The next moment!
The two collided, without any technique, without a trace of martial arts, only pure desire for battle and slaughter.
You stab me, I stab you.
Extremely pure.
Thirty seconds later, Chen Mang, covered in wounds, pulled his fingers, dripping with sticky blood, out of Biao Zi's eye socket. Staggering to his feet, he grimaced in pain, forcing a difficult smile.
"Not good enough."
Immediately after.
A flash of white light, and Chen Mang's injuries were completely healed. He disappeared from the arena, reappearing in the white space, but this time Biao Zi was also there.
"Lord Mang... it hurts!"
Biao Zi's eyes were full of helplessness: "I was so close to winning. I want to try again. I didn't hit a vital spot. You gouged my eyes just now. Can I gouge your eyes this time? I didn't dare to do it before."
"Sure, come on."
On the arena, the moment the countdown ended.
The two charged at each other again.
"Ah!!"
A heart-wrenching scream echoed through the arena.
Then, Biao Zi, lying on the ground, frantically stabbed his own neck with a dagger. Seconds later, he turned into white light and disappeared from the arena.
In the white space.
Biao Zi looked at the panel that popped up in front of him.
「Detected that your mental state is on the verge of collapse. Would you like to clear the pain and phantom pain to avoid side effects?」
"Confirm!"
A few seconds later, Biao Zi, gradually calming down, let out a long sigh of relief. He turned to look at Chen Mang, his eyes full of shadows and fear, trembling as he spoke: "Lord Mang, it really hurts when your balls explode."
"Can we stop..."
"Sigh."
Chen Mang patted Biao Zi's shoulder, somewhat reluctantly: "Alright, let's call it a day. Haven't you ever been in a fight before? In a fight, of course, you prioritize attacking the weak spots."
"Well... usually, when we fight, we don't grab each other's balls or gouge eyes."
"That's a bit over the top..."
"Enough."
Chen Mang waved his hand and then instructed: "You're still the captain of the first team. In the next few days, pick 20 more thugs for me. I'll make eight more 「Combat Training Virtual Spaces」 later. From now on, two teams of thugs will patrol and supervise, while the other team stays in the car to train."
"Understood."
Leaving the virtual space, Chen Mang glanced around the environment of the No. 5 Thug Car.
He spent 4,500 units of Iron Ore to create a Level 10 Refrigerator. After placing the two Combat Training Virtual Spaces inside the Refrigerator, he made eight more Combat Training Virtual Spaces and put them in the Refrigerator.
Although this virtual space can't increase physical strength.
It can enhance practical experience, pain tolerance, combat experience in different terrains, teamwork, and more.
A very useful component.
And—
Chen Mang also spent 45,000 units of Iron Ore to upgrade one of them to Level 10.
The upgrade effect of this component is that it can increase the level of nutrient solution and extend the usage time. A Level 1 「Combat Training Virtual Space」 can last about 5 hours, Level 5 can last 9 hours, and Level 10 can last 14 hours.
And it also gained two Supermodel Effects.
「Combat Training Virtual Space Level 5 Supermodel Effect」: Can connect with other Trains for competitive matches and participate in ranking matches to earn a spot on the leaderboard. Only compatible with users of Trains of the same level.
「Combat Training Virtual Space Level 10 Supermodel Effect」: Training in the virtual space will enhance physical strength in reality.
"Hmm?"
Chen Mang looked at these two Supermodel Effects and smiled. Both of them are quite powerful.
The first Supermodel Effect.
It allows users to connect with other Trains for competitive matches. He had already seen this on the panel in the white space. For example, if he enters this space now, he can compete in ranking matches with all Level 3 Train 「Combat Training Virtual Space」 users in this world.
A fair arena match.
Rising in rank will earn a spot on the leaderboard, thereby increasing the reputation value of the affiliated Train.
He had already learned about the existence of reputation value from the 「Train Auxiliary AI」. Whether it's a regional broadcast or appearing on such leaderboards, it will increase reputation value. He had once received a regional broadcast when he got the first kill on those two rabbit bosses.
But it didn't show up then.
Reputation value only appears for Level 4 Trains. All reputation value obtained before that will be hidden. When the Train reaches Level 4, it will show up and have its corresponding effects.
The second Supermodel Effect is simply on a whole other level of brokenness. It's truly over-the-top.
He originally thought this thing could only improve combat experience, but now it turns out it can also increase physical strength. This will greatly enhance the individual combat ability of the thugs.
