Chapter 58: Preparation (Second Update, Requesting Monthly Votes)

……

At Lin Xian’s end, the three drove back to the platform, reloaded the Jeep onto the train, returned to the carriage, and immediately started the train. The engine rumbled low and deep; the wheels turned, and the train began pulling away from Juanguan Station.

“I thought you’d stay much longer.”

Onboard, Chen Sixuan, seeing Lin Xian had launched the train so quickly, asked.

“Can’t stop for now…” Lin Xian exhaled, gazing at the dense blackness outside the window—he needed to seize every moment to devour the several captured vehicles and that massive train.

He glanced at the firearms on the floor, then looked at Chen Sixuan with surprise.

“Are you learning to use a gun from Shasha?”

Chen Sixuan froze, then nodded nervously. “I often can’t help at all. I saw how young Shasha is and yet she can use a gun, so I wanted to learn too.”

Lin Xian nodded. Under the apocalypse, learning more self-defense skills was always better. Now that they’d acquired plenty of weapons, Chen Sixuan didn’t want to be a decorative burden, so she’d started learning firearms from Shasha.

Although Shasha herself was only half-trained, the girl was extremely clever, precocious, and far more mature than her peers. She’d originally learned from Daliu, then gradually became more skilled on her own.

She rarely carried pistols or rifles, always wielding a grenade launcher instead. But her VOG-25 40mm grenade rounds were nearly exhausted. Lin Xian had scanned the blueprints, but lacked many materials—especially the high-energy explosive, all-nitrogen anion salt—and couldn’t replenish her ammo anytime soon.

“Bad guy, hurry up and build that radio!”

Kiki urged urgently.

Lin Xian nodded, pulled out his radio, opened his mechanical manufacturing interface, and built a simple frame device according to Jiang Yun’s instructions.

Soon, Lin Xian finished the blueprint and coated the outside with a layer of hard plastic.

Hum~ A white flash appeared in his hand; copper sheets and black plastic flew out from the decomposition space and rapidly formed the radio’s external frame. Then he pulled out the dark red, eerie blood essence.

Everyone stared in astonishment, eyes fixed on the red orb.

“Is this what the Night Monster left behind?” Shasha looked terrified.

Kiki picked it up, examined it. “Cold and icy. It feels like some kind of energy is flowing inside.”

“Be careful,” Lin Xian warned. “Since it’s not human-made, stay vigilant. The Phoenix Society only publicizes its benefits—but who knows what side effects it might have?”

Kiki stuck out her tongue and quickly returned it to Lin Xian’s palm. “You’re right. Just get the radio done first.”

Lin Xian took it back, slipped the eerie blood essence into a pre-designed slot, then turned on the radio before everyone’s eyes.

A strange energy ripple flickered past, sending a chill down their spines.

“Static…”

“Static…”

“Federation… Federation Radio YB Zone Bulletin: Strong Spirit Disturbance detected north of Dalaoshan. Survivors traveling along G1523 and X556 toward Yubei and Fengcheng, please detour. This message provided by the Federation Phoenix Society Rescue Organization…”

“Whoa, it actually works!” Kiki exclaimed.

“Static… Static… City Alert: Yubei’s Star-Circle No.1 Port has ceased operations and is blocked by a massive convoy of survivors. All survivor convoys, do not approach the city. Heavy zombie hordes and strange entities are active inside. Extremely dangerous. Recommend detour!”

Beside them, Chen Sixuan’s expression turned startled. She covered her mouth. “Lin Xian, the Jiyu JY3365 railway segment passes right through the north slope of Dalaoshan—it has several tunnels.”

“I know,” Lin Xian nodded.

“By the way, Lin Brother, if the Star-Circle No.1 Port’s ascent ramps are offline, won’t our train still be unable to use magnetic traction to reach the elevated tracks even if we lower the ground-level braking?” Shasha asked, concerned. The Star-Circle Orbit was a planetary-scale human engineering project built by the Federation. It wasn’t just a railway—it was a superstructure spanning sea, land, and sky. Sections like the Sky Corridor included multiple tracks and vehicle ascent elevators for rapid transit through the Wanyuan Gorge and Dazhu Mountains.

“Don’t worry,” Lin Xian said, eyes gleaming as he glanced at Chen Sixuan. “I’ve already considered this. We don’t need to worry about how we get up—Dalaoshan’s north slope poses a far greater risk.”

Shasha looked curiously at Chen Sixuan, noticing her tense expression, but still nodded reassuringly.

Chen Sixuan naturally understood what Lin Xian meant by “preparation”—she knew this Whale 03E heavy gas turbine locomotive was originally designed for the Star-Circle Orbit.

