Inheriting a Barren Star [Book Transmigration]

Barren Star – Chapter 37

by Little Panda

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The plants in the base were absorbing dark pollution, gradually liberating other species from the Mountain Sea Atlas. This made it less efficient for Ning Buyi to manually absorb dark pollution, so she stopped doing it. As for the trading on the Starlight Platform, Xiong Xun was watching over it, so Ning Buyi didn’t need to worry. Although the base was understaffed, it could run smoothly, allowing Ning Buyi to allocate time to strengthen herself.

She thought it would be easier without having to “face the yellow earth with back to sky” [meaning: hard farm work], but with weighted runs, jumps, and various exercises that made her body ache, Ning Buyi felt as exhausted as a dead dog every day. Worse still, even when resting on the couch, her mind couldn’t stop working—because she had to memorize books. Whenever Ning Buyi tried to slack off even a little, she would face Hua Zhuoyu’s cold expression and harsh words, making her seem inhuman at those moments.

Ning Buyi was like a sponge, frantically absorbing all kinds of knowledge. Perhaps because of the Mountain Sea Atlas plugin, she felt her talent and learning ability had improved significantly. Otherwise, based on her original world’s state, she would have already “hit the ground with her head” [meaning: to fail completely], as it was knowledge that couldn’t be mastered even with “hanging beam, piercing thigh” [ancient Chinese idiom referring to studying diligently].

“Can’t I just implant a memory chip in my body?” Ning Buyi lay on the couch, eyes closed, enjoying Hua Zhuoyu’s massage while mumbling.

“What if your personal chip gets dug out? Only what’s truly in your brain belongs to you.” Hua Zhuoyu lightly slapped Ning Buyi, her casual tone containing undeniable firmness. She raised her left hand to brush away the bangs covering her vision, looking at Ning Buyi wrapped in a towel as she turned over, and blinked reassuringly, “Your learning efficiency is very high; you can enter the virtual training room in a couple of days.”

At this time, Ning Buyi was like a student who hated physics yet oddly missed experimental classes, full of anticipation for practical training. Her excited spirit somewhat swept away her fatigue, giving rise to a surge of courage that made her feel ready for six hundred rounds [meaning: ready for a long fight]. “Can I really maintain balance?” Ning Buyi grabbed Hua Zhuoyu’s clothes hem, her eyes sparkling.

Hua Zhuoyu subtly shifted her gaze away, covering her mouth with a light cough. She quickly pulled the blanket from the couch to cover Ning Buyi, whose suggestive state had been revealed by her large movements, and replied leisurely, “Perhaps.”

Ning Buyi, unaware of her posture, refused to let go of Hua Zhuoyu. Like a knowledge-hungry child, she persistently asked, “What was it like when you first learned to pilot the mechaa?”

Hua Zhuoyu frowned, saying with dissatisfaction: “Not very good.”

Ning Buyi: “Did you fall flat on your face?”

Hua Zhuoyu gave Ning Buyi a sideways glance, rescuing her clothes hem from those “demon claws,” and casually sat down on the couch, nudging Ning Buyi inward before saying leisurely: “It wasn’t that bad. I was hit by bullets three times during the obstacle run.”

After cramming knowledge about mechas, Ning Buyi fully understood the obstacle run. This was a threshold that every junior mecha warrior must cross—controlling the mecha while running, performing various movements, and dodging or counterattacking bullets coming from unknown directions. “In a hail of bullets [meaning: intense gunfire], three hits isn’t much,” Ning Buyi said.

“No!” Hua Zhuoyu said seriously, “On the battlefield, three shots could take a life. In training, your goal isn’t just to meet standards—it’s perfection, zero mistakes!”

Although Ning Buyi had seen Hua Zhuoyu’s stern expression many times these days, she was still startled by her tone. She smiled sheepishly, her voice as thin as a mosquito’s: “I understand.”

Hua Zhuoyu had been so fierce these days!

