Chen Ming returned to the banquet hall.

Together with Cheng Xinghai, they toasted every table of guests that arrived.

The other rituals had been completed before, after the round was completed.

The engagement party is essentially over.

The wedding banquet after the engagement will have to be postponed for some time.

Maybe soon, maybe a long time.

It depends on how the mechanical war goes.

If all goes well, Chen Ming should be able to return to headquarters and get married after the war.

Anyway, there is no opportunity and time to do it now.

Cheng Xinghai had to go back to school.

Because it is now June in Earth standard time.

Normally, summer vacation is about to begin.

But Cheng Xinghai is now a junior student, and a student of a special military school. He will go to the battlefield after his senior year.

Therefore, during the summer vacation at the end of the junior year, the school will carry out intensive training for officers to prepare for the actual battlefield.

She definitely won't have any free time for at least a year.

It’s similar on Chen Ming’s side.

Although he doesn't have any tasks, he also has requirements for himself.

He needed to quickly familiarize himself with the three institutes of which he had honorary membership.

Because these three research institutes will provide him with assistance in the subsequent war against the mechanical race.

This is only what he has to do at the headquarters. The situations in other places like An Wuping's side, the main body far outside the empire, and the Queen's planet are very similar.

After all, he and Cheng Xinghai couldn't stay together all day like a real couple, because they both had things to do.

In addition to doing the things he had just thought of and some additional preparations, Chen Ming now had another important thing to do.

That's where he needs to decide where to go next.

Yes, stay at the headquarters.

Let’s go back to the branch.

This question is actually easy to answer.

The Mechanic War is about to begin, and the Galo star field will soon become the front line.

He had to go to the branch eventually. He couldn't stay in the headquarters after the war started.

Moreover, Chen Ming had previously promised to help Bai Quan use psychic power to control the entire branch, so he had to do this.

Although there should be no problems at the headquarters at this stage, the only problem is that the branch is far away and some people may have other ideas.

In addition, after the training, Cheng Xinghai will go to the battlefield, and Galo is the battlefield.

Chen Ming must go.

However, although he likes you to make decisions immediately, there is no rush to actually do what he decides.

The war has not yet begun.

After he had made up his mind, the only urgent thing for him now was to control the branch.

As for controlling the branch, besides Chen Ming himself going back to take control, there is another way, which is to use the afterglow core.

Not only devices, equipment or buildings, but anything with an electronic system, once connected to the Afterglow Core controlled by Chen Ming, will be completely under his control.

The branch itself is built under the dome on a volcanic planet. The dome is full of electronic systems and can be easily controlled by an afterglow core.

It just so happened that Chen Ming had just experienced the trials of the Scarlet Dimension.

His psychic energy is already capable of being transmitted through the Crimson Dimension by psychically sealing the Afterglow Core.

The number of afterglow cores and their locations are no longer limitations on the range of Chen Ming's psychic power.

Therefore, Chen Ming can completely hand over the branch to a robot equipped with a new afterglow core.

The control power of the Yuhui core is enough to control a branch.

Not to mention Baiquan's tacit consent.

When the war starts in the future, he will need to go to the branch, and the headquarters can be replaced by robots.

This is what Chen Ming thinks.

Now that we have a rough idea of ​​the route, all that remains is to fill in the details.

However, just when Chen Ming was sitting alone in the corner of the banquet hall thinking about what to do next.

Cheng Xinghai's voice suddenly sounded in her ears: "You are here."

Chen Ming raised his head and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Of course I was looking for you. What else could I do? You disappeared right after dinner, and I spent a long time looking for you outside. Who knew you were hiding here?"

Cheng Xinghai sat next to Chen Ming and leaned towards him. After finding a comfortable angle, she put her entire weight on Chen Ming.

She whispered to Chen Ming: "I'm going back to school soon."

"I know."

"I still have to go to intensive training, which is a closed management for three months. I have one day off a month or so, so I can make phone calls or something."

Chen Ming thought about what he should say at this time, and said: "Can we play games?"

Cheng Xinghai suddenly laughed when he heard Chen Ming's question: "This doesn't seem like a question you would ask."

"Can't I suddenly want to play games?"

"sure."

Cheng Xinghai hugged Chen Ming tighter with a gentle smile on his face.

Chen Ming also took the opportunity to put his arm around her shoulders and said, "Remember not to take off the wristband when the time comes."

"The instructors at the training camp can be very strict."

"It's okay. I'll drive the cruiser over and ask them to let you wear this wristband."

"You really are...don't joke around."

Cheng Xinghai hit Chen Ming lightly on the arm.

Although she had restrained herself, Chen Ming still felt a pain.

Cheng Xinghai also felt Chen Ming's body tremble slightly and asked, "Did I hurt you?"

