Chapter 182
Seeing Xing Xing smile for the first time, Lang Ze froze momentarily before breaking into a wide grin.
“Family doesn’t need to say thank you!”
The boy hugged Xing Xing tightly, rubbing his cheek against the little one’s head with affection, displaying their unbreakable bond.
Nearby, Lu Jiao, who had been a little worried, breathed a sigh of relief. Then, his gaze turned toward Su Ci, who sat lazily on his chair. There was a trace of longing in his eyes.
Would Su Su play for them again?
Unfortunately, with a simple flick of his wrist, the emerald green bamboo flute disappeared, tucked away in his spatial button.
Lu Jiao felt a pang of disappointment, but he quickly reasoned that a melody as rare and precious as that wouldn’t be performed casually. The fact they were lucky enough to hear it once was already a blessing—thanks to Lang Ze’s persistence.
Thinking this, he walked over to the small table and dutifully added two fresh ice cubes to the glass of juice—the previous ones had already melted.
Although Lu Jiao started his cultivation journey slightly later than Ran Lie and the others, his progress was just as swift. His natural intelligence and aptitude, combined with a sound method, allowed him to quickly master the control of his frost and snow powers.
The only limitation was his young age. The strength and quantity of his frost power were less than that of Ran Lie and Rong Heng. Still, steady training and time would undoubtedly make him stronger.
The clinking sound of ice cubes hitting the glass pulled the adults, still immersed in the remnants of the illusion, back to reality.
They exchanged glances, the shared awe in their eyes confirming the same thought: everything they had just experienced was real!
The lush wilderness, the crystal-clear streams, the dazzling starry sky, the playful yellow ox, and the swarm of glowing insects—all of it felt vivid and authentic.
But how?
“Caretaker Su…”
Just as Li Sinian was about to ask, Lang Ze’s voice interrupted him. “Su Su! What’s the name of that song? I want to learn it!”
Lang Ze rushed to Su Ci, holding his bamboo flute with great excitement.
Li Sinian closed his mouth for now, listening as the Caretaker replied, “The name of the song? Let’s call it Starry Wilds (Xing Ye).”
Starry Wilds…
Li Sinian contemplated the tone in the Caretaker’s voice. It sounded like he had just made up the name on the spot. Could it have been an impromptu composition?
However, considering the Caretaker’s ability to create such a realistic illusion through a single melody, it wouldn’t be surprising if he had composed it on the fly.
Among the humans present, apart from Lai Ze, Li Sinian had the strongest abilities. With his bloodline and mental-oriented powers, he could sense that everything they had witnessed was an illusion created using the flute as a medium.
So, this was Caretaker Su’s power?
Was this the same ability that calmed the ferocity of the cubs’ bloodline frenzies?
Li Sinian recalled the moment Su Ci had soothed Rong Heng’s frenzy. Other than sensing faint energy when the Caretaker placed his hand on the boy’s head, there had been no visible signs of him using sound or any other method.
Could this ability not be entirely reliant on sound?
Li Sinian pondered silently as Su Ci began teaching Lang Ze the new melody.
Each melody carried its unique intended meaning. Following this intention helped sound cultivators more easily create the desired scenes. Of course, when one’s skills reached a higher level, these confines could be transcended—expressing joy through sadness or narrating sorrow with happiness would become possible.
For now, though, Lang Ze would need years of dedicated practice to achieve such mastery.
As Lang Ze attentively absorbed the lesson, other cubs gathered around to eavesdrop, even if they couldn’t fully understand. Simply hearing Su Su’s voice speaking to them filled them with joy!
Perhaps this was the kind of attachment reserved for those they deeply admired.
Li Sinian and Yan Ya exchanged glances. They could feel how much the children adored the caretaker, including their own son and daughter.
It would be a lie to say they weren’t envious, but more than that, they felt gratitude.
Despite the hardships their children had endured, they had been fortunate enough to meet an exceptional mentor. How could they not feel relieved and delighted by this?
Their children were good kids. With more time spent together, more care and love, they believed the children would one day wholeheartedly accept them as their parents.
Thinking this, they quietly left and returned to their room to continue sorting supplies.
Meanwhile, Wen Yan nestled beside her husband, watching their daughter from afar. Little Qiqi, even in her panda cub form, sat peacefully at Su Ci’s feet, surrounded by the other cubs. As her mother, Wen Yan could sense her daughter’s happiness.
