Chapter 23: Nature’s Slaughter
“The metal steel plates are no longer enough,” Yu Jing suddenly said.
Su Huan raised an eyebrow. This was indeed a problem. Although metal was everywhere in the city, it needed Qi Xiao Ba to use his ability to melt it again, which was far less efficient than using standard steel plates directly.
Melting and modifying so slowly, they might not even complete the first phase of the plan by the time they rushed out of the high-temperature zone.
But the problem was where to get so many steel plates.
Returning to the steel factory was out of the question. Even if all the Tier 1 zombies there had left, he wouldn’t backtrack.
Su Huan pondered for a moment and said, “Today, let’s melt the idle carriages outside first. Once we enter Mo Jiang City, we’ll look for a steel factory or something.”
“No problem.”
Qi Xiao Ba agreed.
“How many general energy crystals were extracted today?”
Su Huan asked.
Wan Xing put down the cup, took out a general energy crystal the size of a thumbnail from her pocket. Besides its size, the edges of this crystal also had fine, regular, and elegant lines, carrying a bewitching vitality as if it could grow at any moment.
“The one from the Night Demon?”
“Yes, this general energy crystal is very special. Extracting it was much more difficult than from ordinary zombies, and it was harder to shape together.”
Su Huan took the general energy crystal, a hint of joy appearing on his face. He explained, “This is a Tier 1 general energy crystal. Its characteristic is this ring of special patterns. If left for about five days, it will shatter.”
Wan Xing was somewhat surprised. “I had that feeling too. Why is that?”
“You can think of it as the Tier 1 general energy crystal having higher energy density. Without solidification by a collector, it’s prone to shattering.”
“Solidification—is that a skill?”
“After long-term extraction with ‘Energy Solidification’, you’ll probably develop this ability.”
Su Huan said.
The collector’s ‘Energy Solidification’ and the energizer’s ‘Energy Compression’ were about equal in status; both were abilities that formed easily, so no company or force produced corresponding potions.
But ‘High-Energy Compression’ was different. Though it differed from energy compression by just one word, the difficulty to acquire was worlds apart.
Evolvers had to be exposed to high-pressure energy long-term.
Aside from the crazies in the Mechanical God Cult, no one would put themselves in such a high-risk environment.
However, once this skill was figured out, it was quickly cracked by the major forces, leading to corresponding gene potions.
The cost was relatively low among high-level skills.
It also became an essential skill for energizers.
“Besides that, I decomposed some other things from that Night Demon corpse,” Wan Xing said, taking out a small glass bottle containing a layer of amber liquid shallowly covering the bottom.
Everyone’s gazes fell on the glass bottle, then turned back to Su Huan.
Waiting for his explanation.
Su Huan was somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected Wan Xing to actually collect materials; perhaps she could be cultivated as a decomposer.
He took it over, gently shook it, and explained, “A Tier 1 material that can be used to synthesize the defender’s gene potion.”
Yu Jing stared at the potion as if entranced, amber light and shadows swirling in her eyes. Compelled by impulse, she said, “Can you give this material to me?”
Su Huan looked at her suspiciously. “What do you want this for?”
“I want to research it.”
Yu Jing slightly raised her chin, her phoenix eyes once again showing that fanatical gaze of inquiry.
“Before a manufacturer proportions it, this thing is infectious, and it acts much faster than a zombie bite.”
“I know what I’m doing!”
Yu Jing’s tone was firm and decisive.
Aunt Yu’s heart skipped a beat. She carefully observed Su Huan’s expression and only relaxed when she saw he wasn’t angry.
“Fine, here you go. Don’t misuse it.”
Su Huan thought for a moment but didn’t stop her.
After all, Yu Jing was important talent for the armored train and deserved some leeway.
Su Huan asked, “Anything else?”
“That’s all for now. The Night Demon corpse outside might not be extractable until evening,” Wan Xing said.
“You can extract three ordinary zombies first, then give the extracted general energy crystals directly to those three.”
Seeing everyone looking at him in surprise, Su Huan calmly said, “There will be more crises ahead, and we might not have this much time then.”
“Become evolvers as soon as possible. The train of the apocalypse waits for no one.”
……
The entire side of Sightseeing Carriage No. 2 suddenly cracked open, with two hydraulic rods dragging it slowly downward.
Exposing the entire interior of the carriage.
On the left was a forklift equipped with a crane, painted red, next to a motorcycle crouched low on the ground.
Liang Kuan, having just finished eating, put on a pair of gloves and climbed into the forklift driver’s cabin.
With time before dark, he needed to drive the forklift to help the workers hoist steel plates.
Using the ramp built from the carriage side to the ground, he easily drove outside.
The workers in the carriage saw the forklift exit and got off to start work.
Time flew by, and soon it was dusk.
Scattered passengers returned with few supplies, thinking they would be hassled by Su Huan.
Unexpectedly, Su Huan only collected half the usual supplies today before letting them board.
It wasn’t out of kindness; this place was in the city suburbs, where supplies were scarce to begin with.
If he kept all these passengers outside, there would be no one left on his train.
It wouldn’t be good for the next plan.
The passengers also brought bad news: the water plant ahead had been occupied by a group of people.
They called themselves Prosperity Property Management.
Su Huan sat in his private room, legs crossed, staring at the map on the wall in thought. The orange-red glow reflected in the glass gradually faded from his eyes.
Leaving only a cold glint.
In his previous life, he had never heard of such a group. In fact, he hadn’t heard of any forces in the high-temperature zone.
His memories only held a few armed convoys that slowly merged and formed on the escape route.
The rest stayed here and turned into acquaintances with the heat outbreak.
Now they occupied the water plant, which was the only place with a small integrated water purifier—the key to the armored train forming a self-sustaining cycle, and his goal in staying here.
Although there were still quite a few water plants in the places ahead, only this one was closest to the railway track.
The others were at least ten kilometers away!
And the integrated water purifier wasn’t a portable small appliance; it was modular industrial equipment. Even if he drove those passengers to death, no one could carry it back.
He himself couldn’t possibly abandon the train to go more than ten kilometers away to dismantle a water purifier.
The only option was this water plant.
If he missed it, life after leaving the high-temperature zone would be tough.
Thinking of the terrifying scene deep in his memories, a thread of irritation and anxiety rose in Su Huan’s heart.
In his previous life, just after leaving the high-temperature zone, seeing the fine rain falling from the sky, everyone was excited. Some even stripped off their clothes and ran howling madly in the rain.
Feeling nature’s gift, the cool rainwater, enjoying the hope and freedom of escaping with their lives.
But who would have thought that it wasn’t nature’s gift, but nature’s… new round of slaughter!
