Chapter 431: Arrival
Chapter 431: Arrival
December 18, 2024
The underground passage leading to the City of Hope was intricate and labyrinthine.
As they walked, two or three intersections would appear ahead, and after walking further, several more intersections would come into view. At the end of each path, more intersections awaited, like a set of nested dolls.
The entire underground area seemed like a massive maze, and even with the spiritual power of a Grandmaster, one could only sense a limited distance due to the countless stones blocking the way.
According to Chu Feng's introduction, among the hundreds of passages, only one led to the City of Hope. The other paths either led to dead ends or extremely dangerous places inhabited by terrifying creatures. Even a Supreme Being might face the possibility of falling.
This setup effectively minimized the chances of enemies tracing their way in.
However, it also meant that the people in the City of Hope were essentially unable to venture outside. Even if they remembered the route, there was still a risk of getting lost within the maze.
Everything had its pros and cons, and perfection was unattainable.
Moreover, most of the people inside the city were ordinary citizens or those with limited abilities. Going to the surface might not be a wise decision for them.
Finally, after turning left into a passage and walking for a distance, light appeared at the end of the tunnel.
"The Grand Leader is back!"
"And the Leader, they've returned together!"
Excited voices echoed from the end of the passage, and several figures entered, rushing towards them.
"Xinyin, are you alright?" one of them asked, showing concern not only for the elder and Chu Feng but also for Shen Xinlian.
She shook her head.
Only Elder Qin seemed to be unbothered by anyone's concern.
"Ahem." Elder Qin coughed to ease the awkwardness as Jiang Cheng looked at him.
On one hand, the Grand Leader's status was undeniable.
On the other hand, every person present, without exception, was a Grandmaster, and the weakest among them was a Fifth-Rank! It was necessary to have such strength to guard the passage and repel invaders.
"Who are these people?" someone asked.
Finally, the group noticed Jiang Cheng and his companions.
"This is Jiang Cheng, our young friend. We went out this time to bring him here. Despite his young age, not yet twenty, he has already reached the rank of First-Rank Primal Force Master. Moreover, he is a Tenth-Rank Alchemist. Don't be fooled by his youth," Chu Feng introduced with a smile.
"I see."
The group's gaze towards Jiang Cheng carried a hint of newfound respect.
"Did anything happen while we were away?"
"Leader, rest assured. Everything has been peaceful during your absence."
"That's good. You've worked hard."
Chu Feng turned to Jiang Cheng and said, "Jiang Cheng, continue forward. Ahead lies our City of Hope."
Jiang Cheng walked towards the exit of the passage.
As he advanced, the light at the end of the passage grew brighter and more radiant, emitting a gentle glow that gave off a warm and welcoming feeling.
Finally, he could clearly see what it was.
A massive, glowing sphere, suspended in mid-air, as large as several houses!
"What's that?" Jiang Cheng couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"An Artificial Sun."
Chu Feng's gaze fell upon the glowing sphere, his eyes filled with reminiscence. "In our homeland, the birthplace of our nation, on the Ancestral Planet, there is a star that nurtures all life. The growth of all things depends on the warmth of the sun."
Living in the Underground World is relatively safer, but such days can also dull one's will. To remind everyone of our origins from the surface, we specially created an artificial star and named it the Sun."
"I see."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng couldn't help but feel a sense of respect.
There was also an indescribable feeling.
The word 'Sun'—it had been a long time since anyone had spoken those words to him.
"Of course, on a spiritual level, having an artificial star also makes life much more convenient. At the very least, we won't suffer from all sorts of strange diseases."
Chu Feng chuckled, "In a few hours, when night falls, the sun will set, and the moon will rise."
Jiang Cheng nodded.
After stepping out of the cave entrance, he was completely stunned by the sight before him.
He had thought he was standing on the ground.
But that wasn't the case.
The entrance to the passage was on a steep cliff, offering a magnificent view.
Looking down, he could see the entire City of Hope laid out below.
Contrary to his imagination, there were no towering skyscrapers. Most buildings were only two or three stories high, except for several tall ones in the very center. Even those were only five or six stories tall.
The entire city was centered around this area, with four main roads extending outwards. Some vehicles drove on these roads, and there were also many pedestrians alongside them.
The technological level here was definitely not as advanced as the Inner District, but it was much better than the Outer District, especially in terms of aesthetics.
"The city is roughly divided into four parts: the Residential District, Commercial District, Agricultural District, and Industrial District," Chu Feng explained.
"The Residential District, as the name suggests, is where people live. Initially, there were less than fifty thousand people here, but after these years of reproduction, the population has exceeded one hundred thousand."
"The Commercial District is where goods are traded. People exchange food, handicrafts, and services here. Many also work here to earn a living."
"The Agricultural District is responsible for growing crops. Our indoor planting technology is very mature, and self-sufficiency is not a problem. But if the population continues to grow at this rate, it might become an issue."
Chu Feng's expression was both joyful and worried as he spoke.
After all, people were the most important factor; without them, everything was just talk.
"Our Industrial District isn't very developed. We can only produce some daily necessities to meet everyone's needs. Additionally, there are some assembly lines, like those for manufacturing vehicles. As you can see, the distance from south to north isn't very long. For us, it's just a short walk, and even for ordinary people, it wouldn't take more than ten minutes."
Jiang Cheng nodded.
It seemed that everyone had something to do, and with wages to earn, they could also consume in the commercial district.
It was undeniable that this place resembled a small utopia, and the lives of ordinary people here were likely much better than those in the Outer District.
"Leader, what's that place in the center?"
"That place is probably the most important location here and will be where you'll work in the future." Chu Feng smiled, "It's called Hope University, the only higher education institution here, responsible for cultivating Primordial Energy Warriors and Mind Mages."
"Hope University?"
"Hahaha, you can think of it that way." Chu Feng couldn't help but laugh.
(End of Chapter)
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