Chapter 121: The Maiden Voyage of the Warp Spaceship

In the autumn of the 36th year of the New Earth Calendar, humanity finally built the first spaceship capable of Warp Flight entirely on their own!

Every single component on this spaceship was manufactured independently by humans, including the most important Warp Generator!

This was an experimental spaceship that used a hybrid propulsion system. Specifically, the spaceship would use a chemical rocket to push it into outer space. After discarding the rocket, it would activate the Curvature Generator to begin Warp Flight. Although its Curvature could only reach 5.0, it had already surpassed the speed of light limit of the Four Space-time Dimensions. This represented a breakthrough!

Adopting this method was also a necessity, because humans currently could not find an energy source capable of supporting the consumption of Warp Flight for the entire journey.

Even controlled nuclear fusion reactors could be built by humans, but their size was hideous; they were incredibly tall, like skyscrapers.

Moreover, the energy acquisition efficiency was very low, only able to transform heavy hydrogen into helium elements. Unlike the Deep Nuclear Fusion reactors common in interstellar space, which could undergo chain reactions to fuse all the way to iron elements, the difference in energy utilization efficiency between the two was like heaven and earth.

This technology certainly could not be applied to a spaceship. In fact, the only controlled nuclear fusion reactor humanity possessed was the energy core of a power plant. The electricity it provided was more than enough to supply the current human cities.

On this very day, a day of crisp autumn air, this spaceship would conduct its test flight.

The spaceship was fifty meters long, entirely silver-white, and could carry five people. It was also equipped with a primary inertia balance system and a Protective Force Field generator.

Aside from needing a rocket to carry it into space, this spaceship could be considered a true interstellar spaceship. At least in terms of speed, it completely surpassed the “Aiwei” that Lin Lei had obtained on Blue Rain Star.

At the spaceship launch center, many scientists looked at this spaceship with its beautiful streamlined structure, their faces filled with excitement.

The age of this group ranged between twenty-five and forty; they were truly the young and strong faction of scientists, each one full of power and passion.

The person standing at the front, judging by his appearance, was Old Xiao! His physiological age had now reached forty-two, and years of regular, healthy living had kept his physical condition excellent.

More than half of the scientists behind him had been personally taught by him, and the rest had read his works and revered them as classics.

It could be said that these technological elites of humanity were basically all Old Xiao’s disciples!

Old Xiao’s face currently showed no excitement whatsoever. He looked toward the other end of the launch site, at the towering statue, his face filled with sorrow.

“Lin Lei, do you see this? We have finally taken the first step into the universe on our own!”

“The words from back then still ring in my ears, but you left so hastily. You single-handedly supported the foundation of human development, yet paid for it with your life!”

“We, the living, can only use our unremitting efforts to comfort your spirit in heaven!”

“Do you see this?”

In the end, Old Xiao looked at Lin Lei’s statue and finally could not control his emotions; tears streamed down his face.

Everyone present looked at Old Xiao, who had lost his composure, and fell silent. When Lin Lei passed away, most of these scientists had not yet been born; the few older ones were not yet old enough to form memories.

They all learned of Lin Lei’s existence through the oral accounts of their elders and various historical records.

In their impressions, Lin Lei was a super warrior shrouded in a legendary halo, the savior of Earth!

But this new generation, unlike their parents, had not personally experienced the hellish journey of the Mort Ecological Sphere, nor had they experienced the process of being saved by a hero radiating infinite light in that hell. Naturally, they could not feel much genuine emotion.

A beautiful woman walked out from the crowd. She stepped forward and gently patted Old Xiao on the back to comfort him.

This woman’s beauty was not just in her appearance; her whole body radiated an intellectual brilliance, clear and lively like a mountain spring.

Her wisdom was top-notch among this group of scientists, a point acknowledged by everyone. She had played an irreplaceable role in the design of this spaceship. The Curvature Generator, in particular, was optimized by her to the point where it could truly be put to use.

Heaven had favored her immensely, concentrating the most perfect beauty and wisdom onto her.

Of course, what truly placed this woman in the clouds from the moment she was born was her father, the legendary figure represented by the statue outside the launch center.

That’s right, she was Lin Xin, the only descendant Lin Lei left behind on Earth.

After a long while, Old Xiao finally controlled his emotions. His eyes were red. He wiped his face and said in a low voice, “Xin’er, I’m fine. Don’t delay the important matters. It is almost time for the spaceship launch. Everyone, get ready.”

The importance of this spaceship test flight was self-evident. Basically, all the leaders of the Earth Government had come; even the retired Mu Zhe and Lu Daolin were present.

Both men had completely white hair and looked old and aged. They had poured their hearts and souls into Earth’s development, working tirelessly for decades, which had almost drained the last of their energy.

Their eyes were also red, clearly, like Old Xiao, they were thinking of that person from the past.

Li Yi and Li Dasong were also in this group. Li Yi did not pursue a path in scientific research; compared to those new geniuses, his mathematical talent seemed somewhat dim. He ultimately threw himself into education and became a leader in that field.

Li Dasong was the commander of Earth’s newly formed Guard Army. Time had transformed the once green and honest young man into the dignified and wise general he was today.

As for the red-eyed, silver-haired Mo Fei, he had driven a spaceship out into interstellar space for adventure over a decade ago and had not returned since. No one knew how he was doing now.

Of course, the public could not remain indifferent to such a sensational event. This spaceship test flight was the center of attention; everyone focused their attention on the spaceship launch center.

