Chapter 246: Golden Twenty-Five Years

The scout fleet dispatched by the Silicon-based Union was completely annihilated by the Star Sea Divine Church's training fleet in the outskirts of the Yanhuang Star System; the news spread like a storm, quickly returning to their home star system.

The Silicon-based Union's First Core Brain, upon receiving the last segment transmitted back before the scout fleet's destruction,

filled with logically chaotic data—"space stability strength increase", "engine overload", "divine church fleet"—after which it fell into a prolonged silence.

Its massive computing core, for the first time, raised the threat level of this target, the Human Federal, to the highest tier.

A civilization possessing dimensional-reduction weapons and capable of reinforcing space has already exceeded its logic library's definition of a Second-level Civilization.

Moreover, that suddenly extremely troublesome Star Sea Divine Church, igniting fires across its vast territory and waging a people's war,

The First Core Brain, after calculations spanning several standard days, finally arrived at a cold conclusion:

Before the principles of these two unknown weapons are fully elucidated, any frontal assault against the Human Federal will be a losing endeavor.

Thus, the Silicon-based Union, this massive war machine, for the first time retracted its tentacles.

It poured its main efforts into the war mire with the Star Sea Divine Church, a conflict spanning thousands of light-years that grew ever fiercer.

And the Human Federal thus welcomed an unprecedented golden development period.

Rear worries were temporarily relieved, and internally there emerged a group of eager learners, "learning enthusiasm high", continuously supplying resources and technology.

The entirety of human civilization was like a supercar filled with top-grade fuel, beginning a frantic speed on the road of technology and development.

Time flew by swiftly amidst these rapid changes.

In the blink of an eye,

From the battle that set the pattern in the Yanhuang Star System defense, a full twenty-five years have passed.

Twenty-five years, for an interstellar civilization that usually measures history in tens of thousands of years, is merely a flick of the finger.

But for the Human Federal, which is in an explosive development stage, it is enough to undergo a transformative rebirth.

……

Twenty-five years later, in the Solar System, on Blue Star.

Once somewhat grayish due to environmental issues, the sky has now become clear blue, pure as a giant sapphire.

In the atmosphere float invisible gene-repair factors, diluted from the Holy Light Spring, constantly nourishing every life on this planet.

At this moment, Federal News is conducting a civilization-wide live broadcast.

"According to the latest data released by the Federal Population Statistics Bureau, as of this September, the total population of the Human Federal has officially surpassed the forty-billion mark!"

"This is a historic moment! It marks that our human civilization, after enduring long suffering and struggle,

"has finally completely escaped the crisis of species continuation, entering a brand-new, prosperous great interstellar era!"

In the news footage, a newborn just born at Blue Star Central Hospital is receiving blessings.

His genetic test report is displayed in a corner of the screen.

【Name: Long Haiyu】

【Gene Sequence Stability: 99.8%】

【Projected Natural Lifespan: 3150 years】

A lifespan of over three thousand years!

This, twenty-five years ago, was an unimaginable Arabian Night's tale for anyone.

But now, thanks to the preliminary analysis of the Light Child gene sequence provided by the Star Sea Divine Church and the popularization of the Holy Light Spring, this has become standard equipment for every newborn.

Long lifespan brings longer learning and creation time.

The exploding population provides boundless wisdom and creativity.

These twenty-five years are a twenty-five-year period of genius bursting forth for human civilization.

At the Federal Academy of Sciences, Academician Qian Bowen, who is over a hundred years old but still looks about thirty, a scientific titan,

is excitedly showing Luo Lao and the Federal high-ranking officials their latest research results.

It is a device only twelve meters long, reflecting light.

"Correspondent, and comrades!"

Qian Bowen's voice trembled slightly with excitement: "It is the result of our twenty years of effort, combining our understanding of space theory,

"and the energy characteristics of the zero-point curios provided by the divine church, the latest developed—space energy engine!"

He pointed at the device, his eyes filled with paternal affection and pride.

"It no longer needs any physical fuel; its energy comes from space itself!"

"It can directly draw the infinite zero-point energy from the vacuum! Theoretically, as long as the universe does not perish, its energy will never be exhausted!"

"Its emergence will completely solve our civilization's energy problem! Our warships will have near-unlimited endurance!

"Our cities will no longer need any energy supplies!"

"However, it currently has a major drawback: the absorbed and output energy has an upper limit, making it less practical than an antimatter annihilation engine, even after Qin Hao's optimization."

Qian Bowen's words left all the Federal high-ranking officials present feeling incredulous.

They knew what this small engine signified.

It meant that the shackle binding human civilization's advance to higher levels was completely severed.

Possessing near-unlimited energy, possessing a lifespan that can extend thousands of years, possessing a vast population and industrial foundation spread throughout the star system…

Know that the space energy engine can only be manufactured by a Fourth-level Civilization, and this news was still learned from the Star Sea Divine Church Civilization.

One can imagine its technical content; despite its significant drawbacks, it is still a major technological breakthrough.

Luo Lao slowly stepped forward, extended his hand, and lightly touched the engine's cool casing.

He felt the stable yet surging energy wave emanating from within, and a glint of unprecedented light flashed in his eyes.

He turned to face everyone, and in a tone of utmost solemnity and pride, slowly announced:

"Haha, from today onward, our human civilization… can be considered officially entering the ranks of Third-level Civilization."

As his words fell, the entire laboratory erupted in a thunderous cheer!

This cheer, transmitted via the live broadcast signal, spread throughout the Solar System, throughout the Yanhuang Star System, and to every corner of the Human Federal.

Countless people shed excited tears at this moment.

They had waited for this day for far too long.

Qin Hao, who was at home, watched the scene of tens of thousands cheering on the screen, and a relieved smile appeared on his face.

These twenty-five years of golden hair development period were not wasted.

Humanity, finally relying on its own efforts, has taken a seat at the Milky Way Galaxy's table.

Although, they are still just a newcomer who has just sat down at the table.

But they now have the qualifications to wrist-wrestle with those veteran players.

He glanced at his system interface.

【Energy Points: 10.21 million units】

Over twenty-five years, through continuous absorption of stellar energy, his energy points also reached an unprecedented height.

He, too, has become stronger.

Just then, a call came through from Minister of National Defense Zhou Shaoqing.

His face was brimming with an excitement that could not be contained.

"Qin Consultant! Good news! Our new‑generation main battleship, the Divine Might‑class, has just finished final tuning on its No. 1 prototype."

"According to data projections, its combat power is more than ten times that of the Giant Spirit!"

"We now have an ace fleet worthy of the title of a third‑level civilization!"

"I propose we immediately hold a joint exercise so our students can see just how far the instructors' abilities have progressed!"

Zhou Shaoqing's words were full of confidence and pride.

A glimmer of expectation also flashed in Qin Hao's eyes.

It's time for them to rediscover the Human Federal.