Walking out of the rented house, Wen Qi was not in a good mood.
He had initially thought the platform should have learned its lesson by now. After all, events had escalated significantly over these past few days, and any company that valued its reputation would not continue such practices. However, to his surprise, his live stream was still banned.
He was unsure whether the power trying to suppress him was too immense or if the platform simply lacked foresight. Wen Qi had a faint feeling that it was likely the former.
Unfortunately, on this remote planet, there was no alternative to that specific platform. Having left it, he could not immediately think of another way to stream or earn Starcoins. In truth, he had rented this house not just to earn money; he had planned to stream there once and leave the terminal inside specifically to see what kind of people were targeting him.
Doing so was undoubtedly dangerous, but he had done it anyway.
The thought made Wen Qi feel irritable. Those people were likely even more powerful than he had anticipated. Based on the platform’s attitude today, his actions were indeed risky. But if he did not confront it, the hidden danger would always remain, potentially exploding at any moment.
He then reconsidered, deciding he would be more careful next time. The convenience provided by his male abilities would not lead to direct exposure. At worst, he would scout the area thoroughly before entering.
As the sun rose higher, it grew increasingly hot. With the appearance of daylight, many Zerg began wandering the streets. Compared to Blue Star 6, this planet had more cities and a much larger population. Unlike the sparse population of Blue Star 6, the Zerg here were concentrated. Even in this small city, a quick glance revealed nearly a thousand Zerg. Its prosperity far exceeded that of the main city on Blue Star 6.
Perhaps because this planet was a rare peaceful one, the Zerg here did not carry the daily air of hostility seen on Blue Star 6. Instead, many had smiles on their faces, suggesting the Planet Lord governed well.
Influenced by the atmosphere, Wen Qi’s irritability dissipated, and he found himself in the mood for other things. After walking slowly for a bit, he realized he had hardly explored since arriving in this world.
According to Gu Nan, they were not lacking anything except Starcoins. As long as there was a streaming platform, earning money would not be difficult for him. It was not an insurmountable problem; he could simply ask Gu Nan for help later. Gu Nan had connections, and streaming under his guidance would likely be smoother.
With his last worries set aside, Wen Qi looked around. This place was different from both the Capital Star and Blue Star 6. The Zerg on the Capital Star were refined and gentle, appearing highly educated. On Blue Star 6, the streets were often bloody and oppressive. If he had to describe this planet in one word, it would be bold. The female Zerg here spoke loudly and moved with vigor. Occasionally, he saw Zerg drinking shirtless, and if they got drunk and started a fight, guards would promptly arrive to take them away.
Watching a drunkard being led off, Wen Qi withdrew his gaze. The gloom in his heart was swept away. It was rare to see such a normal planet in this sequence, and he suddenly felt like wandering.
When he first arrived in this world, he was on the most prosperous Capital Star, but he had spent those days ruining his own reputation. Even when walking the streets, he was always in a hurry and never had the chance to truly look around. On Blue Star 6, he was constantly afraid of exposing his identity. Now, on Blue Star 1, he finally wanted to see the world he had written and how this relatively backward planet differed from his previous world.
Wen Qi walked and observed. He saw many smiling faces, but he also noticed a pervasive indifference. The streets were filled with female and Sub-female Zerg. Compared to the tall female Zerg, the Sub-females attracted more attention. Wen Qi was treated as one of them. Although disguised, his features were naturally handsome, and despite his efforts to appear plain, many female Zerg still stared at him. Some looks were neutral, while others were predatory.
Perhaps due to the System, his presence felt diminished, and most gazes moved on quickly. His presence went largely unnoticed. As he walked, his initial impressions were overturned. He discovered that Blue Star 1 was not entirely warm; the Zerg here might be smiling one moment and fighting the next. Yet, compared to the constant bloodshed of Blue Star 6, this planet was much better; at least the Zerg here still retained their humanity.
Wen Qi wandered aimlessly for about half an hour until he reached a remote area where the road ended. Just as he was about to turn back, he heard voices.
“What should we do? Third Brother’s situation is not optimistic. A bone wing injury requires that specific repair fluid, but the top-tier version is only held by the Planet Lord. Although S-rank is good, it might leave permanent sequelae.” It was a young voice, filled with worry and urgency. “Maybe we should go and beg the Planet Lord.”
Wen Qi stopped and turned toward the sound.