The StarNet was a second world, like a projection of countless planets in the galaxy, allowing people to tour other planets without leaving home or worrying about dark pollution corrosion. Although Ning Buyi knew StarNet’s various benefits, she hadn’t immersed herself too deeply in it. She limited her use to looking up information, reading news, and conducting business.

When she entered StarNet with Hua Zhuoyu, it felt like walking in a brand new, real world, and she found it fascinating. However, not wanting Hua Zhuoyu to see she was a ” vegetable bird” [meaning: newbie], she obediently waited behind her, passing by strangers to enter her training room.

There were two mechas in the training room, one identical to Po Jun, flowing with silver luster, emanating elegance and charm even while stationary. The mecha beside it was much more ordinary, completely black and dull, easily reminiscent of a southern cockroach standing by a window. Ning Buyi instinctively rejected this ugly mecha.

“It’s the most basic model—Black Light. Try this first,” Hua Zhuoyu said.

Ning Buyi looked in the direction she pointed, immediately taking in the “southern cockroach,” her eyes showing hints of embarrassment, disgust, and hesitation.

Hua Zhuoyu easily saw through Ning Buyi’s thoughts and explained: “You can’t handle Po Jun yet.”

Ning Buyi wanted to bristle up and retort “who are you looking down on,” but her recent painful experiences taught her not to question Hua Zhuoyu’s words, or she’d be the one suffering in the end. She shuffled her feet, walked up to the “southern cockroach,” and climbed into the cockpit.

Hua Zhuoyu said: “First, check the weapons system.”

Still in manual mode, the code appeared in Ning Buyi’s mind as her fingers began to move—but she couldn’t match Hua Zhuoyu’s speed and grace. Under extreme tension, she switched to the wrong weapon and fired at herself. The bullet crashed against the hard mecha shell, instantly piercing through one weapon arm. Electrical currents crackled, sending out a series of sparks.

Regarding Ning Buyi’s performance, Hua Zhuoyu remained neutral, only saying: “Familiarize yourself first.” She stood up and walked to the door, pressing a button on the wall. With a rumbling sound, a wall at the back of the training room lifted, revealing an endless training ground.

“Once you’re familiar, pilot the mecha out of the training room,” Hua Zhuoyu spoke again a few minutes later.

Ning Buyi didn’t respond, struggling with Black Light. Though she had memorized all the codes, her trembling hands weren’t cooperating well. Especially when the mecha moved, her thoughts easily tangled—one wrong command would disrupt all subsequent movements. Trying to make the mecha walk, she imagined the lightning-quick agility of Hua Zhuoyu controlling Po Jun, but in reality, she fell flat on her face after just a few steps.

Before entering StarNet, Ning Buyi had lowered her pain sensitivity settings, but the impact of the heavy mecha hitting the ground still made her dizzy. It took a while to recover before she could resume control. The distance from the training room to the field was less than fifty meters, yet this short distance took her half an hour.

During the break, a sweat-soaked Ning Buyi jumped out of the cockpit. After catching her breath, she turned to Hua Zhuoyu and asked: “What if I try neural control [brain-direct interface control]?”

Hua Zhuoyu stared at Ning Buyi, knowing she hadn’t given up yet. She crossed her arms and smiled gently: “You can try.” Her tone was mild, neither discouraging nor encouraging. Unable to read her attitude, Ning Buyi decided to test the truth through practice.

After brain wave synchronization, the mecha was controlled directly through the cranial receptor, freeing up both hands to some extent. However, this control mode demanded extremely high mental power, not just in terms of depth but also in self-control and utilization. After a brief rest, Ning Buyi entered a new round of training, switching to neural control mode when she saw Hua Zhuoyu wasn’t stopping her. In her mind, countless mental threads seemed to spread throughout the mecha, controlling it constantly. Ning Buyi imagined taking a step, but the mecha lost balance immediately upon lifting its foot and crashed to the ground. Her neural pathways throbbed, as if being violently pulled from different directions. She tried to make the mecha stand up, but it felt like a mountain was pressing down on her, and her out-of-control mental power couldn’t make the mecha rise again.