"My psychic powers don't do much to improve my physical fitness."

"Then I apologize to you."

Cheng Xinghai suddenly let go of Chen Ming's arm, stood up and stood in front of Chen Ming.

She bent down and tapped Chen Ming's lips lightly.

In the blink of an eye, he disappeared.

the next day.

After sending Cheng Xinghai to school early in the morning, Chen Ming appeared in the parking lot of the military family accommodation area.

Since Chen Ming slept on the floor last night, nothing happened.

So today he was able to go to the Psychic Research Institute in high spirits.

He carried out his previous plan to go to the Psychic Research Institute when he had time.

However, the exact location of the Psychic Research Institute is not on the headquarters' planet.

After all, some things related to psychic power are too dangerous.

If any accidents occur in experiments at some psychic research institutes, it may lead to quite tragic consequences.

Therefore, the location of the Psychic Research Institute was chosen elsewhere.

The planet where the 14th Legion is headquartered has two satellites.

One of them became the site for the Psychic Research Institute.

Although Chen Ming is an honorary member of the current Psychic Research Institute, he can go directly there.

It would obviously be more appropriate for a first visit if someone brought it with them.

So Chen Ming talked to He Gu yesterday and asked He Gu to pick him up.

He Gu certainly doesn't mind taking Chen Ming to heaven.

So when Chen Ming sent Cheng Xinghai to school, he saw He Gu was already in the parking lot.

He Gu greeted Chen Ming from a distance and asked, "Didn't you just finish the engagement party yesterday? Are you free to come today?"

Chen Ming responded: "Yes, there are always many things to do."

"I'm going to go get what I need today, and then learn about the Psychic Research Institute. Do you mind being a tour guide?"

"Of course not."

He Gu extended his hand to the shuttle boat next to him, motioning Chen Ming to get on board: "The things and the tour guide are ready."

The shuttle took off.

Soon after, it left the atmosphere of the home planet.

When the white mist in the atmosphere dissipated, the brilliant starry sky appeared in front of Chen Ming.

Chen Ming saw the satellite orbiting the planet.

Because the timing was not right when he came here last time, he did not see what the satellite actually looked like.

It was not until now that he saw that the satellite where the Psychic Research Institute was located was a planet with approximately 20% of its area covered by ocean, and the land area was generally a mixture of emerald green and orange-red.

This is also a habitable planet and habitable satellite.

Chen Ming was not very familiar with the local geographical conditions before, so after he saw the two habitable planets, he sighed and said: "The satellite is actually a habitable planet. This galaxy really has unique advantages."

I don’t know whether the suitable galaxy he finds in the future will have such conditions.

However, He Gu had something to say about this: "That's not the case, because that planet has undergone climate transformation."

"It was a grand event to collect water-bearing asteroids from all over the galaxy and nearby galaxies."

Climate modification technology.

Chen Ming has heard of it.

This is a technology for transforming non-habitable planets but those with the potential to become habitable planets.

The theory of this technology has been proposed for many years, but the number of actual modifications has been very small.

Because transforming a planet, especially changing its climate, is extremely difficult to achieve, there are very few successful cases.

In addition, the Empire mastered hyperspace channel technology long ago and expanded the Empire to a once unimaginable level, so habitable planets are no longer rare.

The value of simply transforming an uninhabitable planet is not proportional to the cost required.

Investment in this technology remained largely unchanged until the end of the pioneering era, and the technology also made no significant progress and remained at its previous level.

Only some galaxies that are already highly developed may need to transform some non-habitable planets into habitable planets.

Just like the satellite that Hu Gu is talking about now.

The fact that this planet is a satellite actually reduces the difficulty of climate modification to a certain extent.

And this technology is also quite interesting and he can use it.

You can find an opportunity to learn it.

Just as Chen Ming saw the satellite where the Psychic Research Institute was located.

Another satellite orbiting the main planet just happened to peek out from the edge of the planet.

The satellite that just entered Chen Ming's eyes was completely different from the satellite of the Psychic Research Institute he had seen.

Compared to the satellite of the Psionic Research Institute, this satellite is smaller in size.

But on its periphery, there are two artificial ring structures of different sizes surrounding it.

It is a two-ring highly developed orbital industrial facility.

The satellite's surface was only metallic in color.

The entire planet has become part of mechanization.

Chen Ming was not sure whether the entire planet had become completely mechanical, but perhaps he would know later.

Because that satellite belongs to the Ship Research Institute.

The responsibility of the Ship Research Institute is to design spacecraft, so naturally it will also need to test the designed spacecraft.

Then as one of the three giants of the Legion Research Institute.

The Ship Research Institute, like the Psychic Research Institute, is eligible to have a satellite as the base of the research institute.

