Chapter 123: Custom Main Storyline, Becoming the Only True Protagonist?
At the end of version 1.1, due to the influence of the official update preview, some Players sensed that the upcoming version might offer more benefits in the Garden of Silence, so they decisively abandoned their original factions and began migrating toward the Garden of Silence.
The number of these Players was massive, and their arrival caused the total Player count in the Garden of Silence to increase by one to two hundred daily.
But this was just the beginning.
After version 1.2 launched, the popularity of the Challenge Instance at Bagaros Base made the Garden of Silence even more appealing.
Many Players who had been hesitant could no longer sit still after witnessing what happened in the Garden of Silence on the first day of the new version.
Who knew, maybe they could also unlock a Hidden Class after arriving in the Garden of Silence?
Even if they couldn't unlock a Hidden Class, just learning those few Skills considered divine would significantly enhance their gameplay experience.
Recently, Players from the Garden of Silence kept posting videos in the Community and on video platforms showing themselves brutally defeating Sandworms using 【Flowing Light】, 【Overflowing Radiance】, and 【Moon Veil】, which made Players from other factions green with envy.
However, what truly compelled most undecided Players to go out of their way to join the Garden of Silence were the two events that followed.
After unlocking the 【Moonlit Dancer】 class, Patrick Star secured thirteen consecutive wins in the Arena. In the No-rules Arena Mode, he even defeated the top Arena Player from another popular online game, climbing to fourth place on the real-time leaderboard, with a chance to take first place and become the new “King.”
This event instantly turned Patrick Star into one of the most talked-about Players in Beyond the Stars. Many professional teams were inviting him to join.
Although he had previously been known for his skill, he had always lagged behind the very top tier. But now, after a stint in the Garden of Silence, he clearly had the potential to become the Street King.
【This is the Garden of Silence!】
【Good news for Fu fans】
【Join the Fu Sect, +20% Combat Power】
If this event wasn’t enough to prove the claim that “joining the Garden of Silence makes you stronger,” then the video released by Excavation‑Princess served as the strongest evidence.
Everyone knew that Excavation‑Princess was a noob. Her level was high, but she couldn’t even beat normal Players half her level.
However, in her newly released video, she used 【Flowing Light】 and 【Moon Veil】 to sneak attack and successfully take down two level-12 Sandworms without dying herself!
Players who watched the video had two immediate reactions: first, they thought they were dreaming; second—
【Even Excavation‑Princess became this awesome after learning Flowing Light, Overflowing Radiance, and Moon Veil. If I learn them too, I’ll definitely be even more powerful!】
No way, no way—could anyone possibly be worse than Excavation‑Princess?
Even if they were, they’d never admit it.
That video from Excavation‑Princess was like a seductive bomb dropped into deep waters, attracting a huge wave of Players to the Garden of Silence.
“Right now, one to two hundred come each day. In a few days, it might hit three to four hundred—or even more.”
Seeing this, Bai Fu quickly handed all the vehicles she had previously seized over to Gao Yuan, instructing him to form a transport convoy to shuttle Players between Shelter Number 11 and Shelter Number 5. This was to prevent transport shortages that might strand Players at Shelter Number 5 and deter them from coming to the Garden of Silence.
“A new Player who’s willing to spend can bring me at least 2000 XP in the early stages. Including XP gathered from other sources, I can earn around 500,000 XP daily. Once the peak period hits, that number might double.”
Bai Fu estimated that this peak would last ten to fifteen days. If her calculations were correct, the XP would be enough to fully max out her 【Moonlight Dancer (Advanced)】, and also level up her Psionic Illustrator class by another six or seven levels.
The future looked bright!
Bai Fu cheerfully walked to the window and looked down at the busy Players outside.
This massive influx of Players into the Garden of Silence was both a boon and a tremendous challenge.
More Players meant that if the number of Quests she offered remained the same, then the supply would fall short. The resulting drop in game experience would drive Players away after they spent XP to buy Skills.
Although she could still fleece each Player once, one-time profit clearly wouldn’t satisfy her.
“You think you can leave after joining the Fu Sect without being completely drained by me?”
Bai Fu wasn’t looking for a feast. She wanted to feast every meal.