Very good.
He likes it.
Yellow-grade components can only be upgraded to Level 5 at most, so the first Supermodel Effect is something everyone has a chance to obtain. But the second Supermodel Effect isn't so easy to get, as it requires Murphy Stone.
Most importantly...
"."
Chen Mang's expression gradually turned strange. Not all components have Supermodel Effects, and not all Supermodel Effects are strong.
He could easily imagine someone spending two Murphy Stones on a green-grade component like the 「Fabrication Table」, eagerly waiting for the Level 5 Supermodel Effect, only to find out that it says "None."
What a mood.
They'd probably smash the Fabrication Table on the spot.
Who wouldn't be furious?
He glanced at the Train Panel. There were still 92,000 units of Iron Ore left. He immediately spent another 45,000 units to upgrade the 「Internal Space Stabilizer」 component to Level 10.
This component is installed in every car, including the exterior of the Train.
It's a tiny thing, similar to a level.
Its effect is to keep the car in a horizontal and static state when the Train is in a non-horizontal or abnormal state. A kind of black technology.
This component's upgrade has no effect.
Even at Level 1, it can keep the interior stable when the Train is rotating 360 degrees.
After upgrading to Level 10, it gained two special Supermodel Effects.
「Internal Space Stabilizer Level 5 Supermodel Effect」: When the Train is rapidly ascending or descending, the Train Crew will not be affected.
「Internal Space Stabilizer Level 10 Supermodel Effect」: When the Train is in a vacuum, all items and members inside the Train will remain unaffected.
Two very buggy Supermodel Effects.
But...
He won't be able to use them anytime soon. Rapid ascent—this term is quite unfamiliar when applied to a Train. He doesn't even know when his Train will be able to fly. As for the second Supermodel Effect, vacuum...
Alright, old friend, take a rest for now.
Chen Mang looked at the remaining 44,000 units of Iron Ore, almost all used up. He decided to save this bit for unexpected emergencies.
When these two Iron Ore mines are exhausted, it will be time to leave.
Two hours later, the slaves began to return to the cars in an orderly manner, bringing back 30,000 units of Iron Ore. These two Level 2 Iron Ore mines had been completely depleted.
Immediately after—
"Vroom..."
As the engine roared, the Stellar Train once again drilled into the depths of the earth, heading straight for the Level 3 「Crimson Heartstone」 mine.
Another two hours later.
The 「Crimson Heartstone」 mine was also depleted, yielding 1,800 units of Level 3 Crimson Heartstone.
1 unit of Level 3 Crimson Heartstone is equivalent to 100 units of Level 1 Crimson Heartstone.
So, although it took very little time, he obtained 180,000 units of Crimson Heartstone.
Inside the Stellar Train, which had already emerged from the ground and switched to Wind-Fire Wheels, racing towards the 「Mohe Hills」, Chen Mang looked at the 180,000 units of 「Crimson Heartstone」 on the Train Panel, filled with emotion.
"Level 3 mines are really satisfying."
The return is so high.
If only he could find a Level 3 Iron Ore mine.
Twenty minutes later.
Chen Mang frowned slightly, looking at the 「Resource Detection Radar」 that hadn't beeped. It's not that it hadn't beeped at all, just that it hadn't detected any high-level resource mines. It did encounter a Level 1 Iron Ore mine 800 meters underground.
But...
He couldn't be bothered to stop. It would waste his time. In the time it takes to mine a Level 1 Iron Ore mine, he could find several Level 2 Iron Ore mines. He parked the Stellar Train on the wasteland and left the Train compartment alone, walking to the side.
He lit three cigarettes and stuck them into the ground.
After patiently waiting for them to burn out, he looked up at the cloudless sky and murmured.
"Heavenly Lord."
"Can you bless me to find a Level 3 Iron Ore mine?"
Logically speaking.
The 「Iron Ridge Wasteland」 should be able to produce Level 3 Iron Ore mines. After all, even a Level 3 Crimson Heartstone mine appeared, so a Level 3 Iron Ore mine should be normal too. It's just that he's never seen one.
After doing all this.
He returned to the Train compartment and continued to steer the Stellar Train, roaring into the distance.
Hmm...
Did I forget to offer incense to Master Kun? Although he and Master Kun had some grudges while he was alive, Master Kun has helped him a lot since his death—sending slaves, blueprints, and startup resources. He's truly a benefactor.
