The night was as dark as ink, and the cold rain lashed against the mountain where the base was located.

The winding and rugged mountain road was shrouded in thick fog and rain, with visibility less than ten meters.

Two bright headlights, like the pupils of a trapped beast, pierced through the rain curtain and tore through the darkness.

A military jeep, unmarked and covered with a thick tarpaulin, sped wildly along a slippery mountain road.

Inside the driver's seat, Jiang Feng gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white from excessive force.

The rain pounded against the windshield, and even with the wipers on full blast, they could barely clear a blurry view.

His resolute face was expressionless, except for his hawk-like eyes, which gleamed with extreme vigilance in the darkness, scanning every suspicious shadow on both sides of the road.

His left leg, the mechanical leg designed by Mingzhao and covered with matte metal, was now firmly pressed against the accelerator pedal.

With every slight bump, the precise hydraulic damping system inside the mechanical joints silently absorbs the impact, ensuring the vehicle's absolute stability at maximum speeds.

The cold metallic touch emanated from his trousers, reminding him of the significance of his trip.

On the passenger seat was a small but unusually heavy lead-gray metal box.

The box had no markings on its surface, only a few faintly flashing red indicator lights.

The box was ice-cold, and you couldn't tell what was inside.

This is the trace sample of "stardust" residue that was specially approved by the highest level and sent to Mingzhao.

Jiang Feng's right hand never left the handle of the Type 54 pistol with the safety off at his waist.

With every turn and every bump, his nerves were stretched to the limit.

Escorting this thing was even more stressful than the most dangerous infiltration missions he had ever carried out behind enemy lines!

He knew that if something went wrong, not only him, but the entire base, and even this mountain range, could be wiped off the map in an instant!

---

Deep within the base, in the isolation buffer zone outside the materials laboratory.

The heavy lead door was tightly closed, and prominent radioactive signs and the highest level of hazard warning lights had been added to it.

The atmosphere in the buffer zone was as heavy as that of an execution ground about to be set up.

Academician Zhang Meng, Zhang Mingyuan, Wang Tiezhu, Engineer Sun, and all core assistants were present.

No one spoke; only heavy, suppressed breathing and the pounding of hearts echoed in the cold air.

Academician Zhang Meng crossed her arms, her back ramrod straight, her gaze behind her glasses fixed on the lead door, her face as solemn as iron.

Zhang Mingyuan stood beside her, his lips tightly pressed together, fine beads of cold sweat on his forehead, his hands unconsciously clenching and unclenching.

The theoretical report he had signed and the special approval from the highest level were now burning his heart like a branding iron.

Wang Tiezhu huddled in the shadows of the corner, his face pale, his body trembling slightly, and his eyes filled with fear.

He wanted to question them several times, to stop them, but seeing Zhang Meng and Zhang Mingyuan's resolute backs, he swallowed his words.

Engineer Sun and his assistants huddled together, nervously checking the airtightness of their protective suits one last time, their movements stiff.

Time slipped away second by second in the agony.

Sudden!

Woo-woo-woo!

Deep within the base, a piercing alarm, signaling the highest level of threat, suddenly blared without warning!

Red lights flashed wildly in the corridor of the isolation buffer zone!

Everyone was trembling violently!

"They're here!" Zhang Mingyuan shouted, his voice trembling without him even realizing it.

The heavy alloy inner gate slid open slowly with a dull hydraulic hum.

A gust of wind, carrying the scent of rain and earth, suddenly rushed in.

Jiang Feng's tall figure appeared at the doorway, soaked to the bone, rain dripping from the brim of his hat and the hem of his military overcoat.

He was like an iron tower that had just returned from hell, exuding a strong smell of gunpowder and rain.

His gaze was sharp as a knife, instantly sweeping over everyone in the buffer zone before finally landing on Zhang Meng and Zhang Mingyuan, where he nodded slightly.

He didn't speak, but with his tactical gloved hands, with extreme steadiness, as if holding a fragile relic, he handed the lead-gray metal box to Zhang Mingyuan.

Zhang Mingyuan took a deep breath, calmed his wildly beating heart, and solemnly accepted the cold box with his slightly trembling hands.

The moment I touched it, an indescribable heaviness and chill ran straight up my fingertips to my scalp!

It was as if he wasn't holding a box, but a miniature volcano that could erupt at any moment!

"Delivered safely."

Jiang Feng's voice was hoarse and dry. "The perimeter security has been deployed to the highest level according to the plan. The sample status... is stable."

His gaze finally landed on Mingzhao, with a hint of questioning that was barely perceptible.

Mingzhao stood a little behind the crowd, still wearing that faded old shirt, with only a lab coat over it as a symbolic gesture.

Her gaze remained calmly fixed on the lead-gray metal box from beginning to end.

When Zhang Mingyuan took the box, a faint glimmer, like the embers of stardust, seemed to flash and disappear deep in her pupils.

"Prepare to receive..."

Academician Zhang Meng's voice broke the silence, carrying an unquestionable commanding tone.

Her gaze swept over Engineer Sun and the others: "Level 1 protection! Activate!"

---

The heavy lead door slid open slowly, revealing the brightly lit core area of ​​the materials laboratory behind it.

The air purification system here is running at maximum power, emitting a low hum.

All non-essential equipment has been shut down.

In the center of the laboratory, a small vacuum operating chamber, which can only accommodate one person, is isolated by high-strength explosion-proof glass.

Holding the lead-gray metal box, Zhang Mingyuan, under Jiang Feng's constant protection, walked step by step towards the control room.

Every step was heavy and extremely careful.

Wearing bulky white, fully enclosed protective suits, Sun and the others followed nervously behind, like astronauts.

Wang Tiezhu was ordered to remain outside the buffer zone, looking inside through a thick lead-glass observation window, his face ashen.

The metal box was carefully placed into the fixed slot in the operating compartment.

Zhang Mingyuan stepped back, while Jiang Feng stood like a gatekeeper, gun in hand, beside the control room, his sharp eyes scanning every corner inside and outside the room.

All eyes were focused on Mingzhao.

She walked to the isolation door of the control room.

Unlike the others, they did not wear heavy protective suits.

She simply reached out calmly and entered a long, complex string of commands into the combination lock next to the door.

laugh--!

The sound of air pressure equalization was heard, and the isolation door slid open.

Wearing only a thin white lab coat and empty-handed, she calmly walked into the simulated vacuum operating chamber!

"Why...why isn't she wearing protective gear?!"