CHAPTER 300: CHAPTER 133: DISAPPEARED?

Chen Jian didn’t know whether his words could have a positive effect on "population migration." After all, for the wasteland, migration itself was fraught with difficulties.

Not to mention the threats of monsters, bandits, and Blood Skull, just the various accidents during the journey could unknowingly take their lives.

After all, this was not the era he lived in.

The people here could not rely on high-speed trains or cars for travel; they could only depend on a few of the Mechanical God Sect’s transportation tools and their own two legs.

Fatigue, cold, food shortages—any one of these seemingly trivial difficulties to people like Chen Jian was an insurmountable chasm to them.

Compared to venturing south, they were probably more inclined to eke out a living in the homeland already belonging to them.

Even if it meant facing the constant risk of being devoured by monsters.

This was also a survival choice.

Although it seemed irrational and even somewhat shortsighted, it was actually a choice made to maximize benefits for survival, much like the saying Chen Jian had heard before, "the poorer, the more they reproduce."

Therefore, Chen Jian did not insist.

He was only responsible for spreading the word and letting it slowly ferment.

Fortunately, the speed and effect of this news fermenting were better than he expected.

The next day, after a night of rest, when the team was ready to continue north, several merchants, including Jin Zan, started inquiring about the specifics of the Jinling Ruins.

Chen Jian answered frankly.

"...Currently, the foundation construction of Jinling Ruins, or Jinling New City, is relatively rudimentary. In terms of agriculture, it’s even less self-sufficient and still relies on supplies from surrounding cities."

"However, the development speed of Jinling New City will surpass any city you’re familiar with."

"As for why... you’ll know when you see it."

"Then I must go see it!"

Jin Zan said cheerfully:

"Anyway, I have to return to Jinling this trip, and Jinling New City isn’t far from Jinling City, right?"

"Not far."

Chen Jian paused slightly, then said:

"If you guys want to go, we can build a road for you."

"Build a road??"

Jin Zan was astonished.

"For us?"

"It’s no big deal."

Chen Jian waved his hand and said:

"In any case, it takes more than ten days to return to Jinling from here. By then, our road should be completed."

Jin Zan took a deep breath.

In more than ten days, a road would be completed.

Even the most ordinary and rudimentary road isn’t something that can be built just like that, is it?

Moreover, they didn’t have much manpower, and this he knew.

Jin Zan didn’t know how they would fulfill this promise, but he could faintly feel that they indeed could do it.

It seems that this Jinling New City is a place one must visit...

Jin Zan carefully inquired about the location and route, as well as the materials needed by Jinling New City, and noted them in his trade journal.

When Chen Jian led the team away, he was already revising the previously planned freight schedule.

Other merchants were still hesitating, and someone came up and asked:

"Boss Jin, are you really going to Jinling New City?"

"You are a person of the Mechanical God Sect... are you sure it’s okay to do this?"

"Moreover, the situation of the so-called Jinling New City is still unclear. Aren’t you afraid of risks?"

"Risks?"

Jin Zan shook his head disdainfully and said:

"Where is there no risk?"

"I work for the Mechanical God Sect, but I am more of a merchant."

"Now, this Jinling New City is the biggest business opportunity. Only those with guts can seize the chance."

"The world will get better and better. Now is the time for change."

"Cooperating with them is not just for profit, but also... choosing sides."

"Forget it, you wouldn’t understand even if I explained it to you."

Jin Zan waved his hand, ignoring the other merchants who were still hesitant.

A mysterious smile appeared on his face as if he had already seen a path cutting through the fog from the chaotic situation...

...

On the other side, Chen Jian had already led the team near Ande City.

The drone continued reconnaissance at four-hour intervals, but to everyone’s confusion, those two "legendary monsters" never appeared again.

The traces of low temperature they left had also completely vanished, as if those rumors were merely fabricated stories.

"It’s strange... where exactly could those things be hiding?"

"The largest water body nearby is Jizhou Lake, but the drone has scanned it countless times without finding any clues."

"What does it mean, did those two monsters just vanish into thin air?"

Chen Jian’s tone was somewhat puzzled, and Lei Jie followed up on his words, saying:

"If not underwater, then underground."

"But there shouldn’t be any large underground structures near Jizhou... Fu Xi, are there any underground facilities nearby that can accommodate large monsters?"

As the words fell, Fu Xi’s voice sounded in the earpiece.

"No large underground structures found around Jizhou; the nearest is 150 kilometers away in Yangquan."

"There is a relatively large underground nuclear facility there, which is part of what is commonly known as the ’Nuclear Great Wall.’

"This facility is connected via tunnels and highway systems with the nuclear facilities around the Imperial City and is an important component of the secondary nuclear counter-offensive structures."

"Based on current data, it’s possible the monsters have entered a facility but should not be able to move freely within it."