Chapter 22: The Scavenger

Words : 1530 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

A speed of 300 kilometers per second—what does it represent? It is roughly the velocity of the solar wind. In other words, if a massive solar flare erupted from the Sun and sent out a strong solar wind, Xiao Yu, escaping into outer space aboard the Hope, would forever remain beyond its reach. Currently, the farthest human-made spacecraft, Voyager 1, is about 17.8 billion kilometers from Earth, and 16 billion kilometers from Xiao Yu. If Xiao Yu piloted the Hope to chase Voyager 1, he could catch up with it in less than two years—despite Voyager 1 traveling through space for 38 years. At this speed, a journey from Saturn to Earth would take just over two months. In the past, such a trip would have required years to even contemplate. This leap in technology, powered by controlled nuclear fusion, was why Xiao Yu had invested so heavily in its development. A civilization can only be considered an interstellar civilization once it masters controlled nuclear fusion. Now, Xiao Yu could proudly declare that humanity had entered the interstellar age—despite being the only human left. Never before had Xiao Yu felt so full of hope. He enthusiastically piloted the Hope through space, conducting various performance tests. Only after thoroughly mastering the ship’s capabilities and exhausting most of its fuel did Xiao Yu guide it back to the ground. During these tests, Xiao Yu identified some previously overlooked issues and technical flaws with the Hope. He immediately began an extensive phase of testing and modifications, determined to perfect this first interstellar spacecraft he had built. Time passed slowly, and in the blink of an eye, two years had gone by. Over these two years, Xiao Yu expanded his bases on Titan to 93 in total. Each base specialized in producing specific resources, which were transported by Fengshen helicopters to the main base, where they were processed into construction materials. These materials fueled Xiao Yu’s era of large-scale construction. The fleet of Fengshen helicopters had grown to over 100, bustling through Titan’s atmosphere to carry supplies between bases. The days of vast armies of robots, like the Rare Earth Expedition Corps, trudging to their destinations were now a thing of the past. This represented a major technological advance, a testament to Xiao Yu’s ever-growing strength. The main base had expanded to cover two square kilometers, brimming with factories and buildings, where tens of thousands of robots busily worked. Across Titan, the total number of robots under Xiao Yu’s control had exceeded one million. These millions of robots, along with their machinery and sensors, were all meticulously managed by Xiao Yu. Titan was now blanketed by his watchful eyes; nothing escaped his attention. Any minor disturbance anywhere on the moon could be instantly detected if Xiao Yu wished. Despite mastering controlled nuclear fusion, Xiao Yu had not transitioned the bases’ power systems to fusion-based energy. Titan’s virtually inexhaustible methane supply was far easier and cheaper to use. Fusion fuel required harvesting from Saturn, making chemical fuels more practical for the time being. Even so, Xiao Yu had begun considering the creation of a fusion-powered mining fleet. While he currently had only one “Village-Class” ship, he knew he had to plan for the future. The shortage of titanium and zirconium also demanded an urgent solution. Ideally, these elements could be found on Saturn’s other moons. If not, the search would need to extend to Uranus and Neptune. Failing that, he would need to explore Mars or Earth’s former orbital regions. Jupiter was not an option for now. The radiation sources there had left Xiao Yu with deep psychological scars. However, Xiao Yu planned to eventually construct a specialized fleet to capture more “Specimen Ones,” which he now called “Jovian Phantoms.” “Jovian Phantoms... Jovian Phantoms,” Xiao Yu mused. “That’s a fitting name for those strange radiation-based lifeforms. Let’s call them ‘Phantoms’ for short. As for the black insects, let’s simply call them ‘Black Bugs.’” [T/N: The author called them wood spirits for short but it doesn’t really fit so I changed it to phantoms for short instead. Just a heads up in case I miss any mentions of wood spirits.] In the past two years, Xiao Yu launched three hydrogen bombs, obliterating three methane lakes and harvesting over 1,500 tons of Black Bug carcasses. With the Hope at his disposal, Xiao Yu no longer needed rockets to deploy the bombs. The ship’s incredible speed allowed him to escape the blast radius before detonation. Xiao Yu began experimenting with artificially raising Black Bugs. These creatures had proven to be incredibly useful, and by