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墨書 Inktalez
A few people slowly left Zheng Yifan's sight, carrying only their last wishes as they headed towards Ancheng.
Zheng Yifan was anxious; time was not on his side. What he lacked most was time, and he wished he could fly there directly.
"If it were the Post-Apocalypse, it would only take the time of a flight. But now? Even driving there will take quite a while, and who knows if the roads are clear," Ten Thousand Steps said, staring at the distant highway, troubled.
They had to pass through many cities to get back, and the zombies along the way were enough to worry about. The highway from Tiger Mouth to Ancheng had been cleared, but that didn’t mean other areas were safe. The biggest threat came from the people at Tiger Mouth Military Base; they were constantly transporting supplies back and forth and sending more people into battle. Their route would undoubtedly be filled with those soldiers.
This was an Apocalyptic World, without the rules of the Post-Apocalypse. If they encountered strangers on the road, they would surely be dealt with ruthlessly.
Moreover, they were driving a vehicle from Tiger Mouth Military Base, making them easy targets for ambush.
Zheng Yifan did not have the resolve to face hundreds of thousands of enemies, nor did he possess that kind of ability.
"Meow!" He stroked the three cats in his arms, lost in thought. He wanted to return to Hope Gathering Place but could only do so through another route, and hope lay in a nearby factory.
Zheng Yifan suddenly recalled that he had heard news of a flying machine earlier; that information was indeed from a factory nearby.
Lord Lin—the message left by the woman who had departed informed Zheng Yifan that he was working on flying devices.
If someone could create a flying machine that others discovered, it meant that his aircraft could already fly for short distances. As long as this condition was met, Zheng Yifan dared to land supplies behind enemy lines.
That flash of inspiration struck him. The person who had seemed like just a casual solution now became the key to overcoming obstacles; as long as he could cross the airspace, even those survivors from Tiger Mouth would have to stand aside, let alone any jungle kings.
"Maybe I can try that wooden plane. I just don't know if you all have the guts to attempt it or how many people it can actually carry," Zheng Yifan said, looking at the factory just a few hundred meters away, gripping his Silver Spear tightly. This was his only hope.
Although more than a dozen scientists still bore frost on their bodies or lay on the ground gasping weakly, they were ready to take a seven-hundred-mile leap with Zheng Yifan. They aimed to traverse seven hundred miles to reach the Research Hall in Hope Gathering Place—a place where they believed all necessary materials could be found and where there was a complete Superpower Factory. There, weapons for Superpowered Individuals could be manufactured, fully supported by their leader's commitment to research endeavors.
In that place, scientists held higher status than ordinary people—not because they could wield power over others but due to their respected social standing. They would receive respect from others and enjoy the highest discounts within the Gathering Place.
The discount benefits alone could guarantee their lives were completely secured.
If there were advancements in scientific research on one side, and if they applied for patents from the Gathering Place with perfected technologies like in the Post-Apocalypse, they could also obtain patent rights. Manufacturers producing that technology would need to pay a significant portion of patent fees to the patent holder.
For a factory, or even a large conglomerate, these patent fees could amount to a staggering sum.
It was akin to selling billions, or even hundreds of billions, of bottles of beverages each year; just a penny in patent fees per bottle could yield nearly a hundred million in royalties.
In the Apocalyptic World, this was even more pronounced. Although the figures weren't as colossal, the value of items and currency was much more robust, and the exclusive rights enjoyed were far more tangible.
They could be considered the founders of an era. As long as they aligned themselves correctly, the benefits would always be immense.
With hope in their hearts, everyone's gaze fell upon where Zheng Yifan was looking.
A loud rumbling sound akin to an engine roared from the factory, where thick black smoke began to rise. The ground started to tremble violently, dust covering everything; the dust that had accumulated for two years completely lifted and transformed into dense smoke, swirling in the air.
The ground shook intensely as if a violent explosion had occurred.
"Leader, the energy is completely unstable. There are massive swirling combinations of Vital Energy. All the Vital Energy is being used by constrained mechanisms; the power cannot operate. This is serious—the aircraft does not meet flight conditions and can only circle in the air at most twice!" Upon hearing this, Ten Thousand Steps looked at the dust covering the ground, his expression growing heavier.
