Chapter 121
Below.
In the relocation team of the Southern Base.
Zhao Wei felt his feet were swollen from walking, and the cuffs of his cotton trousers were covered in mud. The snow from yesterday hadn't dried completely and was cold and heavy against his legs.
I thought the journey would be easier now that there were fewer mutated creatures.
Unexpectedly, after so many days of hard work, my body pulled through, but my mindset collapsed first.
He kept muttering to himself, his voice weak and muffled: "I'm not nitpicking... It's so cold here at Ancheng Base. We haven't even arrived yet, and it's already this cold. When we get there, it'll be minus twenty or thirty degrees Celsius, won't it?"
Before he could finish speaking, the man gasped. The blister on his ankle felt like it had been poked by a pebble, making him wince in pain. "I regret it. I should have listened to Lao Zhang before we left. Wouldn't it have been better to stay at the original base? A warm dugout, at least there would be some hot porridge."
"If we keep going like this, we'll die halfway to the base."
The person next to him also looked ashen, his voice low: "That's right, why did we believe Captain Tang and run away with him? We've been through so much, sleeping in the open and eating in the open, and yesterday a few of us almost stepped into a swamp. I've been thinking all day whether we were wrong from the start—what if none of what Captain Tang said happened in the end? Would all our suffering have been for nothing? When we go back, will there still be a place for us?"
The others didn't respond, but they all slowed down and glanced at Tang Mao. They were clearly persuaded by Zhao Wei and the others, and their faces were more or less gloomy.
Someone couldn't help but ask, "Boss Tang, how much longer until we reach Ancheng Base? We haven't seen any signs of a major catastrophe along the way."
"Yeah, Boss Tang, how about we turn back?"
Tang Mao turned around.
He heard everything those people said.
"Don't overthink it. That person is right." His voice was very firm.
Tang Mao straightened up, looked ahead, then turned back to the crowd: "There's a way out right in front of us. That person said Ancheng Base can save us, so it must be true. If you don't believe me, turn back now. If you miss this opportunity, you might never have another one."
He paused, recalling the situation at the base before he set off.
Most people said he was making a mess of things and advised him not to be impulsive. But he argued with everyone with red eyes and led them out of this mess.
"Those people in the base don't believe it. But just you wait and see, they'll definitely regret it in a while. I'm taking you away now to gamble on something real. If we can establish ourselves in the Ancheng base sooner, and wait until the others in the base figure it out before coming over, we'll have already secured the best land!"
Tang Mao gazed at the road ahead, his eyes shining brightly—he was probably thinking about how to settle down once he arrived at the Ancheng base, full of anticipation for the days to come.
The people behind them exchanged glances, all with the same look of regret on their faces.
He kept wondering to himself: How could I have been so bewitched as to run away with him?
Tang Mao's enthusiasm was clearly due to being completely bewitched by that mutant named Jiang Zhi.
Unfortunately, they made a foolish mistake and impulsively embarked on this journey. Now, looking at the vast, desolate road ahead, they are filled with regret.
Suddenly, a hurricane swept overhead.
A sudden boom went through everyone's minds, like an old movie exploding before their eyes—
The sky was dark, with heavy, dark red clouds pressing down. The ground was cracked, and half of the southern base had collapsed. There was no sign of life in the pile of broken walls and rubble.
The wind was swirling with ash, making it impossible to open one's eyes. In the distance, a fire was still burning, turning half the sky scorched.
"An illusion! An illusion has appeared! Be on guard!!" someone suddenly raised their voice.
Upon hearing this, everyone frantically reached for the weapons at their waists.
A moment later, nothing happened. Someone swallowed hard and tugged at the arm of the person in front of them in a hoarse voice: "No... this doesn't seem like an illusion. Look around, the trees are still the same trees, the pebbles on the ground are still there, nothing has changed."
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned and subconsciously looked around.
really.
The wind was still blowing, and the footprints they had just left on the ground were still there.
But the scorched sky and cracked earth in my mind were so vivid, as if I had just seen them with my own eyes.
Everyone panicked. "Boss Tang! What's going on?"
Tang Mao was frowning and pondering when, before he could speak, another gust of wind swept over his head.
