Time ticked by, and the bell for class rang once more. Jingliu stepped to the rhythm of the bell, returning to the Academy and her classroom. Facing the peculiar gazes of her classmates, she tossed her long hair, returning to her seat with an air of nonchalance, her back straightened perfectly.
Even in a nation of long-life species, the life of an orphan was not particularly easy, so one had to be strong when living alone.
"Jingliu, are we still going to the Starskiff Waste Port to explore tonight? I heard there are strange signal fluctuations over there again."
Jingliu hesitated for two seconds. "No. My boyfriend is the jealous type."
She thought about it; she was no longer alone now. She didn't need to accompany others all day or force herself to do things she didn't like. So, tonight, she wanted to go home.
"Tsk... really? Abandoning us now that you have a boyfriend?" a classmate complained, half-jokingly.
"And such a vicious and stingy boyfriend at that!"
It was unclear who muttered that, and Jingliu didn't bother looking for the source of the voice. It was meaningless. She even wanted to nod in agreement!
The detestable Little Wangshu didn't even ask about her circle of friends. He didn't even get jealous when asking if she had been happy that morning. No wonder he was deceived by her future self!
...
Meanwhile, in the Book House.
**[Promising Future Chat Group]**
Jingliu: "Regarding records of the Propagation Swarm, you can consult 'Chronicles of Exotic Insects Across the Worlds' written by Sir Duloui, a member of the Intelligentsia Guild. This Sir has traveled extensively across the Star Ocean. His work is still regarded as one of the more detailed reference materials for understanding Swarm habits and branches."
Jingliu: "It should already exist in Star Calendar Year 6299."
Asta: "I really didn't expect Senior Jingliu to be so learned."
After all, this book was quite obscure; she had only just looked it up herself.
Jingliu: "..."
Not really. The learned one was Jing Yuan; she only needed to open her mouth and ask. Although, Jing Yuan seemed to be having more headaches recently.
Wangshu: "Found it. It's in the Star Ocean Anecdotes category. But there are so few people in the Cangcheng Book House."
The Book House didn't look large from the outside, but the interior contained a whole other Delve—a true Delve. Walking through the three or four-meter gateway, one felt as if they had entered a massive library.
It was just that the aisles between the bookshelves were mostly empty. Occasionally, one could see a leisurely Xianzhou native or two searching for books.
Jingliu: "..."
Asta: "It's not just the Xianzhou. Library-like buildings nowadays don't have many people anywhere."
The development of technology was too rapid, to the point where paper readings were completely unnecessary most of the time.
Although there were always people who said that paper readings provided a special, leisurely state of mind, in reality, very few people would spend time seeking that state of mind.
Wangshu: "Speaking of which, are you Seniors this free? I feel like every time I have a question, you all appear in time."
Just like NPCs who had no one to talk to—though thinking that was a bit excessive.
Jingliu: "..."
Jingliu already felt offended.
Asta: "My main task right now is to observe when the group chat upgrades, as well as explore the function for inviting new members."
Wangshu: "Oh, right, you're actually working for Herta."
Wangshu: "...So, has there been any change on Senior Jingliu's side?"
Jingliu: "What do you mean?"
Wangshu: "For example, because of the appearance of this chat group, have you decided to adjust your current plans?"
Jingliu: "Completely unnecessary."
Truly confident. However, judging by the protagonist team's progress, Jingliu wouldn't have time to adjust anyway; the Amphoreus event was about to occupy the Xianzhou's space soon.
Wangshu muttered a few words and took down the first volume of "Chronicles of Exotic Insects Across the Worlds" from a nearby shelf.
He found a quiet seat by the window and sat down, quickly flipping through the table of contents. The arrangement of the content was pragmatic, without too many lengthy introductions, going straight to the point.
"Ever since Tayzzyronth, the Swarm Imperator, fell, the infinite energy source of the Swarm Disaster vanished. Therefore, in order to survive, the remaining Swarm walked completely different paths under the leadership of the Swarm Kings."
He silently recited a key paragraph: "Among them, there is even the Pacifist Swarm that transformed themselves into semi-plants, becoming producers in the ecological environment."
Wangshu tried hard to memorize this. Actually, most of this was mentioned in the plot, but this information generally existed in various corners, and very few people truly paid attention to it.
"The only Swarm Kings currently still active are two: the Mirage Moth Swarm King, which drowns people in illusions, and the Calamity-Breeding Swarm King, which is used to collect energy and reproduce offspring, continuing to wreak havoc in the universe."
He paused for a moment, pondering for a while. "It looks like the two lineages tended to remain active because of their different division of labor."
"Mn."
A clear, sweet voice suddenly rang out from an extremely close distance, gently agreeing.
Wangshu's body froze instantly. That card wrapped in moonlight appeared at his fingertips, ready to be used at any moment.
But the person beside him made no further moves.
Wangshu slowly turned his head, only to see the petite girl who called herself Huoshi. Unknown to him, she had quietly sat down in the seat next to him, resting her chin in her hands, looking at him with great interest... as well as at the book in his hands.
"Keep turning the page. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me."
Huoshi blinked, her smile innocent and cute, her tone as natural as if they were friends who had agreed to meet here to read together.
According to the description in "Chronicles of Exotic Insects Across the Worlds," the lineage of the Huoshi Swarm King was Deception. In order to survive, they actively shed their carapaces and sharp claws to make others think they were of the same kind, integrating into other civilizations, and then peeling open the internal organs of those civilizations.
**[Promising Future Chat Group]**
Wangshu: "Big shots! Help! I think I'm done for!"
Jingliu: "?"
Asta: "Madam Herta says: Don't panic. Speak slowly about the danger. We have plenty of good things here that can help you."
Wangshu: "The Huoshi Swarm King is sitting right next to me. I can even smell an inexplicable fragrance."
Asta: "If she doesn't have too much hostility, perhaps you can try communicating, ask some questions."
Asta: "If your mind is blank, you can listen to my questions and repeat them... This is also what Madam Herta asked me to send."
Wangshu: "I don't feel comforted at all."
Jingliu: "...You won't die. But if a fight breaks out, I hope you aren't in a busy market. Battles between Propagation Emanators are very long; you can definitely hold out until the rest of the Xianzhou comes to help."
Wangshu recovered his senses slightly, looking at the young girl beside him... although judging by age, this girl was probably older than some Aeons.
Huoshi seemed to detect the subtle change in his emotions. She deliberately tilted her head, striking an even cuter pose, her youthful cheeks lively with obedience.
Wangshu lowered his head again, looking at the "Chronicles of Exotic Insects Across the Worlds" in his hand, then looked at the living footnote beside him, and suddenly sighed.
"Lousy book. It even says the Huoshi Swarm King lineage is the best at disguising identities. It's all lies."
"Correct." She nodded gently. "But that description is likely referring to the larvae."
________________________________________
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