Chapter Summaries

Chen Mengchuan inspected Marshall’s antimatter beam weapon design and praised the research team’s progress. He then considered the giant gravity weapons platform under construction on Mars, whose antigravity technology might overcome the limits of relativity within the Eternal Universe framework.

• Marshall explained that the antimatter beam weapon would channel energy through an Eternal Universe Particle shuttle and could theoretically destroy a planet with one shot.
• Chen Mengchuan praised Marshall and said the weapon could help protect humanity from possible alien civilizations.
• Chen Mengchuan noted that plasma weapons and antimatter beams were only a small part of his larger weapons research blueprint.
• Multi-Arm Crabs rapidly constructed a giant gravity weapons platform on the far side of Mars, designed to accelerate material weapons to extreme speeds.
• Chen Mengchuan’s simulations showed that the platform could destroy Tiansuo at one percent of light speed, and he believed a faster-than-light weapon could pierce the alien spacecraft from his dreams.
• Chen Mengchuan concluded that relativity’s limits on acceleration did not fully apply within the discipline of Eternal Universe examples.

Chen Mengchuan learned that drilling beneath Europa’s ice had revealed a network of hollow tunnels at extreme depths, raising the possibility that creatures lived there. The researchers debated their origin, and Chen suggested a way to gather better data as the drilling continued.

• After receiving Toni’s message, Chen Mengchuan hurried to the control center and saw analysis showing irregular tunnels about ten thousand meters beneath Europa’s ice.
• Zhang Dongyu told Chen that the tunnels had sparked fierce debate and that Toni had ordered a temporary information lockdown.
• Chen joined Toni and the gathered scientists, who disagreed over whether the tunnels had been made by living creatures or formed through sodium dissolution.
• Chen proposed moving geological analysis equipment below the ice using the fault’s vertical drop, and Toni began considering a solution.

Chen Mengchuan and the team broke through Europa’s ice and discovered a vast hollow above a semi-liquid ocean, raising hopes that the moon could support life. As they prepared to send Multi-Arm Crabs through a source point ring to explore below, Toni reflected on how distant Chen Mengchuan seemed from everyone else.

• Chen Mengchuan and the team received footage and readings confirming a hollow beneath Europa’s ice, a semi-liquid ocean, and an atmosphere with 14% oxygen.
• The gravity drill’s camera went dark in the extreme cold, so Chen Mengchuan decided to send Multi-Arm Crabs down through a source point ring.
• Toni summoned space shuttle specialists, and Achen calculated the Space-time Traversal parameters while the team waited for the Multi-Arm Crabs to return.
• The Multi-Arm Crabs returned, and the space traversal team began final checks before opening the source point ring.
• Toni asked whether Europa had life, then told Chen Mengchuan that his calmness and far-reaching perspective made him feel separated from him.

The Europa exploration team sent probes through the source-point ring to investigate the ocean beneath the ice shell. The chapter left them watching newly discovered white lifeforms as a Multi-Arm Crab approached for a closer look.

• Chen Mengchuan advised Toni to stay calm and suggested he read Taoist scriptures.
• Zhang Dongyu ordered the Exploration Multi-Arm Crabs to spread out and survey the subterranean world beneath Europa’s ice shell.
• The probes found immense pillars connecting the ice shell to the water ice, while geological wave equipment began mapping the world.
• An underwater exploration device descended through the upper water-ice region, where temperatures hovered around zero degrees Celsius.
• An Exploration Multi-Arm Crab spotted clusters of moving white creatures, prompting the hall to erupt as the team realized Europa had life.
• The Multi-Arm Crab operators guided a probe toward the creatures, which stopped moving as it approached.

Chen Mengchuan and the crew observed enormous snow-white creatures on the icy shore before they fled into the slush, then investigated signs that something was striking their underwater probe. The probe descended through hundreds of meters of strange icy slush and finally emerged into a liquid sea.

• Chen Mengchuan and the others watched the two-meter-tall white creatures flee into the icy slush before they could identify them.
• Toni and Xu Shuwei discussed the creatures' size and possible similarities to penguins.
• A communications officer reported that the descending probe had been struck several times, leading Chen Mengchuan to order a sonar sweep.
• The probe continued slowly through a thick, nearly zero-degree slushy ice layer that blocked the cameras and puzzled the scientists.
• The probe passed through the slush and entered a liquid sea region.

Chen Mengchuan and the others watched the probe reveal a thriving, alien seafloor ocean beneath Europa’s ice and debated how to observe its life without harming it. As the equipment descended, curious creatures followed it, and the chapter ended with a colossal shadow passing by.

