The Xi wasn't a giant creature; its size was only considered large on this planet.
Lacking natural predators, the Xi simply ate constantly, spending about 16 hours a day eating.
But they weren't fat; the radioactive elements within their bodies constantly consumed energy, keeping them slender.
It's unclear whether this is because they produce radioactive elements, consuming vast amounts of energy, or because the radioactive elements constantly kill their cells, forcing them to eat continuously to maintain their bodies.
Only after seeing one would they know.
Luna didn't search for the Xi during the day.
According to the first explorers' reports, the Xi typically moved at night and weren't difficult to find.
They emitted light all over their bodies.
The explorers didn't leave pictures, but they described the creature as unimaginably beautiful.
This was a crucial factor in Luna's anticipation.
“Do they really exist? Creatures containing radioactive elements?”
“How do they prevent their genes from being affected by radiation?”
Luna wasn't alone on this trip; several of her students accompanied her.
Two were Lelera, one was a Waterfolk, and the last was a Multi-eyed.
The Waterfolk was enveloped by a mass of water; using miniature anti-gravity devices, he floated in the air.
“Billy, don’t judge the universe’s creatures based on your limited understanding.”
“The universe is vast; the Federation hasn't explored its limits.”
“Not even the Milky Way; we’ve explored at most one ten-billionth of it.”
“The Federation currently has 14… no, 16 species; we are insignificant.”
Billy, a Lelera, shook his head.
“Ross, that’s not what I mean; I just find it hard to imagine.”
“As a Type 2 civilization, we can’t create large lifeforms that can survive long-term exposure to radiation. And yet, nature has done it; it’s unimaginable!”
It is indeed unimaginable.
But Luna didn't find it to violate any known laws; in the lab, it's possible to create organisms that survive radiation; some can even consume radioactive particles.
That's not groundbreaking research.
On Earth, some organisms could survive in radioactive water, such as the well-known radiation-resistant Cryptococcus isolated from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant leak.
Cryptococcus might be uncommon, but it’s a type of bacteria.
These organisms survive in radioactive water thanks to their extraordinary reproductive capabilities.
“There’s light over there; it must be the Xi,” Boolean, the multi-eyed student, called out.
Having multiple eyes is indeed useful.
He said the light was still far away.
They could have flown directly there, but that would have meant missing much; they could examine other flora and fauna along the way, an important part of their research.
“Increase speed. The Xi population is extremely small; according to scans, there are fewer than 100 on the entire planet; they're critically endangered,” Luna said.
They continued through the rugged mountains.
Luna discovered a fungus-like organism emitting a captivating aroma; examination revealed it was highly toxic; a single gram could kill an elephant instantly, and a cluster weighed at least 10 kg; a single cluster could wipe out a population.
Then she found an ambush predator; it camouflaged itself as a plant; Luna almost fell victim. She deployed her mech and used a lightsaber to kill it, adding it to her sample collection.
They made many discoveries along the way.
After more than two hours, they reached a small stream.
The stream was only four or five meters wide and less than half a meter deep. The light was approaching; it seemed to be coming towards them.
“Wait here. The Xi will likely come to drink water.”
It drew closer.
Even Luna held her breath.
Only when the Xi truly appeared before her did she take a deep breath.
It was completely translucent, with fine white hairs on its body; it resembled a mollusk, a sea slug, with an incredibly soft belly. Claw-like appendages, seemingly soft yet massive, sprouted from its belly; they resembled Palmon's forelegs from Digimon, but they weren't for attack, more like support limbs.
It also possessed a face-like structure, sturdy respiratory and feeding organs, and large, forward-facing ears resembling a monkey's. Numerous soft, long whiskers sprouted from its face, trailing behind it; the tips of these whiskers had glowing organs, ten times brighter than its body.
Words cannot describe its beauty.
Its beauty lay not in wildness or curves but in a gentle radiance, like a bioluminescent jellyfish.
To describe it, it resembled the Forest Spirit from Princess Mononoke; this was a feeling, not a literal resemblance.
And the crucial difference is that the Forest Spirit is a protector of the forest, while the Xi is its destroyer.
Where it passes, vegetation withers; where it drinks, animals die. It’s a natural death god, an untouchable being.
