Death Train: SSS-level talent right from the start!

One hour later.

The group left the palace.

The pale light of daylight reappeared overhead, and although the wind was still cold, it was no longer as biting as it was deep inside the palace.

On the icy plains outside the palace, the remains of the slain giant beasts still lay scattered on the snow, covered with a thin layer of newly fallen snowflakes.

The trains parted ways at the palace gates.

Shi Jian led his team up to Chen Ye and stopped. "We were able to pass through safely this time, all thanks to you."

Chen Ye waved his hand: "I can't kill the Ice Lord of Extreme Cold by myself."

Shi Jian smiled, a smile that carried the relief of someone who had survived a close call: "I hope that next time our two trains participate in the same survival test, everyone will still be alive."

Chen Ye nodded slightly: "I hope so."

"I'm gone."

Shi Jian didn't say anything more, turned around and led his team south.

Yang Zhen, along with two teammates, quickly caught up with Shi Jian.

Zhong Xiu's team didn't linger either. She glanced at Chen Ye without saying a word, then turned away and led Yang Lan and three young team members westward toward the snow-covered plains.

In a short while, only the passengers from train G4939 remained at the palace gate.

Chen Ye's team of six, Lu Qingchuan's team of five, Wu Hao, Lu Yang's team of five, and Su Jin's team of four all walked out of the palace alive.

The four teams totaled 20 people, but Jiang Ning didn't stay with them; she had already left on her own.

Many people also died on their train inside the palace.

Su Jin's team survived thanks to Chen Ye's repeated assistance. As for why Chen Ye helped them, it was because he didn't want all the people he knew to die.

The snow was still falling, settling on everyone's shoulders and hair, accumulating into a thin layer.

Lu Qingchuan walked to Chen Ye's side, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke up: "Chen Ye, what's up with Qin, the guy on your team? Isn't he a ranged specialist?"

His tone carried a clear curiosity, but he asked the questions with restraint, without probing to the point of being offensive.

Chen Ye glanced at Qin Zhaoyang, then turned back and said, "It's hard to say for sure right now; we don't know if it's a blessing or a curse."

He didn't elaborate, but simply brushed it off with a vague statement.

After this test, he was certain that the bark man had been secretly observing them.

Since the bark man is willing to take action, he must have something in mind. Once he is strong enough, the bark man will naturally tell him more information.

Moreover, the bark man said that Qin Zhaoyang was not the only one who ate the seeds, which was clearly part of a larger scheme.

But given his current strength, he probably doesn't even qualify to be a pawn. However, the bark man's words shouldn't be taken at face value.

Seeing that Chen Ye didn't intend to explain further, Lu Qingchuan didn't press the matter. He simply nodded and changed the subject: "Let's go back to the station then. There's still more than a day left in the trial. The sooner we get back, the sooner we can rest easy."

"Let's go."

Chen Ye withdrew his gaze, turned around, and strode towards the direction of Bingyuan North Station.

Lu Qingchuan led Wang Zekai, Shen Nanxing, and Gu Lina along the side.

Su Jin's team and Wu Hao and Lü Yang's team were at the very back.

The group of twenty people gradually drifted away in the wind and snow, their footprints leaving a trail of varying lengths on the snow, which was then covered layer by layer by the constantly falling new snow.

……

The next day.

Three o'clock in the morning.

Chen Ye and his group returned to the North Station of the Ice Abyss Mountains.

Jiang Ning has returned. He is leaning against the wall of carriage number two, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Besides Jiang Ning, there were seven other passengers who did not enter the Ice Crystal Palace. They returned to the station early after seeing that the trial mission had been completed.

Zhao Hai stopped in the middle of the platform, his gaze sweeping over the seven passengers in the station: "There are only so few people left. They'll probably have to merge the trains again."

Wang Zekai turned his head when he heard this: "There are only 42 people from our train participating in the Ice Abyss Trial. It's already good that there are still so many people left. As for merging the trains, it's only a matter of time anyway."

Lu Qingchuan nodded: "Indeed, it's already beyond our expectations that so many people survived this time."

He paused for a moment, then glanced in Chen Ye's direction: "This trial was much more dangerous than the Mechanical City trial. If it weren't for Chen Ye, we would all be done for."

Chen Ye glanced around at the passengers in the station and then looked away: "Mechanical City is three-star difficulty, this time it's three and a half stars, the difficulty has been increased."

Lu Qingchuan nodded: "That's true."

Afterwards, everyone returned to their respective carriages to rest.

Chen Ye's group stopped in front of carriage number one. Qin Zhaoyang plopped down on the ground, leaning back against the carriage wall, and exhaled a long puff of white breath.

Chen Ye squatted down beside him, his gaze fixed on Qin Zhaoyang's face: "Zhaoyang, can you communicate with that tree-bark man?"

Qin Zhaoyang was stunned for a moment, then turned his head to look at Chen Ye: "No way! He has to come out on his own, and I can't use his power."

After pondering for a moment, Chen Ye said, "You can try communicating with the tree-bark man. He might know what you're thinking. He's been observing us all along."

"oh!"

Qin Zhaoyang nodded.

Chen Ye didn't continue with the question. He flipped his hand, and two items appeared out of thin air in his palm.

On the left is a small rectangular mirror, its surface gleaming with a fine, cold light, and it feels icy to the touch, like a piece of jade just taken from an ice cellar.

On the right is a palm-sized golden treasure chest with fine, flowing patterns on its surface.

Zhao Hai crouched down beside Chen Ye, his gaze fixed on the two items: "The loot dropped by the Extreme Cold Ice Lord?"

"right."

Chen Ye first held the small mirror in front of him, summoned the item information panel, and a light blue light screen unfolded in front of him.

[Item: Ice Mirror]

[Rank: Silver]

[Effect: Releases an ice mirror upon use, reflecting all attacks. Cooldown: 24 hours.]

Zhao Hai's gaze lingered on the panel for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly: "Reflect all attacks? Isn't that the move used by the Extreme Cold Ice Master?"

"More or less." Chen Ye flipped the Frost Mirror in his palm, then turned to look at Gu Qinghuan, who was standing at the edge of the line: "Here, take this."

Gu Qinghuan did not refuse, reached out and took the mirror, then put it into her storage space.

She gave all her White Tiger Seals to Chen Ye, so it's only right that Chen Ye compensate her with a prop.

Chen Ye then summoned the item information of the golden box.

[Golden Treasure Chest: Opening this chest will randomly grant you one special item. Opening it requires one Golden Key.]

Wen Ning walked over from the side and looked down at the golden-glowing box: "Golden treasure chest, it should be able to open gold-grade items, but I don't know what level of difficulty monster you have to defeat to get the key."

"It should only have a chance to drop from elite monsters or bosses in at least four-star trials, so it seems unlikely that we can get the key for the time being."

Chen Ye flipped his hand and put the golden treasure chest back into his storage space.