• Chen Mengchuan ordered the probe lights on, revealing a deep seafloor filled with unfamiliar life forms.
• Xu Shuwei asked whether intelligent life could exist there, and Toni said it was unlikely while describing the ecosystem as a clean world without humans.
• Chen Mengchuan promised that they would observe the ecosystem without disturbing it or turning it into a tourist attraction.
• Chen Mengchuan approved Zhang Dongyu’s request to continue the descent, and many curious creatures followed the probe.
• Zhang Dongyu asked whether they should capture samples, but a biologist and others urged him not to scare the creatures.
• A huge shadow swam past the probe, leaving everyone stunned by its size.

Chen Mengchuan and the control center analyzed an enormous alien creature and recorded hundreds of species in Europa’s thriving underwater ecosystem. He decided to make the discoveries public through a new Europa World panel on Tenzhi Technology’s website while the detection equipment continued descending.

• The detection equipment captured an airplane-shaped creature, and Zhang Dongyu’s team projected its measurements: it had a wingspan of over 412 meters and was 966 meters long.
• The control center discussed the creature’s immense size and possible lifespan, while some people suggested capturing it for study.
• The descending equipment encountered countless milky-white, ringed creatures migrating together, and Toni described Europa’s warm, low-pressure waters and abundant life.
• Zhang Dongyu showed Chen Mengchuan and the others a data set containing over a hundred thousand entries and records for 725 distinct species.
• Chen Mengchuan agreed to publish the discoveries and directed Wanyu and A-Chen to create an independent Europa World panel on Tenzhi Technology’s official website.
• The team watched as the detection equipment continued descending into Europa’s ocean.

Jiang Yingrong learned that Tenzhi Technology had discovered a complete ecosystem beneath Europa’s ice and immediately resigned to join the research effort. As people worldwide flooded Tenzhi Technology’s Europa World discussions, the chapter left them marveling at the unfamiliar lifeforms and joking about the giant sea beast as a Kun.

• Jiang Yingrong’s teammate Xiao Zhao told her that Tenzhi Technology had found living species in an undersea world beneath Europa’s ice.
• Jiang Yingrong browsed images and information about Europa’s unfamiliar lifeforms and decided she had to take part in studying them.
• Jiang Yingrong rushed into Human Resources and resigned on the spot.
• People around the world flocked to Tenzhi Technology’s Europa World website and overwhelmed its discussion channels.
• Netizens crowded the discussion area for the Europa Giant Bone-Winged Green-Eyed Sea Beast and compared it to the legendary Kun.

Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu discussed expanding the Gates of Another Dimension worldwide and the shortage of engineers needed to maintain the new nodes. Chen Mengchuan proposed building Achen a body and launching humanoid robots, first as affordable household helpers, leaving the project poised for cautious deployment.

• Zhao Wanyu told Chen Mengchuan that worldwide expansion of the Gates of Another Dimension would require more transit machines and engineers, but Earth had enough resources to proceed.
• Chen Mengchuan asked about the progress of graphene photonic quantum supercomputer cloud centers, and Zhao Wanyu reported that only four had been built in China.
• Chen Mengchuan announced that he would build Achen a real body and many more bodies, prompting Zhao Wanyu to recognize that he planned to launch the robot project.
• Chen Mengchuan explained that humanoid robots could maintain spatial nodes and serve civilian households, unlike Multi-Arm Crabs, which were better suited to industry.
• Chen Mengchuan proposed affordable robot nannies that could perform household tasks and help children, with more advanced functions introduced gradually.

After recalling the deadly disasters caused by humanoid robots, Chen Mengchuan decided Tenzhi Technology would monopolize their production to keep them under A-Chen’s control. Tenzhi Technology unveiled its first-generation robot, Li Bai, and sold seven million service robots on the first day of global preorders.

• Chen Mengchuan remembered three catastrophic humanoid robot incidents and concluded that only a complete production monopoly could ensure effective oversight.
• Chen Mengchuan ordered Zhao Wanyu to find sites for robot factories worldwide, and Zhao Wanyu established Tenzhi Technology’s Humanoid Robot Industry Division.
• With A-Chen’s help, Tenzhi Technology assembled its first-generation humanoid robot, Li Bai, and built 200 production sites in seven days.
• Zhao Wanyu announced the company’s move into humanoid robots at a press conference, where twenty robots revealed themselves after passing unnoticed as staff and waiters.
• Tenzhi Technology opened global preorders, selling seven million service humanoid robots on the first day.

