The Heavens: A Qing, the Yue Girl at the beginning

“Because Mars can’t save them either,” Angers said coldly.

EVA's flickering lights bring up a complex simulation of the solar system, with data annotations for each planet.

“火星表面平均辐射剂量约为地球的250倍；重力仅为地球38%；磁场微弱近乎于无；大气稀薄（<1%地球气压）且95%为CO；昼夜温差超100℃；全球性沙尘暴可持续数月……”

“Any Mars base will become a ‘glass dome’ that is a hundred times more vulnerable than the Antarctic station, forever dependent on Earth for supplies and technical support. A large-scale solar flare, a meteorite impact, or even a minor malfunction in the ecological cycle system could lead to the collapse of the entire colony.”

"The moon is worse."

Flamel took a sip of his drink. "Radiation, temperature differences, two weeks of darkness... it was just a forward outpost, not even a 'dome'."

“That’s right.” Angers pointed to the star map. “Whether it’s the development of Mars or the lunar base, it seems to be getting a lot of hype, and the media is portraying it as humanity’s second home. But the fundamental idea behind these plans is to serve Earth—resource extraction, scientific research, technology verification, or even just a political show.”

"They are extended tentacles, mines, laboratories, springboards... but they are always appendages, merely auxiliary to the main body of the space industry. Their value depends entirely on the health and supply of Mother Earth."

His finger traced the entire projection of the solar system, finally settling on that blue planet:
"Looking at the entire solar system, and even the universe as we know it... the most blessed is Earth."

"Just the right amount of gravity, a powerful yet protective magnetic field, abundant liquid water, a thick atmosphere, a perfect carbon-oxygen-nitrogen cycle, and a complex ecosystem that has evolved over hundreds of millions of years... all of these together constitute an incredibly precise, fragile yet resilient cradle of life."

"The conditions are far superior to any 'tin can' that we can simulate with technology, a financial black hole that requires constant maintenance."

“Therefore,” Angers’ voice was calm and resolute, carrying the clarity honed by a century of vicissitudes, “the pioneers of the Doomsday Movement soon realized that they were not searching for a backup home, but rather building themselves more magnificent tombs. They, and the flame of civilization they were trying to preserve, would forever live in fear—”

“After all, since dragon alchemy was able to successfully transform and occupy Venus, a planet with an extremely harsh environment,” Flamel murmured, his face pale, “then, whether they hide on Mars or in the more distant outer solar system, they are probably not safe in the eyes of the Black King.”

"Even though the four elements are almost non-existent in outer space, Nidhogg can still use its supreme power to hurl mountains out of Earth's gravitational pull and bombard any target it wants to destroy, just like a dinosaur killer."

"To escape, one must escape far enough, far beyond the gravitational reach of the sun, or even further into the deep interstellar space."

EVA promptly picked up the thread, pulling up new information: "Based on partial technological verification provided by the Venusian Dragon Clan and an extreme overestimation of the Black King's power, the Doomsday Committee officially abandoned any form of planetary colonization plan around 1980, and instead devoted all its efforts to the development of interstellar spacecraft."

"The key to achieving this goal, besides being inspired by some of the dragon technology from Venus, depends even more on a breakthrough in human technology itself—controlled nuclear fusion."

A blurry blueprint of a huge, ring-shaped device appeared on the light screen, marked with complex Russian terms and parameters.

"Around 1980, in the former Soviet Union, the 'Tokamak-7' project, which was deeply infiltrated and dominated by doomsday proponents, achieved for the first time a long-term stable confined combustion of deuterium-tritium fusion, with the output energy significantly exceeding the input energy for the first time."

"Subsequently, after three years, the 'Heart of Prometheus' tokamak reactor, with a normal output power of 300 million kilowatts, was officially completed in the top-secret city of 023 in northern Siberia, and achieved the goal of uninterrupted operation. Unfortunately, the output energy was not stable enough, putting too much pressure on the power grid..."

"Although this technology was never truly implemented in the Soviet Union's civilian or military energy network due to its inability to sustain tritium and its high maintenance costs, it was on this foundation that the design of the core of the entire project—the 'Daedalus-Modified' nuclear fusion pulse engine—became truly possible."

