Chapter 58
Everyone in the car held their breath. Qi Yunhan, in particular, was experiencing the system’s advanced technology for the first time. The moment the lions pounced, Xia Anran clearly heard her let out a startled cry.
After the lions were repelled, Professor Qi’s professional instincts as a biologist kicked in. She leaned against the car window, looking out with some concern at the lions’ condition.
Fortunately, they probably hadn’t used much force and had only been lightly pushed back. They quickly got up from the ground. This time, they didn’t dare to attack rashly and just watched them from a distance.
Ren Yi had no chance to show his skills, and Yu Xue and Wu Sicheng’s wish to see him fight a lion was once again dashed. He felt their gazes and threw up his hands. There was nothing he could do; it wasn’t even his turn to act.
Xia Anran straightened the phone, which had been knocked askew in the chaos, and explained the situation to the viewers. “This is one of the most ferocious animals on our Earth, the lion. As you all just saw, they are very aggressive. So, for safety reasons, we won’t be getting out of the car. We’ll just take a drive around this gathering area and show you how wild lions live.”
Ji Minghui, sitting in the back seat, looked at the lions circling them from a distance and thought to himself, For safety reasons… for the lions’ safety, right?
…
The sudden attack had also startled the interstellar audience. From the moment the male lion had appeared and roared at them, the comments section had been flooded with worries and warnings.
[Not good, Anran, run! They’re going to attack you!]
[It’s calling for backup! They’re really going to pounce!]
[Yes! There are many more lions nearby! Anran, run!]
[Holy crap, this animal is so fierce! Lions are really scary.]
[Such a bad temper. It wanted to attack the moment it saw the host.]
[Wait, how do you all know that?]
[…Are we not watching the same livestream?]
[Yeah, haven’t these animals been roaring the whole time? I didn’t think they were speaking.]
[Holy crap, I just realized! I can actually understand what the lions are saying!]
[!!!]
[They’re definitely not speaking the Beastman language, but I can really understand them…]
[This looks like a branch of the Fur-tail tribe, but it’s not their dialect either.]
[I’m not from the Fur-tail tribe, and I understood them too.]
[Ahhh, what’s going on? It seems all the Beastman people can understand them.]
Even the high-ranking officials of the Beastman race, who were in the United Star System, were staring at the poised lions on the screen with grave expressions. Jeqi was so nervous he could barely sit still, his face stiff. This is bad. These lions are serious. It was calling its friends to directly eat Host Anran and her group.
Xuan Mo also gripped the armrests of his chair, a flash of violence in his eyes. Although these lions might be their ancestors, he would absolutely not allow them to harm Host Anran.
They could all clearly understand what the lions were saying, as if the roars came with a built-in translator when they reached their ears. But thinking about it, this did seem to be the first time they had heard an animal’s cry in the stream.
Only after seeing the lions repelled by an invisible wall of air did they breathe a sigh of relief. Thank goodness there was protection.
Xia Anran saw the reminders in the comments and raised an eyebrow, looking at Qi Yunhan beside her. The professor instantly understood her meaning and gave a slight nod. The two of them, by tacit agreement, did not continue the topic of the Beastman race being able to understand the speech of Earth’s animals. Professor Qi continued to introduce some of the lions’ habits and interesting stories, quickly drawing the viewers’ attention back.
This lion protection area was very large. It would take them over twenty minutes to drive around it. When they reached a hilly area, a particularly large male lion appeared on top. Its mane was noticeably larger than the other lions’, and it had many scars on its face and body. It flicked its tail slightly, looking down at them from its high perch.
For the first time, Xia Anran saw such a resolute and calm gaze in an animal’s eyes.
“That’s the lion king,” Professor Qi said softly.
Little Yan let out a small “Wow” from the back seat, pulling Ji Minghui into a discussion about something. He just gave her a sincere thumbs-up.
The lion king quickly conquered the entire livestream. Both the Beastman race and the humans were captivated by this powerful and beautiful animal, spamming a wave of “so handsome” across the screen. Jeqi, in particular, was so excited he nearly knocked over the cup in front of him. He had said it! The original form of their Beastmen was the most handsome and coolest! Why develop into a humanoid form? Their Beastman race should be in the most handsome beast form!
