Chapter 56: The Beast-Fighting Exchange Conference
The Xia, Mu, and Fei families were the undisputed titans of the beast-fighting world in the Scott Galaxy. While smaller factions existed, they lacked the numbers and pure strength to exert any real influence, leaving the three major families to lead the industry.
As they flew toward their destination, Xia Xiyao continued her briefing. “The Xia family’s Green Snakes are bred primarily for their lethal toxicity. The Fei family’s Northern Long-tailed Tits specialize in aerial reconnaissance, while the Mu family leans heavily into a support role. Their Mulberry Silkworms produce a specialized thread called ‘mulberry silk,’ which is highly coveted for manufacturing top-tier protective gear, armor, and tactical clothing.”
She paused, taking a sip of water before continuing. “Because of this, the Mu family is actually the most stable of the three. Their revenue streams are incredibly consistent, and Mulberry Silkworms reproduce rapidly. Since they operate strictly in a support capacity, they’ve managed to avoid any direct friction with the mechanical pet conglomerates.”
Su Wudeng nodded in understanding. The Mu family had successfully carved out a bulletproof niche. They didn’t rely on the raw combat prowess of their beasts, but rather on the unique resources those beasts generated. As long as the market demanded high-grade defensive materials, their legacy was secure.
“Is the Fei family’s Northern Long-tailed Tit that tiny, round bird?” Su Wudeng asked, picturing a fluffy little ball of feathers. “The one that looks like a sentient cotton ball? I always assumed they were kept purely as ornamental pets.”
Xia Xiyao smiled. “They certainly look that way. They’re small, adorable, and incredibly gentle, which makes them perfect companions. However, their size is exactly what makes them brilliant scouts. They fly incredibly fast and can hover silently in the air for extended periods, making them unmatched in aerial reconnaissance.”
“They’re cheap to feed, they reproduce quickly, and their dietary needs are minimal. Plus, they’re undeniably cute and serve a practical tactical purpose. It’s no surprise they’re a massive hit on the market.”
Who wouldn’t want a beautiful, low-maintenance bird that could double as a personal security drone?
“In fact,” Xia Xiyao added, “the Northern Long-tailed Tit has practically become the mascot of the Scott Galaxy. Tourists visiting Athens almost always buy one as a gift for their family members back home. They sell out constantly.”
Su Wudeng had to hand it to the Fei family—their branding was genius. A Northern Long-tailed Tit stood zero chance in a brute-force arena fight, but by shifting their perspective, they had turned the species into a lucrative luxury brand.
While countless other beast species had faded into extinction over the centuries, the Northern Long-tailed Tit was thriving, entirely because the Fei family knew how to play the market.
“What about your family?” Su Wudeng asked. “The Xia family?”
“The Green Snake, as the name implies, relies entirely on deadly venom.” Xia Xiyao’s expression dimmed slightly. “Historically, our primary industry has been supplying raw toxins to medical and weapons manufacturers.”
“But modern technology has left us behind. Synthesized, lab-grown compound toxins are now vastly more potent than raw snake venom. When pitted against a mechanical pet equipped with military-grade synthetic bio-toxins, a living Green Snake simply can’t compete.”
Xia Xiyao sighed, a deep worry clouding her eyes. “To make matters worse, the family elders are incredibly conservative. They revere the purity of natural snake venom and refuse to adapt. They won’t even entertain the idea of working with or improving artificial toxins.”
In her eyes, if it weren’t for the residual income from legacy venom contracts keeping the lights on, the Xia family would have been driven to bankruptcy years ago. No matter how pure a raw material was, it could never compete with a mass-produced, chemically enhanced alternative.
“To put it bluntly,” she murmured, “the extinction of the traditional beast industry in the Scott Galaxy is practically a foregone conclusion.”
Two of the three major families had already retreated into pure support roles to survive, and the Xia family was rapidly being forced down the exact same path. If things continued at this rate, the entire galaxy would be completely dominated by mechanical pets within a decade.
