Chapter 279: Snowy Night Train Upgrade (10,000 EXP!)

【Scan successful — obtained KOR Industries 6-Axis Mechanical Power Arm (blueprint)】

【Consumption successful — Mechanical Origin Point +200, Mechanical Consumption skill proficiency +100】

【Decomposition: obtained 100 units of hot-rolled forged steel, 30 units of molybdenum-tungsten corrosion-resistant alloy, 50 units of titanium alloy, 5 units of zirconium-based amorphous alloy, 20 units of ordinary carbon steel, graphene-aluminum conductive wire, zirconium-based amorphous alloy, silicon carbide fiber reinforcement...】

18: 0, outside the workshop of Xilan Weapons Manufacturing Factory, twilight approached as snow and wind began howling.

As the holographic screen appeared, a large amount of ash slid from Lin Xian's hands.

"200 points — not bad."

Most importantly, molybdenum-tungsten corrosion-resistant alloy and titanium alloy are military-grade materials; using them for factory conversion would yield better efficiency.

Kiki sat atop the arc furnace lid, idly using telekinesis to stack metal fragments like building blocks, practicing precise control over her ability.

Seeing Lin Xian finish, she turned her gaze toward him and pointed at the arc furnace beneath her buttocks.

"Your turn now?"

Lin Xian glided over on Kiki's telekinesis and landed atop the arc furnace, glancing down: "This should be quick."

Though this industrial-grade large arc furnace was massive — weighing thirty tons — its mechanical structure was relatively simple, and since Lin Xian didn't need to scan a blueprint, consuming it should be faster than the mechanical arm.

【Consumption progress: 1%】

As expected, when Lin Xian activated his Mechanical Heart and unleashed his consumption ability, he felt a surge of delight — he estimated he could finish this beast in an hour, no harder than the freight car.

But as nightfall neared, Lin Xian's nerves began tightening instinctively.

"Don't worry~"

Kiki lounged casually on the furnace lid and said to Lin Xian: "There are so many convoys outside — this city should be safe. Besides~"

She hugged her knees and looked at him: "I'm here to protect you."

Lin Xian stared at her seriously: "Sit properly. Stay alert."

"Oh~"

Seeing Lin Xian so serious, Kiki immediately sat up straight, thought for a moment, then flew over to sit beside him — facing backward — and tilted her head up: "I'll watch behind, you watch front. That's fair, right?"

Lin Xian glanced at her, took a deep breath, and said nothing.

Beep. Beep~

"Chen Laoshi."

Through the communicator, Lin Xian maintained contact with Wuxianhao.

"Everyone's back safely — don't worry," Chen Sixuan said to Lin Xian from Wuxianhao's living car, watching the upbeat crew: "When will you return?"

"About two or three hours," Lin Xian estimated.

"Alright, I'll have the team unload and inventory the supplies first."

Knowing Wuxianhao was secure, Lin Xian relaxed slightly and focused entirely on waiting for nightfall.

18: 0 — night arrived.

Darkness rolled across the horizon, swallowing even the storm vortex; only thunder cracked across the sky.

The bustling crowds on the city's streets vanished; every convoy, fully armed, stood ready as night fell. All faces grew grim — in an instant, survivors across Xilan City felt a chilling presence sweep over them.

Suddenly, artillery fire intensified along the eastern and southern anti-monster frontlines; electromagnetic beams pierced the sky, and aerial craft rose over the northern district.

This scene repeated almost every night; the Seventh Investigation Corps had long prepared for night combat.

Minutes passed — the city remained eerily silent. Then, convoys along Zhongyangdajie began to relax; lanterns and campfires flickered back to life, and everyone exhaled in relief.

It signaled another safe night.

Wuxianhao and Longshan No. had also prepared, but once they confirmed no strange entities had attacked, the crew gradually eased their tension.

Chen Sixuan observed from the cockpit for a while, then walked to the information center, checked the sentry surveillance system thoroughly, and, after confirming everything was clear, used the communicator to tell Lin Xian:

"Lin Xian, Wuxianhao is secure."

Inside the pitch-black factory, Lin Xian and Kiki sat atop the icy arc furnace and heard Chen Sixuan's words — both exhaled in relief.

"Looks like Xilan City really is fairly safe," Kiki sighed deeply.

