“Xi cub, do you really not remember me? I am...”
Those strange syllables grew lower and slower, becoming increasingly blurred and fragmented until they finally faded into a dull hush. Eventually, even the last syllable dissolved into silence.
*What?* Feng Zhixi was stunned. That final voice had been too faint—so faint it was nothing more than a sigh. He hadn't heard a thing.
Just as Feng Zhixi was lost in confusion, a rhythmic thumping sound echoed amidst the all-consuming gold and red light. *Thump.* Then *thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump...*
The sound grew from a weak pulse to a powerful roar, becoming louder, sharper, and faster. When the frequency of the sound synchronized perfectly with Feng Zhixi’s own heartbeat, the mist finally cleared.
He finally "heard" it. He "saw" the images hidden within the fragments of his genetic memory—vibrant, bustling, and full of life. *So, it’s the heart of a planet,* Feng Zhixi thought to himself.
“That’s right.” The voice was filled with affection and warmth. “Little Xi cub, I am the planet that belongs to you.”
No one knew that within the vastness of the universe, there existed an extremely unique form of life. In fact, "they" weren't even considered life in the traditional sense; they were "Planet Hearts" that possessed consciousness. In the entire universe, the only ones capable of communicating with them were the Xi people.
This glowing ball was a "Planet Spark" left behind by the Xi people for their young before they departed. Only by nurturing a Planet Spark into a Planet Heart could a cub truly grow up and become a member of the Xi race.
“So~” Having dropped its divine, prophetic act, the pinkish-white Planet Spark bounced excitedly toward the cub. The entire sphere spun with sheer joy. “Little cub, where is my planetary incubator? I’ve been hungry for so long!” From the moment it had been placed here by the Xi people until now, it hadn't eaten a single thing! ┭┮﹏┭┮
“...” Having grasped a portion of the truth from his genetic memories, Feng Zhixi looked at the ball—no, the Planet Spark—with a complicated expression. He suddenly wished he had never come here.
His memory fragments didn't explain the origin of these Planet Sparks, but they did reveal that for any Xi cub to reach adulthood, they had to plant a Planet Spark on a planet to awaken that world's consciousness. Only when their own consciousness resonated with the planet did a Xi cub have the chance to awaken their talents and become a true Xi. Every Xi person awakened a different talent; they were a truly singular existence.
Nurturing a Planet Spark was both difficult and simple. The first step was for the cub to plant the spark on a planet. This planet had to be "clean" and have "food."
Planet Sparks only ate one thing: energy-rich ores.
Furthermore, the memory fragments thoughtfully informed him that because adult Xi were too powerful, their cubs were incredibly fragile. The probability of congenital defects or premature death was a terrifying ninety-nine percent—and it was irreversible. This meant a Xi cub either died young or became a true Xi.
It was a choice between life and death.
Thinking about how the small planet he had painstakingly armed to the teeth might just be a "wedding dress" prepared for someone else, Feng Zhixi felt exhausted. He didn't want to choose either path.
At that moment, the lively ball of light was still bouncing happily, its mouth running non-stop. “Little cub, where’s my incubator? I want a big house! I want to eat!” It had been hungry for such a long time...
Why was the "little stupid ball" that had been so cowardly a moment ago suddenly so bold? The reason was simple: taking advantage of the fact that the cub knew nothing, the ball had used a direct mental link to bind itself to him first.
According to the memories inherited from its predecessors, there used to be lines of cubs standing before "them," waiting obediently to be chosen. As such a kind-hearted ball, it had chosen this cub directly; the cub must be so happy! The little stupid ball thought smugly.
This little cub didn't know anything and had nearly pushed himself to the brink of death. If he hadn't run into it, the cub might have died young! Feeling like it had saved the world, the little stupid ball praised itself inwardly and began to fantasize about the future.
*La la la, I can finally go out and play! Sleeping is so boring!*
Feng Zhixi, who now realized he had been "schemed against" by a stupid ball: “...”
The little stupid ball (*^__^*): “Little cub, let’s go eat! I’m hungry!”
Looking at the cub, the ball thought blissfully: *So hungry, so hungry. I’m going to have a huge meal. I can smell something delicious on the cub—the scent of food! The cub must have been to a very, very good place!*
*The kind with lots and lots of food,* the ball thought, practically drooling.
“...” Nursing a headache, Feng Zhixi began to reflect. When he had first been reborn and felt that overwhelming urge to immediately find a resource-rich planet... why hadn't he restrained himself?
