His spirit was draining away madly.
Both the [Sublimation] and [Surpass the Stars] talents were devouring his spirit and stamina simultaneously.
It was at this moment that Ye Qiyan finally understood why the Homeward-bound Souls of the past believed that Zhou Shangqing, who possessed the [Surpass the Stars] talent, had a chance to reach the end of the Wasteland.
Speed, pure speed, unadulterated by anything else.
Accelerate, accelerate, accelerate....
The surrounding space began to distort.
The Train's frame groaned and creaked with a mournful sound.
If not for the Wealth Protective Barrier, The Hunt in its protective mode, and those few Divine Core Shields, the Train would likely have been torn to pieces under this seventh round of acceleration from [Surpass the Stars].
The scene visible through the train window now seemed veiled in a layer of distortion.
But, it didn't matter.
The moment Ye Qiyan drank the sixth Spirit Potion, the Train's Sublimation was already complete.
[Stamina: 10] [Spirit: 1]
The Train's speed gradually slowed.
The cube that contained the Surpass the Stars talent gradually dimmed.
The talent hidden within it still had nine uses remaining.
At the same moment the Sublimation ended.
Those massive tornadoes blocking the Train's necessary path also seemed to lose their target and gradually dispersed.
Yet, a portion still remained in place, hindering the Train's progress.
"Need to be fast, but not too fast..."
"Return."
The Celestial Comet Drive was deactivated, and he stopped deploying acceleration bullets.
Instead, he used the [Overclocking] mode obtained after sublimating the [Eternal Night Reactor] to apply a simple double acceleration to the Train.
[Ding!!]
[Congratulations! Train Conductor Ye Qiyan]
[Your Train level has increased to: Level 14]
[Upgrade options are now being unlocked for you.]
[Please wait a moment.]
The System's Light Screen appeared before his eyes.
Ye Qiyan leaned back against the side, observing the Train's status as usual.
Just like before.
The Processing Station, the chassis, the frame, the wheels, the Train's overall structure had all been strengthened.
The speed had now reached 280 kilometers per hour.
"This time's consumption... strange?"
He had drunk six potions.
Setting aside the consumption from the Surpass the Stars talent.
The combined stamina and spirit consumed for this Train Sublimation was only three hundred and eighty points.
A mere twenty-five points more than the last time.
Could it be that these Train levels aren't that difficult to raise?
Ye Qiyan shook his head inwardly.
There wasn't enough reference data for this; he'd need to wait until the next Sublimation to get a slightly clearer picture of the specific situation.
Putting the thought aside, a new Light Screen formed at that moment.
On it were the most anticipated upgrade options for this Train level increase.
"Heh heh, let me see what we've got."
Ye Qiyan rubbed his hands together with a chuckle.
He touched the Light Screen.
The options appeared.
[Level 14 Train, upgrade options are as follows]
[Option One: System Permission · Time Flow Synchronization (2000 Train Coins)]
"......"
The instant he saw the first option, Ye Qiyan silently covered his eyes.
He had seen the name of this option before, not just once, and he basically knew its effect too.
Time Flow Synchronization, a system permission that would allow him to communicate with other Train Conductors in the Wasteland or other worlds even while he was in an Advanced Station world.
This thing... actually costs two thousand Train Coins.
He took a deep breath.
"Hoo..."
He opened the upgrade options again to confirm.
Yep, that's the price.
And it's not a physical, tradable card.
It's just, purely, a permission.
"Really expensive..."
Even so, he still had to buy it.
He didn't even look at what the subsequent upgrade options were; this permission, he must obtain.
However, before purchasing, Ye Qiyan had another question.
"If this permission were in a tradable state, how many Train Coins would it sell for?"
The System gave an answer.
["Ding, as this permission is your second high-level system permission, it is offered at a fifty percent discount. Its original price is four thousand Train Coins. If it were a tradable version, the price would be eight thousand Train Coins."]
"... ???"
For the first time, Ye Qiyan doubted whether he had misread the words.
Eight thousand?
Just by adding a 'tradable' prefix, the value doubled directly.
That being the case, that Charlatan back then was really quite generous, actually offering a permission card worth eight thousand Train Coins as a reward.
But, did Ye Qiyan feel any regret for not accepting it?
Not at all.
If he had really accepted that Time Flow Synchronization permission card, then his future upgrade options would probably have turned into a pile of useless scrap metal.
"Still have seven hundred and seventy-two left... should be able to afford the rest, right?"
The first option had given him a small shock.
And behind it, there were three more.
[Option Two: Mechanism · Crystal Heart (360 Train Coins)]
[Option Three: Carriage Single Attribute Limit Enhancement Card (400 Train Coins)]
[Option Four: Miraculous Gardener's Golden Scissors (10 Train Coins)]
"?"
"Three sixty plus four hundred... seven sixty... System, that final Option Four, those scissors, you deliberately added them as filler, right?"
The corner of Ye Qiyan's eye twitched a few times.
Just moments ago, he still had nearly three thousand Train Coins in savings, but after purchasing all these upgrade options this time.
He'd only be left with...
Two.
This time, the System still answered his question.
[Train options have a certain probability of appearing based on the amount of [Correct] Train Coins obtained by the Train Conductor.]
[Please note, due to your excessive consumption of Train Coins at the current level.
During the next Train level upgrade, the system will provide you with the conventional options for a Level 15 Train.]
"So you're saying that last option, the 10 Train Coin scissors, you deliberately put it there."
[Yes]
"Damn, you might as well not have admitted it."
[The train system cannot deceive the Train Conductor.]
Ye Qiyan speechlessly held his forehead, thinking he shouldn't have asked about something with such an obvious answer.
"You're ruthless."
[Which upgrade option would you like to purchase?]
"I'll buy them all."
[Purchase successful.]
Watching the more than seven hundred Train Coins before his eyes finally dwindle to just two.
Ye Qiyan had once again become a pauper.
"No, it's fine... at least there's still the daily five from the Great Dragon Card..."
He looked towards the [Dragon Card · Wealth] he had placed in the locomotive section.
"Lisette... where are today's five Train Coins?"
Lisette blinked, extended a finger, and pointed at the only two remaining coins in front of Ye Qiyan.
"Here, just now, here. Now, gone."
Hmm...
He now, truly, only had two Train Coins.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter