In response to Bai Sha's request, the Emperor's reply was blunt:
"When you become Emperor yourself, I won't care if you build a whole leopard sanctuary."
What infuriated Cecil Ronin was that, after he said this, Bai Sha actually fell into serious contemplation!
What was that supposed to mean? All his previous "threats and inducements" hadn't swayed her, and now she was actually considering it?!
"You're utterly hopeless," Cecil Ronin said, exasperated. "Do you know what this behavior looks like? Like a creep!"
Bai Sha raised an eyebrow slightly. "How am I a creep?"
"You just came back from his place, and now you're telling me you want to raise a few animals modeled after his mental entity. If I agreed and word got out, what would people call you if not a creep?" The Emperor barely resisted rolling his eyes, restrained only by his impeccable etiquette.
"Sigh, don't you know me better than that?" Bai Sha said. "I'm clearly—"
"You're clearly obsessed with his mental entity," the Emperor cut in, deadpan.
Bai Sha: "Actually, if I could just have one like it, I'd—"
Emperor: "Forget it. There's a world of difference between a mental entity and a real animal. If you don't believe me, go visit a zoo and see for yourself. It won't feel the same."
Bai Sha's eyes dimmed with disappointment, but the eager glint in them didn't fully fade. "So you're saying my only option is to go after Ji Lun…?"
Emperor: "Do you even hear yourself? Let me repeat: a mental entity is a sacred symbol to the people of the Empire. A little casual petting is fine—mutual consent, no one's asking you to take responsibility. But you cannot show any possessiveness in public, got it? I don't want to see your name in gossip rags before your identity is even fully revealed…"
Once the Emperor started on this topic, he could go on endlessly. This was also the first time he'd urged Bai Sha to focus on her studies—a statement that left even him momentarily silent.
Bai Sha had always been disinterested in anything outside of mechs, her enthusiasm lackluster. Her obsession with cats and petting leopards was, frankly, the only "irrational desire" she'd ever shown.
For a fleeting moment, he didn't want to be the kind of guardian who crushed a child's passions.
But then he recalled the cats ruling over Bai Sha's palace, and that brief hesitation was swiftly quashed.
"In short, your cats are enough," the Emperor declared. "The military academy's notice has arrived. Pack your things and head to school. Let sweat cleanse your soul."
This was the first time Bai Sha left Youdu Star with Cecil Ronin eagerly ushering her out.
She boarded a spaceship back to Tianquan Military Academy. The first phase of the four-academy competition had concluded, and the list of students selected for the joint military exercise was announced. The four major academies were granted a brief respite to handle academic matters, but soon, the chosen students would be sent to a training camp for intensive, closed-door preparation.
Bai Sha swiped her ID card to unlock the dormitory building's entrance. As she stepped into the lounge, she spotted Cen Yuehuai sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by an assortment of bottles and vials. A holo-screen in front of her scrolled with text.
Bai Sha: "What are you up to?"
Cen Yuehuai turned, a grin spreading across her face. "Yo, Your Highness, you're back!"
Bai Sha crouched down, picking up a vial and reading its label. "This is…?"
"After I got selected for the military exercise team, my family was thrilled. My sister sent me a huge package filled with this stuff," Cen Yuehuai explained. "I'm sorting and repackaging it now. I'll split some with you, Xino, and Yu Yan later."
Upon closer inspection, the items were various medical supplies—gene repair agents, mental stabilizers, and the like. The Cen family was renowned in pharmacology, with no shortage of esteemed researchers in the field. These were top-tier products, exorbitantly priced, so it wasn't surprising they'd send such resources.
In the corner sat a small, dark green vial, set apart as if Cen Yuehuai planned to load it into vacuum bullets.
"What's that one?" Bai Sha's gaze landed on the unusual bottle.
"Oh, that's a neural suppressor—think of it as a heavy-duty anesthetic," Cen Yuehuai said casually, glancing at it. "It's something my family's always prepared for me… though it's been ages since I needed it. The last batch of bullets is about to expire, so I'm making a new one."
Bai Sha paused for a moment before saying, "Your mental energy doesn't seem to go haywire often."
"Maybe I've been training it right? Since coming to Tianquan Academy, my mental entity hasn't had any abnormal outbursts," Cen Yuehuai tilted her head, pondering. "Except that one time I got into a fight with that guy from Class B… It's kind of amazing when you think about it." She let out a long breath, patting her chest. "Good thing I insisted on enrolling here."
In truth, nothing honed mental energy control better than constant combat.
Cen Yuehuai's mental energy used to be like a stagnant pool, ready to overflow at any moment. Now, it had been stirred into something vibrant. Though it occasionally spilled over, it was far more manageable.
There might be other factors at play, but Cen Yuehuai didn't have time to dwell on it. She chalked it up to a small miracle from the heavens.
As for the anesthetic bullets meant to stop her outbursts? She might never need them again in her life!
That said, Cen Yuehuai still crafted a batch of anesthetic bullets per habit, carrying a few as a sort of "keepsake."
