Chapter 263: Charge Into the Snow Plain

Pull! Force! Through the Mirror!

With full power activated, in an instant, Lin Xian felt all his energy being drained away like a dam breaking.

High above the horizon, a patch of space began twisting rapidly; in an instant, the twisted region expanded quickly, swallowing and distorting the massive Tyndall effect light streaming through the clouds, giving rise to dazzling halos.

At that moment, hundreds of meters above, a phantom sun appeared, blindingly radiant, like an ultra-large fluorescent lamp, instantly illuminating the entire gorge pass, drastically improving visibility through the snowstorm.

And as the snow and wind gaps vanished, for a fleeting instant it felt like a clear winter afternoon; this radiant light, like a torch, caused countless snow demons and snow monsters to twist violently, their shrieks shaking the heavens, black smoke oozing profusely from their strange skin and joints, the once wave-like tide of demons frantically burrowing into the snow, instantly relieving the convoy's defensive pressure.

Simultaneously, the entire convoy's firepower rained down on the giant abyss worm, explosions and metal jets slamming into it, instantly sending up clouds of dust and spraying black flesh and green blood everywhere.

Aang hummed!

A tremendous sucking force emanated from its massive mouth; it had emerged dozens of meters from the ground and now twisted its mouthparts rapidly, aiming to sweep the fleeing convoy in one full strike—nothing like its earlier sudden surge and immediate retreat underground.

But its furious sweep and devouring failed; instead, its hardened black hide began melting, warping, and misaligning, allowing a single armor-piercing round to deliver greater power than usual, sending chunks of blood crashing to the ground.

Kongkongkongkong!

Snow dust and shattered rocks exploded violently from the ground; Shi Di, gripping a 155mm howitzer in one hand, eyes blazing like a tiger's, body towering like a tiger's frame, had just passed the Longshan No. 1 from the side—he was about to fire with both hands when he suddenly realized the monster was frantically retreating underground, and shouted: "It's trying to escape!!"

Daylight was never this creature's domain; facing a monster capable of wiping out a city, this was the best chance to inflict heavy damage—how could Shi Di and the others possibly let this opportunity slip?

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the entire convoy seemed ready to fire every barrel at once; even on the technical team's vehicles, many had grabbed automatic rifles and pistols and were unleashing full fire at the monster.

Huahua-hua!

The abyss worm rapidly retreated underground; Lin Xian, drenched in cold sweat, gritted his teeth, and with his last remaining strength, reached out and clenched his fist hard!

The twisted, dazzling light Tuan now began contracting inward in a Fibonacci spiral; the next instant, a searing beam, roughly the thickness of a barrel, shot violently downward!

Boom!

The searing beam struck the abyss worm's body, instantly sending up waves of black smoke and steam like a tidal surge across its insectile form.

Hum!

On the left flank, Bai Bai removed his sunglasses and fired two laser beams directly at the worm's side at close range.

In an instant, as the giant worm plummeted, the laser beams tore through its body like hot knives through butter, carving a terrifying gash over ten meters long.

Lin Xian's gravitational beam lasted only one second, yet it pierced clean through the worm's upper shell, revealing a blinding white glow within the pitch-black abyssal mouth.

Kongkongkongkong!!

Snow dust and shattered rocks exploded violently; the giant abyssal mouth vanished instantly into the ground, leaving behind a circular crater over ten meters in diameter, scattered with chunks of outer skin and tissue, some even splattered onto the passing convoy vehicles.

Boom-boom-boom! Seismic waves began transmitting violently; large sections of snow on the mountainside at the pass began sliding down.

Shi Di, still furious, hurled two more 155mm howitzer shells into the crater; after several seconds, two hollow explosions echoed from the empty pit—clearly, they had detonated in vain.

Weng-weng~

At this moment, the convoy's defensive line finally passed entirely by the crater, leaving the pass and heading toward the flat snow plain.

"Damn it! It got away!!" Shi Di growled.

Pongpongpong!

"Hmph!"

On an armed vehicle, Chen Wei finally stopped firing his minigun; zizizi, the scorching barrel glowed faintly red, snowflakes landing on it hissing like boiling water.

