Chapter 301 The Time-Space Channel Must Be Reopened

Zheng Houcheng naturally knew which warehouse Ning Jinli was referring to, and immediately said, "It's still there. For the past fifteen years, I have kept that warehouse and the surrounding area exactly as they were. Apart from myself regularly going in to clean and maintain it, I haven't allowed anyone else to enter the area around the warehouse."

A glint appeared in Ning Jinli's eyes. "You're so kind. Take me there quickly."

"Yes, Miss Ning!"

Zheng Houcheng immediately gave the driver directions.

The convoy weaved through the bustling streets of the industrial city, and Ning Jinli looked through the car window at the various novel buildings that flashed past her.

For her, it all felt like watching a science fiction movie.

Twenty minutes later, the environment outside the car window gradually overlapped with the warehouse district she remembered.

Just as Zheng Houcheng said, this area was sealed off, and time left no trace here.

Ning Jinli got out of the car and hurried towards the small warehouse.

Zheng Houcheng told the convoy and its crew to stay where they were, and then he went with Ning Jinli.

Ning Jinli hurried to the front door of the small warehouse, raised her hand towards the doorknob, but stopped mid-air just before touching it, and asked softly:

"Director Zheng, have you ever been inside this place?"

Zheng Houcheng replied from behind her, "I know this warehouse is of great significance to Miss Ning, so... I have never stepped inside, nor have I ever cleaned or maintained it. It's probably quite dilapidated inside..."

Ning Jinli paused for two seconds, then asked, "So this door has never been opened since I fell into a coma?"

“No.” Zheng Houcheng added, “I have manpower deployed around the perimeter of this area for round-the-clock patrols and protection, and there are also surveillance and alarm devices for protection. Not even a fly can get in except for me. I have never opened the small warehouse door, so no one else would have opened it.”

Ning Jinli's lips trembled. She wanted to ask again if no one had opened the door from the inside, but she held back the words.

This seems to be a question that already has an answer, so there's no point in asking it further.

She took a deep breath, as if making a decision, gripped the handle, and turned it forcefully.

Crack... Crack...

An old, grinding sound came from inside the door lock.

Zheng Houcheng quickly said, "Miss Ning, the door hasn't been opened for fifteen years, the lock might be rusted. Shall I go get some tools?"

Before she could finish speaking, Ning Jinli ripped the entire door lock and handle off.

“Looks like we won’t need the tools.” Ning Jinli handed the door lock to Zheng Houcheng. “I’ll go in and take a look. You wait here for me.”

"Yes, Miss Ning..."

Ning Jinli stepped into the small warehouse and casually pressed the light switch.

Sizzle... sizzle...

Accompanied by a hissing sound, the incandescent lights in the warehouse flickered a few times before turning on normally.

A familiar scene then appeared before Ning Jinli's eyes.

Aside from a dry, dusty smell, there were no other odors in the air. A fine layer of dust quietly covered the ground and some shelves.

Ning Jinli stared blankly at the back door of the small warehouse.

The scene from fifteen years ago, when she blocked the back door with a steel plate because she was angry with Xiao Qidi, flashed before her eyes.

Of course, not long after that, she removed the steel plates to rescue the people trapped in the desert base.

At this moment, the remains of the roller shutter door and steel plates are still scattered on the ground next to the back door of the small warehouse.

Before she could think, more and more painful memories surged up, as if dragging her into a dark and cold abyss in an instant.

Ning Jinli felt as if her heart was being torn to pieces.

Not only because she had personally witnessed that Xiao Qidi had never come back in the past fifteen years, but also because she remembered that tragic accident.

Despite the unexpected events that occurred and the situation being completely out of her control, she had done everything in her power to save everyone.

But……

Hundreds of top researchers from various industries in China were accidentally sent to a parallel world and have not been able to return to this day.

Furthermore, the more than 3,000 members of the special forces protection regiment, more than 1,000 logistics personnel, and more than 500 rescue workers perished forever at the desert base…

With each breath Ning Jinli took, it felt as if she were swallowing countless razor blades into her lungs.

Suddenly, everything went black before my eyes, and my thin body swayed.

"Miss Ning! Are you alright?" Zheng Houcheng, who was standing outside the front door of the small warehouse, noticed something was wrong and was about to rush in to help her.

"It's alright!" Ning Jinli forced herself to remain calm. "You don't need to come in. I want to be alone for a while. Please close the door behind you, thank you."

