This vast wasteland is a bit like the dead open space that I walked through shortly after entering the world of Tiankeng. However, most of the rocks in this wasteland emit a faint fluorescence, less darkness and more light.
…
The road underfoot was not difficult to walk, and as there was no danger, everyone moved much faster.
However, walking in this wasteland of piles of rocks, it seems that I have returned to the scene when I first entered the sinkhole. It is bland and unremarkable, with no glowing trees, no sparkling insects, and no weird and strange insects.
Ancient creatures, everyone always feels as if they are in another world, as if that magical place only appeared in their dreams.
After two short rests on the way, it was dusk in the outside world, and as far as the eye could see, a towering mountain loomed ahead.
Ning Xiaofan took out his tablet computer. Only a short section of the red main line was displayed on the screen, and the direction pointed by the end of the main line was the looming mountain.
There was the destination called the Grotto, and he was finally going to survive. Ning Xiaofan told everyone the news with a happy face. After hearing this, Fatty and others couldn't help but cheered with joy.
The so-called "running to death" at Wangshan Mountain was because the distance between the mountain and the mountain was really not that close. It took Ning Xiaofan and his party nearly two hours of walking before they could roughly see the true appearance of the mountain.
It is said to be a big mountain, but the shape of the mountain is quite strange. The top of the mountain looks relatively flat, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. There are no steep peaks, and there are no continuous mountains connecting it. It is like a huge rock, standing so independently at the end of the wilderness.
, looking at it, it looks like a huge diamond-shaped volcano, or an artificially cast cube.
When they got closer, everyone also discovered that on the top of this huge cube stood a tall signal transmission tower and several huge white radar pot covers. There were also caves of different sizes on the walls of the cube that looked like honeycombs.
, what’s even more bizarre is that the cube also emits colorful fluorescence, giving people a gorgeous feeling.
Seeing the artificial traces on the top, everyone couldn't help but let out a long breath, and their eyes were full of joy. The grotto had arrived.
"Welcome to Base 4 - Grotto."
Suddenly, a clear baritone voice came into everyone's ears, and everyone was startled by this sudden sound.
Where does this sound come from?
Just as everyone was looking at each other, several searchlights flashed from the bottom of the cube in front of them. The searchlight lamp posts covered everyone's bodies, dazzling them.
But at this moment, a rumbling sound was heard, and a ray of light bloomed again at the bottom of the cube. The light was first a line, then extended towards both sides, and the light gradually became wider. After everyone took a closer look, they realized that it was
A huge iron door slowly opened.
As the huge iron door opened, through the light, several figures could be vaguely seen emerging.
The scene in front of me is really science fiction and shocking.
At this time, although everyone knew that this place called the Grotto was the final gathering place for various prospecting teams, they were still excited when those figures appeared. However, they met Labelle and his group on the road.
Such friendly human beings, it is inevitable that everyone will feel a little uneasy and nervous.
Among everyone, Ning Xiaofan was relatively calm. Among the top-secret information given by Aunt Xiang, there was a detailed description of the grotto.
This place called the Grotto began to be constructed secretly a few years ago. It is the last base to enter the world of Tiankeng. It can also be called Base No. 4. After several years of continuous construction and development, it is now
The scale is provided and there are people stationed all year round.
The grotto is also the final gathering place, transfer station, and material supply place for all prospecting teams.
Ning Xiaofan also knew that in addition to the above functions, this grotto is also a scientific research institute and has navigation functions. The map displayed on the tablet can be accurately positioned, and the transmitting tower on the top is always functioning. Otherwise
, it is estimated that Ning Xiaofan and his party did not know what year or month they would find this place.
Ning Xiaofan was able to remain calm because he knew in his heart that the Grotto, as Base No. 4, could maintain video communication with the ground through the transmitting tower. In other words, the Grotto was under surveillance from the ground, so absolute safety could be guaranteed.
Five men and one woman came out of the huge iron door. Walking at the front was a man and a woman, both wearing outdoor suits and work badges on their chests. The man and woman were both over middle-aged, about 40 years old.
On the left and right. Following closely behind were four armed men wearing headsets and holding Type 95s.
The five men and one woman came closer, and the middle-aged man wearing a field suit said with a smile: "Welcome, welcome, everyone to the grotto, who is your team leader? Please come out and talk."
"I am the team leader." Ning Xiaofan stepped forward and said.
"Hello, hello, my surname is Tang, Tang Yaoqiang, the first manager of the grotto base..." The man who called himself Zhang Yaoqiang stepped forward and shook hands with Ning Xiaofan, and then introduced the middle-aged woman next to him: "This
This is Zhang Jiayi, the second manager of the grotto base, welcome you."
