Those who face the wall, but are in the Nascent Soul stage.

Chapter 46 Laying the Ladder to Heaven (Please continue reading)

International Space Station.

In this birthplace of space exploration, capsules containing 'nanofibers' launched from Earth are floating in the vacuum.

These space capsules, secured by rudimentary safety locks and tethers, dangle from a corner of the International Space Station, preventing the ropes that make up these space elevators from drifting into deep space.

"The production of 'Flying Blade' is no longer a problem. The problem is the insufficient delivery capacity to space. China, the US, and Russia have already used everything they can throw into space as rockets, but the delivery capacity is still not enough," Wang Miao said through a built-in electronic microphone while wearing a full spacesuit and standing next to a 'nanofiber' capsule.

After several years of development since the Crisis Era, the spacesuits of today have shed their original bulkiness, but even so, Wang Miao can still feel the stuffiness inside the helmet.

Therefore, he was filled with jealousy towards his companion who was naked in space.

Luo Qing wanted to smoke a cigarette, but it wouldn't light in the vacuum, so he tore off a small piece of polyester ethylene (referring to a thread) from his clothes, rubbed it into a small fireball the size of a grain of rice, and lit the cigarette in his hand.

The problem is that cigarettes in a vacuum cannot burn even when they reach their ignition point; they can only emit a dark red glow and spread towards the cigarette butt in a thin, thread-like manner.

Luo Qing had no choice but to rip another cubic meter of air from the space station and put it on his head.

The cigarette began to flicker in a cubic meter of air at one atmosphere of pressure.

Thus, Luo Qing achieved his goal of smoking.

Looking at Luo Qing, who could ignite a cigarette in a vacuum, Wang Miao hesitated to speak.

This wall-facer is really good at creating drama.

Ding Yi, who was in the distance, spotted the two people slacking off in the space capsule's supply area. He activated the miniature thruster behind him, applying a weak thrust of about 10 Newtons (N) to himself.

On Earth, this 10 Newtons of thrust, spread evenly across the human body, would be no different from a gentle breeze. But in space, this meager thrust would be enough for Ding Yi to complete a positive acceleration motion.

In comparison, the thrust generated by the light pressure of the thin film with a diameter of tens of kilometers in the project's aircraft is only about 10 Newtons.

"Smoking in space, you always manage to come up with something beyond my imagination." Ding Yi flew over, then skillfully braked, coming to a smooth stop in front of the two of them.

Compared to Wang Miao, Ding Yi is already quite adapted to the zero-gravity environment.

Luo Qing glanced at Ding Yi, then extended the surrounding confined spherical air slightly towards Ding Yi and Wang Miao, transforming a standard atmosphere of gas sphere into a long cross-shaped corridor.

In this way, he no longer needed to use his mind to transmit his voice; his normal speaking voice could be transmitted to the great physicist's ears through air vibrations.

"Dr. Ding Yi is here. Look, Professor Wang is still troubled."

"What's troubling you?" Ding Yi asked Wang Miao.

Wang Miao frowned and said, "With the current transportation capacity, it will take at least three months to send enough 'flying blades' to build a space elevator into space. That's too slow."

Luo Qing suggested, "I can help you transport it, but it's a bit troublesome to go up and down the atmosphere."

Ding Yi rejected the enthusiastic Wallfacer: "Professor Luo Qing, you should get less involved in the construction work of major scientific research projects. In the long run, human society will become dependent on you, which is not a good thing for humanity."

"That's true." Luo Qing nodded.

Ding Yi turned to Wang Miao and said, "I learned from a friend in the Space Force that Russia plans to hollow out the warhead of the 'Topol' intercontinental ballistic missile, fill it with 'Flying Blade' material, and then use it as a disposable transport ship for launches to the space station."

Wang Miao asked in surprise, "Intercontinental ballistic missiles can reach space?"

"The range is sufficient, and there are no technical problems. We just need to adjust the launch parameters. These Russians always like to come up with something powerful and explosive. It's worth mentioning that both China and the United States highly approve of the method proposed by Russia, and now they have already aimed dozens of 'intercontinental non-nuclear missiles' at us."

Wang Miao: "..."

It sent chills down one's spine. Wang Miao realized the flaw in the method proposed by the Russian: "It's easy to get intercontinental ballistic missiles into low Earth orbit, but how do you stop them? Don't tell me that intercontinental ballistic missiles can brake in space."

Upon hearing this, Ding Yi gestured towards Luo Qing with his chin.
He meant, 'Don't we still have an omnipotent Wallfacer?'

Luo Qing understood Ding Yi's meaning and asked in return, "Dr. Ding Yi, didn't you just oppose me interfering too much in the construction of the space elevator?"

Ding Yi gave a double standard answer:

"Letting you act as a human cargo ship would fuel humanity's infantile mentality, but having you help intercept missiles is different. After all, this is a solution that humanity came up with itself, and it deserves the help of the great Wallfacer."

OK.

From Luo Qing's perspective, dozens of intercontinental non-nuclear missiles were launched into the sky from various parts of Eurasia and North America.

There are even some non-nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles launched from the depths of the Pacific Ocean, Antarctica, and even high-altitude mountain ranges.

These big countries are really good at hiding their true intentions.

These intercontinental non-nuclear missiles left trails of white bubble clouds in the thick atmosphere. These bubble clouds lingered in the air for a long time, like ocean bubbles that were different from dark water bubbles.

In this wondrous scene, Luo Qing sincerely felt that, in a sense, the atmosphere and the water in the ocean are the same—both are cradles for the continuation of life.

The first step into space is the true beginning of a civilization's growth.

As Luo Qing intercepted one non-nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile after another, the stockpile of 'Flying Blade' materials on the International Space Station increased, greatly accelerating the construction speed of the No. 1 space elevator.

After a busy day, Master Luo found Wang Miao, Ding Yi, and the Russian head of the International Space Station who was not very prominent.

"It's almost time. My movie is about to be released, and I have a date with the UN First Fleet after the movie's theatrical run, so I won't linger here at the space station any longer."

The Russian official respectfully said to the man facing the wall, "There are three spaceplanes currently docked on the International Space Station. I will prepare one for your return flight in advance."

"No need, no need," Luo Qing waved his hand.

"Space transport capacity is tight, so I won't take up public resources. I'll just jump down myself."

The Russian official very considerately asked, "Wouldn't this be a bit too conspicuous? After all, I think the public isn't ready to accept you yet..."

"I've laid enough groundwork. If they can't accept it, there's nothing they can do. What needs to be made public will be made public soon. You don't need to overthink it."

Inside the space station, under the watchful eyes of hundreds of space force members from various countries, and amidst the complex gazes of physics experts, Luo Qing gently leaped toward Earth.

Because Earth's gravity has a limited effect in near-Earth orbit, Luo Qing deliberately flew towards that blue world. After flying for about several hundred kilometers, he finally felt the pull of gravity.

Luo Qing began his freefall in space.

It wasn't difficult at all. He vaguely remembered that there was a news story about a brave person who liked to do extreme challenges and, with the sponsorship of Red Bull, completed a near-Earth orbit jump to Earth.

The only difference was that the other party had an extra parachute pack and was wearing a spacesuit to protect against air friction.

About half a minute after Luo Qing jumped to Earth, the people on the International Space Station could barely see him anymore.

Ding Yi and Wang Miao remained in their farewell poses, not moving for a long time.

“Let’s go.” Ding Yi was the first to react. He said to Wang Miao and the other scholars beside him, “Go and get back to your work. Science is vast and boundless. One day, we will figure out these mysteries.”

(End of this chapter)