"It definitely got hit!!" came the breathless voice over the comms from Sergeant Sun: "It won't dare surface again for a while."

"Before nightfall," Qian Dele said from atop the vehicle, fanning his face with his hand after expending considerable effort.

"Report casualties on all vehicles!!"

"We're not out of danger yet—rearm, don't slack off!" other convoy leaders shouted in unison.

Yu Yuheng stuck his head out the window, staring in horror alongside the technical team members; from the moment the abyss worm emerged until now, barely half a minute had passed, yet it felt like enduring a terrifying life-or-death battle—the colossal insect body and abyssal mouth radiated overwhelming pressure; had it not been for that strange mental force protecting the convoy, at least one-third of the vehicles would have been instantly sucked in.

"How's Chen Wei doing?!" Yu Yuheng shouted to his colleagues on the armed vehicle in the distance.

"Temporarily unharmed!" came the reply; Yu Yuheng exhaled in relief.

"Indeed, though terrifying, daylight can indeed injure it—even drive it back!" said a researcher in the vehicle, clutching his backpack tightly.

"Yes, it seems the entire team charging together is the best approach—if we'd scattered our strength..."

Yu Yuheng sat back down, hearing their words, his expression complex, yet he nodded firmly: "Professional tasks require professionals. If Team Leader Li hadn't died, he'd have reached the same conclusion."

"Team Leader Yu, Lin Xian is truly powerful," the researcher said, eyes wide with wonder: "A mechanical adept who can not only conjure machinery out of thin air but also control the weather—could he be merging his ability with mecha?"

Yu Yuheng blinked: "The ability to create machinery is indeed extraordinary—we must document this thoroughly. If we reach Xilan City, immediately send the data to headquarters via the Mail Carrier Group and see what feedback we get."

"I think the Nightwalkers organization has already spotted this talent."

Another middle-aged researcher said nervously: "This ability is functionally comparable to a strategic-level asset—the Nightwalkers won't let this go."

Yu Yuheng fell silent, his eyes deep in thought...

On the other side, the steel stream finally closed ranks, sweeping through the snow-laden air as it moved away.

Due to the sudden flash of light, many pursuing snow demons had diminished; yet as seconds passed and the blizzard intensified, the boundless snow plain once again echoed with boiling sounds. Fortunately, the seismic tremors seemed to have receded, offering everyone a slight easing of tension.

"Left flank: 3 vehicles lost, 9 personnel!"

"Right flank: 4 vehicles, 17 personnel!"

"Center: 2 vehicles, 7 personnel."

Casualty reports over the comms cast a heavy silence over the convoy; Kiki returned pale-faced to the passenger seat and sighed deeply: "Damn it..."

Beside her, Xiaoqing glanced at her silently, then returned her gaze to the road, driving quietly.

Lin Xian sensed Kiki's guilt; exhausted himself, he leaned back in his seat, eyes closed: "We've done all we could."

Though her ability had been enhanced multiple times by Hell Chrysanthemum energy, sustaining a hundred vehicles—mostly heavy ones—was beyond her limits.

"That bastard was too smart—emerging from there."

"Looks like detonating the black worm's corpse did nothing but cause some chaos in the horde."

This phenomenon clearly proved Yu Yuheng's earlier method of fleeing with blood was entirely wrong; the abyss worm likely wasn't afraid of blood—it was the overwhelming intimidation of the No. 1 Unit, not the scent of its kin.

"Chen Laoshi."

As they entered the endless snow plain, Lin Xian had no time to rest—he immediately contacted Wuxianhao.

"Lin Xian, I'm here!" Chen Sixuan's voice came through, easing his heart.

"We've passed the pass—about forty minutes left, still on the original route. Many monsters. Our ammo won't last long."

"Understood. Be careful."

Though they'd broken through the first wave, Lin Xian couldn't relax; to repel and even cripple the abyss worm, many adepts—including himself—had expended everything, firing ammunition without restraint. If this failed to achieve its goal, and the abyss worm reemerged before linking up with Wuxianhao and Longshan No. 1, the convoy could be doomed.