Zheng Houcheng looked at Ning Jinli's swaying figure with a worried expression. After hesitating for a moment, he stopped and said, "Miss Ning, I'll continue to stay here. If anything happens, please call me."

Ning Jinli didn't turn around, she just hummed in response.

Zheng Houcheng then closed the door, and then he could vaguely hear Ning Jinli trying her best to restrain herself from crying.

Inside the small warehouse, Ning Jinli was consumed by immense pain.

Already weak, she nearly fainted several times.

Fortunately, she managed to hold on and gradually regain her composure.

Only then did she realize the problem: the fluorescent vortex at the back door of the small warehouse was gone.

She didn't see any fluorescence from the moment she entered the small warehouse.

However, she was consumed by immense pain and did not react immediately.

"How could this be..." Ning Jinli roused herself, rushed to the back door, and stared intently at the door.

She knew that many of the time-space portals she had previously opened might close as she fell into a coma.

But this one in the small warehouse is different!

This portal to another dimension appeared entirely naturally.

It was because of its inexplicable appearance that it connected her to another time and space, and also connected her and Xiao Qidi's fate.

As a result, the portal to another dimension also disappeared!

"Could it be that I misunderstood Xiao Qidi..." Ning Jinli's pupils trembled. "It's not that he really doesn't want to see me again, but because... because even this portal to time and space no longer exists, that's why he can't come?"

However, whether her guess was correct or Xiao Qidi had already turned his back on her, she would have to ask him in person to be sure.

Moreover, there are still hundreds of top domestic researchers in Linxian City who need to be brought back.

In any case, she must reopen the time-space portal.

Ning Jinli closed her eyes and concentrated on circulating the Heavenly Profound Heart Technique. However, the explosion at the island base fifteen years ago had exhausted her inner strength, and she was now unable to open the passage.

The most urgent task is to restore internal strength as soon as possible.

She needs enough nuclear energy materials, and she also needs a place where she can "retreat and cultivate".

The next day—

Ning Jinli appeared on a deserted island.

This is an artificial island located in the southern waters of China.

On the isolated island is a courtyard that resembles a paradise, and inside the courtyard is a fixed teleportation portal that allows Ning Jinli to freely return to the mainland during her seclusion.

All of this was prepared for her by Shangguan Ying long ago.

Furthermore, an underwater warehouse was built beneath the isolated island, storing a large amount of nuclear energy material with a purity approaching 100%, for Ning Jinli's use.

In addition, during her recovery period, two carrier strike groups will patrol and guard the area to ensure her safety.

Ning Jinli learned from Shangguan Ying that the world situation had undergone tremendous changes in the past fifteen years. The United States suffered a great loss of strength due to the destruction of its secret deep-sea base, which it had built at great expense, and soon fell into internal strife, thus disintegrating.

The original country of M was divided into more than a dozen countries and regions of varying sizes, each governing itself.

However, the core rulers of the M country still control the largest territory, inherit most of the M country's wealth and resources, and renamed it the São Tomé and Príncipe Empire, and created a special organization called the Advent Society.

The United States once used its world-leading military strength to extend its reach to all parts of the world. Now, the Advent Society has taken the initiative to abandon all its tentacles that have been entrenched abroad. Although this has greatly reduced its ability to suppress most countries and regions in the world, it has also made the organization's armed forces more concentrated.

In addition, the military technology of the Advent Society has been developing at an incredible speed over the years, and it frequently creates chaos and conflict around the world, especially with the intention of targeting China.

Therefore, China must remain vigilant towards the São Tomé and Príncipe Empire.

On the boundless ocean, Ning Jinli stood on the shore of a deserted island, watching the aircraft carrier fleet patrolling and escorting in the distance. As night fell, the fleet gradually disappeared into the darkness.

Ning Jinli took a deep breath of the sea breeze, turned around and returned to the courtyard. From now on, she would focus on practicing her skills.

Night deepened.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, the unification ceremony is about to begin..."

Xiao Qidi was awakened by the urging voice in his ear.

He opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by darkness, only able to see the magnificent dragon throne beside him. The urging voice came from afar and echoed, seemingly coming from the royal palace.

"Wasn't I reviewing documents? How did I end up here?" Xiao Qidi looked ahead in confusion.

A eunuch emerged from the darkness and knelt at the foot of the dragon throne.

Xiao Qidi stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock. "Why are there still eunuchs?! Didn't I abolish this system long ago?! Who exactly are you?!"

