Armed Train in the Apocalypse

”Continue.”

The woman got down from the bed, not bothering to drape the torn clothes over herself, and walked naked to the bedside, wiping the bloodstain on her shoulder with a tissue. The wound had completely disappeared, leaving only faint bite marks, like an imprint.

Then she picked up a potion from the table and tossed it to Su Huan.

He took it and observed the contents for a moment; it was no different from a normal Genetic Potion, also containing Pan Energy.

”When did you switch careers to become a Pharmacist?”

”Wan Xing made it.”

”Oh, there’s her involvement.”

Su Huan licked his teeth.

Yu Jing unhesitatingly sold out her temporary ally; at this point, it didn’t matter anymore.

She knew what Su Huan valued, as long as there were results, everything would be negotiable.

”To cultivate an Evolver normally, three hidden needs must be satisfied—life force, carrying capacity, and lifespan limit—and three potions are required: Basic Potion, Skill Potion, and Breakthrough Potion. Besides these, various evolutionary materials such as Pan-energy Crystals are also needed.”

”This assumes you have evolutionary information; otherwise, evolving is tantamount to gambling with your life.”

Regarding Yu Jing’s findings, Su Huan wholeheartedly agreed.

Don’t mind that Dragon Gate has many Tier Two Evolvers, capable of ranking over a dozen, but apart from the major forces that know evolutionary details, only one is purely wild.

With the Dragon Gate Colosseum’s allure, that Tier Two is likely the only one among the millions of survivors in the Rust Area.

Similar situations exist in other large areas; Tier One is already the limit for most Scavengers.

It’s exceedingly difficult to be fortunate enough to again find the correct Tier Two career.

”So what have you solved?”

”This single Transformation Potion can replace most conditions above, allowing direct promotion.”

Upon hearing this, Su Huan showed little joy, merely waiting silently for the details.

Shortcuts often come with great costs; the pros and cons are hard to say, mainly depending on whether one is willing to pay.

”The side effect is that the user can no longer ascend through self-evolution, nor can they have a normal Evolver career.”

The woman’s eyes were sharp.

”How does the combat strength compare?”

”Certainly not up to par with normal Evolvers, and regardless of adjustment or optimization, Tier Three is the limit, but exact testing isn’t done yet, so I’m not sure.”

”You just mentioned it could replace most conditions above, including life force?”

”Including, only a small amount of life force is needed to ascend, and because it skips skills, it almost doesn’t consume carrying capacity.”

In question and answer, Su Huan had already outlined the Genetic Transformation Potion in his mind.

This is a weakened version of an Evolver, akin to the difference between a soldier and an officer.

However, if it truly achieves the effects Yu Jing claimed, the benefits are plainly evident as well.

Most Evolvers have no potential for Tier Two, let alone Tier One, but with this Transformation Potion, there’s hope to reach Tier Three in combat strength—even a possibility signifies terrifying progress.

If this potion hit the market, top-tier factions would be driven mad.

Because it represents the ability to mass-produce Evolvers!

And for such a potion, instead of being found in cutting-edge laboratories, it’s concocted privately by two women; this world is truly absurd... Su Huan looked at the tall woman with a slightly complicated expression.

”What’s the function of this potion?”

”Probably related to using firearms or machinery, but I’m not too sure either.”

Yu Jing said honestly.

It’s a half-finished product.

But it’s sufficient; the hardest part of many things is that moment of creation from nothing. Once that instant is conquered, the rest is just a matter of time.

”In light of this achievement, I can exclusively grant you a fund, but before Director Xu verifies the potion, it can’t be used on anyone—or any life.”

Su Huan blocked any loophole Yu Jing might exploit.

He conveniently also granted the funds.

Though he knew what the other party intended to do with the funds, it’s better to be researched under his watch than secretly.

An uncontrollable ”Maker” is indeed too dangerous.

The woman obediently nodded, ”Are there any other conditions?”

”The funds will be distributed in three installments, with timing based on your performance.” Su Huan leaned against the bedpost, the potion rotating at his fingertips, a faint smile on his lips.

Yu Jing’s eyes finally fluctuated, her chest heaving, silver teeth clenched. ”Why not split it into a hundred installments?”

”Oh? You’ve given me an idea, then...”

Yu Jing realized she misspoke and could only seal Su Huan’s mouth under his teasing gaze.

”Just now?”

”No feedback, doesn’t count!”

”Damn!”

”Call me names, this time doesn’t count either.”

...

Lion Pass, heavy snow.

The mountains on either side cleaved open like giant axes, the cliffs towering vertically over a thousand meters high, their dark blue-black outlines emerging intermittently in the swirling snowstorm.

As the era changed, Lion Pass long lost its strategic position, with most city gates dismantled and converted into wide roads, only the mountain walls on both sides retained some of the walls, crawling up along the ridge, disappearing into the rolling snowstorm.

Several intensely penetrating beams slashed from the south, but the light turned into chaos once outside the pass.

Nothing was visible.

Like a suspended city, the train hovered before the gate, the huge car swinging gently in the wind.

He Jie emerged from the cab, squinting towards the outside of the pass, unable to see anything beyond a hundred-step distance, only feeling the bone-chilling wind, numbing his face, the plains beyond the pass and distant hills had completely vanished, leaving only a ceaselessly churning snowstorm.

”Freezing my cock to tightness, how diamn cold is this?”

He Jie cursed softly.

”What?”

Lao San perked his ears nearby.

He Jie was uninterested in freezing outside, beckoned, and the two ducked back into the cab.

Glasses led a group of staff aggregating various data, having learned their lesson after the setback in the Spore Zone, everyone had wised up, taking no chances even dozens of kilometers from the next major area, fully prepared.

Their fear was repeating past mistakes.

”Snow depth one point two meters inside the pass, snow depth over three meters outside!”

”Within ten kilometers, no Pan Energy reaction detected...”

”Temperature ranges from minus eighty to one hundred two degrees...”

”Measure again, I want decimal precision.”

”Train temperature system pressure rising, energy consumption exceeding expectations by 10%, energy dissipation reaching...”

Amid the various noises, warm wind surged up, He Jie shivered with delight.

Glasses approached, ”Where’s Huayang? He’s our guide in the Wind Snow Zone next.”

”Huayang is...” Halfway through the sentence, He Jie’s eyes widened suddenly, ”Oh shit, forgot!”

The two left behind a mystified Glasses, hurrying to find Huayang, only pulling up an empty rope.

Just as He Jie thought he was screwed, a soldier in large shorts crawled in push-up formation in the armed hall, with six instructors around wielding rubber rollers, driving him hard.

”Faster! Is this crawling?!”

”I could walk faster with my ass!”

”Release strength! Release strength!”

”Even your butt should release strength!”

Following were six instructors, eyeing fiercely, ready to alternate at any moment.

Seeing this fiery scene, He Jie sighed in relief, as long as he’s not dead; swiftly summoned an instructor.

The instructor hurried over, saluting, ”Colonel He, we are executing the midnight training plan, please instruct!”

”Pause the training, the kid’s needed.” He Jie glanced at the thoroughly bruised Huayang, ”Make him presentable, not too unsightly.”

The instructor chuckled with delight, ”Yes!”

In the small dark room, Huayang, sweating profusely under six rubber rollers, was brought in; before he knew what was happening, he felt twelve large hands smeared slick potion all over him.

Then he let out the sharpest scream of his life.