Interstellar Empire, Hong-ai [1] Red Veil jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3567731_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3567731_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); Star.
With a roar, the sound of a star beast’s growl exploded in Luo Xingzhou’s ears, jolting him awake. Before he could even focus his vision, a foul wind hit him in the face as the ferocious star beast lunged at him.
Luo Xingzhou immediately realized that he was back, back to the moment before his death. In the next second, he would be devoured by the star beast.
He was supposed to die, but somehow, his soul passed through the barrier of time and space, ending up in a cultivation world vastly different from the interstellar realm. There, he inhabited the body of a newly awakened carnivorous plant and lived for hundreds of years as a ferocious, man-eating plant.
When he died at the jaws of the star beast, he had been filled with unwillingness. He couldn’t die—what would happen to his mother if he did? Perhaps it was this strong reluctance that granted him another chance at life. In that other world, he diligently worked to increase his power while searching for a way to return to the interstellar world. But after failing to overcome his tribulation, he found himself back here, returned from death.
It was truly a blessing.
But now, he faced a deadly crisis again. He couldn’t let history repeat itself and die in the star beast’s jaws. He had to survive—fate wouldn’t give him another chance at rebirth.
At that moment, many people gathered in various places tuned in to the live broadcast, exclaiming in surprise. Some found it thrilling and terrifying, while others cursed him as a coward, complaining that the broadcast was about to end shortly after it began, making it utterly disappointing.
Behind and in front of Luo Xingzhou, there were two fly-like micro-cameras firmly capturing everything. Whether it was the star beast’s gaping, fanged maw or the fear on Luo Xingzhou’s face, both were caught in close-up shots. Just as the beast’s mouth, full of sharp teeth, was about to bite down on Luo Xingzhou’s head, he suddenly rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.
But the danger was far from over. Luo Xingzhou’s sudden move angered the star beast, and it swiped a paw at him. If it hit, Luo Xingzhou’s ordinary body would be crushed, all his bones shattered, because all the viewers of the live broadcast knew this was a B-level star beast, while Luo Xingzhou’s profile listed him as a regular person with E-level physical and mental strength.
In the eyes of all the viewers, Luo Xingzhou was as good as dead. Indeed, last time, he had died at the hands of this very star beast.
As soon as Luo Xingzhou rolled to the side, he immediately sprang into action, moving faster than his body could handle. But he couldn’t stop—he had to retrieve the knife he had previously dropped, the only weapon he could use against the beast.
The star beast’s claw struck again, but some viewers who had already written Luo Xingzhou off were surprised—this kid actually managed to dodge again! With his trashy physical condition, his reflexes and speed were impressive, but unfortunately, no matter how much he struggled, there was no way he could escape this star beast.
Sure enough, just as Luo Xingzhou lunged to where the dagger had fallen and grabbed it, he felt that foul wind behind him again. A massive shadow enveloped his entire body, leaving him no way to escape. Luo Xingzhou swiftly turned to face the star beast head-on and slashed at its abdomen with the dagger in his hand.
[Isn’t this just a futile struggle? The beast’s weight alone will flatten him into a meat patty.]
[This kid will probably be the first to die in this live stream. His luck is terrible—falling onto Hong-ai Star only to immediately encounter a B-level star beast. Out of the thirty participants, his luck is by far the worst.]
The star beast let out an enraged roar. Just when everyone thought Luo Xingzhou would be crushed, someone with sharp eyes noticed that two green vines suddenly extended from beneath the beast, wrapping around a nearby tree. Then, just as the beast was about to press down on him, the vines swiftly pulled him out from under it. The whole process happened in the blink of an eye, and if anyone had been distracted for even a moment, they would have missed it, assuming Luo Xingzhou was dead for sure.
[What was that?]
[What just happened? Did that guy Luo Xingzhou really survive?]
[Quick, watch the replay! Oh my god, that was so intense! He’s still holding the dagger, and there’s blood on it. He actually managed to wound the star beast with that knife!]
[The real question is, where did those two vines that pulled him out come from? There was no sign of them before—nothing in front or behind him. It’s like they appeared out of nowhere.]
[Holy crap, I think I know what might have happened…]
[Holy crap, I think I do too. Could he really be that lucky…?]
[What are you guys talking about?]
[Did this guy awaken an ability at the brink of death? It has to be! Is it a plant-manipulation ability? Any other wood-elemental ability users here who can explain?]
[I’m a wood-elemental ability user, and I also suspect that he awakened his wood-based ability at a critical moment. Keep watching, and we’ll see if that’s the case. But it’s still dangerous—I hope he can make it through.]
Initially, there weren’t too many viewers in this live stream, but the possibility that Luo Xingzhou might have awakened an ability caused a sudden influx of spectators.
Luo Xingzhou himself was overjoyed at that moment. While he was rolling to avoid the star beast, he sensed a familiar power within him—one that belonged to the carnivorous plant demon he had been in his previous life. Could it be that the carnivorous plant had returned with him?
