325: Chapter 319: Striking a Deal 325: Chapter 319: Striking a Deal USA, Calif, Vandenberg.
“Boom boom boom…” Amidst the tremendous roaring, a rocket shot straight into the sky.
This was a small-sized launch vehicle named Taurus, developed by Orbital Sciences Company, with low launch costs, fast responsiveness, and a strong adaptability.
Ordinary launch vehicles can only be launched from specialized launch bases.
However, the Taurus small-sized launch vehicle developed by Orbital Sciences Company did not have this restriction.
As long as the terrain was relatively flat and some time was taken to set up the launch pad, it was possible to launch the rocket and send it into space.
This time, it was still the Taurus launch vehicle, marking the first test launch after its successful development.
Inside the rocket, two duel-use satellites for military and civilian purposes, belonging to the Ministry of National Defense, were loaded.
At the headquarters of Orbital Sciences Company, within a large hall with several huge screens hanging in front.
Led by the company’s President Van der Beek, a group of company executives were staring fixedly at the scenes displayed on the big screens, not blinking an eye.
“The booster has successfully detached!”
“The solid fuel tank has successfully detached!”
“The fairing is separated, the rocket has successfully entered low Earth orbit!”
…
With each update broadcasted, everyone in the hall burst into cheers.
After the Taurus launch vehicle successfully entered low Earth orbit, all that remained was for the two satellites inside to successfully separate from the rocket, and Orbital Sciences Company’s rocket launch would be considered a perfect job done.
This model of rocket was intended to be a disposable item.
According to their calculations, the remains of the rocket were supposed to fall into the ocean.
Even if the actual point of impact varied slightly, it didn’t matter much.
As long as it fell into the sea, they had no intention of retrieving and reusing it.
“Fellows, gentlemen, I think we can start popping champagne and celebrate properly now!”
“Our Taurus launch vehicle has succeeded on its first launch, an event that should be recorded in our company’s history.”
“To maintain our nation’s dominance in space, orders from the Ministry of National Defense will keep coming in.”
“In the future, every orbit around Blue Star’s space will be occupied by satellites sent up by our Taurus…”
Van der Beek, the President of Orbital Sciences Company, withdrew his gaze from the large screen hanging at the front of the hall and looked around at everyone with a smile.
He lifted his wine glass and playfully suggested to the crowd.
In matters of launching rockets, if there were to be accidents, they generally happened during the initial procedures.
Their Taurus rocket had already reached the final stage of rocket and satellite separation, and the chances of an accident were virtually non-existent.
Van der Beek had full confidence in the rockets produced by his company.
At this moment, he was clearly holding a winning hand.
His proposal had barely been made when it immediately elicited agreement and enthusiasm from everyone in the hall.
Some even brought out champagne, ready to open it.
“Look, what is that thing?” Just at this moment, someone among the audience suddenly cried out in horror, pointing at one of the big screens in the hall.
The people who were about to celebrate with champagne, including Van der Beek, all turned their heads in unison and looked at the screen the person was pointing to.
In their line of sight, they could only catch a flash of crimson that disappeared in an instant.
Immediately thereafter, that splash of blood turned into an enormous crimson beast of a bird which then fiercely crashed into their company’s Taurus launch vehicle!
The entire rocket exploded instantly, turning into a gigantic fireball, and then the big screens in the hall went black, leaving nothing to be seen!
“God, that’s low Earth orbit, how could such a blood-colored beast appear out of nowhere!”
“Atmospheric creature, definitely an atmospheric creature.
I have a friend who has done specialized research on this…”
“What atmospheric creature?
That blood-colored beast obviously comes from Hell; it must be sent by Satan…”
The people in the hall went pale as death.
Faced with something they couldn’t understand at all, their various conjectures were a confused mess.
A few of them, already devoutly on their knees, began praying “amen” and making the sign of the cross over their chests.
As for Van der Beek, the President of Orbital Sciences Company, upon seeing his own Taurus launch vehicle being struck by that blood-colored beast and turned into a fireball, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot.
…
Yanhuang Country, Capital City, Western Suburb, near Black Stone Reservoir, underground in a tomb.
Holding the Hongming Blade in his hand, Chen Hai’s complexion was somewhat pale.
He took several deep breaths before he could finally recover.
“Hongming, are you kidding me?”
“When I swung my blade, all I saw was a flash of blood!”
“And then, there was no after that; your talk about ‘slicing through the sky’ didn’t even have a shadow!”
Confused, Chen Hai looked up at the ceiling above him.
Above his head was the dome of the Great Tomb; without the illumination of his fire, it was pitch black, and nothing could be seen.
“What I said before was that with enough Mana for me to squander, I could slice through the firmament!”
“You, being pathetically weak, only allowed me to use half of that precious little Mana you have.”
