"Central Air Conditioning," "Permanent Shock Absorption," "Medical Bay."
These three yellow-grade Vehicle Components were all optional parts for a Level 3 Train, and he had already crafted them all back in the Iron Ridge Wasteland. However, he hadn't upgraded them at the time due to a lack of Iron Ore.
Upgrading yellow-grade Vehicle Components from Level 1 to Level 10 generally required 45,000 units of Iron Ore, which was significantly more expensive than white-grade components. White-grade components often only needed 4,400 units of Iron Ore to upgrade from Level 1 to Level 10.
After consuming 45,000 units of Iron Ore.
The yellow-grade component "Central Air Conditioning" was quickly upgraded to Level 10 and gained two Supermodel Effects!-
"Central Air Conditioning Level 5 Supermodel Effect": Reduces energy consumption by half.
"Central Air Conditioning Level 10 Supermodel Effect": When operating the fresh air system, if toxic gases or extremely poor air quality are detected outside, it will immediately stop air intake. This effect requires the "Oxygen Generator" to be upgraded to Level 10 and obtain its corresponding Supermodel Effect, as well as fully upgrading the Train Auxiliary AI.
The Central Air Conditioning comes with a fresh air system that can effectively improve the air quality inside the Train.
Upgrading had no additional effects.
It basically functioned within the normal temperature range of a standard air conditioner, unable to directly heat up to over a hundred degrees or cool down to negative two hundred degrees Celsius. However, in extremely cold or hot environments, it could still maintain a normal temperature range inside the Train.
The only downside was that energy consumption would increase significantly.
This was where the Level 5 Supermodel Effect came into play, which was a decent universal effect.
The Level 10 Supermodel Effect only came into play in specific environments and was mostly unused. But when it was needed, it played a critical role. The Level 10 Supermodel Effect of the "Oxygen Generator" was to analyze the surrounding air quality in real-time and synchronize the report to the Train Auxiliary AI.
The weather was getting colder.
Winter was approaching, and by then, Trains that hadn't been upgraded to Level 3 and couldn't craft the "Central Air Conditioning" component would likely struggle, and many people might freeze to death.
The Train Conductor naturally had ways to stay warm, as the highest treatment on a Train was always prioritized for the Conductor. However, many Slaves would likely freeze to death, and even if they didn't, frostbite would significantly reduce their work efficiency.
Residents on his Train didn't have to worry about this.
Inside the Train, there was air conditioning, and outside, they had clothes with the "Temperature Lock" effect. This effect was a Supermodel Effect obtained by upgrading the "Clothing Customization Production Line" to Level 5. Most people couldn't upgrade this component to Level 5, as even if they had Murphy Stones, they wouldn't want to spend them on this component. Moreover, only Level 4 Trains or higher had a chance to obtain Murphy Stones, as they didn't appear in lower-level areas.
Additionally—
Residents on his Train also had "Bread Slices" and "Mineral Water," which had Supermodel Effects that, when consumed long-term, could enhance physical fitness and reduce the likelihood of falling ill.
It could be said.
The living conditions of the residents on his Train were almost superior to those on all other Trains in the Iron Ridge Wasteland and Shahe Plain.
At least, under the daily high-pressure workload, no resident had died from exhaustion or serious illness so far, which was enough to prove that the Train was doing an excellent job in this regard.
In the apocalypse, what more could one ask for with such an environment?
Chen Mang then turned his attention to the yellow-grade component "Permanent Shock Absorption." The effect of this component was to significantly reduce the impact force when the Train was subjected to a violent collision, thereby protecting the lifeforms inside the Train.
A very useful component.
At least when he was driving deep underground and collided with that Level 4 Train, he didn't feel much impact. At the time, the "Permanent Shock Absorption" was only Level 1. If he hadn't had this component, colliding with another Train at such a high speed would have been unbearable.
After consuming 45,000 units of Iron Ore, he upgraded this component to Level 10.
With each upgrade, the effect of reducing impact force was enhanced. After reaching Level 10, the impact force from a violent collision was much smaller, and it gained two Supermodel Effects.
"Permanent Shock Absorption Level 5 Supermodel Effect": None.