Xia Anran also liked this lion. The car stopped, and she adjusted the camera to focus on it for a while. As she was adjusting the angle, she suddenly felt the lion king’s gaze meet hers. Huh? I made eye contact with a lion? She looked up, surprised, and found that it was indeed staring at her. Its gaze even held a hint of inquiry and curiosity, not like an animal, but like a person.
She felt a strange tingling on her scalp. Fortunately, at that moment, the lion king let out a few low roars, its voice deep, powerful, and extremely penetrating. A chorus of roars then came from all around. A few seconds later, it turned and left.
Professor Qi, beside her, tugged on her sleeve from below, and only then did she come back to her senses. She glanced at the comments and saw that many had already scrolled by.
[The lion king is so handsome, ahhh!]
[I propose we make the lion king the emperor of the Beastman race! Who agrees, who opposes?!]
[So handsome, so majestic.]
[The first time I’ve felt the beauty of the beast form.]
[Anran, the lion king is talking to you! He’s telling you to come back here tonight!]
[And Professor Qi too!]
[Yes, yes! He also told the other lions not to attack you.]
[What a considerate lion king. A little cute.]
[An invitation from the lion king!]
[He’s sincerely inviting you. Don’t refuse!]
The lion king was inviting her and Professor Qi to meet tonight? Xia Anran looked around. The whole thing felt incredibly bizarre. But the Beastman viewers in the comments were all, by unspoken agreement, helping to relay this message, which made her have to believe it was true.
She looked at Professor Qi beside her. Her brow was also furrowed. Although she had studied animals for many years and was very familiar with lions, a meeting with a lion… was a bit absurd. But then again, thinking about the interstellar livestream happening right before their eyes, it didn’t seem so absurd anymore.
And the lions they encountered after that really did not show any aggression towards them. They were all lounging lazily on the grass or strolling about, as if they didn’t exist.
After the stream ended, Xia Anran and Professor Qi looked at each other, both still undecided.
…
It was already past three in the afternoon when the car drove out of the nature reserve and returned to their temporary camp. This camp was a place where the forest rangers usually stayed. It was a beautiful little house, with a small courtyard enclosed by a fence. The house was painted blue and white. The moment you stepped out, you were greeted by a sea of flowers and a lake. In the distance was the vast green prairie. It was like a paradise. Xia Anran had been staying here for a few days and was reluctant to leave.
But today, no one was in the mood to appreciate the beautiful scenery. The moment they returned to the base, they immediately began to discuss the lion king’s invitation.
Xia Anran propped her chin on her hand, listened to the discussion for a while, and then looked at Professor Qi, who had been listening quietly on the side. “Professor Qi, give me your hand.”
The others: “…?”
Professor Qi was also taken aback and let out a puzzled “Hmm?”
Little Yan covered her face. “Anran, you can’t just be unscrupulous because Professor Qi is good-looking!”
Xia Anran: “…”
“What are you all thinking about?!” she said, speechless. “I accidentally touched Professor Qi in the car just now, and the system prompted that her situation might be the same as Senior Colonel Ren’s.”
Ren Yi’s eyes lit up, and he quickly moved to their side.
When she was at the Academy of Sciences, Professor Qi had also heard about Ren Yi’s case. As the only person in the Hua nation to have awakened his psychic power, it was no exaggeration to say he was a national treasure now. And as a biologist, she was, ahem, particularly interested in his current physical structure. Now, suddenly learning that she might also be able to awaken psychic power, her excitement instantly reached its peak.
She held out her hand. Xia Anran took her slightly cool hand, and sure enough, the prompt appeared again. “This is the prompt.”
Getting her confirmation, everyone began to celebrate. Having another person with psychic potential was a joyous occasion.
Professor Qi was both excited and a little at a loss. “Then… what should I do?”
Everyone’s gaze fell on Xia Anran.
“Don’t look at me! Last time, the Senior Colonel just touched the delivery box.”
She temporarily posted a lottery. Soon, a black delivery box appeared on the table. Professor Qi took a deep breath and carefully touched it.
No reaction.
The warm current and slight pain that Ren Yi had described did not appear. After waiting for a while and confirming there was no sensation, she placed her hand flat on the box. After five minutes, there was still no change.