"Hello, my name is Ning Xiaofan, captain of the advance prospecting team." Ning Xiaofan also introduced himself.
"So you are Captain Ning Xiaofanning. Thank you for your hard work. In the past few days, my ears have almost become callused when I hear your name..."
Ning Xiaofan heard the meaning in his words, as if he knew that there was such a person like him, and was slightly startled: "Have you heard of me?"
"No, speaking of it, you and I both belong to the Xin'ao Group and can be considered colleagues. In the past few days, the superiors have asked about your situation from time to time..."
Someone above asked me? I guess it was either Aunt Xiang or Sister Yulan. Well, Ma Yu is the person in charge of the base, so she might also ask me.
While thinking about it, Ning Xiaofan glanced at the work badge on his chest. It had the logo of Xinao Group on it. He smiled and said: "I made the people above worry, but fortunately, we finally got to the bottom of the field."
Tang Yaoqiang said with emotion: "Yes, if you don't arrive again, I don't know how to reply to what I said above. Fortunately, you finally arrived safely. Haha, your advance prospecting team is the last to arrive...
"Oh, Director Tang, are there other previous teams that have arrived?"
"Yes, several advance prospecting teams have arrived one after another, but your team has not arrived. I am worried. I am also considering whether to send a small team to look for you. Look at you, you are out of luck on the road.
Is there something unexpected?"
"There was an accident..." Ning Xiaofan replied vaguely, without explaining the reason. Before setting off, he signed a confidentiality agreement. Everything he saw and encountered on the road must be kept confidential. He could not formulate a written report until he returned to the company.
, hand it over to your direct supervisor, that is, the little goblin.
Tang Yaoqiang seemed to know what was going on. He didn't care about Ning Xiaofan's vague response and didn't ask any questions. He smiled and said, "It's good to be here. I can imagine your hard work along the way. When you get here, you can rest assured."
It’s time to rest peacefully for some time.”
As Tang Yaoqiang spoke, he glanced at Professor Zhao and Li Wanting, with a trace of doubt in his eyes: "Captain Ning, your team doesn't have a large structure, right? I remember that there are regulations on the number of people in the advance team, which should not exceed seven.
Man, you seem to have a few more people in your team."
The meaning of Tang Yaoqiang's words is relatively obscure, but the meaning is very clear. Professor Zhao in the team is older, and there is also a rather beautiful woman, who is obviously not a member of the advance prospecting team.
Ning Xiaofan quickly explained: "Director Tang, I met the extra people on the road. Let me introduce them to you. These are members of the joint scientific expedition team of Xin'ao and Jiangnan University. Let me introduce them to you.
This is Professor Zhao, Professor Wu, Dr. Li Wanting, and this... Captain Yang Haiyang, the security guard of the scientific expedition team..."
After listening to Ning Xiaofan's introduction, Tang Yaoqiang suddenly said: "It turns out they are from the Joint Scientific Expedition Team. I know, I know, but... why are there only these few people? Where are the others? I have a list there, and there are more than 100 people there.
That's right, the team leader should be Wang Zhipeng from our company, why isn't he here?"
"This... it's a long story. I will report it when I get back." Ning Xiaofan still replied vaguely.
"That's it, I understand..." Tang Yaoqiang smiled meaningfully and said, "Okay, let's not talk outside. According to the regulations, before entering the base, we have to ask you to show your ID. This is a regulation.
So please understand.”
"It should." Ning Xiaofan smiled, took out his identity card, and then motioned to Fatty and others to take out their IDs.
The fat man and others all looked ragged and in a state of embarrassment. They were unaware of the documents they carried with them, so they took them out one after another and showed their identities.
After checking his identity, Tang Yaoqiang made a gesture of invitation and walked towards the iron gate.
Entering the iron gate, the iron gate slowly closed. The lights inside the iron gate were bright, and what came into view was a spacious hall. However, the hall seemed empty, without any facilities. There were only a few mobile phones directly opposite the hall.
The elevators are simply surrounded by iron railings. There are two armed guards standing in front of each elevator.
Arriving in front of one of the crude-looking elevators, Tang Yaoqiang stopped and turned to the woman named Zhang Jiayi and said, "Director Zhang, Captain Ning and his party will be settled by you."
Zhang Jiayi nodded.
Then, Tang Yaoqiang looked at Professor Zhao, Li Wanting and others and said, "Please come with me from the joint scientific expedition team. You have other arrangements."
When Tang Yaoqiang said this, Ning Xiaofan and others were stunned. Li Wanting was a little reluctant and hurriedly said: "Director Tang, can't we be with Captain Ning and the others?"
With outsiders around, Li Wanting was still more careful not to reveal the relationship between the two, and directly addressed Ning Xiaofan as Captain Ning.
