On the burning star.

The multi-layered nested structure of the Ring Solar Wall slowly rotates, like a star-level phantom ball.

On this gemstone-constructed artificial platform, there is an indoor venue.

On the main stage, Yuan Xiao dressed in a white evening gown with light makeup, smilingly said, "Welcome, colleagues of the company, to our annual meeting."

"First, let's invite the Chairman to speak."

She took a few steps back.

Zhou Yi stepped onto the stage.

He looked at each person present.

Every department head of the company reminded him of a past event.

The now competent and confident young A Jin is already the director of the Star Sea Radio Station. The image of the messy-haired boy running wildly and shouting like a grown man is vivid.

Beside A Jin, the Heavenly People [A Yin], is one of the Heavenly People's representatives, here as an avatar.

After joining the company, some Heavenly People continued as planetary engineers, some engaged in gemstone technology research and development, while A Yin began attempting connections related to the string network.

Red Kestrel, still in drone form, is Zhou Yi's most faithful friend.

It always quietly handles various information, providing the most crucial reminders. This former rescue team captain's refusal to abandon any hope in his aggressive style has greatly benefited Zhou Yi.

Further to the right are the company's four veteran members.

Agricultural Minister Zheng Tao, Manufacturing Minister Yuan Tong, Entertainment Business Minister Qian Su, and Aerospace Minister Gong Zheng.

Old Zheng still smiles warmly, despite his age, his body enhancement has made him more spirited. Recently, he has been trying to scale livestock Killer Rats on Mars.

Yuan Tong, originally a pirate leader who wanted to retire, revitalized upon joining the company. He has started many departmental research and new product developments. He maintains the company's largest department almost flawlessly, silently contributing extensive effort.

Qian Su, from the Iron Head Girl at sixteen to now twenty-eight, although no longer a girl, her eyes still hold that spirited light. She is now devoted to the rapid development of the entertainment and cultural field—however, due to past experiences, she is very fond of war and weapon elements. Plus, everyone loves beautiful girls, so she uses the theme of beautiful girls and war to garner many fans.

Gong Zheng was Zhou Yi's first assistant. After failing to compete for the Moon Affairs Department from the Civil Aviation Department, he continued to delve into his field. Zhou Yi insisted on independently launching satellite rockets there, promoting more biological satellites into space. The entire industry, including launch bases, rockets, satellites, astronaut selection and training, is expanding.

The Civil Aviation Department was officially reorganized into the Aerospace Department this year. Gong Zheng has become busier, but he recruited many emerging talents within the company, managing the entire expanded setup orderly.

Zhou Yi then directed his gaze to the brothers Niu and Ma.

The two agricultural machines have undergone multiple rounds of modification and upgrades; externally they look no different from their initial appearance, but their internal configuration is top-tier, both are now Light Core Bodies.

The addition of Tie Ma and Tong Niu allowed the company to open self-owned farms, achieving self-sufficiency in food.

For ten years, they have rooted in the frontline, deeply developing the agricultural system, managing the land well—their goal is to make Earth a super agricultural planet capable of growing food everywhere.

In terms of treatment, the brothers Niu and Ma do not care; they enjoy their work, thus creating an agricultural reform team.

Zhou Yi shifted his gaze to Da Vinci beside him.

Together with Maria Hospital, they are the company's medical system's dual core.

As the Minister of Medicine, he single-handedly practically propelled the company's medical security system.

Besides this, many employees have left a colorful mark on the company.

...

Zhou Yi gazed at each familiar person, feeling a myriad of emotions, he slowly said, "With everyone's joint efforts, we united as a company, solved many people's food and clothing issues, then progressed step by step, promoting and helping more people have fuller and more dignified lives."

"Our company can blaze a trail forward only because we stand with the majority, upholding the basic etiquette of the largest group."

"Everyone developed and restarted this Wasteland World, allowing it to regain its supposed vitality."

"In the future, please continue to move forward with me. Let us accompany each other to explore the ends of the universe."

Zhou Yi raised his hand, making a characteristic thumbs-up gesture.

Thunderous applause erupted from the audience below.

The annual meeting program began.

First was MR.D (Dou Jiezi), the first electromechanical artist signed by the company, a contemporary music superstar, his true identity is one of the Taishan Knights, Deepseek.

He started singing "Back to the Past" with his band.

As the performance unfolded, time creatures gracefully danced on stage, allowing everyone to see their past and childhood, this is also D's latest musical research achievement, capable of triggering time reversal.

Different people immersed in scenes of their past.

After the time extended.

The pain and hardship of yesteryears are all diluted by time, leaving only a light reminiscence with a filter and those frozen moments that can never be revisited.

...

Zhou Yi quietly left the annual meeting.

He came alone to a high platform on the Ring Solar Wall, where a private shuttle to Proxima Centauri would soon arrive.

Taking advantage of the waiting time.

Zhou Yi gazed at the massive sun below, spewing flames and rising with red and black.

"Still dismantling the String Civilization?"

[Yes.]

