Chapter Sixty-One: Assimilating the Phantom Train

Now, only one path lay before him—the first carriage.

Simply standing here, he could sense a remarkably unusual B-class anomalous entity within the first carriage.

Why was it so unusual?

Though its aura was B-class, it was far more intense than most A-class entities, and it could control both Qi Xuan and Bai Langen, those ancient gods, which spoke volumes about its terrifying power.

To be safe, Feng Tianlin decided to bring Qi Xuan and Bai Langen with him.

He grasped Qi Xuan's hand with his left, Bai Langen's with his right, and so the three entered the mysterious first carriage.

This carriage was extremely narrow, containing only an operating console, with none of the imagined strange entities.

"What on earth is going on?" Feng Tianlin was puzzled. There was clearly the aura of an anomalous entity, so why was there none inside?

He quickly discovered the problem: the so-called B-class entity's aura was emanating from the operating console.

He approached the console, ready to investigate, when the system's voice rang out.

"Host contact with the Ghost Train detected. Would you like to seize control?"

Damn, this system truly was invincible.

"Yes!"

Feng Tianlin didn't hesitate; things like this were always welcome.

In an instant, the entire carriage was bathed in light from the console. Qi Xuan and Bai Langen, previously curious and surveying the carriage, were drawn by the glow and turned toward Feng Tianlin.

Within the radiance, a translucent miniature train appeared, immediately darting into Feng Tianlin's body, fusing seamlessly with him.

Feng Tianlin touched himself, bewildered. "What just happened?"

Qi Xuan and Bai Langen were overjoyed.

Qi Xuan studied Feng Tianlin intently, her eyes unable to hide her excitement. "I knew I followed the right person. The train's source energy has acknowledged you as its master."

Bai Langen was equally respectful, a smile on his lips. "Congratulations, my master. This is extremely valuable. With it, you can control the train."

Feng Tianlin understood—the system had granted him control by absorbing the train's source energy.

New information flooded his mind. Placing his hand on the console, he could see countless times and places in his mind.

At last, the train's secrets were revealed.

It could indeed travel through time and space, but it was extremely unstable, only able to visit the era of anomalies, and only to a single location. Worst of all, each journey took half a year.

That point, Bai Buchen had hit the mark.

But the destinations were extremely stable; one could travel anywhere in the world at incredible speed.

The source of the "human meat" aboard the train was a group of ordinary people who had accidentally wandered in—they could only enter the last carriage and become fodder.

The train had another uncanny feature: it could replicate these people, providing an endless supply of meat for the other passengers.

But none of this mattered to Feng Tianlin now. All he wanted was to return to Spirit City.

"Let me see what this train can really do!"

He located the coordinates from when he first boarded the train in his mind, chose the time, and selected to return.

In just an instant, the outside world became the place where Feng Tianlin entered this space.

Outside, Ruan Miao had been waiting for some time—about half an hour, perhaps—when a train suddenly appeared before her eyes.

Just as she puzzled over the sight, three figures emerged from the train—two people and a doll.

It was Feng Tianlin, Qi Xuan, and Bai Langen.

Qi Xuan and Bai Langen stepped off the train, excitedly surveying their surroundings, faces full of wonder.

"I never expected human civilization to advance to such a degree—it's simply incredible," Qi Xuan exclaimed, gazing at the towering skyscrapers.

"Indeed, when I left, humans were still building houses from mud. Now, they have this kind of civilization," Bai Langen echoed.

Though the two had their differences, now that they served the same master, their relationship couldn't be too strained.

Ruan Miao expertly took out her sketchbook, beginning to draw the Ghost Train while asking Feng Tianlin, "What happened?"

Feng Tianlin sighed. "It's a long story. Let's find someplace to rest, and I'll explain."

Ruan Miao knew her leader preferred to talk in quiet places, so she agreed.

The four returned to the hotel they'd stayed at before. Thanks to Ruan Miao's earnings from the horror art exhibition, it was a relatively upscale hotel, with spacious rooms that didn't feel crowded.

Only, as they entered, the attendant muttered behind them, "Look at that pale-skinned guy—probably another player from the Lighthouse Nation here to mess with our girls. Two at once, too! And the one in ancient dress, isn't she underage?"

"Forget it; let's not meddle in others' affairs."

Feng Tianlin was speechless.

Qi Xuan had already tucked away her nine tails, and her overwhelming power meant ordinary people couldn't sense she was an anomaly.

Back in the room, Long Mengting and the other entities were watching television.

Wait—watching television?

Feng Tianlin was stunned and rushed over to stand in front of the screen, blocking their view.

"Boss, what are you doing? Can't you see we're watching TV?" Long Mengting pouted, annoyed.

"TV! I want to watch TV!" The Berserk Bear's voice was mechanical but full of longing for television.

"Boss, why are you doing this?" Chimei's voice was soft and pitiful.

What the... What was going on? Had his not-too-bright followers suddenly gained wits?

He quickly recalled what the Bird had said about the full awakening of anomalies—this must be its effect.

"When did you start acting like this?" Feng Tianlin looked at his newly enlightened subordinates, at a loss for words.

To his surprise, they all shook their heads in unison.

Long Mengting spoke directly, "When I regained my intelligence, I was already watching TV."

The other two nodded in agreement.

Feng Tianlin rubbed his forehead; though this was hard to accept at first, perhaps it wasn't a bad thing.

He glanced at the TV—good heavens, they were watching 'Man and Nature.'

Could it be the television awakened their intelligence?

Shaking his head, he decided not to dwell on it. The pressing matter now was to eliminate that fellow called Fan Tianxing. His instincts told him this person was no ordinary threat.

Feng Tianlin clapped his hands, calling everyone to sit on the bed to discuss their plans.

Suddenly, Feng Tianlin, Qi Xuan, and Bai Langen all turned to look out the window in the same direction. Qi Xuan and Bai Langen narrowed their eyes, their expressions unfriendly.

Qi Xuan licked her lips. "It's a B-class youngster. Boss, shall I deal with him?"

Feng Tianlin quickly waved her off. "I know this entity—an old friend. I have some questions for him."

Bai Langen instantly understood, calmly walked to the door, and went downstairs.

About ten seconds later, he returned, carrying a trembling, bandaged entity like a tightly wrapped mummy—it was the black Red Fiend from before.