Chapter 264 - 152: Commencing Operations

Chapter 264: Chapter 152: Commencing Operations

This was the main concern.

By now, everyone knew the Mortal Realm High-speed Rail was definitely a good thing.

The only question was the price.

If the price was steep, it would definitely sting. Of course, they would still have to use it, but they wouldn’t do so freely unless it was a special occasion.

"That will be announced later."

Chen Fan walked onto the High-speed Rail with a smile. The remaining faction leaders exchanged glances before boarding as well.

The High-speed Rail started up quickly.

It sped off into the depths of the Wilderness at an incredible speed.

A red line stretched out ahead.

Warning signs flashed by rapidly on both sides.

These were all put in place by the Logistics Pavilion.

Soon, the High-speed Rail slowly came to a stop at the Jiangbei Bridge platform.

"This bridge is called Jiangbei Bridge. It marks the border between Jiangbei and Jiangnan."

The platform beside it was clearly newly constructed.

It was within the range of the Ghost Fire.

There was even a covered awning and a rest area.

Flowers and plants had even been planted.

"..."

Chen Fan explained with a smile. This was the purpose of the Logistics Pavilion; although the flowers and plants served no practical function, they made the place feel more pleasant.

The various faction leaders also gazed out the window with complicated expressions.

The speed was indeed incredible.

Immediately after, the High-speed Rail started up again. When it stopped next, it was at the entrance to Medicine King Valley. A newly built platform stood at the valley’s gate, clearly the work of the Mortal Realm and in the same unified style as the other stations.

"My place, my place!"

The Medicine King Valley Master said cheerfully, "From now on, everyone can just take the High-speed Rail to my home to buy Elixirs. Or you can contact me directly, and I’ll deliver them right to your door."

The High-speed Rail started up once more.

Carrying the faction leaders, it continued on to the other cities among the Nine Cities of Jiangnan. The route formed a loop, conveniently connecting them all.

Every time it stopped before a city, countless commoners would come out to watch.

「Finally.」

When the High-speed Rail pulled into the station of the final city,

Chen Fan stepped off the train, looked at the assembled faction leaders, and smiled.

"The Mortal Realm High-speed Rail."

"The price is tentatively set at one Ghost Stone."

"It’s a flat fee per person."

"From any station to any station."

"The price is the same."

"For cargo transport, the price will be calculated separately."

The moment his voice fell, the Mortal Realm Members stationed at this stop brought out a pre-prepared sign from inside the station and set it up on the ground.

「Ticket Price: One Ghost Stone.」

「This is Mortal Realm Line 1. The terminus is Mortal City.」

「At the same time.」

All stations received the message and put out the exact same sign simultaneously.

"Official operations begin today."

"Currently, departures will alternate directions."

"For example, for this hour, all trains will depart for Mortal City. In the next hour, all trains will depart from Mortal City toward here. The direction will switch every hour. For specific schedules, please check the notice boards at each station."

This news hit every station at once, causing an uproar.

The faction leaders standing to the side, as well as the commoners of this city, were all dumbfounded, frozen in place.

’O-one Ghost Stone?’

’Isn’t that price too low!’

’The toll for the Jiangbei Bridge used to be five Ghost Stones, but a train ticket is only one Ghost Stone, and it even bypasses the toll?’

’And it can go so far?’

’And it’s so fast?’

’Doesn’t this mean it’s not just for the factions? Ordinary people like us can ride it too?’

"..."

Chen Fan stood aside with a chuckle, saying nothing. At that moment, an enormous High-speed Rail pulling a full 100 Suspended Baskets slowly approached the Ping’an City station from the distance.

Each Suspended Basket could hold over a dozen people.

This massive High-speed Rail could accommodate more than a thousand people.

This trip was bound for Mortal City.

It was also the first High-speed Rail to enter official operation.

The instant ticket sales were announced, countless commoners who had been watching the spectacle from the sidelines pulled out their Ghost Stones and rushed into the station. They paid their fares and boarded; the price was simply too cheap. In the blink of an eye, the High-speed Rail was full and speeding off into the distance.

「A short while later.」

Another massive High-speed Rail pulling 100 Suspended Baskets rolled into the station, and it too was filled with people in the blink of an eye before departing at full capacity.

Ping’an City was a terminus station.

However, when Chen Fan had built the line, he had extended it an extra kilometer beyond the station to build a depot for parking the trains.

For instance, the High-speed Rail he had just ridden had already moved onto a siding to park after arriving at the Ping’an City station, keeping it from obstructing the new trains running on the main line.

...

Mortal Realm High-speed Rail Line 1 had officially entered service.

And almost all the factions and commoners near the stations learned the price at the first opportunity: just one Ghost Stone.

What did that mean?

Wang Kui’s previous monthly salary as a station master was 10 Ghost Stones.

In other words, even Wang Kui could afford it.

Wang Kui’s monthly salary was considered high for an ordinary person; most people only earned three to five Ghost Stones a month. Even these common folk could afford to take a ride if they bit the bullet, just for the experience. In other words, practically anyone could afford a ticket for the High-speed Rail.

This was completely different from what the factions had initially imagined.

They had assumed the ticket price for the High-speed Rail would be quite high, making it a service exclusively for the various factions.

They never expected the price to be so low.

...

"Fuck! Since when did Ping’an City have so goddamn many people!"

"Did the whole fucking city turn out for this?!"

「Bai Ri City.」

One of the Nine Cities of Jiangnan, it was also the second-to-last stop on Mortal Realm Line 1. The previous station was Ping’an City.

However, a middle-aged man with a full, bushy beard stood on the platform in Bai Ri City, unable to stop himself from cursing as he watched train after train speed into the distance. He had just learned that a ride on the High-speed Rail cost only one Ghost Stone.