117: Screening the People

In the following days, Lu Yang had the Kobolds diligently mine, while also having the survivors and passengers of You Shan County collect useful materials for the Flesh Transformation Pool.

They also collected any useful items they could find.

These included books, movie discs, fitness equipment, sports gear, sanitary napkins, clothing, and many non-train produced standard foods that were still edible—essentially, anything that might be useful in future life.

Although the Xinhuo Train could produce many of these items itself, it would consume resources like Iron Ore. It was much more satisfying to simply scavenge them.

Moreover, due to the presence of the Flesh Mountain and Evil Puppet Humanoids, many areas of You Shan County had been inaccessible to survivors, leaving almost half the county as a 'treasure trove' for searching.

Against this backdrop, the collected supplies filled dozens of 100-ton King Trucks used for temporary transport. Because of this, Lu Yang had to stay in You Shan County for several more days.

However, the harvest was extremely bountiful.

To store these supplies, Lu Yang specially built a new carriage, filling it with Micro Ecological Farms to house these items.

Even then, it was packed to the brim, with enough collected resources to last several thousand people for over a decade.

During this period, the abundant living human aura in You Shan County attracted a Level 3 zombie horde of over ten thousand.

The result, of course, was a massive supply of fresh material for the Flesh Transformation Pool.

At the same time, Lu Yang also completed the Level 3 Train Captain's second mission: kill 5,000 Level 3 zombies.

He received a large number of mission rewards—

A [Wheel Quick Switcher Blueprint (Blue)] and 3,000 units of Level 3 wood, 2,000 units of tier 3 copper ore, and 1,000 units of tier 3 iron ore.

This greatly replenished the severely depleted wood reserves on the Xinhuo Train.

While the [Wheel Quick Switcher Blueprint] was only a blue blueprint, and its quality might seem a bit lacking for the current Xinhuo Train, its function was extremely practical.

It allowed for quick wheel changes based on terrain needs. Previously, Lu Yang had to wait a considerable amount of time each time he switched the Xinhuo Train's wheels, but now, it only took ten seconds.

The Level 5 feature, 'In-Motion Switching,' was even more practical, allowing for wheel changes even while the train was moving. However, the train's speed needed to be controlled within the maximum speed of the wheels being switched to.

For example, when switching from Gale Wheels to Centipede Wheels, since Centipede Wheels have a maximum speed of only 150km/h, the Gale Wheels' speed would need to be reduced below 150km/h before switching.

Lu Yang felt this was still somewhat inconvenient.

So, he upgraded the [Wheel Quick Switcher] to Level 10.

Unexpectedly, the 'Stable Connection' feature he gained seemed to perfectly anticipate his thoughts.

[Stable Connection: When performing 'In-Motion Switching' of wheels, there is no need to pre-control the speed. After the wheel switch, temporary airflow assistance can be used to increase or decrease pressure, helping the train's speed to smoothly and evenly increase or decrease.]

This way, when the Xinhuo Train traveled through the wilderness, Lu Yang could change the wheels more freely and at any time, adapting to changes in the environment.

Five days later.

Having thoroughly scavenged You Shan County, Lu Yang prepared to leave.

However, before that, there was a small matter that needed to be handled.

That was, which of the existing 1,500-plus survivors in You Shan County should be taken?

Many people's hearts had become twisted like devils during their previous lives in the apocalypse.

When faced with the Xinhuo Train's weaponry and the pressure to survive, they could barely suppress the evil within them.

But once they were all taken onto the Xinhuo Train, the extent of the subsequent chaos was currently immeasurable.

Especially with the existence of the Magic Net Core, if a large number of individuals with malicious intent were placed inside the Magic Net Core, the negative energy generated would likely cause the Magic Net Core's negative energy carrying capacity to surge significantly.

Just as Lu Yang was considering how to fully identify these individuals with malicious intent, Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess stepped forward voluntarily.

"Great Holy Spirit Master, I sense your anxiety."

"Perhaps I can help you."

Today, Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess was wearing a specially customized, dark purple, almost black, modified robe made by the Custom Clothing Manufacturer.