“What’s going on? Last time, Brother Ren just touched this box and awakened quickly.”
“Could it be that the time wasn’t long enough?”
“It’s been almost five minutes. The method must be wrong. Different people might have different activation methods.”
Everyone discussed it animatedly. Professor Qi was also a little disappointed. She frowned at her hand. There really was no sensation.
After confirming that the delivery box had no effect on her, Xia Anran put it away. Ren Yi didn’t have any good ideas either. He tried to communicate with her using his psychic power, but it was unsuccessful.
“It’s alright! Let’s go meet the lion king tonight. Maybe there will be a surprise!” Xia Anran said, seeing everyone’s spirits were a little low and stepping up to liven the atmosphere.
Everyone nodded. They had unanimously agreed that they must go to the lion king’s invitation. Later, Xia Anran would just need to inform the leaders in the capital.
After everyone had dispersed, Xia Anran finally realized that the chatty system had managed to hold its tongue and not say a single word during such a lively scene.
“Stop playing dead,” she said, poking it. “What’s going on with Professor Qi?”
The system didn’t move.
She threatened it, “I’ll cut off your internet and shove you under the bed.”
[!!!]
[How could you do this to me! I’m just a weak and pitiful electronic life form!]
“Then hurry up and tell me what’s going on.”
[I can’t say, I can’t say! It’s a top secret!]
After a series of threats and bribes, the system, which was usually as loose-lipped as a belt, actually clenched its jaw and refused to reveal a single word. Xia Anran had no choice but to give up and not force it.
…
After the livestream ended, the interstellar era was also in a heated discussion.
Especially the Beastman race. After this stream, they were almost completely convinced that they must be the descendants of the animals on Earth! After all, they could understand the animals’ speech without any barriers. And humans had also evolved from animals. In that case, there wasn’t much difference between them at all.
After the stream ended, the meeting between the high command of the Beastman race and the United Star System officially began.
Before the negotiations started, to show their sincerity, the Consul General had specially prepared honey water to treat them. “This is a specialty of Earth called honey. It’s made by an animal called a bee by collecting nectar. Your Majesty can have a taste,” he said with a smile. He had chosen honey instead of tea because honey was related to animals. He wanted to take this opportunity to see if Earth’s specialty products really had a special effect on the Beastman race.
As it happened, Jeqi’s communication line rang at this moment. He saw it was from that black-hearted Phileas and immediately swiped it aside without even looking. He could guess with his toes that this guy was up to no good. It was better to just leave him on the side for now.
Jeqi looked at the slightly yellow water in front of him and blinked. “It’s made by an animal?”
Ruoya, on the side, rolled her eyes. Is that the important point?! Isn’t the important point that the United Star System is tactfully informing them that they have already established private contact with Earth? Honey had never appeared in Xia Anran’s livestream before. But it was clear that her stupid brother’s brain capacity was not enough to think about so many things.
Jeqi rubbed his hands together. “Then I’ll have a taste.”
One gulp down. He savored the taste. It was a little sweet and very smooth. After drinking it, his whole body felt warm. With another gulp, he clearly felt the Horn Power in his body start to stir.
The other Beastmen also tried the honey water, and their eyes all lit up. A few of them even gulped down the whole cup.
Xuan Mo took a sip and was immediately shocked by the energy it contained. As a 2S-class powerhouse, he almost instantly understood the great effect of this small cup of water.
Soon, some of the Beastmen on the spot reached a breakthrough stage and began to fall unconscious. The people of the United Star System were not surprised at all and had even thoughtfully prepared rest rooms for them.
The Consul General waved his hand and had someone serve a few more cups of honey water. “Your Majesty, if possible, I hope the United Star System and the Beastman race can have a deep and friendly conversation.”
“As the direct descendants of Earth, the resources we possess are completely different.” The other party was a one-track mind, so the Consul General also gave up on tactful language and went straight to the point.
“Talk! Let’s talk!” Jeqi waved his hand. “Hurry up and say what you want to talk about. We can accept anything!” After saying that, he drank the honey water in front of him in one gulp and then wiped his mouth. “Wait, before we talk, can I have another cup?