Su Wu stood at the edge of the plaza, his gaze fixed on a corner where the shelter's map overview was displayed.
The full name of this underground structure was "Chongzhou City Shelter No. 1."
Calling it a shelter seemed insufficient; terms like "underground metropolis" or even "underground kingdom" would be more appropriate.
The plaza where Su Wu stood was merely one of the entrances to District 1 of Shelter No. 1. Beneath District 1, separated by layers of 20 to 30 meters, were Districts 2, 3, all the way down to District 15. Together, these districts formed a multi-layered underground world nearly one to two kilometers deep, housing over 13 million people—more than the population of early Tang Dynasty China.
"The surface residential area is 4.5 kilometers away."
"Not exactly close."
The distance was significant, considering the time required to traverse it. Even in this unprecedentedly bustling shelter, walking remained the primary mode of transportation for most. Elevators were available, but only for moving between floors.
Following the directions on the map, Su Wu headed to the plaza's service counter. There, he traded one liter of anti-radiation paint for 20,000 contribution points. The points were immediately deposited as electronic currency into the temporary mobile account he had registered. Transactions could be completed simply through mobile transfers.
In Chongzhou City, private shelters did not exist. The entire underground area was occupied by official shelters. As a result, contribution points earned here were universally accepted across all Chongzhou shelters, making them the most convenient currency.
As for purchasing power, contribution points were roughly equivalent to pre-apocalypse currency. Three contribution points could buy a pound of rice. However, behind this seemingly stable economy was the harsh reality: an ordinary worker in the shelter earned only about 120 contribution points a month, and that was contingent on having a formal job. Those relegated to government-assigned duties earned half as much.
Fortunately, the government-provided collective dormitories were rent-free. Basic food staples like mushrooms were cheap, and supplementary items like dried earthworms or rat meat were relatively affordable. Otherwise, many of the lower-class citizens would struggle just to eat.
Carrying a suitcase filled with medicine and anti-radiation paint in one hand and his phone displaying 20,000 contribution points in the other, Su Wu ascended to the third floor of District 1, marked on the map as the commercial district.
This floor's layout was reminiscent of a typical underground shopping mall. From snack shops and clothing stores to electronics repair shops, general goods stores, and entertainment facilities, everything was available. Almost anything that could be purchased in pre-apocalypse malls could also be bought here using contribution points.
The faces of passersby carried a semblance of pre-apocalypse ease and contentment, as if the harsh realities of the outside world were irrelevant to them.
As Su Wu observed, it became clear that the casual lifestyle here was unsustainable on an ordinary shelter resident's income. The confidence of these individuals likely stemmed from large stores of pre-apocalypse resources exchanged for contribution points with the government.
After all, the apocalypse hadn't arrived without warning. Those who planned carefully had likely managed to bring their most valuable possessions into the shelters, providing a financial cushion for the early stages of the apocalypse. But such reserves would eventually run dry. The current prosperity was destined to be fleeting. Most people would inevitably return to the relentless struggle for survival.
A sharp aroma of spices wafted from a snack shop along the corridor, drawing Su Wu's attention. He noticed the shop sold only four types of food: mushrooms, potatoes, fried dried earthworms, and an unidentified type of meat. Yet, thanks to the liberal use of spices and careful preparation, the dishes still emitted an enticing fragrance.
"This shop might actually last for a while," Su Wu mused before continuing onward.
After more than an hour of walking, he finally reached the entrance to the surface residential area. Paying a three-point fee, Su Wu boarded an observation elevator that took him to the 15th floor of a surface office building, where the forum had mentioned the gold trading hall.
The hall was sparsely populated. Although gold's value had diminished in the apocalypse, few people possessed the resources necessary to exchange for it, and even fewer were willing to do so.
Without much difficulty, Su Wu traded his supply of medicine and anti-radiation paint, along with his remaining contribution points, for 10 kilograms of gold. Transaction complete, he lingered at the edge of the hall, gazing out through a floor-to-ceiling glass window at the view beyond.
Under the oppressive gray clouds, dozens of towering buildings, each over 100 meters tall and clad in transparent thermal insulation, rose like sentinels. These structures replaced the stars, their radiant lights illuminating the dim ground below, evoking the image of a futuristic, sleepless city.
But if one's gaze drifted slightly from these magnificent structures, they would be met with endless rows of other buildings, standing like tombstones in the darkness. Their sheer number was overwhelming, and staring at them too long could evoke a deep sense of loneliness and fear, as if submerged in an ocean of death. The surrounding lights and bustling noise seemed incapable of offering any solace.
"Chongzhou City," Su Wu murmured, "still isn't big enough."
Even with over 40 million residents and a sprawling underground metropolis, humanity's efforts remained as fragile as an anthill before the vast forces of nature, unable to withstand any significant calamity.
Satisfied with his curiosity, Su Wu didn't linger long in the surface residential area or the underground shelter. He quickly returned to his mobile base vehicle and resumed his journey.
In the apocalypse, nothing was more important than one's own strength. Only by becoming truly powerful could one take control of their destiny and avoid being swept away by sudden disasters.
Roughly 40 to 50 kilometers from Chongzhou City, the road grew increasingly rugged. Eventually, even the remnants of the highway disappeared.
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