Rejecting Tsinghua and Peking Universities: I Will Lead Harbin Institute of Technology to World Lead

After Lin Feng finished receiving the reward, his consciousness had just exited the system space when the holographic communication in the command center turned red.

The light-speed warship sent a message.

"President Lin, we'll reach the solar system in about a month." The captain's voice came from the distant starry sea, carrying the weariness of a long voyage and an barely suppressed tension. "That planet has been following us the whole time, never speeding up or slowing down. It's just following us like this, as if... escorting us."

Lin Feng's gaze sharpened slightly.

Is it being escorted? Or is it simply waiting for a specific moment?

He didn't have time to delve into these speculations and directly issued the order: "Alright, don't go to Earth, go directly to Mars. We've made ample preparations; Mars will be the first line of defense."

"clear!"

Communication was cut off. The light-speed warship would continue its journey for another month, carrying its "shadow" as it headed straight for the solar system.

Lin Feng watched the real-time trajectory of the moving planet on the holographic projection. It continued to follow the light-speed warship at a leisurely pace, its dark red patterns shimmering faintly in the darkness, like a giant beast patiently waiting for its prey to fall into its trap.

"A month? That should be enough."

Lin Feng murmured to himself, his gaze falling on the six rewards he had just received. Photon Shockwave, Planetary Home Guardian, Golden Dragon Potion, Xingtian Armor, Golden Crow Battleship, Planetary Propulsion System—each core theoretical concept was now fully realized. Next, he only needed to perfect these theoretical concepts before he could begin implementing them in the real world.

One month is equivalent to one hundred months in the system space, which is more than eight years.

enough.

For the next month, Lin Feng was constantly busy.

He once again plunged into the system space, beginning a new round of frantic deductions. Six theoretical concepts were being processed simultaneously, his consciousness divided into six streams, each handling a different technical system.

The energy release model of the photon shockwave needs repeated optimization to ensure precise and controllable coverage and avoid friendly fire. The coverage algorithm for the planetary version of Homeguard needs to be re-derived, as the energy shield of an entire planet is hundreds of times more complex than that of a single base.

The gene activation sequence of the Golden Dragon Elixir needs fine-tuning; the side effects of the thirty-fold increase must be minimized. The micro-element absorption efficiency of the Xingtian Armor needs improvement, otherwise it cannot support high-intensity combat. The fifty-times-light-speed curvature field of the Golden Crow Battleship needs stability; too much speed means greater risk of loss of control. The gravitational field construction of the planetary propulsion system needs verification; the technology for propelling a planet cannot tolerate the slightest error.

Within the system space, time was burning at a hundred times the normal speed.

One year, two years, five years, eight years...

Lin Feng's thinking advanced simultaneously on six fronts. Every breakthrough meant a greater chance of winning in the real world, while every failure meant a re-analysis and re-verification.

His consciousness floated in a pure white space, surrounded by six huge holographic models, each of which was constantly changing, optimizing, and perfecting itself.

Meanwhile, outside the system space, the entire world is in a state of tense preparation for war.

On Mars, the final batch of weapon platforms has been deployed. Photon weapon arrays are spread along the equator, Homeguard generators are buried deep in the Earth's crust, and all combat platforms in orbit are on standby. That red planet has now become a massive military fortress.

On Earth, the nationwide mobilization has entered its final stage. The Azure Dragon potion has been administered to the entire population, the White Tiger armor has been fully deployed, and the new generation of light-speed warships has achieved combat readiness. Factories are operating in three shifts to produce various supplies, researchers are working day and night to optimize various technologies, and soldiers are repeatedly practicing every detail of space warfare.

Everyone knows that time is running out.

Everyone knew that there was no turning back in this battle.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

Eight years have quietly passed in the system space.

Lin Feng frowned slightly as he looked at the six theoretical concepts before him. The theoretical completion rate of the photon shockwave was 99%, the planetary version of the Home Guardian was 98%, the Golden Dragon Potion was 97%, the Xingtian Armor was 96%, the Golden Crow Battleship was 95%, and the planetary propulsion system was 92%...

The highest level reached 99%, and the lowest was 92%. Every item was close to perfect, but none reached 100%.

According to his calculations, if the system has another two to three years, which is about a week in the real world, all six technologies can be fully perfected.

However, there was no time left.

The system space trembled slightly; it was a wake-up signal from the outside world.

Lin Feng's consciousness instantly withdrew.

On the holographic projection in the command center, the real-time image of the light-speed warship had switched. The enormous, gray-black planet with dark red markings was silently suspended at the edge of the solar system.

Here it comes.

The enemy has arrived.

The command center was deathly silent. Everyone stared at the planet on the screen, their breathing becoming cautious.

It was something they had never seen before—three times the size of Earth, its surface covered by a thick layer of rock, with dark red veins flowing slowly within, like the veins of some kind of energy. There was no atmosphere, no liquid water, and no sign of life. But everyone knew what lay hidden within.

"President Lin," the captain's voice rang out again, this time tinged with obvious tension, "we have reached Mars orbit and request a landing."

"Landing approved." Lin Feng quickly issued the order. "All personnel evacuate the warship and proceed to the Mars defense base for rest and recuperation. Your mission is complete; leave the rest to us."

"yes!"

In the scene, the light-speed warship slowly emerged from the planet's shadow and headed towards Mars. The massive planet, after the warship departed, also came to a halt.

It just hovered quietly at the edge of the solar system, motionless.

It's as if it's observing, as if it's waiting, and as if it's... declaring its existence.

"What is it waiting for?" Old Chen's voice came from the side. The old man had somehow appeared next to Lin Feng, also staring at the strange planet.

"I don't know." Lin Feng shook his head. "Maybe they're waiting for our reaction, or maybe they're waiting for a specific moment..."

Old Chen fell silent.

Lin Feng turned to look at the large screen in the command center. On it, the real-time status of the Mars defense system was being updated continuously—the photon weapon array was fully charged, the Home Guardian generator was on standby, all orbital combat platforms were in position, the White Tiger armored forces were on high alert, and the new generation of light-speed warships were concealed and waiting on the far side of Mars.

Everything is ready.

"Pass down the order." Lin Feng's voice was calm and clear. "The entire army is on high alert. The enemy has arrived, and war could break out at any moment. All units must remain at their posts and are not allowed to act without orders."

"yes!"

Commands were issued from the command center, reaching Mars, Earth, and every combat unit.

On the holographic projection, the enormous planet still floated silently at the edge of the solar system. Dark red patterns flowed slowly, as if it were breathing.

Lin Feng looked at it, his gaze calm as still water.

He didn't know what would happen next. He didn't know when the enemy would attack, or how they would attack. He didn't know if his preparations were sufficient, or whether his still-developing theories would be effective on the battlefield.

But he knew one thing—

No matter what happens, humanity will not back down.

Eight years have passed. From the initial discovery of the ruins of Atlantis, to Earth's core energy, light-speed warships, Mars terraforming, and now, they have come this far step by step, pushing the limits time and time again.

All for today.

Lin Feng slowly clenched his fist and spoke softly, as if speaking to himself, or perhaps to that silent planet:

"bring it on."

"Let's see who you really are."

Inside the command center, countless eyes were glued to the screens.

At the edge of the solar system, that giant planet floats silently.

War is imminent.