"You're saying..."
Li Shiji looked thoughtfully at Biao Zi in front of him: "After failing the 'Dragon Fortress' on normal difficulty eight times in a row, you accidentally selected the 'Dragon Fortress' on Extreme Difficulty in a daze, and entered an extremely calm state, almost like a third-person perspective, and managed to clear it?"
"Mm-hmm." Biao Zi nodded seriously. "It's like what you taught me—tricking your brain to unlock your potential."
"I didn't teach you that."
Li Shiji pondered for a while before speaking: "I do know a bit about the state you're describing. Many people call it 'flow.' When you're fully immersed in something, your brain devotes itself entirely to that task."
"In this process, self-awareness diminishes."
"And you lose track of time."
"When flow reaches its peak, it can lead to a detachment of perspective, allowing you to control yourself almost as if in a third-person view. This is common among writers and in competitive fields."
"Like gaming."
"If you played games before the apocalypse, under the right conditions, you might have entered a state akin to 'oneness with the universe.' Your body would instinctively perform precise actions, and you'd feel incredibly confident, as if you could take on ten opponents at once."
"However, this state is extremely difficult to enter and even harder to control manually. It requires the right combination of factors."
"Although you failed eight times in a row, based on your description, you were actually very close to succeeding each time. The issue was that the monsters made noise before dying, which led to you being overwhelmed."
"Monsters in Extreme Difficulty are stronger."
"But for you, they're still killable. The challenge lies in delivering a quick, fatal blow and ensuring the monster doesn't make noise before dying. Also, in Extreme Difficulty, death in 'Dragon Fortress' is permanent."
"When you entered the flow state, you were completely focused, forgetting everything—even the fact that death in Extreme Difficulty is final. You immersed yourself entirely, and that's why you had a chance to clear it."
"In a state of flow, people can unleash immense potential."
"You're quite something."
Li Shiji looked at Biao Zi with a mix of admiration and concern: "If you hadn't entered the flow state back then, or if you had made even a single mistake while in it, I'd probably be attending your funeral right now."
"Speaking of which..."
"The Stellar has hosted weddings, but never a funeral. If you keep playing like this, I think it won't be long before I attend yours."
"My hands are still shaking."
Biao Zi sat nearby, trembling as he lit a cigarette and brought it to his lips: "I almost died. Thankfully, it turned out well. But I think I'll have no problem clearing the normal difficulty 'Dragon Fortress' map later."
"That's true."
Perhaps that wasn't Biao Zi's original intention.
But in the end, the result was this:
All members of Guardian Team One cleared the 'Biohazard' map on Extreme Difficulty, making them the only team on the entire Stellar to achieve this.
In reality, Extreme Difficulty isn't that much harder than normal difficulty.
As long as one can clear the normal difficulty, with a bit more focus and caution, they can conquer the extreme difficulty.
However, extreme difficulty comes with the risk of actual death, which brings immense psychological pressure.
Once this psychological pressure is overcome, clearing maps on extreme difficulty becomes as easy as pie.
The results are excellent.
Of course.
While Biao Zi and the others are now at ease, the second and third squads are starting to feel the heat.
"..."
The Third Squad Leader, who was on patrol, glanced at the message on his Iris Chip, his lips twitching slightly.
"Congratulations to Biao Zi for becoming the first member of the Stellar Train to clear the 'Dragon Fortress' map on extreme difficulty."
"Congratulations to all members of the Guardian First Squad for clearing the 'Biohazard' map on extreme difficulty."
This was the message Director Ai sent to all the guardians and management personnel via their Iris Chips.
It was equivalent to a reward.
It was almost as if he had directly written "Lord Mang is very pleased" on it.
"Is the competition pressure really this intense?"
The Third Squad Leader looked somewhat helplessly at his squad members who were on patrol and alert nearby. His team wasn't ready yet; they had only just cleared the normal difficulty of the 'Biohazard' map.
Even if they were a bit late, it didn't matter. He didn't want his team members to perish in the map.
That would be too unjust.
"It's fine."
"Phew..."
Inside the Wild Bull Train, the man looked at the private message from the Stellar Train and finally breathed a sigh of relief. The other party had finally seen the message he posted on the Train Radio, and this dispute should be settled for now.
He would stop selling cigarettes for the time being.
The other party wouldn't stay in the yellow zone for too long anyway. He would resume selling once the Stellar Train left this area.