A faintly glowing telekinetic barrier enveloped them; perhaps an illusion, but inside it, the cold seemed less biting.

"All the zombie entities inside the city have been cleared, the outer perimeter is guarded by the Phoenix Society, and with the city's defense weapons — it really is..."

Lin Xian's expression eased slightly; his gaze swept the factory's dark corners. Beyond the high windows, campfires glimmered like stars across the vehicles and streets outside.

"Relaxed now? Then hurry up," Kiki pouted. "I'm hungry~"

"Mm."

Lin Xian murmured: "Almost done."

They spoke softly, avoiding lights to avoid drawing attention from other convoys.

In the dark, Kiki leaned back against Lin Xian's shoulder, murmuring: "Lin Xian, will we ever go somewhere warmer?"

Lin Xian opened his mouth, wanting to say no — but instead said gravely:

"The Dark Tide blocks the sun — it will only grow colder. But if we escape this extreme cold vortex, it might be better than this."

"You can't even lie to me," Kiki grumbled.

"Actually, I want to ask you — when you kept mentioning Jinhai, was that real, or were you just fooling me?" Lin Xian asked.

Whoosh~

Kiki leaned back, resting her head on Lin Xian's knee, gazing at him through the darkness: "What do you think?"

Lin Xian slid his hand beneath her head to make her more comfortable, then said:

"I always thought — your family's so rich, why not go to Jinhai and make a fortune together? Upgrade our train with high-tech gear. You wouldn't mind, right...?"

"What? Robbery spouses?"

Kiki reflexively replied — then realized how it sounded, immediately flushed and whispered awkwardly to change the subject:

"I mean... why would I rob my own money...?"

Lin Xian smiled: "When you were excited about using your father's identity to steal the Star Propulsion Unit from Underground City No. , you were thrilled."

"Ah, well..."

Kiki fell silent, unable to respond.

"Lin Xian."

"Mm."

"I'm cold," Kiki murmured, snuggling into his arms, resting her head on his hand.

Lin Xian exhaled slowly, said nothing, and pulled her tighter against him.

【Consumption progress: 88%】

"Lin Xian."

"Mm."

"Let's go rob my family's money together."

"..."

In the dark, Lin Xian felt her breath lightly brush his face. He lowered his head — though he couldn't see her features, he sensed her beautiful eyes fixed on him, shimmering with quiet light.

"Alright."

Lin Xian agreed.

The next moment, two soft little arms suddenly wrapped around his neck; a warm breath came toward him, and her lips pressed softly against his.

Lin Xian's heart warmed. He said nothing, simply leaned down and kissed the girl.

In the darkness, no sound was made.

Kiki's kiss contradicted her bold personality — it was earnest, careful, timid, sweet — intoxicating.

Because neither could see the other, only feeling each other's breath, an inexplicable sense of secret, stolen, inexplicable longing arose — so much so that Lin Xian forgot time.

【Consumption successful — Mechanical Origin Point +150, Mechanical Consumption skill proficiency +100】

Lin Xian suddenly felt guilt — he didn't know how long he'd kissed her — until the holographic screen flashed. Beneath them, the arc furnace vanished into ash. He nearly fell.

Mid-kiss, the loss of support broke their connection.

Kiki gasped, instantly activating her ability to lift both of them, preventing them from hitting the ground.

"That was close."

After landing, Lin Xian exhaled in relief.

"Yeah, yeah, be careful!"

In the dark, Kiki replied nervously, as if denying everything that had just happened.

Click~

Lin Xian switched on a flashlight. Kiki immediately ducked away from the light, pointing into the darkness: "Hey, aren't you still going to get that machine?"

"Right."

Knowing Kiki was shy, Lin Xian didn't tease her — he immediately moved to secure the fully automatic shell stamping machine.

【Scan successful — obtained KOR Industries Fully Automatic Shell Stamping Machine (blueprint)】

【Consumption successful — Mechanical Origin Point +100, Mechanical Consumption skill proficiency +50】

This machine was less complex than the 6-axis arm; Lin Xian completed scanning and consumption in under an hour. His decomposition inventory now held abundant materials, including many high-grade metals.

After finishing, the two immediately flew toward the western district.

Xilan City's western rail freight station — snow and wind howled.

Longshan No. , parked on the tracks, was coated in snow; its thousand-meter-long cars glowed with pale yellow lights. Frosted windows revealed shadowy figures, noisy and alive.

