Early the next morning, Gu Zhao received a Thunder Seed voice transmission from Yunyang.
"Director Zheng is in Yangcheng? He’s at the Taoist Research Institute right now and wants to see me about the Moon Base?" Gu Zhao lifted his head from Jiang Shishi’s magnificent bosom and glanced at the sky outside. "He’s here this early? I didn’t expect the system’s efficiency to get this high."
"Not quite," Yunyang replied. "He arrived last night."
"Didn’t we agree not to interfere with the country’s normal technological development?" Gu Zhao asked. "Why this sudden, radical plan to build a Moon Base?"
"Word is that, after their analysis, they realized that building a scientific research base on the Moon ahead of schedule can actually reverse-engineer and accelerate technological development," Yunyang explained.
"Oh? Is that so?" Gu Zhao then pulled his left hand out from the smooth curve of Xiao Ya’s slender legs.
"For example, they can directly research biotechnology and space engines in a space environment," Yunyang said. "Maybe it’s similar to us experiencing Ascension ahead of time?"
"Alright, I’ll head over now," Gu Zhao agreed.
Ten minutes later, Gu Zhao appeared at the Taoist Research Institute.
He found that among the visitors this time, aside from Zheng Hongsheng and Chen Yao whom he already knew, there was also a bespectacled, refined middle-aged man and a tall, stern-faced man with a commanding presence.
Zheng Hongsheng introduced them. These two were Professor Yun Wenbin, who was in charge of science and technology for the Taoist Office, and Mi Shaojie, an expert overseeing military impacts.
"Hello, Mr. Gu!" Yun Wenbin cupped his hands in greeting, while Mi Shaojie offered a crisp military salute.
"Greetings to you both." Gu Zhao cupped his hands in return and gestured to the chairs. "Please, sit down. We can talk as we sit."
Strictly speaking, this was the first time Gu Zhao had sat down face-to-face for a formal discussion with the people from the Taoist Office.
During their very first interaction, Gu Zhao had been eating breakfast outside the Taoist Research Institute with Changyi and his parents. Taoist Yi Hong and Taoist Ming Yu had acted as representatives for the Institute then. In subsequent communications, the office had always called the Institute’s landline, and the elderly Daoists would pass on the messages. Gu Zhao only had the security captain’s number and had never communicated directly with the Taoist Office.
This time was different. For one, the person currently overseeing the Taoist Research Institute was Yunyang, who was ultimately still young and inexperienced in such diplomacy. Secondly, compared to the temporary favors of the past, this was a long-term undertaking.
Therefore, Yunyang couldn’t make the final call and had no choice but to notify Gu Zhao.
"Mr. Gu, your one-hour journey to the Moon truly opened our eyes," Zheng Hongsheng spoke first.
"Eating hotpot and singing songs up there—how completely carefree! Hahaha!" Chen Yao laughed.
Following standard etiquette, they engaged in some light banter before getting down to business to lighten the mood and build rapport.
"Did Zhang Hang upload the video?" Gu Zhao asked.
"He posted it a little after ten last night," Chen Yao chuckled.
When Gu Zhao brought the group back to Blue Star, it was around five-thirty. They had gone to the barbecue joint Erin recommended and waited in line for over forty minutes before finally getting a table. By the time they finished eating and headed home, it was nearly eight-thirty.
In other words, Zhang Hang had started editing and uploading the video to the platform the exact second he got home.
When had he ever worked so hard? It seemed that the desire to show off was truly the greatest motivator!
Gu Zhao took out his phone and opened Doukuai. Sure enough, he saw a newly uploaded video from @Brother Hang Takes You Flying.
The video, lasting just under two minutes, showcased the grandeur of the Guanghan Palace, the breathtaking view of Blue Star from the Moon, the vast desolation of touring the lunar surface, and the lively atmosphere of singing and eating hotpot.
Zhang Hang had been running his food review channel for almost three years. Although he was far from being a top-tier influencer, he was somewhat famous locally in Yue Province, having amassed several hundred thousand followers.
As a result, the moment the video dropped, the comment section exploded into pure chaos.
Some users played along with Zhang Hang’s jokes, some praised the special effects, some pointed out various scientific inaccuracies, and others mocked the video for its blatant ignorance. But absolutely no one took the video seriously.
"AI is advancing so fast these days. I can barely spot the flaws anymore."
"If I didn’t know that there’s no oxygen on the Moon, that the atmospheric pressure is different from Blue Star, and that incense can’t burn there, I almost would have believed it."
"It’s still pretty fake. Blue Star doesn’t look like that from the Moon, because..."
"Brother Hang, take me up there next time! I’ll pay 1,000 Yuan!"
Gu Zhao watched Zhang Hang smugly introduce the Guanghan Palace, pick up Moon Rocks, and eat hotpot in the video before putting down his phone. "Please excuse my friend’s antics."
Yun Wenbin smiled. "No need for excuses. I only feel envy."
Zheng Hongsheng chimed in, "Which is why we’re here so early in the morning."
Gu Zhao couldn’t help but laugh. He finally understood why the usually composed Taoist Office had suddenly lost its composure.
It would have been one thing if Gu Zhao had just gone up by himself. But now, he had even taken his friends to the Moon—and all they did was eat, drink, mess around, and sightsee! Those scientists absolutely couldn’t hold back anymore. Gu Zhao guessed that the group of domestic scientists who knew the truth and had seen Zhang Hang’s video were already cursing up a storm in sheer jealousy.
"So, what is the office’s plan?" Gu Zhao asked.
Zheng Hongsheng pointed at Yun Wenbin. "Professor Yun will walk you through it."
Yun Wenbin nodded. "Right now, we only have a preliminary draft. But since it requires your cooperation, Mr. Gu, we came over early to give you a heads-up."
Gu Zhao waved his hand dismissively. "We’re all on the same side here. No need to be so polite."
Yun Wenbin then described the Science Academy’s initial plan to Gu Zhao.
First, they would finalize the blueprints for the Moon Base, modularize all the equipment, and manufacture the parts.
Second, Gu Zhao would take astronauts, scientists, and the equipment to the Moon, where they would assemble the various modules to form a complete Moon Base.
After that, every six months to a year, he would transport rotation crews and large equipment until Celestial Xia possessed the capability for routine, round-trip travel between the two locations.
Gu Zhao listened until he finished, then said, "Sounds simple enough."
Yun Wenbin smiled bitterly. "The Celestial Palace Space Station has long been in routine operation; surviving in space isn’t the hard part. The real difficulty lies in safely transporting everything to the Moon and safely returning."
"That ’most difficult part’ happens to be the easiest for us," Yunyang chuckled from the side.
Never mind Gu Zhao—even Yunyang now had a thousand years of Dao Practice. The Magical Power within his body was so vast that he could manage short-term space travel. A prolonged journey might be tough to guarantee, but a simple round trip to the Moon would be absolutely no problem.
However, when it came to constructing space bases and conducting lunar scientific experiments, the cultivators were completely clueless.
Yun Wenbin smiled. "Therefore, we complement each other perfectly."
Gu Zhao nodded. "It’s not hard. Aside from me, anyone from our side who returns to take a shift at the Institute could get it done."
Yunyang pointed at himself. "I haven’t even been to the Moon yet! Once you’re ready, I’ll take you up there!
"Of course, I’m not as fast as the Sect Leader. I won’t get you there in an hour. It’ll probably take me at least five or six hours," Yunyang added.
The eyes of the men from the office lit up, and they nodded repeatedly. "That’s already incredibly fast!"