328: Chapter 321 Master, take me flying!

After calling the training ground, the Bureau Chief suppressed the excitement in his heart and sat back in his chair.

Flying into outer space with just a physical body—although the satellite images sent from Kyoto confirmed this was absolutely true, his head was still spinning, and he simply could not believe it.

That was the universe, humanity's ultimate dream.

From the moment humanity first understood the universe, the dream of chasing the stars and the sea had never ceased.

Without a doubt, the dream was distant.

Modern humanity had been advancing on the path of exploring the universe, yet due to internal reasons and technological limitations, the results were minimal.

So much so that some people raised negative doubts: Could we really head into the universe before the resources of the Blue Star were exhausted?

Yet, they never imagined that humanity had already taken this step.

At this moment, the Bureau Chief's mind was filled with strange and erratic questions.

He was not familiar with astronomy, but he understood some basic terms, such as "black hole," "star," and "satellite."

He had heard that the gravity of a black hole could capture even light; could Immortal Xu get close to one?

If he could, could he go inside?

If he went inside, what would it be like?

The universe was mysterious, and humanity had too many unknowns about it. At this moment, it seemed that this veil of mystery might finally be lifted.

His mind raced, and the Bureau Chief felt his brain overloading, so he quickly shook his head to pause his thoughts.

He raised a hand to rub his temples, muttering to himself: "How far can Immortal Xu fly at most? Can he take people with him? Uh, I remember that navigation in the universe requires coordinates; does he have a legendary star map? If he doesn't, what happens if he gets lost flying too far? I wonder how far Immortal Xu has flown; has he touched the edge of the universe? Or is there no edge? Tch, I really want to kn... Why are you all looking at me?"

After rubbing for a while, feeling the stinging pain in his head subside, the Bureau Chief looked up and found his subordinates busy at their computers, all looking at him.

Those to his left and right were convenient; they did not need to turn their heads, just stealing glances from the corners of their eyes.

The ones directly in front were slightly more troublesome as the computers blocked their view, but the problem was simple: all they had to do was stand up.

Well, it was just a bit too blatant.

"What are you all looking at? Are you bored?" The Bureau Chief's face darkened. "Yesterday, I discussed with the garrison leadership about organizing a month of military training for everyone to properly straighten out your laziness. I was just busy setting up the surveillance network and thought I would wait until that was finished, but seeing as you are quite free now, that is perfect, this afternoon we will..."

Before he finished speaking, everyone hurriedly lowered their heads or straightened their necks, terrified that the Bureau Chief would actually drag them off to military training.

"Hmph, I still..."

"Bureau Chief!" Luo Xiling pushed open the door and ran in frantically. "Why are you in such a rush? Did another Prodigy appear?!"

"No."

"Oh, then it's fine." Her hurried footsteps paused, and she relaxed, dragging a chair from the wall to sit opposite the Bureau Chief. "Then why were you in such a rush to find me?"

"Look at this." The Bureau Chief nodded toward the wall behind her.

Luo Xiling suspiciously turned her chair and looked at the satellite image displayed on the screen: "Is this... a photo?"

"A pho... I suppose so."

"Eh, isn't that Master?"

As expected of a direct disciple, she recognized him at a glance without even zooming in. The Bureau Chief was deeply moved and said, "Look at the surroundings."

"The surroundings... mm... oh, a satellite overhead shot?" The background was not hard to identify, and she quickly realized.

"Correct."

Scratching her head, she asked curiously: "Why would a satellite overhead shot capture... Master?"

She seemed to finally react, pressing her hands on the chair armrests to stand up, her eyes fixed intently on the screen.

Perhaps worried that she had misread it, she took a step forward, then another, until the tip of her nose was almost touching the wall.

The Bureau Chief picked his ear with his little finger: "Don't doubt it, the image is real."

"Really?" Luo Xiling turned her head: "You are not teasing me?"

"Really, really." The Bureau Chief's tone was full of disdain.

She looked back at the screen, and after a long silence, suddenly screamed: "Ah! I want to go to the sky to play!"

The busy staff looked at each other and nodded. Hmm, Group Leader Luo was as stable as ever.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Luo Xiling summoned her long sword and was about to fly back to the Mountain Gate to find Master, but the Bureau Chief, with a headache, ran over to hold her back: "The plane is already prepared. We will go together once Yue Ruo and the others arrive."

"No! The plane isn't as fast as me!"

"That is an order!"

"Fine then." Seeing the Bureau Chief's eyebrows arch, Luo Xiling very wisely sat back in her chair.

After more than ten minutes, Yue Ruo, Zhao Qi, Ye Ming, and the four Mountain Gate disciples from the slightly further training ground all arrived.

The Bureau Chief did not want to delay, so he led the team directly to the airport to board the plane, explaining things to them on the way.