To solve this, she devised several strategies.
The first was to expedite Gao Yuan’s Commission Platform, allowing the Garden of Silence to accept more external assignments for Players to complete.
The second was to cooperate with other factions—such as the Dark Web—by regularly dispatching Players to work for them.
The third was to boost the Garden of Silence’s Reputation and create more Challenge Instances to satisfy Player demands.
However, deep down, Bai Fu had an even bolder idea. A spontaneous plan that she dubbed—
“The Origin Star Reconstruction Project!”
After the World War and the Cataclysm, Origin Star had become a ruin filled with Mutant Creatures and Pollution Sources. The survivors struggled to live and often fantasized about the pre-Cataclysm world but didn’t dare hope it could be restored.
They didn’t dare—but Bai Fu dared. After all, she had an army of fearless, pollution-immune Players at her command.
She could use the Goli Desert as a starting point, dispatching Players to gradually eliminate Mutant Creatures and Pollution Sources, allowing this devastated planet to slowly return to its former appearance.
Without a doubt, the plan was arduous and tinged with romanticism.
But precisely because it was so daunting, Bai Fu yearned for it.
Centered around this plan, she could assign endless tasks to Players.
Eliminate Mutant Creatures, wipe out violent criminal groups in the wilderness, build forward camps, develop antidotes to mutation infections, clean up Pollution Sources in the wild, uncover the truth behind the Cataclysm, and judge the culprits who caused it…
This was the rebirth of civilization, the epic of humanity on Origin Star, and the glorious journey of the Players!
When Beyond the Stars promoted itself, it repeatedly promised that Players could change the world with their own hands and shape the future. Many Players were drawn in by this slogan.
They were tired of playing other games where, despite doing so much, they could change so little—sometimes not even able to witness the changed world themselves.
Just being able to build their own faction bases already fired up many Players. Bai Fu believed that when the chance to save the world and go down in history as its savior was placed before them, these Players would be even more impassioned.
What? That’s still not thrilling enough?
Bai Fu had more ideas.
Whoever contributed the most would have buildings, camps, or cities named after them!
Whoever performed the best would have statues and Hero Museums built in their honor across the world!
And once everything was settled, documentaries, movies, and TV series would be made for every Player who took part in this grand endeavor. Novels would be written about them to maximize their sense of involvement and honor.
Bai Fu didn’t believe that such a complete combo wouldn’t entice most Players to join her Origin Star Reconstruction Project.
Once the plan got underway, Origin Star would be reborn—and she would surely earn a fortune.
One thing was certain: this plan would eventually replace the old Main Storylines on Origin Star to become the New Main Storyline. And she, who controlled it, would naturally become the only protagonist of Origin Star.
The Sovereign of the Shadowed Night had arrived; the clear skies had returned.
The Sovereign of the Shadowed Night had arrived, and Origin Star would be at peace.
At that time, no other NPC on Origin Star would be able to shake her position, not even an NPC from beyond the stars who was deeply tied to future storylines.
No matter how much plot content they had, it couldn’t compare to what was most important for Origin Star—improving its harsh living conditions and pushing development forward.
“Becoming the only true protagonist of Origin Star would grant me a massive power-up, and for a fairly long period, would make the Players of Origin Star follow my every word, bringing me countless hidden benefits.”
The more Bai Fu thought about it, the more she felt this plan was solid.
To ensure the plan’s smooth execution, she had to eliminate every individual and force in her way.
For example, the Truth Society and the Gene Primordials—even without personal grudges, these two things simply couldn’t be allowed to remain.
……
Bai Fu shifted her thinking. She now treated the task of building up the Goli Desert as a trial field for officially launching the 【Origin Star Reconstruction Project】, preparing to use some of the tactics that enhance Player participation and a sense of honor ahead of time.
Two days later, after the widened main road at Shelter Number 11 was completed, Bai Fu suddenly showed up at the scene carrying a stone road sign.
This move immediately drew the attention of all nearby Players, who were all curious what such a grand gesture from Bai Fu meant.
The result was unexpected.