Zheng Yifan knew this was a scientist's superficial judgment on an invention. As an Inscription Master, he had the strongest grasp of Vital Energy; they were even more adept at utilizing it than warriors on the front lines.
Despite his usual carefree demeanor, when it came to professional matters, even Zheng Yifan couldn't match Ten Thousand Steps. Controlling, operating, guiding, and utilizing Vital Energy—Ten Thousand Steps could be considered an authoritative expert; there was no one like him in Hope Gathering Place.
Zheng Yifan had never been an arbitrary person; especially not when it came to an expert's insights in their field—those were not something he could casually speculate about.
"If we use your technology, can we make use of this junk? We're not flying seven miles or seventy miles; we're talking about a proper seven hundred miles! The aircraft from the Post-Apocalypse requires a lot of time!" Zheng Yifan said anxiously. If they truly couldn't use the aircraft, they'd have to find another way back to Hope Gathering Place; but by then, they could only hope that there would still be something left rather than just ruins.
"Leader! Everything is going wrong right now. It mainly depends on the maker's technology and Superpower. If it's the same Superpower as mine, as an Inscription Master, then it's completely impossible to fly back. However, if the other Superpower has hit a dead end in its own field, I am confident that I can improve it successfully within three attempts. Even if I can't cross the 700-mile distance in one go, I can definitely reach the destination within three landings of Supplies." Ten Thousand Steps spoke with strong confidence, reflecting his understanding of his own Superpower and the two years he spent researching it.
The discipline of Post-Apocalypse has completely collapsed; this world is no longer suitable for those laws or scientific discoveries.
This is a world of Vital Energy, where everything is based on Vital Energy. Without Vital Energy, there is nothing.
Energy, power, plant growth—everything revolves around the growth of Vital Energy. In this new system, Vital Energy represents everything.
The collapse of all systems has provided scientists in this world with more opportunities for discovery; they just need a pair of discerning eyes.
Undoubtedly, Ten Thousand Steps possesses such eyes.
"Then let's bring that thing down and study it carefully. I'll try my best not to kill that Fellow named Lord Lin! I'll do my best!" Zheng Yifan said, watching the Wooden Airplane wobble in the sky as if it were about to fall at any moment, calculating its landing point with all his might.
"Forty-five meters to the left. The estimated landing point is nine meters ahead. Leader, be careful; when it falls, the impact will be very powerful. It's likely that not only wood but also solid steel is used in all its equipment!" A scientist stood behind Ten Thousand Steps and gently pushed up his glasses with his palm.
His fingers were slender like a woman's, but the patterns covering them made Zheng Yifan feel uneasy.
This was his Superpower: mechanical control.
Not just simple control over machines, but the ability to perfectly disassemble and assemble them. His Superpower was incredibly powerful; in the Superpower Weapon Factory, he must hold a high-ranking position.
Zheng Yifan never expected that such a talent could calculate the airplane's landing point, completely overturning his impression of him. It seemed these scientists had a solid foundation that allowed them to evolve directly into assistants for Superpowers.
It's worth noting that in Hope Gathering Place, those who evolved into assistants for Superpowers are still a minority. Most people have evolved combat Superpowers.
"Leader, you should give it a try! Old Wang's calculations should be accurate!" Ten Thousand Steps also carefully observed the position of the Wooden Airplane and nodded at Zheng Yifan.
Looking up, the Wooden Airplane appeared as a mere black dot. It swayed left and right incessantly, leaving one to wonder what its purpose was; the occupants inside must be in a precarious situation. The sounds from within were inaudible at this height.
The aircraft trembled as if it had encountered an accident, constantly changing direction. Yet, its ultimate target remained the location calculated by Old Wang.
Gradually, the airplane revealed itself—a black-gray craft that bore no semblance of modern technology, resembling more of a child's toy than anything else.
Zheng Yifan squinted into the distance, scrutinizing the Wooden Airplane. Its body was square and boxy, reminiscent of a wooden crate, with two wings flapping like those of a bird. The tail was crafted with some precision, clearly indicating that Lord Lin had high hopes for its successful flight.
