Chapter 412

Dawn City, north of Qingbo, a vast column of survivor convoys advanced along roads and rail lines toward Jinhe Tianji.

Under the sun, the million-strong convoy roared with noise, kicking up endless dust as it flowed slowly and orderly toward the horizon—not a rout, but a well-prepared migration.

Every vehicle was packed with people; pickup truck beds were lashed with supplies—foldable tents, buckets, solar panels—while the cabs crammed four family members; the driver, bandaged, steered with one hand, the other clutching half a cigarette, ash drifting in the wind like tiny snowflakes.

On the back of a modified off-road vehicle hung a basket woven from scrap metal and old clothes, inside which a golden retriever lay alert, tongue lolling, long accustomed to traveling through dust, watching the parade of bizarrely modified vehicles along the route.

Some heavily modified trucks with all-terrain tracks roared forward, crushing the ground into deep tread marks; alongside them marched supply vehicles and drones bearing Phoenix Society holographic lights, allowing direct communication via frequency-split channels to obtain medical aid or emergency assistance—all blood essence collected could be exchanged here for new blood essence coins or stored on special identification cards for purchasing or trading supplies.

The battered 83rd Iron Guard Brigade, having fought through brutal battles, formed a multi-kilometer mechanized column at the rear of the convoy; overhead, low-flying fleets and Sky-Pacifying Ships drifted slowly above, casting vast shadows that blotted out the sun.

In a special medical cabin, Chu Yan slowly opened her eyes to dim lighting, then to medical tubes connected to her head and chest; beside the bed, monitoring equipment emitted a soft, rhythmic pulse.

After ten days of coma near death, Chu Yan finally awoke—this time, she appeared in Lin Xian's consciousness, though this had only happened in the past few days; only through Lin Xian did Xu Zhenyue, Ye Lan, and others learn of it and finally relax.

Upon waking, as Lin Xian had said, Chu Yan noticed significant changes around her: she saw none of her former mission team, replaced instead by a Night Walker squad assigned to protect her.

"Chu Yan."

In the office, Ye Lan, her hair entirely gray-white, peered through reading glasses at several documents and said to Chu Yan as she entered: "Welcome back."

"Don't I need to go on a mission now?" Chu Yan asked.

Ye Lan shook her head: "After cracking dark energy conversion technology, all elite units of the Night Walkers can now undertake Deep Abyss missions. Though many unknowns remain—communication issues, cold dark particle tech problems—the overall survival rate has improved dramatically."

She set down the documents and looked at Chu Yan: "You and Lin Xian are the only two on Blue Planet who can contact Southern Heaven Gate. Before we broke through dark energy nuclear fusion, it was our vital weapon—even…"

"I've also told Lin Xian: unless absolutely desperate, he must not lightly activate Southern Heaven Gate's attack."

Chu Yan took a deep breath: "I know. The Corpse Drivers were heavily depleted by the Gray Mist Envoys and the entire army's attrition, and the Same Tower restricted their dark energy recovery—only then did Southern Heaven Gate find its one-shot kill opportunity."

Ye Lan nodded: "Lin Xian is very smart—he knows this too. Of all human weapons, only biochemical, thermonuclear, and high-energy confinement can match total destruction. But Operation Kelder showed us: even a 60-million-ton TNT thermonuclear weapon cannot destroy the dominant beings within the Deep Abyss. This may not just be a weapons issue."

Chu Yan fell silent. Ye Lan's words echoed Lin Xian's thoughts: both sought to transcend current human technology. It was feasible, yet in Chu Yan's view, without Lin Xian's suggestion of mechanical psychic growth, she couldn't imagine humanity breaking through physics' constraints so quickly.

Ye Lan seemed to sense Chu Yan's doubt and said directly: "I know what you're worried about, Chu Yan. Your thinking is correct—the Emperor Project represents our current tech's absolute limit. But research into the Crimson World's flesh implants has given us major insights—into the Deep Abyss's energy wells and the dark beings' unique defense fields—these are now our primary focus for study and breakthrough."

