Chapter 290

Ji Jue didn't expect that the first time he took an airship in his life, he would be able to charter it.

In the past, let alone chartering a plane, just the high price of a single seat on an airship was something he didn't even dare to think about. Let alone international, just within the Federation, routes between large cities were often eight or nine thousand starting.

Not to mention the situation where the entire crew was prepared in advance, waiting for one person, leaving as soon as they arrived, and departing immediately.

Ji Jue didn't even go through security, just followed the guidance all the way to the landing pad, and then drove the car directly onto the airship. From arrival to takeoff, the whole process was as smooth as going out to take a black car, truly full of freshness.

It is the Tong family after all.

Hmm, although compared to my family's Sky Track... there is still such a little gap.

Ji Jue held a teacup, staring at the land gradually moving away outside the window.

In the night, the lights below were so brilliant.

In the fragrant wind, the elegantly dressed female flight attendant handed over a hot towel and the dinner menu: "Mr. Ji, considering the weather impact, our flight is expected to take about nine hours. The bedroom has been tidied up, you can rest at any time. If you have any needs, just press the bell."

Compared with aircraft such as airplanes and helicopters, although the speed of the airship is relatively slow, it is much smoother, and the internal space is also ridiculously large. Even this small three-story airship, in addition to the cargo hold and cockpit, also has plenty of usable space.

Not only bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms, Ji Jue even saw a gym.

It's almost no different from a vacation.

These days, the environment outside the city is becoming increasingly chaotic, and travel costs are gradually increasing.

Although there are large cargo airships, most logistics are operated by fleets and several fixed intercity rail lines, but they are still frequently affected by disasters.

Although with the development of technology, there was once a saying that large airplanes would replace airships as the mainstream of aircraft, it is a pity that until now, it is still difficult to avoid the impact of high-altitude environmental changes based on the technical level. Under the interference of turbulent airflow, extreme temperature changes, and even many deformed bird flocks, it is difficult to ensure long-term safe operation. Once it stalls, the plane will crash and people will die.

Until now, it can still only be used for short and medium-distance transportation or military purposes. In contrast, aircraft like airships that can stay in the air for a long time and flexibly respond to situations are more loved and trusted.

After eating, Ji Jue read a few papers and then rested. He slept soundly all night, not worrying at all about any accidents on the road.

After all, he had already used the Mechanical God to pluck it before getting on the airship. The whole flight was incredibly stable, and even the pilot sighed, never having been so smooth and silky.

Even if Echo was insane and completely tore its face off to take out anti-aircraft missiles to send him to the sky, the watch was still hanging on his hand, and the 【Return Command】 could send him back to the respawn point in a single thought.

After waking up the next day, there were several more location records of large cities on the Sky Track system's pop-up window, and a string of teleportation points in the central Federation had been opened.

Convenient for Ji Jue to quietly pluck competitors in the future...

After gradually lowering the altitude, under the dark clouds, the world was already completely different.

In the endless flying snow, the whole world was covered in silver white, just like a silent rainstorm. On the white snowfield, the pitch-black mountain ridges and sharp ice layers snaked across the ground like the spine of a giant snake.

"Mr. Ji, we have entered the Desolate State, and are expected to arrive at Heihe in an hour."

The flight attendant reminded when serving breakfast: "The surface temperature outside the cabin has dropped to below zero, please prepare for protection."

Ji Jue was already like a bumpkin, taking out his phone and taking pictures.

Holy shit, snow!

So much snow!

When he was a child, he lived in Shuzhou, and later moved to Haizhou. The former was wet and cold in winter, just not seeing a single snowflake, and the latter's winter... was like a joke, not even needing to wear a down jacket. Everyone on the street wore flip-flops, where had they seen such an amazing scene?

He made a V-shape bumpkin-style, took a photo of the winding frozen ice river on the ground, and posted it to his social circle.

Instantly a long string of likes and comments.

【Roll Dog Must Die】: You have walked on thin ice all your life, I guess you won't reach the other side.