The sky was darkening; the chance to strike was only this once. Though perilous, it demanded total commitment. Even with a perfect plan, this was a high-stakes gamble.

"Everyone, alternate fire. Road is open now—maintain formation. Let adepts and skilled enhanced personnel handle threats up close. If no four-legged monsters appear, reduce firepower."

"Rear vehicles—Captain Qian, keep your anti-air cannons suppressing those two flying aberrations. Don't fire unless they overtake us—they shouldn't dare emerge in the thunderclouds."

Lin Xian began coordinating over the convoy's comms.

"Also, monitor vehicle conditions. Soon we'll approach the rail line—Longshan No. 1 and Wuxianhao will break through the ice at high speed. Stay with them."

Lin Xian's orders were relayed by each convoy leader; every driver now stared ahead with grave focus, fully alert.

"The blizzard's intensifying—temperature will drop further tonight!"

On Longshan No. 1's all-terrain train, Xiang Ningjing frowned at the thermometer reading -59°C: "We still don't know the situation in Xilan City. Let's hope we hold out until nightfall."

Inside the vehicle, several team members had accidentally suffered frostbite—especially hands and faces; some had cracked, bleeding skin on their fingers.

"Hold on—we'll reach the main force soon!" Shi Di shouted as he walked through several carriages.

He then picked up the comms and contacted Lu Yong on Longshan No. 1.

"Yongzi, preheat the cannons—this weather, don't let the barrels freeze. If they go silent, we're done."

"Kakka... zizizi... got it... understood, Brother Shi."

On the Emperor Project's armored vehicle, Chen Wei sat slumped in the back seat as a medic inserted an IV into his wrist, while another applied ointment to his hands—front side burned, back side frostbitten; his hands now oozed blood, looking horrific.

"Hey, Chen Wei, how are you?!"

Yu Yuheng's voice came over the comms.

"Not dead yet," Chen Wei said, eyes closed, voice calm. "How about you?"

"Xiao Yang's dead," Yu Yuheng sighed. "He was on that vehicle."

Chen Wei's eyes snapped open; he drew a deep, heavy breath, eyes filled with rage and helplessness...

On the polar vehicle, zengzengzeng. Lin Xian activated his Mechanical Heart to repair the windows and doors, blocking the freezing wind; the cabin heater gradually warmed the air.

Kiki glanced at Xiaoqing beside her and said: "Hey, I'll drive—you look like you want to jump out and fight."

Xiaoqing turned, looked at her, then at Lin Xian, and whispered:

"You... rest."

Her voice carried a quiet, mature tone. Lin Xian and Kiki were both exhausted; outside, countless snow demons surged toward the front, while on Longshan No. 1, Xiang Ningjing and Shi Di had already returned to the roof to face the horde. Xiaoqing wanted to help, but Xiang Ningjing had assigned her to drive—so she stayed silent. Now, hearing Kiki's offer, she stirred with renewed energy, handed over the steering wheel, grabbed her blade, and leapt out to join the battle.

Kiki sat cross-legged in the driver's seat, using her mental force to control the polar vehicle's steering wheel and throttle, while simultaneously raising a mental barrier to block snow demons leaping from the snow ahead.

"When I heard about the Emperor Project from Hu Lushou, I thought we'd get a giant mecha~"

Kiki sighed: "Turns out we just got trouble—and no rewards."

"If we had more time, that mecha might still be salvageable—but we can't take it," Lin Xian said.

"You mean Phoenix Society?"

"No. That giant mecha—aside from combat—would require a Hercules transport aircraft to lift. Even a Fire God mecha won't fit in one cargo compartment, let alone this one..."

!

"Oh, true—but it's so cool," Kiki glanced in the rearview mirror: "Brother, don't you want that mecha?"

Lin Xian's gaze burned as he recalled the High-Frequency Blade Chain Sword of the No. 1 Unit, which had slain an abyss worm; his heart surged with excitement.

Such an Emperor-class mecha seemed tailor-made for his Mechanical Heart—the very direction his ability could evolve toward.

