The Star Train's Journey Through the Heavens

Chapter 90 New World
“We received Pinocchio’s invitation a long time ago, but we still have plenty of time. We can choose to visit other worlds first. Also, I checked the current location of the Luofu Immortal Ship, and it’s very close to us. Danheng, do you still want to go?” Himeko asked Danheng.

"Yes, I'm going to see the current Dragon Lord of Luofu. With my research on my own martial soul over the past two years, I'm confident I can restore her Dragon Lord inheritance to its completeness," Dan Heng said. At that time, he could finally put his last worry at ease. "However, I'm not in a hurry. Anyway, it'll only be a day since I went to another world and came back."

"Huaifeng, do you want to go back to your own world?" Ji Zi looked at Meng Huaifeng again.

"I won't go back for now. It takes so long to recharge. I'll wait until I'm stronger and the recharging time is shorter before I go back," Meng Huaifeng said directly, having already considered this.

"Then, shall we explore an unknown world first?" Himeko suggested. Everyone has curiosity, and the unknown world is like a cat's claw, constantly scratching at everyone's heart, Himeko is no exception.

"Wait, I have a question. Will we have to stay in the unknown world for another two years?" March 7th raised her little hand.

"No, after we connected the two worlds, my path of exploration has taken another step forward. Now it only takes seven months to fully recharge my energy. When we go to the new world, we will definitely go even further on our path of exploration. In addition, with the energy we have already accumulated, it will only take five or six months to bring us back," Meng Huaifeng said.

"Can't the system only accumulate energy on its own, or can you actively recharge it?" Walter asked, frowning.

Meng Huaifeng was struck dumb; he had never even considered this question!

"System, system, can I charge you automatically?" Meng Huaifeng asked hurriedly.

"No, this system is formless and intangible, and the host has no target for energy replenishment. However, if the host agrees, I can actively absorb the energy within your body," the system replied.

Meng Huaifeng calmed down. It wasn't his fault. The system had been dormant for the past two years, and it had only been revived for a little over ten days. It was normal that he hadn't thought about it.

That's right.

How much energy can my current energy provide for you?

"Approximately five percent, draining the host dry each day, with one session replenished every twenty days." The system's voice remained completely calm.

"I'll just drain you dry. Take 10% of my energy each time, three times a day. Let's agree on that for now," Meng Huaifeng decided, not wanting to become a man with kidney deficiency.

The unknown world is not necessarily safe, and it's always best to keep yourself in good condition.

"Instructions received."

As the system spoke, Meng Huaifeng felt about one-tenth of the imaginary energy in his body disappear instantly. Apart from a slight discomfort for a moment, he did not feel weak.

Maintaining 90% of his energy is enough to keep Meng Huaifeng's strength at its peak.

The changes in Meng Huaifeng's internal energy naturally couldn't be hidden from everyone, and Walter nodded and said, "It seems that it's working."

"Now it only takes a little over two months to restore power, and if necessary, we can continue to speed it up," Meng Huaifeng told everyone.

“Two months should be enough. We still need to set up the silver tracks. If we go any faster, we might not even finish setting them up,” Himeko said.

"Is two months enough?" Walter asked, still worried.

"I overestimated the centrifugal force between the two universes. In reality, we don't need that many galactic rails. It's just that it's the first time I've done something like this, and I wasn't sure what to do. To be on the safe side, I had you lay as many galactic rails as possible." Himeko looked at Walter apologetically, feeling that he had made him work so hard for nothing.

"It's okay, it's normal to have no experience the first time. As long as you succeed in the end," Walter said, unconcerned.

“Yes, according to the data analysis after the connection between the two worlds, only one-tenth of the silver rails are needed to firmly grasp the other universe. Moreover, everyone’s strength is increasing, and the more pioneering power used to lay the silver rails, the stronger they will be, and the fewer rails will be needed,” Himeko said.

"So that means things will get easier from now on," March 7th said happily.

“It’s not easy, and you don’t need to lay the silver tracks,” Xing said.

"I propose that in the next world, Ah Xing be in charge of laying the silver tracks." March 7th glared at Xing, pouting.

"I second that," Meng Huaifeng said.

"Ah? What will happen to our Galaxy Nameless Team without me? Let March go instead," Xing said hurriedly.

"Alright, this kind of work doesn't need to be done by you young people. You should go have fun. We'll hand it over to you when you've gained more experience and matured." Himeko interrupted the two who were about to start arguing again.

"Sister Ji Zi is also very young." Meng Huaifeng's mouth was as sweet as honey.

Ji Zi's lips curved slightly, clearly pleased with Meng Huaifeng's words.

"Now that we've reached an agreement, let's get going, Pam." Pam patted and walked towards the driver's seat.

Meng Huaifeng and Xing hurriedly followed.