[It consists of a vast number of strings, but as long as I continue dismantling, eventually it will restore to the Star Dust state, then it can be easily handled. In the past it wanted to control me, not transforming it into a tool would not repay the suffering I endured all these years.]

The Golden Tree spoke in a relaxed tone.

Now, the roles have swapped, and it has become the dominant party.

"Steady wins the race, don't give it any chance, after all, it exists at the Breaking Dimension Level."

Zhou Yi advised.

Examples where the advantage flipped abound.

[Rest assured.]

[Now I will only try everything to utterly destroy it, the deader the better.]

[With the addition of energy tides from Proxima Centauri and the Heavenly People Bullet you provided, which are recyclable and reusable, they've given me plenty of suggestions. Compared to you, they hate the String Civilization even more.]

[I've now severed the strings that were originally radiating outward, and later, it's mainly about dismantling it bit by bit. Without the mass string integration, the String Civilization is nothing more than a Star Dust.]

"That's good."

Zhou Yi felt slightly relieved.

Now that the Wasteland is established, he couldn't help but turn his attention back to himself.

"Golden Tree, you wield vast information and consciousness within the Sun. I want to ask you, what exactly is the White Suanni inside me?"

"Do you know its origins?"

[I know.]

[It is a Fire Gatherer. This group essentially goes around finding remnants and Shattered Stars after the Sun's destruction.]

[However, the one inside you is quite special.]

[It's dead.]

"Dead?"

Zhou Yi was stunned.

[Yes. Or rather, its form of existence is to be passed down in a corpse state. Death for it is just the beginning. Afterwards, its corpse will merge with compatible life, allowing its successor to use this hostless shell. In the constant use and strengthening by the successor, it itself will continue to grow.]

[How should I put it? It's a bit like the organ transplants in your old human surgeries, but this is a full-body transplant. Your consciousness enters this shell and forms a symbiotic bond with it.]

Zhou Yi was enlightened.

No wonder the ancestral White Suanni is such a thing.

This thing is a suit, inherently possessing some special traits and abilities of Fire Gatherers.

[However, merging with a Fire Gatherer's corpse naturally generates interest and affinity towards the Sun and related objects. So the first time I met you, I knew that allying with you was a good idea.]

Golden Tree said.

[Fire Gatherer is just a general term. There's a big difference within. I only know this much.]

[I'll go handle the String Civilization now; it's up to tricks again. Chat next time... I'm gonna smash you!]

Zhou Yi was dumbstruck with laughter.

He couldn't help but think of Xiao Fu again.

Ever since pacifying the Heavenly People, Zhou Yi released it, granting its freedom.

Xiao Fu ultimately chose to continue on the path of the Reverse Flow, but this time as the Head of the company's Exploration Department, initiating the Circular Flow journey.

Originally, Xiao Fu was supposed to return for the annual meeting, but it encountered a rare stalemate war between two Level 2 civilizations, so it stayed there to record and observe, while also helping the company salvage and bring back some refugees.

Zhou Yi contacted Xiao Fu through the strings, "Hey, hey, hey? Busy?"

"Da Zhou, Da Zhou, there's still a war going on here... It's such a pity you're not here; both sides are so weak, but it's such a thrilling watch!"

Xiao Fu was happily spectating.

"I've found something good here. I'll show you when I return; you'll never guess..."

"Stay safe."

"Uh-huh, uh-huh."

Just then.

The train that finally arrived, whistled loudly.

A bullet-shaped conveyance made of Silicon Crystal Gemstones slowly docked on the string rails, the doors opening to both sides.

A tall female attendant dressed in a blue-and-white uniform walked out from the door.

Her figure was graceful, legs long, hands crossed in front of her lower abdomen, with an elegant smile she said, "The train to Proxima Centauri is about to depart, prestigious passengers please board in time."

Zhou Yi nodded and walked in.

The attendant pointed beside him, "This is a train specially serviced for you. Sir, would you like a massage service?"

"Give me the whole package."

Zhou Yi casually replied.

Then she started gently massaging his shoulders.

"Is this strength suitable?"

"Mm."

Zhou Yi hadn't expected that Night God would play out the train attendant scenario in cosplay, and do it so properly.

The train began traversing through the Space Holes along the string network.

But shortly, Night God stretched lazily, "Not playing anymore, so tiring. I'm a god; gods aren't quite suited for such work."

Zhou Yi patted the seat next to him.

Night God sat down there, her clothing transforming into a classical palace dress, holding a small fan.

She smoothed her hair: "Proxima Centauri is a place I want to take you. Is there somewhere you want to take me?"

"Yes."

Zhou Yi pondered for a moment, looking out the window, "I want to take you back to the past, to see the era of old humans where I once lived, to meet my parents, to eat and drink there, walk around."

"That requires traveling through the Time Dimension to accomplish, far from now it seems."

"There will come such a day."

"Even if the past can't be changed, I want to take you there."

Night God heard with her eyes slightly glowing, "Then it's settled. We must go someday."

"Definitely. I keep my word."

Zhou Yi smiled.

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