Crew members ate issued rations and chatted; mothers remade beds; men repaired household items; children laughed and ran through the corridors.

Elderly warriors trained teenagers in firearms; the steam from hot soup in the dining car banished the winter's chill.

After a day of rest, the crew of Longshan No. 1 welcomed their first peaceful night in Xilan City, the carriage filled with a positive and relaxed atmosphere.

Many had exchanged for useful and novel supplies, and rare laughter and chatter echoed through the carriage.

On the Wuxianhao, the living and dining cars were equally bustling; the standard supplies received from the Phoenix Association far surpassed ordinary canned goods and biscuits.

Lin Xian and Kiki returned to the train just as the hot soup was ready, the carriage filled with aroma that stirred everyone's appetite.

Canned fish, braised pork, braised beef, five-spice beef, ham, and chicken—all came with compressed biscuits flavored with scallion, peanut, and more.

There were also self-heating meals requiring hot water, which Chen Sixuan and Xiao Yuan had cooked into hot dishes.

In addition, there was chocolate, hard candy, even gum and cigarettes designed to relieve stress.

"Look what I got with my nail clippers~"

Miao Lu pulled out an old-model music player, beaming with excitement, and pressed the power button. A classic North American tune, "Let It Snow," began to play, instantly lifting the carriage's mood.

Lu Chang had traded for a pair of custom Kevlar tactical fingerless gloves, perfectly matching his Chainline "System." He sat on his bunk, about to admire himself, when Shu Qin called him to the rear carriage for help.

Sha Sha somehow acquired a spray painter and a box of colored paints. The girl, wearing a gas mask, was repainting the "Sally" in Carriage 11, her hands moving with surprising skill—even adding a custom anti-backfire device to the flamethrower.

Following Ding Junyi's instructions, Chen Sixuan harvested a batch of ripe fresh vegetables from the vegetable farm in Carriage 4, then cooked them into vegetable soup using salt, pepper, and other seasonings she'd traded from other survivor convoys.

Since learning from the Phoenix Association that vegetable soup effectively neutralized inner Dark Fear energy and aided psychic advancement, Carriage 4 had become the Wuxianhao's 【Sacred Ground】—not only a place for crew members to relax among greenery, but also a vital source of nutritional vegetables.

In Carriage 5, Lu Xingchen savored the atmosphere. A tea brewer bubbled gently; he handed a cup to Da Lou, who was maintaining weapons. Da Lou wiped his hands, carefully took the tiny cup—no bigger than his thumb—drank it in one gulp, nodded appreciatively, and asked for another.

Lin Xian patrolled the carriages with his Mechanical Heart, the atmosphere filling him with deep comfort.

Since leaving Jiang City, he hadn't felt this at ease in a long time.

"I hope days like this become more common."

In the dining car, Lin Xian held a bowl of hot soup and addressed the crew gathered for meals.

"Yeah, yeah! No more fear or panic—haven't felt this good in ages…" Miao Lu, ever blunt, was the first to respond.

"Let's turn this train into the safest fortress on Earth—that's all!" Lu Chang grinned, stubbornly declaring.

Lu Xingchen blew on his soup and spoke with mystical gravity: "Nay, nay. Only when all demons and evils are purged from the world can true peace be found."

His words, unusually profound, drew nods of agreement from many.

"When we all become superhumans, maybe those monsters won't stand a chance against us," Sha Sha said. "Look how fast Xiao Yuan, Miao Lu, and Chen have evolved—before, they couldn't even handle zombies. Now, they could probably crush their skulls with their bare hands."

"I-I can't crush zombie skulls!" Xiao Yuan replied timidly, glancing toward Lin Xian.

Shu Qin nodded: "Actually, Sha Sha has a point. Less than a hundred days since the Apocalypse, human breakthroughs have surpassed the evolution of the past hundreds of millions of years. We don't know the limit yet—but given time, anything's possible."

"Mmm~" Kiki hummed loudly, a lollipop in her mouth. "We're definitely smarter than those monsters. If we all evolve together, they won't catch up—like those bugs. They're much easier to deal with now."

"Optimism is good, but stay cautious."

Chen Sixuan added: "So far, the Eternal Night and the Star Abyss remain forbidden zones for humans. Haven't you heard? The death rate among Nightwalkers Division Two, assigned to the Star Abyss, is the highest in the entire Nightwalker Corps. The greatest danger still lies in the Star Abyss region."