“Even if hope is slim, we must heal Third Brother,” the young voice continued, sounding close to tears. “Eldest Brother, say something!”
A steady voice replied, “What can we do? Even that person approached the Planet Lord, and the Planet Lord did not give up the SS-plus grade repair fluid. If he could not get it, how could we possibly obtain it? Besides, SS-plus is the ultimate grade. Who would give such a fluid to an S-rank female Zerg?”
The young voice admitted, “You are right. But S-rank repair fluid is not good enough; it might leave sequelae. Third Brother is an S-rank female Zerg; even a slight defect would ruin him! Let us try the Planet Lord first. If that fails, we will find a way to get some herbs. At the very least, we must buy S-plus grade fluid. The success rate with S-plus is much higher than with S-rank, but it is hard to find. Our entire planet might not even have it.”
“Who is there!”
Suddenly, the steady voice rose in volume, followed by the sound of footsteps. Wen Qi stood his ground as two Zerg rounded the corner and strode toward him. The younger female Zerg looked Wen Qi up and down. Seeing only a Sub-female, he frowned and said harshly, “A Sub-female dares to eavesdrop on us? I.”
The burly Zerg raised a fist, but before he could finish, he saw the Sub-female tremble. Out of habit from his recent acting, Wen Qi’s face instantly filled with fear. He stammered, “I, I did not mean to. I just walked here and heard you speaking. I was not eavesdropping on purpose.” He blinked, his eyes reddening as he quickly looked down, his body tense with a mix of defensiveness and terror.
The two female Zerg exchanged a look. “Why were you eavesdropping?” the one with the raised fist asked fiercely. He glanced around. Any normal Zerg would have left this area, yet this Sub-female was just standing there and had not run when they approached. It was hard to believe he had not heard anything.
Wen Qi looked up, took half a step back, and said fearfully, “My brother’s bone wing is also injured. He is in pain every day, and I do not know what to do. When I heard you speaking, I could not help but move closer. My brother also bought repair fluid, but his condition is still not good. I just listened for a moment. I am sorry.” He spoke softly and looked down again, trembling slightly.
“Forget it,” the steadier-looking Zerg said, stopping the other. “He does not look like he did it on purpose, and we did not say anything sensitive.”
Wen Qi looked up at the Zerg and then back down, his voice thick with gratitude. “Thank you.”
“Whatever,” the younger Zerg waved his hand, threatening, “I trust you will not dare to say anything.”
Wen Qi immediately shook with fear. “Do not hit me! I will say nothing! I heard nothing!”
“What a coward,” the younger Zerg remarked. “Eldest Brother, let us go.”
Wen Qi finally looked up as the two were leaving. His expression shifted, and he clenched his fists as if gathering courage. “Um, may I ask what type of repair fluid is needed for a bone wing?” Meeting the Zerg’s gaze, he quickly looked down again in fear. “My brother always protected me, but he was injured last month. We went to the hospital, and the doctor prescribed medicine. My brother bought repair fluid, but the grade was lower than his own rank. It might not be useful. He tells me nothing. I want to protect him, but I am too weak.”
He continued dejectedly, “My brother is A-rank, but we only have B-rank repair fluid. He says it works, but I do not think so. I am worried something will happen to him. Could you tell me if there is a way to completely heal a female Zerg’s bone wing? I do not want him to become a cripple.”
Wen Qi’s voice grew lower and lower until the last few words were almost inaudible. Had the Zerg not possessed keen hearing, they would have missed it. After hearing Wen Qi’s tearful words, the two Zerg fell silent.
Unlike male ranks, which are determined by psychic power, female ranks are determined by combat. A female’s initial rank usually follows their mother, but after age six, they must test their strength, speed, and reaction at a center. Their rank only stabilizes at eighteen. Generally, only Zerg over eighteen have a true rank. Sub-females are the same, but their strength is naturally inferior; the strongest known Sub-female is only S-rank. Of course, compared to Sub-females, males with psychic power have even weaker physical bodies.
Furthermore, unlike male ranks which can be sensed, a female’s rank is not apparent unless they fight. The bone wings are a female’s greatest weapon and their most vulnerable point.
After a few seconds of silence, the steady Zerg looked at Wen Qi and said, “A-rank repair fluid is enough for an A-rank female Zerg. If you want a higher grade, use S-rank. Above that is SS-rank, but you can forget about that. Even someone like General Gu Nan cannot get it. Currently, the highest-grade fluid here is held by the Planet Lord, SS-plus grade. It is said to have immense power for bone regeneration.”
