Chapter 147

“The indoor oxygen generator primarily uses an air pre-cooling separation system. Each unit can store up to twenty cubic meters of oxygen.”

Inside the Technology Laboratory, Sun Yiping was explaining carefully. In front of the Farm oxygen generator was an oxygen storage tank, and behind it was the oxygen production unit. The whole setup looked like an oversized air conditioner.

Liu Wensheng examined it, then picked up a small can beside it. It was a 300ml black can, similar in size to a soda can, with a breathing mask attached to the front.

Liu Wensheng pressed it a few times and asked, “Is this a portable oxygen canister?”

“Yes,” Sun Yiping replied, beginning a demonstration.

The Farm Oxygen Canister worked on the same principle as a regular oxygen tank. After use, residents could refill them at an Oxygen Station. Each refill cost between 3 to 10 yuan and could last up to 72 hours.

The oxygen inside wasn’t pure oxygen but a synthetic blend formulated to suit the human body. If intake exceeded safe levels, the canister would automatically detect it and stop the flow, ensuring overall safety for human use.

On the evening of April 15, Longxia released a news report: “The Longxia Academy of Sciences has developed a Portable Compressed Oxygen Machine. The device is compact, stable, and has multiple advanced features…【Video】”

In the video, the oxygen machine resembled an oversized community water dispenser. The operator placed an oxygen canister inside, and it automatically refilled. Thanks to special safety measures, both the machine and the canisters were completely secure.

“Will it be like gas stations in the future, where people need to ‘fuel up’ on oxygen just to function…?”

After watching the news, netizens instinctively took a deep breath. With algae degradation worsening, people had already gotten used to thinner air, but the idea of completely running out of oxygen… was simply unimaginable.

“On April 22, Canpesheng activated an emergency artificial oxygen plan.”

“Cybera, Mali, and 23 other countries signed a strategic oxygen cooperation agreement with Longxia, planning to build 230 oxygen pilot stations worldwide.”

“Natal is seeking to purchase Longxia’s new oxygen machines at high prices…”

…

Over the next two days, the global situation revolved entirely around oxygen. Only then did netizens begin to realize just how dire the global oxygen shortage had become.

…

“Your child is not in any life-threatening condition. Just make sure he gets plenty of fresh air.”

While the world was growing increasingly anxious over the oxygen crisis, on the afternoon of April 25, Xu Yingsi was discharged from the hospital with her son in her arms. Her son, Su Keke, was four years old and had collapsed at kindergarten the previous week. After examination, the hospital diagnosed him with hypoxia complications caused by Acid Rain. Today, he was finally well enough to go home.

Xu Yingsi stood by the hospital entrance for a few minutes before a taxi pulled up.

She got in with her son.

“How did the checkup go?” asked Su Xingkai. He was thirty-two years old and had been married to Xu Yingsi for seven years. During their son’s hospital stay, Xu Yingsi had stayed with the child, while Su Xingkai would come by after his night shifts.

“They gave us a breathing spray and told us to get more fresh air.”

“Sigh.” Su Xingkai let out a heavy breath.

They were both born and raised in Jinshi City. Since March of last year, the city had been under Level 4 pollution or worse. The local government had tried to restructure energy sources and adjust industrial layouts, but this round of air pollution was caused by a combination of Acid Rain, high temperatures, and dust. And it wasn’t just Jinshi City—Longnan and Zhongnan were also at Level 3 pollution.

With global disasters piling up like stacked debuffs, even something as basic as breathing had become a luxury.

At 5 p.m., the family of three returned home. They lived in a seventy-square-meter old apartment. The place had been cleaned thoroughly, and the rooms were filled with pothos and succulents. The balcony was lined with hanging baskets of green beans and trailing plants. The greenery inside was more lush than a botanical garden.

Su Xingkai carried their son into the bedroom, then came back out and said, “I bought all these from the flower market. If it’s not enough, I’ll get more.”

Xu Yingsi looked around and said, “This is plenty.”

There were at least fifty pots in total. After a brief chat, Xu Yingsi asked worriedly, “Do you think this will actually help?”

“We’ll have to try.” Su Xingkai sighed. When he went to the flower market two days ago, it was packed with elderly shoppers. With the national oxygen shortage, green plants had become a hot commodity. He had to visit seven different markets just to gather this many.

Their son seemed fine during the day, but at night he would suddenly start coughing. After returning home, Xu Yingsi moved her bed next to his. Over the next two days, Su Xingkai worked overtime while Xu Yingsi focused entirely on caring for their child.

