Chapter 101

Chapter 101

The royal exchange event lasted for an entire day. Bai Xiaoyu was very busy and only logged onto the Imperial Star Network in the evening, just in time for the major factions to start bidding on the items they desired.

Bai Kan had been waiting for Bai Xiaoyu and kept urging him throughout the day.

However, after Bai Kan explained the details of the exchange event to Bai Xiaoyu, he became less anxious. The items would be revealed at the last moment, with the highest bidder winning, similar to an auction process.

After finishing up his work at the breeding facility, amidst the grievances of Big Black Egg and Little One, he joined Bai Kan in the virtual conference hall of the Imperial Star Network.

In the virtual conference hall, one could see the entire scene, much like Bai Xiaoyu's live stream. If attendees agreed, their images would also be displayed; otherwise, they wouldn't appear in the hall.

It was unclear how many people had agreed, but the virtual conference hall was clearly crowded.

When Bai Xiaoyu and Bai Kan arrived, many people in the hall turned to look at them.

Bai Xiaoyu was still in his small tiger form, while Bai Kan was in his adult tiger form, towering over him. This size difference made them quite noticeable.

Initially, everyone noticed Bai Kan first, given his imposing presence. Most tigers were royal offspring and fierce competitors, making him the center of attention.

Seeing it was Bai Kan, some hostility dissipated slightly. They habitually glanced at his hind legs before noticing a small tiger, about the size of an adult cat, standing beside his powerful front paws. They saw his ID—Interstellar Super Invincible Emperor.

"Oh, isn't this our old acquaintance, that useless Bai Xiaoyu?"

Previously, Bai Xiaoyu often participated in various events in this form, so everyone recognized him easily.

Everyone gathered around, and Bai Xiaoyu was soon cornered at the entrance by a group of royal offspring in their beast forms. Among them were two large tigers, three leopards, one lion, two wolves, and a snake. These were mostly siblings close to Bai Xiaoyu's age, some even younger and not yet fully grown.

Bai Xiaoyu's current form was tiny compared to their massive beasts. Looking up at these creatures baring their fangs and claws, it felt like a mouse surrounded by cats, creating a rather intimidating sight.

One of the striped tigers approached, staring at the small tiger cub, and stretched out a paw to prod him.

Bai Xiaoyu dodged, finding the paw larger than his head.

Even though it was a virtual image on the network, the sense of intimidation from the size difference was real.

Bai Kan hadn't done such things to him before, but now he felt a different kind of pressure.

At this moment, the tiger tried to reach out again but was slapped away by Bai Kan's large paw. "Bai Hao, do you want a fight?"

The large tiger named Bai Hao looked between the two tigers. "I never knew you'd hang out with him, Bai Kan."

Bai Kan replied, "What's it to you?"

Apart from those at the entrance, many other beings inside the hall, both in human and beast forms, were subtly paying attention to the confrontation.

Bai Kan, backed by the Lu family, was a strong candidate despite his leg condition. His associations and alliances were subject to much speculation.

If it were the old Bai Xiaoyu, it might have been different, but the current Bai Xiaoyu, despite his burgeoning career, dominated two crucial industries: potions and breeding. His previous potion had caused significant trouble for many on Imperial Star, leaving their faces scarred and preventing them from going out in public.

Now, Bai Xiaoyu was no longer the easy target he once was.

Bai Hao stared at the small tiger and suddenly extended a paw, waving it in front of Bai Xiaoyu. "Long time no see, let's shake paws."

This paw was slapped away by Bai Kan. "Shake what paw? You scared him just now. Get lost."

Bai Xiaoyu didn't feel scared, just awkward due to the size difference. A handshake could easily lead to a paw slipping into another's paw pads, which would be embarrassing.

Other siblings also approached, extending their paws.

Bai Xiaoyu dodged all of them until a yellow-and-black banded snake blocked his path. Instead of using its paw, the snake opened its mouth wide, trying to swallow the small tiger.

Bai Xiaoyu dodged, and Bai Kan immediately charged forward, engaging the snake in combat.

This snake was Bai Qi.

Everyone watched the spectacle, enjoying the real fight among royal offspring. They hoped for mutual destruction, allowing them to benefit as bystanders.

Bai Xiaoyu didn't intervene and even watched with interest. Despite still being an iron egg, Bai Kan had gained genuine fighting experience through battles with warriors. Coupled with the advantage tigers had over snakes, the fight didn't last long. The large tiger pinned the snake down by its neck, rendering it immobile.

Everyone was stunned.

If it were Bai Hao or Bai Qi fighting, their victory would be expected, but Bai Kan, with his leg condition, surprised them.

Thinking about Bai Kan's leg, their brows relaxed.

While the fight was happening, an elderly man approached Bai Xiaoyu. It was Elder Han.

Elder Han observed the small tiger discreetly. Initially, the adult tiger form could only be maintained if the mental strength supported it; otherwise, it reverted to the cub form.

Generally, D-level mental strength was sufficient, E-level couldn't maintain it all day, and F-level couldn't even generate the adult form. Clearly, Bai Xiaoyu's mental strength was F-level.

Elder Han thought for a moment and said, "Master Bai, your current form is inconvenient. I'll send you the latest model, featuring a mighty adult tiger form."

Almost immediately, Bai Xiaoyu received the gift, a model resembling his father's beast form. If it were the original owner, they would have eagerly switched to it.

But Bai Xiaoyu declined, "Thank you, but I quite like my current form."

Elder Han inwardly sighed, as this model was designed to collect the user's mental strength fluctuations and thresholds.