“Manager, since you’re attending this event as a representative of traditional beasts,” Xia Xiyao said, her voice laced with anxiety, “the mechanical pet factions are almost certainly going to target you.”
For over a century, the mechanical conglomerates had systematically dismantled the traditional beast families. They were ruthless, and they wouldn’t tolerate a wild card disrupting their progress now. At its core, it was a battle over astronomical profits; the total eradication of living beasts meant absolute market dominance for mechanical constructs.
“If I had to guess, the corporations are planning to use this exchange conference to completely swallow the three major families once and for all.”
No corporate empire could resist a prize that juicy. Controlling a market and forcing your competitors to work for you were two entirely different levels of wealth. Once the mechanical faction consolidated absolute power, the legacy families would be reduced to mere cogs in their corporate machine.
Su Wudeng frowned, puzzled. “But surely the families won’t just sit back and let themselves be destroyed?”
Xia Xiyao sighed, staring out the window. “At this point, it feels like trying to stop an avalanche. I don’t know the exact details of what the elders are planning. I’m just a junior family member, so the leadership keeps me in the dark. The sheer scale of the financial interests involved is beyond anything I can influence.”
Su Wudeng fell silent, turning the information over in her mind. Xia Xiyao’s assessment aligned perfectly with what General Chu had told her, only with far more granular detail. One thing was certain: the legacy beast families were backed into a corner. Their choices were stark—either get devoured by the corporations, or find a completely new path to survival.
Suddenly, a bold, wildly ambitious idea struck Su Wudeng. “You know… it would be amazing if the three major families relocated to our planet.”
In Athens, they were destined to become corporate drones. But on her planet? Things were completely different. Her world was designed to be a sanctuary where beasts and their owners could thrive together.
Xia Xiyao gave her a polite, slightly strained smile. “Manager… Athens is a first-tier developed planet. Coming to our fourth-tier world would be… quite the step down, wouldn’t it?”
To leave a paradise of luxury for a developing backwater planet, someone would have to be completely out of their mind.
Su Wudeng merely smirked. That remains to be seen. General Chu was from the capital planet, and he had happily chosen to station himself here. These three legacy families possessed invaluable skills and generations of expertise—exactly the kind of talent her growing planet needed.
Meanwhile, in a secure conference room at the Athens Beast Exchange Center, an elite group had gathered early for a closed-door meeting.
The room was packed exclusively with representatives from the mechanical pet faction—corporate executives, research directors, prominent family heads, and major suppliers from the automated supply chain.
A middle-aged man sat at the head of the long table, a deep frown carving into his brow as he reviewed the documents before him.
“I have no idea what Chu Tianhe is playing at,” he muttered, tossing a file onto the table. “He actually pulled strings to get Chong’ai Pet Home a slot in this conference.”
“Hasn’t that man spent his entire career ignoring the local politics of the Scott Galaxy? Why is he suddenly sticking his nose into our business?”
“And of all things… he’s sponsoring a traditional pet shop.”
Everyone in the room knew the name Chong’ai Pet Home. If there was a reigning titan of social media on the Starnet, it was them. Every livestream, video, and photograph they posted instantly garnered billions of views. By showcasing one incredible, mythic living beast after another, they had amassed a terrifyingly loyal fanbase.
Ever since they had burst onto the scene, their momentum had been completely unstoppable. It wasn’t as if the corporations hadn’t tried to investigate them; they had. But the pet home’s planet was locked down like a military fortress. No matter how much money or espionage the corporations deployed, they couldn’t breach their security.
They had assumed the pet home would remain safely isolated on its distant world. So what did this sudden move mean? Why was the manager willingly stepping into the spotlight? What was her endgame?
Murmurs of unease rippled through the room.
“Could this disrupt our timeline?”
