Translator: AnubisTL
"Uncle Li, what were you daydreaming about?"
Seeing no response from Uncle Li, the young man leaned closer, his curiosity piqued.
"..."
Uncle Li shot him a cold look. "I've already come up with a new plan. Just be patient."
He'd initially indulged the young man's attempts at conversation because he saw potential in the youth, intending to make him his confidant once he rose to power.
Now, he often wondered if he'd chosen the wrong person. The thought was infuriating.
"That's great!"
The young man nodded approvingly, giving Uncle Li a thumbs-up. "Good luck, Uncle Li! I knew you were the best."
Inside the Stellaris train, Chen Mang, having finished all his tasks, sat alone in the locomotive cabin. He surveyed the 196,000 units of iron ore and immediately began crafting.
First, he needed to build four essential accessories:
Mechanical NanospiderCombat Training Virtual SpaceBuilt-in Space StabilizerSingle-Person Exoskeleton Armor Production Line
He used all 4,000 units of iron ore to craft them.
The "Mechanical Nanospider" was shaped like a fist-sized female spider, taking up minimal space. It was entirely made of steel, resembling a finely crafted figurine.
It was connected to the "Train Auxiliary AI."
The AI would detect damage to accessories and then control the "Mechanical Nanospider" to produce enough nanomechanical spiders to repair them.
He spent 45,000 units of iron ore to directly upgrade it to Tier 10.
Upgrading yellow-grade accessories required more resources, with each level costing an additional 1,000 units of iron ore.
The upgrade effect of this accessory was that each upgrade allowed it to repair accessories of a higher Tier.
For example, a Tier 3 "Mechanical Nanospider" could only repair Tier 3 damaged accessories, while a Tier 10 "Mechanical Nanospider" could repair Tier 10 damaged accessories.
At the same time, he gained two overpowered effects.
Mechanical Nanospider Tier 5 Overpowered Effect: Accelerates repair speed.
Mechanical Nanospider Tier 10 Overpowered Effect: Simultaneously produces a greater number of Nanospiders.
Both overpowered effects were quite practical.
The former shortened repair time, while the latter allowed for simultaneous repair of multiple damaged accessories.
These overpowered effects were often inconspicuous during normal maintenance, where a slightly slower pace wouldn't matter. However, during combat, their impact was significant.
Producing Nanospiders consumed iron ore.
Chen Mang glanced at the control panel screen, which displayed 62% integrity for No. 4 Living Compartment and 78% integrity for the Cola Production Line accessories. "Repair all damaged accessories within the train to 100% integrity."
"Acknowledged."
The locomotive cabin soon echoed with the AI's crisp, mechanical voice: "Total iron ore required: 3800 units. Proceed with repair?"
"Proceed."
The next moment—
The metallic spider he had placed on the control panel slightly raised its abdomen. From its production channel, countless nanomechanical spiders, each incredibly tiny, crawled out in a dense swarm, slipping through the gaps in the locomotive cabin door.
Normal spider cubs were already minuscule, appearing miniature and even somewhat cute.
These nanomechanical spiders were only about one-twentieth the size of normal spider cubs.
About three minutes later, Chen Mang glanced at the screen on the control panel. It now displayed that all the train's accessories had been fully repaired. He raised an eyebrow slightly, thinking this accessory was quite useful.
Most importantly, it saved money. Replacing all the damaged accessories would have cost tens of thousands of iron ore, while repair only required 3,800 units.
The number of nanomechanical spiders needed and the amount of iron ore consumed varied depending on the grade, Tier, and extent of damage to the accessories.
This accessory was small enough that Chen Mang simply placed it on the table next to the control panel, treating it as an ornament. It actually looked quite nice there.
Looking down, he noticed the "Immediate Self-Destruct" and "Immediate Ejection" buttons on the control panel. The self-destruct button had a plastic cover to prevent accidental activation, while the "Immediate Ejection" button, which had previously been bare, now also had a plastic cover.
He had found this option in the "Personalized Customization" menu, which became available after his train reached Tier 3. For 100 units of iron ore, he could add a fingerprint-locked plastic cover to any button on the control panel.
