Chapter 140: The Prism Reactor! (Edited)

The essence of training is to expend energy through physical activity and then replenish it, thereby increasing the energy capacity through this cycle of expenditure and replenishment.

Before, Clark's energy was too vast for normal cultivation practices to make a significant dent.

Without sufficient expenditure, there was no training effect.

Thus, even after breaking his limits for the second time, Clark's overall strength only marginally increased from 10 to about 12 units, with no further growth.

It wasn't until his trip to the Middle East, healing his mental scars through an earthquake, suffering severe injuries in a battle, and being nurtured by his Aunt Monica's blood, that he made another breakthrough, reaching around 13 units, perhaps even slightly more.

However, without a method to continuously strengthen himself, such power wasn't enough to make him feel secure. The battle with a certain powerful enemy during the earthquake in the rocky mountains proved this point.

Now, with the gravity room, his strength finally entered a rapid growth phase.

In less than three days, Clark's combat power broke through the 14th unit, approaching 15 units, a growth rate that was astonishing.

Even Captain America, the Winter Soldier, and Yi Long, who trained in the gravity room, saw their long-stagnant strength increase, though not as rapidly as Clark's.

To facilitate training, Clark began constructing the second and third gravity rooms, planning to place them in his newly purchased villas in Los Angeles and a beach resort area.

Replicating the technology became much easier after the first prototype, a task Clark could handle himself, without needing Hank Pym's help.

However, a new problem emerged with the official use of the gravity room for training.

As mentioned, training is about expenditure and replenishment. Now that the expenditure issue was resolved, replenishment became a problem.

Ordinary food provides limited energy. The situation was slightly better for Captain America and his team, whose food intake was only about twice that of regular special forces.

But Clark faced more difficulties. Even with a dietitian to plan his meals, he still needed at least three hours a day to eat, plus another half hour in the bathroom.

Overall, the inefficient energy replenishment process due to the limited energy proportion from food was problematic.

In martial arts and cultivation novels, masters and cultivators don't need to eat much but can still grow stronger because they can cultivate through pill concoction, breathing exercises, or absorbing the essence of the sun and moon.

Clark was unaware if such energy absorption methods existed in the Marvel Universe, as he hadn't come across any in the cultivation methods he knew.

Urgently needing a viable solution, Clark consulted Hank Pym and Xiaobai, instructing Xiaobai to recruit scientists in biology and nutrition, with Hank Pym overseeing the vetting process to ensure only qualified scientists could join Pym Labs.

After delegating this task, Clark, along with the shield and winter couple, drove to Tony Stark's seaside villa in Los Angeles in a Lamborghini.

The visit was partly to discuss the Iron Man script with Tony and partly to foster a camaraderie between the shield and winter couple and Iron Man, ideally forming a friendship or even deeper bonds, which would be perfect.

The Howard Stark death case was always a ticking time bomb, especially with crucial evidence in Hydra's hands, effectively giving them the detonator to unleash a significant crisis at any moment.

Despite discussing this danger with Hank Pym, Clark found no reasonable solution. Hank Pym's bias against the Starks and his strong subjective analysis reduced the value of his advice.

After much thought, Clark decided to play the long game, using emotional connections.

He planned to build a relationship with Tony first and then find the right moment to reveal the truth, thereby neutralizing this hidden threat.

Upon meeting, Tony sarcastically commented, "Clark, I didn't expect you to go to such lengths for my information."

Clark was surprised but saw Tony smile and hug him, saying, "You went to the Middle East to do actual research for the script. That dedication alone makes me inclined to accept the script unless it's terrible."

Tony amusingly misconstrued Clark's mission in the Middle East.

Clark didn't correct him, instead adding, "In the Middle East, I not only experienced the desolate desert but also fought the leader behind the Ten Rings."

Tony was shocked, asking if Clark had killed the opponent.

Clark solemnly replied, "The opponent, a man with ten rings, each possessing immense power, nearly killed me."

Tony became serious, and Clark added, "I managed to sever one of his fingers and obtain a ring, which is currently under study. It seems to be an alien technology. You're welcome to check it out."

As they reached the upper floor, Clark was startled by the chaos, jokingly asking if Tony's house had been attacked again.

"Quite the opposite," Tony boasted, explaining he was close to completing his new element research, needing only to integrate its energy into a reactor.

With Captain America's help, Tony activated the machine, infusing intense blue energy into a triangular reactor, completing his "Prism Reactor."

Clark interrupted Tony's celebration, questioning the reactor's name.

Despite the internal wish to slap himself, Clark played along with Tony's claim of a new energy arc reactor, avoiding further debate to prevent any information discrepancies in their deal.

Tony, replacing the old reactor with his "Prism Reactor," quickly alleviated his previous condition, breathing fresh air as if reborn.

Tony, half-jokingly, questioned the true identities of Clark's guards, who then revealed their faces, establishing a connection with Tony.

Seeing the familiar faces from photos, Tony was impressed, asking where Clark had found these "antiques."

Clark introduced them as Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes, dug up from a glacier in Siberia and found in the Middle East, respectively, planning to garner sympathy for Bucky's tragic story.

However, Jarvis interrupted, announcing Tony's delivery, adding a twist to their meeting.

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