After the rocket launch center was recaptured, preparations began in full swing. Everyone there knew one thing: they had a great mission to complete – launching a rocket. The rocket manufacturing was also carried out here. Once a meteorite was found, they would need to launch it into space to prevent the mutation of all living beings on Earth.
This matter was extremely important and required a trusted confidant to oversee it. Any slight oversight could lead to the failure of the rocket launch.
Shen Feng thought for a long time and realized that only Li Keyi could accomplish this task, as she met two conditions: sufficient scientific literacy and absolute reliability. Others could not fulfill these requirements, so the task was ultimately entrusted to Li Keyi.
"This might inconvenience you. When the world was more peaceful, the North was considered a harsh and cold place. Now, it's a frozen land, and you have to go there to complete your mission. I can only visit you frequently!" Shen Feng said to Li Keyi with some guilt.
Upon hearing this, Li Keyi replied, "It's no problem for me to go to a harsh and cold place. After all, family members should support each other. Besides, Chang Jianyi is often at the production bases outside, so my contribution is not much!"
Li Keyi understood Shen Feng's decision, as it was an effort for a better future.
However, Shen Feng noticed Li Keyi's displeasure and quickly said, "I know you'll be away for several years and won't be able to return. But this is how times are. I can only inconvenience you. Also, I will compensate you!"
After Shen Feng said this, Li Keyi could no longer hold back her true feelings: "It's not a problem to suffer hardship now, but my biggest worry is that I will always be alone. A physiognomist told me that I am destined to be childless. If it stays that way, it's fine, as we ability users can live for hundreds of years. But I suddenly feel a sense of weariness. I worry that this fate will continue, and I will never have leisure time again."
Learning about Li Keyi's concerns, Shen Feng earnestly said, "I promise, as soon as we end the doomsday, I will spend time with you all!"
Li Keyi smiled, not objecting to his statement, but she didn't seem particularly happy. Even the smile on her face was like a professional one, as if she knew Shen Feng was making empty promises but didn't want to expose him.
Seeing her smile, Shen Feng said very seriously, "I'm not joking, I'm serious. If you are tired of the doomsday life, I will end this doomsday. Then I will disregard everything else and focus on accompanying you all!"
"Alright, alright, I believe you. What you say must be true! Then, please speed up the collection of meteorites. Make sure to find the meteorites as soon as possible and send them into space. That way, our goal will be achieved. After the great ice age ends, we will find a place to live carefree lives, and never get involved in power struggles again!" Li Keyi said.
It turned out she was tired of all the power struggles. She was willing to save the people of the world, but now she realized that Shen Feng had gradually developed ambitions. Shen Feng now had many aspirations and definitely wanted to occupy China and become a remarkable figure whose name would be recorded in history.
Li Keyi also knew that Shen Feng's words were not meant to deceive her. He was a very impulsive person, so he said whatever came to his mind, but would reconsider it later. This was normal.
Afterward, Shen Feng said, "If you go there this time, I'll find someone to protect you. I'll have Luo Qing accompany you. As for your senior sister, I'll have Xu Xing protect her. You must also be careful about your safety when you are out there!"
Li Keyi nodded and left after packing her belongings. She traveled by train and then transferred to a bus, heading all the way to Jiuquan before finally resting. Upon her arrival, other scientists had also arrived one after another. The first order of business was to discuss the construction of the rocket, while the remaining manpower and resources were still being transported.
Building the rocket here was the most crucial task. Without the rocket, they wouldn't have come to this godforsaken place. Even in summer, due to the high latitude, cold fronts often swept south, resulting in consistently low temperatures.
"It would be best to build the rocket on Hainan Island. The latitude there is lower, making rocket launches easier!" the scientists analyzed immediately upon arrival.
The others nodded in agreement. The lower the latitude, the more the rocket could utilize Earth's gravity during launch, allowing for better flight. In China, there were two rocket launch centers: one in Jiuquan and another in Hainan.
"If conditions permitted, we would also want to go to Hainan because the climate there is at least better than the north, and it doesn't snow all the time. However, acid rain frequently occurs there, and it's not our territory, making it impossible to focus on building rockets!" Li Keyi explained.
After hearing this explanation, the others could only sigh helplessly and settle down, preparing to work towards fulfilling the plan of City Lord Shen Feng.
