Chapter 241: Cultivation Pod
Dark clouds and the water surface presented a bluish gray, clear and deep.
Rain threads pierced the ground like thousands of needles, accumulating a shallow layer of water on the rooftop.
“Although it’s been raining all the time, the air feels much clearer than before the apocalypse.”
Su Huan caught some rainwater, smoothed his long hair, and sighed.
The Factory Director behind him sighed, “The air test from a few days ago showed alarmingly low data for all kinds of combustion emissions, industrial dust, carbon dioxide, and so on. It’s like we regressed overnight to eighty years ago.”
Deputy General Manager Deng chuckled and said, “We’ve been controlling it for decades, but it wasn’t as effective as this one night.”
The Factory Director said seriously, “Old Deng, you can’t say that…”
“Alright, alright, you’re going to lecture me again. I was just joking.”
Su Huan looked up into the distance. The three concentric circles that appeared flat from the sky’s view became three-dimensional from this angle.
The carrier of the “Floating Giant Wood” wasn’t very high, visually just over six meters, consistent with the train’s height.
Compared to the forty-meter-tall Crown Pear Tree, the Cultivation Pod was just a shallow basin.
Moreover, the Cultivation Pod currently only had its skeleton, with “open” surroundings, looking like some kind of semi-finished building.
Su Huan led a large group of people over.
Up close, from the skeleton, it was clear that the Cultivation Pod was mostly flat. The outermost ring consisted of three layers of equal-sized skeletons lined up together, like an ancient Roman Colosseum.
The internal main structure was also three concentric circles, but getting smaller downward.
The main purpose was to make a “basin within a basin” to constrain the Crown Pear Tree’s root system.
If the entire basin were filled with soil, there would be no space for the power system and various maintenance systems.
Moreover, the Cultivation Pod’s power system had two sets: one for water surface and one for land.
Taking up even more space.
Su Huan stood on the steel frame and looked around.
There weren’t many people around the main body of the Cultivation Pod; more people were adjusting various scaffolds, cranes, and other equipment around the steel frame.
Another group was gathered not far away, carrying curved sections of metal and placing them on the rooftop.
They looked similar to the circular rings of the steel frame underfoot.
But in segments.
Xiao Ba sat in the wheelchair, manipulating these metals to assemble together, quickly forming a huge ring.
Su Huan jumped down from the steel frame, pointing toward Xiao Ba with some confusion, “Wasn’t the structure already finalized? Why does it look like Xiao Ba is still working on it?”
The Factory Director stepped aside, and Deputy General Manager Deng smiled awkwardly, “It was my own initiative to add this structure temporarily.”
When modifying the train, Deputy General Manager Deng often did this.
He would always deviate from the blueprint while working and add some equipment, but without exception, these additions all achieved good results.
Like escaping from underwater, which was thanks to the mechanical arm that Deputy General Manager Deng added temporarily.
Su Huan was quite tolerant of this.
“Explain.”
“The principle is a bit complex. It’s just adding a larger ring outside the Cultivation Pod to level it. With this, not only can we counteract wind and waves in advance, but we can also greatly reduce the probability of capsizing.”
“After you led the team to depart, a small storm came, with waves even hitting the rooftop. We felt it wasn’t safe.”
“The Crown Pear Tree is really too tall, and its branches and leaves are lush and prone to wind, so we rushed to add this balance device.”
Deputy General Manager Deng explained.
Su Huan nodded satisfiedly, “How much longer until the Cultivation Pod can be launched?”
The two exchanged a glance, and the Factory Director hesitated for a moment, “Now that the skeleton is complete, the rest depends on the manufacturing speed of Yu Jing’s new materials.”
“Assuming all materials are ready, how long would it take for five thousand evolvers to install at full speed?”
Su Huan asked intently.
The Factory Director pondered for a moment and gave an accurate number, “Five days, and it wouldn’t require that many people.”
