[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train":3,"chapter-apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-374":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Apocalypse: I Built an Infinite Train",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2262138,4414,"Chapter 374: The Storm Approaches!","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-374",374,"\u003Cp>01:45 AM\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Shuguang City, footsteps hurried down the corridor; Minister of the Seraphim, Luo Ming, strode into the Federation Chair’s office, pushing the door open to find a small meeting in progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhaonan sat at the head of the conference table, discussing the progress of the Far Star Project with several senior council members; seeing Luo Ming burst in, he immediately frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Ming waved his hand; the combat display screen replaced its content with a video. All present—including Federation Chair Chu Zhaonan, Senate President and Underground City Committee Head Xu Yan—turned their gaze to it, discovering it was footage from Silent City showing its reception of Vice Chair Zhou Mingyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vice Chair Zhou?” Xu Yan said, puzzled. “Didn’t this happen yesterday? Why is the video coming through now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Ming’s face darkened. “It came from Silent City, transmitted via a high-power frequency-matched aerial relay all the way from Jinhai to Shuguang City. This video has already spread among all survivors!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What… is the problem?” asked Su Jin, a 42-year-old senior official and head of the Far Star Project.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch and you’ll see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Ming fast-forwarded the playback to the subsequent footage of Zhou Mingyuan confronting Wangyue Zenshi, and Wen Dong confronting Lin Xian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the holographic video played, the air in the office turned icy; the faces of several senior leaders darkened. At the head of the table, Chu Zhaonan slowly clenched his holographic command device, metal groaning under pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Zhou Mingyuan’s wild laughter in the video, Xu Yan signaled Luo Ming to stop playback, then spun around sharply, his voice stern:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This video is fake!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Partly true, partly false,” Luo Ming replied at once. “The tech department has decrypted it. I’ve already cut the citywide network to halt its spread.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then quickly broadcast the decrypted debunking content!” Su Jin’s face showed grave alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I pushed out the debunking content before cutting the network, but it was too late—old district is already in chaos,” Luo Ming said. “Population control, city defense, garrison, and night patrol units are all mobilized. The situation is slipping out of control.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is Vice Chair Zhou?” Xu Yan spoke now, turning to Chu Zhaonan. “We must get Zhou Mingyuan to appear publicly and debunk this immediately—otherwise the unrest won’t be contained.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhaonan, seated at the head, wore an inscrutable expression. His gaze fixed on the frozen frame of Zhou Mingyuan’s wild laughter, then he spoke low and heavy:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luo Ming, is Zhou Mingyuan preparing to strike Silent City?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. They intend to paralyze Silent City using the Crimson World.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So now they’ve been outmaneuvered by Wangyue Zenshi?” Chu Zhaonan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yan drew a deep breath. “What about Silent City? Has the forward outpost sent any movement reports?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s exactly what I’m about to report.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Ming’s face was grim as he spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Five minutes ago, the relay station reported: Silent City has activated its levitation mode and is now cruising at high speed toward Jinhai!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jinhai?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it trying to do? Launch a surprise attack on Jinhai?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Lu Tianye?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Lu’s Jinhai Garrison has diverted most of its forces to reinforce the Mount Qilian outpost—there’s a large convoy stranded there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chairman, this is bad!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The office erupted into chaos. Chu Zhaonan closed his eyes slightly. Hearing the news, he showed no panic; his fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. After a long pause, he spoke low and firm:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Su Jin, immediately notify Jinhai: transfer all completed starships to Shuguang City’s Xinggang port. Luo Ming, take the Seraphim Division to Jinhai immediately—first, contact Lu Tianye and prevent any engagement with Silent City; second, personally negotiate with Wangyue Zenshi to determine his intentions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!” Su Jin and Luo Ming immediately left with their teams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This kind of riot only needs debunking to suppress—it shouldn’t have triggered such a massive response,” Xu Yan said, frowning as the others departed and only two remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhaonan’s face was calm. “Old Xu, why do you think Silent City suddenly accelerated and flew straight toward Jinhai at night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yan exhaled slowly. “First, they spread rumors that Zhou Mingyuan colludes