Side Story: Books and Dust 13w (Thanks to Leader Ox)

Extra: Book and Dust 1.3w (Thanks to the leader _Niu_)

Thanks to the leader _niu_ for the reward!

Thank you so much!

Besides _Niu_ Alliance Leader, other readers such as 36060, Tenguu, Each Nickname Requires Payment, Others' Rainy Season, This Name Has Already Been Registered, Saint Mountain, 36268, Wuhe Itsuwa, Never Falling Wind, Knotting Dream, Touching Shadow, Jellyfish in the Sea of Consciousness, and Kongtong have also given rewards recently.

Because I've been updating non-stop lately, talking about adding more chapters might seem a bit pretentious.

So I decided to write this side story and release it for free. Thank you all for your support!

13,000 words, that's quite a lot of sincerity.

Although this story is presented as a side story, it actually covers the same plot points that need to be addressed in the main storyline.

--

In the year 226 of the Stars Calendar (42 years ago), in the outskirts of Radiant City, the capital of the Empire.

At night, an invisible ripple suddenly swept across the deep night sky. Wherever it passed, the stars seemed to be kneaded, twisted, and deformed by an invisible hand, stretching out long tails of light.

This strange ripple, like an elegant ribbon, drifted silently through the night sky, gradually decreasing in height as it approached a small, three-story detached villa.

Two enormous, deep footprints appeared without warning on the muddy ground of the courtyard. Accompanied by the scattering of magical light, the figure of a purple Faerie Dragon, five or six meters tall, materialized as if from thin air.

Under the cover of night, the purple iridescent scales covering her body were not particularly conspicuous, but the dense starlight veins within them seemed to flow with liquid light, outlining mysterious trajectories in the darkness. Two pairs of huge, transparent butterfly wings stretched out on her back, presenting an elegant outline like an iris, with starlight faintly flowing on the wing membranes.

The villa door creaked open, and a figure holding a staff appeared in the doorway. As the staff gently tapped the ground, a soft yet bright light of Illumination instantly shone, enveloping the courtyard and the visitors.

This was an elderly man with white hair and beard. He glanced at the enormous creature that had suddenly appeared. "Oh, it's Bay Owl..."

Another soft yet bright magical light shone forth, and the Faerie Dragon's enormous body rapidly shrank and transformed. When the light dissipated, a female figure with long purple hair and wearing a dark academic gown appeared in the spot—it was Zijin in her Human Form.

"Good night, Professor Beckmann!" Zijin greeted him with a smile, her posture elegant.

Feeling a slight sinking beneath her feet, Zijin continued casting her spell, enhancing the Levitation Spell effect and further reducing her weight. As her body continued to grow, moving in human form was now far more troublesome than when she was still a young dragon.

Zijin gently patted her side, and a small head peeked out from under her large academic cloak. Then, a little girl of about ten years old, with her hair disheveled by the wind, emerged somewhat awkwardly from under her.

"Good night, Scholar Albatross!" The little girl, though clearly timid, tried her best to make her voice loud. "My name is Chloe, and I apologize for the intrusion!"

Zijin chuckled and ruffled Chloe's hair. "Professor Beckmann doesn't like being called by titles. Just call him what I do."

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Chloe turned anxiously to the old man, her face slightly flushed, "A letter... Professor Beckmann!"

Beckmann didn't react in any particular way, simply turning around with his staff in hand, his voice still calm, "Lunchtime is long over. If you haven't eaten, I have nothing to offer you."

"It's nothing," Zijin waved her hand dismissively. "Just give me some ingredients, we'll eat raw."

Under Beckmann's almost murderous, helpless gaze, Zijin, along with Chloe, thoroughly cleaned his food cellar. Chloe took a raw sweet potato and went to a corner to nibble on it, while the rest of the food—rice, vegetables, and even some cured meat—went into Zijin's stomach.

Soon there was only one bag of flour left. Zijin poured it into a basin, added water, and then started to pinch off small dough balls and pop them into her mouth.

Looking at the now empty cellar, Beckmann couldn't help but sigh deeply. "Sigh... I'll have to go shopping again tomorrow."

Soon, Zijin swallowed the last piece of raw Tuanzi, and finally patted her stomach with satisfaction.

For a small dragon, whose body length, including its tail, is only ten meters, she eats far less than her fellow dragons.

****

The room was a mess, with books and manuscripts piled up, covering almost every usable surface, and the air was filled with the unique smell of old paper and ink.

Zijin cleared a space on the sofa and sat down comfortably. Chloe looked around curiously, her gaze lingering among the books filling the room, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Feel free to browse any of his books," Zijin said generously, her tone tinged with a hint of mischief. "Just take whatever you like; Professor Beckmann himself doesn't remember where it is anyway."

"Isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Chloe said, but her hand had already involuntarily grabbed a manuscript paper with the title "Undead Summoning Explained in Detail" on the cover from the coffee table and eagerly began to read it.

