Chapter 249: A Toothbrush
“Second Priest, is he strong?”
Su Huan asked with some curiosity.
A’duo was already Tier 1, so that Second Priest was at least Tier 1.
It was absolutely impossible for him to be Tier 2.
It wasn’t arrogance on Su Huan’s part, but at this stage, wasteland survivors couldn’t possibly produce a Tier 2. Vitality, basic attributes, skill level, general energy accumulation—none of them could be elevated by coincidence.
Treasures like the Crown Pear Tree that could directly boost vitality were rare.
Otherwise, in his previous life, it wouldn’t have caused many major forces to cross districts to divide it up.
Basic attributes and skill levels relied on long-term training and accumulation, or high-intensity combat. More extreme was to learn from the Train Conductor, putting oneself in a near-death state, which could achieve rapid breakthrough effects, but the side effect was that one might really die.
The method of Guanchao Island survivors was barbaric, but the results were surprisingly good.
A’duo subconsciously touched the horn on her head and said with lingering fear, “The Second Priest is the person in all of New Eden with the second most Divine Grace granted. He is the most likely to set foot in New Eden.”
One moment of carelessness, and the cultist had output again.
Su Huan’s eyelid twitched as he quickly discerned the meaning of most of the terms.
“New Eden” was their organization’s name, perhaps also some ultimate goal, similar to a “utopia” or “Garden of Eden.”
Divine Grace was “evolutionary degree.”
So this sentence wasn’t hard to understand.
“The High Priestess has the most Divine Grace among you?” Su Huan speculated.
“No, the High Priestess suffered backlash last time from overusing Divine Grace, which is why she weakened to this state. As for first place…”
A’duo’s voice suddenly became much more subdued. “It’s the High Priestess’s Son.”
“…But for some reason, after participating in the last sacrifice, he rebelled and became the Second Priest’s right-hand man.”
Hearing this, a trace of suspicion flashed in Su Huan’s eyes.
The apocalypse did destroy many things, that was true.
But this mother-son falling out before reaching desperation— wasn’t that a bit much?
Tricking others with New Eden was one thing.
But fooling her own son into going lame?
Looking at the silent High Priestess behind her, Su Huan’s gaze became playful.
‘This woman has something going on.’
“You can skip the family drama. How many on the island are at your level?”
“Three. The Second Priest has two, the Third Priest has one. I know you might be very strong, but the Second Priest’s Divine Grace is very mysterious. He’s never used it in front of everyone. With three days left before the sacrifice ends, the first thing we need to do is probe his ability.”
A’duo replied.
Su Huan turned his head and glanced sideways at Shu Wei. “All clear?”
The latter nodded imperceptibly.
Su Huan looked at the small hill in Guanchao Island and said mildly, “When I reach the top, can you give me some good news?”
Shu Wei bowed slightly. “As you wish.”
……
Shoreline.
The Armored Train encircled the waters at the edge of Guanchao Island like a steel Great Wall.
Extending out over a thousand meters in a grand formation.
Due to extensive mechanical damage and the shoreline being flooded, it was a muddy mess.
So after expert discussion, the train temporarily wouldn’t land.
Conducting initial inspections and repairs on the train in the near-shore waters.
Several small boats were thrown into the water, connected with chains and iron plates, temporarily building a floating causeway.
Over two thousand survivors had already stepped onto the shore of Guanchao Island under the guidance of armed soldiers.
The other half were on the vice train, unclear if they had escaped the vortex.
Most drones on the train were destroyed, but some small ones remained. However, the rain was too heavy now; they couldn’t fly.
They could only wait for the rain to stop before conducting high-altitude searches.
People were calling out softly to familiar faces, sharing the joy of surviving the disaster.
Qi Tieshan jumped down from the shaking pedal, his body swaying, nearly falling flat. Luckily, Xiao Dong was beside him and quickly supported him.
“Weird, weird. I wasn’t seasick on the train, but the moment I step on land, it’s like the world is spinning.”
Old Man Tie tried walking a couple steps, taking wobbly duck steps.
Qi Zhenbang, who jumped down behind him, supported his father and said softly, “Anyone who’s been on a boat too long gets like this. You’ve gotten used to the rocking on the train these past couple days, so you didn’t feel it.”
