Apocalypse: I Built the Infinite Train-Chapter 248: Endless Winter Night

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The black heavy-duty train plowed through the thick snow, roaring like thunder amidst the raging blizzard.

Above, the ferocious vortex of extreme cold loomed over the sky, swallowing the heavens in its snowy abyss, plunging the world into an early darkness. The land was a vast, white wasteland, where nothing could be seen except the endless howl of the storm.

"Mark Level approaching 4!"

"Prepare to open fire!"

Screeeech!

From beneath the snow, Snow Wraiths surged like a flood, kicking up a violent storm of frost and ice.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The deafening sounds of collisions against the train and tracks grew more intense.

Standing inside Car 2, Lin Xian surveyed the Sentinel System’s external feeds, his gaze cold and focused.

"Lin Xian!"

Chen Sixuan’s voice crackled through the communicator.

"There’s a swarm of creatures gathering at the pass ahead!"

KIKI immediately switched to the Electro-Optical Targeting System, locking onto the vast, snow-covered plains before them.

From the blinding white fog, countless black-and-white long tails surfaced from beneath the snow, writhing like a rising tide.

Perhaps it was the approaching nightfall, or maybe the blizzard’s cover, but these Snow Wraiths were now able to breach the snow’s surface, charging toward the train like a relentless storm.

KIKI frowned at the surveillance feed.

"It looks like our Level 4 Mark has attracted even more eerie entities."

Lin Xian’s expression darkened. He pressed his earpiece.

"Speed up. CRUSH THEM!"

Wooooo!

Activating the Mechanical Heart, he boosted the Infinite Train’s engine output, forcing it to accelerate once more.

Glancing at the time—17:53.

With zero experience against the Dark Tides, their estimated nightfall was only a rough guess.

Judging by the thickening darkness, full nightfall would arrive in about half an hour!

"KIKI, take the front."

"Got it."

KIKI nodded seriously, sprinting forward.

Lin Xian then turned his gaze toward the carriage corridor, waiting for Ding Junyi’s signal.

"Level 4."

"Open fire!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

BZZT!

Above Car 2, the G3 Electromagnetic Rail Cannon roared, unleashing a violent, ionized blastwave. The sheer electrical discharge sent tingling static across Lin Xian’s skin.

He turned back to the monitor, locking eyes on the incoming Snow Wraith swarm.

"Everyone—brace for impact!"

Collision!

BOOOOOM!!!

Snow erupted into the sky!

The heavy rail train, charged with unrelenting kinetic force, rammed straight into the tide of leaping Snow Wraiths.

Chen Sixuan and KIKI, inside the control cabin, braced themselves.

"Here they come!"

Chen Sixuan gripped the control panel tightly.

"Haah!"

KIKI’s eyes glowed with a piercing white light, her hair lifting as if caught in an invisible wind.

With a sharp cry, she thrust her palm forward, channeling her psychic energy into a razor-sharp shockwave—

BOOOOM!!!

A cone-shaped force wave sliced through the snow, parting the landscape like a raging flood, clearing hundreds of meters ahead.

Beneath the snow, the barren railway and withered ground were fully exposed.

Hundreds of Snow Wraiths were violently launched into the air—

Those caught too close were torn apart instantly.

Those further back were still thrown into the howling winds, scattering like uprooted weeds.

The shockwave carved out a massive clearing, giving the Infinite Train a direct path forward—

With unrelenting force, the train plowed through the remaining snowbanks and charging Wraiths.

BOOM! WHOOSH!

The entire train shuddered under the sheer impact force.

Inside the carriages, various items crashed to the floor, shattering across the ground.

Outside, tons of snow erupted tens of meters into the air, forming a towering snow fountain.

Chen Sixuan’s windshield was immediately blanketed, her vision completely obstructed.

The steel armor plating and icebreaker shield were pelted like a torrential storm, followed by the shrill wails of countless creatures.

Doomsday on the Rails.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

The Infinite Train barreled through the storm, leaving behind a path of destruction.

Bone fragments exploded.

Skulls shattered.

Blood and viscera splattered the reinforced glass, coating it in a grotesque film of red and white gore.

Chen Sixuan activated the washer system, but the bloodied mess was too thick.

Beside her, KIKI gritted her teeth, reinforcing the train’s frontal defenses with another psychic barrier.

BZZT! WHOOSH!

The Electromagnetic Rail Cannon operated at full power, its smart targeting system prioritizing dense enemy clusters and large-scale threats.

With every shot, the train’s lighting dimmed momentarily, only to flicker back at full intensity.

Aboard the Rear Carriages

Dalong stood his ground, wielding the Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun.

Every metal storm barrage tore through hordes of Snow Wraiths—

Yet, more climbed aboard.

