Chapter 240: Consuming Nuclear Power (120,000 Bonus, Filling Chapter 9 Debt, Requesting Monthly Votes)

Ughhh!!

At 2 a. ., on the track near a forest beside Shijiu Lake, the blackout shutters of the Infinite Train were fully lowered.

Inside the carriage, shadows moved back and forth, sounds of frantic activity never ceasing; outside, countless zombies wandered, their movements growing calmer as the battle ended, circling the carriage, occasionally roaring and scraping with their clawed hands.

Black insects darted in and out of the shadows beneath the train, lying dormant or searching for air vents to burrow inside.

Yet every posture across the Infinite Train, under the mechanical heart of Lin Xian, was perfectly clear to him—he could now distinctly feel the surrounding threat pressure had dropped to its lowest.

【Ding! Non-mechanical force being used for reflection detection.】

【Detection successful. No fear risk detected within the train. Dark-side influence has been blocked.】

Each time they returned to camp, Lin Xian used the heteromorphic cube to inspect the entire train; once confirmed safe, he immediately assigned Shu Qin and Dali to organize personnel, replenish ammunition, check firearms and injuries. Fire Brother and Shasha had guarded the train all night, so Lin Xian told them to rest first. The full-spectrum medical pod still hadn't been installed, so he hurried with Chen Sixuan and others to Carriage 3 to confirm the status of the 【Dark Mark】 with Ding Junyi.

At this moment, the Hell Black Chrysanthemum emitted a steady red glow, while simultaneously absorbing vast amounts of black smoke.

"Since there's no clear energy source for the mark, I'm temporarily using the brightness of the disaster plant's red light as the evaluation unit," Ding Junyi said, her white lab coat stained with blood and bits of flesh, yet she paid no attention, starting her tests the moment she boarded.

"This."

She raised a mobile terminal, displaying a simple table compiled from previous recorded data.

"So far, I've observed five levels of brightness variation. The brightest occurred in Jiazhou—I defined it as Level 5. I believe this level corresponds to when we were marked by an S-class and numerous anomalous entities at the Yubei Airport, the highest level we've recorded."

Chen Sixuan nodded, recalling that night when they first entered the night over the Yunjiang Plain, when the entire train had been suddenly surrounded by anomalous entities—an utterly suffocating scene.

"True. That night, our train nearly flipped over."

"Exactly. Following that logic, we were Level 4 in Yuzhen, Level 3 when we exited the No. 9 Underground City, Level 2 when we escaped from Hengshan Pass, and the faintest glow—even after resolving the trouble in Yuzhen—I've temporarily defined as Level 1, meaning relatively safe and risk-free."

Kiki immediately said: "But I felt the monsters we faced trying to break out of Yuzhen were stronger than those in Jiazhou."

"That's my second point: the distribution of anomalous entities within the Dark Tide has regional characteristics. This is evident from the territorial behavior of the large anomalous entity in Yuzhen. We can treat this mark as a kind of fluorescent tag or scent on us—the larger the mark, the wider the range it attracts from the Dark Tide, like lighting a torch in an unknown dark forest. But the problem is, if the forest we're in has no high-level anomalous entities, it doesn't necessarily mean lethal danger."

Lin Xian frowned slightly: "So it's not just the mark's level—it's also about location? Or luck?"

"Yes, you can understand it that way."

Ding Junyi continued: "Third point—this is purely my personal speculation. I believe areas inhabited by large or high-level anomalous entities have fewer low-level ones, similar to predator population density. So when we arrived outside Jiazhou with an S-class mark, we attracted many low-level entities. Though numerous and hard to defend against, they lacked the true threat of an S-class entity."

"Duh. If it were S-class, we'd already be dead." Kiki stuck out her tongue, then asked: "So the monster we faced tonight was Level 3?"

Ding Junyi nodded: "Roughly."

She turned to Kiki: "Possibly Level 4. And I think only you and I have been marked on this train."

Chen Sixuan looked at the Hell Black Chrysanthemum's brightness: "But this glow doesn't look like Level 3."

"It's probably because we killed many anomalous entities tonight—the mark's intensity has been diluted," Lin Xian sighed. "We killed at least six C-class entities tonight, maybe some B-class too. Plus human anomalies, various insects, and hundreds of water ghosts below."

Ding Junyi nodded: "Yes, the logic holds. Current conditions also suggest there are no anomalous entities nearby—otherwise, our mark would've already drawn them."

