Chapter 364: Purely Increasing Stats |
"..."
Chen Mang looked at the Doppelganger Radar. He had originally intended to keep a low profile, but the appearance of The Palace had clearly disrupted his plans. At this moment, blaring alarms were sounding throughout the Great Desolation Civilization.
Any civilization would panic if such an entity appeared within their territory without triggering the slightest spatial fluctuation.
He shook his head and said nothing more.
He simply tossed out an Ore Star. Then, after storing both the Ore Star and The Palace into the Space Portal, he vanished from his spot once again.
He had no intention of making a move against the Great Desolation Civilization.
It was just a level-five civilization.
How many resources could it possibly have?
His appetite had grown, especially after wiping out a single fleet from the Green Mountain Civilization netted him 10.6 Background Units of iron ore. His hunger had become uncontrollable, and a civilization like the Great Desolation Civilization could no longer satisfy him.
He had destroyed the Good Cat Civilization and the Extreme Evil Civilization, gaining less than 2 Background Units of iron ore in total. Yet, a mere fleet had yielded more than five times the wealth of those two civilizations combined.
Advanced civilizations truly possessed an abundance of resources.
If he could swallow the entire Green Mountain Civilization whole, just how many resources would that be?
Inside the Stellar Train, which had vanished from the Great Desolation Civilization's scanners thanks to the Radar Jammer, Chen Mang sat in the control room, gazing at the political home planet of the Great Desolation Civilization on his radar screen.
An idea gradually formed in his mind.
Since the Great Desolation Civilization had submitted to the Green Mountain Civilization, they should possess a special communication or travel channel connecting them.
Perhaps he could use this channel to bypass the spatial lockdown and reach the interior of the Green Mountain Civilization.
Soon enough—
Twenty-four hours passed. During this time, Chen Mang did nothing but stay in his train's control room, waiting patiently.
And now.
A notification panel finally materialized on the train's control console screen.
-
"Racial talent extraction complete."
"You have drawn the racial talent of the Star Arrow Clan. You will gain a supreme talent for archery."
-
The next moment!
Chen Mang felt the panel dissolve into countless motes of starlight that merged into his body. Immediately after, he felt as if he possessed an innate, God-given talent for archery. He even felt that if he were given a bow right now, he could shoot an elephant dead using nothing but his current physical strength.
It was very strong.
But...
It was useless!
This was a damn interstellar war! Being able to shoot an elephant dead in this kind of conflict was less impactful than squashing an ant.
To him.
The best racial talents were not combat-oriented, but functional ones. Even the racial talent of the Goblin Clan would be far superior to this Star Arrow Clan talent.
He twitched his lips, considering this a wasted opportunity.
Every person only had one chance to obtain a racial talent through this bread.
But it was acceptable, he supposed.
At least there were no negative side effects. He could use it for casual hunting trips in the future.
He then turned his head to look at Biao Zi and the others. "What racial talents did you guys roll?"
Producing a piece of Level-500 Bread that granted a random racial talent only cost 200 million units of iron ore. The price was ridiculously low. If he was willing to trade this item with other civilizations, the market potential would be astronomical.
Buyers would flock to him in endless streams.
The primary demographic wouldn't even be the human race, but rather species that already possessed their own racial talents. By eating the bread, they could possess two racial talents. If those two talents happened to have a synergistic effect, the result would be greater than the sum of its parts.
"Mine seems decent,"
Lao Zhu said with a hint of uncertainty. "I rolled the racial talent of the God Race: true immortality."
"..."
"..."
As his words fell, everyone in the train's control room fell into stunned silence.
That was far more than just decent.
With the exception of humans, almost every race had its own racial talent. Most only had one, but a small minority possessed multiple. For example, the Zerg Civilization, a god-tier civilization, could even devour the racial talents of other species.
Another example was the God Race.
A race created by the previous Universal Will. They were the very reason god-tier civilizations were named as such—they were the most powerful race to ever exist in this universe.
The God Race!
They possessed multiple racial talents, and one of them was true immortality!
Even the current Universal Will couldn't kill the God Race; it could only seal them away inside black holes.