Without KIKI’s backup, only Lu Xingchen remained as the sole large-scale ability user.

On the train’s rooftop, Lu Xingchen stood alone.

Gale-force blizzards whipped against him.

His anti-cold visor was already frosting over.

Yet, he exhaled sharply—his breath steaming in the frigid air.

"This bitter cold is the perfect training ground."

Without a hint of hesitation, his flames roared to life.

Blazing torrents swept across the rooftop, the sheer thermal shock causing the metal plating to groan under the strain.

The Snow Wraiths Swarm

The creatures reacted.

Drawn by the heat, they stopped attacking the steel armor, instead rushing directly at Lu Xingchen.

Their decayed bodies reeked of rot.

Yet, even in death, their feral instincts remained unstoppable.

Lu Xingchen grinned.

"Good. Good!"

The creatures had previously been spread across the entire train, making them hard to handle at once.

Now?

"Perfect."

"FIERY SKY!"

Lu Xingchen crossed his fingers, compressed his flames, and unleashed a sweeping firestorm across the entire rooftop!

WHOOSH!

At the same time, the Electro-Blade Armor deployed—

SNAP! SLASH!

The Snow Wraiths climbing aboard were instantly shredded.

Electric arcs danced along the blade edges, cutting down even the sharpest tails of the creatures.

Final Call: "Mark Level 1!"

The mountain pass ahead came into view.

Lin Xian slammed the brakes.

SCREEEECH!!!

The Infinite Train screeched to a halt.

Snow poured off the rooftop like an avalanche, while the superheated wheels melted the frozen tracks, sending clouds of steam billowing into the air.

"AAAAAARGH!!"

"SHRIEEEEK!!"

The battle had only just begun.

A FIELD OF CORPSES

The Infinite Train ground to a halt.

For the next ten minutes, the crew conducted a final sweep, gunning down any remaining Snow Wraiths.

By the time the last shot was fired, the train’s flanks had become a graveyard of frozen beasts—piled high enough to form walls of corpses.

The assault had finally ended.

"Hah… It’s so damn cold!"

Lu Xingchen, completely exhausted, felt the biting chill creep into his bones. Even as a fire ability user, the extreme cold was starting to overwhelm him.

Seeing that the battle was over, he turned toward the roof hatch—ready to descend back into the train.

But—

CLUNK!

The hatch wouldn’t budge.

It had been completely frozen shut by the howling blizzard.

"Tch—seriously?"

With no other choice, Lu Xingchen blasted out another burst of fire, melting the thick layer of ice before finally slipping back inside Car 5.

THE TRAIN STRUGGLES AGAINST THE COLD

WOOOOOO~~ WOOOOOOOO~~~~

Outside, the roaring blizzard had become the only sound in the endless white wasteland.

Inside the train, the gun ports sealed shut, and the heating system roared to life, working overtime to restore warmth.

Lin Xian, Shu Qin, and Luo Ye donned heavy-duty cold-weather suits, along with temperature regulators and insulated helmets, before exiting through Car 11’s hatch to inspect the train.

-30°C—THE DEEP FREEZE

The moment Lin Xian stepped outside, the winds almost knocked him off his feet.

The snowstorm had intensified—the blistering winds no longer simply fell from the sky.

Now, they swept horizontally, erasing visibility beyond a few meters.

Each step crunched through frozen bodies, shattering Snow Wraith corpses like fragile ice sculptures.

“These damn things survive the cold when they’re alive… but the moment they die, they freeze solid?”

The irony wasn’t lost on him.

A voice called out behind him—

"Lin, over here."

Lin Xian turned—

And his brows furrowed.

The Infinite Train’s armor was in terrible shape.

Deep gashes marred its once-solid plating. Holes and fractures spread across the side panels.

Some armor plates had even begun to crack apart entirely.

"Lin, the temperature’s too low," Luo Ye said grimly. "The armor’s becoming brittle."

Lin Xian exhaled, his breath turning to ice crystals in the air.

CREEEEEEEEAKKKKK…

Somewhere on the train’s undercarriage, the metal groaned.

Even without an enemy, the brutal cold was actively tearing the train apart.

This natural disaster was just as much of a threat as the nightmarish creatures they faced.

“Check every section. Do it fast. We need to get back inside before nightfall.”

Lin Xian’s faceplate was already frosting over, a sign that even their protective gear wouldn’t last long out here.

AN UNEXPECTED ATTACK

WHOOSH!

From beneath the train, a Snow Wraith suddenly lunged forward—its serrated tail needle stabbing toward Lin Xian’s head.

"LIN!" Shu Qin shouted.

She dashed forward, but—

She was too late.

CLANK!

The attack stopped mid-air.

