Chapter 391: Mechanical Ruler, Qin Feng (8,000)

Lin Xian and Zhou Jin's special team parked at a relatively secluded alleyway far away, then climbed a high-rise to observe. Zhou Jin had stationed team members at several key surveillance points for coordination; beside them now were three other team members: Xiao Yan, a nimble female psychic scout; Tong Silei, a heavy machine gunner clad in Iron Hunter powered armor; and Li Su, a bespectacled, stern information specialist.

"It really is the Silver Star." Lin Xian raised his binoculars to the silver locomotive and muttered: "They actually hauled a whole Eternal Power Core car using a full-terrain system—this is some serious show."

"A lot of big convoys showed up too," Jiang Yun said, scanning the sea of people in the square and the colossal post-apocalyptic vehicles lining the streets.

"The Common Alliance, Iron Bastion, Wind Whisperers, Full Metal Frenzy, Gray Falcon—even the Dawn Watchers Alliance came."

"You know quite a few," Zhou Jin said, surprised Jiang Yun recognized so many convoy members: "You're not new to Dawn City, are you?"

"Not new. Been around a while. Most of them are familiar faces—I've dealt with them before," Jiang Yun replied.

Ningjing stepped forward, expression startled: "Are these convoys here to join the recruitment too?"

Jiang Yun shook his head: "No. These convoys or alliances are all ten-thousand-person-scale units with full organizational structures. The Dawn Watchers Alliance has 120, 00 people—I heard they're merging with Han Jun's Arctic Wind Alliance up north. They're a force even Phoenix Society and the Federation can't ignore."

"The other convoys? Even the smallest have over 20, 00 people. The area we just passed near Daliyou Group? Part of it's under Gray Falcon's control."

"Han Jun?" Lin Xian remembered: "I know that guy."

Jiang Yun smiled: "There's another person you definitely know too—Shen Yao, from the North Wind Alliance. After uniting with Han Jun in Xilan City, and merging with the No. 2 convoy of Arctic Wind Alliance at Jinhe River, their numbers exceeded 200, 00. Now they're one of Phoenix Society's officially supported major alliances."

"Whoa, you've got great intel," Kiki chimed in.

"Humanity's crisis, the world in chaos—the more friends you have, the more information you get, the better your chance of survival," Jiang Yun said to Lin Xian.

"The Dawn Watchers Alliance—120, 00 people. Their leader's name is Lin Qingyu, a formidable figure. He has a core team of over twenty elite fighters and strategists. The entire alliance is organized militarily, with massive logistics and resource teams. They've built road, rail, air, farming, and production convoys into partial resource cycles. Of course, they still can't solve water shortages—but they distribute contaminated water by psychic potency coefficients, keeping mutation rates tightly controlled. Many convoys now use this model, originally developed by Lin Qingyu. Supposedly, he used to be an environmentalist."

Lin Xian's gaze hardened slightly: "So the stronger psychics drink low-purified water, while the weak in the convoy drink water recycled through psychics' high-purification systems?"

"Exactly."

"Risk hedging—clever," Mo Nika said, arms crossed, eyes bright. "But this balance has serious drawbacks."

"Of course it does. But it's still the best solution large organizations can come up with right now," Qian Dele said, nodding in approval.

Jiang Yun pointed south toward the square, where a line of heavy base trucks stood, surrounded by crowds of survivors lining up: "The Common Alliance. Officially 80, 00 people, but actually far more. Their leader, Lei Zhen, used to be in prison—a truck driver. Forty percent of this alliance are elderly, children, women—many with entire families. Yet their combat strength is terrifying. Frontline fighters are all elite, fight like they don't care if they live or die. Logistics are solid. Internal cohesion is their core value. They have an excellent reputation among survivors—but joining isn't easy."

"You need to meet at least one: resources, combat power, or logistics," Lin Xian said.

Jiang Yun nodded, then continued: "The Wind Whisperers. Their leader, Luo Heng, was a reconnaissance soldier—same wind psychic type as me. I've dealt with him. He's calm, makes precise decisions. His team isn't large—only 9, 00—but everyone's lightly equipped, almost no big vehicles. High mobility and marching speed. Psychics and individual combat strength are both strong. So despite small numbers, their survival rate ranks among the highest in Dawn City."

