Chapter 319: After Returning, Bai Fu’s Open Source Golden Age
With the power of the Paradise Ark, Bai Fu resurrected. She had originally wanted to leap out immediately and give the people of the Holy City of Apostles a true “Bai Fu shock.”
But the time needed to dispel the resurrection debuff had exceeded her imagination.
Fortunately, she had looted plenty of good things from Cathedral Number Four. Otherwise, the time needed to dispel the debuff would not have been four or five days, but forty or fifty days.
In the tense situation now, if she had to go forty or fifty days without regaining her peak state, she would inevitably miss a large number of main quests.
After recovering, Bai Fu did not rush to announce her survival.
She had an idea.
Since the outside world was in chaos, with many believing she had truly died, why not take advantage of this public opinion?
So, she first completed the Battle of Tub mission and the emergency quest triggered in Cathedral Number Four. With the XP from those completions, she leveled up four times, and only then did she contact Dmitri.
Dmitri’s favorability toward her had reached as high as 88—already a level of trustworthiness.
“You want to delay a few more days before announcing you’re alive?” Dmitri was stunned.
Bai Fu nodded. “I think the traitors within the Empire’s upper ranks are not limited to just Srik. We might as well use this chance to dig the rest out.”
Dmitri asked, “And how do you plan to do that?”
Bai Fu replied, “You tell the Imperial upper ranks that I’m still alive, but strictly order them not to spread this news. Say we have a special plan, and if the news leaks, if our ‘plan’ runs into an accident, then it proves there must be traitors among them. With luck, we might even figure out who they’re working for!”
Dmitri mused, “This would indeed expose whether traitors exist within the upper ranks. But it wouldn’t confirm their real identities. With their abilities, they have many ways to bypass surveillance and relay intelligence outward.”
Bai Fu grinned. “That’s why we give each of them different versions of the plan. At the same time, you mobilize every available resource to act according to those different versions, confusing them. The plan’s execution time should be accelerated—leave them no time to distinguish truth from falsehood. They’ll have no choice but to pass the news out as fast as possible.”
Dmitri understood.
A fishing operation.
This method was indeed feasible, especially with Bai Fu’s direct involvement.
If they could use this plan to root out the traitors within the Empire and the hidden force plotting against it, then the Empire could better deal with both the Holy City of Apostles and the Revolutionary Army.
Truly worthy of Bai Fu.
Feeling moved, Dmitri thought again of Emperor Odoak.
While Odoak had been blaming Bai Fu, she was once again doing the Empire a huge favor.
Truly, people could be infuriating in comparison. Odoak—not to say half her ability—if he even had half her magnanimity, that would already be a blessing.
But alas…
Such comparisons only led to frustration. Hopefully, the royal family would soon produce a qualified heir.
“I’ll make the arrangements right away. I’ll notify you when it’s ready.”
The call ended.
While Dmitri busied himself, Bai Fu summoned Hei Fu. Then, using 【Divine Envoy Incubation】 and the 【Seed of Divinity】, she elevated the Eye of Sorrow she had previously enlightened, turning it into her second Divine Envoy after Shadow Fu.
“Very good. Now I have two Domination-level beings under me. Time to prepare for my next step.”
She had already decided before heading to Cathedral Number Four.
After seizing Dark Energy’s advanced knowledge, her next goal was to make a pilgrimage to the Esper Garden.
Once she succeeded in taking the Esper Garden into her possession, then with three Cosmic Treasures in hand, what was a mere Fourth Candidate Apostle of the Holy City of Apostles? She would stomp him flat with just two kicks!
【Keep setting up psionic relay stations in the Holy City of Apostles. Once I return from the Esper Garden, we’ll rendezvous in Rayas.】
Bai Fu sent this message to Anya and Yulia, who were still stationed inside the Holy City of Apostles.
When she had gone to Cathedral Number Four, she hadn’t taken them along. Instead, she had them deploy a large number of psionic relay stations inside the Holy City.
The Holy City of Apostles had been wholly distracted by her actions, never noticing anything amiss.
Of course, once they regained their footing, they would surely notice strange things sprouting up across their domain.
It didn’t matter.
Bai Fu had never intended for those relay stations to last forever.