"... You're really going to take it!" Zijin exclaimed in surprise. "No way. Professor Beckmann looks old, but I can't beat him."

Even Professor Beckmann, with his quiet nature, was infuriated by the two unruly guests' blatant disregard for others. He waved his hand, "Speak quickly if you have something to say, I need to go to sleep."

"What's the rush? You always say you have insomnia, don't you?" Zijin retorted bluntly, then pointed at Chloe, "This child needs to stay in the capital for a while."

"I have a very small house in the city," Beckmann replied. "You can stay anywhere, but I don't have time to take care of the kids!"

"She can take care of herself," Zijin replied, "But she needs you to grant her the status of a disciple."

"Oh? Is she afraid humans will bully her?" Beckmann asked, raising an eyebrow.

Although the little girl in front of me looked very human, I could still tell she was a Feather Race. Such a person might be bullied by some troublemakers if they moved around in human territory, let alone such a young girl.

Therefore, one needs to nominally become his disciple and obtain protection by using his name.

Beckmann didn't bother with such empty titles; he simply agreed, "No problem! But what is she planning to do in the capital?"

"Reading, of course," Zijin replied, a slight smile playing on her lips. "That girl's a bookworm; she's read every single book in the Feather Race's territory!"

Beckmann looked at the girl, who was holding a book and seemed very focused, with some surprise. "She's only ten years old!"

"You're twelve years old," Zijin corrected, "But a little on the thinner side."

"No wonder we came here." Beckmann walked to the window, gazing at the dazzling lights on the distant horizon— the City of Radiance, the capital of the Star Empire. "Here, you'll find the largest library on the continent!"

Upon hearing this, Chloe looked up from her book and nodded vigorously. "I've longed to come here for so long, which is why I begged Scholar Bay Owl to bring me!"

"You can also use your status as my disciple to access some of the library's restricted collections—isn't that your main objective?" Beckmann bluntly stated.

"That's right!" Zijin readily admitted, "It kills two birds with one stone."

"Is there anything else?" Beckmann asked.

"No more," Zijin replied.

"Okay!" Beckmann said, "We'll register at the association tomorrow."

He glanced to the side; Chloe had once again immersed herself in flipping through the book "Undead Summoning Explained in Detail," but the girl's brow was furrowed, clearly indicating that the contents of the book were too difficult for her.

He rummaged through a pile of books and pulled out a copy of "Introduction to Dark Spells," handing it to Chloe. "That one's too difficult. Start with this one."

"Thank you, Professor!" Chloe immediately bowed and accepted the book as if it were a priceless treasure, holding it close to her chest and opening it wide.

Tucked inside the book was an inconspicuous letter with a white feather attached to the envelope. The feather had delicate black wavy patterns on it. Beckmann noticed it, took the envelope back, and casually stuffed it into another corner.

The villa was quite large in total, but each room was small. Zijin had been here before and knew that the attic was the only place that could barely accommodate her Dragon Form, so she climbed up there with ease.

As she dispelled her Polymorph and Levitation, the heavy dragon body fell, and the wooden roof immediately groaned and creaked under the weight.

"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Beckmann's exasperated shout came from downstairs, tinged with concern. "Go sleep outside! I spent two whole gold coins fixing this lousy roof last time!"

"It's warm in the room," Zijin replied lazily, then curled up and found a comfortable position to lie down and sleep, her huge tail hanging down the stairs naturally.

She was indeed exhausted after flying all the way.

Chloe, clutching her newly acquired "Introduction to Dark Spells," carefully climbed onto Zijin's large, warm belly, rested her head on the soft dragon scales, covered herself with a small blanket that had somehow appeared, and soon drifted off to sleep, satisfied with the knowledge she had acquired.

****

The next day, a person, a feather, and a dragon entered the bustling capital of the Star Empire — the City of Radiance.

Beckmann quickly completed Chloe's apprenticeship registration at the Supreme Knowledge Association and solemnly handed over a fledgling badge representing an Apprentice Scholar to the Feather Race girl.

"Thank you, Professor!" Chloe immediately bowed in thanks, carefully accepting the badge with delight in her eyes.

"May you soon have your own unique bird name!" Beckmann said. He engraved his unique magical mark on the fledgling badge. "If anyone bullies you, show this. If that doesn't solve the problem, come find me," he instructed.

"Yes!" Chloe nodded vigorously, clutching the badge tightly in her hand.

Stepping out of the solemn and imposing association gates, Zijin looked at the bustling streets before her, teeming with traffic and people, and stretched contentedly. "It's been so long since I've been to such a vibrant and lively city!"

"You're much better now!" Beckmann glanced at her, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible approval. "Large-scale Polymorph, plus a long-lasting Levitation, and you're barely out of breath after maintaining it for so long."