"The Doomsday Faction quickly replicated and improved the first-generation deuterium-tritium reactor and achieved stable operation of the second-generation fusion technology—the deuterium-helium-3 reactor. Its energy production efficiency and cleanliness far exceed those of the former, and neutron radiation damage is also greatly reduced, making it more suitable for long-term deep space travel."

“But helium-3…” The vice principal frowned. “The reserves of helium-3 on Earth are measured in kilograms. Where are they going to get enough helium-3 to power a 750 million-ton behemoth to Saturn?”

“Alchemy,” Angers slowly uttered three words. “Only the elemental transmutation in alchemy can explain this situation.”

"You mean, the Philosopher's Stone? Besides turning lead into gold, can it also create helium-3 out of thin air?" The vice-principal muttered to himself, "It's not impossible, but... what about the production capacity?"

Few people know that the alchemical fission reactor hidden in the ice cellar was designed and built under the supervision of the Night's Watchman, who understands nuclear physics far better than he appears to be a mystery expert.

EVA confirmed this: "Based on the analysis of the archival fragments, they operated at least a hundred super-large alchemical matrices, continuously pumping tens of thousands of tons of high-purity mercury for over a decade. One of the core functions of these matrices was... the material conversion of heavy water and lithium-6."

"Roughly estimated, in order to catalyze the generation of enough helium-3 and tritium, a total of 17.4 tons of highly purified and refined Philosopher's Stone powder or crystals were consumed throughout the entire project."

"Seventeen point four... tons?!"

Flamel's voice completely changed, filled with a sense of absurdity, and he almost jumped up: "This is impossible! Absolutely impossible! How difficult it is to obtain the Philosopher's Stone!"

"The total amount of finished products accumulated by the Secret Society over thousands of years, all of which are publicly recorded and verifiable, does not exceed 50 kilograms! Where did so much come from?!"

It's important to know that the market price of the Philosopher's Stone is at least tens of thousands of times that of its weight in gold!
"Who provided them with it?" Angers pressed.

"Most of them come from Chinese-Chinese mixed-race families...'collections,' or rather, 'funding,'" EVA added in her reply. "The Doomsday Faction seems to have reached a deep cooperation with some ancient forces over there, and there's also some labeled 'newly synthesized,' but the source of their materials...is unknown."

“Unclear?” Angers frowned.

The technique for synthesizing the Philosopher's Stone has long been lost. Even Flamel, the contemporary Secret Society's recognized chief alchemist, could only barely make it using the bones of high-ranking dragons. However, given the scarcity of raw materials and the slow production rate, it was absolutely impossible to gather such a massive quantity in a short period of time.

More precisely, even a one in a thousand chance is as difficult as climbing to the sky.

Yes, it's unclear.

EVA confirmed: "No relevant record was found in the database."

“The source of the materials is unknown, and the synthesis technology is far beyond my understanding…” The vice principal slumped back into his chair, his face ashen. “Unless… there are dragons, and extremely high-level dragon alchemy masters, who directly participated in and led all of this.”

"This is the only explanation."

Angers' voice was icy: "Only dragons could possibly master the secret technique of refining the Philosopher's Stone on such a large scale and with such high efficiency."

"They gave this technology, perhaps along with some of the necessary 'raw materials,' as an investment to the Doomsday Pirates in exchange for a seat on the ship, or... some other promise."

“In 1992,” EVA continued, moving forward the timeline, “two more decisive events occurred.”

……

At almost the same time, Shi Yiguang returned from the construction observation platform and arrived at an open space surrounded by stone figures.

With a flick of her sleeve, a small cyan sword suddenly appeared, disappearing into the nuclear weapon painting floating behind her, precisely inserting itself into a hidden slot within an icosahedral spiked metal sphere.

Soon, the laser-induced micro-fusion ignition device, which was originally placed in a small cave, was lifted out, flew away from the painting, and transformed into a heavy device three or four zhang tall. As soon as it was placed on the bluestone slab covered with runes, the mechanism started to rumble.

The metal sphere at the apex rapidly glowed, and the blazing sun sand inside was activated by the array, displaying a scorching red light. In the center of the sphere, where visible light could not penetrate, a few milligrams of deuterium-tritium target pellet was rapidly compressed and contracted by the powerful true fire aura and X-rays, triggering a brief implosion.

