398: Passing on the torch

Northwest China, Xinhuo Base.

"The Xinhuo Base was built at the beginning of the Qi Revival."

After landing outside the Xinhuo Base, Han Zhang said to the base, which seemed to blend in with the Gobi Desert:

"We built a total of 10 Xinhuo Bases, each base is identical in size and internal facilities."

"They are all circular buildings with a diameter of about 1330 meters, a height of 100 meters, divided into five floors, and a total area of about 5 million square meters."

"The internal ecosystem is completely independent, powered by controllable nuclear fusion, and materials can be self-sufficient under the ecological circulation System, capable of accommodating a maximum of 50,000 ordinary people."

"As early as the beginning of the Qi Revival, we had already prepared for the worst."

"Earth would be occupied by mutated animals and insects, humanity would lose its position as the overlord of Earth, and could only barely survive by hiding underground, in the deep sea, or in the Universe."

"Thus, the Spark Plan came into being."

Han Zhang's voice held a hint of emotion:

"When the bases were completed, ten thousand relevant personnel entered the ten bases in ten batches and never came out again."

"If Earth fell, they would be our last Spark."

"Before the Mars base was successfully built, we also asked them if they were willing to live on Mars."

"Everyone refused."

"They are waiting for the day to fulfill their mission."

As he spoke, the two had already walked to the center of the Xinhuo Base, to a square covered in wind and sand.

At this moment, more than ten thousand people were scattered across the square.

Some held newborns born in the Xinhuo Base, leaning on each other, their eyes filled with worry for the future.

Some looked up at the azure sky, as if to imprint the floating clouds in their hearts.

Others squatted down, sifting through the ground with their hands, finally picking up a small piece of gravel and putting it into their pockets... As members of Spark, although they had previously lived in independent, enclosed spaces, they knew they were still on Earth.

If a real problem arose, the organization would not abandon them.

But now, Earth faced an unknown crisis.

The crisis came from an unknown source, and only those powerhouses who could single-handedly contend with a city, or even a nation, could perceive it.

But even those powerhouses could only perceive it.

They could not find the source of the crisis.

Civilization faced a crisis of overthrow, and for those who had been isolated for many years, the time had finally come to fulfill their mission.

The mission was finally about to begin, and destiny was about to usher in the relief of judgment...

Facing the uncertainty and anticipation of the future... the reluctance to leave their homeland... Looking at the Xinhuo members radiating different emotions, Yang Dian couldn't help but let out a deep breath.

Civilization, Legacy.

How heavy they were!

As Yang Dian and Han Zhang stepped onto the square, the Xinhuo members scattered across it silently gathered together by base units.

At the forefront of the crowd, the Commanders of the ten Xinhuo Bases walked with firm steps to stand before Yang Dian and Han Zhang.

"Xinhuo Base No. 1, 1053 Xinhuo members, are ready to leave the Spark and pass on the Legacy, and can enter the true Xinhuo Base at any time. Please give your instructions, Chief."

"Xinhuo Base No. 2, 1137 Xinhuo members, are ready to leave the Spark and pass on the Legacy, and will ensure the continuation of civilization."

"Xinhuo Base No. 3, 1022 Xinhuo members..."

"No. 4..."

"No. 5..."

...As the reports fell one by one before him, Yang Dian opened his mouth, unsure what to say.

Encourage them?

They were already prepared and didn't need his encouragement.

It seemed all he could do was act as a doorman, sending them into the new Xinhuo Bases.

"Actually, there's nothing to be sad about."

Han Zhang saw Yang Dian's complex emotions and couldn't help but comfort him:

"Since the theory of quantum communication technology was perfected and corresponding communication equipment was mass-produced, ultra-long-distance communication is no longer an insurmountable task."

"Even if they travel to the ends of the Earth, to various corners of the Universe, they can still maintain contact with us."

"As long as civilization doesn't perish, they will eventually have a day to return home."

"Hoo~" Yang Dian let out a long breath:

"Yes."

"As long as we don't die, there will eventually be a day when we bring them back."

With that, Yang Dian waved his hand, and ten giant light gates appeared on the square.

"Spark, board the ship."

The Commanders of the ten bases saluted Yang Dian and Han Zhang, then were the first to step into the light gates.

Afterward, everyone followed suit; even a few toddlers of three or four years old, under their parents' guidance, saluted Yang Dian and Han Zhang, then were carried by their parents into the light gates.

Yang Dian's raised hand remained in place.

It wasn't until everyone had entered the light gates, and only scattered footprints and the whistling wind remained on the Gobi Desert, that he lowered his raised arm and closed the light gates.

Looking at the solemn Yang Dian, Han Zhang hinted:

"How does it feel?"

Yang Dian turned to look at Han Zhang:

"I always feel like you're trying to add more burdens to me."

Han Zhang smiled, not hiding his thoughts at all:

"Then this burden, will you accept it?"

"I accept it." Yang Dian said without hesitation:

"When we are strong enough, I will personally bring them back."

With that, he waved his hand and collected the 10 silver star core fragments suspended in the sky into his palm.

"I'm going to set up the Xinhuo Bases now."

That's right, the new Xinhuo Bases were built with the silver star core fragment as the core.

As he spoke, Yang Dian looked up at the sky again.

"After placing the Xinhuo Bases, I will look for the source of that great terror."

Han Zhang nodded:

"Go."

"We'll wait for you to come back to Earth."

After speaking, he tapped his wristband, ending the communication first.

Yang Dian once again took a deep breath of the somewhat dry air of Northwest China, then looked up at the sky, urging the Dimension Butterfly to fold space... Inside Xinhuo Base No. 1, Command Room.

Watching the projected screen suddenly change from Northwest China to the deep Universe.

After a few blinks, it changed again from the deep Universe to the Asteroid Belt.

The base's Deputy Commander, Qian Yun, couldn't help but widen his eyes:

"This is the strength of the Commander of the Expeditionary Force?"

In his astonishment, he looked down at his watch again:

"Less than 10 seconds, from Earth directly to the Asteroid Belt?"

"And our new base, is it built inside that silver gem in his palm?"

"And the war mechs, biological armor, and small spacecraft in the armory..."

"Has the organization's technology become this powerful?"

Chen Liguo, the Commander of Xinhuo Base No. 1, watched as Yang Dian buried the star core fragment numbered One into an inconspicuous asteroid, and the monitoring screen subsequently turned dark. He couldn't help but let out a deep breath:

"Yet, an existence as powerful as this, an organization with such technology, still cannot guarantee the continuation of civilization."

Qian Yun's breathing hitched, and after a moment of silence, he turned and left.

"I'm going to Cultivate..."