"A high-tech city, the City of Starlight—what exactly is that?" Chen Changsheng asked, puzzled.

"The City of Starlight is a magnificent plan I've designed; you could say all my current arrangements are aimed at building such a city. Of course, it doesn't exist yet; it’s merely a concept on paper," Liu Hui chuckled confidently.

"Boss, if I heard you correctly, you mean building a city. But where do you plan to build this city? Do we even have enough space for it?" Chen Changsheng asked, not quite grasping the scale.

"Since I proposed building this city, those issues have already been considered. Take a look; this is my proposal." Liu Hui handed Chen Changsheng the blueprint for his 'City of Starlight'.

Chen Changsheng took the proposal. The cover was emblazoned with the large characters: "City of Starlight." He opened it and began to read intently. However, after reading the introductory pages, his face turned pale. In a trembling voice, he managed, "Boss, are you sure you haven't given me the wrong document?"

"Of course not. You must trust your eyes; everything you see now is real," Liu Hui replied with a smile.

"All real? How is that possible? Your proposal states the construction of a floating steel metropolis upon the sea. Not considering the superstructure, the area required just for the floating platform supporting the city is 11,300 square kilometers, and the platform's average elevation is a staggering 200 meters! Boss, are you absolutely certain your plan has been calculated meticulously? This is sheer fantasy, utterly impossible to achieve." Chen Changsheng nearly moaned the words. The opening summary of the 'City of Starlight' plan alone had drained the color from his face.

"Naturally, some calculations were involved, though I'm not a specialist, so some algorithms might be slightly off, but not by much," Liu Hui said lightly.

Chen Changsheng picked up the proposal again, scrutinizing the listed specifications for the 'City of Starlight': "The entire floating platform is a standard circle with a radius of 60 kilometers, totaling 11,300 square kilometers in area, with an average height of 200 meters."

Chen Changsheng immediately grabbed a calculator and ran the numbers. He exclaimed excitedly, "Boss, I've roughly calculated the data listed here. Calculating based on an average height of 200 meters, and ignoring the superstructure of the 'City of Starlight' platform itself, the sheer volume of this floating platform alone reaches 2.26 trillion cubic meters. If we treat this platform as solid, calculating based on the density of steel at 7.85 tons per cubic meter, the completed weight of the City of Starlight platform would be 177.41 quadrillion tons. That means the total required steel alone would be 177.41 quadrillion tons. Even if your platform were hollow, reducing the steel requirement to one percent of that figure, we would still need 1.7741 quadrillion tons. Do you know the total amount of iron ore proven to exist in the world? Only 800 billion tons, and the maximum iron content within that is 230 billion tons! This means even using all the world's iron ore wouldn't be enough to construct just the floating platform for the 'City of Starlight,' let alone the buildings on top!"

Liu Hui smiled. "If this were in the past, my plan would certainly be impossible. But now, with the new technology you've just developed, this plan is perfectly feasible."

"The technology we researched?" Chen Changsheng asked, bewildered.

"Yes, the Anti-Gravity Device and the improved Solidification Array! With the Solidification Array, we don't need to use steel for the entirety of the floating platform during construction. For instance, you can already use the Solidification Array to enhance the toughness of steel, raising its material strength to a hundred times that of ordinary steel. This treated steel can then serve as the critical load-bearing material to ensure the overall framework of the platform remains sound. We can then fill the exterior areas around these critical load-bearing components with ordinary construction materials—things like cement, lime, sand, gravel, and stones. If we do this, we save steel in many areas, drastically reducing the required amount. Moreover, I believe your research into the Solidification Array will soon yield new breakthroughs. When that happens, if you can apply the array to concrete, we could use concrete to replace steel, further reducing the steel consumption. When building the City of Starlight, we can deploy Anti-Gravity Devices on every level of the structure to offset the gravity exerted by the levels above. This way, the lower levels won't bear excessive pressure, meaning the material requirements for construction won't be as high—we could even use materials suitable for a standard two or three-story building without compromising quality. Therefore, by integrating these two new inventions into the construction, my plan stands a high chance of realization. Of course, I'm not an expert in this field; the actual execution will be up to you," Liu Hui outlined his concepts.

