A Xi Clan cub? He was a full-grown human being, yet in the mouth of this glowing sphere, not only had his species been inexplicably changed, but he had even regressed into a "cub"? Feng Zhixi stared coldly at the ball, his gaze brimming with a threatening edge.
Under the cub’s intimidating glare—which practically screamed, *Explain yourself, or I’ll incinerate your entire spherical body*—the "dumb-cute" little light ball trembled. Internally, it wailed, *The cub is so mean!* while its mouth babbled everything it knew.
According to the little light ball’s own account, the Xi Clan had specifically left it behind before their departure. Its mission was to stay here, wait for newborn Xi Clan cubs, and help them grow up successfully.
One had to understand that it was the crystallization of the entire Xi Clan civilization, the most sacred of existences.
As it spoke, the little light ball suspended itself in the air, spinning rapidly. A misty light rippled across its surface, and a mysterious halo pulsed rhythmically, as if it were draped in divine radiance.
Outside the boathouse, the pinkish-white "roundies" that had been lined up so neatly seemed to hear the summons of the sacred light ball. In perfect unison, they arched their tail fins and lifted their heads toward the sky. Their solemnity was so profound it was as if the little pink ball floating in the air was their god.
At this moment, it was as if a deity had descended.
Feng Zhixi, watching this all with a cold eye: "..."
He hadn't expected that a charlatan of the interstellar era would turn out to be a ball.
The cosmic version of a charlatan—the little light ball—declared that it was a sacred existence worshipped by the Xi Clan, a crystallization of mysterious cosmic energy. Any cub chosen by it would receive the inheritance of the entire Xi Clan civilization!
Having finished its self-praise, the halo on the little pink ball’s surface rippled in a smug arc, waiting to receive the cub’s adoration and respect.
However, after listening to the nonsensical ramblings of this lively little idiot ball, Feng Zhixi merely looked at it as if it were a mental patient. He didn't believe a single word the little fool said.
Losing the patience to continue this farce, Feng Zhixi asked the core question directly: "What was your purpose in luring us here? Why are you so certain I’m a member of the Xi Clan?" He had been born in an orphanage and entered the Lanli Research Institute after being adopted by his teacher, growing up within its walls. One had to realize that the Lanli Research Institute possessed the most rigorous genetic screening technology in the entire Federation; there was no reason to doubt whether he was human.
The Xi Clan? They were beings of legend who had long since vanished, leaving behind virtually no data. Even adult Xi Clan members had disappeared into myth ages ago; how could a Xi Clan cub just appear out of thin air? Did it take him for a fool?
Faced with Feng Zhixi’s doubts, the little light ball shook itself violently from side to side. In its milky, childish voice, it corrected the cub’s error. "Wrong, wrong! Not a Xi Clan person—a cub! You’re a cub-cub!"
*It’s so distressing to deal with a cub who has no common sense,* the little light ball sighed, feeling the heavy burden of its responsibility.
However, in response to the little light ball’s attempt at acting cute, Feng Zhixi’s reaction was to fire an energy bolt directly at the stupid ball.
The silver-blue beam of energy hit the light ball dead center, causing layers of ripples to cascade across its pinkish-white surface.
Feng Zhixi: "Shut up!"
The little pink ball, having eaten another energy bolt: "Whimper, whimper..." *This cub is really, really mean!* ┭┮﹏┭┮
Aiming the muzzle of his energy gun at the light ball, the chill radiating from Feng Zhixi dropped to the freezing point. "Tell the truth."
Little Pink Ball: "Whimper, whimper..." *Even if I tell the truth, I get hit. Although it doesn't hurt, having my body shaken all over the place is very uncomfortable!*
Feng Zhixi, getting a headache from the little idiot ball’s whimpering, felt a flash of impatience. He even considered burning the ball first and talking later. Given the ball’s ability to swallow energy bolts, it probably wouldn't die anytime soon. He happened to have quite a few high-lethality weapons on hand with no place to test them; this energy-absorbing light ball was the perfect target.
Mentally ranking his arsenal, Feng Zhixi looked at the little pink ball, his dark eyes glinting with an unknown danger.
The little pink ball, which had been whimpering with all its might, seemed to sense the murderous intent in the cub’s heart. Its whimpering stopped abruptly.
Keenly sensing the threat, the little pink ball silently backed away until half of its body was wedged against the boathouse wall before it felt a modicum of safety.
The cowardly little idiot ball asked timidly, "What... what do you want me to say?" It had already said everything! Why didn't the cub believe it?
Seeing that the stupid ball had finally behaved, Feng Zhixi recalled the information it had just revealed and asked, emphasizing every word: "You’re saying... I am *not* a Xi Clan person?"
The light ball, half-wedged against the wall, nodded vigorously, looking like a ball being bounced repeatedly.
"But I am a Xi Clan..." Feng Zhixi paused there, unable to quite grasp the distinction between a "Xi Clan person" and a "Xi Clan cub."
The light ball continued to nod. Having been threatened just now, the tactful little pink ball had learned its lesson. It answered in a timid voice, "Yes, you aren't a Xi Clan person yet, but you are a cub who hasn't grown into a Xi Clan person!"
In the memories the light ball had inherited, the cubs its predecessors had followed were all soft, cute, and well-behaved little darlings who loved life and embraced nature. Why was it that when it was its turn, the cub was so ferocious? ┭┮﹏┭┮
Could such a ferocious cub truly become a Xi Clan person in the future? The little light ball’s heart was full of confusion, but it was certain that the person before it was the cub it was looking for—the existence that had awakened it from its slumber.
Awakened from slumber? The light ball’s description gave Feng Zhixi pause. Something seemed to click in his mind, and he immediately opened his portable light-brain. A moment later, a brilliant holographic star map appeared in the air—the result of merging the two star maps from the Rose Heart and the trial star map obtained on Tangta Star.
So, it was this star map that had awakened this ball? Because the star map was in his hands, the ball assumed he was a Xi Clan cub?
Looking at the light ball, Feng Zhixi speculated that it might truly be some kind of technology left behind by the Xi Clan, an existence far surpassing the current technology of the Federation. And this star map, which perhaps originated from the Xi Clan, was the activation key?
Seeing the holographic star map displayed in the air, the little light ball froze for a moment, then bounced happily like a jumping bean.
The bouncing little pink ball expressed its delight, saying it had wondered how it had managed to wait for the cub while still in hibernation—it turned out the cub had found the little toy it left behind! That wasn't some "activation key"; it was a little toy it had specifically made for the cub to play hide-and-seek with!
The little toy would constantly change its route according to the shifts in the starry sky. By following the guidance of the ever-changing star map, the cub could find all sorts of little gifts, just like digging for treasure. Wasn't it fun?
Memories from its predecessors told the little light ball that Xi Clan cubs were active, loved adventure, and adored games like hide-and-seek and treasure hunting. The predecessors all said that a ball that could create interesting star map mazes and raise its cub to be lively and healthy was a good ball.
Feng Zhixi: "..."
No wonder they had always felt this star map was abnormal, like some kind of cryptic prank. To think that this mysterious star map, which countless people had fought and died for in his previous life, was actually just a toy used by a ball to amuse a cub?
***
