Interstellar Farming: I Make Potions and Climb to the Top

"Little Mo, no wonder you’re so dead set on following her. I used to think you were under some kind of spell. Looking at it now, Ning Xuan really is outstanding. You have good taste." Lin Yuzhi looked at the son she had always held such high hopes for, a satisfied expression in her eyes.

"Thank you for your approval, Mother. Did you call me here today for a specific reason?" All Lin Mo wanted was to go back and be close to Ning Xuan, so he didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly.

"Once a son is grown, his mother can’t hold on to him. Just look at you, so utterly distracted. Can you not bear to be away from her for even a moment?" Lin Yuzhi glanced at her son’s lovesick state and mentally rolled her eyes.

In the past, Lin Mo had been completely focused on the battlefield. She had arranged for several candidates to parade in front of him, but Lin Mo had nearly killed the delicate women, mistaking them for assassins.

Lin Yuzhi had even thought her son didn’t like women. She never expected he simply hadn’t met the right one.

Lin Mo felt his face flush. "Mother, if you have something to say, please say it quickly. I need to get back to serve my Contractor. I don’t have time to spare."

"Ah, you really know how to break your mother’s heart. I haven’t seen you in so long, and you’re already impatient after just a few words," Lin Yuzhi sighed, her tone half-genuine, half-feigned.

"Alright, alright, enough idle chatter. I just wanted to tell you that I plan to find an officiator to discuss the Contract ceremony with Ning Xuan. I’m already making preparations. When you go back, you should give Ning Xuan a heads-up," Lin Yuzhi said with a serious expression.

"Mother, please don’t do this yet. Ning Xuan hates being forced into anything. I already made her very unhappy by hiding my personal information at the beginning. She was originally going to terminate our Contract, and I had to beg her to take me back. We’ve only just started to build some rapport. If you do this now, she’ll definitely think I’m being greedy and pressuring her, and I won’t be able to explain myself," Lin Mo said, his face pale. ’He was somewhat glad he’d come to see his mother today. If he hadn’t known her plans and she’d gone directly to Ning Xuan with an officiator, he couldn’t imagine how Ning Xuan would react.’

"You are the legitimate son of Five Maples City. Even if Ning Xuan is a rising star, you are more than a match for her. What, does she not have any regard for you at all? Why do you sound so subservient in front of her?" Lin Yuzhi frowned, displeased.

’Previously, she’d thought her son was so head over heels in love that he insisted on pairing with a commoner, and that he would surely suffer for it. But stumbling wasn’t a big deal; after all, he was still young, and taking some knocks is part of growing up. But it turned out her son had good taste—the one he chose was a potential goldmine. Now that she was making a name for herself and had a bright future, wasn’t it time to hurry up and arrange the ceremony for him? The main reason was her fear that if they delayed, more families would swoop in to snatch her away.’

"Mother, I’ve already made a mistake. Besides, she’s a Controller, and the Controller Protection Association has its rules. How could I dare to be too presumptuous?" Lin Mo looked mortified. ’Which of the Contractors by your side isn’t subservient in your presence? Only the few who have borne your children dare to be a little more relaxed around you,’ he thought.

"Ugh, so spineless. I was thinking of getting this matter settled before leaving Central Star, but if you’re not confident about it now, then forget it. However, regarding the crime of disrespect, didn’t you already receive punishment from the Controller Protection Association? That matter should be considered closed. Don’t always face her with the mentality of a repentant sinner. You adore her from the bottom of your heart; you need to make her feel how much you care," Lin Yuzhi said patiently to Lin Mo.

Lin Mo nodded, feeling that he understood his mother’s point to some extent.

"If she won’t give you a Contract ceremony in the short term, then while she doesn’t have many people around her, and while you still have a year of vacation, have a child," Lin Yuzhi said suddenly after a moment of thought.

Lin Mo’s face instantly turned bright red. "Mother, I’m only twenty-five! Why are you talking about having a child? Who has children that early?"

The lifespan of an ordinary person in the Federation was 80 to 100 years, while a Spirit Controller’s lifespan was between 100 and 800 years. Generally speaking, the higher a Spirit Controller’s Level, the longer their lifespan.

With Lin Mo’s current SS-level spiritual power, his normal lifespan was around 500 years. At 25, he was indeed still very young.

"You don’t have to raise the child; your father can help. I’m just looking at your current situation and worrying you might not have a chance later." Lin Yuzhi couldn’t say it too bluntly. At the award ceremony, the winners of the second, third, and fourth place medals were all top disciples sent by Extraordinary Influences. The way they looked at Ning Xuan was anything but innocent.

’Although Lin Mo was outstanding, he was still a notch below those few. Most importantly, he’d never learned how to please women growing up. Now, he seemed quite afraid of Ning Xuan. If she were to discard him in the future, having a child as a tie would prevent her from being too heartless.’

"What are you saying, Mother? Ning Xuan is a person who values relationships, and she likes me, too. As long as I don’t make any mistakes, she won’t abandon me. Please, don’t worry. I’ll be going now." Lin Mo bowed to his mother and took his leave. ’He still felt a bit guilty toward his mother. If he and Ning Xuan held a Contract ceremony, he would have the status of a main husband, and his mother could be considered one of Ning Xuan’s elders. But, he was just a Contractor.’

Lin Yuzhi watched Lin Mo leave, a hint of worry on her face.

「The Bai Family.」

Bai Ruzhen had just been bailed out by Bai Xiurong at great cost, only to immediately hear the news of Ning Xuan winning the Alchemist competition.

’Bai Ruzhen was so angry she nearly fainted. Ning Xuan was Xiu Wen’s legitimate, biological daughter! She should have been the Bai Family’s precious granddaughter, but now they were like enemies. It was all that little bitch Ning Chuchu’s fault. If she hadn’t stirred up trouble, how could the Bai Family have lost a golden Phoenix like Ning Xuan? It was heartbreaking, and the more she thought about it, the more it hurt.’

The number of deaths in the Lingxiao Secret Realm had also been tallied. Including those who died after leaving the Secret Realm due to an excessively high Mutated Degree, the total death toll was 1,523.

This time, the number of deaths was equal to the total number of participants in the previous unrestricted division competition.

Although the Elder Council intervened to investigate, their final conclusion was simply that the death toll was excessive. The loss of surveillance footage, they stated, was mostly caused by changes in the Secret Realm’s rules. Most of those who had committed evil and murdered others within the Secret Realm had died inside it. The small portion who escaped would face the judgment of the law, and a list of those sentenced to prison was attached to the report.

With the release of this list, the Alchemist competition officially came to a close. As for Ning Xuan, she was about to enter a new school and begin a new Chapter of her academic life.