Kiki crossed her arms: "So we just wiped them all out?"

Ding Junyi's analysis gave Lin Xian deeper insight into the dark creatures. It seemed the Dark Tide overlaid a separate dimension onto the world—during the day, those entities might have been right around them, but only when night fell did they suddenly appear. If close enough, they'd be directly detected and hunted—or lured by the mark, surrounded by entities within range.

"Then does that mean there's an anomalous entity near S-class beneath the research institute?" Chen Sixuan frowned.

Kiki nodded vigorously, eyes wide: "Sis Chen, you didn't see it—it was a huge fish, bursting straight out of the ground, with two human-like lures growing from its head!"

As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something and turned to Lin Xian: "By the way, Ding Sister and I have another important discovery."

She then recounted what she and Ding Junyi had found in the pressure-release chamber to the two of them.

Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan's faces showed shock: "Human-like lures?"

"Yes," Ding Junyi replied. "Otherwise, it's impossible to explain why people were sent into the deep lake and brought back, all via remote control. I believe the Foundation knew a Level S monster lurked beneath Shijiu Lake, using this method to obtain 【Dark Marks】. And tonight, the monster that marked you and me was that very creature!"

Lin Xian's expression darkened slightly: "That woman named Tan Meng… I recall she's an ability user with flight capability."

"Yes, her. Didn't she win the game?" Kiki said.

"Confirming this is enough. As for why she was there, someone else might know the answer," Lin Xian said.

"Who?"

Lin Xian looked at Kiki: "Didn't I tell you Hu Lushou definitely participated in the Foundation's Death Game and won?"

"Oh, right!" Kiki's eyes lit up. "Then this guy probably knows a lot about the Foundation's inner workings."

Lin Xian nodded: "Since we now have a Level 3 mark, let's not wander tonight. Wait until dawn, then return to Hengshan Pass to find him."

"Then we don't clear the mark?" Kiki immediately regretted her words, spitting: "Oops, I'm being stupid—we can't handle that lake monster!"

"That's settled."

Lin Xian gave a low order: "We're now at a safe threshold. As long as we don't venture into any A-class or S-class entity's lair, we can gradually clear our mark by killing ordinary anomalous entities. Tonight, everyone stay cautious, do your preparations. I'll be back."

Chen Sixuan looked at Lin Xian: "Where are you going?"

Lin Xian pointed outside the train: "I'm going back to the Long-style transport ship in Qingshui Town. There's something valuable still there—I can't let it go to waste."

Chen Sixuan frowned: "But you just said we have a Level 3 mark and shouldn't wander?"

"It's them, not me," Lin Xian said calmly, raising his face to Kiki and Ding Junyi. "By the way, among everyone on the Infinite Train, I probably have the least mark—I spent the whole night dealing with the Fire God mech. All the monsters were killed by you two."

"Hey!" Kiki looked worried at him: "You're so sure? What if… what if something happens?"

"It's fine," Lin Xian said firmly. "I trust Director Ding."

Consuming the "Yexing No. 2" nuclear turbine processor from the Long-style transport ship was, for Lin Xian, merely to upgrade his mechanical heart—less important than his life. But he still chose to do it, not just to risk upgrading, but to definitively confirm how the 【Dark Mark】 affects individuals versus the group—this was crucial.

"I'm going with you!"

At that moment, Kiki and Chen Sixuan spoke in unison.

As soon as they spoke, their eyes met, both sensing something strange in the air.

Lin Xian didn't notice the tension: "Kiki has the mark. Chen Laoshi, you handle inventory and care for the wounded. I'm going alone—you all stay with the train. Besides, it's not far from Qingshui Town."

"What if you run into danger?" Kiki said.

"No problem," Lin Xian squeezed his powered armor. "Director Ding just said: within an S-class entity's territory, there aren't many other anomalous entities—they've probably been wiped out already. I won't go into the lake. If trouble arises, I'm confident I can escape."

Countless nights of fleeing had made Lin Xian no longer unfamiliar with the dark. As the 【Dark Mark】 became clearer, his decisions grew bolder.

Moreover, his mechanical heart had stagnated for too long. His last upgrade was in the No. 9 Underground City. No matter which route they took next, they'd enter the Star Abyss's edge—he had to accelerate his ability development!

"Fine. Take PX-05 with you—it can help with reconnaissance," Kiki said, knowing Lin Xian had made up his mind.

Lin Xian nodded, then said to Chen Sixuan: "Stay safe, all of you."

