In the Matrix Realm, inside a dark cave room, Li Zheng sat on the ground, holding a lamp in one hand and occasionally putting a Luoshen Flower into his mouth to chew.
In front of him on the ground, a small bat was hugging a pigeon egg-sized rough object, struggling to gnaw at it.
"So the Genetic Core is indeed a tool for nurturing pets. Although this little thing is still in its juvenile phase, its bite is quite something."
The Black Iron Level Genetic Core, which Li Zheng had previously examined, was as hard as ordinary metal.
In the little bat's mouth, however, with a single chomp, a small notch appeared.
Though it was exerting effort to eat, Li Zheng could sense the little bat's joyous mood.
After finishing one Luoshen Flower, Li Zheng took out a water bottle, unscrewed the cap with one hand, and tilted his head back.
"Gulp, gulp, gulp… Ah…"
He drank three mouthfuls of water and let out a contented sigh.
"Eek!"
The little bat made a sound.
Li Zheng looked down and noticed the little thing staring at the water bottle in his hand.
"Do you want some too?"
"Eek."
The little bat nodded, tossing away the half-eaten Genetic Core.
"Alright, I'll pour you some."
Li Zheng placed the bottle cap in front of the little bat and poured some water into it.
For the little bat's size, the bottle cap was just the right size for usage.
The little bat buried its head in the cap: "Gulp, gulp, gulp..."
It lifted its head with a dazed look: "Ah… hic..."
Li Zheng was taken aback, thinking this little guy might be imitating him?
But I didn't hiccup?
The little bat also seemed to realize something was off and covered its mouth with its small short limbs, looking around in a panic.
Finally, when it saw the Genetic Core it had tossed aside, it suddenly pointed at it angrily and shouted at Li Zheng: "Eek!"
The appearance seemed as if it was lodging a complaint to Li Zheng.
"You mean, that hiccup just now was actually made by it?"
"Eek!!"
The little bat nodded righteously with a sound.
Li Zheng pretended to be surprised and said, "But it didn't drink any water just now."
"Eek?"
The little bat was startled, then realized and picked up the half Genetic Core to throw it into the bottle cap.
Then it pointed at it and shouted: "Eek eek!"
Li Zheng, intending to tease it, said with a mischievous smile, "Now it did drink water, but it didn't hiccup."
Hearing this, the little bat stared blankly at the half Genetic Core in the cap.
Li Zheng wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but he seemed to see a faint blush spreading under the fine fur on the little bat's face.
"Eek eek!"
The little bat turned its back, pulling the cap with it, whether out of embarrassment or anger for being laughed at by Li Zheng, it gnawed at the half Genetic Core with a fervent bite.
"Hahaha…"
Li Zheng found it amusing, extending a finger to pat the little guy's head and said, "Alright, alright, I acknowledge you're a proper lady, okay?"
"Eek..."
The little bat closed its eyes, enjoying it for a moment, then suddenly remembered it was still upset and let out a hum, indicating it hadn't completely calmed down.
"Yes, yes, a lady never burps; it was the Genetic Core that burped just now."
Li Zheng helplessly soothed the little creature, but the little thing seemed to read the "underlying meaning" and chewed the Genetic Core even more vigorously.
Crunch, crunch, incessantly.
"This little guy..."
Li Zheng was speechless; how did it seem like he couldn't placate it?
He opened the little bat's pet panel and looking at the three question marks behind "personality," Li Zheng thought he could now definitively classify it.
The personality must be spoiled and willful!
"Oh right."
Li Zheng noticed the little bat hadn't been named yet.
The little creature heard the sound and stopped its chewing, perking up its small ears to hear how Li Zheng would soothe it.
If the comforting fails.
Hum!
The little bat contemplated if it should do something to Li Zheng's hand later.
If a child falls asleep, isn't it only natural to wet the bed?
Li Zheng had no idea what the little guy was thinking, and continued, "You don't have a name yet. How about I give you one now?"
"Eek eek?"
A name?
What is it?
Is it tasty?
The little bat thought, if the name was harder than the current thing it was eating, then it surely couldn't bite it.
"A name, ah, a name isn't something edible, but a code for distinguishing everyone. In the future, as long as this name is called, you'll know it's calling you."