"...So far, the rate at which existing controlled nuclear fusion devices such as tokamak and stellarator generate solar fire is extremely small, probably less than one hundred millionth of that of a star's core at the same power, and possibly even more than a dozen orders of magnitude lower."

She controlled the retracting of the flying sword and introduced Zhao Qing to one of her most important recent research projects, "The Correlation Between Nuclear Fusion and Solar Fire":
"By comparing the two, my personal speculation is that among the factors influencing the generation of solar fire, plasma density is likely the key, even more so than temperature..."

"For example, the density of a typical ITER is several orders of magnitude lower than that of the atmosphere, far less than the 1.5 × 10^5 kg/m³ of the sun's core. After all, the latter has a pressure of 2445 billion atmospheres, which is more than a hundred billion times greater than the former. In contrast, the advantage of the fourth power of temperature T is only ten thousand times..."

"Furthermore, the differences in the pathways of fusion reactions may also contribute several orders of magnitude to it—the protium-protium, protium-deuterium, helium-3-helium-3 and other PP chains and their branch reactions in the Sun, especially the former two, the dominance of quantum tunneling, and the long time it takes for photons to travel from the solar nucleus to the photosphere, are all fundamentally different from the deuterium-tritium fusion process that is completed instantaneously in the laboratory."

"Regarding the density issue, the laser ignition device has completed preliminary verification, indicating that this factor is indeed strongly correlated with the improvement of the efficiency of real fire generation. Although it is still difficult to reproduce the extreme gravitational compression environment of the solar core, it has barely reached the level of one ten-thousandth. It's just a pity..."

"Unfortunately, the Q value in engineering is too low, only around 0.01. Overall, the yield is only one in a million."

Zhao Qing casually chimed in from the other side: "It would be better to just detonate some hydrogen bombs. Although most of the generated solar fire would be scattered and difficult to collect, at least the cost would be low and it could be used to generate electricity normally."

"...From another perspective, what were the results of injecting solar fire into a fusion reactor for catalysis?"

"In the early test reactors, only a power increase of about one ten-thousandth was observed..."

Shi Yiguang thought for a moment and replied, "After the shielding layer was redesigned, the situation where the solar fire was 'blown' out of the beryllium-tungsten composite layer by the light pressure radiation basically disappeared. The leakage was solved, and the efficiency increased by several hundred times."

“It should also be a matter of plasma density,” Zhao Qing smiled slightly. “The basis of any catalysis is the frequency of 'particle' collisions… But besides the macroscopic matter density, we should perhaps pay more attention to the 'effective interaction density' at the microscopic scale, the coherent oscillations of the solar energy field.” Shi Yiguang’s gaze narrowed slightly, and the suspended crystal screen behind him quickly switched between complex quantum mechanical models and particle collision simulations:
"Microscopic scale? You mean...reaction cross section? Or, how to make particles 'feel' closer to each other, even if the physical distance hasn't changed? Like muons?"

She immediately thought of the example of μ- replacing electrons, shortening the distance between atomic nuclei, thereby shielding most of the Coulomb barrier between positively charged atomic nuclei and reducing the difficulty of fusion reactions.

"exactly."

Zhao Qing praised, "Conventional fusion research focuses on increasing the ion temperature (T) to overcome the Coulomb barrier, but this has engineering limitations. However, the primordial laws inherent in the true fire of the sun can directly affect the interaction potential between particles at a specific oscillation frequency."

Formulas flow across the crystal screen, with one formula describing the Coulomb potential between two charged particles highlighted:

V(r)=(1/(4πε))*(ZZe/r)
“The key is here,” she continued, “the true fire of the sun can couple with virtual photons to exchange vital energy over a very short distance, correcting the effective charge of protons at the microscopic level, or in other words, forming a temporary ‘shielding cloud’ around them, composed of highly ordered solar energy.”

The formula changes accordingly, with Z and Z replaced by Z_eff and Z_eff, and their values ​​are significantly smaller than the normal atomic numbers.

"The reduction in effective charge directly leads to a significant reduction in the Coulomb repulsion barrier (V_b)."

