Chapter 108: Dual Main Storylines, So Bai Fu Is the Savior?
Bai Fu did not rush immediately to the Holy Spirit Cult's camp.
Her objective this time was to complete the fourth branch of the Hidden Main Quest and gather all the Obsidian Shards.
Over the past few years, Pratt had thoroughly studied the Obsidian Shard held by the Holy Spirit Cult and had sifted through countless news reports, old newspapers, and various documents. Through comparative analysis and elimination, he speculated that the third Obsidian Shard had only two possible destinations—
the Truth Society or the Gene Primordials!
His reasoning was that some characteristics of the Mutants created by the Truth Society and Gene Primordials closely resembled those of individuals affected by the radiation from the Obsidian Shards’ power.
Once he had a clear direction, Pratt conducted a new round of research on the possible location of the third Obsidian Shard.
In the end, based on some inconspicuous news reports, he narrowed it down to two sites.
【Marsk Wasteland (coordinates xx, xx, xx)】
【Gene Primordials’ Haidu First Industrial Zone (coordinates xx, xx, xx)】
Considering that these two coordinates were directly recorded into the Hidden Main Quest, Bai Fu believed the third Obsidian Shard was very likely at one of the two places. Even if it wasn't, these locations would definitely yield relevant intelligence.
She had to admit, while Pratt wasn’t exactly a good person, his capabilities were indeed remarkable. If he hadn’t encountered her—a NPC with a Player Interface—his chances of success with help from Players would’ve been very high.
“Marsk Wasteland isn’t particularly far from the Holy Spirit Cult, at most two days of travel. Let’s head there first.”
Bai Fu’s plan was to check Marsk Wasteland first. If it turned out fruitless, she would go to the capital Haidu of the Gene Primordials and conveniently complete both Branch 3 of the Hidden Main Quest and 【Source of Psionic Power】 triggered from Xia Shi, saving herself another trip later.
Having made her decision, she returned to Shelter Number 11 with the Players and the White-robed Persons.
Sharpening one’s tools won't delay the work of cutting wood. On the way to the Holy Spirit Cult and Marsk Wasteland, she might encounter people from the Truth Society or the Old Republic, so she had to prepare adequately.
Over the next two days, she and Hei Fu combined forces and hurriedly produced a large number of Prayer Cards.
These included life-saving Psionic Shields, scouting Tiny Bai Fu, and the newly unlocked Psionic Burst and Penetrating Spear.
Besides those, she also made many lower-requirement Prayer Cards. If anything came up, she would distribute them to the Players and let them collectively charge forward—so the people of this world could experience what it meant to face the Fourth Calamity!
Over the past two days, Shelter Number 11 became very lively because all the Players knew Bai Fu was about to lead another mission.
【Yay! I heard she’s taking several hundred people this time—far more than the fifty from last time】
【Last time, we watched the whole Hang from a streetlamp process up close, but didn’t really get to fight. Wonder how it’ll go this time】
Players from the Garden of Silence were full of anticipation, but Players from other factions were getting anxious.
Those who sided with Su Li and the Human Alliance were fine, but those who joined other factions wore dark expressions.
【Damn it, can’t I get one too】
【Bai Fu is great, but she’s not mine. That sucks】
【I’m not jealous. Not at all. Bai Fu, Hei Fu, they’re all nothing compared to my darling Qingbao】
“Some more radical Players might see themselves getting no benefits and just blow things up alongside the Garden of Silence Players.”
Bai Fu pondered secretly, thinking she must take precautions.
She first contacted Gao Yuan and asked him to keep an eye out in her absence, then sent Anya, Old Nissen, and others to another refuge the Garden of Silence was heavily constructing in the Goli Desert, in case of any incidents.
Once everything was ready, Bai Fu put away the Obsidian Shards and officially led the Players and White-robed Persons toward the Holy Spirit Cult.
Even Players who only joined during Version 1.1 had developed for over a month by now. So although she brought a large number of Players this time—over four hundred—their average level was still quite impressive—
Level 12!
“Just at this level, as long as there’s enough weapons and ammo, throw them anywhere and they’d be a force to reckon with.”
Bai Fu felt quite satisfied with her achievements over the past few months. Now, she was only one step away from her great leap forward.
……
Under the guidance of the White-robed Persons, Bai Fu arrived smoothly at the Tongshan Camp of the Holy Spirit Cult.
Tongshan Camp lay four hundred kilometers west of the Old Republic and the Railway Guild. The area had always been desolate before the Cataclysm, with frequent droughts and little rain. After the Cataclysm, it became even more barren.
Walking along the outskirts of Tongshan Camp, Bai Fu saw only abandoned buildings with doors and windows wide open, cobwebs forming at the corners.