Zhao Qi was very shocked: "Immortal Xu did say he could go to the universe, but..."

"He flew there directly?" Yue Ruo took over: "I thought he used a transportation tool like a flying boat."

Ye Ming was slightly calmer and, after pondering for a moment, said: "Operating in the universe without a protective suit, Immortal Xu's body..."

"It cannot even be considered human anymore, right?" Yue Ruo brought her cup to her lips repeatedly, trying to suppress her surging emotions, but it did not seem to have any effect; she did not even notice when the cup was empty.

"I wonder if Immortal Xu would mind giving a hair for research? If we could get results, maybe our aerospace technology could improve." Zhao Qi scratched his cheek and muttered.

The Bureau Chief was overjoyed: "That makes sense. When we meet Immortal Xu later, you bring it up."

"I didn't say anything." Zhao Qi closed his eyes and leaned back against the seat.

The others in the back stopped chatting and discussed how to bring up the purpose of this trip.

The Bureau Chief set off for the Mountain Gate immediately, not just to see for himself, but because he hoped Immortal Xu could escort the completed spacecraft.

The spacecraft was precious, but it was ultimately an inanimate object; as long as the technology and data remained, another one could be easily built.

So he was not doing it for the safety of the spacecraft, but for the astronauts inside.

The Bureau Chief estimated in his heart that, based on his experience dealing with Immortal Xu, he should not be refused if he brought it up.

But since he had not received an answer yet, he could not help but feel a little anxious.

Several hours later, the plane landed at the cave base airport at dusk.

The originally anxious Bureau Chief was not so rushed once he arrived; he went to inspect the progress of the spacecraft construction at the base first.

According to China's past habits, non-essential personnel were absolutely not allowed to be involved in such top-secret projects; let alone looking, just asking would get you invited for tea.

But this time was different.

First of all, China did not intend to hide it at all; they had not even set up proper camouflage around the base.

There was the reason of the Kunpeng blocking satellites overhead, and besides, with Immortal Xu here, China did not have to bear the pressure of foreign prying.

Did they dare to come and cause trouble? Did they really think Immortal Xu's sword was not sharp?

Therefore, the Bureau Chief entered the workshop smoothly—it was a huge cavern located underground.

Putting the workshop underground was the Bureau Chief's decision.

Initially, many people opposed it.

How would it fly once built? Crash a hole through the ground?

After he stated that Immortal Xu would handle it properly, everyone quieted down.

The Bureau Chief walked around the cavern for a while.

The construction efficiency was remarkable; in just a few months, the outer shell had already taken shape, thanks to the diligence of the workers and the help of the Mountain Gate disciples.

After watching, he did not linger at the base, leading everyone to the seaside, first paying respects to the Kunpeng overhead, and then loudly calling for Immortal Xu.

A light gate opened in the sky. Luo Xiling and the five others flew in on their swords, each carrying one person, and landed in the small courtyard on the summit of Yuzhang Mountain.

Immortal Xu was sitting by the stone table in the corner of the wall. He was not surprised to see them arrive, as if he had anticipated it.

Luo Xiling hopped and skipped over: "Master, Master, did you go to the sky?"

"Hmm?" Immortal Xu raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, did you go to the universe?"

Although they had already seen the satellite images, everyone was still staring at him eagerly, waiting for an answer.

"I haven't been out for a long time; today was just a whim."

Your "whim" went a bit too far...

Ignoring their internal thoughts, Luo Xiling stepped forward, wanting to grab Master's arm and act coquettishly.

"Hmm!" Unfortunately, she was stopped by a heavy grunt from Immortal Xu's nose.

She did not mind, stopping in place and chattering away: "Master, I want to go out too!"

"Why do you want to go?"

"To play."

Immortal Xu rarely knit his silver-white eyebrows together: "Your cultivation level has not even entered the threshold; how can you covet amusement? Have you been slacking off in your practice lately?"

"No!" It was the first time Luo Xiling had seen Master angry, and she was frightened, hurriedly standing straight. "I haven't slacked off for a moment!"

Perhaps not believing her, Immortal Xu's eyes sparked with faint crackling electricity as he stared at her.

After a while, his eyes returned to normal, and he nodded slightly: "Although it is slower than in the past, with no spiritual energy in the outside world, it is passable."

"You all..." His gaze turned to the four people who were fearfully shrinking behind the Bureau Chief.

"We are also very diligent!"

"Hmm." After gazing at them as well, he expressed his approval and then asked the Bureau Chief, "What is the matter?"

"Uh..." With Immortal Xu having flared up, the Bureau Chief's originally determined heart wavered, and he did not quite dare to speak.

Perhaps sensing this, Immortal Xu smiled: "Speak freely."

"Well, Immortal Xu, aren't you able to fly into space?"

"Indeed."

