Perhaps this could help them understand the existence of the Electric Element.
...
Time flew by quickly, and the plane landed at the largest airport in Atlantis.
Led by Hao Jianhua, everyone disembarked from the plane.
However, as soon as they got off the plane, the group was separately guided by the airport staff through a special passage for a second check-in.
This action puzzled Hao Jianhua, but he thought that since they were entering Atlantis as a group, a second check-in was understandable, so he didn’t suspect anything.
The fifty-plus people formed a long queue and passed through the check-in gate in order.
However, when it was Lin Beichen’s turn, the airport staff confirmed his identity repeatedly before allowing him to pass.
The group passed the inspection smoothly and exited the hall.
Outside the hall, a bus was already waiting. A dark-skinned foreigner stepped out, speaking fluent Xia Country language.
"Hello, Principal Hao! It’s been a year and you still look the same!"
.....
It was clear that he and Hao Jianhua were close friends. They embraced warmly upon meeting.
Then the group boarded the bus.
"Sign the attendance sheet in the order of your seats on the plane," Hao Jianhua instructed while climbing the bus steps. After that, he got off to talk with the dark-skinned man.
At the same time, in the airport operations room of Atlantis.
"Team Fen, the target individual has been verified and identified upon entry."
"The target individual has boarded the bus!"
"Proceed according to plan!"
"Yes!"
...
The earlier check-in staff member called Griffin to report the situation. After hanging up, he dialed another number.
The phone rang three times but was then disconnected.
Just as Hao Jianhua was cheerfully conversing with the dark-skinned man, an airport staff approached.
"Is Lin Peng one of your companions?"
"Yes, he’s a student on this academic exchange!" Hao Jianhua recognized the name Lin Peng.
"His passport and ID card were lost, he needs to go to the hall to claim them."
The staff member’s statement puzzled Hao Jianhua. He returned to the bus and asked Lin Peng, "Lin Peng, check if your passport and ID card are still with you."
Lin Peng opened his backpack in surprise. He clearly remembered putting his passport and ID card in the backpack during the security check.
Indeed, when he opened his backpack, they were gone!
"Strange! They’re gone!"
Hao Jianhua shook his head and sighed, instructing, "Everyone, stay on the bus and don’t wander off!"
After saying this, he got off and went back to the hall with the staff member.
On the bus, Lin Peng continued to rummage through his backpack, checking every pocket thoroughly. He still didn’t find them.
"Strange, I clearly remember zipping up the backpack after putting them in!" Lin Peng scratched his head, puzzled.
Given his memory, it was extraordinary, especially for someone who excelled in quantum communication—he wasn’t the type to forget things easily.
He vividly remembered putting the passport in his backpack and zipping it up, so how could it be gone?
Despite thinking it over, he couldn’t figure it out. However, since the staff found it, it wasn’t truly lost, which was fortunate.
But they waited for half an hour.
Hao Jianhua finally appeared in everyone’s sight and soon boarded the bus. He signaled the dark-skinned man to start driving the bus towards Atlantis University.
"Keep your passport and ID card safe!"
"Everyone, check once more!"
"Atlantis University is in another state from the airport. It will take two to three hours by bus, so rest on the bus!"
"Our destination is a hotel closest to Atlantis University where we’ll be staying!"
As Hao Jianhua finished speaking, the bus erupted in cheers. Everyone was thrilled and began looking forward to the academic exchange with the internationally renowned university!
They wondered what made the world’s top universities special!
Along the way, they also hoped to see the origins of some of the world’s leading companies, and this exchange involved many scientists and business tycoons—quite a formidable lineup!
At the moment, everyone wore joyful smiles, looking at the beautiful scenery outside the bus window, feeling the beauty of a foreign land.
For many, this was their first time abroad, and they didn’t want to miss any scenery outside.
This time, An Xiaoran sat by the window, with Lin Beichen next to her, following the seating order on the plane.
As time passed, the bus left the bustling town.
Many first-time travelers abroad realized the place wasn’t as grand as they had imagined!
Atlantis was similar to the Great Xia in terms of buildings, with dense structures only around the airport.
As they moved further, fewer buildings appeared, and fields and mountains began to emerge—they were traveling on a two-way four-lane road similar to provincial roads in Great Xia, but driving on the left side.
They noticed scenes reminiscent of rural fields in Great Xia; there were people planting, burning straw, and some herding cattle!
Houses were sparsely located.
There were few vehicles on the road.
Unconsciously, they passed through a mountain tunnel and reached the winding halfway up the mountain, gradually ascending.
Through the window, they could see the houses below getting smaller, and the passing cars looked like toy cars.
As they reached the mountaintop, shrouded in clouds and fog, the driver turned on the hazard lights and slowed down.
"My worldview is shattered!"
"I thought Atlantis was incredibly prosperous!"
"Yet, it also has rural areas!"
"The roads here are bumpy, the city center might be bustling, but the outskirts are worse than ours!"
"Agreed. I thought we’d reach Atlantis University shortly after landing, but we still have to travel for hours, crossing mountains!"
...
The students complained, largely because the bumpy road made travel uncomfortable.
Especially the steep mountain roads, it was a rough ride!
Pa Ding!
Suddenly, a metallic snapping sound echoed from the back of the bus!
At first, they thought they’d hit a rock, but the bus, which the driver had been controlling to descend slowly, suddenly seemed out of control, accelerating rapidly!
The bus felt like it lost all resistance, sliding downhill naturally!
All the students panicked immediately, with many screams filling the bus!
Even Hao Jianhua stood stunned for a moment!
He struggled to reach the driver, asking urgently, "What’s going on!!!"
"The brakes!"
"The brakes are out!"
The driver, in a panic, shouted back, his hands busy controlling the steering!
He kept stepping on the brake pedal, and the handbrake kept moving!
But it was futile!
The bus accelerated down the winding road!
At the bottom was a sheer cliff, and if they veered off the road, everyone inside would likely perish!
Cold sweat covered the driver’s forehead as he shifted to the lowest gear, which produced a screeching sound from the engine, but only slightly slowed the bus!
All the students panicked!
They’d never witnessed such a scene!
Seeing the distance to the bottom, several hundred meters, how could they not be terrified!
The bus swayed and could go off the road at any moment, plunging into the abyss!
Instinctively, everyone held onto the handles, not daring to let go!!
Who could have guessed they’d encounter such a scene!
The bus was a cacophony of screams!
An Xiaoran turned and clung to Lin Beichen, utterly terrified!
The bus shook non-stop, even Hao Jianhua clung tightly to the handle!
Yet the next turn was approaching!
Everyone watched in horror as the bus sped towards the bend—without brakes, there was no way they’d make it. If they veered off the road, they’d plummet off the cliff!
Rational students began using emergency glass breakers to shatter windows!
Soon, others followed suit, breaking windows with their emergency tools!