"I'm used to it," Zijin replied easily. "I have the ' Whispers of the Stars ' talent, which gives me a natural advantage in the speed of mental energy recovery."

Through the gaps between the buildings on both sides of the street, one can see a large, magnificent complex of domed buildings shimmering with golden light on the other side of the city—that is the imperial palace of the Star Empire.

"There's a royal library inside," Beckmann remarked casually. "While its total collection isn't as vast as Radiant Book Whispers, it holds many rare and unique pieces that can't be found elsewhere."

Upon hearing this, Chloe's eyes immediately lit up with longing, as if she had heard of the most tempting treasure in the world.

****

Beckmann then led the way, taking the two to the small house he had bought in the city.

This is a two-story house. Although it is not very large, the second floor is a large, complete room. Because it has been uninhabited for a long time, the house is covered with a thick layer of dust and is piled with a lot of miscellaneous items.

After obtaining Beckmann's permission, Zijin spent a few silver coins to hire people to clean up and discard useless clutter. She also hired a carpenter to add several sturdy pillars on the first floor and reinforce the ceiling.

After arranging everything, Zijin, along with Chloe and Beckmann, parted ways and arrived at their main destination— the Radiant Book Whispers Library.

This is the largest library in mainland China, boasting an astonishing collection of 300,000 books covering various fields such as magic, history, geography, biology, and alchemy. It is a holy land for countless seekers of knowledge.

The Radiant Book Whispers boasts a vast area and comprehensive, advanced facilities, but correspondingly, its fees are quite high.

With a wave of her hand, Zijin gave Chloe a yearly premium membership, and then only gave herself a three-day temporary visitor pass. In one fell swoop, fifteen gold coins were spent like water.

Even Chloe, who loves books more than anything, showed a pained expression when she saw such a huge expense.

However, when she actually stepped into one of the spacious and brightly lit libraries and saw the rows and rows of huge bookshelves that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see, and the books densely packed on them, exuding the scent of ink and parchment, all her worries immediately vanished. She flew over like a happy little bird, excitedly looking around, her joy overflowing.

Zijin also began her mission, heading towards the library containing agricultural materials and local chronicles.

In recent years, with the widespread application of magic and alchemy in agriculture, agricultural output has increased rapidly. Many countries have benefited from this and therefore frequently issue related research commissions.

As scholars, accepting these commissions can bring them both fame and remuneration, as well as the opportunity to verify their research findings through practice—a win-win situation.

For example, this time, the Dwarf Kingdom issued a commission to solve the cassava mosaic disease problem that has plagued them for many years.

Zijin has already conducted some work on pathogen tracing and characteristic analysis. This time, she came to Radiant Book Whispers to consult more detailed information and find the root cause of the problem.

****

As evening fell and the library's closing bell rang, Chloe reluctantly left, returning with Zijin to Beckmann's cottage in town.

Their order has been delivered, including some basic necessities and a large amount of food.

The most abundant items were bags and bags of rice. Zijin reverted to her enormous Dragon Form and began dumping entire bags of rice into her mouth with astonishing efficiency. Chloe, meanwhile, took out sausage bread she had bought on the way and sat down to nibble on it.

When Chloe passed by the river, she specially picked a few tender water plants to bring back. Now, she carefully rolled bread around the water plant leaves and savored the sweet taste in small bites.

"The fresh leaves are so delicious!" she exclaimed sincerely. "You can't find such sweet-tasting aquatic plants in Northern Ice Island."

That evening, Chloe took out her diary and carefully recorded all the day's expenses. Looking at the accounts, she stroked her purse with a pained expression, "The cost of living in the City of Radiance is so high!"

"There's nothing we can do," Zijin said with a hint of helplessness. "After all, it's the most prosperous city in the world, so prices are naturally top-tier."

After dinner, they lit candles and continued reading and working in the dim light. It wasn't until late at night, when all was quiet, that the Zijin returned to its dragon form, its massive body comfortably curled up on the second-floor floor.

Chloe nestled against her warm, soft belly, just like she had last night.

Looking up, through the small skylight, you can see a small patch of starry sky cut off by the window frame.

"Scholar Bay Owl," Chloe suddenly asked softly, "Is life as a scholar happy?"

Upon hearing this, Zijin remained silent for a moment. She was now a renowned scholar and a successful figure in the eyes of many.

Her research field is biology, which has countless interesting directions to explore. Every time she solves an applied problem, she receives genuine gratitude from farmers or growers, as well as a great deal of fame and prestige.

This kind of life made her happy.

However, deep down, she always seemed to feel that life could be... a little more intense? Like more adventures, exploring more unknown territories, and witnessing unprecedented miracles.

But Zijin felt there was no need to tell Chloe about these unnecessary thoughts.

"It's quite enjoyable!" she smiled, then remembered something else, "Oh, by the way, in crowded places from now on, you can call me Auntie."

