Ineffective Wait and Ineffective Common Sense

In the cellar, time flowed like frozen honey, thick and slow.

Ling Ye maintained his petrified posture, like a puppet whose soul had been drained, only the occasional blink of his eyes proving he was still alive. The scene of his suicidal act replayed in his mind—he, Ling Ye, who had signed in for billions of years in the Primordial era, had personally "approved" the release of a fragment of a "sister" who could be a multiverse-level threat, and was now inviting trouble into his home!

Su Wanqing, holding Ling Xiaoye, huddled in a corner, not daring to breathe, only watching the unpredictable, and finally deathly still, expression on the great one's face, her heart filled with immense unease.

A newcomer? Someone big? How big? Bigger than that Madam from before? She couldn't even imagine.

However, time ticked by, second by second.

The expected cataclysm, spatial tears, and the descent of a terrifying existence... did not happen.

The cellar was still filled only with the smell of mold, the earthy scent of soil, Ling Xiaoye's faint snores, and the steady thrumming of the pebbles in the cloth bag and the contented red glow of the bellyband.

It was as if the earth-shattering [imprint] and the distant resonance from moments ago were just an illusion.

"Hmm...?" Ling Ye finally slowly recovered from the immense shock, his stiff neck turning slightly as he cautiously sensed his surroundings.

Everything... was calm?

Where was that "sister"? Didn't she say she was rushing over? Why was there no movement?

Could it be... she was too far away and couldn't get here immediately? Or perhaps... she got stuck in traffic on the way? (Though that thought was absurd)

Or maybe... that [imprint] was just a bluff? It actually had no effect?

A sliver of hope arose in Ling Ye's heart.

Maybe... it was fine now?

He carefully, once again, projected his divine sense towards the beast-tooth pendant on his neck.

The pendant was still in its half-dead, dilapidated state, with seemingly a couple more cracks. Its aura was contained, as if the world-shattering strike had exhausted its last bit of strength, and it was now silently regenerating its mana (if it had any).

Ling Ye tried to communicate with it, sending a questioning thought: "Hey... just now... that... how is it?"

The pendant remained unresponsive, like a truly inanimate object.

Ling Ye, unwilling to give up, extended his divine sense into the cloth bag, attempting to question the "little brother" pebble.

The pebble sent back a vague thought of "sleeping, waiting for sister," showing no concern about the "sister's" arrival, even filled with blind confidence.

Ling Ye: "..."

These two heartless things!

Although there were no signs of immediate danger, Ling Ye's unease did not diminish in the slightest. It felt like knowing a bomb capable of destroying a galaxy had its fuse lit, but being unable to see the flame or hear the hiss, only anxiously awaiting the unknown moment of explosion.

This kind of waiting was far more torturous than direct destruction.

He paced agitatedly in the cellar, his footsteps sounding exceptionally clear in the silence.

Su Wanqing watched him pace like a trapped beast and couldn't help but whisper, "Great one... should we leave here first?" If that "newcomer" really found them, wouldn't this cellar become a trap?

Ling Ye's steps halted. He glanced at her and said irritably, "Leave? Where to? Which corner can hide from the perception of such an existence? Moreover..."

He touched the pendant on his neck, his expression grim, "This thing is a lighthouse right now! No matter where we go, we'll be found! It's better to stay here, at least... it's still a 'home'?" (He felt the absurdity himself when he uttered the word "home")

Su Wanqing was rendered speechless and could only continue to hold her child tightly, silently praying.

Ling Ye paced a few times, his gaze falling again on the pile of "troublemakers," especially the tattered cloth bag.

He couldn't run now, nor could he throw them away. Could he just wait for "sister" to come knocking?

The three-day deadline from that Madam hadn't passed yet! He still had to hand in his "homework"!

His gaze slowly shifted to Ling Xiaoye, who was sleeping soundly in his arms.

The little one was sleeping soundly, his small mouth smacking unconsciously, as if dreaming of something delicious.

He then looked at the bellyband in the cloth bag, emitting a red glow that seemed to be "seeking praise."

A thought gradually formed in Ling Ye's mind.

Since they were temporarily safe... why not... take this opportunity... to quickly finish the "homework"?!

If he took good care of this little ancestor, perhaps that Madam would be pleased and help them when "sister" arrived? (Though the possibility was slim)

No sooner said than done!

Ling Ye took a deep breath, a look of "cutting off one's arm" decisiveness on his face.

