[{"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-375":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},2262139,4414,"Chapter 375: Skyborne-Class","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-375",375,"\u003Cp>Above Jinhai City, thick clouds churned, night as black as ink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Streets and alleys teemed with zombie shadows; the city lay desolate. After midnight, a violent wind surged, howling through the rubble of shattered skyscrapers, emitting mournful wails. Debris from shattered billboards was ripped up, iron sheets clanging to the ground only to be snatched back into the air, rolling and colliding along the streets as if recounting the city’s former glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aaah!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taptaptaptaptap! Bangbangbangbangbang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the piled walls of the industrial zone, a wave of hundreds of thousands of shambling corpses advanced slowly but irresistibly toward the high ramparts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless zombies scrambled up the walls; automated machine cannons fired nonstop. Across buildings, watchtowers, and elevated platforms surrounding the industrial zone, armed federal guards clad in powered armor arrived continuously to resist the zombie tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Artillery fire intensified from all sides; reinforcements of armed drones poured in from the sky, unleashing full firepower into the horde. Flames and smoke blazed across the heavens, as if igniting the entire city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the orbital station, a military freight train roared eastward, its carriages—loaded with combat mechs, tanks, drones, and artillery—stretching for kilometers. Soldiers guarding the train fired relentlessly at both sides of the track.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the order to relocate the industrial zone, Jinhai plunged into an atmosphere of abandonment. Even survivor convoys now formed long lines, surging toward the city’s outskirts; gunfire echoed everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond zombies, various eerie entities marked fleeing humans with dark sigils. Strange creatures emerged in streets and alleys, shrieking incessantly. A small convoy was cornered in a narrow alley, desperately weaving through the streets—only to realize in despair that they were trapped in an ocean of the zombie horde. Soon, gunfire and screams were drowned out by the howling night wind and the horde’s roars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on? Full evacuation of Jinhai Starport?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something happened in Shuguang City—this place is next! Run!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where to run?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course north! Shuguang City is colluding with the Crimson World—this is definitely the Phoenix Society coming!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re done. The broadcast said Shuguang City’s interior is already in chaos. Many large convoys have evacuated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d evacuate too. Fuck, if those Red Entities and disappearances are tied to Shuguang City, staying here makes us lambs—and we still have to hand over Blood Essence!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuck Zhou Mingyuan! Fuck the Federation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn right. The Star Abyss is unstable too. Looks like the only way left is to head for the poles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch out! Black Gui  Centipede!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Jinhai Orbital Train Loading Line, steel roared continuously; blinding searchlights slashed through the darkness as squads of soldiers in powered armor marched with urgency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All personnel board! Complete loading within ten minutes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Skyborne-Class Interstellar Train F-60 Base Carriage docking!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a massive floating orbital berth, a train carriage resembling a starship slowly drifted out from the orbital factory loading line. At first glance, this ordinary carriage stretched over three hundred meters in length and was more than five times wider than standard orbital cargo carriages. Its underside bristled with countless star-drive arrays, while track bows enabled rail operation—imposing beyond measure. Yet this was merely one base carriage of the Skyborne-Class train, meant for crew living and cargo transport.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last group, hurry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whirrrr! Teams of powered armor soldiers sprinted past; hissing pressure valves echoed as construction robots and precision equipment were hoisted onto freight trains and various aerial transport vessels. Above, electromagnetic cannons lit the sky, shooting down approaching flying Guiyi  entities one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High above, a multi-winged ghost bat, its head pierced, crashed down, smashing through the roof of a cargo platform. Sparks erupted instantly; industrial workers evacuating below screamed and scattered. But the bat, still alive, lunged wildly, tackling and tearing apart several engineers—screams rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taptaptap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Armed guards surrounded it, unleashing relentless fire until it was utterly destroyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, in the main control tower of the loading line, inside one office, Jian Xuwēi stood by the window in a nanoweave battle suit, watching the bustling berth calmly, her expression unreadable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind her, the holographic communicator in the office lit up. On screen, Wen Dong’s face showed irritation as he spoke to Jian Xuwēi:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jian Xuwēi, the Chairman ordered all Fenge Group personnel to evacuate Jinhai and enter Shuguang City tonight. Why haven’t your people moved?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Xuwēi didn’t turn, replying slowly: “No large-scale Guiyi  attacks. No S-class detection. No anomalies in dark markings. Why evacuate Jinhai?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Dong frowned: “Why so many questions? It’s an order. Don’t you understand?