【Wen】: The snow is still so heavy, remember to bring me wine from the Desolate State.

【Tong Shan】 replied to 【Wen】:??? Meeting started, where are you?!

【Draw You Little Wang Ba】: Plant rage, laughing to death

【Bell】: Big brother is dragging his feet, second brother come on!

【Feng】: Hehe, someone is going to get beaten, I won't say who.

【Zhang's Massage】: It's a good day for a marathon, young people should exercise more.

【Yubo】: Desolate State, long-haired cats are cute!

Even though he had been prepared, when Ji Jue left the cabin, he still felt like he was flipped by the cold wind rushing towards him, and even his breathing was full of stinging pain.

In the freezing cold below zero, the air was dry without any moisture, and a little water vapor seemed to freeze into tiny ice crystals, drilling into his nostrils and mouth, leaving faint pain.

Ji Jue shivered and looked up at the sky. The fluttering snow fell from under the outlines of the airships, and after merging into the ground, it turned snow-white.

Or, frozen in the mud.

"Is this Mr. Ji's first time in the Desolate State?"

The middle-aged man who received him asked enthusiastically, "Do you want to try local food later?"

"Okay, just listen to your arrangements."

Ji Jue got on the little Niu Ma and, under the guidance of the receiver, drove out of this small landing field. Except for the pitch-black road, the endless snowfields on both sides stretched to the end of the earth, almost connecting with the gray-white sky.

"Really beautiful."

He rolled up the car window and started the heater.

"Cold is really cold."

The receiver smiled self-deprecatingly. He was dressed in a bulky way, and besides that, gloves, masks, scarves, and goggles were all missing: "As for whether it's beautiful... I'm afraid the locals would rather it be uglier and less of it?

The snow has been much less these two days. In previous years, when encountering heavy snow, cars couldn't drive, and the snow outside the city could be six or seven meters thick. It would snow for several months at a time, and you couldn't even go out the door."

He introduced: "Here in the Desolate State, it is winter for half a year. Further north, it is the tundra and ice sea that is cold all year round, and even penguins and bears cannot survive.

I'll say one more word, don't be afraid of the burden, try to prepare more heating tools. Outside the city is not like the suburbs, once you drive in, it will only be colder. When encountering a snow disaster, rescue is too late. Every time the rally is held, some people freeze off their ears, noses, and fingers. It's a good thing if they don't die."

"What about the locals?"

Ji Jue asked curiously: "What about heating?"

"Phlogiston."

The receiver grinned, raised his hand, and pointed to the scene gradually becoming clear in the distance. The outline of the small city Heihe emerged faintly, and what was even more conspicuous than this was the pillar of smoke rushing to the sky above Heihe.

The white smoke rose, and when there was no wind, it was like a pillar, connecting heaven and earth.

Ji Jue was dumbfounded.

"Here in the Desolate State, there is the largest phlogiston mining area in the entire Federation. When it's exaggerated, dig a few feet into the ground, and pitch-black crude oil will bubble out.

The small cities here are basically based on the phlogiston mining industry. Phlogiston is as abundant as water, and most places in the city have central heating.

It is said that the core furnace is a scrapped warship-level volcanic engine. That firepower is something that makes people remember it for a lifetime once they see it. Basically, being able to see such a smoke pillar means that you are already close to the city."

The closer he got to Heihe, the richer the scene on the side of the road became. He could even see many vendors guarding the side of the road, selling cold-proof equipment and local specialties.

And the traffic on this road gradually increased, as if it were a busy street.

"Really lively."

"They are all tourists who came to attend the opening of the rally. They only count on this one time to open for business in three years, and it's dead quiet on weekdays. Turn right ahead and go a little further and you'll be there.

It's right next to the venue at the starting point. Basically, the camps of the participating companies and manufacturers are all in that area."

Before arriving at the place, Ji Jue saw it. Behind the fence, many temporary iron houses and RVs stretched for a piece, almost seeing no end, and there were many entrances and exits.