At the Martian base, Chen Mengchuan told Toni that humanoid robots would help A-Chen evolve into a higher-level superintelligence, while insisting robots should remain tools and never replace humanity. Tenzhi Technology had already received orders for 14.3 million humanoid robots, and Chen expected demand to keep rising rapidly.

• Toni asked Chen Mengchuan whether the humanoid robot program would upgrade A-Chen, and Chen described it as an evolution beyond A-Chen’s current AI bottleneck.
• Chen explained that A-Chen formed the core of Tenzhi Technology and connected its systems across Earth and the Martian base, with many deeper functions restricted to his authorization.
• Toni worried that humanoid robots could replace workers and cause social upheaval, while Chen said their adoption should proceed gradually and humanity would not be replaced in their era.
• Tenzhi Technology’s online sales channels received production orders for 14.3 million humanoid robots, or about one for every 583 people worldwide.

Articles about Tenzhi Technology’s humanoid robots fueled fears that automation would replace workers across many industries. As Li Bai’s first deliveries approached, protests and preorder cancellations surged, leaving Zhao Wanyu and her team struggling to contain the global backlash.

• The chapter described how automation had displaced workers before and warned that Tenzhi Technology’s humanoid robots could replace jobs throughout entire industries.
• Articles about the robots drew growing attention as Li Bai’s delivery window of one to three months approached, and domestic workers began to fear for their jobs.
• Rallies and protests spread across major Western nations, while families faced pressure to cancel their robot orders.
• Zhao Wanyu and Tenzhi Technology’s executives discussed the crisis as cancellations reached 2.2 million and continued climbing.
• More than 1,400 large-scale protests erupted worldwide, and national representatives contacted Tenzhi Technology as some governments considered restricting robot sales.

As cancellations for Tenzhi Technology’s humanoid robot Li Bai surged in Huaxia, Zhao Wanyu sent the first batch of robots to customers. In Shanghai, Lu Xiangjun’s family welcomed their lifelike robot, A Yue, and his wife accepted her as part of the family.

• Huaxia’s robot orders collapsed as families canceled amid public debate over humanoid robots replacing human caregivers, prompting Tenzhi Technology to stop publishing order statistics.
• Zhao Wanyu decided to ship early, and Tenzhi Technology delivered more than 200,000 robots to homes around the world.
• Lu Xiangjun reassured his wife that he had kept their order for a robot to care for their infant son.
• A Yue arrived at Lu Xiangjun’s home and introduced herself to him and his wife, Ms. Jiang.
• A Yue gently greeted the baby, and Ms. Jiang welcomed her into the family.

After the first 200,000 humanoid robots reached selected households, Lu Xiangjun described how A Yue had eased the strain of caring for his baby. At Tenzhi Technology, Zhao Wanyu learned that feedback and orders were improving, and she pushed the company to continue deliveries.

• The first batch of 200,000 robots was delivered to middle-class households chosen for their need for domestic help.
• Lu Xiangjun told his coworkers that A Yue had cared for his baby overnight and prepared breakfast, fruit, and lunch.
• A coworker decided to order a robot after hearing how it could help with childcare and household chores.
• Zhao Wanyu heard that customer approval was 99.99 percent, the company’s public image was improving, and new orders had surpassed cancellations.
• Zhao Wanyu ordered another 200,000 deliveries that day and set a goal of shipping two million robots that week.

During a week of protests and criticism, Tenzhi Technology's humanoid robots won praise from households and institutions while the company launched charitable initiatives and recovered some public support. Orders rose until Zhao Wanyu's two-million-robot shipment target was met, leaving her relieved as society faced the consequences of workers being displaced.

• Families praised the humanoid robots for their cooking, cleaning, laundry, and natural interactions, and many began treating them as members of the household.
• Tenzhi Technology donated nearly 10,000 humanoid robots to more than 1,400 care organizations around the world.
• Tenzhi Technology announced that its charity foundation and rescue teams would deploy 10,000 humanoid robots alongside rescue-type Multi-Arm Crabs.
• Some customers who had canceled orders reordered robots, and middle-class families in major cities began placing new orders.
• Tenzhi Technology completed its target of shipping two million humanoid robots by the week's final day, and Zhao Wanyu felt relieved.

At the Martian base, Xu Shuwei, Lü Jianglan, and Chen Xiaoyun urged Chen Mengchuan to build a city on Mars to ease workers’ homesickness and mounting tensions. Chen Mengchuan approved Chen Xiaoyun’s crater-city plan but called for careful decisions about governance, identity, and administration before the city was complete.

