Chapter 297 Everyone can see the portal now
The rescue team was not surprised by this situation.
Because the base contains a wide variety of nuclear materials in large quantities, in order to avoid interference from abnormal energy that could cause the materials to react, the researchers shut down all instruments and tried to minimize the energy generated by humans. Better safe than sorry, so they even cut off the basic electricity supply.
Out of caution, all 500-plus members of the rescue team wore radiation protection suits, oxygen tanks, and masks, completely wrapped up from head to toe.
At this moment, even the instruments used to detect nuclear leaks were out of service, and the team members could only rely on Ning Jinli to make the identification.
Ning Jinli activated the Heavenly Profound Heart Technique, carefully sensing the energy fluctuations in the surrounding air.
"Currently, there is no nuclear radiation outside the base, but we don't know what the situation is inside," Ning Jinli said to the rescue team leader. "When we enter the base, before we can confirm whether there is a nuclear radiation leak, all of you need to follow behind me."
"Yes, Miss Ning." The rescue team leader immediately relayed the instructions.
After making all the preparations, Ning Jinli led the way into the base.
The base gates have lost power and can only be opened manually.
Following the blueprints, the rescue team located the mechanical switch. After several minutes of complex operations, accompanied by a dull groan of metal friction, the heavy, specially designed protective door slowly opened.
In an instant, Ning Jinli's expression changed slightly. "The nuclear radiation here is too high! Captain, shouldn't the people in the base have self-protection measures in place?"
The team leader said, "Yes, the base not only has a safe isolation zone, but also corresponding radiation protection equipment, enough for everyone inside."
"Where is the safe isolation zone?" Ning Jinli asked. "Since there has been a radiation leak, everyone should have gone there by now, right?"
The captain nodded. "If nothing unexpected happens, according to the emergency plan, they should have already taken refuge in the safe zone."
Then the captain gestured, signaling the team members to proceed with the original plan and begin a thorough search, advancing deeper into the base as they searched.
Due to the limitations of the special environment and circumstances, all high-tech methods became ineffective.
There's no way to use infrared sensors or drones; even flashlights have to be turned off, and the only lighting tools are special glow sticks.
The group could only use the most primitive method, walking and looking around, which made progress extremely slow.
At first glance, the interior of the base resembles a small town composed of rows of bungalows.
The rescue team then searched each house along both sides of the road.
Two hours later, based on the team's search, it could be basically determined that the people inside the base must have gone to the safe zone immediately after the nuclear radiation leak was discovered.
Because this area is the staff's living quarters, the houses are still in their daily state, with no signs of clutter, and it's clear that many things haven't been tidied up yet.
Then, another team member discovered a note left by the staff.
The note's contents likely confirmed the rescue team's theory: all they needed to do was go to the safe zone and find the staff at the base.
At this point, the rescue team breathed a slight sigh of relief.
The captain decided to first go to the safe zone to count the number of people and check their condition. If there were no problems, he would lead them directly to evacuate the base.
After hiking for more than an hour, the rescue team arrived at the safety zone following the markings on the paper map.
Sure enough, outside the safe zone, members of the base's special protection team were on duty.
The two sides finally met.
Members of the protection team opened the three protective doors one by one, allowing the entire rescue team to enter the passage. Members from both sides then removed their protective masks.
"All 372 researchers, 1,053 logistics personnel, and 3,200 members of our special forces regiment have successfully entered the safe zone." A squad leader from the protection team explained the situation to the rescue team leader while leading the way. "We have sealed off all high-risk areas of the base. Although there has been a nuclear radiation leak, the researchers said that it is not a big problem."
The rescue team leader nodded. "That's good. We'll have Miss Ning help you evacuate later."
The squad leader of the protection team looked at Ning Jinli with a surprised expression, then stopped and extended his hand, "Miss Ning, hello."
"Hello." Ning Jinli shook hands politely.
The squad leader added, "I wonder how Miss Ning can help us with our evacuation? To be honest, given the current situation, we don't actually need any assistance."
The rescue team leader said with a smile, "Don't look down on Miss Ning just because she's young."
"No, no, no," the squad leader quickly explained, "Please don't misunderstand. Since the higher-ups sent Miss Ning here, I know she must be capable and we certainly won't underestimate her. What I mean is, although there have been quite a few abnormal situations at the base, they are basically all under control, so there's no need to trouble you to come and rescue us."
