Quick Transmigration: Snatching Golden Fingers

by Usui Takumii

not mine, Konila. Total: 148 chapters. Chapters split in translation so the numbers are wonky.

16. 151 to 160

Chapter 151: Global Live Broadcasting [4]

Wen Qing turned her head and smiled at the person behind the glass who was talking. "That's right, I am maintaining traffic order."

Everyone: "..."

While continuing to clean up, Wen Qing said, "Isn't Ningcheng applying to become a national civilized city? As a member of Ningcheng, we must strive to be the beauticians of the city, and work hard to build our beautiful home. The city is our home, and civilization depends on everyone."

Everyone: "..." Please don't tell me you have a screw loose?

Seeing their expressions, Wen Qing knew what they were thinking. She stopped her hand movements and looked up at the sky at 45 degrees, sighing, "No matter what the world becomes, we must have hope in our hearts. Disasters will pass, pain will pass, and a beautiful tomorrow will surely come. I believe that Ningcheng will restore its original appearance, and people will return to a peaceful life."

A bowl of steaming chicken soup poured down*, causing the surviving humans who heard these words to feel warm in their eyes. Zombies, the end of the world, and the sudden disaster disrupted all peace. Not everyone could easily accept this catastrophe, nor could everyone adapt to the chaos of the end of the world instantly. Fear, anxiety, confusion, and worry accompanied each person. At this time, what they needed most was not food, but a voice that could calm their hearts, telling them not to be afraid, and that everything would pass.

Everything will pass...

*A bowl of steaming chicken soup poured down is a metaphorical expression used to convey the impact of Wen Qing's words on the survivors. It signifies that her words provided warmth and comfort to the survivors, just like a bowl of hot soup would.

It turned out that she was not crazy, but was using this method to uphold the hope in her heart and her anticipation for the future.

"So everyone, don't be discouraged, and don't give up on yourselves. In the 5,000 years of the history of our Chinese nation, we have experienced numerous invasions by foreign enemies, and countless times faced the destruction of our country and family. Even if the enemy's sword is placed at our necks, or their cannons destroy our bodies, we cannot bow down, nor can we lower our heads! This time is no different. No one can defeat us except ourselves."

The words were so passionate that even Wen Qing herself blushed. But for others, it was invigorating. After all, the Chinese nation had stood strong for 5,000 years, overcoming every crisis. The eight-year War of Resistance against Japan had ended in victory. Could these mindless zombies really be scarier than the Japanese? The Japanese had used chemical weapons, guns, and artillery, and knew how to plan strategically and coordinate tactics, but these zombies couldn't do any of that!

*War of Resistance: The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) or War of Resistance (Chinese term) was a military conflict primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. It began with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in July 1937 and ended with Japan's surrender in August 1945, after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The war was a crucial part of World War II in the Pacific and resulted in millions of deaths and widespread destruction in China.

"You're right. There's no obstacle we can't overcome as long as we stay united. These zombies will surely be eliminated!"

"I believe the government and the military won't abandon us. If we work together, we'll get through this, and help will come!"

"Zombies may be scary, but it's even scarier if we lose our fighting spirit!"

...

The people's morale was lifted, and they all spoke passionately. Wen Qing couldn't help but admire how resilient humans are. With even a glimmer of hope, they can survive. She believed in the inherent goodness of humanity, that the ugliness of the apocalypse was a result of being forced into difficult choices. In times of peace, there were always good people, ready to help and do what's right. But in the apocalypse, even survival became a challenge, so how could they uphold morality?

She had received warmth from strangers, and was willing to pass it on. She never hesitated to speak uplifting words, hoping to inspire someone.

The effect was evident; at least, in this moment, they all had hope. Of course, not everyone was moved by her words. Many scoffed at her, finding her ideas naive and ridiculous.

"You're too naive! The apocalypse is here, and only by actively adapting to this world and seizing opportunities can we survive. Immersing ourselves in the past only accelerates our death." A young man with glasses spoke up. "Even the government can't protect themselves. It's been three days since the apocalypse began, and we haven't seen any sign of them or the military. Isn't that enough to prove something?"

With his words, the crowd fell silent. This was the apocalypse, not just an ordinary disaster. Who could guarantee that they would get through this challenge?

If it weren't for Wen Qing as an unexpected factor, his idea would have been correct. People who were stirred up by Wen Qing's words were like flowers in a greenhouse, lacking independent opinions. They could be uplifted by a word from Wen Qing, and dejected by a word from someone else. Wen Qing never expected to be able to persuade them to follow her and create a beautiful city, but she didn't expect to be exposed so quickly.

She glanced at the man with glasses who spoke and was surprised to find that he was one of the two great advisers of Lin Wenqing in the original world. No wonder he could see through the beautiful future she had depicted. She knew she hadn't shown enough convincing power yet, and it was normal for He Bizhi to be skeptical. She didn't force him to agree with her, but for another group of people, sometimes giving them a little hope might bring unexpected energy.

With this in mind, Wen Qing smiled slightly and said to He Bizhi, "How do we know if we don't try? Why don't we make a bet? I bet I can restore Ningcheng to its original state."

He Bizhi frowned and looked disapproving, "Don't bet on something like this. If we fail, neither of us can afford the consequences." Even in the midst of fleeing, He Bizhi still maintained his dignified appearance, with clean clothes and neat hair, looking like a business elite. Apart from his tired face, he showed no signs of distress, completely different from the chaotic appearance of those around him.

"Ningcheng has a dense population, and there won't be a shortage of zombies. According to my observation, a quarter to a third of the people have already turned into zombies, and this number is still growing. Ningcheng is very likely to fall, so leaving is the best choice." He Bizhi pushed his glasses and analyzed calmly.

"Perhaps you are strong, and your abilities are unique, but a hero who saves the world alone only exists in movies. I don't agree with your point of view, but I appreciate you for clearing the way. I was going to drive out of the city to the military area, but the road out of the city was blocked, so I had to hide here. Now that you've cleared the way, I will continue to head south. I can't be as selfless as you, but I am grateful for your actions. Thank you. And finally, I advise you to leave as soon as possible."

Then he turned to the other people in the supermarket and said, "I'm only taking one box of instant noodles and one box of water. Do you have any objections?"

These things were nothing to the huge supermarket, so no one objected. He Bizhi quickly took two boxes and left before the zombies outside could react, driving away.

Wen Qing watched him leave without saying a word, appreciating his rationality, but sometimes being too rational was not necessarily a good thing. She then turned to the others in the supermarket, "What about you? Are you going to the military area with him, or staying here to help me build Ningcheng? Or do you have other options?"

The crowd looked at each other and began to discuss in low voices.

Wen Qing stood outside the supermarket, looking at the people inside with a calm expression. A few zombies walked around her, but couldn't get close to her.

Soon, the result of the discussion inside came out, and the people inside were divided into two distinct groups, with one side having more people and the other having only a few. The majority chose to leave and follow He Bizhi to the military area, after all, people still had a strong belief in the military. But they hoped that Wen Qing could clean up the zombies at the door to make it easier for them to leave.

Wen Qing neither agreed nor disagreed, turning to the remaining few, "What about you?"

A chubby boy in his twenties with a few pimples on his face was a little nervous, "We want to stay and follow you..."

Wen Qing smiled in satisfaction. Boy, you have good eyes!

"You can follow me, but first let's go clean up the zombies at the door, so it's easier for others to leave."

The chubby boy and his friends were incredulous, while the other group showed joy. They didn't expect her to really be willing to help them clean up the zombies!

Wen Qing didn't give a definite response. Sometimes it wasn't necessarily a bad thing to suffer a loss. Now was the time when the zombies were weakest. If the guys couldn't face the zombies now, what would their future be like when the zombies evolved? Besides, with her watching over them, even if they faced the zombies directly, she wouldn't let them get hurt. Accumulating experience in killing zombies now would certainly benefit them in the future. Such a good opportunity, where could they find another one? Wen Qing was not going to argue with them, but she wouldn't try to persuade them either. The choice was theirs to make, and they would have to bear the consequences.

She only stared at the four guys, waiting to see what decision they would make. In the end, they didn't disappoint her. After a brief hesitation, they agreed to her request and each grabbed a wooden stick before leaving the supermarket, just like she did.

Unlike Wen Qing, they didn't have any spiritual protection, so they were immediately noticed by the zombies as soon as they stepped out. The zombies around them rushed towards the four men in excitement. Nervously backing against each other, they listened to Wen Qing's instructions, "Their weakness is their head. Use the wooden stick to hit them hard. Don't be afraid, their speed is slow and their reaction time is slow..."

While paying attention to their safety, Wen Qing also instructed them on fighting techniques. The people inside the supermarket watched the battle outside with both nervousness and unease. After all, they still had some shame and couldn't remain indifferent watching others risk their lives for them.

The audience watching Wen Qing's live broadcast were also stirred up:

"Such delusions, still wanting to restore the world before the apocalypse? This is an irreversible disaster, okay?"