The Star Train first moved away from the vicinity of Yalilo VI, and then slowly began to travel at a speed of about 100 meters per second.

This time, although they don't need to stop and go back to stabilize the wormhole immediately after passing through it, they will always travel to a place not too far from the so-called 'protagonist'. It wouldn't be good if they crashed into someone or any important building nearby while traveling too fast.

Meng Huaifeng is in charge of opening wormholes in the driver's cab, while Xing is responsible for preventing the train from colliding with any people or other objects on the other side, and can provide him with a shield in time.

At its current speed, protected by the power of the Star Preservation, even if the train were to collide with an ordinary person, it would not suffer any harm.

"Wormhole ready to open, ten, nine, eight... three, two, one!"

"Turn on!"

Meng Huaifeng's voice rang out over the loudspeaker. As the countdown ended, the train crew looked out the windows and saw that they had come from a boundless sea of ​​stars to a Gobi desert.

"The environment here seems a bit harsh." March 7th leaned against the car window, looking outside. It was all foggy, devoid of any animals or plants, and filled with deathly silence.

Meng Huaifeng, Xing, and Pam returned from the driver's cab to the observation cabin.

"Huaifeng, how is it? What kind of world have we arrived in?" March 7th asked impatiently.

"The world we've come to this time is a post-apocalyptic world." Meng Huaifeng rubbed his forehead.

"Huh? We're going to save the world again?" March 7th exclaimed in surprise.

"More than 30 years ago, the humans on this planet were researching immortality and touched a taboo, which led to disaster."

"There is a substance in this world called the life source substance. The quantity of the life source substance in nature seems to be finite, and it is constantly circulating in the natural ecosystem. However, human immortality will permanently imprison the life source substance in the body, and it will no longer participate in the circulation."

Therefore, humanity has touched upon some unknown taboo. First, the rampage of the mantle vines caused violent displacement of continental plates and continuously released poisonous spores, destroying the human living environment.

Then the Mana Flower appears, releasing a substance called "Scorpion Essence," which causes hallucinations and, over time, can even turn people into flesh and soil.

That wasn't enough. Soon after, the Mana Flower began creating Devouring Beasts. These beasts could sense human emotions and absorb human life essence. Humans who lost their life essence would also turn into flesh and dust.

After absorbing enough life essence, the Devouring Beast will transfer the life essence to the Mana Flower, causing the Mana Flower to evolve again and create a more powerful and targeted Devouring Beast.

Under the ravages of the mantle vines, mana flowers, and devouring beasts, human civilization collapsed completely, leaving only a tiny minority of survivors barely clinging to life.

Meng Huaifeng recounted the world information intercepted by the system. "What is this life essence? It seems that all of this originated from it," Ji Zi said with some doubt.

Meng Huaifeng shook his head; this wasn't in the information the system provided.

"Alright, it seems I'll have to investigate this myself." Himeko's eyes showed a hint of anticipation as she continued, "So, who will stay behind to guard the train this time?"

“Let me do it. The trip to Belleburg is only a little over ten days. I’m sure Walter hasn’t had enough rest yet. And Himeko, you haven’t gotten off the train in a long time either,” Dan Heng volunteered.

"Won't it be boring with just you and Pam on the bus? Why don't I stay and keep you company? I also need time to continue studying Ether Editing and analyzing my remaining Soul Skills. Besides, I have a real game that can have the game characters follow everyone, so it's like everyone gets off the bus together," Meng Huaifeng said.

He could sense everything around the character as he controlled it, and Danheng could also sense Aha's blessing, so everyone was present.

“No need. Back in the Douluo Universe, although there were three people in the car, Himeko was always doing research in the lab. Usually it was just me and Welt, and I didn’t feel bored, Pam.” Pam said nonchalantly.

“That’s not the same. Teacher Danheng is a real taciturn guy. As a senior, I should naturally set an example. I’ll stay here and keep Pam and Danheng company,” March 7th couldn’t help but say.

"No need to argue, you can all get off the train. I'll stay here myself. With your restless nature in March, you probably won't be able to stay on the train," Danheng said with a light laugh.

“In March, Danheng thought you were too noisy,” Xingchuo Huo said.

"No way! Everyone's used to it." March 7th rolled her eyes at Star.

"Alright, Danheng can stay behind. As usual, let's scan and explore this planet first. Everyone, use this time to pack your things, we'll get off the bus in a bit." Himeko clapped her hands to attract everyone's attention and gave the instructions.

……

The Lighthouse, which was a floating prison called Tartarus more than 30 years ago, was renamed Lighthouse after the Mana Ecosystem Outbreak, meaning the last home of mankind. Thanks to its floating city characteristics, it has survived to this day.

"Lord City Lord, we've spotted a train suddenly appearing in the distance," Martin, the adjutant in the control room, reported to Morgan.

