MDT Chapter 135 Part 1 (Patreon)

Chapter 135 Part 1: The Mountain of Iron and the Fifteenth Carriage

"Hah..."

After a long moment, Chen Mang exhaled slowly and continued piloting the train toward the towering mountain that now pierced clearly through the clouds.

Not bad at all.

Though he hadn't discovered any iron mines along the way, a fortunate accident had netted him a permanent Goblin Merchant.

He decided against spending the 100 Legacy Value for now—none of the four available items particularly appealed to him. He'd wait until after Shanmaozi's wedding, when he'd gain another 500 Legacy Value, and see what 600 could purchase.

Among the four items, only one struck him as genuinely intriguing.

The "C-Rank Difficulty Trial Exemption Pass."

This item would allow him to bypass any C-rank difficulty mission unconditionally—whether in encounter maps or quest scenarios. Think the "Mechanical Train" specialization mission, or the "Undersea Labyrinth" maze mission.

The others seemed average.

The Mofei Stone was practically useless to him. Honestly, selecting the Mofei Stone felt like a worse deal than the "C-Rank Difficulty Exemption Pass." After all, during his morning conversation with Erdan, captain of the Azure Dragon, Erdan had mentioned that completing the C-rank difficulty maze mission in the "Undersea Labyrinth" trial map would reward five Mofei Stones.

Same price, but buying the Mofei Stone directly only yielded one.

Of course—

Hidden maps like the Undersea Labyrinth weren't easily found. They typically occupied extremely concealed locations, with demanding access requirements. Erdan, being quite generous, had sent him the coordinates directly.

He'd explained that such hidden maps were generally only useful on the first visit for each person.

Having already been there once, it held no value for him now. If Chen Mang ever acquired underwater travel capability for his train, he could investigate.

This hidden map lay at the bottom of a lake somewhere in the Sand River Plains.

His Stellar currently lacked submersion ability. When it gained that capability in the future, he might check it out. The Undersea Labyrinth intrigued him considerably.

Half an hour later.

The Stellar finally reached the base of the towering mountain. From the Babel Tower, it had appeared as merely a faint, shadowy peak piercing the clouds—like a light brushstroke in an ink wash painting, hardly conspicuous.

But up close, he could truly appreciate the mountain's magnificence!

It was extraordinarily slender.

The peak measured only a few hundred meters across. On level ground, that wouldn't seem narrow, but compared to the mountain's height, it appeared exceptionally tall and thin.

He had, naturally, also visited the library in Sand River City.

This mountain hadn't existed before the apocalypse—it had emerged afterward.

"..."

Chen Mang stuck his head out through the skylight and studied the mountain for a while, then settled back at the control console. He switched to Spider Legs mode and began ascending the steep slope. This was likely a destination only he could reach.

All four sides of the mountain featured extremely cliffs.

No mountain roads existed whatsoever.

If Bunny Cloud Wheels were upgraded to maximum level, their flight altitude would reach approximately 3,000 meters. Unless someone used Mofei Stones to enhance the Bunny Cloud Wheels further, reaching here would prove nearly impossible.

The moment the mechanical spider legs contacted the cliff face, they gripped firmly, hauling the entire train upward as if traversing level ground.

The "Spider Legs" were merely a green-grade accessory.

Nothing remarkable.

But they'd proven invaluable to him. This type of mechanism-based green accessory could be utilized to its fullest potential by him. For others to achieve the same effect, they'd need to spend 27 Mofei Stones on the "Spider Legs" accessory.

Climbing steadily upward.

He controlled the speed, keeping the ascent moderate. Twenty minutes later.

The Stellar's foremost spider legs finally touched level ground, and the entire train emerged onto the mountaintop.

The summit revealed an extremely vast, flat plain, and before him lay a substantial mining area.

"..."

Chen Mang leaped from the train and surveyed the scene before him with a smile. He'd detected this mining area atop the mountain from the base. A full five Level 2 iron mines.

All rich in ore.

He'd known it.

Locations with such harsh geographical conditions typically featured either hidden maps or dense resource clusters.

These five Level 2 iron mines could upgrade all remaining train accessories that hadn't been enhanced yet.

Generally speaking.

Without using Mofei Stones, the "Resource Detection Radar"—a green-grade accessory—could only be upgraded to Level 3 maximum, meaning a detection range of 3,000 meters. But people had methods for detecting iron mines deep underground.

For instance, by positioning a drill 3,000 meters underground, you could detect iron mines at 6,000 meters depth. It was simply less efficient, as underground travel speed was slower.

