The subordinate felt a chill in their heart, understanding the situation.
"Now, on behalf of the Supreme Federation, I announce the official welcome for you Cocoon Breakers to the new world. You will reintegrate into society and start a new life," they declared.
A smile curved on Qingmu's lips, "Get ready to embrace a new life, the world five hundred years later... is incredibly fascinating."
·
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With a thunderous roar,
the helicopter encountered strong air currents upon takeoff, violently shaking everyone inside the cabin.
Lu Bu'er's head knocked against something, and when she inadvertently looked up, she saw the fog of the cold night being scattered by the wind. The eastern mountain range bathed in the dazzling gold of the rising sun, the lush forests pierced by myriad rays of light, while the empty city was left behind.
It was as if they were leaving their past lives behind.
Everyone felt a sense of fortunate survival after a calamity.
And this once familiar world had become distant and alienated.
The Cocoon Breakers had now accepted reality, recognizing that this era of universal evolution might be more marvelous than before. Had their sleeping city not turned into the uninhabited Land of the Departed, perhaps they could have emerged to see the world hundreds of years earlier.
As they were about to depart from Fengcheng City, they were surprised to see a military presence stationed beside the city's railway border, armed soldiers with drawn weapons formed a cordon, heavy tanks and armored vehicles stationed nearby, looking like a fully armed ground force.
The soldiers saw the helicopter and made a gesture towards the sky.
It looked like a greeting.
In the air, they also encountered other helicopters coming and going, seemingly on missions to rescue Cocoon Breakers from the Land of the Departed. Voices came through the communication channel, teasing each other.
"We're lucky this time, found a batch of good seeds with high combat qualifications. But these kids are really pitiable, crying for their fathers and mothers in fright in the Land of the Departed."
"What can you do? The Forbidden Zone of Life in Fengcheng City formed too quickly. If we hadn't sealed them in cocoons, they might have been attacked by Specter Fiends before we could evacuate."
"The ones I found are from Shanghu, just people who were touring Fengcheng City back then... They're making a fuss about returning to their hometown to have a look, and I have to apply for that, what a hassle!"
Qingmu scoffed, turning off the communication.
"This is the era of universal evolution. The world population now stands at fifteen billion, which is double the original figure. The descendants of the first batch of Cocoon Breakers can also become Evolvers. Currently, there are three billion Evolvers, but ninety percent of them are quite weak, not much stronger than you. Every Evolver must undergo training in the military for a while, and major Forbidden Zones of Life need military stationed to prevent the uprisings of Specter Fiends, occasionally going in to rescue Cocoon Breakers."
Qingmu explained, "The times are relatively peaceful now; it has been many years since any large-scale wars. The old international order still exists, but Evolvers are managed by the Federation. Ordinary people's lives haven't changed much from before, except some places that have become Forbidden Zones of Life attractions and cities that can't be visited... I often return to Yanjing on vacation, first thing is to get a cup of sour mung bean drink in the old Hutongs."
"That many?"
Lu Bu'er was startled, "Close to one-fifth?"
"Yes, nearly one in every five people is an Evolver. And Evolvers are required to serve in the military, short as half a year or as long as three years, before they can change profession," Qingmu responded.
"The military is similar to a school for Evolvers. The learning efficiency of the new era is extremely high, and the utilization of resources has reached its peak."
Lu Bu'er saw the military camp stationed at the city's edge, with numerous towns and farms along the way, vehicles on the highway, and the roaring high-speed trains that passed like a long dragon.
It seemed like everything was the same as it was five hundred years ago.
Half an hour later, Lu Bu'er and the others arrived in Linhai.
Linhai, too, was a coastal city, with skyscrapers standing tall, a neatly arranged cluster of buildings, crisscrossing expressways running in all directions, and military stationed at the far west as well.
"This is Linhai City, a global metropolis. Today, the closer a city is to the Forbidden Zone of Life, the more developed it is; because facing danger also means more resources can be obtained," Qingmu continued to explain. "Compared to five hundred years ago, the biggest difference in this city is the huge mountain range to the west. It's too close to the Forbidden Zone of Life of Fengcheng City, where Specter Fiends often appear. So there's always a military presence here, and Evolvers often venture in for exploration."
Fifteen minutes later, the helicopter landed on the tarmac at the airport. The Cocoon Breakers walked out of the cabin in a daze, greeted by the cold wind that whipped up their hair and the sight of the towering terminal building, its glass façade reflecting the sunlight, dazzling to the point of blinding.
A mechanical air bridge descended from nowhere, landing precisely in front of them.
The flight attendants hurried over to greet them, their faces beaming with warm smiles as they offered them towels and cookies, saying with a smile, "Welcome to five hundred years later!"
Next was the automated security check, with the camera releasing lasers to scan their entire body, and mist spraying out from the filters in the walls for full-body disinfection.
When they emerged from the corridor, they were met by a dazzling array of shops in the rest area; the rich aroma emanating from the coffee shops was refreshing, and the beef noodles in the restaurants were drool-worthy. Passengers came and went on the elevators, laughing and talking as they dragged their luggage and fiddled with their phones.