Chapter 013

Bai Xiaoyu could hardly believe what he saw, lying on the ground and doubting life for a while.

In his ears, it seemed as if the sound of the bed collapsing still lingered, and his head was still buzzing.

He looked up at the dismantled bed, where a huge black egg was slowly burrowing under the covers in the darkness, inching away, not daring to face Bai Xiaoyu.

After turning on the light, everything came into full view.

The entire bed had fallen apart, and near the foot of the bed lay a large black egg. The blanket covered the front of the black egg, but it kept pulling the "egg head" further into the covers. Unfortunately, the blanket couldn't completely hide the massive egg body, leaving half of its rear exposed.

The big black egg seemed to know it had caused trouble and was trying hard to hide itself. Sensing Bai Xiaoyu's gaze, it trembled slightly.

Bai Xiaoyu watched the trembling black egg that had demolished the living room and now the bedroom, leaving its mark within less than a night. His mouth twitched as he tried to remind himself, "This is the egg that saved my life, the egg that saved my life, the egg that saved my life!"

Bai Xiaoyu shifted his attention and soon noticed that the lower half of the eggshell wasn't pure black; there were two claw-like white marks. Upon closer inspection, he found similar marks above them.

The big black egg was scared too, unsure if Bai Bai would dislike it. It really hadn't meant to cause trouble.

Would it be kicked out?

Don't kick me out, please.

The big black egg grew even more upset, shaking more violently.

Soon, the big black egg slowly stood up, with the blanket on its head, swaying slightly.

Bai Bai, don't be angry. I'll dance for you.

Just as Bai Xiaoyu was about to speak, he saw the big black egg start dancing awkwardly with the sheet on its head.

What is this thing doing? Are eggs this energetic even after eight or nine months?

It was still swinging the sheet around and rolling, even doing a 360-degree backflip?

Bai Xiaoyu was both amused and exasperated. This thing was supposed to be inside an energy incubator, so why was it here dancing?

He called out to the system mentally, "System, as a professional incubation system, can you tell me what's wrong with the big black egg?"

The system yawned and responded, "Host, the system isn't entirely sure."

Bai Xiaoyu: "What's the point of having you then?"

The system retorted, "That's because your points aren't enough. If you had more points, the system could scan the egg's condition and translate its emotions into speech bubbles for you to see. Besides, each egg has different characteristics due to species and individual differences, leading to varied behaviors during incubation."

The system: "I haven't been out for a day, and you've picked up such a strange black egg. There's no record of such an egg in the system's database."

Bai Xiaoyu: "How strange is it?"

The system: "We can't scan it right now, but generally, incubating eggs don't perform such complex actions. However, some powerful younglings can use their innate abilities from birth. These are called innate skills."

At that moment, the system's voice turned metallic: "Main mission assigned: Hatch the big black egg within one year. Reward: One million points. If completed excellently, receive a double points card and an upgrade card for the points store."

Bai Xiaoyu was surprised by the high reward. He remembered that hatching eighteen eggs at the incubation facility only earned five thousand points, yet hatching the big black egg was worth one million points, with even higher rewards afterward.

There was something subtle about the word "main" that caught his attention. "System, what does this main mission mean?"

The system: "Host's level is insufficient. No access. Please work hard to complete missions and level up."

The system fell silent. Bai Xiaoyu looked at the black egg, which was becoming increasingly dejected without a response, looking like a discarded maiden with the sheet over its head.

Bai Xiaoyu couldn't help but laugh and cry, walking over to lift the sheet like unveiling a bride, only to find a round, towering black egg instead.

"Big Black, I'm not angry. Be good, I'll take you back to your bed."

Hearing that Bai Xiaoyu wasn't angry, Big Black instantly perked up, bouncing excitedly. But when it heard about going back to the bed, it wilted, remembering the terrible taste of the nutrient solution.

The nutrient solution had a terrifying taste. Sleeping in it for a night would make the egg feel queasy. Bai Bai, you'll see a queasy egg tomorrow.

