Ling Cage: Twelve Talismans? I have everything I need.

Chapter 44 Ecological Base

“…Strong emotional fluctuations, whether joy, sadness or anger, can become sparks that ignite potential.” Principal Qiu’s gaze swept across the classroom.

He lingered on Hong Kou and Po Xiao, with a deeper meaning.

Just then, the classroom door was gently pushed open. Ulan Aodeng led Maiduo in.

Maiduo had her hair neatly braided and was wearing a clean cloth dress, but her little face showed obvious nervousness.

She held her father's large hand tightly, her eyes timidly scanning the classmates in the classroom before finally landing on Hong Kou.

"Qiushi, I've brought Maiduo." Ao Deng's voice was much gentler than usual.

"Okay, Maido, go back to your seat." Qiu Shi nodded gently.

Maiduo knows she can't speak right now, probably because she sensed Hongkou and Poxiao's emotions when they shared feelings yesterday.

After all, the people on the lighthouse are not like those in Dragonbone Village; they have witnessed despair, and their negative emotions might be even stronger.

Maiduo let go of her father's hand, lowered her head, and quickly walked to her seat, sitting down next to Hongkou. She took out her notebook and pen, placed them neatly, but never looked up.

Hong Kou turned her head to look at Mai Duo and asked in a low voice with concern, "Mai Duo, did you oversleep today?"

When Maiduo heard Hongkou's voice, she looked up at Hongkou and opened her little mouth: "Chirp chirp chirp".

The crisp chirping of birds sounded particularly abrupt in the quiet classroom.

All the children turned to look at him, their eyes filled with curiosity and surprise.

Hong Kou was even more puzzled: "Mai Duo? You..."

Maido seemed even more anxious, her little face turning red as she tried her best to make a sound.

But the only sound coming out was the urgent chirping of birds: "Chirp chirp chirp!"

"Don't rush, Maido." Principal Qiushi's calm voice rang out, and she had already walked to Maido's side without anyone noticing.

Qiu Shi explained to the other children, "Mai Duo activated her potential yesterday, but due to some reasons related to her potential, she can't speak for the time being."

Maido nodded vigorously: "Chirp!"

A commotion erupted around them, and a child shouted excitedly.

"Has Maiduo already become an Awakened One?!"

The Awakened One was always envied by the children for being able to leave the village and see the outside world, and for having all sorts of abilities.

"Yes and no. If you want to become a combatant, you need a long time to train. If you want to become a researcher, you also need a lot of time to study."

"Just because you've awakened your potential doesn't mean you can go out."

Qiu Shi saw what the children were thinking: "If you want to leave the village, you have to study hard. Teacher Yang's class will also take you out."

The autumn harvest calmed the children's excitement, and the chirping of the wheat was something the children could only envy.

I can understand it.

I can't speak.

My potential was awakened yesterday.

They can talk to Narisong and Anari.

Dad took me to find Grandpa Xia.

Boss Bai got acupuncture.

I can say a little bit now, but it's difficult.

As Maido finished writing, she drew a small, simple smiley face and then handed it to Hongkou.

“So that’s how it is”

Hong Kou suddenly realized that she actually had the potential to communicate with animals.

Yesterday, only the three of them were left to use the equipment, and she could feel the kindness in Maiduo's heart.

Could it be that Maiduo did this because she sensed my feelings?
"I'm sorry, Maido, for making you feel that kind of emotion," Hongkou said with some remorse.

Maido stretched out her little hand and placed it on Hongkou's hand, then gently shook her head.

The bell rang, and the children poured out of the classroom.

Maido gave Hongkou and Poxiao a slightly shy smile, waved, and ran outside to play with the other children.

"Let's go." Dawn gently touched Red Hair's arm. Red Hair put away the note Maido had written for her, which contained many comforting words.

As soon as the two stepped out of the school gate, they saw Qianli leaning against the wall, idly kicking pebbles on the ground with his toes.

