00:32 AM – The Joint Train Formation Arrives at Xilan City Rail Station
Upon entering Xilan City, the defensive convoy split up. The Empire Project Team was escorted by the Investigation Corps to the Phoenix stronghold, while Qian Dele’s six convoys set up a temporary Doomsday Encampnt near the Central Avenue periter of the rail station.
Due to the large number of parked trains at the station, Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1 diverted onto a freight mining track, originally used for cargo transport.
This area, near the Fenglan Mountain mining region, was farther from Central Avenue, aning fewer survivor camps were stationed here. However, Lin Xian still spotted a few convoy settlents occupying the forr Xilan Mining Company’s freight terminal, surrounded by stacked shipping containers and mine cart tracks stretching into the distance.
Choosing this location had another advantage: it housed several large overhead rail cranes, perfect for transporting cargo—and for Lin Xian, a rich source of salvageable materials.
After traveling all the way from Hengshan Pass, battling non-stop, the convoy had exhausted its supplies, energy, and even basic armor plating. This was their chance to upgrade the train’s defenses.
Dragon Mountain No. 1 had endured the sa harrowing blizzard chase, and tensions were still running high. The mont the Joint Train Formation rolled in, Shidi Yuan, Ning Jing, and the convoy leaders imdiately set everyone into motion.
Hissss—
The all-terrain drive train of Dragon Mountain No. 1 detached from Infinite Train’s rear, and the temporary docking fra at the front was removed, rging the thousand-person train convoy back into one unit.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The train doors swung open, and over a hundred engineers and maintenance workers disembarked from Dragon Mountain No. 1, joined by additional logistics personnel.
In an instant, the once-quiet freight zone beca a hive of activity, with hundreds of people repairing carriages, stripping damaged armor, and securing the train’s defenses. Ard sentries remained stationed on the rooftops, staying on high alert.
anwhile, Shidi Yuan checked in with Lin Xian before leading a team toward the city center, leaving Ning Jing in charge of overseeing repairs.
With so many hands on deck, the two-kiloter-long train convoy quickly entered an intensive repair cycle. As power was restored, the long-dormant overhead cranes whirred back to life.
Floodlights from Dragon Mountain No. 1 illuminated the freight zone, pushing back the shadows of the bitter storm. The area, shielded by Fenglan Mountain, was significantly calr than the outer city blizzard, and the towering concrete walls offered a welco sense of security.
Armor Repairs &
Strategic Adjustnts
On Infinite Train’s side, Lin Xian inspected the damage—and it was severe.
The left armor plating had been riddled with holes during the Snow Wraith onslaught en route to Uliyasitai Mountain, its perforation density dangerously high.
Fortunately, Dragon Mountain No. 1 had shielded Infinite Train’s nuclear-powered locomotive, and the Gemini unit’s lead-plated armor had minimized radiation risks. Still, this ordeal highlighted a critical flaw—the rear section lacked proper defenses.
Lin Xian resolved to install a specialized defensive carriage at the rear, along with an additional electric locomotive to compensate for the lost power unit, since the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive had been repurposed for upgrades.
As he gazed at Dragon Mountain No. 1’s bustling repair crew, he deliberately ordered his own team to rest, keeping only a few key personnel active.
His plan was to scout for usable power units and salvage specialized steel components—without overtaxing his already exhausted team.
A Quiet Mont Amidst the Chaos
"You’re going alone? I’ll co with you."
Chen Sixuan, noticing Lin Xian dismissing the others, frowned with concern.
"I’m fine. You, on the other hand, need rest."** Lin Xian said firmly.
From the Phoenix stronghold to the blizzard battles, Chen Sixuan had fought non-stop since he fell unconscious. Bloodstains and frostbite marred her face—battle scars of a once-scholarly professor who had now fully stepped into the warrior’s path.
Her handling of the heavy anti-materiel sniper rifle had grown increasingly precise, eliminating countless threats for the team.
anwhile, Lin Xian had at least rested a few hours while unconscious—he was recharged and ready to work.
"We finally have a safe window. Everyone needs to recover—including you." He t her gaze.
Chen Sixuan hesitated, then exhaled. "Alright."
As Lin Xian turned to leave, she suddenly stepped forward, wrapping an arm around his neck—and kissed him.
The touch was soft and fleeting, gone in an instant.
Chen Sixuan’s eyes burned with intensity as she pulled away. "Take care of yourself."
Lin Xian was montarily stunned—but then, a smile played at his lips.
"I will."
Blueprints &
Upgrades
The wind howled outside as Lin Xian activated chanical Heart, bringing up a blueprint file.
This design schematic had been secretly scanned back in Trakamar Ice Canyon—a structural analysis of Unit 01’s right-arm composite armor.
The original materials—super-carbon carbide alloy, nano-ceramics—were far too advanced for him to reproduce on a large scale.
However, Lin Xian devised a workaround:
He could substitute titanium alloy, tungsten-titanium composite, and tungsten carbide steel to mimic the layered armor design.
The blueprint was a revelation.