On May 3, the residential property management issued a notice—

【Xinlin Property Management: Xinlin Community has purchased three large oxygen machines, provided by Fengshan Farm technology and manufactured by Dongshan Technology. Residents in need of oxygen can go to the management office to rent oxygen canisters. Pricing details as follows…】

The canisters came in large, medium, and small sizes. Deposits ranged from 300 to 500 yuan, and each refill cost between 3 to 10 yuan.

“These are Fengshan oxygen canisters?” Xu Yingsi was surprised.

“Jinshi City is one of the pilot cities,” Su Xingkai said as he returned from work.

A week ago, Longxia had announced its oxygen machine pilot program, selecting ten heavily polluted cities—including Jinghe, Luo Hai, and Jinshi City—as trial locations. As soon as the news broke, people across the country began tracking the rollout. Most thought the machines wouldn’t be available until next month, but the speed had exceeded all expectations.

Xu Yingsi opened the community group chat.

“Do we need an ID?”

“What if the canister breaks after renting it?”

“There are too many people at the property office. If you’re going, hurry up. 【Photo】”

…

The group chat was flooded with messages about the oxygen canisters. Many residents were already lining up downstairs.

“Should we get one?” Su Xingkai asked.

“Definitely!” Xu Yingsi changed her shoes without hesitation.

Their son’s condition—Acute Hypoxia caused by Acid Rain Sickness—made the oxygen canister an absolute necessity.

Xu Yingsi brought their property deed and household registration book and went downstairs to queue. The line was even longer than the photos had shown. After three hours, she finally got her hands on three oxygen canisters.

The canisters were about the size of soda cans, with the logo “Fengshan Research – Dongshan Manufacturing” printed on them. They were empty, so she queued again at the oxygen machine to fill them. By the time she returned home, Su Xingkai had already prepared lunch.

“The deposit was nine hundred, and I added a hundred yuan to the oxygen card,” Xu Yingsi said as she set the canisters down. The canisters could be either rented or purchased—rental was 300 yuan, while buying one outright cost 1,000.

“Mama.” At that moment, their son Su Keke came out of the bedroom.

“Mama got you an oxygen toy,” Xu Yingsi said, holding up one of the canisters.

The canisters had an automatic detection system that monitored the user’s oxygen needs. A blue light indicated mild need, while red signified severe need.

Following the instructions, Xu Yingsi activated the canister.

A stream of pure, clean air flowed into her lungs. She immediately felt her chest open up, and the indicator on the canister turned blue.

“This really helps,” Su Xingkai said as he took a breath himself. They couldn’t tell the exact difference between pure oxygen and regular air, but the air from the canister was undeniably fresh and soothing. After inhaling, they both felt their lungs lighten noticeably.

“Give it a try.” After confirming it was safe, Xu Yingsi placed the oxygen mask on her son.

He took two deep breaths. “It feels like a nebulizer.” Because of his respiratory condition, he had to use a nebulizer three times a day.

“This is artificial oxygen,” Xu Yingsi said, her heart aching. As her son inhaled, a high-oxygen-demand indicator lit up on the canister.

She found the sleeve from his old water bottle, slipped the oxygen canister inside, and hung it around his neck. “If you ever start feeling unwell, breathe some oxygen, okay?”

“Okay.” The boy played with the oxygen canister like it was a new toy.

“Is it helping?” Su Xingkai asked worriedly.

Xu Yingsi’s expression was complicated. “We’re just trying it out…”

Her son had hypoxia. She was mostly doing this for peace of mind.

On May 5th, Xu Yingsi took her son back to the hospital for a follow-up.

“First an ECG, then the three lung function tests…” The doctor rattled off a long list.

Xu Yingsi took her son through each test one by one. When they returned for the review, the doctor looked surprised. “Has he eaten anything different lately?”

“No.”

“Changed environments? Received any physical therapy?”

“No…”

The doctor asked a series of questions before Xu Yingsi suddenly remembered. “He’s been using oxygen regularly these past few days.”

“What kind of oxygen?”

“This one…”

She took the small oxygen canister off her son’s neck. It was so compact that he’d been treating it like a comfort bottle.

“Is there a problem?” Xu Yingsi asked, worried.

“His hypoxia has clearly improved. Let him use the oxygen more often when he’s fine.” With oxygen machines now widely available, hypoxia cases in hospitals had noticeably decreased.

Xu Yingsi let out a long sigh of relief.

