Translator: AnubisTL
Extreme Evil Galaxy.
Within the Holy Land—a small world carved out by Satan—the resources had been almost entirely collected into the train. This space contained nearly all the resources the Extreme Evil Civilization had managed to gather.
The Extreme Evil Civilization had a leader, but unlike the leaders of other civilizations, theirs was merely a puppet. The true power lay with Satan, who remained behind the scenes. Naturally, the resources stockpiled for the war were stored with him.
The quantity was staggering.
This single battle yielded far more than all his previous gains combined. Leaving aside miscellaneous loot for now, the sheer volume of "resources" alone was astronomical.
The primary resource was iron ore: 7.892 quadrillion units.
Not only had all previous expenditures been recouped, but a massive profit had been made.
"Hah..."
Inside the Stellaris train, Chen Mang exhaled deeply as he gazed at the data displayed on the control panel screen. The battle had nearly drained the Stellaris's reserves completely, but with the addition of 7.892 quadrillion units of iron ore, the train's internal resources had reached an unprecedented level.
It has to be said: the Niya Star System was truly barren.
Even if you dug it inside out, you wouldn't find resources on this scale.
Of course, these resources represented the entire reserves of the Extreme Evil Galaxy. Not a single scrap remained. The Extreme Evil Civilization, preparing to migrate to the Niya Star System, had already exhausted nearly every mineable star within their own galaxy.
Only about 70% of the mining stars remained unexploited.
These were low-yield stars, so small that constructing a wormhole to mine them would be a losing proposition. Unprofitable to exploit, these meager deposits were left for nearby, insignificant civilizations to scavenge.
In the cosmos, even the most insignificant civilizations—those barely able to venture beyond 0.1 light-years—could claim a mining star as their own, free from competition. This endless cycle of resource acquisition fueled the continuous advancement of civilizations, constantly replenishing their ranks with fresh blood.
If all civilizations could access mining stars directly, without the need for wormholes or any cost, the cosmic order would stagnate.
In such a universe, there would be no further Civilization Advancement. The cosmic hierarchy would become completely rigid, with no tiers at all. The God-Tier Civilizations would carve the universe into slices like a cake, each seizing all the resources within their designated zones.
It was precisely the existence of these numerous but resource-scarce mining stars that allowed for the endless emergence of fresh blood for civilizations.
One day later, Chen Mang embarked on his return journey. He hadn't completely annihilated the Extreme Evil Civilization but had allowed them to continue existing within the Extreme Evil Galaxy.
However, without Satan's support and deprived of so many resources, invading other galaxies would be virtually impossible. In fact, if attacked by another 4th Tier Civilization at this point, their extinction would be all but certain.
Of course, if they could maintain this precarious balance, in several years, as the stunted mining stars gradually matured and replenished their resources, they might still have a chance to reclaim their former peak strength.
For now, however, the voice of the Extreme Evil Civilization would be silenced in this region forever.
"Not bad," Chen Mang murmured, piloting the Stellaris through the wormhole. He gazed at the bizarre and dazzling scenery flashing past on either side of the tunnel, chuckling softly to himself. Though the operation had been fraught with danger and close calls, the successful resolution was ultimately satisfying.
With these resources, he could once again fully upgrade every accessory on the train, including the Train Armor, which could finally be upgraded again.
If every galaxy were as well-prepared as the Extreme Evil Civilization, having already stockpiled all their resources, he could avoid wasting time after victory and simply depart with everything, making the process remarkably efficient.
Not bad.
Soon, he returned to the Niya Star System, hovering in space as he reviewed the status of the train's accessories in the Train Log. All damaged components had been fully repaired, except for one Tier 500 Arcanon Light Energy Main Cannon. This cannon had been pulverized by Satan's punch during their first encounter months ago and was beyond repair.
The Stellaris now had one fewer main cannon.
Only five remained.
But that was still sufficient. Among the remaining five main cannons, one was Tier 1000, while the other four were Tier 500.
He didn't wait any longer.
Instead, he prepared to expend his recently accumulated resources to collectively upgrade all of his train accessories, starting with...
"Spider Leg."
This was the first Functional Accessory he had obtained, and it had served him well during his early days.
During the final battle against the Zerg, he had acquired a massive quantity of spider silk. All of it had been collected into the train's interior by powerful magnets—a staggering 100 trillion units. His current Spider Leg was Tier 500, requiring only 100 trillion units of spider silk to upgrade it to Tier 1000.
