Ark Journey

Looking at them, Xue Zhi sighed:

“Really tough.”

After drinking a tube of purifying water, W wiped her mouth ungracefully. She now needed this to resist the Originium radiation.

"We have experienced more difficult conditions than this. It's great to have a drug that can completely suppress oripathy."

At dawn, all the source stone crystal clusters that could be seen inside and outside the settlement had been cleared overnight, and Xue Zhi sprinkled a large amount of purified water outside to neutralize the radiation.

This natural disaster came very suddenly, but fortunately no one died. The most serious case was just the middle to late stages of mineral sickness.

After multiple tests at multiple locations and obtaining normal radiation data, Xue Zhi melted the ice and gradually filled the underground gaps created by it with earth elements.

Chapter 82: Prelude to Departure (Two in One)

The ice began to disappear from many points, and the dazzling sunlight after the heavy rain shone into the settlements that survived the natural disaster.

A night of endless cleaning work and the damage caused by the Originium made most people fall to the ground exhausted.

But at this moment they opened their eyes wide and faced the glaring sun. The livestock that were originally in a panic in the pasture also calmed down and began to lower their heads to nibble on the still clean green grass.

Even though Xue Zhi responded quickly, there was still a lot of damage in the settlement.

The originally flat ground was uneven due to the Originium crystal clusters that suddenly emerged from the ground. A large amount of rainwater, mixed with smelly and dirty mud, accumulated on the town's roads.

Some people's houses collapsed, and the owners, with dust on their faces, were leaning against the ruins of their houses with dull eyes.

The young children were still crying in the arms of their adults. Being so young, they could feel the pure malice from this world more easily than the adults.

Fortunately, no crops were planted in the fields, but large areas of newly cultivated or maintained soil were contaminated, especially outside the dome, and even the purification water could not completely eliminate the pollution.

Several farmers stood by the field, watching all this in silence.

Xue Zhi, who was standing on the top of the dome, spread her spiritual power, restoring all the land destroyed by the ice. The river channel was reshaped, and the large amount of water pouring down from the upstream finally had a place to go and no longer flooded the surroundings. Water also appeared again in the latter part of the canal that had dried up due to the blockage.

The adults' depressed mood, the children's low sobs, the instinctive panic of the non-intelligent creatures, the negative emotions and various sounds were transmitted to Xue Zhi's mind through the tentacles of her spiritual power. The huge psychological pressure and physical destruction brought by the natural disaster made many people stand there in a daze, not knowing what to do.

"Ugh."

Xue Zhi sighed and fell to the ground silently.

W, who had changed into new clothes to prevent contamination from Originium dust, saw him coming down and asked, "Are you done?"

Xue Zhi nodded: "Yeah."

W hugged his waist and buried his head in his chest, whispering: "I can use your power to indirectly feel those sad emotions. Even if it's just like this, these bad emotions gathered together can make people like me feel uncomfortable. What about you who face these things directly, Xue Zhi?"

Touching her hair, Xue Zhi smiled and said, "You feel sad because of other people's sadness. Doesn't this just prove that you are a normal person, but you just have a bad personality."

W said nothing more, but just gently punched his chest in response.

These emotions could not overwhelm him, even the him before.

The extremely powerful force brought Xue Zhi absolute calmness, allowing him to think about many things.

Some people were just frightened and couldn't calm down for a while. But when they figured it out, they realized how lucky they were to survive the natural disaster.

But others are in trouble. Those who have invested a lot of effort in the construction of the settlements have just started to see the construction being stopped and wasted.

Xue Zhi's gaze passed over the crowd and houses and came to the first house under construction in the town.

Last night, a large cluster of Originium crystals emerged from here, destroying the foundation and several built walls. Now there is only a pile of broken bricks and cement that has lost its function due to being soaked by rain.

The restaurant owner had been standing here for a long time. He didn't say anything, just watched quietly.

Such scenes are happening in various locations in the settlement.

