※With the successful development of various shuttle-shaped guided projectile weapons, the researchers... that’s what the researchers originally called them, but Yang Ying still preferred to call them "Floating Cannons." The weapon resembled a silver shuttle, streamlined in shape, thick in the middle and tapered at both ends, though the ends were slightly different, giving the weapon a distinct head and tail.

At the tip of the conical head was a Level-Two Hammer Cannon, and surrounding it closely were the firing ports for twelve additional Level-Two Uranium Cannons, arranged in staggered upper and lower rows, interlocking like two rings to envelop the shuttle's nose. The six ports in each ring were uniformly distributed.

Normally, all thirteen ports remained hidden inside the shuttle body. Upon activation, the covers would instantly retract, ejecting the muzzles.

At that moment, the entire shuttle resembled a mace, with every tip capable of unleashing a deadly beam. This configuration allowed the firepower to be dispersed to cover a wide area or concentrated on a single point.

When combined, the output of these thirteen cannons could reach the power of a Level-Three Uranium Cannon. Although Blade’s third-generation specialized Ghost Fighter was equipped with twelve missile bays, it carried no missiles at all; they were all loaded with these Floating Cannons.

The genesis of this weapon was actually inspired by Tim's swordsmanship. Now that Yang Ying’s psychic power surpassed Tim’s, practicing this set of sword techniques yielded twice the result with half the effort.

He could already skillfully manipulate twelve light sabers. One day, an idea struck Yang Ying: what if the technique used to control the light sabers could be applied to control the Hammer Cannons?

Of course, even if it didn't work directly, with his current understanding of psychic energy, he could devise a new method. After successfully mastering the control of the Uranium Cannons, Yang Ying naturally turned his attention to the Uranium Cannons.

However, controlling large weapons like the Uranium Cannons purely with psychic energy offered poor flexibility, not to mention the risk of them being seized mid-battle by Master-level experts with stronger psychic might. So, was there a way to create psychic-guided Uranium Cannons that others couldn't snatch away?

To this end, he specifically approached the research institute to inquire about the feasibility of such a method. Upon hearing the request, the researchers immediately slapped their chests and guaranteed they would complete the task resolutely.

In fact, the Protoss already possessed similar technology—the interceptor control system on Carriers. Carriers were large warships equipped for Templars.

Piloting a Carrier in combat only required the control of a single Templar, who could command the interceptors using sheer mental force, making them extensions of their arms, achieving almost unbelievable agility. This was because the energy matrix installed on the Carrier vastly amplified the Templar’s spiritual power, allowing one Templar to control a hundred times their inherent strength.

This way, even if the enemy’s spiritual power was higher by a factor of ten, the Templar could securely maintain control over the interceptors. However, Yang Ying did not wish to blatantly utilize Protoss technology just for his personal interest; that was technology that attracted unwanted attention.

Yang Ying privately believed that keeping a low profile while accumulating wealth was the proper path. Trant Corporation had just stabilized, and if the Protoss energy matrix technology were discovered, even the Kerrigan and Kustar species might become envious.

Moreover, with so many unknowns in the universe, if the news spread, some unknown alien race from some forgotten corner might pop up to cause trouble. Therefore, being discreet was the wisest course; he despised trouble above all else.

Fortunately, the research institute quickly devised a solution that addressed the psychic guidance problem without involving the energy matrix technology. Both the Kerrigan and Kustar species possessed methods utilizing spiritual energy; for instance, the Kustar particle cannon and the Kerrigan illusion projection equipment were created using such technologies.

According to Kerrigan data provided by the Psionic Temple, Kerrigan scientists theorized the existence of certain universal particles that could act as carriers for spiritual power, expanding an individual’s psychic might and triggering a series of miraculous effects. The illusion projection equipment was a concrete application of the Kerrigan discovery of "phantom particles." Normally, manifesting an internally visualized scene into an objectively existing illusion was possible even without equipment, but it required an immense amount of psychic power, achievable only by Master-level experts, and coincidentally, this very spell was called True Phantasm!

However, with the illusion projection equipment, high-ranking Awakened individuals could accomplish feats previously only possible for Master-level experts. Even more coincidentally, the research institute discovered that within the most intensely studied field among humans—the Psi-Particle race—there existed a particle, designated with a specific number, that could serve as a psychic energy carrier, functioning to expand mental power.

Furthermore, it was compatible with equipment based on electricity, humanity's fundamental energy source, since Psi-Particles inherently shared many characteristics with electrons. This convergence immediately set the research institute’s enthusiasm ablaze, and the design for the Floating Cannon was quickly finalized.

Because the device that generated the Psi-Particles was relatively large, the limited space within the Floating Cannon was insufficient. Therefore, it was mounted on the Ghost Fighter.

The powerful energy system of the third-generation specialized Ghost Fighter continuously generated vast quantities of Psi-Particles to charge the Floating Cannons, which the fighter pilot then manipulated via psychic energy to launch attacks. Once fully charged, the Psi-Cell within each Floating Cannon could support approximately one hundred attacks.

