Across Deep Space: Four Men and a Play

After getting dressed, Xia Jiumeng took her two maids and Li Shen out of the Duke's Mansion. At this time, a small shuttle with the words "Royal Exclusive" printed on it was parked outside the mansion.

"Hello, Miss Xia. Her Highness the Princess knows that you are not feeling well, so she asked me to wait and pick you up to avoid overexerting myself."

A man dressed in royal knight attire stepped forward and bowed slightly to Xia Jiumeng.

Xia Jiumeng glanced at the man and said, "Well, Your Highness the Princess is thoughtful."

Although the royal palace is also in the capital, it is indeed not close to the Duke's Mansion, but it is not necessary to use a shuttle to pick it up.

After all, shuttles and spaceships are in short supply and are relatively luxurious.

Although Philos has advanced technology now, because the artificial planets consumed too much materials in the past and the exploration of other planets is limited, the materials for making objects such as spaceships and shuttles are not very luxurious, and these things consume a lot of energy.

Except for the royal family and some very prestigious people, ordinary people may not be willing to use it.

Her Royal Highness the Princess was so high-profile in having someone pick her up by shuttle, which seemed to show that she cared about her very much and also gave the Duke's Mansion enough face.

If she doesn't go or doesn't give enough in return, she's afraid of being criticized.

Xia Jiumeng turned around and told Chunqing, "Go get the pterosaur core from the warehouse."

The pterosaur is a level 54 high-level wandering creature. Its defense is so high that even a level 60 knight would have a hard time fighting it.

Originally, Xia Jiumeng prepared a level 45 ice crystal elk core, but it is not good enough now.

"Yes, Miss." Chun Qing took the order and left in a hurry.

"Please wait a moment."

"Miss Xia, there's no need to be so reserved." The Knight Commander nodded slightly and stood aside. His duty was only to pick people up, and he wouldn't ask any other questions.

But now it seems that after seeing this illness, the Duke's daughter is not as arrogant as before.

It seems much more polite.

Xia Jiumeng did not deliberately disguise herself.

After all, she had no power before and could only rely on disguise to keep a low profile.

But she is different now. She has S-level mental power, which is at least level 70 or even stronger. She has not verified how much stronger it is.

So there is naturally no need to pretend to be a fool, but you still have to be low-key.

Soon Chun Qing came back and replied to Xia Jiumeng, "Miss, you have already got it."

"Okay, let's go."

Xia Jiumeng was the first to board the shuttle.

When the Knight Commander saw a dark blue Maine Coon cat, he said with a strange expression, "Miss Xia, is this your pet? Does it want to go with us?"

Xia Jiumeng stopped and said, "It's not my pet, it's my friend."

"Can't take it with you?"

The Knight Commander's mouth twitched slightly as he looked at her serious expression. This young lady of the duchess was not as irritable as before, but it seemed that her brain was not quite right.

He actually said a cat is a friend.

However, they were not allowed to talk to these nobles, so they could only nod and say, "Okay, but Your Highness the Princess doesn't like small animals very much. I hope you can keep an eye on your friend."

Xia Jiumeng lowered her eyes and said, "I understand."

After everyone was seated, the shuttle started and flew towards the palace.

However, Her Royal Highness the Fourth Princess Shen Qingqing, who was supposed to be hosting a tea party in the palace, was chatting with her brother, the Third Prince Shen Yiming, in her own palace.

"Brother, why are you suddenly asking me to find a reason to host a tea party and invite that idiot?"

"Be careful with your words. She is still the eldest daughter of the Duke's Mansion." Shen Yiming glanced at his sister and reminded her. There are many ears in the palace. If the news gets out, there will be trouble.

Shen Qingqing rolled her eyes. "It's not certain whether she can inherit the Duke's Mansion."

She also received the news that Xia Jiumeng did not have ice crack disease, and felt a little sorry.

But it doesn't matter, she is a fool. Although her ability is a rare resonance ability, the level is pitifully low, only level 15, not even as good as many civilians in the capital city.

The position of Duke is special. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, she also has to participate in the trial if she wants to inherit it. With her weak abilities and annoying personality, I'm afraid she won't be able to get out of the Starfall Forest.

"If she is really not sick, then the trial will be just a small problem." Shen Yiming's eyes darkened.

"What do you mean?" Shen Qingqing didn't understand what her brother meant.

"Did you know that the Duke's Palace has a very special ether core?"

Shen Qingqing couldn't sit still when she heard this. "How is that possible?"

