"Don’t worry. They’ll join eventually. It’s too much trouble not using Peach Blossom Spring coins!" Ren Yuanyang replied with a smile.
Ji Yizhi couldn’t agree more.
"Dragon Base is pretty much on the right track. Now, we need to focus all our efforts on developing technology. We absolutely must provide the research department with our full support," Ren Yuanyang said, looking at Wang Jun.
Wang Jun immediately nodded. "Yes, Master. From now on, all other base affairs will take a backseat to scientific research!"
"You mentioned a material shortage before. Has that situation improved?" Ren Yuanyang asked.
"With the underwater harvesting and mining equipment you reinforced, plus the support from the submarines, the situation has improved significantly," Wang Jun replied.
"It’s good that it’s improved. I just hope we still have enough time," Ren Yuanyang said with a sigh.
"We definitely have enough time!" Long Zhan said with a laugh. "If even we can’t make it, then humanity is doomed to extinction. I believe that heaven cherishes life!"
Ren Yuanyang was taken aback for a moment, then sighed softly. "That’s not necessarily true. Weren’t the dinosaurs, the former rulers of Blue Star, completely wiped out?"
"We’re nothing like the dinosaurs. They were just a bunch of animals with all brawn and no brains!" Long Zhan said, full of confidence.
Ren Yuanyang gave him a thumbs-up. "You’ve really got a great attitude!"
"That’s mainly because you give me confidence, Master!" Long Zhan replied, waving his hand dismissively.
Wang Jun and Ji Yizhi nodded in profound agreement.
Ren Yuanyang was taken aback again, then smiled and shook his head.
’He didn’t have much confidence himself. Even with the system, his Mental Energy was limited, and the system wasn’t omnipotent. That was why he was constantly working to increase his Mental Energy—it was simply a reflection of his own deep-seated insecurity.’
But to everyone else, he just looked diligent, hardworking, and driven.
In reality, Ren Yuanyang just wanted to survive.
"By the way, how are the preparations for the satellite launch?" Ren Yuanyang was eager to find out what the space around Blue Star and this Star System was truly like.
"According to the plan, we’ll be ready in another two days," Wang Jun immediately explained. "This time, we’re launching a satellite that can return autonomously! It will circle Blue Star three times, then land in a designated area!"
Just then, Qin Haonan turned around. Hearing Wang Jun’s words, he asked curiously, "Why launch this type of satellite? Wouldn’t it be better to just leave it up there to monitor things continuously?"
Wang Jun immediately explained, "It’s constantly raining now, and the entire Blue Star is shrouded in a thick layer of clouds. The satellite signals can’t get through. Even if the satellite were monitoring from orbit, we wouldn’t be able to receive the data it gathered!"
Realization dawned on Qin Haonan.
Ren Yuanyang was a little speechless. "I thought I told you the satellites were out of commission."
"Heh, I forgot!" Qin Haonan replied, scratching his head.
"I think you should go to school and get a basic education," Ren Yuanyang said, his expression completely serious.
"Uh, Leader, you’re not serious, are you?" Qin Haonan shot to his feet. "My skewers are about to burn! I’d better go check on them!"
With that, he bolted.
Ren Yuanyang and the others couldn’t help but laugh.
"What Master just said reminded me," Ji Yizhi began. "Shouldn’t we start a school here at the base?"
Ren Yuanyang nodded in agreement. "We don’t know what the future holds, but we cannot allow human civilization and its legacy to be lost."
Wang Jun replied, "Understood. I’ll immediately begin constructing the school, recruiting teachers, and compiling the curriculum!"
"Yes. The people writing the curriculum must be strictly vetted. We can’t have any of those ’toxic textbooks’ like in the past," Ren Yuanyang instructed.
"Yes!" Wang Jun replied.
Qin Haonan had been thinking about rejoining the group, but when he heard from a distance that Wang Jun was going to build a school, he immediately turned and walked away.
’The Leader isn’t actually going to send me to school, is he?’ Qin Haonan muttered to himself. ’From now on, I’d better focus on my Cultivation. That way, I won’t have to go to school!’
Lost in thought, Qin Haonan wandered over to where Lin Mu and his group were gathered. They were discussing how to assign the newly built houses.
"I suggest we arrange ourselves according to the Five Elements’ generation cycle. That way, even when we’re cultivating in our own rooms, we can still benefit from the synergistic bonus," Lin Mu proposed.
