48: Civilization Rift

Facing a powerful weapon like the Small Electromagnetic Railgun, Lu Yang didn't hesitate for a second. After understanding its performance, he immediately built one on each of the multi-functional expansion platforms attached to the front carriages on both sides of the Xinhuo Train, and upgraded them both to Level 3 at the first opportunity.

The Xinhuo Train cannot produce the magnetic shells for the Small Electromagnetic Railgun, but each upgrade provides a corresponding ammunition box.

After upgrading to Level 3, the Xinhuo Train's Small Electromagnetic Railgun has a reserve of 36 specialized magnetic shells for each of Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. Given the Small Electromagnetic Railgun's firing rate, this is enough for a long time.

The sky outside the train was gloomy and gray everywhere.

Under the Eternal Night disaster, even though it was daytime, there was still very little light.

Looking up, and observing closely, it would always be a bloody expanse.

The Xinhuo Train sped along the ruins of Old World roads, its radar beeping continuously.

Zombies were everywhere along the way, though not in clusters.

But scattered in twos and threes, their frequency was immeasurably higher than before.

Lu Yang ordered the Train Police Squad to shoot along the way, both to practice their shooting skills and to clear potential threats, completing the newly appeared Level 3 Train Captain tasks.

After completing Level 2 Train Captain Task Two, the Level 3 Train Captain tasks quickly refreshed.

As before, it was the three-part routine: collecting resources, hunting zombies, and taking in passengers.

[Level 3 Train Captain Tasks]

[Task One: Collect 10,000 units of tier 3 iron ore. (0/10000)]

[Task Reward: Some resources, one blue-grade accessory blueprint.]

[Task Two: Kill 5,000 Level 3 zombies. (13/5000)]

[Task Reward: Some resources, one purple-grade accessory blueprint.]

[Task Three: Train passenger count reaches 2,000. (1312/2000)]

[Task Reward: Some resources, one blue-grade accessory blueprint.]

However, the reward for the zombie-killing task had been upgraded to a purple-quality blueprint.

Every blueprint rewarded by the Train Captain tasks was a high-quality item.

A purple-quality, high-quality blueprint was exciting just to think about.

So Lu Yang made sure no zombie along the way was spared, almost wishing to actively hunt zombie hordes.

Thus, they traveled and cleared as they went.

Half an hour later, as they were about to reach the end of the Tonghe Ring Road, the Xinhuo Train stopped.

Because a huge canyon fissure had appeared ahead at some unknown time.

After the disaster, the world map underwent significant changes, but that was only in the early stages of the disaster.

Unlike the canyon fissure before them, which had appeared suddenly not long ago.

Because among the Train Captains who attended the Train Assembly that morning, many had taken this route, and at the time, no one had mentioned any information about this canyon fissure.

More crucially, even though Lu Yang saw a huge canyon fissure before his eyes, it did not show up on the Xinhuo Train's radar at all.

On the resource detection radar, the area ahead was a vast blank, unlike the left and right directions, which could display real-time models of mountains, rivers, and other objects.

Extremely peculiar!!

Thinking this, he immediately gave orders to the Train Police Squad, which had expanded to 100 people, to have Yang Kui lead a team to investigate.

A few minutes later, a reconnaissance team of several single-person tricycles, each mounted with a Gale L-type light machine gun on its side and an Harvester Individual Grenade Launcher in hand, drove away from the Xinhuo Train's rear.

They drove towards the canyon fissure.

Then, very quickly, the Strongest Train Captain System received a new message notification.

"Civilization Fissure [Golden Kobold Canyon] discovered."

"Train exploration level: 2-3."

"Danger level: Light yellow."

"Duration: 72h."

"Spatial stability: Solid."

"Hint: Exploratory, please explore promptly."

Civilization Fissure? Golden Kobold Canyon?

Lu Yang didn't know what this so-called Civilization Fissure and Golden Kobold Canyon were exactly.

But the information provided by the Strongest Train Captain System was very clear; it should be similar to a limited-time dungeon or secret realm with a relatively low danger level and a time limit.

It was likely related to the generation of regional limited-time clearance dungeons.

After a while, Yang Kui returned with his men to report.

"Master Yang, according to echo measurements, that canyon is at least 1,000 meters deep, the cliffs are very steep, and the width on both sides is too far to see the end. There's a faint mist at the bottom of the valley, and faint traces of biological activity. Although the binoculars couldn't see very clearly, we found traces of several ore deposits on the cliff face on our side. Other than that, there were no other discoveries."

Lu Yang looked at the video footage Yang Kui handed over, briefly reviewed it, and nodded: "Hmm, Captain Yang, you've worked hard. This time, everyone on the outdoor mission gets +10 work points, plus a meat bun meal voucher. But tell everyone not to let their guard down and to remain ready for combat. I plan to explore the bottom of that canyon, and if anything happens, I'll need you all to be ready to deploy at any time."

Upon hearing this, Yang Kui brought his legs together and saluted: "Master Yang, rest assured. Everyone usually conducts combat readiness training on the train when they have nothing to do. The new Train Police Officers are preferentially selected and hired from among the older passengers. Their abilities, physical fitness, and obedience are all impeccable."

"Especially since everyone remembers your kindness, Master Yang. The Xinhuo Train is everyone's only home, and everyone is very happy to do something for the Xinhuo Train. We will be on standby at all times."

Lu Yang: "Haha, Captain Yang is indeed an experienced detective; his work in this area is truly reassuring."

"I will also have the intelligent AI, Xiao Xin, prepare the outdoor supply packs. You all go back and rest, and await my news."

"Yes!!"

Ending his conversation with Yang Kui, the Xinhuo Train started again.

However, this time, the Xinhuo Train's wheels had changed from Gale Wheels to Centipede Wheels.

Taking advantage of this Train Assembly, Lu Yang specifically acquired more Iron Centipede legs and upgraded them all the way to Level 10.

Awakening the second characteristic, "Super Adhesion."

This allowed it to travel on even steeper cliffs and precipices.

Amidst a rumbling sound, the Xinhuo Train, like a giant steel centipede, climbed into the canyon cliff, slowly descending towards the valley floor.

Before long, the sound faded, and it completely disappeared into the mist.