The only known entity capable of killing a member of the God Race was that single strand of hair kept within the train.
This was absolutely an S+ tier racial talent.
"Uh..."
Looking at the stares of everyone around him, Lao Zhu rubbed his neck awkwardly. "To be honest, I'm a bit unsure myself, because I don't feel any different. Plus, it sounds a bit too exaggerated. It feels surreal and unrealistic."
"In cultivation civilizations, only those who reach the highest level, the Immortal Emperor stage, can achieve true immortality."
"Did I really just become immortal that easily...?"
One had to understand.
Even Boss Mang didn't have this kind of ability yet. For him, a mere deputy train captain, to suddenly become immortal... his first reaction wasn't joy, but sheer panic!
Wasn't this a recipe for disaster?
Setting everything else aside.
If Boss Mang were to die, who would take over the reins of the Human Civilization? It seemed it would have to be him, since he wouldn't die...
If he were in Boss Mang's shoes, he would already be harboring thoughts of eliminating himself.
At this moment—
Biao Zi spoke up from the side, his expression strange. "Good thing that according to the train's rules, if Boss Mang falls into danger and dies, the entire train will instantly lose its master and cannot be inherited by anyone else. Otherwise, Captain Zhu, you'd be in real danger."
"Yes, yes, exactly."
Lao Zhu nodded vigorously, having temporarily forgotten about that rule. He then shot Biao Zi a grateful look, knowing the man was helping him clear the air.
"But you can try it out right now. Stab yourself and see if you die."
"About that..."
Lao Zhu shrank his neck back. "I'll try it later while lying inside the Medical Pod. Otherwise, it doesn't feel safe. What racial talent did you get?"
"Wolf."
Biao Zi took a deep breath, his face turning serious. "The talent of the Wolf Emperor Clan. It grants an explosive increase in speed, which can continually scale up with body tempering, capping out at near light-speed. They are a race that cultivates by absorbing the essence of the sun and moon. I've inherited that cultivation talent as well."
"Boss Mang."
"I'd like to request free access in and out of the stellar cabin. I want to contribute more and shed more blood for you in our future battles."
"Alright, request granted."
Chen Mang chuckled and nodded.
It was a solid talent.
Absorbing the essence of the sun and moon...
The Stellar Train might have lacked some things, but suns and moons were in abundant supply. Biao Zi could absorb them at his leisure; there was an endless amount, completely inexhaustible.
He listened to reports from the various management staff in the control room one by one. The random racial talents they acquired were all quite impressive. Comparing them all, his own talent turned out to be the absolute worst. At least for him, it was utterly useless.
This Level-500 Bread offered incredibly high value for its cost!
It only cost 200 million units of iron ore.
It was also through this incident.
That he realized just how many races existed in the universe. While train civilizations were certainly the mainstream form of civilization, there were countless other diverse forms of civilizations as numerous as hairs on a cow.
Perhaps many years from now.
Train civilizations might no longer be the mainstream format, and some other civilization's structure would take over as the dominant norm.
The universe was always changing.
Eras would constantly progress.
This process wouldn't announce itself to anyone. Those who could keep up would survive, and those who couldn't would die.
After everyone had left.
Xiao Fang, who had been standing quietly in the corner, whispered, "Boss Mang, the random talent I rolled belongs to the Fox Charm Clan. The effect is 'One Qi, Three Pure Ones'. I can simultaneously summon my Past State and my Future State."
Before Boss Mang could reply.
A microscopic spatial fluctuation suddenly rippled within the control room.
Immediately after—
Two figures suddenly popped out in the room. Both were Xiao Fang, their faces sharing seventy percent of her facial features.
However, the one on the left was tender as water, looking incredibly green and youthful. Every movement carried a unique, adolescent shyness as she made futile attempts to cover herself up.
The one on the right was mature and womanly. Although the marks left by time could be seen on her cheeks, those faint lines only added to her alluring seductiveness.
Neither of them was wearing clothes.
Standing in the middle was the present Xiao Fang, nervously gripping the hem of her shirt with her head bowed.
"..."
