Chapter 81: Shining Across the Stage, the Charm of the Version’s Protagonist
Morning, with the sun in full blaze.
At the gate of Shelter Number 11, over two hundred new Players crowded densely.
After the initial surprise and commotion passed, most of the new Players’ attention was now fixed on Anya, who had suddenly walked out from within Shelter Number 11.
【Eh, I recognize this NPC, isn’t she the lackey beside Bai Fu?】
【That’s right, it’s her, the beginner guide for the Garden of Silence faction!】
【Damn, she’s so cute. I wonder what would happen if I pinched her cheek—she’d probably cry for a long time】
【Don’t be reckless, bro. These NPCs have top-tier AI. If you pinch her and make her mad, you won’t be able to join the faction or accept any quests】
【Exactly. If I remember right, Anya has a Power Armor unit, right? Better be careful or she might come out in it and blast you】
These Players were mostly entering the game for the first time, but they weren’t unfamiliar with Beyond the Stars, nor with Bai Fu, Anya, or the Garden of Silence.
All thanks to the persistent promotion by Excavation‑Princess.
Starting from Star‑Play Society’s 《First Most Popular Female NPC Contest of Beyond the Stars》, Excavation‑Princess had stirred up hotspot after hotspot with battles involving all sorts of Players, and most of those battles revolved around Bai Fu. So, any Player who had paid attention to Beyond the Stars for a while and enjoyed surfing the internet had basically heard of Bai Fu’s name by now.
But knowing the name didn’t mean these Players would lean towards Bai Fu when playing the game.
In early rumors, Bai Fu was merely a hidden character whose storyline hadn’t yet surfaced. For Players who cared about combat strength, story progression, or quests, there was no reason for them to go out of their way to visit Shelter Number 11 to find Bai Fu.
But the debates sparked by Excavation‑Princess’s new video before the 1.1 version went live changed everything.
Excavation‑Princess said, “Fu‑fu might not only be related to the main storyline—she might be the actual protagonist of this version,” which completely altered the mindset of many new Players.
Whoa, the version’s protagonist?
Gotta rush it then!
That’s the power of marketing!
Even fine wine fears a deep alley. If not for this capable champion Excavation‑Princess, Bai Fu figured she’d still be racking her brain trying to think of ways to continue raising Player favorability.
Now that the tide had turned, Players were coming to her proactively. All she had to do was show a little kindness to win their affection.
In truth, what Bai Fu had prepared for these new Players wasn’t just “a little kindness,” but a convenient gaming experience that no other faction could currently offer.
First, Bai Fu presented the new Players with an intelligent and adorable beginner guide who was also the Quartermaster!
Wearing the Garden of Silence small robe Bai Fu had rushed the Gao family to make, Anya stood with a friendly smile and greeted the more than two hundred new Players before her.
“Undying Ones from beyond the Fog, this is Shelter Number 11 of the Goli Desert, home of the Garden of Silence.”
“Shelter Number 11 is a peace-loving settlement. Here, you’ll experience a unique exotic charm...”
Anya patiently introduced the conditions at Shelter Number 11, as well as a few cautionary notes on things not to do.
The cautionary notes were her own addition. She was afraid these newly arrived Undying Ones would act like those who first came to the Abandoned Cooling Plant—wandering into others’ homes and rummaging through boxes and drawers.
Several minutes later.
She pressed her five fingers together in front of her chest and said, “I hope you all gain something from this journey. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me or consult your seniors.”
Next, Bai Fu presented the benefits that veteran Players enjoyed within the Garden of Silence!
After Sword Qi Soaring, Starfish‑bro, Excavation‑Princess, Convert to My Fu and others logged in, Bai Fu issued new daily quests via the faction management interface.
【Assistant to the Beginner Guide】
The quest required helping Anya answer new Players’ questions. However, the requirements were not low—only veteran Players with over 20 faction Reputation could accept it.
Because the quest was simple, the rewards weren’t high, just a small amount of XP and faction Reputation. But hey, even a mosquito has meat, and it didn’t take much time to complete anyway.
The quest became a hot item the moment it was posted.