"Amazing, I had a dream of saving the galaxy when I was in middle school too!"

"She's got ideas! Haven't seen such a refreshing and natural show-off in a long time!"

"I can't help but look forward to how she will rebuild her home."

"If she can rebuild Ningcheng, I'll live stream myself eating worm feces!"

Chapter 152: Global Live Broadcasting [5]

Even Albalo was not optimistic about Wen Qing's great ambition, but he took the opportunity to say, [You want to rebuild Ningcheng? Come to me! With my help, you can definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort!]

Wen Qing's mind stirred. She had no use for things like gene modification liquid or interstellar body forging techniques, but she could give them to others! She casually said, "Oh, tell me how you can help me."

Albalo was delighted, feeling that he had a way in. His player had always been resistant to his attempts to persuade or manipulate her. While others' players had already fallen in line through threats or temptations, his own player still refused to be convinced by him. Could he not be anxious? But his player was not acting according to common sense at all. The things he could offer her did not interest her, and threats...ha, he was completely powerless to harm this woman!

[Rebuilding a city requires talented people, right? I can provide you with all kinds of interstellar potions to attract talent. Without food, you can't survive, right? A nutrient can provide two days' worth of energy! And you can't do without weapons! The system store has particle laser cannons, x-ray laser guns, and all sorts of advanced weapons for you to choose from! And there are maps of water sources, warships, and zombie distribution...anything you can think of, I can do it!]

"Then, can you make me a plate of scrambled eggs? Can you do that?"

[...]

How could he forget that this woman never played by the rules?

"So, don't make promises you can't keep. But as for your proposal, I'm willing to give it a try."

The sudden reversal made Albalo ecstatic. He thought he wouldn't be able to persuade her this time, but he didn't expect her to agree! Was there anything more frustrating than the system begging players to do tasks?

[Okay, okay, let me simplify the task for you. You can get 1 point for killing a regular zombie, 10 points for killing a tier-one zombie, and so on. Points can be redeemed for items in the system store, or can be converted into experience points at a rate of 1:1. Every time you level up, you will receive an upgrade package…]

Afraid that Wen Qing would change her mind, Albalo quickly explained the rules to her, even skipping the part where he had to release the task, in order to provide her with the most convenient and intuitive player experience.

However, Wen Qing did not feel his good intentions. She watched as the four men cleaned up the zombies at the door and said to them, "Well done, congratulations. You've taken the first step in surviving the end of the world."

The four people who were recognized were overjoyed, not only because they were acknowledged by Wen Qing, but also because they had overcome their fear and successfully transformed from a passive evader to an active attacker.

Wen Qing opened the door of the supermarket and walked in for the first time, followed by the four guys. The people inside looked at her expressionless face and felt a little intimidated. After all, they had seen Wen Qing's martial arts skills and knew that they had no chance against her.

But Wen Qing did not trouble them and calmly said, "You can leave now."

Everyone was pleased and quickly began to pack their things to leave.

"Wait," Wen Qing stopped them and pointed to the food and water they were about to take with them, asking, "Is this supermarket yours?"

Everyone looked at each other and said, "No..."

"If it's not yours, why do you take these things for granted? Taking without asking is stealing!"

Everyone blushed at first, then looked a bit ugly. Did that mean they couldn't take the food? But in this world, how could they survive without food?

Wen Qing saw their expressions and sneered in her heart, but said, "You can take it, but you should know the principle of buying things and paying for them. The owner is not here, so leave something of equal value at the checkout. Otherwise, nobody can take away a bottle of water!"

Their faces looked a little better now. Although they had to pay, they still felt that they had taken advantage. After all, in the end of the world, money was useless, and food was the most valuable thing. If they could buy food with money, they should be grateful. However, when they went to search their pockets, they realized that they had left their wallets behind in their haste to leave.

Wen Qing reminded, "Equivalent things can also be paid with gold, silver, and jewels."

At this moment, nothing was more important than life, so despite the reluctance in their heart, people estimated the power gap between themselves and Wen Qing and obediently followed her words.

Finally, when these people left, Wen Qing looked at the expressions of the four guys who seemed hesitant to speak and said with a smile, "Are you wondering why I made them pay before they could take the food away?"

The four nodded. To be honest, they didn't understand the purpose of her doing this. If she wanted to be a good person, she could have just let them take the food away. Now, not only did she let them take the things away, but she also offended them, only to exchange for a pile of useless wealth. In their eyes, this wealth was not worth even a piece of bread.

Wen Qing took in the expressions of the four and smiled slightly, "Because what we want to maintain is an order."

"Buying things and paying for them is a matter of course. Why shouldn't we follow this order in the apocalypse? If everything can be taken and used at will, and daily necessities must be obtained by force, then even without the apocalypse, the world will be chaotic. Therefore, to rebuild Ningcheng, our first priority is to restore order."

"Whether by force or other methods, we must let everyone know that they must pay to gain something, and there is no shortcut to get something for nothing!"

Wen Qing had a convincing aura. Although the four guys didn't quite understand what she was saying, they instinctively chose to believe her once they accepted her as their leader. After all, they had no other way out since they had made that decision.

Wen Qing didn't say much. There would be plenty of time to get to know each other in the future. "Now, let's introduce ourselves to each other."

They remembered that they hadn't introduced themselves yet. Then the chubby man grinned, "My name is Liao Tao, but everyone calls me Fatty."

"I'm Lin Zhanyuan."

"Wang Xin."

"Song Qingshan."

The four of them reported their names one by one, and then the chubby one summarized, "We're all students from S University, and we happen to live in the same dormitory. On the day of the apocalypse, we were having a meal nearby and woke up to find ourselves here at the supermarket."

Wen Qing nodded. From the short time they spent together, she had roughly figured out the personalities of the group. Liao Tao was outgoing and talked the most. Lin Zhanyuan was the calmest and had the most silent moments, but it was obvious that he was the one who made decisions among the four. Wang Xin and Song Qingshan were the opposite of each other, with one being impatient and the other being slow-paced. It was surprising how four people with such different personalities could get along so well.

Moreover, these four people were really lucky. None of them turned into zombies, and they happened to avoid the school, which is the most densely populated place. They immediately hid in the supermarket upon waking up, and now they were fortunate enough to meet her... Luck is also a part of strength!

"I'm Lin Wenqing, a cultivator," she introduced her identity like that.

"A cultivator?! Like those cultivators in novels who can ride swords and become a flying fairy?" one of them exclaimed.

Wen Qing smiled. "Flying fairy might not be possible, but riding swords is still possible." She had already built the foundation and could ride a sword now.

The chubby one and his friends were excited. "So there really are cultivators! We thought all the novels were lies!" After the excitement died down, the chubby one asked eagerly, "Boss, do you think we can cultivate with you?"

Just like how young people who were once addicted to martial arts novels had a martial arts dream, now, under the influence of fantasy novels, which young person didn't have a cultivation dream? The chubby one and his friends were still young, and they had read plenty of fantasy novels. They had never encountered a cultivator until now, and they couldn't help but be moved by someone who could fly.

Wen Qing saw their eagerness but shook her head. "No, it's not possible. The Earth has undergone a second evolution, and the energy system has changed. Cultivation requires spiritual energy, which the Earth's current energy is no longer suitable for." This was half true and half false. The Earth did undergo a second evolution, and the energy system did change, but this planet could never cultivate. She cultivated because of the space, but it was not easy to explain the situation to them, so she could only say this.

Upon hearing that they could no longer cultivate immortality, they felt disappointed. Then, Wen Qing said, "Don't be discouraged. The current energy system can evolve into superpowers. Cultivating superpowers to the extreme is another way of cultivating immortality."

Upon hearing this, the group became energized again. "That's right. I saw a supernatural being yesterday who could release fireballs. One fireball could turn a zombie into ashes. He looked very powerful!"

Lin Zhanyuan asked the question that everyone was most concerned about. "Is it difficult to evolve superpowers? I have only seen two supernatural beings until now. None of the twenty-plus people in the supermarket earlier were supernatural beings. Is the awakening rate very low?"

Wen Qing thought back to the introduction of the story and said, "In the early days of the apocalypse, one-third of the population consisted of awakeners, ordinary people, and zombies each. The awakening rate was not low. One out of every three people was an awakener. However, not many could directly sense and activate their superpowers. Most of them needed a trigger. As far as I know, the easiest way to trigger superpowers is during a crisis."

Upon hearing this, Liao Tao was eager to try. "Shall I let the zombies surround me and see if I can trigger my superpowers?"

Wen Qing quickly said, "Don't be impulsive. If you don't have the awakening ability, you will be turned into a corpse if you are bitten by a zombie. Even if you have awakened superpowers, it's not 100% immune. I have a safer method. Don't rush."

Now, all four of them looked at her with fiery and bright eyes. "Boss, you are mighty!"

"Indeed, follow the boss to eat the meat!"

