Chapter 328: Panel
Lin Xi tilted her head, and large swaths of silver hair cascaded down, refracting the stable laboratory lights in a swaying manner.
“Naughty imp.”
Su Huan stepped over the seven people and walked to Lin Xi’s side. He casually twirled a few strands of silver hair around his fingertip, lifted the girl’s delicate chin, and said in a dangerous tone, “Some passengers have lost basic respect for the Train Conductor.”
“Let go of her!”
Sato, who had been kneeling nearby, suddenly said angrily.
Su Huan turned his head in surprise and found that all these people were looking at him with angry gazes, as if he had desecrated their deity.
When he entered, he had already felt something was off. These people had stared only at Lin Xi the entire time, ignoring him, the Train Conductor. No joke, Su Huan’s presence now was as strong as a Tier 3 Mutated Beast—no one could resist not looking at him.
That meant they were dominated by a higher existence.
He turned to look at Lin Xi and asked curiously, “Where did they get the courage to talk to me?”
The girl shrugged. “Director Xu always has me come stabilize them. The brainwashing has gotten to their heads.”
Director Xu behind him added, “Chongying people have this extreme loyalty factor deep in their bones. Combined together, they treat Lin Xi as their faith. Even if told to go on the most dangerous experiments, as long as it’s Lin Xi who says it, they’ll do it without hesitation.”
“So useful? Have them turn around.”
“Turn around.”
Lin Xi parted her lips slightly, her voice carrying a hint of cool detachment.
Although the seven were angrily itching to tear into Su Huan’s flesh, their bodies were extremely obedient. As soon as the words fell, they turned around.
“Tell them to get lost, using my exact words.”
Lin Xi said helplessly, “Get lost.”
The several people silently rolled away on the ground in all directions.
The degree of brainwashing was astounding.
“Alright, let’s test vitality first. This thing has a high startup cost.”
Seeing the malicious fun flashing in Su Huan’s eyes, clearly wanting to issue two more outrageous orders, Director Xu quickly brought things back on track.
He didn’t want any filthy things happening in his laboratory.
Su Huan looked up at the machine in the corner. It resembled a body weight scale, surrounded by various detection mechanical arms, emanating a jaw-dropping General Energy Fluctuation. It used Tier 2 General Energy Crystals and above.
“Lin Xi and Lin Jin have already been tested. Tier 1 standard vitality is around 50 points, Tier 2 around 300 points.”
Director Xu said.
Su Huan stepped directly onto the device. “It’s a bit different from what I predicted.”
While debugging the machine, Director Xu asked, “What’s different?”
“I thought vitality was a fixed value, tied to lifespan, consumed a bit each upgrade.”
Director Xu thought for a moment. “That logic is correct, but you overlooked the massive vitality brought by rank promotion. If promotion only consumes without restoring, with an ordinary person’s vitality, they’d die immediately after promoting to Tier 1.”
Su Huan pondered. “You mean each upgrade raises the vitality cap?”
“You can understand it that way.”
Director Xu stepped back a few paces, standing behind Lin Xi.
Various indicator lights on the device in front of him flashed, some magnetic patches stuck to Su Huan’s body, and the various detection mechanical arms activated.
“Do I need to release some energy?”
Director Xu’s face immediately showed horror. “No no no, this is fine!”
After a full ten minutes, the detection finally ended. Su Huan’s vitality reached an astonishing 2200 points.
But Director Xu was clearly not satisfied with this value and tested it repeatedly many times.
But the fluctuations didn’t exceed 30, so the machine was quite stable.
After so long of research, Su Huan finally saw his complete data panel.
Vitality: 2200
Strength: lv7 (Tier 2)
Speed: lv8 (Tier 2)
Defense: lv5 (Tier 1)
Stamina: lv6 (Tier 1)
Constitution: lv6 (Tier 1)
Total Energy: lv13 (Tier 4)
Energy Intensity: lv10 (Tier 3)
Fine Control: lv6 (Tier 2)
Duration: lv8 (Tier 2)
Energy Immunity: lv9 (Tier 2)
Main Profession: Tier 3 “Fusion Furnace” = Tier 3 “Energy Storage Core” [lv10 “General Energy Conversion” + lv10 “High-Energy Compression” + lv9 “Energy Shaping”] + Tier 2 “Circulating Vortex” [lv7 “Energy Cycle” + lv6 “General Energy Absorption”] + lv9 “General Energy Perception” + lv2 “Energy Repulsion”
Deputy Profession: Tier 2 “Fighting Expert” = Tier 2 “Fighter” [lv7 “Combat Factor” + lv6 “Grappling Specialization” + lv6 “Super Speed Nerves”] + lv3 “Gas Vortex” + lv2 “Internal Vision”
All information was clear at a glance.
