Chapter 310: 310. Chapter 306: Stepping onto the Starry Sky!

310. Chapter 306: Stepping onto the Starry Sky!

Great Summer's dazzling golden light shot up from the ground, becoming a striking sight in the icy, snowy world.

The rocket's exhaust and the brilliant golden light intertwined, leaving a vivid streak wherever it passed; naturally, this unique phenomenon was also captured by other countries.

Since the launch tower was near the Tsarist State's border, the Tsarist State's satellite immediately detected the anomaly in Great Summer.

Someone was on duty in the satellite operations room 24 hours a day, just to monitor the thickness of the snowstorm clouds in real time, to prevent any other situation from occurring.

Several tall, burly staff members, dressed like bears, could not keep out the cold even in heavy protective gear, and they kept blowing on their hands from time to time to gain warmth.

"Damn it, I really don't know how long this damned weather will last; even the government's heating has a time limit, and this room is like an ice cellar!"

"That's right, it's really hard to endure; the distributed relief food isn't enough, eating it feels like eating nothing, and now my stomach is already growling with hunger."

His companion beside him consoled: "You should be content; although the heating is time‑limited, at least we have it—I heard some places have been cut off entirely, and we live in a safe zone, far luckier than people in other cities."

The Tsarist State also divided five key regions, providing food and heating only here; as for other cities, they could do nothing to help.

Upon hearing this, those who had started complaining fell into silence; they knew full well that the government had abandoned other cities, otherwise it wouldn't have made this decision, but there was nothing else to be done.

Keeping a few sparks is better than losing the whole army.

Compared to the populace in other regions suffering fire and water, lacking fuel and food, it's hard to imagine how they could endure; whatever awaits them in the end is nothing but death.

Here, although they lack clothing and food, at least their lives are safeguarded; however, they don't know how long this safeguard will last.

"I've heard the government's stockpiled resources aren't enough either; I hope this heavy snowstorm will dissipate before they run out."

There are still five key regions now; if this disaster doesn't pass, will they shrink further later?

Become three? Or even just the last one?

People simply couldn't imagine what would happen if it really came to that—where would humanity go? Could this disaster really wipe out all life on Earth?

The atmosphere in the operations room fell into a deathly silence, and everyone's mood grew low.

"Beep—beep—beep—"

Just then, a beeping sound came from the display screen, instantly drawing their attention back.

"What's going on? Could the snowstorm cloud have changed?!"

Everyone hurriedly looked over and saw a small red dot on the screen, rapidly ascending; its direction was exactly within Great Summer's territory!

They hurriedly got busy at the console and soon captured the specific image via satellite.

Several staff members' pupils shrank in disbelief as they stared at the scene before them, unable to help swallowing, "Good heavens, I haven't misseen, has Great Summer really launched a rocket? What are they trying to do?!"

You know the cloud layer is now over 3000 meters thick; even missiles can't be used, they can't break through at all, at most flying a few hundred meters high before encountering unprecedented obstruction and being forced to descend.

But Great Summer chose to launch a rocket at this time.

Running a rocket consumes a large amount of fuel; at this critical juncture when fuel is scarce, they actually spent such a vital resource to launch a rocket that couldn't possibly succeed.

It's hard not to doubt the mental state of Great Summer's officials at this moment.

Could it be that they think their resources are too abundant, so they're wasting them here?

Several staff members looked at each other, their expressions somewhat speechless.

"Should we report this upward?"

Another staff member shook his head, his words carrying a hint of schadenfreude.

"What's there to report? Anyway, Great Summer couldn't possibly launch successfully; just wait, before long the rocket will collide with the snowstorm cloud."

"I really don't know what Great Summer is thinking; even if they had plenty of fuel, this isn't the way to waste it!"

Everyone hearing this also thought it made sense, and immediately stopped worrying about it.

The thick cloud mass on the screen took up most of the display, like endless mountains pressing down on the earth, every corner shrouded in shadow with no gaps.

Therefore, the idea of Great Summer's rocket sneaking into space was utterly impossible.

Just as they were discussing, one staff member looking at the screen suddenly showed an incredulous expression and stammered, "You, you guys, look quickly!"

It's no wonder he looked that way; everyone's expression was as if they'd seen a ghost.

Only on the screen did one see that, at the location of the snowstorm cloud, Great Summer's rocket had actually torn open a passage and was safely traveling through it.

"How, how is this possible?!"

"The cloud layer is over 3000 meters thick, with snowstorms and cold currents; even the strongest materials today can't resist it, so the rocket could never pass through safely!"

"Even Miguo's missiles can't penetrate it; how did the Great Summer rocket manage to do so?!"