"Everyone, don't lose heart. At least we all survived and no one died in the natural disaster."

Suddenly, Hedley's voice came from not far away.

"We didn't lose anything. I learned a saying from the ancient wisdom of Yan Country that Xue Zhi brought." He paused, and after everyone turned their eyes to him with numbness and frustration, he said, "If you save the land but lose the people, both the people and the land will be lost. If you save the people but lose the land, both the people and the land will be saved. And we are all still alive now."

This sentence was a bit difficult to pronounce in Kazdel language, but Xue Zhi could find that most people began to lower their heads and think. They had been educated for a period of time, and this would also bring them strength.

He commented on Hedley in a low voice: "You learn really fast."

W, who is well versed in tactics, chewed on it for a moment and then said, "This sentence... was said by a great man, right? No matter from which aspect, this sentence is very true."

Touching her back, Xue Zhi smiled and said, "Yes, a great, very great person."

“Those who still have the strength, please stand up. This is just a natural disaster. Haven’t we experienced enough life-and-death situations? We have managed to get through them all!?”

Hedley's resonant voice continued to be heard, and then many people slowly stood up using various tools to support themselves.

Seeing this scene, Hedley smiled, and he turned around and headed towards where Xue Zhi was.

"That's right! Everyone, let's thank Xue Zhi first. Without him, we would have all turned into Originium."

After saying that, he performed the Sarkaz etiquette. At the same time, everyone moved. Xue Zhi turned around and then led the rest of the people to bow and salute.

For a moment, the whole settlement was extremely quiet. All sounds disappeared. Xue Zhi, who had suddenly become the center of the crowd, was a little overwhelmed. He had never experienced such a scene before.

W in his arms let go of his hand, took a few steps back, then knelt on one knee. She was the most polite, and this was usually the way to salute a king.

Even though he was not the king of the Sarkaz, he had accomplished something that even a king might not be able to do.

"You deserve this, Xue Zhi."

After the ceremony, everyone walked in all directions holding their tools.

"It will be fine."

A voice came, and the restaurant owner muttered this sentence, bent down and began to pick up the broken bricks.

"Yeah, it's going to be fine."

"We are all still alive."

......

A large number of voices entered Xue Zhi's ears, and the negative emotions spreading throughout the settlement began to dissipate.

Humans are social animals. Once one person starts taking action, more and more people will follow suit.

W, who was helped up by Xue Zhi, stood beside him and whispered:

"Her Highness Theresa will be very pleased to see all this. Even though the Sarkaz have been in constant trouble, they have never been defeated."

"Let's go, let's do our part."

"Ah."

Groups of people were organized, carrying enough potions and heading to the coal mines and roads outside the settlement to clean up the Originium crystal clusters. Development could not stop.

After Xue Zhi walked around the settlement and confirmed that there were no major problems with the various projects, she went to the farmland to purify the pollution.

"Ross, what's going on?"

"Things are moving in the right direction. We don't need to farm in the short term. We have enough time to dissipate the Originium radiation."

"Ah."

In the evening, Xue Zhi and W came to visit Inès after finishing a day's work. She had persisted in the environment of high source stone radiation for too long and used too much purification water, which caused a deficiency of substances in her body. Finally, she collapsed before dawn. Fortunately, it was not a serious matter, just simple fatigue.

Sitting at the head of the bed, W peeled an apple with an enchanted dagger, and did not forget to tease Inès:

“You’re still not very good, Inès. You’ve been in Kazdel for so long, but you still can’t resist the Originium.”

Then W handed the peeled apple to Ines.

"If you can't speak, don't speak. No one thinks you are dumb. Oh, thank you."

"You're welcome, little lamb."

"'Sarkaz foul language'!"

While the two were bickering, Xue Zhi and Hedley were sorting out various data outside the tent.

“Have the disaster statistics been compiled?”

"According to statistics, five houses collapsed in the village, several tents of the mercenary group were damaged, and countless locations of damage to the ground and farmland throughout the settlement. Fortunately, the coal mines and roads outside were not damaged."