A third mechanical arm had extended from Lin Xian’s power armor, gripping the creature’s tail in a vice-like hold.

The Snow Wraith screeched, writhing in agony—

Before finally going still.

CRACK!

Lin Xian snapped the tail clean off, holding it in his hand.

"Damn… this thing’s heavy."

Even through his reinforced gloves, he could feel the unnatural density of the severed appendage.

Shu Qin caught up, scowling.

"They're still attacking us, even when we’re cleaning up?"

Lin Xian nodded, tossing the tail away.

"They’re smart. And without thick armor, these things are a pain to deal with."

Shaking his head, he resumed his train inspection—but as he reached the front of the locomotive, his eyes narrowed.

A silhouette stood ahead of him, barely visible through the blizzard.

A FROZEN WARNING

"Activate collision detection. Radar scan—NOW!"

BEEP!

Lin Xian’s power suit sensors locked onto the figure—

A humanoid shape, half-buried in the snow.

Then—

BEEP BEEP—YELLOW ALERT: NO LIFE SIGNS DETECTED.

Lin Xian approached, raising his Black Rifle—

And realized—

It was a frozen corpse.

A middle-aged woman, wearing a thick down jacket, her body entombed in ice.

Shu Qin’s voice came from behind him—

"Lin, there’s more."

Lin Xian looked up—

More corpses were appearing through the snow.

People, frozen mid-motion—some clutching weapons, others huddled together, all buried beneath the ice.

A caravan of survivors had perished right where they stood.

Lin Xian followed the trail of bodies forward—

And discovered an abandoned vehicle encampment.

SUVs, buses, and trucks—all half-buried under mounds of ice and snow.

A FROZEN GRAVEYARD

The first black SUV was tilted at an angle, stuck in the snow, its roof rack’s tarp frozen solid.

The driver’s seat was occupied—

A man, his hands locked around the frozen steering wheel, his lifeless body fused to the dashboard.

Further in, a bus had tipped onto its side, its emergency exit buried beneath a funnel of ice.

A woman in a red jacket had tried to escape—

Her frozen corpse still dangled from the shattered window.

In her arms, a newborn, wrapped in a thick woolen bundle—now nothing but a lifeless, ice-covered cocoon.

The scarf around her neck fluttered in the wind, causing tiny icicles to clink like a wind chime.

Snow howled through the vehicles, rattling the doors with a sound like a mourner’s hymn.

Even an SUV’s rearview mirror, which bore a red peace charm, had frozen stiff, its dangling tassels now icicle-sharp spears.

"Lin, this was a survivor camp."

Shu Qin counted the vehicles.

"Twenty-three cars in total. They were stationed here."

Luo Ye inspected the snow-covered remains—

A Snow Wraith corpse, its frozen jaw still clamped around a severed human arm.

"They were wiped out."

Lin Xian sighed.

"Let’s head back."

The group turned away from the icy graveyard, hurrying back to the train before nightfall claimed them too.

A WARNING OVER THE RADIO

The moment Lin Xian re-entered the Infinite Train, the intercom buzzed.

"Lin Xian, get to the cockpit. We’ve got a situation."

It was Chen Sixuan.

Stripping off his gear, Lin Xian hurried to the driver’s cabin.

"What happened?"

Chen Sixuan gestured at the radio transceiver.

"Someone’s trying to contact us."

Lin Xian frowned.

"We’re in a blizzard. How are they reaching us?"

KIKI answered—

"The storm’s blocking long-range transmissions. Whoever this is… they’re close."

Lin Xian clicked the receiver—

"Who’s there?"

The response came instantly—a desperate, ragged voice shouting over the static.

"You… the train—GET OUT OF HERE! YOU’LL KILL US ALL!"

Lin Xian’s eyes narrowed.

Then—

A second voice, angrier and more hostile, cut in—

"You idiots! You just led the monsters straight to us! GET LOST!"

KIKI bristled.

"What the hell?!"

She was about to snap back—

But Lin Xian stopped her.

Lin Xian pressed the comms button and briefly explained the situation regarding the Dark Marks.

“So, if you haven’t been attacked yet, and we haven’t either, that means tonight should be relatively safe for all of us. Even if there’s trouble, it won’t be too serious. Just stay put and wait until morning.”

The Pack Hunting Effect and Dark Marks seemed similar in some ways, but their fundamental nature was different.

The former made it difficult for survivor groups to trust each other. Many survivors became hostile toward outsiders, preferring to stick with strong organizations like Phoenix rather than risk forming temporary alliances.

But Lin Xian knew they were completely misjudging the situation.

The snowfield was crawling with Snow Wraiths. If these people weren’t being attacked right now, it meant they were actually safe. Meanwhile, Infinite Train had just plowed through and wiped out most of the pursuing monsters. Even if the Dark Mark wasn’t fully erased, only traces remained.

