Apocalypse: I Built the Infinite Train

Chapter 55: Evolution Information

Lin Xian maintained a calm demeanor as he replied, “Not necessarily. I’ll have to see it first to know.”

Jiang Yun scrutinized him for a moment before nodding. “That’s not a problem. Actually, some standardized versions of this device are available at certain Federation Phoenix rescue points. But because of the Polar Night issue, these points are constantly relocating. Permanent underground cities might have them as well, but once those areas are under Polar Night, it’s hard to get supplies in—or people out.”

“As for the evolution information you mentioned…” Jiang Yun forced a faint smile, glancing around the group. “I can only say this: the methods and pathways for ability evolution vary for everyone. You’ll have to specify the exact ability. If it’s one of the types publicly shared by Phoenix, I can tell you directly. If not, I can’t guarantee anyone here knows. And even if someone does…”

“What, that kind of secret is up for trade too?” Kiki interjected.

Jiang Yun nodded meaningfully. “Yes, but not always. There are too many ability types now. Even with something seemingly simple and common, like Limb Mimicry or Aberrant Growth, the evolution process isn’t as easy as just consuming blood. Some succeed; others fail. This might relate to the individual’s ability progression, mental state, or the type of resources consumed. There’s a lot we don’t know. So, even if someone generously shares their evolution method, it might not work for you. Everything varies by person.”

“And another thing,” Jiang Yun added with a pointed look, “even if someone tells you, how do you know if it’s true?”

Lin Xian’s expression shifted slightly.

It seemed ability evolution was far more complex than he had imagined.

Even for those with the same ability, the evolution pathway could differ. Someone might succeed purely by chance but be unable to pinpoint what made it work. Unless a large organization conducted comprehensive data collection, tests, and experiments, information gathered by hearsay might be unreliable, making it hard to discern truth from falsehood.

His Mechanical Heart ability had a clear path for upgrades, but its combat potential was relatively weak at the moment. His goal was self-armoring. If the opportunity arose, he could envision becoming something like Iron Man.

After all, Longguo’s Starfleet already had full-body exoskeleton technology. Unfortunately, Lin Xian had no access to such technology, only hearing about it from old media reports and Kiki’s casual mentions. Let alone advanced AI systems—though if he could ever develop a combat AI…

He stopped his wandering thoughts.

“I have a teammate who seems to have a physical enhancement ability—extraordinary strength. If anyone has relevant information, I’m willing to trade for it.”

Lin Xian decided to test the waters with Big Tower’s ability. As for the information’s truth, he could only rely on his judgment. If it helped Big Tower or Kiki evolve their abilities, it would significantly improve their small team’s survival odds.

He avoided mentioning Kiki’s telekinetic ability, fearing it would draw too much attention. Although everyone appeared friendly on the surface, it was wise to keep some cards close to the chest.

“Physical enhancement ability?”

“I’ve heard of it,” said Shu Qin, the woman from earlier. “But I don’t know if it’s true or useful. Supposedly, such an ability requires absorbing extremely dense blood energy and being in a near-death state to evolve.”

She shrugged after speaking. “I’m just sharing what I’ve heard. It’s up to you to judge its value. I’m not looking to trade for this.”

Her cautious tone reflected the life-and-death stakes involved in such matters.

Both Lin Xian and Kiki frowned.

“Near-death state?”

“That’s still useful to know,” said a man in his fifties with a somber expression. “Whether it’s from Phoenix’s announcements or rumors among wanderers, almost all abilities involve three things for evolution: a specific resource, a change in physical or mental state, and a particular set of conditions.”

“Exactly,” Jiang Yun confirmed. “From what I’ve seen, no ability evolves easily.”

“I understand,” Lin Xian said, nodding and offering a grateful look to the group.

He thought back to Tang Hai’s case that night. It had sounded straightforward, but if evolving required letting zombies bite you to death while early-stage abilities barely manifested, who would willingly bleed themselves for such a gamble?

“Alright, let’s move on,” Jiang Yun said, noticing Lin Xian deep in thought. He gestured for the next person to share their needs.

Meanwhile, Lin Xian and Kiki huddled in a corner, whispering.