So many tasks weighed on Lin Xian: the G3 electromagnetic railgun's hyper-capacitor hadn't been manufactured yet; the full-spectrum medical pod wasn't installed; the Fire God mech sat idle in Carriage 11; the mech repair station hadn't been built; the extreme cold vortex storm was coming, requiring upgrades to heating and snow-removal systems across the train…

And Lin Xian's mechanical heart, mechanical manufacturing, and mechanical consumption all urgently needed upgrades. Only after enhancing these could he rapidly produce powered armor and mechs, boosting the Infinite Train crew's combat power.

Thinking of all these unresolved tasks, and the team now facing the indiscriminate poisoning of the 【Dark Mark】—laying hidden dangers ahead—Lin Xian had no desire to sleep. He had to seize this opportunity now.

After brief arrangements, Lin Xian mounted a motorcycle, PX-05 strapped to his back, and burst out from Carriage 11, drawing the attention of a dozen zombies and black insects, who swarmed toward him.

Inside the Infinite Train, Chen Sixuan watched Lin Xian ride off alone, her face grim. She fell silent and began organizing the supplies retrieved from the research institute.

With Lin Xian gone, she had to assume the role of caretaker, managing all internal affairs of the train for him.

Ding Junyi remained calm, continuing her research. She'd found numerous research documents from the Foundation's institute; her eyes burned with scientific fervor, showing no sign of fatigue.

After Chen Sixuan left, only Kiki remained in Carriage 3, pacing back and forth, staring at Ding Junyi's blood-splattered, filthy lab coat. She couldn't help saying: "Ding Sister, why don't you wash up? Don't you smell the stench?"

Ding Junyi didn't look up: "Your current emotional state is anxious—you're worried about Lin Xian. But such worry is meaningless. I suggest you rest. As the train's strongest combatant, your condition critically affects the team's survival. If you can't sleep because of him, consider self-soothing—it greatly helps regulate excessive female hormone secretion."

Kiki was stunned by Ding Junyi's blunt words. Her face flushed red and white. She quickly suppressed her panic, adopting a calm tone.

"Pfft, who's worried about him? Who's got excess female hormones? I'm worried he'll die and we'll lose our free arms factory and onboard power source!"

Ding Junyi looked up, expressionless: "We have the Twin Stars 11R nuclear-electric locomotive—we're not short on power. As a telekinesis user, you don't need firearms. Conclusion: I'm facing a lovesick girl. By the way, strictly speaking, are you legally an adult?"

"I can't hear you! I can't hear you!"

Kiki felt utterly defeated. She covered her ears and fled the carriage like a hunted animal.

She took a shower, returned to Carriage 2, and lay on her custom Kiki bed. Shasha was already asleep, but Kiki tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Shhh~

Kiki pulled back the blackout shutter beside her bed. Outside stood several grotesque zombies. Seeing the light, they immediately began shrieking, their rotting palms scraping noisily against the window's armored grating.

Kiki lay on her side, staring out at the zombies, her finger gently tapping the glass, lost in thought.

"That guy… wasn't he always so cautious before…"

Ding ding ding~

She tapped her finger, watching the zombie outside clawing wildly, murmuring softly: "Yeah, you think he's an idiot too, right?"

"Ughhh!" the zombie replied.

"Exactly. It's so late, and he's still causing trouble. Why don't you go check on him? Scare him a bit—make him come back sooner?"

"Aaah! Ughhh! Wai bi ba bu~" the zombie shrieked on.

"Huh?" Kiki blinked, then her expression changed: "No, you can't go. Don't add to his troubles!"

With two fingers, she pinched—the zombie's head exploded into a bloody ball.

As that zombie fell, another immediately shuffled forward.

…

Vvvv~

Beneath the night, a motorcycle sped across the open highway.

Lin Xian, with PX-05 on his back, entered the northeastern streets of Qingshui Town. To avoid drawing a zombie horde, he parked the motorcycle on the outer road, then activated his powered armor and moved swiftly through alleyways and rooftops in darkness.

He'd traveled several kilometers without encountering any anomalous entity attacks. Either he carried no mark—or this region had none left. Either way, it confirmed Ding Junyi's theory.

Crash!

A dark shadow leapt from above, landing squarely on the crashed Long-style transport ship's deck. He landed silently, motionless. After confirming no unknown creatures or zombies had noticed him, Lin Xian slipped inside quietly.