However, the audience in the interstellar world was confused:

"Did I miss something? I have been following this livestream since the beginning, but I don't understand a word she is saying."

"What are cultivators? Flying swords, turning into a flying fairy? It seems like there is a lot of information in her words!"

"From what she said, could it be that they had a cultivation system before the apocalypse? And it was a higher level than supernatural powers?"

"How is that possible? Supernatural powers are the highest known form of cultivation for humans!"

"She's very familiar with the apocalypse. Did Captain Albalo reveal this to her? It is said that Albalo is the operator of her system."

"Huh? Wait, what's that?!"

On the screen, a black metal wristband suddenly appeared and landed in Wen Qing's hand.

Chapter 153: Global Live Broadcasting [6]

"...In the apocalypse, not only did humans split into zombies and those with supernatural powers, but so did animals and plants. The ones that turned into zombies are called 'dead beasts and plants', while the ones that gained supernatural powers are called 'alien beasts and plants'. The latter can be eaten and are even more delicious than ordinary food before the apocalypse. Moreover, they contain more energy than regular food. Therefore, humans need not worry about a lack of food in the future, nor fight over the few remaining sources of food. The laws of nature will balance things out and provide a way for humans to survive."

Wen Qing informed Liao Tao and the others about what she knew about the apocalypse, giving them a sense of comfort while also instructing them to write it all down and compile a survival handbook. She then set out to find a generator and photocopier to make multiple copies of the information to distribute to other survivors.

After all, every person who sees it might be one more person who can survive.

It was at this time that Wen Qing suddenly received a wristband.

[If I told you this is your new starter pack, would you believe me?]

Albalo said with a weak voice in the system.

Wen Qing chuckled.

I know I can't fool her! Albalo was feeling a stomach ache because just a moment ago, General Castro had entrusted him with an important task: to deliver the latest live-streaming device to a player so they could experience true interstellar live streaming and interact with the audience in real time.

Albalo could guess that Wen Qing had caught someone's attention due to her exceptional abilities, so they wanted to use this opportunity to further uncover her secrets. Interstellar society places great importance on human rights, so the government cannot simply capture people for research during live streams. They can only use this method to indirectly gain understanding.

The question then arises, is his player easy to deceive?

Wen Qing rubbed the live streaming wristband in her hand, a smile on her lips, but her mind was pondering. This plot twist wasn't in the original story. She didn't know if it was the delicious food she was broadcasting or the unusualness she showed that attracted the Interstellar Alliance. Or maybe it was both. But regardless, the Interstellar Alliance showed interest in her, which meant that her plan was already half successful. If she could interact with the interstellar audience, then things would go even more smoothly.

"How do you use this thing?"

Albalo saw her interest and immediately explained excitedly, [Just wear it on your wrist, press the button in the middle, and a virtual screen will appear. On the screen, you can see the audience's comments and interact with them. The audience's rewards are also real, and they will be delivered to you through the Interstellar Express... um, I mean, I'll deliver them to you.]

On the other side, the Interstellar people who had received the notification also knew that Wen Qing's live streaming room had been upgraded, and they could interact with her. But they were also warned not to reveal anything about global live streaming. However, even so, they couldn't stop the enthusiasm of the interstellar audience.

[Host, host, can you really see it?]

[Host, what is this cultivation that you're talking about? Is it more powerful than supernatural powers?]

[Please show us how to fly on a sword, host!]

[Host, you're boasting so much. Can you really back it up? Waiting for you to be proven wrong!]

[Host, are you still eating sweet and sour pork ribs today?]

[Is spicy crayfish really that delicious?]

[Wanna see the host live streaming while eating small wontons!]

[Wanna see the host eating spicy crayfish!]

[Spicy crayfish +1!]

[Spicy crayfish +2!]

…

Wen Qing raised her eyebrows, "No tipping?"

[My name is Xiao Longxia, and I am tipping with nutrient solution*1.]

[Warrior No. 1 is tipping with nutrient solution*2.]

...

[Castro rewarded primary genetic modification liquid*10.]

[Holy crap! Is it really the general above?]

[Group photo!]

[General is mighty!]

...

Wen Qing saw the excitement in the comments because of Castro's appearance, and suddenly remembered that he was also an important character. In the original story, he was the only one of the ten generals of the Interstellar Alliance who did not approve of using Earth as an experimental subject, but instead incorporated it into the interstellar territory. Based on this alone, Wen Qing had a good impression of him.

"Then it's spicy crayfish!" Wen Qing happily decided, "It's time for you to witness the power of spicy crayfish, which was once on the verge of extinction due to being overeaten!"

Wen Qing found a restaurant selling shrimps on the roadside, cleared out the staff who had turned into zombies inside, and walked into the kitchen. Because of the power outage, the fresh food in the kitchen had already thawed and didn't look very fresh. Wen Qing was not satisfied, "Forget it, make do with it. At least it hasn't gone bad, or else where can we find crayfish now?"

[Wow, these are already dead animals, right? Are you eating their corpses, host?]

Wen Qing: "..."

[The host doesn't want to talk to you and has muted you for an hour.]

What nonsense!

Wen Qing cleaned the crayfish and blanched them in white wine. She cut the chili into sections, chopped the scallion, ginger, and garlic, and then stir-fried them with oil and Sichuan peppercorn until fragrant. She added the crayfish and stir-fried them, then poured in various seasonings such as white wine, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce. The restaurant's seasonings were plentiful, and there was no shortage of anything.

After a while, Wen Qing turned off the heat, and placed the crayfish on the plate one by one. The red and shiny color, the spicy and fragrant taste of the crayfish, looked very appetizing. Coupled with Wen Qing's exaggerated expressions, the audience in front of the screen couldn't help but salivate.

[Why did I want to torture myself by asking to watch her eat crayfish?]

[The color looks so tempting, I can already smell the fragrance coming through the screen!]

[I really want to eat it! When will the Blue Star route finally open?]

[Please, host, deliver some spicy crayfish to me!]

[Wow, is there really such an option? I want it too!]

[Count me in, +1!]

...

After finishing the last of the crayfish, Wen Qing packed the remaining ones into a basin and stored them in space. She had made quite a lot and planned to bring some back for Liao Tao and his friends to enjoy.

This move shocked the interstellar viewers once again.

[What? Host, you have space?]

[Host is a big spender! Space is so expensive! Our whole family's income can't even afford one!]

[Host is a true big spender, pretending to be low-key with superb skills!]

[How big is your space, host? Mine is only 50 square meters.]

[Come on! Don't pretend to be fancy, the biggest space is only 50 square meters!]

...

Wen Qing pretended to be surprised, "What? Is interstellar space technology really that backward? The biggest one is only 50 square meters? My space is infinite, even the smallest storage ring is fifty square meters and can't hold much."

[Host, you're boasting again!]

[Host, if you keep talking nonsense, you'll lose my support, you know that?]

[Host, you're being mischievous again!]

[Castro rewarded primary genetic modification liquid*10. Please give me an infinite space ring, and you can set the price!]

[Group photo!]

[Sofa!]

[There's the General again!]

...

Watching the lively screen, Wen Qing smiled faintly and said, "The energy systems are different, and my storage ring is not something you can use!"

[We won't see it anyway, so whatever you say is true!]

Wen Qing was speechless. Did they really think she was lying? So she packed up everything in the shop and put it in space. She said as she went, "Alas, we won't be able to eat at this delicious restaurant in the future! What a pity."

After she had packed up everything in the shop, she found an abandoned car at the door and stuffed it into space. The things she packed up had already exceeded 50 square meters, but she was still calm and composed. Now the interstellar audience had to believe that she really did have a storage ring that was more advanced than the Alliance technology.

Wen Qing had a noble and elegant demeanor, looking down at the camera, "You stupid aliens, you know nothing about the mysteries of Earth!"

The interstellar audience was almost bowing down to her!

[Although I really want to beat her up, what she says makes sense. How do we break through?]

[No, no, I know something. The food on Blue Star is really delicious!]

[Blue Star's technology is so backward, yet they have more advanced storage technology than our Alliance. This is not scientific!]

[Shouldn't this woman be the most unscientific?]

...

At the same time, the Alliance government was holding an emergency meeting.

"Perhaps Blue Star has an ancient system of cultivation that is more powerful than supernatural powers!"

"Blue Star has more advanced space technology than the Alliance and has created an infinite storage space!"

"I agree to include Blue Star in the interstellar territory. There are too many secrets on Blue Star that cannot be allowed to be destroyed like this!"

"The abnormal one is only Lin Wenqing. Focus on monitoring her, use threats and temptations, and I don't believe we can't get anything out of her!"

"Even if we can secretly abduct a living person under the public eye, we cannot use severe torture. This violates human rights!"

...

Wen Qing brought a photocopier and a generator back to the supermarket where Liao Tao and the others were, and then took out the crayfish. The four of them instantly lit up, "Wow! Boss, where did you get this? There are still good things like this in the apocalypse?"

