Chapter 274: The Era of Great Exploration Begins, Transcendent Mentor Bai Fu
After returning from the Taim Civilization, Bai Fu spent some time helping the Empire shoot a promotional advertisement for the Dark Zone exploration plan.
The advertisement caused quite a stir.
In the Star Sea, there were countless explorers, and some Domination-level and Transcendent beings liked to stroll around the Dark Zone whenever they had nothing better to do.
This time, the Empire showed complete sincerity, and many explorers were tempted.
After watching the ad, they gathered in small groups, bought spaceships and weapons, and prepared to venture deep into the Dark Zone to enact the Empire’s dream of going from a poor nobody to a rich tycoon.
It was at this moment that the status of Players in the Star Sea was raised to an unprecedented height.
Many major factions and civilizations stepped in, offering enticing benefits to recruit Players.
【Free food and lodging, a base salary, and a high commission, yo】
【Is that all? We offer a free weapons and ammunition quota!】
【What lousy benefits—come to us, and if you do well, you’ll be promoted immediately, with a chance to study at headquarters】
【We’re giving away catgirls! Join the Mechanical Flames Corps and get a free mechanical catgirl!】
Bai Fu: “?”
What a lowly tactic!
But one had to admit, recruitment ads like the catgirl giveaway were quite effective.
Many Players far from Ulysses joined nearby factions.
Although the XP they gained wasn’t as much as in the Garden of Silence, and the items and knowledge they could buy weren’t as rich, they were still having fun elsewhere.
【We trust Second Bro’s judgment.jpg】
【No pants-removal feature—bad review bad review bad review!】
The game’s community was full of joy and laughter.
It was a spectacle not seen since Version 2.0 began.
Some Players discussed the recruitment ads of various factions.
Some showed off their mechanical catgirls.
Some debated the grand situation of the Star Sea.
Some declared boldly that they would become the King of Dark Zone Exploration…
This lively scene loudly declared to everyone that the Era of Great Exploration had officially arrived!
“Good, good, good, my great leek-harvesting era has come too!”
Bai Fu narrowed her eyes in a satisfied smile.
At present, the game had tens of millions of Players, but only six million had joined the Garden of Silence, greatly limiting her leveling speed.
Long ago, she had been thinking about how to recruit more Players into the Garden of Silence.
For this, she created the Bai Fu Foundation, providing free tickets to Players willing to join.
But in Versions 2.0 and 2.1, Players were too scattered, and so was the main storyline.
Even with a monetary offensive, she only managed to recruit around a million Players.
Most either didn’t want to travel far or didn’t want to abandon existing quests, ignoring her Bai Fu Foundation.
Now, things were different.
In Version 2.2, all Players in the Edge Worlds had only one main storyline: exploring the Dark Zone!
This gave Bai Fu plenty of room to maneuver.
Anyone exploring the Dark Zone would need a rest stop.
Bai Fu planned to build several rest stops in the Dark Zone like Origin Star, providing supply stations, entertainment centers, inns, reality arenas, item shops, weapon shops, and similar services to attract Players from other factions.
As long as those Players came, how she squeezed them dry would be up to her.
Any Player belonging to a small faction under the Empire’s super-faction umbrella could use her faction shop via the 【Faction Alliance】 system.
Her main goal with these Players was to squeeze 【XP】.
Those without faction ties couldn’t use faction shops, but they could still use regular shops.
Her main goal with them was to squeeze 【money】.
But if she could lure them into her faction, she’d squeeze XP too.
She had a big appetite—no matter how many Players came, she could strip them clean.
The only thing this plan required caution about was ensuring the safety of these rest stops, since she was currently antagonizing both the Supernova Battle Group and the Ten Saints Council.
Bai Fu already had countermeasures for that.
“Step one: bring Oathmaster and Yuan Yi to guard Origin Star.”
“Step two: once Origin Star develops, have the Empire build a star gate nearby.”
“Step three: once I become stronger, security won’t be an issue.”
While helping the Empire build the star gate near Ulysses, Bai Fu made a special trip to the headquarters of the Star Pact.
She was there to deliver Fuli to Oathmaster.
Recently, the Garden of Silence had grown rapidly—partly because she had advanced to Domination-level, and partly because she had gathered many followers by guiding NPCs in cultivation.
“You can help me break through my bottleneck?”
Oathmaster, looking down at Bai Fu who was almost a head shorter, was stunned.
Even Yin Zhu, who always had high expectations for Bai Fu, was dumbfounded and wondered if Bai Fu was drunk.
Bai Fu was brimming with confidence.
At her current level of 168, even using the upgraded Apostle’s Spiritual Vision to scout Oathmaster’s attribute panel, almost all feedback was still question marks.
But a panel full of question marks didn’t mean she couldn’t give pointers—there was still the status bar to examine.
The reason Oathmaster’s strength had barely progressed over the years, relying only on refined techniques for better combat power, was that she was stuck at the second metamorphosis of Sprout of Divine Fire.
She hadn’t received any high-level inheritance and hadn’t joined a major faction.
So, even after years as a Transcendent, her second metamorphosis quest had made no progress.
