Chapter 44: Landing on the Celestial Dome Star

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Inside a spacecraft hovering above the outer space of the Sky Vault Star, Lu Hongfeng received an order from Wei Wensu.

Lu Hongfeng turned to Albert beside him, gazing intently as he spoke:

"Professor Albert, Commander Wei has instructed us to thoroughly investigate every aspect of this planet."

"I need you to lead a team personally and delve deep into the planet to bring us firsthand information."

Albert's face revealed an uncontrollable excitement.

His heartbeat quickened, and his eyes sparkled with a yearning for the unknown and a fervor for exploration.

As a scientist, a relentless pursuit of knowledge and an insatiable curiosity for mysterious phenomena burned within him.

"I will not fail this mission. I will unravel these mysteries!" Albert's voice carried both resolve and anticipation.

Without delay, Albert led a team of twenty-five top scientists aboard an advanced experimental spacecraft, slowly departing the reconnaissance vessel's bay.

Behind them, twenty-five imposing mechas stood like loyal guardians, quietly awaiting orders, ready to safeguard the expedition.

"Professor Albert, where shall we land?" an experienced pilot asked through the internal communication system.

Albert's gaze swept across the ship's screen, finally settling on a location.

"To be cautious, let's find a remote inhabited area first."

"Preferably along the coast—the coastal regions should be more developed."

He had his own considerations, hoping not to cause too much commotion at the outset, so as not to alarm the planet's residents.

With his directive, the pilot began a precise search and locked onto the target.

The experimental ship streaked across the sky like a meteor.

Piercing the atmosphere, it sped toward its destination.

Albert and the other scientists peered through the portholes, gazing at the azure planet outside, their hearts stirred by complex emotions.

"Once, our Earth was just as beautiful," sighed a scientist, nostalgia and sorrow tinging his words.

Before long, their ship arrived at its destination.

They had reached the outskirts of the eastern sector, a small city called Azure Sea.

In the rural villages outside the city, the residents made their living by fishing, leading simple and tranquil lives.

When the experimental vessel appeared in the sky, the fishermen paused their work, curiosity drawing their eyes to this unfamiliar spectacle.

"What are those things in the sky?" a fisherman pointed upward, startled.

Others looked up as well, watching the small dots grow larger and clearer.

Under Albert's guidance, the experimental ship slowly landed in the sea beside the fishing village.

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The hatch opened slowly, and Albert and the scientists, clad in spacesuits, eagerly stepped out of the vessel.

With visions of a new world and a thirst for knowledge, they set foot on this unknown land.

The fishermen gathered around, curious about these visitors from the sky, but felt no fear.

On Sky Vault Star, the advance of technology had brought peace and prosperity; wars had long since faded into memory.

Moreover, technological progress here had been swift in recent years. The villagers assumed it might be another scientific invention, so they were not overly surprised.

...

In the vastness of the universe,

Shen Xing, like a silent sentinel, watched over the subtle contest between Sky Vault Star and Earth’s civilization.

His gaze penetrated the stars, perceiving the trajectory of all developments, yet remained unmoved by Lu Hongfeng’s restraint.

The reason the Earthlings had pressed pause on their slaughter was not out of compassion for life or a longing for peace.

Their hesitation stemmed from the discovery that the humans of Sky Vault Star looked astonishingly similar to themselves and used the same written language.

This led them to suspect deeper secrets hidden beneath the surface, worthy of exploration and revelation.

Yet, for Shen Xing, the indecision of the Earthlings was undoubtedly a strategic turning point.

In his plan, if the Earthlings launched an attack, he would be forced to respond.

In that case, conflict would inevitably escalate, and he would have to face the entire vanguard fleet.

As for whether the main fleet would follow for the sake of these vanguards remained an unknown.

Shen Xing knew that the technology possessed by the vanguard fleet was but the tip of the iceberg compared to the main fleet.

If he could skillfully control all the Earthlings, Sky Vault Star would have the opportunity to absorb all their technology, maximizing its own interests.

Thus, Shen Xing made his decision.

Since the Earthlings were temporarily holding back, he would also conceal his strength, remaining inconspicuous for now.

He would display a posture of weakness, lulling the enemy into complacency.

Like a cunning hunter, he would quietly wait for his prey to step into the trap.

He wanted the Earthlings to witness the tranquility and peace of Sky Vault Star, to immerse themselves in a false sense of security.

At their most unguarded moment, Shen Xing would launch his plan, seizing control of all the Earthlings in one fell swoop.

He would convert their strength and wisdom into the wealth of Sky Vault Star.

This was a carefully orchestrated game of chess, with Sky Vault Star as the hidden player in the shadows.

And the Earthlings were merely pieces on the board.

Unknowingly, they had already stepped into the trap he had laid.

...

In the small fishing village of Sky Vault Star,

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As the scientists stepped out of the hatch, the filtration systems in their lightweight spacesuits delivered a wave of hot, humid air.

In stark contrast to the dry, cold environment of space travel, they now faced a world where sea and sky met in endless blue, the salty breeze brushing against them, the ground beneath their feet solid and scorching.

After their spacesuits had adjusted to the planet’s atmosphere, several scientists removed their helmets.

Once again, they marveled at Sky Vault Star’s resemblance to Earth—even the atmospheric composition felt perfectly suited to them.

It was a sensation they had never experienced before: the genuine touch of the source of life.

Emotions surged within the scientists; some of the female scientists could not contain their excitement, tears streaming down their cheeks.

The men, too, found their noses tinged with the bitterness of emotion, moved by this primal and pure feeling.

Clad in simple white uniforms, smart glasses perched on their heads, the gentle hum of communications earpieces in their ears,

Their appearance struck the fishermen as unusually strange and mysterious.

"Who are you? What brings you to Creekmouth Village?"

Hearing these words, the scientists were once again taken aback.

It was Mandarin.

Clear, unaccented Mandarin.

"You... are you Earthlings too?" A scientist named Yao Yuan could not restrain his curiosity and asked.

"Earthlings? What are those? This is Creekmouth Village, Azure Sea City, Eastern Sector," replied a fisherman, puzzled.

"Who are you?"

The fisherman’s answer carried a hint of confusion; he clearly did not understand Yao Yuan’s question.

"I’m from Earth!"

"Earth? Never heard of it..." The fisherman shook his head, somewhat helpless.

His manner was sincere, without the slightest hint of pretense, clearly unaware of anything Yao Yuan was referring to.

At this, the scientists began whispering among themselves.

"How long has Earth’s civilization been passed down on this planet? Could they have forgotten their ancestors?"

"This place is quite remote. We should ask around in the big cities."

Albert adjusted a setting on his collar, and his face quickly transformed into a standard Asian visage.

A few other white scientists quietly activated their facial feature systems, altering their conspicuous Caucasian faces.

"Brother, what year, month, and day is it now?"

"It’s now the 5625th year of Sky Vault Calendar, August 8th."