"You... you... you're an absolute scientific simpleton! What you're saying has absolutely no scientific basis!" Chen Changsheng's speech started to stutter; he was utterly defeated by Liu Hui’s wildly imaginative thinking. Logically, a scientist's imagination should be the strongest of all, but after witnessing Liu Hui's today, he felt utterly devoid of vision.

"Director Chen, I may indeed be a scientific simpleton, but you can't deny the potential feasibility of what I've proposed, can you? Consider this: the Anti-Gravity Device and the Solidification Array were once considered incredible impossibilities, yet you invented them, didn't you? So, you can treat this 'City of Starlight' plan as a scientific research project; I’m sure a solution will be found," Liu Hui encouraged Chen Changsheng.

"But even so, the amount of steel required for such a massive undertaking will still be enormous. Do we possess that much steel?" Chen Changsheng's mind was struggling to keep up; Liu Hui's fantastic ideas were making his brain feel foggy.

"If steel runs short, you can research new materials to substitute it. Since we have the Solidification Array, there should be many materials capable of replacing steel, right? Just tell me, based on current technology, can the 'City of Starlight' be built?" Liu Hui pressed.

Chen Changsheng paused, processing the implications. "If the Boss can provide an abundance of high-grade energy stones, coupled with a large number of energy storage spheres containing sufficient True Essence, and enough personnel capable of manipulating True Essence to deploy the formations—then, theoretically, there is a chance to complete the City of Starlight. Of course, this is purely theoretical; we will face endless practical difficulties once we start implementation," Chen Changsheng finally gave an affirmative answer after careful consideration.

"You don't need to worry about logistics at all. I can provide an infinite supply of high-grade energy stones—as many as you require. Those energy storage spheres holding True Essence are also no issue; I guarantee they will never run short. As for the personnel who will deploy the formations, you will need to vet and screen the scientific staff to select those who are sufficiently loyal. I can grant them the ability to manipulate True Essence. Furthermore, I will launch a massive global recruitment drive for researchers across all fields to assist you in resolving any issues encountered during the 'City of Starlight' project," Liu Hui stated.

Only after hearing Liu Hui’s assurances did Chen Changsheng relax slightly. Although he still found the 'City of Starlight' project somewhat unreliable, Liu Hui’s points held some merit. If the new technology could be applied to this colossal plan, perhaps success was achievable. Moreover, buried deep within the blood of any scientist lies a streak of controlled madness, and faced with such a profoundly challenging endeavor, he couldn't simply walk away.

Chen Changsheng returned to the proposal. Flipping a few more pages, his hands began to tremble again. He exclaimed loudly, "Boss, your ultimate goal is actually to lift this 'City of Starlight' into the sky? Good heavens, I’m going insane!"

Liu Hui smiled. "That's right. Although the City of Starlight will be built upon the sea and spend most of its time resting on the surface, its final destination won't be the ocean. Once completed, the City of Starlight will possess levitation capabilities—it will ascend into the sky. In other words, that floating platform is essentially a gigantic Anti-Gravity Device, and you must factor that into your construction calculations."

"Boss, your imagination knows no bounds! Just building the City of Starlight on the ocean presents countless hurdles, and you intend to levitate it into the air? I must be losing my mind to even discuss the feasibility of this plan with you! Remember, the largest man-made floating island constructed to date only covers about four square kilometers, and that tiny island cost over ten billion US dollars! If we are truly going to build the City of Starlight—spanning over ten thousand square kilometers—and then lift it into the sky, the cost would be astronomical. Even the wealthiest nation today, America, couldn't afford to build it," Chen Changsheng stammered incoherently.

"Director Chen, your imagination isn't rich enough! Our company is called Starry Sky Group, and the city we are building is the 'City of Starlight.' Merely floating in the air doesn't quite live up to that title, does it?" Liu Hui delivered another sharp blow to Chen Changsheng's composure.

"What? You have other ideas in mind?" Sweat broke out on Chen Changsheng’s brow.

"Indeed. Suspension in the air is just an intermediate step for the City of Starlight. Its ultimate destination is—space!" Liu Hui declared with earth-shattering impact.

"Boss..." Chen Changsheng simply couldn't take any more. Liu Hui's vision caused him to collapse onto the floor.

