novel bin Chapter 178 The World Tree is Finally Planted
Chapter 178 The World Tree is Finally Planted
After hearing this, Lin Mo felt a weight lifted from his heart.
He found Zhao Gang,
"Brother Zhao, keep an eye on things here for now. Let me know immediately if there are any new developments from the four clans."
"I have to go back. That precious thing, I need to see it sprout with my own eyes before I can feel at ease."
Zhao Gang nodded: "Go ahead and don't worry, I'll keep an eye on things here."
Lin Mo originally wanted to go directly through the portal, but then felt it was inappropriate.
He needed to ensure that he had a physical body on Terra, so that if the portal was closed, he would still have a channel of information and wouldn't be completely lost.
So he returned to his dormitory, told the guard, washed up, lay down, closed his eyes, and slowly sank into darkness.
……
Inside a safe house in the New Kyoto Underground City.
Lin Mo opened his eyes and sat up in bed.
The soft lighting made him feel momentarily disoriented.
The young female guardian immediately reported this, and a young guard in a crisp military uniform, whose face was unfamiliar, opened the door and came in.
"Commander, you're awake."
"Hmm." Lin Mo moved his body a little and felt no discomfort.
"Arrange a plane to go to the Arctic base."
"yes!"
After undergoing a series of top-priority passages and security checks, Lin Mo's private jet landed in the internal hangar of the Arctic underground base an hour later.
He walked through long alloy tunnels and elevators to the expeditionary force's quarantine area.
This area was originally the soldiers' living quarters at the base, but it has now been temporarily converted.
It's called an isolation zone, but it's more like a super-large underground city.
The soldiers can live here as usual for a month, except that they cannot see their families in other cities.
At most, we can only make phone calls and send messages.
Upon seeing Lin Mo approach, the guards on duty immediately saluted.
"Greetings, sir!"
Lin Mo waved his hand and walked towards the laboratory led by the soldier.
In the laboratory, Qian Zhenhua and Liu Chengen were leading a group of researchers, studying and recording something around the World Tree seed as they tried to do so without causing any harm.
He marveled at the miraculous life energy emanating from it.
"Commander Lin!"
"You've finally arrived!"
Upon seeing Lin Mo, the two academicians felt as if they had seen a savior.
"Mr. Qian, Mr. Liu," Lin Mo said, getting straight to the point.
"I already know the situation; the World Tree seed was planted at this base."
He pointed to the World Tree seeds in the box.
"By planting it here, we can control its growth rate and observe and record data at any time."
"Once we find a substitute for the energy crystal on Earth, it won't be too big, and we can transport it to a suitable city to plant it."
"The World Tree needs 'energy' to grow, and the energy crystal just happens to be rich in the energy it needs."
"But what this energy is is still unknown. We need to find energy-containing minerals or rare earth elements, or alternatives, on Earth."
Qian Zhenhua and Liu Chengen exchanged a glance and instantly understood Lin Mo's intention.
If a substitute can be found, then the planting of the World Tree will no longer require the expensive energy crystals.
Therefore, we will not need to rely on Terra and will be completely self-sufficient. Even if the portal closes in the future, it will not affect us!
"That's right!" Liu Chengen slapped his thigh.
"I immediately ordered that several tons of all types of ores and rare earth samples be airlifted over! We'll test them one by one!"
"It's feasible!" Qian Zhenhua nodded emphatically.
The plan is finalized and will be implemented immediately.
Arctic underground military base, central ecological park.
The heavy alloy doors slid open to both sides, and a waft of moist air, a mixture of earthy fragrance and the scent of plants, rushed out.
Lin Mo and a group of doctors in white coats followed behind, carrying various boxes filled with ore and instruments, and entered the huge underground space.
The park features a massive arched structure, with a simulated blue sky and white clouds projected onto the dome, creating a remarkably realistic effect.
A giant artificial sun hangs in the center of the "sky," emitting a soft light.
It provides the red and blue light sources needed for photosynthesis to the vibrant green plants and shimmering lake below.
The soil layer here is five meters thick, which is enough to meet the growth needs of most plants.
