"Fret not, fume not. Why lose your temper over trifles? Looking back, what's the use? Anger harms the body and spoils the mood. If I die of rage, who wins?"
"Fret not, fume not. Just treat it as if he's scolding himself. Small minds aren't worth my ire. Life isn't easy; anger is just wasted energy and health... Ah, she's asleep."
Coaxing Kiana to sleep hadn't taken much of Fuli's energy. After whispering softly by her ear for a while, the girl was already smacking her lips, sleeping soundly and sweetly.
She lay spread-eagled on the bed, occasionally scratching her soft, beautiful belly. Her completely defenseless appearance ignited a nameless fire in one's heart.
He repeated a mantra in his head several times: 'Hitting a retard is illegal, hitting a retard is illegal... The "Xiao Qian and Xiao Bei becoming obedient fingers" story wasn't about "Pa-pa-pa" but about getting stabbed in a past life... Remind yourself not to let the little head do the thinking!'
He used a bit of strength to disengage his hand from the girl's grip, then quietly backed out of the room.
Unbeknownst to him, the moment he turned to leave, a pair of eyes—bright blue as the ocean—quietly opened in the darkness.
A single sigh echoed over the empty Pacific Ocean.
Returning to his own spacious bedroom suite, Fuli checked the time, having finished his patrol.
Realizing there were still four hours until dawn, he took a cold shower to cool down the body that Kiana had 'unconsciously' riled up.
Then, burrowing into his blankets, he was off to a date with the Sandman in no time flat.
About an hour later, a window suddenly opened in the void.
A stunningly beautiful face, free of makeup, appeared on the other side of the window. Those soul-snatching eyes and crimson-purple hair that flowed like stardust in the dark sky betrayed her identity—the Master of Massive Electric Corp, the (former) Herrscher of Thunder, Raiden Mei.
She sniffed the special incense in the air designed to promote sleep, glanced at the high-end soothing black tea half-finished on the table, and then carefully scrutinized the boy's sleeping face, occasionally blowing a gentle puff of air to tease him.
Confirming that Fuli was indeed dead to the world, the girl bit her lower lip lightly with her pearly white teeth. In her mind, the question she had previously posted on a website naturally surfaced.
...
Repost: Dr. MEI's question on Zhihu:
— How should a girl prevent her boyfriend from cheating?
Answer by: The Perfect & Elegant Maid:
— The answer is simple. After a male releases himself...
He will experience 5-10 minutes of 'Sage Mode'.
During this period, he will have absolutely no desire.
Using this theory, the method to restrict straying is simple: Just make him release himself 288 times within the 1,440 minutes of a 24-hour day. That way, your boyfriend will be in Sage Mode all day long and naturally have no thoughts of cheating.
Dr. MEI replied to The Perfect & Elegant Maid: I understand. Thank you.
The Perfect & Elegant Maid replied to Dr. MEI: You are welcome.
...
Mei bit her lip again. In the next moment, a smaller window opened, and a slender, creamy hand groped its way out.
If this were before, she certainly wouldn't have been so urgent.
The problem was that the interaction between Fuli and Durandal earlier had instilled a sudden sense of crisis in Mei.
She felt that if she didn't strike first, she might be intercepted by that blonde with the wavy hair.
Should I...
Her eyes flickered with uncertainty in the darkness as time ticked by.
"Phew! Forget it!"
In the end, the determined girl withdrew her hand.
Taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable state like that would only show she lacked confidence in her own charm. Fundamentally, it was the act of a loser—moral kidnapping using one's body.
Raiden Mei hadn't reached the point where she lacked self-respect. Coming from a good background, she knew how to cherish herself, unlike certain "Easy Girls" who would jump into bed at the drop of a hat.
"Besides, you promised me. No dating until you reach the high seat of a Sequence."
"I believe in you."
The girl leaned out, planting a light kiss on Fuli's cheek.
Then she turned and closed the window in the void.
The next day, over the Pacific Ocean—
"Shocking! Schicksal's Strongest Valkyrie Keeping a Gigolo in Secret! During Years of Concealment, the Pair Have Sired Thirty-Three Football Teams?!! ...Heh, hehe."