The fabric was like silk yet not silk, with subtle dark patterns flowing within. The tailoring was exquisite, and the high collar design made her appear like a saintess who had just stepped out of a holy land, sacred and inviolable.

However, the waist was cinched extremely tight, outlining a breathtaking curve, and a slit on one side of the robe extended to her thigh, subtly revealing her long legs in matching stockings and uniquely styled dark gold high heels as she moved. The sleeves were wide, embroidered with complex golden runes at the cuffs, and a faint fragrance wafted as she raised her hand, leaving much to the imagination.

The Custom Clothing Manufacturer, as a non-essential upgrade vehicle accessory unlocked at Level 2 Train, was very cheap to build. When wood resources were relatively abundant on the train, Lu Yang upgraded it to Level 10, gaining two features: 'Perfect Customization' and 'Aura Manifestation.' The Level 10 high-end clothing produced not only perfectly fit the wearer's figure but also possessed a unique aura, whether charming, sacred, solemn, or majestic.

Lu Yang's everyday attire was Level 10 clothing produced by the Custom Clothing Manufacturer.

Nowadays, with his physique and mental strength, coupled with the effects of 'Perfect Customization' and 'Aura Manifestation,' almost no other member on the Xinhuo Train dared to meet his gaze when they saw him.

It was as if he was a born superior.

Everyone was his subject.

Of course, Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess was an exception.

Whenever Lu Yang appeared in Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess's line of sight, unless Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess was bowing.

Otherwise, her gaze was always fervent and adoring as she looked at Lu Yang.

Just as she was now.

Seeing Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess step forward, Lu Yang relaxed his brows and unconsciously shifted his gaze from her distinctly long, beautiful legs beneath her robe, asking, "Can you discern whether they have committed evil, and their hidden inner thoughts?"

Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess smiled brightly, pointing to the slender golden 紋 on her brow: "Great Holy Spirit Master, the Eye of Insight is best at discerning human hearts."

"I only need to directly ask them the questions you are concerned about, and no matter how they answer, I can determine the truth."

"With the help of the Train Intelligent Auxiliary AI Xiao Xin, I can filter out all the docile subjects the great Holy Spirit Master requires within half a day."

It turned out that Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess's estimate of half a day was conservative.

The actual process took less than two hours.

And most of that time was spent calling people.

She gathered the candidates to be screened in batches of fifty into a temporary inquiry room set up on the Xinhuo Train.

She directly asked them one question—

Have you ever committed evil deeds? Or does your innermost heart harbor deep resentment towards the Xinhuo Train?

The only answer options were "Yes" or "No."

Even if they didn't answer, it didn't matter; as long as their hearts had any fluctuation regarding the question, Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess could make a judgment.

Those who passed exited through the left, while those who didn't returned outside the Xinhuo Train.

Two-thirds of the people were eliminated in one go.

Lu Yang would continue to bring the remaining one-third into the Magic Net Core for spiritual energy observation.

Surprisingly, they all, without exception, met his requirements.

This made Lu Yang look at Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess's abilities with newfound respect.

It was just a pity that he was about to send her out soon.

Lu Yang: "Are you sure you want to take all these remaining people into your 'New Ghost Princess'? They are not easy to deal with!"

Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess: "Great Holy Spirit Master, the Hall of Heroes needs warriors like these. The more evil intentions they have in their hearts, the stronger they can become after being transformed by the Hall of Heroes."

"And precisely because of this, if the transformation fails, there's no need to feel bad, isn't that right?!"

"At that time, even if only one-tenth of the transformed individuals survive, it will be worth it."

"Only then will they truly be your subjects, and they will serve you without reservation when you need them."

Hearing this, Lu Yang nodded noncommittally.

Yes, in the apocalypse, human lives were cheap, but loyalty was the most valuable thing!

The reason he was letting Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess go was precisely because her loyalty was unreserved and wouldn't waver.

Only then, when she developed and became powerful, would she be an asset to him.

Otherwise, it would become a version of the farmer and the snake story in the apocalypse.