"Permanent Shock Absorption Level 10 Supermodel Effect": None.
Both Supermodel Effects were "None," but he still upgraded it to Level 10, not for the Supermodel Effects, but for the upgrade effects themselves.
He then spent another 45,000 units of Iron Ore to upgrade the "Medical Bay" to Level 10. Although he already had a Level 10 "Simple First-Aid Kit," which could treat external injuries and even regenerate severed limbs, he wanted to see if the yellow-grade component would have stronger effects after being upgraded to Level 10.
Upgrading had no additional effects.
It was the same as before.
But.
The two Supermodel Effects it gained could almost be described as "insane."
"Medical Bay Level 5 Supermodel Effect": Can regenerate severed limbs.
"Medical Bay Level 10 Supermodel Effect": Humans have never truly had any incurable diseases. It can treat any disease, including so-called cancer. Treating different diseases requires consuming different units of Iron Ore. The more severe the illness, the more resources are needed. Additionally, replacing any mechanical organs in the Medical Bay will cause no discomfort.
The Level 5 Supermodel Effect overlapped with the Level 10 Supermodel Effect of the "Simple First-Aid Kit."
However, the "Simple First-Aid Kit" was a one-time use, while this one could be used permanently.
Moreover, using the "Simple First-Aid Kit" to suture a severed limb required a professional. It didn't have to be a professional surgeon, but if the suturing went wrong, they could just take it off and try again. Suturing dozens of times would eventually get it right.
The only downside was that the whole process was quite painful.
The likelihood of dying from the pain was low.
But passing out from the pain was still possible.
With the "Medical Bay," there was no need to worry about this. For limb regeneration, all you had to do was place the severed limb and the patient into the Medical Bay, close the lid, and after a minute, open it to find the limb fully regenerated. The entire process was completely painless and incredibly easy.
Of course.
For the same limb regeneration, the "Medical Bay" consumed more resources than the "Simple First-Aid Kit."
The Level 10 Supermodel Effect of the "Medical Bay," if placed in peacetime, would be a technological product that would shock all of humanity. At least in the world before the apocalypse, nearly 90% of diseases were untreatable, including common colds.
New diseases were still being discovered occasionally.
It was like a game that occasionally produced bugs. With nearly ten billion people, it was completely understandable and normal for some strange things to pop up now and then.
"Hmm."
Chen Mang walked to Carriage 2 and placed the Medical Bay inside a Refrigerator in this carriage. After upgrading the Refrigerator to Level 10, it significantly increased the space utilization of each carriage. After all, adding a new carriage wasn't a simple task, as the Armor for the carriage had to be installed, and Armor wasn't cheap.
He stood there, looking at the Medical Bay, which was similar to the "Combat Training Virtual Space" in appearance but more technologically advanced. It was entirely white, and he remained silent, lost in thought.
He didn't seem to have any physical issues or diseases.
But after some consideration, he still took off his clothes and lay inside.
As he lay in the bay, the lid quickly rose from both sides and slowly closed. At the same time, a white, viscous liquid began to overflow from the bottom of the Medical Bay, soon enveloping his entire body. A small screen appeared on the inside of the lid.
"Detected the following issues with the body: Lung integrity 78%, Heart integrity 89%, Limb integrity 99%, Genital integrity 87%, Liver integrity..."
"To target a specific organ for repair, please tap the corresponding organ on the screen, and the repair cost will be displayed."
"If repairing all, it will consume 43,000 units of Iron Ore."
"So expensive?!"
Chen Mang's first thought was that the price was absurd. He hadn't been injured, wasn't sick, and didn't even have a cold. He was just getting a full-body checkup, and after the checkup, he was told he needed to consume 43,000 units of Iron Ore?
This felt strangely familiar.
How much Iron Ore would it cost to treat a terminal illness?
And—
In the world before the apocalypse, when he went to the hospital for a checkup, the data he received included specific disease names, with a string of data that seemed extremely professional. This "Medical Bay" simply rated each organ's integrity?
It sounded strange, as if it were repairing Train components.
He could accept that other organs weren't at 100% integrity, but why were his limbs at 99%?
"My limbs are fine. I have no injuries."
He voiced his confusion.