"Director Chen, don't take on such a posture. For the construction of the City of Starlight, I estimate a timeline of twenty to thirty years. I didn't say you have to finish it tomorrow; you have plenty of time for technological preparation," Liu Hui reassured him.

"Twenty to thirty years?" Chen Changsheng felt a terrible headache coming on; he felt that even fifty years might not be enough to complete the city.

"Exactly. I’ve divided this plan into three phases: Phase One, constructing the main body of the City of Starlight in the sea; Phase Two, successfully lifting the City of Starlight into the air after the main structure is complete; Phase Three, once the technology is mature, transitioning the City of Starlight into space." Liu Hui announced grandly, echoing the sweeping ambitions of older generations during periods of rapid mobilization.

Suddenly, Chen Changsheng had a realization. Since the 'City of Starlight' project was fully funded, staffed, and executed by the Boss, if, against all odds, it succeeded, he could secure his place in history. And if it failed, there were no real downsides for him; the mere experience of having participated in such an epoch-making endeavor would mean his life hadn't been wasted. It was a guaranteed win-win situation for him. With his perspective shifting, he asked, "Boss, just tell me what you need me to do."

"Your mission is to design the City of Starlight, research new practical technologies, apply these technologies to the construction, and ensure the successful completion of the City of Starlight project," Liu Hui instructed.

"Boss, this project is enormous, requiring so many diverse technologies. Therefore, I need to procure the world's most advanced equipment and recruit the top-tier scientists," Chen Changsheng began negotiating terms with Liu Hui.

"That is not an issue; I will satisfy all your requirements. If the most advanced equipment cannot be bought, I will steal it for you. As for the research talent you require, make me a list. If they are unwilling to come, I can have them kidnapped. In short, whatever you need, I will provide," Liu Hui readily agreed to Chen Changsheng’s terms.

"If that is the case, then I have nothing more to say," Chen Changsheng replied, his spirit invigorated by the sheer excitement of participating in the plan.

"Director Chen, you are the expert. Study my admittedly immature proposal and write me a detailed plan. I will arrange the work based on your plan. However, before this plan is officially announced, absolute secrecy must be maintained," Liu Hui stressed. Chen Changsheng nodded repeatedly, signaling his understanding.

Liu Hui then bid farewell to Chen Changsheng and returned to his office to arrange his next steps. Chen Changsheng immediately immersed himself in familiarizing himself with the 'City of Starlight' plan, aiming to draft a comprehensive proposal.

For the following month, Liu Hui handed over all company operations to Hu Xian'er, while he frequently communicated with Chen Changsheng for further refinement of the 'City of Starlight' project. Chen Changsheng, being the expert, possessed far superior technical knowledge than Liu Hui, and with his involvement, the 'City of Starlight' plan gradually gained substance, no longer just an empty framework when Liu Hui first presented it. Though the final draft was not yet complete, initial preparatory work could already commence.

After deciding on the 'City of Starlight' plan, Liu Hui implemented adjustments to the company’s operational direction; he had to accelerate the company’s revenue generation significantly. Otherwise, once the City of Starlight began construction, the rate of spending would be like a devastating flood, and even if Starry Sky Group possessed billions in assets, it couldn't fill that bottomless pit.

Consequently, under Liu Hui’s direction, Starry Sky Group began to move rapidly, like a wound-up clock. First, Starry Sky Group maintained its leading edge in pharmaceuticals while simultaneously launching clinical trials for a series of new drugs, including treatments for diabetes. Liu Hui’s goal was to monopolize the entire pharmaceutical market.

Simultaneously, Starry Sky Group established Starry Sky Agricultural Reclamation Company, which purchased land globally and recruited farmers from within China to cultivate the land worldwide. Starry Sky Group also founded Starry Sky Culinary Company. This company consolidated all Chinese culinary recipes, filtered the best dishes, standardized preparation processes, and opened restaurants globally for operation.

The outside world reacted with confusion to the establishment of these two new companies. Both were labor-intensive industries requiring a large workforce, and both sectors were generally low-profit, far behind the highly profitable pharmaceutical sector Liu Hui currently dominated. Yet, Liu Hui was determined to launch these companies, and even internal opposition proved futile. Liu Hui privately felt a slight annoyance: his 'City of Starlight' was nearing construction, capable of housing a total population of ten million once complete. If he didn't recruit personnel now, where would the future population come from? Besides, farming and running restaurants, while not lucrative, wouldn't incur heavy losses; he could certainly afford to support them.

