Chapter 506 - Incomparable (13) (1/2)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The several most common ways to generate electricity were hydroelectric, wind power, thermal power, solar power, and nuclear power. Gu Nianzhi quickly recalled the physics knowledge she had learned from the expert instructors at the Special Operations Forces, and combining it with the surrounding situation of the water around the blue hole, she immediately eliminated the possibilities of thermal power and hydroelectricity. Hydroelectricity required an extreme flow of water or a large temperature difference in the seawater in order to generate electricity. However, the current geography and water conditions obviously didn’t fulfill the requirements for hydroelectricity. Also, hydroelectricity required large scale infrastructure.
The blue hole’s surroundings had no trace of human influence because its most natural topography had been preserved, so this completely eliminated the possibility of hydroelectric generation. Thermal power was self-explanatory, as there were no natural resources that enabled it. Aside from the immense infrastructure hydroelectricity and thermal power required, wind-generated power and nuclear power also had stringent requirements for energy generation, so they also needed basic infrastructure. Gu Nianzhi quickly eliminated the possibilities of hydroelectricity, thermal power, wind power, and nuclear power.
Solar energy could be small or large scale and have a complicated or simple generation mechanism. Gu Nianzhi didn’t know too much about solar power, but she understood the general principle. Also, the Special Operations Forces base had solar panels installed. She had been curious in the past and secretly climbed onto the roof to inspect them closely. The best solar panels in the world had already advanced into miniature and streamlined models, and even portable models. Like other technologies, all the most advanced technology was used in the military. Solar power was no exception.
Gu Nianzhi’s heart trembled, and when she looked at the waters around the blue hole again, she immediately noticed something different. She observed the large and small reefs protruding above the water’s surface near the blue hole. The reefs didn’t look very different from normal ones, but upon closer inspection, there were irregular surfaces, and the rough-looking ones actually held a secret within.
Gu Nianzhi concentrated on looking at the reefs, and her gaze gradually focused on a spot near her life boat. The location of the reef was quite clever. Half was inside the blue hole’s waters, and the other half was outside. If this was truly the solar power she had deduced, then the location was certainly interesting. Looking along the area around the blue hole, she immediately discovered the trick within. The reefs were spread out into stars and chess pieces where the blue hole’s waters and the normal ocean intersected, so half were inside the blue hole’s waters, and the other half was outside. It would be perfect if they could be used as carriers to generate solar power… Gu Nianzhi’s eyes s.h.i.+mmered as she started up the lifeboat to head towards the reef.
Suddenly, shouting and the sounds of fighting erupted from Gu Yanran’s yacht. Gu Nianzhi had been focused on her thoughts but was suddenly startled by the noise. She instinctively looked in that direction to see that the middle-aged woman was actually holding Gu Yanran at gunpoint on the yacht’s helm! The woman’s back faced the ocean, and she was tightly choking Gu Yanran. Gu Yanran kept trying to force the woman’s hands away, but she couldn’t peel them back. The middle-aged woman pointed the gun at Gu Yanran’s housekeepers and security while continuously screaming.
Gu Nianzhi thought that Gu Yanran had this coming since that woman was clearly not a good person, yet Gu Yanran actually decided to save her and bring her on her yacht. Gu Nianzhi looked away to ignore what was happening with Gu Yanran, then focused on jumping onto the reefs. All sorts of reefs in various sizes were littered around where the blue hole’s waters and the normal ocean intersected, so Gu Nianzhi had to navigate carefully in order for her lifeboat to avoid the reefs.
When she arrived at the reef closest to her, Gu Nianzhi stopped the lifeboat, estimated the distance between the reef and herself, and then took out a rope of appropriate length from her diving suit. Making a knot, she threw it towards the reef. After throwing it two times, the rope looped around the reef, and with a tight tug and her foot firmly planted on the boat, Gu Nianzhi volleyed herself up and towards the reef! She landed successfully!
Gu Nianzhi almost laughed with relief, but her happiness was quickly extinguished. The reef was charged with electricity, too! She had no idea approximately what voltage it was, and it was certainly weaker than the violet electric arcs on the blue hole’s waters, but it was still beyond what normal humans could endure. Gu Nianzhi could feel hundreds of thousands of tiny needles p.r.i.c.king her entire body. At first it didn’t hurt too much, but after three seconds, the pain spread throughout her body. Gritting her teeth, she managed not to cry out. Ignoring the pain in her body, Gu Nianzhi half crouched on the reef and began using the simple circuit detector from her diving suit to find evidence of solar panels. Soon after, she found a clue and couldn’t help sighing in awe.
She had no idea who was such a genius, as these weren’t reefs at all! These were solar panels disguised as reefs! The outer surface employed a very interesting paint that not only disguised the faux reefs’ surfaces, but it also protected the normal operation of the circuitry inside as well as increasing the absorption of solar energy by several magnitudes! This was amazing.