Because it’s compared to professions, the first three levels count as “Tier 0”, corresponding to unranked Evolvers. 4,5,6 are Tier 1; 7,8,9 are Tier 2, and so on.
Physical attributes were fairly balanced, only defense was a bit lacking, but that was normal. Unless it’s a profession like Liang Kuan’s that adds points to passive defense, most Evolvers’ defense is much weaker than attack attributes.
Xiao Ba and Lin Jin were prime examples—one sniper round could easily take them out.
Su Huan only gained some effective means to counter ranged attacks after reaching Tier 3, but those were external “techniques” like “Dodge”, not hard tanking.
So on the entire train, only Liang Kuan could rampage unchecked on the battlefield.
Whether Tier 2 Mutated Beasts or Tier 2 Zombies, he’d swing his shield and smack them.
Energy-based basic attributes were the most extreme, some touching Tier 4, but the fine control part was barely Tier 2.
Like a child holding a gun—lethal, but inaccurate.
“…Truly magnificent.”
Director Xu stared at the data on the panel with shining eyes.
Su Huan stepped down from the instrument, his tone regretful. “This thing is good, just a bit troublesome to test. If only there was something like a watch or blood tester—scan it, and all attributes show up.”
Director Xu shook his head helplessly. “Someone must have thought of that idea, but watches combining various detection functions only hit the market in the 2000s, and widespread use was fifteen years later, around 2016-2017.”
“Now with General Energy this magical energy, research still needs to be grounded, advanced bit by bit. Making a portable detection device within three years is already me, an old horse in the stable, doing my best…”
Su Huan chuckled lightly. “Just three years—afraid you won’t live to see it?”
Director Xu’s gaze shifted slightly, then he smiled and shook his head.
“We’ll talk about future things later.”
……
The Armored Train was quietly constructing in Zhijin, but the aftermath of the previous battle had spread to many major zones.
Black Kite’s two defeats had all faction leaders placing Su Huan’s information on their desks.
The most prominent mark was no longer Gene Primordium and Dual Profession, but the first human to promote to Tier 3 “Energizer”.
“What omnipotent Noblewoman can call my frontline?”
A robust figure like a suited thug jumped from a floating island in the distant sky, crossing Hundred Meters, smashing onto the command center’s rooftop. From this violent leap, the command center only shook momentarily, with no sign of collapse.
As Donghuang Heavy Industry’s top expert, he had this level of strength.
As soon as the man landed, Yang Ruoyu, responsible for rear coordination, handed over the telephone. “From Headquarters Old Da.”
Before he could pick up, an explosive voice came from inside: “Lian Jin!”
The burly Lian Jin immediately shrank by a third, piling on a smile. “Sis, whatever it is, just order it. Whether clearing weeds up North or hitting Furry Bear to the east, with one word from you, I’ll flatten it for him!”
“Then go take down Anastasia.”
Lian Jin’s face stiffened instantly, chuckling awkwardly. “I do want to take her down, but I can’t beat her. Her evolution speed is like a rocket—feels like by this time next year she’ll promote to Tier 3. Maybe one of the world’s strongest. Only a hero like you, sis, could take her…”
As he spoke, the White Bear woman in a white fur military coat appeared in his mind. Time had blurred her delicate features a bit, but that bold bosom was still vividly memorable!
“Cut the crap—did you read the data I sent?!”
The woman on the phone wasn’t buying it at all.
“What data? Little Water didn’t show me.”
Lian Jin looked at Yang Ruoyu beside him.
She showed no anger at her superior’s baseless blame, pushing up her scholarly glasses. “Sent back the day before yesterday. Reported to you four times total, but you said frontline battles were urgent and haven’t returned.”
“Huh, really?”
The outwardly burly Lian Jin played dumb with practiced ease.
The woman on the phone couldn’t hold back anymore, suppressing her anger. “Someone has already promoted to Tier 3!”
“Who?!”
A sharp glint flashed in Lian Jin’s eyes, his domineering aura surging.
“The Armored Train Train Conductor you wanted to fight before. Even if you pay now, you don’t qualify to challenge him.”
“Hiss…”
Lian Jin sucked in a cold breath.
Shocked and incredulous. “What a joke. I’m soaked in gunfire daily, resources aplenty, barely Tier 2. He promotes to Tier 3 in just over half a year, even under Black Kite’s repeated obstruction?”