Unfortunately, his expectations were too lofty, and the application of Superpower left much to be desired.
The simplistic Superpower Application made Zheng Yifan feel dizzy. The entire structure of the airplane seemed to maximize the carpenter's craftsmanship without any hint of innovation. It was entirely modeled after birds and airplanes seen on television.
The energy system likely utilized Zombie Crystal s; while the airplane's power was fierce, it had yet to suffer any catastrophic failure.
However, it was destined to descend continuously, struggling against gravity.
Without an Inscription Master or Formation Master at the controls, no amount of effort could elevate a Wooden Bird into the sky. The research on Vital Energy in the Apocalyptic World was never something one could master alone. The study of Ten Thousand Steps had reached his limits, merely allowing that troublesome airplane to regain some semblance of flight.
It might manage to fly a few miles, but crossing a distance of 700 miles would likely take a year or more.
"Leader's Heart! The Wooden Airplane is descending rapidly; the impact will be tremendous!" Ten Thousand Steps exclaimed nervously to Zheng Yifan.
Zheng Yifan had already tossed aside his Silver Spear and steadied himself with the Adamantium Shield, intently watching the speeding aircraft. His hands were poised to leap into the air and catch it at any moment.
At this rate, Lord Lin's experiment would be deemed a failure; there was a 90% chance he would abandon the aircraft and save himself, leaving the Wooden Airplane to shatter upon impact.
At that point, he could resume his research on airplanes and attempt another flight.
Zheng Yifan was pressed for time; there was no room for hesitation. The modification of the Wooden Airplane had already reached its limit, and upon learning about the danger at the Hope Gathering Place, he knew he had to return quickly.
The plane was plummeting faster and faster. Zheng Yifan could see through the transparent glass the figure inside—a man with a wrinkled face and a grotesque mole on his nose. His eyes were nearly blood-red, and he wore a fierce expression directed at Zheng Yifan. When they were still over three hundred meters from the ground, the man suddenly moved, causing the entire Wooden Airplane to shake violently. Then, to Zheng Yifan's shock, the cockpit ejected completely, forming a massive mushroom cloud in mid-air. Lord Lin's eyes were filled with mockery as he watched from above. Zheng Yifan wanted to stop the plane and save this failed creation, but he knew it would be futile.
He understood just how heavy his aircraft was. Although it wasn't as heavy as a Post-Apocalypse plane, it still weighed nearly five tons. Such weight combined with acceleration created immense force.
Zheng Yifan had prepared for everything. He leaped into the air. One after another, Avatars of the Believers appeared around him. They grasped his body and hurled him upward with all their might. As their strength began to wane, another Avatar would emerge to continue the effort.
Countless Avatars of the Believers passed Zheng Yifan along in a relay, and in mid-air, he aimed for the rapidly descending Wooden Airplane. With a powerful thrust, he positioned his Adamantium Shield against the nose of the aircraft. The frail strength of his body was no match for the force of the falling plane; all the Avatars of the Believers appeared together, straining to pull the aircraft.
A low hum resonated as the nose of the plane tilted forward by about one degree. The angle of descent changed; while speed remained constant, it felt significantly safer than before.
One by one, more Avatars of the Believers emerged, gradually adjusting the angle further. Zheng Yifan had exhausted all his strength; it felt like competing against himself without any leverage. He relied solely on the power of the Avatars to intercept the plane while continuously selecting items from his Storage Space only to abandon them.
The difficulty of achieving this task exceeded Zheng Yifan's imagination—who would have thought that this wooden hunk would be so difficult to maneuver? There was no way to turn it toward safety, and its decreasing speed was nearly impossible to alter.
At that moment, he was only fifty meters from the ground, and all scientists, including Ten Thousand Steps, had lost hope.
Only those silly yet adorable Cat-like Beings—Big Fur, Ermao, and Sanmao—blinked their newly opened eyes at Ten Thousand Steps' head, seemingly puzzled by why something was flying above them!
Then a sudden flash of inspiration struck him. He had found a new method! (To be continued)
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