Chapter 147: New Version Update Preview, Bai Fu Evolves into a Super Popular Idol [6k]
Bai Fu had tried multiple times to create a classic scene that would go viral, including erecting monuments for players, deliberately hanging NPCs on streetlights during live broadcasts, and casually defeating assassins with ease in front of the camera.
However, it turned out that most deliberate attempts at creating such memorable moments were less effective than those genuine, unplanned expressions of emotion, perhaps because sincerity is more touching.
When Bai Fu opened the player community, she was astonished to find that most players were not discussing the reconstruction plan of Source Star that she had announced but instead focused on a photo capturing her gesture of raising her hand to encourage everyone watching the program just before it ended.
[The composition, action, expression, and voice, combined with the memories of Source Star and the efforts made by Fu Fu to change it, this photo… I call it divine!]
[I’m mesmerized. The NPCs of Source Star, upon seeing this photo, would probably be as excited as if they had drunk fake alcohol.]
[Damn, it’s the first time I think Bai Fu could be so cool. If I were an NPC living on Source Star and saw this photo, I would rush into the TV station and crown Bai Fu with a real crown, right?]
[This has truly become a classic moment. It’s going to explode in popularity. Friends, let me ride this wave.]
Speaking of riding waves, Jiujiao, the master of publicity for Fu Fu, naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity.
Right after finishing the live broadcast, Jiujiao quickly edited a new video.
This new video mainly compared the differences in Goli Desert before and after Bai Fu’s arrival. After the comparison, it replayed Bai Fu’s journey from clearing the wandering camps in Goli Desert, outsmarting the Truth Society, defeating its president, to destroying Suixing. The video concluded with Bai Fu’s gesture of raising her hand.
Without using any fancy production techniques, this video quickly climbed to the top of the trending list on the video website once it was released. Only Jiujiao had such an abundance of Bai Fu’s video materials.
[666]
[Jiujiao, you’re dumb. Don’t just post videos here. Sell the footage you’ve shot to NPCs in the game; you could make a fortune. As both a video maker and a shooter of footage, your reputation on Source Star will surely skyrocket.]
A comment floating across the screen made Bai Fu and Jiujiao, who were watching the video at the same time, pause for a moment.
Goodness, you know how to make money and gain reputation!
Jiujiao immediately took action.
After the initial excitement, players gradually shifted their attention to Bai Fu’s proposed reconstruction plan for Source Star. They weren’t particularly interested in the content of the plan itself, since it was all about doing quests anyway. What they cared about more was the reward for the quest.
Naming the places on the reconstructed Source Star after players’ names?
That sounds amazing!
Players from other novice planets envied them to death.
[Dang, why don’t we have similar activities here?]
[The official must be laughing. Sales of renaming cards are bound to rise. Nicknames like CatHead are fine, but calling someone MilkWhite Snowzi, even if one dares to use such a name, NPCs on Source Star probably wouldn’t dare to use it.]
[Fu Fu has become the official’s lucky star.]
[Planner: Bai Fu, tell us you love players, make them recharge seventy thousand!]
[By the way, Fu Fu seemed to mention “when I decide to travel far” during the live broadcast. Is she preparing to leave Source Star and return to the Star Ocean?]
[Probably. Didn’t you see that the store suddenly started selling interstellar common language? Fu Fu also mentioned looking for a way back to the Rebirth Empire when she destroyed Suixing.]
[Shit, then we have no choice but to buy the interstellar common language.]
[I can only say, don’t rush. Fu Fu returning to the Star Ocean doesn’t mean we can follow her there. We haven’t finished the main quest of Source Star yet.]
With nothing better to do, Bai Fu aimlessly browsed through the community. Occasionally, she came across posts or replies praising her, which made her feel proud.
Alright, keep praising, it feels good!
After flipping through for a while and not finding anything more interesting, Bai Fu closed the community.
