132: Chapter 132 introduces the concept version of "Project South Heaven Gate".

Kyoto, National Press Center.

The press hall, capable of holding a thousand people, was packed to the point where there wasn't even a place to stand. Reporters from major global media were squeezed together like sardines in a can, their cameras and microphones forming a steel forest.

An anxious, restless electricity permeated the air.

Everyone had a premonition that something major was going to happen today.

After all, a press conference attended simultaneously by General Qin Weiguo, Commander of the Southeast Theater Command; Zhong Guodong, Dean of Longke Academy; and that recently red-hot "tech tycoon" Jiang Chen could absolutely not be for launching a new phone for the elderly.

"Click."

The spotlights suddenly flared, piercing the dimness of the hall.

General Qin Weiguo, in a crisp military uniform, strode onto the podium. His battle-hardened face was devoid of expression, carrying only a heaviness and tension like that before a storm.

He offered no pleasantries, no small talk.

He didn't even glance at the flashing shutters below.

"Everyone."

General Qin Weiguo steadied the microphone, his voice deep and resonant, exploding into everyone's ears through the sound system:

"We have gathered you here today for only one reason."

"In view of the series of... anomalous celestial activities recently appearing in low Earth orbit, as well as the potential risk of asteroid impact."

He paused, his eyes sharp as blades:

"To protect the Earth, and for the continuation of human civilization."

"The Dragon Kingdom has decided to immediately launch a global strategic defense plan codenamed — [Nantianmen Project]."

"Hiss —"

A collective gasp echoed through the hall.

Asteroid impact?

Isn't this reason a bit too retro? Even Hollywood doesn't film like that anymore!

But before the reporters could raise their hands to ask questions, the giant IMAX screen behind General Qin Weiguo suddenly lit up.

From the originally pitch-black background emerged a breathtaking, violence-aesthetically-charged — engineering blueprint.

It wasn't an ordinary airplane, nor was it an aircraft carrier.

It was an aerial fortress suspended above the clouds, possessing double-decker decks and a huge circular gravity chamber!

"Let me introduce to you the core carrier of the 'Nantianmen Project'."

General Qin Weiguo pointed at the screen, his tone carrying an unconcealable pride and murderous intent:

"The [luan niao starship] aerial mothership."

"Total length 528 meters, wingspan 265 meters, maximum service ceiling 42,000 kilometers."

"Equipped with four large Anti-gravity Engine sets, twelve 'High-Energy Pulse Laser Cannons', and..."

He took a deep breath and spat out the term that made global military experts' hearts stop:

"And, one deep-space strategic-grade — particle main cannon."

Boom —!!!

The entire press hall exploded instantly.

Reporters pressed their shutters like madmen, the flashes merging into a sheet of daylight. Exclamations in various languages rose and fell, like boiling water.

"My God! Is this real? An aerial mothership?!"

"Are these specs serious? 42,000 kilometers? Isn't that flying directly out of the atmosphere?!"

"The Dragon Kingdom people are crazy! Are they trying to build a Death Star?!"

Facing the chaos below, General Qin Weiguo remained unmoved, merely turning slightly to yield the center stage.

"Of course, regarding technical details and feasibility, I think no one has more say than the chief designer of this project."

He looked at the young man sitting beside him, his eyes full of trust:

"Consultant Jiang, please."

Jiang Chen stood up.

He was rarely dressed formally today, and although his tie was tied a bit crookedly, the composure that seeped from his bones made everyone present feel an invisible pressure.

He walked to the front of the stage, not looking at the cameras, but looking up at the towering "luan niao starship" on the big screen.

That look was like he was watching his own child.

"Actually, everyone, don't think of this project as too complicated."

Jiang Chen began, his tone as relaxed as if he were chatting about dinner:

"The so-called 'Nantianmen Project', as the name implies, is just to install a security door for the Earth."

"After all, space security isn't very good right now, and if any meteorites, or alien... *cough*, alien trash falls down, it wouldn't be good if it hit the flowers and plants."

He pressed the remote in his hand.

The screen image changed.

Around that huge mothership, dense swarms of small aircraft appeared. They had strange shapes, no cockpits, and were pitch black, like a group of ghosts from hell.