Under these circumstances, sticking together through the long night posed no real danger.

Even if they didn’t want to interact, they could simply keep to themselves. But apparently, some of them had already noticed Infinite Train barreling into the mountain pass, and now, they were uneasy.

“You think we’re safe just because you say so? What, you the father of these monsters or something?”

A hot-tempered middle-aged man barked through the comms, wasting no time in launching into an angry tirade.

“Do you even know how much we sacrificed to kill those things during the day? You train people have a whole damn rail network—why the hell did you have to stop here? Get lost.”

“Hey, hey, hey! We’re Speed Convoy! That train of yours can just keep going to Dalat Town ahead—there’s a station there. Can’t you not camp here?” A woman’s voice chimed in.

“Yeah, seriously, get out of here! Don’t drag us into your mess…” Another hurried voice added.

Tensions Rise

Inside the cockpit, Lin Xian’s face darkened.

Chen Sixuan, on the other hand, looked downright pissed.

“These people are idiots,” she muttered angrily. “Why do they believe in the Pack Hunting Effect but refuse to listen to us? That theory isn’t even officially confirmed.”

Lin Xian exhaled sharply, his expression turning cold.

“Doesn’t matter.”

He pressed the comms button again and spoke flatly.

“We’re setting up camp here. Stay or leave—your call.”

If they weren’t all fellow survivors heading west toward Xilan, he would’ve already cursed them out.

“Bastard!” The hot-tempered man exploded again. “You think I won’t blow you to hell with a—”

Before he could finish, voices interrupted him from his side.

“Boss, their firepower is no joke. That train has a railgun.”

“Yeah, and they just took down at least a thousand Snow Wraiths…”

Rustle, rustle, rustle…

On the comms, a wave of chatter and discussion broke out.

A few moments later, the sound of engines rumbling to life reached Lin Xian’s ears.

They’re Leaving?

“Lin Xian, look.”

Chen Sixuan had a sharp eye.

From the higher ground in the mountain pass, a series of faint headlights flickered through the blizzard.

“They’re really leaving?”

KIKI narrowed her eyes. “No, I think they’re running.”

“This late?” Chen Sixuan was stunned. “Are they suicidal?”

The distant headlights flickered before vanishing into the storm. Several large convoys had begun merging and were now heading deeper into the snowfield.

Lin Xian immediately pressed the comms again.

“It’s almost nightfall. You won’t make it to Dalat Town. Listen to me—staying here is the safest option.”

Crackle…

The comms signal deteriorated as the distance increased.

A few distorted voices crackled through:

“Not dealing with this… We’re out… Later, suckers…”

“Who the hell believes in that marking nonsense? You watch too many movies…”

“Just go, don’t—don’t reply…”

Vroom…(Engines roaring in the distance.)

Bang! Bang! Bang!(Gunfire.)

“SNOW WRAITHS—!! SHOOT AND MOVE, SHOOT AND MOVE—!!”

A Deadly Decision

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Inside Infinite Train, silence fell over the crew.

“Idiots!” KIKI slammed her fist against the nearest console, fuming. “It’s almost night! Do they want to die?”

“From the sounds of it, those convoys have hundreds of people…” Chen Sixuan’s brows furrowed as she turned to Lin Xian. “I finally understand what you meant earlier. Sometimes, letting them run is better than making them fight. Normal people just can’t accept the idea of being hunted.”

Lin Xian let out a heavy sigh.

“It’s fear.”

He turned toward the darkening blizzard outside the viewport.

“They’ve been running for so long that their bodies have developed an instinctive terror of Eerie Entities and the darkness itself.

Stopping to fight against the dark… is a hundred times harder than choosing to flee.”

Nightfall Approaches

Whoooosh…

The blizzard howled.

Wind screamed through the armor plating of Infinite Train, sending eerie whistles through the gaps.

The comms had gone completely silent. The convoys were gone.

Beep, beep.

A faint alert sounded—a subtle chime that nearly got lost in the roaring storm.

This was a pre-set warning, adjusted by Luo Yang earlier.

Nightfall was imminent.

“Prepare for enemy contact.”

Under the Extreme Cold Vortex, even though Lin Xian was confident about the team’s Dark Mark levels, this weather alone was enough to make anyone uneasy.

And the endless Snow Wraiths lurking beneath the snow only added to his concerns.

“Full alert—” Lin Xian ordered immediately.

“*Load your weapons. Snowmelt is toxic—put on your gas masks. Even after we seal the shooting ports, wipe down all the melted snow inside. No one drinks any water during this process!”

The Eerie Cube had been on high alert all day.

