Xie Zhengxing dug the demon core out of the earth dragon, tucked it into her robe, then walked back on her Anti-Gravity Winged Combat Boots to the elite disciples, who were still standing there in a daze.
“What are you all spacing out for? Clean up the battlefield, hunt down any demons that escaped, and have someone notify the City Lord to send people over to repair the breach in the city wall.”
The disciples finally snapped back to reality.
They hurriedly scattered in all directions, carrying out Xie Zhengxing’s orders.
Yet the shock she had just given them continued to linger in their minds, refusing to fade.
What kind of technique had that been?
She had merely waved her hand three times, launching three spheres of light. Under their attack, every demon they had been powerless to defeat had completely disintegrated. Even the Golden Core earth dragon leading the assault had been severely wounded.
“A rotten apple?”
She was clearly a genius cultivator!
How terrifying!
Meanwhile, comments flooded across the livestream.
【Awake at 3 A.M.: AHHHHHHHH! That was so freaking cool! Xingxing gave the orders, Du Xinbao and Wanwan carried them out! Perfect teamwork!】
【Read Novels With Your Brain: This is what a team looks like! This is how you slay demons! Trust! Coordination! Execution! Compare that with those two flirting in the middle of a demon horde… the difference couldn’t be more obvious!】
【Xiaoxiao: Du Xinbao’s hammer swings were so satisfying! And Wanwan’s finishing strikes with her sword were rock solid!】
【I’m a Sucker for Tragic Romance: Are ensemble casts really this amazing? I kind of want to change my username now. Maybe tragic romance isn’t actually that interesting after all… sob…】
Besides the veteran viewers, even the newcomers who had followed Ian into the stream couldn’t help shouting excitedly.
【Did You Drink Starry Sky Shaken Milk Tea Today?: Streamer is so cool! I think I’m falling for her! What do I do?!】
【Ian’s Biggest Fan for Life: Wait! Person above! Don’t switch loyalties right in front of Master Ian! Though, to be fair… isn’t Master Ian enjoying this stream quite a bit himself?】
【Ian: Mm.】
The moment he spoke, another dazzling gift notification lit up the screen.
【Ian sent: “Gateway Into the Painting.”】
【Ian: Interesting. Keep going. ^-^】
【Funny: AHHHHHHH! Master Ian! You actually gave her a Gateway Into the Painting!!!】
【Paying Top Dollar for Gateway Into the Painting: When will I ever own one?! Sob… I even went to Teacher Ian’s auction exhibition last year and still couldn’t get one. P.S. Offering a huge reward if anyone’s willing to sell me a Gateway Into the Painting!】
“Gateway Into the Painting?”
What was that?
It sounded incredibly valuable.
Come to think of it, Ian had also gifted her something earlier called the Concept Correction Pen.
Xie Zhengxing opened the system inventory with a thought and selected the descriptions for both items.
【Concept Correction Pen: For one second, it can perform a conceptual negation upon lower-dimensional reality. For example, it can temporarily negate a “fatal attack.” Reality returns to normal after one second. The effect is astonishing, but the energy consumption is enormous.】
【Gateway Into the Painting: Records a three-dimensional scene lasting no longer than fifteen minutes and turns it into a painting. Any intelligent lifeform that gazes upon the painting for longer than three breaths may be forcibly drawn into the painted world by the invisible force field emitted by the artwork. Note: A fifteen-minute scene has already been recorded. To record a new one, erase the current recording before use.】**
Displayed within the painting was a scene of a young woman in flowing blue robes standing before the enormous flesh-colored earth dragon.
Ian must have recorded it while watching the livestream.
After reading the horrifying descriptions of both the Concept Correction Pen and the Gateway Into the Painting, Xie Zhengxing couldn’t help taking a sharp breath.
“Thank you, Brother Ian, for the gifts!”
“The Concept Correction Pen is absolutely awesome, and the Gateway Into the Painting is unbelievably amazing!”
“I wish Brother Ian and all your fans endless bursts of inspiration every single day! May your lives be prosperous and filled with laughter!”
“Brother Ian, I heard you’re an artist. Have you found your muse yet? What do you think about me?”
Her voice rose and fell dramatically as she struck an exaggerated Venus pose and awkwardly threw a flirtatious wink toward the camera.
The comments instantly erupted.