"That's good. It's a blessing that there was only this little damage from the natural disaster."

"This is all thanks to you."

"No need to say more polite words."

After compiling a large amount of information, Xue Zhi put down her pen, leaned back in her chair, and looked up at the bright night sky filled with stars.

After looking for a long time, Xue Zhi suddenly sat up straight.

"I guess I have to go, Hedley."

"Ok?"

Without giving him time to ask questions, Xue Zhi expressed her thoughts.

"Before Originium is fully understood, mobile cities are necessary to survive on this land. I will find a way to help you get one, or a core city, or at least gain a living space on a mobile plot of land."

Hedley was shocked by Xue Zhi's words. He glanced at the tent not far away, and then whispered:

"This... I don't doubt your strength, but I don't think we are worthy of you to do something like this against the great country of Terra."

Playing with the pencil on the table, Xue Zhi looked towards the north. Her sight seemed to penetrate the mountains and reach the ice field where snow was blowing all year round.

"No, Hedley, there are many people suffering in the world, and there are always people who want to change something like you. I will achieve my goal by helping them. If it doesn't work, I will see if I can buy one with money. Anyway, I have money.

And this is also my search for why I live on this land.”

After arriving in another world, Xue Zhi, who had great power and no worries about food and drink, chose to explore the deeper meaning of life.

Following Xue Zhi's gaze, Hedley remembered something.

"Others? I seem to remember that some news about the north was sent back before?"

"Well, before Tressi left, he sent a group of people to the ice field in the far north of Ursus. He learned that there were also infected people fighting there, and among those people, there were also Sarkaz."

"The Far North... it's even worse than here. It's hard to even grow crops there, and the food there will probably make you very sleepy, not to mention some medicine that can suppress mineral sickness."

"Yes."

Hedley glanced towards the tent again.

"Have you told W?"

"No, but we are of one mind, so don't worry too much."

"Okay, this is really your business, and we can't get involved. Don't hurt her feelings."

"rest assured."

The moon rose, and Xue Zhi said goodbye to Hedley and took W back to the tent. On the way, she held his hand tightly.

"Are you leaving?"

"Well, after a while, I'll get everything arranged here."

"..."

W didn't say anything else. She had known the result long ago. Although she knew the purpose and significance of Xue Zhi's actions, sadness still rose involuntarily.

She didn't ask him to take her with him, which was unreasonable.

W quietly tidied up the blankets in the tent, took off his clothes, sat on them naked, and stretched out his hand to Xue Zhi. His fair skin reflected a faint fluorescence under the light.

"As usual?"

W's voice was calm, but his eyes were much moister than usual.

Counting the time, they had just been together for less than four months, which was the time when they were most affectionate, but now they were facing separation, and it was inevitable that they would feel reluctant.

Holding W in her arms, Xue Zhi hugged her smooth shoulders and rubbed her hair and said softly:

"Don't worry, girl. I won't be gone for long. I'll be back once I'm settled at my destination."

He had roughly arranged his itinerary, drawing a straight line on the map to go directly to the Integration Movement. He just hoped that Alina was still alive, otherwise he would have to spend some time trying to get rid of the undead black snake's possession.

His destination is Longmen, where he will try to infiltrate Chernobog to a certain extent and strive to successfully capture this core city, or try to buy a small mobile city in Longmen with money, hoping that this capital city-state has such things to sell.

Xue Zhi did not just talk. In his hand, there was an extremely delicate small cube floating. This was an additional module of the Mysterious Era, the Gate to the Fairyland in TT Shinto. Just looking at the name, you can tell that it is very impressive. This is a long-distance transmission device that can be used in the game.

"This is a product of our research. Although it cannot achieve large-scale material transmission, it is still easy to transmit the mass of a person or so. I will set one up here, and we can directly transmit it after it is stabilized."

"Yan Country won't blame you for leaking secrets?"