“I didn’t think we’d actually survive…”
Qi Zhendong looked at the land, his gaze complex.
Though his feet were on solid ground, his heart was still filled with incredulous shock.
They had survived that terrifying storm and vortex.
“Wait, what’s that?!”
Before they could marvel at the Armored Train’s sturdiness, the group was drawn to the massive “small hill” before them.
The grayish-blue body was like a severed city wall section, with lightning-shaped charred yellow on it and black in the middle.
Mysteriously, even in death, bulging dark blue veins were visible under the body, like patterns formed by some power or a wave solidified and sealed within the corpse.
Gasps and intakes of breath rose one after another around them.
“Blue Whale!”
“That’s a Blue Whale!”
“You’re joking! Can a Blue Whale grow over a hundred meters long?”
“I was a sailor when I was young; I’ve seen them with my own eyes. Though this one’s much bigger.”
The Qi Family trio and Xiao Dong stood with mouths agape in shock.
“This… did the Armored Train hunt down this rampaging Blue Whale?”
Stars of admiration nearly burst from Xiao Dong’s eyes.
Though the underwater battle didn’t involve them, these survivors had witnessed that crazy fight from different angles.
Most of the time in violent jolts, with pitch blackness outside the window.
Occasional glimpses.
Only under the lights could they see scales and claws of the battle.
But no one imagined it would be such a colossal Giant Whale!
Qi Zhendong’s pupils shook as he stepped back half a pace. “We survived last night in the clutches of this thing?”
“It was the Train Conductor who saved us!”
Xiao Dong said firmly.
Qi Zhendong subconsciously wanted to say something but saw soldiers running over with guns in the distance and quickly shut his mouth.
Old Man Tie glanced at his son. “You can doubt your own eyes, but they do have the means. Behave yourself.”
“Group 29, line up in front of me according to previous grouping. Decomposition and collection task starting immediately!”
Hearing the soldier’s shout, Old Man Tie brought Xiao Dong to stand in front of him.
Qi Zhendong looked at the Giant Whale like a small mountain before him, suppressing his unwillingness deep in his heart.
……
The Mongoose was about to gather his collection team when a soft voice fell into his ear.
His mid-air step paused, and he flipped forward in the air.
Landing steadily.
“You don’t need to go this time. A sacrifice is underway on Guanchao Island. The Train Conductor is giving you and Old Wu a chance. The higher the ranking, the better. First place gets extra rewards.”
A spark of fighting spirit flashed in the Mongoose’s eyes, and he stood still, saluting with a new military salute.
“Yes!”
The same order was also passed to Old Wu of the combat group.
After reporting, he stopped his field task, reported to Old San, unloaded his equipment, and quickly headed deep into Guanchao Island.
A new task “Guanchao Island Championship” was added to the task board, which hadn’t updated in a long time.
But it didn’t cause much fluctuation in the train.
Only officers were qualified to take tasks, and they were all busy as hell right now, with no mind to check new tasks.
Due to habit, Gao Yuan quickly got this information.
Tong Zizhan: “…Do you think our military ranks aren’t high enough?”
Gao Yuan: “Is there a Crown Pear Tree treasure like that on Guanchao Island?”
Tong Zizhan rolled his eyes. “If you have even a shred of interest in the female graduates the company issues, you shouldn’t look at this thing.”
Gao Yuan turned his ring. “I’m thinking, if we pass this info up, will they transfer us back?”
Tong Zizhan sighed.
“If you had two subordinates who don’t consume company resources, bring their own rations, and repeatedly achieve merits, would you want them to keep shining on the job or go back for rest and vacation?”
Gao Yuan thought deeply for a long time.
“So there really are female graduates?”
……
Yu Yue only notified the involved parties and their direct superiors.
Most soldiers still had to stay to maintain order.
The Armored Train seemed crowded, but the Armed Corps, including recent absorptions, was just over five hundred people. Adding the combat group and all officers, it barely reached six hundred.
Now with the train split in two, only two hundred remained.
Normally, per the train’s field duty standards: one group on task, one on standby for support, one resting on rotation.
But now managing five thousand survivors, every person wished they could split in half, no time for protocols.
After forceful intervention by He Jie and other officers, it took twenty minutes to sort the chaotic crowd.
Assigning work based on different abilities.
