The plunder of the heavens begins with the Spirit Cage.

Lin Yushan's plan to rush back early in the morning was naturally thwarted.

Considering a visit to Washington, Lu Qianwei naturally needs to make proper preparations.

At the very least, you should bring some gifts that they lack or do not have.

Even with ordinary Apple products, those with foresight will understand that they are not scammers.

As for why Lu Qianwei visited in person, he believed that any leader who was not short-sighted would agree to further cooperation.

However, a time portal would allow for a legitimate and lawful transfer to Mount Everest.

While saving on travel time, those who have witnessed it firsthand should at least become more convinced of its validity, even if they were initially skeptical.

The lead hovercraft is a streamlined vehicle with a deep sea blue color.

Considering that he was there for a visit, Lu Qianwei naturally couldn't give the impression of being an aggressor at first glance.

Of course, for safety reasons, the armored vehicles guarding the left and right sides are completely different, with a more rugged and powerful appearance.

The aircraft features a low-key matte gray-black finish, sharp angles, and its robust missile launchers and several rapid-fire cannons are exposed without any attempt to conceal them.

Standing on the open suspension deck, Li Wenxuan watched as the three hovercraft slowly approached, gradually descending in altitude, confirming that they were not domestically produced.

The most eye-catching feature is the armed escort vehicles on both the left and right sides.

The several dark blue plasmas under their fuselages and wings were exceptionally loud, deep and booming, impossible to ignore.

In contrast, the bottom of the sea vehicle hovering directly in front was unusually smooth, with no visible nozzles or distorted air.

Anti-gravity!

This word immediately came to Li Wenxuan's mind.

If they had cracked the formula for gravity, they would probably be traveling through the stars instead of being trapped on this planet.

The armored vehicles remained stationary, and the lead vehicle broke away from the convoy and arrived in front of the deck of the naval vessel.

The hatch opened, and Li Wenxuan was somewhat surprised to see Lu Qianwei's young face appear.

After all, no matter the time, a more mature middle-aged person will have more experience than a young person.

But there was no time for him to think further. After confirming his return to the team, Lin Yushan went back to the deck.

After Li Wenxuan warmly shook Lu Qianwei's hand to express his gratitude, the rescue operation was declared over.

Chapter 72 Ark Base

Lu Qianwei originally planned to travel to the community on Li Wenxuan's command boat as a gesture of goodwill.

Instead, after exchanging only a few words with Director Li, he started looking at 'Hongqiao'.

He made a polite remark, and the other party actually got into the hovercar.

I really don't know if the other party was acting out of confidentiality or simply placed too much trust in me.

"Alright, the approval has been granted. Let's set off now!"

Li Wenxuan walked back to the deck and headed towards the hovercar with an impatient air, completely acting as if he belonged there.

"Uh... are we just going to go like this?" Lu Qianwei asked, somewhat uncertainly.

Li Wenxuan explained, "The rescue teams are all personnel assigned from various communities. They will also be going to help repair the damaged areas later."

We're heading to Community One now, where there's an elevator that goes directly to the Wuyishan Undersea Base.

"Of course, your arrival still needs to be reported to Kunlun by the district head; I don't have that authority."

Lu Qianwei nodded slightly and led Li Wenxuan and Lin Yushan to Ark No. 1.

Thanks to Lin Yushan's experience, there are some things that need to be heard from one's own people, so Li Wenxuan naturally needed to bring him along.

……

Washington State is addressing future population growth and resource issues such as food.

The first floating city built on the sea, based on an underwater base, often uses modified supertankers, large container ships, semi-submersible platforms, and specially constructed giant modular floating structures.

They were prioritized for assembly long before the underwater base was even built.

The heavy industries on it, such as ship repair, metal smelting, and machinery manufacturing, represent different needs ranging from 'absolute survival guarantee' to 'development and expansion'.

If we say that Community No. 1, which houses heavy industry, administration, and scientific research, is the heart and brain, then...

The extended light industrial floating island modules are the torso and hands.

They were built after the continents sank to the bottom, so they could not adopt the luxurious hull structure of the first ark in each sea area.

Instead, it adopts a hexagonal structure.

Hexagons are the most efficient space-filling structure in nature, with standardized interfaces at the edges of each module.

While maintaining overall stability, it can maximize the utilization of area, withstand the uniform distribution of stress when subjected to multi-directional wave impacts, and buffer the impact of waves.

The materials used in the module are all plastics and minerals recovered by the submarine from underwater cities.

They rely on a special concrete float and a recycled plastic composite structure filled with foamed polymer to provide buoyancy.

Modular apartments, community schools, clinics, and even the hydroponic farms, storage facilities, and water purification systems that extend from them may look very similar.

