The group left the Ceremony Viewing Area by car and returned to the underground urban district along Celestial Pivot City's dedicated passage.
Tianshu Underground City had long since shed its initial tense, oppressive atmosphere.
Above them, the underground dome simulated the cycle of day and night, while holographic advertising screens on both sides of the streets continuously replayed footage of the fleet's founding ceremony.
Many residents had yet to recover from their earlier emotions. Every so often, someone by the roadside stopped and waved excitedly at the spaceships rising into the sky on the big screens.
After the vehicles entered the teleportation area, everyone got out, passed identity verification, and soon reached the intercity Portal to Tianyong City.
The Planetary Engines were mainly being built in Antarctica and along the equatorial belt. There were none in the Arctic, so they needed to transfer through an underground city in Antarctica.
Everyone stepped into the Portal.
Outside Tianyong Underground City's teleportation hall, the atmosphere was a little less solemn than in Celestial Pivot City, and a little busier.
People moved through here noticeably more frequently, while transport robots traveled back and forth hauling standardized material crates.
Electronic screens on both walls continuously updated data on construction progress, surface weather, radiation monitoring, transport routes, and more.
As soon as Lin Mo stepped out of the Portal, he saw a middle-aged man hurrying toward him.
The man wore a dark blue administrative uniform with Tianyong City's City Lord badge on his shoulder. His hair was meticulously combed, but his expression betrayed excitement he could not quite conceal.
"Chief Lin!"
He hurried up to Lin Mo, stood at attention, and saluted.
"Chen Jianguo, City Lord of Tianyong City, welcomes Chief Lin to Tianyong City to inspect and guide our work!"
Lin Mo raised his hand