Living in the Doomsday and Becoming an Immortal Alone
Chapter 69 - 53: Obstacle

Chapter 69: Chapter 53: Obstacle

"Junior Mechanic Qualification Certificate".

Holder: Wang Zheng.

Tsk, he got it easily without that answer sheet.

In the newly repaired room, Wang Jixuan quickly organized his luggage.

Since he was going to the expansion area outside the Fortress, not leaving the Fortress, Wang Jixuan just sent a message to Zhou Zhengde, who did not come to see him off.

[01: Which expansion area?]

[02: C.]

[01: The environment there is relatively okay, some areas get sunlight every day. That’s where the Fortress’s water reservoirs and some mines are, not far from the Defense Army headquarters. Are you going with Major Lingtong?]

[02: Going to be her nanny.]

[01: Ah? You guys are moving in together?]

[02: Mechanic. You should get a new girlfriend, Security Captain.]

[01: You’re right, the new Biological Minister is super hot, and she’s two years younger than me. I heard she’s a semi-conservative, just met her at yesterday’s reception, pretty charming. (≖ᴗ≖)✧]

[02: Are you planning to defect? ψ(*｀ー´)ψ]

[01: Er, I mean in terms of charm, not her job. Work is work, life is life. Text me if you need anything.]

[02: A sniper rifle.]

[01: Anything else?]

[02: Three sniper rifles.]

[01: You need these even when you’re with Lingtong? And relax, the Spiritual Ability Users are only stationed here; they can’t get any information from Sector 76 unless we allow it. The Governor has already made a statement. But, the informant I’ve planted next to the new Biological Minister said that Qin Qin has started to keep an eye on Lingtong.]

[02: Can she threaten Lingtong?]

[01: How could she? Get to know the worth of a Horror Mecha pilot candidate. Lingtong is the human individual that the Blade Beasts would like to eliminate first. I have to work now. I’ll interact with Minister Qin later to see if she’s just putting on a show or if she’s really determined to investigate thoroughly. If it’s the latter, I’ll take care of her.]

[02: Call me anytime if there’s a problem.]

Wang Jixuan smiled and put down the text exchange machine.

Zhou Yan had been getting more adept at using his privileges since he made that call to his grandfather.

He was merely a Sheriff of the first layer, yet he was able to directly intervene in the operations of the top echelons of the Fortress.

As for Zhou Yan’s mother...

Daoist Wang didn’t have a good impression, but he also planned to refine a Beauty and Youth Elixir for her, purely as a thank-you gift for Zhou Zhengde.

’After all, this poor Daoist still relies on Xiao Zhou to take care of me while I pass my days cultivating.’

He packed his luggage into two boxes, the larger one containing his contraband, hidden under layers of clothes and wrapped in several layers of ’scan-imitating’ materials he had acquired from the Lower City.

Then, Wang Jixuan sat on the bed to meditate, waiting for his Spiritual Sense to flicker slightly.

At two in the afternoon, familiar footsteps approached.

Wang Jixuan’s legs dropped down, waiting for the unlocked door to be pushed open by someone.

Lingtong was surprisingly dressed in a silver-white combat suit today, complete with a pair of tactical goggles.

The material of the combat suit was somewhere between metal and rubber, merging perfectly with her mechanical arm, possessing the solidity of armor while fitting snugly like a bodysuit. It outlined her slender legs and suddenly slim waist so perfectly.

In order to fit Lingtong’s figure, the designer of the combat suit had to use a bit more material below her neck; when she usually wore casual clothes, her soft muscles hardly revealed such a scale.

It boasted combat readiness, visual impact, and beauty, although...

It lacked a certain celestial charm.

Daoist Wang’s gaze remained clear.

He asked softly, "Going into battle?"

"No."

"Then this outfit..."

Lingtong, her mechanical arm behind her back, replied, "It’s a daily choice of attire. Can we go now?"

Wang Jixuan nodded and picked up his boxes.

Lingtong asked, "Don’t you need me to help you pack?"

