Launching two satellites with a single rocket was actually a very simple matter before the flood, but now the environment was completely different, and the difficulty had shot up dramatically.
However, with so many scientists collaborating closely, many difficult problems would be overcome one by one. Ren Yuanyang was confident they would soon be able to restore their technology to pre-flood levels.
Ren Yuanyang walked straight toward Peach Blossom Spring Village, and soon, he received a link to a live stream from Wang Jun on his phone.
He opened the live stream. The rocket launch had already entered the final countdown.
"Three, two, one, ignition..."
The rocket on the launch vessel erupted with massive flames, rising slowly at first, then accelerating until it vanished beyond the horizon.
Finally, the chief engineer announced, "The launch was a complete success!"
Ren Yuanyang turned off his phone. He looked out at the ceaseless downpour, sighed, then composed himself and resumed his Cultivation.
While the scientists’ breakthrough was crucial, it was even more vital for Ren Yuanyang’s Mental Energy to be sufficiently powerful.
Even if the scientists managed to develop a Cosmic Spaceship capable of space travel, it would undoubtedly be a rudimentary one; after all, they had so little time.
They would still have to rely on Ren Yuanyang’s Enhancement System to improve upon that rudimentary Cosmic Spaceship.
The stronger his Mental Energy, the greater the degree of enhancement he could perform, and the more perfect the Spaceship would become.
The scientists had many people working together, sharing the pressure of their research. But Ren Yuanyang had to cultivate alone; no one could help share the burden he carried.
Lu Jiamei and the others could only quietly help Ren Yuanyang manage all other affairs, doing their best to keep him from being distracted by worries.
That evening during dinner, the three ship captains—Wang Jun, Long Zhan, and Ji Yizhi—arrived at Peach Blossom Spring Village just as Ren Yuanyang and his group were eating.
"Talk about perfect timing. Sit down and eat with us!" Ren Yuanyang said in greeting.
"Heh heh, I knew I could mooch a meal over here, so I didn’t even eat dinner!" Long Zhan immediately sat down at the table.
Wang Jun and Ji Yizhi greeted him respectfully. "Master," they said, before taking their seats.
"Did the three of you come here together for a specific reason?" Ren Yuanyang asked.
"Actually, yes. There’s something we’d like to discuss with you, Master," Wang Jun said with a nod.
"Go on," Ren Yuanyang said, gesturing for Wang Jun to continue as he ate.
"Here’s the situation," Wang Jun began to explain. "Lately, morale at Dragon Base has been high, and incomes have risen accordingly. Some people have saved enough money for Evolution Potions and have already submitted applications to purchase them. Should we lift all restrictions on sales?"
"Of course. As long as they’ve earned enough money, sell the Evolution Potions to them," Ren Yuanyang replied instantly. "If I weren’t worried they’d all just start slacking off, I’d be tempted to hand them out for free."
Wang Jun nodded. "Then we definitely can’t give them away for free. If we open up sales, I’ll need a large supply of Evolution Potions. If they work hard for a month or two, almost everyone should be able to afford one."
"Elder Hua, I’ll have to ask you to work hard and brew some more potions," Ren Yuanyang said directly to Hua Lingfang.
Hua Lingfang immediately agreed. "Of course!"
"With enough Evolvers, the development of our base will accelerate," Ren Yuanyang continued. "For matters that benefit the base like this, you don’t need to ask for my permission. You can go ahead and implement them directly. Just give me a heads-up when you have a moment."
Wang Jun nodded. "Yes, Master!"
"If everyone becomes an Evolver, won’t maintaining order become a whole new level of difficult?" Long Zhan chimed in, gnawing on a chicken leg.
Ren Yuanyang smiled faintly. "It’s simple. Anyone who stirs up trouble gets expelled from Dragon Base immediately. If they seriously violate the base’s regulations, we just kill them."
Long Zhan was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. "Simple and brutal. I like it!"
"Also, be sure to keep a record of the different types among the Intelligence-Type Evolvers. If any with special types appear, you must notify me," Ren Yuanyang added.
He had made the same request when he’d personally gone to trade with Wang Jun and his group for the first time.
Back then, Ren Yuanyang had gone to trade in person specifically for the Electric-Type Superpower that Wang Jun possessed.
Hearing him make this request again, Long Zhan couldn’t help but ask, "Master, why are you so focused on Evolvers with special types?"