“Red beans, the Soul Wave Detector—we should be able to secure those. But ability evolution doesn’t seem so simple…”

“I think you’re overthinking it,” Kiki said with a sly grin. “As long as information flow continues, secrets like this will eventually surface. Didn’t I say the Angel Project is actively researching this? Give me another shot to hack into—heehee.”

Lin Xian smirked at her mischievous look. “How would you hack in, through a radio broadcast?”

“Hey!” Kiki’s eyes lit up. “Come to think of it, the Dawn Project was once a Federation asset. It must have orbital satellite links, probably tons of useful data. And isn’t Underground City No. 9 near Mount Daluo? Should we… plan something?”

Plan something.

The phrase struck Lin Xian as odd, but her idea intrigued him.

Kiki still held a Level 2 investor status from the Dawn Project, a title more valuable than first-class citizenship. Plus, their route through the mountainous region of Mount Daluo’s northern foothills brought them close enough to consider the opportunity.

An official underground city… Setting aside other treasures, its advanced electronics and communication systems alone were invaluable!

“Interested?” Kiki asked, her eager expression barely restrained. “I’m worth more than a first-class citizen, you know~”

“I’m considering it,” Lin Xian said, taking a deep breath. “But there’s one problem.”

“What’s that?”

“Did you forget what they said earlier? The Mount Daluo area might have an eerie zone, a major entity, Polar Night Tides, and corpse shepherds. Do we have time for that?”

At that, Kiki’s excitement froze. Her face fell as she nervously shrank back.

“Uh… well, about that…”

“But I’m curious about something—since the Day of Apocalypse, there’s never been any official announcement about the Dawn Project. No one here seems to know that such a massive underground city project exists nearby. Don’t you find that odd?”

Kiki pouted at his question and replied, “It’s simple. With limited resources and tight deadlines, this project never took ordinary people’s lives into consideration from the start. Everyone selected for a spot in the underground city received targeted invitations, and they had to pay a price to secure them. How could such a project ever be publicly announced?”

Lin Xian gave a wry smile at her explanation.

So that’s how it is…

The so-called Dawn Project was actually a refuge for the elites. No wonder every aspect of construction was carried out in secrecy. When the Polar Night first began to form, information about the Dawn Project mostly came from speculative leaks.

"The world’s falling apart, and they’re still keeping secrets this efficiently. That’s some serious competence..." Lin Xian muttered sarcastically.

“That’s why the Federation government collapsed after the Polar Night,” Kiki added with a shrug. “But since my dad brought me there, it means Underground City No. 9 was already operational and ready for people to move in.”

Lin Xian nodded thoughtfully. “So, by now, Underground City No. 9 isn’t really an official project anymore. It’s more like a remnant of the old government. And it’s not open to civilians. Apart from you, none of us would be able to get in.”

“Who cares? Everyone inside could already be dead. Even if there are survivors, we’re not going there to become underground citizens, are we?” Kiki said mischievously, her hands on her hips. “Those people don’t see commoners as humans, so why should we play nice with them?”

Lin Xian raised a brow, smirking faintly as he looked at her. “So, what you’re saying is that our little group is going to raid a massive underground city?”

“Hehe, why not?” Kiki grinned, arching a brow at him with a knowing smile. “There’s bound to be advanced tech and gear inside. A giant underground city would need heavy mechs for defense, nuclear power for energy, and maybe even a stellar propulsion system. Didn’t you say you wanted to send your train into the stratosphere? This is the perfect opportunity!”

Lin Xian stared at her eager expression, momentarily stunned. He couldn’t deny it—what she said did tempt him.

For someone with Mechanical Heart, this could indeed be an excellent chance to upgrade the train before attempting to reach planetary orbit.

“Alright,” Lin Xian said after a deep breath. “We’ll discuss the details when we’re back. Let’s focus on wrapping things up here first.”

“Yay!” Kiki cheered excitedly.

By the campfire, the leaders of over a dozen convoys were still discussing their resource needs and issues. To facilitate trade, everyone offered items that others required. Two of the convoys even decided to merge temporarily and flee eastward together.