Spider silk was primarily used for upgrading the Spider Leg accessory, with limited other applications. As for activating the Spider Leg's overpowered effects, such as firing spider silk, these capabilities had become largely irrelevant to the Stellaris.
Without hesitation, he immediately consumed 100 trillion units of spider silk to upgrade the Spider Leg to Tier 1000 in one go!
He also unlocked a brand-new Overpowered Effect.
[Tier 1000 Overpowered Effect: Spider Leg]
[The spider leg will tear through space, allowing free passage between the First Universe and the Second Universe.]
Chen Mang stared silently at the overpowered effect before him.
The Tier 200 overpowered effect was the God-Tier Overpowered Effect. When an accessory reached Tier 200, both its inherent attributes and its overpowered effect would undergo a qualitative transformation.
The Tier 500 overpowered effect was the Cosmic-Grade Overpowered Effect. At this level, one essentially began to touch upon the fundamental laws of the universe.
The Tier 1000 overpowered effect...
He wanted to call it the Ultimate Overpowered Effect, for this was nearly the end.
He didn't know the maximum tier an accessory could reach, nor whether the Cosmic Rules imposed any limits. But he felt that a Tier 1000 accessory was nearing its limit.
Any further advancement might truly tap into divine power.
Currently, only four Tier 1000 accessories existed within the train:
[Telescope]
[Powerful Magnet]
[Arcanon Light Energy Main Cannon]
[Spider Leg]
Except for the [Powerful Magnet], which had no Tier 1000 overpowered effect, the other three accessories possessed effects that were utterly monstrous. Even the Tier 1000 [Powerful Magnet], despite lacking an overpowered effect, boasted astronomical inherent attributes, capable of manipulating planets to create gravity fields.
Through the information left behind by Satan, Chen Mang learned of the Second Universe's existence.
He had always believed he would never enter the Second Universe in his lifetime, or at least not for a very long time. After all, he figured that unless an advanced civilization suddenly attacked him, he should be nearly impossible to kill.
Yet here he was.
An opportunity to enter the Second Universe had presented itself far sooner than he expected.
If he hadn't obtained information about the Second Universe from Satan, he wouldn't even know what it was, let alone understand the significance of this Tier 1000 Overpowered Effect.
But...
"Xiao Ai," Chen Mang said thoughtfully, "does this mean I can now resurrect infinitely?"
"Even if I die and enter the Second Universe, it won't matter. I can just take the train through the spider leg and return to the First Universe."
"That's not quite right," Xiao Ai's voice quickly echoed through the train. "Train Conductor, your understanding is slightly flawed. Entry to the Second Universe is only possible if the soul remains intact. In the battles you're currently facing, defeat almost always results in soul fragmentation."
"For example, if you had lost to Satan earlier, I'm certain he wouldn't have allowed your soul to escape intact."
"Secondly—"
"Even with a complete soul, there's only a chance of entering the Second Universe, not a guarantee. There's still a risk of complete annihilation in the cosmos."
"Lastly—"
"Even if your soul remains intact and you're fortunate enough to enter the Second Universe, your train won't accompany you. Moreover, your memories will be wiped clean in the Second Universe, leaving you unable to escape."
"This accessory doesn't grant resurrection. Its greatest benefit is allowing you to glimpse the afterlife or establish a foothold in the Second Universe beforehand. That way, even if you meet a powerful foe and die, with a bit of luck, your pre-established plans in the Second Universe might allow you to live a decent life there."
"..."
Chen Mang leaned back in his chair, lit a cigarette, and murmured, "This sounds a bit like burning paper money for myself in advance. But you know what? Someone like me—no parents, no children—really should burn some paper money for myself now, just in case no one does it after I die. I just wonder if this counts and whether they'll keep track of it."
He had already conceived the perfect use for this overpowered effect.
The Satan Train's database mentioned that the Second Universe also had trains, though they were called Hell Trains, and they similarly possessed various resource mines.
But—
Chen Mang believed that due to the near-total isolation between the two universes, prices would inevitably differ. This meant he could potentially become a cross-dimensional trader, profiting handsomely from the price discrepancies.
He continued examining other accessories, planning to take the train to the Second Universe for a reconnaissance mission once everything was prepared.
His immediate goal was to upgrade the Train Armor to Tier 1000 in one go!
He checked the resource cost—it was exorbitant, far exceeding the cost of upgrading a Seven-Colored Grade Accessory to Tier 1000. It was hard to imagine such a cost for a Green Accessory, requiring a staggering—
3.75 quadrillion units of iron ore.
That was equivalent to upgrading 3.75 Seven-Colored Grade Accessories to Tier 1000!