“Exactly. We’ve spent years setting the stage to seize total control of the Scott Galaxy’s market during this conference. If they interfere…”
“Are we dealing with an uninvited wild card?”
They weren’t particularly threatened by a single pet shop, but General Chu’s involvement changed everything.
“Do you think Chu Tianhe wants a piece of the market for himself?”
“Ha! He spent decades pretending to be incorruptible, refusing every bribe we threw at him. Turns out he was just holding out for a bigger payday.”
“He’s choosing the absolute worst moment to sabotage us. Should we escalate this to the corporate board for guidance?”
The middle-aged man at the head of the table raised a hand, instantly silencing the room.
“Since the board hasn’t issued a veto, we proceed exactly as planned,” he said coldly. “We’ve poured too much capital into this conference to back down now. Chu Tianhe alone cannot stop us.”
“In fact… the arrival of Chong’ai Pet Home might actually work in our favor.” A slow, predatory smile spread across his face. “Since they command such staggering internet traffic, it would be a waste not to exploit it.”
“For this conference, I intend to implement a mandatory entry trial right at the gates. We will broadcast the entire event across the global network, using their massive audience to showcase our new mechanical masterpiece: the Light-Chaser Series.”
The executives’ eyes lit up as the brilliance of the strategy washed over them.
“As expected of you, Director Lin! Brilliant!”
“Exactly! A single video from Chong’ai Pet Home generates unprecedented engagement. The moment we announce they’re participating in the trial, the livestream viewership will smash every record on the net!”
“What an incredible promotional opportunity for our new line! We’ll hijack their entire audience for our own marketing!”
“Magnificent! But Director Lin, what exactly will this entry trial entail?”
Director Lin offered a smooth, paternal smile. “Our conference is an exclusive event. Not just any backwater vendor can walk through the doors.”
“Only those who can successfully navigate the gate and prove their worth deserve a seat at our table. Therefore, I have designed a small, mandatory entry examination. If they fail, they don’t get in.”
The executives exchanged glances, a dark realization dawning on them. The implications of the test were brutal, almost entirely unfair.
After a tense silence, someone spoke up tentatively. “Director Lin… what happens if the legacy beast families fail to pass the trial?”
Director Lin fixed his gaze on the speaker, his smile widening while his eyes remained entirely cold. “Then I’m afraid they will simply have to wait outside for the post-event summary. It’s a completely transparent, public trial broadcasted to the entire galaxy. We can’t possibly grant special privileges to the legacy families just because of their names, can we?”
A collective shiver ran through the room. Director Lin was utterly ruthless.
He was killing three birds with one stone.
First, they could legally lock the traditional beast families out of the conference entirely, rendering them powerless to defend their market share without giving them any ground to complain about unfair treatment.
Second, they would commandeer Chong’ai Pet Home’s massive internet presence to promote their corporate launch, using the entry trial as a live-action commercial to demonstrate the overwhelming superiority of their new mechanical pets.
And finally—and most destructively—the entire galaxy would witness the staggering, unbridgeable chasm between corporate mechanical constructs and fragile, living animals. Once the public saw the results, the demand for traditional beasts would evaporate overnight.
After all, what was Chong’ai Pet Home? Just a glorified boutique filled with cute, soft animals.
“Genius, Director Lin!”
“The market is as good as ours!”
“Allow me to congratulate you in advance, Director!”
“Hahaha, please, gentlemen! We will all prosper together!”
Ultimately, Su Wudeng decided to bring Yu Lan and Xia Xiyao along for the trip. She wanted to give Yu Lan and Qingqing ample time to bond, and having Xia Xiyao along meant she had a knowledgeable local guide who understood the intricacies of Athens and its elite families.
However, selecting which beast to bring as protection had caused her quite a headache.
Aihua had already departed for the frontline war zone, which left her with only one major combat asset at home. Choosing who to bring and who to leave behind was an agonizing decision.
Sensing her dilemma, Yingying had stepped forward, offering a heavy paw in a selfless gesture.