Compared to the hastily welded steel plating he had originally fashioned in Jiang City, Unit 01’s multi-layered armor composition was ingenious.
"Active Defense Layer…"
The five-layer structure was as follows:
Active Defense Layer (0-5mm)
Material:Forged Tungsten-Titanium Alloy II
Energy Dissipation Layer (5-15mm)
Material:Boron Nitride Ceramic / Titanium Honeycomb Composite
Primary Protection Layer (15-25mm)
Material:Super-Carbon Carbide Alloy
Fabrication:Laser-Additive Manufacturing with Alternating Porous-Dense Structure
Additionally, the shock-absorbing isolation layer used basalt fiber 3D weaves, while the self-healing inner liner incorporated magnesium-based composites and shape-mory alloys.
Lin Xian marveled at his chanical Heart—it was like wielding the knowledge of an entire industrial empire at his fingertips.
With the new R&
D center, he could now fully integrate research &
developnt into his workflow.
"No need to overcomplicate this. Simplifying the materials should still work."
If implented, this armor upgrade would be far superior to his original haphazard plating.
Plus, it would actually look good.
Late-Night Design Session
Inside Car No. 2, the information center’s computer screen glowed faintly.
KIKI sat before it, tweaking the armor schematics, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.
"If we go with this armor setup, we’ll need to modify the original grid structure—should we integrate it into the windows too?"
The room was dark, save for the computer’s light.
The young girl, dark circles under her eyes, yawned as she worked.
She had burned through nearly all her energy in battle, yet she kept helping Lin Xian, her hands never stopping.
Lin Xian glanced at her, knowing she wouldn’t last much longer.
For now, he let her keep working.
There was still so much to do.
"Wouldn't this be unsafe? If we open the windows, it'll be directly exposed to the outside. And if we keep the entire train sealed, it'll feel way too stuffy and claustrophobic." Lin Xian frowned.
Inside the warm train carriage, KIKI had shed her heavy cold-resistant coat, now lounging in casual shorts. Her smooth legs were crossed as she floated in midair in front of the computer. She poked Lin Xian's chest with her finger and grinned.
"Can’t have your cake and eat it too, bro~"
"Just add a layer of high-strength polyester bulletproof glass in between the armor grids," Lin Xian replied matter-of-factly. "That way, we can still open windows when needed. In combat, we can't just blindly fire outside."
KIKI pouted. "If that’s the case, why not just install remote-controlled auto-gun turrets? That way, people can stay inside and operate them via surveillance feeds."
Lin Xian gave her a deadpan look. "Might as well install full-on combat capsules on rails, huh?"
KIKI’s eyes lit up. "Ohhh, I like that! Fully automated turret arrays!"
"Why stop there? Let’s just upgrade the whole thing into a full-blown rail battleship while we’re at it."
"YES! YES! Do it!"
Lin Xian flicked her forehead. "You’re getting carried away. If I could pull that off right now, I’d just build a brand-new train—or hell, even a floating city. Why bother adding armor at all?"
"Hehehe~"
KIKI chuckled mischievously. "Okay, okay, I was ssing with you. But seriously, your idea makes sense. I think it's workable."
Lin Xian exhaled and nodded. "Alright, let’s go with that. You get so rest—I need to gather materials."
His plan was to scavenge the necessary armor materials and, if possible, scan the blueprint for Dragon Mountain No. 1’s Triangle Track Electromagnetic All-Terrain Drive Module. If he could reverse-engineer it before entering the Oceanic Rail, it would give Infinite Train more mobility options, allowing it to traverse non-rail terrain with ease.
"Need backup?"
Just as Lin Xian was about to leave, KIKI spoke in a deliberately casual tone. "Hey, you sure you're okay? You passed out earlier."
"Sa as you—just overused my energy. Nothing serious."
"Then—"
Before he could react, KIKI suddenly pounced, wrapping her legs around his waist and clinging to his neck like a koala. Her big eyes looked up at him, gleaming with mischief.
"Want to go with you? I can protect you, y’know~"
Lin Xian sighed, noting the bloodshot veins in her eyes and the chapped dryness of her lips. Without a word, he picked her up, carried her over to her bed, and gently laid her down.
"You're in no shape to protect anyone. Sleep first, then we’ll talk." He kept his voice low, careful not to wake Shasha, who was sleeping above them.
KIKI puffed out her cheeks. Not willing to accept defeat, she clung to him tighter, arms and legs wrapped around him like a stubborn octopus.
"Oh, so now you’re underestimating my superpowers, huh? Think I won’t—"
A glint of mischief flashed in her eyes. She tilted her head, locked onto Lin Xian’s nose, and lunged forward—ready to chomp down as ‘punishnt’.
But Lin Xian saw through her trickery instantly.
Before she could bite, he leaned forward and kissed her instead.
"Mwah~"
Caught completely off guard, KIKI froze—her brain short-circuiting. Her hands instinctively let go, covering her lips in shock.
"You—!!"
Lin Xian stepped back, touching his lips with mock seriousness. "Wow. So you actually dared to steal a kiss from ? Well, now we’re even."