This wave of attention was much higher than she expected. Once it fermented further, the attention she would receive would definitely surpass the previous spy incident involving Tai Ergen, where she was merely a supporting character. This time, she was undoubtedly the true protagonist.
“It still comes down to the subconscious actions taken at the right emotional moment!”
Bai Fu sighed deeply.
The power of photos is terrifying!
The most direct impact of this wave of attention was that the originally average-selling interstellar common language began to soar in sales.
+3000, +3000…
Hey, hey, hey, aren’t you hungry? Give more effort, feed me heavily; even if you feed me tons of experience, I can eat it all!
Actually, Bai Fu initially thought about setting a higher price for the interstellar common language, but if she did, few players would buy it. Selling at a thin margin but in large quantities is a better approach.
For players, learning the interstellar common language isn’t something difficult. Once the Star Ocean version arrives, the officials will certainly rush to teach players this skill, otherwise, they’ll be stuck in the Star Ocean unable to understand what NPCs are saying.
If she sells the interstellar common language cheaply now, even if the officials later offer it for free, players won’t blame her for being an unscrupulous merchant. Instead, they might feel that spending 3000 experience points for an early experience is worth it, and some might even praise her as “Fu Fu with great conscience.”
Besides the rapid increase in experience, what Bai Fu valued most was the upcoming new version update.
It had been several months since the launch of version 1.2. According to logic, version 1.3 should already be on the way.
The preview of the version update, the enhancement during the update, and various changes afterward were all things Bai Fu looked forward to.
In version 1.2, she accomplished a lot, generating several waves of significant attention, increasing the exploration degree of Source Star’s plot to 13.4%. All the main characters and major villains on Source Star either met their end at her hands or became her allies.
Although 13.4% may not seem like much, according to official statements, the proportion of the main plot in the overall plot exploration degree of a planet isn’t actually high. Most of the plot exploration degree of a novice planet consists of side quests, hidden quests, and some plots without quests that make the planet more vibrant.
Bai Fu alone accounted for 13.4% of the plot exploration degree, making her undeniably the main protagonist.
“I wonder how much I’ll be strengthened this time.”
If the strengthening is substantial, she could skip the stage of “wearing socks before shoes, being a grandson before becoming a grandfather,” and fast-forward directly to “we barefoot ones can play a variety of tricks.”
The map of the Star Ocean and the novice planet Source Star are different. On novice planets, no matter how hard players try, without reaching the appropriate version, it’s difficult to find ways to leave the novice planet and explore the broader Star Ocean.
But the Star Ocean is different. As long as players earn enough money, even if they are only level 1, they can reach super-advanced areas like the Rebirth Empire or the Super Nova Task Force through various means of transportation, emphasizing freedom.
This freedom means that even if Bai Fu is active within the territory of a system-level civilization, there’s still a certain chance she’ll encounter world-class experts from universe-level civilizations.
To ensure a smoother experience in the Star Ocean, it’s necessary to improve her strength as much as possible before heading there.
“Finally found you, Queen Fu. I didn’t expect you to be here stargazing.”
While Bai Fu was pondering the future, Igor pushed open the door of the rooftop of the TV station building and walked over excitedly.
Bai Fu turned around: “Don’t call me Queen Fu anymore, it feels too distant.”
Igor ignored this remark and chuckled: “This television live broadcast was very successful. In just a short hour after the live program ended, all the TV stations and radio stations in the wasteland contacted us, hoping to purchase the broadcasting rights for the documentary. Moreover, I received numerous contacts from viewers and companies. Many people are interested in the clothes you wore, especially your black staff and the metallic black crown on your head. It seems that we can make a fortune by selling merchandise this time.”
After several rounds of publicity, Bai Fu is not only the nominal queen of Source Star but also the top-ranked super idol on Source Star.
That’s what beauty does.
Bai Fu nodded: “Let Gao Yuan handle this matter. I have no additional requirements. Part of the money earned should be exchanged for things I need, and the rest should be used for constructing Bai Fu Town and advancing exploration camps during the reconstruction process of Source Star.”