cultivating them, Xiao Yu ensured that even after leaving Titan, he would have a steady supply of Black Bug resources. However, finding a method to artificially cultivate the Jovian Phantoms, or “Phantoms,” remained elusive. Specimen One’s radiation intensity had already been depleted by 70% and lingered in a near-dormant state. Despite all of Xiao Yu’s efforts, he couldn’t restore its original vitality. “Alright, the Saturn artificial satellites are ready—18 in this first batch. Let’s launch them,” Xiao Yu thought, commanding the robots to load the satellites into the Hope. Xiao Yu was inherently distrustful of computer programs. No matter how advanced, programs were static and lacked the flexibility of the human mind. For this reason, he had launched the 12 War God satellites to cover Titan with a robust signal network. Now, with the same principle in mind, he planned to create a signal network for Saturn. Without this, the Hope would lose contact with him whenever it ventured to the far side of Saturn. Covering Saturn with a signal network had another advantage. Xiao Yu’s plan was to deploy 60 to 80 satellites around Saturn. This setup would minimize dead zones and effectively create a signal network for much of the Solar System. With such a network, the Hope would be able to roam freely within the Solar System without ever losing contact. By now, Xiao Yu had become adept at piloting the Hope. At his command, the spacecraft emitted its signature pale blue flame and swiftly ascended into outer space. Including acceleration and deceleration, it took the Hope about two hours to reach a point 100,000 kilometers from Saturn. Adjusting to an optimal speed and orbit, Xiao Yu opened the cargo bay, releasing the first Saturn satellite. In the distance, the colossal golden-hued Saturn loomed, surrounded by its magnificent and intricate rings. Against this breathtaking backdrop, the Hope seemed like a tiny ant. Once released, the satellite began orbiting Saturn under the influence of inertia. It carried a small fuel reserve for orbit adjustments and routine operations. Xiao Yu adjusted the Hope’s trajectory and released the second satellite at a different position. He repeated this process 18 times, completing the mission. The 18 satellites were deployed at orbital heights ranging from 50,000 kilometers to 2 million kilometers, providing a preliminary signal coverage for Saturn and its moons. Although the coverage was not yet comprehensive due to the limited number of satellites, Xiao Yu planned to launch more in the future to complete the network. With the mission accomplished, Xiao Yu piloted the Hope closer to Saturn. This flight had a secondary objective: collecting deuterium, tritium, and helium-3 for fusion fuel. After two years of consumption, Xiao Yu’s remaining fuel reserves were running low. Saturn’s volume is over 760 times that of Earth, but its mass is only 95 times greater. This means Saturn’s average density is lower than water, making it a peculiar giant in the Solar System. Cautiously, Xiao Yu maneuvered the Hope to hover near the upper edge of Saturn’s atmosphere. Compared to Jupiter, Saturn was relatively calm. However, even Saturn’s “calmness” was relative; the planet experienced the fastest storms in the Solar System, with winds reaching speeds of over 1,800 kilometers per hour—far beyond any Earth storm. Xiao Yu carefully analyzed the atmospheric flow before selecting a safe entry point and slipping in quietly. Continuously monitoring atmospheric dynamics, Xiao Yu adjusted the Hope’s trajectory to align with the flow, minimizing risks. After a while, several vents opened on the Hope’s hull, and large air pumps began operating. Massive amounts of Saturn’s atmospheric gas were drawn into the ship, where they underwent separation, purification, and processing. Useful elements were stored, while the rest were expelled. Saturn’s atmosphere is predominantly hydrogen, but ordinary hydrogen is not efficient for fusion fuel. Xiao Yu focused on collecting hydrogen isotopes—deuterium and tritium—as well as helium-3. These elements were far more abundant on Saturn than on Earth or Titan. Enjoying his “scavenger” work in Saturn’s atmosphere, Xiao Yu diligently collected resources while avoiding the planet’s deeper layers, which were far too dangerous. After ten days, Xiao Yu had gathered enough fuel. Guiding the Hope out of Saturn’s atmosphere, he set course back to Titan. “My next steps are to continue building satellites to establish a complete signal network for Saturn and even the Solar System. Then initiate the titanium-zirconium mining project. And finally, the Phantom capture plan must officially begin.” “Proxima Centauri, wait for me! I’m coming for you soon!”

Chapter 22: The Scavenger

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