“It seems the trip wasn’t in vain.”
Luna saw many creatures in the stream already dead, their bodies floating downstream; the radiation in their bodies, if consumed by other creatures, would likely cause widespread death.
Fortunately, these creatures are scarce; if there were more, the entire planet would become a dead world.
To prevent the Xi from struggling and getting injured, Luna had Ayla deploy a containment field from the warship.
The Xi was instantly immobilized.
The containment field used electromagnetic forces to restrict the movement of every cell.
Only then did Luna and her four students approach.
The Xi wasn't large, about 2.4 meters tall and weighing 500-600 kg.
Luna touched its skin; unlike a sea slug, the fine white hairs made it feel more like a cat or dog—more like a cat to Luna, as dog fur is usually coarser than cat fur, and the Xi’s fur was incredibly soft and fine.
Pulling out a hair, Luna examined it; it wasn't purely white but translucent, similar to polar bear fur; it was hollow, allowing light to pass through, giving the fur its white appearance.
Polar bear fur has a slightly yellowish tint, but the Xi's fur is almost milky white. Its body isn't uniformly colored; for example, the tentacles sprouting from its head, each about the size of an adult's wrist, numbering several dozen, emitted a faint green glow.
Its internal organs were visible through its translucent body; it essentially lacked bones, similar to a sea slug. However, its support structure is more like an octopus, possessing considerable strength.
Of course, appearances are secondary.
“The real examination will be internal.”
“Let’s take it back for dissection.”
The beautiful image seemed shattered by Luna's words.
Luna wasn't joking; she truly dissected the Xi.
Its internal structure wasn't particularly complex, relatively primitive.
Luna examined its fur, blood, flesh, organs, and nerves; she determined that the radioactive material wasn't stored in a specific organ but spread throughout its body.
In fact, all living things contain some radioactivity, but it's too weak to matter.
These radioactive elements usually originate naturally, present in planets and stars from their formation, with large amounts of cosmic radioactive elements involved in their creation.
“There must be a naturally occurring radioactive mineral deposit on this planet; the Xi, like salmon during spawning season, return to this location to reproduce.”
“They're oviparous; when the eggs are laid in the radioactive area, they develop a tolerance to radiation from the larval stage.”
Luna pointed to the Xi's reproductive organs, “Here. Careful examination reveals their egg sacs are quite large; judging from experience, they lay a large number of eggs.”
“But this contradicts their population size, suggesting that a significant percentage of eggs die from radiation; only a small fraction survive.”
Luna explained to her students.
“After birth, the Xi actively consume minerals; we find many stones in their stomachs. Their bodies require large amounts of trace elements to stimulate cell division.”
In a completely vacuum-sealed experimental chamber, Luna used a robotic arm to provide the Xi cell with some nutrients.
The nutrients were rapidly absorbed; the initial 2000 cells divided into 64,000 in a minute.
“Unbelievable!”
Her students had seen faster rates of cell division, but those were artificial cells; these were from a natural organism.
“Can we modify our cells to be like this?” a student asked the crucial question.
Luna smiled.
“That’s a good question.”
“The Xi’s structure is incredibly simple; their intelligence is rudimentary. To spread radiation throughout an intelligent organism, we must consider not just the body but also the brain.”
“How do brain cells resist radiation?”
“If it’s this rapid division and death, we’d suffer from amnesia; our memory would only last ten seconds, maybe only a second.”
That would be terrible.
It would mean intelligence, even the self, wouldn't exist.
“How do the Xi solve this?”
Even rudimentary intelligence is intelligence; how do the Xi ensure they aren’t affected? They return to their birthplace to lay eggs, implying they have memories.
“No, they don't have memories.”
“Their actions are guided by pheromones.”
“Think of these pheromones as simple instructions that tell them where to go and what to do.”
“This is a very effective strategy; their genes must have adapted; they perceive these pheromones as genes, not thoughts.”
Billy thought of a story.
“A Faustian bargain!”
To obtain extraordinary power, you must pay an extraordinary price; this is the case with the Xi.
The students were somewhat disappointed.
“Then the Xi's abilities can’t be used on us?”
Luna smiled and gave each student a genetic sample.