Chen Mang stared at the scene before him with an impassive expression. Barely a few words into Xiao Fang's explanation, he had already shut off all surveillance in the control room. Now that the scene had fully materialized, he remained silent where he sat for a long time.
He felt...
As if he had a strange affinity with these three states.
He kept running into them everywhere.
But now was not the time to ponder this.
He had tasted many bowls of scallion oil noodles made by Xiao Fang, but he had never tasted Xiao Fang herself. She had tried to throw herself into his arms before, but he had refused her back then. However, perhaps because he had been working non-stop recently without a single thought for such matters, he actually felt a stir of desire at this moment.
The next moment—
Sitting in his chair, he opened his arms.
The Future State Xiao Fang, being the most charming and flirtatious, swayed her hips and stepped forward.
The Present State Xiao Fang took a deep breath, finally suppressing the panic in her heart.
The Past State Xiao Fang fidgeted for a long while before slowly shuffling over on her delicate feet.
An hour later.
Chen Mang pulled up his pants, climbed out of bed, and sat back down in his chair. Looking up at the ceiling with a hint of exhaustion and dazed eyes, he slowly lit a cigarette, watching the smoke drift and dissipate into the air.
This feeling...
Was very unique.
Hard to describe with words.
Xiao Fang's racial talent had no practical utility whatsoever. Unlike cultivation civilizations where dual cultivation could increase one's power, this provided absolutely none of that. Its one and only function was pure enjoyment.
Unadulterated pleasure.
But he had to admit, it was immensely enjoyable.
Especially...
Especially...
Well.
For some reason, perhaps due to his currently hazy mental state, a bunch of messy thoughts popped into his head. He even started imagining how great it would be if he had this talent himself.
After a long time.
Chen Mang waved his hand lightly. "Call Yan Yao and Ji Chuchu over."
"Yes."
Soon.
Yan Yao and Ji Chuchu arrived at the control room after a long absence. Just as they were about to step forward.
Chen Mang waved his hand and pointed at the bread on the table beside him. "Eat these two pieces of bread, and come report to me tomorrow on what racial talents you've awakened."
Seeing this, Ji Chuchu, who had come dressed in a sheer negligee, paused slightly in surprise before nodding.
"Understood."
'Interesting.' Chen Mang watched the backs of Ji Chuchu and the others as they left. 'If... these two could also awaken Xiao Fang's racial talent, that would instantly make nine people in total.'
'Very nice.'
'In the eyes of our ancestors, nine is a lucky number.'
'It just might be a bit exhausting.'
The Red-Heart Nuts weren't quite cutting it anymore. He looked at the information displayed on the train console's screen.
-
"Red-Heart Nut Production Line Level 5 Overlimit Effect: Nuts will automatically be shelled upon production."
"Red-Heart Nut Production Line Level 10 Overlimit Effect: When consumed by males, slightly enhances sexual stamina. When consumed by females, slightly reduces menstrual pain."
-
He checked the train's current resources again.
11.39 Background Units of iron ore.
He let out a light cough.
Pulling out 200 trillion units of iron ore, he upgraded this white-grade component straight to level 2000 in one breath!
This made it the sixth level-2000 component on the train.
The previous ones were—
The Doppelganger Radar, Carriage Steel Armor, Akhenaten Light Energy Main Cannon, Train Auxiliary AI, and Moldy Bread Slice Production Line.
Several Overlimit Effects instantly popped up.
-
"Red-Heart Nut Production Line Level 20 Overlimit Effect: When consumed by males, moderately enhances sexual stamina."
"Red-Heart Nut Production Line Level 50 Overlimit Effect: Enhances even further."
"Red-Heart Nut Production Line Level 100 Overlimit Effect: Enhances even further."
"Red-Heart Nut Production Line Level 200 Overlimit Effect: Enhances even further."
"Red-Heart Nut Production Line Level 500 Overlimit Effect: Enhances even further."
"Red-Heart Nut Production Line Level 1000 Overlimit Effect: Enhances even further."
"Red-Heart Nut Production Line Level 2000 Overlimit Effect: Enhances even further."
-
"..."
Chen Mang stared blankly at the Red-Heart Nut Production Line in front of him. This component reminded him of a long-forgotten piece of equipment.