Lin Xian replied: "No need to think that far ahead yet. We follow the Phoenix Association's Dawn Plan. Evolution will accelerate, and the secrets of the Black Tide will become clearer."

Everyone nodded.

"Lin Team Leader," Lu Chang stepped forward eagerly. "Let's upgrade the train tonight—everyone pitch in. We can't let you shoulder it all alone."

"Yes," Miao Lu quickly added. "We can all help."

"Lin Team Leader, everyone's rested well these past two days. It's hard to see you working alone—we all feel guilty," Shu Qin said.

Chen Sixuan and Kiki looked at Lin Xian, knowing the entire convoy's burden rested on him—he'd barely rested since last night.

Lin Xian felt a warmth in his chest, took a sip of soup, and said: "What nonsense. If I had work for you, I'd call you. But last night, making armor plates? You couldn't help. Tonight? Plenty to do. None of you are getting off easy."

"Got it!" Lu Chang grinned immediately.

"Don't worry."

"Leave it to us."

"Lin Brother, leave it to me!" "I'm in too!"

"Everyone, together!"

"Good." Lin Xian set down his soup and began issuing orders without hesitation.

"Da Lou, lead the team to dismantle and reinstall the left-side armor plates. Once I've manufactured them, weld the modular frames and install the new composite armor, plus add new arc-pulse string oscillators."

"Understood, Lin Brother." Da Lou responded instantly.

"Lu Chang, lead the team to dismantle and rewire the piping. I've designed a new integrated circuit system. Also, get that Long Dragon-class unit ready—we'll need extra hands soon."

"Understood."

"Shu Qin, Kiki—your tasks are heavier. Install the anti-aircraft cannons and sentry systems. I'll guide you directly. Also, build a new command system."

"What about Lei Da? Should we upgrade it?" Kiki asked.

Lin Xian nodded: "Yes. Add a search radar, integrated with the 1130 and electromagnetic cannon—so weapons can react as one system."

"Fine. You build it, I'll handle the rest," Kiki said.

!

"Alright, Lin Team Leader, I'll assist Kiki," Shu Qin added.

"What about me?" Chen Sixuan looked at Lin Xian.

"Interior work," Lin Xian turned and said. "For safety, I'm clearing out Carriage 11."

"Sha Sha, move Sally out. I'm installing a six-axis robotic arm in Carriage 11—then we'll build a mech bay to lift it out. Much more convenient."

"So Carriages 11 and 12 will need major modifications. Add new weapon stations. If time allows, I'll install a fully automatic shell-pressing machine in Carriage 12 for bullet production, plus another 1130."

"Understood," Chen Sixuan nodded.

Xiao Yuan looked nervously at Lin Xian. Before she could speak, he turned to her: "Xiao Yuan, handle interior sanitation and logistics. Take a few others with you."

"Yes!"

Hearing the order, Xiao Yuan beamed, nodding eagerly, her eyes bright with enthusiasm.

"Uh, Lin Brother."

Lu Xingchen, usually aloof, couldn't stay silent anymore—everyone was working, and he felt awkward.

"Is there anything this master can assist with?"

Lin Xian looked at him, smiling knowingly: "Of course."

Lu Xingchen stared at Lin Xian's expression, suddenly sensing something unpleasant.

Twenty minutes later.

"Fire Fist!!!"

Boom!

Flames roared, filling the air. Inside the Wuxianhao's repair shed, Lu Xingchen sat beside a makeshift "boiler" Lin Xian had built, burning it with a face full of existential doubt.

Outside, the work was freezing. Most of Lin Xian's manufacturing had to be done outdoors, and modifications to the roof and windows left the carriages exposed to bitter cold. To aid night operations, Lin Xian installed a ring of metal-pipe "heaters" in the workshop, using hot water from the boiler for circulation. The nearly sealed space warmed quickly.

And the glorious duty of tending this temporary boiler fell to Fire Brother Lu Xingchen.

Lin Xian figured: this guy loved boiling water for tea—this should be easy for him.

Lu Xingchen, wrapped in a blanket, sat in a recliner, watching the boiler's pressure and temperature, occasionally extending a finger to shoot flames into it.

