Cultivation: Being Immortal Chapter 777
Previously on Cultivation: Being Immortal...
In the year 6777 of the Xia calendar, within Huaxia
Following months of meticulous groundwork, Huaxia made an official global announcement regarding the unearthing of Jiang Star, accompanied by a wealth of supporting data. Instantly, shockwaves rippled through human society everywhere.
Uncovering a habitable world on par with Blue Star marked an earth-shattering breakthrough for folks in this modern age.
Before long, the buzz of public discourse kicked into high gear. Countless scientific breakdowns, laudatory pieces, quick clips, films, series, and humorous skits flooded in rapidly. Overnight, every corner of the media landscape buzzed exclusively with tales of Jiang Star.
Guided by this precise orchestration, shares in the aerospace sector skyrocketed once more, brushing up against daily ceilings with relentless force. Just a month on, amid the Huaxia university entrance tests, a surge of students inquired about aerospace-related programs, pushing enrollment enthusiasm to unprecedented peaks.
Qinyun, Zhou Liao, and Ying Continent dispatched elite envoys to Huaxia for intel collection, offering generous monetary backing in exchange for a slice of the pie.
All parties understood that should Huaxia seize sole control over Blue Star, rival nations would stand zero chance against Huaxia's dominance.
Beneath this wave of media hype, initiatives targeting the distant Jiang Star advanced at breakneck speed. The latest iteration of the Space Mother Ship stood fully equipped. Huaxia's space innovations never ceased evolving, yet Cao Wang held off on deploying the Space Mother Ship since funds flowed abundantly. He opted to bolster the tech further.
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By 6785 in the Xia calendar, Jiang Star's Space Mother Ship blasted off from Cape VII Planet. On this voyage, the vessel bore humans once again, though sparingly—just a hundred souls. They would slip into hibernation within to sidestep the toll of extended travel duration.
Besides that hundred-strong crew, the Space Mother Ship brimmed with five hundred apocalyptic nukes and more than a hundred thousand diverse construction bots, packing the hull to capacity.
This Space Mother Ship's projected journey spanned two centuries still, with the trajectory locked in, mirroring the paths of Founder One and Two.
Having observed the Space Mother Ship's departure, Lin Jiang channeled leftover resources into teleportation array studies. Despite the array appearing maxed out and lagging behind aerial crafts in utility, Lin Jiang pressed on with funding, driven by his urge to slash the two-century one-way haul to Jiang Star—and the four-century loop—which felt excruciatingly drawn out.
"Mr. Lin, greetings, I represent the Huaxia Scientific Association…"
Not long after, an open missive arrived from the Huaxia Scientific Association to Lin Jiang. It opened with accolades for Huaxia's scientific triumphs across recent centuries, only to pivot sharply into grievances and rebukes over Lin Jiang's lopsided priorities. The note stressed that scientific advancement ought not tunnel into a single domain but flourish broadly across disciplines.
In today's world, excelling in isolation proves futile; foundational pillars like raw materials must underpin it. Be it teleportation arrays or aerial transports, even the most cutting-edge concepts falter sans robust supporting substances.
Huaxia's research trajectory has skewed overly narrow lately. Though frontrunner ideas shine brilliantly, countless remain theoretical dead-ends due to lagging adjacent techs. Thus, the association urged Lin Jiang to redirect focus toward broader scientific pursuits.
Lin Jiang pored over the letter and sought counsel from specialists, acknowledging his tunnel vision. In response, he drafted a formal letter of commitment, vowing amplified funding for varied sectors.
"Jiang Star's hype is everywhere these days, with tons of areas begging for cash. Huaxia's debt is teetering on collapse. Without a fix, the government could go under."
Lin Jiang vented to Cao Ying about Huaxia's perpetually soaring liabilities. With demands pouring in from every corner, he intended to allocate generously, but solutions were imperative.
"Boosting revenue boils down to fresh streams and trimming expenses. What's your strategy?"
"Every few decades, it's crucial to skim from Huaxia's elite circles. Plus, I'm eyeing moves on foreign powers to scoop up their riches."
Lin Jiang noted that internal reaping made sense, and he wouldn't idle as tycoons grew unchecked. External grabs, however, demanded nuance.
Huaxia had long siphoned global assets subtly, avoiding wholesale grabs for sustainable yields. Yet now, Lin Jiang geared up for bolder strikes to amass the vast sums required swiftly.
"Set to strike at the Ying Continent?"
"Why fatten the pig only to watch it turn on you without reaping?"
Lin Jiang chuckled outright. The Ying Continent had ballooned in prosperity over one or two centuries, piling up fortunes—none without Huaxia's tacit nod.
Furthermore, this scheme stretched back ages. Earlier, the Three-Country Pact divvied world spoils near-equally. Huaxia coveted gains from Qinyun and Zhou Liao too.
Still, deep-rooted ties barred direct moves on Qinyun and Zhou Liao. Huaxia prized alliances, so it nurtured Ying Continent's ascent to pilfer from those two. Harvesting Ying Continent now preserved the trio's bonds unscathed.
"You're sly as a fox; Qinyun, Zhou Liao, and Ying Continent all danced to your tune."
"Hey, don't pin that on me. It wasn't my scheme—the think tank pros proposed it."
Lin Jiang professed innocence; he shunned such guile himself. He'd merely greenlit an idea from a strategy group.
"I'm due to confer with the Demon Queen shortly. The demons surely grasp Jiang Star's secrets. If they push demands, how do we handle?"
"Concede, and extract perks from the demons upfront."
"But honoring it later?"
"Cross that bridge when it comes. If feasible, I might genuinely gift the demons a world of their own for lasting harmony."
Lin Jiang mused that endless strife held no appeal. Should opportunities arise, he'd happily cede a planet—if a suitable one surfaced—provided they secured a fresh haven.
"Such an offer should sway the Demon Queen."
"If not, it ought to. At schemes and ploys, demons can't rival us. I just lack interest in the game; my sights lie on stars and seas."
Lin Jiang emphasized the demons' utility in preservation; annihilation was an option otherwise. Ideally, partnership reigned supreme. Ecologically, diverse lifeforms enriched a world; eradication risked dire imbalances.
"Fine, I get your cosmic ambitions. You're eyeing the inaugural interstellar migrant Space Mother Ship in five decades, correct?"
"Affirmative, timeline's locked. Fifty years hence, launch with cultivators aboard as trailblazers reshaping Blue Star. A century after, dispatch another with tech crews dominant. Upon Blue Star's makeover, mass relocation kicks off via dedicated carrier Space Mother Ships, each hauling at least half a million in cryo-sleep. We'll ferry roughly thirty million to Jiang Star, then leverage it as a launchpad for cosmic sprawl."
"Considered Jiang Star's governance? Round trips span four centuries. Rebellion risks?"
"The relocation saga unfolds over centuries at minimum. Tech's future? Unpredictable. No haste needed, and I sense Blue Star's knots will untangle before the push concludes."
Lin Jiang spoke with serene assurance; centuries ahead lay shrouded. By then, swift jaunts between Jiang Star and Blue Star might well be routine.
Deep down, Lin Jiang intuited that colonizing Jiang Star heralded Blue Star's pivotal shift. He felt all destined events would culminate by that juncture.