Chapter 82: Chapter 82: A Minor Renovation (Bonus Chapter)

She had a feeling that these items were anything but ordinary.

After exiting the station, Bai Cheng had completely forgotten about them due to the survivors’ siege.

"Still, they’re twenty legendary items. They can’t be useless, right?"

Bai Cheng opened the pass’s information.

[Name: Evil Totem]

[Quality: Legendary]

[Usage 1: As a consumable item, summons rootvines to bind all creatures within a ten-meter radius for 1 second. Cannot be broken free during this time.]

[Usage 2: Fuse with an attributeless Armor Core to gain the ability [Rootvine Magic].]

[Usage 3: Use as an element to fuse with the Train Core.]

[Hint: Identical totems can be fused for stronger effects. Each fusion increases effectiveness by 5% (up to 100%).]

[Evaluation: So many uses!]

Bai Cheng was stunned. She hadn’t expected these legendary items to have so many applications.

The only regret was that the legendary item she had worked hard to obtain turned out to be a one-time consumable.

"As expected, the system is still too stingy."

However, these passes were legendary items after all. Even as consumables, they possessed an unreasonable conceptual ability.

"Absolute immobilization for one second?" Bai Cheng rested her chin on her hand. "Does that mean if I encounter a stronger enemy in the future, I can just use these to kill them above my level?"

One second isn’t enough to finish them off?

No problem, I still have nineteen!

"But given my current growth rate, I theoretically won’t run into such enemies."

Her eyes narrowed as she suddenly realized the passes’ true purpose.

They’re meant to help survivors hunt Bosses!

Completing trophy missions and slaying Bosses was the only way to achieve an Elite Rank promotion. These things were the key to overcoming stronger foes!

Bai Cheng’s mood soured again.

Why is it so easy for others to progress?!

Well... maybe it’s because my growth was too fast...

She chose to fuse all the passes. After all, the effects stacked.

As for using them as Train Core Elements or Armor Cores? She didn’t even consider it. That would be a waste!

Once all twenty totems were fused, Bai Cheng curiously checked the information again.

The binding duration had increased to 20 seconds, though the range remained unchanged. The other uses stayed the same.

She guessed that she probably wouldn’t need this for future Boss fights, but it could still serve as a trump card.

She stored the slightly enlarged totem away for now.

After refueling the boiler, topping off the water tank, and setting the furnace to continuously smelt ores, Bai Cheng released the brake lever, and the train slowly began to move.

Snowflakes blew in through the gaps between the windows, melting into droplets. The cold wind brushed against her face as the world outside began to recede.

The survivors she killed earlier had barely given her any EXP. Her current level wasn’t enough to meet the mission requirements.

But Bai Cheng decided to wait a little longer. Magic crystals were too scarce, and they could also be used as materials, so she was reluctant to waste them.

She also suspected that, just like before, the altar would guide her to a specific destination rather than just the next station.

Only by slaying a Boss and breaking through could Chi Yan and Zi Yuan grow stronger.

Bai Cheng sat on the Skeleton Throne. This way, even while the train was moving, she could still farm EXP.

But she wasn’t idle, either. Among the loot from the slain survivors were many miscellaneous items. She began upgrading them one by one.

While farming EXP, she also made sure to leech attribute points.

Before she knew it, an entire day had passed.

At some point, a blizzard had begun raging outside the windows. The world was pitch black, save for a lone train slowly traversing the frozen wasteland.

As for why it was slow, it was because Bai Cheng had sent Chi Yan out to hunt.

This way, he could occasionally catch up to the train while still covering ground.

Anyway, he wasn’t complaining about exhaustion.

The Frigid Snowy Mountains were rich in minerals but severely lacking in survival resources. Even the local wildlife was sparse. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Bai Cheng had already spent quite some time in the mountains, but the only employee cards she had obtained were the White Wolf and White Fox. Those from the trophy missions didn’t count.

A golden light suddenly flashed, and the most difficult item she had upgraded today was finally complete.

[Top-Grade! Strengthened Adaptive Train Wiring!]

[You have gained 1 distributable attribute point!]

After assigning the point, Bai Cheng reinstalled the wiring and leisurely checked its details.

[Name: Strengthened Adaptive Train Wiring]

[Output Devices: Element Collector...]

[Enhanced Adaptability: Alters the form of related equipment (all electrical devices) for the train’s convenience!]

[Description: No input devices required. Does not increase boiler fuel consumption. Energy-saving and eco-friendly!]

[Evaluation: This is completely unscientific!]

Bai Cheng frowned, baffled. "What does that even mean?"

"Electrical devices... Do legendary flashlights count?"

After all, her flashlight had already been upgraded to legendary grade. Technically, it didn’t need electricity.

But the moment she placed the flashlight into the output device, it vanished.

Then, a prompt popped up.

[Enhanced Adaptability: Train Searchlight!]

At the same time, a bright searchlight appeared at the front of the train, casting an orange-yellow glow over the tracks ahead.

Bai Cheng blinked in surprise. "It can do that!?"

The flashlight had only been useful during the rail cart days. It was practically worthless now.

She inserted another flashlight, and the train’s searchlights became two, resembling a pair of gleaming eyes in the dark.

Then, she inserted another one, and side lights appeared along the locomotive’s body.

This time, Bai Cheng dumped all her spare flashlights in at once. They were just excess loot anyway.

Soon, both carriages had side lights, along with rearlights and fog lights.

The original searchlights also upgraded from halogen yellow to a brighter white.

In an instant, the entire train took on a somewhat modern aesthetic.

"What about the lantern?" Bai Cheng submitted the infinite energy lantern next.

Immediately, two parallel LED strips appeared on the ceiling, running along the sides of the carriage.

They emitted a white glow, illuminating the entire interior.

There’s indoor lighting too!

Bai Cheng’s mood improved. Not only that, but she also managed to offload some useless items. It was a perfect win-win.

It’s a minor renovation, after all.

Now that the entire train was properly lit indoors and outdoors, Bai Cheng found herself yearning for further improvements to her living conditions.

She sighed. "Forget it, no point dwelling on that now."

Instead, she took out all the employee cards she had collected, her gaze sharpening.

"It’s time to recruit my third legendary employee."