"Nine thousand is still 'not many'?" Lin Xian laughed incredulously. His Infinite Train, even after refurbishment, had fewer than two hundred. Even adding the combined trains, they still hadn't reached five thousand. Of course, if he merged with Xu Jingwei and Jiang Yun's Windwalkers Alliance, the 60, 00+ team would be substantial.

"Different. Here, small convoys quickly merge into big ones. To get resources, you need blood essence. To get blood essence, you must hunt down weird bodies. Without massive combat teams and firepower, it's impossible. And you need to develop production, farming, exploration, salvage—all require people," Jiang Yun said. "So convoys of hundreds or even a thousand are considered small here. Most are forced to band together because they couldn't join the big ones."

"So small convoys are just gathering points for the weak?"

"No choice. Reality is cruel. These small convoys can only unite to increase their risk resistance. Most of them can't—or won't—leave Dawn City."

Jiang Yun pointed north to a fully armed convoy, its roof bristling with more cannon barrels than gun muzzles: "Full Metal Frenzy. Leader Han Tiege, former factory head of the Lan City mechanized arms plant. 70, 00 people. Many members are ex-militia from the southwest. They have massive ammunition and energy supplies. Trade with Silent City, Dawn City, and Phoenix Society. They claim they have more guns than people. Just electromagnetic railguns and high-energy pulse cannons? Over a hundred."

"Then there's Iron Bastion. Leader Xu Yufei. Hard to judge. His convoy has tons of automated equipment, robots, drones. Total personnel only 12, 00—mostly grew after arriving in Dawn City. Still impressive. I thought he'd have fled the city long ago. Didn't expect him here."

"Other smaller or unknown convoys? No need to list them. But the crowd here seems even bigger than online reports."

"Probably affected by the urgency—wanting to recruit fast and get out."

"My team already scouted it. No Night Patrol, no City Defense Battalion here. But we spotted Angel of Flame troops in the periphery—all in civilian clothes," Zhou Jin said, walking over with a grim expression: "Such a massive gathering, yet the situation feels off. Our guess was right—the Infinite Train Alliance has ties to Federation high command."

"Captain Zhou, what's your plan?" Lin Xian asked.

"I sent a detachment to monitor Xingcheng Rail Station. We'll hold here for now. We've set up surveillance in all directions. If we spot Wen Dong or any other Federation personnel, we act."

Lin Xian nodded, looking toward the square.

"Then let's watch for now."

The square surged with crowds. Everywhere were armored suits, prosthetics. Even ordinary civilians in civilian clothes carried weapons. It felt like a massive war square. But everyone had grown accustomed to this defense in the apocalypse. Every nerve was taut. Many waiting survivors carried all their belongings on their backs.

For a moment, curious survivors, recruiting convoys, dense queues, and aerial drones and manned flyers created a scene that looked grand but carried heavy oppression.

"Whoa, lots of recruitment drives, but I've never seen one with live combat matches in broad daylight! This Infinite Alliance must have serious clout!"

"I heard they got clearance from Federation high command—as long as no one gets crippled or killed."

"I doubt it. The Federation's in a panic—they probably have no time to care!"

"Who is this Qin Feng anyway? Never heard of him. Is he really a mechanical psychic?"

A bearded man said: "Who knows? Our convoy only heard of Lin Xian from the Infinite Train—used a gas turbine train to haul thousands of cars and over 30, 00 people onto the elevated corridor. Insane!"

"Exactly! Hasn't this Qin Feng heard of Lin Xian's exploits? Why name his convoy the same…?"

"I heard someone say Qin Feng might be Lin Xian's disciple."

"Bullshit. Can psychic abilities be passed down? You've read too many novels. But if I had this ability, I'd recruit a massive convoy—build my own army!"

"Right! Can create electromagnetic cannons, Gatling guns, even planes, tanks, powered armor—this psychic ability is incredible!"

"In potential, it seems stronger than lightning, fire, water, wind…"

"So everyone wants to join. I heard Iron Bastion already allied with them—half-joined. Over ten thousand people—damn…"

…

Outside the square, big convoys had parked their mobile vehicles together. Some leaders, like Lin Xian, stood atop high-rises, surrounded by crowds.

In a temporary camp with a rain shelter, over a dozen leaders from major convoys and alliances sat inside, watching the gathering with serious expressions. They weren't close, but most had dealt with each other before.

