The capacitors in the transformer station primarily balanced the three-phase voltage, preventing line loss and equipment damage due to imbalance. For Lin Xian, these were of significant use.
The "Infinite Train" would require massive electricity in the future, and installing capacitors could improve the power factor of the circuits, reducing reactive power losses and enhancing grid efficiency. They were essential for setting up high-powered weapons or switching driving modes.
Moreover, Lin Xian could presently harvest capacitor materials like metallized polypropylene, liquid dielectric, and aluminum foil through his devouring ability. These materials were foundational for the high-energy capacitors detailed in the GK03 Electric Blade blueprint.
“Lin Xian... how are we supposed to dismantle these?”
Chen Sixuan followed Lin Xian into the transformer station, gazing at the rows of neatly aligned and massive metal equipment, her face filled with confusion.
“That’s simple. Teacher Chen, just help me keep watch.”
Lin Xian turned, flipped open the dirt truck's panel, and climbed on. Activating the Mechanical Heart, numerous materials floated out, and a small cantilever crane began rapidly taking shape.
Chen Sixuan immediately raised her rifle, took a deep breath, and disengaged the safety.
She kept encouraging herself, reminding herself that as a teammate, she had the responsibility to protect Lin Xian. With a gun in hand, ordinary zombies shouldn’t pose much of a threat.
After about 20 minutes, Lin Xian had finished constructing a temporary vehicle-mounted crane.
He jumped off the truck and summoned mechanical tools in both hands, beginning to unscrew the mounting bolts on the capacitor bank.
“Lin Xian, your hands...”
Chen Sixuan noticed the redness on the backs of his hands, guessing it was from frostbite during last night’s snowy armor assembly.
Lin Xian tossed one end of a steel cable to Chen Sixuan. “Help me loop this around.”
After over an hour of effort, the two of them finally hoisted a 110kV capacitor bank onto the truck. Despite their makeshift approach and lack of expertise, Lin Xian’s mechanical abilities made the process relatively smooth.
The dirt truck roared to life again, plowing through the station wall and crushing howling zombies under its wheels as it sped back along its original route.
“When we passed by earlier, I noticed the terrain at Yuchi Pedestrian Street is spacious, with several streets connected. Once we load up, I’ll head back with Luo Ye to set up some traps. Maybe we can catch something…”
Lin Xian planned to scout the area during the daylight, lay traps, then return to the train to install armor plates and the Icebreaker Shield. Late at night, they’d venture back to confront the terrors lurking in the darkness.
A few days ago, Chen Sixuan would have thought Lin Xian was insane for saying such things.
Now, understanding his intentions, she voiced her concern instead, “How about while it’s still light, Shasha and I ride along the tracks to scout ahead toward the fork? It’ll help us adapt if plans change.”
The dirt truck barreled forward. Hearing her suggestion, Lin Xian looked at Chen Sixuan seriously.
“Shasha can, and I can ride with her. Two of us together makes for better support.”
Lin Xian had to prepare the train, Luo Ye’s height and strength were essential, so it seemed logical for the nimble duo of Chen Sixuan and Shasha to act as scouts.
Surprised, Lin Xian glanced at Chen Sixuan and smiled.
“Alright. But you and Shasha need to be cautious. If anything goes wrong, just retreat.”
“Got it.” Chen Sixuan took a deep breath. “We’re only scouting. If there’s trouble, we won’t linger.”
Lin Xian’s plan to actively search for horrors in the dark was risky, especially as no one knew what lay ahead. Ensuring an escape route for the "Infinite Train" made scouting the nearby tracks a wise precaution.
After last night’s track-break incident, Chen Sixuan had become more vigilant.
“Alright, that’s the plan.”
The dirt truck drove onto Yushan Station’s platform. Lin Xian raised his hand, unleashing bursts of Wind Cannon to dispatch zombies before maneuvering the truck onto a flatbed trailer.
Shortly after, Luo Ye and Shasha returned in an off-road vehicle, its trunk and backseat loaded with odd supplies.
Shasha, seated in the passenger seat, clutched a large bag of colorful clothing. She hopped out excitedly upon parking and called to the duo:
“Brother Lin, Sister Chen, look at all the stuff we found!”
Chen Sixuan rushed over to help. “Why so many clothes?”
“They’re all new! The mall was full of them!” Shasha opened the backseat, revealing a pile of appliances—televisions, computers, and robotic vacuums—of little use in a survival situation.
In the apocalypse, with life on the line and energy scarce, such items were far less valuable than water purification or communication equipment.
Aside from those, Shasha and Luo Ye had also found a microwave, an oven, and a set of cookware and utensils.
“Good. Load them up.”
Lin Xian instructed Luo Ye to unload the motorcycle, and the group quickly transferred the off-road vehicle’s supplies to Car No. 5.
“Shasha, you and Sister Chen ride the motorcycle and scout along the tracks ahead. Luo Ye and I will head into the city again.”
Without delay, Lin Xian issued the next steps. By 17:50, less than an hour remained before nightfall.
Shasha slung her grenade launcher, donned a helmet, and rode off with Chen Sixuan. The motorcycle roared away from the platform in a flash.
Lin Xian climbed into Luo Ye’s off-road vehicle.
“Shasha’s so young, yet she rides like a pro.”
Luo Ye shrugged. “She picks things up fast, like a boy. She loves tinkering with stuff…”
“Let’s go.” Lin Xian smiled, realizing that Shasha was the brains of the pair.
The off-road vehicle reached Yuchi City, stopping far from the streets to observe from a distance.
“That area…” Lin Xian pointed to a circular plaza teeming with zombies. “Based on soul wave values, it’s probably the lowest-index zone. Just my guess, though. Drive around to lure them away while I set up a speaker and some lights.”
Then he indicated several alleys.
“There, and there. I’ll set up tripwires, traps, and spike walls. From that second-floor balcony, you can cover me with your gun, and we’ll keep the car parked nearby for a quick escape.”
“Got it, Brother Lin.”
Luo Ye, a former soldier with solid combat skills, quickly grasped the plan.
“These are just precautions,” Lin Xian warned solemnly. “If things go south, we retreat immediately. Shasha and Chen will meet us at the platform, and we’ll leave right away.”
The plan was simple: draw the night’s horrors into the open plaza using speakers and lights. If manageable, they’d engage using terrain and traps. If the situation spiraled, they’d flee.
For the Eerie Blood Crystal, they had to take the risk. Without the Dark Radio, Lin Xian couldn’t find other convoys to trade with anyway.