"Appeared suddenly?" Morgan asked, frowning.

“Yes, we’ve been hovering here for three days now. We can confirm that there was no train there before. It really appeared suddenly, and nobody noticed how it got there,” Martin said confidently.

There isn't even a railway in that place.

"Send the hunters... never mind, send the city garrison to check." Morgan changed his mind, remembering that the hunters hadn't returned from collecting supplies.

Since it's not far from the lighthouse, sending the city's garrison there wouldn't hurt.

"Yes, Lord City Lord." Martin bowed and withdrew.

The city defense troops, who are usually responsible for guarding the lighthouse, rarely have to go down to the ground to carry out a mission, and they nervously put on their equipment.

City defense army commander Seng, piloting a gravity-powered vehicle, led more than a dozen fully armed city defense soldiers as they descended to the ground via an elevator.

There were no Devouring Beasts on the ground nearby, otherwise the lighthouse wouldn't be hovering here.

However, the city's defense troops remained cautious and on high alert throughout the journey.

The terror on the ground has long been ingrained in people's minds, so no amount of caution is too much.

From outside the train, unable to see inside, Sengge stood at the train door and called out, "Is anyone on the train?"

If no one responds, he will have the train doors pried open and the train searched for any useful supplies.

Inside the train, Walter was recounting the findings of his exploration of the planet.

"Preliminary exploration has confirmed that this planet has indeed just experienced violent crustal movement and is still unstable, which may lead to frequent natural disasters. In addition, there are a large number of life signs on this planet, but according to Huai Feng, there are very few survivors left. Therefore, these life signs should come from the Devouring Beasts."

"What is the energy level?" Himeko asked.

“The strongest is close to the Doomsday Beast. Xing and Xiao Sanyue should be able to handle it, but Huaifeng and Zhuqing still need to be careful,” Walter judged.

"Sister Ji Zi, Uncle Yang, someone's here outside." Meng Huaifeng looked out the window out of boredom and immediately noticed the fully armed city defense troops, so he gave them a heads-up.

“It seems the local inhabitants have discovered us. Let’s go out and meet them.” Himeko took the lead and walked towards the car door.

The train doors opened, and Himeko gracefully stepped out, saying softly, "Hello, we are nameless passengers of the Starry Sky Train. I am Himeko. It is my first time here. Please take care of me."

All the city's garrison soldiers stared in disbelief. Decades had passed since the apocalypse, turning people into ghosts; it was a miracle they had survived. Who had ever seen such a beautiful woman?

"Wow, so beautiful, even prettier than the Red-Haired Captain of the Hunters."

"I never imagined that after more than ten years of searching, there would still be someone alive underground, and such a beautiful one at that."

"If she joins our Lighthouse, then the Hall of Dawn..."

The city garrison soldiers whispered among themselves.

"Shut up, have you all forgotten the three survival rules that were promulgated a few years ago?" Seng said in a deep voice, and all the city defense soldiers were so frightened that they immediately fell silent.

Seng quickly glanced at Himeko and the people behind her.

None of them were carrying weapons, and they all looked frail and delicate, not like they had been trained, so they shouldn't pose a threat.

Seeing them fully armed and still daring to come out without any precautions, they are either simply stupid, or both, just like the college students in the legends... before the apocalypse.

I really don't know how a group of people like this have survived until now?
If the lighthouse could obtain the secret to their survival until now, would it be better able to ensure the lighthouse's continued existence?
What a tremendous achievement this must be! Sengge felt a surge of excitement.

After having an idea, Seng connected to the command center: "Calling the command center, this is Seng, the commander of the city defense army. We have found survivors on the train. Should we take them in?"

"Storage is permitted."

Having received a response, Seng controlled his gravity-based entity to retract his faceplate and said to Himeko, "Hello, Miss Himeko, I am Seng, the captain of the Lighthouse City Defense Force. I didn't expect that after so long, there would still be people surviving underground. Would it be convenient for you to tell me how many people there are? And how have you managed to survive underground until now?"

Himeko blinked: "Captain Seng, asking such a question in the apocalypse seems a bit presumptuous."

Himeko has seen many worlds plunged into apocalypse due to star cores. When survivors from these worlds meet in the wild, they often do not help each other, but instead kill each other for a little bit of supplies.

"Miss Himeko, please rest assured, our Lighthouse is humanity's last home, with a sound system and structure. The things you fear will absolutely not happen. In this apocalypse, humanity, as a community with a shared future, should unite, work together, and forge ahead. On behalf of the Lighthouse, I formally invite Miss Himeko and everyone else to join us," Sengge said righteously.

"This person is really nice, what they said makes a lot of sense, they seem like a good person." March 7th issued a "good person card".

　There is another chapter tonight

　　
　
(End of this chapter)