83: Chapter 83 The Atmosphere of Everyday Life

Zhou An and Luo Ning piloted the A70 hypersonic fighter, landing steadily on the outer guiding platform.

This was the "Reception Zone" built by The Five Great Guilds.

To accommodate tens of thousands of survivors, they had used a massive amount of high-grade composite materials and magnetic levitation technology to construct an incredibly grand bridge in the sky. The bridge, like a steel dragon, spanned several kilometers, stretching all the way to the core of the Inverted Mountain.

At this moment, the bridge deck was teeming with people. This long-lost sense of crowding made Zhou An, who was accustomed to quiet, frown slightly.

In the sky, several massive LV4 heavy cruisers were slowly circling. The giant loudspeakers on the ships were looping a cold warning:

"Entering the Reception Zone, private fighting is strictly prohibited! Releasing any lethal weapons or skills without permission is strictly prohibited! Violators will be killed without mercy!"

However, under this chaotic sky, there were always a few reckless fools who thought too highly of their own strength.

Just as the two had stepped onto the bridge, a violent roar of engines and furious cursing suddenly came from behind.

An LV3 heavy assault boat wanted to force its way into the landing queue. Because it was blocked by the surrounding ships, the captain grew angry from embarrassment and directly ordered the main control system to open fire.

The secondary cannons glowed red and fired a fierce shot at the ship in front.

"Boom—!"

Before the flames could fully bloom, one of the LV4 cruisers patrolling overhead descended as if it had teleported.

"Hum—!"

A dazzling beam of dark blue energy cannon fire descended from the sky. There was no warning, and no nonsense.

Facing that terrifying torrent of energy, the LV3 assault boat didn't even manage to keep its shields up for a second before it was completely vaporized in mid-air, turning into metal debris that rained down.

The people inside the ship didn't even have time to let out a scream.

The previously noisy bridge instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone looked up at the pitch-black muzzles in the sky, and their restless and opportunistic thoughts vanished instantly. Everyone unconsciously slowed their pace and lowered their heads to walk honestly.

"Tsk, this is the rule brought by absolute force."

Zhou An sighed in a low voice.

Luo Ning, however, didn't seem to care about these killings; she was curiously looking around. As the two followed the crowd deeper, the surrounding scene made them feel increasingly dazed.

Both sides of the bridge were divided into stalls. Not only were there official trading points set up by the major guilds, but there were also countless street stalls set up by freelancers.

Some sold rare vehicle parts, some sold low-level blueprints, and some even set up stoves here, running authentic snack stalls.

"Take a look! Fresh beast meat skewers, brushed with authentic spicy sauce! Three units of basic materials per skewer, no cheating children or old folks!"

"High-grade anti-acid rain coating, don't miss it as you pass by!"

Simple neon signs flickered, and hawking voices rose one after another.

If it weren't for the slight vibrations coming from under their feet and the faint sea of clouds in the distance, Zhou An would have almost felt like he had returned to a pedestrian night market street on Earth.

"Boss, look at that."

Luo Ning tugged at the corner of Zhou An's clothes, pointing to a stall selling simple ice cream, her tone carrying a rare, complex emotion.

"In a place like this, although it's chaotic and full of scheming everywhere, it seems... having more people around is quite nice. At the very least, it makes people feel like we haven't completely died out from that civilized society, and it still has that human warmth."

Zhou An looked at the rare softness in Luo Ning's eyes and nodded in agreement.

In that oppressive, cold, and deadly thunderstorm season, the only communication between people was cruel killing and cold chat channels.

But here, the human instinct for herding and the scent of life had risen again.

After confirming that this area was under the high-pressure control of The Five Great Guilds and was relatively safe, Zhou An pressed his headset.

"Muzi, Old Zhang, Lin Qing, you guys come down too. Everyone come down to relax and see the sights."

"Really?! Great! Long live the boss!"

Li Muzi's cheers came immediately from the headset.

Before long, three figures excitedly ran through the crowd. Li Muzi looked left and right, her eyes shining.

Old Zhang was honestly protecting his wife, Lin Qing, who was somewhat speechless at the long-lost bustling scene, clutching Zhang Ming's sleeve tightly.

"Let's go, let's not just watch."

Zhou An looked at the gathered team members and waved his hand with a smile.

"We aren't talking about missions today. First, I'll take everyone to stroll around the surroundings of this Sky City and see if we can pick up some interesting gadgets for our fortress!"

The scent of life on the bridge grew stronger. Li Muzi and the others were already glued to a stall selling glowing ore jewelry, and even Lin Qing couldn't help but lean in to look.

Seeing this, Zhou An stopped and turned to instruct Luo Ning: "Luo Ning, don't follow me around. You accompany Muzi and the others to stroll properly and act as a bodyguard. If anyone is blind enough to cause trouble..."

Zhou An paused, a flicker of coldness in his eyes.

"Don't talk nonsense, send them down directly. I'll cover whatever happens."

"Don't worry, Boss, leave it to me."

Luo Ning made an "OK" gesture and grinned, revealing a mouthful of clean white teeth.

"Whoever dares to touch our people, I guarantee I'll scatter their ashes."