Inside the cargo hold, he immediately turned on his flashlight. One advantage of this transport ship: ordinary zombies couldn't enter. But he wasn't sure what might lurk inside after nightfall—he observed cautiously from the moment he stepped in.

The stench of decay still rolled in waves from the deck corridors. In this sealed space, the odor was even stronger. Lin Xian was long accustomed to it—he didn't even frown.

"Heaven helps me. All the trouble must've been drawn away."

"Worth all the ammunition we expended across the entire train…"

Lin Xian exhaled in relief, then hurried along the deck into the rear power and propulsion compartment, locating the nuclear turbine processing chamber.

"You're the one."

Lin Xian pulled out the PX-05 robot and activated the patrol program pre-set with Kiki.

Wooo~

The small robot's flight engines ignited, executing Lin Xian's orders—its patrol range was limited, focused solely on the rear compartment and connecting corridors.

"Tonight, I'm counting on you."

Lin Xian patted the robot, and it wobbled off, beginning a 3D scan of the area before setting its patrol route.

Lin Xian ignored it, walking over to the power and propulsion compartment to begin the absorption.

"Absorbing nuclear power—for the first time in my life. Hope it's worth it."

He sighed softly, conjuring a hopeful vision, then leapt onto the nuclear turbine processor, steadied his mind, and began absorbing.

【Absorption Progress: 1%】

Having scanned it earlier, Lin Xian immediately sensed the absorption progress—suddenly, immense pressure slammed into him; his face darkened as he muttered inwardly:

"Shit, underestimated it…"

He'd estimated four to six hours, but now realized that was far too little—not just in time, but in psychic drain. Within the first minute, sweat drenched his brow, and his Mechanical Heart spun at maximum speed.

Lin Xian gritted his teeth: "This chance won't come again—I'm finishing this today!"

From this moment on, every minute of absorption was a crushing burden—he had to endure it for hours.

Minutes passed, then hours. Lin Xian's clothes were soaked through; even his power armor's life-support system detected his abnormal state and began issuing warnings in his ear.

【Abnormal heart rate detected.】

【Abnormal electrolyte loss rate detected.】

【Alert: Abnormally active brainwave fluctuations.】

One hour… two hours…

Five hours… seven hours…

Due to Star Abyss's proximity, dawn in Hengshan Pass had been delayed until 11 a. . On the Infinite, after a night of preparation, the convoy members had recovered well.

Kiki didn't know how long she'd slept. She tossed and turned until dawn, but Lin Xian hadn't returned. She rushed to Chen Sixuan: "Sister Chen, it's morning—I'm going to Qingshui Town to find him."

Chen Sixuan, having stayed awake all night, nodded: "Alright. Stay safe. It's not far. If you contact Lin Xian during your trip, send me a message right away."

"Mm." Kiki nodded, then immediately opened the vehicle door, crushed a zombie, and soared into the sky.

Zzzt…

Zzzt…

"Federation Phoenix Society Global Broadcast: The Dark Tidal Boundary of Star Abyss #3 will converge with Star Abyss #5 near Quancheng and the Tagan Desert in 35 days. Survivors moving northeast must evacuate immediately. The Phoenix Society has established emergency outposts in Xilan and Quancheng. The Dark Tidal Boundary of Star Abyss #7 will converge with Star Abyss #5 near Weihe, Longjiang, Jinhai in 28 days. Survivors moving east toward Xinggang, Kangcheng, and Yongcheng Port must evacuate immediately. The Phoenix Society has established emergency outposts in Jinhai and Yongcheng Port…"

"Zzzt… Federation Phoenix Society Global Broadcast: Dawn Center's current position is the northern foothills of Yun'an Ridge, coordinates 116. 913447°, 39. 053937°. Dawn Center will arrive at Tianqi in three days…"

"Phoenix Society Xilan Outpost Alert to Yunjiang Plain: An S-Rank Anomaly vanished yesterday near the southern Bai Lu Plain Marsh…"

"Phoenix Society Xilan Outpost Alert to Yunjiang Plain: A massive extreme cold vortex, triggered by Dark Tidal Incursions from Star Abyss #5 and #7, has rapidly intensified snowfall along Weihe to Xilan and Longjiang to Xidi Desert. Minimum temperature: -45°C. Peak wind speed near the vortex center: 12 levels. Severe snowstorm conditions. Large numbers of unknown snow-dwelling creatures have appeared."