He looked at Su Wanqing and commanded in a tone bordering on tragic, "You! Go find some clean water! And find a way to heat it up!"

Then, he looked at the bellyband in the cloth bag, his eyes complex, "You! Come out! You're in charge of making the milk! This time... don't you dare spray me in the face again!"

Finally, he lowered his head to look at Ling Xiaoye in his arms, sighed, and in a tone so awkward and cringe-worthy that even he found it unbearable, he mumbled softly, "You... be good... don't cry... Daddy... Daddy will make you food..."

The moment the words "Daddy" left his lips, Ling Ye himself got goosebumps.

But the bellyband in the cloth bag seemed to have heard the most beautiful words in the world. Its red glow instantly became incredibly warm and radiant, conveying immense joy and excitement, almost as if it were "tearfully moved"? It shot out with a whoosh, hovering in mid-air, its fabric edges rubbing like little hands, eager to get started.

Ling Ye, enduring his discomfort, carefully placed Ling Xiaoye on a relatively clean pile of straw (temporarily serving as a baby crib), and then, along with Su Wanqing and the excited bellyband, in this dark and damp cellar, they embarked on an even more chaotic, yet inexplicably imbued with a touch of "lively atmosphere"... milk-making endeavor.

The process was still a disaster.

The water Su Wanqing brought back was bone-chillingly cold (seeping from the depths of the cellar).

The bellyband attempted to heat it with its red light, but the temperature went out of control, nearly melting the milk bottle.

Ling Ye fumbled with the milk powder ratio, either adding too much or too little.

Finally, after a series of chaotic attempts, a bowl of "milk paste" was born. It was slightly too hot, the milk powder was clumpy, and its appearance was truly pathetic.

Ling Ye stared at the blob in the bowl, his lips twitching. Gritting his teeth, he scooped up a bit with the spoon and cautiously brought it to Ling Xiaoye's mouth.

The little one woke up, smelled the milk, and instinctively opened his mouth to take the spoon.

Then...

"Pfft—!"

Unsurprisingly, he sprayed Ling Ye's face again.

Ling Ye: "..."

Su Wanqing: "..."

Bellyband: "..." (Its red glow flickered awkwardly)

Ling Ye expressionlessly wiped the milk paste off his face, a vein throbbing on his forehead.

Just as he was about to explode again—

In the corner of the cellar, the old cloth bundle that had been quiet as a chicken suddenly... vibrated slightly again!

This time, it wasn't because of the stones.

But... from deep within the cloth bundle... slowly... something rolled out?

It was a...

tiny, jet-black, covered in mysterious cloud patterns, looking like a...

pill?

Or...

a miniature alchemy furnace?

...metal sphere?

The sphere rolled to Ling Ye's feet and stopped, a faint, almost imperceptible stream of light flashing across its surface.

Ling Ye, Su Wanqing, and the bellyband's gazes were simultaneously drawn to the sphere that had suddenly appeared.

Ling Ye frowned and instinctively bent down to pick it up.

It felt slightly heavy in his hand and was cool to the touch.

The moment his fingers touched the sphere—

The cloud patterns on its surface suddenly lit up! A soft beam of light shot out, scanning the disastrous-looking milk paste in Ling Ye's bowl like a scanner.

Then, a cold, emotionless, synthesized electronic voice (?) sounded from within the sphere, echoing in the silent cellar:

[Beep beep! Inferior infant formula detected!]

[Component analysis: Protein clumps, caramelized lactose, severely imbalanced mineral ratio, contains trace amounts of mold and excessive heavy metals!]

[Rating: Highly toxic! Unfit for consumption!]

[Recommendation: Destroy immediately!]

[Activating... Intelligent Nutritional Supplement Production Mode!]

Before the voice finished!

The sphere suddenly flew out of Ling Ye's hand and hovered in mid-air!

Several tiny holes opened on its surface!

A soft white light shone out, enveloping the "toxic" milk paste. The paste instantly decomposed into its most basic particles and disappeared!

Immediately afterward, a faint humming sound came from within the sphere, and the cloud patterns on its surface swirled as if alive!

It... was actually beginning to... draw faint water molecules and energy particles from the cellar air?! It even... secretly siphoned off a tiny bit of the imperceptible Chaos Origin Qi emanating from Ling Ye?!