The rescue team leader said, "The sandstorms here have been getting more and more frequent lately. If we ask you to lead everyone away from the base, the risk level would be too high."
The squad leader said, "Even if it costs us our lives, our special forces will escort the researchers and logistics personnel out of the desert."
The rescue team leader patted him on the shoulder, "Your lives matter too. The higher-ups said we must strive for zero casualties."
As they spoke, the group arrived at the safe zone.
Looking around, it's just a huge basement.
Although there were many people, they all stayed quietly, and there was no chaos.
Some glow sticks were hung on the wall for lighting.
A group of researchers stood nearby, calculating and analyzing paper data.
"This is the leader of our protection team." The squad leader called over a man in his thirties and gave a brief introduction to the rescue team leader and Ning Jinli.
"Hello." The commander shook hands with the two men in turn, then went straight to the point and asked, "What are your plans? We will definitely cooperate."
The rescue team leader said, "Due to abnormal energy interference, we can't transport everyone by plane. Even our rescue vehicles are experiencing frequent breakdowns on their way here..."
The commander frowned slightly. "You mean, the only option is for everyone to leave the base and walk out of this desert?"
The squad leader next to him chimed in, "See? After all that, we still have to walk out. I already told you you didn't need to come."
“No,” the rescue team leader looked at Ning Jinli, “we need to have this Miss Ning send the people away directly.”
The team leader looked completely bewildered, and the squad leader asked, "How do we deliver it?"
"Ms. Ning, thank you for your trouble." The rescue team leader gestured for her to come in.
With Ning Jinli here, the simplest method is naturally the best approach.
As long as she opens a portal, she can send people directly to her factory, avoiding many unnecessary dangers and troubles.
Ning Jinli closed her eyes and concentrated her mind, circulating the Heavenly Profound Heart Method to mobilize her inner strength, and a fluorescent vortex slowly unfolded in front of her.
With a thought, the passage of this portal to another time and space was connected to the portal on the other side of the factory.
“Alright,” Ning Jinli said, opening her eyes. “I can only teleport a maximum of fifty people at a time. Let’s start with the researchers. Leader, please organize them and have them line up.”
Apart from her, no one else around her could see the fluorescent vortex.
The guild leader was stunned for a full three seconds. "Miss Ning, what do you mean by teleportation?"
Ning Jinli said, "Simply put, it's about teleporting people directly from here to Xinghan City. I'll try to do it as quickly as possible to ensure everyone can leave the base smoothly."
"What? Teleported from here to... Xinghan City, thousands of kilometers away?" The squad leader was dumbfounded. "Teleportation? A special ability?"
The rescue team leader said, "Let's just assume you understand it that way for now, hurry up."
The team leader and squad leader looked visibly astonished, but the rescue captain and Ning Jinli didn't seem to be joking. Besides, the higher-ups would never take something so important lightly.
So, even though I was unconsciously filled with doubt, I still decided to do as instructed.
But just then, Ning Jinli frowned, "Wait, something's not right."
The rescue team leader asked her what was wrong.
She turned her head to look at the passage she had just entered through. "I can sense that the nuclear radiation outside has increased, and those protective doors can't block it anymore."
The process, from the moment we entered until we were ready to begin the teleportation, went very smoothly.
Unexpectedly, an unforeseen situation still occurred.
The battalion commander said, "Impossible, right? That's already top-of-the-line protective equipment. Even if an atomic bomb exploded outside, it wouldn't cause any damage."
Ning Jinli shook her head. "The situation here is extraordinary. The radiation energy is being affected by an abnormal energy source and is changing rapidly, with both its concentration and penetrability increasing. I estimate that the strong radiation energy will seep into this place within twenty-four hours, but given my teleportation speed... I'm afraid..."
The commander's expression changed. "If even the protective doors of the safe zone can't block the strong radiation, then what about our protective suits...?"
The rescue team leader asked, "Ms. Ning, do you have any ideas?"
Ning Jinli pondered for a few seconds, "Based on past experience, the stronger my power, the more people or objects I can teleport. And I can absorb radiation energy to increase my power. I think I'll try going outside the safe zone."
Time was of the essence, and none of them had time to hesitate.
Since Ning Jinli had said so, the commander immediately opened the protective door for her and took her outside.
Ning Jinli took a deep breath, sat cross-legged on the spot, and closed her eyes.
The team leader and rescue team captain, both wearing protective suits, stood guard to the side with glow sticks in their hands.