Therefore, this satellite naturally became a testing ground for the Ship Research Institute.

The Ship Research Institute itself does not require large-scale industrial facilities, but it does need to manufacture prototypes and requires high-precision equipment.

The orbital industrial facilities built around the satellite, which is relatively small in size, can just meet the needs of saving costs without wasting too much industrial facilities.

Chen Ming is also quite interested in such a mechanized satellite.

Of course, although he is interested, he has other things to do now.

The shuttle continued to fly towards the satellite of the Psionic Research Institute.

After review and approval by the space station.

Chen Ming was able to enter the satellite's atmosphere and see the planet belonging to the Psychic Research Institute.

Soon, Chen Ming also noticed that the distribution of buildings on this satellite was somewhat special.

It is not an urbanized division like on a normal colony planet, but rather a distribution style somewhat similar to a pastoral farm.

Basically, you have to fly quite a distance to see a few research buildings that are relatively close to each other.

He Gu explained: "Since the consequences of some psychic experiments that go wrong may have a wide range of impact, planets are usually not built with too many buildings to prevent the collateral dangers caused by experimental accidents from affecting too many people."

"The basic supplies for researchers in these places are guaranteed by unmanned transport ships, but those who can come to such places are basically people who have their own research projects to do."

"Under normal circumstances, most people stay somewhere else."

"where?"

"We have a major city where no psionic experiments are allowed. We'll be there soon."

Chen Ming nodded.

Continue looking out the window.

And just as the shuttle continued to move towards the main city of the Psychic Research Institute that He Gu mentioned.

At a certain moment, Chen Ming suddenly felt a gentle psychic energy wave suddenly enveloped him.

It instantly calmed his mind, which had been a little restless due to recent events.

This spiritual energy fluctuation is very familiar...

"Fairy tree?"

Chen Ming had just asked this question when a little glow suddenly appeared on the edge of the distant horizon in front of the low-flying shuttle.

Chen Ming realized something and moved closer to the front of the cab to get a clearer view.

And as the shuttle accelerated closer.

The next thing that came into Chen Ming's sight was a towering tree.

A tree so huge that it could envelop the entire city under its grand canopy.

That is a fairy tree.

The bright leaves with faint fluorescence were floating, like a sea of ​​fluorescence covering Chen Ming's vision.

Below this sea of ​​​​fluorescein is a bronze tree trunk whose diameter seems to be enough to support the sky.

To be able to support such a huge crown, the strength of the trunk is definitely not comparable to that of ordinary trees.

The roots of the trees further down cannot be seen with the naked eye.

But based on normal experience, the depth of the roots of this fairy tree is probably even larger and more complex than its crown exposed on the surface.

It was as if the entire satellite was providing nutrients to this fairy tree.

The core city of the Psychic Research Institute is built around this giant tree.

Chen Ming originally thought that the mechanical satellite was exaggerated enough, but he didn't expect that he would be shocked again in just a few minutes.

"No wonder you changed the route of the spaceship when I saw you flying it just now. You didn't want me to see it outside the atmosphere, right?"

Chen Ming was talking to He Gu, but his eyes were on the giant fairy tree.

He Gu admitted, "Yeah, how does it feel?"

“It’s really… shocking.”

"How did a fairy tree like this grow?"

"A Level 6 psyker once died under a fairy tree when it was still a sapling."

"This was the last facade of the Fourteenth Legion before the reorganization, and it is also the largest facade of our new Fourteenth Legion today."

"There is no fairy tree in the entire empire larger than this."

He Gu's words were full of pride.

The shuttle continued to approach.

Until under the tree canopy.

Originally, Chen Ming thought that the crown of this giant fairy tree would be pitch black, or there would be only a small amount of fluorescence, and artificial lighting equipment would be needed to ensure illumination.

But when he really came over, he found out.

All the lit places in the city are filled with very bright natural light.

The leaves of the fairy tree emit a faint fluorescence that miraculously illuminates the surface of the earth to a brightness as if the light of a star is shining directly through the leaves, maintaining the harmony of the environment.

“That’s really exaggerated.”

Chen Ming kept sighing and couldn't come up with any more adjectives.

Such an existence really made it difficult for him to find the right words to describe it.

And the closer Chen Ming got to the fairy tree, the more he could feel it.

The psychic strength and fluctuations of this fairy tree are definitely considered to be that of a level 6 psychic creature, and creatures are not just animals.

A level 6 psychic creature, even more powerful than he is now.

"Is it conscious?" Chen Ming asked.

He Gu shook his head uncertainly: "At present, it seems that this fairy tree only has weak instincts. Of course, it may also have consciousness, but its concept of time after it grows up is different from ours, so there is no way to communicate."

