Free Web NovelChapter 268: Chapter 267: The Shock of the Meteorological Staff
This morning, the staff at the meteorological bureau started their workday as usual. But not long after, a group of unidentified individuals arrived at the monitoring hall, saying they wanted to see the real-time satellite cloud map of the northern drought-stricken region.
"The director himself is leading them. They must be a big deal."
"Looks like this year’s drought is pretty serious. Are they from the Bureau of Agriculture?"
"No idea. They don’t seem to be."
"Never mind where they’re from—what’s there to even see on the cloud map?"
"There’s no activity at all. No wind, no clouds. The only thing is a small pocket of cold air forming over the northern mountains, which might bring some light precipitation to southern Jin and Ji Provinces."
"Most of the other regions won’t see any rain for the next twenty days. In fact, it’s nothing but clear skies ahead."
On the weather map, there were no significant meteorological changes over the north. The satellite view showed a clear line of sight to the ground, unobstructed by any cloud formations. There were only a few scattered, wispy, high-altitude cirrus clouds, not enough to form any real weather.
"There aren’t even altocumulus clouds, let alone stratocumulus and cumulonimbus clouds."
"We’ll just have to wait. Either for a cyclone to form on the coast and head north, or for a pocket of cold air to form in the Northwest and head south. Otherwise, this summer is going to be unbearable."
Ignoring the muttering of the monitoring hall staff, the people from the Taoist Cultural Exchange Support Office were intently watching the large screen at the front of the room. It was zoomed in on the drought-stricken zone, displaying a real-time satellite cloud map of the area.
"Several of the old Daoists showed up at the Taoist Research Institute this morning."
"Latest update: they’ve already flown off."
"They are Taoist Yi Hong of White Cloud Temple, Taoist Ming Yu of the Celestial Master’s Mansion, Taoist Yan Song and Taoist Yan Ling of Qingcheng Mountain, Taoist Shen Hao of Sanmao Mountain, Taoist Qingyuan of Zhenwu Mountain, and Taoist Jing Feng of the Mountain City Fengdu Temple."
Someone gasped. "Seven old Daoists? All of them can fly?"
Another person added in disbelief, "Hasn’t it only been a short while for Taoist Shen Hao? The Shangqing Orthodox Sect is truly something else!"
"Look! Something’s changing!" cried someone who had been staring at the large screen.
Everyone looked over at once. In the sky, somewhere over southern Yu Province, a few small dots had suddenly appeared. Then, at a speed visible to the naked eye, these dots began to expand, forming into clusters of low-altitude clouds.
As these dots expanded, more began to appear, spreading outward from the center. They too grew into low-altitude cloud formations.
On the satellite cloud map, it looked as if flowers made of dark clouds were blooming across a circle with a radius of over a hundred kilometers, spreading to fill the entire area.
Upon seeing an image that defied all logic, the first reaction of the meteorological bureau staff was that there was a problem with the large screen.
They quickly checked their own computer screens and found the exact same image. Their immediate conclusion was, ’It must be a problem with the weather satellite.’
The people from the Taoist Cultural Exchange Support Office fell silent.
The next moment, in addition to the large circle of dark clouds, the exact same atmospheric phenomenon appeared in succession over central and northern Yu Province, southern Ji Province, and western Lu Province.
The meteorological bureau staff were starting to panic. Engineers scrambled to adjust the data, trying to fix the "bug." Only the bureau director—who had just signed a non-disclosure agreement and learned the truth, though he hadn’t truly believed it—was completely shocked, his expression one of a man whose entire worldview had just been shattered.
Then the bureau staff noticed that while their visitors were also surprised, their surprise was mingled with a sense of awe and delight. It was as if everything happening was within their expectations, and the results were even better than anticipated.
"Seven circles in total."
"They’ve basically covered the entire drought-stricken area."
"And the dark clouds are concentrated almost entirely over the farmlands."
"Incredible. Such fine control. They can actually influence an area a hundred kilometers away?"
"That’s terrifying!"
The staff from the Taoist Cultural Exchange Support Office were taking notes and discussing the events.
At the same time, phones in the meteorological bureau’s monitoring hall began ringing off the hook. As the staff answered the calls, they learned that it had started to rain in the local farming regions.
Starting with southern Yu Province, all the regions where dark clouds had suddenly gathered began to receive rain. The areas with the most severe drought were hit with heavy downpours and strong winds, while other places received at least moderate rain, which began to soak the farmlands.
"It’s raining!"
"It’s really raining!"
"It’s raining in all the drought-stricken areas!"
"’It’s almost entirely over the farmland, and at the same time...’ someone said in disbelief, ’it’s avoiding all the major and mid-sized cities?’"
The staff members exchanged bewildered glances. They looked at the unidentified personnel behind them, then back at the bizarre satellite map on the screen. They frantically shot looks at one another, their eyes gleaming as their minds raced with wild thoughts.
Seeing the questioning but hesitant look in the eyes of the bureau director next to him, Zheng Hongsheng gently shook his head. He lowered his voice and said, "This situation must be kept confidential. Remind your people not to speak carelessly. Someone will be by later with non-disclosure agreements."
The bureau director nodded gravely. "I understand."
Of course. A secret this world-shattering had to be strictly guarded. They couldn’t even mention the name "Taoist Cultural Exchange Support Office."
It wasn’t that the name itself was a secret, but if it got out, connecting it with the satellite images would lead to far too much speculation. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
The bureau director couldn’t help but rub his hands together expectantly. "In the future, if the bureau runs into similar problems, I wonder if it would be possible to..."
Zheng Hongsheng was rendered speechless. "What are you thinking? Each and every one of them is a national treasure; you can count them on one hand. Don’t bother them with trivial matters unless it’s a genuine crisis!"
"Yes, of course!" the bureau director nodded repeatedly. He looked back at the satellite map, his face filled with emotion. "I never would have imagined... I truly never would have imagined... that it’s actually... How can this be possible?"
The rain lasted for a full two hours. It tapered off from a downpour to a drizzle, then gradually stopped as the clouds dispersed and a rainbow appeared.
Out in the fields, the people watching the dark clouds gradually dissipate broke into cheers.
Back at the meteorological bureau, when a donut-shaped pattern appeared on the satellite cloud map, a few staff members who had either experienced or heard about the Mountain City wildfire incident had a sudden realization.
"So that’s what it is!"
"It really is high-tech!"
"Last time was a small-scale test. This time, it’s a large-scale deployment."
"Incredible!"
Hearing the whispers of the meteorological bureau staff, the people from the Taoist Cultural Exchange Support Office remained silent.
While it was true that the wildfire incident was a small-scale test and this was a large-scale deployment, it unfortunately wasn’t high-tech. It was mysticism.
Soon, the clouds dispersed and the rain ceased. The satellite map returned to its previous state, with only wisps of white clouds drifting by. The only difference was that the small pocket of cold air that had formed over the northern mountains was gone.
Stationed in southern Ji Province, Taoist Jing Feng glanced to the west and smiled. ’Looks like I got lucky.’