The group, covering their hats, struggled to look up and saw a huge figure falling down.
It turned out to be a large bird with glossy plumage!
The enormous wings flapped so loudly that the wind howled.
All the people saw was a girl sitting steadily on the bird's back.
For a moment, everyone was unsure whether to be shocked or frightened.
Only Tang Mao's eyes lit up!
"It's Comrade Jiang Zhi!!"
As soon as Tang Mao spoke, the crowd behind him erupted in a cacophony of voices:
"Jiang Zhi? Is that the guy that Boss Tang always talks about as being incredibly awesome?"
"Those things that were just flashing through my mind... could it be that she made us see them?"
"Is this the white eagle that Captain Tang has been talking about with us every day?"
Jiangzhi jumped steadily off Qiuqiu.
She looked at Tang Mao and smiled, "Captain Tang, we meet again."
Tang Mao was so excited that his face turned red.
Speaking incoherently and loudly to the people behind him, he introduced her: "Look carefully! This is Comrade Jiang Zhi! The one I told you about!"
"See that big bird up there? That's Sister Eagle! A level 6 mutated white eagle!"
Jiang Zhi was embarrassed by his introduction.
She cleared her throat. "It's level 7..."
"Level 7, 7?!"
Upon hearing this, everyone was still reeling from the shock of the "mutated white eagle," and they gasped in astonishment. Many people instinctively took a half-step back, their eyes fixed on the white eagle that was tilting its head and preening its feathers not far away.
Even with a casual fold, those enormous wings exuded an imposing aura.
"My goodness..." someone muttered under their breath, their voice trembling, "Level 6 is scary enough, but Level 7... that's something that can easily flip a truck..."
"What truck? That kind of truck can overturn half the base! You're underestimating a Level 7!!"
Amidst the chaotic chatter, Old Man Chen, who was standing next to Tang Mao, suddenly took two steps forward.
His hair was gray, and the wrinkles on his face were deeply etched by the wind. He spoke slowly and deliberately to Jiang Zhi, "Comrade Jiang, we old folks are getting senile. What exactly was that earth-shattering scene that flashed through our minds just now? Was it an illusion?"
The moment the old man asked his question, the noisy chatter immediately fell silent.
Everyone stared longingly at the ginger twig.
Jiang Zhi raised her hand and gently stroked Qiu Qiu's big head. Qiu Qiu affectionately rubbed against her palm and let out a soft chirp.
She withdrew her hand, looked at the old man, and said in a calm but clear voice, "Grandpa, that's not an illusion, it's a vision that Qiuqiu foresaw."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone, and continued, "Chirp has the ability to foresee the future. What you just saw is what will happen in the future."
Chirp seemed to understand, and chirped again, flapping its wings gently as if to confirm her words.
Jiang Zhi didn't mention her dream; at this moment, Qiu Qiu's abilities were clearly much more convincing than hers.
"So... the Great Cataclysm is really coming?" The other person clenched his fists, his voice trembling. The regret he had felt earlier for "following Boss Tang blindly" had now been replaced by fear—thank goodness he hadn't turned back, thank goodness he had followed along.
Old Chen, standing at the head of the group, let out a long sigh of relief, his back straightening slightly. His gaze towards Jiang Zhi held more respect: "Comrade Jiang, we understand. So, we didn't choose the wrong path?"
"You made the right choice." Jiang Zhi nodded, her voice firm.
"Great! Great!" someone exclaimed, their eyes reddening. "Boss Tang didn't lie to us! We've chosen the right path!"
My heart, which was just pounding with anxiety, now seems to have settled down, and the look in my eyes as I gaze ahead is less uncertain.
"Hahaha! I knew it!" Tang Mao slapped his thigh, the young man in his early twenties laughing so hard his eyes were lined with fine lines. "See! I didn't lie to you! Listening to Comrade Jiang Zhi is always the right thing to do!"
He puffed out his chest, the pent-up frustration from being whispered about earlier completely washed away by this feeling of exhilaration, and he felt radiant.
Old Chen breathed a sigh of relief, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out a bit. He continued to ask, "Comrade Jiang, how much longer until we reach Ancheng Base?"