This afternoon at the library, Chloe didn't dare use the prestigious title "Bay Owl" to address her, so she kept calling her "Hey" over and over. Although Zijin's Polymorph had slightly altered her appearance, many features couldn't be completely concealed. If she were called "Bay Owl," her identity would definitely be recognized.

"Calling me 'Auntie' isn't right!" Chloe started counting on her fingers, seriously calculating, "You seem to be... only a little over 120 years old, right?"

"What's wrong?" Zijin, puzzled.

"You're still a young dragon!" Chloe insisted. "By Dragon Race age calculations, we're about the same size!"

"... Anyway, you can just call me Auntie," Zijin said.

"No, I should call you sister!" Chloe insisted on her opinion.

As they argued, bathed in the faint starlight, they gradually drifted off to sleep.

****

The next morning, Professor Beckmann visited the cabin again and was quite relieved to see that they had settled in smoothly and everything was in perfect order.

Chloe was sitting by the window, intently reading "An Introduction to Dark Spells." In just one night and one morning, she had already finished more than half of it, an astonishing efficiency for someone new to the subject.

As Beckmann's original handwritten manuscript, many parts of the writing are blurred due to ink smudging.

Chloe expertly extended her finger, and a delicate, almost imperceptible magical ripple flashed across the manuscript. The blurred strokes reassembled and became clear in the afterimage, ultimately revealing the content that the writer, Beckmann, originally intended to express.

Beckmann watched this scene with admiration in his eyes, "Bay Owl, is this a new spell you created? That's an improvement! You didn't even need to destroy the original!"

"It wasn't me." Zijin shook her head, a hint of pride in her voice. "This girl figured it out herself."

Beckmann's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked again at the Feather Race girl engrossed in her book. "This... she's an absolute genius!"

Chloe, a little embarrassed by the praise, said shyly, "When I'm reading, I often encounter similar situations where the handwriting is unclear, which I find very inconvenient. It took me a long time to figure it out..."

"That's quite an impressive result!" Beckmann exclaimed sincerely. "Does this spell have a name?"

"Huh? We need to name it?" Chloe, somewhat surprised. "It's just a little trick with no real fighting power!"

"No, no, no," Beckmann waved his hands repeatedly, "The practical value of this spell is immense!" After thinking for a moment, he suggested, "How about calling it ' Academy Spell: Brushstrokes of Elegance'?"

"Why is it a two-part name?" Chloe asked, puzzled.

"' Academy Spell ' is the series name," Beckmann explained, his eyes filled with anticipation for the future. "I believe you will invent more than one spell of this type in the future."

After learning the new spell from the girl, Beckmann put on his hat. "I'll go to the palace and see if I know anyone who can help Chloe get a chance to read in the Royal Library."

"Thank you, Professor!" Chloe exclaimed excitedly, her eyes filled with anticipation.

"Don't get too excited, it's not even close to being a done deal yet!" Beckmann said, and then his footsteps gradually faded away.

****

On the fourth day, at the Radiant Book Whispers Library, in the agricultural reading room.

Zijin's investigation into cassava mosaic disease has made significant progress. Based on detailed data on areas with high incidence of mosaic disease and a meticulously drawn map of the disease's spread, Zijin astutely discovered that this matter has a close connection with Water Chestnut Island.

The Dwarf Continent is mountainous, and although cassava is grown locally, a significant portion of the demand is met by importing it from the Orc-inhabited Water Chestnut Island.

The areas surrounding the major ports that handle these trade shipments are precisely where mosaic virus first appeared and where the situation is most severe!

Therefore, the conclusion is obvious: the cassava tubers imported from Water Chestnut Island are the culprit behind the rampant cassava mosaic disease on the Dwarf Continent!

A sense of joy and satisfaction welled up in Zijin's heart after solving the case. Next, she should go to Water Chestnut Island to conduct an on-site investigation and find the root cause of the problem.

She seemed to already see that this problem, which had troubled so many people, would soon be solved. At that time, a large number of dwarf and orc farmers would benefit from it.

This is where the value of scholars lies!

Zijin felt a great sense of accomplishment. To reward herself, she left Chloe to continue her studies in the library, departed from Radiant Book Whispers a little early, and went to the market to buy fresh pork from a whole slaughtered pig. She then excitedly dragged it home.

However, when she returned to her residence, she found a modestly decorated yet luxurious carriage parked outside. Several guards, each with a composed demeanor and clearly formidable strength, stood solemnly around the carriage. As Zijin approached, a noblewoman wearing a light veil gracefully stepped down from the carriage, supported by the guards.

Zijin had never liked dealing with nobles. She glanced at the carriage without making a sound, but didn't see any conspicuous family crests on it.

So, was this a secret trip?

The noblewoman nodded slightly to Zijin, "Scholar Bay Owl!"