Despite his many questions, the regimental commander did not inquire with the rescue team leader. After all, as the head of the protection team for this top-secret base, he had long since developed the habit of not asking questions casually. He would naturally tell the superiors what they wanted him to know.
Time passed second by second.
Ning Jinli seemed to be in a meditative state, even her breathing seemed to have stopped.
As she circulated her inner energy, the increasingly dense radiation around her was continuously absorbed by her.
Compared to the radiation energy she encountered in the ruins of the Kutcherberg nuclear power plant, the concentration here was not only higher but also purer, which allowed her to significantly reduce the time it took to convert radiation energy into internal energy.
Soon after, a layer of colorful fluorescence appeared all over her body.
The brightness even surpassed that of the fluorescent lights held by the team leader and the rescue captain. The scene left the two of them dumbfounded, and they collapsed to the ground.
A dozen minutes later, Ning Jinli's body shone brightly, making the surroundings even brighter than daytime, so bright that the team leader and the rescue captain couldn't even open their eyes.
This intense light, like a miniature sun, lasted for a few seconds before instantly receding back into Ning Jinli's body.
Ning Jinli let out a long breath, stood up and said, "That should be enough. If I continue absorbing, my body won't be able to keep up. Let's go back to the safe zone now and start the teleportation immediately."
"Yes, Miss Ning!" The team leader and the rescue captain immediately got up.
The three returned to the safe zone.
Ning Jinli circulated her inner energy, attempting to strengthen the newly opened spacetime gate.
"Huh?! What is that thing?" The team leader couldn't help but exclaim, pointing to the fluorescent vortex in front of Ning Jinli.
Ning Jinli was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "What did you see?"
The commander's eyes widened. "I saw a circle about two meters in diameter, which seemed to be made of light... What is that?"
The rescue team leader also said he saw it.
Moreover, not only the two of them could see it, but everyone present looked over in surprise, and everyone witnessed Ning Jinli opening the portal to time and space.
As the portal continued to expand until it reached a diameter of five or six meters, its light illuminated the entire basement.
"I understand... I understand!" Ning Jinli's eyes lit up with excitement. "When I strengthen the Gate of Time and Space to a certain extent, it will become materialized and visible to others! If that's the case, then..."
She grabbed the rescue team leader's arm and said, "Go in and try it! Then come back and tell me what you see when you go in."
The rescue team leader's heart was pounding.
Even though Shangguan Ying had given him a general description of Ning Jinli's abilities before, seeing this dimensional portal beyond his comprehension still made his mind go numb.
However, he was not afraid or hesitant, and immediately stepped into the fluorescent vortex.
Everyone held their breath, not blinking, watching his figure disappear into the vortex of light.
Less than three seconds later, the rescue team leader emerged from the fluorescent vortex and told Ning Jinli that it was pitch black inside, as if something was blocking the way.
Ning Jinli slapped her forehead, embarrassed, and said, "Oh dear! I almost forgot, I sealed the back door of the small warehouse..."
The rescue team leader was taken aback. "It's sealed off? Then... is it still possible to get through?"
"Yes, of course! Just a moment!" Ning Jinli said as she rushed into the fluorescent vortex. Then, she circulated her internal energy and used all her strength to dismantle the small warehouse's roller shutter door, which she had sealed with steel plates because of a fight with Xiao Qidi. She also turned on the lights inside the small warehouse.
She then discovered that the portal she had opened could not only be seen by others, but also allow her to see the scene on the other side.
She could see the rescue team leader and others through the fluorescent vortex, and they could also see her standing in a warehouse.
In addition, the rescue team leader just made an attempt and was able to enter the portal, which means that she will no longer be needed to teleport people in the safe zone in batches.
She immediately informed the rescue team leader and the group leader of the situation.
The two immediately organized their people, arranging for everyone to line up and enter the portal in turn.
With over four thousand people in total, it would take quite a while to queue up and enter, but it would still be much faster than relying on Ning Jinli for teleportation. In this way, everyone could be safely evacuated before the nuclear radiation seeped into the safe zone.
"Alright, all the researchers are here," the team leader counted the 372 people at the front of the line and shouted, "Everyone, you can go now!"
Just as Ning Jinli was about to lead this group into the fluorescent vortex.
In the center of the Pacific Ocean, on an island base of Country M.
Ning Hai used his communicator to contact his daughter again, but this time, the switch he pressed became the last straw that broke the camel's back for the underwater power station.
Bang!
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