Knowing Bai Xiaoyu wasn't angry, Big Black became more daring again.

Bai Xiaoyu watched as Big Black approached him, rubbing against him with the sheet, then pushing him toward the dismantled bed.

Big Black stood by the bed, twisting shyly, like a bashful bride inviting her husband.

The system suddenly appeared, "Big Black invites you to sleep together. Do you accept?"

Bai Xiaoyu: "System, didn't you say earlier that I don't have enough points for this function?"

The system: "Big Black's expectations are too intense. Its powerful mental waves are continuously directed at you, making the system detect them without scanning."

The system looked at the host's data. This host usually seemed gentle and refined but was actually quite cold-hearted.

Currently, he treated Big Black and Yu Xi well, but in reality, he viewed Big Black as a life-saving egg and Yu Xi as a helpful assistant who had saved his life.

Beyond that, the system couldn't detect anything else in the data.

This was a difficult host to win over.

So, Big Black's invitation was likely to be rejected.

Sure enough, Bai Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow, looking at the shy Big Black: "Big Black, I'm used to sleeping alone. I can't fall asleep with someone else."

Big Black was a bit disappointed but, being considerate, wouldn't want to keep Bai Bai awake.

So, in the end, Big Black jumped onto the bumpy alchemy cauldron. One person and one egg, one in the living room and one in the bedroom, slept through the night without any walls between them.

Bai Xiaoyu thought he wouldn't be able to sleep with another creature in the room, but surprisingly, he slept exceptionally well on the dismantled bed late into the night.

The next day, Bai Xiaoyu was awakened by knocking on the door. Checking the time, it was already nine in the morning.

Having been in this world for several days since the apocalypse began, this was the first time he had slept until this late.

Outside, it was Yu Xi who woke him up. After Bai Xiaoyu opened the door, Yu Xi and Big Black Egg faced off once again.

Yu Xi was very unhappy that Big Black Egg had stayed overnight in Bai Xiaoyu's room, and naturally, Big Black Egg also disliked Yu Xi interrupting his good times sleeping with Bai Xiaoyu.

Bai Xiaoyu let them bicker, but as soon as he stepped out, both immediately quieted down, turning into a black and a white tail following behind him.

Upon arriving at the nursery, he received an alert from the cultivation system as soon as he entered: "Please note, the nutrient solution within the device will be depleted in 12 hours. Please prepare new nutrient solution as soon as possible."

Bai Xiaoyu was taken aback. He had just added fresh nutrient solution yesterday, which should have lasted at least a week or even half a month. How could it be nearly depleted after just one night?

Everything seemed normal yesterday. What...

Bai Xiaoyu's gaze turned to Big Black Egg. The only variable was Big Black. Could it be that all the nutrient solution was absorbed by Big Black?

Eighteen eggs would need a week or even half a month of food, but Big Black needed just one night?

Big Black Egg sensed Bai Xiaoyu's gaze and puffed up its round body as if trying to stand tall.

It's mine, I'm a good egg. Even though the nutrient solution is hard to swallow, I endured and ate it. I even left some for those other eggs.

Though it was hard to eat, the effects were good—better than anything else I've had. It's just a bit too little; I'd need ten portions to feel full.

Bai Xiaoyu looked at Big Black Egg's size and understood.

He opened the package delivered by the robot, which contained two new alchemy furnaces and over a hundred herbs.

Returning to his room to refine more pills, this time both Big Black Egg and Yu Xi were locked outside.

The two silently competed several times. Eventually, Yu Xi, smelling the exquisite nutrient solution inside, felt a strong urge. Why did he, an almost adult beastman, still need nutrient solution meant for eggs?

This was something he had never encountered before, leaving Yu Xi puzzled.

Big Black Egg, on the other hand, became excited, trembling at the thought of the taste.

Inside, Bai Xiaoyu directly refined ten portions of herbs together, reaching his current limit.