With so many fleets gathered together, the city definitely couldn't hold them, so they could only approve a piece of land in the suburbs outside the city. Even so, the land each family got wasn't very big.

In the morning, the entire camp was already noisy. Many fleets were seizing the last time to adjust configurations and test cars, and several modified cars had already returned with mud spots all over them.

Although the Coast Auto was revitalized, it was still a small factory in here, the distance was the furthest, and the venue was not big. Except for a few rooms and two RVs, it was only enough to set up a maintenance and preparation room.

However, the manpower was sufficient. In addition to the seven or eight workers living here, there was another batch of engineers with equipment in the city, who could support at any time.

After putting down the little Niu Ma and asking about the process, Ji Jue wandered around the camp loosely, as if taking a walk.

By the way, pluck two competitors...

It's a pity that most of the in-car equipment seems to have spiritual quality interference or blocking. It's not that it can't be broken through, but if he forcibly performs the Mechanical God, the signs can't be hidden at all, and instead, it will alert the enemy.

And the defenses of many fleets seem tight, but in fact, they are extremely tight. There is no shortage of Heaven-Chosen squatting in the dark. Ji Jue didn't even have the opportunity to touch them and break them with the Dissociation Technique. Only the preparation team could touch the whole car.

And after the race starts, unless they reach the maintenance point, except for the driver and navigator, even the preparation team cannot touch the car.

"Buddy, just arrived?" At the entrance, a bearded man struck up a conversation: "Need ear muffs?"

"No need." Ji Jue waved his hand.

However, the man still stuffed an unopened pair of ear muffs over, took off his gloves, reached out, and introduced himself: "Navigator of Chonghui, Shi Ran, here to accompany the run."

"Oh oh, Ji Jue, Coast Auto."

"I know, I even watched your press conference!" Shi Ran grinned, "That prosthetic limb is really good, do you have plans to promote it outside Haizhou?"

"Currently, it is still testing and collecting feedback and data. I'm afraid there is no time to consider the outside market for the time being."

"There's always a chance."

Shi Ran handed over a business card: "I still have some say in Chonghui. If you have plans to develop in Yunzhou, be sure to consider us first."

"Easy to say, easy to say."

Ji Jue took it with both hands and found that this business card was not a driver, but the Deputy Minister of the R&D Department of Yunzhou Chonghui Industry, and couldn't help but be stunned.

Please... you... bookmark_6... 9... book... bar...!

"Hobbies are hobbies, work is work."

Shi Ran smiled: "A few years ago when I went to Haizhou, I even listened to Professor Ye's public class at Tianmen. It's a pity that the distance was too far, and I never had the chance to cooperate.

You should have just arrived, right? Do you want me to take you around? I've been here for almost a month."

Ji Jue was stunned: "Doesn't it bother you?"

"Hey, why be polite? Let's go!"

Shi Ran waved his hand without seeing it as an outsider, walked in front, and took him around the camp, familiar with the road, introducing Ji Jue behind him from time to time.

The entire Desolate Sea Rally, including original and modified, has sixteen groups, and there are more than sixty fleets. Those like Ji Jue who just arrived the day before the opening are very few. Most of them had already started preparing a month in advance.

Just the lineup included most of the car companies in the Federation, and the teams sent by larger car factories had hundreds of people. It just so happened that Shi Ran seemed to have acquaintances everywhere he went, even helping Ji Jue introduce them.

There was no shortage of Heaven-Chosen, and they didn't even hide it. Inside, Ji Jue even saw the artisans of several other large workshops in the Federation stationed there.

In the morning, he received a pile of business cards.

Everyone greeted each other, met by chance, and didn't mind making another friend, especially Ji Jue, who was a young talent in the limelight and the chief artisan of this session.

There were also many who kept their distance, or even faced him coldly, looking over from a long distance away.

"Look, those few families over there... you already know."

Shi Ran shrugged slightly and didn't take Ji Jue over again.

Echo, Tiancheng, Xinyuan, and the Northern Territory, the camps of the four families were all huddled together, especially the Northern Territory, which was a military-industrial enterprise in the Desolate State, occupying the best position.