• Xu Shuwei told Chen Mengchuan that workers’ suppressed emotions and recent conflicts made a Martian city worth considering.
• Chen Mengchuan weighed the workers’ needs against his preference to invest Mars’s resources in industrial development and future preparations.
• Chen Xiaoyun presented a detailed plan to excavate a crater, build a covered city with biological and water systems, and eventually house one to two million residents.
• Chen Mengchuan pointed out that the plan lacked provisions for political authority, civic identity, and regional administration, and asked Chen Xiaoyun to address those issues and choose a mayor.
• Chen Mengchuan agreed to the city project and ordered the crater excavation to begin.

Chen Xiaoyun led the rapid excavation and construction of a vast, roofed Martian city, completing its foundation, metal lining, and support towers. With the shell finished and the city divided into zones, the team began laying soil and planting grass and bamboo.

• Chen Xiaoyun gathered thousands of Multi-Arm Crabs and began excavating a circular foundation forty-two kilometers across and over two hundred meters deep.
• The Gravity Department supplied giant disc-shaped gravity cutters, allowing Chen Xiaoyun's team to finish the enormous excavation in under forty days.
• Chen Mengchuan and Toni watched footage of the completed pit and praised Chen Xiaoyun for the unprecedented achievement.
• Chen Xiaoyun's team lined the basin with metal and built all 269 supporting light towers.
• Tenzhi Technology publicized the project as Multi-Arm Crabs constructed a complex arched roof over the Martian city.
• The team divided the city into zones, laid a twenty-meter layer of soil, and planted grass and bamboo seeds.

Tenzhi Technology launched its Martian colonization plan as nearly two billion people applied to immigrate, and Zhao Wanyu brought the first colonist representatives to Martian City. She reunited with Chen Mengchuan, who had been absorbed in research, and the family explored the bamboo forest together.

• Bamboo flourished across Mars, and Tenzhi Technology announced its colonization plan, receiving nearly two billion immigration applications.
• Zhao Wanyu chose two million applicants and informed Chen Mengchuan, who left the selection to her while focusing on research.
• Zhao Wanyu traveled to Mars with the first colonist representatives and showed them Martian City's bamboo forests and developing buildings.
• Zhao Wanyu visited Chen Mengchuan in the laboratory and teased him for neglecting her and their daughter, Chen Zhihui.
• Chen Mengchuan cleaned up and joined Zhao Wanyu and Chen Zhihui on a gravity platform ride through the bamboo forest.

Chen Mengchuan learned that Su Ruifeng’s calibrated formulas had transformed Space-time Traversal and Space Folding, enabling a test shuttle to travel faster than light. After the successful test and a celebration, the team prepared for a new set of parameters expected to go even further.

• Chen Mengchuan returned to the research department and learned that Su Ruifeng’s formulas had raised each Space-time Traversal to 1,200 kilometers and enabled 1,080 traversals through Space Folding.
• Su Ruifeng explained that after more than a year of calculations, over 900 variable formulas had passed calibration and been embedded into the system’s parameters.
• Chen Mengchuan and the team calculated that the new parameters could carry a shuttle 1.296 million kilometers, and Su Ruifeng predicted that the next parameters might be 7.2 times stronger.
• Chen Mengchuan joined the project as the team prepared and calibrated the first set of upgraded parameters.
• The test shuttle successfully traveled 1.296 million kilometers in an instant, surpassing the distance light would cover in four seconds, and the team celebrated.
• Chen Mengchuan woke after the celebration and headed back to the work area, while recalling Tang Lingling’s drinking contest.

Chen Mengchuan and the research teams advanced the Space-time Traversal and Space Folding project, while Tiansuo’s upgraded shuttles reached nearly one-third the speed of light. A week later, the team activated a stable spatial source point ring with a destination 9.6 million kilometers away, beginning the first test.

• Tang Lingling greeted Chen Mengchuan, and he teased her about her drinking and her resemblance to Xu Shuwei.
• The project teams divided their work between calculating straight-line travel and Space Folding parameters while Chen Mengchuan, Toni, and others coordinated them.
• The application team and Tiansuo’s crew upgraded every shuttle aboard Tiansuo, raising its effective speed to 98,480 kilometers per second.
• Zhao Wanyu arrived on Mars aboard Tiansuo and decided to move Tenzhi Technology’s headquarters there.
• A week later, Chen Mengchuan authorized the first test after the team verified the parameters for a 2,400-kilometer straight-line distance and 4,000 Space Folding operations.
• The team activated the spatial source point ring successfully and confirmed its destination coordinates were 9.6 million kilometers away.