Unlike before, where every time little Qiqi transformed, she was overwhelmed by rage and pain, exhibiting extreme aggression and destroying anything in sight.
Seeing her daughter this calm and joyful felt like a dream to Wen Yan.
At that moment, her communicator rang—it was her father, Wen Qianqi.
Wen Yan hesitated briefly before accepting the call. She couldn’t deny that she had harbored resentment toward him before. But she also understood that her father had simply followed the regulations.
Her estrangement from him had stemmed from a mixture of lingering grievances and the exhaustion of caring for her daughter. Now, Wen Yan realized her error.
If little Qiqi ever treated her with such indifference, it would surely break her heart…
When her father’s image appeared on the screen, Wen Yan finally gave him a long-overdue smile. The sight made the aging Wen Qianqi, with his now graying hair, tear up almost immediately.
Wen Yan shared her experiences since arriving at the nursery and told him the incredible news that her husband was still alive. Her father nodded repeatedly as he listened, visibly moved.
The Wen family reconciled. Beside her, Lai Ze wore his usual gentle, goofy expression and greeted his father-in-law cheerfully.
As they enjoyed their family reunion, Wei Ming and Zhuang Shisong were still processing the illusion they had just witnessed.
Perhaps they had spent too much time on Prison Star, surrounded by its barren lands and the cold, metallic style of the base. The sudden immersion in such breathtaking natural scenery left them deeply shaken.
And then there were the plants—so many they had never seen before!
Unlike the cubs and others, who were captivated by the starry sky, the two botanists were utterly enthralled by the lush jungle flora.
However, the duration of the illusion was too short. Once it disappeared, the notes they had taken vanished along with it, leaving only fleeting impressions of the plants etched in their memories.
Could this be Caretaker Su’s third ability, in addition to plant communication and purification?
Having spent some time at the nursery, they had begun to suspect that Caretaker Su likely possessed far more abilities than the few they had witnessed. He was clearly an enigma, a figure they couldn’t begin to comprehend.
They had privately speculated about his identity, but no matter how much they discussed it, they couldn’t arrive at any conclusion.
Perhaps their understanding of the world was simply too limited.
As they exchanged bewildered glances, wondering what they should do next, they noticed Su Ci waving at them after finishing his lesson with the cubs.
Wei Ming and Zhuang Shisong immediately straightened their postures, quickly striding over to him.
Their demeanor toward Caretaker Su had undergone a dramatic shift compared to when they had first arrived. Now, they approached him with a respect and reverence that surpassed even what they showed toward Director Wu or Cen Liang.
Su Ci, however, paid little mind to their change in attitude. Instead, he asked, “You two mentioned before… that you wanted to be my students?”
Wei Ming’s eyes lit up. He eagerly pressed down on Zhuang Shisong’s shoulder, nodding enthusiastically.
Could it be that their sincerity had finally moved Caretaker Su?
Zhuang Shisong’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as he gazed intently at Su Ci, his desire unmistakable.
“Caretaker Su, please accept us as your students!”
Seeing Su Ci remain silent, seemingly pondering their request, Wei Ming hastily added, “We’ve already heard about your grand vision from the cubs. We’re willing to help you transform and rebuild Prison Star!”
“That’s right,” Zhuang Shisong chimed in earnestly. “We’re professionals, and we’re confident we can contribute.”
Although Caretaker Su had spoken to the cubs about farming, they believed his goals must extend far beyond simple agriculture. After piecing together what they had learned, they were convinced that Caretaker Su’s ambitions lay in restoring the barren lands of Prison Star—an extraordinary, visionary project!
And, as it turned out, their assumption was right on target.
Su Ci regarded the two botanists, listening to their fervent pledges. He nodded slightly, appearing satisfied, but he still offered a cautionary reminder: “If you’re unable to meet expectations, the consequences will be severe. You’d best be certain about this.”
“We’ve already thought it through thoroughly!” Wei Ming declared with conviction.
“Exactly,” Zhuang Shisong agreed, nodding vigorously. “If you’re willing to accept us, no matter what you ask of us, we’re ready to do it!”
Although the two were no longer young, they maintained a youthful passion for the art of cultivation. This genuine enthusiasm was one of the reasons Su Ci had decided to keep them for observation.