He opened his mouth to shout "Fire Fist," but Fire Fist had never been so humiliating—he bit his tongue and swallowed the words.

No one was listening anyway. He might as well not bother.

Just tend the boiler.

Tired.

On the other side, hundreds of meters of the repair shed glowed brightly, bustling with activity. Even Shi Di and Ningjing couldn't resist coming to watch.

Seeing Lin Xian had built such a large shed—with heating systems—they were envious. Lu Yong immediately summoned a group of engineers with notebooks and mobile terminals to study the advanced renovation techniques.

Lu Yong declared: Under the technological empowerment of Team Leader Lin Xian, the Wuxianhao has been revitalized—its work environment and team morale have soared. This new maintenance method makes train upgrades far more efficient and convenient. The green development philosophy has taken root; the ecological environment continues to improve. The results are clear. Longshan No. 1 must boldly learn from the Wuxianhao's advanced experience and innovative spirit, writing a new chapter for Longshan No. 1.

19: 0

Clang clang clang~

New silver-black composite armor plates were manufactured one by one. Crew members used cranes to hoist them into place. Da Lou rolled up his sleeves and led the team in meticulous installation.

22: 0

The entire roof of Carriage 11 was removed and converted into a dual-side-opening automatic hatch. The first six-axis robotic arm was being installed.

Sally was lowered by Kiki's psychic power. All vehicles and tools inside were cleared out. The mech bay designed for Sally began taking shape.

01: 0

Five YJ-03 vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft cannons were mounted on the roofs of Carriages 12, 10, 7, 5, and 1—all in Shengjiang mode, retracting into the carriage when idle. Special sealed hatches prevented leaks.

03: 0

New arc-pulse string oscillators were installed along both sides of the train, integrated with the electric-blade armor system.

Inside the carriages, sanitation and repairs continued. Everyone was busy—dozens of welders and cutters never stopped.

The women now possessed astonishing strength. Xiao Yuan could carry hundred-kilogram anti-aircraft shell crates to the storage car.

Kiki and Lu Chang, following blueprints, rewired the internal integrated circuits and upgraded the air circulation system. Chen Sixuan even led a team to clean all water tanks and installed multiple new water-recycling filters Lin Xian had built, enhancing protection against Dark Invasion.

06: 0

Lin Xian worked tirelessly, his Mechanical Heart spinning wildly—his decomposition center and manufacturing factory never paused.

Composite armor plates, automatic lifts, hatches, search radar, anti-aircraft cannon mounts, circuit integration systems, arc-pulse string oscillators, sentry system infrared sensors, electro-optical targeting, six-axis robotic arms, water-recycling filters…

Beyond manufacturing, Lin Xian solved countless details: heating system repairs, modular assembly components, mech bay design, ammunition racks for each carriage.

Most of these solutions came from the "Mo Queen" train blueprints, which had resolved many of his problems.

The simplest example: vehicle circuitry. Lin Xian knew nothing about it—he'd simply integrated the Twin-Star nuclear locomotive and the Whale-03E heavy gas turbine train directly.

This caused voltage instability every time the G3 electromagnetic railgun fired, with no emergency protocol. Any malfunction forced Lin Xian into full-scale repairs.

So he seized this chance for a complete upgrade.

08: 0

Lin Xian had never been this busy; his hands never stopped crafting light screens, supplying materials, components, parts, equipment, and screws.

He alone was like an entire nation's factory with a complete industrial system, effortlessly solving problems that other trains would find impossible—problems that might halt other convoys over a single screw, bracket, or simple bearing frame, yet left him utterly unfazed.

To boost efficiency, Lin Xian even hurriedly built a PX-05 robot; after Kiki configured it, the robot joined the installation and maintenance of complex systems like the circuitry and arc-pulse string resonators.

Besides him, everyone else was equally swamped—thirty-odd people trying to overhaul a three-hundred-meter super-heavy train was no small feat.

Though outside the temperature was over minus fifty degrees, the maintenance workshop's building had stripped down to just tank tops, working feverishly; multi-ton composite armor plates were tightly installed along one side of the train, and after connecting the sensors, the computer could even detect impact data and monitor external conditions in real time via the sentry system.

The Weilong-class electric locomotive was connected to the twin-star nuclear-powered locomotive via custom-built carriage connectors; since the corridor was blocked, maintenance could only be handled by the PX-05 robot, but full armor had been fitted, the interior cleaned, and internal/external surveillance systems and rear radar and targeting systems installed.