Chu Yan said: "We're studying Deep Abyss creatures' abilities?"

"Not just that." Ye Lan removed her glasses and wiped them: "S-Class, Corpse Drivers, Abyss Demons, and the 1–7 known planetary disasters—we must begin probing research on these entities. For example, the #01 colossal crustal parasite, 【Planetary Devourer】, in Siberia's #1 Deep Abyss, and the #03 you tracked from Jiang City…"

"The Floating Corpse."

Chu Yan frowned slightly: "Since we first discovered the Floating Corpse, we've detected no biological signatures or signs of awakening. It has been flying eastward at roughly 3, 00 meters, surrounded by massive dark invasion radiation and chaotic spatial fields—even elite psychics struggle to approach for reconnaissance."

"That's why I've deployed Night Walker Division Two to fully investigate the Floating Corpse. The #1 and #3 entities are currently the only ones, besides dark invasion, that show no aggression—and…"

Ye Lan looked at Chu Yan: "Our forward observation team has detected that the Floating Corpse reached Longjiang's airspace three days ago. At its current speed, it will pass Dawn City within two weeks at the earliest—a serious threat."

Chu Yan immediately said: "Teacher Ye, can my squad join this investigation?"

"No."

Ye Lan rejected outright: "Lin Xian should have told you—he's traveling via the Great Ocean Orbital to the poles. We must ensure your safety. I've discussed this with General Xu: you're suspended from all field operations. Your body suffered serious aftereffects from this crisis—you need rest."

Chu Yan opened her mouth to argue, but saw Ye Lan's calm, unyielding expression, and nodded instead.

"Fine. I'll follow organizational orders."

…

Yongcheng Port, the Great Ocean Orbital's terrestrial docking terminal—once a massive offshore rail port, now desolate. Zombies stood scattered across loading zones and docks; occasional gusts of wind triggered distant moans.

The crimson sunset, like a dying coal, burned the high clouds red along the horizon.

The Infinite rested quietly on a loading platform near the shore; outside the window, the Pacific shimmered in twilight. Other freight train segments and offshore towing platforms lay abandoned, their steel skins corroded by sea winds into patchy scars, like the beached skeletons of giant beasts. The vast Great Ocean Orbital was supported by colossal oceanic ridge pillars, stretching from the port deep into the sea.

On the dock, shipping containers leaned crookedly, paint peeled away, revealing rotted cargo inside. A few zombies shuffled slowly through shadows, their footsteps dragging; occasionally they bumped into overturned forklifts, the metallic clangs piercing the silence.

【Ground and low-altitude zones completed second sweep. No high-threat lifeforms or human presence detected.】

Viola operated several mobile mechs and aerial drones scouring the port. Chen Sixuan and Ningjing had prepared the train for nightfall; in Car #2, Shasha gazed out at the endless Pacific, her eyes sparkling:

"This is my first time riding a train onto the Great Ocean Orbital. It looks terrifying. How did they build these structures deep in the ocean?"

"You're asking the right person." Kiki sat in a swivel chair, legs propped on the desk, spinning a black pen skillfully: "Do you know the original design concept of the Orbital?"

Shasha shook her head.

Kiki raised one finger and drew a spiral in the air, then expanded it endlessly.

"Simply put: build a single corridor along the equator, spiraling upward to reach low Earth orbit. Imagine a yo-yo's spiral path—ultimate goal: a permanent planetary ring, enabling direct Earth-Moon industrial transport via tether systems."

"Wait, why not just use space elevators or spacecraft?" Shasha asked.

"You don't get it. That's a century-scale plan."

Kiki smiled faintly: "Have you heard of the Dyson Sphere?"

Shasha nodded: "Yes—build a massive artificial structure to encase a star and harvest perpetual energy?"