She only wanted to light a grand fireworks show in the Holy City at the right time.
While Anya and Yulia carried out their tasks, Shadow Fu had also been keeping Sui Xi busy, showering her with contribution points in creative ways.
As Bai Fu’s die-hard fan, Sui Xi showed no grief when hearing Bai Fu had died—because she had learned directly from Shadow Fu that Bai Fu was very much alive.
Aside from the unexpected suppression of summoning functions, every part of Bai Fu’s plan in the Holy City of Apostles had been advancing steadily.
Half a day later—
Dmitri devised over a dozen seemingly viable plans. After exchanging intelligence with Bai Fu, he leaked the news of her survival to the dozen most powerful figures in the Empire—including even the Emperor. Each received the message along with one of Dmitri’s plans.
At the same time, Bai Fu ordered Hei Fu to rush to the Imperial Capital to assist Dmitri.
As for herself, without even Dmitri knowing, she sped toward the Esper Garden marked on the map.
To ensure smoother acquisition of the Esper Garden, she even “seduced” the Oathmaster along the way. Originally, she had considered inviting Yuan Yi, but she gave up after recalling his overly mysterious background.
The Oathmaster, being a “pure” martial arts fanatic, could not resist the allure of a “vixen” like her.
The moment she heard there was a way to strengthen her body, she had rushed over eagerly.
“So, you really didn’t die.”
Upon meeting, the Oathmaster reached out, poking and prodding Bai Fu’s body.
She had accepted Bai Fu’s invitation partly because of the promised reward, and partly because she wanted to increase her favorability. Only then would she have the standing to request borrowing the Paradise Ark to deal with her mortal enemy.
“That Supreme Apostle is indeed very powerful, having already undergone four Divine Transformations. But killing me? He’s far from qualified.”
Bai Fu’s face remained calm, though inwardly she brimmed with pride.
From the game prompt when the Supreme Apostle struck her, she had confirmed he was indeed colluding with the Fourth Apostle, even going so far as to use Apostle-slaying techniques to wipe her out completely.
However—
What a surprise! I’m not an Apostle at all!
The Supreme Apostle had been thoroughly duped.
Her fabricated Apostle persona had truly paid off.
Hearing her words, the Oathmaster gazed at Bai Fu as though discovering a new continent.
Even a Transcendent who had undergone four Divine Transformations couldn’t kill her. Was this what it meant to be an Apostle?
Amazing!
She gave Bai Fu a big thumbs-up.
“Here. The reward I promised you earlier.”
Bai Fu opened the Eternal Night Pure Land and handed over the body-refining technique she had looted from Cathedral Number Four.
She herself could not practice it, but for the Oathmaster, it was perfect.
The Oathmaster, overjoyed, ran off to study it with childlike enthusiasm. Unlike Bai Fu, she couldn’t simply master new skills by watching a progress bar.
Bai Fu sat in the cockpit, silently staring at the game map.
Traveling from Origin Star to the Esper Garden actually wouldn’t take long, since its core lay within the Empire’s Star Ring Island system.
With a stargate connection, it would take at most five days.
But those five days were unlikely to be peaceful.
If there really were still traitors within the upper ranks of the Rebirth Empire, they would surely act within that time.
…
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
In the Orbital City Cluster of Shining Stars, inside a castle-like structure—
Bernard, a Domination-level being and an Elder of the Rebirth Empire, frowned deeply.
He had just received Dmitri’s message. Bai Fu had indeed fought with the Holy City of Apostles, but she had not died. Instead, she had obtained methods that could further strengthen all Domination-level and Transcendent experts, and was about to put them into practice!
“No wonder Bai Fu dared to risk venturing into the Holy City of Apostles—it was for this!”
He had to stop her. Otherwise, if Bai Fu and the Rebirth Empire succeeded, disaster would befall.
Feigning calm, Bernard quietly retrieved something stick-like from a drawer, then lit it.
Wisps of smoke rose, curling out slowly through a window crack.
The next morning, Bernard received a new message from Dmitri.
He boarded the spaceship with a relaxed face, his destination being an unremarkable hollow star system located between Vast Continent and the Great Defensive Wall.
