Chapter 124: Artificial Planet

Chapter 124: The Artificial Planet

Ed, Na Boyu, Zhou Fanxiu, Bai Na, and other new and veteran researchers stared at Ji An in disbelief. Their widened eyes seemed on the verge of popping out of their sockets with just a bit more force.

The older researchers like Na Boyu were somewhat accustomed to it, though they still occasionally found themselves shocked by Ji An's sudden ideas. The newcomers, led by Ed and other foreign researchers, had endured various hardships after the apocalypse. Yet, before the apocalypse, they had been top-tier scientists, some even holding the most advanced technologies at the international forefront—technologies that pre-apocalypse China had lacked. Because of this, they still harbored a certain pride in their scientific expertise.

"Director Ji, I must say, there’s a difference between technology and sheer fantasy," Ed, a former heavyweight in his field, felt compelled to step forward and shoot down Ji An's unrealistic notions.

"Before I invented the intelligent brain, did you ever consider it pure fantasy?" Ji An countered.

"That’s different. Before the apocalypse, our country had already begun research on intelligent brain technology. It wasn’t just baseless imagination—there was preliminary theoretical and technical support. So the emergence of the intelligent brain didn’t surprise me. I’d say it was an inevitable milestone for humanity." Ed shrugged disapprovingly, stating his viewpoint.

"Commander-in-Chief Gu, what’s your opinion?"

Gu Jinsheng looked at Ji An. He never bothered with avoiding favoritism in public, and his gaze at Ji An was blatantly adoring. It was as if, in the entire lab, his eyes saw only him, his ears heard only his words, and his world revolved solely around him.

"I believe in him," Gu Jinsheng replied, as terse and to-the-point as always.

Ed, new to the lab and unfamiliar with Gu Jinsheng’s character, couldn’t believe that such an important matter was being decided so casually by the Beijing Base’s Commander-in-Chief. Even someone as reckless as Charles would at least hold a high-level meeting before making a decision.

Wu Zhengyang, Ji An’s mindlessly zealous fanboy, couldn’t tolerate Ed’s skepticism. "Researcher Ed, allow me to remind you—you’re a Chinese citizen now."

Ed, reminded of his current nationality, felt ashamed of his earlier impulsive words. He was deeply grateful to the Beijing Base for saving him and his daughter and had vowed to dedicate his life to the base as long as they didn’t harm his child.

But precisely because of this heartfelt gratitude, he felt it was his duty to approach all scientific projects with meticulous rigor. No matter what, he had to stop this ludicrous pipe dream.

Time was in critically short supply in the apocalypse—there was none to waste on detours.

Ed glanced at Na Boyu, the only familiar face in the room, whom he’d briefly met at an international research conference. He sought Na Boyu’s support, remembering him as a skilled and reliable senior researcher.

However, Na Boyu merely walked over and patted Ed’s shoulder reassuringly. "Though we veterans also find Director Ji’s ideas outlandishly far-fetched, I must add this: every seemingly impossible fantasy Director Ji has proposed has eventually been realized—and flawlessly so. So now, all we can do is throw our full weight behind him."

Kong Zhongcheng chuckled and clapped Ed’s shoulder. "The world’s already gone to hell—it can’t get worse. Why not go all out for an impossible future? If we succeed, humanity gets a brand-new, beautiful world. If we fail, so what? Extinction is just the fate Earth has destined for us. Humanity’s doomed no matter what."

Wan Xueying smiled. "I trust Mr. Ji. He always creates miracles."

Ed was baffled. "This is insane. I don’t understand why you all blindly favor Director Ji. Fine, I admit he’s brilliant and has made incredible inventions. But fabricating a habitable planet from scratch? That’s just absurd."

Ed’s objections were ultimately dismissed. Ji An organized the team with well-defined roles, preparing for the initial theoretical framework. No matter how impossible Ed found Ji An’s proposal, he still tackled the assigned tasks with painstaking diligence.

Ji An was satisfied. He didn’t need everyone to believe in him—only to take his assignments seriously.

As the rescue efforts continued, more and more talented individuals were brought to the Beijing Base. With the flood of elite researchers from various fields, the once "pie-in-the-sky" idea matured at an astonishing pace.

The artificial planet, once deemed impossible, gradually took shape. On the day of its completion, the whole world was rocked.

This wasn’t due to Ji An’s team flaunting their achievement—it was simply impossible to hide. The planet was adjacent to Earth, connected by a skybridge for ease of construction. Researchers climbed from Earth’s surface to the artificial planet via this ladder. Now, with this virtually Earth-identical artificial planet complete, its massive presence inevitably impacted Earth—most glaringly, the sudden appearance of a second moon in the sky.

At first, no one paid much attention. In the apocalypse, anything could happen. But as this new "moon" gradually took form, suspicions arose. Advanced probes were dispatched by various factions, only to be blocked by the Beijing Base. Now, with the new planet’s birth, the secret could no longer be concealed.

Discussions about it dominated the intelligent brain networks, swarming every feed.

"Have you heard? Ji An might have created an artificial planet fit for human survival?"

"Really? Our base has been buzzing about this."

"Of course it's true, there are two moons in the sky—how could it be fake?"