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An order?” Jian Xuwēi turned, a cold smile on her face. “I recall we’re partners. When did Fenge Group ever pledge loyalty to Shuguang City? If this is cooperation, I have the right to refuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Dong froze, then snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jian Xuwēi, you don’t actually think our evacuation is because of Silent City—and that Silent City came here to rescue you, do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang! Clang! Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished speaking, a rush of footsteps surged down the corridor. Seconds later, the door burst open. A dozen armed guards in powered armor leveled their weapons directly at Jian Xuwēi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They say Fenge Group’s leader Jian Xuwēi is a woman of deep cunning and ruthless intelligence. Yet all I see is arrogance and empty pride. You picked the worst possible moment to confront me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Dong smiled coldly: “How much value do you think Fenge Group holds for us now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One percent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Dong frowned, unable to resist asking: “Which one percent? Not your personal prestige, I hope? Hahaha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Xuwēi ignored the dozen black muzzles, her gaze fixed on Wen Dong’s holographic image. “I mean the Skyborne-Class train. Its design and construction were handled by Fenge Group. Control authority rests with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Dong stared, incredulous. He thought: Is this woman insane? He snapped:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Control authority? You mean some password or firewall? Those can be rewritten in minutes. You’re seriously claiming that? Jian Xuwēi, you’ve lost your mind. I have no time for this. In this situation, you’re useless to us. If you don’t want to leave, then don’t!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Control authority? You don’t mean some password command or firewall, do you? Those things just need a system overwrite—how dare you even mention them? Jian Xuxi, I think you’ve lost your mind. I don’t have time to waste on you. Since things are this way, you’re useless to us. If you don’t want to leave, then don’t leave!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right. Those things can be rewritten.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, dozens of drones descended outside the floor-to-ceiling window. Crimson targeting lasers locked onto the dozen armed guards—before they could react, they fired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had the words left his lips than dozens of drones descended outside the high-rise’s floor-to-ceiling windows, crimson targeting lasers locking onto the dozen armed guards—before they could react, they opened fire in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The window shattered explosively, glass spraying. The guards were simultaneously pierced through their helmet armor, flung backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the armed transport ship, Wen Dong watched his men’s signals vanish. His face darkened. He glared at Jian Xuwēi on screen and roared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impossible! When did you seize control of Jinhai Starport’s drone central system?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now. Do you still think I’m useful?” Jian Xuwēi replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jian Xuwēi! Your Silver Star, your board members—all are in Shuguang City! Do you want them dead?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget Zhou Mingyuan. Shuguang City is barely holding itself together. Who are you threatening now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Xuwēi replied coldly: “Thank you for sending me to Jinhai. This Skyborne-Class train will serve as compensation from the Federation and Linglong Group for the loss of my Silver Star.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jian Xuwēi, that’s the Wen family’s asset, you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jian Xuxi, that’s Wen family property, you—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Xuwēi tapped her finger, shutting off the holographic call. She pressed her comm earpiece and ordered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Xuxi tapped her finger, shutting off the holographic call, then pressed her earpiece comm button and ordered in a commanding tone:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang! Bang! Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Jinhai Orbital Train Loading Factory, gunfire erupted suddenly. The massive train under loading halted. The magnetic glow of the floating berths dimmed. Armed forces emerged from all directions, engaging federal guards in combat. Soon, psychic battles ignited—roars of explosions filled the air!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the armed transport ship, Wen Dong’s face darkened. He watched his portable terminal’s surveillance feeds—signals dropped one after another, communication frequencies vanished. He realized the truth, rose in fury, and smashed the desk ornaments onto the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Dong, aboard the armed transport ship, his face flickered between fury and uncertainty. He glanced at the monitor on his handheld terminal—video feeds kept dropping, communication channels fading. He instantly understood what was happening, and in a rage, he stood and smashed the ornaments on his desk to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Dong hadn’t expected such upheaval in just one day—Shuguang City and the Federation’s high command had collapsed. Chu Zhaonan had abruptly withdrawn all troops and starship assets from Jinhai. Zhou Mingyuan, trying to stabilize the situation, forbade Jinhai from acting against Silent City on behalf of the Crimson World. They were caught completely off-guard. Worse, the Skyborne-Class interstellar train they’d poured all resources into building had just been hijacked by Jian Xuwēi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Dong hadn’t expected that within a single day, Shuguang City—and even the Federation’s high command—would descend into such chaos. Now Shuguang City was in turmoil, the leadership reeling. Chu Zhaonan had abruptly withdrawn all troops and starship assets from Jinhai. Zhou Mingyuan, trying to stabilize the situation, prevented Jinhai from striking Silent City on behalf of the Crimson World. All at once, they were left utterly on the defensive. Worse still, the Sky-Class interstellar train they’d poured every resource into building had been suddenly hijacked by Jian Xuxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Dong grew angrier by the second, breathing heavily, his mind racing. Then he pressed his comm and shouted to the transport pilot:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Turn around! Head back to Shuguang City!