He had no intention of heading to the blue zone; he planned to stay in the yellow zone for the rest of his life.
Although going to the blue zone would grant access to higher-level mines, more resources, and rarer parts, what did that have to do with him?
He didn't care about becoming stronger.
As long as he could survive in this apocalypse, staying in the yellow zone and developing peacefully was fine. Hadn't he seen that Level 9 train? Since he entered this zone, that train had been Level 9, and it showed no signs of leaving, as if it intended to retire in the 'Zombie Basin.'
Although not being able to sell cigarettes was a bit of a loss for him.
But it didn't matter; he still had the Cigar Production Line.
The man smiled and typed another line into the Train Radio.
"Temporarily not selling cigarettes. Selling cigars instead. Pre-order if interested, face-to-face delivery at the next gathering."
The next moment—
The Train Radio once again displayed a pinned message from the Stellar Train.
"Stellar Train": "Selling cigars, cigarettes, pork trotter rice, rice noodle rolls, and other daily necessities. Remote transactions available. DM if interested."
"..."
The man silently opened the private chat window with the Stellar Train again.
"Bro, I won't sell cigars either. You can sell them."
"Hmm..."
Chen Mang's expression turned slightly odd as he looked at the message from the 'Wild Bull' in the chat window. Did this guy misunderstand something? He never said only one person could sell and others couldn't.
Wasn't it you who monopolized first, then he stepped in, and you provoked him?
He wasn't planning to monopolize.
Fair competition, right?
As for the 'Train Radio,' he only occasionally tweaked some of the text. The rest was handled by Xiao Ai, who would automatically complete transactions and occasionally pin a message.
This "Cigar Production Line" is a yellow-tier accessory.
Consuming 46,000 units of Iron Ore, it was successfully upgraded to level 10.
And two corresponding Supermodel Effects were obtained.
-
"Cigar Production Line Level 5 Supermodel Effect": Cigar quality is significantly improved.
"Cigar Production Line Level 10 Supermodel Effect": Can refresh and invigorate the mind.
-
His cigars are of better quality than others, so it seems they should be priced higher, just like his cigarettes. The cigarettes produced by his "Cigarette Production Line" also have pain-relieving effects and are sold at a slightly higher price.
But not by much, after all, this is just an additional feature, not the main selling point.
Just like a beautifully designed milk tea packaging bag—it's an extra, and no one would buy a cup of milk tea just for the bag. Well, actually, some people might.
Two days later.
This level 3 Iron Ore Mine has been completely depleted, and the yield was quite good, bringing the Train's current Iron Ore stock to 1.1 million units.
Inside the Train.
Chen Mang glanced at the "Token of Civilization" in his hand. In just over ten days, he would be able to enter the Goblin Tomb space again to mine. Mining there is much more enjoyable than mining outside.
"."
Looking at the 1.1 million units of Iron Ore in the Train, he decided to upgrade some of the basic white and green-tier accessories inside the Train. Meanwhile, Xiao Ai continued to pilot the Train through the night in search of other Mines.
First, the "Resource Detection Radar" was upgraded to level 20.
Its detection range increased to 20,000 meters.
The "Targeting Radar" was also upgraded from level 15 to level 20, with its radar detection range now reaching 20,000 meters.
-
"Resource Detection Radar Level 20 Supermodel Effect": Consumption halved.
"Targeting Radar Level 20 Supermodel Effect": All firepower weapons can lock onto enemies within the radar range via the "Train Auxiliary AI."
-
Halving the consumption of this versatile tool is a good way to save costs.
The Targeting Radar's level 20 Supermodel Effect is quite useful. Upgrading these two accessories consumed a total of 180,000 units of Iron Ore.
In addition, there were others.
The "Moldy Bread Slice Production Line," "Steamed Bun Production Line," "Generator," "Circuit System," "Purified Water Filter," "Clothing Customization Production Line," "Cola Production Line," and "Train Auxiliary AI."
All nine of these accessories were upgraded to level 20, directly granting nine Supermodel Effects.
And it only consumed 188,000 units of Iron Ore. Most of these were white-tier accessories, so the resource consumption was minimal.
-
"Moldy Bread Slice Production Line Level 20 Supermodel Effect": Option to add 'smoked sausage,' price remains unchanged.
