Apocalypse: I Build A Doomsday Train-Chapter 175 - 170: Monitoring Everyone

With a clear plan, Lin Xian came to car No. 3 to address Ding Junyi’s lodging issue but found her still engrossed in studying the black threadworms extracted from Zombie Crows.

"I don’t like anyone disturbing me while I’m working," Ding Junyi paused her work, turned around, and looked at Lin Xian, "but you are the exception."

Lin Xian was slightly taken aback: "That’s quite unexpected."

"You are now my employer and also the partner I chose to cooperate with. I should show you respect and attention."

Lin Xian walked over with a smile: "I won’t be paying you, so I am not your employer, and I don’t think people who experience life and death together are merely ’partners’."

"This world is already full of dangers and challenges; since I’ve agreed to get on board, you don’t have to judge the pros and cons of communicating with me from the perspective of our cooperation. Relax a bit; I have no demands for research results. If you must set conditions for your contribution, just help me grow those seeds."

Lin Xian had indeed undergone a considerable change in mindset. Initially, when he formulated the Infinity Train Plan, he wanted everyone to maximize their value on the train; he was both nervous and cautious at that time.

Now, however, he no longer wishes to assess casually the contributions of those on board. For survival, each individual shines within their own limits, and these people gathered around him made him feel the support of the team—the unity and strength supporting everyone to uphold their beliefs through the endless night.

Ding Junyi looked at him, her gaze slightly shifting, then broke the silence: "Thank you, your attitude towards me has really brightened my mood."

"However, I am a scientist, not a gardener. Besides the desired Plant Cultivation Chamber, I will not stop researching Dark Creatures. This is to realize my self-worth, and it is also the effort I want to make."

"Alright." Lin Xian understood and genuinely supported her.

He had specifically made a radio for Ding Junyi to tune into various useful research information from the apocalyptic broadcasts, which combined with her studies, could truly provide valuable analyses to the team.

"By the way," Lin Xian suddenly remembered the matter at hand: "I was rearranging the carriages and haven’t yet arranged where you’ll stay?"

"No need to arrange anything."

Ding Junyi pointed to a partition not far from the research table: "The disinfection room has ample space. I’ve already cleaned it out and it can be used for napping. It can also serve as my personal rest area."

Lin Xian was somewhat surprised looking towards that partition; a single bed could fit, but the space was indeed a bit cramped.

Seeing Lin Xian’s expression, Ding Junyi straightforwardly commented: "It’s just a place to sleep. My work area spans two entire carriages, making me the one with the largest usage area on the entire train, so for me, it’s not cramped. Of course, if you want to sleep with me there, it indeed would be cramped and not soundproof."

Cough~

Lin Xian cleared his throat and shifted the topic: "Having passed the high-altitude corridor, we’ve got some time for maintenance. If there’s anything you need for upgrading the train, feel free to mention it."

"Indeed, there is."

Ding Junyi walked over to a computer nearby and opened a panel: "With the increased members, there are now more samples to study. Therefore, I’d like to conduct a Superpower evolutionary data check on all personnel, which will contribute to our research on Dark Power."

"Check? Which aspect are you referring to?"

"Physical examination."

Ding Junyi said: "Shu Qin, Chen Sixuan, and others without superpowers have already clearly demonstrated an evolutionary state, and the mechanisms for physical enhancement they have acquired are not the same. Other people will also change in different aspects. I believe that the Phoenix Society is also observing this pattern. If this aspect becomes clearer, then ordinary people without superpowers will also be able to find ways to enhance their survival ability."

"Do you think everyone will evolve?" Lin Xian asked. freeweɓnovel.cøm

"Yes, it’s just individual differences, so we need extensive data sampling, including the types of evolution, growth rates, causes triggering evolution, individual differences, etc. If we could regularly survey and monitor everyone on the train, and combine it with the data published by the Phoenix Society, I might be able to provide a comprehensive ’Evolution Plan’ to everyone on board."

Evolution Plan.