Without Master Kun, it would have been much harder for him to get started.
He's a person who remembers kindness. He should offer incense to Master Kun.
This time, let's skip it. I'll do it next time.
Half an hour later, the 「Resource Detection Radar」 began to beep. Inside a cave 300 meters underground, there was a Level 2 Iron Ore mine, estimated to yield 150,000 units of Iron Ore.
"Level 2 Iron Ore mine."
"Alright."
The drill bit at the front of the Stellar Train began to spin rapidly. Accompanied by the buzzing noise, the Train drilled straight into the depths of the earth, quickly reaching the cave 300 meters underground.
As the Train came to a stop, the Oxygen Generator started working.
The slaves, urged by the thugs, left the cars and headed to the mining area nearby, picking up their pickaxes and starting to work again.
The pleasant sound of pickaxes striking Iron Ore echoed through the cave.
Inside the Train compartment.
Chen Mang looked at the last component he had to make, the 「Individual Exoskeleton Production Line」. With the additional 30,000 units of Iron Ore he had just replenished, his Iron Ore reserves reached 73,000 units, so it wasn't so tight anymore.
He spent another 45,000 units to upgrade it to Level 10.
And placed this production line in Car No. 2. Car No. 2 is where he keeps all his production lines, such as the 「Pickaxe Production Line」.
The upgrade effect of the 「Individual Exoskeleton Production Line」 is that it can produce higher-level Exoskeleton Armor.
Level 1 Exoskeleton Armor can enhance overall physical fitness by 1.1 times.
While Level 10 can enhance it by 2.0 times!
That's double!
This is already an extremely exaggerated figure, but it still depends on the individual's physical fitness. Someone who is already physically strong will become even stronger with this Exoskeleton Armor. But if someone is weak and frail, even with a 2x enhancement from the Exoskeleton Armor, they will still be weak. It won't make much of a difference.
And the price of Level 1 Exoskeleton Armor and Level 10 Exoskeleton Armor is the same.
Both cost 40,000 units of Iron Ore per set.
After upgrading to Level 10, it also brought two Supermodel Effects.
「Individual Exoskeleton Production Line Level 5 Supermodel Effect」: Automatically repairs slowly when damaged.
「Individual Exoskeleton Production Line Level 10 Supermodel Effect」: Resource consumption for production is halved.
The Supermodel Effects are quite ordinary.
The former is only useful during wartime. Normally, 「Nanite Mechanical Spiders」 can handle repairs. If there's no rush, you can also wait for it to repair slowly. As for the latter... its effect is definitely ordinary.
The original price was already expensive, at 40,000 units of Iron Ore. Even after halving the resource consumption, it still costs 20,000 units.
But...
This thing isn't just for thugs. It can also be used by slaves. If every slave has a set, their work efficiency would double.
It's just that the price is too high.
20,000 units per set. For a thousand slaves, that's 20 million units of Iron Ore.
Come on!
If he had that much Iron Ore, would he even need to worry about these things? He'd just go to the 「Kunlun Mountains」 and massacre all the monsters there!
Moreover, he realized that the number of slaves he has and their work efficiency are already quite high. A thousand slaves are more than enough. After all, in higher-level areas, he's bound to encounter Level 3 Iron Ore mines.
With a thousand slaves, a Level 3 Iron Ore mine can be depleted in a day or two, but the amount of Iron Ore obtained would be several times that of a Level 2 Iron Ore mine.
A thousand slaves is already enough.
The real challenge later will be finding and successfully mining higher-level Iron Ore mines.
He walked up to the production line. A probe extended and quickly scanned him from head to toe, recording all his body data. After consuming 20,000 units of Iron Ore, a set of Individual Exoskeleton Armor perfectly tailored to his body was produced.
Overall, it looked like...
The skeleton of a cadaver in a medical school.
Except it was entirely black and made of steel.
Like putting on clothes, he pressed the entire Individual Exoskeleton Armor close to his skin. It was light, with no sense of heaviness, almost merging with his body, like extra bone growth.
"Boom!"
Chen Mang tentatively threw a punch, and a faint sonic boom was heard. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
This thing works quite
well. Most importantly, it doesn't have the heaviness of a mech suit.
It doesn't affect his movements at all.
Worn under clothes, it's completely invisible from the outside. And it doesn't require any Energy Stones to function. The Individual Exoskeleton Armor alone can enhance physical fitness.
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