The Drill.
That's right!
It was that component that only boosted pure stats and didn't add any special Overlimit Effects.
This component was virtually identical to the Drill in that regard.
Incredibly pure.
It had no unique Overlimit Effects whatsoever. Even the level-2000 effect was completely indistinguishable from the level-100 effect. They were cut from the exact same mold: purely increasing stats.
However...
He thought it was pretty good.
These stats were exactly what he needed.
The Red-Heart Nut Production Line was different from the Moldy Bread Slice Production Line. For the Moldy Bread, whatever level of bread was produced granted that specific level's effect; a level-2000 bread didn't retain the effects of a level-500 bread.
But for the Red-Heart Nut Production Line, a level-2000 Red-Heart Nut possessed all previous Overlimit Effects stacked together.
The cost of a single level-2000 Red-Heart Nut was... 2,000 trillion units of iron ore.
This price tag.
Heh.
It was so fucking expensive.
Smirking, Chen Mang looked at the freshly manufactured level-2000 Red-Heart Nut in his hand. He tossed it into his mouth. It was crunchy with a decent flavor, but he didn't feel much of anything else.
One minute later.
His cheeks gradually flushed red, and his breathing grew heavy.
Three minutes later.
Ji Chuchu, Yan Yao, and Xiao Fang from the High-Tier Talent Carriage No. 5, as well as the eight fairy maidens from the cultivation civilization, all received a summons from Boss Mang through the Iris Chips implanted in their pupils.
A total of 13 women walked into the control room.
For a full seven days and seven nights.
Eleven women, led by Ji Chuchu and Yan Yao, supported each other as they limped toward the Medical Pod.
"Phew..."
Chen Mang sat in his control room chair and exhaled a long breath. He let out a refreshing sigh, feeling completely invigorated. He didn't feel the slightest bit tired or bored. Technology truly changed lives.
It was just that the kick of the level-2000 nut was a bit too strong.
The effects weren't a one-time deal either.
It was a permanent enhancement.
He wouldn't ever need to eat another one. If he kept eating them, he wouldn't even need the main cannon for future battles.
However...
These seven days and nights of debauchery had completely derailed all his plans!
His original plan was to use a potential hidden channel between the Great Desolation Civilization and the Green Mountain Civilization to infiltrate the latter. But because of this seven-day delay...
Things had changed drastically.
For instance—
Yesterday, the Green Mountain Civilization lifted the spatial lockdown over their territory. Everything returned to normal. Clearly, even they couldn't endure the immense resource drain of maintaining the lockdown, though they made no further moves toward the Dead End Star System.
It seemed they didn't intend to provoke the Human Civilization again anytime soon.
Well, this made things easier.
He didn't even need the Great Desolation Civilization anymore. He could just construct a Wormhole straight into the Green Mountain Civilization!
Simple and fast!
Very nice.
Following that, he finally turned the control room's surveillance systems back on.
Almost immediately, Xiao Ai's faint voice echoed through the train.
"Captain, everything has been peaceful over the past few days. There have been no abnormal situations."
"Hmm."
Chen Mang nodded casually as he reviewed the train logs. What anomalies could there possibly be? As long as that level-seven civilization didn't mount a surprise attack on his train, nothing out of the ordinary would happen.
He could basically walk through this entire region unchallenged now.
Without any hesitation.
He constructed several Wormholes, burning through tens of quadrillions of iron ore units, placing the exit of the final Wormhole right at the core of the Green Mountain Civilization—near a commercial planet.
Slowly pushing the throttle forward, the Stellar Train embarked on a new voyage.
The Wormholes he created produced absolutely no spatial fluctuations.
The Radar Jammer's level was exceptionally high.
The Green Mountain Civilization was completely incapable of detecting his presence.
Like a ghost, he openly strolled into the heart of the Green Mountain Civilization. After throwing out several Refrigerators, he used the Pseudo-Fourth Dimensional Space to set foot on the nearby commercial planet's surface before exiting the dimension.
Once inside their civilization...
He had too many ways to make landfall.
Bypassing planetary security checks was incredibly easy.