With her identity already exposed, Zijin no longer concealed it. She nodded in return.

"Why don't we go inside and talk?" the noblewoman suggested, her voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Zijin didn't particularly like it, but it wasn't a big deal. She unlocked the door, and the noblewoman gestured for the guards to stay outside. She herself only brought an old nanny who was her personal attendant, and followed Zijin into the somewhat simple house, where she sat down gracefully on a chair in the living room.

The old nanny stepped forward and carefully removed the noblewoman's veil, revealing a well-maintained face that appeared to be that of a middle-aged woman.

However, even heavy makeup could not completely conceal the weakness and lack of vitality that emanated from the woman's brows.

"Lord Bay Owl, this is Her Highness Princess Samanya!" the old nanny introduced to Zijin in a low voice, her tone respectful.

Zijin sat down on another chair. "Your Highness, may I ask how you knew I was here?"

"Beckmann approached me the day before yesterday," Princess Samanya explained, her voice tinged with barely perceptible weariness. "He asked for permission to bring a little girl to the Royal Library. There aren't many people Beckmann would agree to do such a thing, and the only one who could be considered a 'little girl' is you, Scholar Bay Owl, a dragon!"

"This dragon's age issue... it seems we can't get past it!" Zijin thought helplessly.

"Then we paid a little attention to the unusual purchasing activity at the market these past few days," Samanya continued, "For example, a small two-story house where food was only being taken in and not taken out—so we came here."

Zijin had no intention of correcting minor errors, such as the fact that Chloe was actually the one who wanted to go to the Royal Library. And the food wasn't all for her; Chloe had started learning to cook for herself these past few days, and Violet had some too!

"I understand," Zijin cut straight to the point, "So, what is the purpose of Her Majesty's visit to my humble abode?"

The imperial concubine gestured to the old nanny. The old nanny quickly turned and left, returning a moment later with two infants in her arms.

Zijin stared intently at them; both were newborn girls. One was meticulously wrapped in an extremely luxurious silk swaddling cloth, while the other was simply draped in a few rough rags.

However, the condition of the two baby girls was completely opposite to the material of their swaddling clothes. The one wrapped in the gorgeous swaddling clothes was breathing rapidly and weakly, with an unhealthy bluish-purple complexion, a thin and emaciated body, and almost no vitality, appearing extremely frail.

The baby girl, wrapped only in rags, had a rosy and healthy complexion, and her bright, lively eyes were curiously looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings.

Princess Samanya held the frail baby girl Janet, tightly in her arms, her voice filled with barely concealed sorrow, "The doctors have declared that the child has a congenital heart defect, and there's no hope of saving her. She won't live much longer."

Zijin took another look at the imperial concubine who had recently given birth, and a realization dawned on her: Was this a desperate mother grasping at straws in her illness?

That's understandable.

"I'm sorry," Zijin's tone softened somewhat, "Although I'm a biologist, I don't know anything about medicine, so I'm afraid I can't be of any help."

"No, it's not for that." Samanya shook her head, her eyes filled with a deep resolve. "I know Janet's passing is an unchangeable fact. I have already asked His Majesty the Emperor to allow me to adopt a goddaughter," she explained, "To cover up the truth of Janet's untimely death."

The current emperor of the Star Empire, Lorenzo, does not have many children. Empress Casimir has a son, Xialike, and the other queens have a son and a daughter. This fourth child is the daughter that Samanya just gave birth to.

"This has a significant impact on our family." Samanya's voice was low and serious as she pointed to the healthy baby girl in the tattered swaddling clothes. "This is a child I found in the slums. Revealing the truth when she's older will prevent unforeseen negative consequences for the political situation."

Although Zijin wasn't particularly interested in politics, she had heard some rumors. Samanya's family was a converted family from Cape County, which had only recently been incorporated into the empire. During this period, Cape County was unstable, with undercurrents surging, rumors circulating, and suspicions running high among various factions. It was a turbulent time.

Samanya's marriage to Emperor Lorenzo was purely a political alliance. When she became pregnant and gave birth, many people rejoiced, as it meant the bond between the two sides was strengthened and symbolized a period of stability.

However, if this child were to die suddenly, causing unnecessary unrest in Cape County, the consequences would indeed far exceed the loss of an infant.

"Then, what can I do?" Zijin asked, puzzled.

"It's about the baptism," Samanya explained. "The Temple of Light has specially dispatched Cardinal Aideluzi to preside over the baptism ceremony. Given Aideluzi's abilities, His Majesty the Emperor is worried that during the baptism, he might discover that the baby girl's bloodline is not compatible!"

Zijin frowned upon hearing this. Of all the people to send, why Aideluzi of all people?

Aideluzi was a leading researcher in the fields of anatomy and alchemy, known as the "Fate Manipulator," and possessed extremely keen insights in these areas.