"No need, there’s not much stuff. You can move the things you brought later."

"Alright, I’ll arrange for someone to move them later. Let’s get you to the dormitory first," Lingtong answered quickly.

As she turned, her ponytail bounced lightly, revealing that she was in a very good mood.

Wang Jixuan followed a few steps behind her before deliberately moving up to walk shoulder to shoulder with her.

"We’ll have to pass through the barracks first," Lingtong reminded, "You are now my recruited mechanic Wang Zheng, and I am your direct superior. Try to look a bit nervous when we pass through the barracks. I’ve arranged transportation there, then we’ll head to the outer expansion area C."

Wang Jixuan muttered, "Look a bit nervous?"

"Yes, will it be difficult?"

Wang Jixuan swallowed, pursed his lips tightly, and his entire body seemed to tense up; even his gaze became a bit evasive.

Lingtong almost burst into laughter.

She looked ahead and said softly, "Good, mechanic, please maintain that expression. I’m releasing a couple of Reconnaissance Aircraft to avoid the Spiritual Ability Users."

"It’s my duty," he replied.

"You shouldn’t say ’it’s my duty’ to your superior."

"Then what should I say? ’Life is hard’?"

"You should say something like this."

Lingtong cleared her throat and in her calm voice, with a serene expression, she whispered:

"Chief, thank you for taking care of me. I’ve benefited from your selfless assistance over the years."

"Eh..." Daoist Wang dodged backward.

"That’s what my first instructor taught me."

Lingtong’s lips curved up slightly, a touch of pride in her expression:

"I have a set of quotes for dealing with superiors, I could teach you later."

Wang Jixuan chuckled softly.

And then you’ll use them on me?

But honestly, it’s pretty good. — This combat suit.

...

Although Wang Jixuan had peeked through that vent before and seen the blue sky and white clouds outside;

But when he took the elevator from the Upper City and arrived directly at the surface level barracks from the sixth floor, the moment the elevator doors opened and the sunlight hit his face, he still had a feeling of being transported to another era.

The noise hit him like a wave.

In the distance, the blue sky, distant mountains, and deserts brought his vision back from far to near, step by step.

Ahead was a lively campsite; under a field of neatly arranged arch-shaped warehouses, camouflaged strongmen bustled about. Inside many warehouses, the bright light of arc welding flashed, and single soldier mechas ranging from two to over ten meters in height were displayed all around.

Mechas.

They exist in the Spiritual Ability Users’ Cultivation World as well, though they’re generally more crude, often referred to as Mechanical Armor.

As a Junior Mechanic, Wang Jixuan now certainly understood the function of mechas.

Mechas were an important fighting force against the Blade Beasts, usually featuring powerful firepower, exceptional mobility, all-terrain adaptability, and the combined combat ability to take on high-level Blade Beasts alone.

In the war with the Blade Beasts, these mechas weren’t the main firepower; the main firepower still came from various types of cannons. Mecha troops typically undertook the task of breaking through during combat against Blade Beasts, and mechanics often suffered the highest casualties.

——Cost control for units of firepower is the second major Chapter of the entrance course for mechanics.

The sound of engines approached from the side. Three soldiers in camouflage tank tops were operating their own exoskeleton power armor, running past with swift, stilt-like steps.

"Let’s go."

Major Lingtong urged, leading Wang Jixuan into the sunlight and into the military camp of the Fortress Defense Army.

Wang Jixuan heard a slight creaking noise; the feeling of stepping on the yellow soil made him feel much more grounded, and the ever-expanding view in front of him made his Dao heart leap with joy.

This was the place where people were meant to be!

How could the psychology of normal people not get twisted after living in the Fortress for too long?

It’s just that...

’The Spiritual Energy is indeed thinner than below.’

Wang Jixuan found this somewhat puzzling.

In their Cultivation World, higher places usually had richer Spiritual Energy, which is why many high-level practitioners preferred to live on mountain peaks.

The original meaning of the term "Immortal" was a person above the mountains.