The crowd stared at the scene in disbelief, even thinking they were hallucinating; they rubbed their eyes, but the rocket continued smoothly, and only then did they realize something was wrong.

"Report it upward quickly!"

The relevant departments of the Tsarist State soon learned of the situation.

"It's simply too incredible; how exactly did Great Summer manage to make its rocket penetrate the thick cloud layer?!"

"What are they trying to do by launching a rocket at this time?!"

"What is the golden light around the rocket? Could it be that this mysterious golden light protects the rocket from the snowstorm?!"

The Tsarist State mobilized all its satellites and finally managed to capture a somewhat clearer image, though the snowstorm and cold currents still left it a bit blurry.

However, it's not hard to see that Great Summer's rocket is no different from previous launches; the only difference is a thin layer of golden light surrounding it.

Like an eggshell, it tightly encloses the rocket, shielding it from any influence.

The Tsarist State immediately gathered many relevant professionals, aiming to figure out exactly what principle this layer of golden light operates on!

It actually protects the rocket so it can safely travel through the over‑3000‑meter‑thick snowstorm cloud layer!

Even top scientists and specialists in the field here couldn't determine from the image what this actually is.

"It's simply too incredible; if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe such a thing could happen!"

"According to reason, it's impossible."

"I suspect this golden light is a newly developed material from Great Summer; that's why it can protect the rocket for a safe launch."

"But what is Great Summer trying to do by launching a rocket at this time?!"

Some even let their imaginations run wild, wondering, "Could they be preparing to flee to other planets by rocket?"

However, this theory was quickly refuted, for with their current technological strength they cannot survive long in space, let alone find a habitable planet.

Not only did the Sahuanguo detect the Daxia rocket launch, but soon Miguo, Shenzhaoguo, Dezhiyili, and other countries also noticed this strange phenomenon.

People debated endlessly, mainly revolving around the two questions: "How did the Daxia rocket lift off?" and "What are they launching the rocket for at this time?"

No matter how hard they racked their brains, they could not guess who was inside the rocket.

Since the onset of the heavenly and earthly calamity, everything Daxia has done has been astonishing—from the initial precognition to the later snow‑field assassinations, and they keep lowering the bar.

Soon some countries reacted: at this time Daxia could even successfully launch a rocket, and had even developed an unknown golden light capable of blocking blizzards.

Does this also mean they can likewise launch satellite weapons!

The faces of all national leaders instantly turned ashen; their satellite weapons could not be launched because of the wind and snow, while Daxia could!

This means they have no defense before Daxia—they are utterly exposed, at the mercy of others!

Everyone had thought they all started from the same point, but Daxia rose unexpectedly, possessing grain and fuel, not to mention being able to use satellite weapons—its strength is formidable, and no country in today's world can match it!

This realization is like a huge sword that could fall at any moment, hanging over their heads, leaving everyone anxious and uneasy.

Now it seems Daxia's earlier assassinations were too mild—just a few officials killed; if they really angered him, a single nuclear bomb could flatten half a city.

Thinking of this, each nation's leaders felt like they had swallowed a fish bone—unable to spit it out or swallow it—and their earlier dissatisfaction with Daxia was forcibly suppressed.

Could it be that Daxia launched this rocket suddenly to intimidate them?

Was it merely to display their strength?

If they dare to make any small move again, this time it's a rocket; next time it might be a missile!

Countries began to speculate, and the more they did, the more likely this seemed, and their wariness of Daxia grew another notch.

……

The Daxia authorities themselves had no idea that these countries had imagined so much; they were now closely monitoring the rocket's status.

Cameras were installed inside and outside the rocket, able to capture the scene in real time.

Other countries could indeed catch the launch scene via satellite, but once the rocket reached a certain altitude, the blizzard clouds blocked their view and they lost track of it.

At the Daxia Space Administration Headquarters, everyone stared fixedly at the electronic screen; from the image it appeared the rocket was nearing the space station's orbit, preparing to dock.

"Satellite tracking is normal!"

"Engine is normal!"

"All departments, take note! The rocket is approaching orbit!"

As the rocket drew nearer, its speed gradually slowed; from its original horizontal attitude it performed a upward‑tilt maneuver, adjusting itself to a vertical orientation relative to the space station's core module.

The space station also kept closing in, then extended its mechanical arm and gently pulled the rocket alongside.

The whole process proceeded at a moderate pace, yet to those in the Aviation Department watching it felt as long as a century.

Although they had docked with the space station many times before, this time was different.

This was not only the first rocket launched into space after the heavenly and earthly calamity, but its occupant was no ordinary person—it was a Demon Master from the Longyuan Mountain Range!

Seeing the rocket enter a geosynchronous transfer orbit with a perigee of 223 km, an apogee of 41 345 km, and an inclination of 26°, everyone's hearts, which had been lodged in their throats, could finally relax completely.

