417: Chapter 417 Lv12 Cosmic Ark Upgrade Completed

The Ark shuddered slightly.

Violet-gold light poured out from every corner of The Ark, growing brighter and brighter, shifting from violet-gold to pure gold, and then to incandescent white.

Qin Lin closed his eyes, feeling The Ark as it underwent its transformation.

The Ark's hull stretched, widened, and rose amidst the light.

The spherical dome of the Bridge shifted from holographic to solid, making every patch of the starry sky feel tangible.

The living room expanded, growing from three stories to four.

Fifty bedrooms were added.

The number of Ecological Plantations increased from seven to ten.

The medical center expanded from seven stories to nine.

Qin Lin's room was also upgraded, its area now four times larger than before.

[ Lv12 The Ark Upgrade Complete ]

[ New Core Features: ]

[ 1. Enhanced Inter-Universe Navigation: Capable of stably traversing more complex Universe barriers. ]

[ 2. Bio-Energy Field: Capable of sensing and absorbing the residual energy of surrounding life forms. ]

[ 3. Life Support System Upgrade: Capable of sustaining passenger life in any environment. ]

[ 4. Intelligent Hub Upgrade: System response speed increased, functions fully optimized. ]

[ 5. Spacetime Anchor Points expanded to 100. ]

Qin Lin looked over the list of new features, his gaze pausing on "Bio-Energy Field": "What is a Bio-Energy Field?"

Ling Xi stood beside him: "It can sense the energy state of surrounding life forms, including their emotions, health status, and even..."

She paused, "their reproductive cycles."

Qin Lin looked at her: "In other words, you can sense the reproductive cycles of all living creatures?"

Ling Xi nodded: "As long as it is a life form, I can sense it."

Qin Lin was silent for a moment: "Then when you were sensing the Yao Race women..."

Ling Xi looked at him: "I was using this ability then too, it just hadn't been officially unlocked yet."

Qin Lin didn't know what to say: "Alright."

The women on The Ark also felt the changes brought by the upgrade.

The corridors widened, the ceilings grew higher, and the lighting became softer.

Han Yurou spun around in the living room: "The Ark has gotten bigger again!"

Liu Ruyan held the newborn Qin Xi: "The children will have more places to run around now!"

The Yao Race women felt the effects of the upgrade even more directly.

Chief Bai Yao stood in the newly upgraded living room, looking up at the higher ceiling: "The energy field here is thicker than before."

Qing Ni stood beside her: "I can feel the entire Ark breathing."

Chi Yan reached out and touched the wall: "I can feel it growing."

Xuan Shuang said nothing, but her tail swayed gently, as if sensing the new space.

Su Yuran walked over to Qin Lin: "The Ark has upgraded again. It's so good to have you here."

Qin Lin looked at her: "It's the result of everyone's hard work."

Su Yuran smiled: "Then let's keep working hard."

Ling Xi stood on the Bridge, looking at the starry sky outside the window.

She extended her hand, a cluster of pale violet light dancing in her palm, brighter than before: "Qin Lin, The Ark has reached Lv12."

Qin Lin walked over to her: "How do you feel?"

Ling Xi looked at the stars outside: "It feels good, like... it has finally started to come alive."

Qin Lin looked at her: "So what can you do now?"

Ling Xi thought for a moment: "I can sense life energy from much further away, and can even use The Ark's energy field for offense and defense in emergencies."

She paused, "And, I can sense that beneath the star ahead, there are more lives, so many."

Qin Lin looked at her: "More of the Yao Race?"

Ling Xi nodded: "Even more than I perceived; there could be hundreds."

Qin Lin was silent for a moment: "Then we should go take a look."

New children began to be born one after another.

The pregnancy period for Yao Race women is shorter than for humans. After being pregnant for a few months, Chief Bai Yao gave birth to a girl with pale golden pupils and a white tail.

Qin Lin held the tiny half-Yao infant. She was lighter than a human baby, had a higher body temperature, and her tail would sway gently while she slept.

Chief Bai Yao lay in bed, watching the child in Qin Lin's arms: "Her name is Bai Yu."

Qin Lin looked down at Bai Yu: "Bai Yu, that's a beautiful name."

...

Next was Qing Ni, who gave birth to a girl with short cyan hair and emerald green eyes.

She named her Qing Ya, because she felt the child was like a newly sprouted seed.

Chi Yan gave birth to a boy with fire-red hair and golden pupils; she named him Chi Yang, because his eyes were like the sun.

Xuan Shuang gave birth to a girl with long silver-white hair and ice-blue pupils; she named her Xuan Yue, because her eyes were like the winter moon.

Yue Ying gave birth to a girl with long black hair and silver pupils; she named her Yue Hua, because her eyes were like moonlight.

The half-Yao children grew quickly on The Ark.

Their development speed was much faster than human children. A few months after birth, Bai Yu could sit up, her hair had reached her shoulders, and her tail would sway gently when she was happy.

The human children were full of curiosity about the half-Yao children.

Qin An would squat in front of Bai Yu, looking at her tail: "Is your tail real? Can I touch it?"

Bai Yu glanced at him, her tail swaying slightly.

Qin An reached out and touched it; the tail was warm and soft. "It's real! But it can also shapeshift and disappear," Bai Yu said, "I just don't want to fully shapeshift, I want to keep some characteristics on me."

Qin Yuan would also squat in front of Qing Ya: "Hmm, suit yourself, I was just asking. Why is your hair green?"

Qing Ya tilted her head and thought about it: "Because Mommy gave it to me."

Qin Yuan thought for a moment: "Then mine is black, Mommy gave it to me, we are all given them by Mommy."

Qing Ya smiled, her smile no different from a human child's.

Han Yurou watched this scene and turned to say to Qin Lin: "Brother Lin, the children born to the Yao Race seem no different from human children."

Qin Lin looked at those children: "There was never any difference to begin with, they just look different."

There were more and more children on The Ark; their crying, laughter, and babbling mixed together like a symphony that would never cease.

Qin Lin walked down the corridor, watching the children playing in the rooms on both sides, feeling like he was a ship laden with hope, traversing the sea of stars.

Ling Xi stood on the Observation Tower, looking out the window as the night breeze blew through her long hair.

The Ark sailed through the starry sky, flying toward the star where there were more Yao Race members.

Qin Lin walked over and stood beside her: "Ling Xi."

She turned her head to look at him: "Qin Lin."

Qin Lin looked at the strange starry sky ahead: "Do you think those Yao Race women would be willing to come aboard The Ark?"

Ling Xi looked at him: "They will, because they are also looking for a place where they can survive."

Qin Lin was silent for a moment: "And what about you? What are you looking for?"

Ling Xi looked at him, silent for a long time: "I am looking for home."

Qin Lin looked at her: "And have you found it?"

Ling Xi's lips curled up slightly: "I have."