Wen Qi, with his head down, did not see the Zerg’s eyes flicker as they scanned him before shaking their head. He was too weak to ever obtain that fluid. Realizing this, the Zerg lost interest. “A-rank and S-rank fluids are sold in shops. You just need enough Starcoins. Spend your time saving up instead.” With that, the Zerg said no more.
Wen Qi, however, was intrigued. The Planet Lord had SS-plus grade repair fluid? And Gu Nan had once asked for it? Gu Nan was SS-rank. Logically, he needed SS-grade fluid. Just today, Gu Nan had told him S-plus was enough. Had Gu Nan withheld this because he thought it was unobtainable, or because he did not trust him? Likely the former.
Wen Qi was not arrogant. He knew he could not get that fluid in his current situation unless he used his male identity. His eyes flickered as he bowed slightly and thanked the two Zerg. He wore a smile that looked somewhat ignorant of the world’s harshness. “I know how to work hard now.” The two Zerg exchanged a look and left.
Wen Qi did not linger. Using his terminal for navigation, he soon arrived at a shop selling repair fluid. Inside, the counter looked high-end, made of certified bulletproof glass. Small bottles were displayed behind the glass with signs for different injuries: head, neck, body, and bone wings. He walked to the bone wing section. The items here were high-grade, none lower than C-rank.
Wen Qi noticed the price for A-rank bone wing repair fluid: one million Starcoins. His face tensed. He looked at the A-plus grade: two million. S-rank: ten million.
Wen Qi fell silent. He felt as though something were stuck in his throat. So, the coins he gave his protagonist could only buy one bottle of A-plus grade fluid. If the repair fluid was this expensive, then the herbs would be even more so. Clearly, it was not enough. Even earning more coins might not suffice. According to the two Zerg earlier, SS-grade fluid and rare herbs were not available for purchase on Blue Star 1. The fact that the highest grade at the counter was S-rank confirmed this.
Wen Qi frowned. It seemed he would have to move with Gu Nan again. But leaving the Blue Sequence would be difficult. He felt a headache coming on.
“Good afternoon, sir.” The Sub-female clerk rose with a smile, standing gracefully behind the glass. “Which repair fluid do you need? Ours is specially supplied by a subsidiary of the Capital Star Research Institute. This is our business license.”
Wen Qi shook his head. “There is nothing here that I need.”
The clerk’s smile faltered, and he looked Wen Qi up and down. Wen Qi let him look and then asked after a two-second silence, “Could you tell me where I can find the top-tier repair fluid? I want the best bone wing repair fluid, with no sequelae whatsoever. Ideally the highest grade. I believe only the highest grade can heal my family member. These ranks are too low.”
The clerk’s breath hitched at Wen Qi’s words. After two seconds, he regained his composure and scanned Wen Qi’s clothing. His expression shifted to one of slight disdain, though he maintained his poise. His tone, however, had a hint of annoyance. “The grade of repair fluid depends on the rank of the female Zerg you are treating. A female with a strong constitution needs stronger fluid, while a weak one might face life-threatening danger if they drink fluid that is too potent. Generally, fluid of the same rank or one rank higher is best and leaves almost no sequelae. If you want absolutely no sequelae, I recommend SS, SSS, or SSR grade.”
“Do you know where I can find SSS or SS grade fluid? My brother protected me for a long time, and I want to do something for him. Even if his rank is not high, the best fluid will surely heal him.”
The clerk nearly lost his cool but managed to stay professional. “Then you have asked the right person. As far as I know, our Planet Lord has SS-plus grade fluid. SSS and SSR grades are only available at the Imperial Research Institute.”
Wen Qi caught the mockery in the clerk’s voice, as if he were scoffing at Wen Qi’s overestimation of himself. He matched the expression with one of disappointment, perfectly playing the part of an ignorant Zerg. “I see.” The light in his eyes faded, and he smiled weakly at the clerk. “Thank you.”
He played the naive Sub-female well, leaving the shop with his shoulders slumped and his head down. He looked quite dejected. Once outside, Wen Qi connected his psychic power to his terminal. He immediately saw an explosion of news on the forums. Reading Zerg was the top trending topic, marked with a Hot tag. He clicked in. Because it was not pinned, comments were flooding in so fast that they disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Among the comments, Wen Qi easily spotted those boycotting the platform. He ignored them and searched for other information. Regarding SS-grade repair fluid, the coins he earned were useless unless he could acquire a massive amount quickly. But even if his money-making methods worked, he could not use them now without the strength to face the subsequent dangers. Gu Nan could not protect him yet.