Jiang Zhi smiled and said, "It's not far. If you walk fast, you'll arrive in two or three days. Don't worry, our base has cleared some open space specifically for you to stay. You can set up tents and settle in as soon as you arrive."
Upon hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Some people were filled with regret, saying, "If I had known this would happen, I should have brought my girlfriend and her family along. We could have gotten there earlier and secured better seats!"
The person next to him said, "Why don't you just reserve a spot for them? When they come over, you'll have done a great service, and maybe they'll be willing to marry their daughter to you."
Everyone burst into laughter.
The regretful man said sadly, "They absolutely refuse to come along, what should we do?"
Jiang Zhi smiled and said, "It's alright, I went there specifically to inform them."
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood that this capable young girl would notify the people at the Southern Base just like before, and their faces lit up with joy.
As expected of a brotherhood base!
Look at this arrangement, it's so thoughtful it almost brings tears to their eyes!
Tang Mao, listening from the side, nodded vigorously, his chest puffed out even more: "I knew Comrade Jiang Zhi was reliable! We can't go wrong following her!"
Afterwards, Jiang Zhi revised the route for everyone and offered some suggestions before bidding farewell to Tang Mao and his group.
"Captain Tang, I'll go to the southern base first to make preparations. See you in Ancheng."
Tang Mao hurriedly replied, "Okay!" He watched as Jiang Zhi settled firmly on the eagle's back, chirped, and flapped her wide wings, creating a gust of wind before taking off into the air.
Its bright white wings spread in the wind, and it flew like a cloud towards the distant mountain ridge, soon becoming a small dot.
Everyone looked up until the tiny dot completely disappeared into the horizon before turning their gaze away.
The anxiety I felt earlier has long since disappeared.
Tang Mao's eyes grew even more determined: "Let's go! Comrade Jiang Zhi has relayed her message to us, so we need to stand up for ourselves!"
No one murmured anymore, and everyone's steps were much lighter than before.
The wind still blows, the road is still a wild road, but everyone carries a warm feeling in their hearts.
*
After leaving the team at the southern base, Jiang Zhi continued flying south.
The further south you go, the cold in the air becomes noticeably less, and the wind on your face no longer feels as biting as it does in the north.
The landscape on the ground is gradually becoming greener.
Once they reached the vicinity of the southern base, they could occasionally see some small mutated beasts darting out from the forest, clearly not affected by the severe cold.
As they approached the southern base and could see the super defensive attack layer surrounding the base in the distance, Jiang Zhi gently patted Chirp's wings: "Chirp, time to get to work."
Chirp gave a soft reply and began to flutter its wings, circling above the base.
Those amber eyes brightened slightly, and a faint golden light emanated from her body.
Then.
In the southern base, whether it was the guards on patrol or the residents busy in front of their houses, everyone raised their hands to their foreheads.
Without warning, images of a scorched sky and cracked earth flashed through everyone's minds, followed by a clear view of the green area of the Ancheng base, just as vivid as if they had seen it with their own eyes.
Looking at the shocked or bewildered expressions on the faces of the people below, Jiang Zhi knew that the mark had been left behind.
She gently patted Qiuqiu: "Okay, let's go to the next place."
Chirp flapped its wings again, carrying her further south, leaving the people in the southern base to be shaken by the sudden image in their minds about "migration".
Next, Jiang Zhi traveled to several provinces not far from the Ancheng base.
After flying for more than twenty hours from north to south and then from south to north, even Jiangzhi felt tired, let alone Qiuqiu who was carrying her the whole time.
She could clearly feel that Chirp was flapping its wings more slowly, and the wind it was generating was not as strong as before. Occasionally, it would let out a low cry, as if it were panting.
Jiangzhi stroked Qiuqiu's feathers and said, "Qiuqiu, let's find a place to rest for a while."
With a chirping cry, it carried Jiangzhi and flew straight off in one direction.
After it was completely dark, the night enveloped the surroundings in deep darkness.
Along the way, the entire land seemed to have sunk into a bottomless pool of ink. The tree shadows and earthen slopes that could be vaguely discerned before had now all melted into blurry black clumps.