“These genes are sufficient for you to replicate it. We’ve achieved our goal; some scholars will remain here to continue their research, and companies will develop this star system.”
“We’re heading back.”
“I hope you can make some discoveries; this is a lifetime achievement.”
Ross sensed something in Luna’s words.
“Teacher, have you found a direction?”
Luna didn’t answer, dismissing the students from the lab. This wasn’t stinginess but because this direction needed them to explore independently.
In the field of advanced academics, following a teacher's path leads to becoming an assistant, not an independent scholar.
Imagination and the exploration of biological mysteries are crucial; her students have entered the biological field; they are now at this stage of self-cultivation.
“Ayla!”
Luna called.
Ayla quickly appeared before her.
“What do you think of the Xi’s structure?”
Ayla was the warship's central computer; all systems were connected to her. Without hesitation, she replied, “The Xi simply utilize radioactive elements; this isn't unexpected.”
“This utilization is rather primitive, but it’s not without merit.”
“For example, genes storing memories; this isn't a new field; research into gene-stored memories began over 11,000 years ago, and it’s highly effective.”
“But this is mostly used in artificial constructs, not ourselves.”
“If genes could store memories completely, and cell division didn't cause memory loss, then organisms could easily handle radioactive elements.”
“This means organisms could possess and release energy without external devices.”
“But this isn't very different from mechs, Luna. Magical mechs are undergoing experimental use; wearing a mech allows for high-intensity attacks and manipulating atoms using strong force to alter atomic arrangement.”
“Fire, water, light, earth; these mechs can even create these elements arbitrarily; I don’t see the point.”
Surpassing mechs with the physical body is extremely difficult; mechs have been developed for over 20,000 years and are already perfected.
Supernatural beings are only at the beginning stages of research, not even fully understood.
“Mechs can certainly do many things, but they are external, supplementary; they can never replace the body.”
“It seems Ayla hasn’t given you this information. You only need to analyze the feasibility of my current ideas.”
Ayla’s core has long been integrated with the Galactic Federation; she's no longer Luna’s personal possession.
Although Ayla is building the Boundary God to separate herself from the Galactic Federation, this is not something easily achieved. Especially in terms of computing power, working with Luna significantly reduces Ayla's computing power, making her inefficient.
So Ayla created the Kunlun, to avoid excessive computational load.
But the Kunlun still cannot meet Ayla's needs; it is currently undergoing upgrades.
“Analyze whether, by shielding the nervous system from radiation, it's possible to control radioactive elements.”
Ayla analyzed it.
“It’s possible, but it requires mechs.”
“Mechs would shield against radiation, preventing it from affecting the nervous system; mechs could also harness the energy generated by radiation, but the energy produced is relatively small; it’s only sufficient for magical-level energy.”
“Theoretically, a mech can withstand up to 100 million Sv; the human body can only withstand less than 0.5 Sv. Theoretically, a 100 kg human can only release 50 Joules of energy per second; this is roughly equivalent to a match; even less than what a nuclear reactor produces.”
Sv, or Sievert, represents the absorption of 1 Joule of radiation energy per kilogram of tissue; this unit is commonly used in hospitals, in radiotherapy, X-ray equipment, etc.; another unit is Gray (Gy), usually representing absorbed dose.
Hospitals usually use mSv or mGy because while 1 Sv is only 1 Joule, it's enough to kill a person.
Luna knew that even if this energy entered the body, it wouldn't be significant. The Xi releases about 400 mSv, but even a small amount represents a significant breakthrough.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Nuclear reactors are too dangerous; without a mech, it’s instant death.
But if controlled, even without a mech, it could achieve fingertip fire capabilities.
“Citizens can’t use it yet; let’s try it on the Swarm first and see how much it can withstand.”
Luna felt this was a significant achievement.
...
The warship's return route differed from its arrival.
Luna needed to go to another location—a notorious chaotic zone within the Federation, inhabited by many non-Federation citizens. They are beyond Federation law, freely using gene technology and exoskeleton mechs to modify themselves.
Many explorers call this area the Chaotic Star Sea; it's a black area.
Black areas are easily discernible when illuminated.
The warship took 59 years to reach this area. Luna saw countless space debris outside; it resembled a chaotic junkyard.