Exhausted, Lin Xian leaned against the polar vehicle's window, watching the endless convoy roll across the boundless snow plain, snow demons raging, gunfire blazing, hundreds of fighters locked in desperate battle—it was the first time he'd ever fled a horde by vehicle.

"The train is still safer..."

He muttered under his breath; hundreds of vehicles, each one flipping over would kill several people—as leader of such a large convoy, the pressure seemed far greater than his own.

Lin Xian seemed to understand Shu Qin now—fleeing nonstop, nine lives barely spared.

Tired, so tired.

Suddenly, outside, fire and gunshots roared, slaughter unceasing—Lin Xian felt his energy draining, dazed, leaning against the window, and fell asleep.

In his dream, he returned to Jiang City, to his apartment shelter.

Beep-beep-beep—the voice announced nightfall. As usual, he pulled up the alloy barrier he'd forged with mechanical qi, splashed deodorant along the corridor and doorway, turned off the lights, and huddled in the pitch-black room, listening to the eerie noises from above and below, feeling the low whispers and growls beyond the street.

Wandering zombies passed charred vehicle frames, their rotting tracheas emitting guttural gurgles.

Lin Xian sat on the floor in the corner of his bedroom, his short knife beside him, waiting for midnight, waiting for dawn.

Whoosh~

A gust of wind came from the living room—he'd sealed the windows tight, so no wind could enter. Lin Xian scanned the darkness, and saw what appeared to be a shadow standing before the living room's floor-to-ceiling window.

Instantly, he snatched his short knife and burst out of the bedroom—no one was there.

But the balcony's floor-to-ceiling window stood wide open; night wind howled, fluttering the curtains.

Lin Xian stepped onto the balcony, looked up—and suddenly felt a monstrous skyborne object blotting out his vision. His pupils contracted sharply. He saw a colossal floating corpse, dwarfing the heavens, slowly drifting above Jiang City, its continent-sized body obscuring all moonlight; the entire city now existed only as faint, rustling silhouettes.

"Bio-2 is moving! Moving! Bearing east! Bearing east!"

A frantic voice suddenly echoed in his ear—as if someone were reporting via communicator.

Lin Xian immediately turned his head to search—no one.

"Who are you?!"

Suddenly, the voice barked sharply—as if directed at him.

Lin Xian's blood ran cold—who was in his house?

He spun around—and saw a shadow standing in the corner, watching him.

"Lin Xian! Lin Xian!"

A warm force enveloped him; he felt his energy returning. When he opened his eyes, a chilling cold struck him.

【VITALS DETECTED: HYPOTHERMIA! HYPOTHERMIA!】

The power armor's alarm blared, drawing nearer.

Hiss!

Lin Xian jolted awake, checked his watch—17: 0. He'd slept ten minutes.

Was that a dream? This was the second time he'd seen that floating colossal corpse—the shock still reverberated in his mind; his face was blank.

Bang-bang-bang! Tap-tap-tap!

Outside the convoy, gunfire and artillery intensified. Kiki, driving, used telekinesis to shake him, her face flushed with anxiety: "What's wrong? I've been shaking you for ages and you won't wake up."

Lin Xian's face was pale. He took several deep breaths, rubbed his temples, then said: "I just hit a wall, fell asleep. I'm better now."

Kiki exhaled in relief, worried: "That move of yours drains too much energy—but it's damn effective. You even pierced that giant bug."

Lin Xian nodded. The gravitational lens was his strongest technique, but its flaw was obvious: besides draining energy, it was nearly useless in daylight. If not for these bizarre energies from the extreme cold vortices attacking humans during the day, he'd never have found a use for it.

"I think those monsters aren't afraid of light itself."

Lin Xian said grimly: "Have you noticed? Under sunlight, these eerie entities become extremely unstable."

Kiki thought a moment, then said: "At first I thought they feared sunlight or UV rays, but now I'm not so sure—especially those snow wraiths. It's like something's tearing them apart."

Lin Xian nodded: "So daylight is indeed safe for us. The Dark Tide aims to blot out all light. Our only real advantage right now? Dawn."