Money on Source Star will be worthless after entering the universe, possibly less valuable than bottle caps. Therefore, she spends without hesitation, aiming to convert all this money into strength and infrastructure capable of welcoming more new players to Source Star before entering the Star Ocean.
Igor said: “I understand.”
He bid farewell immediately, leaving Bai Fu alone on the rooftop to enjoy the breeze.
Gazing at the scattered stars in the clear night sky, Bai Fu felt an overwhelming sense of ambition.
It wasn’t easy.
A year ago, when she woke up in the dilapidated cooling plant’s small house, she could never have imagined that one day she would become the Zu Nong of Source Star, right?
Yes, Zu Nong!
On Source Star, who else has cut the player韭菜 earlier than her, and who understands cutting the player韭菜 better than her?
“When players establish themselves firmly on Source Star and my personal mark is engraved everywhere, I can leave here.”
Journeys measured in light-years, cosmic wonders more stunning than the Pillar of Creation, trans-dimensional technologies, seekers exploring the essence of power…
The vast starry sea is her destination!
…
The day after the live broadcast ended, the entire Source Star became busy.
Forces like the Railway Guild formed expedition teams, cooperating with Silent Courtyard to release new tasks and recruit players to join the grand plan of rebuilding Source Star.
Many players were bored after defeating the Gene Progenitor and had nothing interesting to do. Upon seeing the expedition team members arrive, they immediately signed up to join.
The types of tasks for rebuilding Source Star were very diverse, not just simple brick-moving. They included, but were not limited to, assisting researchers in studying new anti-pollution medicines, cleaning up pollution sources, eliminating mutated life forms, and dealing with notorious reputations…
The extremely poor wanderers, setting up camps, transporting supplies, exploring pre-war ruins, and so on.
These quests basically met the needs of most players and were in great abundance. Bai Fu no longer had to worry about the increasing number of players in the Silent Courtyard exceeding her faction’s quest quota.
Anyway, there were forces like the Railway Guild that helped her post quests. All she had to do was occasionally make an appearance, help players deal with completely overwhelming high-level bosses, and casually boost her presence. Other tasks such as commanding players were all handed over to Anya and Elder Nissen.
“Are you feeling better?”
In the newly renovated hospital in Bai Fu Town, Bai Fu placed a fruit basket on the bedside table.
Xia Shi leaned against the bed, pale-faced and lifeless, barely lifting her head when she heard Bai Fu’s voice.
This was the first time she could see visitors after undergoing a series of tests and treatments.
With a hoarse and dry voice, she said, “The doctor says I’m recovering quickly.”
Bai Fu sat by the bed. “How do you feel yourself?”
Xia Shi shook her head. “I don’t know.”
She wasn’t an extroverted person before, and now she became even more introverted.
Bai Fu asked, “Can’t accept that you’re a clone?”
“Not exactly. It just feels absurd. You know, I joined Si Chu because I opposed the Truth Society, thinking they indiscriminately killed innocents and were utterly detestable. But…” Xia Shi clutched the bedsheet tightly, “In the end, I found out that the Gene Progenitor I belong to is darker than the Truth Society.”
Bai Fu immediately understood.
It wasn’t faith collapse, but something akin to it.
If Yulia merely lost her target and didn’t know what to do, then Xia Shi was repulsed by herself inside.
“You haven’t done anything wrong; it’s the Gene Progenitor who made the mistake.”
Xia Shi bitterly smiled. “All these things I’ve thought about, but I can’t get past this hurdle. It feels like there’s suddenly a void in my heart, and I don’t know what to fill it with. I’m in so much pain.”
She crossed her arms, hugging herself as if caught in a cold wind, her body trembling slightly.
Bai Fu, propping her cheek with her hand, curiously asked, “If I say I can fill the void in you, do you think it would work?”