“Sister, let me stay behind to guard the pet home and look after the cubs,” the snow leopard trilled softly. “You should take Amber with you so you’re protected. I’ll be right here waiting for your triumphant return!”
Su Wudeng’s heart melted. “!!!”
What an absolute angel of a snow leopard!
Deeply moved, she scooped the massive cat into her arms, buried her face in Yingying’s soft neck fur, and showered her with affection. “Yingying, you are entirely too good to me! I promise I’ll bring you back the absolute best delicacies I can find, okay? Thank you for working so hard for us.”
“Give sister a kiss~”
Yingying purred loudly under the attention, her eyes narrowing into blissful slits as her thick tail swayed rhythmically from side to side. She was clearly in heaven.
“It’s no trouble at all, Sister. Even if I can’t go out and play, I’m perfectly happy staying behind to protect our home.”
Su Wudeng’s chest swelled with warmth. How could any creature be this gentle and pure? She tightened her embrace, stroking the leopard’s sleek back repeatedly. “I must have saved a galaxy in my past life to deserve a wonderful companion like you, Yingying. I love you so much. I haven’t even stepped onto the ship yet, and I already miss you.”
Yingying leaned her heavy paws against Su Wudeng’s shoulders, her crystalline gray eyes filled with profound affection. “I will miss you too, Sister. Please come back to me quickly.”
“I will, I will! I promise!” Su Wudeng crooned, holding the big cat tightly.
Amber stood a few feet away, watching the display with a deeply troubled expression. Something about this feels incredibly wrong, but I can’t quite put my paw on it.
The husky tilted his head, his naturally expressive eyes tracking the dramatic farewell scene. Whatever! No time for thinking!
Wagging his tail at high speed, he charged forward. He wanted in on the hug! Everyone was hugging, so he should be hugging too!
Amber shoved his large dog head right between Su Wudeng and Yingying, letting out an excited, “Woof! Woof! Don’t leave me out!”
Yingying had been thoroughly enjoying her peaceful, intimate moment when she was suddenly interrupted by the loud, clumsy canine.
She let out a soft, aggrieved huff. Amber, why must you always ruin the mood? Sister is going to be spending every waking moment with you on the trip, while I have to be separated from her for days…
With a subtle, elegant flick of her powerful tail, Yingying cleanly swept Amber off his feet, rolling him across the floor before settling right back into Su Wudeng’s arms.
You wouldn’t want to make things difficult for Sister, would you? she seemed to say.
Amber blinked, thoroughly dazed as he scrambled back to his feet. He looked around in utter confusion. What just happened? How did I get ejected across the room?
When he looked back, Yingying was nestled comfortably against their owner again, looking like the picture of innocence.
Amber’s jaw dropped. Fine! Fine! Just act like I don’t exist then!
Su Wudeng felt a bead of sweat form on her temple. “…My scalp is tingling.”
“Amber, wait, I didn’t mean to—”
But Amber wasn’t listening. He threw his head back and let out a series of dramatic, heartbroken howls. He refused to be pacified! His owner had hugged the cat but rejected him! The betrayal was absolute! He was going to throw a tantrum, and it was going to be magnificent!
Yingying smirked covertly, wrapping her thick, fluffy tail around Su Wudeng’s waist, anchoring her sister in place.
Su Wudeng internally panicked. Should I untangle myself and go comfort the dog? But when she looked down at Yingying, the massive snow leopard had tucked her chin in, playfully nibbling on the tip of her own tail with a look of pure, unadulterated vulnerability.
Su Wudeng defeatedly accepted her fate. I am entirely powerless against a cat biting its own tail. Forgive me, Amber.
In that moment, Qingqing—who had been watching the dynamics closely—seemed to undergo a sudden paradigm shift. The little green bird tilted her head, her bright, ink-black eyes locking onto Su Wudeng.
