Long Zhan spoke up immediately. "Master, we have a lot of prisoners in our base. I want to send them all over to Peach Blossom Base!"
Ren Yuanyang was slightly taken aback.
Long Zhan continued to explain, "The harsh environment there is perfect for reforming prisoners. Plus, it’s an isolated island, so we won’t have to worry about them escaping and running loose!"
"Hmm, that’s a good idea. I approve," Ren Yuanyang said with a slight nod. "Once all the survivors from there have been transferred here, you can send all the prisoners over."
"Yes, thank you, Master!" Long Zhan replied happily.
Now that the seven sections of Dragon Base’s Banyan Forest were completely connected, detaining so many prisoners there was a constant worry. It required a large number of soldiers to guard them and prevent escapes.
Putting all these prisoners at the original Peach Blossom Base would be much more convenient.
After the video call ended, Ren Yuanyang and the others finally began to eat breakfast, while the construction workers returned to continue building houses. Everything was back to normal.
"Leader, will Peach Blossom Base be gone from now on?" Lu Jiamei asked, a little reluctant to let it go.
’If Peach Blossom Base really becomes a prison for captives, it just feels wrong somehow.’
Ren Yuanyang smiled faintly. "Of course it will still exist. From now on, this place is it!"
"That’s right! Wherever the Leader is, that’s where Peach Blossom Base is!" Qin Haonan chimed in.
"Don’t get too hung up on the location. As long as we can follow the Leader, anywhere can be our Peach Blossom Spring!" Hua Lingfang agreed.
Lu Jiamei paused for a moment, then smiled and shook her head. "I guess I was overthinking it."
"The Duckweed Continent exists thanks to the Leader’s efforts. We have every right to be here. You don’t need to feel like we’re imposing on someone," Xin Wan added.
Lu Jiamei nodded slightly. "I understand. It’s just that place holds so many of our memories. It’s hard to let go all at once."
"We can always go back and visit when we have time in the future!" Qin Haonan said with a smile.
"Mhm," Lu Jiamei nodded in agreement.
"Leader, why do you think the heavens would just randomly make it rain blood for no reason?" Qin Haonan asked, a confused look on his face as he held a chicken leg.
Ren Yuanyang shook his head. "Who knows? It’s like this endless downpour. No one knows where it comes from."
"Do you guys think it’s possible that our Interstellar System entered a region of the Cosmos filled with water vapor?" Qin Haonan continued. "And that’s why it’s been raining nonstop on Blue Star!"
"Most of the water in space exists in a solid state. It’s unlikely to envelop the entire Blue Star in a gaseous form," Xin Wan said, shaking her head.
Qin Haonan chuckled and retorted, "Are you sure, Sister Wan?"
Xin Wan faltered for a moment, then shook her head.
That was merely the former consensus among scientists on Blue Star. But scientists had also said that ordinary matter accounted for only 4% of the observable cosmos. The other 96% was dark matter and dark energy, which humanity understood very little about.
Humanity’s knowledge of the entire cosmos was far too limited; maybe a region full of water vapor really did exist.
Existing scientific knowledge was already unable to explain the nearly six months of continuous rain, so Xin Wan couldn’t be certain her understanding was correct.
"It can only be said that we aren’t strong enough yet to grasp the true nature of the world," Ren Yuanyang said. "So, everyone must continue to work hard and improve."
"Yes, Leader!" everyone replied in unison.
"What level is everyone’s Mental Energy at now?" Ren Yuanyang continued to ask.
"53 meters!" Qin Haonan immediately replied, pleased.
"I’m only at 44 meters," Lu Jiamei said, a bit embarrassed.
"About the same as me. 45 meters," Xin Wan replied.
"I’ve reached 60 meters!" Hua Lingfang said with a smile. "Hua Wen is at 48 meters."
"Looks like I really am in last place!" Lu Jiamei was speechless.
Ren Yuanyang smiled faintly. "Cultivation is a matter of talent. Some people pick it up easily, while others are a bit slower. It’s perfectly normal."
"The Leader is right! Look at me, I can’t even get the theoretical knowledge of Cultivation into my head, but I can still cultivate!" Qin Haonan said, looking rather smug.
Ren Yuanyang rolled his eyes. "That’s not something to be proud of."
Qin Haonan chuckled sheepishly.