A White-robed Person explained, “A few years ago, a strange infectious disease suddenly broke out in the camp. At first, the infected just had high fevers, but after a few days, black spots would appear on their skin. If not suppressed with a very expensive medicine at that point, their whole body would be covered in black spots within a month. Once that stage is reached, their muscles stiffen, they can't breathe, and they suffocate to death. That place, that one, and over there too, all used to have people living in them, but now…”
He shook his head and sighed, face full of sorrow, and his emotion infected the other White-robed Persons as well.
Indeed, the Holy Spirit Cult used to be quite radical. Even after Pratt’s money-obsessed father became a Priest of the Holy Spirit Cult, things only improved a little. But ever since the outbreak, the people of the Holy Spirit Cult had been tormented to the point that they had no energy left to care about anything else.
They just wanted to survive, but surviving wasn’t so simple.
“The medicine sold by the Old Republic is too expensive for ordinary people to afford. Even if used, it only suppresses the virus’s spread—it doesn’t cure it. Those infected can’t get out of bed and need constant care.”
While they spoke, the group arrived at the main entrance of Tongshan Camp.
With several hundred people arriving all at once, the people inside the camp grew extremely tense. If this was a provocation, the Holy Spirit Cult in its current state would struggle to fend them off.
The White-robed Persons who came with Bai Fu quickly ran ahead, raised their hands high and shouted, “Don’t be afraid! We found the Sacred Relic! This Silver Moon Lady brought the Sacred Relic here to verify our condition!”
“What?”
That shout made the entire camp erupt in excitement.
Within minutes, dozens of people came rushing out of the camp, each wearing joyful expressions.
“Silver Moon Lady, thank you so much for coming.”
“This is great! We’re finally saved!”
“Where’s Pratt? Why don’t I see him?”
At the mention of Pratt’s name, the crowd fell into a strange silence.
It was Bai Fu who broke the quiet: “He suddenly disappeared while we were preparing to come here. We searched for a long time but couldn’t find him.”
“Huh?”
The people of the Holy Spirit Cult looked baffled.
Bai Fu casually changed the topic: “Time is tight. We’ll discuss him later. For now, take me to see this disease you mentioned.”
With no choice, the Holy Spirit Cult members suppressed the matter of Pratt’s disappearance for now. They led Hei Fu and part of the Players deeper into the camp. Since it was an infectious disease, all the patients had been placed in an isolation area.
An elderly man who seemed highly respected pointed to the quarantine zone: “Usually, only those in special protective suits dare to go near. I’ll ask someone to fetch one that fits you…”
Hei Fu stopped the old man, and under Bai Fu’s control said, “No need. I won’t be infected. They aren’t afraid of infection either. Just take us in directly.”
After repeated insistence from Hei Fu, the old man had no choice but to order someone to lead her in.
After entering the quarantine zone, all that could be heard were painful groans and wheezing breaths like a bellows.
“The camp is too small, we can’t isolate too many people. Sometimes, we have to kill some of the severely infected.” The guide wore a gloomy expression. “Please, help them.”
Excavation‑Princess felt her eyelids twitch uncontrollably. Damn, this was way too tough.
At that moment, both Bai Fu and the Player received a new mission to help Tongshan Camp treat the infectious disease.
The mission itself was simple—just to cure the illness—but executing it was not, due to the lack of clear prompts. The good news was that the mission rewards were quite generous, with plenty of XP, money, and faction Favorability.
Of course, that generosity was from the Player’s perspective. Bai Fu, who held two main storylines, didn’t care much for that bit of XP.
She used Psionic Vision on the patients lying in bed and the medicine bought from the Old Republic.
There wasn’t much to say about the disease itself—until the investigation was complete, everything remained question marks. But the medicine was another story.
【Muscle Enhancement Potion (Prototype Type III)】: A special potion developed by the Old Republic. Though diluted, it cannot cure Muscle Hardening Syndrome, it can prevent further deterioration of the patient’s condition. For treatment, use the high-concentration type. First use grants +1 Endurance.
From the medicine’s description, the Old Republic seemed to have a high-concentration potion capable of curing the disease. So why weren’t they selling it to the Holy Spirit Cult? Were they trying to milk the Holy Spirit Cult for profit?
The problem was, the Holy Spirit Cult didn’t look like they had much to milk. And if they let everyone in the Cult fall ill, there wouldn’t be any profit to make.
“Looks like the investigation needs to start from the potion angle.”
Bai Fu had already confirmed that Obsidian Shards were completely useless for treating the disease.
She shared her discovery with the Player, and at the right time, she also passed on Sub-branch 1 of the hidden main storyline 【Would-be Savior】, letting the Player investigate the potion while also trying to obtain a specific list from the Psionic Diffusion Committee within the Old Republic.
These kinds of shareable quests were very special. Even if she didn’t do anything, Bai Fu could still get a portion of the rewards once the Player completed the mission. If it weren’t for that, she wouldn’t have handed such quests over to the Player. Why share the spoils when you can enjoy them alone?