A few seconds later—

From the sphere's holes, it slowly... "spat" out... a small bowl of...

glowing with a soft white light, perfectly tempered, with a texture smooth and even as silk, exuding a rich milky fragrance and a peculiar fruity aroma, an impossibly perfect...

Infant nutritional paste?!

[Beep! Special Grade Chaos Spirit Milk and Fruit Paste production complete!]

[Nutritional Content: Perfect!]

[Taste: Ultimate!]

[Energy Mildness: SSS+!]

[Suitable for all infant constitutions (including innate Holy Spirit younglings)!]

[Please consume with confidence!]

The little ball finished its work, its light retracting. With a clack, it fell back to the ground, reverting to its inconspicuous metallic form.

In the cellar.

Deathly silence.

Ling Ye, Su Wanqing, and the bellyband all stared, dumbfounded, at the bowl suspended in mid-air. It emanated a tempting luster and aroma, a perfect complementary food that looked like it came from the kitchens of a five-star interstellar hotel...

Ling Ye's jaw nearly hit the floor.

What... what the hell is this now?!

An automatic cooking ball?!

And a Primordial version at that?!

How many more bizarre "daily necessities" like this are hidden in that tattered cloth bag?!

Su Wanqing subconsciously swallowed. The aroma made her feel hungry.

The bellyband's red light intensified, conveying an urgent thought: "Wow! Good stuff! Feed it to the little one quickly!"

Ling Ye mechanically reached out and took the bowl of warm paste.

It felt perfect in his hand, the aroma was intoxicating, and just looking at it, he knew it was no ordinary item.

He hesitated for a moment, scooped up another spoonful, and brought it to Ling Xiaoye's lips.

This time, the little one merely sniffed it before eagerly opening his mouth and swallowing it in one gulp!

Then...

"Mmm..."

He let out an extremely contented, milky sigh!

A look of bliss spread across his little face, and he even proactively opened his mouth, waiting for the next spoonful!

He didn't cry! He didn't spit it out! He... even seemed to enjoy it?!

Ling Ye: "!!!"

It worked?!

He... he actually... successfully fed him?!

Even if it was through some inexplicable ball...

But no matter what! There was hope of completing the assignment!

A surge of immense, indescribable accomplishment (though 99% of it was thanks to the ball) washed over Ling Ye!

His hands trembled with excitement as he quickly fed another spoonful.

Ling Xiaoye ate even more happily, his little hands and feet kicking joyfully.

The bellyband emitted a comforting red glow, like a doting mother, even simulating the fluctuation of "wiping away tears."

Su Wanqing also breathed a sigh of relief.

For the first time, the cellar seemed to hold a... strangely... warm and harmonious atmosphere?

Ling Ye looked at the child eating sweetly in his arms, then at the metallic little ball on the ground, which had quietly retired after its deed. His heart was filled with emotion.

Could it be... that the things in this cloth bag... were actually... all like this? They looked like junk, but could truly come through in a pinch?

Did he... misunderstand them?

Perhaps... raising a child... wasn't that difficult after all?

However, just as Ling Ye was immersed in this brief joy of "success"--

The beast-tooth pendant on his neck.

Without any warning...

Again...

Slightly...

Vibrated.

This time, it wasn't emitting an aura or transmitting illusions.

It was...

From the deepest crack...

With extreme difficulty...

squeezed out...

a wisp...

as thin as a hair...

as if it could extinguish at any moment...

a grayish-white...

[flame]?

The [flame] flickered weakly, emitting an... indescribable... [hunger]... fluctuation?

And...

the tip of this [flame]...

slightly...

tilted in one direction...

It was precisely...

in Ling Ye's hand...

that bowl...

of Chaos Spirit Milk and Fruit Paste, exuding rich energy and aroma!!!

Ling Ye: "???????"

Bellyband: "!!!!" (The red light instantly flashed like an alarm!)

Ling Xiaoye: "(⊙_⊙)?" (He stopped sucking and looked curiously at the small flame)

Ling Ye looked at the [flame] that seemed to be salivating over the supplementary food, then at Ling Xiaoye in his arms, mouth open waiting to be fed, and then thought about the terrifying origin that might be involved behind this pendant...

He felt the faint confidence he had just built up about "raising a child"...

instantly...

collapsed without even a trace left.

This life...

He didn't want to live it for even a second!!!

(End of book?)

(*￣︶￣) (Casually shrugged as if relaxed) It seems the path of a great dad is long and arduous~