There was no reason not to use it, but unlike "Immediate Ejection," there was no confirmation prompt on the screen.
Chen Mang then turned his attention to the "Combat Training Virtual Space" accessory, which he had placed in Guard Car No. 5. He immediately rose from his seat in the locomotive cabin and walked all the way to Guard Car No. 5 to experience it firsthand.
Biaozi and the others were outside, supervising the slaves at work and weren't in the carriage.
Only Ji Chuchu and a few young celebrities were inside, playfully chatting and joking with each other. When they saw Chen Mang enter, their smiles quickly vanished, and they stood in a line, looking somewhat frightened. "Lord Mang," they whispered.
"Mm."
Chen Mang nodded without looking at them. He narrowed his eyes slightly, focusing his gaze on the machine before him—a device resembling a "hydrotherapy pod." Inside was a leather sofa, covered by a glass lid.
Once a person lay down inside, several wires with suction cups would attach to their scalp, completely projecting their consciousness into another virtual space.
The pod would then fill with nutrient solution to ensure the user's physical health.
After studying it for a long time, Chen Mang stripped naked and lay down in the "Combat Training Virtual Space." As the nutrient solution filled the pod, his consciousness was projected into another space.
A completely white space.
Roughly ten square meters in size.
Without the distinct boundaries, it would be difficult to even gauge its dimensions.
"..."
Chen Mang looked down at his arm, then raised it and waved it a few times. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. This wasn't just realistic; it felt like reality itself.
His every movement was identical to how he would move in the real world.
The texture of his exposed skin was also the same. He slapped his left arm, and a faint ache lingered.
He wasn't naked, though. He was dressed in a simple white robe.
"Well, well," Chen Mang said, throwing a few satisfied punches in the air. Before transmigrating to this world, he had always wanted to experience a virtual reality game like the ones in novels. He never imagined that the experience he missed in his previous life would finally come to him after transmigrating to this world.
Several floating panels appeared before him.
This space is the Combat Training Virtual Space. Any injuries or even death sustained within this space will not affect your physical body in the outside world.
Furthermore, the pain level cannot be adjusted and is set to 100%, identical to the real world.
There are two modes available: Single-Player Training and Online Training.
"Single-player training offers the following options: climbing training, dagger training, and hand-to-hand combat training."
"There's also a mission mode."
"You can customize the number of enemies, switch maps, select weapons, and choose the mission type."
"In online training, you can engage in combat against other users in the Combat Training Virtual Space or team up for mission training."
"Once you reach Tier 5, you can also participate in ranked matches against other train users. Your ranking will be determined by your Rank. Achieving a high leaderboard position can increase your train's Reputation Value."
"Hmm?"
Chen Mang raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. He took a deep breath, his nerves gradually tightening. He selected single-player training mission mode.
He chose a map of city ruins, set the enemy count to ten, and equipped them all with firearms.
His mission objective: kill all ten enemies using only a dagger.
The modern city had been reduced to ruins, swept by a violent storm that raged through the night.
It was deep in the night.
On the rooftop of a collapsed three-story building, Chen Mang lay perfectly still, his eyes fixed on the ten enemies patrolling in front of an office tower nearby.
He gripped his dagger tightly, waiting for the perfect moment.
Then, suddenly!
A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating half the city.
Chen Mang, who had been waiting for this moment, sprang into the air like a rattlesnake. Grabbing the steel cable of the crane in front of him, he planned to swing behind the ten enemies like an ape before launching his assassination.
But...
Just as he leaped, he saw that the ten enemies had already aimed their guns at him.
Tutututu!
The sharp, muffled sound of gunfire suddenly erupted in the rainy night.
"Hiss!"
Back in the white space, Chen Mang couldn't help but gasp. He looked down at his abdomen, where the bullet holes had vanished like illusions. His body was completely unharmed, but the stinging pain lingered in his mind.
This was the first time he had experienced what it felt like to be shot.
It hurt.
The despair of near-death felt incredibly real.
The mission had, of course, failed.
