[{"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-384":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},2262148,4414,"Chapter 384","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-384",384,"\u003Cp>For the next hour, Ye Lan calmly told Lin Xian how the Blue Star Federation, after the Day of Revelation, rose from paralysis to form a provisional government, mobilizing humanity’s peak technological forces to confront the natural disasters and eternal night—yet still reaped nothing but endless despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“During the first Eternal Night, our interstellar fleet attempted to break through the spatial layer—but none succeeded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Lan spoke with great patience; by now, Lin Xian finally understood clearly what official efforts had been made after the apocalypse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nuclear strikes, starship evacuations—everything ordinary people could think of, the Federation had tried—but all yielded horrific outcomes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nuclear explosions might help clear zombie or weird body waves, but they proved nearly useless against the Star Abyss or Class-S entities: first, nearly all Class-S weird bodies possessed defense fields like Cloud Black Thorns; without breaking them, kinetic and energy weapons were ineffective. Most critically, nuclear blasts only accelerated the Star Abyss’s expansion, triggering wild mutations in those unfathomable beings—ultimately destroying human cities while generating vast radioactive zones, with radiation dust blotting out the sky and creating a “pseudo-night” state, similar to the peculiar conditions Lin Xian had witnessed during the blizzard on the Palma Grasslands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian’s expression turned grim as he asked in a low voice: “Professor Ye, what exactly is the Celestial Veil?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We don’t know. From current research, it’s a medium we cannot comprehend—invisible, intangible—covering the Karman Line. If we must describe it, perhaps it’s like a colossal soap bubble enveloping us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A soap bubble?” Lin Xian frowned slightly; the analogy felt odd: “Our weapons can’t break it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To humans, breaking a soap bubble is effortless. But what if you’re a water flea?” Ye Lan gazed calmly at Lin Xian: “For a water flea, the soap bubble is an impenetrable barrier of despair, no matter how hard it tries. The Celestial Veil is to us what the soap bubble is to the water flea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really know how to draw analogies,” Lin Xian said with a helpless smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precisely because of this despair, Shuguang City abandoned its original plan to build fifteen underground cities, concentrating all resources on Shuguang City alone. Chu Zhaonan has given up on resistance. Based on the conviction that ‘humanity must lose,’ all his efforts now serve one goal.” Ye Lan continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What goal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To launch a single ‘Far Star’-class starship, equipped with a complete ecosystem and interstellar travel technology, carrying humanity’s embryo bank and civilization database, fleeing Blue Star. Using a vacuumless stellar fusion engine, it will accelerate to 15% the speed of light over three months, then enter cryogenic hibernation, taking six generations—twelve hundred years—to reach Kepler-186f, a planet twenty light-years from the Solar System—the most Earth-like habitable world we’ve ever discovered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian fell silent, at a loss for words. After a long pause, he said solemnly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So Chu Zhaonan doesn’t care who he cooperates with, or whether the Star Abyss expands—he’ll use any means necessary just to launch one ship?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shocked, he cut himself off, then turned sharply to Ye Lan: “So when the Phoenix Society came to Shuguang City, and Chu Zhaonan recalled all starships from Jinhai—does that mean Shuguang City now has a way to break through the Celestial Veil?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve hit on the critical question.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Lan’s tone grew serious: “Actually, our research team proposed this plan two months ago. Have you heard of the Qingluan Sky City crash?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian nodded: “I know about it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He first heard of Qingluan Sky City when Old Mo mentioned it upon his arrival in Yubei; later, Wei Ke Xue briefly described the catastrophic event, which made Lin Xian deeply wary of the skies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fall of Qingluan Sky City was a tremendous loss for the Phoenix Society; this battle was the most brutal of all rescue operations led by the Phoenix Society after the Day of Revelation, with over 420,000 deaths and disappearances. Qingluan Sky City entered an airspace teeming with atmospheric lifeforms, where at least two S-class anomalies and multiple A-class special-grade entities launched attacks. Hundreds of thousands fought back desperately, yet still could not prevent the disaster. Later, we dispatched rescue and investigation teams from Dawn Center and Phoenix City; through data recovered from the wreckage sunk into the deep sea, we discovered that before crashing into the Pacific, Comrade Xu Linchuan, the overall commander of Qingluan Sky City, had issued an order to plunge toward the upper atmosphere at an unconventional angle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian frowned: “Run away?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Lan said calmly: “On the contrary, Comrade Xu Linchuan’s actions were not for survival, because we discovered numerous fragmented tissues from an S-class anomaly on the forward deck of the Qingluan Sky City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian’s expression changed: “You mean Qingluan Sky City rammed an S-class anomaly into the Veil Curtain?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We originally thought this was humanity’s first successful kill of an S-class, but the problem is, among the recovered sensors, we found that after Qingluan Sky City struck the Veil Curtain, the S-class anomaly vanished inexplicably.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vanished?” Lin Xian’s mind reeled—he immediately understood and sprang to his feet with a rush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean S-class anomalies can pass through the Veil Curtain?