"I—I DIDN’T STEAL A KISS FROM YOU!!"
KIKI was flabbergasted. Realizing she had been completely outplayed, her face turned red, and she nearly exploded on the spot.
Lin Xian smirked. "Wait, don’t tell you wanted to follow just so you could sneak in another kiss?"
"PFFT!!" KIKI’s face flushed crimson as she spat at him.
She glared at him for a long mont—then, her gaze flickered away, a little guilty. She huffed, rolled over in bed, and pulled her blanket over her head.
"Hmph! Fine, whatever! I wasn’t interested in tagging along anyway! Freeze to death out there for all I care—bye-bye, I’m sleeping!"
Lin Xian let out a small chuckle, shaking his head as he silently turned and left.
A Rare Mont of Peace
Chen Sixuan and KIKI had been with him since the first day Infinite Train left Jiang City.
Lin Xian wasn’t blind to how much they cared about him.
In a world consud by apocalypse and endless battles, that kind of companionship was worth more than any amount of firepower.
As he stepped into the blizzard, he took a deep breath.
Outside, Fenglan Mountain lood in the distance, casting a lonely silhouette over the snowstorm. The repair crews of Dragon Mountain No. 1 worked tirelessly, sparks flying as they welded and cut steel plates.
Glancing toward the double-decker carriages, Lin Xian could see the warm glow of cabin lights behind the armor plating.
So families had already settled in for the night.
A few children peeked out from a safety compartnt, their curious eyes landing on Lin Xian. One of them waved hesitantly.
Lin Xian smiled and waved back.
Scouting the Freight Yard
Activating his Powered Exoskeleton’s enhanced vision, Lin Xian climbed onto the train’s rooftop and surveyed the massive freight yard.
The cargo area was filled with thousands of stacked shipping containers, blanketed in snow. The tracks extended toward the distant mining facility, which had collapsed and was now completely sealed off.
Scaling an overhead crane, he peered into the horizon—spotting the outer city walls in the distance. Faint firelight flickered on the skyline, though the intensity had waned since their arrival.
For the first ti in months, standing amidst the blizzard, Lin Xian felt… safe.
After months of running through the darkness, always on the edge of survival, it was a strange yet welco sensation.
The city was free of zombies and eerie entities, and at least a few thousand survivors had made it here.
For once, Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1 weren’t the only ones fighting to survive.
A Lucky Find
Following the tracks toward the mining sector, Lin Xian spotted a row of abandoned freight trains—so buried under deep snow.
For most survivors, cargo trains were useless—they lacked shelter and couldn’t be easily repurposed.
But for Lin Xian?
"Jackpot."
Activating chanical Heart, he began devouring the train cars for materials.
An Even Bigger Find
After clearing out a dozen freight cars, sothing caught his eye—a massive locomotive parked at the front.
It was a "Weilong-Class Heavy Electric Locomotive"—over 60 ters long, painted yellow and black.
It consisted of two sections:
One for high-powered traction motorsAnother for energy reserves and auxiliary systems
"7 gawatts… even stronger than the Huanxing 7F."
Excitent surged through Lin Xian—until he checked its status.
"Crap. It’s broken."
Most survivors wouldn’t have the ans to repair an industrial locomotive’s electrical system—but Lin Xian wasn’t ‘most survivors’.
A grin spread across his face.
"Well, looks like I just got myself a new engine."
Salvaging the Weilong-Class Heavy Electric Locomotive
Lin Xian pressed his palm against the locomotive, activating chanical Heart to scan its internal structure.
Almost imdiately, a detailed schematic unfolded in his mind—power distribution modules, traction motors, auxiliary converters…
"Damn. This thing is a beast."
A locomotive like this was built for heavy freight transport, with a brutally high torque output designed to pull thousands of tons of cargo. If he could restore it, it would be a perfect rear-engine addition to Infinite Train—a dedicated powerhouse capable of generating a stable 7-gawatt output.
"This bad boy’s gonna save a lot of trouble."
The main issue was a faulty electrical circuit—specifically, a burnt-out main distribution board. For anyone else, it would take days of intricate repairs.
For Lin Xian?
An hour, tops.
But first—materials.
He needed to harvest conductive alloys and high-insulation components to replace the damaged circuits.
"Alright, let’s get to work."
Devouring the Freight Yard
Hummmm—
chanical Devour activated.
The fourth-tier devouring speed was nearly twice as fast as before.
A single freight car—ten-plus tons of steel—was dismantled and absorbed in under ten minutes.
Whoosh—!
The mont the car disappeared, the snow piled on top collapsed, cascading down like an avalanche.
Lin Xian worked nonstop, thodically devouring each freight car, rapidly breaking down their tallic structures.
Boom—!
Another ten-ter-long steel fra vanished into nothing.
Within two hours, he had cleared out over a dozen freight cars, filling his resource pool with:
High-density steel platesNickel-chromium alloysAdvanced insulation materialsCopper wiring &
industrial-grade circuit components
"That should be enough."
With his materials stocked, Lin Xian finally turned back toward the Weilong locomotive.
Ti to repair this beast.
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