Did Xiaojin fail to pass through the carriage because of fear, or was it something else that detained him?
All this is unknown for now, but Wen Xishu is not in a hurry.
Wei Ping’an continued:
"The Swan Plan failed. Our most important researchers and the subjects of the study have both abandoned us, believing that the coming apocalypse is unstoppable."
"They are right; the arrival of the apocalypse is unstoppable, national destruction and family collapse are unfolding everywhere in the world."
"My wife and children turned into common mutants and began to kill me... My subordinates risked their lives to rescue me."
"To face the apocalypse, all the countries in the world are trying to find solutions. The Free Country has established an Ark. A gigantic ark with an ecological cycle..."
"The Ark can accommodate fifteen million people."
Yet another plan that Wen Xishu had heard of.
In the first climb of Deceit Tower, in the simulated segment, Wen Xishu remembered that Jennifer’s mother, Yulia, abandoned Jennifer to board the Ark.
That’s how Jennifer ended up with Jack...
But now, Wen Xishu suddenly wondered, could it be—effects of the bullet screen?
After all, Jack’s bullet screen had materialized.
"So it seems to accommodate quite a number of people?" Wen Xishu said.
Wei Ping’an nodded:
"At that time, the Free Country had a population of 275 million, and as the apocalypse approached, many died, and some chose to stay in their homeland... Actually, counting it up, one out of every ten people had the opportunity to enter the Ark."
"This also meant that many poor people had the chance to enter the Ark."
"The Ark was shaped like a huge pyramid. It’s said that upon entering the Ark, you must agree to a contract that classifies you into different levels according to your past experiences and various evaluations. Lower-class people live at the bottom of the pyramid, doing all sorts of chores."
This information caught Wen Xishu’s interest.
Wen Xishu said:
"Before you tell me the details of the Dragon Hide Plan, can you talk more about how various countries are responding to the apocalypse?"
Wei Ping’an shook his head and said:
"Not many were able to avoid the apocalypse. Most... chose to defend themselves with national strength, but it was not enough to withstand, the mutated people were simply too many."
"Some countries, even major ones, fell very quickly."
"Our good neighbor, Xiong Su, chose the Sky Canopy Plan, but this plan has since vanished. Simply put, this plan involved going to a space station to avoid the apocalypse."
"In theory, it’s feasible, although after the apocalypse came, all kinds of powerful monsters appeared. Some monsters truly had god-like strength... but it seemed none were capable of leaving this planet."
"But we never received any further news from our good neighbor. No one knows what the situation is like in outer space now."
Wen Xishu felt very rueful after hearing this.
Indeed, various countries were perceptive, but it seemed not one was truly able to avoid the apocalypse.
Perhaps the Bunker is the largest human gathering place.
Wen Xishu couldn’t help but ask:
"Could it be... that the Ark is still contactable?"
"No, it’s also been out of contact for a long time. The technology on the Ark is very complex; it can completely block out sunlight and achieve visual invisibility."
"For a long time, the Ark maintained contact with us, telling us that the Ark plan was the only most effective one to combat the apocalypse."
"Maybe, but the Dragon Hide Plan has not failed. We long to return to our homeland..."
Fallen leaves return to their roots.
This is a deeply ingrained belief of the Longxia People, even if they die far from home, their dying wish is to return and be buried in their homeland.
Wen Xishu actually greatly admired this.
"So, for the Dragon Hide Plan, how exactly is the creation of gods carried out?"
Wei Ping’an said:
"First, Dragon Hide means concealment. We did not consider building a massive Ark but instead established an underground fortress."
"This fortress can accommodate about 500,000 people, located over a thousand meters underground."
"Through the Chosen Train, we reached the surface."
Wen Xishu’s heart was once again shocked upon hearing this.
This underground fortress, one can be certain it is not the Bunker. But so far, this is the closest approach to the bunker concept.
The bunker is highly likely in a different "dimension" from the real world. It is a "perfectly safe" place in the truest sense.
But the words underground fortress are quite close to the correct answer.
Wen Xishu suddenly thought of...
In his past life, during a very difficult period in national history, tunnel warfare became a distinctive feature.
Hiding underground seems to be a natural instinct for seeking safety.
Although the origin of the "bunker" is unknown, hearing about the underground fortress, Wen Xishu still got very excited.
"Continue."
Wei Ping’an continued:
"Hmm... Our underground fortress doesn’t have class divisions. Here, aside from the management, almost everyone is equal. Especially the later arrivals."
"Because the beliefs, courage, and loyalty of the later arrivals are all meticulously screened. The people selected by the Chosen Train have absolute faith in returning to the homeland and bringing the human race back to the surface."
"Even to the point of dying for these beliefs."
"Mr. Wen Xishu, we have always been cultivating true warriors. We also found an ancient... god creation ritual through two entities that are extremely close to being gods..."
The key information is here.
Wen Xishu asked:
"What’s the situation? Are the two entities extremely close to being gods, outsiders?"
Wei Ping’an said:
"Yes, they are siblings of the researchers from the Swan Plan. They did not reveal their names, but one held a long staff with a ram’s head at the top."