Xia Shi looked at Bai Fu in confusion.
Bai Fu continued, “I’m your savior. Normally, you should repay me, right?”
“That’s true.”
“So it’s simple. Regardless of whether you’re introverted or have let go, I hope your repayment to me is learning the mechanical knowledge I teach you and applying this knowledge to rebuild the Source Star.”
“Rebuild the Source Star?” Xia Shi became even more confused.
Bai Fu handed Xia Shi a personal terminal. “I’ve collaborated with the Railway Guild and other forces to create a plan to rebuild the Source Star, aiming to restore it to its pre-catastrophe state. The detailed content is in the video on the terminal. I’ve also recorded all the mechanical knowledge into the terminal. Study well, this is what you owe me. Don’t die until you complete the task I assigned and repay my kindness.”
After speaking, Bai Fu handed Xia Shi a fragment of the True Essence Pillar.
“Keep this; it will strengthen your body to some extent and help you better complete my task.”
The master’s task?
Holding the terminal and the True Essence Pillar fragment Bai Fu gave her, Xia Shi felt the weight in her palm couldn’t fill the void in her heart, but at least it temporarily distracted her from those thoughts.
“Thank you.”
Bai Fu nodded, sitting for another ten minutes in the ward before leaving.
As soon as she stepped out, she saw Yulia leaning against the wall.
“Come with me to the lab, let’s study which parts of my body can help you recover spiritual energy. I need data to analyze the specific mechanism of restoring spiritual energy.”
Yulia pulled Bai Fu towards the exit of the hospital.
Bai Fu: “…”
Resourceful woman, you’d better really be doing experiments.
Actually, Yulia was very calm. She had no hostility towards Xia Shi at all. This stemmed from her confidence. She believed that as long as she kept progressing, Bai Fu would never leave her, and she would always be the most important person beside Bai Fu except for Anya!
Spending the entire afternoon in the lab, Bai Fu and Yulia conducted experiments until they were dizzy.
“Gurgle gurgle…”
Back home, Bai Fu guzzled several glasses of water.
She didn’t originally intend to experiment for so long, but Yulia had a point.
“If you don’t cooperate with me now, then later when you fight and run out of spiritual energy wanting to recover, you’ll have two choices: drink my blood or… well, you wouldn’t want to do certain things in public, would you?”
“Stop talking! Let’s start the research now.”
To be honest, Bai Fu doubted if Yulia was truly focused on the research because during their verbal sparring, the debuff [Dazed] appeared behind the fragile mage Yulia’s name.
Well, let’s trust her for now.
After taking a shower, Bai Fu sprawled on the bed and browsed the community forum.
Flipping through, she came across a new trending post –
“The Mysterious Overlord of the Night: Understanding Bai Fu’s Background Story!”
The poster, named “Sweet Tofu Brain No. 1,” hailed from the Indigo Star.
As soon as Bai Fu opened the post, she noticed many players arguing over sweet tofu pudding versus salty tofu pudding, but more players were discussing the main content of the post.
After the Digging Lady confidently declared that Bai Fu was definitely the Overlord of the Night, Sweet Tofu Brain No. 1 began collecting all the legends of the Overlord of the Night on the Indigo Star, and this post was precisely about those stories.
“The Overlord of the Night on the Indigo Star isn’t a mainstream belief but rather an outsider god not accepted by the masses, which matches what Fu Fu said. According to Fu Fu, she comes from the Rebirth Empire, which fits the description of an outsider god.”
“In the legends, the Overlord of the Night is a dual-faced deity with two souls, one gentle and one skilled in deception. The gentle soul goes without saying, but the cunning soul cannot exactly be called evil. She’s probably a deity who enjoys having fun. She hasn’t committed any major misdeeds, and the reason she’s disliked is because she loves deceiving people and bursts into laughter in front of those she deceives. Honestly, if you weren’t deceived by her, you might find her personality quite interesting.”
