Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

Xia Guo Astronaut Research and Training Base.

Bai Yixuan walked unsteadily out of the centrifuge cabin.

As an astronaut from China, G-force adaptation training is a regular part of his daily training program.

Despite training for countless days and nights, the pain caused by the centrifuge did not lessen in the slightest.

He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and turned to look at the centrifuge behind him.

I wonder when Xia Guo's space station project will be completed.

Thinking of this, Bai Yixuan's eyes dimmed slightly.

He has recently heard some rumors.

It seems the higher-ups are considering canceling the original space station project.

Even some planned manned space missions face the risk of being canceled at any time.

So... what does the future hold for these astronauts?

Bai Yixuan sighed deeply.

Just as he was gathering his scattered thoughts and preparing to head to the next training facility, an announcement came from the loudspeaker next to him.

"Bai Yixuan, Hong Fan, Xia Wanyi."

"Today's training session is cancelled. Please proceed to the lobby on the first floor immediately upon hearing this announcement!"

Bai Yixuan's eyes flickered slightly.

Hong Fan, Xia Wanyi...

He not only knew these two people, but he was also very familiar with them.

To be precise, all three of them were prospective members of the Xia Kingdom's space station project.

Could it be that... the space station project is making progress?

Thinking of this, a look of excitement flashed in Bai Yixuan's eyes.

……

Elevator entrance.

"Brother Xuan!"

A clear, crisp voice came from behind Bai Yixuan.

Bai Yixuan's eyes flickered slightly, and he turned his head to look.

The moment he saw the person who had arrived, a faint smile appeared in his eyes.

"Wanyi, how's training going lately?"

"Speaking of which, it's been several days since we last saw each other, hasn't it?"

Xia Wanyi smiled and nodded: "I've taken the past few days off, so it's normal that you haven't seen me, Brother Xuan."

"You're taking leave?" Bai Yixuan's eyes flickered slightly, and he quickly asked, "What happened?"

Xia Wanyi fell silent.

After a long silence, she sighed softly and said in a low voice, "I might have to quit."

"What?! Quit?!" Bai Yixuan's pupils shrank sharply, and he exclaimed in shock!

At the same time, another somewhat hoarse male voice rang out from afar: "Wanyi, what did you say? You're quitting?!"

Upon hearing the highly recognizable voice, Bai Yixuan quickly turned around and waved in the direction the voice came from.

"Brother Xuan, what's going on? Why is Wanyi quitting all of a sudden?"

Hong Fan rushed up to the two of them and asked in a low voice.

Bai Yixuan shrugged and cast a questioning glance at Xia Wanyi, who looked gloomy beside him.

"Tell me, what happened?"

"Why are you suddenly quitting? Have you forgotten that the three of us are in a group?"

Xia Wanyi gently bit her lip, a hint of difficulty flashing in her eyes.

"Brother Xuan, I'm sorry..."

"I received definite news from my elders a few days ago."

"The Xia Kingdom space station project has been confirmed cancelled!"

"so……"

The moment Xia Wanyi's voice fell, Bai Yixuan and Hong Fan both gasped for breath!

Although he had somewhat anticipated this outcome, Bai Yixuan still couldn't control his emotions when he heard the confirmed news.

He reached out and slammed his fist hard against the wall next to him.

"Damn it... what's wrong with Xia Kingdom?!"

"Why was the space station program suddenly canceled?!"

Xia Wanyi slowly shook her head: "I don't know the specific reason either, but... I heard it was an order personally issued by the Speaker of the Council."

These words shattered any remaining hope they had.

Hong Fan's eyes dimmed instantly. After a long silence, he asked in a hoarse voice, "Then... what should we do?"

The three astronauts fell silent.

Bai Yixuan sighed deeply.

Yes, what should they do?

They have been preparing for the space station project for years!

The three of them have not only conducted various training exercises on the ground, but have also carried out space flight missions more than once!

As an astronaut who has carried out several spaceflight missions, after experiencing the zero-gravity environment in space, he constantly imagines that he can return to space one day.

The space station project that Xia Guo proposed some time ago is the best way for him to return to space.

But now, a single sentence has rendered all their efforts futile!

Bai Yixuan deeply experienced the feeling of "Dao Heart Collapse".

"Ding!"

The sound of the elevator arriving broke the silence between the three.

"The elevator has arrived, let's... go down."

Bai Yixuan revealed an extremely bleak smile and took the first step towards the elevator.

The moment he stepped into the elevator, a deep sense of confusion flashed in Bai Yixuan's eyes.

Was the announcement telling them to come down... just to tell them this message privately?

……

The elevator runs very fast.

In just a few dozen seconds, with a crisp notification sound, the elevator doors slowly opened.

The bright sunlight shone on the snow-white tiles, creating an extremely strong reflection.

Bai Yixuan subconsciously narrowed his eyes.

Strong light signals travel through the retina, via the optic nerve, optic chiasm, and optic tract, and then through the superior colliculus to the pretectal area.

Under the electrical signal from the oculomotor nerve, the pupillary sphincter begins to contract.

In just a few seconds, Bai Yixuan adjusted to the intense light in the hall.

In the bright hall, two tall men stood.

Bai Yixuan's eyes flickered slightly.

He recognized the man facing them.

That was Hong Qiming, the Minister of Science and Technology of Xia State.

"Minister Hong...why is he here?"

Xia Wanyi's whisper came from the side.

Bai Yixuan moved his lips slightly without making a sound: "I don't know, let's take it one step at a time."

"We already know the worst-case scenario anyway..."

Upon hearing this, a bitter smile appeared in the eyes of Hong Fan and Xia Wanyi.

That's right.

This is already the worst-case scenario.

"They're here!"

The moment Hong Qiming saw Bai Yixuan and his two companions, his eyes lit up, and he called out loudly, "What are you standing there for! Come on over here!"

……

Lu Yongchang slowly turned around, his deep gaze sweeping over the three of them.

Upon seeing Bai Yixuan and the other two, he subconsciously frowned.

Before he could say anything, Hong Qiming, who was standing to the side, began to introduce the situation with a smile.

"Everyone, let me introduce you. This is Professor Lü Yongchang, the first director of the Xia Guo Space Agency."

"Professor Lü, these three were the reserve team members for the original space station project. I remember... they had experience with three spaceflights!"

As soon as Hong Qiming finished speaking, the eyes of the three men lit up.

NASA?!