His own mental strength was rapidly recovering but hadn't reached its peak. Without knowing Bai Xiaoyu's recovery status, he dared not act rashly. After all, during the mental battle when Bai Xiaoyu was still an egg, both 3S-level elders suffered greatly.

Looking at Bai Xiaoyu's form, seemingly harmless, it reminded him of the smallest egg in the breeding facility, which appeared small but was the most active.

On the first day the egg arrived, they detected its mental strength fluctuations, which were remarkably lively.

They had been at the Royal Nursery for many years and were also startled by this situation.

The egg quickly caught their attention. They carefully collected it and studied its mental power, accidentally discovering that its mental power threshold was as high as 3S. Who would believe that an egg just starting to be cultivated could have such mental power?

As the egg developed, it even became extremely averse to their daily mental power scans of its interior. It would clearly convey its rejection. When they ignored this and forcibly used mental power to explore, their mental power was completely expelled.

Yes, two people who had been at the 3S mental power level for years were forcibly driven away by an egg that had just started being cultivated and hadn't even fully formed yet.

Instead of feeling discouraged, they were even more excited.

This was because, during this expulsion, they experienced mental power suppression for the first time and realized for the first time that there was indeed imperial-level mental power.

In the star system, both mental power and physical constitution levels below 3S could be measured. Beyond 3S, there was no clear distinction. 3S seemed to be the lower limit, with the upper limit being infinitely large.

Their mental power thresholds had hovered at this boundary for too long, unable to break through.

Some people's talents had already reached their peak, and they were among them.

The only way was to absorb higher-level mental power and forcefully break through this boundary.

They had failed before, but now Bai Xiaoyu was still their only hope, and they didn't intend to give up.

Bai Xiaoyu felt the other person's gaze constantly on his head and frowned slightly.

His mental power was very sensitive, and he disliked the feeling of being observed with mental power. He found it offensive. There was also a hint of malice, though he couldn't make a definitive judgment through the Star Network. However, this made Bai Xiaoyu more cautious.

Old Han noticed Bai Xiaoyu's displeasure and quickly reined in his behavior. But deep down, he was excited, as this was very similar to how the mental power within the egg had behaved back then.

Imperial-level mental power was extremely sensitive. He hadn't expected that even through the Star Network, the other party would notice.

But it also showed that the other party had recovered quite a bit.

Unrecovered mental power wasn't much use to him, but he couldn't face a fully recovered Bai Xiaoyu, who was no longer a helpless egg.

Old Han chatted with Bai Xiaoyu for a few moments and then stepped back when he sensed the other's vigilance.

Bai Xiaoyu stared at the other person's retreating figure. At this moment, Bai Kan returned from a fight and followed Bai Xiaoyu's line of sight. "Xiaoyu, why are you looking at him?"

Bai Xiaoyu: "I don't feel good about this person."

Bai Kan: "Really? I'll check him out for you."

They had been delayed earlier by those troublemakers, but now the two tigers walked towards the displayed items.

There were many good things, including top-grade 2S potions, the latest 2S biological mechs developed by the royal family, and materials for 3S biological mechs...

Many people were bidding, and there were plenty of bids visible.

Bai Kan asked, "Xiaoyu, is there anything you like? I can bid for you."

Bai Xiaoyu shook his head. "Not yet."

The displays outside the items showed prices in the billions.

He had recently exchanged for two refining devices, and the continuous investment in the Herb Base meant his balance couldn't cover even the cheapest item's starting price.

They moved quickly, and since many had arrived early and already placed their bids, several people observed Bai Xiaoyu and Bai Kan.

Then they saw a transparent, half-tentacle-shaped crystal, which was a bug crystal. In front of it stood a familiar figure, Bai Qi.

Bai Qi, in his beast form, had just finished bidding and turned to see Bai Xiaoyu. He opened his bloody maw in displeasure. "Bai Xiaoyu, what are you doing following me?"

The little tiger completely ignored Bai Qi, turned his head to look at the bug crystal, and walked straight over to place a bid.

This action infuriated Bai Qi. "Are you deliberately trying to mess with me?"

He didn't think Bai Xiaoyu needed the bug crystal; this was clearly intentional provocation.

Many others present thought the same and watched the drama unfold.

Bai Qing watched this scene, his expression thoughtful.

At this moment, a butler reported, "There are currently fifty-five bids on the bug crystal. Fifty of them are simple attempts without significant bids. The remaining bids show that two parties seem interested, but not to the necessary extent. The last three bidders include Young Master Bai Qi, one invited from outside, and Young Master Bai Xiaoyu. It seems that Young Master Bai Xiaoyu, as usual, is retaliating against Young Master Bai Qi after the previous embarrassment. Both parties appear to want the bug crystal very much."

Previously, the royal family had detected the birth of a bug prince, and bug crystals were crucial to princes. This bug crystal was bait to see how many people it would attract.

The butler cautiously asked Bai Qing, "Your Majesty, who should get the final three bids?"

Meanwhile, on another planet's slums, some oddly dressed people were searching everywhere. They even grabbed someone and asked, "Has anything strange happened here recently?"

The person, terrified by the menacing man, replied, "Everything has been normal here recently; nothing strange has occurred."

The leader asked again, "Have you heard of any creatures that suck people dry and devour everyone?"

Seeing the person shake their head, they threw him aside. Noticing the fearful glances from others, they reported the situation.

Recently, they had been ordered to investigate a mercenary couple who would give birth to a monster that would drain its parents and everyone else.

But everything here was peaceful, and they had searched the area thoroughly. No one had ever seen the mercenary couple or the monster.

However, they soon received new orders to stay and wait for the monster to appear.

They didn't understand how they could be sure the monster would appear, but they had no choice but to follow orders.