Machines moved through the debris, searching for usable resources. Luna saw lifeforms in the distance, wary of the warship.
What surprised Luna was the presence of humans.
“Ayla, didn’t I give humans many benefits within the Federation?”
“Why are there still human traces here?”
Ayla replied, “No amount of benefits can reach everyone. The system shows the human population exceeding 273.1 billion; that's an astronomical number.”
“Besides, various situations arise. Humans can become space pirates; we cannot recognize them as citizens; their descendants cannot receive benefits.”
There are many complex situations.
Luna wasn’t surprised to find humans in this chaotic zone, but she felt it shouldn’t be this way.
“The Federation’s existence in this state is my fault.”
She knew she couldn’t turn the Federation into a paradise, but such blatant darkness shouldn’t exist.
“Our destination is a place called the Death Star.”
Luna sat at her private bar, taking a sip of her drink.
Ayla, serving as her bartender, stood impeccably in a black suit.
“We’re almost there, Luna.”
Luna was surprised; she didn’t know what her destination was like; she only heard that her target existed in this chaotic region.
“But there shouldn’t be any planets nearby.”
That’s what the scans indicated.
“The Death Star is a Star City formed from countless pieces of space debris. Its core isn't large, only 1400 kilometers; considering its surroundings, we’ve entered its range.”
The debris outside is part of the Death Star’s structure.
“It seems a lot happened here.” The distant debris primarily comes from ships; war must have been a major theme.
“Correct. This is a pirate haven and a popular destination for explorers. Some Federation companies send people here to gather information; bio-companies conduct large-scale biological experiments here.”
“It’s lawless territory, Luna. Don’t judge it by normal standards.”
“There are many such areas on the Federation’s borders; the Death Star is one of the larger ones; its existence can be traced back 3000 years.”
A long history.
“So why haven’t we cleaned up this junkyard in all this time?” Luna sighed in frustration.
She felt the Galactic Federation should be as idyllic as Alpha Eridani everywhere; this vast civilization was, after all, her creation; she felt her perspective was limited, unable to see the Federation's many hidden corners.
But she knew her creation wasn't just a welfare program; it was a complex civilization.
As the Federation grew stronger and its territory expanded, some areas would inevitably become unmanageable, some places would remain dark, even if a god were to exist.
“The Death Star, Luna!”
The warship stood before a Star City.
Calling it a Star City was a stretch; it was too chaotic; as Ayla said, it was a mountain of trash.
Before a 120-kilometer-long warship, the 1400-kilometer Death Star didn't seem that vast.
Luna stepped outside.
She saw Sugu gazing out of a window; she passed by him; a simulated being beside him bowed; she waved him off.
Further along, she reached the warship’s research area and encountered a Warbeast scholar.
She recognized him.
“Hata, could you help me carry something?”
Luna thought her desired object was too large for her to carry alone.
“Of course. You’ve come to this sector for research; may I accompany you?”
Hata was excited; Luna was a prominent figure in the Federation; even without learning anything, being near her would increase his knowledge.
Galactic Federation luminaries meet specific criteria; luminaries embody the ancients' understanding of the cosmos.
Only individuals who inspire the Federation's citizens and make outstanding contributions are considered luminaries.
Singers are singers; actors are actors; these entertainment professions are unrelated to luminaries, even if their income and charitable donations are higher; they're philanthropists, not luminaries.
“I have an idea.”
Luna noticed something small on Hata’s shoulder.
It seemed to be a Shore Tribe member.
Hata quickly introduced him, “This is a Shore Tribe member I brought aboard; his name is Mot; I feel he’s quite gifted and have taken him as my apprentice.”
“Can I take him along?”
A vast difference in size. They weren't from the same dimensional plane.
“Feel free. We won’t stay long; you can move freely, but bring some mech soldiers; it’s chaotic here.”
Luna asked Hata to carry a 2-ton machine.
Carrying it with his body would be difficult for Hata, but with his mech, it was easy; not only did the mech have anti-gravity, the strength enhancement allowed Hata to lift the machine with one finger.
Warbeast mechs, due to their materials, have a maximum strength of 540,000 tons; carrying a building is no problem.
This is a lightweight mech; heavyweight mechs can reach 17.92 million tons.
