Chapter 83: Chapter 83: The Long Lost Server Announcement

Ever since she recruited Zi Yuan, Bai Cheng hadn’t deliberately collected employee cards.

Yet, whether through slaying magical beasts or plundering other survivors, she had still gathered quite a few along the way.

Compared to before, when green employee cards were scarce, she now had far more blue cards.

Although most of them were practically useless in her eyes.

"22 blue employee cards, 14 greens, and a few whites... should be enough, right?"

But Bai Cheng wasn’t worried. If she ran short, she could always make up the difference with white cards.

After all these things were practically worthless by now. They were even cheaper than cabbages.

Synthesizing a legendary employee card was no challenge for her.

[Blue Employee Card: 0/80]

Compared to the second synthesis, the requirements had increased, but since Bai Cheng was upgrading directly from blue cards, she only needed two upgrades to reach Legendary.

As the cards in her hand merged, a purple light flashed.

[Purple Employee Card: 42/120]

Bai Cheng sighed as she checked the Book of Cheng. "Still a bit short, huh."

She had no choice but to list some of her accumulated clutter on the trading list and wait for trades.

While waiting, she prepared dinner for herself and Zi Yuan.

At the same time, she decided to fuse the Ice Element Core that Leng Ningxue gave her with her second train carriage.

The food Bai Cheng had brought from the Snow Mountain Castle had long run out, and lately, she had been relying on the beast meat Chi Yan hunted.

The barrenness of the snowy mountains and the unknown stations ahead had made her realize just how crucial food storage was.

Fortunately, Leng Ningxue’s ice element could prevent spoilage, which was a huge help.

Bai Cheng walked toward the back of the train to check on things.

Passing the first carriage, she noticed that the planted potatoes had sprouted seedlings about ten centimeters tall. In a few more days, they would be fully grown.

"Finally, some vegetables," she thought, a hint of anticipation in her voice. "But I should plant more when I get the chance."

When she reached the second carriage, her eyes met stacks of chests and miscellaneous facilities piled up together.

There were tables, chairs, pickaxes, axes, and other tools, all cluttered together.

They were completely useless to her.

Trading them for employee cards was the perfect way to clear out the clutter.

However, since most survivors no longer urgently needed these items, transactions were slow, leaving much of it still piled up.

After fusing with the ice element, the second carriage looked no different, except for a faint chill in the air.

But compared to the freezing wilderness outside, it was downright cozy.

"This carriage will be for food storage from now on... and for chest warehouse."

She glanced back at the first carriage. "This one’s only for planting, then."

When will I get some personal space?!

Returning to the front carriage, she found Zi Yuan crouched in front of the cooking pot, staring eagerly at the ingredients inside as a trail of drool glistened at the corner of her mouth. She was clearly unconcerned about her image.

"Young Lady, is it ready yet?!" she asked the moment she saw Bai Cheng.

Bai Cheng checked the time. "Should be. Try it."

Without hesitation, Zi Yuan grabbed a piece of meat with her hands and stuffed it into her mouth. "(Munch munch munch) Young Lady, it’s delicious!"

"Oh, Young Lady, do we still have any of that red and sour one?"

"You mean tomatoes?" Bai Cheng rummaged through a nearby chest and found the last one. "Here, toss it in yourself."

After days of eating with Bai Cheng, Zi Yuan had picked up some skills. In a few quick cuts, she diced the tomato and threw it into the pot.

The aroma grew richer, but she restrained herself from devouring it immediately, first scooping a bowl for Bai Cheng.

As for the bowl, it was a bowl fired from clay.

Bai Cheng had also taught Zi Yuan a few human dining habits.

While eating, Bai Cheng suddenly felt a warm current surge through her body, followed by a gradual, soothing sensation.

She recognized it as a sign of her level rising.

But... she was already Common Rank 9!

Just as the feeling was about to peak, it abruptly stopped, leaving her strangely unsettled.

She didn’t feel any physical enhancement, and there was no change from before.

Still, she quickly realized what was happening and checked the screen.

[Train Conductor: Bai Cheng]

[Rank: Common Rank 9]

[EXP: 100%]

[Strength: 24]

[Constitution: 24]

[Spirit: 30]

[Talent: Book of Cheng]

"So, my EXP is maxed out," Bai Cheng narrowed her eyes. "Looks like I can’t break through without completing the altar mission."

Her gaze shifted to the Altar of Spoils.

[Name: Altar of Spoils]

[Current Spoils: 2/2 (Conditions Met)]

[Prerequisite: Reach Common Rank 9 (Conditions Met)]

[Conditions have been met. Would you like to begin your promotion mission now?]

Bai Cheng had been curious about this mission for a while. Without hesitation, she clicked[Yes].

[Promotion Mission I: First Step to Transcendence]

[Details: The station has been locked as a special station for promotion trials. Defeat the Boss to obtain promotion slots.]

[Hint: This is an open station. You may invite other survivors to join the battle with no limit on the numbers. Survivors who have completed the trophy mission will also be forced to activate this mission.]

[Cooldown: 3 days (Cannot activate another promotion mission during this period.)]

[Note: Among all survivors who complete the trophy mission, only one can claim all promotion slots, including teammates. However, slots can be transferred.]

Bai Cheng paused. The mission itself was simple.

But the station’s restrictions were clearly designed to reignite conflict among those seeking promotion.

"The strong grow stronger, huh? Interesting."

Three days might not create a huge gap, but falling behind early meant struggling later. The more people promoted, the fiercer the competition.

Surviving future stations without promoting would be impossible.

As Bai Cheng pondered, several new notifications popped up on the screen.

[Channel Announcement!]

[Congratulations to Pioneer Bai Cheng for becoming the first to activate a promotion mission! A special reward has been granted!]

The announcement forcibly appeared before all survivors, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

Those who didn’t understand were still clueless, but those who did frowned under the sudden pressure.

The long-absent announcement also breathed rare life into the otherwise dead chat channel.

"Promotion mission? What’s that? Can any expert explain to me?"

"Judging by the name, it’s probably a Rank-up quest. So Bai Cheng’s already Common Rank 9?"

"You need to complete a mission to break through? That’s brutal!"

"Recruiting teammates, Pioneers are preferred! My mission has activated too!"

The last message was from Tang Yan.

Meanwhile, Bai Cheng hadn’t bothered to check the channel’s chats. She had long stopped paying attention to their idle talk.

Still, aside from making her famous again, this announcement had another benefit.

The trash she had listed on the exchange sold out at an astonishing speed.

With the remaining 78 white employee cards finally gathered, a golden light flashed, and a radiant legendary employee card took form in her hand.