Bang-bang-bang!

On the roof of Longshan No. 1, the heavy machine gun's fire swept across the Arctic vehicle's top, instantly vaporizing a cluster of snow wraiths emerging from the snowpack—blood splattered everywhere.

Lin Xian opened the window, activated the power armor's observation mode, and tried to locate the position of Infinity in the blizzard. Thanks to the signal pillars, the convoy's overall direction hadn't deviated—but the sky was darkening rapidly; less than an hour remained until nightfall.

"We're not far from the North Line track!"

Xiang Ningjing's voice came through the communicator—she stood atop Longshan No. 1, her fists caked in monster blood: "Captain Lin, shouldn't we start the train now?"

"Not yet!" Lin Xian shouted. He checked his watch, calculated the distance.

Under the blizzard, vehicle speed and direction were easily skewed. Lin Xian had Kiki retrieve nearby signal pillars and haul them onto the vehicle—his pillars were numbered, letting him calculate distance to the train.

"Should be about fifteen kilometers away—we still can't see it."

If Infinity started moving, the position of the nearest signal pillar would be wrong. Best to see the train visually. But in this blizzard, visibility was under a hundred meters. Returning along the signal pillars was safest—if the train left, the entire convoy could lose direction entirely, forced to turn west toward Xilan City.

Yet now, snow wraiths across the entire plain surged toward the convoy. Giant winged creatures swooped from the sky, occasionally diving over the convoy, trying to snatch living humans or overturn vehicles. Luckily, anti-aircraft cannons held them back. Lose this heavy firepower, and the convoy's hundreds would become lambs awaiting slaughter.

"We can't see a thing, yet you want them to start early? This rendezvous is impossible!" Ningjing cried urgently.

Clink!

Shi Di tore off the heads of two snow wraiths midair and landed heavily on the roof, his voice stern: "Within two kilometers, we should pick up the vehicle's signal. If our bearing's right, we won't miss it."

"Our speed can't match Longshan No. 1. The snow's getting deeper—once we accelerate, we can't brake. We need the perfect timing!" Ningjing said.

"Reporting, this is Yu Yuheng of the Phoenix Society Tech Team."

As the convoy faced overwhelming monster pressure, and Infinity and Longshan No. 1 waited for signal activation, Yu Yuheng's voice suddenly crackled through the communicator.

"Director Yu, please speak." Lin Xian was still calculating distances, mentally weighing options, when Yu Yuheng said: "We just deployed a base antenna for testing. Currently, we can communicate up to two kilometers straight-line—but this range is shrinking due to the blizzard. We need to reserve a safety margin."

On a large snow vehicle, Yu Yuheng rapidly typed on his computer, speaking fast: "So I built a simple mathematical model. Our convoy speed is sixty kph, heading at an 86-degree angle to the North Line track. Ignoring visual range, we can only rely on signal positioning. Earlier, Captain Lin told me the train needs four to six minutes to break ice and accelerate to at least sixty kph. Too fast—we can't keep up. Too slow—we get bogged down by the wraith tide. Best solution: start early, turn our course, match the train's sixty kph..."

"Cut to the point!!" Lin Xian roared. At this critical moment, these scientists still insisted on explaining principles.

Tap-tap-tap—Yu Yuheng finished his inputs, adjusted his glasses confidently, and said over the communicator: "Once we enter the three-kilometer range, immediately start the train. Turn thirty degrees right—we'll reestablish contact with the train's signal in two minutes. If direction and speed hold, we'll rendezvous in four minutes. Margin of error minimal."

Lin Xian's tension eased. He'd been agitated simply because he needed a precise number—and Yu Yuheng had just solved his crisis.

"Good. Watch the signal direction—don't drift off course!" Lin Xian said.

Around them, snow wraiths surged like tidal waves, growing thicker by the second. Beyond them, only endless snow and raging blizzard. In this chaos, a two-kilometer signal range was a pinprick compared to vehicle speed. Miss it, and the convoy would lose all contact with the train—forced to scour the ground for rail tracks to follow.

(End of Chapter)