Chapter 142: Prologue to the Space Gold Rush Era

The launch of Interstellar Construction Era sparked an unprecedented nationwide craze in Yanhuang Guo.

As Qin Hao had predicted, the game is no longer merely entertainment.

It became a window, a portal that allows 1.4 billion citizens to preview and personally take part in the construction of the Interstellar Era.

Every player who enters the game will, in the virtual world, feel the majestic steel framework of the lunar base, the realistically simulated lunar dust beneath their feet, and the familiar blue planet overhead.

On the second day after the game's launch, Yanhuang Guo's top decision‑making body issued another heavyweight announcement.

"To fully stimulate the public's enthusiasm and potential for participating in Interstellar construction, and to further accelerate our nation's Interstellar civilization progress, the state has decided,

In the Interstellar Construction Era game, all labor points will be directly linked to individuals' real‑world benefits!"

"Points can be exchanged for allotted space mineral extraction rights, future lunar city property purchase qualifications, and even operating permits for specific Interstellar corporate projects!"

"Those who excel in the game will have an even greater chance of receiving national‑level priority cultivation, directly participating in real‑world space research and engineering projects!"

This notice completely ignited Yanhuang Guo citizens' Interstellar gold‑rush fervor.

"Whoa! No way! I'm mining in the game, and they really gave me ore in reality?!"

"Lunar property! Oh my! I can actually live on the Moon in this lifetime?"

"This isn't a game at all; it's clearly a future express ticket the state is giving to every citizen!"

……

In an instant, countless players flooded the Interstellar Construction Era game, scrambling to choose Interstellar professions and plunging into that virtual yet tangible sea of stars.

This wave quickly spurred explosive growth in Yanhuang Guo's virtual industry.

Inside the game, players no longer fight solo; they voluntarily form virtual companies and Interstellar mining squads of various scales.

They simulate real business models, conducting virtual mining, space transport, lunar city planning, and even virtual ecological restoration projects.

A massive commercial network spread rapidly in the virtual world, its efficiency leaving everyone gaping.

Meanwhile, some real‑world corporate bosses also sniffed this era's windfall.

"Boss, should our company consider a pivot? Look, who's still doing real‑estate on the Blue Planet? Everyone's busy building houses on the Moon now!"

"Can our traditional logistics firm start shifting focus? The future flow of goods between the Moon and the Blue Planet—that's the big business!"

Companies once focused on traditional manufacturing, real‑estate, logistics, and tourism are now turning their eyes toward space.

They are no longer satisfied with in‑game simulation; they are pouring real capital into space‑related R&D and project planning in reality.

In a short span, both virtual and real sectors of Yanhuang Guo formed a brand‑new economy centered on space.

In the capital, in Lao Luo's office.

Lao Luo stared at the latest data report, a satisfied smile on his face, "Xiao Qin, that move of yours was truly superb."

Qin Hao replied calmly, "It's just an accelerator; to truly steer the future, we still need a more comprehensive strategic layout."

Lao Luo deeply agreed.

A few days later, the state officially announced it would vigorously support emerging industries of the Interstellar Era.

"All enterprises engaged in space technology R&D and Interstellar industry planning will receive national‑level financial and technical subsidies!"

"The state will open up certain core technology patents for sharing with relevant companies!"

"We will establish a dedicated fund to cultivate Interstellar talent, provide interest‑free loans, and help the whole populace join the Interstellar surge!"

This series of combined measures caused Yanhuang Guo's "Blue‑Moon Economic Circle" to expand at a staggering speed.

It not only radiates to the Moon and low‑Earth orbit, but also dominates all space‑related markets worldwide.

The economic systems once boasted by Western nations appear fragile and vulnerable before this torrent.

Their financial markets experience huge volatility, tech‑company stocks tumble, and traditional industries face massive shocks.

The global landscape therefore shakes violently.

Bai Gong, President Harris received another piece of bad news.

"Mr. President, our economic growth has fallen to a historic low, and massive capital is fleeing abroad!"

"Dammit! How can they do this! It's an outright economic slaughter!"

Harris slammed the table hard.

He racked his brain but still couldn't grasp how a nation could, in just a few months, elevate its technology, economy, and even citizen quality to such a terrifying level.

They tried to imitate but found no foothold. Yanhuang Guo moves every step too fast,

so ahead that they don't even qualify to ride the wave.

Those allies who once cooperated with Yingjiang Guo now find themselves completely abandoned.

Their products have no competitiveness before Yanhuang Guo.

Their technology is a generation behind.

Completely unable to integrate into the new economy led by Yanhuang Guo.

Yet what drives them into deeper despair is that top talent worldwide is flooding into Yanhuang Guo at an unprecedented pace.

"Report, President, several of our aerospace engineers, physicists, and biologists have recently applied to renounce their citizenship and head to Yanhuang Guo, exchanging their value for an ID card."

"Our talent pool is being drained! This is a blatant talent‑siphon effect!"

Once‑renowned top global scientists now willingly abandon everything in Yingjiang Guo for a chance to partake in building Interstellar civilization.

"Let them go! The tide is unstoppable; we've lost everything and no longer care about it."

After calming down, Harris helplessly uttered this line.

What else could be done? Forcing them to stay is unthinkable.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Yingjiang Guo.

Former President Weier's residence has remained in his manor ever since he resigned.

At this moment, watching the Interstellar Construction Era promo on TV and the growing images of Yanhuang Guo's lunar base, he sighs!

"How did it develop like this? Did they really cheat the system?"

He never understood this problem.

And at this time, within Yanhuang Guo, the people were filled with infinite yearning and hope for the future.

Studying space technology and devoting oneself to the space industry had become the most fashionable, most glorious trend.

The previous involution and anxiety were replaced by an infinite longing for the stars and seas.

Social cohesion reached an unprecedented high.

Every Yanhuang Guo citizen felt proud of their country's strength and excited to personally participate in this great era.

The entire nation was like a giant ship that had activated its stellar engine.