The current liquid mechs, while similar in appearance to earlier models, have different internal structures, and military mechs are far more powerful than those available to civilians.
They stepped directly off the warship.
Luna didn’t bring any soldiers; she was powerful enough, and the warship provided energy and protection; even if the entire Death Star exploded, she wouldn't be harmed.
Stepping onto the Death Star, she saw the inhabitants—mostly bizarre creatures; many had mechanical body parts; some were purely mechanical beings.
Machines, simulated beings; their intelligence was already high within the Federation; calling them life is insufficient; they’re merely constrained within the Federation; here, they have no limitations.
“It has a bit of that Cyberpunk feel.”
Luna had enjoyed Cyberpunk anime and games, but actually experiencing it was different. These beings had no freedom, no safety, and certainly no happiness.
Here, there was only chaos and death.
Perhaps this is the origin of the name "Death Star."
...
Luna was stopped as she entered the Death Star.
A Kate asked, “What brings military personnel to the Death Star?”
He seemed to be the local boss.
Luna replied smoothly, “This isn't your concern; your only task is to leave my presence.”
Her arrogant attitude shocked even Hata.
But no one was better at handling this than Luna; she'd played countless roles in simulated worlds; for such places and beings, the most courteous approach is to be even more firm and disrespectful.
At that moment, a chattering Aum behind the Kate recognized Luna.
The Kate instantly changed his attitude.
“So it's a Federation luminary. Your contributions to the Federation are worthy of the respect of all life.”
Luna ignored him.
These beings, coming to this place, wouldn't have a positive view of the Federation.
“Perhaps my words were too soft; I prefer a different approach.”
As soon as Luna finished speaking, the Kate and his followers were pinned to the ground by a powerful gravitational force. Luna didn't look at them but walked directly into the Death Star; her journey didn't require such conflict; besides, her target was at an auction.
The remaining beings watched her warily, making way for her.
She might have left a tyrannical impression on these Death Star residents, but this was inconsequential to Luna.
She reached the Death Star's core.
There was a large trading center; this was one reason for the Death Star’s 3000-year existence.
Luna entered; the guards were instantly pinned to the ground before they could react.
Hata was terrified, “Luna, this forceful approach isn’t ideal.”
Luna paused, “True. Hata, you’re a Warbeast; you should handle this.”
Hata trembled, frantically shaking his two heads.
“No, no, no. That’s not what I meant.”
Luna was amused by Hata’s reaction. She said, “There’s nothing wrong with it. Here, the strongest makes the rules.”
“And right now, I’m the strongest.”
The warship outside could destroy everything here; the so-called Chaotic Star Sea, the Death Star, were merely ants before the Federation.
Brutal.
Hata saw another side of Luna.
Luna, Hata, and the ever-curious Mot entered the trading center, filled with space pirates and explorers. Some recognized her; after all, several hundred years had passed since Luna developed laser transmission; even outdated news could travel hundreds of light-years.
“Luna, what brings her here?”
“She’s a luminary from over 500 years ago; I thought she was dead.”
“This old monster is here…”
“It must be for that item!”
The noisy discussions ensured that even those unfamiliar with Luna now knew her name.
Luna didn't stop but walked towards a large building in the center—a half-circle structure over 1000 meters in diameter.
Entering, seemingly because of the previous guards' fate, the two Lelera at the entrance didn't stop her.
Stepping inside, Luna immediately heard a voice.
“67 Energy Credits. Any higher bids?”
Indeed, this was a massive auction house.
Luna walked down a corridor to the edge of the auction floor; it was enormous; the seating was like a stadium; over one million individuals attended the auction.
According to Ayla, the total number of explorers and space pirates around the Death Star exceeded one billion.
Of that billion, only about 200 million are ordinary individuals; the remaining 800 million have high spending power, creating the Death Star's trading center.
In Luna's view, it could accommodate ten million; she also noticed a network auction system; there must be a massive server around the Death Star, creating a simulated world.
The auction is a real-time and simulated synchronization.
The simulated world probably has several million participants.
“Larger than the Federation’s auction houses.”
Luna and Hata found seats; Mot remained on Hata’s shoulder.
Luna accessed the network auction; it listed over 100,000 items, mostly weapons.