Therefore, the situation His Majesty the Emperor fears is indeed highly likely to occur.

Now, Zijin fully understood the other party's intentions. "You want me to conceal the bloodline information of this substitute baby girl?"

"Exactly!" Samanya nodded vigorously. "Scholar Bay Owl, the ' Bloodline Resonance ' magic for determining kinship is your masterpiece, so you must have a way to temporarily disable it!"

Zijin sighed softly. She did know how to deceive the magic she created, but—

My spells only last for 24 hours.

"It's alright!" Samanya said immediately, hope igniting in her eyes. "The baptism is tomorrow!" Her attitude was extremely sincere. "As long as we keep it a secret from these outsiders at the Temple of Light, it'll be fine. The court sorcerers already know about this, and they will keep quiet as His Majesty the Emperor has ordered!"

While Zijin was still weighing her options, Samanya gestured for a guard to come in. The guard placed a heavy box full of gold coins on the table.

"Scholar Bay Owl, I know you don't value these mundane things," Samanya said, "But I implore you, for the sake of the millions of people in Cape County who yearn for a peaceful life, to lend a helping hand!"

No, I value gold coins more. The expenses in the capital are too high! Zijin thought to herself.

"Furthermore," Samanya thought for a moment, then added, "I will agree to grant you a reading slot in the Royal Library—free access for ten years. What do you think?"

After much deliberation, Zijin felt there was no reason to refuse. She took out the array materials she had brought and began to inscribe a complex array on the ground, then asked for blood samples from the Empress and Emperor Lorenzo.

Samanya was clearly prepared; she immediately took out a small bottle of Lorenzo's blood and pricked her own finger to draw some blood as well.

With everything in place, Zijin successfully completed the deceptive bloodline covering spell about half an hour later.

The false bloodline characteristics have been overlaid on this healthy baby girl. The "Bloodline Resonance" probe conducted on her over the next 24 hours will reveal that her parent-child relationship with the Emperor and Empress is fully established.

However, when they finished all that, they suddenly realized that Janet, the thin and sickly baby girl wrapped in gorgeous swaddling clothes, had silently stopped breathing at some point.

Princess Samanya immediately burst into tears, overwhelmed with grief, and it took her a long time to calm down.

With immense reluctance, she gently laid Janet's small body down and said to Zijin, "I'm sorry, I've been out for too long. I can't take her back to the palace. I can't... leave any trace."

Zijin nodded solemnly, "I will give her a proper burial and pray for her young soul to find peace!"

Life is so fragile.

Samanya took one last, deep look at her lifeless daughter, carefully laid her down, and then picked up the healthy baby girl. "From today onwards, she is Janet."

****

Shortly after Princess Samanya's carriage left, Chloe also returned to the cottage.

"I met a kid named Xialike at the library. He's two years younger than me and also loves reading," Chloe said happily as she walked in, carrying several books she'd borrowed from the library. "And he doesn't look down on me at all because I'm Feather Race!"

"What are you doing—" She was halfway through her sentence when she was surprised to see Zijin holding a baby girl and beginning to recite a prayer for rebirth.

"Why are you performing a ritual for a living baby?" Chloe asked, puzzled.

"Alive?" Zijin paused, startled by the question. She looked down at the bluish-purple child in her arms. "No movement."

"She's alive!" Chloe said with certainty. "She's just too weak; her vital signs are so faint they're barely perceptible!"

She stepped forward and carefully took the baby from Zijin's arms, quickly removing the overly ornate swaddling clothes from her body. "A baby's skin is very delicate and thin; it can also breathe a little." She carefully examined the baby's condition. "Her lungs... is there a problem?"

"It's not a problem with the lungs themselves, it's caused by the heart," Zijin explained. "I roughly know the cause, but I don't know how to treat it."

A heart malformation causes oxygen-deprived venous blood to bypass the lungs and enter the systemic circulation directly, resulting in persistently low blood oxygen levels throughout the infant's body.

Without hesitation, Chloe clasped her hands together, silently chanted an incantation, and first cast a wind spell, "Skin Shedding Secret Breath," followed by an earth spell, "Oxygen Grasp."

"This is a spell developed by our Feather Race to adapt to the thin air environment at high altitudes," Chloe explained while maintaining the spell. "' Skin Shedding Secret Breath ' enhances the skin's respiration capacity—this effect is especially good for children. And ' Oxygen Grasp ' improves the efficiency of oxygen exchange in the lungs."

Sure enough, as the two spells continued to work, the baby's condition miraculously improved—his previously barely audible breathing gradually became more noticeable, the purplish-blue color in his face faded considerably, and a faint tinge of color began to appear.

Babies have an incredibly strong ability to adapt; they are the most fragile of all living beings, yet they also display the most tenacious vitality.

