Chapter 71: Journey to the White Hole

Eight days later, Feng Mo stood in front of the newly modified T3 Reindeer-class transport ship, feeling a sense of pride. Truly, he thought, he was a genius at starship design. Although the ship, now resembling a massive spider, wasn't exactly beautiful, its functionality was unmatched.

Based on the information Chu Yunjian provided, the White Hole region wasn't too far from the Storm System. They would first head to the U3 Star System, use a stargate to reach the Snow Eagle capital, and then use another stargate to travel to the Glorious Star System, where the White Hole lay at the southwestern edge.

"Hua Qin, notify everyone: the fleet will depart in one hour. We'll only need the Storm flagship, four T3 Mantis-class ships, one interstellar missile ship, and eight T2 Black Bear-class ships," Feng Mo ordered.

"Yes, sir!" Hua Qin saluted and left the office. Feng Mo, meanwhile, had Ai Er help him into his combat uniform. An hour later, at Storm Starport, he boarded the Storm flagship with Hua Qin.

"Commander, the fleet's course is set. We will enter synchronized warp drive mode and reach the U3 Stargate in four hours. Deep-sea mode engaged; all Tier-One gene warriors, please enter your sleep pods," reported Hua Qin.

As the fleet entered synchronized warp, Feng Mo took the opportunity to log into the Star Network. Once again, he found himself in the familiar, luxurious private room, where Chu Yunjian was already waiting for him.

This expedition to the White Hole was crucial. Not only did it tie into the Spark System's mission, but he also needed to gather enough dark matter and energy crystals to construct a T4 starship. Feng Mo and Chu Yunjian spent the next three hours meticulously planning every detail of the operation.

When Feng Mo exited the Star Network, the fleet had already arrived at the U3 Stargate. After a half-hour wait to pay the fees, they successfully passed through. Emerging on the other side, they quickly made their way to the Snow Eagle System's stargate. Using his title of earl, Feng Mo jumped the line, paid the necessary fees, and the fleet was off again.

The Glorious Empire, located in the central region of the Human Federation, was the Federation's second-largest empire. It boasted six massive star systems, each as vast as the Yunshan System, and over ten times the size of the Storm System.

The Glorious Empire was full of life-bearing planets, resource-rich worlds, and nearly a hundred T4-level resource planets. Compared to the Storm System, which felt like the countryside, this was the bustling heart of civilization.

Feng Mo felt like a country bumpkin as he gazed at the grandeur of the T5 Stargate before them, his eyes filled with awe. If only, he thought, the Storm System could one day afford such a marvel. Travel throughout the Federation would be seamless.

His daydreams were interrupted by Hua Qin, who reported, "Commander, Miss Chu is requesting a video call."

"Connect," Feng Mo said, his expression growing serious.

The video connected, and Chu Yunjian appeared on the screen, seated in the captain's chair and dressed in a combat uniform that highlighted her perfect curves. Seeing her, Hua Qin couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. She glanced down at her own modest figure and felt self-conscious. It was the third time she had felt this way: the first was when she saw Ai Er, the second when she faced the Elven Queen, and now, Chu Yunjian.

"Feng Mo, I'm leading a Chu Family fleet to escort you. We'll link our radar systems and use synchronized warp. Let's head to the White Hole together," Chu Yunjian said.

Feng Mo hadn't expected her to escort him, and warmth spread through his heart. It was true, he thought: once you had a bit of power, you started meeting genuinely good people. Well, except for families like the Bai Family, of course.

"Understood!" he replied. Their fleets merged and began the journey together.

At the southwestern edge of the Glorious Star System, a vast area was heavily guarded by the Federation and the Glorious Empire's military. This was where the White Hole was located, a source of immense wealth. While the Glorious Empire claimed 80% of the resources, the Federation received the remaining 20%, a testament to the empire's dominance.

"Fleet entering military jurisdiction. Please report all starship and crew information," an automated voice echoed in the Storm flagship's control room.

The White Hole region had strict security measures, and every piece of data had to be meticulously checked.

After their information was reported, a human voice replaced the automated one. "Information verified. Welcome, Miss Chu, to the White Hole region. Your fleet is cleared to dock at Starport One. The flight path has been marked. Please follow the designated route."

The tone was incredibly respectful, and Chu Yunjian merely smiled. This was the power of the Chu Family name: in the Glorious Empire, the mere presence of the Chu emblem granted you free passage.

The fleet followed the marked route and slowly docked at Starport One. As Feng Mo looked around, he saw that the area was filled with starships, the smallest being T4-class. He even spotted a massive T5 aircraft carrier.

"That's one of the Glorious Fleet's flagships: the T5 Glorious-Class Interstellar Carrier. It's 8 km long, 1.4 km wide, and 1.1 km high—a true behemoth. The captain is my uncle. If we have time, I'll take you to visit it," Chu Yunjian said nonchalantly.

Feng Mo was amazed. This woman was truly a high-born lady, with extraordinary connections. It was an honor to have her as an ally. And perhaps, he mused, in the future, there could be more between them—but that would require time and growth.

As they disembarked, they were greeted by a unit of soldiers led by a young major general. Chu Yunjian approached him confidently and greeted him casually, "Uncle, what brings you here?"

Feng Mo was taken aback. A major general, the captain of a T5 interstellar carrier, and a member of the Chu Family? This man was not to be underestimated and deserved the utmost respect.

"If I didn't come, how would I get to see your little admirer?" the man joked, casting an amused glance at Feng Mo. "You must be Earl Feng Mo. It's a pleasure. I'm Xiang Rong, Yun Jian's uncle."

Feng Mo sensed the goodwill in Xiang Rong's demeanor. Coupled with the teasing remarks directed at Chu Yunjian, it was clear that the Chu Family had no resistance to his presence.

"Hello, Uncle Xiang," Feng Mo greeted respectfully.

There was no need for unnecessary flattery or attempts to curry favor. He simply greeted Xiang Rong politely, knowing that a seasoned figure like him, nearly two hundred years old and with a wealth of experience, would see through any superficial tactics.

Xiang Rong had been around long enough to understand people. He wouldn't judge someone based on a first impression, especially not someone as experienced as him. A man in his position wouldn't rise to power through connections alone; his reputation would have been thoroughly vetted before he married into the Chu Family.

This had been mentioned in passing by Chu Yunjian during one of their conversations. Even though people's character could change, this process ensured that the family's initial choice was honorable.

"I've heard about your mission to explore the White Hole's periphery," Xiang Rong said. "Yun Jian told me about it. I secured your spot, so let's get you settled in. I've arranged a place for you both to rest. You'll be busy for the next th

ree days, so get plenty of rest and aim for a fruitful expedition!"