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point staying in Jinhai. Jian Xuwēi controlled the orbital train loading facility. The starport had fully evacuated. Garrison Commander Lu Tianye was beyond his command. If Guiyi  broke out there, no one would come to help. Wen Dong no longer cared about Zhou Mingyuan’s orders—he needed to return immediately and consult Wen Hui about their next move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At 2 a.m., a colossal shadow loomed over the low western sky, emerging from the clouds. Violent winds scattered the mist. On the shadow’s surface, countless thruster arrays, patrol lights, and searchlights blazed like the eyes of a monstrous beast—terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Silent City’s Cloud District, all defensive weapons were on alert. Radar screens brimmed with terrain and biological signatures from surrounding areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Silent City’s Cloud District, all defense weapons were now on alert. On the radar screens, terrain and biological signatures filled every surrounding zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the main bridge, Mochi Shinji stood before the massive viewport, gazing down at the city. Beneath the stars, only the industrial zone’s center glowed brightly; 90% of the city’s districts and streets lay dark and ruined. Zombie tides surged within. Intense firelines burned in the industrial zone. Anti-aircraft cannons and electromagnetic railguns shot skyward like fireworks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the main bridge, Mochi Shinji stood before the massive viewport, looking down upon the city. Beneath the stars, only the central industrial zone glowed brightly—nine-tenths of the city’s districts and streets lay dark and ruined. Corpses surged through the streets; firelines blazed across the industrial zone, anti-aircraft cannons and electromagnetic railguns spewing bursts like fireworks into the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Weak resistance. No giant biological entities detected.” Lin Xian scanned the scene, frowning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The calmer it is, the more it proves Shuguang City’s ties to the Crimson World.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s settled.” Mo Nika crossed her arms beside Lin Xian. “The real question is: what exactly is Shuguang City collaborating on with the Crimson World? And does it involve us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This issue is settled,\" Mo Nika crossed her arms and stepped beside Lin Xian. \"The real question is: what exactly is Shuguang City collaborating with the Crimson World on? Could it involve us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian said grimly: “The Star Abyss anomalies affect us all. The Phoenix Society has arrived. Exposing the Crimson World now is a perfect opportunity for self-preservation. As for negotiations—we wait for results.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if Shuguang City doesn’t negotiate or act, what then?” Xiang Ningjing frowned. “This is too strange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So if we enter Jinhai, will Shuguang City neither negotiate nor act?\" Xiang Ningjing frowned. \"That’s just too strange.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several drones flew swiftly past the main bridge. Then Qian Suxun approached, his expression stern. “Guess what my drones found.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mochi Shinji turned. “The garrison withdrew?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not just the garrison.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Suxun’s face held confusion. “All starships, aircraft, orbital station freight trains, and transport vehicles in the industrial zone are evacuating toward Shuguang City. It’s massive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Suxun’s face showed clear confusion: \"All starships, aircraft, orbital station freight trains, and transport vehicles in the industrial zone are evacuating en masse toward Shuguang City—it’s massive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kiki’s eyes widened. “That’s insane. Shuguang City has millions. Their garrison alone exceeds a hundred thousand. They’re just abandoning Jinhai?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s odd,” Shi Di also said, incredulous. “If it’s because of the Phoenix Society, why? This is their key industrial base. Do these Federation bastards really lack the courage to hold it?” They came to Jinhai to force Shuguang City into the open, not to start war. Strictly speaking, they didn’t want direct conflict. But now, seeing Shuguang City’s entire industrial zone evacuate—it was unthinkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It really is strange. If it’s because of the Phoenix Society, it still doesn’t make sense. Their own industrial base—such a vital territory—and these Federation types have lost even this much courage?\" Shi Di also found it hard to believe. They’d come to Jinhai to confront Shuguang City—but confrontation didn’t mean war. Strictly speaking, they didn’t want direct conflict with Shuguang City. Yet who could have imagined that upon entering the city, they’d witness the entire Jinhai industrial zone in full-scale evacuation? It was utterly unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Sixuan looked at Lin Xian. He shook his head, his expression growing heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shuguang City wouldn’t abandon its industrial base if something happened there. This situation… I’m worried.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shuguang City wouldn’t abandon the Jinhai industrial base if something happened to it. This situation… I’m starting to worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think Shuguang City is preparing to strike hard?” Mochi Shinji looked over. “It does seem illogical.