On Earth today, the area of City of Hope had expanded fourfold, and dozens of small cities had been built. The total human population had reached over 5 million.

Presumably, by the time the Star Alliance’s civilization protection measures were lifted, which was 114 years later, the human population would reach tens of millions. By then, humanity as an intelligent race would truly have gained a firm foothold.

Fuweili, and even Yan Siyu, were also at the launch center. One was an Apocalypse Person, the other an Aostarian. They did not feel deeply about such a scene; what caused fluctuations in their emotions was still that person.

Neither woman’s appearance had changed significantly. For Apocalypse People with an average lifespan of 260 years and Aostarians with 500 years, their lives were still very long.

When they first met, the two women were somewhat hostile toward each other, but when the news of Lin Lei’s death arrived, this hostility was immediately washed away by sorrow, and they instead began to sympathize with each other.

Since Lin Xin became an adult, Fuweili had returned to Apocalypse Star, coming back to Earth only once a year to mourn her departed lover.

Yan Siyu was the same. All these years, she had lived alone. For Aostarians, a partner was not necessary; this celibacy was prevalent on Ao Star.

Fuweili and Yan Siyu stood outside the crowd, watching these Earthlings full of hot blood and hope, feeling a mixture of emotions.

Their civilizations were too advanced; such passionate and intense scenes basically never occurred.

“Si Yu, I think they must be incredibly happy at this moment. Look at Xin’er; I’ve never seen her show her emotions like today. This child, from childhood to adulthood, has been frighteningly smart and calm.”

Yan Siyu looked at Lin Xin not far away, feeling a flash of envy for Fuweili in her heart. She said softly, “Xin’er is indeed smart, but her feelings are also very rich; she just hides them very well. Wei, you haven’t been a very qualified mother; you didn’t even notice this.”

Yan Siyu also liked Lin Xin; she had watched her grow up. Since she was little, Yan Siyu had watched her stare at Lin Lei’s holographic image in a daze more than once.

As intelligent as Lin Xin was, she certainly knew her father had already left. The reason she didn’t mention it to her mother was simply that she didn’t want to make her mother sad.

Fuweili sighed deeply, “I… sigh, as long as I look at Xin’er, I think of Lei. I indeed neglected her feelings.”

At this time, the arrangements for the spaceship launch were basically complete. The next steps would be handled by dedicated staff, so Lin Xin, who was in charge of scientific research work, was free.

She walked over to Fuweili, her expression indifferent as she greeted them, “Mom, Aunt Yan, you came.”

Fuweili smiled and nodded in response, gently tucking a few stray strands of hair behind Lin Xin’s ear.

“Xin’er, don’t work too hard. Mom thinks you’ve gotten a lot thinner.”

“Mom, I’ll be careful,” Lin Xin replied as a routine formality, then stood beside Fuweili and said nothing more.

Fuweili was also used to Lin Xin’s cold temper. She just exchanged a helpless look with Yan Siyu beside her, then, as usual, looked earnestly at Lin Xin’s face.

It had to be said that Lin Xin’s face was perfect. She combined all the advantages of Lin Lei and Fuweili and sublimated them, achieving a beauty that almost surpassed that of the Watcher Race.

Even Yan Siyu, standing next to Lin Xin, would seem somewhat diminished.

Clearly, the System had done an excellent job back then; its so-called genetic optimization was simply the work of God.

Of course, Fuweili was not there to admire her daughter’s beauty; she was just looking for the shadow of the person she loved deeply.

Lin Xin was also used to the deep affection in her mother’s eyes. She sighed in her heart, really wondering what kind of person her father was to make her mother love him so much.

At this moment, the experimental spaceship was ready for launch and entered the final countdown.

The requirements for rocket power for this launch were not very high. It only needed to push the spaceship to the first cosmic velocity to make it a satellite of Earth. Afterward, the spaceship would enter Warp Flight mode in outer space.

The launch time finally arrived. A blinding flame spewed from the bottom of the chemical rocket, and the rocket booster carrying the experimental spaceship began to slowly ascend.

This rocket booster used a three-stage propulsion system. During the ascent, the rocket booster would be discarded section by section. When the third stage was discarded, the experimental spaceship would have reached orbital velocity.

The ascent process of the experimental rocket was very smooth, and the experimental spaceship entered its predetermined orbit after ten minutes.

The operators in the spaceship immediately began preheating the Warp Engine. Their destination was a human base on Mars.

At this moment, Earth and Mars were at their closest point, which occurs once every fifteen years. The distance was approximately 55 million kilometers. Flying at nearly five times the speed of light, the time required was forty seconds!

This speed was something humanity could never have achieved with chemical rockets before. This was the true speed of interstellar navigation.

After a precise time of 40.12562 seconds, the experimental spaceship arrived in the outer space of Mars, successfully decelerated, and became a satellite of Mars.

Of course, this spaceship did not currently have the capability to land on Mars and could only fly in outer space.

Up to this point, this flight experiment was considered a perfect success. Subsequent measures would involve a spaceship with mature technology purchased by humans from a Fifth-grade Civilization to tow this experimental spaceship back.

From today on, humanity had successfully mastered Warp Flight and became a quasi-Fifth-grade Civilization!

The spaceship test flight experiment was the most important matter for humanity at the moment. No one noticed that on the Galaxy Flight from Morentz Star to Earth, a figure had appeared upon the Earth.