114: Chapter 114 The Third Otherworld

Beijing, Central Compound.

On the third day after the establishment of the Otherworld Development Leading Group.

Su Mingyuan had just finished a coordination meeting regarding the development and use of skyfall steel from the Giant World and was preparing to return to Tianmen Base when suddenly——

The familiar countdown appeared in his field of vision once again.

[Prompt: The next teleportation will lead to a new world]

[portal duration: 1 minute]

[Countdown: 72:00:00]

Su Mingyuan suddenly stopped in his tracks, his entire body trembling slightly.

"Group Leader Su, what is wrong with you?"

asked the secretary by his side with concern.

This secretary was named Lin Xiaowei, twenty-seven years old, a graduate of Beijing University's Public Administration major, and had worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for three years.

After Su Mingyuan was appointed as the head of the Otherworld Development Leading Group, she was a capable personnel specially transferred by the organization from the Central General Office.

Despite her young age, she was efficient and meticulous, arranging Su Mingyuan's schedule in perfect order within just a few days.

Su Mingyuan did not answer her question; he stared intently at the countdown in front of him that only he could see.

The third world... was coming.

"Immediately notify Elder Qin to hold an emergency meeting of the Otherworld Development Leading Group."

Su Mingyuan's voice was somewhat urgent. "The highest level, all core members must be present."

Lin Xiaowei was stunned for a moment, then realized the severity of the situation. She immediately took out an encrypted phone, walked quickly to the side, and began contacting people.

Three hours later, in the top-secret conference room deep within the Central Compound.

Inside the spacious conference room, the atmosphere was suffocatingly heavy.

Sitting around the long conference table were all the core members of the Otherworld Development Leading Group.

Elder Qin sat in the main seat, the white hair at his temples particularly conspicuous under the lights. Seated on his left and right sides respectively were Su Mingyuan, the commanders-in-chief of various construction corps, and core scientists such as Tao Zhe.

"The countdown has appeared again."

Su Mingyuan spoke in a deep voice, "There are still 69 hours until the portal opens."

The conference room fell into silence.

"The third world..." Li Yunlong muttered to himself, a flash of excitement in his eyes, "It's finally here!"

Zhang Wei was more cautious: "What about the duration?"

Su Mingyuan took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping across everyone:

"Just like before, there is still no pattern. The duration of this portal is——"

He paused for a moment, pronouncing each word clearly:

"One minute."

"What?!"

"One minute?!"

The conference room instantly exploded into an uproar.

Elder Qin tapped on the table, and the conference room instantly quieted down.

The old man pondered for a moment and slowly spoke: "According to the previous contingency plan, form an exploration team."

"Yes!"

The atmosphere in the conference room became solemn and efficient.

After the release of the First Five-Year Plan for Otherworld Development, the Otherworld Development Leading Group had already formulated a complete emergency contingency plan.

For different portal durations, there were corresponding personnel allocations and equipment plans.

The one-minute time window corresponded to an extreme reconnaissance plan of about 30 people.

"Longyan Special Operations Brigade, 30 people."

Zhao Jianguo said briefly, "All equipped with next-generation tactical equipment, carrying 72-hour supplies."

"Scientific research team, led by Dr. Tao Zhe."

Tao Zhe nodded: "I will streamline the equipment and only bring the most necessary testing instruments."

Elder Qin's gaze fell on Su Mingyuan:

"Xiao Su, do you have anything to add?"

Su Mingyuan thought for a moment: "I suggest that all personnel be equipped with biochemical protection equipment. Neither of the first two worlds had environmental pollution. However, we cannot let down our guard."

"Agreed."

Elder Qin stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone present:

"Comrades, no one knows what this third world will bring us. It might be greater opportunities, or it might be more terrifying dangers."

"However—" Elder Qin's voice suddenly deepened, "Whether it's an opportunity or a danger, we must explore it! This is not only related to the national fortune of Great Xia, but also to the destiny of all mankind!"

He walked up to Su Mingyuan and patted him on the shoulder:

"Xiao Su, you are the key connecting the three worlds. Remember—returning alive is more important than anything else."

Su Mingyuan took a deep breath and nodded heavily:

"Yes! Guaranteed to complete the mission!"

65 hours later, Tianmen Base

Inside the huge underground space, the location reserved for the third portal had been cleared.

Surrounded by various monitoring equipment and defensive weapons, hundreds of fully armed soldiers stood at strict attention.

30 Longyan special operations team members formed neat Ranks, waiting for the final equipment inspection.

Everyone was wearing military-green combat uniforms, with a layer of special tactical vests worn on the outside, covered with ammunition pouches, grenades, medical kits, and various other equipment.

Because the portal time was only one minute, making it impossible to carry bulky armor, everyone could only wear the most basic combat equipment.

However, everyone was equipped with a set of special biochemical protective suits—developed after learning lessons from the Zombie World, they were lightweight, high-strength, could be quickly put on within 30 seconds, and could resist viruses, radiation, and mild corrosion.

The weapons and equipment were equally exquisite——

The QBZ-25 electromagnetic rifle, powered by a crystal core, had a rate of fire and firepower far exceeding traditional gunpowder weapons.

The individual anti-materiel electromagnetic cannon could pierce light armor.

Plasma grenades had an explosion temperature reaching several thousand degrees.

Simple medical kits could stop bleeding and stabilize injuries within 30 seconds.

In everyone's backpack, there were also compressed food, drinking water, and various emergency supplies sufficient to support 72 hours.

Tao Zhe stood beside the team, with only three silver-white metal boxes around him—he had streamlined his equipment and only brought the core testing instruments:

Bioscanner, energy detector, sample collection device, micro-drone.

Su Mingyuan checked his own equipment.

Unlike other soldiers, his tactical vest had been specially reinforced, with the inner layer woven from skyfall steel fibers, and its protection Rank was five times that of the standard type.

An emergency beacon was also hung at his waist, which could immediately send out a distress signal once danger was encountered.

After all, he was the only person who could open the portal and had to receive the highest level of protection.

"Report! Five minutes left until the countdown!"

The technical officer's voice echoed through the underground space.

Elder Qin appeared on the observation deck, accompanied by core members of the Otherworld Development Leading Group such as Zhao Jianguo, Li Yunlong, and Zhang Wei.

The old man picked up the microphone, his voice spreading throughout the space via loudspeakers:

"Comrades!"

The 30 soldiers snapped to attention in unison.

Elder Qin didn't shout slogans, but said solemnly:

"You are all the finest soldiers of Great Xia. I won't say those empty words—after going in, the primary task is to stay alive."

After a brief silence, Zhang Dabiao spoke up first, his voice firm:

"Rest assured, Chief, we will survive, and we will definitely bring Group Leader Su back safely."

The countdown began.

00:00:10

00:00:09

...

The air began to tremor.

Su Mingyuan took a deep breath and gripped the electromagnetic rifle in his hand tighter.

00:00:02

00:00:01

A dazzling black light burst out in the center of the space!

The light rapidly expanded, forming a rectangular black light gate about five meters high and three meters wide. The edges of the light gate constantly fluctuated, resembling ripples on the water's surface.

"Everyone, enter!"

The soldiers charged into the light gate first.

Su Mingyuan and the others followed closely behind, disappearing into the black light one by one.

Following Su Mingyuan's entry, the light gate abruptly disappeared, and the underground space returned to silence.

Elder Qin closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"I hope... they are safe."