It seemed like just an instant, yet also felt as long as several eras.

Ning Buyi’s face turned bright red, her clothes soaked with cold sweat.

In extreme pain and dizziness, she finally heard Hua Zhuoyu’s voice.

“Switch modes, stupid!”

Ning Buyi’s nerves were particularly sluggish, taking a while to process Hua Zhuoyu’s words. She made an “oh” sound, switched to manual control, and slowly stood up using the mechanical arms to push against the ground. Turning her heavy head, a pair of large, deep eyes looked toward Hua Zhuoyu’s direction.

Hua Zhuoyu: “If you want to master it quickly, switching between both modes is better, with manual control as support.”

Ning Buyi’s grand ambitions finally transformed into staying grounded after experiencing setbacks. She spent the whole day in StarNet learning to walk, like returning to toddlerhood, every movement particularly clumsy. Hua Zhuoyu wasn’t a gentle coach, but she was a good one.

When she came out of the virtual training room, Ning Buyi threw off her combat helmet and lay straight as a dead fish on the couch. Her face was paper-white, crystal tears hung at her eyes’ corners, and she was soaked through, looking like she’d been fished out of water. Worse than the physical fatigue was the bone-deep mental pain, which pounded at her brain, making her hiss in pain.

“How do you feel?” Hua Zhuoyu asked.

“Hurts, don’t want to move,” Ning Buyi replied hoarsely.

“Need my help?” Hua Zhuoyu asked again.

Ning Buyi turned her stiff head in confusion, looking at Hua Zhuoyu’s smiling face: “Hm?”

Hua Zhuoyu raised her eyebrows with a smile: “Taking a bath.” As she spoke, she made a gesture as if about to lift Ning Buyi from the couch.

Ning Buyi raised her tired hand in protest, embarrassed and angry: “Go away!”

Hua Zhuoyu left as told, but when she returned, she called over Beidou to help move Ning Buyi into the medical pod to check her vital signs. Although the training was intense, her bodily functions weren’t damaged. The pain came from her consciousness being too active, nearly reaching a critical point, but it wasn’t harmful to her body—good rest would eliminate the fatigue. Seeing this, Hua Zhuoyu felt relieved.

After a brief rest, Ning Buyi dragged her tired body to her room, afraid she might faint and have Hua Zhuoyu handle the private matter of “bathing.”

Over the next few days, Ning Buyi kept pulling Hua Zhuoyu into high-intensity training, starting from walking and jumping. Despite constant complaints, she never backed down. By the time the Golden Ming Phoenix-tailed Butterflies arrived at Barren Star, she could run while dodging missiles in the training room. Of course, her mecha’s shell was riddled with holes—she couldn’t achieve Hua Zhuoyu’s level of moving like a breeze, untouched by everything.

As new people arrived at Barren Star, Ning Buyi, as the base’s owner, naturally had to welcome them personally. Hua Zhuoyu suspended her practical training for a day to ensure she was in the best condition. Ning Buyi had already received the list of “new residents” from Feng Ermao, led by Jin Feifei, all young members of the Golden Ming Phoenix-tailed Butterfly Clan.

She expected handsome men and beautiful women to walk out of the spaceship one by one, but instead, a dazzling golden light flashed past, like flowing golden powder, scattering in all directions in the wind.

Ning Buyi: “…”

Feng Ermao: “…” She had previously boasted to Ning Buyi about how great the Golden Ming Phoenix-tailed Butterfly species was, but now, seeing the scattered butterflies clinging to plants, she felt somewhat embarrassed.

Ning Buyi rubbed her forehead and sighed: “Never mind, tell them to go to the administrative hall to register with Beidou, otherwise without being on the roster, the cafeteria won’t prepare their dinner.”

Feng Ermao nodded like pounding garlic [Chinese expression for enthusiastic nodding].

After Ning Buyi left, her eyes fell on a golden butterfly perched on a red thorn tree branch nearby, and she shouted: “Jin Feifei, you got scammed out of three thousand in online dating!”