Snowmelt seeped into the train, mixing with the remnants of the monsters’ Dark Corruption. The entire crew had been on edge for hours.

The moment Lin Xian issued his orders, Shu Qin and the others snapped into action.

Lin Xian turned, walking toward the back with KIKI and Chen Sixuan. He tossed them each a gas mask.

“Put it on. Don’t take it off until we clear this crisis.”

Outside the windows, the world was now a void of blackness and howling snow.

Drip, drip…

Inside the carriages, melted snowwater trickled onto the floor.

Crew members in the living quarters gripped their weapons tightly. Even Xiao Yuan, the youngest among them, held an automatic rifle, her face covered with a mask, waiting in silent tension.

A Frozen Fortress in the Storm

Lin Xian sat inside the storage room of Carriage 7—the center of the train.

This was where he could use his Mechanical Heart to monitor and repair the entire structure.

Whoooooom…

The train’s heaters roared at full power, fighting the bitter cold.

On the roof, the 1130 CIWS and G3-Railgun were covered in layers of frost. Each time they rotated, they shattered the built-up ice—only for new frost to form seconds later.

Outside, ice crusted the windows, melting and refreezing in a constant cycle.

Crack… Crack…

All around, the sound of ice forming echoed from every direction.

Lin Xian clenched his fists.

If the blizzard buried Infinite Train completely before sunrise…

Then even he might not have a way out.

A deep frustration swelled within him.

Darkness. Eerie Entities. Natural Disasters.

This apocalypse never gave anyone a moment’s peace.

“Damn it… Damn it all…” Lin Xian gritted his teeth.

Inside the train, silence reigned.

Everyone waited.

Outside—nothing but blackness and the endless storm.

Lin Xian glanced at his watch.

19:00.

“It’s nightfall.”

“…It’s been nightfall for a while now.”

Lin Xian’s expression was grim. He stood up, let out a long breath, and tightened his stance as he focused on the outside of the train.

At this moment, the entire Infinite Train was already buried under a thick layer of snow. The steel armor plates on the sides had been coated with an icy shell, hardened by the raging blizzard.

Between heaven and earth, only the howling winds of the snowstorm remained. Apart from that, there was nothing—just an eerie silence.

"All carriages, report in." Lin Xian pressed his wireless earpiece without hesitation.

"Lin, everything’s fine."

Shu Qin swiftly made her way forward from Car No. 12, reporting as she walked.

"Car No. 11, all clear," Sasha confirmed.

"Car No. 10, no issues," Miao Lu reported.

"Car No. 9, all clear," Lü Chang stated.

"Car No. 8, normal," Xiao Yuan added.

"Cars No. 6 and 5, no abnormalities," Da Lou and Lu Xingchen said as they moved swiftly down the corridor.

"Cars No. 3 and 4, no issues. No further reaction from the Blood Scourge Flora," Ding Junyi reported, glancing at the faint energy fluctuations in the air. After taking down so many Snow Wraiths, it seemed the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum had already had its fill.

"Cars No. 2 and 1, all clear," Chen Sixuan and KIKI responded.

Standing in Car No. 7, Lin Xian finally let out a small breath of relief.

"Everyone, keep your thermal gear on. Don’t take them off just yet. We’ll observe for a while longer. If everything remains stable, we’ll rotate for rest shifts."

"Understood."

It wasn’t until this moment that the team’s collective tension eased slightly.

Chen Sixuan began distributing food. Originally, she had planned to prepare hot meals, but Lin Xian was concerned that it would take too long. Plus, the train’s heating system was already working at full capacity. To keep things simple, they decided to just eat what was available.

In Car No. 2, KIKI kept switching between radio frequencies, only to find complete radio silence.

"Looks like the Extreme Cold Vortex has completely engulfed this area. We’re not picking up anything—not even the global broadcasts from Xilan City or Phoenix. Even short-range survivor radios are dead."

Chen Sixuan glanced up toward the train’s roof. She knew that right now, high above them, the massive Extreme Cold Vortex was rapidly pulling the world back into an Ice Age. The snowstorm, laced with the forces of Dark Invasion, was so intense that it had even cut off Dark Radio transmissions entirely.

At this moment, the Infinite Train had truly become a lone vessel, drifting through the endless white abyss of the snowfield blizzard.

"At our current pace, it’ll take us at least another 10 hours to reach Xilan," Chen Sixuan estimated.

Lin Xian shook his head. "That’s too optimistic. By tomorrow, the snow will be at least twice as thick. If we can even maintain 50 mph, that’d be a miracle—unless this blizzard lets up."

"Ah…" KIKI’s face was filled with worry. She rubbed her hands together and muttered, "If the snow keeps getting worse, won’t we just get buried alive?"