Li Zheng explained to the little bat.
"Ying..."
Turns out it's not food...
The little bat was somewhat disappointed.
"You can't refuse, I can't keep calling you little one or little thing, can I? Those names are not fitting for a lady."
"Ying? Ying!"
The little bat felt this made sense and immediately expressed interest in what name Li Zheng would give it.
"Hmm..."
Li Zheng thought for a bit and said, "You always make 'ying ying ying' sounds, why not call you Xiao Ying? It's a pun on 'Ying', like in cherry 'Ying Tao'."
"Oh right, cherries are delicious fruits, although I've never seen a cherry tree blossom, I've heard they're beautiful."
"Ying ying?"
Cherry?
Tasty?
Is this name meant to suggest eating me?
The little bat shivered and wanted to reject the name.
"Eat, eat, eat, do you think everyone is like you, just thinking about eating?"
Li Zheng explained with annoyance, "In ancient times, poets also liked to use 'Ying' to describe beautiful sceneries.
So, giving you this name is hoping that when you grow up, you'll be the most beautiful among all bats."
"Ying ying?!"
Beautiful?!
The little bat, no, Xiao Ying immediately agreed to this name.
This Ying wants it!
"Look at you getting all proud, as soon as you hear compliments about being pretty, you immediately accept the name."
Li Zheng patted Xiao Ying's head, shaking it back and forth, almost making the little one fall over.
"Ying!"
Xiao Ying let out a dissatisfied cry, dodged Li Zheng's hand, picked up the remaining Genetic Core, and turned to pass it to Li Zheng.
"Ying ying."
As a thank-you for the name, I'll give you the rest of these delicious things.
"..."
Feeling like it had given too much, Xiao Ying quickly gobbled up most of the remaining Genetic Core, leaving only a rice-sized portion before extending it again.
Li Zheng: "..."
This guy is not only spoiled but stingy!
"Forget it, this thing is meant for you to eat, I can't chew it."
Li Zheng waved his hand to refuse.
"Ying!"
Upon hearing his refusal, Xiao Ying quickly swallowed the last bit of the Genetic Core.
As it finished eating the last bit of the Genetic Core, Li Zheng finally received a system notification:
[Pet 'Xiao Ying' has consumed a Level 1 Genetic Core, growing to an Elite Tier.
Current tier: Black Iron Level Elite.]
[Pet 'Xiao Ying' advanced to Elite, gaining new ability: Fast Flight.]
With the system notification, Xiao Ying seemed to sense changes in itself and suddenly unfolded the wings that had always been tucked away.
"Ying?"
Looking at its wings, Xiao Ying was full of curiosity.
Why do the wings suddenly feel strong?
Flap, flap.
Trying to flap its wings, Xiao Ying finally started its first flight as a bat.
Since waking from the hibernation chamber, its little wings seemed underdeveloped, always folded on its back.
To the point it almost forgot it could actually fly.
"Ying ying ying..."
Xiao Ying circled above Li Zheng's head, its flying speed increasing, making joyful sounds.
Li Zheng watched the gleefully flying Xiao Ying, displaying a caring fatherly smile.
Just then, another system notification popped up.
[Current time 19:00, Matrix enters nighttime, some genetic creatures will gain ability boosts during night mode.
Some genetic creatures will be weakened in night mode.]
[Daily midnight 00:00 exploration room count refresh, players with remaining exploration opportunities should explore soon.]
[After midnight 00:00, Matrix Realm will scan survivors; players surviving up to fifty years of age will be removed from The Matrix Survival Game, please prepare.]
[Ding: detected existence of pregnant player in The Matrix Survival Game, removal operation will be advanced, please prepare.]
[Ding: Players targeted for removal this time — fifty-year-olds tomorrow, pregnant women, disabled individuals younger than fifty but older than sixteen (excluding those disabled after entering Matrix). Pregnant women postpartum and disabled individuals undergoing healing will have related memories erased, rejoining The Matrix Survival Game.]
[Preparation time: 05:00]
[04:59]
...
A slew of system notifications popped up, prompting Li Zheng to immediately open the chat channel to find that both the area channel and world channel were in a frenzy.