Zzzt…

"Survivor Frequency: This is the North Wind Survivor Alliance. We warn all survivor convoys heading north from Dalaete Town in the Yunzhou Mountains: snow conditions here are extreme. Without sufficient supplies and heating equipment, head east immediately. Many convoys and survivors have already frozen to death. Do not attempt this route without tracked or rail vehicles. The extreme cold vortex contains numerous unknown creatures. Repeat: Do NOT touch the snow inside the vortex!"

After Kiki left, inside Car #2, Chen Sixuan and Shu Qin, who had not slept all night, were monitoring today's apocalypse radio broadcasts.

"Kiki went to find Lin Xian. We should hear from him soon."

Seeing Lin Xian hadn't returned, everyone grew anxious. Without their leader, all eyes turned to Chen Sixuan.

Chen Sixuan suppressed her unease and spoke calmly: "These updates are crucial for our next moves."

Chen Sixuan studied the map: "Bai Lu Plain Marsh—close to Weihe. We can't proceed along the main route."

Shu Qin nodded: "Unless we push through today, while it's light."

"We'll wait for Lin Xian to return," Chen Sixuan said. "He might have other plans."

Dadao stepped forward: "How about I drive with Huo Ge to check on him?"

Chen Sixuan waved her hand decisively: "Kiki's already gone. She's the most mobile, and she went with him yesterday. We just wait for news."

As they spoke, Kiki's voice crackled through their headsets.

"Sister Chen, I reached him—he's fine."

Chen Sixuan exhaled deeply, the exhaustion in her eyes lifting. She turned to the group: "Alright, let's eat first. We'll depart when Lin Xian returns."

…

Meanwhile, Kiki hovered in the air, gazing at the distant Qingshui Town. Hearing Lin Xian's voice, she finally relaxed, muttering under her breath:

"What the hell was he doing? Did he plan to swallow the whole transport ship?"

Even as she grumbled, she accelerated toward Qingshui Town.

Soon she reached the Dragon-class transport ship above, surveyed the area, and pressed her comm: "Lin Xian, are you inside?" "Yeah…"

Lin Xian's voice sounded utterly drained.

Kiki's brow tightened. She flew inside, passed through the corridors, descended to the lower propulsion chamber—and saw Lin Xian slumped in a corner, pale, drenched in sweat, gasping for breath. The PX-05 robot hovered silently beside him.

"Hey, you—"

Seeing this, Kiki's face paled. She landed beside him, staring in shock: "What… what happened to you?"

Lin Xian closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and smiled faintly through his exhaustion: "Took care of a big one. Took some effort."

"I feel like a vampire just sucked you dry," Kiki said, leaning close, touching his forehead, then her own. "Are you really okay?"

"I'm fine!"

Lin Xian struggled to sit up, adjusted his breathing. On his vision display, golden afterglow still shimmered.

【Absorption Successful: Mechanical Source Points +1000, Mechanical Absorption Skill Proficiency +400, Bonus Reward: Strength +20, Agility +20, Defense +20!】

【Congratulations! Mechanical Absorption Level upgraded to Lv. 】

!

【Congratulations! Strength Level upgraded to Lv. (Bonus Physical Enhancement Gained)】

【Congratulations! Agility Level upgraded to Lv. (Bonus Reaction Speed Gained)】

【Mechanical Absorption: 4 (241/2000)】

【Congratulations! Extra Unique Skill Acquired: Gravitational Lens!】

【Gravitational Lens: Generate a large-scale star cluster gravity source to bend and amplify light passing nearby!】

"Gravitational Lens…" Lin Xian stared at the name, stunned. His previous skills were wind cannon, ice wall, electric surge—how had he suddenly jumped to star cluster gravity?

A nuclear turbine engine… already involved this level of technology?

Lin Xian's heart raced, his blood pressure soaring. 1000 source points—this was a massive win. And now a new skill? This one sounded insanely powerful.

"Hey… hey!"

A frantic voice pulled Lin Xian back to reality. His gaze slowly focused. Kiki's voice grew clearer—she was hovering before him, eyes wide, staring at him strangely, waving her hand in front of his face, anxious: "Hey, what are you zoning out for? What happened?"

She was so close he felt her breath on his face. Overwhelmed by excitement, his mind went blank—he leaned forward, tilted his chin up, and pressed his lips to her chattering mouth.

Mwah~

The sound was crisp.

The moment froze.

Kiki went rigid. Her eyes widened slowly. She touched her lips, then stared at Lin Xian in disbelief. Her expression shifted—confusion, shock, then… fury.