Even the Apocalypse Abyss—that canyon—had been detected for ore in the past.

The Apocalypse Abyss measured 6,000 meters deep, completely beyond Resource Detection Radar range. Reportedly, two trains cooperated, traveled to a steel cable factory in Taiping City, located substantial steel cable, tied one locomotive to another fully-loaded train, and slowly lowered it down.

Through that lowered locomotive, they'd detected ore at the Apocalypse Abyss bottom.

But that was their limit.

They definitely couldn't descend. After all, a 6,000-meter-deep canyon might not sound intimidating, but examining human history's deep earth exploration would reveal just how challenging reaching that 6,000-meter depth truly was.

Since he'd found the mine.

It was growing late. He'd rest tonight and begin excavation in the morning.

However, the next second—

"Clatter, clatter."

The rear carriage doors suddenly burst open, and a group of train residents, carrying pickaxes, rushed out excitedly. They charged directly into the mining area, spat on their hands, and began swinging their pickaxes enthusiastically.

"Mm."

Standing below the train, Chen Mang watched this scene, remained silent momentarily, then sighed softly. "At this rate, Duo Ba will probably stop claiming goblins are the most industrious race."

He shook his head and walked toward his control car.

Let them dig.

The train's current living facilities were essentially maxed out anyway. The Level 10 advanced effects of bread slices and mineral water both slightly enhanced physical fitness with long-term consumption. The Level 5 advanced effect of bread slices supplemented vitamins, while Level 5 mineral water could clear kidney stones. There was also cola for stamina restoration.

With all these living facilities in place, at least there wouldn't be situations where train residents worked themselves to death.

What was that saying? The troops haven't moved, but provisions go first. The Stellar's current provisions were maxed out.

Except—

Except it was the same fare daily, easily becoming monotonous.

Sitting in the control car, Chen Mang looked at the four roujiamo [Chinese hamburger] Xiao Fang had brought him, waved his hand, and had Xiao Ai summon the cook who claimed to be a five-star hotel chef. He wanted him to use the remaining vegetables and four strips of cured ribs from their last haul to prepare a proper meal.

"The train has basic pots and pans. Ask him what else he needs."

If something like a spatula was missing, he could craft it with the Heart of the Machine. It would only consume a little iron ore. But if it was seasonings—salt, pepper, and the like—the Heart of the Machine couldn't produce them.

Though the Heart of the Machine didn't specify its manufacturing range clearly, it basically covered electronic products or iron-based household items like cookware. Food and tobacco couldn't be manufactured.

If even seasonings could be made.

It wouldn't be called the Heart of the Machine—it would be called "Word is Law."

"I asked. He said he's missing everything except pots and pans. He lacks most ingredients and seasonings, so the taste probably won't be very good."

"Then forget it."

Chen Mang sighed lightly. "Don't waste those few strips of cured ribs. We'll do it later."

"I've built another carriage. Have Lao Zhu arrange for someone to manage the livestock and food seeds we found in Sand River City last time."

"Roger."

The Stellar had 14 carriages total, with the 14th being the missile carriage.

Now there was one more.

Carriage #15, the "Reproduction Carriage."

…..

"Are you up for this?"

Lao Zhu frowned slightly, looking at Uncle Li standing nearby. "Weren't you a senior executive before? With a million-dollar annual salary, proficient in accounting and management, and even started your own business—you know how to raise these animals?"

"There are 6 chickens, 5 ducks, 4 pigs, 2 cows, and 3 sheep here."

"Each animal requires different care. What was your college major?"

"No problem."

Uncle Li straightened with a serious expression and said earnestly: "I studied civil engineering in college. Before college, I came from the countryside. My family raised pigs, plus cows, sheep, chickens, and ducks. We raised all of these."

"When I was a kid, I went to school every day smelling like pigs."

"Leave raising these animals to me. There won't be any problems."

"And those seeds can all go to me, too. My family used to farm, and we had an orchard. I've been helping with family work since childhood. I know how to handle all this."

"So capable..."

Surprise flashed in Lao Zhu's eyes. "Alright, you're a true jack-of-all-trades."

"Okay, then I'll leave this to you."

"See the spray nozzles in the carriage corners? That's the train accessory 'Reproduction Spray.' Boss Mang has installed a manual button for you at the carriage entrance. Press this button, and the animals inside will enter heat. Press again, and they'll return to normal."

"You can count on me, Chief Zhu."

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