“Squeak~”
“Sister… my head hurts so much. I think I’m going to faint~”
Qingqing’s voice trembled dramatically as she began to sway, tipping sideways as if losing consciousness. Terrified, Su Wudeng lunged across the space, catching the small bird just before she hit the ground.
“Qingqing! What’s wrong? Let me see!” Su Wudeng panicked. “Is your headache coming back? Here, let me gently rub it. It’ll feel better soon!”
Qingqing collapsed weakly into Su Wudeng’s palms, though she took great care not to accidentally scratch her with her sharp claws.
“Oh… your hands are so warm, Sister. It feels so much better already,” Qingqing murmured in a faint, fragile whisper. “Can you please just hold me like this for a little longer?”
Yingying and Amber simultaneously stared at the bird, their expressions deadpan. During combat training yesterday, you literally tore a solid steel dummy apart with a single claw strike! And now you’re playing the fragile, fainting maiden?
At least put some effort into the acting! Look at your pristine, glossy feathers! Your sharp beak! Your razor-focused eyes! There isn’t a single sick cell in your entire body!
Standing off to the side, Xia Xiyao had to bite her lip to keep from laughing out loud. Her manager really had her hands full.
The masterfully manipulative Yingying, the dramatically frail Qingqing, and the genuinely aggrieved, fiercely dramatic Amber… all trapped in one room. It was a terrifying battlefield of emotional manipulation.
She gently patted the small hound resting in her arms, thinking to herself: Amber is completely outclassed in the art of manipulation. He’s way too straightforward.
Is it because he’s never been in a relationship?
Meanwhile, the young pup in her arms, Habao, was vibrating with pure excitement. His tail was wagging so fast it was a blur. He absolutely lived for this kind of household drama.
“Woof! Woof! Woof!” he barked enthusiastically. Fight! Fight! Go get ’em, big sister!
Hearing the pup’s cheering, Amber whipped his head around, fixing Habao with a terrifying, ice-cold glare.
Habao yelped, instantly shivering as he buried his face deep into Xia Xiyao’s shirt.
Xia Xiyao quickly stroked his back to soothe him. “It’s okay, it’s okay, Habao. Don’t be scared, big brother is just playing.”
Yet, despite his apparent terror, Habao bravely peeked his head back out, offering Xia Xiyao a wildly exaggerated, affectionate whimper. “Aoo-aoo~ Sister, give me a kiss!”
Xia Xiyao: “…”
You are entirely doing this to spite Amber on purpose, aren’t you? You really have a death wish, don’t you?
Amber bared his teeth. …You rebellious little brat! Taste my wrath!
It took a considerable amount of time, but Su Wudeng finally managed to pacify each of her dramatic pets one by one. Not daring to linger a second longer, she hurriedly gathered Amber, Qingqing, and Lu Feng, escaping toward the transport vessel.
The planet’s interstellar port was still a massive construction zone. From orbit, it looked like a sprawling, semi-finished skeleton floating against the cosmic backdrop, but the sheer scale of the architectural blueprints was breathtaking. One could easily visualize how magnificent and imposing it would look upon completion.
Though the infrastructure wasn’t fully finalized and commercial starships were scarce, the essential warp lanes had already been approved and opened. The newly established route provided a direct, uninterrupted jump straight to Athens.
Su Wudeng bypassed commercial transport entirely, utilizing one of the planet’s official military battleships to make the journey. According to Xia Xiyao, if they had taken a civilian transport, they would have had to endure at least half a dozen grueling transfers along the way.
However, a military battleship could not carry civilian passengers or freight, meaning the fuel and operational costs for this round trip were astronomically high.
“Gah,” the chronically budget-conscious Su Wudeng swore under her breath as she looked over the expense report. “The minute I make my first real fortune, I am buying a fleet of commercial starships and squeezing every single credit back out of the market!”