On the bridge of the Hyperion, Fuli put down the newspaper he had just bought from a news-pigeon.
He stood up, took Black Swan from the wall, hung it at his waist, and turned to walk out the door.
"Ah Li, calm down! Calm down!"
Seeing the bad situation, Kiana rushed over and hugged him from behind. "Let those heartless jerks spread rumors if they want! As long as Mei and I know what kind of person you are, that's enough!"
Besides, if your reputation is ruined, it'll be harder for you to attract bees and butterflies when you go out...
Cough!
The girl looked around guiltily. Seeing that Mei, who could sense electromagnetic waves, wasn't there, she breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
But this momentary distraction caused her to lose control of her strength. She applied too much force, tackling the struggling Fuli directly to the floor.
"Wow."
Bronya, arriving late with dark circles under her eyes, whistled.
I am Confucius; and this... is Heavy Scholarship.
"No! I can't swallow this insult!"
pinned to the ground by the tuna, Fuli pounded the floor viciously. "It's one thing for them to spread Shit journalism, but they didn't even give me, the subject, a cut of the profits!"
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
Kiana, riding on his back, and Duckie, taking her customary commemorative photo, made strange noises.
A moment later—
"Let's go! Take back the compensation that belongs to the Hyperion!"
Subjugation Party: Count +2!
BONK!
Mama Mei, the eldest of the Hyperion crew, made her dazzling entrance, forcefully calming the three hotheads down with three sharp flicks to their foreheads.
She also seemed to have slept poorly, yawning as she spoke, "Scandals are flying all over the sky, and you look pretty proud of yourself?"
Kiana thought scandals would increase the difficulty of Fuli flirting when he went out. Mei didn't think so.
She knew those types of women too well.
The more famous a man was, the more they would fly into the flame like moths, disregarding everything for fame and profit.
Fuli whispered defensively, "Gossip with beautiful girls isn't a scandal; it's proof of charisma."
—Why did Fuli keep the 'dark history' of being Durandal's male pet?
—Bro, are you kidding? You call that dark history?
Being targeted by Durandal was like having your song praised by Jay Chou, your mid-lane gameplay critiqued by Faker, or your cooking devoured by Gordon Ramsay. It was hard not to be happy about it.
"Heh!"
Mei's tone was laced with sarcasm. "In that case, Lord Fuli Yuanshi Tianzun—you who are [brimming with male hormones from head to toe, causing Durandal to fall for you at a single glance, willing to abandon her high position and salary at Schicksal just to fly away with you]—could you please, while you're busy picking up girls, lend a hand to solve the Hyperion's minor issue of insufficient energy?"
The Raiden Queen used [Vicious Mockery]!
It was super effective!
"No! Don't call me by that name!"
Fuli rolled around on the floor clutching his head, looking exactly like Togashi Yuuta from Chuunibyou having his dark history exposed in public high school.
"That's the first time I've heard Ah Li has a courtesy name!"
Kiana's eyes sparkled as if hiding stars. "Why didn't you say so before?"
"Because it's too cringe! Isn't just calling me by my name fine?!"
Fuli looked unable to face reality.
"Whoa! Fuli Yuanshi Tianzun—Celestial Venerable of the Primordial Beginning!"
Bronya read it out with a deadpan expression. "That is so fucking cool!"
"Never mention this again!"
Fuli lunged over and covered her small mouth.
"Omph!"
He was bitten by the unhappy little sister for his trouble.
Blowing on his red palm, which now bore tiny teeth marks, Fuli looked at Mei. "What's this about an energy issue? Doesn't the Hyperion have several fusion reactors as backups?"
"Where does Onii-chan think the energy for the previous production equipment came from?"
Bronya, floating beside him, spat lightly, pointing a tender finger at the "Cat-Cakes" busy serving tea and working.
"Moyomo?"
Cat-Cake No. 10086, who was being petted, leaned in dazedly, blinking its clear, large eyes and making a soft sound that was lethally cute.
