Chapter Summaries

Chen Mengchuan and the others watched as Li Shuo’s crew began capturing asteroid LKUJ-782719, an enormous asteroid identified as metallic. The gravity bees completed their attachment and set the asteroid on a return course to Mars, with arrival scheduled in nine days.

• Chen Mengchuan told Xu Shuwei and the others that the crew was beginning the first asteroid capture, and they went to the main control room.
• Li Shuo’s asteroid capture ship used a Spatial Source Point Circle to reach LKUJ-782719, which Chen Mengchuan said was highly likely to be an M-type metallic asteroid.
• Li Shuo ordered the ship to survey the asteroid and confirm a core capture point after the crew measured its volume at 50.965 cubic kilometers.
• The capture ship drilled dozens of boreholes into the asteroid, then deployed gravity bees that attached across its surface and extended their gravity nodes.
• Li Shuo confirmed the asteroid’s return route to Mars and announced that the ship was scheduled to reach the Martian base in nine days.

Xu Shuwei's team confirmed a vast pitchblende deposit on Mars, while mining, uranium processing, and the nuclear power plant advanced. Chen Mengchuan learned that dozens of specialized metal smelting plants were being built and tested, and Jiang Xiaomin projected enormous production once asteroid metals became available.

• Xu Shuwei's exploration team confirmed an exceptionally large uranium deposit on Mars and estimated its reserves at more than 1.4 million tons.
• Xu Shuwei arranged mining operations at the deposit, while the nearly completed Mars nuclear power plant began generating limited electricity with uranium brought from Earth.
• Chen Mengchuan learned that dozens of metal smelting plants had been built, with sixteen already operational for trial runs under chief engineer Jiang Xiaomin.
• Jiang Xiaomin explained why Mars needed multiple electrothermal smelting methods to process its varied minerals and produce materials for spacecraft.
• Jiang Xiaomin said that after the captured asteroid's metal composition was confirmed, he expected the plants to reach ten times Earth's combined steel and metallurgical output within a year.

After the Mars Science Exchange Summit, Chen Mengchuan learned that the Exploration Multi-Arm Crabs had discovered a huge deposit of impact diamonds on Mars. The find had little value as a source of jewelry, but its abundant carbon could support Tenzhi Technology’s graphene research.

• After resting, Chen Mengchuan received a message from the main control room and went to lunch with Toni and Chen Xiaoyun.
• Xu Shuwei arrived and announced that the Exploration Multi-Arm Crabs had found enormous diamonds, including deposits of Lonsdaleite, in a crater in northern Mars.
• Chen Mengchuan and Toni explained that natural diamonds had little industrial value and could not realistically be sold in large quantities.
• Chen Mengchuan noted that the deposit’s carbon could supply graphene production as Tenzhi Technology expanded its graphene nanotechnology research on Mars.

After Tenzhi Technology’s Martian diamond discovery shook Earth’s diamond market, Chen Mengchuan rejected any need to cooperate with diamond groups unless they could offer real benefits. He then gathered his colleagues to discuss exploring and developing the Solar System, leaving them with a plan to send advanced probes to other planets and investigate Jupiter’s resources.

• News of Tenzhi Technology’s Martian diamond mine spread across Earth after Zhao Wanyu arranged media coverage and announced that a 230-kilogram diamond would go to the Palace Museum in Huaxia.
• Representatives from seven diamond groups arrived seeking cooperation, but Chen Mengchuan told Zhao Wanyu to consider their proposals only if they could offer Tenzhi Technology benefits.
• Chen Mengchuan reviewed a plan to explore planets and satellites beyond Mars and asked Yue'er to summon Toni, Xu Shuwei, and others.
• Chen Mengchuan proposed sending powerful probes to explore and land on other planets, explaining that ordinary probes could not withstand their harsh conditions.
• Chen Mengchuan presented a High-pressure Constant Temperature Yuan Magnetic Detector designed to investigate Jupiter, whose hydrogen might one day fuel controlled nuclear fusion.

Chen Mengchuan and the gathered scientists discussed exploring and developing the Solar System as the first captured asteroid approached Mars. The asteroid was stopped and fitted with gravity-support swarms, leaving it ready for landing.

• Chen Mengchuan discussed hydrogen and the prospects of exploring Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto with Möbius, Puslin, and the other scientists.
• Chen Mengchuan reassured the group that capturing the first asteroid was only the beginning of a broader effort.
• Toni announced that the asteroid had arrived in Mars's orbit, and Chen Mengchuan ordered the crew to install gravity nodes and prepare for landing.
• The commander dispatched 329 Multi-Arm Crabs and 127,000 Gravity Bees to support the asteroid's landing.
• The asteroid capture ships stopped and positioned the asteroid, then Multi-Arm Crabs and Gravity Bees attached to their assigned points.
• The Multi-Arm Crabs and Gravity Bee swarms completed attachment, and the crew reported that landing could begin.