However, it also reflects the high efficiency and practicality of uniformity.

Of course, if possible, who would want to be the same all the time?

In the aquatic world, survival is always the first principle. All order and uniformity are merely the most secure forms that can be forged in desperate situations to ensure survival.

Looking down from the sky, Lu Qianwei saw countless emerald green rice paddies covered by protective films.

On the vast sea, one after another, vibrant oases are formed.

"This is truly an impressive scale; no wonder you can support so many people!" Lu Qianwei exclaimed sincerely. "You must have put a lot of effort into this marine aquaculture technology, right?"

"It really took a lot of effort."

Li Wenxuan's gaze also fell on that patch of greenery, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible pride.

"It has taken decades of effort just to select and cultivate salt-tolerant rice varieties that can grow stably in such a high-humidity, high-salt-fog environment."

Lu Qianwei nodded in understanding, his gaze passing over the massive reverse osmosis filtration equipment that provided desalination for the rice paddies, and turning towards the distant sea.

There are countless solar panels spread out between these solar arrays.

There are also arrays of wind turbines slowly turning in the salty sea breeze.

Together with the wave-powered buoys that rise and fall with the waves on the distant sea, they form the energy matrix upon which this maritime community depends for its survival.

“Impressive,” Lu Qianwei said, his gaze sweeping over the massive power generation arrays.

"I never imagined that you could build and maintain such a large-scale power generation facility in WaterWorld."

Upon hearing this, the barely perceptible pride on Li Wenxuan's face was replaced by a deep, bitter smile.

He slowly shook his head: "Mr. Lu, you overestimate us."

The true golden age of 'construction' ended long ago with the sinking of the continent.

"The core components of these devices are stockpiles made before the disasters of the old era."

Many strategic materials and survival reserves were painstakingly created by our ancestors and left to us, their descendants.

"Some precious metal deposits can indeed be retrieved from the seabed mining areas nowadays."

But turning them into usable electronic components and special alloy parts is too difficult.

Since offshore smelting lacks stable energy support, we can only use relatively primitive methods such as electric arc melting and electrolytic refining, which are far less efficient than the giant factories of the old era.

Producing some structural components and repair parts is feasible, but for smelting intricate and complex objects, only the Five Sacred Mountains and the Kunlun Sea region have the necessary conditions.

“Supporting this smelter in the Wuyi waters has already consumed a huge amount of our energy and manpower.”

Every kilowatt-hour of electricity generated on the vast ocean is hard-won.

Listening to Li Wenxuan's heavy tone, Lu Qianwei realized that the Water World was not as easy as he had imagined.

No wonder the other party showed such enthusiasm.

……

If a community dominated by light industry is like a well-ordered rural landscape.

Then, as the hovercar gradually approached the colossal steel structure of Community One, a completely different scene unfolded.

Several massive ship structures were reinforced and extended layer by layer, forming a continuous, undulating mountain of steel.

Countless thick pipes, like giant pythons, coiled around it, crisscrossing and gleaming with a cold metallic light, transporting steam, cooling water, compressed air, and even refined molten metal to every corner.

The towering chimneys spew out thin water vapor, which blends into the sea fog.

The enormous gantry cranes and tower cranes stand like steel giants, slowly moving heavy components amidst a roar.

The lights here are dense and dazzling. Even during the day, countless searchlights, work lights, and signal lights compete to illuminate the massive dock platform, open-air smelting area, and assembly workshop as bright as day, dispelling the haze brought by the sea fog and highlighting the never-ending pulse of this place.

Every detail here exudes an atmosphere of strict order.

Personnel wearing uniform work clothes and different safety level badges moved quickly along designated routes.

The patrolling security personnel were well-equipped and had sharp eyes; the huge gates and isolation zones divided different functional areas, creating a sense of oppression.

This is the pressure that inevitably comes with the operation of a massive industrial machine, and the direct feeling of the insignificance of the individual.

Guided by signals, the airship landed smoothly on the designated helipad.

Even though it was hard to believe, I received Li Wenxuan's message and saw it for myself in several communities.

Zheng Haifeng put down his work and stood with his group waiting.

Several core managers and technical experts, also dressed in uniforms or work clothes, stood behind him.

As they watched the hovercar land, they felt curiosity and excitement, but even more so, a sense of solemnity and inquiry.

Chapter 73 Proximity to the Water

"Is the news true?" Shen Yanzhou looked away from the computer image and asked calmly.

"I can't guarantee that. Even if what District Chief Zheng said is true, we can't guarantee whether those people have held anything back." Out of caution, Liu Wenyan wouldn't make a hasty conclusion.