【Eaves: My eyes… they’ve been assaulted.】
【Who Do You Think You Are: Eye damage +1.】
【Passing By and Even Kicking Dogs: Master Ian, don’t just look at Streamer. Maybe take a look at me too?】
【Exotic Beast Enthusiast: Pick me! I’d gladly dedicate myself to art. I can even pose nude.】
【Riding Grandma Across the Galaxy: Beast Bro, ever since you entered this stream, you’ve completely abandoned your dignity. Though… if Teacher Ian would consider me, I can pose nude too. [Shy]】
The veteran viewers continued teasing her while others openly competed for the attention of the Big Boss.
The atmosphere in the livestream was incredibly relaxed.
Watching Xie Zhengxing banter so naturally with her viewers, Ian’s fans felt that despite everyone being separated by the internet, the chat somehow resembled a group of close friends joking around together.
Before they realized it, they found themselves wanting to join in as well.
Then Ian posted another message.
【Ian: When I first entered your stream, I heard you call your viewers your Beloved Consorts. With the two gifts I just sent… do I qualify to become your Empress?】
The chat fell silent for a moment.
【Ian: ^-^ What? Don’t tell me you already have an Empress?】
“Of course not!!!”
Xie Zhengxing denied it without the slightest hesitation.
She cupped her cheeks with both hands and blinked sweetly toward the camera.
“I’m just a tiny little streamer. I’ve been streaming for less than half a month. I’ve never received any expensive gifts before, and I’ve never had a wealthy Big Boss lady supporting me. Brother Ian’s gifts are the best~~ gifts~~ I’ve~~ ever~~ received~~!“
【Ian: Cute.】
Another brilliant crimson notification streaked across the sky.
【Ian sent: “Starlight Dress.”】
【Ian: Inspiration struck. Here’s a beautiful dress that suits your temperament. I’ll come see you again tomorrow, my little Majesty.】
【Advanced User “Ian” has left the livestream.】
The moment Ian left—
The audience of over one hundred thousand viewers receded like an outgoing tide.
The viewer count dropped rapidly, eventually stabilizing at just under twenty thousand.
Only then did the veteran viewers finally begin speaking again.
【Xiaoxiao: Streamer, you’re something else. 👍】
【Riding Grandma Across the Galaxy: Does Star Brother know that you supposedly don’t have an Empress?】
【Ian’s Biggest Fan for Life: Wait… what are you all talking about? Who’s Star Brother?】
【Did You Drink Starry Sky Shaken Milk Tea Today?: No idea… We just got here too. We have no clue what’s going on.】
【Awake at 3 A.M.: !!!】
【Who Do You Think You Are: !!!!!】
【Your Strong One Has Arrived: …We forgot that even though Teacher Ian left, some of his fans stayed behind.】
The comments once again fell into an awkward silence.
Xie Zhengxing let out a quiet sigh.
They still hadn’t spent enough time with her.
They couldn’t even handle something this minor.
More training was clearly needed.
Looking toward the empty air, Xie Zhengxing spoke with apparent difficulty.
“Star Brother… was the first Big Boss who supported me when I started streaming.”
“He was an interstellar soldier.”
“But during an expedition to develop a frontier planet…”
“…he died in the line of duty.”
“Veteran viewers, please type ‘……’ in the chat to observe a moment of silence for Star Brother.”
“Ellipses were his favorite symbol.”
“Every time he watched me doing something ridiculous, he’d always send a string of ‘……’.”
As expected, the next moment, countless rows of ellipses flooded the screen.
Xie Zhengxing silently gave herself a thumbs-up.
Perfect.
Exactly as predicted.
Seeing the endless stream of ellipses, Ian’s fans immediately felt guilty.
【Ian’s Biggest Fan for Life: I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.】
【Funny: Streamer… my condolences…】
【Did You Drink Starry Sky Shaken Milk Tea Today? sent: “Interstellar Shaken Milk Tea.”】
【Did You Drink Starry Sky Shaken Milk Tea Today?: Streamer, have something sweet. Whenever I’m feeling down, I drink milk tea. It always makes me feel a little better.】
The corners of Xie Zhengxing’s lips curved into a faint smile, one filled with both nostalgia and acceptance.
“Thank you, everyone.”
“I’m fine.”
“It’s all in the past now…”
“And besides…”
“In my heart, he never died.”
“He merely walked beyond the flow of time.”
Farewell, Star Brother!
I have a new Big Boss now!
Woohoo! Time to soar!