The simulated auction was divided into 100 channels; each channel auctioned different items; to bid, you switched to the relevant channel.
Real-world auction items were far more expensive than simulated ones, starting at 10 Energy Credits.
Currently, a salvaged Ion cannon was being auctioned; the technology was outdated, but its modified power was impressive.
It was quickly sold for 85 Energy Credits.
Luna realized her target was far off; her timing wasn't ideal.
“It’s likely to be fierce.”
Ayla sent her some bidder information; some companies had arrived earlier.
These weren't small companies; everyone possessed billions of assets, truly staggering.
She stood and said to the auctioneer, “Skip the formalities; let’s get to the point.”
All bidders looked at her, instantly wondering who she was.
The representatives from the large corporations must have already received news of her arrival; the warship outside was too conspicuous; the Death Star was only 20-30 times larger than the warship.
The corporate representatives stood up, “Agreed. We can deal with the minor items later; we wouldn't keep a valued guest waiting.”
All the VIPs spoke in this manner, putting pressure on the organizers.
The auctioneer hurriedly consulted his superiors.
What power did the Death Star's owner possess? Any corporation here could crush him; naturally, he complied.
“I’ve consulted the owner; they’ve agreed to bring forward the auction; please wait.”
Other bidders remained silent; disrupting the rules wasn’t permitted.
But they dared not speak out.
Soon, an item was brought out—a container; the actual item was inside.
“Very well. Now, we proceed with the expedited auction.”
“This expedited item has a prestigious history; it was discovered and acquired by a scholar called Minglimo. You all know what it is—a top-tier exotic material; Minglimo scholar calls it Mojin.”
Exotic matter refers to substances containing up, down, and strange quarks—a material usable for warship hulls and enhancing rocket engine performance through its physical properties.
Minglimo discovered this material 320 years ago; after extensive testing, it’s finally being auctioned.
“We thank the scholar for entrusting us with the auction of Mojin.”
“As per the scholar’s request, the starting bid for Mojin is 10,000 Energy Credits. Bidding begins now.”
The announcement caused a stir.
Who in this Death Star had ever seen 10,000 Energy Credits?
Few possessed even 100.
But this was just the beginning; they were about to learn what "money" truly meant.
“Bidder 827350, 20,000 Energy Credits!”
“Bidder 028190, 30,000 Energy Credits!”
“Bidder 527311, 50,000 Energy Credits!”
“Bidder 623652, 70,000 Energy Credits!”
The auctioneer shouted hoarsely; his heart pounded; assuming, of course, he had one.
He'd never seen so much money before. He expected the initial bids to be in the hundreds, escalating to thousands, then settling back to rational increases of ten, a typical pattern.
But these tycoons exceeded his wildest expectations with their initial bids.
Within a few rounds, the price had soared past 100,000 Energy Credits.
And it wasn't over.
The real big players hadn't even started bidding.
A billionaire, calmly seated, waited until the bids reached 150,000 before bidding: “200,000 Energy Credits!”
A 50,000 increase.
A million explorers instantly fainted; space pirates considered making more money.
But as soon as this bid was made, Luna, the Federation luminary, also bid.
In a calm voice, she said: “500,000 Energy Credits…”
The entire auction hall fell silent.
Those present thought the auction was ending, but another bid shattered their perceptions.
“600,000 Energy Credits!”
A collective gasp filled the hall.
Some explorers unfamiliar with physics inquired about exotic matter.
Someone began explaining, “Exotic matter isn't strange in the sense of unusual; it’s strange in the sense of containing strange quarks; that makes it easier to understand.”
“Our common matter is called atomic matter; it usually contains up and down quarks; adding strange quarks creates exotic matter.”
“Naturally occurring exotic matter is believed to exist only in neutron star cores due to its high pressure and density; it’s a condensed state of matter. As for practical applications of exotic matter… there's much debate; this is my first time seeing actual exotic matter.”
“There’s a theory in the Federation that quark matter is the fundamental state of all matter; the matter we can see is all metastable; all matter, under sufficient pressure, eventually becomes exotic matter. This theory, also a hypothesis, comes from a human who lived a long time ago.”
