*swoosh* A streak of green light creased through the endless void of space and it soon reached the blue-green planet.


    The green streak of light gently slowed down, revealing a beautiful futuristic ark as it floated above the Jade Eclipse Star.


    Inside the ark, a middle-aged man sat at the helm, his sharp features illuminated by the soft glow of the panoramic window.


    His uniform had the insignia of Ebon Luohe and he muttered "Let’s go."


    "Yes, Commander Garron," replied the navigator, swiftly keying in coordinates.


    The ark quickly dashed into the atmosphere of the Jade Eclipse Star and flew to one of the mountains within the forest near the Imperial capital.


    The ark found a clearing, its descent precise as it gently displaced the surrounding trees. The vessel landed with a soft hiss, dispersing a fine mist as the hatch opened.


    Commander Garron stepped out, his boots crunching softly against the ground and glanced at the enormous laboratory hidden amidst the mountain.


    He made his way toward the laboratory, and even more men stepped out of the Ark following Garron.


    The laboratory’s large metal door opened itself and he stepped into the vast facility of the researchers walking around.


    He walked to an elevator and made his way upstairs.


    Stepping out of the elevator, he entered the room and glanced at the group of three men and two women lounging in the seats.


    There are four people who are researchers, and the fifth is the Jade Emperor, Zhou Mingzhe.


    Garron walked to him and gently bowed his head "Good to see you in person, Your Highness."


    Zhou Mingzhe waved his hand and gestured for Garron to sit opposite him.


    Taking a seat, Garron smiled faintly "It is heartening to see that you are slowly adopting technology and innovation in your star, Your Highness."


    "Among the six Apex High stars, you are the only one far behind others in terms of technology."


    "So, we in Ebon Luohe are grateful that you are finally accepting our offers and doing research here."@@@@


    Hearing this, Zhou Mingzhe’s gaze narrowed and he muttered "What needs to be done has to be done."


    "I have come to realize that clinging too tightly to tradition may hinder the power and progress of my star. The balance between the Apex High Stars is delicate, and I cannot afford to let the Jade Eclipse Star falter."


    Garron nodded, his expression one of understanding. "Indeed, Your Highness. The balance is paramount. Ebon Luohe has long sought to assist you in integrating advancements that could strengthen your star without compromising its identity."


    "This laboratory is but the first step... a bridge between tradition and progress."


    Zhou Mingzhe leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the polished table "Mhm," he said thoughtfully.


    He leaned forward, "Here’s the catch: while the rune language is relatively simple to learn, creating space-related artifacts like storage rings requires something far more elusive... comprehension of spatial energy."


    Zhou Mingzhe’s brows furrowed. "Spatial energy... A rare affinity, is it not?"


    "Precisely,"


    "Not everyone can comprehend or wield spatial energy, which is why artifacts like storage rings are so expensive."


    "In Ebon Luohe, we assembled a team of researchers and artifact makers who excel in rune language. They collaborated with storage rings artifact creators to create these devices."


    "Over time, we refined our techniques, but the limitation has always been the scarcity of individuals capable of harnessing spatial energy."


    He gestured toward the hologram. "However, with years of research and experimentation, we’ve developed something extraordinary... an artifact that doesn’t merely compress space into a storage unit but instead manipulates it on a grand scale."


    "This teleportation portal shrinks the space between two locations, allowing instantaneous travel."


    Zhou Mingzhe’s eyes widened slightly, "You’re telling me this portal eliminates the time and distance between two points?"


    "Exactly,"


    "It’s not without its challenges, of course. Creating this prototype took decades. We had to perfect the runic sequences, ensure stability in spatial compression, and even develop a self-sustaining energy core to power the portal. But the result is revolutionary."


    The holographic portal flickered, the golden energy within it swirling as if alive.


    Garron pointed to specific runes etched along the outer ring of the structure. "These runes are the key. They form a sequence that stabilizes the spatial tunnel, ensuring safe passage for anything, or anyone, traveling through."


    Zhou Mingzhe leaned forward; his interest piqued "And how practical is this technology? Could it be deployed on a large scale?"


    Garron hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "It’s still in its infancy. The energy requirements are immense, and the materials needed for the portal’s construction are rare. Deploying it on a large scale would require significant resources."


    "But... once refined, this technology could revolutionize not only transportation but also defense, commerce, and even warfare."


    The room fell silent for a few seconds as he thought about it.


    He understood why Garron was here; it was because of the lack of resources and the Ebon Luohe needed the Jade Eclipse Star’s help.


    And if they helped, when this technology reaches its final stage.. they can also utilize these transportation portals.


    After some contemplation, Zhou Mingzhe spoke "Begin the preparations. If this technology can secure our future, I will ensure the resources are provided. The Jade Eclipse Star will not fall behind."


    Garron bowed his head, a faint smile on his lips. "As you wish, Your Highness. Together, we’ll ensure the balance of power remains intact."


    --------------------------------------------------


    I hope you guys liked this chapter!