"Is it from Wangji on the street? I can taste their secret sauce!"

"Indeed, following the boss means we have meat to eat!"

...

This was the first decent meal the four had eaten after the apocalypse. They were like starving wolves, and they didn't need to pretend to show how delicious the food was. It was much better than Wen Qing's exaggerated acting. So the viewers in front of the screen became even hungrier!

[Watching the chubby guy eating so well makes me even hungrier!]

[I want to send him a blade!]

[Ah! When will the route to Blue Star be opened?]

[Can the host deliver it to me? I'll pay double the price!]

[I'll pay ten times!]

Chapter 154: Global Live Broadcasting [7]

Express delivery for food? That's not a bad idea, but not right now. It was necessary to whet their appetite first before they could get what they wanted.

With Liao Tao and three others, Wen Qing went to the city hall, the first step in self-rescue during the apocalypse. She planned to restore the government's credibility first.

Wen Qing believed that the government's power was always much stronger than an individual's power, and what one person could do was limited. In critical moments, one needed an organization to rely on. In the original plot, the fall of Ningcheng was not only due to the large number of zombies, but also because the government was in a difficult situation in the early stage, and almost the entire army was wiped out, so they were unable to organize the people to resist the crisis together.

Wen Qing and her companions arrived at the city hall in Liao Tao's car.

"What the hell is this?"

Liao Tao and the others were shocked as they looked at the scene in front of them. The more than ten-story city hall was completely covered by a green plant, with dense, dark green leaves surrounding the building like an impenetrable cocoon. From a distance, it looked like a giant green cocoon.

"This is a mutated plant. Its evolutionary direction should be strong reproductive ability," Wen Qing said casually. "Stay in the car and don't get out. I'll go out and take a look."

Liao Tao nervously swallowed his saliva. "Be careful, boss. This place looks a bit spooky."

The open space in front of the government building was still neat and tidy, just like before the apocalypse, with no wandering zombies or unconscious humans, but it was eerily quiet.

Wen Qing nodded. "I know what I'm doing." Then she pushed open the car door and got out. Even though she tried to be quiet, the sound of the door closing was still very clear in the empty environment. She walked along the path next to the flower bed, and except for her faint footsteps, there was no other sound, as if the whole world had only her.

The sun was already setting, and Wen Qing's shadow was elongated on the ground. Although it was the hottest time of the day, she inexplicably felt a trace of coldness. Wen Qing continued to walk forward, completely indifferent to her discomfort.

When she reached the bottom of the building, Wen Qing looked up at the greenery that almost covered the sky and said to the live camera that had been following her, "Don't you want to see me perform sword flying?"

The audience in front of the camera widened their eyes and held their breath, eagerly watching the screen.

Wen Qing summoned a flying sword, which flew up into the air with a swish. The sword was three feet long, with extremely complex patterns carved on the hilt. The blade was shiny and glittering, emitting a faint cold light. It looked like a perfect work of art that could capture anyone's attention with just one glance. Wen Qing leaped onto the sword, formed several hand gestures, and then the sword carried her into the sky. The whole action was so graceful and elegant that it was hard to describe.

Liao Tao and his friends in the car in the distance were very excited. "It's sword flying!" They saw it with their own eyes and it was even more impressive than when Wen Qing introduced herself. The interstellar audience in front of the screen also exclaimed:

"Amazing, she can fly with just a sword without any external force!"

"Does the sword have an energy device? How can it fly?"

"That sword is so beautiful! How much does the host want for it?"

"I also want a flying sword! No matter how much the person above offers, I'll double it!"

...

"Castro rewarded the primary genetic modification agent*20! I want the flying sword! How much is it?"

"General again!"

"Even the general can't stop my desire for this sword!"

…

Wen Qing didn't have time to look at the barrage, so she flew her sword into the air and circled around the building twice. Suddenly, she dove down from the sky and stabbed the corner of the flower bed with her sword. The sword aura penetrated about three meters underground with a "poof" sound, as if it had stabbed into something. Then, she picked out a dark green, water-bag-like object with her sword and walked towards the four men holding it up.

The giant vines behind her quickly withered without their energy source. The leaves drooped, losing the vibrant energy that Wen Qing had seen when she first arrived.

"You can come out now."

Hearing Wen Qing's words, Liao Tao and the others quickly got out of the car. Song Qingshan curiously asked, "What is this?"

Wen Qing pointed to the giant green cocoon behind her and said, "This is the energy source of this big guy, which hasn't condensed into a crystal nucleus yet."

Liao Tao opened his mouth wide and asked in surprise, "Boss, are you saying that such a big piece is just a plant?"

"That's right," Wen Qing nodded, "You guys are lucky. This is a rare exotic plant, not a zombie plant, and can be eaten. The leaves can be stir-fried, sautéed, cold-dressed, stewed, boiled for hotpot, or chopped up for dumplings. The taste is similar to the pre-apocalyptic shepherd's purse, but even better and contains a faint energy. When eaten by people with supernatural powers, it can enhance their abilities, though the effect is minimal, it's better than nothing."

*Shepherd's purse is a plant in the mustard family that grows worldwide. It has deeply lobed leaves and white flowers, and its seed pods look like small purses. It has been traditionally used in Chinese and European medicine to treat menstrual disorders, bleeding, and digestive problems. The leaves are also used in salads and soups as a food crop in some parts of Asia.

The fat man instinctively swallowed his saliva, "Shepherd's purse dumplings are the best..."

Wen Qing wholeheartedly agreed, "That's right. Let's make dumplings with it tonight!"

The interstellar audience in front of the screen was confused.

[This style... seems off? Weren't zombies, monsters, and plants taking over the earth, with humans struggling to survive?]

[I thought the host would express deep concern about the proliferation of plants, but I was wrong. My host never plays by the rules!]

[Seeing the expression on the little fat man's face, it seems like he's already seen the future of this kind of vine.]

[I always feel like their faces express regret that this vine is not enough, and they want more!]

[I feel the same!]

…

Wen Qing said, there's no such thing as overpopulation for any species that can eat. If they're not on the verge of extinction, they're doing fine.

Huang Hailiang had been trapped in the office building for three days straight. The giant vines had sealed off the building so tightly that even though they wouldn't attack humans unless provoked, he knew he would eventually starve to death without food. He had watched in horror as the vines slowly absorbed and "ate" Little Wang, who had turned into a zombie. The steel-like vines couldn't be hacked apart even with a firefighter's ax. Trapped in the office with no food, he was already losing hope.

With only half a glass of water left, he tried to conserve it, but it didn't last long. The last drop of water had been consumed a day ago, and now he was dizzy and weak, his vision blurred and filled with stars. He collapsed on the ground.

At that moment, he suddenly heard a horn blaring outside. "Attention inside the building! We have dealt with the danger and are breaking through to rescue you. If you can't hold on any longer, the leaves of these plants are edible..."

He couldn't hear the rest of what was said, his mind was only filled with the words "edible." Huang Hailiang didn't know where he found the strength, but he crawled to the window and pushed open the glass, reaching out to grab the leaves outside and stuffing them into his mouth...

After successfully rescuing the trapped officials from the city hall, Wen Qing expressed her willingness to cooperate with the government in maintaining and developing the city. The city hall secretary was grateful for her support. They had been trapped for three days and didn't know much about the situation outside, but they knew that the world had changed. The government's status in the minds of the people was completely unpredictable. Without the support of the people, the so-called government would be nothing but a mere decoration! So anyone willing to support them was naturally overjoyed.

Wen Qing's first task was to clear the zombies from the hydropower plant and restore the city's water and electricity supply. Water is the foundation of human survival, and electricity is the best way to transmit information. Both are crucial for city development. Her plan was in line with what they had anticipated, so she readily took Liao Tao and the others with her.

In the evening, after a busy day, Wen Qing brought Liao Tao and the others back to her base and cooked a delicious meal of "shepherd's purse" dumplings. The thin skin and big filling of these plump and white dumplings looked very appetizing. Coupled with Liao Tao and the others' ravenous appetite, it successfully aroused the audience's desire for food.

"The host's daily poisonous series."

"This live stream is poisonous, but I don't want to close it at all!"

"Resentment breaking through the interstellar, why hasn't the route to Blue Star been opened yet?!"

"Great, another dish has been added to the menu for when we go to Blue Star!"

Chapter 155: Global Live Broadcasting [8]

After finishing the meal, Wen Qing returned to her room and asked Albalo in the system, "Wasn't it said before that the rewards I received would be distributed through you? So, please give me all my previous rewards now."

Albalo, who had been ignored for a long time, instantly became alert. [What do you need? Nutrients? Or gene modification liquid?]

"Both."

[Why do you need gene modification liquid? Isn't your energy system different? How would you use them?]

Albalo asked in a natural tone, trying to gather as much information as possible about Wen Qing's secrets as directed by his superiors. Besides, he was also disguising himself as a system to assign tasks to her.