With no time to fully understand the energy within him during this critical moment, he could only take a gamble. In his past life, he was the carnivorous plant, and the plant was him. So, when he dived under the star beast’s belly and slashed it with his dagger, he desperately summoned that familiar power within him. Sure enough, the familiar vines appeared. Controlling them was no challenge at all—it was second nature to him.
Indeed, he had won the bet. The carnivorous plant had returned with him, though it was still in its juvenile form, even weaker than when he had first become it in his previous life.
But that doesn’t matter. As long as the carnivorous plant is with him, he can gradually grow stronger.
After the vines pulled Luo Xingzhou out from under the star beast, one vine moved forward while the other retreated back into the star beast’s belly. The star beast was about to turn and continue its pursuit, furious that its prey had escaped from its claws repeatedly and had even dared to injure it.
Luo Xingzhou quickly climbed up the tree. Just as the star beast was about to pounce, something unexpected happened—it suddenly fell from mid-air and started rolling on the ground, howling in pain.
The viewers in the live stream went wild at this sight.
[As expected, it’s a wood-based ability controlling the plants! Didn’t you see how the vine smoothly retreated earlier? But why did Luo Xingzhou send the vine back in there? Shouldn’t he be using it to escape right now?]
From the looks of it, there was no way a newly awakened ability user could defeat a B-level star beast.
[And he’s climbing up a tree? That’s so dumb! He’s wasting such a good opportunity. If it were me, I wouldn’t have wasted it.]
[Spit! That ability only activated because he was on the brink of death. Maybe if you faced death, you might awaken something too.]
[Wait, what’s happening to the star beast?]
[Judging by its cries, it seems to be in pain.]
[Where did that vine go? Where did it disappear to?]
Halfway up the tree, Luo Xingzhou, clinging to the trunk, finally let out a sigh of relief. As expected, his carnivorous plant hadn’t let him down. Even in its juvenile form, it could ruthlessly devour flesh. This B-level star beast, the one that had caused his death, would now become nourishment for his carnivorous plant to level up. In a way, it was also his way of avenging himself.
Luo Xingzhou didn’t come down from the tree. He remained there, calmly watching the star beast below as it thrashed and howled in pain. His current body was still too weak, and the beast’s dying counterattack could easily take his life. He wasn’t willing to risk it again; he valued his life far too much.
Meanwhile, the viewers on the StarNet live stream were abuzz with discussion, even arguing with one another, as more and more people flocked to Luo Xingzhou’s stream.
One person’s comment attracted the most agreement: [I’m a wood-elemental ability user. Although all wood-based abilities are categorized similarly, they can manifest in various forms. I think this guy has awakened an extraordinary wood-based ability. That vine is likely still inside the star beast’s belly, and it might be a type of vicious vine that can absorb flesh and blood.]
[Look closely! Just now, there was a shot of the beast’s exposed belly. There’s a bloody wound there, and I think I saw something moving inside.]
[Ugh, that’s really creepy.]
[Look again, doesn’t the star beast seem a bit thinner?]
[And there’s no blood flowing out. What does that tell you?]
[Haha, who was it that said Luo Xingzhou was unlucky? Stand up and let me see you. Who still thinks he’s unlucky now?]
An E-level ordinary person, managing to awaken an ability at the brink of death and even taking down a B-level star beast—this was the kind of story that captivated everyone’s attention. In just a short time after the survival live stream began, Luo Xingzhou, who initially had the fewest viewers among the thirty participants, had now risen to the top, with the most viewers of all.
Under the watchful eyes of many, the B-level star beast gradually took its last breath and died, unwillingly.
Luo Xingzhou exhaled lightly, glancing at the cameras circling around him before sliding down the tree, holding tightly onto his dagger.
A blood-red vine slithered out of the star beast’s massive, fanged mouth. It shook itself, shedding the filth from its surface. Still blood-red, and somewhat translucent, it crawled up Luo Xingzhou’s pant leg and finally coiled itself around his wrist, disguising itself as a blood-red bracelet.
This is his other half. Luo Xingzhou gently stroked the blood-red bracelet, clearly feeling the joy of their shared life connection. It feels wonderful.
In front of him, the star beast, which had been propped up by the vine, collapsed with a crash, leaving behind only skin, bones, and fangs.
Luo Xingzhou stepped forward to collect the star beast’s skin, bones, fangs, and beast core. All of these could be sold for star coins, and the reason he had signed up for the survival live stream in the first place was that he desperately needed a large sum of star coins.
While Luo Xingzhou was busy, the viewers of the live stream began to buzz with discussion again, this time focusing on the blood-red vine.
[It’s clearly so ferocious, but why do I suddenly find it so cute?]
[Look at it—it even shakes off the dirt to clean itself, then crawls back up its owner’s body and finds a spot to settle down.]
[The blood bracelet is so beautiful. Just looking at it makes me want to order one for myself.]
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