"The sky is still dark."

Ji Jue looked up, gazing at the dark sky at eight in the morning, feeling an inexplicable sense of oppression.

"This year, the long nights come early; it probably won't be bright until after eleven o'clock." The local guide sighed, "In earlier years, there used to be a process, not this intense.

In recent winters, the nights are getting longer, and the days shorter. Many locals can't stand it anymore and have migrated inland. But there's no good place inland either; drought is becoming more severe on the side of Liang City, nothing can be grown in Kunwu, not even potatoes. Even Cliff City is getting hotter; I heard last summer lasted six months?"

"A little more than five months, but it was indeed hot." Ji Jue nodded, "Winter has also become warmer than before."

"Experts say there's a shift in the sun's orbit, entering some kind of small period that we don't understand anyway." The guide said, "Mr. Ji, let me just ask, has everything for fuel and warmth been prepared? Once the long nights come, the ice plain will get even colder, some places froze to minus several tens of degrees last year."

"Don't worry, we're well prepared."

Ji Jue waved his hand, smiling, "I'm naturally not afraid of cold; lower temperatures are not a problem."

The Chosen Ones at the Transformation Rank are no longer affected by ordinary temperature disasters. Plus, even if naked and stranded on the ice plain, Ji Jue still has the blessing of the Blood of the Melting Furnace. He, himself, is a natural heat source; how could he be afraid of such a change?

However, the desolate tone in the guide's words made him suddenly realize: perhaps the impact of climate change is deeper than he expected.

Compared to these places, just a bit hotter in summer, Cliff City is already considered a treasure.

"Let's go."

Ji Jue took one last look at the dark canopy above, and the streak of green aurora winding from the north, then turned and walked toward the venue.

The day of the Desert Sea Rally opening ceremony.

Outside the Black River, more precisely, above the Black River.

In the icy wilderness outside this small town, for half a year, the Black River flows endlessly, then for half a year, it freezes into a winding icy avenue stretching east, teeming with crowds and flashing lights.

The high-pitched roar of engines is unending, the laser lights on stage sweep across, energetic dance music still in play, guiding the atmosphere of the elaborate opening ceremony to a peak.

Besides the surging VIP crowd purchased tickets, along the hundreds of meters wide riverbank, people continually gather. No matter where anyone goes, people always love spectacles, even more so when it's such a three-year grand spectacle, a major event that the entire Federation enthusiastically focuses on.

Drones hover and fly, above the dark canopy, there are helicopters mounted with cameras capturing impressive footage.

Reporters inside have already started interviewing.

Even local small factories like Coastal Automobile Factory, joining the competition for the first time, have gained quite a bit of attention.

They have had the short-term experience of Rejuvenation and sudden prominence, and the factory director personally participating in the race is a topic of interest, not to mention Ji Jue has a pretty good face.

In just a few days, he already gained quite a few fans on the internet. However, most of them are junkies like Ji Jue, modification enthusiasts, or members of settlements in the wilderness, nomads, aside from... most being fans of ghostly works trolling him.

But infamous is still fame.

For the teacher's task, Ji Jue would even be willing to become an internet sensation, earn money, and sell products every day!

"Mr. Ji, as the driver for the Coastal team, do you have any expectations for this race?"

The reporter handed over the microphone, filled with anticipation: "Are you aiming for first this time, to make a stunning impact?"

"No, no, friendship first, competition second."

Ji Jue smiled gently, nodding at the camera: "I hope everyone can race with style and excitement. But speaking of which, our Coastal Automobile Factory has also launched an off-road model named Radish, perfect for this kind of scene—fearless of wind and snow, unfazed by severe cold, breaking through pain and darkness, it's a tool and helper tailored for challengers, currently just..."

"Uh, cough cough cough."

The reporter forcefully tugged, managing to retrieve the microphone, interrupting Ji Jue's flowing advertisement, smiling with difficulty: "Mr. Ji, being the director and driver of Coastal Automobile, and so young, I think the audience in front of the screens might be curious too. Could you introduce yourself?"

"Ji Jue, male, twenty-one, single. However, for single individuals needing commuting solutions, there's really no need to squeeze into subways and buses. Currently, the MINI model, Cucumber, is still hot in sales. If you inquire now, you can get the gift set valued at 1988 at the original price..."

Damn it, won't you ever stop?

The reporter, a young lady, could no longer hold herself together, preparing to change the topic, when she heard the commotion in the distance, the echoes and the Sky City team entering, instantly attracting numerous reporters swarming over like flies.

Even the young lady before Ji Jue brightened her eyes, said a few polite words, then forcefully pulled the microphone away from Ji Jue's continuous advertising mouth, hurriedly turned around, and hustled over.

In the center of the crowd stood a burly figure, skin slightly darkened, expressionless, standing amongst the crowd like a crane among chickens, simply a giant.

His aura weighed continuously low, bringing a pressing sense, clearly a participant ranked in the Rebirth category of the Ruins Chosen. However, according to Ji Jue's judgment, this was already a result of deliberate restraint, yet his spirit and power were already vast as if a volcano, ready to erupt at any moment.

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