“Hmm, Bai Fu isn’t coming here in person?”
Upon arrival, Bernard was momentarily stunned.
Alongside him came the Sword Emperor, as well as a Giant Bai Fu.
The Giant Bai Fu said, “It’s just extracting special Dark Energy. I can control my True Spirit Summon remotely to complete it. There’s no need to come in person—it wastes too much time. I’ll begin now. You two stand guard nearby, and under no circumstances may you disturb me. If we miss this opportunity, we’ll have to wait another six and a half months!”
Bernard immediately agreed, though inwardly he was delighted.
Not to be disturbed?
He silently stepped back a few paces and began calculating the time.
One minute, two minutes…
It was about time!
Suddenly, an unusual ripple appeared in the starry sky.
“This is… a ship’s jump?!”
Unaware of the true plan, the Sword Emperor’s expression changed dramatically.
Why would there be a ship jump here at this time?
Not good!
“Bernard, you guard this place. I’ll stop them. They must not disturb Bai Fu!”
Bernard declared solemnly, “Go quickly, Your Excellency Sword Emperor. Even if I have to give my life, I will never allow anyone to disturb Bai Fu!”
The Sword Emperor nodded, then immediately dashed out.
Watching his retreating figure, Bernard began to smile.
Next, he just had to find an opportunity to get rid of this True Spirit Summon of Bai Fu’s.
“Thinking about how to stop me, but without letting me notice it was you?”
At that moment, the Giant Bai Fu suddenly blinked before Bernard, wearing a smile that was not quite a smile.
The grin froze on Bernard’s face.
“You—”
Bang!
His reply was the Giant Bai Fu’s iron fist.
With the talent of the Apostle’s Body, Bai Fu directly descended into this Giant Bai Fu.
The Dark Energy fused into the iron fist struck Bernard, instantly igniting into blazing flames.
“Ahhh—!”
Bernard screamed in agony.
His total level had already reached 192. Yet even so, against the Devouring of Dark Energy, he still could not withstand it.
Struggling to muster his inner power to extinguish the Dark Energy flames, Bernard cried out in panic toward Bai Fu.
“Bai Fu, what are you doing? Do you intend to betray the Empire?”
Bai Fu sneered, spreading open her Ethereal Field.
A field empowered by more than twenty thousand Inspiration points was terrifying beyond measure. In an instant, Bernard was slapped directly into the depths of the planet.
“Even now you still want to quibble?”
As her words fell, Bai Fu controlled the Giant Bai Fu to reappear beside Bernard.
Psionic lashes poured down like a torrential rain, pounding Bernard’s body again and again. Boom after boom, Bernard could not even struggle—only watch helplessly as his body and the planet together shattered into fragments.
The next second, a suddenly flying “Glass Orb” swallowed his soul.
An invisible power locked his soul tight. No matter how he struggled, he could not move.
Bai Fu brought the Giant Bai Fu’s face close to the “Glass Orb,” smiling playfully. “Do you know how I immediately saw that you were the traitor who leaked the information?”
Bernard suddenly realized. “Don’t tell me—”
Bai Fu said, “Exactly. Dmitri gave each of you different plan details.”
It was over.
Completely over.
Bernard felt as if the sky was collapsing.
Looking at Bai Fu through the Glass Orb, he no longer saw an angel, but a terrifying demon.
Bai Fu pocketed the “Glass Orb” and sent a message to the distant Sword Emperor.
【No need to continue fighting them. Let’s return.】
The Sword Emperor was dumbfounded.
“What on earth is going on here?”
【You can ask Dmitri for the details. My body is still too fragile. Anyway, the traitor has been exposed, so there’s no need to keep clashing with those attackers.】
The Sword Emperor wanted to press further, but seeing that Bai Fu intended to leave, he decisively fled as well.
The attackers who had suddenly appeared were not weak. If the battle continued, he would gain no advantage.
One day later, in the capital circle of the Rebirth Empire—
Dmitri solemnly accepted two “Glass Orbs” from the Giant Bai Fu.
“You have saved the Rebirth Empire!”
The Sword Emperor and the others, having learned the truth on the way back, now looked at Bai Fu with reverence.
