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

Chapter 45 ASH
“ash”

Hong Kou muttered to herself, "So the technology of the old world was actually this advanced."

"Wait, aren't mana outbreaks supposed to occur in densely populated and technologically advanced areas? How did you manage to maintain these old-world facilities so well?"

Back when it was still a lighthouse, most of the equipment that the hunters retrieved from the ground was damaged by the ecosystem, and repairing it would require even more resources.

It would be a stroke of luck to be able to bring back even one piece of valuable, intact equipment.

But the equipment in front of us looks brand new.

"Huh?" This question clearly touched on a blind spot in Qianli's knowledge.

"I'm not really sure either. I've only been in the village for a few years, and what I'm telling you is what the old folks in the village told me."

"But you can ask those older folks later; some of them have been working with the boss since they were young."

Qianli drove the vehicle while chatting away.

Before entering the ecological base, you need to go through a tunnel, so the vehicles drive very slowly.

The tunnel is extremely spacious, enough for several trucks to drive side by side. The rock walls on the top and sides have been polished smooth and covered with lighting panels that emit a soft white light, illuminating the passage as bright as day.

The tunnel wasn't long, and the convoy quickly passed through it.

As you pass through the tunnel, the air is filled with the scent of damp soil, fresh plants, and... a faint animal aroma, so refreshing it invigorates the spirit.

Red Envoy and Dawn were stunned by the sight before them.

An unimaginably vast space unfolded before them.

This is indeed the internal world formed by hollowing out most of the mountain! The dome is extremely high, estimated to be tens of meters high.

The surface is also covered with densely packed light-emitting panels, simulating natural light. Supporting the dome are countless thick, specially reinforced artificial alloy pillars.

And in this vast space.

This vibrant scene of all things flourishing and thriving is right before our eyes.

Hong Kou and Po Xiao were momentarily stunned.

The surrounding area features neatly planned, lush vertical farm shelves, with bright red fruits growing among the verdant leaves.

In the distance, rows of automated feeding pens housed some robust, glossy-coated livestock.

It was quite different from the aerial farm on their lighthouse.

The sound of flowing water comes from the pipe system above, nourishing this underground land.

Villagers dressed in clean work clothes moved about, checking equipment or picking crops.

Qianli took a deep breath, breaking the silence in the car. He patted the steering wheel triumphantly, "How about it? Much more exciting than your farm in that big pot lid, right?"

Hong Kou nodded unconsciously, her knuckles turning slightly white. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

This... this is what survival on the ground depends on?
How much time and manpower would it take to build such an extravagant project?

At that moment, Ash's voice came from the radio.

Guided by ASH's gentle voice, the truck drove smoothly along the wide main road, heading towards the deep storage area.

Hong Kou and Po Xiao curiously observed this incredible ecological base.

“Qianli.” Hongkou looked at Qianli, who was driving, and said, “This is also a place to live, right? But there seem to be very few staff members.”

Qianli chuckled: "Most of it here is automated, so not many people are needed to work."

"As for where to live, it is behind the mountain, where it is newly built and constructed entirely according to the old world."

"The old world as it was."

Images of skyscrapers flashed through Hong Kou's mind.

Qianli chuckled, just about to boast, when ASH's steady voice came over the loudspeaker again.

"Attention, transport team, warehouse location 6 in the target storage area is ready." "Today's transport list: 15 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables, 5 tons of processed meat products, 2 tons of dried mushrooms, and 1 ton of dairy products."

"Please park your vehicle as instructed. The warehouse robot will assist with loading."

“15 tons… of fruits and vegetables?” Po Xiao murmured repeatedly, feeling his worldview being refreshed once again.

The truck slowly came to a stop in front of a huge automated platform.

Above the platform, robotic arms move nimbly among the dense shelves, precisely transporting packaged goods to waiting trucks.

Efficient, quiet, and orderly.

"Let's go, get out of the car and talk as we walk." Qianli jumped out of the car and called to the two who were still a little dazed.

"Just wait for the robot to be loaded onto the truck. Ash is watching over it, so it can't be wrong. Let me take you to the side to rest for a while and have some water."

Hong Kou and Po Xiao seemed to wake from a dream and got out of the car.

They were taken a long way to a small rest area next to the loading and unloading area, separated by transparent material.

There were a few simple tables and chairs inside.

There was even a steaming water dispenser and a small basket filled with fresh fruit, including a few bright red apples and a few bunches of glossy purple grapes.

"Here, have a taste. It must have been just picked."

Qianli casually picked up an apple, wiped it on his clothes, and took a big bite.

"I told you this was a great job, all you have to do is drive over and grab something to eat."

Hong Kou didn't rush to take the fruit; her gaze remained firmly drawn to the grand and meticulously planned operation before her.

Under ASH's precise control, the giant robotic arm removes boxes and bags of goods from the shelves and smoothly transfers them to the cargo compartment of the truck.

White-painted robots were securing the cargo to the side.

"Qianli, you said the residential area was built according to the old world?" Hong Kou couldn't help but ask.

What came to mind were the blurry images of old-world cities in the Lighthouse database.

They had looked at the ground, but it was all in a state of disrepair.

"Yes, but not the kind of skyscrapers you're thinking of." Qianli swallowed the apple and snapped his fingers.

The holographic image immediately appeared in front of the three people.

"Look, it's like this."

Aside from the absence of those 100-meter-tall buildings, the footage is indeed quite similar to the old world.

"This is the most populous area, mostly consisting of survivors we've taken in from various places."

"Dragon Bone Village was established too early and couldn't accommodate so many people, so they were all moved to Village No. 2."

"I see."

No wonder there are no survivors in other places; it seems that most of the survivors have been settled here.

wrong.

It's fortunate that it wasn't taken in by the lighthouse.

"If one day we can completely eradicate the Mana ecosystem, we can start from here and rebuild a new city." Qianli's eyes seemed to be shining with hope.

Humans on the ground are already thinking about eradicating Mana, while the Lighthouse is still thinking about how to survive.
"So, is it enough for the people here to just live well?" Hong Kou couldn't help but ask.

Qianli shook his head: "Of course not. Although it's mostly automated here, we don't need many people."

"But as long as they have awakened their potential, they still need to go out on fieldwork, and such a large ecological base also needs people to clean up the external ecological products."

(End of this chapter)