"From now on, everyone delegate your work to others and focus all your energy on Cultivation," Ren Yuanyang instructed as a final reminder, then stood up and headed upstairs.
"Yes, Leader!" Qin Haonan and the others replied in unison.
Early the next morning, Lu Jiamei and the others rose and hurried to Peach Blossom Base.
There was still a group of people at Peach Blossom Base who needed to be transferred to Dragon Base.
"Minister Lu, it seems you didn’t stay at Peach Blossom Base last night?" Si Youqin asked, immediately coming forward to greet Lu Jiamei.
Lu Jiamei nodded slightly. "I moved some things to Dragon Base yesterday and ended up spending the night there."
"So when are we moving over?" Si Youqin asked curiously. She was a little worried the Leader would abandon them.
"Based on the progress of the housing construction over there, it should be possible by tonight," Lu Jiamei replied.
"That’s great! We’re all ready on our end," Si Youqin replied happily.
Lu Jiamei nodded slightly. "Gather the other members of Peach Blossom Base and tell them about the base’s relocation."
"Yes, ma’am!" Si Youqin immediately turned and left.
Soon, everyone was gathered in a banquet hall that had been converted from a cargo ship.
"Everyone, Peach Blossom Base is about to relocate to Dragon Base. You will all become members of Dragon Base as well. Please get ready; we are moving today."
Hearing this news, everyone was stunned for a moment, then immediately began to murmur amongst themselves.
"What does this mean? Does Peach Blossom Base not exist anymore?"
"If we join Dragon Base, are they going to give us a hard time?"
"I want to follow the Leader, not join Dragon Base!"
Hearing the crowd’s chatter, Lu Jiamei clapped her hands to signal for quiet and then explained, "First, Peach Blossom Base will continue to exist, and the Leader will also be at Dragon Base."
"Second, you absolutely will not be given a hard time for joining Dragon Base. As long as you work and live according to Dragon Base’s rules, if anyone does give you trouble, you can come find me. I will stand up for you!"
"Finally, the entire Dragon Base follows the Leader. By joining Dragon Base, you will be doing the same. Understand?"
After hearing Lu Jiamei’s explanation, the crowd nodded one after another.
"In that case, there’s no problem! Thank you, Minister Lu! Thank you, Leader!"
Lu Jiamei waved her hand and continued, "Alright, no work for today. Go and prepare for the move!"
"Yes!"
Everyone responded in unison and began to disperse.
But James and Des did not leave. Instead, they came before Lu Jiamei together.
"Minister Lu, we want to stay by the Leader’s side. Is that possible?" James asked, getting straight to the point.
Lu Jiamei was slightly taken aback, then said with a smile, "With your abilities, if you develop well within Dragon Base, you’ll most likely end up in management. If you follow the Leader directly, you’ll just be regular soldiers. You should think this through carefully!"
James replied decisively, "I am willing to be a regular soldier under the Leader’s command forever!"
Lu Jiamei nodded slightly and replied, "How many of you want to follow the Leader? Let’s get a headcount first. Of course, this is just to gauge your interest. Whether or not he accepts you will depend on the Leader’s decision."
"I understand!" James nodded. "All fifty of us are willing to follow the Leader!"
These fifty people were the very same group that had chosen to follow Ren Yuanyang in the battle against Xi’an Base!
Their previous choice had paid off handsomely, so this time they didn’t hesitate at all, once again choosing to follow Ren Yuanyang.
"Alright then, I’ll ask the Leader first." Lu Jiamei immediately sent James’s request to Ren Yuanyang.
Seeing the request from James and the others, Ren Yuanyang pondered for a moment before replying, "Since they’re willing, let them come."
"Okay!"
Lu Jiamei typed out a reply on her phone, then looked at the nervous faces of James and the others.
"The Leader has agreed!" Lu Jiamei said with a smile.
"Yes! That’s great! Thank you, Minister Lu!" James actually jumped up and shouted.
"You all should get ready, too. When you get to Dragon Base, you might have to live somewhere else at first. The houses we’ve already built might not be enough," Lu Jiamei continued.
"No problem, we can build our own houses! We have Gold-Type and Wood-Type Evolvers too!" James said, indicating they could provide for themselves.
"You can’t just build houses wherever you want; you need to get approval!" Lu Jiamei reminded him. "Dragon Base has a master plan. You can’t just be so casual about it!"

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