Long River Eternity

The academy consisted of three buildings, neatly arranged. The central building was the largest, three stories high, with four classrooms on each floor, each accommodating forty to fifty students. The flanking buildings, also three stories high, were slightly smaller. The left building housed the teachers' offices, while the right housed dormitories for the students, each with only two rooms. The three buildings surrounded a spacious plaza that could accommodate five to six hundred people. At this moment, only a few newly arrived students, like Lin Ding, were busy rushing to their classrooms.

Atop the central teaching building hangs a large plaque bearing the powerful inscription "Nanshan Academy," as if to signal the solemnity and wisdom of this place. Sunlight filtering through the shade of the trees onto the square adds a sense of tranquility and warmth to the entire academy.

Lin Ding and Wei Wu are classmates, and their classroom is in the leftmost room on the third floor.

Lin Ding came downstairs and stopped to listen to the noise in his classroom. He heard the faint sound of classmates chatting in the classroom. He looked at Wei Wu and they both breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, it seems that the big devil has not arrived yet.

The two people, relieved, slowed down their pace, walked up the stairs slowly and headed towards the classroom.

"Your dream is too outrageous. What have you been watching recently? Why are you dreaming about such messed up things?" Wei Wu asked

"I never read novels. You know that there are so many books in my dad's study. Aren't they enough for me to read?" At this point, Lin Ding's expression froze and he stopped. "Wait, I remember that Dr. Wang in my dream mentioned the word Huaxia several times. I think I've seen it in a book in my dad's study."

Wei Wu also stopped along with Lin Ding and scratched his head.

"Aren't your parents both archaeologists? He has science fiction novels in his study."

"How is that possible?" Lin Ding rolled his eyes at Wei Wu and continued, "Let me think about it. Huaxia...seems to have appeared in a document that studies a previous civilization."

At this moment, footsteps came from the stairs below them, slowly moving upwards. Soon, a figure appeared in their sight. It was a woman in her 30s, with shoulder-length hair, wearing a white shirt and a black long skirt.

"Class is about to start, what are you two still doing here?" The voice was not loud, but revealed sternness.

"Hello, Teacher Yang!" The two of them straightened up and greeted him instantly, as if mice had seen a cat.

"We are discussing the problem." Wei Wu's eyes turned and an idea came to him.

"Oh? What's the problem? Tell me about it." Teacher Yang smiled. She knew that it was impossible for two people to discuss any issues in the corridor so early in the morning, but she wanted to see what tricks they were going to play.

"Teacher Yang, do you know China?" Wei Wu asked.

When he heard the word "Huaxia", Teacher Yang was obviously stunned, and then turned his gaze to Lin Ding.

After a moment of hesitation, her expression returned to normal. She then looked at Wei Wu and said, "Huaxia? Are you learning such obscure knowledge points in your history classes now?"

"Hehe..." Wei Wu scratched his head and chuckled, then shifted the blame, saying, "It was Lin Ding. He saw it in his parents' historical documents. We were just curious."

"Uh..." Lin Ding was speechless. He thought, Wei Wu, you are so quick to pass on the blame.

"It's no big deal to tell you. It's just extracurricular knowledge. Ten thousand years ago, Huaxia was a highly civilized nation on this land. However, due to the current dangers on Earth, both resource development and archaeological excavations are extremely difficult, so little is known about Huaxia. Perhaps Lin Ding's parents know more. If you're interested, you can go back and ask them."

"Ding~Ding~Ding~" At this time, the class bell rang

"Okay, go to class and learn the contents of the textbook first. I'll forgive you this time, but if you are late again next time, I won't forgive you." Teacher Yang said with a serious expression.

"Got it!" After saying that, the two of them ran towards the classroom quickly.

Looking at the two people's backs, Teacher Yang's eyes revealed a complex expression, and he murmured: "Huaxia..."

Then, he sighed and walked towards the classroom.

When Teacher Yang entered the classroom, Lin Ding and Wei Wu were already sitting obediently in their seats.

"Hello, students. You should all know that the school will hold its annual coming-of-age ceremony today. All students who have turned 18, please go downstairs in an orderly manner. Director Tang is already waiting for you downstairs. Other students, please take out your books and we will start the class." Teacher Yang said.

After Teacher Yang finished speaking, nearly half of the students in the classroom stood up and walked out, including Lin Ding and Wei Wu.

A similar wave of students came out of each of the other classrooms. Finally, about a hundred people gathered at the stairs and walked downstairs in a mighty procession. Among them, there were many boys whispering to each other, their words full of anticipation.

"Does anyone know where this coming-of-age ceremony is held?"

"I heard from my brother that we seem to be heading to the legendary Ruins No. 0."

"Is it the Ruins No. 0 deep underground? What does it look like inside? I'm so excited!"

As conversations were heard from the crowd from time to time, the students came to the first floor one after another.

A figure, dressed simply, with his back to the crowd, stood tall and straight in the middle of the school square. He was chatting with three other teachers. Hearing the noise behind him, he turned around and saw a middle-aged man in his 50s, with an intimidating presence. He must be the Director Tang that Teacher Yang mentioned.

"Speed ​​up your pace! You're so lazy, you don't act like a young person at all. Run and line up in front of me according to your class!" Director Tang's voice was deep and full of majesty.

After hearing Director Tang's words, no one dared to chat anymore. They rushed to the director and lined up as quickly as possible, waiting for the director's next instruction. After all, Director Tang was a well-known demon in the school. He would often give you a running lap and push-ups combo, and no one dared to offend him.

Seeing everyone line up so quickly, Director Tang nodded with satisfaction and said, "Next, I will take everyone to Ruins No. 0 for the Coming of Age Ceremony. Everyone can now take the cars at the door according to their classes."

Everyone looked towards the school gate and found four steam cars parked there, each of which could accommodate about 30 people.

"Wow, Lin Ding, look, it's a car. I've never ridden in a car in my life." Wei Wu shouted excitedly and ran towards the door.

Lin Ding smiled and also walked towards the door. He wasn't as excited as Wei Wu. As a child, Lin Ding was often taken by his parents to various archaeological sites, and every long trip required a car. It wasn't until recent years, when Lin Ding had become able to live independently, that his parents stopped taking him out to work.

Soon, Lin Ding and the other man arrived in front of the car. There were many people around them who had never ridden in a car like Wei Wu. They looked at the car carefully in front of the car and exclaimed in amazement.

This steam car looked more like a train than a car. It was covered entirely in thick iron sheets, and even the side windows and front and rear windshields were welded with finger-thick iron rods. Only a small area in front of the driver was uncovered, as if guarding against something.

After confirming that all students were on the bus, the four teachers, each leading a class, jumped on the bus last. Director Tang got on the bus for Lin Ding's class.

"Let's go, master." After getting on the car, Director Tang said to the driver while sitting in the first row.

"Woo~" With the roar of the car, thick smoke came out of the chimney on the roof. The car started in the thick smoke and slowly drove forward.

The train was filled with the students' laughter and joy. It seemed like a normal day, but no one could have imagined that after this day, everything would become extraordinary. As the wheels of Lin Ding's destiny began to turn, they too would slowly begin to spin.