Two days after the natural energies of Heaven and Earth's revival—
"…"
Leaning her head back on the office chair, Xu Qingxiang raises her arms to stretch. Behind her chair is a foldable divider, which serves to block off the rest of her room from view.
For the time being, Xu Qingxiang has managed to delay the inevitable event of announcing the circumstances behind the revival of natural energy.
And although the other colony leaders and their associates were quite curious about the methods involved, they didn't have much of a choice but to wait.
The reason for her delaying the announcement is because Xu Qingxiang instinctively felt like Sui Yan had established a contract with the planetary souls during the core activation event, so until the latter is awake to explain the details, everything related to this event will have to be postponed.
At this time, the entirety of Colony Three is in a merry mood.
Due to the presence of the natural energies of Heaven and Earth, food production times have been hastened; while those who didn't have much longevity left had been granted a reprieve from death due to them making a breakthrough.
"…"
Rising off her chair, Xu Qingxiang walks away from her desk, and emerging from behind the foldable divider, the former looks to her bed.
Resting on the bed is Sui Yan, who is still asleep, and beside the former is the black serpent that is also currently asleep.
For the time being, Xu Qingxiang had decided to let Sui Yan sleep in her room until the latter regains consciousness.
Walking over, and seating herself on the chair that is beside the bed, Xu Qingxiang—noticing a strand of hair on Sui Yan's face, reaches her right hand out to remove it. However—
"…"
"…Finally awake?"
Releasing Xu Qingxiang's wrist, Sui Yan covers her mouth, and raises a yawn, prior to sitting up.
Picking up her glasses, which are on the drawer unit, Sui Yan puts them on, and asks—
"So, how long was I out for?"
"Two days. Everyone is waiting for an official announcement right now."
"Figured as much. …Any changes to the core and the colony so far?"
"That anxious to get back to work?"
Shrugging a shoulder, Sui Yan replies—
"The sooner everything is resolved, the better. Besides, I've rested enough as it is."
"No one would blame you for taking another week off. Still, hmm."
Organizing her thoughts, Xu Qingxiang begins to explain the recent changes, beginning with—
"We don't have to rely on spirit stones to power the machineries anymore, but sooner or later, the other colonies in the future will be expecting us to send them food supplies."
"Within expectations."
...…
Listening to Xu Qingxiang's report without interrupting, Sui Yan would nod occasionally, and eventually, the former asks—
"Am I right to assume that you've established a contract with the planetary souls?"
Blinking her eyes once, Sui Yan replies—
"It's not a contract with me. It's a contract between everyone onboard Colony Three and them."
Narrowing her eyes, Xu Qingxiang continues to ask—
"And the details?"
"They wish to obtain a movable vessel, and we're the ones who have to build it."
"A movable vessel?"
Contemplating for a brief instance, Sui Yan explains her plan on how this contract can be realized, to which, Xu Qingxiang replies—
"…It being a massive amount of work aside, it's going to take several centuries."
"That isn't an issue to them. At this point, they have all the time in the world. Had they been left to drift, they would have eventually dissipated anyways. To them, the realization of this contract is more… I suppose, curiosity towards the potential of this gamble that we succeeded in?"
"Hmm."
Thinking for a while, Xu Qingxiang eventually nods her head, and shifting the topic along, she remarks—
"There's many who expresses interest in immigration."
"Of course there would be. So then, how do you plan to deal with them?"
Placing a hand near her chin, Xu Qingxiang explains—
"I'm thinking of allowing those with short longevity—but are on the verge of making a breakthrough, to cultivate outside of the colony. Their strength will be indispensable in phase two of the plan. As for who can be allowed to permanently migrate over right now… Young talents is the first option. After them… I suppose whoever shows decent improvements in this situation? Naturally, the amount of people that we can actually take in will be limited. I'd say eight for each category, so one from each colony? Selections will take place every five years. Of course, this is all subjected to change—depending on feedback from the other colony leaders."
"Sounds like a decent plan for the time being. …What are you going to do with the remaining population capacity?"
"There's some good genetic materials stored away in the cryopreservation units."
In the past, Xu Qingxiang figured that children produced using these genetic materials won't ever see the light of day, but since the natural energies of Heaven and Earth have reappeared, the situation has started to look hopeful.
"As for how many will be produced, well… That will depend on how many able-bodied guardians there are."
"Hmm, a bunch of children being thrown out of the woodworks, seems like things will be festive for a while."
Raising a subtle chuckle, Xu Qingxiang remarks—
"As if things aren't already. You're pretty much hailed as a hero at this point."
"How thin the lines between a genius and a lunatic really are…"
"Indeed."
As silence looms between the two for a while, Sui Yan asks—
"Don't you have work to be doing, colony leader? Why are you still here?"
Twitching an eye, Xu Qingxiang replies—
"In case you haven't noticed, but this is actually my room, and not yours."
Pulling the blanket near her nose, and taking a sniff, Sui Yan remarks—
"I suppose that would explain the odor that is on this bed."
Pulling the blanket away from Sui Yan with her face tinged slightly red, Xu Qingxiang says—
"Quit sniffing, and don't describe it as odor, it sounds like it stinks!"
Shrugging a shoulder, Sui Yan remarks—
"You mentioned how I'm being hailed a hero, does this mean that people will gather the moment I head outside?"
"Pretty much."
Contemplating for a brief instance, Sui Yan says—
"I guess I'll stay here for a while until matters settle down."
"In that case, move over to the guest room."
"Also, I'm hungry. I want a large meal."
"…For a guest you're being quite demanding."
"But isn't it the host's job to provide?"
Considering Sui Yan's current status, Xu Qingxiang finds it difficult to refuse, and asks—
"What do you normally eat?"
"Instant ramen."
"…? Do you not know how to cook?"
Towards this question, Sui Yan replies—
"Instant ramen is nice. They're quick and easy to prepare, and their soup goes well with anything. Canned meat can just be tossed into them for additional flavoring if desired. If you're even lazier with preparations, you can also just eat it as is out of the package."
"…"
Hearing this, Xu Qingxiang turns speechless. Momentarily, she replies—
"The fact that you've lived for this long… Seems like a miracle."
Without the presence of the natural energies of Heaven and Earth, a practitioner would also have to eat to replenish their strength.
As for those who don't have access to food—such was the case with Colony Seven five years back, they would have to burn their lifeforce to continue to live for just a bit longer.
Raising a sigh, Xu Qingxiang says—
"Well, meat production has been extended to celebrate the occasion, I guess we'll have some."
Raising an eye, Sui Yan remarks—
"Oh? A proper meal after all this time, I'm looking forward to it."
"If you know you're not having proper meals, then learn to cook…"
"…I'm more used to having someone prepare meals for me."
"…"
Normally, Xu Qingxiang would show a sense of disapproval towards a remark of this nature, but judging by the look on Sui Yan's face, it doesn't seem proper. In the end, she says—
"Everyone has a life that they can't hope to get back."
"…Indeed."
"I want to gradually return everything back to…- What used to be normal. A restaurant, a café, a shop of whatever at every block."
Smiling subtly towards this dream, Sui Yan replies—
"It might take a while."
"True, but at least it's not impossible now."