Wen Qing knew what he was trying to do, but didn't expose him. "I won't use them, but I can give them to Liao Tao and the others."

[Well, there are a total of 207 nutrient solutions and 78 primary gene modification liquids.]

As soon as Albalo finished speaking, a pile of reagents appeared "out of thin air" on the table in front of Wen Qing.

"What is this?" Wen Qing didn't look at the pile of reagents but instead turned her gaze to the invisible interstellar delivery robot in the mid-air and asked, knowingly.

Albalo was surprised and incredulous. [You can see it?!]

"Of course, it's so big that I'd have to be blind not to see it!"

Albalo was shocked. She could see it? This was an invisible robot that he could only discern with X-rays, yet she could see it with her naked eyes! The audience in front of the screen was also amazed but also felt that it was natural.

"I knew my host was not an ordinary person!"

"Amazing! The latest invisible interstellar delivery robot, Zhixing X90, can be seen by the host. The host is truly 666!"

"Let's give Colonel Albalo some credit, how else can this drama continue!"

…

With a raised eyebrow, Wen Qing looked at the bullet screen and asked, "Colonel Albalo?"

"Surprise! The cat's out of the bag!"

Albalo played dead and kept silent, and the screen was filled with gloating messages:

"Hey host, let me tell you something. Albalo is your system! He's a colonel in our alliance army, disguised as a system to trick you into doing missions!"

"All the rewards he mentions are a lie. The items are all delivered from the alliance."

"Have you seen the delivery robot? Your rewards are just dropped off by that thing. It's not really the system giving them to you!"

"Hey host, since I spilled the beans, can you reward me with a plate of shepherd's purse dumplings? Just have your nearby robot bring them back when it returns!"

"Shame on the person above! They sold out Albalo's information for just one plate of dumplings! They should at least offer two plates!"

"Host, are you really angry about being deceived by Colonel Albalo? Do you really want to beat him up? I have a picture of him, do you want it? Just give me a plate of spicy crayfish!"

...

The audience joyfully exposed everything about Albalo, but as long as they didn't reveal anything about the global live broadcast, the higher-ups didn't care if they exposed the system's secrets.

Wen Qing watched for a while and suddenly smiled. "Okay, I'll deliver some dumplings to you guys. Leave your address and name if you want some. But only the first ten will get them, and today we only have dumplings."

"Capital Star, Castro."

"Klin Star, Albalo."

"Yorton Star w78.9, Adelaide."

...

The audience responded quickly. Almost as soon as Wen Qing finished speaking, the ten spots were all taken. Those who missed out were crying and regretting their slow fingers. Wen Qing watched with a slowly curling smile. Now that the system's secrets were out in the open, how far away could the arrival of interstellar beings be? Why change her mind and not tease them anymore? After they tasted the dumplings, they would never forget them, and she could make demands more easily that way.

Wen Qing collected the things on the table into her space and left the room, walking towards the four people in the living room downstairs who were discussing who would be on guard duty tonight. She threw a gene modification liquid at them and said, "No need to keep watch, go back to your rooms and drink this. There is a 50% chance that it can trigger your abilities. I have something to attend to."

Without paying attention to the dumbfounded look on the four people's faces, Wen Qing quickly left the house and rode her sword into the sky.

"Did I hear wrong?"

"I think I'm having a hallucination..."

Liao Tao shook the blue reagent in his hand and then slapped himself in the face. "No hallucination!"

"So, this is real?!" The four people looked at the reagent in their hands with suspicion and disbelief. They were not doubting that Wen Qing was deceiving them, but the sudden surprise was just too much to believe.

Lin Zhanyuan pushed his glasses and calmly said, "Why don't we try it out to find out? The boss said before that she has a more reliable method to unlock our abilities, which must be this."

That made sense, so they went back to their rooms to experiment.

Wen Qing flew out of the city to the outskirts and found a mutated monster pig, then quickly flew back to the villa. As the first dish facing the interstellar, she must put all her heart into it to conquer the stomachs of the interstellar people! It is said that nothing is better than dumplings, and there should be some truth to this old saying. Moreover, she used the more delicious meat of the mutated monster pig after mutation, mixed with the flour she planted in space and her culinary skills accumulated over several generations. She didn't believe she couldn't pass this first level!

The hot dumplings were taken out of the pan, and she put them in an insulated box and then in a delivery box. After setting the address, she watched it disappear into the sky.

"How long does it take to get from here to the interstellar?" Wen Qing asked the screen.

"With the Zhixing X90, it will take about three hours and more. As for humans, according to the latest expert forecasts, it will take about three months."

"Because the special material of X90 can perform space jumps without considering the pressure difference caused by space conversion, but humans can't bear it and the tremendous pressure brought by the rapid change of space."

"And there are many dangers in the starry sea. It is necessary to inspect them one by one to determine the best route before navigation. According to the temper of the Alliance government, it will take at least a year or two before it can be opened!"

...

What a lovely audience. She only asked one question, and they all told her everything. Wen Qing returned to her room, closed the door, and chuckled with her arms folded, "Now, Colonel Albalo, let's talk about the intelligent system that claimed to be handsome and has been out of the factory for three months!"

"Hahaha, well done, host! Put wax on Colonel Albalo!"

"Just learned a Blue Star idiom, 'to settle accounts after autumn,' is it appropriate to use it here?"

"Host, Colonel Albalo did not lie, he really is quite handsome, one of the top ten golden bachelors in the Alliance!"

"If he hadn't come out as gay, he would have been the most popular choice among teenage girls in the entire Alliance."

"Only his male admirers have pushed him to the position of one of the top ten golden bachelors in the Alliance!"

...

So, a person so popular was just sold by you guys without hesitation? Is it because you love him that you have to bully him? I don't understand the thought process of these aliens.

The bullet comments were lively and extraordinary, but Colonel Albalo never dared to speak, quietly following the developments in the live stream after cutting off contact with the system. Wen Qing didn't force him, after all they would meet sooner or later.

After a long wait on the Interstellar Klin Star, Colonel Albalo finally received a delivery from the Blue Star. He eagerly opened the insulated box, and a fragrance that was indescribable wafted out. White and plump dumplings were packed in the box, and a small dish of balsamic vinegar was also provided. Colonel Albalo saw the chubby man and his friends dipping their dumplings in it, so he followed suit.

An indescribable sour and refreshing taste exploded on his tongue. Colonel Albalo couldn't handle the sourness, but it quickly subsided, and the delicious flavor of the dumplings bloomed completely.

Colonel Albalo closed his eyes and carefully savored this wonderful taste. He couldn't distinguish the fragrance of wheat flour, shepherd's purse, and pork that Wen Qing mentioned during the live stream, but he just thought it was delicious, very delicious!

No wonder the little chubby man was enjoying it so much!

When Colonel Albalo was about to eat his second dumpling, Seinstein and Costa from the next door barged in. "Hey! Buddy, it's not fun to eat alone. Let's share!"

Colonel Albalo instantly clutched his dumplings and was on high alert. However, under the suppression of Seinstein and Costa, he couldn't keep it.

Meanwhile, other people who received the dumplings had already started showing off in various ways:

"So delicious! So delicious! So delicious! Important things should be said three times!"

"One plate is not enough! I can eat two more!"

"I think it's tasty without dipping it in vinegar. I don't like that sour taste!"

"No, no, no, dipping in vinegar is better. It has a richer taste and more depth."

"I'm also part of the vinegar dipping group!"

"It can really enhance abilities! Although it's only a little bit, if you eat it every day, quantity can lead to quality change!"

"Enough said, show us the pictures!"

"Ah, why hurt each other! If you don't give us any, why do you have to tempt us!"

"Call the host! When will the benefits continue?"

"Host, love me again!"

Chapter 156: Global Live Broadcasting [9]

As morning broke, Liao Tao and his friends emerged, their destinies forever altered. Three among them had unlocked their abilities. They were respectively Fatty with fire element, Lin Zhanyuan with wood element, and Song Qingshan with wind element. Wang Xin, however, remained untouched by this newfound awakening.

Wang Xin felt deeply disappointed as he looked at the three awakened individuals with a complex and envious expression. Sensing his dejection, the three silently concealed their exuberance on their faces. Wen Qing consoled him, "It's okay, there will be another opportunity."

After all, this was only the primary gene modification liquid. There were intermediate and advanced modifiers available as well. The intermediate modifier had an 80% chance of awakening abilities, while the advanced modifier had a 99% chance. Earth and the interstellar world shared the same background but were in different developmental periods, and the energy system was the same. The planetary evolution experienced by Earth was also encountered by the Interstellar Alliance.

Differing from the nascent ability system on Earth, the Interstellar Alliance had already conducted thorough research on abilities. Whether it was the cultivation of abilities or various potions, they had already developed highly sophisticated systems. The gene modifier was one of the research achievements. Its purpose was twofold: to enhance the physical fitness of individuals and to help latent ability holders and ordinary people awaken their abilities. The highest-level gene modifier had an awakening rate as high as 99%. It could be said that nearly everyone in the interstellar world possessed abilities.