"It’s simple. Because their types are special," Ren Yuanyang answered with a smile.
Long Zhan rolled his eyes. "Is there no other reason?"
"There is, but it’s not the right time to tell you," Ren Yuanyang replied.
"I knew it!" Long Zhan chuckled. "No wonder you’re pushing for universal evolution. It’s to find more of those special-type Evolvers, isn’t it?"
"You could say that," Ren Yuanyang nodded slightly. "But more importantly, if we really do have to leave Blue Star in the future, and our Spaceship isn’t exactly perfect, having an Evolver’s constitution will allow more people to survive."
Hearing this, everyone froze for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
Based on the research institute’s current progress, even if they could produce a Spaceship in four months, it would surely be far from perfect.
In the harsh environment of space, ordinary people would find it very difficult to adapt to a zero-gravity life.
But with an Evolver’s constitution, their ability to adapt would be much greater.
Ren Yuanyang’s Enhancement System couldn’t create something from nothing; it could only enhance existing objects. Therefore, he couldn’t take a Cosmic Spaceship without a Gravity System and enhance it to have one.
Therefore, in the early stages of their journey into space, they would most likely have to live in a zero-gravity environment.
"You’re always thinking so far ahead, Master!" Long Zhan couldn’t help but praise.
Ren Yuanyang waved his hand dismissively. "It doesn’t matter how far ahead I think. If the scientists can’t build a Spaceship capable of interstellar travel, it’s all for nothing."
Ji Yizhi spoke up. "If we installed thrusters on the old space station, could it be used for interstellar travel?"
"I’m afraid not. A space station is essentially just a large satellite; it’s not designed for travel," Wang Jun said, shaking his head. "And I wonder what the situation is with our country’s space station. There were still three astronauts on board."
"Sigh. We lost contact five or six months ago. It’s unlikely they survived," Ji Yizhi sighed in resignation.
"Have the recently launched satellites managed to photograph our space station?" Ren Yuanyang asked.
"No. There are too many Ice Crystals obscuring the view," Wang Jun said, shaking his head again.
"Then launch more satellites. Sooner or later, one of them might find our space station," Ren Yuanyang replied.
He had barely finished speaking when Wang Jun’s phone rang. He answered it immediately.
"Captain, the satellite we just launched has photographed our space station!"
Hearing the Chief Engineer’s excited voice on the other end, Wang Jun froze, then immediately asked for confirmation, "Are you sure it’s our space station?"
"Absolutely!" the Chief Engineer said with utmost certainty. "One of our satellites flew right past the station’s core module!"
Hearing the Chief Engineer’s reply, Wang Jun immediately looked at Ren Yuanyang and said, "Master, our satellite really did photograph the space station!"
Ren Yuanyang nodded. "Calculate the space station’s probable current location immediately, then launch a cargo spaceship to send them supplies."
After a brief pause, Ren Yuanyang added, "Don’t forget to include three Evolution Potions. Also, pack extra fully charged solar panels, oxygen, and any other supplies they might possibly need. And record a video explaining the situation."
Wang Jun was stunned for a moment, then nodded and immediately relayed the orders.
Upon receiving the order, the Chief Engineer was stunned.
"Captain, the chances of our astronauts still being alive are almost zero," the Chief Engineer couldn’t help but point out.
"Even if there’s only a sliver of hope, we have to give it our all," Wang Jun said in a solemn voice.
"I understand. We’ll launch the cargo spaceship as soon as possible," the Chief Engineer replied.
In truth, he knew that even if the astronauts were alive and they managed to launch the cargo ship successfully, there was no guarantee they could get it anywhere near the space station.
Even if they were lucky enough to get close to the station, they would still need the astronauts on board to manually pilot the remote systems to adjust the spaceship’s attitude for docking. But space was now filled with Ice Crystals, which severely impacted visibility. From even a short distance away, it might be impossible to see clearly, or even to see at all, making the docking procedure incredibly difficult.
These numerous unfavorable conditions had all but sealed the fate of the astronauts on the space station. But the captain hadn’t given up, and the astronomical research institute wouldn’t give up either. The astronauts on that station were their comrades, their colleagues.
Just as the astronomical research institute was preparing supplies and calculating launch parameters, a general approached the Chief Engineer and said in a low, serious voice, "Chief Engineer, let me go up and give it a try."

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