Lin Qingyu, 42, wore black combat gear and combat boots. His warm face, hidden behind sunglasses, looked harmless. Few would guess he led a 100, 00+ person alliance if they saw him sitting here.

"Rage-class squad leader, unlimited recruitment for Diamond-class… Who the hell is this Qin Feng? Does he have infinite resources?"

The speaker was Han Tiege of Full Metal Frenzy, short and stout, clad in a custom high-tech powered armor with flight thrusters, making him look like a statue. Out of caution, he was always fully armed.

"Mechanical psychic ability is too overpowered—it's pure production. Ammunition and weapons are the hard currency now. That makes sense," Luo Heng, 37, said sharply, staring at the Silver Star in the square. "Some of our people have already left to join. You've probably seen the same."

"Let them go. I don't care," Lei Zhen of the Common Alliance, a bearded, hot-tempered man, snapped. "If I weren't planning to expand, I wouldn't even bother coming. What's so great about mechanical psychic ability?"

"You already have too many people. If you loosen your thresholds, you could hit 200, 00 today," Xu Yufei of Iron Bastion sneered coldly. "You take anyone…"

"Fuck you!"

Lei Zhen cursed loudly: "Everyone's a person. If I had enough resources and ammo, I wouldn't mind a million. But you, Xu Yufei—how many times have you met Qin Feng? You brought your whole convoy over?"

"It's an investment," Xu Yufei said calmly, sipping coffee, glancing at other convoy leaders. "Didn't you hear, Luo? Mechanical psychic ability is production. In this world, bullets are currency. He brings his own production line. Phoenix Society and the Federation are fighting to cooperate with him. Why can't I?"

His words made the dozen other convoy leaders react with varied expressions.

Lin Qingyu of the Dawn Watchers Alliance looked at him curiously: "Commander Xu, you've met Qin Feng. What's your impression?"

"Nothing special about him personally. But his ability is powerful," Xu Yufei said bluntly. "You guessed right—he's cooperating with the Federation. Deeply."

"Because of the mechanical psychic ability."

"Yes."

"No wonder. I heard Lin Xian from the Infinite Train is already a Crimson Phoenix Permit partner. The Federation must be desperate to seize this 【civilization-level】 psychic—hence their massive support," one convoy leader said. "And he even took the same name… what a…"

"Lin Xian's exploits are all over the city now. There are even mechanical psychic and Infinite Train admirers resisting Federation propaganda about the 【S-Class First Kill】, causing serious backlash," Luo Heng of the Wind Whisperers added. "I suspect this is related."

"First Kill S-Class? Hah," Lin Qingyu scoffed. "Arctic Wind Alliance transported over a thousand tons of Yunzhong Heici corpse tissue from Xilan City for research with Dawn Center. At least fifty labs received samples. This political propaganda only fools the common folk."

He turned to Xu Yufei, voice calm: "Commander Xu, I advise caution. The Federation can't be trusted. Even if this 'New Infinite Train' forms, will the Federation let a force it built up leave Dawn City?"

Xu Yufei's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't react. "Doesn't matter. Build goodwill first. See how things go later."

"Pathetic fence-sitter," Lei Zhen sneered.

Xu Yufei shot him a cold glance but said nothing.

Luo Heng of the Wind Whisperers glanced at him coolly. According to his intelligence, Xu Yufei's choice wasn't surprising—he was a post-apocalypse opportunist, solitary and selfish. His convoy pursued elite-only development, clinging tightly to every minor advantage. After entering the city, he firmly supported Dawn City and joined the Federation's Survivor Mutual Aid Organization. But when he sensed Dawn City's crisis and the Phoenix Society's Skyward Ship arriving, he immediately switched sides, preparing to join other convoys to flee with the Phoenix Society.

Though his survival-driven behavior was understandable, his hypocrisy made him unpopular with many big convoy leaders. He looked down on small convoys, yet dared not risk his own 10, 00+ people. So Lei Zhen of the Common Alliance utterly despised him.

The recruitment drive proceeded in chaotic order. Outside the square, the "Infinite·Silver Star" convoy set up multiple recruitment lanes. Dozens of recruiters were busy handling queues of applicants—individuals and small teams. Requirements were simple.

