Chapter 56

Chapter 56: Bai Fu’s Mouth, Deceptive as a Ghost [Combined]

While planning to move against Li Cheng, Bai Fu had a premonition that there would be a hidden quest here. However, the rewards given by the game after everything was resolved still exceeded her expectations.

A regular mission issued in Si Chu plus two hidden quests; the combined experience rewards alone amounted to 160,000 points. During the previous battle, she had also earned 31,706 experience points, adding to her original 30,342 points, bringing her total to 220,000 experience points. This was already enough to level up her Spiritual Prayer Mage from Level 3 to Level 6.

The significant level increase was already exciting enough, but the hidden quest that revealed Li Cheng as a spy actually came with additional rewards!

Bai Fu quickly tapped on the two extra rewards and expanded the item details.

**Special Potion – Gene Enhancement Potion**

**Quality**: Purple

**Additional Effect**: A gene enhancement potion made by a secret research institute before the war, capable of unlocking human potential. When used in conjunction with an Evolution Potion, the effect is even better.

**Note**: There is a certain chance of causing muscle atrophy. After multiple iterations, although it has not yet reached perfection, the success rate has increased to a high 93.7%.

Bai Fu’s eyes lit up involuntarily.

The phrase “unlocking human potential” in the item description translated to boosting attributes or talents in reality. As for the latter part, it was even more interesting; wasn’t the APT-011 prototype potion she snatched from Youlia considered an Evolution Potion?

Although the success rate of the gene enhancement potion was only 93.7%, she possessed the Lucky talent, so she didn’t need to worry about muscle atrophy due to failure.

The Lucky talent she gained from the last enhancement was becoming increasingly useful.

Bai Fu’s gaze then fell on the final reward.

**Prayer Card Crafting Guide**

As the name suggests, this guide teaches how to make Prayer Cards step-by-step.

Like other spiritual energy streams, the profession of Spiritual Prayer Mage had many different classifications, including one that fought using Prayer Cards prepared in advance.

While others engaged in combat with weapons, staffs, or mechanical devices, a Spiritual Prayer Mage fought by continuously throwing Prayer Cards at opponents or themselves.

This playstyle was somewhat akin to a prop-based gameplay in other games, where one applied buffs to oneself and debuffs to enemies, then used items like fire, holy water, poison, or hypnosis to deal damage.

Though it wasn’t as automatic as when mechanical classes leveled up, the satisfaction of defeating enemies with props was quite rewarding.

This was a good thing, but unlike the gene enhancement potion, this reward wasn’t as thoroughly beneficial.

Since Bai Fu’s current profession was very ordinary—a Spiritual Prayer Mage with no bonuses related to Prayer Cards and unable to derive special effects from her knowledge of the spiritual energy stream, she could only practice with the skills she currently possessed if she wanted to make Prayer Cards.

Her assessment was—

勉强能冲！ (It can barely be done!)

But this was only temporary. Once she unlocked related professions, her strength would explode anew. According to the official website, card-playing spiritual energy professions were quite rare in the entire game, and on Source Star, a beginner planet, they were definitely considered high-end and rare professions.

“Since there’s a Prayer Card crafting guide in the rewards, it means there must be knowledge books about related professions on Source Star!”

Bai Fu was elated.

As she examined the quest rewards, the truck approaching from afar had already stopped. Several Si Chu agents hurriedly jumped off the vehicle, with Xu Hong leading them, wearing power armor.

Though his face was covered, his nervousness was evident from his running steps.

“Are you alright? Li Cheng that traitor and…”

Xu Hong stopped.

He saw Li Cheng lying on the ground and the disfigured mutants. Shocked and incredulous.

One, two, three… seven in total, none missing, just as Xia Shi had said over the terminal!

He had been ready to risk his life to save Bai Fu and Xia Shi from the enemy’s encirclement, but he never expected that when he arrived, all the enemies were already down.

Xia Shi was his teammate, truly a genius in machinery manufacturing and logistics, but in combat, she was rarely a hindrance.

Bai Fu’s strength was considerable, proven through two assassinations, but even with her strength, winning against these seven people was impossible.