…

“Carrying an oxygen canister to work these days gives me a real sense of security.”

“The air quality in Huai Province is equivalent to being 1,200 meters above sea level. It’s suffocating.”

“We’re still doing okay. Qing Province and Western Province are practically uninhabitable.”

…

Netizens were discussing the issue of Global Hypoxia.

Global Hypoxia—something unimaginable five years ago—had now become the norm.

As oxygen stations were gradually built across the country, the national average temperature had reached 57 degrees Celsius. Residents could use the Constant Temperature Series to ease the heat, but many animals and plants had died from prolonged exposure to high temperatures.

By late May, global soil was suffering from drought, making farming difficult.

“Feels like we’re living in a hellish script.”

“Masks, protective suits, oxygen canisters—these are the new essentials for going outside.”

“There are too many animal-borne bacteria where we are. We have to disinfect three times a week.”

…

Netizens joked under the blazing sun.

Now that 3031 was halfway through, people had food and water, and as long as they didn’t act recklessly, Hugua H1 wouldn’t spread. Everything was better than four years ago. But if you asked about happiness… it didn’t seem to have improved much.

“It’s all because of the acid rain.” People thought back and remembered the Harma Storm of 3028.

It had been a typical acid rain event, but the aftermath was far worse than expected. Agriculture, welfare policies, employment development—everything had been hit hard by the drought and heat. Longxia’s economy had struggled to grow.

【Economist Rokaner predicts the global economy will decline by 13% compared to 3030.】

【Global Weekly: Longxia may experience its first economic contraction in three years due to high temperatures and drought.】

…

Food crises, polar ice melt, Hugua H1—since 3028, the global economy had been in continuous decline. Longxia, through food exports, Hugua Masks, and Off-site Seeds, had been a rare outlier, going against the global trend.

But even outliers eventually slow down. With global food pressure easing and factors like Hugua H1 and the Longxia tsunami, international economists were now predicting that Longxia’s economy in 3031 would either remain flat or decline compared to 3030.

“The Longxia economic miracle is over.”

“The global economy is on a difficult road to recovery.”

…

As economists analyzed the data, public confidence in Longxia’s economy waned. Amid this global attention, in July 3031, Longxia released its new quarterly financial report: Longxia’s economy had grown 17% compared to the same period in 3030. The tertiary sector had recovered to 76% of pre-disaster levels.

Impossible.

That was everyone’s first reaction after reading Longxia’s financial report.

Previously, Longxia’s growth had relied on food exports, Hugua Masks, and Off-site Seeds. Although oxygen equipment had been introduced this year, the scale wasn’t enough to drive such a significant economic rebound.

A 17% year-on-year increase in 3031? That was an inconceivable financial result.

On July 12th, media interviewed Longxia residents.

“In this extreme heat, why are you still going to work?”

Delivery driver: “I have a whole family to support. I can’t afford not to work.”

“Can your current income cover daily expenses?”

Shop assistant: “Now that I’ve started saving, it’s just enough to get by.”

“Are you happy?”

Restaurant owner: “I made it through the food crisis two years ago. Compared to then, I’m definitely happier now.”

…

After a round of interviews, the reporters realized something: people might complain, but that didn’t stop them from moving forward in life.

“A unique kind of Longxia spirit,” international media marveled.

Longxia’s people were like seeds in the soil. No matter how harsh the environment, as long as they found a direction, they always seemed to grow and thrive. It was a spirit of resilience, the ability to take root and flourish even in adversity.

…

“He’s grown taller.”

“Quite a bit taller…”

While international reporters looked on in amazement, inside Fengshan Farm, Qin Yun and Liu Wensheng were carefully observing the Hope Tree. It had grown from fifteen meters to twenty-five, its leaves lush and vibrant, the branches covered in the purest green foliage.

Qin Yun placed his right hand on the Hope Tree.

Name: Sprouting Tree of Hope

Attribute: Plant a single seed, and harvest the hope of summer.

…

The Hope Tree had now survived four cycles of spring and summer. Its roots were deeply embedded in the earth.

Liu Wensheng looked on with a hint of regret. “Still no fruit.”

Though disappointed, he couldn’t hide the wide smile on his face.

Longxia’s economic growth in the first half of the year had stunned not only international media but Longxia itself. According to grassroots investigations, the main industries driving this growth were entertainment, dining, and fruit delivery. As a result, employment in the tertiary sector had also steadily risen.

Longxia’s people were like wild grass in the fields—far more resilient than anyone had imagined.