That's why she comforted Wang Xin, telling him not to worry. In the future, she would find a way to obtain the advanced modifier. With a 99% chance of awakening, he couldn't possibly be part of the remaining 1%.

Thinking she was consoling herself, Wang Xin mustered a forced smile and said, "Well, I'm fine. Even if I can't awaken, I won't be a burden."

Wen Qing patted his shoulder without saying much.

The atmosphere became somewhat subdued. Liao Tao changed the subject, asking, "Boss, what should we do today?"

"The hydropower plant has been taken care of. Let's go to the provincial road today. Many people drove away after it was cleared yesterday, and the road has become chaotic again," Wen Qing pondered for a moment and continued, "Moreover, if my guess is correct, the military will arrive soon."

"Will the military really come?" Lin Zhanyuan furrowed his brow and asked.

It had been four or five days since the apocalypse began, and there was still no sign of rescue. Even the municipal government was only able to escape with their assistance. He deeply doubted whether there would be a government in the future.

Wen Qing was resolute, saying, "They will come! They definitely will!"

Her words reassured the group. Although they had already decided to follow Wen Qing, they still felt that individual power was incomparable to the power of the nation. As upright and promising young people of the new century, they inherently trusted this strong, fair, democratic, and harmonious country.

Wen Qing was responsible for organizing the out-of-control vehicles, while Liao Tao and the others tested and familiarized themselves with their newly acquired abilities. They also cleared out the zombies and lent a helping hand to trapped humans they came across. Today was the fourth day of the apocalypse, and more and more people were running out of food and coming out to search for sustenance. The number of people using abilities, like them, had increased compared to the previous few days. Under Wen Qing's instructions, Liao Tao and the others distributed survival guidelines to anyone they encountered. The content on the guidelines brought some comfort to the panicked and bewildered survivors.

They remained busy until noon. Wen Qing told Liao Tao and the others to return first while she went to the outskirts of the city on her flying sword. She hunted an exotic beast, a mutant cow, and a few mutant pigs. Just as she was about to head back, she heard the distant sound of car engines. Looking up, she saw several green military pickup trucks heading towards her.

Wen Qing had no intention of drawing attention, so she waited by the roadside for them to pass before continuing on her way. However, unexpectedly, the vehicles stopped right in front of her.

Two men got out of the pickup truck. One was dressed in a green military uniform, tall and imposing. Although he restrained himself upon seeing Wen Qing, she could still sense the strong aura of bloodthirst from him. The other man wore gold-rimmed glasses and had a lean and refined appearance. He was an acquaintance of Wen Qing, He Bizhi.

"Hello, we meet again," He Bizhi spoke first, a faint smile on his face. He slightly leaned to the side and respectfully introduced the military youth next to him, "This is Major General Zhou Hanzhou, the current head of our Luodong Military Region."

Wen Qing nodded. "Hello, I'm Lin Wenqing."

Zhou Hanzhou calmly observed the woman in front of him. He had heard about her efforts in clearing the roads for people's evacuation. On their way here, they had encountered several individuals seeking refuge in the military region, and without exception, they all mentioned this peculiar woman. Through He Bizhi, he also learned that she was doing these seemingly thankless tasks for the sake of rebuilding Ningcheng, which gave him a favorable impression of her. There were indeed very few people with such selfless dedication in the apocalypse.

But what intrigued him the most was her ability. Every survivor who passed through Ningcheng spoke of her tremendous power and unfathomable strength. When it came to formidable individuals, no one could remain uninterested.

Therefore, when He Bizhi confirmed that she was that person, he immediately ordered the convoy to stop.

"You came from the city? What's the current situation in Ningcheng?" Zhou Hanzhou suddenly asked.

"It's relatively stable. There are only low-level zombies in the city, and ordinary people can handle them as long as they muster up the courage. The government is working on repairing the water and electricity systems, so there's a possibility that the supply will be restored today. There haven't been any violent crimes for now, and the order is relatively stable," Wen Qing replied.

Upon hearing her words, Zhou Hanzhou looked at her with surprise. The situation in Ningcheng was better than he expected. As far as he knew, other places had descended into chaos, with lawless individuals taking advantage of the situation. They were engaged in burning, killing, and looting. Even their military region was facing considerable challenges due to a mutated police dog, resulting in significant casualties. It was simply unbelievable that Ningcheng remained so stable.

Could it be... all because of this woman?

Zhou Hanzhou's gaze towards Wen Qing became fervent. "Miss Lin, I have heard about what you have been doing in Ningcheng. There are not many people like you who are selfless, powerful, and dedicated. I sincerely invite you to join the military and work together to combat the crisis of the apocalypse. What do you think?"

"Sorry, I have no intention of joining the military," Wen Qing refused without hesitation. "I don't like being bound by rules. I can't adapt to the strict regulations in the military. However, I will never refuse if there's a place where I can offer help."

She had many things to do, and being in the military would not be as convenient.

Zhou Hanzhou showed a hint of disappointment. "That's fine too. We share a common goal, and identity is not important."

Wen Qing nodded. "Are you planning to enter the city? I'm going back as well. Why don't we go together? We can exchange information about the apocalypse along the way."

"With pleasure. Miss Lin, please!" Zhou Hanzhou noticed she wasn't driving, so he invited her into his car.

The three of them got into the car together, and He Bizhi automatically went to the backseat, giving his place to Wen Qing. After getting in the car, Zhou Hanzhou asked, "Miss Lin, do you know what caused this apocalypse?"

"It's probably a mutation triggered by an unknown substance colliding with the Earth."

This explanation was similar to what Zhou Hanzhou knew. However, he only learned about it because of his affiliation with the military. He wondered how Lin Wenqing came to know about it. Although he was curious, he didn't ask and instead sighed, "I don't know when this disaster will end. Too many people have already died."

As he spoke, a fleeting expression of hidden pain flashed across his determined face. With the advent of the apocalypse, even the military was not spared. Although the percentage of zombification was not as high as that among ordinary people, it still accounted for around ten to twenty percent. Initially, they thought those people had been infected with some virus. Being close comrades, they didn't immediately dispose of the zombies but instead isolated and observed them together.

At that time, they still hoped to develop a vaccine to save those people. However, to their surprise, the zombies kept attacking and absorbing each other's energy while in confinement, eventually evolving into a formidable creature. They suffered considerable damage, which was the reason for their delayed rescue mission.

Wen Qing calmly remarked, "Survival of the fittest. It's not so much a disaster as it is evolution, an evolution of the Earth and all of humanity."

Zhou Hanzhou was startled internally, but he maintained his composure. "Do you know something?"

Wen Qing casually took out a survival guide for the apocalypse and handed it to him. "Here you go, everything you want to know is in here."

Zhou Hanzhou hastily accepted it and began flipping through the pages, too engrossed to question how Wen Qing came to possess the guide out of thin air.

The guide was filled with valuable information, more comprehensive and thorough than what the military had. Zhou Hanzhou carefully read every word, not wanting to miss a single detail. Even when the car passed by the villa where Wen Qing resided, he was still absorbed in studying it.

Wen Qing turned her head and said, "Could you please stop the car? I've arrived."

Only then did Zhou Hanzhou raise his head, his expression a mix of shock and complexity as he looked at her. "Thank you. This information is vital for us. Thank you for sharing it with us."

"Oh, almost everyone in Ningcheng has a copy. It's not a big deal," Wen Qing replied. What she didn't mention was that she had added some personal insights to his copy, including the existence of Earth's evolution and interstellar matters. This was something she hadn't even told Liao Tao and the others because certain things were not suitable for ordinary people to know at this time. It could cause unnecessary panic and uncertainty.

"Regardless, on behalf of all humanity, I thank you. With this information, who knows how many lives can be saved!" Zhou Hanzhou expressed his gratitude solemnly.

Wen Qing smiled and said, "This information can achieve its maximum value in your hands. I alone can't save the world." As she spoke, she pushed open the car door, hopped out, and waved at him. "Goodbye, I'll be on my way."

She took a few steps but then turned back and took out two mutant beast pigs from her space, throwing them onto the ground. "Here, take these. I got lucky today and caught a few extra." These people probably didn't have much dry food with them.

Zhou Hanzhou also jumped down from the car and went forward to take a look. These two pigs were larger than ordinary ones, with thicker skin and sharper fangs. "So these are mutant beast pigs?" He had read about the classification of mutant beasts and zombie beasts in the information Wen Qing had given him. He also learned that mutant beasts and mutant plants were edible.

Wen Qing nodded. "Yes, it's easy to distinguish between mutant beasts and zombie beasts. It's all written in the information, so I won't repeat it. However, you should be aware that mutant beasts can be aggressive too and can even evolve special abilities, just like humans."

Zhou Hanzhou bitterly smiled. "We've already experienced that. We had a military dog in our unit that evolved fire-based abilities. According to the classification in the information you provided, it should be a first-level mutant beast. It gave us a lot of trouble."