Averaging out, each of the thirteen Uranium Cannons could only fire seven to eight times before needing to be recalled for recharging. This was a point of slight regret for Yang Ying.

The device generating the Psi-Particles was temporarily impossible to shrink down to the size of a particle cannon or an illusion projector. The technological prowess of the Floating Continent still required improvement.

However, as always, the various technical schematics were available; improvement was merely a matter of time. On the battlefield, the Ape Master-level fighter was grazed on the wing during the first wave of attack, damaging some energy conduits, causing a twenty percent drop in the power system’s output.

Blade sharply noticed the fighter's movement become sluggish, and its psychic-driven Uranium Scatter Cannon fell silent. He surmised that this was likely because when the energy system was nearly maxed out during the charge cycle, the impact caused the Scatter Cannon’s energy to overload, burning out the circuits.

It seemed this first wave of attack had not been entirely disappointing. The spatial locations of the twelve Floating Cannons materialized clearly in Blade’s mind.

With a mere thought, he could control them to move at high speed, lock onto targets, and initiate attacks as he wished. The twelve Floating Cannons housed a total of one hundred sixty-eight Level-Two Uranium Cannons.

Adding the two cannons on his own Ghost Fighter, the total reached one hundred seventy. Although Blade still couldn't lock onto the Master-level fighter, it didn't matter.

He dispersed the Floating Cannons, aimed at the area surrounding the enemy fighter, and unleashed another volley! The overwhelming barrage of beams enveloped the Master-level fighter from all sides—front, back, top, bottom, left, and right.

The Ape Master was prepared; he roared, putting the fighter through a dizzying array of evasive maneuvers, yet managed to break free from the net of light once more. To maintain a high density of beams within a specific area meant one could not cover a larger range, whereas expanding the coverage would thin the beams, leaving gaps.

Coverage and density were contradictory metrics. "Are one hundred seventy Hammer Cannons not enough?" Blade knew well that once a prepared quasi-Master expert located even the tiniest gap in an attack, they would exploit it; the immense advantage conferred by precognition was undeniable.

"I see. Attacking head-on won't maximize the Floating Cannons' power.

They must be used to surround the enemy, making them unable to escape." This was Blade’s first time deploying the Floating Cannons; much experience had to be accumulated from scratch. The Master-level fighter, whose primary weapon had just been disabled, was clearly an excellent sparring partner.

As for why this Ape Master hadn't fled despite his current state, Blade wasn't entirely sure. Perhaps it was due to pride or overconfidence.

He was a quasi-Master, the enemy a Master. Whether an Ape Master being forced into retreat by a human quasi-Master after his fighter was damaged had ever occurred in the Ancient Legion, or what punishment might follow, Blade didn't know.

But regardless, even if the battle ended now, the resulting combat record would be astonishing enough. "But I am not yet satisfied!" Blade pushed the control stick forward.

The Ghost Fighter accelerated, sweeping in an arc toward the Ape Master-level fighter. Since he had an opportunity to shoot the opponent down, why not seize it!

His mind was utterly calm, as if scrubbed clean. Countless pieces of battlefield information flowed through his consciousness without causing the slightest ripple; Blade’s inner self was like a mirror, reflecting everything around him.

Another rain of beams hammered toward the Master-level fighter. This time it wasn't a volley, but a continuous, soft drizzle, yet it never ceased for a moment.

Even the Ape Master was forced to make emergency directional changes numerous times, employing a thousand varied evasive techniques, and maintaining this level of control was necessary just to dodge the incoming beams. "Well fought, human!

To push me this far as a mere quasi-Master, but even with only two cannons left, I can still destroy you!" Fire flared in the Ape Master's eyes. He unleashed the true True Phantasm technique, instantly transforming his fighter into more than twenty decoys, dispersing Blade's fire.

Blade imprinted the twenty-plus Master-level fighters onto his mind, instinctively judging the counter-attack method. He roared, "Strike true!" The Floating Cannons instantly scattered, appearing at the locations imprinted in Blade's mind.

One hundred seventy Uranium Cannons fired simultaneously, instantly obliterating most of the true phantoms. "Dream on!" The real Master-level fighter was enveloped by a dozen beams firing from all directions, but the Ape Master had dodged a full volley of one hundred seventy beams; a mere dozen posed no challenge.

While evading, the Ape Master triggered his weapon toward the Ghost Fighter. Blade executed several highly difficult evasive maneuvers and slipped past.

The two fighters scraped past each other. The Ape Master twisted his fighter 180 degrees, conjured another twenty-plus phantoms, and prepared to attack again.

Beep! Beep!

His communicator suddenly chimed. The image of Ape Peak Master Weng Sha lay appeared on the holographic screen.

"Human reinforcements have deployed. Continuing this fight is just a war of attrition.

This isn't the place to settle the Berserker issue. I declare this operation concluded.

Retreat!" The Ape Master opened his mouth, nodded, and replied, "Yes!" I have to go out for dinner later; the second and third updates tonight might be a bit late.