"But basically all the psykers who have been here firmly believe that this tree is conscious and it is protecting us."

He Gu took Chen Ming and circled around the trunk of the fairy tree several times, and finally landed in an area close to the trunk.

The headquarters building of the Psychic Research Institute is here.

The director of the Psychic Research Institute was waiting at the door to greet Chen Ming.

He briefly exchanged a few words with Chen Ming, confirmed Chen Ming's purpose, and instructed He Gu to do his best to meet Chen Ming's needs before he said goodbye and left.

After getting instructions from the director, He Gu easily took Chen Ming to the basement of the research institute building.

After passing through the intricate underground passages caused by the roots of the fairy trees and layers of strict protection.

Chen Ming finally arrived at the warehouse of the Psychic Research Institute, which covered an area almost as large as the cross-section of the trunk of the fairy tree.

And this is just one layer.

The first question that popped up in Chen Ming's mind when he arrived here was: "Why build a warehouse here?"

Because there must be some psychic-related things that are extremely dangerous just by leaving them there, and building a warehouse underground in this city would obviously cause these things to directly affect the entire city.

He Gu certainly understood Chen Ming's question. He pointed to the top of his head and said, "The spiritual energy fluctuations of the fairy tree tend to soothe the spirit."

"It's like there's a top psychic who is exerting his influence on the things below all the time."

"The existence of such a fairy tree can suppress all rebellious psychic things."

"With a little guidance from us, we can use the fairy forest tree to create a powerful containment system."

He Gu briefly explained to Chen Ming and continued to take Chen Ming deeper into the warehouse.

Some time passed.

After passing through a layer of protection, Chen Ming suddenly noticed that the concentration of the spiritual energy fluctuations belonging to the surrounding fairy trees suddenly increased.

He seemed to have arrived at the warehouse area where spiritual items related to the fairy tree were stored.

He Gu confirmed to Chen Ming: "What you need is two fairy tree seeds and a spiritual awakening nerve, right?"

"Yes, this is the most expensive item on the list. It should be very rare, right?"

He Gu confirmed the document and responded, "Of course."

"Although the fairy tree looks big and has many leaves, you can only get tree seeds after the fairy tree blooms."

"The flowering time of the fairy tree is not fixed, but there are generally less than ten flowers each year, and the flowers will eventually turn into seeds."

Chen Ming noticed the question in He Gu's words and asked, "No fruit?"

"There are no fruits, only flowers and seeds."

"And generally speaking, we need the flowers of the fairy tree more than its seeds, because the flowers are more suitable for use and research than the seeds, so we usually only have a small amount of seeds in stock."

"These fairy tree species are not only used by our army, but also by the Fanchao Research Institute, which will come to take some from time to time."

"In addition to our cooperation with other research institutes, the number of fairy tree species can be said to be quite rare."

"You took two directly, but that took away half of our current stock."

He Gu said this and brought Chen Ming to a room that stored psychic objects.

He pressed the document in his hand directly onto a screen at the door of the room.

"After you get the fairy tree seeds, the method of cultivating it will also be given to you. You can try to cultivate it."

"But to be honest, it's difficult. Generally speaking, a research institute only cultivates one or two trees, like the ones you see outside."

“It’s going to be very difficult if you want to try it yourself.”

Chen Ming said: "I have to try it, so I want two."

He needs the fairy tree's continuous and stable output of plant-based spiritual materials.

It can be used to make various drugs that can calm the mind, ensure mental stability, or assist in meditation.

Although Chen Ming could decisively not use any psychic drugs before, now after coming into contact with the Scarlet Dimension.

Chen Ming felt that these drugs were still necessary at least when facing the scarlet dimension.

Even if these drugs can only allow him to stay in the scarlet dimension for 0.1 seconds longer, these drugs have their value.

What's more, this type of medicine has other uses.

For example, feeding it to the Queen Insect, or feeding it to Cheng Xinghai.

He could even try to cultivate such a fairy tree like the Legion.

He Gu did not raise any objections to Chen Ming's decision: "Just know what you are doing."

With the document signed by the legion commander himself, He Gu easily took out two fairy tree seeds.

"There is another Spiritual Enlightenment Nerve next, and I have asked someone to get the new testing equipment for you. However, we have to go there in person to get the Spiritual Enlightenment Nerve."

After He Gu finished speaking, he put the documents away, turned around and handed two apple-sized tree species that seemed to be emitting fluorescent light to Chen Ming.

And at the moment when Chen Ming touched the fairy tree species.

The Queen of Insects suddenly felt an extreme desire.

Chen Ming silently looked at the two tree seeds in his hands.

Fortunately, he had foresight.

(End of this chapter)