Zhao Qing further explained, "Look, the barrier height V_b∝ ZZ. Even if Z_eff decreases by only a little bit, the resulting reduction in barrier height and width is extremely significant."

Shi Yiguang quickly chimed in: "A lower potential barrier means a lower energy required for quantum tunneling, or in other words, at the same temperature, the tunneling probability increases exponentially! The reaction rate R no longer depends solely on the difficult form of exp(-√(E_G /(k_B T))) to overcome the potential barrier..."

"Yes."

Zhao Qing affirmed, "One of the core mechanisms of the catalysis of solar true fire lies in its ability to provide a pathway to 'soften' the Coulomb barrier. This allows the fusion reaction rate (R) to increase exponentially, and its enhancement factor F can be expressed as:"

A brand new formula shines in the center of the light screen:

F = R(truefire)/ R≈ exp( C *ρ* g* a*√(ZZ)/√(T))
“This formula shows,” Shih Yi-kuang took a deep breath and concluded, “that high density (ρ), high quality solar fire (high g), and targeted reaction nuclei (Z, Z) are the key to achieving efficient catalytic fusion.”

"While the temperature (T) still needs to be maintained, its stringency is greatly reduced due to catalysis, and it is even possible to achieve efficient and self-sustaining 'cold fusion' at around 3000K, and to start the reaction with a proton chain, just like in the core of the sun, thus completely eliminating the dependence on scarce isotopes!"

"Yes, we'll use the most common hydrogen directly!"

Zhao Qing's voice was calm yet carried an undeniable certainty, "But the premise of everything is that we must be able to precisely and constantly 'tune' the oscillation frequency and phase of the solar energy field, using a chaotic system to counteract chaos, and using disorder to contain higher-order order..."

"Taoist charm?" Shi Yiguang asked.

Zhao Qing nodded: "Simply put, it means that specific 'Dao patterns' must be condensed at the nanoscale or even the microscale to weave a complete and self-consistent domain. In a sense, it is equivalent to the Primordial Authority Candle Dragon, which is similar to the principle of this World-Destroying Word Spirit, but closer to the essence."

"Stars are themselves among the greatest alchemical furnaces and energy generators in the universe. When we try to understand and reproduce some of their mysteries, many difficulties in cultivation will no longer be obstacles."

"For example, by using the charge correction force of the sun's true fire, white dwarf matter, or even proton degenerate matter, can be refined into swords."

"Of course, this requires the resonance time ratio of the shielding cloud to be increased from the most basic 0.1%, 1%, 10% to an absolute 100%."

"You can do that?" Shi Yiguang exclaimed in surprise.

……

Deep inside the clock tower, EVA continued her report.

"In the first spring after the collapse of the Soviet Union, on the railway along the Sino-Russian border, a Dragon King-level target from Black Swan Port, the 'Zero' of the Delta Project, was captured by the combined efforts of the Doomsday Faction, the Kassel Executive Department, and other organizations. It was codenamed 'Dragon King Ze' and was guarded and studied by the team led by Lu Lincheng."

"This 'King' in a special state, or rather, the ancient 'Supreme,' is not only the most precious genetic sample and research subject, but also provides unimaginable convenience for some alchemical experiments of the Doomsday Faction. The giant sealing matrix built around this core has become an unprecedentedly powerful anchor point for the 'Nibelungen.'"

"This fictional space is not for fighting or hiding, but for—carrying life and embarking on a long journey."

"Just as the Earth is eternally and ceaselessly flying at high speed in space, carrying with it those subordinate Nibelungen, the real main body that is its 'mirror image' can completely leave with the other half. The larger the external anchor area, the larger the latter can support."

EVA paused deliberately, as if to emphasize the following information: "At almost the same time, on January 9, 1992, the human astronomical community announced the first confirmed discovery of an exoplanet (orbiting pulsar PSR B1257+12)."

"Although they were just two hellish, desolate worlds orbiting a dead star, this discovery undoubtedly provided the doomsday prophets with excellent external public opinion cover and a kind of psychological symbol of 'hope'."

“Some initially hesitant external funders began to increase their investment, putting the entire project on the fast track.”

"I thought exoplanets were discovered a long time ago, after all, they're everywhere in science fiction novels, practically a basic setting." The vice principal rubbed his nose. "I didn't expect it to be only in recent years."

