Chapter 312 Target: The Moon
In the Kyoto joint control room, the cold light of a giant holographic star map illuminated the entire conference hall.
Between the two enormous coordinate points representing Earth and the Moon, an invisible link illuminated by a gravity array is slowly synchronizing data. On the side of the large screen, a densely packed list of supplies scrolls like a waterfall; it is the initial resource allocation table for the "Taiyin Outpost Phase I Construction Project".
"The total weight of these bulk materials, including basic building materials, Earth-Moon gravity anchor piles, and the base frame of large voltage stabilization arrays, is approaching nine thousand tons."
The head of the Coordination Agency rubbed his bloodshot temples and pointed to the payload parameters on the screen. "Professor Wang, the maximum carrying capacity of the second-generation 'Gonggong-class' heavy-duty transport module of the space elevator is 1,500 tons per module. Six transport modules can just handle this shipment. However, the transportation of the core equipment has become a problem."
He pulled out a list highlighted in red. It included the micro-star array disk mother crystal, the high-precision constant-temperature magic artifact base, and the three sets of liquid spirit stone micro-reactor cores, which were the most crucial components of the first phase of the project.
"These core components are not large in size, but their combined weight is not light, and they are extremely sensitive to vibration and spiritual pressure fluctuations. The cargo hold environment of the 'Gonggong-class' is too rough. If they are mixed with several thousand tons of steel, any tiny secondary oscillation during the 380,000-kilometer high-pressure journey could cause cracks in the parent crystal that are invisible to the naked eye."
The head of the Coordination Agency looked at the former president of the Array Court sitting at the other end of the long table: "Since the volume is not large, can we use the military's highest-level 'Qiankun' storage bag? As long as these core components are put into the storage bag and then carried onto the cabin by a special person, we can perfectly avoid the load limitations and vibration risks of the physical cargo hold."
The sound of hushed turning of documents filled the meeting room. In the common knowledge of the traditional cultivation world, storage bags have always been the ultimate solution to logistics problems.
The Dean of the Array Court slowly put down the jade slip in his hand, his wrinkled face showing no sign of relaxation.
"The proposal from the Coordinating Agency is logically feasible, but it has fatal flaws when it comes to deep space physics."
The president of the court pulled up a set of deep space environmental radiation monitoring maps. "The essence of storage bags is low-level space folding technology."
"On the Earth's surface, we have the Earth's massive magnetic field and thick atmosphere as natural stabilizers, making the space barrier as solid as a rock. But in the Earth-Moon transfer orbit, without the shielding of the atmosphere and magnetic field, the ubiquitous high-energy cosmic rays, solar storms, and deep space cold pressure will act like countless microscopic files invisible to the naked eye, constantly cutting through the space barrier of the storage bag."
The old dean's fingers tapped heavily on the table: "A high-level storage bag filled with a high-density reactor and array disk mother crystal, once exposed to the penetrating radiation of the deep space environment, will experience violent disruption or even tearing of its spatial folding structure within tens of minutes. At that time, the core equipment inside will be instantly swept into the spatial turbulence, leaving not even a trace. Although the 'Gonggong-class' transport pod has half a meter thick composite armor to protect against radiation, the spiritual pressure environment inside the pod is extremely unstable, which will also cause the storage bag's structural resonance."
"Then how do we solve this?" The representative from the Military Industry Administration frowned. "Bulk materials go through physical cargo holds, but core components can't be transported in storage bags. How will we get the foundation stones for the Taiyin Outpost up there?"
"Storage bags are allowed, but they must have an insulated layer."
Wang Mingyuan, who had been silent all along, spoke up. His gaze swept across the long table and landed on Zhang Ji in the audience.
"The Golden Core is flawless." Wang Mingyuan's voice was steady and firm. "The physical body of a Golden Core cultivator is a world unto itself. Not only can it ignore the extreme cold and vacuum of deep space, but its outward Golden Core domain is the most perfect spiritual pressure and radiation shielding layer in the world."
Zhang Ji raised his head and met Wang Mingyuan's gaze.
"Zhang Ji, the military will select three Golden Core stage sword cultivators to form an escort task force. These storage bags containing the lunar core components will be locked to your waists with special runes." Wang Mingyuan gave the final order. "During the 380,000-kilometer journey between Earth and the Moon, whether you are inside or outside the transport capsule, you must continuously release your Golden Core domain and use your true essence to tightly envelop the storage bags, providing them with comprehensive physical and spiritual pressure shielding."
"As long as the sword remains, the formation remains. As long as the domain remains intact, space will not collapse." Zhang Ji stood up, his posture as straight as a sword, giving the most unyielding promise of a soldier.
Thus, the underlying logic of logistics was completely locked down. Ordinary and bulk heavy equipment were relegated to steel, while core and precision lifelines were entrusted to the Golden Core. The vast national machinery of the Cultivation Alliance, following this clear track, roared deafeningly.
Chung-Yuan Heavy Industries, the top-secret factory area of the third largest manufacturing plant.
The pungent smell of engine oil mixed with the vapor from evaporating coolant permeated the massive factory building, which stood hundreds of meters high. Thousands of heavy industrial searchlights illuminated the entire workshop as if it were daytime.
The five-axis linkage ultra-precision psionic laser etcher matrix is operating at full power. The dark blue laser beam, with micron-level tolerances, is frantically etching "vacuum insulation runes" and "internal circulation constant temperature array patterns" onto the inner lining of the heavy-duty titanium steel armor plate. After each armor plate is formed, it is immediately grabbed by the huge robotic arm and sent to the next high-pressure quenching process.
Here, they are working at full speed to produce the most indispensable individual equipment for the construction of "Taiyin Outpost" - the [Xuanwu-I] Deep Space Rune Engineering Armor.