Just as Su Huan was about to say something, he saw Professor Ma walking quickly, followed by Xiao Zhao jogging with Research Group members.
Rainwater hovered in mid-air, and neatly combed silver hair shattered the water droplets.
He arrived in front of Su Huan in a flurry.
Su Huan sensed that the old man was bringing bad news, so he asked first.
“The equipment won’t work?”
“This supercomputer is enough to support a large base city.”
“Then it’s broken?”
“Not broken, it can run normally.”
Su Huan hesitated, “Then can it be used directly?”
Professor Ma shook his head, “Not now.”
Su Huan sighed helplessly. Director Xu was like this, Yu Jing was like this, and even Professor Ma was like this. Once this group got into professional issues, their brains turned into binary computers.
Only yes or no, not even able to turn corners.
“So we still need that data center, right?”
“Yes, once we pair this supercomputer with the data center, the previously slow progress on artificial intelligence and database issues will be resolved effortlessly. Even for the next twenty years, we won’t be troubled by systems and hardware equipment.”
Professor Ma’s eyes shone brightly, not even minding the silver hair at his temples flying up.
Su Huan sighed inwardly.
He had wanted to take a break, but unexpectedly, he still had to go to that damn Jingchao Lake!
However, Jingchao Lake was some distance from Guanchong City Center.
At the train’s slow water surface speed, it wouldn’t be a one- or two-day round trip.
If some “Deep Sea Worm”-like accident happened in between, it could take ten days to half a month.
The construction site didn’t have much food stockpiled either, which could lead to problems.
Seeing Su Huan not responding for a long time, Professor Ma thought he was putting the other in a difficult position and hurriedly wanted to say something.
But Su Huan interrupted, “As long as Yu Jing finishes manufacturing the materials, the Cultivation Pod can be launched, right?”
Deputy General Manager Deng patted his chest, “Absolutely no problem. The remaining internal facilities can be modified on the go without delay.”
“Good, then proceed according to plan!”
Su Huan walked forward.
Shu Wei jogged two steps to catch up and said softly, “Senior Colonel He Jie said that when we were away, a group of New Eden personnel attacked the construction site. They’re currently detained downstairs. Shall we go take a look?”
Su Huan licked his teeth, “Let’s check on my tree first!”
……
Three days passed in a flash, and Yu Jing’s new materials were still in research and development.
Experiments have only two states: in development and producing results.
As for progress, it’s always in an uncertain state.
No one knows if something will go wrong the next second.
From the apocalypse outbreak until now, Yu Jing had spent most of her time on the train, without the daily necessities worries of other survivors, but even so, three months had only yielded three to five new materials.
Various discarded products could fill half a carriage.
The only good news was that the Crown Pear Tree was surviving well under Li Han’s care.
It took three days to dig out, dry, and compost the soil simply.
The Pear Tree was currently stood in a “big bowl” on the top floor.
Once the Cultivation Pod was formed, it could be transferred directly.
The Crown Pear Tree wasn’t standing there alone. Due to its powerful ecological influence ability, Li Han and Huang Hai selected some plants to plant beside the Crown Pear Tree.
Two small pear trees were also planted nearby.
However, this didn’t slow the Crown Pear Tree’s weakening. According to Li Han’s experience, piling up mutated beasts and evolution materials could slow the weakening speed.
Many experts discussed and concluded it was a general energy concentration issue.
They suggested burying General Energy Crystals into the soil.
Then Su Huan used a more efficient method: he sat directly under the tree and released pure general energy.
After a day and night of release, the Crown Pear Tree’s condition finally stopped declining and began to recover slowly.
The bare branches also started growing tender buds.
Huang Hai and Li Han busily grafted a small pear back onto the tree.
Worried about a relapse, Su Huan simply didn’t leave these two days and squatted under the tree to maintain the general energy concentration.
By the fifth day, Yu Jing’s new material finally had results.