’It’s a bit strange.’

Master Wang’s attention was drawn by noise in the distance, looking up to see in the western sky several large multi-rotor drones synchronously flying in, towing an exaggeratedly shaped giant pulse cannon below.

If this had been in the past, Wang Jixuan would likely have thought, "This Magic Artifact looks powerful!"

But now, having been influenced by his studies for the Junior Mechanic Qualification Certificate, he subconsciously considered:

[How much energy does this thing consume? Can the Fortress really afford it?]

— Screech —

The sound of brakes signaled their arrival, and Wang Jixuan instinctively stepped back as a Lynx all-terrain light combat vehicle stopped in front of him and Major Lingtong. The driver immediately jumped out and saluted sharply.

"Major!"

"Hmm."

Major Lingtong briefly responded, opened the door, took a seat, and turned her head to Wang Jixuan.

"Get in."

"Yes, officer."

Wang Jixuan, calling out hoarsely, tried to look tense as he placed his luggage in the back of the combat vehicle.

As soon as he was seated, Major Lingtong slammed on the accelerator; the vehicle’s wheels kicked up sand and gravel as it shot forward.

Like a swift breeze and a flash of lightning!

Wang Jixuan felt as if he had returned to the verdant years of his youth when he had just learned how to fly by controlling objects. That rainy season when he was sixteen, he rode a giant kite over the hills behind his home, laughing heartily with the wind.

Then he smashed headfirst into the protective array wall of the Scripture Pavilion and nearly broke several bones.

Wang Jixuan silently dispersed these embarrassing memories and turned his attention back to the surrounding landscape.

The terrain of the outer C-section was slightly elevated, with military installations along the way.

Once they had climbed a section of the still somewhat smooth mountain road, Wang Jixuan looked back and saw the large part of the camp that had come into view. Those "square concrete boxes" scattered both inside and outside the campsite were the terminal points of the Fortress’s ventilation system and daylight transmission system.

Quite nice.

Apart from the Fortress Lower City being too dark, the Fortress really could be called a ’home.’

He looked up, trying to spot the shadow of the Space Fortress with the naked eye, but all he saw after a long gaze was a passing transport plane and the broad contrail clouds it left behind.

Before Wang Jixuan had the chance to fully admire the sky, his view was filled with the gray of a tunnel.

Then came a stretch of tunnel where the lighting was not very bright; the terrain gently sloped downward, leading to parts unknown.

Wang Jixuan asked, "How long will it take to get through C-section?"

"Just a few more minutes."

Major Lingtong replied softly, slightly furrowing her eyebrows:

"Don’t talk later, I’ll handle the negotiations. We have some uninvited guests ahead."

"Spiritual Ability Users?"

"Yes, the new minister, dressed in a combat suit today."

Major Lingtong’s pretty face grew slightly colder, and her slightly longer eyelashes fluttered as the small slits on her mechanical arm lit up with green light.

Self-check complete.

Ready for combat.

Wang Jixuan tried to sense carefully, but clearly, his Spiritual Sense was not as useful as Major Lingtong’s radar.

About two minutes later.

— Screech —

The brake pads let out a reluctant groan as the vehicle stopped at the tunnel exit.

There, several armored vehicles were aligned side by side, with a dozen figures standing in front of the vehicles and five sitting inside.

Wang Jixuan had already sensed about four Spiritual Ability Users’ presences, likely all C-grade, who were all inside the armored vehicles and had not shown themselves.

The patchy Qi within these Spiritual Ability Users was not as strong as that guy Zheng Shiduo.

However, the abilities of Spiritual Ability Users were diverse, and their true strengths could be difficult to gauge without a direct confrontation.

Wang Jixuan put on an appropriately tense expression.

Major Lingtong calmly picked up the walkie-talkie from the car’s center console, her gaze fixed on the figures ahead. She took a light breath to stay composed, her lips—especially treated this afternoon—parted gently.

"Scram."

A few of those ahead clearly shivered from the chilly tone.