"Steamed Bun Production Line Level 20 Supermodel Effect": Option to add 'donkey meat,' price remains unchanged.
"Generator Level 20 Supermodel Effect": None.
"Circuit System Level 20 Supermodel Effect": None.
"Purified Water Filter Level 20 Supermodel Effect": None.
"Clothing Customization Production Line Level 20 Supermodel Effect": Clothes produced will have a small pocket space.
"Cola Production Line Level 20 Supermodel Effect": Long-term consumption can slightly improve physical fitness.
"Train Auxiliary AI": None.
-
Although this round of upgrades didn't consume many resources.
However, most of the life modules on the entire Train received a comprehensive enhancement. Among them, the "Generator" increased its power output with each upgrade, which was more than sufficient for the numerous modules on the Train. Similarly, the "Circuit System" could handle stronger energy flows with each upgrade.
The "Train Auxiliary AI" also saw improvements in its computational power with each upgrade.
As for the "Clothing Customization Production Line"...
Chen Mang walked to Carriage 4 and looked at the clothes produced. No matter how many pockets the garments had, only one pocket possessed an internal spatial effect, and the position of this pocket could be chosen freely.
The space wasn't particularly large.
It could only hold items like a briefcase, a pickaxe, or a Tidal Gatling Gun, which was far less than what the Refrigerator could accommodate.
But...
It was more than enough.
Whether it was storing a mech's briefcase, a Tidal Gatling Gun with Energy Stones, or residents carrying a pickaxe in their pockets, it was highly practical.
After some thought, he spent over 6,000 units of wood to craft two new sets of clothes for everyone on the Train. These would be used for rotation and washing, while the original clothes were kept as backups. If the residents wanted to switch between them, they could do so without any issues.
Afterward, Chen Mang walked through the subsequent carriages, something he rarely did—moving from the front to the rear of the Train to inspect his creation.
First was Carriage 5, the carriage for high-level female talents.
As soon as he pushed the door open, he saw Ji Chuchu and Yan Yao sitting by the window in their strappy nightgowns, chatting while gazing at the scenery outside. When they noticed him entering, they quickly stood up: "Lord Mang."
"Mm."
Chen Mang looked at the two of them.
He swore his original intention was simply to tour his Train and admire the masterpiece he had built in this apocalyptic world. But when Ji Chuchu, in her red strappy nightgown, inadvertently revealed a glimpse of her fair skin...
And Yan Yao, in her form-fitting white silk nightgown, her figure fully on display...
Under the moonlight, they looked utterly captivating.
He glanced at the moonlight outside the window—it was indeed beautiful.
Then he slowly walked over to Yan Yao, pulled her into his arms, and gently inhaled the scent of shampoo lingering in her hair.
He sat down on the chair.
Perhaps Chen Mang had also entered the moment. He forgot about the passage of time, only feeling that the moonlight was beautiful and that the fatigue of the past few days had finally eased.
An hour later.
Chen Mang stood up and looked at Ji Chuchu and Yan Yao, who were kneeling side by side on the bed. He smiled and gave each of them a light pat.
Casually picking up a bottle of Mineral Water by the window, he drank half of it.
Then he sat by the window, lit a cigarette, and lazily tilted his head to gaze outside.
Ji Chuchu climbed out of bed, picked up the half-empty bottle of Mineral Water, and took a sip.
Ten minutes later.
Chen Mang extinguished his cigarette in the water bottle, feeling refreshed, and continued on to Carriage 6, the carriage for high-level male talents.
Pushing the door open, he found Li Shiji and others still awake. They quickly got up: "Lord Mang."
"Mm."
Chen Mang casually waved his hand. "Go back to sleep."
The moonlight in this carriage wasn't particularly noteworthy, so there wasn't much to inspect.
He continued on to Carriage 7, the Guard car.
The second team of Guardians was already asleep, while the first team was patrolling the rear carriages to maintain order. The third team was training in the "Combat Training Space" inside the Refrigerator. He didn't disturb anyone.
After taking another stroll through the four Resident cars at the back, Chen Mang retraced his steps once more.
When he returned to Car No. 5 again,
Ji Chuchu and Yan Yao were whispering to each other, their faces slightly flushed. Whether it was the moonlight or the silk nightgowns they were wearing, Chen Mang couldn't help but feel that Ji Chuchu and Yan Yao were particularly alluring tonight.
Especially beautiful.
(End of Chapter)