Convert to My Fu accepted the quest, set his 【Quest Tracker】 to visible, and deliberately displayed it above his head. As a result, his name appeared to others as—
【Assistant to the Beginner Guide】
【Convert to My Fu】
The onlooking Players were nearly blinded.
Goodness, wasn’t this basically an exclusive title for high-Reputation veterans?
So noble, so very noble!
The fact that veterans could get rewards for helping newcomers was already appealing, and now it turned out it could be played like this?
After seeing Convert to My Fu do that, both low-Reputation veterans and new Players were now determined to grind Garden of Silence Reputation with all their might.
Bai Fu’s strategy of using veteran-exclusive quests to incentivize new Players was a huge success.
Then, Bai Fu presented a service unmatched by any other Newbie Village on Origin Star!
In other Newbie Villages, buying equipment, food, and items often required Players to run all over the place. Finding things took effort, and just the travel alone wasted a lot of gameplay time.
But that wasn’t a problem at Shelter Number 11.
Bai Fu had teamed up with Gao Yuan to transform a deserted street in Shelter Number 11 into a shopping street dedicated to serving Players.
Here, Players could buy firearms, medicines, clothing, and basic materials. They could also sell Sandworm materials to the shops. What’s more, they could freely accept commission quests posted on the Commission Platform co-managed by Bai Fu and the Gao family.
Aside from being unable to Class Transfer or purchase Prayer Cards here, this shopping street truly offered one-stop service for new Players.
As Bai Fu had expected, it didn’t take long before new Players were already posting about this unique shopping street on the forums.
Want a smooth gaming experience, free from frustrating mechanics?
Then hurry to Shelter Number 11!
Finally, Bai Fu presented a convenient Class Transfer process and a one-of-a-kind item: the Prayer Card.
Any Player who joined the Garden of Silence could buy Profession Knowledge Books from her special shop.
Of course, this came with conditions.
Ordinary Profession Knowledge Books could be bought freely, but advanced ones required not only money, but also certain Reputation levels.
Even so, this was already quite convenient. Players who joined in version 1.0 had suffered a lot trying to Class Transfer back then.
To attract Players, Bai Fu specially included the 【Psionic Apprentice】 knowledge book and the three Psionic Knowledge Chains she had mastered in the product list at Anya’s faction special shop.
【Hiss, so expensive... That price, that Reputation requirement—Bai Fu’s totally a profiteer!】
【What do you know, damn it? You call this expensive? Do you even know what this is? This is a Knowledge Chain—a prerequisite for Class Transfer to Advanced Class!】
【True, the official website said it—you need to collect five Knowledge Chains to Class Transfer to an Advanced Class. Now the Garden of Silence shop just released three Psionic Knowledge Chains at once. That’s like directly cutting the difficulty of Class Transfer by 60%!】
【Insane! The Garden of Silence is practically heaven for Psionic Classes!】
【Just look—Class Transfer requires level 30, and the level cap in version 1.1 is only level 25】
【You don’t know this, do you? You don’t have to wait until Class Transfer to learn Knowledge Chains. Learning them early gives bonuses】
The new Players gathered around the shop were thrilled.
Oh, actually, even the veteran Players were excited.
Just one update, and Shelter Number 11 along with the Garden of Silence had changed so dramatically. Could Bai Fu really be, as Excavation‑Princess guessed, the protagonist of this version?
This was just too good.
They were the original veterans of the Garden of Silence who followed Bai Fu from the start!
The veteran Players who could talk with Anya and Old Nissen strutted with pride.
Seeing the Players all smiling, Bai Fu smiled too.
“Only when everyone’s doing well, is it truly good!”
These Players might not understand the phrase “Once you enter the Fu Sect, it’s as deep as the sea.”
She actually wished for all Players who joined the Garden of Silence to Class Transfer into Psionic Apprentice—because that way, they’d be bound to her.
By selling Psionic knowledge or Psionic items, she could ruthlessly harvest the Players’ wallets, and they wouldn’t even curse her afterward. On the contrary, they’d praise her for doing it well.
The logic was simple.
She helped Players save the time of searching for Psionic knowledge. Spending money to buy time—especially when it was in-game money—meant most Players would say: “This kind of good deal? Give me more!”