So, the feat must have been accomplished by the dozens of unknown individuals who appeared. Though they looked unremarkable and moved sluggishly, their actions hinted at either foolishness or expertise.

Xu Hong found the latter possibility more plausible.

But Xia Shi quickly dismissed this idea. An agent who caught up exclaimed in shock upon seeing Li Cheng and the others lying on the ground:

“What the hell is going on?”

Xia Shi explained: “Li Cheng suddenly attacked with these mutants. Fortunately, Bai Fu’s strength was extraordinary. She not only severely injured Li Cheng but also almost single-handedly wiped out the six mutants.”

“?”

The gazes of the Si Chu agents converged on Bai Fu.

The sunset’s afterglow shone on her silver hair, as if bestowing her with a medal named ‘Warrior’s Blood.’ Her beautiful face showed no emotion, silently conveying the coldness of the white death.

Damn, she completely fooled us!

Xu Hong and the others’ myriad thoughts condensed into one word—

“Amazing!”

Not long after, Lu Yulin and the others arrived. Upon understanding the situation, their reactions weren’t much better than Xu Hong’s.

“Great job. I’ll immediately hand over that hard drive containing advanced spiritual energy knowledge to you as agreed upon our return,” Lu Yulin said, filled with emotion.

Bai Fu replied, “Collaboration was successful.”

As others dealt with the mutants’ bodies, the surrounding players tried to sneak a look, but Si Chu agents set up barriers around them. The players could only wave at Bai Fu outside, hoping to catch her attention, perhaps even get a quest.

But today, they were disappointed. Bai Fu left shortly after with the car she had stolen, following Si Chu back to Lin En.

Li Cheng had mentioned he had called more than six people. Staying any longer could mean more of Li Cheng’s allies might arrive.

Before leaving, Bai Fu stuck her head out the window and smiled at the players, who were very important. Leaving a good impression was crucial.

“Bai is smiling at me, hehe.”

“Cut the self-absorption, hey! It’s too bad I don’t have a gun. I’d have gotten more experience.”

“A bit of experience doesn’t matter. Quests are what really count.”

“What do you think Bai’s profession is? This level of combat is too powerful. If I could change my profession to hers, that would be great.”

“Let’s go, let’s go, hurry to Lin En. We need to unlock advanced professions first.”

The players clamored and piled back into the vehicles.

…

On the way back to Lin En, Xia Shi, after much hesitation, couldn’t help but ask, “I have a question I’m not sure whether to ask.”

Bai Fu casually responded, “Ask away.”

Xia Shi said, “Why is there such a huge difference in your strength between the abandoned cooling plant and now?”

“Do you think I’ve been hiding my strength?” Bai Fu slowly turned her head.

Xia Shi didn’t respond, but her expression clearly conveyed that she did indeed suspect so. If it were due to a power awakening, the disparity wouldn’t be so great.

Bai Fu nodded, “Is there a listening device in the car?”

Xia Shi’s dark eyes betrayed sincerity, “No.”

“That’s good.”

Then I’ll start spinning a tale!

Just as she spoke, Bai Fu closed the car window, turning the vehicle into a sealed space.

No one spoke, leaving only the sound of ornaments swaying.

Xia Shi’s heart tightened inexplicably. Based on her experience, when things suddenly turned like this, it meant Bai Fu was about to take action against her.

But seriously, Bai Fu didn’t seem like the type to do that, and even if she intended to, she wouldn’t dare do it here. Si Chu’s vehicles were nearby, unless Bai Fu was confident she could eliminate everyone.

Xia Shi covertly turned her head to check Bai Fu’s expression, only to find Bai Fu staring straight at her.

“!”

She sat upright abruptly, as if caught off guard by a teacher standing outside the window.

“In fact…” Bai Fu, after a moment’s thought, smiled and shook her head, “I wasn’t deliberately hiding anything from you. It’s just that before today, I didn’t know whether you were aligned with Li Cheng.”

A big secret!

Xia Shi turned her head again, this time seeing Bai Fu staring at the vast wilderness ahead, dotted with stars. Her eyes were deep, as if concealing an entire star river.

