Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies-Chapter 1182: Beneath the Abyss

Chapter 1182: Beneath the Abyss

Zong Yue was a serious man who disliked wasting time on idle chatter in situations like this.

With a wave of his hand, hundreds of combat engineers immediately rushed out from behind him.

The carriages behind the train opened, and they began unloading a large assortment of complex tools.

Zhang Yi and the others looked over and discovered they were actually preparing to build ladders leading down into the abyss.

"Are they really going to lower ladders down a ten-thousand-meter deep hole? Don't tell me they expect us to climb down?"

Zhang Yi couldn't help but complain to Zong Yue.

In reality, to deal with the underground situation, they had all added flight modules to their combat suits.

However, Zong Yue replied in a calm tone, "This is a necessary step. The underground is the Ground Centipede's home turf. For us humans to fight them there, we must rely on tools."

As he spoke, Zhang Yi saw combat engineers pushing over some large equipment on sleds and then beginning to lower lines down into the abyss.

It was a type of extremely fine thread, looking almost like the cotton thread used for sewing clothes at home.

"Is that stuff nanofilament?"

Zhang Yi asked Zong Yue.

Zong Yue nodded. "Indeed, it's a nanomaterial."

Only this kind of material could support lowering elevators and a large amount of supplies down to a depth of ten thousand meters underground.

Not everyone was like Zhang Yi, traveling light with everything simply tossed into his Dimensional Space.

The massive amounts of weapons, oxygen, and medicine others needed to carry for combat all had to be transported by manpower.

And since Zhang Yi, as a main combatant, couldn't stay with the other team members the entire time, this supply transport was essential.

Zhang Yi nodded, inwardly sighing that professionals were indeed professionals. Zong Yue's preparations were truly thorough.

This was probably the so-called "provisions and fodder go first, before the three armies march."

The combat engineers had clearly rehearsed for this operation countless times, so it took them less than fifteen minutes to set up over a dozen elevators, with the other ends secured to the massive armored train.

If any problems arose, they could quickly start the train and pull the people below back up.

After the setup was complete, Zong Yue addressed everyone. "Let's move out!"

He was the first to step onto an elevator, and his subordinate, Wu Zhiqi Tian Fengyi, followed without hesitation.

The Thirty-Six Heavenly Champions followed closely behind.

Li Yangyang, however, sauntered over casually and hooked her arm through Fatty Xu's.

"It's too crowded over there. I'll just stick with you guys!"

Fatty Xu hadn't expected Li Yangyang to openly come find him at a time like this. He was both embarrassed and excited.

Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. He knew Li Yangyang's identity, so no one would restrain her even if she occasionally did something bold.

As long as it didn't affect the combat, it was fine.

"Hua Hua!"

Zhang Yi called out. Hua Hua let out a long "Meeeooww—" and, as a fierce gust of wind blew past, its body instantly enlarged, transforming into a massive winged beast seven to eight meters long!

Liang Yue, Old You, and Deng Shentong jumped onto Hua Hua's back. Fatty Xu clambered up with difficulty, then reached down and pulled Li Yangyang up onto Hua Hua's back.

Zhang Yi levitated into the air and flew toward the abyss alongside them.

The people from other regions also employed their own methods.

From the Northwest Region, the Sky War God Cheng Lanlan transformed into a peregrine falcon the size of a person, hovering above the others.

Li Changgong led the rest, descending via elevator.

From the Northeast Region, Han Shanzuo whistled. Streams of black energy manifested around his body, eventually transforming into a sky full of crows.

This flock of crows lifted him and the bodies of the Northeast Five Immortals, also descending into the abyss. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Soon, everyone had entered the depths of the abyss.

The abyss was vast and empty. The massive opening behind them quickly shrank to a tiny point of light.

The further down they went, the temperature slowly rose. Before long, it reached a level that felt warm to the touch.

Everyone was wearing temperature-regulating combat suits and had come prepared, so this wasn't a concern.

In fact, by the time they descended ten thousand meters underground, they would need to withstand super-high temperatures exceeding a hundred degrees Celsius!

No wonder colossal beings like the Ground Centipedes could exist deep underground.

At such high temperatures, larger body sizes are more advantageous for heat dissipation.

It is said that in prehistoric times, the reason dinosaurs and many other giant creatures could exist in large numbers was because the planet's temperature levels back then were several times higher than today.

The group of several dozen people pressed on without pause. According to the previous plan, they needed to conclude the battle in the shortest time possible.

However, as Zhang Yi, Li Changgong, Han Shanzuo, and the others descended, their gazes continuously scanned the surrounding cliff walls.

This was the discovery site of the Elemental Stone vein. They were all very curious about that mysterious substance and each had their own plans.

The group continued their descent. The elevators built from nanofilament were like rows of dense spiderwebs, yet they could steadily lower elevators carrying dozens of people to depths of several thousand meters.

It was only at this point that Zhang Yi and the others finally detected an unusual glimmer of light emanating from below.

When they descended to around five thousand meters underground, Zhang Yi's eyes beheld a sea of azure stars.

The cliff walls were dotted with countless twinkling points of light. These were Elemental ores that had been excavated but not yet fully collected.

Within the Shadow Space, Lu Keran operated detection instruments, beginning to scan the surrounding area.

Zong Yue said gravely, "Those Ground Centipedes have been devouring the Elemental Stone vein to evolve. It's one of their primary food sources. Once we reach this area, the Ground Centipedes' nest won't be far. Everyone, prepare for combat!"

As soon as he said this, everyone's gazes turned sharp.

Zhang Yi had been using his Dimensional Gate to shield everyone around him. He held White Owl in his left hand and Holy Judgment in his right, both ready.

As Zhang Yi flew downward, he casually sliced off a piece of Elemental Stone from the nearby cliff wall and held it in his hand to feel it.

This natural ore, like coal, inherently contained energy.

However, it still required extraction via instruments and equipment.

Zhang Yi casually stored it away, silently calculating in his mind how to "excavate" the surrounding ore veins in a reasonable manner once the real fighting started.

After descending past seven thousand meters, they slowly began to spot Ground Centipedes on the surrounding rock walls.

Deep underground, there was only the faint light from the Elemental Stones, but night vision goggles allowed them to see the Ground Centipedes clearly.

They were creatures with pale, bamboo-pole-like bodies. Although the name included "Centipede," it was only because they possessed dozens of pairs of legs. In reality, their appearance was quite different from common centipedes.

Especially the drill-like mouthparts on their heads, which gave off a particularly disgusting feeling.

Author's Note