Seeing them come out, Qianli immediately stood up straight, his face beaming with his signature cheerful smile: "Hey! You two are done with get out of class? How was it? Sitting with the little ones, wasn't it a special experience?"

Hong Kou smiled helplessly: "This feeling is indeed quite special."

"Once you two have a general understanding, you don't need to attend classes."

Qianli proudly raised his chin and said, "Alright, stop standing there and come with me. There's work for you to do."

"What job?" Dawn asked.

"Go to Village No. 2 and bring back a truckload of food!" Qianli rubbed his hands together, looking very motivated.

“The village’s grain reserves are not enough. The livestock farms and greenhouses in Village No. 2 have a good harvest, so we’ll drive over, fill them up, and bring them back.”

"This is a great job! I'll also show you around and give you a look at our 'logistics base'!"

Upon hearing that they were going to Dragon Bone Village No. 2 and would be able to see the village's food sources, Hong Kou and Po Xiao's eyes lit up.

At the lighthouse, every bite of food meant careful planning, and they were also curious about how large-scale farming was carried out here.

“Okay, we’ll go with you!” the two agreed in unison.

"Alright, let's go then." Qianli waved his hand and led the two towards the several medium-sized trucks parked at the village entrance.

These trucks appear to be modified from old-world vehicles, with reinforced shells, wide and thick tires suitable for driving on wastelands, and markings indicating they are for transport purposes.

Qianli jumped into the driver's seat of the lead car, while Hongkou and Poxiao sat in the passenger seat and the back seat, respectively.

The other vehicles were also filled with village transport team members, who greeted each other in a relaxed atmosphere.

The convoy slowly drove out of Longgu Village and headed towards the rolling mountains behind it.

Along the way, Qianli drove skillfully while talking non-stop.

"See that big mountain over there?" Qianli pointed to a particularly majestic mountain peak in the distance, its body displaying a peculiar gray-white hue.

"That's our granary, Dragon Bone Village No. 2."

Hong Kou and Po Xiao looked in that direction and saw that the mountain was indeed huge and steep.

"Mountains? Food is in the mountains?" Dawn was a little confused. In his understanding, planting and raising animals both require sunlight and space.

"Hey, didn't expect that, did you?" Qianli raised an eyebrow smugly.

"More than a decade ago, Mr. Yang and Mr. Bai discovered that the rock strata of this mountain had a particularly stable structure and were rich in a special mineral that was suitable for plant growth."

"And then?" Hong Kou's curiosity was piqued.

"And then? Then Boss Yang hollowed out most of the mountain." Qianli slapped the steering wheel. "He also used large-scale engineering equipment from the old world to open up, reinforce, and renovate all the caves, big and small. Basically, all the equipment inside was from the old world."

As the convoy approached the mountain, Hong Kou and Po Xiao finally saw that there was a huge, clearly man-made tunnel entrance at the foot of the mountain.

The entrance is covered by a heavy alloy gate, which is covered with various sensors and pipes. Above the gate is written "Longgu Village No. 2 Ecological Base".

"Damn, I have to go down and verify my identity every time I come here," Qianli muttered as he parked the truck in front of the gate.

He walked to the gate, and after the scanner finished scanning his face, a blue phantom appeared in front of him through projection.

"Hello, Awakened Traveler, welcome to Ecological Base No. 2."

The projection was of a human woman, whose appearance made people feel very friendly.

"Yes, we're here to deliver food. Open the door." Qianli nodded in response.

Several pale blue beams of light swept across the convoy above the gate, followed by a moment later, accompanied by the heavy sound of machinery.

The massive alloy gates slid open slowly to both sides, revealing a brightly lit, wide tunnel inside.

"Hold on tight!" Qianli stepped on the gas, and the truck was the first to enter the tunnel.

"What was that projection just now?" Hong Kou wanted to turn around and look, but the projection had already disappeared.

"Oh, that?" Qianli replied knowingly.

"That seems to be the boss's AI, I'm not too sure, it's been around for a long time."

"It should also be a product of the Old World, and its name is ASH."

(End of this chapter)