Kiana: "Cat-Cakes are so cute."
Fuli: "I could watch them all day!"
Mei sighed. "Do you know how many resources it takes to produce just one micro-robot like this, and how much energy is needed to maintain the Hyperion's normal operations?"
"I... I don't know."
The hands-off boss spoke guiltily.
Swiping her slender hand through the void, Mei pulled up a data file.
She hesitated, then waved her hand to cancel it.
Fuli and Kiana wouldn't understand it anyway.
Basic services provided by the government are like air—public safety, 24/7 water, electricity, gas, smooth internet. These have become dependencies integrated into life, but behind each one lies powerful support; they are the results of national construction.
When these things exist, everyone takes them for granted. But once they are gone, people are shocked to find they can't survive.
The reason for emphasizing this was that after leaving Nagazora City to set up on their own, the aforementioned infrastructure, originally provided by the nation, had to be solved by the Hyperion itself.
This was no different from throwing an average person into a rainforest full of beasts and asking them to build a shelter with running water and electricity. It highlighted that the beginning is hard, the middle is hard, and the end is hard.
Fortunately, Mei had the technology stored in her Stigmata, the "Project Mei" entrusted to Massive Electric Corp by Ryoma Raiden, and the Hyperion's multiple backup fusion reactors. They had barely managed to scrape by.
"Until Durandal attacked. To deter her, we had to activate the super-decisive weapon, Genesis."
Bronya spread her hands. "The operation of Genesis drained our backup reserves in almost one breath. The ship's structure, which is currently under modification, also took heavy damage."
"We can figure something out for the ship repairs; after all, we have these kids."
Mei gestured with her chin toward the white Cat-Cake that had somehow ended up in her arms.
The little creature, modeled after Kiana, noticed its creator's gaze and nuzzled the hand resting on its head.
"Mew~ Yah!"
"Hehe."
Mei smiled gently. "With these kids here, as long as we aren't facing instant dismemberment, we can fix anything given enough time. The problem is—"
"The problem is that the Cat-Cakes also need energy to drive them."
Bronya said, "And right now, our most urgent need is energy."
"What if we don't have energy?"
Kiana's brain cells only allowed her to understand that much.
"We'll probably fall into the Pacific Ocean."
Mei teased the Cat-Cake in her arms absentmindedly. Suddenly realizing Kiana was leaning in with a longing face, clearly wanting to be teased too, she decisively pushed her away and turned to sit next to Fuli.
"Isn't that super dangerous!"
Kiana yelled, squeezing herself forcibly between the two of them.
Bronya, who had been sitting on the edge and was now squeezed onto the floor, rolled her eyes.
"Who told us not to be like the neighbors who can get fuel just by 'Trailblazing'?"
Mei sighed, a layer of frost gradually covering her pretty face. "Besides, if we weren't short on energy, how could Durandal have come here so easily to demand someone?"
Growing up in the Far East, an environment deeply influenced by Confucian culture, Mei always kept the teachings of the Most Sage Teacher, Confucius, in mind.
For example, 'At thirty, I stood firm.' This means when you have thirty Genesis cannons, you can stand firm in this world.
'At forty, I had no doubts.' When you have forty Genesis cannons, you won't be confused by others' words.
'At fifty, I knew the will of Heaven.' When you have fifty Genesis cannons, you should know what you are here to do in this world.
'At sixty, my ear was attuned.' When you have sixty Genesis cannons, no one will dare say anything displeasing to your ear.
'At seventy, I could follow my heart's desire without overstepping the line.' When you have seventy Genesis cannons, you can do whatever you want, and others won't dare to violate the rules you set.
Mencius, the Second Sage of the Confucius-Mencius combo, also said: 'When poor, harbor resentment; when successful, settle the score.'
Dammit, Durandal dared to run onto my turf and flirt with the man I have my eyes on? Does she think I can't produce super-weapons on the same level as Genesis?
This debt will be settled sooner or later!
...
As the trio discussed, their gazes gradually shifted to the head of the household, Fuli.
The expectation in their eyes was genuine. It was as if they were saying: In this life-or-death crisis, you, the only man, have to step up!