Not long after, the Science Research Institute under Starry Sky Group began a large-scale external recruitment drive. They hired for a comprehensive range of specialized roles; essentially, any researcher with a viable scientific project could find a corresponding position during this recruitment event. Starry Sky Group offered excellent compensation, causing many unfulfilled researchers worldwide to flock to the company. However, since established, renowned scientists were already committed elsewhere, the majority of talent recruited by Starry Sky Group were young individuals.

Following this recruitment surge, the Starry Sky Group Science Research Institute swelled to over five thousand researchers, surpassing the size of the scientific institutes in many nations in terms of sheer numbers. Internal research topics generally covered aspects across all industries. However, because most researchers were young and lacked extensive experience, immediate research breakthroughs were not expected. Maintaining such a vast scientific organization meant capital flowed out of Liu Hui’s pocket like running water, but fortunately, the massive profits generated by the pharmaceutical sector provided sufficient support to continue.

After laboring intensely for over a month, Liu Hui and Chen Changsheng managed to sort out the procedural relationships within the 'City of Starlight' plan and complete the preliminary preparations. From this point forward, operations could proceed methodically. Since the capital required for this monumental plan was astronomical, Liu Hui resolved to accelerate Starry Sky Group's earning velocity to sustain the project indefinitely.

Liu Hui redirected his focus away from the Science Research Institute only to realize he hadn't addressed company management for an entire month. He had entrusted all those duties to Hu Xian'er, who had handled them exceptionally well, allowing him to fully dedicate himself to the 'City of Starlight' project. Liu Hui felt a pang of shame, knowing how arduous those responsibilities were and wondering how Hu Xian'er had managed to complete them all.

He proceeded to Hu Xian'er's office, intending to check on her. Hu Xian'er's female secretary stood up immediately upon seeing Liu Hui approaching, ready to announce his arrival. Liu Hui stopped her and pushed the door open himself. Upon entering, he saw a towering stack of documents on Hu Xian'er’s desk, the height of which obscured his view of her.

Liu Hui moved around the files and saw Hu Xian'er slumped over her desk, asleep. Her face was drawn and visibly exhausted, complete with dark circles under her eyes. A pen was still clutched in her hand, and an open document lay on the desk surface.

Liu Hui instantly felt a surge of compassion. He knew she must be utterly worn out, evident from the pile of paperwork before her. It struck him as inappropriate for him, a man, to delegate such a heavy workload entirely to a woman. He took off his jacket and carefully draped it over Hu Xian'er's shoulders. She wasn't sleeping deeply; the touch of his coat woke her instantly. Coming to consciousness, Hu Xian'er saw Liu Hui standing beside her, covered by his jacket, and gasped, "Boss," though her voice was hoarse, suggesting she hadn't fully recovered from fatigue.

"Boss, I was just reviewing documents, and I must have dozed off," Hu Xian'er said, attempting to rise.

"Xian'er, don't get up. Rest a bit longer. You look quite worn out," Liu Hui stopped her.

"Boss, I apologize. I was sleeping during working hours and delayed processing the work," Hu Xian'er apologized.

"It’s alright, Xian'er. This work is never-ending, and if you exhaust yourself, it will hurt me," Liu Hui said gently.

"This work is what you assigned me, so I must complete it well," Hu Xian'er insisted, sitting up and reopening a document.

Liu Hui snatched the pen from Hu Xian'er's hand and said, "Xian'er, the last time we went out together, we only managed half a day before running into the Zhonglian Gang trying to grab you on the road. So there's still one place we haven't seen. How about I go out with you tomorrow?" "But this work..." Hu Xian'er hesitated. "Heh heh, let this work wait for us this time. I believe a few more days won't make a difference to these tasks," Liu Hui chuckled. A sweet smile broke through the fatigue on Hu Xian'er's face, and she said, "If we're really going out to play, you absolutely must agree to a few of my conditions."

Qian Yu is putting this out there again: I have absolutely no scientific knowledge. This 'City of Stars' is entirely a work of fantasy, devoid of any scientific logic whatsoever. So, to any knowledgeable friends out there, please don't tear into me; just treat it as an amusing piece of fiction.