Under this intense mechanical production, Lin Xian's mechanical manufacturing proficiency rose at an unprecedented rate.

【Successfully manufactured composite armor plate, mechanical manufacturing proficiency +20】

【Successfully manufactured PX-05 robot, mechanical manufacturing proficiency +100】

【Successfully manufactured search radar, mechanical manufacturing proficiency +35】

【Successfully manufactured Keer -6 axis mechanical arm, mechanical manufacturing proficiency +200】

【Successfully manufactured unknown fastener, mechanical manufacturing proficiency +5】

【Successfully manufactured…】

Mechanical Manufacturing: 4 (666/2000)

Mechanical Manufacturing: 4 (880/2000)

Mechanical Manufacturing: 4 (1245/2000)

Mechanical Manufacturing: 4 (1796/2000)

【Congratulations! Mechanical Manufacturing upgraded to Level 5! Manufacturing efficiency increased!】

In his Fengkuang manufacturing, Lin Xian slipped into an intensely focused state; his speed and energy expenditure reached a state of utter absorption. Only when the light screen before him displayed its result did he realize—his skill level had surpassed his Mechanical Heart level for the first time.

His energy had hovered constantly at just 1% electricity, yet the exhilaration kept him from feeling any fatigue; had the decomposition center not nearly run out of all materials, he felt he could have kept going.

It felt like, "Help me up—I can still fight three hundred rounds."

"Lin Xian!"

Chen Sixuan's voice slowly pulled him back; he looked up to see her watching him with concern: "You've been zoning out for over ten minutes. What's wrong?"

Lin Xian rubbed his eyes; on his right-hand light screen, a bearing component was only one-third finished.

He retracted his hand; the component clattered to the floor and shattered into fragments.

He sat in Car 11, facing a massive six-axis mechanical arm that had completed its sensor test; the roof had automatically opened. Around him lay piles of parts; a horizontal mech bay stood in the center, clamping down tightly on Sally, with charging cables automatically connected behind it, while the PX-05 robot tested pre-loading ammunition.

Lin Xian's eyes were bloodshot; only with Chen Sixuan's support could he Mianqiang stand, and as he rose, a crushing, abyss-like weakness surged through him.

Many things remained unfinished—he'd planned to build four PX-05 robots but completed only one; he'd intended two six-axis arms but built only one; the fully automatic ammunition press hadn't been made at all, let alone the 1130s.

According to Lin Xian's original plan, all this should have taken about two days, including all daytime hours.

Yet overnight, he'd achieved far more than he'd ever hoped.

"Huh~"

Outside, many assembly and upgrade tasks still continued; the sounds of welding and cutting never ceased.

Kiki had worked all night; the integrated power system was still incomplete.

Chen Sixuan helped Lin Xian sit down; he shook off the daze and began counting:

"External armor, arc-pulse string resonators, anti-aircraft cannons, sentry system upgrades, search radar and fire-control radar—all the key external defense systems are done."

"Internally…"

"Rest first," Chen Sixuan said, her eyes filled with pity as she handed him a bowl of hot soup. "The circuitry is nearly done with Kiki and Lu Chang. Sally's loading issue is resolved. The robots and arms aren't urgent—we still have manual loading. Water and heating systems? I've checked them with Shu Qin. Don't worry. According to your plan, only the bullet-making machine remains, then adding the 1130s—you can take your time after you rest."

Lin Xian sipped the soup, pulled Chen Sixuan into his arms, and rested his head against hers: "I also want to build more power suits—for Miao Lu, Lu Chang, Xiao Yuan, and the others."

"Can't rush it," Chen Sixuan said, glancing at the time. "It's already ten. You've been using your ability nonstop for fifteen hours since last night—you need to take care of your body."

Lin Xian nodded. He couldn't build anything now—no materials left.

But the overnight progress was impressive; at least the defense systems were nearly complete. What remained was just adding firepower.

"I was thinking of modifying the living quarters—I saw Monica's honeycomb-style living carriages…"

"No need," Chen Sixuan looked up at him. "It's fine as it is. Everyone's comfortable. No need to change it. As long as the outside is solid, everyone feels safe."