The mutated creatures that had been hiding gradually emerged, phosphorescent shadows darted through the grass, and rustling scraping sounds came from behind the bushes.
Occasionally, you can hear a few sharp screams, which sound especially eerie at night.
The sky was not peaceful either. Many mutated birds appeared out of nowhere, their wings stained with gray-black patterns, their eyes flashing with an eerie green light in the dark. They circled under the clouds, occasionally letting out harsh cries.
Fortunately, these mutated beasts were all intimidated by Chirp's level and took a long detour.
After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Zhi saw a large expanse of lush greenery peeking through the clouds in the distance.
The familiar outline of the towering tree that pierced the clouds gradually became clear.
Jiang Zhi opened her eyes slightly, and it turned out to be the giant cloud nest tree!
Unexpectedly, Qiuqiu took her back to her hometown.
The enormous oak tree appears even more majestic at night, its thick trunk seemingly wrapped in a layer of dark green velvet. Looking up, its dense branches spread out, obscuring almost half of the night sky.
Even more amazingly, some old branches are adorned with specks of fluorescence, which are glowing from unknown mutated creatures clinging to the bark. These glows meander along the grain, making it seem as if the giant tree is wrapped with a string of flowing stars.
The tree was completely unaffected by the low temperature and remained lush and green.
As Jiang Zhi looked at it, she couldn't help but frown—compared to a few months ago, this oak tree had grown even bigger, and its already thick trunk now looked more like a solid green mountain.
My own vines are nothing compared to this oak tree.
Looking further up, the branches were crowded with mutated creatures.
Countless mutated birds perched on the branches.
Not only birds, but also small, mutated animals with long tails crouched in tree holes, their claws scratching at the bark, their eyes shining like little lanterns.
There were even swarms of tiny flying insects, no bigger than a palm, circling the tree canopy, their wings flapping in a continuous chorus.
—There are actually quite a few more of these mutated creatures than before!
Jiang Zhi couldn't help but mutter to herself.
Could it be that all the creatures around here are heading this way?
As soon as Chirp settled on the branch, before it could make any big moves, the rustling sounds that had been coming from the trees subsided considerably.
With its current strength, Chiu Chiu is already a dominant force among trees.
Jiang Zhi found a flat branch, took out the tent from her backpack, set it up, and simply secured it to the branch.
After settling down, Jiangzhi could hear a faint rustling sound under the tree bark, like the sound of rushing water.
On a sudden impulse, she reached out and peeled away the rough bark.
Beneath the bark, the wood grain was uneven, with clear water pooling in the recessed areas, winding along the grain like little rivers hidden in the tree.
The water flows along the veins of the branches and gathers towards the main trunk.
The trickle converges into the massive branch, eventually forming a wide river channel. The water then spreads out and plunges down along the deep ripples, like a small waterfall hanging on the tree trunk, gurgling and flowing along the bark.
Jiang Zhi reached out and splashed some water to her nose. A refreshing, herbal scent filled her nostrils—it was tree sap! She was stunned for a moment, her eyes widening in surprise.
This oak tree seems to have its own small water source; no wonder this giant cloud-nest tree can nurture so many mutated creatures.
Looking around, these mutated creatures were distributed in a very orderly manner.
The higher-ranking ones occupy the highest and widest branches, occupying a large territory.
Those of lower rank are crammed into the lower and middle sections, and their range of movement is extremely limited.
This hierarchical structure appears to have taken initial shape, resembling a well-ordered community of mutated organisms.
However, given Chiu Chiu's rank, she is not at the top level.
Occasionally, an even larger figure would swiftly pass by among the densest branches at the top of the tree, which exuded a strong and intimidating aura.
Even Chirp, when looking at that area, would unconsciously restrain its imposing aura.
Jiang Zhi couldn't help but think that if another hundred years passed, the mutated creatures nurtured by this tree might actually form their own civilization.
As I was pondering this, my arm was gently nudged by Chiu Chiu.
Jiangzhi snapped out of her daze and patted its head with a laugh.
Forget it, why think about these things?
She got up, crawled into the tent, and drew the curtain. Outside, the sound of the wind blowing through the branches mingled with the faint noises in the distance.