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their goal in coming to Jinhai was to force Shuguang City into the spotlight, making it hesitate to ally with the Crimson World against them. But now, with Jinhai fully evacuated, from Lin Xian’s perspective, Shuguang City must be preparing something massive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their purpose in coming to Jinhai was to enter the public eye and force Dawn City to hold back, afraid to join forces with the Crimson World against them—but now the entire Jinhai has been evacuated, and from Lin Xian’s perspective, he naturally assumed Dawn City was preparing for something big.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This makes no sense at all—I couldn’t possibly have thought it would come to this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To attack us, they gave up Jinhai—that’s unthinkable,” Qian Xusun shrugged. “Or maybe we’re overthinking it. Could there be some other reason?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Report: incoming communication.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Connect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burst of static crackled—and just as Lin Xian and the others frowned in confusion, Jian Xuwēi’s voice appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin Xian, it’s been a long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian’s eyes flickered. “Didn’t we just see each other this afternoon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You received my message, didn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you. And please convey my regards to Wang Yue. My troubles are resolved—I’ve now taken control of the Star-Ring Train Loading Facility.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian grew more confused by the second, unable to hold back:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—what happened in Jinhai? What’s going on in Shuguang City?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Xuwēi stood in the upper-floor control room, holding an electronic telescope as she gazed at the silent city hovering dozens of kilometers above, speaking through the comm:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You lit a fire—and now…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shuguang City is moving!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shuguang City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the night, chaos erupted across the districts!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Mingyuan’s “confession” video had struck like a boulder into waters already churning with hidden currents—instantly sparking a tidal wave. The crowds in Shuguang City exploded into uproar. The Federation’s denials did little to quell the unrest; instead, they fueled it further, turning riots in the Old District and Outer Districts into full-blown uprisings, forcing the Federation to deploy its armored night patrol units and city defense battalions for full-scale suppression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the streets, city defense aerial patrol craft and night patrol armed units darted between skyscrapers, while massive floating holographic airships looped broadcasts of the Federation’s denials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Federation Warning: Cease spreading and discussing the rumor video. This video is fabricated. Any instigator or rumor-monger will be detained, have assets seized, and expelled from Shuguang City. Severe offenders will be imprisoned under Federation law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The segments at 2:03–2:51, 6:22–9:32, and 12:02–16:33 are AI-generated content, as evidenced by…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vice Chairman Zhou Mingyuan has issued a solemn statement: Recently, certain individuals and organizations with malicious intent have used illegal channels to spread false information, deliberately fabricating and sensationalizing baseless accusations such as ‘Shuguang City colluding with the Deep Red World,’ ‘negligence and corruption,’ and ‘coercing the Fenger Group.’ These acts aim to smear the Federation’s image and undermine Shuguang City’s stability and harmony. Such behavior violates the spirit of the law, tramples public order and morality, and is a blatant challenge to the Federation’s rule of law…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet across neighborhoods, protests, demonstrations, and riots erupted repeatedly. After the network was restored, Shuguang City’s internal net was flooded with torrents of abuse—forums, videos, and images bombarded relentlessly. Someone seemed to be secretly pushing this, but more than that, it was the people’s long-suppressed fury against Shuguang City’s oppressive rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Collaborating with the Deep Red World? Do you even have shame? Are you even human?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder they built such high walls—Red Demons still appear inside the inner city! It’s because they’re in cahoots!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chairman Chu, you’ve got ghosts in your house—do you even know?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Sand Bandits of Xidi Desert raided so many people—and you did nothing! There’s something wrong here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So many people vanished—why is no one investigating?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Mingyuan, step down! The Federation must answer!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If even the Vice Chairman is from the Deep Red World, are we just pigs being raised by the Federation?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Mingyuan, I’ll f*** your mother!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some protested, some cursed—but even more, the large and medium organizations that had settled inside Shuguang City were in uproar. Especially with the Phoenix Society’s Tianzhen Ship arriving and the Star Abyss showing constant disturbances, everyone felt dread. Overnight, those who sensed disaster approaching began planning to leave the city; some had already fled under cover of night, heading toward Qingbo and Yongcheng Port.