Lin Xian snapped back to himself, realizing he'd overreacted. "Misunderstanding! It's a misunderstanding!"

"Misunderstanding?"

Kiki's face flushed crimson and pale. This guy had just ambushed her—and called it a misunderstanding?

Furious and enraged, she glared at him, her eyes glowing, and shouted: "Go! Die!"

BOOM!

The Dragon-class transport ship, wrecked on Qingshui Town's street, shuddered violently—dust and debris exploded upward.

Zombies hiding in alleys and side streets all turned their heads toward the transport ship…

…

High above, weak and exhausted, Lin Xian was carried by Kiki's ability toward the Infinite. His motorcycle was left behind.

Lin Xian gazed at the blue sky and white clouds over Shijiu Lake, feeling serene. This risky absorption was worth every second. Though it took nearly eight to nine hours, his Mechanical Ability had surged. He was only a few hundred points away from upgrading his Mechanical Heart to Lv. —just two or three locomotives away.

"Flying feels amazing," Lin Xian murmured, savoring the breeze on his cheeks.

Kiki flew ahead, arms crossed, face cold. She glanced back and shot him a glare: "If you weren't this pathetic, I'd make you run on the ground."

Seeing Kiki's sulking face, Lin Xian winced.

He wondered why he kept kissing her—last time, now again. Was her mouth really that irresistible? Last time he'd snuck it and gotten away with it. This time? He'd launched a direct frontal assault—and now the tension between them had shifted into something delicate.

Kiki stole a glance at Lin Xian. When she noticed him looking, she quickly looked away, exhaling softly.

She pressed her chest—her heart still pounded hard.

"Again… you kissed me…"

She muttered under her breath, eyes burning with resentment: "Asshole… next time I'll bite your lips off. See if you dare kiss me again, hmpf!"

…

*Ssshh*—the Infinite's car door opened. Kiki and Lin Xian returned. But the moment Lin Xian stepped inside, his Mechanical Heart's interface suddenly flashed a new message.

【Non-mechanical energy converted. 1000 Mechanical Source Points acquired.】

WHAM!

In an instant, a powerful wave of warmth and vitality surged into Lin Xian's body—his exhausted psychic energy began recovering rapidly.

"Hetero-Cube?!"

Lin Xian snapped out of it and rushed toward Car 1.

"Hey, weren't you out of energy?!"

Kiki, who had just entered, saw Lin Xian return to the train—his earlier exhausted demeanor suddenly replaced by vibrant energy—and immediately realized: Was this guy faking it all along?

Lin Xian didn't know what Kiki was thinking; he quickly reached Car 1, found the Hetero-Cube, and activated it.

【Ding! Non-mechanical energy being used for reflection detection.】

【Detection successful. No fear risk detected within the train. Dark-side energy intrusion has been blocked.】

【Non-mechanical energy converted. 1000 mechanical source points acquired.】

"As expected!"

It seemed last night's full-force efforts yielded more than just kills—countless bizarre bodies and human-ghosts, including the black centipede at Hengshan Pass, had been absorbed and transformed overnight by the Hell Black Chrysanthemum into evolution energy.

"Lin Xian!"

At that moment, Chen Sixuan, Shu Qin, and others arrived. Lin Xian turned and saw everyone brimming with energy—no trace of last night's exhaustion. His heart leapt. "How do you all feel now?"

"How's your physical condition?"

Chen Sixuan was surprised by the question. "Fine. Why?"

But Sha Sha noticed something odd: "Chen sister, didn't you stay up all night?"

Everyone turned to her. Chen Sixuan shook her head.

"It's strange—I don't feel particularly tired."

"Come to think of it, I feel the same," Shu Qin added. "I didn't rest much, but I'm full of energy. Could it be… we gained evolution from killing weird bodies?"

"Naturally."

Lu Xingchen stepped forward with a knowing look. "Eliminating night-time evil spirits naturally enhances cultivation."

"Not entirely."

Lin Xian nodded. Judging by everyone's condition, the Hell Black Chrysanthemum's energy conversion had indeed benefited those on the Infinite Train. But he didn't explain the Hell Black Chrysanthemum or the Hetero-Cube—partly because it was hard to grasp, partly because he himself didn't fully understand it. He only knew one thing: it was currently beneficial.