Luckily, most dorms for the scientific research and manufacturing groups were on the main train, so repairs could proceed quickly.
In Carriage 12.
Professor Ma stared intently at a half-disassembled device.
This thing was thirty percent similar to the original general energy communication equipment, but not only wasn’t it smaller—instead, it was three times larger.
The originally spacious research space was further compressed by this device.
Precision screwdriver, heat gun, multimeter, circlip pliers… and other tools floated in mid-air, like a wall surrounding Professor Ma in the center.
Near the carriage edge, a metal shelf had been torn in two by terrifying force.
Various hardware and materials were packed in small boxes, neatly stacked beside the device for Professor Ma’s use.
“Almost done. Activate it for a test.” Professor Ma removed his insulating gloves and said.
He suddenly noticed the atmosphere was off.
Looking up at the fully armed students on both sides, he asked curiously, “What are you all doing?”
Led by Xiao Hezi, the students wore bulletproof vests, standing vigilantly three meters away.
Xiao Hezi’s lip twitched as she pointed at the explosives crate Professor Ma was sitting on. “Where did you get that explosives crate?”
Professor Ma then realized, chuckling, “There are lots at the front of the train. I needed a chair and found this one’s height perfect, so I picked one up to sit on. Pretty good. Want to try?”
Everyone was silent for a long time.
Xiao Hezi sighed. “Teacher, do you know your experiment has explosion risk?”
At mention of the experiment, Professor Ma’s expression turned serious instantly. He held up two fingers. “I swear to the god of science, this time it absolutely won’t explode. This is a communication device I rigorously calculated and built. It can cover twenty square kilometers, even covering pre-apocalypse Guanchao Island. The current one is no problem.”
“The issue is who activates the equipment.”
Xiao Hezi pressed relentlessly.
Professor Ma spread his hands helplessly. “Then I guess I’ll have to do it myself.”
“Teacher, can you first send that explosives crate under your butt back to the armory?”
Twenty minutes later.
“This is the Armored Train vice train. I’m Armed Corps Goat, calling main train, calling Train Conductor…”
“See, I told you this would work this time?”
Professor Ma grinned at the surrounding students, showing off his communication device.
General Energy Crystals like indicator lights emitted faint fluorescence, strung on special material threads.
With Goat’s call, it trembled lightly.
“Is that Professor Ma?”
Professor Ma immediately replied, “This is Armored Train main train. First, make simple adjustments to the equipment in your hands as I say, or it might break later. Disconnecting communication. Steps as follows…”
After the two trains connected, they had a brief chat.
The vice carriage where Goat and others were had escaped due to the vortex weakening, and without battling the Giant Whale, the body was better preserved.
Considering the mission’s purpose, Goat and the others simply steered the Armored Train toward the center of Jingchao Lake.
They were now on the other side of Guanchao Island.
Seventeen or eighteen kilometers from the main train.
Yu Yue informed them of the train’s current situation and the New Eden sacrifice, letting Goat and others decide whether to rendezvous.
……
Goat hung up the communication device and let out a long breath, looking at his brothers standing or sitting around. “Good thing this worked, or He Lao Da would kick me to death back home.”
The young girl standing nearby let out a soft gasp, her big eyes blinking. “Has Daddy done something that overboard?”
Someone said wistfully, “That’s already the gentlest way to die.”
“Once on a combat mission with He Lao Da, due to one oversight, I brushed toilets with a toothbrush for a month.”
“Ah?”
He Zhenzhen wrinkled her brow in disgust.
It was her first time hearing such things, and the culprit was her dad.
“Did you use it?”
He Zhenzhen asked subconsciously.
The man said sullenly, “Of course not. I didn’t brush my teeth that whole month.”
The young girl wanted to say more but was lightly tapped on the shoulder.
Turning back, she saw the calm and composed Qu Hang.
“Brother Qu.”
He nodded, looking at Goat and the others. “In that case, let’s advance inland per Major Yu’s order and try to rendezvous ASAP.”
The ignored young girl felt a bit dejected.
She had been a bit scared then, so she went to find Qu Hang, only to catch the train splitting and get stuck here.
Goat was stunned. “When do you plan to set off?”
“Now.”
“So rushed?”
Qu Hang turned around, staring straight at Goat, and said eerily.
“I only have one toothbrush.”