“However, what I want to emphasize today isn’t these points. I’d rather discuss Fu Fu’s betrayal and Anya’s identity. To date, everyone remains unclear about Anya’s origins, but through the investigation of the Overlord of the Night’s legends, I finally have some clues!”
“In the legends of the Indigo Star, the Overlord of the Night has a follower called ‘Spiritual Lord,’ whose image is unclear but excels in mental or similar abilities. During the Night of Gods on the Indigo Star, the Overlord of the Night was betrayed, and Spiritual Lord sacrificed himself to warn the Overlord. In the legends, he had a disciple, and I suspect that disciple is Anya.”
Sweet Tofu Brain No. 1 attached numerous photos and short videos as evidence, making his post look almost like a rigorous academic paper with almost no flaws. Players who read the entire post subconsciously chose to believe his conclusions.
“Wow, it turns out Anya’s identity is extraordinary indeed!”
“Her master died saving Fu Fu; I’m crying!”
Bai Fu: “…”
Is this possible?
She had hinted multiple times to players about Anya’s unusual identity, but since she hadn’t figured out how to elaborate without revealing inconsistencies, she hadn’t fleshed out this aspect. Now, the players voluntarily created a mysterious backstory for Anya, further “proving” that she originated from the Celestial Sea.
There’s nothing like mythology; it always finds obscure characters who don’t even leave their names behind for speculation.
Great post, copying it!
“From now on, I am Bai Fu, the Overlord of the Night from the Rebirth Empire, and Anya is the follower who saved me.”
Unless there’s truly an Overlord of the Night on the Indigo Star, this setup is flawless.
Bai Fu continued browsing the community forum and suddenly stumbled upon an official post.
“Above the Stars Version 1.3 Update Preview”
“Wow!”
Bai Fu immediately sat up in excitement.
What she had been looking forward to was finally coming!
She quickly clicked on the video link. As soon as the video started, a flood of comments scrolled by.
“Here we come!”
“We’re almost entering the space age and fighting aliens, why are we still unable to take off our pants? If the new version doesn’t include a pants-removal feature, I’ll give the game a bad review.”
After the Above the Stars game logo appeared, two Q-version avatars appeared in the center of the screen. The one on the left was the game’s mascot, and the one on the right was completely unexpected to Bai Fu.
“Isn’t that my Q-version avatar?!”
Bai Fu’s eyes shone brighter.
Amazing, all her efforts in boosting her popularity paid off. In the previous version, she became a mentor for psychic skills, and in this version, she directly transformed into the narrator of the update preview video.
Apparently, the officials acknowledged her efforts, and this update would likely bring her new enhancements, and they wouldn’t be minor.
In the video, the game’s mascot and Q-version Bai Fu engaged in a question-and-answer session, introducing the update contents of Version 1.3.
The previous versions 1.1 and 1.2 added many new features, but Version 1.3 didn’t introduce new functions. Instead, it added plenty of new items in the store, including customizable customer service images (like Q-version Bai Fu), customizable game guides (like Q-version Bai Fu), customizable game prompt sounds (like Bai Fu’s voice pack). Players could either pay money to buy them or earn them through gameplay.
Bai Fu: “…”
Alright, alright, you’re good at making money, aren’t you? Fortunately, I founded the Commercial Alliance on the Source Star to produce merchandise related to me before you did, ready to cash in on the players.
Bai Fu quickly skipped this part and focused more on the explanation of the game’s main storyline development during the Q&A between the game’s mascot and Q-version Bai Fu, because in this section, the game’s mascot mentioned a lot of intelligence related to the Celestial Sea.
All this information was disclosed for the first time since the game’s launch and was being released now to prepare for the upcoming Star Ocean version 2.0.
“Perfect timing!”
Bai Fu hastily pulled out her notebook and listened attentively.
PS: Thanks to Medial Ray Dragon for the tip.
Placing a bowl for votes~
Today’s 6k words, I’ll try to write more tomorrow.
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