Golden Ming Phoenix-tailed Butterfly: “?”

Seeing that butterfly didn’t move, Feng Ermao scratched her head and made a puzzled sound: “Not this one?” Just as she was about to leave to find her next target, the elegantly perched butterfly shot over like golden lightning, stirring up a gust of wind. Feng Ermao stumbled, taking several steps back before steadying herself against a tree trunk. Glaring at the butterfly angrily, she shouted: “Jin Feifei, what are you doing!”

The golden butterfly gracefully landed on Feng Ermao’s shoulder, moving its antennae to brush against her cheek, speaking in human language: “Feng Er, search your conscience, who really got scammed in online dating?”

As Feng Ermao’s cheek tickled slightly, she wisely corrected herself: “It was me.” After a pause, she wiggled her eyebrows and said excitedly, “Get your brothers and sisters to register at the administrative hall.”

Jin Feifei: “Where are the flowers? Why haven’t you given them yet?” She didn’t mind coming from Civilization Star to Barren Star, but if there weren’t real flowers, she would definitely pluck all of Feng Ermao’s tail feathers.

Feng Ermao pouted: “Wait until after registration, the Lord has reserved a flower field for you all. Jin Feifei, am I not better than a flower?”

Jin Feifei ignored her, flicking her face with an antenna. Just as Feng Ermao was about to grab Jin Feifei, she flew up, her wings creating ripples of pale gold light. Soon, all the Golden Ming Phoenix-tailed Butterflies who had been enjoying the plant fragrances flew over, lining up behind Jin Feifei.

“Lead the way,” Jin Feifei spoke two words, exuding noble elegance.

Feng Ermao glared at Jin Feifei unhappily but endured it for the sake of the game hall.

Jin Feifei perched comfortably on Feng Ermao’s shoulder: “Why are you the only one here? Where’s Xiong Xun? He’s being put to good use by the Lord, are you the only one being idle? Feng Er, that’s so like you.”

Feng Ermao’s steps faltered: “I feel like you’re insulting my character.”

Jin Feifei retorted: “Do you even have such a thing? At best, you have a ‘dog’s character’ [insulting way of saying someone is servile].”

Feng Ermao: “…”

Ning Buyi confidently left matters to Feng Ermao. Although she always appeared listless, her reliability was evident in how she collaborated with Xiong Xun on product packaging. Besides, there was still Beidou—nothing in the base could escape Beidou’s “celestial eye” [surveillance system].

Thinking about returning to continue intensive training, Ning Buyi ignored even Baize rubbing against her trouser leg. However, she met Feng Yi and Ling Shu who were specifically looking for her midway, forcing her to abandon her initial plans.

“They’re adapting well to the base now and don’t need Ling Shu and me watching over them anymore, so we’re planning to return to Beast Star,” Feng Yi got straight to the point. As for Ling Shu—she just nodded along with whatever Feng Yi said, as an accompaniment.

Ning Buyi wasn’t surprised by Feng Yi’s decision, after all, she was the Princess of the Feng Jiu Tribe, burdened with many political duties. After pondering for a moment, she asked: “Will you take little Feng Jiu too?”

“Yes,” Feng Yi nodded, “She needs to go through the Feng Jiu Tribe’s coming-of-age ceremony before she can transform into human form.”

Ning Buyi raised her eyebrows, curious about how the chattering little bird would look in human form—would she be a noisy troublemaker? Her thoughts only wandered briefly before returning to the present. She smiled at Feng Yi: “You can leave anytime.”

Feng Yi breathed a sigh of relief. Indeed, when Hua Zhuoyu wasn’t around, Ning Buyi was much easier to talk to. After thinking for a moment, she continued seriously: “There’s one more thing—can the base’s products be promoted to the Beast Star Alliance?”

Ning Buyi showed surprise: “Isn’t it already listed on the Starlight Platform?”

Feng Yi frowned and sighed: “Not all species living on Beast Star are willing to have connections with the Da Xia Civilization. Many species only trade through the Beast Alliance Council, refusing to communicate directly with Da Xia.”