Chen Mang shook his head and chuckled. In reality, he would never have chosen such a reckless assassination method. But since he knew this was a virtual space, he couldn't resist trying to emulate the assassins from his past life's Assassin's Creed.
The idea was good.
If he had actually pulled off the moves he had envisioned in his mind, the scene would have been incredibly cool.
Rainy night, city ruins.
In the split second lightning flashed across the sky, a dark shadow descended behind the ten enemies like a ghost, beginning its slaughter.
By the time thunder rumbled, the enemies lay in pools of blood.
All Chen Mang could see was the back of a man carrying a dagger, his slow, steady steps carrying him away into the distance. Blood droplets mixed with the rain, dripping steadily at his feet.
How cool.
Chen Mang narrowed his eyes slightly, another brilliant possibility flashing through his mind.
The modern city had become ruins, swept by a raging storm.
Not a single neon sign flickered.
The faint crescent moon hidden behind the clouds was the only source of light.
This time, he had chosen to spawn on the rooftop of a skyscraper.
"..."
Standing on the edge of the rooftop, Chen Mang leaned out to observe the ten enemies gathered at the building's entrance, letting the rain batter his body as he murmured, "This is probably going to hurt a bit, isn't it?"
Thirty-six stories high.
But...
"Who could resist a leap of faith into immortality?"
Whoosh
Chen Mang took a deep breath, slowly standing at the edge of the rooftop. He pulled his hood over his head. In the combat virtual space, he could choose his own clothes. In the darkness, he turned, his back to the shadows, and like a ghost, slowly spread his arms wide. Then, he leaned straight back, falling into the void.
A few seconds later, a dull thud echoed through the night, like a meat patty being slammed against the ground.
Back in the White Space, Chen Mang grimaced, stretching his sore muscles. But when he saw the mission results panel, he couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
Not bad.
He had killed an enemy.
Even enemies armed with firearms couldn't withstand his assassination techniques in the face of the Leap of Faith.
He gained new insights into the Dao of assassination.
Next, he experimented with various map modes, becoming engrossed in the game. It was undeniably addictive, but... he wanted to try the online mode.
"Biaozi, Lord Mang wants you to go to Guard Car No. 5."
"Did he say what for?"
"He did. He wants to spar with you."
"Huh?"
Biaozi, who was on patrol, stared at Old Pig as he approached, frozen in place. A flicker of confusion crossed his eyes as he murmured, "What kind of sparring? The kind where Lord Mang wields his Soaring Dragon Assault Rifle while I fight barehanded?"
"I think I saw my great-grandmother waving at me."
"Don't overthink it."
Old Pig couldn't help but chuckle. "It's not that serious. Judging by his tone, Lord Mang seems quite happy. Go on, it's probably a good thing."
Still uneasy, Biaozi entered Guard Car No. 5. He glanced around, but Ji Chuchu, who had been resting in the carriage, was nowhere to be seen. Only Lord Mang was present. Biaozi approached him cautiously and whispered, "Lord Mang, you wanted to see me?"
"Mm."
Chen Mang waved his hand towards the two Combat Training Virtual Spaces on the ground and said with a smile, "Come on, try this new toy I just finished."
"It's like a virtual game, you can fight online, and any injuries sustained inside won't carry over to reality."
"Playing alone is boring. Let's spar."
"Huh?"
"What 'huh'? Hurry up!"
Soon, on a ring within the White Space, Biaozi, armed with a dagger, faced Lord Mang, who also held a dagger. Biaozi asked hesitantly, "Lord Mang, may I attack now?"
"Fight seriously."
Chen Mang crouched slightly, his eyes fixed on the dagger in Biaozi's hand. "If you win, I'll make you the First Team Captain. If you lose, you're demoted to the second team."
Hearing this, Biaozi, who had been hesitant to strike, immediately straightened his expression, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
"Then I'm sorry, Lord Mang!"
The next moment—
A three-second countdown echoed through the ring.
3...2...1...
The instant the countdown vanished, both men regained control of their bodies and charged at each other simultaneously!
(End of the Chapter)
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