This was her very first time leaving the planet. Looking out the thick viewing portals of the observation deck, she stared into the vast, velvety expanse of the cosmos. For the most part, the galaxy was a canvas of deep, ink-black space, but occasionally, breathtaking celestial bodies would drift into view—shining like brilliant diamonds or glowing with the rich, warm hue of molten gold.
The sheer beauty of it made her heart swell with an intense desire to explore.
Suddenly, Su Yulan’s deadpan, pragmatic voice shattered her romantic reverie from behind. “Sister, please fix your face.”
“Every single one of those mineral-rich resource planets is strictly private property.”
“If our battleship drifts off course and approaches their airspace without authorization, their automated defense grids will instantly blow us to pieces.”
Su Wudeng reluctantly stepped away from the window, letting out a heavy, dramatic sigh of longing. “What an absolute tragedy! The universe is full of missed opportunities!”
“Ugh, filthy capitalists!”
Su Yulan: “…”
Just because a planet doesn’t belong to you, it’s a tragedy?
At the Athens Beast Exchange Conference, the atmosphere was electric.
The scale of the venue was staggering. Thousands of micro-drones buzzed across the sky like a metallic swarm, capturing the event from every conceivable angle to construct a flawless, real-time holographic matrix that was streamed directly across the Starnet.
Netizens logging into holographic mode were instantly transported right into the center of the stadium, granting them an immersive, breathtaking perspective that made them feel as if they were physically standing in the arena.
Though the opening ceremonies hadn’t officially commenced, the pre-show festivities and promotional events were already generating massive engagement. Millions of viewers had flooded into the official streaming rooms early.
[Is it actually true?! The organizers officially confirmed that Chong’ai Pet Home is attending this year’s conference?!]
[It’s 100% real! The official account posted a verified notice and even leaked the guest registry! Their name is right at the top.]
[Oh my god, does this mean I get to see the manager in person?!]
[I can’t wait! This is the first time the manager has traveled off-world, right? Athens is amazing, I volunteer to be her personal tour guide!]
[When is her ship landing? I’m dying to know which beasts she brought with her!]
[I miss them so much! It feels like it’s been forever since we saw Yingying on stream!]
[I heard Aihua returned to the base recently, do you think she’ll make an appearance?]
[Amber! It has to be Amber! He was her very first companion!]
[Wait, apparently they changed the rules this year? There’s a mandatory entry exam at the gates now. Do you think the manager can clear it?]
[Are you kidding? Of course she will! She’s got this in the bag!]
[Manager, I’m here! I saw the trending hashtag about you attending the conference and sprinted straight to the stream!]
[Same here! Let’s goooo!]
…
[Hey, I have some insider info! Word on the street is that a massive tech conglomerate is launching a revolutionary mechanical pet today—the ‘Light-Chaser Series.’ Supposedly, it’s an apex aerial unit. Completely invincible!]
[Whoa, looking forward to it! The second it drops on the digital storefront, I’m buying one!]
…
In the production office tucked away in the back of the arena, a group of executives watched the data feeds materialize.
“Has Phase One of the marketing protocol been initiated?”
“Excellent. Keep tightening the narrative and make sure all organic traffic is seamlessly funneled toward our new product showcase.”
“Do it naturally. I don’t want the audience realizing they’re being manipulated by a corporate algorithm.”
“Understood, proceeding to the next phase.”
…
“The representatives from the three legacy families have arrived? Perfect timing, the traffic metrics are peaking right now.”
“Wait, the Mu family submitted a last-minute cancellation notice? What do you mean they aren’t coming?!”
“Tsk, forget them. They’re irrelevant now.”
“What about Chong’ai Pet Home? Still not on-site? That’s fine. Keep a drone locked on the coordinates and report the second their vessel enters the sector.”
“All security teams, stand by. Everything proceeds exactly according to the script. Initiate the gate protocol!”
Suddenly, a massive, monolithic digital display rose slowly from the ground at the main entrance of the stadium, flashing a brilliant, crimson countdown timer.