When Ding Junyi mentioned this term, Lin Xian felt a sudden shock in his heart, and he immediately asked, "What about the evolution of superpower users? The Phoenix Society doesn’t have a clear plan yet. The group of four Black Crows we encountered before has been hunting other superpower users, including one abnormal ability user I met who said killing Abnormal Bodies or superpower users can lead to evolution, but the problem is..."

"Not accurate enough." Ding Junyi adjusted his glasses, "The early Angel Plan indeed came up with an experimental result that after killing Abnormal Bodies and superpower users, a kind of energy overflow occurs which somewhat resembles the Spirit Swinging Value and can be absorbed by the experimental bodies gaining certain enhancements. However, after our research on Mysterious Blood Essence, we found that the scattered energy is far less dense than the energy contained in Mysterious Blood Essence. Thus, if one wants to evolve a superpower, whether an ordinary person or a superpower user, directly consuming Mysterious Blood Essence is the most direct method."

Lin Xian frowned upon hearing this, "Is it that simple?"

"In theory, it is. However, consuming Mysterious Blood Essence is a very dangerous act. The first human ghost in the Angel Plan’s old laboratory was an experimental body that underwent evolutionary mutation after consuming Mysterious Blood Essence."

"Fallen?"

"That’s right."

Ding Junyi continued, "You can think of the Dark Tide as an energy invasion from some high-dimensional world, and the Abnormal Bodies are creatures of this world. Most humans can’t withstand this energy assault and thus become Fallen, evolving into Zombies, while those of us who survive represent our gradual adaptation to this invading force. But this dark attacking power is too unknown for us; why some gain superpowers, why some evolve faster than others, we haven’t found definitive reasons. Therefore, forcibly consuming the power of Blood Essence and trying to directly obtain evolution is obviously very reckless without understanding this principle."

Lin Xian fell silent for a moment; he remembered when KIKI went through the Fallen transformation, and he had given KIKI Mysterious Blood Essence to consume, which was indeed reckless, but there had been no other choice at the time.

"So evolution isn’t simply about obtaining the power of this dark invasion, it also depends on individual differences, maybe call it... triggers?"

Ding Junyi nodded, "Yes, but there’s one widely accepted condition, which is the mental willpower. This is also why many superpower users feel they are more likely to evolve in life-threatening situations since people often exhibit extremely strong willpower when facing death, commonly called the survival instinct. For example, Lou Ye’s recent evolution seemed very perilous, but Chen Sixuan’s evolution more closely follows the path of mental growth of an ordinary person, which is also a crucial factor."

Lin Xian sighed deeply, "Then in this environment, if the willpower collapses or consuming the Blood Essence exceeds the limit that the body can withstand, leading to the wrong evolution, they would likely become Zombies or human ghosts?"

"This has been confirmed." Ding Junyi said, "That’s why I believe it’s necessary to regularly check everyone on the train, not only for research purposes but also to understand the conditions of the personnel inside, to prevent any of our people from becoming Fallen, which could trigger a chain infection."

"Alright." Captain Lin nodded, then looked at the Hell Black Chrysanthemum, its red light still bright: "What about this?"

Ding Junyi looked at the black flower in the Plant Cultivation Chamber behind her and said lightly, "We are still observing the red light reaction; so far, there are no clear patterns. The previous statements were just my personal speculations."

"Can we take down the flower for a bit of research?" Lin Xian asked.

"This plant is not from our world, and from our previous analysis, it has an energy density far exceeding that of Mysterious Blood Essence, but we can’t conduct specific experiments right now because it is the only experimental sample in our lab, and the higher-ups have instructed us not to physically damage it, so we haven’t taken any samples for experiments."

"I understand." Lin Xian smiled, pointing at the flower, "Aside from not conducting human experiments, feel free to tinker with it."

Keeping a treasure without researching it would just be like consecrating it, Lin Xian did not care whether it was the only sample or not, if it couldn’t provide value, then it was just useless weed.

Ding Junyi raised her eyebrows appreciatively at Lin Xian, "I indeed intend to, thank you for your authorization."