After taking a look from afar, Shi Ran didn't take him to stick his hot face to a cold butt, sighed, and hesitated for a moment, seeming to want to say something, but didn't say it in the end.

Some things, I'm afraid it's not his turn to talk nonsense.

It's a pity, a pretty good young man, why wade into this muddy water?

Shi Ran sighed silently.

Soon, a urging voice came from the walkie-talkie.

"Forget it, have to go back to the meeting again." He shrugged, "Remember to seize the time to do the registration, have time to eat together later!"

Ji Jue waved his hand and said goodbye to him.

When Ji Jue returned to the Coast's venue, he saw busy staff coming up.

"Mr. Ji, you are back?" The person in charge of the maintenance team said: "The navigator has also arrived, our car team has to seize the time to do the registration."

"Navigator?"

Ji Jue was curious upon hearing this: "Where is it?"

According to the rules of the Desolate Sea Rally, participating teams are allowed to form a maintenance team to wait at the designated maintenance station. At the same time, on the participating vehicles, a driver and an auxiliary navigator can be equipped.

The driver's duty goes without saying. The navigator often holds multiple positions, being both a reserve driver, replacing the driver who cannot drive to finish the race when necessary, and also an assistant responsible for maintenance with the driver when the vehicle has problems in the wild. It may even be that the previous main driver of the fleet retired to the second line due to age, and when necessary, can also be the driver's bodyguard responsible for dealing with trouble in the wilderness.

Two people and one car, this is the lineup stipulated by the organizing committee. Once the race starts, unless they reach the maintenance station, only these two people can touch the vehicle.

Otherwise, it will be judged as a violation.

Although the Coast fleet is called a fleet in name, it is actually a logistics group temporarily pieced together by Tong Shengnian, mainly responsible for providing support for Ji Jue.

And with Ji Jue here, naturally there is no need for other people to perform maintenance. With the Mechanical God, the car can drive itself, let alone the little Niu Ma.

Originally, Ji Jue planned to bring one casually. He didn't expect that when they were connected, Lu Yingyue, in addition to many supports, was also willing to provide manpower to help Ji Jue and protect his safety at the same time.

It's just that until now, Ji Jue had been staying in the workshop and hadn't come out, so he hadn't even met them.

Since it was introduced by Lu Yingyue, it was naturally reliable, just hoping they could get along.

Even if not, everyone just pinches their noses and endures it. Anyway, it's only half a month, and they can always get through it.

And the moment he saw the navigator, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

From the snowy camp, the huge empty oil drum, that petite figure still wearing the upgraded prosthetic limb on his legs, his temperament was quiet like a girl. When he turned his head, a surprised smile appeared on that gender-ambiguous face.

"Brother Ji Jue!"

The boy waved excitedly.

"Xiao An?!"

Ji Jue was instantly surprised and inexplicable, walked up, picked him up with both hands, spun around several times, and laughed out loud: "Long time no see!"

It's just that, spinning and spinning, the smile couldn't help but stiffen on his face.

"... Hmm?"

Wait, this feel, seems, maybe, perhaps, where... not quite right?

But it's right, the weight and touch are no problem, the spiritual quality aura is the same as in the past, sniff, hmm, the shower gel is also this smell, but how is it...

Unaccountably panicked?

"What's wrong, Brother Ji Jue?"

Xiao An looked over blankly in mid-air, puzzled.

But the smile remained.

Brother Ji Jue is Brother Ji Jue, there must be his reason for doing this.

It's just that, a momentary vision made Ji Jue subconsciously gasp.

Once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of the well rope, he was truly a bit afraid.

"Xiao An?" He asked tentatively.

"Hmm?" Xiao An tilted his head, and under his short hair, the smile on his cheeks became even softer.

The hallucination-like sense of immediacy was even stronger!

Not Xiao An!

No, it seems it's still Xiao An?

Right right right, no no no...

Cold sweat seeped out from Ji Jue's forehead.

He couldn't tell!!!

(End of chapter)