Fleet space theory has always considered folded space to be the next level of technology after curved space, but no one expected that someone could actually do it. Curved space is like a large iron ball placed on a spring mattress, causing the mattress to bend and sink. Warp drive takes advantage of this, constantly bending the space in front of the warship. The warship is like another small ball placed next to the large iron ball, and the small ball will move towards the place where the spring mattress sinks.
However, there is one advantage to warp drive: no matter how much the space in front of the warship is curved, the warship remains visible in three-dimensional space. This is like a ball on a spring mattress: no matter how heavy it is, no matter how much force is applied, or how high the lower limit of the spring mattress is, the ball can still be seen from above, unless the spring mattress is crushed, which is a different story.
Folded space is different. If there are two points A and B on both sides of a large iron ball, when the lower limit of the large iron ball is deep enough, the two points A and B on the spring bed will coincide, and the large iron ball will disappear. This is folded space. It sounds simple, but it is actually very difficult to realize.
At present, the only thing that a fleet can do on a large scale by bending space is to transport celestial bodies. Although the space around the celestial body is distorted when it is being transported, and the celestial body is temporarily invisible, the warships responsible for transporting it cannot be hidden. In fact, at this time, the warships and the celestial body can be regarded as a whole, and this whole is still visible.
While curved space and folded space may seem only slightly different, their actual operation is vastly different. The Treefolk can fold an entire star system into their space, and even the Ninety-Seven Prince couldn't find them. This shows that they don't operate like humans moving celestial bodies, nor is it an advanced version of warp drive technology, but rather a completely new set of technologies.
"General, you don't need to ask me how to fold space. I don't know either. If I knew, I would definitely tell you. Anyway, I don't have a good impression of those elders. Although I am a prince and the future Grand Elder of the Tree Race, this technology is entirely controlled by the elders. I will only be qualified to know it if I become an elder or the clan leader. However, I have only been born for a little over a million years, and the time for me to inherit the clan leader is still very far away." Ninety-Seven saw Hu Yu's doubt and took the initiative to explain.
"It's alright, you've already told us enough."
Hu Yu didn't think much of it. Even if Ninety-Seven knew, he might not share it with the fleet. After all, such cutting-edge technology is a civilization's trump card. Besides, Ninety-Seven had no reason to lie. If he wanted to hide it, he could have simply not mentioned space folding. However, Academician Zeng seemed somewhat disappointed when they heard this.
"General, what are you doing here on Wind Star? I've been in Wind Star territory for over ten thousand years. Although I've never left Planet No. 33, I know quite a lot. I can tell you everything I know."
"I want to know the specific combat strength of the Wind Star Civilization."
"I'm sure you already know this, General. The Wind Star Fleet has approximately 350 million ships, along with countless space-based artillery batteries and interstellar mines. As for the specific strength of their warships, you should know better than I do."
"Do you know the purpose of the Wind Star Civilization in cultivating intelligent beings?"
"I know a little. They feed the Insect Race. I also know that besides the other four feeding points here, the Wind Star People have captured many of my branches in the past. After the branches boarded the ship, they thought that freezing would solve the problem and often talked about feeding the Zerg swarm. Little did they know that some branches' vitality would not be completely lost in a short time, and they would pass on the information they heard to me. However, I don't know why they feed the Insect Race, and I guess even their crew members don't know. This should be a secret known only to the highest-ranking members of the Wind Star."
"What's the deal with those giant ships in the Wind Star territory that are over 30 kilometers long? We've tried to find out through other channels, but so far we haven't gotten any information. Logically, even though warships are highly classified, it's unlikely that even the Wind Star People themselves wouldn't know their purpose."
"I have indeed seen them a few times. These giant ships are very mysterious. I know the exact number—only one hundred. However, these giant ships rarely appear near our captured planets. I don't know much about them either. I think they might be some kind of powerful warship from the Wind Star Civilization."
"Oh, these giant ships are indeed very mysterious. They spend most of their time hidden in the airspace near the home planet of the Wind Star Civilization. I have led the fleet back to the Wind Star Civilization more than ten times, and spent one or two years in the civilization's territory, but I have never had the opportunity to see their full appearance."
"General, although we Tree People haven't developed into a technological civilization, it doesn't mean we know nothing. If we only look at our theoretical knowledge, my home planet is at least a high-level Small Star Region, far surpassing yours. Otherwise, we wouldn't know about technologies like folding space. If there's anything you need, I'll do my best to help," Tree People Ninety-Seven said, waving his limbs and patting his thick trunk.
"Thank you in advance. I will arrange for scientists from our civilization to contact you. We would be extremely grateful if you could provide us with any assistance."
"It's nothing. Compared to my life, nothing else matters. Besides, a little knowledge won't cost me anything."
The Wind Master were a thousand times faster than the speed of light, twice as fast as the Stealth Killer, and arrived in the JD3 Planetary System in just over ten days.
" Ninety-Seven, this is our inhabited planet. You cannot leave here for the time being. You will be completely free after we complete our plan to attack the Wind Star Civilization. At that time, I will arrange a warship for you, and you can go wherever you want. In the meantime, just enjoy the atmosphere of our civilization. You are free on this planet."
Hu Yu placed Ninety-Seven on Planet Three. Although Ninety-Seven could survive on other planets, Planet Three Ninety-Seven clearly the most comfortable for it. Since Ninety-Seven had provided enough information and could be trusted for the time being, he decided to let it live comfortably.
"I understand, I understand, General. But with your limited strength, I don't think you can wipe out the Wind Star Civilization. You'd need at least a billion warships to have even a 50% chance of winning. I suggest you leave here as soon as possible. If the Wind Star People discover the swarm has been wiped out, they'll find this place very quickly."
"You don't need to worry about that. Our fleet has been able to overcome danger time and time again by turning the impossible into possible. As long as you do it, nothing is impossible. By the way, Ninety-Seven, do you know anything about the other civilizations enslaved by the Wind Star People? If possible, we should rescue as many as we can." Saving a civilization would be of great benefit to the fleet. If we hadn't unintentionally saved Ninety-Seven, we wouldn't have known so much.
"I only know what other civilizations look like. They are all ordinary beings who die as soon as they board the ship, unable to utter a single word. However, I must warn you that the Wind Star People have planted many spies on every planet. They directly modify the beings of their own civilization to resemble those of other civilizations, blending them in to prevent these civilizations from causing trouble."
"Alright, I understand. I might come back to you when I have a problem or when my people have a problem. Now you can find a place to rest. If you have any needs, you can tell the Planetary Management Department, and they will meet your requirements. Also, I suggest you don't wander around, be careful not to step on my people."