After firmly planting the road sign at the intersection, Bai Fu personally began carving on it. What she engraved was—
【Convert to My Fu Road】
【——This sign is dedicated to all who contributed to the construction of this road】
The back of the road sign had already been pre-carved with the names of the Players and NPCs who participated in the construction, packed densely in tiny characters that stunned the surrounding Players.
“Damn, Convert to My Fu Road! Convert-bro, your name became the name of the road!”
The Players were filled with envy.
This road had been designed by Convert to My Fu. He had spent a lot of time on it. Although he earned more XP than other Players, some still thought it wasn’t worth it—after all, it required too much brainwork, unlike grinding which was quick and straightforward.
But now, none of the Players watching thought it was a waste.
So that was the hidden reward!
Having a road in-game named after yourself—what a thrill!
The news spread like wildfire throughout the Garden of Silence. Other Players were instantly hyped, and once the news reached the Community, it sparked another round of discussion.
【Just did two Quests and the NPC was already treating me like a hero, calling me “young master” every sentence. I thought I was living the dream—until Bai Fu carved a monument with her own hands. I’m dead with envy】
【Give me one too!】
【Wait, if I’m not mistaken, there’s a veteran in the Garden of Silence named Big Bird Spin-Spin, and he designed a plaza garden. If Bai Fu names it after him, won’t the name be “Big Bird Spin-Spin Plaza”?】
As soon as this was said, Players in the thread were howling with laughter. Big Bird Spin-Spin, having been @mentioned, was so terrified he immediately went to buy a Rename Card.
He had no choice—otherwise, a glorious name-commemoration event would become a never-ending comedy and mockery.
【A bloody lesson: please give your names some dignity】
【You really don’t want an NPC to call you “Mr. Ball-buster Knight” with a pained expression, do you?】
While Players were passionately discussing the new antics in the Garden of Silence, Bai Fu took the opportunity to name the two newly built structures “Dark Moon Plaza” and “Silent Garden.”
Sure, the names were a little chuunibyou, but hey—what kind of adventure game would it be without a little chuuniness?
She had two objectives with this: the first was to guide Players with the words “Dark Moon” and “Silent,” making them believe she was the legendary Sovereign of the Shadowed Night. The second was self-promotion.
Bai Fu, who needed fame and popularity, naturally had to leave her name behind for every good deed.
Not only did she want her name remembered, she wanted it remembered in every possible way.
The officials hadn’t appointed her as the game’s Poster Girl, but she could make herself the Poster Girl of the Garden of Silence, and even of all Origin Star.
Recently, fearing trouble from the Truth Society or the Gene Primordials, she had sent Old Nissen and Anya to the Psionic Research Institute No. 2 Subdivision, which left Anya's Mysterious Shop temporarily vacant.
During the first few days of version 1.2, she had randomly grabbed one of Shawn’s lackeys to run the shop. Now she had removed that NPC and replaced them with Tiny Hei Fu and Tiny Bai Fu.
Though these two were as brainless as Hei Fu, just watching a shop and guarding against Players acting like Outlaws was still within their capabilities.
Tiny Bai Fu handled monitoring and deterrent force, while Tiny Hei Fu collected money and handed out goods after Players paid.
In addition, Bai Fu also formed a patrol team made up of two Tiny Hei Fus and two Tiny Bai Fus, instructing them to patrol the expanded Shelter Number 11 whenever idle.
Oh—wait, Shelter Number 11 had been renamed. It was now called Bai Fu Town.
Although this move didn’t become a trending topic in the Community, it did attract a lot of attention. Many illustrators and content creators started making fan works of Tiny Bai Fu and Tiny Hei Fu. For a while, the two Tiny True Spirits were beginning to look like they might evolve into the silly fufu mascots à la Hatsune Miku.
Well, they were all fufu anyway—no problem at all!
Just as Bai Fu was reveling in raking in XP and popularity, she suddenly received a call from Su Li.
“What’s up?” Bai Fu asked.
From the other end of the terminal, Su Li shouted, “Bai Fu, are you part Succubus or what? And not just any Succubus, but a Queen-class Succubus—I swear, you’re something else! Even across hundreds of miles you’re seducing the Undying Ones on my side!”
“?”
After a few questions, Bai Fu finally learned what happened—apparently, a few Players who had previously followed Su Li had now defected. Their destination? The Garden of Silence.