After a while, Liu Wensheng asked, “How’s the research going?”

“We’re working on DNA synthesis.”

Currently, Longxia faced three major issues: Hugua H1, seaweed degradation, and Global Hypoxia.

Project progress—

Hugua H1: Grouper Substance is under study.

Global seaweed: The farm has screened 20,000 types of algae, with breakthrough results expected in the second half of the year.

Global Hypoxia: Caused by global environmental imbalance. Once the environment recovers, the oxygen shortage will resolve naturally.

After Qin Yun finished his report, Liu Wensheng patted him on the shoulder. “Good work.”

“It was all thanks to the efforts of the experimental team,” Qin Yun said modestly, not taking credit for himself. Though the research had the help of the Golden Hand, the core work still came from the Farm’s research team.

After chatting for a while, Liu Wensheng asked, “When are you planning to leave?”

Qin Yun thought for a moment. “Tomorrow afternoon.”

Hugua H1 could be prevented with the Hugua Mask, but the mask alone couldn’t solve the virus. After careful consideration, he had already submitted a request to the team to return to the Arctic, hoping to gain something through the [Golden Hand].

“You, huh…” Liu Wensheng sighed. His first instinct had been to oppose Qin Yun’s request, but as a decision-maker, he knew this trip was necessary.

“Be careful once you get there,” Liu Wensheng reminded him repeatedly.

Qin Yun listened attentively.

At this moment, they weren’t superior and subordinate, but simply an elder and a junior.

At 10:20, Qin Yun was about to head to the Technology Group. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly froze.

“System update?” Liu Wensheng asked, experienced enough to guess.

Qin Yun shared the System Interface.

Host Name: Qin Yun

Current Mission: Restore 10% of national greenery to pre-disaster levels, restore global soil to normal. (Completed)

Mission Reward: Virus Laboratory

……

This was the longest high-level mission since Off-site Seeds.

Name: Virus Laboratory (Wishing Pool Reward)

Level: High

Area: 500 mu

……

Half an hour later, on the southern side of Fengshan Farm, Qin Yun activated the [Virus Laboratory].

As he tapped the screen, a rumble sounded in front of him, and a sleek, silver-white modern building emerged.

The building’s exterior resembled the Technology Laboratory, with a smooth, rounded dome at the top. After examining the outside, everyone followed him inside. There were temperature-controlled culture rooms, mold cultivation rooms, biochemical labs… a total of fifty-three labs, all designed in a sleek, modern minimalist style.

Sophisticated.

Impressive.

That was everyone’s first impression after touring the lab.

“If Old Xiang saw this, he’d be too excited to sleep,” Song Yueshan joked nearby. Xiang Qingchuan, head of the Biology Group, had long hoped for a high-level lab. But aside from the basic facilities, the Biology Group had always been the unluckiest when it came to upgrades.

After Song Yueshan’s comment, a researcher added, “No need to send anyone to deliver the news. Secretary Qin’s already here, he can just tell him directly.”

“These internal facilities are hard to show off, but we can send Old Xiang a picture of the building’s exterior.”

“He probably won’t be able to sit still. Might hop on a flight back right away.”

……

The researchers chatted excitedly. Egged on by Song Yueshan, Qin Yun took a couple of exterior photos with his phone. They were just simple shots of the building’s appearance, so even if they were leaked, it wouldn’t matter. But with Xiang Qingchuan’s familiarity with the Farm, he would immediately recognize that this was no ordinary lab.

After a round of teasing, the Biology Group members began familiarizing themselves with the facility. Virus research was a top-tier priority at the Farm. Due to the sensitive nature of their work, the group had been preparing for isolated research. That’s when they discovered the Virus Laboratory’s special buff: automatic virus and pathogen detection for all personnel entering and exiting.

The lab categorized viruses into five levels. The common cold and fever were Level 1, while Hugua H1 was classified as Level 4. If the lab detected a Level 4 or higher virus, it would immediately trigger a severe alarm, allowing for rapid containment and prevention.

“This feature is amazing,” the Biology Group was thrilled.

Because of the nature of their work, the group had already been keeping a distance from regular researchers. Now, with the lab’s automatic detection system, both the Biology Group and the Farm had an added layer of safety.

While the group excitedly explored the facility, Liu Wensheng reminded them, “Everyone, make sure to stay safe.”

“Got it!”

Masks, isolation suits, and gloves were now the standard trio for the Biology Group. Even without Liu Wensheng’s reminder, they would’ve followed strict research protocols.