In Jiuquan, due to the high latitude, cold fronts often moved south. Whenever a cold front arrived with moist air, it would form precipitation. Sometimes, instead of rain, it would be freezing rain that immediately turned to ice upon hitting the ground. The houses would instantly become ice sculptures. People living in their rooms might find themselves unable to open their doors the next day because the outside was frozen shut. Therefore, every household would store some straw or hammers to break through the ice when necessary to get out.
Everyone knew that building a rocket here would take several years. Even with the blueprints and guidance from many experienced scientists, building a rocket was not an overnight task. It required exploring many steps, and many components needed to be manufactured in other factories before being delivered. Here, at most, they could complete the assembly.
As the rocket construction began, the three-person team at sea had not sent any good news. They had brought a radio transmitter and could send telegrams from afar to report their situation. However, they had been at sea for a long time, killing over a dozen sea beasts, yet they had found no trace of any meteorites.
Shen Feng was worried about this situation. The logic was simple: if they couldn't obtain the meteorites, the doomsday would return after the great ice age ended. The viruses and creatures in the seawater would mutate, and humanity's crisis would not be over.
At this moment, a piece of news suddenly emerged from the southeastern coastal region. A meteorite had been found, brought by a friend who claimed to be Shen Feng's son.
Shen Feng learned from the forces in the southeastern coastal region that a teenage boy had suddenly appeared, looking remarkably like Shen Feng. He claimed to be from an island nation and possessed information about a meteorite. He had traveled across the ocean to China to find his father, Shen Feng.
Upon first hearing this news, Shen Feng was stunned. He had no other children outside. Without thinking, he told the people in those areas, "Don't be fooled. I've never had any illegitimate children. Be extremely careful. This person impersonating my son is likely trying to trick you!"
However, the people in the southeastern region did not fully believe Shen Feng's response. They naturally assumed that Shen Feng was misleading them. Shen Feng had previously used a clever stratagem that led to continuous rebellions within their territories. Now, they wanted to capture Shen Feng's illegitimate son. If he was real, they would have leverage over Shen Feng.
The reason Shen Feng denied it was entirely for his reputation. The sudden appearance of an illegitimate son would damage his reputation, something he did not want to see. Therefore, people assumed that Shen Feng's strong denial meant their suspicions were correct.
Consequently, these forces invited the boy into their territories to rest, showering him with gold and silver treasures to ensure he felt comfortable.
The boy appeared to be well-educated, behaving elegantly and nobly during meals and rest, unlike children from ordinary families. His only goal was to deliver the meteorite information to Yuzhou and to find his father.
Some factions wanted to capture the boy to blackmail Shen Feng. But just as they were about to make a move, they suddenly noticed a woman resembling Qin Kewei by the boy's side. Her ability was to control fire, and anyone who tried to approach her would be burned to ashes.
"This is the young master of our Kagoshima. Please do not offend him. I forgot to mention, I am now a seventh-tier ability user. Ordinary people are no match for me. At least those few people from Jinling would be needed to fight me. So, if you intend to detain our young master, you are mistaken!" Saya Xiang said.
Saya Xiang's talent was not very high initially, as she spent most of her time in the office and rarely went to battle. However, by chance, she became an ability user. Counting her age, she was now over 40. Her growth to a seventh-tier ability user was due to Yue Hengyi's help.
When Yue Hengyi was captured, Saya Xiang was the only one who rescued him from prison. He eventually agreed to live a reclusive life with her on an island, but due to various coincidences, they ended up in the wilderness. After recovering his memories, he learned that Saya Xiang had been searching for him every year. Moved by this, he wanted to repay her, and the best way was to give her many evolution crystals.
Yue Hengyi could fly freely in the sky, so flying over the sea was also simple. He casually killed a few sea beasts and gave Saya Xiang enough evolution crystals, enabling her to become a seventh-tier ability user. Yue Hengyi also visited her frequently, and their relationship was very good.
After Saya Xiang revealed her true strength, the surrounding people truly dared not act or offend her. Ability users were rare in the first place, and powerful ability users were even rarer. Now, a seventh-tier ability user was not to be trifled with!
Upon learning that the boy had such a powerful bodyguard, everyone immediately made a guess. If he wasn't an important figure, why would such a powerful ability user protect him? This indicated that the illegitimate son's identity was likely real, and he was indeed Shen Feng's son.