【Congratulations! Mechanical Heart has successfully leveled up to Lv. and gained passive skill: Mechanical Amplification!】

【Mechanical Amplification (Passive): Enhances special skills (max level) into mechanical-exclusive skills. Requires mechanical materials for amplification forging. Note: Using Mechanical Amplification removes skill proficiency levels and grants Mechanical Manufacturing (Active) proficiency.】

【Currently amplifiable skills.】

Wind Cannon (Normal) (Lv. , Maxed): Can be amplified to 【Mech-Energy Cannon】

Amplification Materials: Titanium Alloy ×100, Hot-Rolled Forged Steel ×100

Amplification Time: 20 hours

Ice Wall (Normal) (Lv. , Maxed): Can be amplified to 【AT Force Shield】

Amplification Materials: Super Carbon-Yne Alloy ×10, Tungsten-Titanium Alloy Type I ×50

Amplification Time: 30 hours

"Holy shit!"

One surprise after another left Lin Xian stunned. He'd planned to return to Hengshan Pass Station to upgrade by acquiring two locomotives—but now, back on the Infinite Train, the Hetero-Cube had converted the Hell Black Chrysanthemum's non-mechanical energy, instantly boosting his Mechanical Heart to Lv. .

And this new skill seemed to read his mind: during recent battles, his Wind Gun had become useless—he'd been worrying about lacking new abilities.

Now, not only had he gained a new skill by consuming the nuclear turbine processor, but he could also mechanically amplify his old Wind Gun into a true mechanical-exclusive skill. It was like being handed a pillow right when he was dozing off—perfect!

【Initiating Wind Cannon—Mechanical Amplification】

【Mechanical Amplification Started: Wind Cannon 19: 9: 9】

Materials in the decomposer were being consumed. Lin Xian glanced over—he could only upgrade the Wind Cannon for now. He had never scanned the Super Carbon-Yne Alloy required for the Ice Wall, and even the fabrication plant couldn't convert it. He'd have to set it aside.

"Lin Xian," Chen Sixuan said, having synced the latest radio data she'd gathered. She watched, waiting for his next move.

"Darat Town?" Lin Xian asked.

Chen Sixuan replied: "About 900 kilometers north of Hengshan Pass lies the Yunzhou Mountains. Darat Town is a small settlement—off the rail line, but not far."

Lin Xian nodded seriously. "Then the Extreme Cold Vortex must be nearing Hengshan Pass. If we take the East Line toward Weihe River, we won't pass through the White Heron Marsh, but we'll still get close—and risk encountering an S-rank weird body."

"Then the South Line might be safest," Shu Qin said. "We're in Qingshui now. From Lancheng, through Yunlan to Jinhai—we can rejoin the Ring-Star Mainline."

"Safe?" Kiki sat on a nearby sofa, sucking a lollipop while studying a map on her terminal. "The South Line runs too close to the edge of Star Abyss #7. Unless we get through without a single hiccup, we'll inevitably enter the Abyss's Eternal Night."

"It's all the same," Lin Xian said. "North Line detours around Star Abyss #5's northern zone. South Line skirts Star Abyss #7's southern zone. East Line cuts straight between two abysses. Without that S-rank weird body, the fastest, safest route would be the Ring-Star East Line. But no matter which path we take, once we leave Hengshan Pass, the Dark Tide draws closer—and the night grows longer. This could be an extremely dangerous phase for us."

The car fell silent. Facing the Star Abyss head-on was uncharted territory for everyone on the Infinite Train.

After a few days of brief sunshine since leaving Jiazhou City, they'd once again plunge into darkness. Only by bursting through the narrow gap between Star Abysses #3, #5, and #7 could the team find another moment of respite.

"No matter which route, Lin Brother decides."

Seeing everyone's worried faces, Lu Xingchen shrugged. He stretched lazily and grinned at Lin Xian. "You discuss. While the sun's still out, I'm going to soak up some rays~"

Shu Qin nodded, turning to Lin Xian. "Yes, Lin Captain—we'll follow your lead."

Da Lou, Sha Sha, and Chen Sixuan all looked his way.

Lin Xian studied the map. "I've already decided. But before we leave, we need to return to Hengshan Pass—to find someone."

Oo~

Instantly, the Mechanical Heart activated. The Infinite Train's Whale 03e heavy gas turbine locomotive roared to life. Its iron wheels trembled and spun, propelling the train backward toward Hengshan Pass City.

The zombies that had wandered the area all night began groaning and chasing the steel fortress.

"Back to Hengshan Pass? The platform might be destroyed," Chen Sixuan said. "We'll need to slow down and watch the track conditions."

