A high-grade research carriage just waiting to be taken—Lin Xian hadn’t expected that.
His main goal wasn’t scientific research—it was farming.
It wasn’t just his personal obsession.
Under the Extreme Cold Catastrophe, the long-term lack of fresh vegetables posed a serious health risk.
Once the train moved onto transoceanic rails, food supply would become an even bigger issue.
Besides, Lin Xian was already planning to recycle all water resources onboard.
If oxygen shortages became a problem in the future, they’d need an internal oxygen supply system.
A fully integrated water, heat, and oxygen system would be critical.
With the Infinite Train as his moving fortress, plus his Mechanical Ability, there was nothing stopping him from implementing these ideas.
But if these research carriages were available, why should he turn them down?
"Not bad. Thanks for the heads-up."
Lin Xian nodded in satisfaction.
By now, Zhao Yan and the others had almost finished packing.
They didn’t have much—just two laptop bags and three briefcases, stuffed with portable computers and research materials.
Each of them clutched their belongings tightly.
Lin Xian glanced over.
"If you're ready, let's move."
Zhao Yan, still tense, hesitated before stepping closer.
"Mr. Lin, you… you’ll take us to a Federation mobile rescue point or another underground city, right?
You’re not just going to dump us outside, are you?"
Outside the underground city, the zombie horde was endless.
If they were just left outside, it wouldn’t be much different from staying here.
Lin Xian kept walking as he replied,
"We’ll be passing Yubei City, making a stop at the Huanxing-1 Spaceport High-Altitude Corridor.
You’ll get off there.
So you better pray it hasn’t fallen, or that your precious Federation government is still there."
The moment he said this, Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming’s faces turned pale.
They glanced at Ding Junyi, hoping for reassurance, but she stayed silent and followed Lin Xian without hesitation.
Seeing this, the three researchers didn’t dare to argue further.
They focused completely on keeping up.
Luo Ye effortlessly hoisted the incubation pod onto his shoulder with one hand, while the other held his gun at the ready.
"You two stay close to me," Lin Xian ordered, glancing at KIKI and Ding Junyi.
"Luo Ye will cover the rear. It’s almost nightfall, and we have no idea what’s lurking out there.
Stay together. No one falls behind."
KIKI pulled down her gas mask, stuffed her mobile computer into her jacket, and gestured for Ding Junyi to open the door.
Ding Junyi nodded, took a deep breath, and pressed the controls.
A faint mechanical hiss echoed as the research hall’s protective door slid open.
The moment the alloy door cracked open, countless zombie hands clawed wildly through the gap, writhing and grasping.
Xu Wen shrieked, face twisting in horror as he cowered behind Zhao Yan.
Even Zhao Yan and Han Qiming—scientists used to controlled environments—were frozen in terror, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
Lin Xian ignored them.
The second the door fully opened, KIKI unleashed a shockwave—
A dozen zombies and grotesque insects were blown away, their bodies splattering against the walls and floor, leaving blood and severed limbs scattered across the corridor.
Lin Xian fired multiple shots, clearing out the remaining zombies blocking the passage.
From all directions, more unearthly screeches echoed.
Lin Xian took the lead, charging ahead.
He raised a hand, and in an instant, a steel door materialized, sealing off one of the corridors to prevent more zombies from swarming in.
Ding Junyi’s eyes widened in shock.
Of all the Ability Users she had studied, she had never seen someone who could create steel out of thin air.
KIKI followed right behind, showing no hesitation.
Meanwhile, Zhao Yan and the others scrambled to keep up, running as if their lives depended on it.
Lin Xian’s watch beeped.
Deep underground, they couldn’t see the outside world, but the moment the time struck—
The hallway lights flickered ominously.
An unnatural chill surged up from below, washing over everyone simultaneously.
Lin Xian’s eye twitched.
He stared into the dark corridor ahead—
Something was coming. Fast.
Lin Xian gestured, signaling her to slow down.
He clipped a flashlight to his ear, quickly fabricating a support bracket to keep it in place.
His free hand began charging with electricity.
A piercing female scream shattered the air.
Lin Xian’s flashlight beam swung toward the source—
A blood-red silhouette raced toward them at terrifying speed.
In an instant, it was right in front of them—
Two clawed hands, blackened with elongated nails, slashed toward Lin Xian’s throat.
"Lin Xian, watch out!"
Before KIKI could finish shouting, Lin Xian’s eyes hardened—
A bolt of white lightning pierced the darkness, searing the creature’s head in a flash of blinding energy.
For a split second, everyone could clearly see it—
A female zombie with rotting flesh, her skin half-melted, revealing decayed muscle and sinew.
Her mouth hung unnaturally open, jawbone nearly dislocated down to her chest—
A truly nightmarish sight.
The zombie convulsed as the electricity burned through her skull.
At the same time, KIKI clenched a fist, telekinetically gripping the monster midair.
She flung it sideways, sending it crashing through an office wall, leaving a gaping hole in the concrete.
"What the hell was that?!"
KIKI’s distorted voice came through her gas mask.
Lin Xian frowned but kept moving.
These zombies aren’t like the ones outside.
They’re not eerie entities, but they’re also far stronger than regular zombies."
The speed of that female corpse was insane.
Faster than anything they’d encountered before.
Ding Junyi caught up, speaking in a low voice.
“We classify these kinds of mutations—different from Nocturnal Entities, but still born from human transformation—as Human Eerie.”
KIKI looked intrigued.
"Yes. You could think of them as zombies with special abilities."
“Are you saying they’re the result of Corruption?”
Ding Junyi stared at KIKI, visibly surprised.
"You… know about Corruption?"
Lin Xian fired another shot, blasting apart a few more zombies.
He didn’t even glance back as he kept running.
"That’s not the kind of question that matters right now."