Now, it seemed the evaluation phase was complete.
“Well then, remember what you said today,” Su Ci stated.
Wei Ming and Zhuang Shisong nodded vigorously, like chickens pecking at grain. “Teacher, whatever you need us to do, just give the word!”
Su Ci nodded in acknowledgment. Taking a sip of juice from the table, he said, “For your first lesson, I’ll teach you the basics.”
The first lesson already?
Wei Ming and Zhuang Shisong’s eyes lit up. They immediately sat cross-legged before Su Ci, pulling out their notebooks with an eagerness that was almost palpable.
What would Caretaker Su’s first lesson be about?
As they looked at him expectantly, Su Ci finally spoke. “Today, I’ll teach you the path to communicating with plants.”
Wei Ming and Zhuang Shisong hurriedly jotted down the topic—“The Path to Communicating with Plants”—but froze midway through their notes. They slowly looked up, their faces filled with incredulity.
“The path to communicating with plants… but without a plant bloodline, can we even learn it?” Wei Ming asked hesitantly.
“Right,” Zhuang Shisong added, “We don’t have a plant bloodline like you. Can we still communicate with plants?”
Clearly, Su Ci’s simple statement was a seismic revelation to the two botanists. Their minds were racing, struggling to process the implications.
Su Ci frowned slightly. A plant bloodline? These humans sure love making assumptions.
Still… he mused. How could humans even possess plant bloodlines? Could it be the result of plant-based spiritual beings taking human form and interbreeding with humans?
His gaze briefly shifted to the cubs.
Could their beast bloodlines have originated from similar interbreeding between human ancestors and beastly spiritual entities? If so, Su Ci wondered, were there still pureblooded great beasts left in the galaxy?
The thought intrigued him, but he quickly dismissed it as irrelevant.
If a great beast ever came to Earth Star, he might invite them for a chat. Beyond that, their lives scattered across the galaxy were none of his concern.
Returning his focus to the two botanists, Su Ci didn’t bother correcting their misunderstanding. Instead, he said, “I’ll teach you a mental cultivation technique.”
“If you’re perceptive enough and succeed in practicing it, you’ll be able to communicate with plants even without a plant bloodline. At the very least, sensing the emotions of spiritual plants shouldn’t be a problem.”
Zhuang Shisong hesitated for a moment before raising his hand. Upon Su Ci’s nod, he asked, “I recall you mentioning that spiritual plants refer to the mutated plants here on Earth Star. Is that correct?”
Su Ci nodded. “What was this planet’s name before?”
“Earth Star,” Wei Ming quickly answered.
“Then let’s continue calling it Earth Star,” Su Ci replied.
Zhuang Shisong and Wei Ming exchanged confused glances before realization dawned. Of course—many cubs in the nursery didn’t know that this planet was originally a penal colony. Eventually, someone would slip up and reveal the truth, so it was better to adopt a new name.
“Yes, Earth Star does sound better!” Wei Ming said cheerfully. “It has a nice, grounded feel to it!”
“Exactly, the earth is important,” Zhuang Shisong agreed.
Hearing their flattering remarks, Su Ci’s expression remained calm. He took another sip of his juice, but his gaze softened slightly as he looked at them.
“As I mentioned, spiritual plants refer to the mutated flora on Earth Star. They are called ‘spiritual’ because they possess nascent sentience and emotional fluctuations.”
“However, they are like newborns. They require continuous growth and evolution to eventually develop true intelligence.”
“If you can sense the emotions of spiritual plants, it will undoubtedly help you care for them better.”
Wei Ming and Zhuang Shisong were stunned, their eyes wide with amazement.
It wouldn’t just help—it would revolutionize their work! With such an ability, they could nurture mutated plants more effectively and unlock their full potential for various uses.
Pleased by their reactions, Su Ci decided not to reveal that the technique worked on ordinary plants too. With the infusion of spiritual energy, even regular plants on Earth Star were growing at an accelerated rate, sometimes encountering problems. A skilled spiritual botanist would become increasingly essential.
And so, Su Ci began teaching the cultivation method for spiritual botanists.
While this lesson proceeded, back in their quarters, the Li couple had a surprise discovery while sorting through their supplies.
Among the foodstuffs they had purchased on Monda Star and stored in the refrigerated box was an entire carton of fresh, unbroken eggs!