“There’s also a theory that exotic matter can assimilate any matter it comes into contact with; it has world-destroying power. Of course, this is based on insufficient understanding. Current research suggests that exotic matter is formed by strange quarks under high pressure. In my opinion, its true value isn't superconductivity, but its inherent density; this might assist nuclear fusion.”
Ordinary explorers aren't physics illiterates. In the Federation, unless you’re exceptionally strong, joining an expedition requires at least a university-level understanding of physics, astronomy, chemistry, and biology; other skills are secondary.
Everyone understands the importance of nuclear fusion.
A common theory posits that the strong force can pack atoms more tightly together; it’s the strongest of the four fundamental forces, but it only acts within the atomic nucleus; its range is 10^-15m; an atom is about 10^-10m; the difference in range is over a hundred times; it can't create a dense structure; it only creates a giant atom or a nucleus without electrons.
Only one thing can create a dense structure: immense compressive force, squeezing all atoms together.
Exotic matter is born under immense pressure; only when the density of matter under high pressure exceeds a certain limit can strange quarks and three heavier quarks (top, bottom, and charm) be formed.
Exotic matter is very small, down to the femtometer scale (10^-15m), allowing the strong force to influence it, enabling the formation of dense structures.
This alone is worth more than 600,000 Energy Credits.
At this point, Luna made another unbelievable bid.
“1 million Energy Credits!”
Truly a Federation luminary; casually throwing around millions is unimaginable.
“1.01 million Energy Credits!”
“1.05 million Energy Credits!”
Other corporations continued bidding, unwilling to back down.
Hata was stunned; 1 million Energy Credits was unimaginable; he could buy 100 of himself with that.
“Luna, even for exotic matter, this price is too high.”
Luna smiled.
“Mojin’s physical properties have been discreetly transmitted to the Federation’s higher-ups; that’s why so many corporations are bidding.”
“Hata, you don’t understand the true value of exotic matter.”
“Its research value far surpasses its application value. Remember, we are a Type 2 civilization that controls the four fundamental forces; with the sample, we can create it.”
“The matter we can currently create is still essentially atomic, not fundamental particles; this limits our materials; this is a key to unlocking fundamental particle materials science.”
Exotic matter hasn't reached the realm of true fundamental particle creation.
But it's far superior to current atomic materials.
Before Hata could react, Luna declared a decisive number.
“2 million Energy Credits!”
A sense of breathlessness filled the auction hall.
The corporations fell silent.
Even they couldn't afford such a sum.
Exotic matter isn't immediately usable; further research would require ten, or even tens or hundreds of times, the purchase price; the acquisition is only for application.
Once a product is released, it’ll be replicated by other companies within 100 years; considering this, 2 million Energy Credits is already beyond their limits.
“2 million Energy Credits!”
“Any higher bids?”
“2 million Energy Credits, once!”
“2 million Energy Credits, twice!”
“This is a rare opportunity; the Federation only has this one piece of exotic matter. Any other bids…?”
“2 million Energy Credits… three times! Sold!”
Luna secured the Mojin with her financial power.
She had Hata retrieve the item.
Under Luna's instructions, Hata placed the auctioned container into their own container and had the internal nanobots dismantle it.
“A crude containment device.”
Exotic matter requires high pressure to maintain stability; under normal pressure, it's unstable; special equipment is needed.
Only after the exotic matter was secured did Hata realize.
“This is why ordinary matter can’t form dense structures.”
“Even under extreme pressure, ordinary matter, unless converted into exotic matter, can't allow the strong force to take effect due to the size of atoms. But why didn’t the Federation create exotic matter first, allowing an unknown scholar to beat them?”
Hata was curious.
Luna replied, “The Federation has always tried to create exotic matter, but the required pressure is too high; even if created, it's a tiny amount. What use is an exotic matter clump smaller than an atom?”
“Only mass-producible items are truly valuable.”
“As for why a whole team of scholars was beaten by a single, obscure scholar, it wasn’t luck; he conducted his research inside a white dwarf, allowing him to achieve higher pressure with less energy.”
His madness wasn't just that; it was his audacity.
Researching inside a white dwarf requires equipment capable of withstanding the pressure—incredibly expensive. Minglimo didn't have that; he gambled with his life; each experiment lasted at most one minute, repeated again and again.
This is why Minglimo left the Federation.