Wen Qing could imagine the scene. The difference between first-level and initial-level was not just in terms of abilities. Eliminating a first-level mutant beast must have required a lot of effort. "During the early stages of the apocalypse, first-level zombie beasts and mutant beasts were extremely rare. You were unlucky to encounter one."

Zhou Hanzhou forced a smile. What he didn't say was that they also encountered a first-level zombie beast, which went beyond just being unlucky. It was simply disastrous!

After parting ways with the military, Wen Qing returned to her base. Liao Tao and the other three were discussing their experiences and shortcomings in using their abilities that morning, while Wang Xin was cooking in the kitchen. When Wen Qing entered, he had already started cooking rice. Seeing her come in, he scratched his head sheepishly and smiled, "We still don't have electricity, so I'm steaming the rice using the method my mom taught me."

Wen Qing glanced at the stainless steel basin containing rice and water, directly steamed over boiling water. This was how she used to cook rice in ancient times, before the invention of electric rice cookers.

"It's good. I used to steam rice like this too," Wen Qing smiled slightly. She could tell that after Liao Tao and the others awakened their abilities, Wang Xin felt the pressure and wanted to do more to ease his unease. "Perfect. I didn't use the pork tenderloin from yesterday. We'll have boiled pork slices for lunch and then I'll make a spicy beef."

"Boiled pork slices today?!" Fatty leaned against the kitchen door, his mouth watering. "Boiled pork slices are great, boiled pork slices are great! They go so well with rice!"

Chapter 157: Global Live Broadcasting [10]

Note: We would like to address a comment we received regarding this chapter on . It has been brought to our attention that some readers felt there was a discrepancy in the content, suggesting a skipped chapter. We want to assure you that this was not the case.

No chapter was skipped. The author intentionally concluded the previous chapter in a particular manner and then resumed the story a few days later. This transition might have given the impression of a mismatch in content, but it was a deliberate narrative choice made by the author.

As Wen Qing lifted her eyes, all she could see were crumbling walls and ruins, charred earth. Survivors with disheveled hair and dirty faces drove their vehicles numbly, fleeing for their lives. Groups of zombies roamed around, excitedly chasing after the scent of blood and gathering together to feast...

This was the true face of the apocalypse.

Compared to this, Ningcheng was truly a paradise in the end of the world.

Liao Tao threw a fire dragon, clearing the nearby zombies, and turned to ask Wen Qing, "Boss, we'll reach Dongcheng after this county. Should we take a rest here?"

Wen Qing nodded. "Okay."

They had left Ningcheng two days ago. The journey had been relatively peaceful, with only a few small groups of zombies along the way, posing no significant obstacles. Their destination was Dongcheng, the territory where the male protagonist, Ye Qiong, resided.

Under the efficient governance of Wen Qing and Zhou Hanzhou, Ningcheng had quickly transitioned into a well-ordered city within a month. If it weren't for the occasional appearance of zombies outside the city, one would almost believe that the apocalypse had never arrived. That was why Wen Qing had left with peace of mind.

With Wen Qing intentionally livestreaming their journey, she believed that the Earth would not suffer the same fate as depicted in the original plot. However, there were still some uncertain factors to resolve, such as the other six "Survival Systems."

After obtaining Wen Qing's consent, Liao Tao quickly cleared an empty space and unloaded the pots, bowls, pans, and gas stove from the car. Once everything was set up, he approached Wen Qing, rubbing his hands together, and asked, "Boss, what are we having today?"

For a food lover like him, Liao Tao's greatest reward from following Wen Qing was being able to enjoy different delicacies every day. The dishes he ate in the apocalypse were even more delicious and exquisite than what he had before. Even the most ordinary ingredients, when prepared by her, became mouthwatering. Liao Tao even wondered if Boss had a natural "Gourmet Buff"!

"We don't have many ingredients left, so let's keep it simple. How about fried rice with ham, shrimp, and eggs?"

"Okay, okay, okay! Boss, anything you make is delicious!" Liao Tao eagerly nodded, salivating. That's why Wen Qing liked taking him along when she went out. She didn't bring anyone else this time, only Liao Tao. It was because this chubby guy was truly the king of enhancing the atmosphere—his enjoyment of food not only made it taste good to him, but also made others appetized just by watching. Rumor had it that one could eat two extra bowls of rice just by watching him eat.

Because of him, the interstellar audience's longing for great Chinese cuisine has surpassed the vastness of the stars and seas! Yesterday, Albalo informed Wen Qing that the Alliance Government had formed a pioneer team to explore the route to Earth, and they estimated to arrive on Earth three months later.

What ultimately convinced the Alliance Government to make this decision was the luxurious gift package that Wen Qing gave them—a hot pot! The combination of spicy beef butter and rich bone broth formed the yin and yang base of the hot pot. It was accompanied by beef balls, pork balls, lamb rolls, fatty beef rolls, shrimp paste, fish balls... and various vegetables. It was all packed and sent to Castro, asking him to help host a feast for the government and military high-ranking officials. It was said that the last beef ball nearly sparked a bloodbath. Then, on that same day, the Alliance Government issued a directive to prioritize the opening of the Blue Star route.

Wen Qing diced the ham, sliced the green onions, and cracked two eggs. She stir-fried them in the pot and set them aside. She then stir-fried the marinated shrimp until cooked, and finally added the eggs, ham, and rice to stir-fry together... When away from home, simplicity was key, so Wen Qing quickly whipped up the dish. Although the steps were simplified, the flavor was not compromised. The aroma of the egg fried rice wafted through the air, causing mouths to water.

[The evolved version of egg fried rice! ]

[Last time I was lucky enough to grab some egg fried rice. The taste was amazing. This time, with the addition of shrimp and ham, it's going to be even better!]

[Host, host, I have a batch of advanced nutrient solution. It's free shipping, dear! I'll trade it for egg fried rice!]

[Fatso is stealing my egg fried rice again!]

[I've already collected 372 knives! Once we arrive on Blue Star, I'll personally stab that chubby guy to death!]

[Fatso, stop eating! Leave some for us, please!]

...

In the past month, Wen Qing occasionally cooked extra food and sent it by courier to the interstellar audience. So, when viewers saw the amount of food she cooked, they could tell whether there was a chance of a feast. Today, Wen Qing only cooked three bowls of rice, and she had calculated that the chubby guy would have two bowls while she had one. However, the audience was relentless and always felt that if the chubby guy had one bowl, Wen Qing had one bowl, there should still be one bowl left... In reality, the chubby guy had a large appetite, and whenever he ate more, it made the audience itch with jealousy because they always felt that he was eating their share!

That's also why the chubby guy garnered so much resentment.

Wen Qing took a few bites but couldn't continue eating. She couldn't ignore the intense gazes around her. There were youths, children, and elderly people. Liao Tao had cleared an open space, so the nearby survivors gradually gathered there. They were disheveled, looking haggard with sunken eye sockets and cracked lips—a manifestation of hunger and dehydration.

Their eyes flickered with a strong desire for food, as if they could see a faint green light. However, due to Liao Tao's previous display of immense power, no one dared to make any sudden moves for the time being. But Wen Qing knew that they would soon be unable to restrain themselves because the instinctual need for food would inevitably overcome fear.

Finally, someone made a move. Three young men slowly approached, licking their cracked lips, their eyes filled with madness, like ferocious beasts in a fight to the death.

"Hand over all your food!"

Their hoarse voices sounded like broken gongs. Liao Tao lifted his head from devouring his food, his gaze dazed as he looked at them. "Huh? What did you say?"

This reaction made the three individuals feel provoked, but anger was completely unwarranted in the face of food. The three men slowly spread out, encircling Liao Tao in the middle. As for Wen Qing, because she hadn't made any moves throughout, they completely overlooked her, treating her as Liao Tao's sidekick.

What was even more alarming was that other survivors, seeing someone take the lead, couldn't hold back anymore. With limited resources and increasing desperation, if they didn't act first, they wouldn't even get a scrap to eat in the end.

Wen Qing leaned against the car, her expression neither sad nor happy as she watched it all unfold. The ugliness of the apocalypse once again revealed itself. She didn't feel superior for being on the stronger side, nor could she scorn or look down upon the struggles of the weak. When survival itself became a problem, what was there to talk about in terms of righteousness and morality? If she didn't have the space, the livestream, the experience of multiple lifetimes, and all the advantages, she would just be an ordinary person who might not have done any better than these ordinary people. In the apocalypse, not everyone had the courage to resort to any means necessary to survive.

[This is the true nature of the apocalypse...]

[The ugliness of human nature is laid bare, morality is lost. It repeatedly challenges my understanding of humanity.]

[Sad, lamentable, and pathetic!]

[That's why I don't watch live streams from other channels. I only watch my favorite host as she cooks delicious food. Why would I want to watch those live streams that destroy my worldview?]

