243: Chapter 241 China's Tight Actions, and the Unwilling Ying Country to Fall Behind

The price list provided by the so-called Senior Brother Zhou was, naturally, prepared by Zhang Mu on his behalf.

His skill level was not yet high enough to create a puppet with such extraordinary intelligence.

Therefore, after controlling Senior Brother Zhou to find an excuse to dismiss everyone, he set about drafting the tables.

The process was not difficult or hindered; it was actually quite relaxed and pleasant.

Among the pile of items, Zhang Mu only needed to carefully consider the price for rhenium; for the rest, he could simply pick any number within a fixed range.

After finishing the work in half an hour, he pressed down the lid of the metal box and ran to the small courtyard to check on the group's subsequent plans.

The development of events was somewhat beyond his expectations.

Returning to Blue Star for only one month, Zhang Mu's main goal was to establish a stable channel for obtaining resources.

As for helping the various nations of Blue Star open up new resource extraction sites, he felt that time was pressing and it would be difficult to push forward.

Even if he gave his all, it would take some time for the nations to digest everything.

He hadn't expected China to be so decisive, immediately mobilizing most of their rhenium metal to exchange for 'stones'.

Furthermore, under Zhang Mu's intentional and unintentional hints, they decided to go all out in developing aviation technology while simultaneously summoning domestic experts in the aerospace field to form a research and development team.

"Since that's the case, it's only natural for me to give them a push."

Muttering to himself, Zhang Mu dispelled the Shadow Technique and revealed himself, creating the illusion that he had teleported there from elsewhere. He sent the Director, who was calling for him, out of the 'World' and then vanished on the spot.

Evening.

The three Academicians and Ye Ming arrived at Qingfeng Hall together.

Excitedly taking the price list, they turned to return to the small courtyard, calculating how many 'stones' they could exchange for.

But just as they lifted their feet, Senior Brother Zhou, sitting behind the counter with his hands tucked in his sleeves, called out to them. "The Martial Uncle is deeply gratified that you all can grasp his well-intentioned purpose. Therefore, he has specifically instructed me to present you with a small gift."

As he spoke, he pulled a fist-sized transparent crystal from the desk drawer and explained, "This item is a floating stone. I presume you all already know its specific effects."

Stunned by the unexpected pleasant surprise, the four were dazed for a long while until Ye Ming finally snapped out of it. He carefully took it with both hands, and after expressing his thanks, returned to the small courtyard with the old men.

Ye Ming was still holding it with both hands as he walked over to the stone table and sat down.

The four had left empty-handed but returned not only with the list but also with a crystal that clearly looked extraordinary. Everyone curiously gathered around.

Old Sun explained the reason in a few words, then became puzzled about how this object should be used.

The book Senior Brother Zhou gave them did indeed explain the functions and origins of the floating stone, but it didn't mention how to use it at all.

After pondering for a while, Ye Ming tried rubbing the surface, but unsurprisingly, there was no reaction at all.

Unwilling to give up, everyone took turns, but the clear crystal ball remained as motionless as an ordinary glass marble.

They intended to go to Qingfeng Hall to ask, but by now it was late, and Senior Brother Zhou had already finished work.

They had no choice but to find someone first thing tomorrow morning.

However, with an 'immortal item' in hand but unable to see its miraculous properties, they probably wouldn't be able to sleep all night.

They gathered in a circle to discuss, but couldn't come up with any practical solution. Finally, Zhao Qi suddenly thought of Luo Xiling on the peak of the back mountain.

Since it was an 'immortal's item,' it surely had to be activated by something like magic power, right?

Although Luo Xiling had only just begun her cultivation, there was no harm in trying. Why not?

So Zhao Qi, who proposed the idea, took on the responsibility of getting her, climbing the mountain in the dark to bring the young girl back to the courtyard.

Upon learning of their thoughts, she scratched her head in confusion, saying she didn't understand these things.

However, Ye Ming was well-versed in how to handle her. Praise after praise flowed from his mouth, and soon she was so caught up in the flattery that she couldn't help herself, raising her hand in a sword finger gesture.

To their surprise, the crystal ball had no reaction to the sword finger but was activated by the unsheathed moon bright sword.

The beam of light emitted from the sword fell on the surface of the sphere, and as if injected with energy, it slowly floated up.

Old Sun subconsciously ordered his assistant to test the buoyancy, then immediately remembered they had no instruments with them, so he simply reached out to press it down.

But even as he exerted all his strength, and several others joined in to help press it, the sphere continued its slow and steady ascent.

Everyone was shocked.

They believed that the power the crystal ball was showing now was definitely not its limit.

After all, Luo Xiling was just a servant who hadn't even truly started her training. What if Immortal Xu himself controlled it?

Besides, Senior Brother Zhou had said this piece was only for them to test; there were larger ones that they would need to exchange for themselves.