"On the day the spacecraft takes off, could I trouble you to make a trip and go to space together?" The Bureau Chief, worried that what he said might be ambiguous, added, "It does not matter if the spacecraft explodes; just saving the astronauts is enough."

"It is possible."

"Thank you so much!"

With the Bureau Chief's business done, Ye Ming, who had been waiting for a long time, walked over: "Immortal Xu, I have some questions..."

"Ask."

"Have you ever flown out of the Solar System?" Considering that Immortal Xu might not know humanity's name for this star system, he added, "That is, our..."

Immortal Xu could not help but laugh: "I am aware of your books. The Solar System, I have been out of, but I did not go far."

"Is it because you do not want to or because you cannot?"

Ye Ming's question was somewhat offensive, and the Bureau Chief and the others looked worried. Fortunately, Immortal Xu did not care and replied calmly: "I am ashamed; my cultivation level is insufficient to travel to very distant planets."

Insufficient?

"Is the vacuum environment outside the Solar System more harsh?"

"No, it is because my speed is too slow; the round trip takes quite a long time."

"I see..."

"However, my sect's Sect Leader's cultivation has reached a profound level and can tear through the void to go elsewhere. Ten thousand years ago, the Sect Leader went out for several days; presumably, he went outside the Solar System."

Ye Ming's eyes lit up: "Is the Sect Leader Immortal willing to see us? We really want to understand The World outside."

"The Sect Leader is currently in seclusion. When he comes out, I will ask."

"Thank you, Immortal Xu!" His goal achieved, Ye Ming stepped back and stopped talking.

Immortal Xu scanned everyone: "Nothing else?"

Everyone shook their heads in unison.

"Since that is the case, go... what is it?" Immortal Xu, preparing to send them off, stopped mid-sentence upon seeing Luo Xiling hanging her head in grievance and asked curiously.

"It is nothing, Master. We will leave first." She waved her hand and turned around, intending to fly on her sword.

"Hahaha..." Immortal Xu laughed several times. "You little girl... Very well, go back and practice diligently. If you enter the threshold within three months, I will take you to the sky, how about that?"

"Really?!" Luo Xiling bloomed like a wilted flower, jumping on the spot with joy.

"Naturally."

"That is great!"

The four disciples behind the Bureau Chief all looked at her with envy. They all entered the Mountain Gate, so why was the gap so vast?

There was no helping it; she had an awesome Master.

The group bid farewell and flew back to the Blue Star on their swords.

After exiting the light gate, the Bureau Chief stood by the seaside to organize his thoughts.

Lin Miao was responsible for the organization and training of the medical team and stayed behind in Su City, which was fine.

With a plan in mind, he assigned tasks to the others.

Luo Xiling and the five others had to guard against any Prodigys that might appear at any time and immediately set off back to Su City. Ye Ming had to be stationed at the command center with the five of them.

Zhao Qi and Yue Ruo would not go back and would stay here.

With Ye Ming in charge of the Sū City Base, the Bureau Chief could rest assured and assist with the spacecraft construction work at the cave base.

This was the result of his careful consideration.

The five people at the cave base could enter the Mountain Gate, and the various affairs related to the Mountain Gate were extremely complicated to handle, so being a middleman was just right.

Luo Xiling, thinking of Master's reward, could not wait for the plane and flew back to Su City on her sword with the other four, carrying Ye Ming.

The Bureau Chief led Yue Ruo and Zhao Qi to the cave base to share the good news.

The group split into two batches and dispersed. Only then did Zhang Mu, who had been using his Shadow Technique, turn back to "The World."

In London, Ying Country, the second round of the magic competition concluded smoothly today. Tomorrow is the final, and I have to preside over the "big scene" I've prepared myself.

As for Luo Xiling's reward...

Zhang Mu brought up his panel and glanced at the percentage experience bar after his level—97%.

He was about to promote to Magister. After leveling up, he would have the strength of a Magister. Then, if he went to the King to get two high-level shield spells, it would not be difficult to take one or two people to space.

The time he spent in space during the day was not just for posing and letting satellites take pictures.

He also took the opportunity to test the endurance limit of his magic shield.

The low-level shield at the Magister level struggled to resist radiation; it could block most of it, but if sustained for too long, it would be blasted with holes.

He repaired it very promptly, but even for an instant, a normal human body could not withstand it.

Based on this, he inferred that a high-level shield at the Magister level should be able to block radiation with extreme ease.

Zhang Mu had been in the Other World for over a year, busy without end. Plus, since he did not know the side effects of the panel's resurrection function at the beginning, he had not bothered to collect high-grade shield magic.

Otherwise, he could have tested it this morning.

"After the competition tomorrow, I will go to the Saul Continent. I promised her, and I cannot break my word."

With this thought, Zhang Mu soared into the sky and sped toward London.