Lin Xian nodded. "Right. Also, you and Shu Qin tally up the cold-weather gear in the living quarters. We'll need to trade for more."

"Got it." Chen Sixuan nodded. "I'll handle it right away."

"Kiki." Lin Xian called.

Kiki didn't look up, still sucking her lollipop. "What?"

"Come with me to install the Full-Spectrum Medical Pod."

"Oh~"

Lin Xian looked at her, then added: "Yesterday you didn't get to pilot the Vulcan Mech. Later, I'll gather a few people to test the mech's neural co-state coefficient. Want to go first?"

Kiki paused mid-suck, her eyes lighting up as she tilted her head.

"Really?"

"Really."

Sha Sha frowned beside them. "Lin Brother, what's a mech's neural co-state coefficient?"

"It's the neural signal synchronization between pilot and mech system. A higher coefficient means stronger control. It's highly talent-based—people with high sensory sensitivity, strong motor skills, and mental stability make better pilots. It's graded into five levels. Level 1 is the minimum for qualification. To pilot military-grade heavy mechs—especially combat types—you need at least Level 3."

Sha Sha's eyes widened. "What about Levels 4 and 5?"

Kiki snapped her fingers. "Level 4? That's a genius pilot. Level 5? Even rarer."

Lin Xian nodded at Sha Sha. "You could try too. They say younger people adapt better—faster reflexes, fewer distractions. You might be a perfect fit."

"Really?" Sha Sha perked up instantly. "Whoa, piloting a mech? Sounds awesome!"

"Don't get too excited yet~"

Kiki pinched Sha Sha's cheek. "Your Kiki sister hasn't even tried yet. Who said you could go first?"

Sha Sha hurriedly protested: "Kiki Sister, you can fly already! Why even need a mech?"

"Flying doesn't mean I can't pilot a mech. It's way cooler!"

"Enough. Let's get to work," Lin Xian cut in.

The Full-Spectrum Surgical Medical Pod brought back by Kiki and Da Lou was installed in Ding Junyi's Car 3 Research Compartment. There was enough space, and more importantly—the research car had no windows, was tightly sealed, spotlessly clean, and had a dedicated air-circulation system. It was the perfect location.

Since it was a complete unit, Lin Xian only needed to fabricate a matching base, connect the wiring, and let Ding Junyi and Kiki configure the system—then it would be operational.

Once configured, Lin Xian immediately called in Lu Chang, who was injured.

The moment he saw the medical pod, he grew nervous.

"Lin Captain, how long will I be dead when I go in?"

Kiki snorted. "Dead? This is a medical pod, not a cryo-sleep chamber. You lie down, it's done in minutes."

"No, I mean—will I get full anesthesia?"

"No," Ding Junyi explained. "The system uses neural oscillation tech for localized anesthesia—not drugs."

"Ohhh~"

With Ding's word, Lu Chang understood. He unbound his bandages and lay down.

Ding Junyi pressed the command. The pod's lid slowly sealed shut.

【Scanning vital signs】

【Detecting injury】

【Detected: Grade 3 ulnar fracture in left forearm, lacerations to muscle and epidermal tissue.】

【Initiating treatment protocol: Full sterilization】

Hss!

Instantly, white mist filled the pod, followed by a sweeping blue light.

【Localized Neural Oscillation Anesthesia】

Ding!

The onlookers watched as precision mechanical arms extended, projecting lasers onto Lu Chang's arm—repairing bone and skin tissue like a 3D printer, rapidly smoothing the wounds.

Lin Xian's gaze sharpened. Lu Chang's wounds were healing visibly—no bleeding, no scarring—as if new flesh had been seamlessly stitched into the torn tissue, restoring his arm to perfect condition.

"Done?"

Minutes later, the lid opened. Lu Chang sat up in shock, staring at his left arm. "No way—it's like I got a brand-new arm."

"How do you feel?" Lin Xian asked.

Lu Chang nodded excitedly: "Uh... just a bit numb, but no other problems. Team Leader Lin, this thing is amazing."

Lin Xian smiled: "This was something only the rich could afford before the Collapse. Now, when you get injured, it'll fix you up fast."

"Alright, alright!"

Kiki, now impatient, said: "The mech suit is ready, Lin Xian—let's go test it!"

The girl couldn't wait to try it out. Lin Xian pointed outside: "Wait until we stop at Hengshan Pass. Right now, you can't even stand in that mech—how are you going to test it?"

"Oh~ right."

(End of Chapter)