"Your Highness, you should start packing too. There's not much time left before training camp," Cen Yuehuai said, counting on her fingers. "I've got to get my mech serviced, finish a few courses early, and I signed up for Professor Tisiya's meditation class…"
Tisiya's meditation was her signature technique—less meditation, more psychological conditioning. Consistent practice could enhance mental energy control, but it was a slow grind, requiring unwavering dedication.
Just hearing about it, Bai Sha could tell Cen Yuehuai had a packed schedule.
Since she was back at Tianquan Academy, Bai Sha made time to visit Jiang Gui.
To her surprise, Jiang Gui greeted her with less-than-pleasant news: "The Star-Devouring Insect samples weren't assigned to me."
Bai Sha was taken aback. "Why not?"
Given Jiang Gui's technical expertise, he was undoubtedly qualified to handle such rare materials.
"Remember the Star-Devouring Insect's traits?" Jiang Gui asked.
Bai Sha: "Of course. We studied them before—fusion and high-efficiency transformation, right?"
Fusion referred to the insects' extreme tendency to merge, which was why they were called "Star-Devouring Insects." They could swarm separately one moment and fuse into a single entity the next, dominating entire planets—hence the name.
As for high-efficiency transformation, the insects could consume a species' genetic material and, with sufficient mental energy nutrients, continuously produce new specimens of that species. As long as they were fed, they could keep generating.
These traits made the insects both a massive risk and a source of immense potential.
"One of the labs assigned Star-Devouring Insects had an accident," Jiang Gui said, rubbing his temples wearily. "Remember the slime mold materials? Those came from slime mold organisms. But since their home planet was destroyed, the number of samples is limited… The success of the slime mold research made some people see profit potential—"
Bai Sha suddenly had an absurd thought.
"They didn't try using Star-Devouring Insects to replicate mutated slime molds, did they?"
Mutated slime molds had self-evolving capabilities. Each time their structure was broken, they'd grow tougher or develop in unpredictable ways. The Empire found them troublesome because they were nearly impossible to eradicate.
But their reproduction rate was limited. And now, someone had the audacity to use Star-Devouring Insects to boost mutated slime mold production?
Were they insane? Combining the insects' reproductive capacity with the slime molds' self-evolution—
"In short, that lab is now completely shut down. There were casualties, but the investigation results haven't been released yet," Jiang Gui said, waving a tired hand. "All Star-Devouring Insect samples are now under strict control. Every research institute has been ordered to halt related studies. So, naturally, I'm out of the game."
The lab in question was a prestigious one within the Empire.
To call their idea reckless was an understatement. With their expertise, they surely knew the risks. Every experimental step must have been conducted with the highest standards and utmost caution. Yet the outcome was still catastrophic.
It only proved that Star-Devouring Insects and mutated slime molds were a combination that should never be attempted.
The researchers should be grateful the Empire had decisively obliterated the slime molds' home planet years ago.
"For now, I'm out of work," Jiang Gui said.
Bai Sha raised an eyebrow. "Why not draw a few mech designs to pass the time?"
"Who'd use them?" Jiang Gui glanced at her.
"The joint military exercise is coming up, Teacher. You promised to contribute by designing mechs for the main team. You should at least prep a bit," Bai Sha said earnestly.
Jiang Gui chuckled. "Can't you tell I'm just a figurehead advisor?"
Bai Sha: "You can't be that hands-off."
Jiang Gui: "Depends on your performance."
He sighed suddenly. "If I hadn't handed the slime mold project to you so quickly, I might still have something to do…"
Sensing the resentment in his tone and fearing he'd reclaim the project, Bai Sha quickly stood, politely taking her leave.
A week later, training camp began.
The selected students gathered together. This time, the group was smaller than before, and the venue was a small planet near Tianshu Star—Selan Star.
Selan Star was a stunning planet, its vibrant colors shimmering like a pearl's iridescent purple glow when viewed from space.
For Tianquan Academy students, training here was convenient. A short spaceship ride—barely ten minutes—and they were there. The climate was nearly identical to Tianshu Star, requiring no adjustment.
The training dorms were single rooms. Bai Sha's room was close to Cen Yuehuai's. After unpacking, she stepped outside and ran into Ji Ya, dressed in casual black, walking toward her.
"Your Highness?" Ji Ya's amber cat-like eyes widened slightly—unsurprisingly, as Ji Lun's sister, their expressions were strikingly similar when they blinked. Then her eyes curved into a smile. "Long time no see."
It had been a while.
During her time on Luyin Star, Bai Sha hadn't crossed paths with Ji Ya. After the competition resumed, Bai Sha hadn't participated either.
They exchanged pleasantries, and the topic turned to Ji Lun.
"I heard from my brother that you went to him for special training recently?" Ji Ya said, as if recalling something unpleasant. "Was he… too harsh?"
"It was fine," Bai Sha replied, reflecting. Ji Lun's training had been intense to instill a sense of lethal intent. Without that ruthlessness, it wouldn't have been effective.
Looking at Ji Ya's face, so similar to Ji Lun's, Bai Sha recalled that Ji Ya's mental entity was a massive white Siberian tiger—
A perfect substitute had just walked right up to her.
Bai Sha blinked.
She resolved to forge a deep friendship with Ji Ya.