Since the physical bodies of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators and engineers cannot survive for long periods in the extreme environment of the moon, the Earth Alliance's solution is the most extreme physical armor intervention.
A gantry crane weighing several tons slowly glided across the dome, precisely lowering a massive alloy frame onto the assembly platform. A dozen senior fitters and array masters immediately surrounded it, the ear-piercing whirring of pneumatic wrenches mingling with the sparks of spiritual energy welding.
"The impedance test of servo motor No. 3 is normal, and the hydraulic pipeline is sealed."
"The life support array on the back is connected to the network, and the spiritual pressure conduction circuit is unobstructed."
The design of the [Xuanwu-I type] armor did not take into account any streamlined aesthetics at all; it is a steel behemoth born purely to resist the extreme physical laws of the universe.
The massive body, weighing 300 kilograms, was coated with a dark gray lead-zinc coating for radiation protection.
At the joints of the limbs, exposed, robust hydraulic servo motors provide the engineer with terrifying torque for stable operation in low-gravity environments. Two thumb-thick alloy cables, like artificial blood vessels, extend from the heavy life support box on the back and lock securely into the rear neck interface of the fully enclosed explosion-proof helmet.
This suit of armor not only needs to provide a constant temperature in the shadowy region of the far side of the moon at -170 degrees Celsius, but also needs to establish a calibrated atmospheric pressure internal circulation that perfectly fits the human body in a vacuum environment.
When the last set of [Xuanwu-I] armor passed the high-pressure chamber simulation test of the Array Academy and was stamped with the qualification mark, the first construction army of the Cultivation Alliance heading to the moon finally completed its physical armament.
The first base of the space elevator, 5 a.m.
A biting wind, carrying the darkness of night, howled across the massive circular launch pad. A huge beam of searchlight pierced the sky, illuminating the composite titanium main cable, tens of meters in diameter.
On the six superconducting parallel tracks of the main cable, the six second-generation "Gonggong-class" heavy-load transport pods, like six giant black anvils, were firmly gripped by hydraulic locking clamps. These transport behemoths, specially customized for lunar engineering, abandoned all comfort compartments. The surface of their half-meter-thick special composite armor was covered with hexagonal arrays of raised ridges used to deflect tiny meteorites and cosmic rays, exuding an undisguised ruggedness and hardness.
Below the base, in the vast assembly area, three hundred space monks belonging to the "Interstellar Expeditionary Force Engineering Development Sequence" had already assembled.
They were all equipped with the newly produced [Xuanwu-I] armor. Huge, fully enclosed helmets obscured their faces, leaving only the flashing HUD data on their goggles visible. Three hundred heavily armored steel suits, each weighing three hundred kilograms, stood in perfect unison on the platform, their hydraulic systems emitting a low, idle hum. As they adjusted their formation, the heavy mechanical boots pounded against the titanium-coated decks, producing a dull, oppressive thud.
Engineer Chen stood at the forefront of the first formation. Inside his mask, the life support system was methodically injecting filtered, oxygen-rich spiritual energy into the armor, emitting a soft hissing sound. He checked the armor's self-check interface on the retinal projection.
"Armor numbers one through fifty, internal air pressure calibration complete, constant temperature arrays operating normally in standby mode." Old Chen reported steadily to the control room via the internal encrypted channel.
Flanking the three hundred heavily armed engineering cultivators were three Golden Core stage escort sword cultivators led by Zhang Ji.
They weren't wearing the bulky and cumbersome [Xuanwu-I] armor, but rather their dark black deep-space tactical robes. However, each swordsman had a crimson high-level storage pouch securely locked to their tactical belt. These three storage pouches contained the heart and brain of the entire Taiyin Outpost Phase One project.
Zhang Ji placed one hand on the storage pouch at his waist, his golden core slowly rotating like a star within his body. An extremely powerful true essence domain emanated from him, completely enveloping and shielding the storage pouch and the surrounding three-foot space. The two golden core sword cultivators behind him did the same, their three powerful golden core fluctuations intertwining in the cold wind to form a heart-palpitating spiritual pressure net.
"The escort task force's true energy shielding area is fully operational, and the core space payload structure is stable," Zhang Ji reported in a deep voice, pressing his earpiece.
Behind the transparent curtain wall of the main control room high above, Wang Mingyuan silently watched the torrent of civilization below, a mixture of steel, arrays, and top cultivators. On the large screen, the countdown numbers were relentlessly ticking.
"The physical balance of bulk loads in compartments one through six has been completed, with a total weight of 8,930 tons."
"The airspace over the main line has been cleared, and the damping array at the high-orbit forward base has been preheated."
"Main cable traction array, full power cut-in ready."
A cold, mechanical female voice echoed throughout the entire First Pyramid.
Wang Mingyuan took a deep breath and pressed his hands heavily on the core approval button on the control panel.
boom--!
A tremor erupted instantly from the depths of the earth. Six beams of eerie blue plasma tails burst forth with blinding light on the conduit walls of the deep pit at the bottom, the terrifying heat instantly evaporating the surrounding chill. The powerful recoil blew out air from a radius of hundreds of meters, forming a visible white sonic boom ring.
Pulled frantically by the main cable array, six heavy transport capsules, carrying the most raw and resolute industrial will of Earth's civilization, rose up along the space elevator.
Like six heavy swords piercing through thick clouds, the hydraulic locking clamps at the bottom of the transport module, which was 200 kilometers above the orbital base, suddenly unlocked. The massive transport module broke free from the elevator main cable and plunged into deep space. Following the pre-marked gravity array link, it shot straight toward the cold, distant star 380,000 kilometers away.
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