"This is the [Xuan Nu] unmanned fighter."

Jiang Chen pointed to the black shadows and introduced, "Relying on the mothership's computing power support, they can perform swarm-style combat. The maximum speed... is about Mach 30, barely enough to catch up to a meteor."

The reporters below were already numb from hearing this.

Mach 30?

You call this barely enough? Are you planning to chase down missiles?

"And this."

Jiang Chen switched screens again.

This time, a six-meter-tall humanoid mecha holding a giant ship-slashing sword appeared.

"[Chengying] tactical mecha."

"Mainly used for ground assaults and boarding combat. Although it looks bulky, it's actually very flexible, flexible enough to dance square dance."

After introducing these "three big items," Jiang Chen turned off the PPT.

He rested his hands on the lectern, looking at the Western reporters below who were dumbfounded yet had "I don't believe it" written all over their faces, a playful arc curling the corner of his mouth.

He knew what this group of people was thinking.

Building a car with a PPT, right? Who can't do that? Make the concept art cool, blow the specs out of proportion, then swindle some funding, and in two years it'll just disappear. This is the norm in the tech circle.

"I know, many of you are muttering in your hearts."

Jiang Chen smiled, a smile that was a bit cold, a bit wild:

"Do you think this is science fiction? Is it CG special effects? Or is it a strategic bluff created by our Dragon Kingdom to scare people?"

Below, a reporter from the BBC finally couldn't hold back.

He stood up, holding the microphone, his tone sharp and full of doubt:

"Mr. Jiang! Your vision is indeed grand, and also... charming."

"But if you'll excuse my bluntness, with the current level of human technology, let alone an aerial mothership, even the power system of that mecha is an unsolvable problem in physics!"

"Isn't what you are announcing now just a big pie drawn to divert international attention?"

"A big pie?"

Jiang Chen looked at that reporter, shook his head, a glimmer of pity flashing in his eyes.

"This reporter friend, your imagination is still too barren."

He turned around and picked up a thick file from the table behind him — that was the construction progress schedule for the West Suburb Base, stamped with a red "Top Secret" seal.

"Who told you this was a vision?"

Jiang Chen threw the file onto the podium with a "thud", the sound not loud, but it made people's hearts tremble.

"I am standing here today, not to discuss with you whether it 'can be built'."

"I am here to notify you —"

"This thing is already being built."

He pointed to the giant ship named "luan niao starship" on the screen, a light called "truth" flashing in his eyes:

"This picture you see is not a concept art."

"That is the... construction blueprint of our West Suburb Base."

"Even..."

Jiang Chen paused, glanced at the time on his wrist, the smile at the corner of his mouth growing richer:

"Even its keel has already been laid, and the engines have already been ignited."

"If you are lucky, perhaps in a few days..."

"You only need to look up, and you will be able to see with your own eyes, above Tianhai City, how this 'big pie' blocks out the sun."

The whole venue was in an uproar.

Reporters raised their hands like madmen, wanting to pursue more details.

"Mr. Jiang! Are you serious? Has the actual machine rolled off the line?"

"What is the power source? Is it nuclear fusion?"

"Does this mean the Dragon Kingdom has mastered Anti-gravity Engine technology?"

Facing this bombardment, Jiang Chen did not answer again.

He just straightened his tie, faced the camera, and left behind a meaningful back view.

"That is all I have to say."

"Whether you believe it or not, that is up to you."

"Anyway..."

He walked to the door, paused slightly, tilted his head, and left a sentence that made the whole world sleepless tonight:

"Anyway, when that moment comes."

"I hope you won't strain your necks looking up too much."

After speaking, he strode out of the press hall under the escort of General Qin Weiguo and Zhong Guodong.

Leaving behind the group of media who were about to go crazy, and that big screen that was still lit, displaying the ferocious posture of the "luan niao starship".

This night.

Global eyes turned to the East, turned to that mysterious West Suburb Base.

Some scoffed, some feared, some anticipated.

But no one knew.

Deep in the hollowed-out mountain, that giant ship from the sea of stars, under the hammering of countless alien laborers, was emitting a roar of impending awakening.

That was the bugle call of a new era.

It was also the... knell of the old era.