"If it comes to that, we might have to modify some snowmobiles… or you’ll just have to fly everyone to Xilan," Lin Xian half-joked.

If things really reached that point, abandoning the Infinite Train might be the only option.

Hearing this, KIKI’s face darkened immediately. With a distressed expression, she groaned, "Come on! I thought the worst problem was going to be the train tracks, not this damn blizzard!"

"Lin Xian." Chen Sixuan looked at him seriously. "Is there no other way?"

Lin Xian took a deep breath, thought for a moment, and then spoke with determination. "We’ll have to wait and see how the blizzard develops. If the storm weakens later tonight, we’ll be fine. But if it keeps getting worse…"

His eyes sharpened. "Then we’ll have no choice but to risk it all and push forward!"

Darkness was a desperate gamble, but getting buried by the snow was certain death. Between the two, even if there was only a slim chance of survival, charging forward was the better choice. At the very least, moving forward—even against impossible odds—was better than staying put, abandoning the train, and either trekking on foot or relying on KIKI to fly them across the frozen wasteland.

For now, though, the snow wasn’t deep enough to force that decision.

Chen Sixuan nodded. "I get it. I’ll take the night watch."

Lin Xian shook his head. "No need. Same as always—I’ll do it."

As an Ability User, his mental endurance was stronger than most. Plus, he knew that Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum would continue to release energy throughout the night, aiding in the physical evolution of his teammates. Letting them rest properly would maximize their survival chances in the long run.

Chen Sixuan hesitated, looking at him with concern, but eventually nodded in agreement.

The wind and snow gnawed at the Infinite Train’s outer armor, the blizzard’s howling forming a ghostly wail.

Inside the living carriages, team members huddled in their well-insulated bunks. Those on rest shifts had removed their thermal gear and buried themselves under thick blankets.

The heating system was running at full power, but as the blizzard outside intensified, the train’s interior temperature barely held at 12–13°C. Only areas near the heaters were warm—everywhere else, the metal walls of the train sucked the heat away, letting in the creeping chill from outside.

Fortunately, the Infinite Train had stocked up on cold-weather supplies, and Chen Sixuan had distributed canned meat rations for the night. Everyone stayed tucked in their beds, relatively comfortable despite the conditions.

In a small, cozy living pod, Xiao Yuan was wrapped in a thick blanket. She pulled back the blackout panel and peered outside, watching the raging blizzard in the darkness. A trace of worry flickered across her delicate face.

Reaching out, she pressed her fingers against the glass. A sharp, bone-chilling cold immediately seeped into her skin, making her frown.

Quickly, she shut the panel and curled back into her bed.

In the corner beside her pillow sat two cans of snow pear preserves, carefully guarded.

Fruit preserves were distributed at random, one can per person every other day. But Xiao Yuan, unwilling to eat them right away, had been saving hers. She even traded with her teammates to collect only snow pear preserves, carefully hoarding them next to her pillow.

Looking at the cans, she smiled sweetly, let out a deep breath, and quickly closed her eyes to sleep.

In four hours, she’d have to wake up for her night watch shift.

Since the blizzard made everything even more dangerous, Lin Xian had assigned a four-shift night watch rotation, ensuring the team could react quickly to any emergency.

Buzzz… Buzzz…

Both the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive and the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive remained powered up. Lin Xian kept both engines running, preventing them from freezing over.

The train’s heating system was already at maximum output, continuously pumping warmth inside.

This was a necessary energy expense for survival, but with the Gemini 11R’s 100-megawatt thermal output, electricity wasn’t an issue.

The only real problem was water consumption—not just for human needs, but also for the train’s water tanks.

Right now, they couldn’t use snowmelt to replenish the tanks. Even though Chen Sixuan had topped off the supply beforehand and prepared several large water barrels as backup, the issue remained severe.

Time quickly passed, and it was now 9:00 PM.

Extreme cold—minus 40 degrees Celsius!

Lin Xian was making every second count, simultaneously producing ammunition while crafting TRP Gen-4 Special Industrial Active Exoskeleton Power Suits!

He had to take advantage of this time to build at least two more sets. Not only would this improve his mechanical manufacturing skills, but it would also equip more people with exoskeleton power suits—a crucial necessity for moving in this icy terrain. With these suits, mobility in the snow would be greatly enhanced!

Lin Xian was becoming increasingly proficient in multitasking. In particular, making bullets had become second nature to him.

So, with his left hand manufacturing ammunition, his right hand started working on the power suits.