Also a Tier 1 Material, this material’s weight was between Qing Steel and Titanium Steel, with the characteristic of super high toughness.
Somewhat similar to the pearl layer of a shell, through a nano-crystalline layered structure, it disperses stress via microscopic sliding upon impact, avoiding brittle fracture.
Moreover, this material had some lightning absorption properties.
It just couldn’t store it for too long.
Because it was a new material produced by combining Crab Shell with steel, in the same series as Qing Steel and Titanium Steel.
So it was named Tier 1 Armor Steel.
The Cultivation Pod began the step of large-scale shell pasting.
The original three thousand survivors and two thousand from Iron Mountain Shelter were disbanded and reassigned based on abilities.
All manufacturers and a few collectors were assigned to Yu Jing. Recently, He Jie led the Armed Corps to clear nearby mutated beasts, whether survivors upstairs or sunken underwater, all to be salvaged.
The interior of the Power Plant became a slaughterhouse, with various corpses being collected and processed.
The rest worked under the Factory Director and others’ command upstairs to build the Cultivation Pod.
The Qi Family Brothers had adapted to the Armed Train’s work rhythm during this time.
Perhaps due to brotherhood, the Armed Train didn’t have overseers; each Crew Member led a portion of survivors to work. Though some slacked occasionally, efficiency was still high.
By the second day of work, the two wondered why they weren’t getting off work.
The Crew Member looked at him strangely.
And told him to wait a bit longer.
Front and rear crews changed two or three times, but they never got off work again.
“Even production team donkeys don’t work like this!”
Qi Zhenbang cursed indignantly.
Qi Zhendong looked around and said lowly, “Shift change today, we should get some more rest.”
“What’s the use? We’ll still have to work. I’m young and can handle it, but I’m worried about Dad’s health…”
“Dad’s fine.”
Qi Zhenbang was stunned, “How do you know?”
“I went to check. Dad only works eight hours a day, and they won’t let him do more. He was sent back along with Xiao Dong.”
“Pretty humane. Xiao Dong benefited from it.”
“Not sure who benefited from whom.”
Qi Zhenbang was silent for a moment and gradually got the point.
Since the shelter incident, their father had kept Xiao Dong by his side. At first, they thought it was protection for the child, but now it seemed like grooming an heir.
“I haven’t interacted with Xiao Dong much, but from this time, his character seems good, just a bit naive.”
“Dad sees things clearer than us. Alright, while there’s a bit of time, I’ll go out for a walk.”
Qi Zhenbang felt the light distort, and his second brother disappeared before his eyes.
He could only remind lowly, “Be careful.”
Qi Zhendong hummed lightly, not taking it too seriously. During this time, he had used his ability to sneak a look at his old man twice without drawing attention.
He no longer felt much awe toward the Armed Train.
He hesitated whether to check the train’s more confidential interior.
“This guy is pretty filial, sneaking off to check on his dad whenever he can.”
Tong Zizhan sighed.
Gao Yuan beside him puzzledly turned his ring, quickly realizing who he meant, scanned below carefully with his eyes, and roughly located Qi Zhendong.
He asked, “Should we report it?”
Tong Zizhan watched Qi Zhendong with interest, “He’s just going to see his own dad, didn’t do anything. Why report?”
The two had scouting and concealment abilities, so they didn’t go hunting with He Jie.
Instead, they stayed to maintain order, standing guard, patrolling, etc.
At that moment, a nimble figure emerged from the train, looked around, quickly climbed upstairs, and said to the two at the window sill.
“Command from the Command Platform: start shift change. This is the grouping list. First, take everyone to the Logistics Group to report work results.”
“Received.”
Tong Zizhan jumped to the ground and walked toward Qi Zhendong, sighing, “Looks like I have to be the bad guy.”
Gao Yuan silently followed, suddenly saying, “This doesn’t count as merit, right?”
“What merit? Whether we get merit or not isn’t important!”
Tong Zizhan said angrily.
