Chapter 1010: Chapter 1007: The Disappearing Arctic Ocean
At this time, it was the coldest in the Arctic, with the ground mostly frozen soil and wasteland. The biting wind whistled fiercely, and the whole world seemed to be steeped in a deathly silence.
Even though Yang Fei and Qin Yanyang had mentally prepared themselves and had thoroughly studied various materials to understand the environment here, when they truly walked on this wasteland, they still found themselves sinking into a deep despair.
Following the compass direction, the two continued to advance towards the central Arctic region.
After three days of travel, Qin Yanyang suddenly said, "It seems different from what I understood."
Yang Fei also realized this and said, "The terrain here seems to be getting higher, unlike the Arctic Ocean area. We should be walking on ice now, in line with the fact that we’ve entered the Arctic Ocean. Did we veer off course?"
He couldn’t help but take out the compass and checked it against the one in Qin Yanyang’s hand. There was no problem with it.
"Wait, the Earth’s magnetic field might have changed, rendering the compass useless?" Yang Fei suddenly changed his expression and said.
Qin Yanyang immediately shook her head, saying, "Impossible. Following the compass’s guidance, we first exited the north of the Divine Continent, reached Mongolia, and later crossed Bear Country. The general route was correct."
Yang Fei recollected himself.
Yes, if the general direction were wrong, there was no way to cross Mongolia and Bear Country.
But why does this place differ from what they had previously understood?
The two exchanged a look, showing a hint of confusion.
After a moment, Yang Fei said, "Let me see what’s going on beneath the ground."
Having said that, he began digging the ground with a specially made steel knife.
This specially made steel knife was heavy and sharp, coupled with his current Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, his enormous strength allowed him to quickly dig out a large pit.
The debris dug out wasn’t ice but frozen soil, and digging another meter or so deeper, moist black soil appeared.
"This is land," Yang Fei said.
Qin Yanyang realized it too but became increasingly puzzled.
According to the old map, the two should have stepped onto the edges of the Arctic Ocean upon entering the New Siberian Islands.
The two continued northward for another three-day period. With their speed, though not traveling a thousand kilometers a day, two to three hundred kilometers a day was entirely feasible.
Three days, about a thousand kilometers.
According to this distance, the two should have already crossed into the Arctic Ocean area. Even during an ice-bound period, they should supposedly be standing on the ice surface above the ocean.
"Do you remember the last image from the satellite surveillance, of that massive mountain range drawn out from beneath the ocean?" Yang Fei asked.
Qin Yanyang’s eyes sparkled. She nodded in agreement, "Certainly. Are you saying the whole mountain range system underneath the Arctic Ocean has been lifted up and the ocean water has receded?"
Yang Fei replied, "I don’t know. But according to the satellite footage at that time, it indeed showed the emergence of the mountain system from the ocean floor, with a significant receding of seawater."
He added, "Do you remember the changes in Wawa Mountain that I told you about?"
Qin Yanyang nodded, "I remember. Why?"
Yang Fei looked up towards the sky, pointing at the void, "Additionally, Earth’s entire exterior seems enveloped by a thick water world, making Earth appear like a massive greenhouse."
Qin Yanyang nodded quietly, saying, "Yes, the global temperature has elevated. Historically, the Arctic’s average temperature in this season should be around minus twenty-seven to twenty-eight degrees, yet now it’s barely reached minus twenty degrees."
Yang Fei said, "The water on Earth didn’t disappear without reason but became giant water columns, with many enveloping outside Earth’s atmosphere, transforming Earth into another form. This aligns with my speculation of the ancient Mountains and Seas. Perhaps, during ancient times, Earth was originally like this but underwent massive changes, becoming the form we were familiar with."
Considering all signs after the catastrophe, Qin Yanyang somewhat believed Yang Fei’s speculation about the resurgence of ancient Mountains and Seas.
She pondered and said, "According to your speculation, Earth’s ocean surface area greatly reduced, while the land surface area increased several times."
Yang Fei responded, "That’s likely the case. When I left Binhai, the seawater around Binhai rapidly receded. I don’t know if it has since recovered. If not, where did the vast amount of seawater disappear to?"
Qin Yanyang fell silent for a long time, saying, "I can’t figure it out for now. Let’s continue northward. If we can find the massive mountain the visitors drew out beneath the ocean, perhaps we’ll uncover some truths."
Yang Fei nodded, "Indeed, finding that massive mountain is crucial."
They continued their journey.
After several days, the two kept walking on a frozen soil surface. The expected thick glacier and the underwater world beneath it did not appear.
Yang Fei increasingly believed in his speculation, that Earth’s ocean disappeared, exposing the ground.
Qin Yanyang also accepted this hypothesis.
The next day, when the aurora illuminated the ground, Qin Yanyang suddenly pointed in a direction with a gasp, "Yang Fei, look quickly."
Yang Fei looked in the direction she pointed, his pupils constricted, and he was struck dumb.
"Is that... is that a mountaintop peak?" Yang Fei asked uncertainly.
"Yes," Qin Yanyang said with some disbelief. "Who would have thought? This area, originally part of the Arctic Ocean’s surface, turned out to have a massive mountain range."
Yang Fei suddenly became excited, saying, "Visible even from afar, this peak signifies its height, possibly being the underwater mountain range the Outer Domain visitors found."
"Let’s go and check it out," Qin Yanyang said impatiently.
Both were very excited, hand in hand, letting go, and relied on their powerful cultivation speed to sprint forward.
An hour later, the mountain peak before them grew larger.
Two more hours passed, and around the initially singular mountain peak, several other peaks appeared, even the high mountain itself became clearer in their sight.
If they hadn’t already seen the mountain, it would be hard to notice if they didn’t look closely.
Its top must be covered in snow, its overall hue blending with the sky, appearing and disappearing sporadically.
The nearer they got, the more astounded they became.
As the mountain range system grew larger and taller.
From originally one peak turned into a towering range piercing through cloud layers, seemingly reaching into the heavens.
Their hearts were increasingly filled with awe.
Could you imagine, on ground supposed to be at sea level, seeing a lofty mountain range piercing the skies?
This entirely upends human understanding of Earth.
Yang Fei couldn’t help but sigh, "I feel my previous geography knowledge was learned in vain."
Qin Yanyang chuckled at his words, saying, "Stop joking around, let’s go. First, investigate if this mountain range is the one they used the golden talisman to pull out from the ocean floor."