First: minimum psychic peak must exceed 500. This wasn't just Diamond-class—it didn't even measure limit coefficients. Many who thought they were Diamond-class were immediately turned away by guards at the automated check, causing chaos and occasional fights and cries at the entrance.

Second: special psychics. If your ability was unique, with high potential or utility, you could join even if your psychic index didn't meet the threshold. This allowed some awakened children to qualify. But "Infinite·Silver Star" imposed harsh rules: only Rage-class could bring one 【family member】; Destruction-class could bring three.

Family members could be any elderly, weak, sick, or disabled. It sounded brutally cruel—anyone strong enough to reach Rage-class could form their own hundred-person convoy. Yet joining "Infinite·Silver Star" meant bringing only three people.

Still, many people abandoned their original convoys to join, drawn by its reputation. The direct reason? After long years of dark apocalypse, trains—offering high safety and quality of life—had gained immense popularity.

Though requirements were strict, many big convoys now combined trains with ground units. Whether following orbital or standard rail lines, efficiency and survival rates far surpassed mountain-crossing.

Now, alliances like Dawn Watchers had their own train networks, cooperating in movement and mutual support.

So Qin Feng, with the powerful Eternal-class Silver Star train, caused a sensation the moment his recruitment plan was announced. The train was too advanced—automated weapons, ultra-high defense armor, full-terrain drive.

And even more important: Qin Feng's mechanical psychic ability!

This ability, initially misunderstood or dismissed by many, had been glorified by Lin Xian's Infinite Train exploits into a 【civilization-creating】 power. Rumors claimed Lin Xian could craft starships and aircraft carriers, fly through the heavens, and that the Xilan City battle was won by exhausting an S-Class with Infinite bullets…

Suddenly, the square erupted in commotion. Tens of thousands turned their gazes. The noisy crowd fell noticeably quieter.

"Is it starting?"

"Qin Feng's coming out!"

Hum.

The grassy ground of the park square shook violently. The earth cracked open. A massive circular gate slowly opened. No one expected such a huge underground mechanical structure beneath Galagher.

Under countless stunned gazes, a brand-new mechanical platform rose slowly. Over a hundred armed personnel clad in Dark Wolf and Iron Hunter powered armor stood in neat rows, front and back, rising from the horizon.

Their formation was precise. Two front squads: one side, men in armor like Iron Man, radiating combat power; the other, women with armored bodies sculpted to accentuate curves, blue energy lines flowing across their suits—uniform style, utterly sci-fi. Behind them, two squads of heavy Iron Hunter armored troops, each like a giant bear, radiating violent mechanical force.

Then hundreds of drones shot up from the ground, forming a giant spiral in the sky. From the center of the formation, a figure clad in red nano-starry powered armor slowly rose into the air. No thrusters. No wind psychic ability. No wings. He simply hovered like a god—utterly shocking.

Simultaneously, the armored personnel, as if rehearsed, all activated their thrusters at once, launching skyward. Mach rings tore the sky, triggering sonic booms.

Whoa!

The entire square of tens of thousands erupted. The flamboyant entrance ignited the crowd. Even the convoy leaders under the rain shelter stared, stunned and speechless.

"Is this guy putting on a product launch? This is way too over-the-top!" Fat Han Tiege opened his armor visor, gaping.

"Looks like an entrance, but it's an arms display," Luo Heng said quickly, recording with instruments. A reconnaissance soldier, he was hypersensitive to gear. "One hundred sets of Dark Wolf/Iron Hunter armor—enough to equip a full mech regiment. And this underground structure—was it Federation military tech, or did he build it himself?"

"Damn impressive, pulling off such a spectacle," Lei Zhen muttered, glaring at Qin Feng in the sky. "How's he flying? No thrusters detected. Can mechanical psychic ability achieve anti-gravity levitation?"

Lin Qingyu narrowed his eyes: "Don't know. Let's see what he's selling. If the price's right, I might buy a few sets for my team."

The dazzling entrance caused massive hype. Qin Feng, hovering in the sky, waved his hand. All powered armor guards landed. The drones arranged into a formation and projected a massive hologram onto the square's center.

Qin Feng slowly descended to low altitude but didn't land. His nano-armor swiftly detached, revealing a handsome young man around 27 or 28.

