Super Gene Hunting Ground

Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Dig Deep, Accumulate Grain

Yang Xiao didn’t sleep in the second half of the night, continuously pondering how everyone would survive if Earth entered an ice age.

The next morning, Yang Xiao gathered Xiao Zhe, Zhao Gang, Huang Wen, and others for a meeting to express his concerns.

Zhao Gang slapped his thigh,

”Oh no, boss, your idea is quite reasonable. Perhaps humans really will enter the Ice Age. It’d be disastrous; we would all freeze to death.”

As a top student, Huang Wen pondered for a moment and said:

”Technically, Yang Xiao’s concerns are valid. Right now, Earth is shrouded in dense fog, and sunlight cannot reach us directly, naturally lowering Earth’s temperature. However, compared to the Ice Age that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, we have different conditions. Dust from a meteorite impact on Earth floated into the high atmosphere and couldn’t be cleared for years, but the fog we’re facing can be dispelled.”

”You mean that as long as we disperse the surrounding fog and let the sunlight shine in, we won’t enter an Ice Age?”

Xiao Zhe asked.

”I’m not sure exactly, but there are certainly some differences.”

Yang Xiao nodded and said,

”We cannot change the global environment of the Earth. It is estimated that too many areas, including the oceans, mountains, fields, etc., would be covered in fog, accounting for over 90% of Earth’s surface. A global drop in temperature is certain. What we can change are small environments, like around our Kongming Academy. Let’s completely disperse the fog here, as much as possible, turning this into an oasis in the world of ice and snow.”

”It’s best to unite with nearby people for this task, connecting fog-dispersed areas into large blocks. The more sunlight comes in, the more warmth we’ll have.”

...

After some discussion, Yang Xiao decided to personally visit Xianan University to find Xia Luo and unite with them to disperse the fog in a range of dozens of kilometers around Biyun Mountain.

”With the temperature dropping due to climate change, there are fewer and fewer mutated creatures outside. Before the cold worsens, hasten to dig up the potatoes and store them in the administrative building. Also, collect mutated creatures’ bodies to make jerky and chop more wood in preparation for winter. Even if we clear the surrounding fog, this winter may be the coldest we’ve ever experienced.”

Zhao Gang suddenly stood up and said,

”Boss, I have a good method for winter preparation.”

”Oh? What method?”

”In our place, the winter is usually minus 30 to 40 degrees, and the mountains are sealed by snow for several months each year.”

Everyone’s eyes lit up, staring at Zhao Gang. How did they forget about that?

As an East City local, Zhao Gang surely has good ways to survive the winter.

”What good method do you have? Just tell us.”

Yang Xiao looked expectantly.

”Build heated kangs. Once they are fired up, they’re very warm. Dozens of people can squeeze together and sleep.”

Pfft!

Yang Xiao was drinking water and spat it out.

”Build heated kangs? We don’t know how, and with over a thousand people, how many kangs would we need to build? With such tight timing, it’s impossible.”

”I know how to build heated kangs, I can do it!”

Zhao Gang patted his chest.

”But how could it work without building materials? Where will you get them on short notice?”

”There’s a large building materials market three kilometers outside the school. The people there are dead, and it’s empty. I took some people to check it out a few days ago; there’s plenty of cement and steel.”

Everyone buzzed, feeling invigorated, all eyes on Zhao Gang.

Most people knew about the building materials market three kilometers outside the school. If it were like Zhao Gang said, using the materials to build basic heated kangs in the office building wouldn’t be impossible.

Suddenly, a voice emerged.

”If we do enter an Ice Age, it might last a long time, right? The wood we chop will eventually run out, and then what?”

Everyone was at a loss and turned their heads, looking at the logistics director Xu Nanqiang.

”What’s your idea?”

Yang Xiao asked.

”I’m from Shanxi, and people there prefer to dig cave dwellings. They stay warm in winter and cool in summer. No matter how snowy winter gets, cave dwellings are much warmer than outside because the mountain’s temperature is much higher, you understand geothermal heat?”

Xu Nanqiang’s final sentence ”you understand geothermal heat?” made everyone burst out laughing.

Wow, using geothermal heat, what a genius idea!

Seeing his suggestion denied by Xu Nanqiang, Zhao Gang was a bit displeased and said,

”Dig cave dwellings? We have over a thousand people, where to dig, and with what? Isn’t that even more troublesome than building heated kangs?”

Xu Nanqiang pointed to the mountainside near the playground and said,

”I suggest digging several large cave dwellings near the playground. It’s fairly close to the Genetic Store. Perhaps soon, the Genetic Store’s protective light might cover the mountainside near the playground.

As for tools, pretty simple, I also checked that building materials market. There are over a dozen excavators parked there. We can use them for digging, should be very swift.”

After Xu Nanqiang finished speaking, everyone felt a wave of excitement. The idea was bold and good indeed. Compared to building heated kangs in the school office building, digging cave dwellings by the mountainside of the playground was an excellent choice. It provides warmth and is close to the Genetic Store, which offers protection against a monster attack.

However, another problem arose.

Zhao Gang was stunned for a moment and asked,

”What if the cave dwellings collapse? We’d all be buried. And how do we solve ventilation and lighting issues?”

”The building materials market has cement and steel, right? We can reinforce the cave dwellings to prevent collapses. Also, a ground fire dragon can be built inside the cave dwellings to increase the temperature. Lighting might be tricky, but ventilation shouldn’t be a big issue.”

Huang Wen suddenly suggested,

”I have a suggestion, Xianan University has a School of Architecture. Their people understand construction engineering. We should get a few of them to help us build the cave dwellings, to ensure safer structures.”

...

Everyone suddenly became excited, intensely discussing for over an hour, and finally unanimously agreed on digging cave dwellings.

Xu Nanqiang led the logistics group and went to the nearby building materials market that same day, bringing loads of cement and steel back to the school.

They found keys in the office leasing excavators, drove one to a nearby gas station, filled it with fuel, and brought the excavator back to the school.

Yang Xiao, along with Long Yongjun, Huang Wen, Qin Yu, Deng Xiao, and Chen Fei, prepared to use the Transmission Array to go to Xianan University to find Xia Luo.

The Transmission Array had been open for a week, and both sides had tried it. Like a space-time tunnel, it was very convenient.

Zhao Gang was uneasy about Yang Xiao and others going to Xianan University.

”Boss, let me lead a hundred elite guards to protect you, will you?”

”No need for that, right? Besides, isn’t the Transmission Station limited by the number of people it can transport? A hundred can’t go through.”

”We’ll walk along the main road outside the campus, it’s only about an hour and a half, safety first!”

”Hehe, don’t worry, for now, Xia Luo won’t confront me. I’m not going there for a fight; I’m going to help him.”

Yang Xiao, with Long Yongjun and the five others, stood at the Transmission Station near the playground entrance. A light circle appeared on the station, and above it the only current destination: ’Xianan University’.

Yang Xiao lightly tapped it with his finger. Immediately, beams of light enveloped him and the five others. Then with a swoosh, they disappeared.