The screen quickly displayed another line of text.
"The patient has a hangnail on the second finger of their right hand."
"..."
"Repair all."
In the next moment—
The white, viscous liquid began to flow rapidly from the bottom, covering his face and nostrils. He initially held his breath, but soon realized that the white, viscous liquid didn't interfere with his breathing at all.
One minute later.
The white, viscous liquid quickly receded, and Chen Mang climbed out of the Medical Bay. He walked to a full-length mirror nearby and examined himself, his eyes filled with disbelief.
The person in the mirror—
Was he really that handsome?
He rarely used the word "handsome" to describe himself. He always believed that for men, appearance wasn't a high-priority compliment.
But this time, he truly felt handsome. The person in the mirror had a completely different aura and energy compared to before.
He had never felt so light and comfortable in his body. This feeling—
It was like a factory reset.
He looked at his right hand and noticed that even the hangnail had been completely repaired. He glanced down and saw that nothing had grown larger.
It seemed the "Medical Bay" could only repair and not alter the original body. But that was fine—he was already more than sufficient. Any larger, and he'd have clearance issues in tunnels.
The 43,000 units of Iron Ore were well spent!
After putting on his set of High-Precision Clothes, he now felt like he could easily live another hundred years. If he continued using the Medical Bay, he might even live to three or four hundred.
After all, human death was largely caused by the irreversible decay of organs.
But now.
That "irreversible" had become "reversible"!
"Not bad."
Chen Mang, quite satisfied, took another look at himself in the mirror before heading back to the Train cabin. He decided not to make this component available to the residents for now—it was too expensive, and the Train couldn't afford it at the moment. The "Simple First-Aid Kit" would suffice.
Thus—
All craftable components for the Level 3 Train had been completed, except for the "Storage Box." He didn't need it for now, as there were already 100 Level 10 Refrigerators on the Train, providing more than enough storage.
"..."
In Carriage 5, the Advanced Talent Carriage, Ji Chuchu sat in her seat, looking out at the bustling scene outside. Train Conductor Zhu and others were at the entrance of Carriage 4, the Advanced Talent Carriage, busy moving Bread Slices to distribute as the residents' food for the day.
Lord Mang hadn't sought her out in a long time.
The minor celebrities who used to chat with her for company didn't have the authority to enter this carriage, leaving her with no one to talk to.
Ji Chuchu's expression gradually grew distant as her thoughts wandered. The Train had arrived at the Shahe Plain, and she wondered if Lord Mang still remembered what she had told him—that her best friend Yan Yao was hiding in a safe house in a villa in Sand River City.
Her position on the Train was limited by her circumstances.
Thanks to Lord Mang's current fondness for her, she didn't have to sell herself like the minor celebrities. But... how long would this favor last? She knew men better than she knew herself. She made a living off this—once the novelty wore off, it was easy for them to grow bored.
The only way to secure her position on the Train.
Was Yan Yao.
Her best friend was slightly more beautiful than her, still a virgin, and a celebrity with high capital. Even if Yan Yao couldn't rise to the top, Lord Mang would undoubtedly favor her more.
Then.
She could use Yan Yao to secure her own position on the Train. Moreover, Yan Yao didn't know anything—someone would have to teach her, and no one was more suitable than Ji Chuchu herself.
After a long while, she snapped out of her thoughts.
She looked down at a tube of lipstick in her hand. In the apocalypse, cosmetics were rare and precious. She had just bought this lipstick with Stellar Coupons at the store. She didn't know when Lord Mang would seek her out or when he would pass by this carriage. All she could do was maintain a perfect appearance so that the moment Lord Mang saw her, her beauty could provide him with some emotional value.
That was enough.
Outside the Stellar's Train cabin.
Lao Zhu, panting heavily, let out a long breath before wiping the sweat from his forehead. He leaned against the Train and looked at Biao Zi, who had come to fetch water. He pulled out a cigarette, stuck it in his mouth, and continued to breathe heavily.
"Working hard, Biao Zi? Saving up for a Train Token?"
"Hey, Biao Zi."
"How about naming it the 'Biao Zi' when you get it? I'll be your deputy conductor. I think following you has more potential."
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