with the Crimson World and plans to strike Silent City—then they fly directly to Jinhai. Clearly, they want us to hesitate. If either the Crimson World or our own forces attack them now, it confirms that Shuguang City is conspiring with the Arrivalists in an anti-human plot. Those hundred thousand people on Silent City become a hundred thousand mouths. Even a touch could ignite a storm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precisely. Zhou Mingyuan’s plan was to let the Crimson World strike—but they turned his own trick against him. If Silent City truly faces trouble from the Crimson World now, no debunking will help,” Chu Zhaonan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Mingyuan wanted to use a knife to kill. Now the blood and the blade are both on his hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then we shouldn’t abandon Jinhai either?” Xu Yan said. “Our mobilization just proves we’re panicking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not abandoning Jinhai.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhaonan tapped his fingers on the table, gesturing toward the holographic timestamp. “Yè Lán’s Zhentian Ship arrives in Shuguang City in one hour—isn’t that too convenient?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think Silent City is colluding with the Phoenix Society to provoke this?” Xu Yan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether they are or not, the Crimson World’s key must be used now,” Chu Zhaonan said slowly rising. “When I chose to partner with Linglong Group, I foresaw this day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took two steps and gave a low order:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring Wen Hui to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.” A guard hidden in the shadows stepped out silently and quickly left the office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had apparently stood there for a long time, yet no one had noticed his presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhaonan looked out the window. Beneath the massive underground city shaft, rail-mounted lifting devices were hoisting large apparatuses, covering patches of the city’s lights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap. Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Wen Hui appeared at the door. “Chairman Chu, you called for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wen Hui.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhaonan turned. “Tell Julius: I’m initiating the Vanguard Plan immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Hui’s pupils dilated; her face paled for an instant. After a two-second pause, she said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. We fully support this decision.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yan watched her retreating back, his face grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has it really come to this? The timeline is far faster than we expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Time was never on our side!” Chu Zhaonan said sharply. “A year. A month. A week…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The office’s floor-to-ceiling window reflected Chu Zhaonan’s heavy face: “Old Xu, do you remember when I was elected Federation Chair?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yan fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Six hundred forty-three days. I am likely the leader in human history who has borne the greatest losses: 11.6 billion dead, 85% of major cities lost. Now, in my eyes, there is no concept of population, no concept of resources, no right or wrong, no justice or morality. I don’t care what others say of me—whether they curse me or despise me—this ember…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhaonan’s gaze hardened: “Will not be extinguished under my hand!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shuguang Underground City, Core Administrative Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A delicate porcelain teacup shattered into powder on the floor. The senior Shuguang City officials, led by Zhou Mingyuan, were in an uproar, watching Zhou Mingyuan rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could such a crude rumor be allowed to spread into the main city’s network?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Mingyuan had never been so furious. His face flushed red, his breath hissed, his eyebrows stood on end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We have speech controls—what the hell have you all been doing?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was transmitted via a high-power frequency-matched aerial relay. All residents received it directly. Our internal network showed no reaction. Investigation found our system was breached—likely by a Silent City mole,” an official reported, drenched in cold sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Find them immediately!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Mingyuan barked. Meanwhile, two secretaries hurriedly helped him don formal attire. He issued a citywide curfew and prepared to hold a press conference for clarification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The debunking evidence and speech draft are ready, Chairman Zhou. Should we release the content first to let it ferment before the conference?” a female official asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Mingyuan waved his hand dismissively, calling out to the crowd: “Wen Dong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Dong stepped forward, his expression complex. “Chairman Zhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You—go immediately. Ensure Silent City’s safety in Jinhai. Send a support team. Also, make this public!” He pointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Dong’s eyes flickered—he understood. He nodded. “Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After arranging Wen Dong, Zhou Mingyuan headed toward the press conference. One of his subordinates leaned in and whispered something in his ear. He suddenly stopped mid-step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it, Chairman Zhou?