Though expensive, it was worth every unit.
Soon!
The 3.75 quadrillion units of iron ore recently seized from the train were reduced to ash, fusing into the train's structure. The Train Armor grew increasingly thick and imposing, radiating a sense of overwhelming weight and solidity throughout the cosmos.
Now, he dared to take the train for a bath in a star.
The star's heat couldn't breach his armor.
And he had gained a brand-new overpowered effect.
[Steel Car Armor Tier 1000 Overpowered Effect: Eternally Indestructible. This armor absorbs all physical attacks, regardless of Tier, and uses the absorbed energy to temporarily increase its Train Armor Tier for 24 hours.]
[PS: This Tier 1000 Overpowered Effect is unique and the only one of its kind in the universe.]
[PS2: No other civilization can obtain this Overpowered Effect.]
Chen Mang's smile gradually froze as he read the overpowered effect, his eyes widening in disbelief.
He had never imagined that one day, the impossible—lifting oneself into the sky by stepping on one's own foot—could actually become reality.
The Tier 1000 overpowered effect granted immunity to all physical attacks.
This might sound unremarkable.
After all, physical attacks were rare in the cosmos and largely ineffective. But when combined with the Tier 500 armor effect, which granted immunity to all energy attacks, it created true invincibility.
Absolute invincibility.
Neither physical nor energy attacks could inflict the slightest harm!
Utterly invincible.
After a long silence, Chen Mang exhaled deeply. He had never expected a single accessory to possess two Unique Overpowered Effects. Now, only one thought occupied his mind: the original plan had to be scrapped.
All Train Civilizations in the Niya Star System had to be dismantled, reorganized, and packed into the planets within the trains.
Every single one of them had to be taken away.
The original blueprint for the "Steel Car Armor" wasn't his; it belonged to the Mechanical Civilization. This meant the unique overpowered effect wasn't exclusive to human civilization but rather to the long-extinct Mechanical Civilization.
Nearly all Train Civilizations in the Niya Star System had been influenced by the Mechanical Civilization, using accessory blueprints passed down from them.
This implied that if an advanced civilization happened to arrive in the Niya Star System, stumbled upon a "Steel Car Armor" blueprint from the Mechanical Civilization, and invested significant resources and murphy stone, they too could gain these two near-invincible overpowered effects.
He didn't want his future enemies to have such an opportunity.
Therefore, the best solution was to cram everything into the train, leaving no chance for others.
At least, he didn't want to face such enemies.
Of course, he believed that even with immunity to energy and physical attacks, there would still be special methods to bypass the defenses, such as his absolute defense-piercing "Divine Silence" wonder. However, such methods often came at a high cost, and not every enemy would possess them.
While challenging a God-Tier Civilization directly was unrealistic, Chen Mang believed he could still push his weight around with some Fifth-Tier Civilizations lacking particularly impressive foundations.
Pack them up and take them all away!
"Xiao Ai, calculate how many planets we'd need if we evacuated everyone."
"Understood."
Soon, Xiao Ai provided the answer.
"Many planets have poor land utilization rates. To ensure each planet maintains a 70% idle land utilization rate—the minimum threshold for a satisfactory Human Survival Happiness Index—we'd require approximately 1,279 planets."
"That means we need to construct 1,279 space gates."
"Affirmative."
Chen Mang nodded slightly. A 70% idle land utilization rate meant that only 70% of a planet's land area would be designated as human habitation zones. Such cramped conditions would inevitably lead to a low Human Survival Happiness Index.
For example, even at midnight, traffic congestion would persist.
The dwindling natural spaces would make recreational areas virtually inaccessible.
And the constant demand for essential resources like fresh water, food, and electricity would far outstrip supply.
However, these problems were minor inconveniences for the Stellaris.
After the train expansion, each carriage could accommodate up to 300 space gates. Currently, the train housed just over 100 Tier Space Gates, leaving ample room for over 1,000 more.
The existing space gates on the Stellaris were primarily Tier 500, making them quite expensive, with each requiring 700 billion units of iron ore.
However, the reason for using Tier 500 gates was primarily to store stellar energy, providing power reserves for the train's propulsion and ammunition. For residential purposes, Tier 200 gates would suffice.
A Tier 200 space gate required only 1.3 billion units of iron ore.
Building over 1,000 additional space gates would be a trivial expense for the Stellaris, a mere drop in the bucket.
Immediately—
After a moment's contemplation, Chen Mang issued his orders:
"Arrange for all Train Civilizations in the Niya Star System to be integrated into the train. Disperse each civilization and assimilate them into the human civilization, settling them across these 1,297 planets. Choose the planets carefully, prioritizing high-quality, habitable worlds."