Simultaneously, accompanied by a low, rumbling tremor that shook the pavement, an immense combat assessment platform ascended into the center of the courtyard. The perimeter of the ring was ringed by a terrifying array of black, heavy-artillery weapon barrels.
The announcer’s booming, electronically amplified voice reverberated across the entire complex.
“Welcome, citizens and guests, to the annual Beast Fighting Exchange Conference! The opening ceremonies are about to begin. Will all registered participants please report to the main gate for the mandatory entrance examination!”
“Only those who successfully clear the gauntlet will be granted entry to the main conference!”
“To ensure absolute fairness, transparency, and integrity, the entire trial will be broadcasted live to the global network! True strength dictates your seat at the table. Let us witness history together!”
The crowd at the gates rippled with immediate confusion and outrage. The attendance pool was highly exclusive, but never in the history of the exchange conference had anyone been subjected to a combat test just to walk through the front doors.
Wasn’t an official invitation supposed to guarantee entry?
Was this a surprise rule change for the current year? Why was there zero advanced notice?
Thousands of pairs of eyes stared in shock at the massive countdown clock looming over the entrance. The trial window was a mere thirty minutes, and the seconds were ticking away ruthlessly.
There were no restrictions on entry order or the number of participants allowed in the ring at once. As long as you could physically survive the gauntlet, you could cross the threshold.
But looking at the massive artillery batteries surrounding the platform, numbers meant absolutely nothing. Without god-tier speed or defense, any creature stepping onto that stage would be blown to pieces in seconds.
The current patriarchs of the Xia and Fei families stood side-by-side near the front of the crowd, their expressions incredibly grim as they stared at the floating combat platform.
“Shameless… utterly shameless!”
“This entire arena configuration, combined with the imminent launch of their new flying mechanical pet, ‘Zhuguang’… it’s a disgusting corporate setup! They’re using us as a prop to market their new product while publicly humiliating our legacies!”
Whether it was the venomous Green Snakes of the Xia family or the scout-class Northern Long-tailed Tits of the Fei family, both were specialized utility units. Neither species was built for a brute-force survival trial like this.
The challenge demanded either near-instantaneous agility or an absolute, impenetrable defense. Alternatively, an apex offensive power capable of vaporizing the artillery emplacements before they could fire would suffice.
The traditional families possessed none of those traits.
The Xia family elder clenched his fists, his voice shaking with indignation. “We spent months preparing counter-strategies for their political maneuvers at the table, but we never anticipated they would completely abandon decorum and resort to a circus act like this!”
The corporations had completely flipped the table. All their meticulous political preparations were completely useless now.
The Fei family head looked equally hollow, his eyes darkened by anger. “No wonder the Mu family pulled out at the eleventh hour. They must have caught wind of this setup days ago.”
“They knew their silkworms stood zero chance in an artillery gauntlet, so they chose to fake an illness and stay home rather than endure public humiliation.”
But for the Xia and Fei families, who were already standing at the gates under the gaze of millions of cameras, retreat was impossible. If they packed up and left now, the internet would brand them as cowards for eternity.
Yet, if they forced their beasts onto the platform, they would be publicly slaughtered on a live feed.
The Fei family head squeezed his fists until his knuckles turned white. “It’s insidious. They aren’t just trying to take our market share; they want to break our spirit. They want to crush our pride completely so we never dare to stand against them again. From today on, they want us on our knees.”
“What do we do?”
The digital countdown continued its merciless descent.
Beads of cold sweat began to pour down both elders’ faces.
The Xia family elder stared blankly at the timer for a long time before suddenly whispering, “What about… the manager of Chong’ai Pet Home?”
“Is there any possibility she has a beast capable of breaking this deadlock?”