"I have a relative in the Beijing Base with insider information. Apparently, the artificial satellite Ji An created this time cost an incalculable sum. The planet was built entirely to mimic Earth before the apocalypse. The soil and water sources were purified by earth and water superpowered individuals before being deployed onto the artificial planet. It's a brand-new, clean, free of zombie virus contamination, completely suitable for human habitation."

"Everything the person above said is true. My daughter currently lives in the Beijing Base, and she's trying to get me there too. She’s told me some insider details—Gu Jinsheng pushed so hard to finish the planet that he didn’t let the superpowered rest, forcing them to purify soil and water day and night with their superpowers. Many superpowered individuals died from exhaustion."

"Hey, the person above, I think your daughter isn’t in the Beijing Base but in the M Base instead. Clearly, you're just a hater. Right now, if there’s any place that still respects human rights, it’s the Beijing Base. Gu Jinsheng might be a stern-faced leader, but he values human life—he wouldn’t sacrifice lives like that."

"Well, you never know. After all, it’s a whole new planet completely free of the zombie virus. Even deities would be hard-pressed to resist."

"I don’t care whether lives were sacrificed to build that planet. I just want to know—if all Chinese nationals get to escape to that planet, what about us foreigners?"

The heated debate about the artificial planet soon turned into concerns among foreign residents about their own safety, with troublemakers stirring the pot.

"Why should only Chinese nationals get to migrate to the artificial satellite while we foreigners are excluded? What makes them so special?"

"Exactly! Every life matters. In this crisis, they’re still dividing people by nationality—the Beijing Base is truly reprehensible! Shouldn’t we unite to overcome this disaster together?"

"Who said the Beijing Base and Gu Jinsheng care about human rights? If they did, they wouldn’t discriminate by nationality—everyone should be allowed to migrate. Every person is an ember of mankind. Before the apocalypse, China loved pretending to care, protecting endangered animals. Now humans are the endangered species—why the double standards?"

"Why should we die just because we’re not Chinese? Are non-Chinese lives worthless?!"

"I don’t care anymore—this time, I’m taking to the streets in protest no matter what. The Beijing Base and Gu Jinsheng must give us a satisfactory answer. That artificial planet shouldn’t belong only to China—it should belong to every living being on Earth, including my dog and cat!"

Meanwhile, the Beijing Base was celebrating the completion of the artificial planet with grand celebrations. Everyone, including Ji An, drank that day.

Ed, his face flushed, raised his glass to Ji An. "Director Ji, forgive my ignorance when I first arrived. I apologize for my foolish words and deeply regret them. I don’t know how I dared to call your vision unrealistic—it was me who was blind. Without your bold hypothesis, I can’t imagine when humanity would’ve dared to propose such a revolutionary idea."

Wu Zhengyang, appearing out of nowhere, slurred proudly, "Told you so! Our Director Ji has a remarkable gift—whatever he sets his mind to, he achieves. Even if it seems impossible or ahead of its time."

Ed didn’t take offense—he even agreed. "A great researcher should be like Director Ji—unconstrained by convention, meticulous in verification. I still have so much to learn from him."

Wu Zhengyang beamed as if he himself had been praised. "Exactly. You’re not bad, but there’s still a lot to learn from Director Ji."

Ji An simply smiled, declining to participate in the praise session centered around him.

"Thanks to everyone’s relentless efforts over these two years, we succeeded so quickly. You’ve all worked hard—on behalf of all life on Earth, I thank you." Ji An bowed deeply in the middle of the crowd.

Almost instantly, everyone returned the gesture—none would presume to accept such respect from him.

"Director Ji, please don’t. This is too much. Without you, this artificial satellite would never have been completed. No one worked harder than you. Besides, this isn’t just your personal project—it concerns all our lives. We can’t possibly accept such gratitude." Na Boyu, now completely deferential, spoke without his former arrogance.

Ji An didn’t refuse—this deference was rightfully his.

"We’ve all worked hard. The promised bonuses have been transferred to your smart devices—verify them upon returning. If there are any discrepancies, contact the finance department. Wishing everyone a wonderful vacation."

As a lead researcher, Ed received a bonus he never imagined possible. With it, he indulged his daughter, buying all the toys she’d longed for.

Eventually, the little girl grew uneasy. "Daddy, you’re so reckless!" she said reproachfully. "We spent so much today—what about the future?"

Gazing at her innocent face, Ed explained gently, "My dear, Daddy completed a groundbreaking scientific project and got a huge reward. You’ll never have to worry about money again—just be a happy, carefree child."

Frowning, the girl said, "But the outside world isn’t safe. I’ve seen the smart networks—everyone’s jealous of the Beijing Base. What if they attack us someday? If the base falls, the money in your smart device will just be meaningless digits again."

Seeing unwarranted maturity on his daughter’s face, Ed’s heart ached.

"Don’t worry. Daddy has more good news—soon, we might move to a new planet, just as beautiful as before the apocalypse, with no scary zombie virus."

"Really?" the girl gasped in delight.

"Really." Ed pressed his cheek to hers, tears of gratitude in his eyes. "Daddy is profoundly grateful we came to the Beijing Base and became Chinese nationals."