When discussing these species, Feng Yi’s expression showed helplessness and awkwardness. In contrast, Ling Shu’s thoughts were more direct as she sneered: “They’re just a bunch of stubborn old fools who love taking advantage. In my opinion, let them continue their self-destruction. Once Da Xia’s warships wipe them out, Beast Star will finally have peace.”

“Sorry,” Feng Yi quickly turned to Ling Shu, lowering her voice, “Shut up!”

Ling Shu looked disapproving as she stared at Feng Yi: “I understand your vulnerability, but we can’t hide this truth. Blood and violence are the path to—” The rest of her words were cut off by Feng Yi’s slap. A cold glint flashed in Ling Shu’s eyes; if Ning Buyi hadn’t been present, she would definitely have settled things with Feng Yi through combat.

“I want to use the Beast Alliance Council’s name to promote Barren Star’s products on Beast Star,” Feng Yi smiled apologetically at Ning Buyi after dealing with the agitated Ling Shu.

“So Ling Shu isn’t just a decoration after all,” Ning Buyi muttered quietly before raising her head to meet Feng Yi’s gaze, asking: “You want to establish authority through these products?”

“That is indeed my personal agenda,” Feng Yi didn’t deny it. Among Beast Star’s species, she was the first to contact Ning Buyi and Barren Star, despite the somewhat unpleasant beginning. The Beast Alliance Council had Four Leaders: the Qilin Tribe only cared about money, the Xuanwu Tribe just wanted to sleep, the Dragon Tribe was impulsive and troublesome, and the Feng Jiu Tribe maintained a glossy surface—while suppressed Clans beneath stirred restlessly. She wouldn’t be surprised if a revolution brought forth a “new king” one day.

“The war faction on Beast Star has connections with the Insect Race, and they’re showing signs of rising,” Feng Yi said seriously.

Ning Buyi, knowing there would be chaos in the plot, wasn’t too surprised by Feng Yi’s words.

“May I ask which species need special attention?”

Feng Yi answered without hesitation: “Tigers, leopards, lions, cats…”

Although the terms were familiar to Ning Buyi, they might not be exactly as she imagined, but regardless, in the Greedy Wolf Star System, these species were classified under Felidae [consists of at least 36 wild cat species]. “Cats…” Ning Buyi pondered for a while, remembering the “premium catnip” available in the Mountain Sea Atlas, and her lips curved into a smile: “You can wait a bit, and take some of the base’s specialties back with you.”

Feng Yi looked pleasantly surprised, though why did Ning Buyi’s smile seem somewhat mischievous?

By evening, Ning Buyi could check information about the Golden Ming Phoenix-tailed Butterflies in the Atlas—seven beautiful golden butterflies in total, their loyalty ratings rapidly increasing. The Atlas thoughtfully noted “entered the flower field.” Rather than being loyal to the base, they were more loyal to their life’s passion: fresh flowers.

Ning Buyi focused particularly on Jin Feifei, firstly because she held the leader position among the seven butterflies, and secondly because of her former profession—perfumer. Although plants had gone extinct in the interstellar era, intelligent beings hadn’t given up on sensual living, instead desperately seeking alternatives. When the real disappeared, the artificial rushed to take its place. Ning Buyi only remembered one luxury brand called “True Wood”, whose perfumes claimed to be closest to plant origins, often appearing in Xia Tu’s hands as weapons for capturing beautiful women’s hearts.

Ning Buyi had developed Barren Star for survival, but she couldn’t let it become just a “wholesale agricultural market.” Even high-end fruit and vegetable gift boxes were still just “food,” far removed from lifestyle aesthetics. And no matter how luxurious, premium produce couldn’t compare to luxury goods. If “wood-like fragrance” could earn such praise from interstellar beings, what about fragrances truly extracted from plants? She instinctively felt this would bring her substantial income.

If she could establish a perfume factory, perhaps when Hua Zhuoyu left Barren Star, she could present her with an exquisite gift.

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