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An aerial patrol warship flew over Wall No. 1, heading toward the Double-Star Tower Starport. On the main bridge, Lu Tianye’s face was grim. His sharp features and perpetually downturned mouth gave him an aura of quiet authority. His skin, darkened by years of military service, had turned a cold copper tone; a thin, old scar ran along his right cheek. At one-ninety centimeters tall, he wore a deep-blue Iron Hunter powered armor—this custom suit weighed half a ton and was pockmarked with countless battle scars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His helmet rested beside him. Lu Tianye stared coldly down at the chaotic streets below, his voice deep as a gong:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is the Tianzhen Ship docking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Currently twenty kilometers north of He Lan in the Outer District, awaiting clearance!” the aide shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grant clearance. Dock at A1. Chen Feng, take your armored garrison company to stand by.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the Phoenix Society’s first return to Shuguang City since the Federation collapsed,” Lu Tianye said to a tall man beside him, dressed in deep-blue uniform. “You know why the Breakthrough Plan was changed to Vanguard Plan, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Jing’s features were handsome, his officer’s bearing softened by scholarly grace. He exhaled slowly, gazing at the city’s skyscrapers, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Tianye nodded. “You don’t approve of him because you have your own vision of saving humanity. But from his perspective, the outcome is the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know the outcome is the same. For humanity to survive, we must abandon old morals and cling to life by any means necessary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why do you resist the Vanguard Plan so fiercely?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t resist the Vanguard Plan,” Chu Jing turned away coldly. “I just believe that extinguishing hope before it even begins… is more cruel than the apocalypse itself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“More cruel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Chu Jing’s retreating back, Lu Tianye’s gaze flickered slightly, but he said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Lu,” another subordinate approached. “We just received an order from Vice Chairman Zhou: you’re to report to the Core Administrative Hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Tianye waved dismissively and strode toward the bridge. His heavy armor clanged against the metal floor as he spoke with contempt:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m busy. Let him wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Core Administrative Hall, Zhou Mingyuan’s face darkened upon hearing the report—but he showed no outward reaction. Instead, he said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has the Phoenix Society’s Tianzhen Ship entered the city?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It has. It will dock at Double-Star Tower A1 in a few minutes,” the secretary reported.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will Chairman Chu personally receive them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. No one else has been notified.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Mingyuan nodded without expression, then spoke calmly: “With guests arriving tonight—and all this chaos in the city—I’m clearly not the one to appear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose, his expression solemn. “But the city’s situation still worries me. Xiao Li, immediately notify the Population Control Bureau, the City Defense Guard Commander, the Night Patrol, the Information Department, and Councilor Zheng—have them come to me to discuss stabilizing the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood, Chairman Zhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the secretary left, Zhou Mingyuan’s gaze shifted. He immediately activated a comm:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send Wen Hui to my office at once!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>2:12 a.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Phoenix Society’s stellar-class warship, the Tianzhen Ship, glided slowly into A1 docking bay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhaonan stood on the starport’s docking platform, behind him a forest of iron-clad Federation Garrison troops. No other officials were present. He stood alone at the center of the formation, his gaze calm as the black starship’s hatch slowly opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hatch opened. The night breeze that had been gentle moments before fell utterly still. Only the starlit sky remained. An elderly woman stepped out slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifty-six years old, her silver hair like frost, her frame slender yet upright as a pine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes were deep and serene, as if they had witnessed countless cycles of destruction and rebirth—ancient stars. She wore a crisp black wool overcoat, its cuffs embroidered with the Phoenix Society’s golden emblem. Few would guess, had they not seen it with their own eyes, that this woman, who looked like a gentle university professor, was Ye Lan, commander of the Phoenix Society in this age of the Awakening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She descended from the Tianzhen Ship, followed only by a woman clad in black powered armor, and walked straight into the ranks of Chu Zhaonan’s iron army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Zhaonan watched Ye Lan approach. His expression shifted, complex and unreadable. Then he bowed slightly and extended his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chairman Ye. Or rather—Commander Ye. It’s been a long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Lan smiled faintly, grasping his hand. “Long time, Chairman Chu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their palms met briefly—one steady and strong, the other weathered like iron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around them, the Federation Garrison stood silent. Only the distant hum of the starship’s engines broke the stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—the night wind surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3905,"2026-06-19T18:20:06.633Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","665575af400ac8cda9948ba301e3245e2403ac0f43a1d099ea435fe369636348","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-376","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-374",541,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fapocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-cover.jpg"]