Lin Xian activated his Mechanical Heart. Whrrr~ The front power turbine of the Whale 03E slowly rotated, beginning its self-check. This once-considered insane design was primarily used for early high-speed corridors or complex sea conditions; after electromagnetic traction systems matured, gas turbines were gradually phased out.

Hearing the beast-like roar beneath their feet, Shasha and Daliu exchanged glances, clearly astonished by Lin Xian’s plan.

“Bad guy, listen to this…”

At that moment, Kiki hushed everyone, tuned to the AM07 frequency Jiang Yun mentioned—the main channel of the Nomad Alliance—and a man’s urgent voice came through.

“This is Iron Fortress Convoy. Warning to Juanguan, Yuchichi, Ping’a Lake, and Congshan East: We’ve spotted the Black Crow Gang at Hengxi Village. They slaughtered every survivor here. All nearby convoys, beware. Confirm again: four modified off-road vehicles, painted green and black, wheels fitted with spiked rollers. All four are violent criminals, three of them psychics. Be extremely cautious. Be extremely cautious…”

“Holy crap, four people, four vehicles, three psychics?!” Shasha feigned shock. “Total monsters!”

Lin Xian’s expression darkened slightly as he looked at Kiki.

“If you’re heading to the No.9 Underground City, trouble’s coming.”

!

“You’ve got it wrong!” Kiki seemed to anticipate his reaction. She scrolled rapidly through a map on her phone, then showed it to Lin Xian. “Look—this is a detour branch from Yuchichi, skirting Dalaoshan’s southern route via Ping’a Lake. But the map ends here—no clear markings beyond. Between Yuchichi and Yubei lies a major freight hub. There’s also a branch line heading southeast. Why do you think?”

Lin Xian frowned, turning his questioning gaze to Chen Laoshi.

“This is common,” Chen Sixuan said. “If it’s not marked, it’s usually a military zone like Beiwan, or an internal railway spur for a corporation or mine. But Dalaoshan doesn’t have many mineral resources… could it be…”

“No need to guess,” Kiki cut in. “The No.9 Underground City is definitely near Dalaoshan. The old Federation probably hollowed out the entire mountain underground. Such a massive project would’ve needed railways for transport. So if it’s a new line, unmarked or deliberately hidden by the Federation, that makes sense—especially since…”

She looked at Lin Xian. “If we take Dalaoshan’s southern route, we bypass the area the Federation radio warned about. Whether it leads to the No.9 Underground City or not, such a massive construction—just a quick reconnaissance will tell us.”

“Huh?!”

Lin Xian’s eyes lit up—he instantly understood Kiki’s intent. Worst case, if the route was a dead end, he could simply turn back. This stretch was at most a couple hundred kilometers. If Kiki was right, they could both scout the No.9 Underground City and avoid the Federation’s warned strange zone.

This was a great plan!

Lin Xian knew that after entering the Star-Circle Orbit, they’d face many different track zones: sky corridors, deserts, primeval forests, uninhabited zones, deep oceans, Star Abyss regions. Pure rail steel couldn’t solve everything—he’d need to upgrade the train’s power and drive systems.

To achieve this, the Mechanical Heart was the foundation, but mechanical scanning and manufacturing were key. Without access to advanced tech systems to scan into blueprints, he’d only be able to hand-craft guns and small appliances—useless.

Just as Kiki said, power systems, high-energy weapons, self-armor, propulsion systems—even though he’d never seen them, just hearing about them made him desperate to scan blueprints immediately!

So he was determined to find a way to investigate the Federation’s No.9 Underground City!

“I agree,” Chen Sixuan added. “But the unknown track section might be complex. I suggest we travel it during daylight.”

Lin Xian nodded, then slowly brought the entire train to a stop, parking the “Infinite” on an open field.

“It’s settled. Tonight, we rest. As before: Chen Laoshi, you take the first watch.”

If they were detouring from Yuchichi along an unknown stretch, daylight was best for observing terrain. Lin Xian planned to devour the last freight electric locomotive first—it would take considerable time and energy. The Star-Circle 7F electric locomotive lacked sufficient reserve power. Better to avoid moving in darkness—instead, devour those trailing burdens now, conserve strength, and proceed along Dalaoshan’s unknown southern route at dawn.

With everything arranged, the group split tasks. Those who needed rest, rested. Chen Sixuan and Shasha organized the exchanged canned supplies, then turned off the carriage lights. Lin Xian opened the rear hatch of Car 5, walked to the last freight electric locomotive, and prepared to devour this hundred-ton behemoth!

New book, seeking monthly votes and reads—deeply grateful!

(End of Chapter)