He was completely undetectable. Back in the Naomi Civilization, he hadn't been able to use the Pseudo-Fourth Dimensional Space to land, because they possessed methods to detect it. But against the Green Mountain Civilization, he didn't even fear the naked eye.
Because even the naked eye couldn't see him.
The level-100 Overlimit Effect of the Radar Jammer absorbed light, granting the train optical camouflage, allowing for true invisibility even right in front of someone's face.
Neither biological eyes nor technological radars could find him.
The Stellar Train was now a total phantom, perfectly cloaked within the universe, free to go wherever it pleased.
Landfall in the Green Mountain Civilization was a success.
Inside the Green Mountain Civilization, on a commercial planet named Changrong Star. Chen Mang led Biao Zi and the others down the streets of its most bustling commercial metropolis.
"Truly worthy of being a prosperous metropolis of a level-six civilization,"
Chen Mang remarked with some awe as he stood on the street corner. "The cityscape here is leaps and bounds better than Water Blue Star."
Beside him, Lao Zhu was rapidly taking notes on things they could learn and adapt.
The entire city was completely monitored and managed by AI.
All laws, down to the most basic traffic regulations, were strictly enforced by AI.
The administrative methods of the Green Mountain Civilization were quite interesting as well.
Every resident had a Reputation Score, starting at 100 points.
Minor infractions—such as acting as a homewrecker to seduce someone's partner, or jaywalking and other small moral failings—wouldn't result in jail time or detention, but they would deduct Reputation Score points.
The Reputation Score affected many aspects of life.
For example, in interpersonal relationships, if one party had a low Reputation Score, it meant their social standing was tainted, and so on.
The reason they could execute this system so flawlessly...
Lay entirely with the Iris Chips and an advanced AI supervising the whole city, and by extension, the entire civilization. Every action a person took was clearly recorded on file. There was nowhere to hide, and no opportunity to do things in secret.
From a certain perspective.
This meant the entire populace had absolutely no privacy.
However, public security was undeniably excellent.
Vicious crimes were virtually nonexistent.
The higher a civilization's level, the lower its crime rate tended to be.
The Human Civilization currently relied mostly on AI supervision as well, but it hadn't yet reached this level of meticulous detail.
The mainstream currency of this civilization, much like the Human Civilization, was a fiat currency pegged to iron ore. For humans, it was the Heng Xing Coupon; for the Green Mountain Civilization, it was the Green Mountain Coin.
They had different names, but they were fundamentally the same thing.
Generally speaking.
It was rare to see a civilization where the base currency was literally raw iron ore, as that often indicated profound internal instability within the society.
"Very nice."
Chen Mang surveyed his surroundings and nodded slightly. The city's appearance was quite pleasant. Moreover, through his level-2000 radar, he knew exactly where the planet's primary iron ore reserves were stored.
Inside the strategic warehouse of a military base.
That military base housed several space-defense cannons—ground-based weapons aimed at space that packed tremendous firepower. The adjacent storage facility held 2 Background Units of iron ore.
Aside from that.
There were scattered iron ore deposits in other corners of the planet, but they were few in number. Added together, they didn't even amount to 1,000 trillion units, and they were extremely spread out.
"They truly are wealthy."
Chen Mang silently rendered this judgment.
One had to realize—
In this star system alone, there were about 30 prosperous planets like this one, and each of them possessed a military base stockpiled with massive resources. And the Green Mountain Civilization controlled a full seven star systems just like this!
The combined resources of these commercial star systems alone amounted to over 400 Background Units of iron ore.
And!
These were merely commercial planets!
The resources stored on commercial planets were actually considered minimal. After all, they weren't primary sources of military power; the stockpiles were just there as a contingency.
The military planets and research planets were the true core locations where astronomical amounts of resources were hoarded!
"Phew..."
He exhaled softly. These advanced civilizations really were obscenely rich. Most importantly, due to the scarcity of Murphy Stones, these high-level civilizations couldn't spend their resources even if they wanted to, leading them to hoard more and more.
Until...
Until a fated person capable of spending it came along.
As luck would have it, he was exactly that fated person.