Tall and lean, his gaze sharp as a shuttle, with mechanical modifications visible along his cheek and neck, giving him a built-in small holographic display like a monocle—highly sci-fi.

On a nearby skyscraper, Lin Xian, Kiki, Mo Nika, and Jiang Yun watched this extravagant entrance and were somewhat stunned.

But what surprised Lin Xian wasn't the powered armor or drones—it was the massive mechanical structure beneath the square.

"That looks like a military-grade launch tunnel, top secret," said Zhou Jin of the Iron Guard Brigade. "Using this place for a stunt— the Federation really went all out."

"The more they emphasize this, the more the purpose behind this event—or this person—isn't simple," Kiki said, arms crossed, calm. "I think his recruitment rally, beyond basic recruits, is mainly targeting experts above Destruction Level—trying to draw attention through combat, and quickly build his core team. His plan's perfect."

Lin Xian nodded. "Yes, if you just want to recruit, offering benefits is enough. Combat displays are unnecessary—this is just a spectacle to lure in the strongest people. But if you only offer benefits, Destruction-level experts all come with teams—they'll test your leadership ability first."

"So he's doing all this just so he doesn't have to lift a finger?" Xiang Ningjing frowned upon hearing Lin Xian.

"Precisely," Mo Nika said calmly. "But anyone who reaches Destruction Level isn't a fool. If Qin Feng doesn't show something substantial, his 'Infinite·Silver Star' convoy won't form."

"True. Let's see what this mechanical ruler is really made of," Jiang Yun said.

Lin Xian glanced at Lu Xingchen and Shizhi beside him. Both were staring intently at the square—one with a sharp, defiant expression, clearly fascinated by psychic combat; the other looked like she'd never seen a spectacle before, standing behind Kiki, neck stretched, eyes wide, gazing over like a naive, socially anxious fool.

At the square's center, Qin Feng, who had sparked intense reactions, remained expressionless—as if utterly unfazed by the crowd's response. After listening to the rising tide of murmurs, he fell silent for several minutes, then finally spoke.

"Ladies and gentlemen, beneath the collapse of stars and the ruin of civilization, we humans crawl like ants on scorched earth, struggle like mayflies in a wasteland. The world is shattered, moral codes destroyed, ethics decayed, order reduced to ash."

"We were once towers; now we are broken walls. We were once torches; now only embers remain."

"But—"

"As long as one breath remains, we must not abandon ourselves to the abyss. As long as a glimmer of light endures, we must not kneel before endless night."

"In the spirit of preserving life and reviving the dying, in the will to pass on the flame, I, Qin Feng, the Mechanical Ruler, declare here in Dawn City to countless heroes: join me in forming a Last Days Alliance—not merely to survive, but to gather humanity's greatest strength. In this dire hour, kinship is shattered, flesh torn apart, faith extinguished, hope snuffed out."

"Yet as long as faith endures, even if we now endure humiliation and flee for survival, one day we shall rise with wildfire fury and strike back first!"

No one expected this man to open with such fiery rhetoric. For a moment, tens of thousands in the square were silenced; many faces flushed with emotion, their suppressed feelings suddenly ignited.

"So I will form a train alliance. Using my mechanical psychic ability, I will build nuclear reactor cars, water-recycling purification cars, vertical farm cars, greenery cultivation cars, arms manufacturing, medical pods, psychic training, and countless comfortable living cars—plus train schools, fertility and childcare, entertainment systems, and civilization archives. We will continuously assemble modules, develop and refine them, using steel armor to defend against endless hordes of corpses, racing along the 320, 00-kilometer orbital ring!"

"I believe that as our psychic abilities grow and technology advances, one day we will soar into the skies, break through dawn, and embark on a journey to distant stars!"

Boom!

His words ignited the entire crowd. Not just the square—across Dawn City's network, countless livestreams exploded in activity. His speech carried a magnetic power, electrifying everyone.

On Lin Xian's side, after hearing Qin Feng's grand speech, everyone's eyes turned to him simultaneously, their expressions heavy with meaning.

Kiki looked like she'd lost faith in reality, staring blankly at Lin Xian, cheeks flushed, struggling to hold back a laugh.

Lin Xian, meanwhile, had his mouth slightly open, silently mouthing:

wcnmd…

This guy's words… they sound exactly like mine…

(End of Chapter)