A fake goddess uses beauty to dazzle Players into infatuation.
A real goddess not only dazzles with looks, but also effortlessly controls the Players’ futures!
“Unfortunately, not all Players like Psionic Classes. To draw in more Players, I’ll have to find more Class mentors for the Garden of Silence later.”
Bai Fu quietly shook her head.
Under her guidance, the newly arrived Players had already started doing quests with great enthusiasm.
Their arrival brought unprecedented liveliness to Shelter Number 11 and made Gao Yuan see hope in expanding and strengthening his collaboration with Bai Fu.
But there was one thing he could never figure out.
“Where exactly did these Undying Ones come from?”
In this world where technology, supernatural powers, and Psionics coexisted, resurrection wasn’t some earth-shattering special ability.
But for this many people to possess resurrection ability—and seemingly infinite at that—was extraordinary.
Gao Yuan had investigated. Similar individuals seemed to be appearing all over the real world.
A few days ago, he had even instructed his subordinates to approach an Undying One who had no connection to Bai Fu. That Undying One chatted merrily at first, but then suddenly showed disgust and left mid-conversation. The switch in attitude was so fast it left them baffled.
He didn’t know if the sudden surge of Undying Ones in the world was a good or bad thing, but since his partner Bai Fu could easily handle hundreds of them, it was probably more of a benefit to him.
In response to Gao Yuan’s inquiry, Bai Fu told a small lie: “I don’t know the specifics, but they’re very reliable partners.”
Now that Gao Yuan was probing into the Players’ origins, the other factions had surely noticed the Players’ abnormality too. They would certainly pay more attention to the Players from now on.
Thankfully, she had made early preparations. With Excavation‑Princess’s promotion and this wave of positive coverage, she had successfully turned herself into the brightest star of the night sky during the early days of version 1.1, ensuring she wouldn’t fall behind in the faction competition.
Bai Fu had laid low for two days, giving new Players time to adapt and develop.
During these two days, intel about her and Shelter Number 11 had spread throughout the Community. Many Players from other Beginner Planets were red-eyed with envy.
【This gameplay experience is absolutely phenomenal. No wonder she’s the version’s protagonist—the treatment is top-tier】
【Goddamn it, where’s our plot protagonist?】
【Regret. When everyone else deleted their accounts to reincarnate to Origin Star, I was still laughing. Now I’m not laughing at all. Three Knowledge Chains—do you know how much time that saves?】
【Isn’t it still not too late to reincarnate now?】
【I’m already level 14... I can’t bear to abandon this account. I’m crying】
【Fu‑fu, hehe, my Fu‑fu】
【Don’t start acting crazy here】
【Just tell me—isn’t Fu‑fu amazing? Her looks aside, she even made a faction this cool】
Bai Fu’s position was basically exposed now, but she wasn’t worried.
Lately, the Truth Society and the Gene Primordials had been fighting back and forth. Rumor had it that the Old Republic also intended to join the war, so neither the Truth Society nor the Gene Primordials had the spare energy to bother her.
Even if they came, she wasn’t afraid. She traveled between camps daily. It wouldn’t be easy for them to find her. She could flee anytime based on Player-supplied intel.
Speaking of intel, Bai Fu had already successfully planted a spy inside the Gene Primordials.
Most Players from the Iron Rain Guild had joined the Gene Primordials. Thanks to Sword Qi Soaring, those Players were now steadily feeding intel to her.
Besides that, a few Players who were close to Starfish‑bro and Excavation‑Princess but couldn’t make it to Shelter Number 11 due to distance had begun playing “save the country by a detour,” trying to win her favor by leaking intel on the Truth Society.
【When Bai Fu arrives, that’s when our uprising begins!】
In short, Bai Fu accepted it all.
Apart from discussions about Bai Fu and Shelter Number 11, a lot of Players in the Community had started focusing on Psionic Classes.
【By the way, how’s the combat power of Psionic Classes?】
A flood of Players swarmed into related discussion threads, including some game veterans who had just migrated from other games.
This was when someone knowledgeable stepped up.