"Otherwise, why do you think my father was so kind to the Duke's Mansion and even promised the old Duke not to move the Mansion after his death?"

Shen Qingqing didn't say anything, but was obviously shocked.

"Although the Ether Core is rare, it is not..."

Shen Yiming interrupted his sister and said, "The ether cores in the Duke's Mansion have special abilities. They can absorb the power of other cores to upgrade a certain core."

"What?" Shen Qingqing's face changed and she stood up suddenly.

Although ether cores are rare, many kingdoms and powerful people have them. Only wandering bodies above level 80 can produce them. Throughout the development history of the planet Philos, there are only dozens of them.

Each one has special abilities, but this is the first time I've heard of one that can enhance absorption and core abilities.

"Why doesn't father..." take it away?

Wouldn't that make it royal?

"Do you think father hasn't thought about it?" Shen Yiming looked at his sister and shook his head. She was so stupid.

No wonder her mother didn't let her participate in these things.

"I don't know what method the old Duke used, but the core is very aggressive. No one except the Duke's daughter can get close to it, let alone use it."

Long before the old duke died, the royal family told the royal family about the existence of the core and the royal family sent people to "check it out". Not only was the old duke not nervous, he even made it easy for the royal knights to "appreciate" it. As a result, the knights lost most of their people and were unable to get close.

So when the old duke used the core to negotiate terms, the king had to compromise.

You know, although there is no threat of mutation now, life expectancy has become a problem.

The queen of the First Kingdom who disappeared many years ago did something unknown, and there are no more immortal people in the entire Philos. Even if they have the technology, they cannot create immortal people.

But everyone has discovered that increased strength can increase lifespan.

Ordinary people without awakened superpowers can only live to 200 years old, but those with awakened superpowers will gradually extend their lifespan as their strength grows. Instead of becoming immortals who may mutate at any time and cause the planet to fail, it is better to rely on cultivation to prolong life.

Anyway, the wandering bodies are endless.

But the higher the level, the harder it is to upgrade, and wandering bodies themselves have advantages over humans, so core energy is still very precious.

Advanced cores require risking one's life to hunt down advanced wandering bodies, but now there is a shortcut for painless and low-cost upgrades, who wouldn't be tempted?

Unfortunately, they could not take this shortcut, but in order to prevent it from falling into the hands of others, the king suppressed the marriages of the remaining two princes so that they could find a way to win the duchess.

Let her serve the royal family.

Although the old duke's original deal condition was not to move the duke's mansion, and that his daughter could help the royal family upgrade the core for a hundred years after inheriting the dukedom, how could a hundred years be enough?

They want the Duke's Mansion to continue upgrading the core for the royal family, and they also want the Zongheng team to help the royal family and make the Kingdom of Mosta the largest empire in the entire Philos!

"So, even if Xia Jiumeng is disgusting, as long as she's not dead, you have to find a way to marry her, brother?"

Although Shen Qingqing is stupid, she thinks very quickly.

Hearing his sister's words, Shen Yiming looked as if he had eaten shit. "Yeah."

Shen Qingqing felt sick at the thought of that arrogant, stupid, vicious woman who was only good-looking as her sister-in-law.

"Is there no other way?"

"What do you think?" Shen Yiming also felt disgusted. He didn't want to get close to that woman, but he had ambitions.

When they heard that she had a terminal illness and would die, both her father and he felt relieved. It would be best if they could get it at zero cost.

The old duke had an agreement with the royal family. If his daughter 'really' died accidentally and the royal family fulfilled their obligations, they would send someone to deliver the core and lift the ban after verifying the truth.

How could my treacherous and cunning father agree to the deal?

After all, I have a treasure in my hand, and I won’t let others get it even if I can’t use it.

"This test is not only because I want to know if she is really okay, but also because of my father's tacit approval." Shen Yiming lifted the curtain of the window and looked at the scenery of the garden outside the window indifferently.

If she is fine, the royal family will fulfill its obligations normally and it would be best to let her become a member of the royal family. If that happens, that would be even better.

The royal family will just wait for her death to take over everything in the Duke's Mansion.

Anyway, the things will not fall into the hands of outsiders.

"It's almost time, sister, you should go down and host the tea party."

Shen Qingqing was silent for a moment, straightened her clothes and stood up. "I know, brother."

[SO: I changed the previous chapter a bit, hehe. I'll finish this storyline as soon as possible~ It'll end when Li Zi turns human and eats some meat. Whose story do you want to see next? Knight Star? Academy Star? Poseidon Fish? Golden Sand Fish?]