His granddaughter, Xia Xiyao, had bombarded him with endless messages praising the pet home’s planet, calling it an absolute paradise for beasts. He had dismissed her claims as youthful exaggeration at the time—how could a fourth-tier wilderness planet possibly compare to the first-tier luxury of Athens?
But now, facing absolute ruin, that backwater pet home was the only shred of hope he had left.
The Fei family head was far less optimistic. “The manager of Chong’ai Pet Home? If my data is accurate, her primary assets are a snow leopard and a swordheart husky.”
“Under normal combat conditions, those two species are apex ground fighters. But this specific arena design is a nightmare for land-bound beasts. If they step onto that platform, they’ll just be sitting ducks for the artillery.”
No matter how fierce or brave a terrestrial beast was, it still had to run on solid ground. How could a land animal outrun an omnidirectional storm of high-velocity tracking shells?
“Unless she possesses an exceptionally agile, apex-class flying beast capable of matching the corporate constructs… but have you ever seen her showcase anything like that on her streams?”
For reasons no one quite understood, Manager Su always introduced her new beast species to the public via live broadcasts. To their knowledge, she had never displayed an aerial combat unit.
Is this really the end of our lineage?
A profound sense of despair settled over the traditional factions.
Right at that moment, the announcer’s voice reached a fever pitch, booming through the stadium speakers.
“Look toward the sky, ladies and gentlemen! The corporate research division has officially deployed their latest, crowning achievement in mechanical engineering: the Zhuguang!”
“She takes the stage!”
“An epic, revolutionary design that redefines the apex aerial class! Not only does she possess lightning-fast velocity, but her integrated offensive payload is unmatched in the modern era!”
“Behold the glory of automated perfection! Let us witness her maiden flight!”
The announcer’s theatrical, highly charged presentation instantly set the livestream chat ablaze.
[Whoa! Zhuguang! That design is absolutely incredible!]
[Pure white mechanical wings, blinding speed, and absolute power! I’m completely in love!]
[Can it actually dodge an entire artillery grid? My heart is beating so fast right now!]
On the platform, the sleek, metallic white wings of the Zhuguang unfurled with a sharp hiss of hydraulics, launching the construct straight into the center of the active trial zone.
The moment its sensors cleared the threshold, the automated defense grid roared to life. Dozens of heavy artillery barrels tracked upward simultaneously, unleashing a continuous, deafening volley of tracking shells directly into the sky.
Yet, amid the blinding hail of concussive fire, the Zhuguang moved like a streak of pure electricity. It arced and twisted through the sky with terrifying precision, effortlessly weaving through the gaps in the explosions without sustaining a single scratch.
Its pristine white chassis gleamed under the stadium lights, its movements possessing the smooth, mesmerizing grace of a high-tech work of art.
Logically, the machine could have cleared the airspace in a matter of seconds to conclude the test, but the controllers deliberately kept it within the zone, transforming the deadly gauntlet into a corporate stage.
It was a display of absolute, unchallengeable speed. Every evasive maneuver looked like a choreographed dance—sleek, majestic, and completely flawless.
[Zhuguang! Zhuguang! Zhuguang!]
[This is insane! Take my money, I need to preorder this right now!]
[Look at that speed! That agility! That flawless flight profile! It’s perfect!]
It was at this precise moment that Su Wudeng finally arrived at the gates.
She shielded her eyes, squinting up at the glittering white streak dancing through the artillery smoke, and instantly put the pieces together.
“Oh? Is that white mechanical bird the entrance exam they just announced?”
She smiled to herself. The organizers were surprisingly accommodating. Knowing she had brought Qingqing along, they had gone out of their way to provide a flying opponent to serve as a benchmark.
Though… the way that mechanical construct kept circling the arena, showing off its aerial tricks for the cameras… it felt suspiciously like a deliberate warning directed at her.
Su Wudeng’s smile widened, a sharp spark of competitive fire lighting up her eyes. She patted the small container at her waist.
“Qingqing! You’re up! Go show them how a real bird flies!”