Originally, with his merits, he could have returned to Headquarters to enjoy life, but that damn superior pinned him here.
Month after month, when the hell could he go back!
Thinking of this made him furious.
Even his gaze toward Qi Zhendong soured.
Qi Zhendong had just taken two steps when he noticed the two Armed Soldiers move. At first, he didn’t pay much attention, but felt their gazes fixed on his area.
His heart drummed.
Thinking his ability had failed.
Instinctively, he raised his palm but saw nothing, then relaxed.
He didn’t believe the Armed Train could see through his disguise casually.
Qi Zhendong cautiously stayed in place, holding his breath without making a sound.
But he increasingly felt something wrong. Their gazes initially landed on him, but now up close, directly on his face!
Just as Qi Zhendong’s heart jumped to his throat.
The two walked past him.
It was a coincidence after all!
Qi Zhendong’s spirits lifted inwardly.
“Hurry up and follow. We’re going to the Logistics Group to report work, then prepare for shift change.”
A resentful urging voice came from behind.
The post-survival expression froze on his face.
This time, he dared not hope for luck.
Because seeing him not moving, both stopped, and a ringed hand waved in front of him.
Gao Yuan puzzled, “What ability is this? Invisibility that also makes you deaf to yourself?”
Qi Zhendong choked and revealed himself.
He followed the two out dejectedly.
Unwillingly asking, “How did you see me?”
Tong Zizhan glanced at him lazily, not answering.
Gao Yuan said, “Your ability seems to only deceive vision, right?”
“Isn’t deceiving vision enough?”
“Vision is the most useless. Not just us two, plenty on the train could find you.”
Qi Zhendong recalled the eerie gazes of Su Huan and Zhang Min toward him in the bar.
He immediately fell silent.
The invisibility ability that was invincible in Iron Mountain Shelter was a joke on the Armed Train.
Tong Zizhan and the other went to find Qi Zhenbang, who was startled seeing his second brother behind them.
Qi Zhenbang shook his head at him to reassure.
The four entered from the train’s middle section, arriving at Carriage 27.
This was the Logistics Group’s main office for work, also the train’s rear half’s most important resource storage room, occupying six double-decker carriages total.
Main and deputy 27, 28, 29.
Supplying almost all eating, clothing, and usage for the entire train’s people. Various supplies, from tailor’s fabric, stored food, Scavenger exoskeletons, Firearms and Ammunition, to toilet paper, poker cards, and other daily necessities, all included.
Normally, rear carriage points exchange also happened in this carriage.
Managed by Purser Hu Shuo.
Though the Armed Train outside was rushing work, the exchange carriage was still bustling, though with added haste in demeanor.
By the time they arrived, soldiers had already led survivors dismantling materials over.
But they came in waves.
Unlike them, only bringing two.
Because the Qi Family Brothers were special, they were separated out.
The Logistics Group was prepared, specially opening a window in Carriage 27 for the reporting crowd.
Behind the window sat a voluptuous woman. An ordinary dark green short sleeve shirt was stretched by her with an extremely low neckline. Her elbows on the window edge even allowed a glimpse past her waist to her rounded buttocks, exuding full sensuality.
Seeing her, Tong Zizhan’s throat tightened slightly, awkwardly laughing, “Why are you here?”
Su Leiya threw a flirtatious glance, “Aren’t you here too?”
The two knew each other’s backgrounds mutually, fearing the other would say something improper. Tong Zizhan hurriedly said, “I mean, you’re a full Tier 1 Evolver, how did you become a window clerk?”
At this, resentment appeared on Su Leiya’s face.
She hadn’t been idle lately, busy seducing her direct superior, Purser Hu Shuo.
But unexpectedly, Hu Shuo remained unmoved, frustrating Su Leiya to nearly strip and climb into his bed.
When she actually did, the patient Hu Shuo sent her to be a window clerk.
It pissed Su Leiya off to her core.
She even started doubting if it was her charm issue.