【Abnormal Weakness】
This was the most eye-catching status in Oathmaster’s status bar.
The detailed description stated that her second metamorphosis required a 【“rounded” physique】 because only then could she achieve the 【life transformation】 described in her body cultivation method.
“Rounded” didn’t mean becoming fat—it meant improving HP, Intelligence, and Spirit stats, all three without exception.
Unfortunately, Oathmaster had gone the wrong way, probably thinking only Spirit was important, leading to the following stats:
【HP – 8,199,450 / 10,000,000】
【Intelligence – 4,271 / 5,000】
【Spirit – 6,798 / 6,000】
The gaps in HP and Intelligence were enormous.
But honestly, Bai Fu was still shocked by the length of Oathmaster’s HP bar.
Damn, over 8 million?
You should know, she was still just short of 7,000,000, and with this gap, Oathmaster must have some kind of HP-boosting talent—and not just an ordinary one.
“How could I joke about something so serious?” Bai Fu said solemnly. “Oathmaster, if you trust me, why not try the method I’m suggesting?”
Oathmaster hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “What method?”
Her strength had been stagnant for a long time, and for someone obsessed with martial arts, it was deeply frustrating.
In the past, she had sought fights everywhere, hoping to break through in battle, but after so many fights, there was no breakthrough—only plenty of trouble.
Bai Fu wrote up a list of very common items that could boost Constitution and Intelligence stats.
Oathmaster and Yin Zhu glanced over it but couldn’t see the point.
Still, since there would be no harm in trying, they opened their warehouse with a “half-believing, half-doubting” mindset.
Then.
That night.
Bang!
Oathmaster punched the door to Bai Fu’s guest room clean off its hinges.
“Bai Fu!”
A pair of glittering eyes appeared at the bedside, startling even Bai Fu.
So aggressive?
“Worked?”
Bai Fu, lying in bed watching videos, sat up cross-legged, showing her pale toes.
“It worked!”
Oathmaster nodded vigorously.
More than just working—it worked extremely well.
Not long after using the items, she tried another life transformation, and this time, she clearly advanced much farther than before.
Now Oathmaster looked at Bai Fu as if she were gold shining in the light, wanting nothing more than to scoop her up and stroke her endlessly.
Rumor had it Bai Fu was skilled at guiding Psionicists in cultivation, but who would have thought she could guide even a Transcendent?
What was Bai Fu’s true background?
Oathmaster couldn’t figure it out and said, “Unfortunately, at my current level, those things barely give me any further improvement. I’ll need to find another method.”
Bai Fu said, “Find Yuan Yi the Mage. He’s called a walking library—he might be able to help you.”
“Find Yuan Yi?”
A conflicted look crossed Oathmaster’s face.
For Bai Fu, this was natural—if you lacked something, you robbed/bought/traded for it—but for Oathmaster, it was a bit awkward.
In the past, she’d often fought Yuan Yi, and every time she lost, she’d shout, “Next time I’ll definitely beat you!”
Now, to ask him for help…
Her face just felt hot.
Should she have Bai Fu go talk to Yuan Yi?
Forget it.
She’d go herself.
She already owed Bai Fu enough—she couldn’t owe more.
Though she had helped Bai Fu many times before, none of those favors compared to the return she’d gotten this time.
Oathmaster forced herself to contact Yuan Yi.
Yuan Yi asked curiously, “What do you need these things for? Aren’t you a martial artist?”
Oathmaster glanced back at Bai Fu.
Bai Fu nodded, signaling that Oathmaster could speak freely—she wanted Oathmaster to become the new face of her guidance ability.
“It’s Bai Fu…”
Oathmaster explained the situation.
“!”
Yuan Yi’s eyes sharpened.
Here it is!
He had suspected Bai Fu was most likely a Seeker of the Way, and now here was new evidence.
If Bai Fu wasn’t a Seeker—and not just any Seeker, but an extremely skilled one—how could she cross disciplines to guide Oathmaster, and even guide her correctly?
“I’ll send the items over right away.”
“Huh?”
“Tell Bai Fu not to leave just yet.”
“You’re coming in person? Hey, hey, hey…”
The Oathmaster tried to say more, but Yuan Yi had already hung up.
She spun around, staring at Bai Fu in shock.
She’d known Yuan Yi for almost thirty years. When not angry, he was always polite to everyone—this was the first time she’d seen him so flustered, and all because of Bai Fu.
True, what Bai Fu had done just now had already amazed her, but this was even more shocking.
Could Yuan Yi know Bai Fu’s real identity?
Oathmaster gave Bai Fu a thorough once-over, from the top of her head to her toes and back again, but saw nothing unusual.
Bai Fu smiled calmly.
Good—Yuan Yi had taken the bait!
With a strengthened Yuan Yi and Oathmaster guarding the place, and the Empire watching hungrily from behind, even if the Ten Saints Council or the Supernova Battle Group wanted to make a move on Origin Star, they’d have to think twice.
The benefits of drawing in Yuan Yi and Oathmaster didn’t stop there.
Today she had used Oathmaster to hook Yuan Yi—later, she could use Yuan Yi and Oathmaster to hook even more people, creating a vast web of connections around herself.