“That slash, you aimed at the heavens, and the dome above, you wouldn’t let me destroy it, afraid it would cause the Great Tomb to collapse.”
“Can’t do this, can’t do that, you’re imposing too many restrictions on my strength.
It would be quite the wonder if I could actually slice open the firmament!”
“You can sense that all the Evil Qi inside the Great Tomb has been sucked dry by me!”
“And I did deliver that slash, but as for what it hit, that’s none of my damn business…”
Hongming seemed a bit frustrated as well, responding to Chen Hai gruffly.
“I suspect you’re tricking me, but I have no evidence!”
“Most of my Mana is exhausted; it will take a year and a half to recover.”
“By then, I’ll infuse you with a bit more Mana, try another slash, and we’ll naturally see whether you truly have the skill or if it’s all an act.”
Chen Hai’s eyes whirled as he tested the waters, telepathically communicating with Hongming.
“Kid, don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming.
You just want me to follow you out of here!”
“I’m tired of staying in this Great Tomb as well.
If you want me to accompany you out, fine!”
“You’d better worship me like an ancestor.
I want to drink blood, I want to eat meat.”
“If you want my help, you’d better serve me well!”
…
With every mention of “I,” Hongming’s tone was incredibly overbearing.
Having conserved half of his Mana, Chen Hai had been cautious of it from the start.
With that slash dealt, if Hongming Blade’s power had been severely depleted, perhaps with the leverage of this half of his Mana, Chen Hai could kick them while they’re down, seize the moment to subdue it by force!
But now, after hearing Hongming’s words, he hesitated!
The creature, it seems, had half-assed that slash, still keeping a lot of power in reserve.
“What blood to drink?
What meat to eat?
The outside world has changed, the times are different!”
“You expect me to use live humans as sacrifice?
Forget about it, I’ll at most bring you a pig each day to feed you!”
“If you’re unwilling to agree, then just continue to stay in this dark underground tomb.”
“If you’re not satisfied, it’s no big deal, we’ll just have another fight!”
Chen Hai thought and frowned as he spoke.
“One pig, and you think that’ll do?
Kid, are you insulting me?”
“What is the outside world to you?
You really think I don’t know?
I’ve gained some fragmented memories from those Blade Slaves tainted by Evil Qi.”
“Ordinary people out there get to eat meat often enough.
I want to eat and drink well; at least two pigs per day will do!”
“Let me warn you, if my demands for flesh are not met, don’t think I’ll leave with you…”
Chen Hai had just finished speaking when Hongming quickly took over the conversation.
If that half-grown brat feasts on him, without some wealth, just feeding Hongming Blade could bankrupt Chen Hai.
Of course, Chen Hai had no reason to refuse such a modest request from Hongming.
Perhaps Hongming really had gained some fragmented memories from the Tomb Robbers, but its worldview seemed unexpectedly limited.
Honestly speaking, as long as he didn’t use humans for sacrifice, Chen Hai believed he could bear the cost of feeding Hongming ten pigs a day.
“Alright, two pigs it is then.
I agree to your demand!”
No sooner had Chen Hai nodded than the ground beneath him seemed to shake several times.
The soil and gravel were falling continuously from the wooden pillars that supported the main chamber.
It wasn’t clear if it was due to the Evil Qi being drained from the tomb or if that last slash had left some residual effects.
Seeing the situation, it looked like the entire chamber was on the verge of collapsing.
Seeing this, Chen Hai didn’t waste any words and quickly ran toward the suspected robbers’ hole that led to the reservoir he had seen earlier.
As for the Hongming Blade, he held it in his hand.
It seemed that having received Chen Hai’s promise to feed it two pigs a day to consume the flesh and blood had truly satisfied it, and it apparently decided not to haggle any further with Chen Hai.
Diving into the robbers’ hole, Chen Hai turned several corners.
He had just seen water starting to flood into the tunnel when a loud rumble came from behind him.
It looked like the Great Tomb inside Steamed Bun Mountain really was in big trouble, collapsing rapidly.
His body was still merely a Physical Body of flesh and blood.
If he wasn’t careful and got buried under soil and gravel due to the collapse of the Great Tomb, his Divine Soul might not die, but his body would be utterly ruined!
Seeing this, Chen Hai didn’t dare delay.
Holding the blade in one hand, he thought quickly and ran forward.
The entire robbers’ tunnel seemed to slope downward.
At first, where he saw water, it was only level with his ankles.
But as he went farther forward, the water rose, and soon, the entire tunnel was completely submerged.
Fortunately, Chen Hai was a good swimmer.
Holding his breath, he only went forward six or seven meters before the space suddenly opened up, and at last, he emerged from the robbers’ hole into Black Stone Reservoir.