Chen Mengchuan and his team completed the difficult transfer and gentle landing of a captured asteroid on Mars, marking a major step toward mining space resources. After the successful landing, they decided to test its composition before cutting it up.

• Chen Mengchuan ordered the team to prepare to land the asteroid in a crater on Mars.
• The control room crew activated the Spatial Source Point Circle and began transferring the asteroid toward Mars.
• After Mars's gravity began affecting the asteroid, the deputy commander ordered the Gravity Bees and Multi-Arm Crabs to support it.
• The team stabilized the asteroid's descent, and it landed safely in the crater as the control room cheered.
• Xu Shuwei asked when they would cut up the asteroid, and Chen Mengchuan said they would first inspect its composition and wait for the metal smelter to be ready.

Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu agreed that Tenzhi Technology should reveal its asteroid captures to reassure scientists that it would not exploit Earth's resources. At the Mars Science Exchange Summit's closing ceremony, Chen announced Tenzhi's achievements and showed footage of the asteroids gathered on Mars, shocking the audience.

• Chen Mengchuan discussed with Zhao Wanyu how publicizing Tenzhi Technology's asteroid captures could help recruit elite researchers for its armed division.
• Zhao Wanyu described Tenzhi Technology's global disaster relief and employment programs, which had earned the organization widespread praise.
• Chen Mengchuan agreed to officially announce Tenzhi Technology's asteroid acquisitions to the public.
• Tenzhi Technology captured and delivered more asteroids to Mars, filling craters across the central equatorial plains.
• At the final Mars Science Exchange Summit session, Chen Mengchuan spoke about humanity's smallness in the universe and introduced Tenzhi Technology's achievements.
• Chen Mengchuan showed footage of asteroids gathered in Martian craters, stunning the summit audience.

Chen Mengchuan demonstrated Tenzhi Technology’s asteroid-mining and spatial-cutting technology, presenting it as humanity’s first step into the Infinite Resource Era. The demonstration ended with one asteroid divided into hundreds of pieces, establishing Tenzhi Technology as the leader of this transformation.

• Chen Mengchuan explained that Tenzhi Technology had captured asteroids rich in known and unknown minerals.
• Chen Mengchuan announced that Tenzhi Technology would demonstrate its industrial technology for mining and using asteroids.
• Tenzhi Technology used antigravity devices and Spatial Source Point Circles to move an asteroid to the cutting site.
• Chen Mengchuan ordered the asteroid cut, and the Source Point Circles sliced it cleanly in half.
• Gravity bees stabilized the asteroid’s halves as repeated spatial cuts divided it into hundreds of pieces in twenty minutes.

Chen Mengchuan met Marshall, a leading antimatter researcher and grandson of Carl D. Anderson, and invited him to join Tenzhi Technology. The chapter ended with Chen proposing antimatter beams and planetary-scale antimatter weapons.

• Elon Musk praised Chen Mengchuan, and Möbius introduced him to Marshall.
• Möbius explained that Marshall was a leading researcher in annihilation, antimatter, and antiparticles, prompting Chen Mengchuan to take a serious interest in him.
• Chen Mengchuan invited Marshall to discuss his research in the experimental area, where Toni joined them.
• Chen Mengchuan asked Marshall whether he would help develop antimatter beams and planetary-scale antimatter weapons.

Chen Mengchuan told Dr. Marshall that Tenzhi Technology planned to develop planet-scale antimatter weapons to defend against alien civilizations, despite the immense dangers and difficulties. As the Mars Science Summit ended, Tenzhi Technology began recruiting prominent scientists, confident that no nation could stop it.

• Chen Mengchuan told Marshall that Tenzhi Technology wanted to develop antimatter weapons for future encounters with alien civilizations.
• Marshall warned Chen Mengchuan that antimatter annihilation was extremely powerful, difficult to control, and too costly and dangerous to develop with current technology.
• Chen Mengchuan insisted that Tenzhi Technology needed planet-scale antimatter weapons capable of destroying a star with one beam.
• After the Mars Science Summit ended, Tenzhi Technology’s recruiters approached prominent scientists with offers of more funding, staff, and resources.
• Chen Mengchuan and his colleagues planned for Zhao Wanyu to recruit the scientists after their return to Earth, confident that Tenzhi Technology was too influential for nations to shake.

After Tenzhi Technology’s asteroid mining success drew global mining groups and government representatives seeking cooperation, Zhao Wanyu told Chen Mengchuan about assassination threats against the company’s executives. Chen ordered Achen and Zhao to monitor and arrest the attackers while Zhao prepared to respond to the mining groups; Chen planned to return to Earth in a couple of days.