The others were taken aback for a moment. They hadn’t thought of that at all. Initially, they figured all the houses were built the same, so everyone could just pick whichever location they liked.
Now that Lin Mu had pointed it out, they all nodded in agreement.
"Minister Lin is right. Arranging our homes according to the Five Elements’ generation cycle is for the best. It’ll be beneficial for our Cultivation!"
"That’s right. Our main task here at Dragon Base is Cultivation. Everything else should be secondary!"
"I’ve checked the layout of the surrounding rooms, and it’s quite suitable for this arrangement. The Leader’s room is right in the center. We can cultivate with the Leader again, and our speed will increase once more!"
"Yeah, the Leader’s been too busy to lead our Cultivation sessions lately. My progress has slowed to a snail’s pace!"
"Actually, I’ve always found it strange. The Leader is only a Wood-Type, so why does everyone get a boost to their Cultivation speed when they’re near him?"
Qin Haonan chimed in, "It’s actually quite simple. The Leader’s understanding of the Daoist Cultivation Technique is far more profound than ours. That profound comprehension subtly influences us!"
Everyone found this explanation perfectly reasonable. What they didn’t know was that Qin Haonan was just spouting nonsense.
The insights Ren Yuanyang taught them were only useful for their Cultivation if they could personally remember and understand them.
It was entirely a matter of individual comprehension and had nothing to do with being near Ren Yuanyang.
The real reason they felt their Cultivation speed up near Ren Yuanyang was simply that when he cultivated, he gathered a large amount of Chaos Element. Chaos is the origin of everything, capable of giving rise to all things.
Cultivating in such an environment was incredibly beneficial regardless of one’s elemental type, so an increase in Cultivation speed was a matter of course.
James and his group, who had been standing nearby without saying a word, exchanged glances upon hearing this discussion.
"They can increase their Mental Energy through Cultivation?" Des asked, his face a mask of shock.
James nodded slowly. "No wonder their Mental Energy has been increasing so rapidly."
’Back when they were all working together to tame that Great White Shark, he had clearly felt that the Mental Energy of Si Youqin and her companions had actually surpassed his own!’
’This had plunged him into deep self-doubt. They were among the first survivors to become Evolvers, yet now they were being surpassed by survivors who had used Evolution Potions much later!’
Now, they finally understood. It turned out Si Youqin’s group had a Cultivation technique!
"So what do we do now?" Des asked with a frown.
James thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth and made a decision. "We’ll ask the Leader directly. If he agrees, great. If he doesn’t, we’ll drop it."
With that, James and Des stood up and walked over to Ren Yuanyang.
When they reached Ren Yuanyang, they dropped to one knee.
Ren Yuanyang was stunned by their actions.
Qin Haonan sidled up curiously. "What are you two doing? Proposing to the Leader? I should let you know, your Leader’s sexual preferences are perfectly normal!"
Hearing Qin Haonan’s outrageous comment, everyone at the feast turned to look.
Ren Yuanyang rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Haonan, if you don’t have anything sensible to say, just shut your mouth! Stop spouting nonsense!"
Then he turned to James and Des. "Is there something you two need?"
James nodded. "We wish to take you as our master and learn the Cultivation Technique!"
Ren Yuanyang was slightly taken aback, then replied, "These Daoist Classics are steeped in the traditional culture of the Dragon Country. It will be much more difficult for you to understand them. If you truly wish to learn, you’ll have to put in far more effort than anyone else."
"We’re not afraid of hardship. We will work as hard as we can!" James immediately declared.
Ren Yuanyang nodded slowly. "Alright. In that case, start by studying with the others. Try to read the Daoist Classics, and once you’ve become proficient, you can attend my lessons."
Seeing that Ren Yuanyang had agreed, James and Des were ecstatic and bowed low in unison!
"Leader, can the others in our group learn as well?" Des asked hurriedly.
Only the two of them were here to ask to become his disciples; the rest of their group hadn’t come along, so he felt he needed to ask on their behalf.
"Of course. Just have them master the basics first," Ren Yuanyang replied.
"Thank you, Leader!" Des replied, his voice filled with excitement.
"Go on, get something to eat," Ren Yuanyang said with a wave of his hand.
James and Des stood up and departed.
"Leader, are you really going to teach those foreigners Cultivation?" Qin Haonan asked, frowning slightly as if he objected.

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