The amount produced remained unchanged, but the solution had solidified into a translucent jelly-like substance.

Bai Xiaoyu examined the new form of the solution. Unlike the requirements for hatching pills, the concentration of the nutrient solution didn't need to be strictly controlled because it didn't need to be perfectly suited for absorption by the pills. Thus, solidification didn't affect its effectiveness.

This was already a prototype of a pill. One bottle of this could sustain the eggs in the nursery for over a quarter.

However, now that there was Big Black, he needed to refine more.

After refining twice more, he had three bottles of solidified nutrient solution.

Opening the door, he found Big Black Egg and White Wolf guarding outside. Seeing him come out, Big Black Egg jumped high, and White Wolf's previously drooping tail started wagging wildly, its eyes fixed on the three bottles of nutrient solution in Bai Xiaoyu's hands.

Bai Xiaoyu paused, his gaze falling strangely on White Wolf. "Xiao Xi, do you want the nutrient solution?"

White Wolf's tail wagged wildly, taking an unconscious step forward. Just as it was about to nod, it restrained itself, its eyes reluctantly fixed on the nutrient solution in Bai Xiaoyu's hands, then shook its head.

Bai Xiaoyu tossed a bottle to White Wolf, who caught it with a gulp, looking a bit embarrassed at Bai Xiaoyu. This was given to him, but what about the eggs in the nursery?

Bai Xiaoyu seemed to read his thoughts and said, "One bottle can last a quarter or more, so don't worry about not having enough. You can take this one, and if you need more, just tell me."

White Wolf whimpered, wanting to nuzzle Bai Xiaoyu, but was suddenly blocked by Big Black Egg jumping in front.

White Wolf showed disdain, stopping abruptly and growling threateningly.

But Big Black Egg ignored him, rubbing against Bai Xiaoyu in a very aggrieved manner.

Bai Xiaoyu: "You'll get yours too. Now come with me to change it."

After changing it, Bai Xiaoyu noticed the nutrient solution reserve depleting at an alarming rate.

In less than fifteen minutes, Big Black Egg hopped out of the energy shield, wobbling and jumping awkwardly. The smell was terrible!

But it was the first time he had eaten to his heart's content.

Burp~

The White Wolf, which had been convulsing and rolling after consuming the nutrient solution, also stopped, "Burp~"

Bai Xiaoyu watched the clearly satisfied egg and wolf sprawled on the ground, then glanced at the nutrient solution storage area. The original nutrient solution had vanished, triggering another alarm from the smart system.

Bai Xiaoyu placed the last bottle of nutrient solution inside. He calculated the cost: one bottle required 10,000 credit points. These two clearly consumed one bottle per meal, making him doubt whether he could afford to keep these two troublemakers.

Currently, his expenses exceeded his income. He considered selling the nutrient solution he had made using the basic recipe for interstellar nurseries, which could last eighteen eggs for a week. Perhaps he could sell it to those in need. But where could he find buyers?

He checked the prices at the pharmacy responsible for their district. Similar quantities of basic solutions cost 50,000 credit points.

His nutrient solution was A-grade, and pharmacies charged 500,000 credit points for the same quantity—ten times higher and often out of stock.

Bai Xiaoyu fell into deep thought. Beside him, Big Black Egg and White Wolf, having recovered, were about to fight to get closer to him.

Bai Xiaoyu stopped them. "Stop it, Xiao Xi, I have something to ask you."

White Wolf grinned at Big Black Egg, then transformed back into human form. "Brother Bai, what is it?"

Bai Xiaoyu: "Can I open a pharmacy?"

Yu Xi was stunned. "Brother Bai, you want to sell medicine? Opening a pharmacy is possible, but usually, private pharmacies don't get much business. People generally trust the officially certified pharmacies in each district more."

Bai Xiaoyu: "As long as I can open one."

Beside them, Big Black Egg watched the two of them interact, feeling isolated and alone.

He was still just an egg, only a few months old, unable to help Bai Bai in any way.