Everyone knows that oil breeds mold (freedom/USA), but if there are "mushrooms" (nukes) next to the oil, the mold won't grow.
If poor, use tactical flanking; if rich, just bomb them!
Whether the Hyperion can be rich depends on you, the only man on the ship who grows a "mushroom"!
And Fuli?
In Kiana's words, he was: Invincible when first entering the Jianghu, unable to move an inch after three episodes.
As glorious as he was when he slashed the Herrscher of Thunder during the Third Eruption, he was just as pathetic in this spotlight now.
Fuli could slash people easily; that was where his skills lay.
But if you asked him to conjure energy out of thin air...
Wait. Out of thin air?
"Tomorrow."
He clasped his hands together, brimming with confidence. "Tomorrow morning, this problem will definitely be solved!"
With that, Fuli stood up and returned to his room.
The girls looked at each other behind his back, and a moment later, scattered like birds.
Some time passed. The three of them arrived at Fuli's door simultaneously and exchanged glances, clearly not expecting the others to have the exact same idea.
Mei issued a statement first: "I'm just on my way back to the Massive Electric lab. I'm not curious about what Fuli is planning."
Kiana followed closely: "This Lady just suddenly wanted to cuddle with Mei, that's why I ran over! Bronya, what are you doing here?"
Duckie snorted coldly. "Pillow business. Seeking promotion."
Integrity? If it's lost, it's lost!
"Nonsense."
Fuli's door opened, and a hand-chop landed directly on Bronya's forehead.
"Yah."
Duckie held the struck spot, squatting down in defense while emitting a cute onomatopoeia.
Then, under the cover of Project Bunny, she vanished in a flash, leaving Kiana alone to face Fuli's interrogation.
"BRO! NYA!"
This act of selling out a teammate made Kiana Baby very angry. She turned her head to complain loudly to the parent: "Mei, look at her—"
"Mei?"
Beside her, it was empty.
The girl blinked her beautiful sapphire eyes, her little brain revving up to 180 mph, frantically thinking of how to deal with the enemy.
"I got it!"
She smiled charmingly, and the surrounding environment seemed to brighten a few shades. "This Lady came specifically to find you, Ah Li, to go to the training room for a workout! The St. Freya combat exam is in a few days, and I'm counting on this subject to pull up my average!"
Without waiting for the boy's reaction, she hugged his arm and dragged him toward the training room at a brisk pace.
"You! Wait!"
Fuli instinctively wanted to say something, but he stumbled under the monstrous strength of the girl, which had gone up another level after fighting Durandal.
And Kiana's hand, which was holding his, just so happened to touch the [Confirm Draw] button for the ten-pull on the Terminal Coordinator System.
[Meta-Morph ICHOR Factor 'Fuli' activated. Multi-dimensional Otherworld Resonance 0% -> 100%. System searching...]
Prometheus's mechanical voice rang in his ears, and Fuli's vision was covered by a familiar white light—
"Holy crap! Golden light!"
Golden Legend!
Correction: It was covered by a golden divine light that had appeared for the first time ever.
...
Previously, when Fuli advanced in rank, the Terminal Coordinator System had also unlocked a new ability.
— Targeted Search: When drawing, you can specify a corresponding tag. Among the prizes drawn, at least one will match the characteristics of that tag.
Saying goodbye to the expectant girls, Fuli had immediately opened the system panel upon returning to his room.
Exactly one month had passed since the Third Eruption, and the Hyperion was facing a major energy crisis.
Thus, he had limited the tag for this Targeted Search to [Energy].
Just as he was preparing to press the Ten-Pull Exchange/Draw button, rustling sounds from outside the door entered the room.
Fuli decisively got up, went outside, and caught a sneaking Kiana Cat.
The big white cat reacted quickly, using training as an excuse to grab Fuli's hand and drag him to the training room.
The Kaslana ancestral strength made him stumble, and the hand holding Kiana's just happened to touch the ten-pull button that only the system holder could see and touch.
And so, with the help of the destined European Emperor of the Honkai World (Kiana), Fuli hit the most valuable draw to date.