With Chiu Chiu watching over her, Jiang Zhi felt incredibly safe and soon fell into a deep sleep.
In a state between dream and reality, Jiang Zhi seemed to have fallen into a hazy mist.
There was no tangible form around, yet a subtle connection could be clearly felt—the veins of vines were pulling at specks of white light.
The white light was warm, and it even had the same aura as the giant tree in the cloud nest, like a creature of the same lineage breathing gently.
Jiang Zhi was stunned.
These……
Could it be a connection between these giant mutated creatures?
The scene suddenly changed again.
Far to the southwestern border, there grew a giant mushroom, almost the size of a small city.
Beneath the umbrella-shaped canopy, the gills were hollowed out into burrows, where mutated creatures resembling baboons huddled, seemingly also seeking refuge from the bitter cold.
Further northwest, a vast lake comes into view, its underwater surface covered with what appears to be a layer of living things, resembling giant coral stones connected together.
In the crevices of the coral rocks, all kinds of plankton swarmed and moved in densely packed depths.
The scene suddenly shifted to another place whose name I couldn't recall.
This doesn't look like the Dragon Kingdom.
A giant tortoise with a carapace as wide as a small piece of land was slowly moving across the land.
The turtle's back was covered with a dense mass of mutated creatures, and at the very edge there were even a few simple shacks, where humans were walking on the turtle's back.
...
Countless enormous objects appeared before Jiang Zhi's eyes.
Different species on Earth found a home on these enormous creatures.
As Jiang Zhi watched this scene unfold, she couldn't help but wonder: Could these mutated creatures chosen by the white light really be slowly growing into a world of their own?
They are no longer isolated entities, but rather like independent islands, supporting all living beings, which truly evokes the image of Noah's Ark.
So, will the vines stationed at their Ancheng base eventually grow into something like these behemoths, capable of supporting humans and allowing the human species to continue?
As Jiang Zhi was lost in thought, a soft voice suddenly called out in her ear.
Her heart skipped a beat, as if stung by something, instantly pulling her out of that strange association—who was it?
The voice was androgynous, settling directly into her consciousness, gentle and deep: "It's me."
Jiang Zhi could feel the branches and leaves outside the tent swaying gently in the wind, and the veins of the tree trunk seemed to shimmer with a faint light.
She was somewhat stunned.
Is that the oak tree speaking?
"Don't be afraid." The giant tree's voice rose again, carrying a calmness that transcended countless ages. "You, the creatures you just saw, and I are all chosen by the world."
It paused, and even the moonlight filtering through the branches seemed to soften: "We chose them to support them. There are countless species in this world, and we cannot let them lose their roots in the face of change. What we need to do is to ensure their continued existence."
Jiang Zhi was stunned.
She...was chosen?
Wasn't the chosen one... that seed?
How did it become her?
Suppressing the turmoil in her mind, Jiang Zhi couldn't help but ask the question she most wanted to ask, "Can...we really survive that disaster?"
The oak tree said, "I don't know... whether you can survive depends on your own efforts."
Jiang Zhi wanted to ask more, but the next second, her consciousness suddenly lightened—she opened her eyes abruptly, and the sunlight outside the tent had already flooded in, so bright it was almost blinding.
She sat up and lifted the curtain to look outside.
The branches of the giant cloud-nest tree stretched out, and the sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves.
The branches are full of life.
Unidentified mutated sharp-beaked birds flapped their wings and hopped from branch to branch, while mutated orioles chirped their melodious tunes, their chatter blending with the sounds of other mutated beasts, making the whole tree exude a vibrant vitality.
Chirp had already woken up and was squatting by the tent, pawing at a wild fruit about the size of its paw.
Upon seeing her come out, it immediately chirped and tilted its head to look at her.
Jiang Zhi rubbed her still heavy temples and looked at the bustling giant trees in front of her. The feeling of disorientation welled up in her heart again—was yesterday's conversation just a dream?
As she was lost in thought, the entire oak tree suddenly swayed.
Jiang Zhi's heart skipped a beat.
...It's not a dream.
She touched the bark of the tree at her feet and pursed her lips.