Having the girl sheath the moon bright sword, they sat back on the stone chairs, staring at the crystal ball that had fallen back into Ye Ming's palm.

They were all silent, each immersed in the future they envisioned.

With the floating stone, China could completely follow rocket standards to build a floating ship, specifically for transporting astronauts and supplies into the sky, and even to the moon.

Later, Zhao Qi broke the silence.

Uncharacteristically, he actually raised a concern, saying that the number of floating stones was limited, and relying on them to develop aerospace technology might have hidden risks.

For example, if a floating stone was damaged and could not be replaced.

Unfortunately, his rare moment of deep thought was ruthlessly mocked by Old Sun.

"Do you think we're all fools? Just because we have floating stones, we're going to abandon the modern technology tree?

Can't you use your brain? Something like a floating stone, which is rare but can instantly raise the technical ceiling, how could it possibly serve as the foundation upon which to build a structure?

If you dared to live in it, I wouldn't even dare to build it.

It will, of course, become the nutrition used to nurture and accelerate the growth of modern technology."

Zhao Qi was stunned for a few seconds, then covered his face in shame and went back to his room.

Everyone laughed for a while. As the happy atmosphere thinned slightly, they couldn't help but look forward with longing to when the Director, who had left not long ago, would return.

Zhang Mu, who had observed the entire process from the side, saw that things were proceeding according to his expectations and didn't stay long, using the 'World' Core to send himself out.

The Director had returned to China to arrange for the rhenium metal and also had to manage the gathering of aerospace experts; he certainly wouldn't be back in a short time.

Zhang Mu took this opportunity to see how Toby and the other two were doing.

Speeding over the sea, he arrived at the waters where the Fallen Spirit was active a few hours later.

Establishing a connection with his Mental Energy, feedback from the big fellow immediately came through.

It had been quite bored these past two days; not only did aircraft carriers not dare to come, but even fishing boats and the like fled at the sight of it, keeping a wide berth.

Zhang Mu comforted it, "Partners will be here soon, but you must watch your strength. Don't play too rough and hurt anyone, especially the little girl inside."

The Fallen Spirit's Mental Energy fluctuations became cheerful—Understood.

Just as he was about to give a few more instructions, a yacht suddenly appeared in the distance.

Sensing it, he realized it was Toby and the others.

The Queen probably felt that since any warship photographed would just end up being destroyed by the Fallen Spirit, offering no protection to the three at all, she might as well use a yacht to send them.

In choosing a yacht without any means of attack, the Queen wasn't trying to harm them; rather, she considered that perhaps by not carrying weapons, the 'calamity's' attitude might be more lenient.

If it refrained from attacking, that would be perfect.

Toby thought there was hope in this method.

From the two encounters between human armed forces and the 'calamity,' it could be seen that the other party never attacked proactively; it only struck back after being hit by missiles.

Of course, while that was the logic, to say they weren't afraid would be an arrogant boast.

The yacht cutting through the sea surface gradually grew larger in his field of vision. Zhang Mu didn't show himself, thinking he would observe on-site for a while to ensure the Fallen Spirit wouldn't accidentally hurt the three before going to find the Queen.

...

"Uncle Toby, where is the big monster?" Misha stood by the edge of the deck. Not being tall enough, she peered at the sea through the gaps in the railing.

"Hey Misha, it's dangerous." Toby, holding binoculars, looked back and saw her clinging to the railing, and hurriedly ran over.

The little girl was thin and frail; if she slipped, she could easily fall through the railing's grid into the seawater.

Toby carried Misha back to a beach chair in the center of the deck. She smiled sweetly: "Uncle Toby, I am a wizard."

"Yes, so am I, but we can still be killed by a moving yacht."

"Would the Headmaster Grandpa be too?"

"He wouldn't."

"Why?"

"Because the Headmaster is a powerful wizard; he would smash the boat."

"Oh!" she exclaimed in wonder, "I want to be a powerful wizard too, and then smash boats. That would be so cool!"

Toby's mouth twitched a few times: "Not at all."

Perhaps because he had children of his own, as an old father, he was exceptionally fond of the well-behaved Misha.

But he didn't know what had happened lately; the little girl was becoming increasingly naughty.

Occasionally Toby tried to adopt a strict attitude to teach her, but he was always melted by Misha's sweet smile.

Actually, the main thing was that the little girl knew her limits and wouldn't do anything too over the top.

As Toby said, she was more sensible than Leon.

"Why are you lying on the chairs resting? Didn't you say we're looking for traces of the Mountain Rock Giant?"

"Uh, I've thought about it deeply. Given the Mountain Rock Giant's strength, whether we can spot it in advance doesn't really matter."

"Hmm... that's true."

Leon lay down on the plastic chair next to the two of them: "So, are we taking a moonlight bath now as our final enjoyment of life?"

"Thanks, but I'd like to live a few more days."