The unfamiliar eunuch did not answer, but instead shouted, "Someone, prepare the dragon robe for His Majesty!"

Before Xiao Qidi could react, several palace maids suddenly appeared beside him and draped a black dragon robe with a five-clawed golden dragon pattern over his shoulders.

Immediately afterward, the surrounding environment changed abruptly, and Xiao Qidi found himself standing in front of a magnificent and imposing altar without even blinking.

The altar was soaring almost into the clouds, and below it, crowds of people and fluttering banners filled the surrounding area.

Countless court officials, countless armored soldiers, and an endless expanse of ordinary people...

Xiao Qidi felt that all of this was extremely strange.

After he conquered the other six kingdoms and unified the Central Plains of China, he had made several reforms. At the very least, his clothing and appearance had broken away from the ancient style.

But now, why has everything reverted to the state of warring states?

Furthermore, although I agreed to hold the unification ceremony, if I remember correctly, it shouldn't be held for quite some time yet...

How could it happen so suddenly...?

"Long live the Great Xuan Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" A deafening roar came from all directions, soaring into the sky.

Xiao Qidi became increasingly dazed.

The scene of conquering the six kingdoms one by one kept flashing before my eyes.

After the Battle of Xitun Pass, they fought their way back and killed the Yu Kingdom.

He used a divisive tactic to destroy the military strength of the Wasteland Kingdom, gained control of its top general, and then destroyed the Wasteland Kingdom.

When Pai Lin was sent as an envoy to You Kingdom, he used a strategy of befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones to destroy An Kingdom.

Not long after, the You Kingdom disregarded the agreement and sent troops across the boundary, attempting to seize more territory. They even went so far as to ally with the nomadic tribes of the north. In the end, the You Kingdom was also destroyed by the Da Xuan army, and the nomadic tribes were driven out of the northern border.

Then, in Ze Kingdom, General Xing's family was killed by the nobles of Ze Kingdom for petitioning for reform, which caused resentment among the people. In addition, the Lihe rebel army continued to grow and cooperated with the attack of Da Xuan, and was eventually incorporated into Da Xuan.

As for the last remaining kingdom, Bo, seeing that unification was a foregone conclusion, it surrendered without a fight.

It took Xiao Qidi nearly fifteen years to complete the unification of the six kingdoms. Given the development speed of the Great Xuan after acquiring modern technology and ideas, he could have easily achieved rapid unification by force within two or three years.

However, considering the need for national development and the need for the people to recuperate, he gradually slowed down the pace of annexation after destroying Anguo, and tried to promote unification in a gentle manner to minimize the casualties and losses of the people.

That's why it took him so long.

And it is clearly worth doing so.

Da Xuan was deeply loved by the people, and many forces that hindered the unification were dissolved invisibly. Many reforms were also promoted and realized in the process of unification.

Standing on the sacrificial platform, Xiao Qidi recalled his efforts over the past ten years and listened to the thunderous shouts around him. He couldn't help but feel a great sense of accomplishment and pride.

He finally fulfilled the long-cherished wish of the successive rulers of Xuan Kingdom to unify the world.

The Chinese nation has finally come together.

Such merits are enough to surpass those of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, so he can be called Emperor.

Xiao Qidi was incredibly proud and genuinely harbored the desire to establish the title of emperor and become the progenitor of Chinese history.

However, he is also extremely special. Due to Ning Jinli's appearance, he directly saw thousands of years of history of the parallel world's China, and gained a vision and perspective that far surpasses that of the present era.

Therefore, the idea of ​​becoming emperor was just a fleeting thought for him, and he had no intention of actually making it a reality.

Otherwise, the China he had painstakingly built would surely repeat the mistakes of the feudal society of more than two thousand years in the parallel world.

"Long live the Emperor of Great Xuan! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" The shouts of countless people, rising in waves, brought Xiao Qidi back to his senses.

He looked down at the sea of ​​people below the towering steps, their faces obscured by the swirling mist.

"That's strange... I only thought about it in my mind and didn't mention it to anyone, so why... has everyone started calling me Emperor?"

Xiao Qidi frowned and muttered to himself, increasingly feeling that everything around him was wrong.

"Little brother, congratulations..." A very familiar voice suddenly rang out.

Xiao Qidi turned around in astonishment and was shocked to see the beautiful figure that had haunted his dreams for fifteen years...