• Zhao Wanyu’s assistant reported that BHP Group wanted to negotiate cooperation, as more mining groups approached Tenzhi Technology after its asteroid mining announcement.
• Zhao Wanyu learned that Achen had intercepted dangerous plans targeting Tenzhi Technology, including proposals for nuclear strikes and assassinations.
• Zhao Wanyu called Chen Mengchuan on Mars and explained the threats and the mining groups’ interest in the asteroid resources.
• Chen Mengchuan ordered Achen to monitor hostile terrorists and told Zhao Wanyu to coordinate with Su City’s security agencies to arrest them.
• Chen Mengchuan said Tenzhi Technology would not release asteroid resources on a large scale, and Zhao Wanyu planned to make the mining groups suffer by releasing some news.
• Chen Mengchuan told Zhao Wanyu to stay safe and said he would return to Earth in a couple of days.

Tenzhi Technology revealed the vast mineral resources it had found on Mars, shaking global markets as Zhao Wanyu pursued a plan to acquire mining companies and authorities stopped an assassination plot in Su City. Chen Mengchuan and the other Mars Science Summit participants returned to Earth, where the scientists left with a transformed view of humanity and a role in building a new civilization.

• Zhao Wanyu announced Tenzhi Technology’s Mars discoveries, including enormous reserves of iron and other metals, and mining stocks around the world collapsed.
• Andrew McKenzie and other mining executives watched their companies’ fortunes plunge as Tenzhi Technology’s resources threatened their industry.
• After an anonymous report warned of a plot against Tenzhi Technology’s leaders, Su Province forces arrested more than 2,400 terrorists while thousands more fled Su City.
• Zhao Wanyu launched the resource acquisition plan, and Sun Zhongyong’s financial companies bought more than 60 percent of shares in numerous mining groups worldwide.
• The Tiansuo returned to Su City with Chen Mengchuan and more than ten thousand Mars Science Summit participants, who came back with a transformed understanding of humanity and the universe.

After Tenzhi Technology’s acquisition success, Chen Mengchuan celebrated with his colleagues and discussed the company’s plans with Zhao Wanyu. He aimed to recruit scientists drawn to Tenzhi’s advanced technology, secure Earth’s and the asteroid’s resources, and eventually explore beyond the Solar System.

• Sun Zhongyong welcomed Chen Mengchuan and the others at a celebratory banquet, while the chapter described Tenzhi Technology’s immense power and global reach.
• Chen Mengchuan left the banquet with Zhao Wanyu and took her to the top of the Super Tenzhi Building.
• Zhao Wanyu asked Chen Mengchuan about the talks and his weapons plan, and he said the plans were progressing better than expected.
• Chen Mengchuan explained that scientists who had experienced Tenzhi Technology’s advances aboard the Tiansuo would be drawn to its research and ideals, though Zhao Wanyu warned that recruiting them would be difficult.
• Chen Mengchuan said Tenzhi Technology would keep acquiring mineral resources on Earth and from the asteroid so it could strengthen its position and set the rules.
• Chen Mengchuan told Zhao Wanyu that they needed to develop further, leave the Solar System, explore other star systems, and seek new possibilities for survival.

Chen Mengchuan visited the Lingkong Wireless Current Transmission Division with Zhao Wanyu and learned that Lingkong 5.0 had successfully transmitted wireless current over 3,109 kilometers. He ordered plans for its public launch and deployment, aiming to make infinite energy a reality and advance Earth's political integration.

• Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu visited the Lingkong Wireless Current Transmission Division while their daughter Zhihui slept at home.
• Mao Xingxing reported that Lingkong 5.0 had transmitted wireless current 3,109 kilometers in a recent real-world test and was showing excellent stability.
• Chen Mengchuan told Mao Xingxing to work with Huaxia Electric Grid and energy departments to put Lingkong 5.0 into practical use and launch the previously approved Medium Earth Orbit Graphene Wireless Solar Power Station Project.
• Chen Mengchuan asked Zhao Wanyu to prepare a major press conference and coordinate with Huaxia and its allied nations.
• Zhao Wanyu agreed to speak with Second Uncle as Chen Mengchuan planned to use abundant energy and shared resources to advance Earth's political integration.

Mao Xingxing presented Tenzhi Technology’s plan to build graphene wireless solar power stations in orbit, with Chen Mengchuan offering to supply the materials for twelve stations free of charge. Huaxia planned to begin with a trial network in its eastern region, while the first station was scheduled for completion within three months.