****

Zijin went out and bought milk powder. Chloe skillfully prepared it and then patiently fed it to her drop by drop using a small dropper. Although the baby's eyes were tightly closed and she was in a semi-conscious state, she miraculously opened her little mouth slightly and began to swallow.

"This ultimately doesn't solve the fundamental problem." Zijin examined the baby girl's condition more carefully and found that even with the help of magic, it could only prolong the flame of life for a short period of time.

Chloe remained silent and continued to patiently breastfeed.

"I can give her a painless sedation spell," Zijin suggested softly, her tone tinged with reluctance.

After finishing its milk, the baby fell asleep, its faint, milky breath gently escaping from its tender nostrils and landing on Chloe's palm, bringing a subtle yet incredibly real, life-pulsating tickle.

She still couldn't bear it. "Then... let's wait a little longer, just to let her stay in this world a little longer." She thought for a moment and asked, "What's her name? I'll make a tombstone for her."

Janet's name had already been given to the healthy baby girl who had taken her place. Now, the sickly infant had no name.

"You can take one," said Zijin.

Chloe thought for a moment, "How about Katharine? It means 'a gift of purity'."

Zijin nodded, approving of the name.

That night, Chloe gently held Katharine in her arms as they fell asleep.

The tiny baby was so weak that she didn't even have the strength to cry. Chloe stayed by her side all night, gently waking her every few hours to feed her, patiently and tirelessly, her eyes filled with tenderness and protectiveness.

****

The next day, it was time for Zijin to leave the City of Radiance.

She had already achieved her main objective of visiting the library in the City of Radiance. Next, she needed to follow the analysis of the data to travel to the Orc-inhabited Water Chestnut Island Diamonds to investigate and solve the root cause of cassava mosaic disease.

Cassava is a staple food in tropical regions, with low cultivation requirements and minimal management. If the mosaic virus problem can be successfully solved, increasing yield by 40% is entirely possible!

This meant that countless people would be freed from the torment of famine. This was a matter of great importance concerning people's livelihoods, and Chloe understood its significance, so she did not try to persuade him to stay.

As previously agreed, Chloe will now live alone in the cabin. Professor Beckmann has promised to visit her regularly. His neighbors are his friends, so Chloe can ask for help immediately if anything happens.

Yesterday was supposed to be a proper farewell, but Princess Samanya's sudden visit and the matter of little Katharine made the parting seem rather unexpected.

Of course, this unexpected event also solved Chloe's expenses in the capital.

Chloe held the tiny, fragile baby in her arms, then looked up at Zijin, feeling a deep sense of reluctance to part with either of them.

Yesterday, her symptoms had been somewhat relieved with the help of magic, but today they have regressed. Chloe realized that she might have overfed the baby, which had actually increased the burden and strain on her body.

This confirms once again that little Katharine, just as the doctors initially predicted, would not survive long.

"Give her to me." Zijin extended her hand, her voice gentle.

Chloe's tears welled up immediately, and her hands holding the baby trembled slightly.

"If we can find the White Pheasant healer... can he save her?" she asked reluctantly, her voice choked with sobs.

The White Pheasant, also known as the healer, is recognized worldwide as one of the greatest healers. The birth of the Zijin itself also depended on his miraculous skills.

"I don't know," Zijin answered truthfully, offering no false hope. "Besides, I don't know where the White Pheasant is. This child... won't live to see me find him."

Chloe sobbed a few times, tears streaming down her cheeks, and finally, with immense reluctance, handed the tiny life in her arms to Zijin.

Zijin took Catherine from Katharine, gently patted Chloe's head with her other hand, and then gave her a warm hug goodbye.

"Take good care of yourself!"

****

After they parted, Zijin walked out onto the street, feeling the faint yet real soft touch in her arms, but suddenly felt a sense of confusion.

She continued on her way until she reached a sparsely populated place, where she reverted to her massive Dragon Form and cast an invisibility spell, leaving only faint ripples in the air around her enormous body.

The baby girl was still breathing with difficulty. Zijin carefully cradled her in her palm with her Dragon Claw claws, as if protecting the most precious treasure, and then flapped her wings and flew into the sky. During the flight, she continued to replenish the baby with the "Skin Shedding Secret Breath" and "Oxygen Grasp" spells, trying to prolong the faint flame of life.

A flock of elegant birds flew past her not far away, keenly sensing the invisible ripples in the air and deftly avoiding them.

Their feathers are pure white, but their wings are adorned with striking black V-shaped patterns. When they fly, their graceful movements resemble a flowing, exquisite work of art.

A thought struck Zijin: This was White Pheasant pheasant!

Legend has it that when it walks, its long, black-striped feathers trail behind it like a magnificent cloak, giving it an elegant and graceful appearance, hence the refined name "Leisurely Guest"!

A flash of inspiration struck her! She suddenly remembered the envelope with White Pheasant feathers that she had inadvertently seen at Professor Beckmann's house.