Angers took a deep breath and exclaimed, "Hope from the sky and hell in the basement. What a wonderful irony!"

A massive underground factory began to appear on the projection screen, with a gigantic, keel-like structure being welded, its scale terrifying.

"Finally, in 1999, the generation spacecraft/mobile haven codenamed 'Polaris' officially began construction under the Siberian permafrost in the Nibelungen. The main structure was completed about five years later."

EVA paused for a moment, then pulled up a complex global money flow chart, showing countless transparent lines ultimately flowing into a few bottomless accounts: "The original Daedalus Project consumed about one-tenth of the world's annual energy consumption at the time, and the project cost was close to the world's annual GDP at the time."

"The 800-million-ton 'Super Orion' spacecraft, considering the enormous carrying capacity required to launch all its components into space for assembly, even with a slightly lower level of technology, its estimated cost would likely be even higher. Taking into account inflation and the depreciation of the US dollar, it could reach a staggering scale of tens of trillions..."

"The actual payload and technical complexity of the 'Polaris Expedition' program far exceed those of Daedalus and Super Orion—750 million tons is only a very small part of the fuel tanks, and it does not take into account the mass 'saved' by folding up the internal space of the Nibelungen. Theoretically, the cost is at least ten times that of the former two, reaching an astronomical figure that is difficult to measure in conventional currency."

"Trillions?"

This number plunged the clock tower into a deathly silence.

Trillions of billions... Without a doubt, this far exceeded the total global GDP at the time, and even surpassed the scope of broad money supply M2. This is a figure that could instantly collapse any economy; it's as if the world's blood had been drained.

“It sounds incredible,” EVA added. “Clearly, it cannot be explained by conventional economic means.”

“A large amount of resource mobilization is hidden behind the global industrial chain and is accomplished through complex financial instruments, shadow companies, and… the ‘secret requisition’ of some countries’ strategic reserves.”

"More importantly, the Doomsday Faction and its collaborators possess technology that we cannot match, which can greatly reduce costs. For example, allowing the next generation or equivalent super hybrids to cast 'Word of Power: Heaven and Earth as Furnace,' the fusion reactor's near-infinite energy supply, and the blueprints and designs of the Evolutionary Owners..."

"In the original plan, the stability of the closed ecosystem would need to be debugged and improved over the next few years and continuously verified during operation. However, due to the recent critical situation, this part was directly abandoned."

"Whether it was the closing ceremony this summer or the current deep space voyage, the vast majority of the crew members are still completely unaware of the truth and still live in that huge, familiar terrestrial community illusion constructed by spiritual alchemy, just to maintain a stable social structure during the millennia-long voyage."

EVA continued, “'Deception is necessary.' This was the consensus reached by the Supreme Council in their secret meeting. 'If they knew they were exiles, fear would destroy everything.'”

"It was both out of a need for secrecy and stemmed from a profound pessimism—the belief that only in this way could the ark quietly set sail before the final apocalypse, heading into the dark and cold depths of space, like the North Star, guiding a faint but unique direction in the endless darkness."

"So, that's all?"

The vice principal took a big gulp of wine and turned to look at Angers, who was deep in thought beside him: "Speaking of which, old friend, did you know something all along? After all, that kid Lu Lincheng was recruited into the academy by you, and now he's become the 'secretary-general' of the Doomsday Faction?"

"The spring following the winter solstice of 1991, you and that rascal Chu Tianjiao were staying in Siberia. Don't think I don't remember!"

"Can you give me a heads-up? Do you have a second 'Polaris'? Smaller and slower is fine, just send me a ticket!"

He grabbed Angers and gave him a warm hug: "The Doomsday Faction has recruited nearly ten thousand ordinary people without bloodlines, so why can't an expert mentor like me take a spot? I've shed blood for the Secret Party for a century, it's time for me to enjoy my retirement!"

……

At the same time, Shi Yiguang noticed the anomalous nature of the information transmitted by the light filament, turned around and opened the interface of the remote control spacetime distortion detection system, and launched multiple verification programs in succession.

"Something's not right." Staring at a tiny red dot in the Arctic Ocean, she spoke seriously, "Is someone opening a 'door' there?" (End of Chapter)