Wen Qi always remained clear-headed and self-aware. He pitied Gu Nan, but he was not willing to gamble his life, especially when a gamble might not even secure the fluid. What should he do?
Blue Star 1 was just one of thousands of Zerg planets, but it was still a Planet Lord’s domain and had its secrets. Wen Qi found little useful information, only rumors that the Planet Lord was suffering from a psychic riot and had not appeared in public for a long time. Wen Qi disconnected and pondered his options, subconsciously walking into a more remote area.
Suddenly, a faint sound reached his ears. He realized he was in a very secluded place. He intended to leave, but his intuition kept him there. Because he stayed, he heard a clue about the Planet Lord.
“I heard the Planet Lord of Blue Star 1 is going mad. He is S-rank. If he loses control, we will all suffer! The Second Leader has long been dissatisfied with the First and Third Leaders. Once the Planet Lord dies and the Second Leader takes control, he can rule here as a tyrant. Then our Blue Star 2 will be in chaos as well. Other powers will not let us have Blue Star 1 to ourselves.”
Wen Qi held his breath.
“Why worry so much? Zerg who heard the news are already running. If the Planet Lord does not kill himself, he will be a disaster for everyone here. Word is he plans to use himself as bait. Who knows what he wants? Maybe he intends to kill Zerg to vent his anger before he dies.”
“Shut up,” a cold voice replied.
“Fine, fine. We did not touch him anyway. He just could not suppress his own psychic riot. Rumor says it is starting soon. Let us leave.”
Wen Qi retreated and hid under a massive tree. The two Zerg were in a hurry and noticed nothing as they disappeared. Wen Qi did not leave immediately. He left the alley and went to the wealthy district of the town. It was in chaos. Zerg who had heard the news were indeed fleeing.
He randomly stopped a fleeing Zerg and asked, “Where is the Planet Lord?”
“In the Death Zone,” the Sub-female replied, looking annoyed. But seeing Wen Qi’s dark gaze, he gave up the information and ran off.
Wen Qi looked toward the area behind the fleeing crowd. Blue Star 1, the Death Zone. Only areas occupied by Star Beasts were called Death Zones. Zerg who entered usually died. The Zerg race was powerful, but they could not guarantee the safety of all planets. On planets like those in the Seven-Color Sequence, which lacked advanced weaponry and high-ranking defenders, Star Beasts driven from other planets often wandered there.
Star Beasts were wild beasts of the starfield. They had bone wings, could fly, and could land anywhere regardless of a planet’s defenses or cosmic rules. They were mindless and came in various forms, but they were notoriously fast and hard to kill, moving too quickly for current weapon systems to lock on. They could be locked on in theory, but Star Beasts rarely went to prosperous planets. They preferred chaotic ones like those in the Seven-Color Sequence, where weaponry was weak.
Star Beasts were troublesome. They were invulnerable to common weapons and reacted instantly to any disturbance, either attacking, causing widespread destruction, or fleeing. Lacking intelligence, they never considered consequences. With bodies comparable to top-tier mechs, they were living weapons. They were cannibalistic and warlike. According to the news he found, there were three Star Beasts in the Death Zone of Blue Star 1.
Thinking of the Planet Lord’s goal, Wen Qi felt a bit of admiration. The planet’s combat power was insufficient, and Star Beasts would not stand still to be hit. The Planet Lord, facing a psychic riot, intended to use his own life to kill the beasts. He would use the scent of his own flesh to lure them in, and while fighting them in a mech to lower their guard, he would use high-tech weaponry for a lethal strike.
Unfortunately, Wen Qi remembered that an S-rank female Zerg’s physical constitution was not as strong as a Star Beast’s. Even a mech could not fully bridge that gap. If he were an SS-rank with a mech, he might succeed. With the firepower of Blue Star 1, killing three beasts was possible. But the Planet Lord was only S-rank and was losing his mind. No matter how strong the mech, he had no chance of survival.
Wen Qi looked toward the Death Zone, his expression torn. After a few seconds, he closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were filled with determination. He strode toward the Death Zone.