Yang Ruoyu added, “According to the latest Deep Blue Data intelligence, Black Kite made small moves in Zhijin. A Tier 3 Lord-class Zombie appeared early in Zhijin City, killed on the spot by the Train Conductor who promoted to Tier 3 right then. The train has now taken half of Zhijin, Black Kite losses unknown, already withdrawn from the battlefield.”
“Was Black Kite there to obstruct or deliver food?”
Lian Jin was somewhat speechless. “Big sis, how about we go to war with Black Kite too? I want to hit Tier 3.”
Immediately came unrestrained cursing from the other side. “I see you want me burning paper at your grave! You Tier 2 ‘Defender’, can’t even take down ‘Four-armed Fierce Ghost’ Han Lie, yet you shamelessly claim to be Dong Huang’s top expert, want to fight Black Kite? Don’t you weigh your 200 jin—enough for one kick from them?!”
Lian Jin was long used to his big sis’s fiery temper, spreading his hands. “Han Lie is already dead. That ‘Roaming God’ has some strength, the rest of the modified humans aren’t enough for me alone to kill.”
“Shut up!”
The phone was directly hung up by the woman on the other end.
Lian Jin put away his roguish smile, his face full of gravity.
Though he had comforted himself repeatedly in his mind, ‘That’s a Gene Primordium after all, basically cheating…’, the opponent’s promotion speed still gnawed at him.
Too damn outrageous.
And not some flashy Tier 3—promoted on the spot and killed a same-tier Lord-class Zombie.
Every zombie type has base traits: Butchers for strength, Night Demons balanced leaning agile, Jumpers for rapid repositioning, Hunters for speed. At Tier 3, these traits strengthen further.
The Matriarch’s ability is energy devouring, one of the few mage types among zombies, theoretically countering energy-based Evolvers like “Energizers”.
Not to mention a Lord-class Matriarch.
As Lords, zombies often have domain skills too, plus millions of zombies at their side— even major forces like theirs had headaches.
Nukes have enough kill power, but Tier 3 Zombies have some intelligence, sense danger and flee early.
Plus signal shielding, even dropped they’d miss.
If not one-shot killed, it’s like flushing millions of city zombies out early.
This was one proof that Tier 3 is the biological “limit”.
But nukes just miss on Lords; ordinary Tier 3 Zombies are still easy pickings. Otherwise zombies would’ve conquered the world last life.
“Fierce one.”
Thinking of Su Huan’s ferocious battle record all the way, Lian Jin couldn’t help sighing.
“So do we need to adjust our combat plan?”
Yang Ruoyu asked.
Lian Jin nodded decisively. “Advance the plan. Clear the upper levels a day earlier to attack the Ground a day sooner. The more we kill, the more survival space we secure for Ground compatriots.”
With that, he jumped toward the distant floating island without looking back.
Amid the whistling wind, he vaguely heard Little Water’s mutter.
“Isn’t it just to find that White Bear woman sooner…”
Lian Jin’s body swayed, nearly falling.
……
Clearly only July, but the further north Extreme Cold Zone already had heavy snow falling.
Heaven and earth were pressed dark by goose-feather snow, no daylight, only swirling snow blanketing everything like a quilt.
Tonbarovsk, a city name born from surname and place, pre-apocalypse a composite of agriculture and military industry. Thanks to strong military power, it survived the apocalypse.
The military camp perimeter had layered iron wire nets, hung with zombies frozen into ice cubes. Inside was an eight-meter solid brick wall, topped with watchtowers and heavy firepower, corners with even taller lookout platforms, bright searchlights illuminating inside and out.
Normally scanning every ten minutes, but on this minus forty degree night, even diligent soldiers didn’t want to leave warm watchtowers.
The heavy door padded with thick quilts and plastic was pushed open, warm White Mist surging out, mixed with thick alcohol and stewed venison smells.
The soldier closed the gate amid shouts behind him, found a corner, unzipped thick clothes, and relieved himself downward.
Casually scanning the defense zone outside.
Aside from a few terrifying roars, nothing unusual.
This was normal—even the dumbest Mutated Beast wouldn’t provoke their Obsidian Industry.
They were a proper munitions company, world-ranked pre-apocalypse.
The soldier, finished relaxing, was about to head back when he heard faint footsteps in the snow, instinctively looking up.
The pitch-black night sky cracked open.
Ethereal moonlight shone on the crystalline ground.
A figure approached through the snow.
