchang's teasing gaze, raised his hand and touched the tip of his nose with a guilty conscience.

"Are you... sure?"

"Regardless, I don't believe that a living organism composed of cells can grow this alloy inside its body!"

"Don't forget, there's a fusion reactor inside that giant fish!" Mao Zhengzhi reminded Lü Yongchang in a low voice. "Do you think these giant fish might be man-made?"

"There might even be an advanced civilization living in the depths of this liquid ammonia ocean!"

Lu Yongchang looked at the rambling Mao Zhengzhi with the same expression he'd given an idiot: "Then why do these giant fish still use such an ancient way of communicating?"

"Isn't electromagnetic wave communication better?"

"Isn't quantum long-distance communication useful?"

Mao Zhengzhi's expression froze: "..."

"cough!"

"I... I was just joking, trying to lighten the mood..."

Lu Yongchang waved his hand helplessly: "The sample size is too small. We'll probably have to wait for the next exploration..."

"professor."

"The Poseidon exploration vessel has encountered a slight anomaly."

The moment the voice rang out, Zero's virtual avatar appeared beside Lü Yongchang: "After a comprehensive assessment, I believe you will be interested in this anomaly."

"Poseidon?"

Lu Yongchang frowned subconsciously.

Several days passed, and if it weren't for Zero's words, he would have almost forgotten about the abandoned exploration ship—although its various sensors were still diligently providing humans with all sorts of data.

"Has that giant fish not given up yet?" Mao Zhengzhi exclaimed. "It's incredibly stubborn. I really don't know what it's doing all this for..."

Lu Yongchang didn't speak, but simply nodded at Zero's virtual avatar.

The next moment, Zero's virtual image dissipated into particles of light in the air, and a holographic projection appeared in the same location.

Lu Yongchang frowned: "So, what kind of unusual situation are you referring to?"

Under Zero's control, the exploration vessel struggled to turn an angle.

The holographic image then slowly rotated.

Under the powerful beam of the main searchlight, an astonishing scene unfolded before their eyes.

The tail of the giant fish, which was originally dark brown, was now covered with a little silvery-white substance.

"This..." A guess flashed through Lü Yongchang's mind, and he stepped forward excitedly, "Is this the armor on the surface of the exploration ship?"

"After comparing various aspects, yes." Zero confirmed Lü Yongchang's guess.

"I understand... I understand!"

Lu Yongchang clapped his hands forcefully: "You're right, that's not something growing from the giant fish at all!"

"That thing isn't skin at all!"

"We've all been misled!"

Mao Zhengzhi naturally understood the meaning behind Lü Yongchang's words.

At this moment, he was also somewhat excited.

On the one hand, it was because the mystery that had troubled them for days had finally been solved.

On the other hand, he felt a heartfelt sense of relief—he no longer needed to go to the Ice Giant to eat the giant fish.

"But..." After a brief moment of excitement, a hint of doubt flashed in Lü Yongchang's eyes, "How did it manage to get the exploration ship's armor onto itself?"

Mao Zhengzhi shrugged: "It's probably some kind of mucus secreted by the body."

"Let's wait and see, maybe it will demonstrate it to us itself soon."

……

As Mao Zhengzhi said.

The stability of the exploration ship has been greatly reduced after its armor was damaged.

After the two impacts, another huge piece of silver-white armor detached from the hull and slowly sank to the dark seabed of liquid ammonia.

The silver-white armor was covered with various scratches and impact marks.

Just like the dark brown "armor" on the giant fish.

"zero!"

Looking at the violently shaking and trembling scene before him, Lü Yongchang said excitedly, "Immediately adjust the survey vessel's posture! Follow the giant fish's movements; I want to see what it's doing!"

The image gradually stabilized, and the scene within it became clearer.

A streamlined giant fish, after a brief acceleration, slammed its side into the silver-white armor.

A high-precision camera clearly shows that the giant fish's body is covered with a layer of transparent mucus.

A dull thud came from the liquid ammonia seawater, and at the same time, the silver-white armor clung tightly to the surface of the giant fish's body.

Once it was confirmed that the silver-white armor was attached to its body, the giant fish stopped moving and quietly floated in the liquid ammonia seawater.

The exploration vessel gradually approached, pressing its camera against the side of the giant fish.

The transparent mucus increased, gradually covering the silvery-white armor.

Then, under the watchful eyes of Lü Yongchang and Mao Zhengzhi, the flowing viscous liquid gradually solidified.

The silver-white armor, like a layer of skin, clung tightly to the giant fish's body, just like the dark brown unknown alloy.

The giant fish swung its body and began to move once again.

Bang!

After a brief wait, the exploration vessel was hit and thrown away again.

This time, however, the image disappeared after a violent shaking.

Clearly, the cameras on the exploration vessel were completely destroyed in the impact.

Lu Yongchang waved his hand lightly, "tossing" the holographic projection in front of him aside: "Looks like we made the right choice going to the Ice Giant Star."

Mao Zhengzhi shook his head with a wry smile: "I never imagined that colliding with hard objects would be the nature and instinct of these giant fish."

"If nothing unexpected happens, there must be some kind of special mineral resource in the deep ocean where liquid ammonia is found."

"The 'armor' on the giant fish was probably 'forged' over there."

"Ore with such high strength, after processing, should be suitable as hull material for small planetary warships!" Lu Yongchang's eyes gleamed, and without hesitation, he issued the order, "Zero, expand production!"

"Increase the number of Poseidon II-class exploration vessels."

"Mobilize three [Engineering Ships] and three [Gluttonous] supply ships. After completing the supply preparations, proceed to the Ice Giant!"

"Once the language system is deciphered, we'll begin the second mineral exploration project!"

P.S.: This book is finally approaching one million words! To be honest, I never expected to write so much... Thank you again to all the readers for your support!