Only one person knows how to use this symbol to communicate with Professor Beckmann!

****

The purple dragon shadow reappeared above Professor Beckmann's house.

Zijin quickly transformed into human form in mid-air, then plummeted like a cannonball until she nearly crashed through a window before managing to stabilize herself with a levitation spell.

"Professor Beckmann! Where is the White Pheasant Doctor!" she cried urgently.

"Why are you looking for Sebastian?" Beckmann asked, puzzled, but his gaze swept over the dying baby in Zijin's arms, and he quickly assessed the situation. "I received a letter from him a week ago. It said he was in Kuka Town, in the south."

A week ago! Add to that the time it would take for the messenger to deliver the letter, plus the time it would take her to get there... Zijin quickly calculated in her mind, feeling that the hope of finding the other person was slim.

"Thanks!" she said, immediately dispelling the Polymorph. Her enormous purple dragon wings suddenly unfurled, scattering specks of magical stardust from their membranes.

"Wait a moment!" Beckmann called to her, pulling an old-fashioned magic book from the table. The book, titled "The Green Bamboo Slips and Rue Book Wrappers," was written on it. "This is a gift for the child's first visit."

"But—" Zijin hesitated.

"This is a blessing and a prayer," Beckmann said gently but firmly. "Every life that comes into this world has the right to this."

He summoned his staff, and Magic Power runes instantly unfolded, engraving intricate patterns onto Zijin's massive dragon body. Vast Magic Power poured into her starlight veins like a torrent, giving her a subtle, almost throbbing, feeling of fullness.

"Magic Power Overload!"

Beckmann finished casting his spell, and Zijin nodded to him, took the spellbook with her Dragon Claw claw, and then, with her abundant Magic Power, burst forth with astonishing speed, quickly soaring into the sky. She locked onto the southern direction and flew away at breakneck speed.

****

Four days later, in the south, in the Amalfi Town.

A purple Faerie Dragon flew low over the town without any attempt to conceal its form.

This Faerie Dragon was relatively small in size and was known for its gentle temperament, so it didn't cause much panic; instead, it attracted a lot of curious glances.

[Zijin?] A voice, both surprised and familiar, rang directly in Zijin's ear; it was a precise Wind Message Spell.

It is indeed the White Pheasant, Sebastian!

Zijin immediately turned her head, her sharp gaze sweeping down, and soon spotted the elegant old man in a plain robe at the edge of the town square.

Without hesitation, she swooped down, her massive body creating a gust of air, and landed precisely beside the White Pheasant.

Ignoring her exhaustion from the long flight, she immediately handed the tiny baby, whose life was being sustained by magic, to the other person.

"Cyanotic congenital heart disease." Sebastian diagnosed little Katharine's condition with just one glance.

"Can it be saved?" Zijin without any preamble, getting straight to the point.

"Originally... the hope was slim." Sebastian was carefully analyzing the effects of the "Skin Shedding Secret Breath" spell cast on the infant. "But this spell is powerful! It has the aura of the Feather Race. If I can further enhance its effects, perhaps it's possible to complete the treatment while maintaining the infant's fragile vital signs!"

"That's good!" Upon hearing this, Zijin's tense nerves finally relaxed, and a huge sense of fatigue instantly swept over her. Several days of extreme flying had left her exhausted.

However, she still mustered her courage and asked, "Do you need my help?"

"No need, I have an assistant," Sebastian replied, then raised his voice and called out, "Stacy!"

A little girl, about ten years old, with braids, immediately ran up from the side, glanced curiously at the huge purple dragon, and then obediently bowed to Zijin, saying, "Hello, Sister Li!"

"There's a clinic I know nearby," Sebastian said. "I went there for treatment; the surgery and recovery will take at least a month." He glanced at the exhausted Zijin. "You could go there and get some rest too."

Zijin nodded and followed him.

Sebastian reached out and cast a calming spell, reducing the strain on Katharine's body. The girl's condition stabilized somewhat.

"By the way," Sebastian asked as they walked, "How did you find your way here?"

"I learned from Beckmann that you were in Kuka Town two weeks ago," Zijin explained, "And then I thought, after so long, you must not be there anymore, so you should try your luck in the towns around Kuka Town."

"You're really lucky! You found it right away!" Sebastian laughed.

Zijin smiled and replied, "This child is just lucky."

But in fact, Amalfi Town was the last town she looked for in the vicinity. Before that, she had flown to every other possible place.

"What would you like to eat?" Sebastian asked as they passed through the bustling market.

Zijin swept her gaze across the stall, "Give me a few sacks of potatoes!"

"No problem, it's on me! Consider it a reward for your long journey."

"Then, can we change it to meat?" Zijin immediately changed her mind.

"No! Xiwo said you need to eat more vegetables!"

"Ha, stingy!"