Galaxy of Giant Ships: Starting with Data-Driven Warships

Chapter 17 Heavenly Spiritual Root

Tianlan's premier academy, a cluster of secluded retreat caves.

Chen Yao stood quietly in front of Cave No. 11, waiting.

As the highest institution of learning in the Tianlan lineage, the academy itself is built on a superior branch of the largest fourth-order primordial crystal vein on Tianlan Star.

These cultivation caves, which provide space for students to retreat into seclusion, are located in the area with the most concentrated energy of this branch. Although they cannot compare to Chen Yao's family, who is located in the city center and has an exclusive underground cultivation room made of mid-grade planetary origin crystals, they are still excellent cultivation sites.

With a loud rumble, the cave door opened, and Chen Jingyu, dressed in his seclusion robes, slowly emerged from the cave.

Upon seeing Chen Yao waiting outside the door, the impatience that had been faintly visible in his eyes instantly turned into surprise.

"Brother Yao, you're finally back! I heard you didn't even go home that day, but instead activated the alien domain deployment all by yourself. Wow, Aunt Ping didn't scold you?"

Chen Yao glared at him, signaling him not to bring up things he hadn't already said.

Here, remember to keep it with you.

He casually tossed a Soul Nourishing Pearl to Chen Jingyu, then quickly turned around without lingering.

Although the Tianlan Chen clan has only been established for a little over a thousand years and cannot be compared with the Chen clan of the Universe Kingdom, it now has tens of millions of members. The number of students in the academy is extremely large. On average, one can only apply for a month or two of cultivation treasures like the Origin Crystal Vein each year. Naturally, he did not want to delay Chen Jingyu's cultivation time.

"Soul-Nourishing Pearl!"

As a member of the Chen family of Tianlan and an outstanding student of Tianlan's No. 1 Academy, Chen Jingyu's judgment was naturally excellent, and he recognized the true nature of the jade bead in his hand at a glance.

A deep look of surprise appeared in his eyes, and the next second he shouted:

"Brother Yao, thank you!"

Chen Yao did not turn around, but raised his hand and waved it behind him.

Unlike his best friend Chen Jingyu, who came from an ordinary Chen clan family, his parents couldn't provide much help. Apart from the basic welfare resources provided by the family, he could only try to win the outstanding student awards at the academy. Naturally, he had no chance to obtain something as rare as the Soul Nourishing Pearl before.

……

Beep!

Just as Chen Yao got home and was about to catch up on his sleep, his wristband beeped again.

Thinking that Chen Yan had finally had a change of heart, he hurriedly turned on the bracelet.

[Message source: Wenying Tu]

Upon realizing it wasn't his younger brother, his eyes flickered slightly, but he still answered the call immediately.

The moment the projection screen popped open, a delicate and lovely face appeared before Chen Yao.

The girl looked to be eighteen or nineteen years old, with bright, clear eyes, a delicate nose, and slightly upturned red lips, all radiating a gentle smile.

Du Wenying, a grandniece from her grandmother's side of the family, was sent to be raised by Chen Beihe and his wife from a young age, and grew up with the brothers Chen Yao and Chen Yan.

"Brother Yao".

Du Wenying called out, her eyes crinkling with a hint of reproach in her voice.

"I sent you a message the day you awakened your spark, but what did you do? You went straight to another planet, making everyone worry for nothing."

"It happened suddenly..."

Chen Yao shook his head, feeling unusually guilty.

"Alright, alright, I'm not here to interrogate you."

Du Wenying interrupted, allowing Chen Yao to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Congratulations! From now on, we finally have someone who can fight among us."

Chen Yao chuckled: "Is it appropriate for a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator like you to say such a thing?"

"What happens in the late stage of Qi Refining?"

Du Wenying pouted.

"I have a wood-attribute spiritual root, and I cultivate spiritual plants as a secondary practice. I'm not good at combat. Does Brother Yao expect me to go and fight with people?"

As she spoke, the girl blinked her bright eyes, and a hint of grievance appeared in them.

Chen Yao immediately covered his face. It seemed that this girl had been led astray by that brat Chen Yan after not seeing her for several years.

What she just said is indeed true.

As a wood-attribute celestial spiritual root, Du Wenying's cultivation speed has always been far ahead of their group, but as a secondary cultivator of spiritual plants, her combat ability is subpar.

"Oh, right..."

Du Wenying suddenly lowered her voice, a sly glint in her eyes.

"I know what that strange orange item Grandpa prepared for you is."

Chen Yao's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously asked:

"What is it?"

"I can't tell you." Du Wenying laughed even harder. "Grandpa specifically instructed me not to tell you beforehand."

"I can't say that..."

"Well, it's been years, and you've all gone astray." Chen Yao glared at her, annoyed.

Du Wenying didn't mind. Instead, she reached out a slender white hand from the edge of the light screen and waved it at him.

"I can't talk about Grandpa's gift, but I've prepared a gift for you too."

"It will arrive in two weeks along with Grandpa's gift, don't forget."

Chen Yao was slightly taken aback, then smiled.

"What a coincidence, I also sent you a gift."

"What?"

"you guess."

Du Wenying remained silent, simply meeting his gaze quietly, her eyes glistening with tears, gradually revealing her aggrieved expression.

Seeing this, Chen Yao immediately gave in and stopped teasing her, telling her that she was a second-tier Soul Nourishing Pearl.

"A Soul-Nourishing Pearl? You found a Soul-Gathering Stone vein in that alien realm?"

"We were lucky and found a small piece of raw ore."

Chen Yao glossed over the incident without going into details of the dangers involved—after all, the materials from the first-tier Star Rock Lizard's body were still lying in the cargo hold of the Sky Patrol.

"Then I won't be polite."

Given their relationship, Du Wenying was not coy at all and readily agreed.

"It just so happens that I recently reached a bottleneck in my spiritual cultivation, and the Soul Nourishing Pearl has come at the perfect time."

Chen Yao didn't believe it. She was extremely favored by her grandparents and should already have a treasure for nurturing the soul. The Soul-Nourishing Pearl might have some effect on her, but it wouldn't be much.

After the call ended, Chen Yao had a faint smile on his lips.

When I felt that persistent fatigue in my body, I finally stopped trying to push myself.

"Let me catch up on my sleep first; we'll talk about the rest after I wake up."

In his bedroom, Chen Yao threw himself onto the soft headboard, his eyes closed. Before long, his breathing became long and even, and he officially fell into a deep sleep.

He slept for a full twelve hours.

When he opened his eyes again, the bedroom light was still casting a soft glow. He sat up, feeling exceptionally refreshed, all his fatigue completely gone.

"Comfortable."

He stretched out a big yawn, his bones making a series of soft cracking sounds.

After a quick wash, Chen Yao opened the communication bracelet again. This time, instead of contacting family or friends, he tapped the special triangle icon in the upper right corner of the bracelet.

[Application for exchange of family welfare resources and mineral materials.]

Once this icon is activated, it won't be long before the family sends professional investigators to visit.