At 18:35 capital‑city time, the rocket and the space station finally docked successfully!

The Aviation Department burst into cheers of delight; even after docking succeeded, everyone's eyes and attention remained glued to the screen.

Everyone held their breath, awaiting that holy moment.

A physical body crossing the universe!

At the instant the rocket and space station docked, the original golden light gradually dimmed, but the next second it underwent a sudden transformation!

Numerous green beams shot out from the rocket, spreading across the heavens and earth, making even the previously dark, silent universe seem to brighten.

The very Milky Way was affected by this green radiance, turning into a light like emerald gemstones, flowing slowly, filled with mystery, as countless stars twinkled around it, as if welcoming some arrival.

A graceful figure emerged slowly from the green light, without any protective gear or equipment, appearing thus in the void of space!

It was utterly astonishing!

At the moment that refined, unworldly face appeared, the entire universe fell silent, as if an ancient divine palace had descended; the green light brought vigorous vitality and abundant life force, swirling around Longling's avatar.

Blue waves rippled outward.

All the stars dimmed, becoming mere background; only that slender silhouette remained in everyone's sight.

It was a shock and spectacle beyond words, leaving those who witnessed it feeling their vocabulary woefully inadequate.

Such a scene was etched deep into their minds and memories, never fading even after many years.

Forever remember the first person to cross the universe in the flesh!

Humanity has visited space many times in history, but this occasion is completely different.

Flesh‑body crossing!

This is worthy of being recorded in the annals of history!

It is even a major milestone!

It completely overturned their worldview; if anyone had told them before that a living being could appear in the universe without any protection, they would have thought that person a lunatic.

Yet now such a scene appears before their eyes.

The Space Department was dead silent; nobody dared to breathe, immersed in the tremendous shock.

Hua Tiancheng, Li Jianzhong, and other important leaders looked on with reverence, saying, "No wonder he's a Demon Master."

Li Jianzhong could not help but sigh, "According to our human technological capabilities, we probably couldn't achieve this even in a few hundred, or even a few thousand, years."

Hua Tiancheng shook his head, "Old Li, you're mistaken; perhaps our technological level can't do it in the short term, but what if we add cultivation techniques?"

Hua Tiancheng's words struck like a heavy hammer, slamming hard into everyone's hearts.

Indeed, technology alone cannot do it; what about other powers?

As they continually practice cultivation techniques, perhaps one day they too could be like the Demon Master of the Longyuan Mountain Range—though not necessarily crossing the universe bodily, at least flying on a sword might be possible.

It was just like what is described in myths and legends.

Everyone has a psychology of admiring the strong; the image of Longling's clone crossing the universe planted a seed in their hearts.

Even if they cannot do it now, it doesn't mean there will be no way in the future!

Longyuan Immortal Sect.

From the Sect Leader and elders down to the core disciples, even though they knew the demon ancestor's might, their hearts were still stirred up; the scene they saw with their own eyes was far more shocking than they imagined.

Those Sect Leaders and elders were fine, but as for those disciples, seeing it for the first time, they all opened their mouths wide enough to fit an egg inside.

"Congratulations, ancestor, on crossing the universe with your physical body!"

Hu Xiaocao, as the Sect Leader, was the first to react, quickly bowing in worship; the other elders and disciples hurriedly followed suit.

The snake statue in the center of the hall overlooked everyone's presence; its eyes seemed to flash a verdant glimmer, filled with an indescribable majesty.

Equally shocking were the students of the Cultivation Academy, whose surprised cries rose and fell, echoing throughout the institute.

"My goodness, it's truly the physical body crossing the universe! No watering down."

"The demon master is awesome!"

"I don't know what level of cultivation we need to reach to become someone like the demon master."

"It's definitely impossible in this lifetime; maybe there's a chance in the next life, and if not, just dream—anything can happen in dreams."

Compared to the students' shock, the Great Demons were much calmer: "Look at your little ambition, what's there to fuss over? Your master is formidable; crossing the universe with a physical body is nothing!"

"Yes, and this isn't even the master's true form. If the true form takes action, it would be even more invincible!"

Hearing the brown bear's words, the other students became even more curious and eager: "Brown Bear Teacher, tell us more about the demon master."

The brown bear gave a simple smile: "Want to listen? Sure, first finish the additional training."

Many students' faces instantly turned bitter-gourd-like: "Really? This is so harsh, and it's already so late—can't we reduce it a bit?"

The black wolf swung its big paw directly, being stern and impartial: "You have time to haggle here—hurry up and train!"

The students instantly scattered and rushed to train, after all, these few Great Demon teachers are people who keep their word. (End of chapter)