The team stayed in the lab until 2 a.m. Qin Yun and Liu Wensheng finally left.

“Stay safe,” Liu Wensheng reminded Qin Yun once more.

“I will,” Qin Yun replied solemnly.

The next afternoon, Qin Yun boarded a private plane bound for the Arctic Biological Station. He first flew to Borman Town, then took a boat from the town to the station. This was his third trip to the Arctic. Just when he thought he was used to it, the scene before him made him pause.

What lay ahead was a murky sea. Dead fish, seaweed, and black ice floes drifted on the surface. The water was eerily still, like lifeless sludge. In the distance, icebergs loomed, but their glaciers had receded, revealing dark brown mountain rock beneath. This didn’t look like the Arctic. It looked more like the melting Hilraya Mountains.

As he stood there stunned, a Weir staff member said, “We’ve arrived at the biological station.”

The ship passed through the icebergs, and Qin Yun spotted a familiar vessel ahead. Onboard were several black-clad figures waving at him.

Qin Yun waved back. They were members of the Longxia Biology Group.

Ten minutes later, Qin Yun boarded the ship. The researchers greeted him warmly.

“Long time no see.”

“Long time no see.” Dressed in isolation suits, they mimed a hug in the air—a unique greeting at the biological station.

After exchanging greetings, Qin Yun followed them into the cabin.

“You’re here!” Xiang Qingchuan greeted him cheerfully.

“Academician Xiang,” Qin Yun greeted respectfully.

The Arctic Biology Group had been stationed here for ten months. The constant cold winds had turned their faces red like apples, and everyone had lost noticeable weight.

At 7 p.m., after greeting representatives from other countries, Qin Yun joined the Biology Group for dinner. They were having pumpkin and corn porridge. Due to the difficulty of transporting vegetables, this was one of the more comforting, home-style meals at the station.

After everyone had eaten their fill, Xiang Qingchuan asked, “How’s the Farm doing?”

Qin Yun smiled mysteriously and pulled out his phone. “A surprise for the Biology Group.”

Xiang Qingchuan took the phone. The photo showed a sleek white building. At first, he was puzzled, but then his eyes lit up. “A lab?”

Qin Yun nodded.

Though neither of them said it outright, the meaning was clear.

“A real lab?”

“That’s fantastic!”

……

The other researchers were overjoyed. Ever since taking on the Global Soil mission, they had been eagerly awaiting the construction of the Virus Laboratory. Due to the high temperatures affecting crop growth, they hadn’t expected any progress until October. This was a complete and delightful surprise!

Over the next ten minutes, everyone carefully flipped through the photos, and the ones on Qin Yun’s phone were also shared with the biology team.

The researchers had two bowls of rice porridge, remarking that it tasted especially good today.

At 10 p.m., Qin Yun arrived at Xiang Qingchuan’s cabin.

Xiang Qingchuan looked at Qin Yun with a complicated expression. “You’ve worked hard.”

Three months ago, when Qin Yun acquired the Golden Hand skill, Farm had sent personnel to report it. Xiang Qingchuan had been genuinely happy for him. But he hadn’t expected Qin Yun to return to the Arctic.

They chatted for a while, then Xiang Qingchuan pulled out several dozen photos. “These were discovered last month. Preliminary identifications include gray wolves, woolly rhinoceroses, prehistoric elk, brown bears…”

On the 10th of last month, after the Arctic permafrost began to thaw, the biological station discovered another batch of animal carcasses. Some of the remains showed signs of Hugua H1 mutation. They also found a type of parasitic larva on the bodies. When lightly heated, the larvae showed slight movement. Tests confirmed that they were still alive and retained reproductive potential.

In more prosperous times, these carcasses would have been ideal research samples. But now, with Hugua H1 rampant, the biological station—like the rest of the world—only hoped the crisis would soon pass.

“It’s giving me a headache,” Xiang Qingchuan said, rubbing his forehead.

Qin Yun flipped through the photos, then placed his right hand over the nearest one.

Name: A photo.

Taken on: June 27, 3031, 19:36:53 (Longxia Time)

Photo content: Woolly rhinoceros skeleton.

…

Qin Yun looked a bit disappointed. “I can’t access the photo’s properties.”

Golden Hand could only read the surface data of objects it touched, not deeper layers. He had done similar research with biological photos back at Farm, and the results had been the same.

“We’ll head up the mountain tomorrow,” Xiang Qingchuan said, already prepared for this outcome.