The challenges of making active exoskeleton power suits were similar to those of the PX-05 robots. The exoskeleton material itself wasn’t too hard to produce—the real difficulty lay in integrating the specialized intelligent combat system, power source, joint transmission shafts, and hydraulic power hubs. The total weight of the suit was 30 kilograms, equipped with a small high-energy electric drive module and 13 hydraulic power units. These required highly precise manufacturing processes, and since this was his first attempt, he had to start by crafting the main control chip from scratch.

However, after reaching Mechanical Manufacturing Level 4, both his production speed and efficiency had significantly improved. In just four hours, Lin Xian successfully completed a light gray exoskeleton suit, completely brand new, exuding the fresh scent of industrial materials.

This exoskeleton power suit offered almost zero protection outside of the arms, but its biggest advantage was its lightweight design.

Despite weighing 30 kilograms, the full-body support structure helped distribute the weight evenly to the ground. Additionally, the power system provided an explosive force of over 500 kilograms, a 100-meter acceleration time of 3.5 seconds, and a joint rotational speed of 270 degrees per second.

It also came equipped with dynamic detection, a mini radar targeting system, and biomechanical enhancements. It included several protection thresholds, such as knee joint shock absorbers, arm bone pressure sensor fuses, and cardiac overload warnings.

Overall, for Shu Qin, Chen Sixuan, Lü Chang, and Miao Lu—all gene-enhanced individuals—this power suit would be an incredible boost to their combat capabilities.

“This set goes to Ms. Chen first.”

Lin Xian exhaled deeply, then immediately began crafting the next one.

【Ding! Conducting reflective scan using non-mechanical energy.】

【Scan successful. No fear-related threats detected on the train. Dark energy intrusion neutralized.】

【Non-mechanical energy converted. +1000 Mechanical Source Points.】

"Hmm..."

As Lin Xian was about to continue, the Mechanical Heart interface suddenly popped up before him. Seeing the notification, he couldn't help but smile. Massacring the Snow Wraiths had its perks after all—Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum could actually absorb this much dark energy!

【Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.4 (2690/7000)】

Mechanical Manufacturing: 4 (360/2000) - Increases construction efficiency

"Just crafting one power suit raised my manufacturing proficiency by at least 200. Not bad at all."

As his stamina continued to recover under the faint glow of absorbed energy, Lin Xian took a deep breath.

With this support, he had to make the most of every minute tonight.

Throughout the black night, Lin Xian worked tirelessly, all the while keeping an eye on the howling blizzard outside the train.

Every so often, he would glance at the external temperature monitor—it was already approaching minus 50 degrees Celsius.

By the time he finished crafting the second exoskeleton suit, it was already 5:00 AM. Feeling restless, he got up and opened the blackout panels, only to find the windows completely covered in frost and snow.

He wasn't sure if the train was simply frozen solid or if the blizzard had finally weakened, but the roaring winds outside seemed to have died down significantly.

Shivering slightly, Lin Xian noticed that even with the train’s heating running at full power, the cabin temperature was barely in the teens.

The carriage junctions and restrooms were completely covered in frost.

He quickly donned his power suit, thermal gear, and insulated helmet, then headed toward the nuclear-powered locomotive carriage, preparing to open the cockpit door.

BANG!

The electric motor groaned in pain, but the door refused to budge.

Lin Xian frowned, then reached out to manually force it open.

The exoskeleton suit's torque output surged, and from outside the door came the sound of ice cracking apart—

It was just like his Ice Wall.

WHOOSH—!

The moment the door opened, an almost solid mass of white frost came rushing in.

Under the train’s interior lighting, Lin Xian could see that the snow had piled up against the entrance, nearly spilling into the carriage.

His expression darkened.

The train’s entrance was already 1.3 meters above the tracks, meaning the snow outside was at least 1.4 meters deep—an utterly terrifying sight.

But what relieved him slightly was that, despite the ferocious winds, the snowfall had stopped.

Bracing himself against the frigid gusts, Lin Xian stepped forward—

Crunch.

His entire leg sank deep into the snow.

He sighed.

"At least the snow is deep but not compacted."

With great effort, he pulled himself free from the snowdrift, shut the train door, and climbed onto the train roof using the armored steel panels.

Aside from the howling wind, the surroundings were shrouded in complete darkness.

Lin Xian switched on his flashlight and scanned the area—a vast expanse of white.

The Infinite Train looked as if it had pulled into a pure white station, completely encased in a thick layer of snow and ice.

The roof was buried in thick snow, while the train’s sides were encased in a layer of transparent ice, making it resemble a relic excavated from a polar ice sheet.

The engines and heaters hummed faintly, working tirelessly. Lin Xian made his way toward the front carriage, carefully inspecting the train’s condition.

【Low Temperature Warning. Low Temperature Warning.】

The exoskeleton suit’s alarm blared.

Even through his thick thermal gear, frost quickly formed on his clothes.