【Psionic Classes tend to be more support-oriented early on. If you’re someone who loves exciting combat, better not choose them. Even if you do, be sure to dual-class with a combat type】
【Psionic + combat Class is pretty powerful, but the problem is you need double the XP for both Classes. It’s easy to fall behind early on】
【Eh? No way. Isn’t Bai Fu a Psionic Class too? And she’s super strong】
【Bro, Bai Fu is an NPC. NPCs have tons of bonuses Players don’t. You can’t compare like that】
【Wait, didn’t the devs say Players can unlock those NPC bonuses too?】
【Really? I don’t buy it!】
Ruining my plans, are you?
Bai Fu remained calm—she already had a plan.
“Right now, a lot of Players see me as the protagonist of the new version. Since I’m the protagonist, I ought to show the strength and performance a protagonist deserves.”
She had decided to turn the operation against Graham into the first major event of the Garden of Silence faction—in the Players’ eyes, a “Main Quest.” As for the actual main storyline of the Goli Desert region, 【Elegy of the Watchers】, she herself hadn’t even received it yet, so how was she supposed to share it with the Players?
“I still have to properly ‘interrogate’ Little Yulia and Old Nissen to make them hand over the main quest as soon as possible.”
Bai Fu pulled out Little Yulia.
“Tomorrow I’m preparing to interrogate Graham. Don’t you have anything to say about that?”
Little Yulia lay on her palm and said earnestly, “You actually don’t have to take this risk. If you just hand yourself over to me and let me thoroughly study your body, I’ll be able to find a way to escape and personally go rescue those people.”
Bai Fu curled her lips. “Dream on. Not even a single strand of hair, let alone my body!”
Little Yulia wasn’t disappointed by the refusal.
In fact, she had already known Bai Fu would say that.
Doesn’t matter. If you won’t give it, do you think I can’t find a way to pluck one out of you myself?
When the time comes, I’ll just leave you completely bald!
Bai Fu said, “Tell me about Graham. You must know something about him, right?”
Little Yulia said, “Graham is the Deputy Minister of the Truth Society’s Special Operations Division. That division is known for its sharp observation skills and impressive strength. On the surface, he’s a martial artist skilled in dual blades. If you go investigate, that’s probably all the info you’ll dig up.”
Bai Fu nodded. Little Yulia wasn’t wrong—the intel she’d gotten from the dark web matched this exactly.
Graham’s blades weren’t ordinary ones, but extraordinary weapons capable of releasing Qi blades. Rumor had it that the Qi blades he unleashed could cut through steel, let alone the fragile bodies of humans.
However, steel...
Bai Fu touched herself.
Steel of average thickness didn’t seem as hard as she’d imagined.
“But if that’s all, Graham would never have become Deputy Minister of the Special Operations Division,” Little Yulia added. “He’s also an esper. His ability is Capture.”
“Capture?”
“High-speed visual capture. When he activates his power, the world in his eyes slows down. No matter how complex the movements, he can capture them all. He’ll have ample time to think about how to counter his opponent’s attacks. That’s his true secret. If he gets close to you, the situation will turn very grim.”
So that’s it. It really was a good ability, but if that was all Graham had in his arsenal, then Bai Fu could rest easy.
She was the Queen of Taking Hits! Her specialty was not being fazed by even the fastest reactions or attacks.
“The real issue is the people around Graham.”
Bai Fu understood clearly. But even so, she wouldn’t let down her guard against Graham. Who knew if he had more tricks up his sleeve?
“Anything else you want me to do?” Bai Fu asked tentatively.
Little Yulia said, “Let me examine your body.”
Forget it. You may leave now.
Bai Fu figured the one who triggered the regional main storyline was most likely Old Nissen. They just needed a catalyst.
That would be for later. The priority now was taking care of Graham.
She had already received word from her spy—Graham had gone on a mission to harass the Gene Primordials. This was a great opportunity.
Seeing the new Players had mostly adapted, Bai Fu issued a faction quest to eliminate Sandworms, then selected the ten new Players who performed the best.
“Next comes an important operation concerning the future of the Goli Desert. I need your strength!”
It was happening, it was happening—the main quest and the version protagonist’s plotline they’d been waiting so long for!
As they watched Bai Fu walk out gracefully, all the Players were overwhelmed with excitement.