For people who live underground, this park is a necessary line of defense against mental breakdown.
Lin Mo glanced around and finally pointed to a lawn in the very center of the park.
"Let's go there."
He put down the box, picked up an entrenching tool from the side, slung it over his shoulder, and walked over.
Behind them, Academicians Qian Zhenhua and Liu Chengen, along with a group of researchers, carefully carried the incubator containing the seeds of the World Tree, following closely behind.
"Commander Lin," Qian Zhenhua adjusted his old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses, his face filled with disbelief as he watched Lin Mo casually start shoveling dirt.
"This... you're starting to plant already? Isn't that a bit too hasty?"
After all, it took 25,000 expeditionary troops and countless weapons and equipment to obtain this World Tree!
Lin Mo shoveled down and turned over a clump of black soil.
He glanced back at Qian Zhenhua and smiled.
"What's wrong, Mr. Qian? Do you really have to pick an auspicious day, or wait until Arbor Day, to hold a foundation-laying ceremony and invite a few people to cut the ribbon?"
Qian Zhenhua blushed.
"No need... It's just that... something so precious is being buried like potatoes, it just doesn't feel right."
"fine!"
Liu Chengen, who was standing to the side, was holding an analyzer and squatting on the edge of the grass, studying it. He even picked up a clump of soil, put it in his mouth, and spat it out twice.
"I just tested the soil. The organic matter content is 3.5%, the pH value is 6.8, and there is no heavy metal pollution. There's no problem!"
Lin Mo: "..."
Lin Mo ignored the two clowns and continued digging, with the surrounding researchers joining in to help.
Soon, a pit more than half a meter deep was completed.
Lin Mo grabbed a handful of energy crystals from a box and spread them evenly at the bottom of the dug pit, like laying pebbles, before covering them with loose soil.
After doing all this, he took a deep breath and solemnly opened the incubator.
A seed the size of a soccer ball, entirely emerald green, as if carved from jade, lay quietly inside, radiating a rich aura of life visible to the naked eye.
Lin Mo carefully lifted it out and gently placed it in the center of the pit.
They filled the hole with soil, compacted it, and then brought over a bucket of lake water to thoroughly water it.
Lin Mo looked at his masterpiece, patted the dust off his hands with satisfaction, and hoisted the shovel onto his shoulder.
"All done, call it a day."
He turned around, ready to walk back.
As a result, the road was blocked.
Qian Zhenhua, Liu Chengen, and the group of young researchers stood like wooden stakes around the mound of earth where the trees had just been planted.
Stunned and motionless!
Lin Mo was both annoyed and amused by the sight.
He waved his hand.
"Everyone, move along! What are you looking at? It's like you've never seen a tree planted before."
"What's so interesting now? It'll be at least a week before it sprouts."
However, no one moved.
Liu Chengen's hand trembled as he pointed behind Lin Mo, his eyes wide like copper bells and his mouth agape enough to fit an egg.
"No, no, no... it's... it, it, it..."
He hesitated for a long time, but couldn't come up with a clear answer.
Lin Mo was speechless.
"Alright, stop acting, Academician Liu. How old are you to still be doing this?"
He pursed his lips.
"Are you trying to say it has sprouted?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Chengen immediately nodded frantically, like a chicken pecking at rice.
Lin Mo was so angry he laughed.
"Do you think I'm a three-year-old? That's impossible!"
"You call yourself an academician in biology? You don't even know basic common sense like the plant growth cycle? You think you can fool me?"
As he spoke, his eyes glanced at Qian Zhenhua standing to the side.
This usually composed physics giant was now gaping, quickly taking off his glasses to wipe them before putting them back on, as if he had seen something incredible.
Lin Mo frowned and looked around at the others.
Every single one of them looked as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight, their faces filled with blankness and shock.
Lin Mo's heart skipped a beat, and he muttered to himself.
"It's not April Fool's Day today... What kind of collective performance art are these old guys doing?"
He was skeptical, but as he spoke, he finally couldn't help but turn his head and look at the newly cleared land behind him.
Next second,
Holy crap!!!