Translator: _Min_ Editor: Rundi
On February 1, 2018, Walmart and Future Technology jointly organized the first VR product exhibition in the world.
During the four months duration, hundreds of thousands of products were exhibited on stage, covering small crafts, large-scale electromechanics, clothing, food, and housing with more than 76,000 exhibitors participating.
One of the most eye-catching items was the Mercedes-Benz S750e launched by the Daimler Group. The vehicle used a wireless rechargeable solid-state lithium-air battery designed by Future Heavy Industries with a powerful and aesthetically pleasing design. Although not specifically an auto show, the advanced technology was always eye-catching. Many ordinary tourists who could not afford to buy cars experienced it in the virtual world. Therefore, the Daimler Group’s Mercedes-Benz S750e has successfully set a record for the highest number of visits.
In addition, the exhibition with the highest technological content would undoubtedly be the products from Future Heavy Industrial such as the improvement of housework robots, Dragon Calvary X1 supercomputing chips, Dark Blue M1… In the first day of the exhibition, Future Heavy Industrial received a value of 5 billion US dollars in orders.
According to data released by Future Group after the incident, in the first month of the global product exhibition, the total turnover easily exceeded $20 billion. With this trend continuing, this year’s Global Merchandise Exhibition would easily break their turnover record.
After attending the opening ceremony of this grand event, Jiang Chen took off his helmet.
Although he was the “founder” of the virtual reality network, he himself enjoyed the feeling of living in reality. As the president of the group, he just needed to read the opening speech written by the secretary and shake hands with representatives of major companies at the opening ceremony.
Ayesha shaved for him and then Jiang Chen put on a casual outfit before heading out.
Today was an important day, not only the opening ceremony of the VR Global Merchandise Exhibition, but also the completion ceremony of Penglai City.
…
On the sea north of Coro Island, two Guardian-class frigates that have been upgraded with electromagnetic pulse cannons have been patrolling the target sea area accompanied by Kilo-class submarines. A dozen large engineering ships lined up along the edge of the construction seas, forming a loose circle.
Countless large and small yachts lined up. Some of them were wealthy tourists coming to Coro Island, some were investors or immigrants who have purchased real estate in Penglai City, and some were reporters invited by Future Group.
The Black Eagle helicopters belonged to Celestial Trade. The hovered above the sea and carried staff to perform the final inspection of the construction site. Aurora-20 suddenly broke through the clouds and whistled past, attracting the cheers and whistles of tourists and reporters.
The weather was lovely with no signs of a storm in the radius of a hundred miles, a good day to hold the completion ceremony.
On a cruise ship, tourists in beachwears and bikinis leaned against the railing and looked out at the calm sea.
“Sh*t, that fighter is so cool!”
“I heard it is called Aurora-20. I don’t know, is it better than the F35.”
“I’m more concerned about Penglai City. If I haven’t got the wrong date, it should be today.”
“A city on the sea, Atlantis of the East sounds really romantic. Dear, can we live there later?”
“Okay, baby, whatever you say… if Future Group doesn’t bounce on us.”
“Look! The sea is moving!”
With a loud exclamation, everyone stopped their chitchatting and looked intently in the direction of the sea.
Yes, the sea was moving!
Large bubbles emerged from the bottom of the ocean, the turbid air bubbles covered dozens of miles of the sea, defeating even the rolling waves. After two minutes, the tumbling air bubbles stopped. The sea level suddenly rose, and a hill that was hundreds of meters in radius emerged.
Afterwards, the seawater spread around, and the ships and yachts in the outer ring were like leaves in a storm, pushed away by the sea waves that rose suddenly! Ships closer were even tilted at a 45° angle!
“That boat! The boat is going to fall!” A tourist shrank to the edge of the cabin and shouted.
“Why are you shouting?! There is no leak and no rollover. Shut up!”
“Look! Look over there! The city of Penglai is coming out!”
“God, what do I see…”
“Dear Virgin Mary!”
“Buddha!”
“Fu*k!”
Like a sharp steel blade, a steep octave tower pierced through the sea.
Then, a metal building with a radius of several hundred meters lifted up as the water rose. A block of high-rise buildings sprang up from the surface of the water like spring bamboo shoots. The seawater fell from the top of the building and formed countless natural waterfalls, covering the face of Penglai City like a veil.
The seawater crashed down and white mist soon formed around the vicinity.
The wind blew gently, and the white fog wave moved with the wind, dancing flirtatiously on the ocean surface.
Steel broke the waves and layers of ripples scattered around.
The waves clashed against the side of the ship and created muffled sounds that resembled the sound of a heavy hammer smashing onto steel. Standing on this unmoving guardian frigate, Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes and looked up at the rise of the city with his binocular.
“The main structure has risen!”
“Unlock the stability lock. Initiate the rising of the second-level structure!”
“Rising is complete, the graphene pipe is connected!”
“Drainage gate…”
Like a gyro, the circular main building became stable on the surface. Then the ring of aluminium foam structure rose, the graphene pipe protruded from the hole, and accurately penetrated into the side of the centre island, forming a giant, circular, artificial island!
The sea water injected into the building flowed into the streets, flushing the shells, conch, and algae on the streets into the sea and formed a waterfall on the edge of the island. After completing the island floating operation, the crew immediately opened the pressure valve at the bottom of the island and discharged the seawater that was injected into the drainage and water supply system.
“Is this Penglai City? Although it is not as beautiful as it is in the virtual reality, it seems more astonishing than what I have seen in the virtual reality.” Standing beside Jiang Chen, Xia Shiyu exclaimed.
Ayesha didn’t speak, but from her sapphire eyes, Jiang Chen could still read her astonishment.
As for Natasha, as a Russian diplomat, her head was lowered and no one knew what she was thinking.
“Rest assured, I bet it will be as beautiful as the one in the virtual reality.” Looking farther into the city, Jiang Chen said with a smile.
The most critical main structure floating work has been completed. Jiang Chen’s clenched hands could finally relax. Drainage work will take two full days, followed by the filling of other structures between the outer ring and the centre island.
These structures were just like blocks, and they were all already built on the sea floor. They just need to be pieced together.
That will take about five days.
After all the work has been done, what was left was the clean-up. Workers wearing protective clothing would be the first to board the island and drive rubbish trucks to clean seaweeds, shells, and jellyfishes.
In the process of floating, Penglai City brought a lot of “specialties” from the seabed. Now the entire artificial island was surrounded by a pungent smell. Without cleaning it up, no one would be willing to live on this island.
This seemingly simple clean-up was the most time-consuming and laborious part of the entire floatation work. It was expected that the Future Group will use 1,000 “Xiao Lin” and 2,000 cleaning personnels, 6,000 sweeping drones, 50 garbage trucks and water tankers to complete the clean-up.
It was expected to take one month.