His lifespan wouldn't have allowed him to complete his research within the Federation.
The research spanned 729 years; only a truly dedicated scholar could persevere.
The Federation also researches exotic matter, but prioritizes researcher safety, avoiding extreme methods; this slows their progress.
Besides, the Federation has countless research directions; exotic matter is just one of thousands; it wouldn't receive special attention, especially before mass production was possible.
Mojin is mass-producible exotic matter; this is a key factor in its high price.
With the Mojin auction over, the tycoons showed little interest in cheaper items; some gathered for a banquet, naturally including the victorious Luna.
Luna didn't refuse.
She had plenty of time; the journey back to Alpha Eridani would take over 300 years.
At the banquet, Luna was undoubtedly the center of attention, not just for her status but also her age.
Among all the beings on the Death Star, none were older than Luna; this is her public image.
This is what's meant by "venerable."
Some men showed interest in Luna, but she refused their advances.
There was no melodrama; everyone was discreet; the warship outside wasn't a display; only the military possessed warships in the Federation; Luna's affiliation was clear.
The individuals Luna had stopped earlier weren't fools; they were subordinates tasked with stopping her.
Allowing powerful individuals to pass is fine individually, but within an organization, a leader doesn't need such subordinates.
After the banquet, Luna returned to the warship.
Ayla reported, “Minglimo’s traces were found on the Death Star. Should we capture him?”
Strictly speaking, these Death Star inhabitants, except for identified explorers, are Federation enemies and could be executed on the spot.
Ayla used the word “capture,” not intending to convict, but to bring this exotic matter scholar back to the Federation.
“No. The Federation’s system will only confines such scholars; he belongs here.”
“Specific environments nurture specific life; the Federation should accept this; the universe has inherent asymmetry and randomness.”
Luna had no intention of recruiting Minglimo.
Besides the reasons she stated, Minglimo's expertise was limited, determining his potential.
“Issue him an Infinity Academy pass, valid for 50 years.”
“If he truly wants to advance, he’ll go.”
Infinity Academy's academic standards are undoubtedly the Federation's best; training there could improve Minglimo significantly. He might even achieve a high ranking if gifted.
“Agreed!”
Ayla immediately sent a message to Minglimo on the Death Star.
Minglimo, who believed himself well-hidden, was shocked and then ecstatic upon receiving the message.
Fifty years at Infinity Academy wasn't something money could buy; it was more valuable than 2 million Energy Credits.
Luna quickly forgot about Minglimo.
She became engrossed in researching Mojin.
Mojin isn't a solid in the traditional sense but a fluid-like substance. Luna didn’t have relevant expertise to delve deeply into Mojin; her current work was experimental.
Exotic matter, ranging from femtometers to kilometers, must involve high pressure and strong forces. Luna wanted to analyze whether Mojin could be used to create a ship with powerful pressure resistance.
This isn't about defense against attacks but high-pressure environments.
Conventional ships encountering high pressure would deform at the surface, even atomic levels. Exotic matter is formed under high pressure; it can be used to create high-pressure resistant machinery for research or work in high-pressure environments.
Exotic matter’s environmental conditions are close to those of a black hole; Luna hopes to use it to study black holes from beyond their event horizon.
As for the other values she mentioned, those require deeper research. Her current work is an application of exotic matter.
Because it’s fluid, Luna plans to first imprint it with memories.
Theoretically, making exotic matter malleable is like creating liquid metal.
Luna initially planned to use cryosleep on the return journey, but her research into Mojin led her to abandon that plan, choosing instead to spend 318 years creating a stable exotic matter ship.
This wasn't easy.
The hull was easy; but what about the internal components?
Even if components were made of exotic matter, what about the core computing modules?
If the computing modules are also made of exotic matter, what about the ship's power source?
It’s a chain reaction; exotic matter exists under immense pressure; a billion-ton mountain could be compressed to the size of a fingernail—that’s the terrifying power of a neutron star.
300 years is insufficient for Luna to complete this alone, but luckily, she has Ayla's assistance.
Ayla's core in Alpha Eridani also transmitted information; Mojin isn't just for exploration vessels; it’s also key to upgrading the Kunlun; Mojin could usher the Federation into a true giant-warship era.