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Mingyuan’s eyes darted as he thought, then waved his hand. “Cancel the press conference. Record a video and release it directly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his assistant’s help, he then recorded a staged, sternly worded official statement. Afterward, he dismissed everyone, leaving himself alone to pace beside a quiet pool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wangyue Zenshi… why suddenly make such a move?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Mingyuan’s gaze burned with anger. He hadn’t expected Silent City, a mere levitating city, to strike first with such a despicable tactic, catching him completely off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the apocalypse, Shuguang City was packed with people, full of complaints. Millions merely sought survival. Even with increased labor intensity and higher taxes, as long as their lives weren’t threatened, the situation wouldn’t change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the mass hostage-taking had made all survivors despise the Crimson World. Now, if it was exposed that Shuguang City colluded with the Crimson World, it would be like a nuclear bomb detonating inside the city. Zhou Mingyuan had countless tactics—but he never imagined they’d go public with a lie, and a blatant one at that, shattering the sky itself!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It must be connected to the Phoenix Society.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Mingyuan now realized this too. His face darkened. His subordinate had just informed him of Chu Zhaonan’s movements—he immediately sensed the gravity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chu Zhaonan knows something. He’s preparing to burn his bridges.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Mingyuan’s gaze sharpened. He stepped toward a distant wall, pressed his palm against a hidden panel. A palm-print scanner activated, and a metal door slowly opened, spilling white frost into the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He entered. Inside stood a dozen cryo-capsules—his carefully selected backup bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What good are these? If I can’t escape, I’ll die anyway…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jinhai\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This city had once been one of the busiest hubs along the orbital ring and a vital industrial cluster in Longguo. After the Day of Revelation, Jinhai, Qingbo, Changuan, and Tianwei—the major cities surrounding Shuguang City—all suffered heavy war damage during the First Polar Night. The once-prosperous metropolis now lay like a disemboweled mechanical giant, sprawled across the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than half the city was burned and decayed. Massive explosion craters, toppled skyscrapers, and upturned ground formed its primary landscape. Yet in the night sky, vast artificial lights still glowed from the city’s center—the former industrial core. Towering starship port platforms leaned toward the heavens. Shuguang Garrison troops and various survivors had carved out a semi-permanent “safe zone” here. At every street entrance to the zone stood composite armored walls of reinforced concrete and steel plates—or makeshift “isolation walls” welded from abandoned vehicles and scrap metal by survivor caravans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Shuguang City heavily protected its industrial production lines, many survivors unable to enter Shuguang City—or fleeing from other regions—chose this area as a temporary refuge. These people mostly clustered on the outer edges, as the interior was sealed off by high-net steel walls protecting key factories, including the Jinhai Starship Manufacturing Port and a large military machinery plant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Jinhai Starship Port, a 300,000-ton stellar-class starship was under construction. Other berths featured various Long-class, Ray-class transport ships, Dreadnought-class aerospace warships, and assorted aerial craft operating on automated assembly lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the military machinery plant, production lines for the “Iron Guard 3” assault units, T8-Z Vulcan assault units, and Dajiaoxing heavy integrated armor ran 24\u002F7, supplying firepower to Shuguang City’s defense system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Day of Revelation, nearly all human industries shattered under the apocalypse. Once-symbols of prosperity—finance, culture, entertainment—were all buried by the night. Only the foundries of factories still roared. Each opening and closing was a counterattack of civilization; each stream of molten steel, a declaration of war written by humanity to the apocalypse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu ~ Wu ~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, sharp alarm sirens blared through the previously silent industrial zone, and countless engineers and security personnel sprang into action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disengage starships from berths 3, 4, and 6; prepare for landing bridge docking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All personnel report to D-12 boarding pad for transport ship embarkation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Load all batches of mechs into the freight train storage containers—hurry, hurry, hurry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Transfer weapons!