In the Star Sea, fighting alone had too many limits—it was better to form a “big three.”
“If you can solve problems with reputation, why bother with exhausting fights?”
Bai Fu stayed at the Star Pact headquarters for two and a half days before meeting the hastily-arriving Yuan Yi.
Like Oathmaster, Yuan Yi was stuck at a Divine Nature metamorphosis—only he was stuck on the third, while Oathmaster was stuck on the second.
“From the looks of it, completing the second metamorphosis should count as Transcendent II?”
Bai Fu wasn’t entirely sure, but she now had a rough idea of the power division between Transcendent I and Transcendent II.
As before, she told Yuan Yi how to complete the metamorphosis.
The metamorphosis of a traditional NPC and that of an NPC with Player attributes like her were likely very different, without special requirements like killing enemies or defeating certain opponents during advancement.
After obtaining the method for metamorphosis, Yuan Yi gave Bai Fu a deep look.
With just a few glances, she had solved a problem that had troubled him for years.
At this level, Bai Fu had to be one of the most powerful Psionic Priests in the Star Sea in the past hundred thousand years.
But who exactly was she?
Because Bai Fu’s fighting style was so diverse—close combat, Prayer Cards, summons—it was hard for anyone to guess.
Yuan Yi could only note it down quietly.
Whoever she was, as things stood now, Bai Fu was definitely someone upright and righteous.
Dealing with such a person didn’t require tricks or roundabout schemes—heart to heart was enough.
There was no need to worry about being cheated.
“Bai Fu, this time I owe you a big favor. If you have any request, just say it. I’ll do my best to fulfill it.”
Bai Fu didn’t stand on ceremony and directly said she hoped Yuan Yi and Oathmaster could temporarily go to Origin Star to help hold the stage for her.
“I won’t let you fall into a major crisis. If the Ten Saints Council or the Supernova Battle Group sends too many people, you can just run away.”
Run away? That was underestimating his strength far too much.
Yuan Yi shook his head.
“It just so happens I don’t have anything urgent to do lately. I might as well treat it as a trip to Origin Star—I haven’t seen the Dark Zone’s scenery in years.”
Oathmaster nodded.
“Same here. I’m tired of staying at headquarters. It’s a good chance to see your hometown.”
Bai Fu thanked them.
That same day, both the Star Pact and the Arcane Library issued new statements saying that, at Bai Fu’s invitation, Administrator Yuan Yi and Oathmaster would be traveling to Origin Star in the Dark Zone and would not be receiving visitors for the time being.
The news immediately caused quite a stir.
There were only three Transcendents in the Edge Worlds.
Now one had gone off to join the Ten Saints Council, and the remaining two were both hanging around Bai Fu?
The expressions of the Three Major Interstellar Civilizations all turned grim.
Was Bai Fu’s charm getting a little too high?
The biggest reaction came from the Supernova Battle Group.
Originally, the Supernova Battle Group had planned to attack Origin Star right after Bai Fu’s arrival.
But now that Yuan Yi and Oathmaster were going there, killing Bai Fu under their protection would require sending at least one Transcendent II and two Transcendent I.
The Supernova Battle Group certainly had the strength to send that many people.
But if they killed Bai Fu in front of Yuan Yi and Oathmaster, would it push the two of them toward the Empire?
If they wanted to eliminate those two as well, the number of Transcendents dispatched might have to double—and even then, it might not be enough.
They might have to bring out a cosmic treasure.
A large-scale fleet was definitely not an option.
It would draw too much attention, and they’d be spotted before reaching Origin Star.
“A frontal assault won’t work. In that case, we can only find a way to lure Bai Fu in.”
Fist of Devouring, Geruga, thought for a moment and finally decided to have someone set up a trap in the Dark Zone to draw Bai Fu in for exploration, then take the chance to kill her.
“Sir, please allow me to join the operation this time!”
Zephyr volunteered, stepping forward.
Geruga nodded in agreement.
After what Zephyr had suffered, it was only right to let him vent his anger.
…
While all factions were preparing for Dark Zone exploration, Bai Fu returned to Ulysses.
This time, Anya advanced to Calamity-class first.
After she helped the Empire finish building the giant star gate, she received news that Cypriss had returned to Calamity-class.
【You have completed the Main Storyline Quest［Dark Zone Insect Swarm Conflict (II)］, reward: 30,000,000 XP, Cypriss Skill Card ×3, Random Skill of Cypriss ×1】
“Counting the rewards from Pioneer series Quest Branch 1 and Branch 2, I can do a small level-up before heading to the Dark Zone.”
Bai Fu was in quite a good mood.
She immediately had Anya arrange a small fleet bound for Origin Star.
At the same time, she opened her Attribute Panel and Quest Panel, preparing to tally her quest rewards.
Just then, she noticed that after a few days, Zephyr’s position on the map had changed.
“Isn’t that direction toward Origin Star?
I’ve already spread the news that Yuan Yi and Oathmaster are going there, yet the Supernova Battle Group still plans to go in hard?”
Bai Fu narrowed her eyes, wondering if she should bleed a little more to shake a few people from Whitney’s side over for a raid.