She spread her hands.
Well, what could she do? She hadn’t even gone all out yet. What had happened so far was just the Succubus lightly flicking her tail.
Su Li grumbled for a while. “Forget that. Let’s move on—I have serious business. Ever since the Truth Society suddenly attacked Black Mountain City of the Old Republic, they’ve been acting stranger and stranger.”
Attack on Black Mountain City?
Bai Fu pretended she hadn’t heard that.
“How strange?”
Su Li explained, “We tried to send Undying Ones in as spies to find out the location of the Truth Society’s hidden base. After two months, we finally got something—but before we could act, the Truth Society abruptly evacuated the base. Something’s definitely up. We all agree they’re planning something big.”
“You telling me this means you want to work together?”
“Exactly. I’m severely short-handed over here. I want to hire some Undying Ones from you.”
“Oh, that’s no problem. Just tell me how many you need—I’ll arrange it right away.”
Bai Fu agreed without hesitation. Staying on good terms with the Railway Guild was clearly beneficial to her current situation.
In the end, Su Li took 200 Players.
After ending the call with Su Li, Bai Fu slightly furrowed her brows. Judging by the situation, something major was about to happen on Origin Star. The good news was that the basic outlines of her five bases were more or less complete.
Time to erect the Monument. Once the Monument was up, she could send Players out to investigate the Truth Society and the Gene Primordials, preparing to eliminate these two obstacles.
Bai Fu took action immediately.
She picked a pleasant afternoon and, in front of all the Players, tore off the cloth draped over the massive stone tablet.
After the previous events of naming newly built roads and buildings using names like Convert to My Fu and others, most Players had already faintly guessed the purpose of this enormous stone tablet placed in Dark Moon Plaza. But when the Monument was truly unveiled before their eyes—when they saw the words carved into the stone, saw Bai Fu delivering a rousing speech at the center of the plaza, and the cheering NPCs surrounding it—they still felt an incredible rush of excitement.
Positive feedback, this was positive feedback. What keeps Players engaged in a game if not the constant stream of positive reinforcement?
Even though it was all labor and grinding, doing it in the Garden of Silence was a hundred times more enjoyable than in other factions!
Excavation‑Princess started snapping photos of Bai Fu like crazy.
【Everyone stop rushing me! At the latest, I’ll have the third issue of Garden of Silence News Express ready the day after tomorrow】
Excavation‑Princess was overwhelmed by the pressure from Players in her livestream room. Not only were Players online pushing her, there were even several Players standing beside her urging her to update.
Luckily, she had already completed half the video in advance. Otherwise, she was genuinely afraid someone might lock her in a dark room and force her to work overtime on the video.
【This time, the video will include an exclusive interview with Fu-fu. Please look forward to it】
Excavation‑Princess took a few more shots of Bai Fu. Suddenly, she noticed something off in the photo.
【What is that?】
She quickly zoomed in and discovered a stranger in the top-left corner of the image—someone glaring at Bai Fu with a sinister expression.
Something was wrong!
Excavation‑Princess’s pupils shrank sharply, and she shouted toward Bai Fu, “There’s an assassin!”
Her cry shook the entire plaza.
“Protect Fu with your sword!”
“Run!”
“Stop that assassin!”
The assassin, who had been hiding in the shadows, knew he had been exposed. He no longer bothered to hide. Raising his sniper rifle, he pulled the trigger.
There wasn’t the slightest panic on Bai Fu’s face. In fact, she had already noticed the assassin. Her fully upgraded Psionic Perception covered a full 100 meters. Even an ant wouldn’t escape her detection. The only reason she hadn’t acted earlier was because she had been directing Hei Fu and Tiny Hei Fu to secure the key locations of Bai Fu Town.
She wasn’t sure if this assassin was alone, so she had to make preparations just in case.
Now that Excavation‑Princess had revealed the presence of the assassin, there was no need for her to keep pretending.
Was this revenge from the Truth Society, or another faction?
Whoever it was, now was the perfect time for this assassin to witness the power of her complete Fu form. She wasn’t some fragile being who’d be taken down by a bullet to the head or chest!