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the night sky, the starport berthing area and freight rail station suddenly erupted into frantic activity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>West of Jinhai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A colossal behemoth surged through the air, wreathed in violent gales that tore apart the clouds; the immense Silent City advanced with crushing force, rapidly closing in on Jinhai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having traveled over four hundred kilometers, it now had only fifteen to twenty minutes left before reaching Jinhai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian and Mochi Shinji had reached the main bridge hall, where the core group of dozens from the United Train and the Silent City had already gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current operation had been synchronized to everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did the group fully realize: within a single day, the Silent City had become directly opposed to Dawn City—and war was imminent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell? I knew something was up when it suddenly lifted off at night—I thought we’d encountered some monster!” Shi Di stared in disbelief. “So does that mean when we reach Jinhai, we’ll be fighting the Garrison Command of Dawn City?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s a possibility, but it’s slim,” Lin Xian nodded. “They gain nothing by fighting us—it would only deepen internal chaos. The closer we get to the city and to Jinhai, the safer we become.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the Crimson World is a wildcard—they don’t reason,” Kiki spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precisely because of that, we’re coming to Jinhai,” Lin Xian looked at Kiki. “You forgot what Zhou Lei said—Jinhai is very likely the Crimson World’s stronghold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If conflict comes, fighting them on their own turf gives us the initiative,” Qian Su Xun nodded in agreement. “It makes sense. The Crimson World is still made of people—we’re not afraid of people, only of their weird entities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And if we trigger a massive outbreak of dark creatures in Jinhai, we won’t escape—but neither will the Crimson World’s stronghold!” Qian Dele grinned excitedly. “Damn, that’s a scorched-earth tactic!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a solid strategy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Nika regarded Lin Xian with keen interest. “It forces Dawn City to hesitate, and restrains the Crimson World from going scorched-earth. If we wage war in a city as large as Jinhai, Dawn City refusing to help makes them anti-humanity—and now the Phoenix Society has arrived too. We’re applying pressure from both sides. Let’s see how they play their hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mochi Shinji stood at the back of the crowd, sleeves draped over his arms, calmly speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten minutes to Jinhai. No matter how I calculate, a battle is highly probable. I’ve already activated the Silent City’s full-spectrum communications. All residents and survivors inside may only leave after we dock in Jinhai—but they won’t leave now anyway. So everything we do in Jinhai will reach Dawn City, perhaps with slight delay, but it doesn’t matter…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoa, full broadcast mode?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then get ready—tonight might be a brutal fight!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long do you think it’ll last?” Shi Di asked Mochi Shinji.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Surviving until dawn is victory,\" Mochi Shinji said calmly. \"The Heaven-Pacifying Ship has entered Dawn City. The 83rd Iron Guard Brigade from Yongcheng Port has been mobilized. A storm is gathering around the entire Dawn City. After dawn, this will no longer be our domain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not necessarily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian spoke up. All eyes turned to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve forgotten how rich Jinhai’s martial spirit is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a deep underground research facility, Julius Lite, with golden hair, sat in his office chair, slowly stirring his coffee. On the holographic screen were four shadowed headshots, their voices processed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems the Phoenix Society has pushed Chu Zhaonan to activate the Vanguard Plan early. That’s good news for us,” Julius tapped his spoon against the coffee cup rim, then lifted the cup and took a sip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One: “As far as I know, Ye Lan hasn’t met Chu Zhaonan yet—is that the reason?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two: “The reason doesn’t matter. It doesn’t affect our experiment’s progress.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three: “Rapidly draft a plan to take over Dawn City. Julius, as head of the Asia-Pacific region, you’ll be in charge of holding Dawn City until the new world arrives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four: “How is Experiment Subject 03? Reliable testing must be completed before deploying the Dark Shi  Cells.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Board can rest easy,” Julius said. “Chu Zhaonan has personally contacted me through Wen Hui. The Phoenix Society can’t stop this anymore. Everything will unfold as planned.” He paused. “Still, the Silent City’s sudden early move caught me off guard—likely Ye Lan’s doing. But they’re minor players. They can’t change anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the Celestial Veil is shattered, a planetary disaster may be triggered. The Crimson World’s regional evolutions must accelerate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everything will unfold as the Master intends. No surprises,” Julius smiled. “The Phoenix Society’s actions stem from a North American Alliance unit obtaining some information from me—but they’ll achieve nothing. Human evolution’s destiny cannot be stopped. It’s merely a difference of days or dozens of days. The New Era…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is coming!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2896,"2026-06-19T18:20:06.633Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","12d166d8e97b1fb7d4613ecf036acc5c780e79072b652ce09139393de3126160","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-375","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-373",541,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fapocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-cover.jpg"]