Lin Xian exhaled in relief. His mechanical manufacturing had reached Level 5; now, building the 1130s, electromagnetic cannons, and PX-05 robots would be much faster. He could even deploy missile systems. The thought lifted his spirits.

Then he suddenly remembered something—if mechanical manufacturing had upgraded, what about the R&D Center?

Realizing this, Lin Xian immediately opened the R&D Center—and it instantly displayed a message.

【R&D Success! You have unlocked the Black Hawk-Silent Hunter Power Armor (Blueprint)】

After checking the blueprint's parameters and design, Lin Xian's expression sharpened instantly!

"This isn't an exoskeleton power suit—it's a full-coverage battle armor!"

Looking at the blueprint, his heart surged—the armor featured auxiliary jump and landing-cushioning jet engines, capable of near-jumping flight. In that moment, he felt he was standing at the frontier of a steel-bodied revolution.

But Lin Xian didn't waste time. With mechanical manufacturing at Level 5, even amid his excitement, he considered what to prioritize next.

"If it's already full-coverage battle armor… can it be upgraded further?"

Curious, he simply placed the unmanufactured power armor blueprint back into the R&D Center.

【Cannot insert. R&D Center has reached its research limit. Requires Mechanical Heart upgrade to unlock.】

【R&D Center lacks critical mechanical information processing unit. Cannot proceed with research.】

"What does that mean? Not just level too low—but missing some component?"

Lin Xian stared at the screen. He'd never encountered this before—he'd assumed the R&D Center could handle anything, at most just requiring time. Now it claimed it lacked a core mechanical information processing unit?

"Forget it. We haven't even built the Black Hawk yet. Don't leap ahead too far." Lin Xian sighed inwardly. He didn't even have three TRPs deployed yet—trying to jump straight to something higher was overreaching.

So he thought for a moment and placed the G3 electromagnetic railgun blueprint inside.

【Estimated R&D time for this device: 3 days 20 hours】

"Of course—just three days."

He immediately confirmed.

【G3 Electromagnetic Railgun (Blueprint) R&D in progress: 3 days 19 hours 59 minutes】

"Let's go. Dawn's coming. Get some rest."

Lin Xian stood, took Chen Sixuan's hand, and prepared to return for a proper sleep.

The train's external armor was done, the weapon systems upgraded. With dawn approaching, he felt at ease—and decided to rest properly.

Chen Sixuan let him hold her hand, her gaze slightly teasing: "You're this exhausted—don't tell me you still want to do something naughty."

Lin Xian stretched lazily and said, "Whatever you say."

Hearing that, Chen Sixuan's heart warmed. She could feel Lin Xian now listened to her—no longer the awkward, blunt dynamic they'd had at first.

Clatter-clatter~ Clatter-clatter~

Though dawn neared, Xilan City remained shrouded in darkness. Beneath the blizzard, the temporary workshop at the western freight platform never paused its work.

Lin Xian entered Car 1, skipped a shower, and collapsed onto the bed. Overwhelming exhaustion dragged him toward sleep, yet the thought of the train's impressive upgrade progress filled him with deep satisfaction.

Just as he was about to drift off, a violent earthquake shook the train!!

Xilan Industrial University, Phoenix Society Research Team Temporary Camp.

Once a prestigious national defense industrial university, it had trained many of Longguo's top military R&D scientists. Now, the broken campus gate's iron railing jutted crookedly from the snow, the library's floor-to-ceiling windows shattered into spiderwebs.

From midnight until now, the research building remained brightly lit.

Phoenix Society soldiers, armed and on guard, patrolled inside and out. The place had clearly seen heavy fighting—walls along the corridors were stained with dried blood.

In one lab, Ding Junyi and a group of senior researchers were in intense discussion.

Thud—the lab door burst open. Wei Kexue, hair a wild nest, gasped out: "Professor Ding, something's happened!"

Clatter-clatter.

Ding Junyi and Wei Kexue hurried downstairs, escorted by armed guards.

"What's going on?"

"Experiment Subject 13 showed no reaction during testing—not even a Dangling Spirit value fluctuation."

Wei Kexue strode urgently: "I just got word—Yu's team used oscillation spectroscopy and detected nothing. Director Guo was frantic—he ordered direct physical-electrical stimulation on Subject 13. It was supposed to be routine, but the subject suddenly went berserk!"

(End of Chapter)