It also let him know that the system did have golden lights; it was just that his luck had been too trash to pull anything of that tier before.
The golden light lasted for a full three minutes before dissipating. By then, Kiana had already dragged the distracted Fuli to the training room.
This was a vast space Mei had specially carved out, covering an area the size of several football fields, with a height of over several hundred meters.
Kiana waved her little hand and named it "Mount Taixuan," said to be the residence of the Celestial Immortal Phoenix before her ascension in Shenzhou.
The girl said naming it this would help them absorb some "immortal energy." To that end, she had somehow moved a small hill into the center of the training ground.
The manual of Peerless Martial Arts was also placed here; whoever's turn it was would come over to use it.
Mei didn't use it. Her reasoning was that as a station-based researcher, she didn't need power like Fuli and the others.
As the saying goes, if you're going to act, go all the way. After arriving at Mount Taixuan, Kiana let go of Fuli and took two steps forward, preparing for her routine noon workout.
Unable to resist, she turned back and spoke to the boy in a seemingly casual tone: "Um, anyway, don't put too much pressure on yourself. If we're really short on energy, worst case scenario, this Lady will go beg Auntie! She wouldn't just watch her only precious niece fall into the Pacific Ocean to get grinned at by orcas, right?"
Kiana had St. Freya and the Far East Branch behind her. Mei had Ryoma Raiden and some of the conservatives. Even if Bronya was unhappy, her relationship with the Anti-Entropy reformists was complicated and unbreakable.
As long as Fuli was willing to soften his stance, the backers of the three girls—even if reluctant—would definitely lend a hand for the sake of their niece/daughter.
The looks the girls kept shooting at him during the meeting earlier likely contained this meaning. Family status and all that... you have to fight for it yourself.
Lol. What an ultimate gigolo.
However, Fuli used his actions to tell them: Heh, am I, Fuli, the kind of person who eats soft rice?
System! Draw!
The light faded, and ten items were neatly arranged before Fuli's eyes.
As usual, he went straight to checking the new items on his character panel.
...
[Breath Concealment (C)] was a product of his Human Immortal Dao advancement. Apart from that, the new items were:
Vill-V's Self-Made Gym RV (D)Primary Evolution Potion (D)Immobilization Spell (C)Heavy Iron-Eating Beast Mecha (C)Immortal Wine (C)Vivre Card Creation Method (C)Super Silver Bullet (B)Belobog Traffic Light (A)Water from the Well of Eternity / 1 Vial (SA)Curio: The Soap Everyone Wants to Pick Up
Among these items, only the Water from the Well of Eternity flashed with golden light and corresponded to the energy tag of the Targeted Search. This indicated that its existence was what caused this ten-pull to explode with gold.
Ignoring the other items for the moment, Fuli immediately picked up the glass vial of water to examine it.
[Name: Water from the Well of Eternity]
[Rank: SA]
[Category: Item / 1 Vial]
[Effect: A vial of well water contained in a glass vessel. Essentially, it is a super-large liquid energy convergence device created by an interstellar civilization. Initially possesses the basic property of drawing energy from the boundless darkness outside this world. Other applications such as energy property conversion or energy barriers require the user to develop them independently.
The core function of this well water is to provide a massive amount of energy to an area without the need for transmission pipes. Simply put, it can increase the energy density of an area, making various energy factors dense and active.
In other words, it is equivalent to a magical treasure that can increase the density of spiritual Qi in a location, similar to an artificial Mana Tide or an artificial Leyline.
For ordinary civilizations, races, or nations, it is no different from a Holy Relic or a Wonder. The extreme activity of energy factors allows biological individuals more ways to utilize energy, with a higher probability of catalyzing various evolutionary paths.
If one receives a large-scale infusion of the Well's energy, the recipient can temporarily undergo a special transformation, allowing even an ordinary person to immediately possess combat power rivaling a small Honkai Beast.]
[Remark: Strange? Wasn't there seven vials? Why is one missing? — A certain Demon Hunter who wishes to remain anonymous]
...