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Chu Yan looked up at Lin Xian, her gaze implying: You don’t need to get so worked up—the Professor won’t even see you standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing Chu Yan’s gaze, Lin Xian sat back down and continued: “Or are all S-class anomalies coming from beyond the Veil Curtain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His speculation wasn’t baseless—the sky was dangerous because it concealed unspeakable horrors, and given what Ye Lan had just said, this was entirely plausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Chu Yan relay his words, Ye Lan replied patiently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since the Qingluan Sky City incident, we’ve proposed this hypothesis: if S-class anomalies can pass through the Veil Curtain, then the barrier above the Kármán line is likely some form of hyperspatial technology or a biological force field.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I get it,” Lin Xian realized instantly: “Shuguang City recently killed an S-class creature—so you suspect they plan to use its remains to breach the Veil?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Lan shook her head: “The Phoenix Society conducted similar experiments long ago. We tried using S-class remains for spatial deployment, but none worked—including the biological remnants of the Cloud Black Spike you eliminated in Xilan City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why?” Lin Xian felt confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Chu Yan activated a switch; a cylindrical mini-cryochamber slowly rose from the center of the table, revealing a transparent petri dish—inside lay a dark- Shi  cell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most of the Deep Red World’s operations are under our surveillance,” Chu Yan told Lin Xian. “Regarding the Star Abyss and the Deep Red World, the Phoenix Society understands them better than you do. Remember the gray mist anomaly remains you saw with me? This cell is live tissue extracted from its ‘action brain.’ It was urgently sent to White City Research Station No. 5 for xenoculture. We suspect Shuguang City intends to use this to pierce the Veil.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian blurted: “How can such a tiny piece of tissue help an interstellar fleet escape?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We don’t know,” Chu Yan said. “The Deep Red World obtained this tissue first. Their research methods were brutally extreme. Simply acquiring live tissue was already a major step—they likely already possess this technology.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t understand—if humanity has this capability… isn’t that good?” Lin Xian’s expression was complex. “I mean, we can ignore whether the Deep Red World developed it. If it solves humanity’s crisis, we should use it. Or are you just trying to use my power to steal this tech from the Deep Red World?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Lan’s face turned grave: “Our concern isn’t that. After acquiring the dark- Shi  cells, the Phoenix Society has made many discoveries—but now we fear the Deep Red World or Shuguang City will attempt mycelial connections with these cells. If they do, it’s equivalent to opening Pandora’s Box, because this could be humanity’s act of defiance against the Dark—one that could lead to total extinction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian froze. A thunderclap echoed in his mind—he suddenly remembered Tang Yun’s return to the mycelial survival pod in Yijin City, triggering the Mycelial Tower’s uprising. He also recalled what Ding Junyi had told him just hours ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s exactly what puzzles me. After studying this cell, I found its cellular structure is entirely unlike any on Blue Planet. Most crucially, it can absorb Dark incursion without being affected. The only problem: the Deep Red World maintains its viability by embedding it in living human tissue—otherwise, they couldn’t extract it from the Star Abyss. So I believe this… is likely…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The true Dark organism!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If S-class anomalies were true Dark organisms, then mycelial connection would open a direct channel between humanity and the Dark. Lin Xian couldn’t imagine how horrific the consequences would be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Lan spoke solemnly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Phoenix Society came here for two reasons: First, to eliminate the Deep Red World’s descent faction led by Yurius and Zhou Mingyuan. Second, to take control of Shuguang City. Regardless of whether Chu Zhaonan’s Vanguard Plan succeeds, we bear the responsibility to guide these few million people through the final evacuation. I need your mechanical ability, in coordination with Chu Yan’s White Night Blade team, to infiltrate Shuguang City and seize control of its AI and automated defense systems before total collapse—preventing anyone from using it to hold survivors hostage or launch attacks on humanity, and containing the disaster before it escalates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—can’t we stop this from happening?” Lin Xian’s tone grew heavy. “I mean, the Vanguard Plan might be tied to the dark- Shi  cell tech, but the mycelial connection… maybe…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian tried to clarify his thoughts, but found it absurd. The more he dealt with the Deep Red World, the more he realized: for those lunatics, this act of annihilation posed no difficulty or moral burden. The dark- Shi  cells were their discovery, and mycelial research was their primary focus. He couldn’t imagine how to stop these fanatical descenters from opening Pandora’s Box. “I know this sounds depressing,” Ye Lan said calmly. “When we intercepted these dark- Shi  cells, we already prepared for the worst.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prepare for what?” Lin Xian asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To welcome the disaster.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This may be the eve of human civilization’s end—but as long as someone still lives, the Phoenix Society must stand. You know our creed.” She spoke to the air, as if seeing Lin Xian’s fear—her tone was bleak, yet resolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stand up—do we still have a chance?” Lin Xian sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Captain Lin, the world won’t get any worse,” Ye Lan said. “Since the Day of Revelation, even as time grows shorter, everything has been improving—survival rates, our countermeasures. We haven’t seen light yet, but as long as we believe dawn will come, humanity’s resistance will never die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if we have nine months left? Or wait for the damn Deep Red World to sacrifice their brains to the Dark organisms, then gather at the poles for them to hunt us down?!”