The next morning, Qin Yun joined the expedition team heading to the Hurla Mountains. The sun hung high in the sky, and about half the snow on the mountains had melted. As Qin Yun followed the group, he began to feel less like he was in the Arctic and more like he was on a hiking trip.

An hour later, they arrived at a relatively large ice field. The ice here hadn’t melted yet. At the center was a wide opening, surrounded by ropes and chiseling tools. Dozens of workers stood nearby, studying blueprints.

Qin Yun and Xiang Qingchuan walked over. A worker waved at Qin Yun. “Qin!”

“Mr. Ron,” Qin Yun greeted with a smile. Ron was a staff member from Weir and an old acquaintance.

They chatted briefly, and Qin Yun handed Ron a tin of tea. “This is for you.”

“Thank you so much!” Ron was delighted. During a previous conversation, he had mentioned his fondness for Longxia tea. He hadn’t expected Qin Yun to remember. The tea wasn’t expensive, but the gesture instantly brought them closer.

As they chatted, a worker suddenly shouted, “We found something!”

Someone pulled a half-meter-long bone from the hole. It still had patches of brown fur clinging to it, clearly ancient.

Biologists took photos nearby. Qin Yun stepped up to help, his right hand brushing against the bone.

Name: Elk leg bone.

Age: 12,335 years old.

Properties: A well-preserved hind leg bone.

…

The description was brief and to the point. Qin Yun read it, then selected a targeted data query: Hugua H1.

Hugua H1: This data is outside the detection range.

Unwilling to give up, Qin Yun tried again: Grouper Substance.

Grouper Substance: This data is outside the detection range.

…

Qin Yun: …

Over the next two days, Qin Yun wore isolation gloves and examined several more carcasses. But just like with the elk leg bone, Golden Hand could only provide the name and basic data of the remains. It couldn’t perform targeted queries. Qin Yun suspected this had something to do with the system’s cheat-detection mechanism.

To confirm the accuracy of [Golden Hand], Qin Yun took off his gloves and touched a frozen chicken.

Name: Chicken (male).

Age: Seven months old.

Properties: A frozen and cooked chicken.

…

The chicken’s data was just as unremarkable as the elk’s. This confirmed that the effectiveness of [Golden Hand] had nothing to do with wearing gloves. As for the animal name data… with current technology, there was no need to rely on Golden Hand for that. It was a completely redundant feature.

Just as Qin Yun was about to leave the Arctic empty-handed, on July 17, while passing by a glacier, the system updated—

【The Key to a Disaster】: The Key to a Disaster. (Red)

【The Key to a Disaster】had the same format and color tag as 【The Beginning of a Disaster】.

Qin Yun studied it carefully. When he stepped outside the glacier’s range, 【The Key to a Disaster】turned gray.

When he stepped back into the glacier’s range, 【The Key to a Disaster】turned red again.

After repeating the test several times, he confirmed it: the key to Hugua H1 was related to this glacier—more precisely, something within its boundaries.

Once certain of his theory, Qin Yun immediately reported it to Xiang Qingchuan.

Xiang Qingchuan discussed it with the team and proposed a sixth round of full-scale monitoring at the biological station. This year, global biology teams had been using this method to investigate thawing permafrost, so Longxia’s proposal didn’t raise any suspicion.

After deliberation, the international research teams agreed.

Using advanced instruments, they conducted a detailed scan beneath the glacier and discovered another frozen carcass. It was a smaller, but much older, permafrost layer than the previous one.

Once the location was confirmed, excavation began.

On the morning of July 19, the biological station unearthed a frozen narwhal from the permafrost. Estimated to be 32,000 years old, the narwhal tested positive for active Hugua H1 virus. In addition to Hugua H1, they also discovered a new variant of the Grouper Substance, different from any previously found.

This new Grouper Substance opened up a fresh direction for research.

Qin Yun stayed at the Arctic Biological Station for another half month. Once it was clear he couldn’t contribute further, he returned to Longxia on July 25 under official arrangements. Fully equipped with Hugua quarantine gear, he spent a week in isolation at Jiangcheng Hospital. After confirming he was virus-free, he finally returned to Farm.

Now it was early August. After a brief rest, Qin Yun and Farm began planning for the year’s most critical task: the Wishing Pool Mission.

Wishing Pool Mission Rules: Cannot be claimed repeatedly. There must be at least three months between claims.

It had just been over three months since Global Soil. The Wishing Pool Mission was one of the most important events of the year.