Stars constantly passed through the sun's fiery core.
The external temperature had already reached ten million degrees Celsius.
The energy level of the starship was currently at 50%.
With the propulsion system at full throttle, cooling at full capacity, and shields fully deployed, the energy remained at a steady fifty percent, neither increasing nor decreasing.
During the long journey, the two conversed extensively.
Chu Tian had come to understand many things.
Their entry into the sun's core was to complete the starship's final experiment.
When Chu Tian heard the word "experiment," he nearly lost his mind.
It turned out that, in terms of theoretical design, the starship's energy source required the destruction of a star, with its core being absorbed into the energy庫.
Otherwise, the starship's energy system would perpetually display a value of fifty percent.
Only after capturing a star would it theoretically possess endless energy, existing in unison with the star.
This design concept struck Chu Tian as utterly fantastical.
HK3016 informed Chu Tian that there was no alternative; the starship's design had incorporated virtually all the highest and most advanced technologies of the First Universe.
It was, in essence, the Noah's Ark of the First Universe.
Without an infinite energy source, it would be comparable to, or even inferior to, ordinary battle armor.
This was due to the inability to utilize many offensive and defensive capabilities.
Despite the current fifty percent energy reading seeming substantial, Chu Tian described it as "hollow," akin to a phone battery.
This marked a critical point for the starship's energy reserves; any increase beyond fifty percent, even by a mere one percent, would unlock numerous functionalities that were otherwise unusable. This was because, by design, the energy display only reached above fifty percent upon acquiring an infinite energy source.
However, any star that had not yet entered its aging phase was a vital resource in any universe. The existence of a star implied the presence of countless life-bearing planets orbiting within its radiation zone. It was impossible to use such a star as an energy source for the starship.
In HK3016's words, this was a fortunate turn of events! He also expressed gratitude to Chu Tian for somehow acquiring such a star.
This region of space was barren, and the natural formation of a life-supporting ecosystem might take tens of billions of years to evolve. Instead of waiting, it was worth taking a gamble to recharge the starship.
Chu Tian mused, "If you're taking the gamble, why drag me along!"
However, with the situation as it was, he could only accept it with a sense of resignation.
"How much further are we from the core?" Chu Tian asked.
HK3106 replied, "We're almost there."
Chu Tian glanced at the data display; the external temperature had already reached thirty million degrees Celsius, more than double the temperature of the sun's core as calculated by scientists on Blue Star.
Simultaneously, he realized that many of the questions he wanted to ask could be found on the display screen. He therefore ceased his conversation with HK3016 and began to explore the information himself.
...
On Blue Star, in the capital city.
Inside a luxurious mansion, a middle-aged man lay on a bed.
The room was filled with various medical instruments.
"Dad, when are you going to wake up? Brother Chu Tian has been missing for almost two days, and I don't know where he went!"
The speaker was Luo Yi, who sat by the bedside, gazing at the unconscious man. Her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
"Don't worry! That kid will be fine."
With a creak, the room door was pushed open, and a tall, imposing man entered.
"Ninth Grandfather? Why are you here?"
Luo Luo stood up, her eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and inquiry.
"There's nothing much happening in the small world, but I was worried about you here, so I came to check."
The newcomer was Luo Lingfeng, who affectionately ruffled Luo Yi's hair.
"Ninth Grandfather..." Luo Yi's eyes welled up.
"Haha, Luo Luo, you're a young lady now, why are you still so tearful? By the way, how is Qing Hao? Still not awake?"
Qing Hao was Luo Yi's father, the eldest of the Qing generation. His full name was Luo Qing Hao.
"Yes... it's been so long, and he still hasn't woken up. The doctors said... Dad's brain nerves are damaged, and the chances of him regaining consciousness... are not very high!"
As Luo Yi spoke, her expression grew somber.
"Alas... if only we could find him, Qing Hao would surely wake up," Luo Lingfeng sighed.
"Ninth Grandfather is right... Are you referring to the expert who helped you reshape your body in the Misty Water Cold Pool Cave? Do you know who he is?" Luo Luo quickly pressed.
Luo Lingfeng's expression turned reflective, and he shook his head, saying faintly, "I'm not entirely sure who it was! At the time, I retrieved my own qi and blood pearl. While I knew there was a chance to reshape my body, I didn't have much hope. It was mainly to prevent that old fellow Luo Lingshan from getting it. Then, that expert appeared out of nowhere and helped me."
"Such opportunities are rare and hard to come by..." Luo Luo looked at her father lying on the bed.
"BEEP BEEP BEEP... ALERT... ALERT... Someone has breached the perimeter... ALERT... ALERT... Intruder..."
Luo Yi and Luo Lingfeng were engaged in casual conversation when suddenly, the alarms throughout the villa blared. Both of them immediately stood up.
"Ninth Grandfather, please stay here and protect my father. I'll go and see what's happening!"
Luo Lingfeng was about to rush out when Luo Luo grabbed him. He glanced back at Luo Qing Hao, hesitated, and then nodded. "Don't worry! You go ahead! If anything happens, remember to call me!"
"Okay..." Luo Luo pulled open the room door with one hand and quickly tied up her loose hair with the other. In that instant, a pure and delicate young girl transformed into a valiant female warrior.
As she emerged from the villa, she saw a circle of bodyguards. A young man in casual wear was being held down on the ground, his hands cuffed behind his back.
"This is an urgent matter, quickly go and call Miss Luo Yi out!" the youth shouted, still pressed to the ground.
"Who do you think you are? You can't just call for Miss Luo Yi as you please?" one of the bodyguards kicked him in the back.
The youth's expression darkened after being kicked. He said, "I have important matters to report. Don't force me to fight back!"
"Hahaha... You want to fight back? Don't you know your situation?" As he spoke, the bodyguard kicked him again. "I think you're just a lecher trying to find an excuse to get close to Miss Luo Yi!"
While saying this, he delivered several more kicks, one of which was aimed at the youth's face.
"You..."
The youth, who had been enduring for a long time, finally became enraged. Just as he was about to struggle to his feet, a clear voice called out from the villa entrance.
"Stop..."
The youth, on the verge of resisting, relaxed his body upon hearing the voice and lay down obediently.
"What's going on?" Luo Luo, now dressed in a more business-like attire, walked into the villa's courtyard and looked down at the person on the ground.
"Heh heh, Miss Luo, this person said he wanted to see you at the villa entrance but didn't have an appointment. We didn't let him in, and then... he tried to force his way in, so my brothers took him down. Leave this trivial matter to us," the bodyguard who had been kicking the youth said with a smile to Luo Yi.
Hearing this, Luo Yi frowned and asked, "Since when do visitors to my home require an appointment?"
Upon hearing this, Luo Luo's temper began to flare.