• Mao Xingxing explained how each mid-Earth-orbit station would collect sunlight and transmit power to seven ground receiving stations.
• Mao Xingxing announced that Tenzhi Technology would supply the panels and Chen Mengchuan would provide the materials for twelve stations at no cost.
• Chen Mengchuan considered how resources from captured carbonaceous asteroids could support hundreds of power stations and help address Earth’s energy needs.
• After the presentation, the attendees discussed starting with an orbital power network and ground receiving station in eastern Huaxia while keeping existing nuclear plants running.
• The project schedule set a three-month target for the first station, with all twelve planned for completion within nine months if the trial went well.
• Li Zhongxia recognized that Huaxia’s electricity consumption was rising as more provinces and cities moved toward wireless power supply.

Chen Mengchuan learned that the Gate to Another Dimension project had expanded to hundreds of Huaxia cities and was beginning to connect with neighboring countries. He visited the department responsible for the project, where Space-time Traversal and Space Folding technology continued to advance steadily.

• Chen Mengchuan left the Lingkong Wireless Current Transmission Division with Zhao Wanyu after concluding proposal talks with Huaxia Electric Grid and Huaxia Resources.
• Zhao Wanyu told Chen Mengchuan that the Gate to Another Dimension project was in its fourth phase, planned for 225 cities and 21 international stations.
• Zhao Wanyu explained that Achen and Tenzhi Technology’s strong computing resources supported the project’s rapid growth.
• Zhao Wanyu rejected major powers seeking the complete Gate to Another Dimension system, while Huaxia approved stations for neighboring countries.
• Chen Mengchuan visited the Space-time Traversal and Space Folding Technology Department and learned that traversal had reached 120 kilometers and the Space Folding parameter had exceeded 198 times.

Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu visited the Otherworld Gate project team and saw how its expanding Space-time Traversal network was being operated. The chapter ended as project lead Jia Xiaozhen came over to greet them.

• Toni told Chen Mengchuan that she was conducting additional Space-time Traversal tests, but he declined to watch because he considered the current speed and distance inadequate.
• Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu went to the Otherworld Gate project team, where Gravity Department and Communications Department staff coordinated the growing spatial network.
• The chapter described how China, local governments, and Tenzhi Technology set variable traversal prices, with Chen Mengchuan prioritizing broader access over profit.
• Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu reached the main control room and found project lead Jia Xiaozhen, who handed instructions to his assistant before approaching them.

Chen Mengchuan reviewed the dimensional gateway project's progress with Jia Xiaozhen and Zhao Wanyu, including its growing international reach and effects on airlines. When foreign restrictions threatened Tenzhi Technology's plans, Chen Mengchuan proposed helping China build ten anti-gravity aircraft carriers to apply pressure.

• Jia Xiaozhen showed Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu maps of the project's operational nodes across 196 Chinese cities and 34 foreign countries.
• Jia Xiaozhen reported that dimensional gateway traffic had caused many airlines to suspend flights, lose business, or suffer financial collapse.
• Jia Xiaozhen outlined Phase Five's plan to connect 224 countries and regions within four months, while Zhao Wanyu described tariffs and import restrictions imposed by the United States and England.
• Chen Mengchuan said he would talk to the Chinese military and help China build ten anti-gravity aircraft carriers.

At the Free University of Brussels, François tried to resign and return to Mars, while Yvon and Belgian lobbyists attempted to stop him. Professor Cherlodo also submitted his resignation to join Huaxia, and François was carried away after Yvon ordered him detained.

• Yvon and two Belgian lobbyists tried to persuade François to stay at the university, but François insisted that he was leaving for Mars with his students.
• Professor Cherlodo entered Yvon's office and submitted a resignation letter, saying he had accepted an invitation from Huaxia and wanted to visit Mars and pursue his research.
• François told Yvon to look beyond Earth and tried to leave, but the lobbyists blocked him again.
• Yvon ordered the men to have François rest, and they carried him away after catching his cane.

Chen Mengchuan met Commander Xu and Chinese military representatives to confirm that Tenzhi Technology would help China build ten anti-gravity aircraft carriers. He presented the massive vessel design and explained its power, defenses, and weapon systems, leaving the military eager to proceed.

• Li Zhongxia introduced Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu to Commander Xu and the Chinese military representatives.
• Chen Mengchuan confirmed that Tenzhi Technology would help China build ten anti-gravity aircraft carriers.
• Chen Mengchuan displayed plans for an 1,800-meter-long carrier and explained its anti-gravity engines, power supply, and energy-storage systems.
• Chen Mengchuan said the military would provide the carriers' weapons and pay for construction materials, while Tenzhi Technology would charge cost price and a nominal infrastructure fee.
• Commander Xu agreed to the arrangement, and Chen Mengchuan continued presenting the vessel's design and structure.