Walking along the train’s rooftop, Lin Xian carefully observed its state.

"We should still be able to move… As long as it doesn’t start snowing again…"

According to his calculations, there were still seven to eight hours until nightfall.

If the blizzard resumed, he might have no choice but to risk moving the train through the snow-covered terrain at night.

However, with such deep snow, coupled with the Dark Mark and the possibility of hundreds or even thousands of Snow Wraiths attacking, there would be no way to suppress the mark again.

If that happened, and they ran out of ammo with no resupply, they would be trapped with no escape—doomed to die in this frozen wasteland.

After completing his inspection, Lin Xian let out a small sigh of relief and was about to head back—

When suddenly, a thought struck him.

He immediately jumped down into the deep snow and began moving toward the wreckage of the destroyed convoy.

He needed mechanical devour!

Materials were scarce—ever since entering the Snowfield, he hadn't even seen a single power pole, let alone mechanical resources.

And right now, with a convoy full of vehicles buried in the snow, he couldn’t afford to waste this goldmine of materials.

But just as Lin Xian stepped onto the tilted wreckage of an off-road vehicle, the snow suddenly shifted beneath him—

THUMP—CRACK!

A frozen corpse, encased in a solid block of ice, smashed through the shattered windshield, revealing half of its face.

Lin Xian calmly shone his flashlight onto the face, revealing wide, frost-covered eyes staring blankly at him.

And then—

"Brother… living is so damn hard."

The frozen corpse sighed and spoke.

“I know.”

Lin Xian swept the flashlight around the buried convoy before glancing back at the frozen man inside the car.

"You did well—you managed to bring this many people all the way here."

The corpse’s stiff neck creaked as it turned to look at the large bus nearby, its voice tinged with regret.

"But none of them survived."

It then looked straight at Lin Xian.

"Your train can carry even more people… but if they all die, won’t that only make things harder for you?"

Lin Xian shook his head.

"I’m not a savior. I can’t guarantee that even my own people will make it to tomorrow. That’s why I don’t want to take in more survivors—not until I’ve reached a certain level of power."

The frozen man stared at him for a moment before speaking again.

"You’re afraid."

"Otherwise, you wouldn’t be working non-stop like this. Sleep must be a luxury for you, huh?"

Lin Xian shrugged.

"I’m an Ability User—I have plenty of stamina. Plus, the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum converts evolutionary energy to keep me going. So I’m doing just fine."

"Fine?"

The corpse reached up, touching its own broken neck before giving Lin Xian a mocking look.

"Then why can you see me… and why are you having a full conversation with a dead man?"

Lin Xian rolled his eyes.

"What can I say? Late-night loneliness hits hard."

The frozen man let out a sigh before looking at Lin Xian seriously.

"Be honest. With all this pressure, have you ever considered just joining Phoenix?"

"If you worked with them, life would be so much easier. Your abilities would be a huge asset, and you wouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of an entire train by yourself."

Lin Xian exhaled, his breath turning to frost in the air.

"That… makes sense."

He gazed out at the buried convoy, the frozen corpses, and then back at the man’s lifeless body—a body that had clearly been dead for a long time.

He wasn’t talking to anyone real.

【Devouring successful. +20 Mechanical Source Points. +10 Mechanical Devour proficiency.】

【Disassembly: Obtained High-Manganese Steel ×10, Hot-Rolled Forged Steel ×10, Cold-Rolled Dual-Phase Steel Plates ×5, Ordinary Carbon Steel ×20, Non-Metallic Foam Material, Non-Metallic Composite Material…】

As the Mechanical Devour process completed, the off-road vehicle rapidly crumbled into brown-gray ash, leaving behind only scattered junk and the frozen corpse.

With nothing left to support it, the surrounding snow collapsed inward, completely burying the body in mere seconds.

"Good luck."

The frozen man’s voice echoed softly before vanishing beneath the white abyss.

BOOM...

Suddenly, the snowfield began to tremble.

Lin Xian’s breath hitched as he saw the snow and even the air itself begin to ripple.

He immediately lifted his head.

Somewhere far away, a deep, low-frequency roar reverberated across the frozen wasteland.

And then—

A massive, invisible shockwave swept across the sky, causing the very ionosphere to distort.

For a moment, Lin Xian was convinced that a horde of Snow Wraiths was about to attack—

But instead of approaching, the strange boiling sound in the distance retreated… and then vanished completely.

The mountains around Uliyas Tai fell into an unnerving silence.

Lin Xian narrowed his eyes and looked toward the distant horizon.

Above, at the very center of the Extreme Cold Vortex, lightning crackled violently, illuminating the stormy cobalt sky.

Like a titanic cosmic beast, the howling blizzard raged on—an awe-inspiring yet terrifying sight.