"Understood."
Entrusting this task to Xiao Ai was the most appropriate course of action.
After handling these matters, Chen Mang turned his attention back to the information displayed on the control panel screen regarding the other accessories. He found himself genuinely wishing he could resurrect Satan once more, just to see if the demon could pose a challenge without relying on Insect Silence.
If you have a hammer, you'll always look for a nail.
And you'll want a nail that fits perfectly.
Satan had been the perfect nail.
Too bad he's dead.
Throughout his journey, Satan had been the strongest opponent Chen Mang had encountered. Unlike others who relied on the train's power, Satan's strength stemmed from his own abilities. His every move tore spatial fragments, and had their battle occurred in the cosmos rather than the Holy Land, the damage to space would have been far greater.
It's just a shame he died so easily.
One spear, and he was gone.
Seventeen hours later.
The Stellaris train's orders had been disseminated. All civilizations were preparing for their complete assimilation into the Stellaris train. Naturally, no one dared refuse, as no civilization in the Niya Star System would defy the human civilization's commands.
Especially after vaguely learning that Lord Mang had seemingly initiated the invasion and achieved a resounding victory.
Of course.
This process was far from simple. The orders had been issued, but fully implementing them would take at least a year or two to complete, even with the assistance of Xiao Ai, the super AI. Managing such a vast number of people remained a complex undertaking.
It was time to upgrade the AI to Tier 1000.
This would significantly enhance its computing power.
Meanwhile, Chen Mang sat alone in the locomotive cabin, slowly maneuvering the control stick forward. As the train gradually accelerated to its peak speed, spider legs rapidly extended, slicing through space.
The scenery around the train began to shift.
It plunged into a cosmic rift, like stumbling into a black hole.
Then, after the surrounding landscape flickered repeatedly between reality and illusion, the train smoothly came to a halt, having safely arrived in the Second Universe. The Doppler Radar, still functioning perfectly here, immediately activated, gathering vast amounts of information across a range of 1 million light-years.
Simultaneously, Xiao Ai began operating at full capacity.
Chen Mang swiftly scanned the radar's range for any noteworthy information while simultaneously absorbing data from the AI Database of recently deceased entities within the radar's reach. This would help him better understand the Second Universe.
Soon—
The process lasted a full half-hour.
Finally, Xiao Ai's voice echoed through the locomotive cabin.
"Train Conductor, I'm afraid I have disappointing news."
"What is it?" Chen Mang asked, glancing at the Doppler Radar's display.
The Second Universe, like the First, was a vast cosmos. The radar showed countless planets, indistinguishable at first glance from those in the First Universe.
It bore no resemblance to the popular conception of Hell.
Stars still burned brightly, radiating warmth. There was no need to fear the cold or endure daily torment by scorching flames.
If Chen Mang hadn't known this was the Second Universe, he might have mistaken it for some corner of the First.
"According to the data I've gathered, there's virtually no price difference between the two universes. For example, murphy stone and iron ore, which are relatively scarce in the First Universe, aren't common here either."
"They remain equally rare and in high demand."
"There's essentially no room for arbitrageurs."
"Moreover,"
"The resources here cannot be used in the First Universe."
"All resources here are prefixed with 'Hell', such as 'Hell Iron Ore' and 'Hell Murphy Stone'. These materials can only be used to forge the Hell Train and are incompatible with train accessories from the First Universe."
"This means we can't even be resource traders."
"We can't even bring these resources back to the First Universe for use."
"In other words,"
"Even if people from the First Universe gained the ability to freely enter and exit the Second Universe, it would be of little practical use. The only potential benefit might be if they were lucky enough to reunite with deceased relatives or friends, allowing them to reconnect and chat."
"Otherwise, the information here aligns almost perfectly with the Satan Database."
"The inhabitants of this realm are virtually immortal."
"Even without any means of survival, they would only starve, not die outright."
"If someone particularly craves eternal life and is willing to pay the price, the Second Universe might be a suitable destination for them."
"..."
Chen Mang nodded slightly, remaining silent as he calmly gazed at the radar screen. It can't be useless. It must be working, he thought.
It's just...
Hard to detect.
"There's a city nearby. Let's go take a look and see what cities in Hell are like."
"While we're there, we can also observe the people who live here."
"Don't rush to conclusions."
"If all else fails, we can just treat it as a sightseeing trip to broaden our horizons."
(End of the Chapter)
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