After settling everyone, Zhou An boarded the transport vehicle exclusive to The Five Great Guilds alone—a small magnetic levitation shuttle speeding along the bridge tracks.

Accompanied by a slight push, the shuttle moved like a silver streak of light, weaving through the bridge that resembled a steel dragon.

Ten minutes later, Zhou An arrived steadily at the most crowded and core area on the other side of the bridge—the "Free Trade and Mercenary Zone."

This place was messier and noisier than the snack street just now, but it also appeared more professional.

Both sides of the road were densely packed with countless holographic projection screens and recruitment banners, scrolling with the benefits and recruitment needs of the major guilds.

Zhou An looked around and picked a relatively prominent corner. He casually pulled a flat alloy plate from his system space, picked up a high-energy laser pen, and carved a few lines of vigorous characters on it, then propped it on the ground:

[Emergency Recruitment]

Position One: Senior Physician

Requirement: Medical-type Awakened preferred.

Position Two: Full-time Combatant

Requirement: Individual combat rating must be over 40 million, dare to fight, obey orders.

Compensation:

Legendary-grade food and housing environment.

Unlimited supply of combat supplies.

Enjoy extremely generous monthly high-grade material dividends. Those interested, talk face-to-face.

As soon as this recruitment board, radiating blinding golden light, was set up, several survivors squatting on the side of the road smoking inferior tobacco gathered around.

"Yo, brother, your tone is quite big, huh?"

A man with a stubbly face and scratches all over his armor looked at Zhou An sideways, exhaled a puff of grey-white smoke, and sneered: "Combat power of 40 million? Do you know that after the third settlement last night, those with over 40 million were basically the top 1,000 big shots in the whole region? People at that level either act as local emperors of small guilds themselves or were long ago recruited by The Five Great Guilds. They're coming to you to be some 'full-time combatant'?"

"Exactly, and 'Legendary-grade food and housing environment'? Full room and board?"

A skinny monkey next to him also joined in, full of mockery.

"Brother, did you not wake up last night, or did the rain season wash your brain out? You have to draft a plan even when bragging!"

Facing the pointing and sarcasm of the surrounding people, Zhou An leaned against the metal railing of the bridge, not intending to pay attention at all.

Arguing with this group of people was completely meaningless.

He took out a pair of tactical sunglasses from his chest, put them on, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes to rest in the afternoon sun, looking just like a Buddhist old man putting on screen protectors under an overpass.

In his ears were the deafening human voices, the hawking sounds one after another, and the retro folk songs playing on some dilapidated spaceship in the distance.

The long-lost sunlight fell on his face through the gaps in the clouds, warm and cozy, completely dispelling the bone-deep cold and slickness.

At this moment, Zhou An felt as if he had returned to a long time ago, to that lazy afternoon when he could rightfully skip boring professional courses and lie on the university playground lawn to sunbathe. In this extremely disjointed doomsday atmosphere, his consciousness had a trace of slight daze.

...

Until the sun gradually withdrew its blinding afterglow, and the last trace of dark red sunset disappeared at the edge of the endless sea of clouds.

For the whole afternoon, quite a few people were attracted by this exaggerated recruitment board to inquire, but most of them were just muddling through.

Either they were half-baked veterinarians who had worked in pet hospitals before, or opportunists with a combat power of only a few million thinking of cheating for food and drink.

There wasn't a single one who met the requirements, and Zhou An didn't like any of them.

As night fell completely, the neon lights on the bridge lit up one after another, decorating this steel dragon spanning ten thousand meters in the sky like a dream.

Suddenly, an extremely passionate heavy metal drumbeat that seemed to resonate with the heart was transmitted in all directions through the holographic loudspeakers throughout the bridge.

Immediately after, a youthful and charming female voice resounded throughout the venue:

"Survivors of the whole region!"

"The long rainy season has finally passed! To celebrate our rebirth, and to wish for the successful foundation of 'Sky City', the 'Cloud Top Carnival Night' jointly organized by The Five Great Guilds officially begins now!"

"In the central square of the bridge, we have prepared enough spirits and high-grade meat! Tonight, there is no killing, only carnival! Everyone, release yourselves to your heart's content!"

After a brief silence.

"Oh—!!!"

"Long live The Five Great Guilds! Long live President Zhao!"

"I can finally drink to my heart's content!!!"

The entire bridge instantly fell into crazy cheers and boiling excitement.

The vendors who were struggling to set up stalls one after another rolled up the stall cloths on the ground, their eyes red, rushing excitedly toward the direction of the central square with the flow of people.

In this doomsday world where people were on the verge of death and their nerves were stretched to the limit, a free feast of alcohol and meat was enough to make anyone let go of all defenses and reserve, completely falling into madness.

Watching the street that had instantly emptied by more than half, Zhou An also slowly stood up, stretched his muscles and bones, and patted the dust on his pant legs.

He waved his hand, threw the ignored recruitment board into the system space, then opened the virtual panel and glanced at the green positioning dots representing Luo Ning and the others. They had clearly moved to the edge of the central square with the flow of people.

"Well, busy all afternoon, didn't accomplish a single serious thing, but got a free feast."

A relaxed smile tugged at the corner of Zhou An's mouth as he walked toward his teammates unhurriedly.