Public Trading Platform

After resting for a while, Ye Qiyan sat up in bed.

His upgrade rewards did not end there.

"A title? This is the first time I've heard of something like that."

[Title: Upgrade Expert]

[Description: Awarded to the first train conductor in each sector to upgrade their train to level 4, in recognition of your outstanding performance in this train survival challenge]

[When equipped, makes it easier to gain the trust of natives within platforms]

"Trust, huh? Maybe it'll come in handy?"

He equipped the title right away, but nothing changed. He would have to wait until he reached another platform and met someone alive to see its effect.

Last came the reward for breaking the level 4 record.

[Train Conductor Enhancement Card]

[Enhances the train conductor's spirit/stamina once, increasing it by 10 points]

The moment Ye Qiyan read the enhancement card's description, delight appeared on his face.

"Just as I thought. There really are ways to increase stamina and spirit. I didn't expect to find one so soon."

For someone like him, who needed to expend large amounts of stamina and spirit, this enhancement card's effect could not have been more suitable.

And there was one more thing that excited him even more.

The enhancement card had a physical form. Unlike certain Modules that were used directly and had no vessel for Ascension, it could undergo Ascension once.

"Ascension."

[Spirit: 75 → 40]

[Train Conductor Enhancement Card → Advanced Train Conductor Enhancement Card]

[Enhances the train's spirit/stamina once, increasing it by 20 points]

Ten points had become twenty. It might not look like much, but this enhanced the upper limit.

He held the card between two fingers and brought it close to his heart.

"Enhance stamina."

The enhancement card turned into specks of red light that merged into his body.

An indescribable sense of comfort filled his entire body.

The sensation lasted several minutes.

[Enhancement successful]

[Maximum stamina: 100 → 120]

"It seems like it did more than just increase my stamina?"

Ye Qiyan clenched his fist, picked up a block of wood, and applied a little force. He actually snapped it apart with his bare hands.

In modern society, he could practically have been called a minor superhuman.

"So that's why there are only two attributes, spirit and stamina. They cover things like strength and speed too? Hmm... then what other attributes does spirit cover?"

He did not dwell on it. He would find out sooner or later.

Now it was time to rest.

Before reaching the next station, he needed to recover to his best condition.

[13:00:00]

It was time to enter the platform, yet the familiar spatial distortion did not appear ahead of the train.

Ye Qiyan leaned back by the window and swiped his finger through the air, opening the public chat window.

[1,735/10,000]

"Another two hundred or so died last night, huh."

The number had already dropped below two thousand. According to the broadcast, they would merge with other sectors after the seventh station. Would there be exactly ten thousand people again then?

["What the hell? We don't have to enter a station today?"]

["Wishful thinking. You've got the memory of a goldfish. Didn't that earlier broadcast say we were going to some trading platform today? There must be special rules."]

["Sigh... what difference does it make what kind of platform it is? I just hope there's no danger. Trading... heh, I spent all my Train Coins on materials to upgrade my train. How am I supposed to afford anything?"]

Everyone in the chat was deep in lively discussion.

Just then, the familiar cold, mechanical female voice rang out over the broadcast.

[The train will soon reach the seventh station, the Public Trading Platform]

[All train conductors will stop at this station]

[As this is a public platform, arrival will be determined from each train conductor's current position. You must travel 300 kilometers to reach the trading platform]

[This platform has only 20 docking tracks. First come, first served. Trains arriving later will queue outside and may only enter after the trains ahead have departed]

[Note: On the way to the seventh station, you will encounter monster attacks intended to slow your train]

The broadcast ended.

The people in the chat started making a fuss again.

["Damn it! That's unfair! Level 2 trains only go 40, but Li Xiaosheng has already upgraded to level 3. With a speed of 60, he's definitely going to get there first!"]

["That's because Li is awesome. What's it got to do with you? What are you yapping about? @Li Xiaosheng, hey, Li, when you get there first, remember to send us a screenshot so we can take a look."]

Li Xiaosheng? He's already reached level 3?

That really was fast. The guy's talent was probably pretty good.

Li Xiaosheng: ["Haha, no problem. Don't worry, everyone. As the first one in this sector with a level 3 train, I'll naturally arrive first. Once I'm there, I'll tell my Alliance members what it's like."]

Below that was nothing but flattery from members of Li Xiaosheng's Alliance.

"First, huh~"

The corners of Ye Qiyan's mouth curved upward.

A level 2 train traveled at 40 kilometers per hour and would take seven and a half hours to reach the trading platform.

A level 3 train traveled at 60 kilometers per hour and needed five hours to cover the 300-kilometer distance.

At level 4, the speed was 80 kilometers per hour.

Reaching that station would take only three hours and forty-five minutes.

But Ye Qiyan's train could go faster still.

[Red Triple-Speed Train Acceleration Device]

[Standardized Acceleration Bullet]

Ever since he first obtained this device, he had never encountered a situation that required its extra acceleration. Now, at last, he had a chance to use it.

He took a bullet out of the Storage Unit and stepped through the carriage door. The train's Anywhere Door Module activated, taking him past the second carriage and straight to the locomotive.

The Acceleration Device slowly rose.

He dropped the silvery-white bullet, as thick as a baby's arm, into it.

"Start accelerating."

The train began to accelerate.

A powerful force pressed him back.

The endless wilderness outside the windows swept backward faster and faster.

The monsters the broadcast had mentioned appeared ahead to obstruct the train.

But under the tremendous impact of a train traveling at 240 kilometers per hour, those monsters were smashed straight into meat patties.

After just ten minutes, the distance to the station shown on the system screen had dropped to 260 kilometers.

"Keep going."

He loaded another Acceleration Bullet into the device.

The acceleration continued.

With the help of two Acceleration Bullets, it took Ye Qiyan only three hours to spot a huge platform ahead, one that truly stood in this wilderness.

Just then, the Crossroads of Fate, which had remained inactive all this time, appeared before Ye Qiyan.

[Crossroads of Fate triggered]

[The platform ahead is the Public Trading Platform]

[Please select your entry route]

[1. Newbie Trading Area (level 1-3 trading station)]

[2. Regular Trading Area (level 4-6 trading station)]

"There's a distinction like that too? I choose 2, the Regular Trading Area."

Another five minutes passed.

The train began slowing down. Before passing through a translucent barrier, it suddenly switched tracks, veering away from the platform with twenty tracks ahead and arriving at another, larger station.

"Welcome to the trading platform, train conductor E-3-1102, Ye Qiyan."

[Current platform: Transit Station]

[Remaining docking time: Unlimited?]

[Good luck]

[This station: No danger?]

Unlimited docking time?