The starship that had been stationed on the outskirts of the White Hole now advanced deeper into the inner regions. Along the way, they encountered several ships actively collecting dark matter and dark energy using specialized equipment. Some employed mechanical arms like Feng Mo's, while others utilized more advanced technology such as tractor beams.
One T4-class transport ship, in particular, caught Feng Mo's attention. It was equipped with sophisticated "light pincers," beams that automatically transported any glowing asteroids or materials directly into its cargo hold. Feng Mo couldn't help but feel envious. It was a ship from the Chu family, well-prepared and clearly at the cutting edge of technology.
Unfortunately, Feng Mo had yet to master such advanced technology. If he had, he would have certainly equipped his T3 Reindeer-class ship with it.
The inner region of the White Hole wasn't vast, and after two and a half days of exploration by nearly a hundred ships, there had been few valuable finds. With only six hours left, many ships began retreating to the periphery, collecting whatever materials they could on the way out. But Feng Mo wasn't ready to leave just yet.
Instead, he ordered the ship to remain stationary. The materials collected so far were still insufficient to construct the T4 Hurricane-class battleship he had set his sights on. He was banking on the possibility that the White Hole would erupt again in the remaining hours.
Time ticked away, and Hua Qin, standing beside Feng Mo, had been tempted to speak multiple times but held back, knowing from past experience that their commander's decisions were often correct. Finally, after three hours of waiting, she couldn't hold back any longer.
"Commander, perhaps we should return now," Hua Qin suggested cautiously.
Feng Mo, however, was undeterred. "Hua Qin, activate the starshield to maximum power. All crew members, prepare to collect materials. The White Hole is about to erupt!" he declared, eyes blazing with determination.
Hua Qin glanced at the holographic display. The 3-km White Hole was pulsating, contracting, and expanding, and a torrent of interstellar materials was beginning to surge from its center.
"Yes, sir!" she acknowledged, and the crew sprang into action.
The ship pushed closer to within five kilometers of the White Hole, a highly perilous distance where micro-asteroids and other cosmic debris could inflict serious damage. Thankfully, Feng Mo had anticipated this and had the starshield set to maximum, absorbing the brunt of the impact.
The scene was like a cosmic river storm, and the T3 Reindeer-class ship was a fragile vessel riding the currents. Eight mechanical arms reached out, grabbing large chunks of dark matter and energy crystals, hauling them into the hold. But the onslaught was relentless.
"Warning! Starshield energy at 90%... 85%... 80%..."
"Commander, we've gathered more than enough! We should head back to the periphery for smaller, safer finds!" Hua Qin shouted, her voice tinged with urgency as the shield's energy dropped further.
Feng Mo, however, was relentless, his eyes glowing with a fierce determination. He continued manipulating the arms, grabbing as much material as possible. When the starshield energy hit 20%, he knew it was time for the final gamble.
"Lock all safety harnesses! Brace yourselves for the final wave!" he ordered.
"Warning! Starshield energy at 10%... 5%..."
"Warning! Starshield energy depleted!"
The moment the shield failed, a storm of interstellar debris bombarded the ship, jostling it violently. Thankfully, Feng Mo and his crew had secured themselves, preventing any injuries despite the brutal shaking.
Gradually, the turbulence subsided. Feng Mo laughed heartily, triumphant. "See? Sometimes you have to take a gamble! You can't win if you don't play!"
The White Hole had erupted for nearly an hour, and the area around the ship was littered with precious interstellar materials. It had been a huge windfall. Feng Mo had bet on the timing and won, collecting enough resources not only to build the Hurricane-class battleship but also securing a glowing micro-asteroid that likely contained an interstellar seed.
With only an hour left before they had to leave, Feng Mo knew they had to move quickly. If he hadn't ordered the ship to weather the storm, they wouldn't have had enough time to gather all these valuable materials.
"Attention, all ships! One hour remaining! Prepare to exit the White Hole zone!" an automated voice announced. Feng Mo marveled at how the Glorious Empire had managed to establish reliable communications in such a chaotic region, a testament to their technological prowess.
"Hua Qin, prepare for our departure. I'm heading to the cargo bay," Feng Mo instructed.
He took two crew members and a robot carrying a lead box to cargo bay six. There, among the radiant interstellar debris, they found the glowing micro-asteroid—a massive, 10-meter rock emitting a soft green light.
Feng Mo couldn't contain his excitement. Interstellar seeds were incredibly valuable, often fetching over ten million star coins at auctions in the Star Network.
He directed the crew to use laser cutters to break the micro-asteroid into five sections, carefully extracting a half-meter square block from the center. They gradually shaved away the outer layer, as if cutting open a raw gemstone, revealing the glowing, green sphere inside—a 10-cm interstellar seed, radiating with intense energy.
The seed's exact properties would remain a mystery until they could analyze it with specialized equipment. Feng Mo carefully placed it into the lead box, which would shield it from radiation and preserve its power.
Returning to the command center, Feng Mo found that the ship had already exited the White Hole's influence. The radar was back online.
"Commander, the starshield is depleted, and the ship's exterior has suffered 13% damage. Also, Chu Yun Jian and Ai Er have both requested video conferences," Hua Qin reported.
Feng Mo checked the ship's status before responding. "Patch me through to Chu Yun Jian first."
The video link connected, and Chu Yun Jian appeared on the screen. Before she could say anything, Feng Mo spoke up. "Yun Jian, I found an interstellar seed. We'll need your help to identify its properties."
Chu Yun Jian's eyes lit up. "Perfect! Park your fleet at the starport. My second uncle has the equipment we need. I'll take you there once you arrive."
"Understood. We'll be there in half an hour," Feng Mo replied, ending the call and switching to Ai Er.
Ai Er relayed an intriguing piece of news about the Demon System. "You're saying they want to sell us slaves?" Feng Mo asked incredulously after hearing Ai Er's account.
The Demon System had proposed a trade deal, offering high-quality slaves in large quantities. The news seemed too good to be true, but it made sense when Feng Mo considered the Demon System's lack of awareness about Ai Er's past.
After pondering for a moment, Feng Mo decided, "Fine. Let's make a deal. Tell them we'll take ten billion people, mainly humans and humanoids. Whatever price they quote, slash it by 30%. Be tough but polite. If they agree, they have one year to prepare."
He ended the call and took a deep breath. In a year, he would have his own T4 fleet, and then he could keep his promise to Ai Er: to march on the Demon System and claim vengeance. The ten billion people would be interest on their debt for making Ai Er suffer all those years.
Conquering the Demon System, with its size eight times that of the Storm System, was a lofty ambition. It was rich in resources, nearly rivaling the Cloud Mountain System. If he succeeded, Feng Mo could make it the capital of a new kingdom, cementing his place in the interstellar hierarchy.
The journey to become a conqueror and ruler of the stars was far from over, but the path was now clear. With a long-term goal in sight, Feng Mo's determination grew stronger.
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