“The Bai you see now isn’t the complete me.”

Xia Shi: “Huh?”

“Anya and I come from a place unimaginably far from here, a place known as the Afterlife. We were once members of a mysterious organization there, but like your current plight, our organization faced a traitor who forgot everything for petty gains and threw away what we had protected for decades.”

Bai Fu recounted calmly, though she referred to “us,” her tone suggested she was speaking of experiences not her own.

A traitor like Li Cheng?

Recalling the shock when she learned Li Cheng was a traitor, and considering Li Cheng was captured while Bai Fu’s organization likely faced destruction, Xia Shi suddenly understood Bai Fu’s calm demeanor.

Because a bullet had pierced her heart, creating a wound that refused to heal!

“After the great upheaval, I escaped with Anya to this place. We’ve been searching for a way back and to regain our strength. You’ve seen my strength fluctuate, not because we hid it, nor because I awakened twice, but because my injuries are healing slowly. I’m chasing the person I once was.”

Bai Fu pressed the accelerator, and the car sped off into the distance, seemingly racing an invisible car.

Xia Shi’s heart stirred, “Is there anything I can do to help? You’re my savior. I want to repay this debt.”

Bai Fu shook her head, “No need. Didn’t I say it before? That place is extremely distant, beyond your imagination.”

Xia Shi refused to believe, “Gene Progenitors are one of the five major powers. Although I can’t command their intelligence agency, investigating a foe and finding their weaknesses shouldn’t be difficult.”

Bai Fu remained silent, driving.

Xia Shi suddenly realized something. Her right hand and gaze rose together, finally resting on the endless starry sky, “Do you mean… you come from there?”

Her voice trembled slightly, her hand trembling too.

Unbelievable, yet somehow reasonable. Bai Fu’s strength certainly couldn’t belong to an unknown figure. But these days, Si Chu had been secretly investigating, even requesting headquarters assistance, and found nothing useful.

If Bai Fu were an extraterrestrial, her unclear identity and rapid strength growth would make sense!

“How you interpret it is your business, but can you keep this confidential, Miss Xia Shi?”

A calm voice sounded. Xia Shi nodded subconsciously. After a moment of silence, she realized a problem.

“Why go into such detail? You could easily make up a lie to dodge me. Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose your secret?”

Could this be just my imagination?

Bai Fu suppressed her laughter.

She went to such lengths to boost Xia Shi’s affinity, realizing from Li Cheng’s rant that Xia Shi’s linked quests were significant, possibly offering rewards comparable to eliminating the Truth Society.

By giving Xia Shi the impression she was highly reliable and trustworthy, she hoped Xia Shi would intervene in quests sooner and gain more rewards.

She wasn’t afraid Xia Shi would spread her secret. On one hand, Xia Shi’s affinity with her was 62 points, and on the other, she hadn’t explicitly told Xia Shi she came from the Celestial Sea. Even if Xia Shi talked, she could claim it was just hearsay.

“I won’t trust everyone less just because I was betrayed once. We’ve been through life and death twice. For now, you’re trustworthy, and even if you can’t help me now, you might be needed in the future.”

“Hmm?”

“I can see things ordinary people can’t. Your future might be greater than you imagine.”

Xia Shi hesitated.

Her greatest dream was to destroy the Truth Society in her lifetime. What would a grander future look like?

She couldn’t quite imagine it.

But at this moment, she recalled a document she had accidentally read.

“I don’t know how to help you regain strength, but if it’s about leaving here, I have some ideas. Before joining Si Chu, I found a file labeled 001 in my father’s laboratory. According to that file, Source Star didn’t have spiritual energy until twenty years before the war. The file speculates that spiritual energy was brought by an extraterrestrial life. If such a life exists, there must be a way to leave this place.”

**You have triggered the plot quest [Source of Spiritual Energy].**

The game prompt rang, and Bai Fu was delighted.

Good, good, the quest came so soon?

P.S.: Combined chapters, thanks to TELSIGAR and the narrator from a certain comic for the support.

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