—whether from rage or helplessness, Lin Xian’s emotions spiraled. He shouted—but forgot only Chu Yan could hear him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Yan watched Lin Xian silently, then turned to relay his words to Ye Lan, her eyes complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That means we have nine months to build starships, nine months to refine Veil Curtain breakthrough tech, nine months to let more people survive,” Ye Lan said softly. “It’s not over yet, is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian’s face darkened. He’d guessed the Phoenix Society’s goal from the start—but he never imagined it carried such a tragic, helpless direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, he exhaled deeply and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I join your plan. I’ll begin immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you very much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps due to excessive mental exertion, after communicating with Ye Lan, Lin Xian and Chu Yan’s consciousness link remained active. After gaining her consent, Chu Yan took him to the Tianzhen Ship’s deck tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sunset’s glow faded; from Qingbo City, looking south, the towering twin spires of Shuguang City and its black walls were barely visible through the mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“White Night Blade? What organization is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A small secret organization co-founded by the Phoenix Society and the North American Alliance. As the only known psychic ability user, I primarily handle intelligence gathering and Star Abyss exploration,” Chu Yan replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Dark incursion density in the Star Abyss is so high—how do you endure it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not fully immune, but my resistance is higher than anyone else’s. Dark incursion primarily targets mental will, and I’m a psychic ability user—that’s why the Deep Red World has been cloning me for research.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian stared at her in surprise: “No wonder they used your image—you’re their prized asset!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally realized: Chu Yan’s ability was terrifying. No wonder the Deep Red World targeted her so fiercely—for those descenters seeking godhood, she was a priceless treasure trove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too bad the clones don’t inherit the ability—but they haven’t given up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know,” Chu Yan looked at Lin Xian. “I want to ask you: what do you think of Chu Zhaonan’s Vanguard Plan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian was surprised by her question. He sighed helplessly: “What’s my opinion? Sure, he’s noble—he’s the ultimate practitioner of reason overriding humanity, abandoning the rest of humanity to save civilization’s spark. Too bad I’m just a commoner. From Chu Zhaonan’s perspective? Sorry—I’ve never been Federation Chair, never endured what he did. I can’t be that cold, that willing to pay any price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up at the sky and smiled bitterly: “I wish I didn’t know about this. Then, even if I died in despair during the apocalypse, I’d still have the will to fight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Professor Ye knew this would shake you,” Chu Yan said coolly. “In Yubei, in Xilan—you fought with burning passion. But now we need your mechanical ability. We had to tell you the truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know,” Lin Xian nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Professor Ye is right—it’s not over yet. Think positively: if Chu Zhaonan succeeds, we’ll at least have a chance to breach the Veil Curtain, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Yan said sharply: “If mycelial connection links to an S-class…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know, I know—just let me pretend to be optimistic, okay? Don’t you want me to have the will to fight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Yan smiled faintly and fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian felt dizzy—the night was coming. He knew he’d wake soon. But now that he’d committed to the Phoenix Society’s plan, he had to act fast—he needed to rush to Shuguang City tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ask you something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you only find me?” Lin Xian smiled. “Shuguang City has millions. Don’t tell me the Phoenix Society and the North American Alliance are counting on just me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you really see yourself as a savior?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Yan looked at him, her expression calm: “Some of the Deep Red World’s forces that fled from Jinhai entered Changan Pass. We suspect others are inside Shuguang City. To purge them requires Leitingshouduan . To take control of Shuguang City—even without Chu Zhaonan—there’s Zhou Mingyuan’s regime, Lu Tianye’s Garrison Command, hundreds of millions of people, caravans, alliances, factions, black markets—all tangled together. What you’ve seen is just the tip of the iceberg.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian exclaimed: “Oh right—you’re from the North American Alliance too? Where are they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Yan gave him a sly glance but didn’t turn around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you enter Shuguang City, go to Daili Youhui. My people will meet you. Oh—and keep your identity hidden.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jinhai, Star-Ring Train Factory, Infinite No. 1 Carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was 19:00. The sky was already swallowed by the Star Abyss’s Dark tide. Strange sounds echoed through Jinhai’s streets. Lin Xian sat on his bed, staring blankly at his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're going to act together—what's the harm in telling me more?... This woman.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forget it, forget it. Since I'm standing with the Phoenix Guild, it's time for my mechanical ability to shine—Professor Ye, no, Commander Ye.\" Lin Xian stood up and stretched: \"You want me to take over Dawn City's AI and automated weapon systems.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But you didn't say I had to give it back...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2679,"2026-06-19T18:20:06.633Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8bbf32a7fd455a80549f2a5ebbf49b5bd5d34462c8850b8b9303cb940a07171c","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-385","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-383",541,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fapocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-cover.jpg"]