Curling his lip, he pulled down the sunglasses perched on his forehead: "Toby, the Queen seems very keen on the Headmaster's assistance.

When we left, police were appearing frequently on the streets of London."

"You should call her Her Majesty the Queen."

"The Queen herself told me I didn't need to use honorifics."

Sighing helplessly, Toby didn't want to waste energy explaining to him that polite words shouldn't be taken literally. He said, "To be able to raise the Kingdom's technology, it's not surprising what Her Majesty the Queen might do."

"Is there a connection between magic and technology?"

"I'm not sure either, but since the Headmaster said so, it must be possible.

You know, Hogwarts isn't unfamiliar with everything on Blue Star; on the contrary, it's quite familiar."

He nodded in agreement, and the topic ended there as the three fell silent.

Perhaps wanting to ease the tense atmosphere, Leon couldn't help but speak again: "If I'm lucky enough to make it back alive this time, I want to encounter a romantic first love."

Toby turned his head, a look of surprise in his eyes: "Forgive my bluntness, but I recall you're already twenty-five?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"It's just... uh..." Toby stopped himself and patted his shoulder with a heavy expression.

He didn't make any mocking gestures or expressions, but inexplicably, Leon felt as if an arrow had pierced his heart.

"You're..."

*Clang—*

The ship's hull jolted violently. Toby instinctively pressed Misha down onto the chair.

The vibration only lasted a few seconds. Leon scrambled up from the deck and ran to the bow, sticking his head over the railing: "Oh damn it, we've hit a reef!"

Toby: "?

What are you talking about? I carefully checked the charts for this area before we left; there are absolutely no reefs!"

"Are you trying to say I'm hallucinating?"

Signaling Misha to sit still, he jogged over to Leon's side and peered out.

"Is it really a reef?"

Rubbing his eyes, the reef that had stopped the yacht hadn't disappeared.

It wasn't very large, an irregular circle about five meters in diameter.

"Where did it come from?" Toby was deeply puzzled.

Leon waved his hand: "Now is not the time to solve where it came from, but whether our boat is going to sink."

With that, he jumped straight into the sea. After checking for a while, he was surprised to find that not even the paint on the bow was scratched.

Telling Toby about the strange phenomenon, he swam to the reef, climbed up, and stomped on it a few times: "Hell, what on earth is..."

A tremor suddenly came from under his feet, and then the reef slowly began to float upward, revealing a straight section beneath the seawater.

Leon crouched down in terror: "Toby, do something!"

"I'm thinking!"

He grabbed the nylon rope from the deck, preparing to throw it to Leon. But just as he straightened his back, he froze, like a statue.

"Throw it over, quick!"

As he got further and further from the sea surface, Leon, whose height now exceeded the yacht's, shouted.

"Leon, you'd better... take a look around you."

Whatever it is, please save me first before I look, okay?!

Before the curse in his heart could come out, the reef's vibration suddenly stopped, and it ceased rising.

After a good while, Leon finally regained some measure of reason. He tentatively stood up, and once sure the reef wouldn't abruptly shake and throw him into the sea, he slowly stood straight and looked around, trying to figure out what exactly had happened.

Soon, he discovered that to his left and right were two cylindrical stone mountains of varying heights, roughly...

Hmm?

It felt... similar to the relative heights of five fingers.

No, that's not right; it was identical.

Unease spread wildly in his heart.

Thinking of the purpose of their visit, Leon's neck felt like a rusted gear, turning with difficulty.

After a long time, his gaze finally turned toward Toby, his eyes timidly revealing an inquiry.

Toby was also very nervous, his chin dipping in an almost imperceptible nod.

So...

Leon's heart beat so violently it felt like it would jump out of his chest. Am I, right now, standing on its fingertip?

*Splash—*

As if to confirm his suspicion, the yacht was suddenly hoisted up by a giant rock hand emerging from the seawater.

"Shit!"

Toby cursed in panic, turning to rush to the plastic chair and pulling Misha into his arms: "Don't be afraid, I'll protect you!"

"Uncle Toby, I'm... not afraid, but if you don't... let go..."

"Oh! Sorry!"

His arms relaxed, and Misha, who had almost been strangled, gasped for air.

Just as he was about to apologize, the sea surface churned again. Soon, a massive rock head with only eye sockets for a face rose up, with ethereal blue flames dancing within the sockets.

The Mountain Rock Giant.

Having studied the video of the combined fleet's battle with it in detail, the three recognized it at a glance.

Will it crush us to death? Or throw us into the air to fall to our deaths?

Despite having prepared themselves psychologically before setting out, facing a monster whose face was much wider than a city center square, Leon and Toby were still mired in fear and despair.

Only Misha, her arms around Toby's neck, looked curiously at the flaming eyes, like volcanoes, nearing the side of the boat.

"Uncle Toby, it seems... very happy."

"Huh?"