Jiang Zhi made up her mind and didn't delay any longer. She packed her things, took one last deep look at the top of the tree trunk, and then climbed onto Qiu Qiu's back: "Let's go."
It chirped in response, spread its wings, and flew forward.
In the following days, Jiang Zhi flew across most of China and saw some giant mutated creatures similar to the Cloud Nest Giant Tree that she had seen in her dreams.
This made her realize it clearly.
—The Earth is undergoing a process of self-evolution.
If we can get through this, the world might truly transform into a completely different and brand-new place.
Next, Jiangzhi flew along the route, and had Qiuqiu mark every small settlement it could find.
As they flew toward the capital, they encountered a massive sky curtain stretching across the heavens and earth halfway there.
The curtain shimmered with a faint light, and felt cool yet solid to the touch, like an invisible barrier.
Chirp fluttered its wings and tried to fly several times, but when its wings hit the sky, they only created faint ripples, without even creating a small crack.
Jiang Zhi sighed as she saw that the sky over the capital was completely blocked.
"Chirp chirp, let's go back to base."
It chirped softly, turned around, and flew back the way it came.
The enormous canopy behind her gradually shrank into a streak of light, and Jiang Zhi looked at the barrier, unable to describe the feeling she had.
According to that oak tree, even if you have a sheltered place to stand, whether you can survive in the end depends on your own efforts.
I wonder if the Beijing base still exists after this...
This trip took Jiang Zhi five days.
When she returned to the base, it was just getting dark. Instead of going back to her residence, she sent Chiu Chiu to the No. 1 collection area.
From afar, she could see that the green at the top of the vines was much more abundant than when she left, and the vines were twice as large.
Judging from its appearance, the base must have invested heavily in its care these past few days, otherwise it wouldn't have grown so vigorously.
Jiang Zhi stood there for a while, and the gloom in her heart dissipated a little before she rode Qiu Qiu towards the direction of the main square.
On the way, we also saw an open space outside the city wall in the direction of Dongcheng District, where many tents were set up.
It must be Tang Mao and his group.
When they arrived at the main square, Jiangzhi jumped off Qiuqiu and rushed home without stopping.
I've been away for so long this time, I wonder how things are at home.
Even late at night, there were still small groups of people gathered on the street.
The topic always comes back to two things.
Someone lowered their voice and said, "I heard that people from several small bases in the south are coming here to seek refuge, saying... the great catastrophe is probably coming again."
Someone nearby immediately scoffed, "Don't spread rumors, how could that be?"
The person who spoke earlier retorted, "Why not? Haven't you heard the rumors lately? And why has the base been organizing us to reinforce defenses and stockpile supplies every day? And those people who came from all over, they couldn't have just come to drop by for no reason, could they?"
"What should we do if a cataclysmic event really happens?"
"Why are you panicking? Didn't the base have preparations?"
"That's different!" Someone glanced around furtively, and when no one was paying attention, lowered their voice and said, "I heard that this natural disaster is ten times worse than the one a few years ago!"
"You've all heard about what happened to those people who went to the city today, right? That's a harbinger of the great catastrophe!!"
Those people turned pale at his words. "Then...what do we do? Is there any way for us to survive?"
"Stop yelling!" The man who had been stubborn earlier was startled by the "ten times" figure, but he still forced a smile and rebuked him, "There's no use panicking now. The base definitely has its rules. The important thing is to do your job well first." Even as he said this, his own eyes darted around, glancing towards the center of the base with a hint of uncertainty and apprehension.
These words reached Jiang Zhi's ears. She didn't stop walking, but her heart sank.
—It seems the news can no longer be kept secret.
I hurried home. The lights outside the courtyard wall were all off, so my family must have been asleep long ago.
Jiang Zhi moved quietly, using her hands to climb over the wall. She deliberately made no noise when she landed. Just as she was about to walk towards the door, the door to the next room was suddenly pulled open.
Ye Qingyun stood at the door, wearing a fur coat and with dark circles under his eyes.
When she realized it was her own daughter, she was stunned for a moment, and then her eyes instantly turned red.
His voice was hoarse: "Azhi, you little rascal, you're finally back."
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