The Kuafu was still climbing.
Its hull traced an arc high in the sky, the blue glow of its runes mingling with sunlight to leave a long blue-and-gold trail through the clouds.
That enormous silhouette grew smaller and smaller, farther and farther away.
At last, it became a speck of light in the heavens.
Then it vanished from sight.
Academician Qian Zhenhua's aged voice came over the broadcast channel.
"The Kuafu has crossed the Kármán line and officially entered low orbit."
"All parameters... normal."
After a long pause, he continued:
"I declare the trial flight... a success!"
Beneath the World Tree, the news of the successful trial flight sent over a hundred thousand people cheering in unison.
"Hahaha! Great Xia is fucking awesome!"
"It really flew! It worked! A spaceship that can take off from the ground!"
"Facing the Doomsday crisis, we're unfortunate, but we're fortunate too. The interstellar age is truly here!"
"Waaah... I don't know why I want to cry so badly!"
Not far away, Lin Mo tipped his head back and gazed at that light.
He smiled.
This age of prosperity was just as he had wished.
One hour after the trial flight ended, at ten in the morning.
Celestial Pivot City's Portal Plaza.
If the Kuafu's trial flight showcased a mighty national asset that set people's blood pumping, what came next was the "New Year's gift package" ordinary people had been longing for all month.
The Terra Continent officially opened to the people of Great Xia!
The Two-World Trade Center opened at the same time.
Admission was limited to ten thousand people per day, by reservation only, with everyone required to return the same day.
Reservations had opened three days earlier.
The server crashed 0.3 seconds after they opened.
The technical department had to expand capacity