All the Players, including Excavation‑Princess, thought they had come to treat the sick and act like living Buddhas, but who would’ve thought that during their chat, Bai Fu would drop a main storyline mission on them?
【Wait, a main storyline mission?】
Some Players realized something was off.
【Bai Fu already released a main storyline called [Elegy of the Watchers], and now there’s another one called [Would-be Savior]? Holy crap, dual main storylines—Bai Fu alone holds two of them!】
Players from the Garden of Silence and those who saw the news in the Community were all stirred up.
【Fu, just how many surprises are you hiding?】
【Is it possible that Bai Fu holds more than just two main storylines?】
【You might as well say all the main storylines on Origin Star are tied to Bai Fu】
【Honestly, that might just be true. My Fu is number one under heaven! Actually, more than the dual storylines, I’m more intrigued by the name of this new main storyline】
Would-be Savior!
Even the slowest Player at this point couldn’t help but start daydreaming.
As a die-hard Bai Fu fan and someone who rose to fame making videos related to her, Excavation‑Princess couldn’t help but hold her breath at that moment.
Oh no, the deeper she thought about it, the more she felt like she was going to bliss out and lose focus!
But she simply couldn’t stop herself from thinking.
【@Excavation‑PrincessDiggingTreasure, what do you think?】
For a time, the Community was flooded with Players tagging Excavation‑Princess, hoping she would give her opinion.
What else could she say? Wasn’t it already obvious?
【Mission verified. It’s pretty much confirmed that Fu Fu’s character role is Savior of Origin Star!】
【You’re asking what I think? Of course I’m popping champagne!】
Just how much lore could be dug up from a Savior?
Excavation‑Princess didn’t even dare to think too deeply. One thing was certain—invincibility.
Once the news that Bai Fu was highly likely to be the Savior spread, the entire atmosphere in the Community shifted.
Those who already envied the Garden of Silence faction Players were now even more envious. And those who used to think, “If I can’t have it, I’ll destroy it,” suddenly felt a wave of fear.
Thank goodness they hadn’t acted yet. Otherwise, they would’ve ended up antagonizing someone with a pivotal role in the Origin Star’s storyline.
If they actually succeeded in killing Bai Fu, that’d be one thing. But if they failed, they wouldn’t be able to access the main storyline missions and would be left standing around like idiots watching other Players have all the fun.
This was the Savior, after all. Even though the title was “Would-be Savior” and she might not actually become one, it still meant that Bai Fu, if not the main protagonist of Origin Star, was at least among the top characters.
Some Players stomped their feet in regret.
【Why didn’t I follow those who restarted at Shelter Number 11 back then?!】
The Players’ reactions made Bai Fu beam with joy.
That was just perfect. This kind of misunderstanding among Players was all benefits and no downsides for her. The most immediate perk was that during her next enhancement, her Character Profile might actually become “Savior.” The lesser benefit was that many Players might now be hesitant to cause trouble for her due to her “Savior” status.
While Bai Fu was smiling, so was Excavation‑Princess.
She had to find a way to deeply investigate Fu Fu’s storyline, to uncover her true identity. If she could expose Bai Fu’s true identity ahead of time, it would be even more sensational than a new version update!
While the Players were shocked by the new main storyline, things were looking bleak on the Holy Spirit Cult’s side.
The Sacred Relic couldn’t cure the disease. What were they supposed to do now?
Hei Fu said, “Don’t worry, the illness isn’t completely incurable. I already have some leads. I’ll have the people who came with me investigate. Just wait patiently.”
To be honest, the members of the Holy Spirit Cult didn’t really believe Hei Fu’s words, but she and Bai Fu had traveled all the way here and promised to help. What else could they do but feel grateful?
They waited. They had already waited a long time, so a little longer didn’t hurt.
After delegating the mission, Bai Fu sent Tiny Bai Fu to wander around the camp. Without much effort, she found another Obsidian Shard at Pratt’s residence.
She didn’t take the shard immediately, planning to act after returning from the Marsk Wasteland.
After arranging the tasks for the Players, she selected a group of sharp and skilled ones who had come with her.
“I need to make a trip to Marsk first.”
Bai Fu didn’t reveal her purpose. She mainly worried that if Players discussed it in the Community and the Truth Society caught wind, the whole trip would be wasted.
……
Marsk Wasteland.
At the bottom of a relatively flat valley, a helicopter roared in and steadily landed on a helipad in the valley.
In an instant, people on both sides swarmed forward.
“President!”
They stood in two straight lines and saluted the person stepping down from the helicopter.
The Truth Society President glanced around, feeling fairly pleased. This visit was to inspect the progress of the Mutant Project, which would determine whether the Truth Society could eliminate the other Four Major Factions.
“Take me to the lab.”
Led by the guards, the Truth Society President entered the underground lab beneath Marsk.