It was fortunate that back during the Taim Civilization they had not foolishly clashed with Bai Fu. Otherwise, how dire would the Empire’s situation be now?
Just one Srik had been shocking enough. Who would have thought there were two more traitors among the Empire’s upper ranks?
What madness possessed these people? The Empire had treated them and their factions better than Bai Fu, yet they betrayed the Empire.
Truly absurd.
Bai Fu said, “I won’t interfere with the interrogation. Your methods are better than mine. But I do have a new request.”
Dmitri said, “Speak freely.”
Bai Fu said, “Help me contact all members of the Ethereal Research Society, and all Domination-level and above Psionic Priests in cooperation with the Empire. I have something I need their help with.”
Dmitri agreed.
By now, there was no point in continuing to conceal Bai Fu’s survival.
The Psionic Priests who received the news reacted the same as Dmitri and the Oathmaster had earlier.
Even the Supreme Apostle of the Holy City of Apostles had failed to kill Bai Fu. Was Bai Fu simply too strong—or was the Supreme Apostle unworthy of his name?
Shocked and puzzled, the Psionic Priests gathered in the Imperial Capital Circle.
Bai Fu had called them together for one reason: to announce something.
“I obtained two pieces of advanced Dark Energy knowledge in the Holy City of Apostles.”
“!”
“I intend to share these two pieces of advanced Dark Energy knowledge with you. Of course, I have one condition—if you derive Dark Energy techniques from this knowledge, I want you to share them with me and with everyone else. We’ll research together, and advance together.”
“!!”
At that moment, even Curse Lord Olsen was stunned.
Forget advanced Dark Energy knowledge—even advanced Psionic knowledge was hoarded tightly by every major faction. Yet Bai Fu was opening her newly gained Dark Energy knowledge.
If she traded this knowledge for resources, how much could she gain?
Was this what it meant to be Saint Bai Fu?
Bai Fu, gazed upon with burning eyes, remained calm.
She had her reasons for open-sourcing the Dark Energy knowledge.
Knowledge was power, but turning knowledge into power required time.
Deriving skills required time and flashes of inspiration. Synthesizing Dark Energy Prayer Card blueprints required time and experience.
And now, with the situation so tense, she had no time for such things. She preferred to spend her hard-earned XP on leveling up.
Therefore, she decided to offload these costs onto others.
Come forth, my Open Source Golden Age!
By using advanced Dark Energy knowledge as leverage, she would have others derive Dark Energy skills and Prayer Card blueprints for her. All she had to do was learn them afterward. She would save time, save XP, gain favorability, and further elevate her image.
Bai Fu had no fear that others mastering advanced Dark Energy knowledge would threaten her.
She was absolutely confident. Already, she was stronger than all of them—except perhaps Olsen—and in the future she would only become stronger.
In truth, once they grew stronger, they would not threaten her but rather share the burden of pressure from the Holy City of Apostles.
If a large group mastered advanced Dark Energy knowledge, the Holy City of Apostles’ advantage would no longer be overwhelming.
One individual’s power was limited, but the power a Cosmic-level Civilization could unleash was extraordinary.
“Dark Lord, to be honest, I never fully accepted you before. I thought you were only this powerful because you were born as an Apostle. But today, I am fully convinced—you are a true Saint.”
In the conference hall, a Domination-level Psionic Priest suddenly stood, doffing his hat to Bai Fu in salute.
Then he said, “The Rebirth Empire is in crisis. As one of its members, I am deeply grateful to the Dark Lord for all you have done for the Rebirth Empire and the Explored Universe. So, to support this noble act, I intend to open-source my own Psionic Refinement Method alongside your Dark Energy knowledge. Moreover, so you don’t suffer a loss, I will personally provide your Dark Moon Tide Corporation with a large sum of money and resources.”
With his lead, others stood as well—including Curse Lord Olsen.
Well now, an unexpected windfall?
Bai Fu had only sought new Dark Energy skills and Prayer Card blueprints, but instead she gained a massive influx of Psionic resources, Psionic skills, Prayer Card blueprints, and Psionic construct blueprints.
So this was the benefit of a reputation so lofty and respected?
Once the meeting ended, Bai Fu’s open-source plan spread quickly with the departing participants.