[Same! I don't watch other live streams either, I only follow my favorite host, but I've never been able to catch their attention for a feed! I'm crying...]

[Actually, I've always felt that the global livestream organized by the Alliance government is extremely inhumane. If research is needed, let the research institutes handle it. Why should they open it to us ordinary citizens? I don't know what mindset is required to watch others struggle for survival without any resentment.]

[I've been wanting to say this for a long time. The Alliance constantly talks about human nature and human rights, but their actions are so unethical. Aren't the Blue Star people humans too? Even if they're not part of the Alliance, as long as they belong to the human race, they should enjoy full human rights.]

[I suggest the government carefully consider the matter of global live broadcasting. Blue Star's inclusion in the interstellar community is an inevitable trend, and we don't want this issue to breed resentment among the Blue Star people. The host has said that being in a good mood is one of the reasons for cooking delicious food. For the sake of good food, we can't let the Blue Star people have a bad mood!]

[Agree with the comment above!]

[Agree +1!]

...

Wen Qing raised an eyebrow. Had they finally realized their mistake? Regardless of the reason, it was a cause for celebration that the interstellar people were starting to reflect on their actions.

It wasn't the appropriate time and place, otherwise Wen Qing would have definitely taken advantage of the situation to make them feel guilty to the core!

The chubby man, surrounded by the crowd, showed none of the demeanor of a master. Rather, his cowardice was evident, and his aura of arrogance leaked out. He continued to shovel food into his mouth while squealing, "Don't lay a hand on me! Let me tell you, a true gentleman settles matters with words, not violence. We're all civilized people here, let's talk it out, let's talk it out..."

It wasn't that he was cowardly, but after following the boss for so long, he had gained some understanding of her principles. Unless it was truly a case of extreme wickedness, she generally wouldn't harm humans. In this chaotic world, there were many villains, but in the time he had spent with her, he had only seen her kill twice. The first time was when a group of bastards raped and abused women, and she rescued over ten half-naked girls who had been completely ravaged, with several of them even dead. That was the first time he witnessed her committing murder. The second time was when she dealt with a group of "cannibals" who specifically targeted women and children because their flesh was the most tender...

In the apocalypse, there would always be things and people that pushed the boundaries of human decency.

To the point where even food looting didn't seem as despicable. That's why Liao Tao hesitated, unsure if he should intervene.

However, the war didn't break out in the end. The roaring sound of a car engine could be heard from a distance, and several logistics trucks arrived in an instant.

A group of people jumped down from the vehicles, with a few of them exuding a faint military aura. They walked directly to Wen Qing's cooking station, seemingly oblivious to the confrontation between the two sides. "Hey, ham and shrimp fried rice, my favorite!"

Chapter 158: Global Live Broadcasting [11]

The speaker was a young man in his mid-twenties, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, possessing handsome features. He was a fresh and tender piece of meat, fitting the description perfectly before the apocalypse. He exaggeratedly inhaled the scent in the air, a look of nostalgia on his face. "It's this taste, so nostalgic!"

"Da Fei."

A voice that was overly calm sounded, and Wen Qing followed the direction from which the voice came. The person who arrived had a strong presence, with a tall and upright figure and tightly pursed lips, giving off an unapproachable vibe. The most striking feature was a scar at the corner of his eye, slanting into his hairline, looking somewhat terrifying. This person was the original male lead from the novel, Ye Qiong.

Ye Qiong cast a cold and ruthless glance at Yu Fei. Yu Fei immediately restrained his nonchalant expression, straightened his body a bit more, and turned to Wen Qing, asking, "Hello, do you sell these dishes?"

Yu Fei had smelled the aroma of ham and shrimp fried rice from the car, which was why he strongly insisted on getting off. He had already been tormented by the food at the Hope Base to the point of almost forgetting what pre-apocalyptic food tasted like!

Wen Qing didn't speak, her gaze staying on Ye Qiong the whole time. Ye Qiong seemed to sense something and looked up at her, nodding slightly as a greeting.

Wen Qing withdrew her gaze and smiled at Yu Fei. "Not for sale."

Yu Fei's face immediately fell. Just as he was about to leave in disappointment, he heard Wen Qing say, "There's only one bowl of rice left. If you want to eat, just take it."

So, it was given away for free! Yu Fei's face immediately brightened. "Miss, you're truly a good person! Beautiful and kind-hearted, any man who marries you must have accumulated eight generations of blessings..." While Yu Fei spoke, he quickly scooped the remaining rice into a bowl, leaving the pot spotlessly clean without a single grain of rice. At this moment, Fatty also squeezed out of the crowd and looked at him with a deeply resentful expression. "Is it delicious?"

"It's delicious! I've never eaten such delicious fried rice before!" Yu Fei answered as he quickly shoveled rice into his mouth.

Liao Tao had originally been very resentful of his act of stealing his food, but upon hearing his words, he immediately wore a proud expression. "Of course, my boss's culinary skills are not to be underestimated!"

"Yeah, yeah, good cooking and good looks!"

"That's right, absolutely!"

…

A bowl of rice bought someone's loyalty. The survivors who were originally gathered around Liao Tao witnessed this scene, along with the large group of people on Ye Qiong's side. They realized that it wouldn't end well if they tried to provoke them, so they quietly dispersed. While food was precious, one needed to be alive to enjoy it.

Wen Qing didn't pursue the matter either. She still maintained her posture, leaning against the car with her arms crossed, and smiled at Ye Qiong. "Mr. Ye, how about finding a place to talk?"

From the beginning to the end, Ye Qiong and his group never introduced themselves, but with a single word, Wen Qing called out his name. However, Ye Qiong's calm face showed no signs of wavering.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Let's talk about... the Survival System," Wen Qing lowered her voice.

Ye Qiong's expression changed, and he took a step towards Wen Qing. "How do you know?" There was a flash of killing intent in his eyes.

Wen Qing remained unfazed. "Are you sure you want to talk about it here?"

Ye Qiong suppressed his doubts and restored a calm expression on his face. He nonchalantly replied, "You're also heading to the Hope Base, right? Let's go."

Wen Qing nodded and motioned for Liao Tao to get in the car. They were preparing to follow Ye Qiong's convoy.

Seeing her readily agree, Ye Qiong felt a slight relief in his heart. Since she was willingly going to his base alone, she should not have any malicious intentions. The reality of the system was too unimaginable; he had to be cautious.

After over an hour of driving, the gate of the Hope Base came into view. The entrance was heavily guarded, and every person who entered had to undergo strict inspections and disinfection. Those with injuries would even be quarantined for 24 hours to prevent any possibility of the zombie virus spreading.

After passing the inspection, Wen Qing and her group entered the base. Ye Qiong instructed Yu Fei and the others, "Da Fei, you follow and store this batch of supplies. Grizzly, you are responsible for tallying the casualties and reporting the information, as well as handling their compensation matters..."

They had gone out to search for supplies this time, and the gains were not insignificant, but the casualties were also significant. In the apocalypse, casualties among personnel had become the norm. However, when Ye Qiong spoke about it, his mood was still heavy.

Once everything was arranged, Ye Qiong said to Wen Qing, "Follow me."

Wen Qing nodded, then turned to Liao Tao and said, "Wait for me outside."

Liao Tao didn't ask any questions and simply nodded in agreement.

Wen Qing walked into the room with Ye Qiong. The room was spacious and tidy, with various materials neatly arranged, indicating that Ye Qiong was an extremely disciplined person.

"Now, can we talk?"

Ye Qiong's gaze was piercing as he stared at her. Wen Qing smiled slightly, "Of course, I came here to talk to you about this matter."

Interstellar, Alliance Government.

Along the long conference table, military high-ranking officials in blue uniforms sat on one side, while government officials in black uniforms sat on the other, forming distinct factions.

After two hours of intense discussions, the participants finally reached a unanimous consensus.

"The proposal to change the policy towards Blue Star has received unanimous agreement. Therefore, I announce that Blue Star will officially be included in the interstellar territory. A fleet will be dispatched to Blue Star to establish friendly cooperation between the two parties..."

The head of the government, sitting in the seat of honor and wearing a black uniform, read out the final resolution of the meeting. After he finished reading, the commander-in-chief of the Alliance military, sitting opposite him, smiled and said, "This matter has been settled. Let's discuss the next one."

Upon hearing this, the military side remained calm and unsurprised. However, the government officials were taken aback, clearly unaware of the upcoming topic of discussion.

"What is it?"

"It's about the survival game involving the seven individuals: Albalo, Seinstein, and others, as proposed by BlackRock. I think we should discuss what kind of punishment should be given to them."

"Oh, this matter?"

"I did hear that these children did something ridiculous, but warning them to stop should be enough. There's no need for punishment, right?"

The commander-in-chief continued to smile and said, "If it were just a game among children, it would be fine. However, BlackRock originally intended to incite the Blue Star people to fight each other. Although it hasn't reached that point yet, he had the inclination. According to Alliance law, this can be considered an attempted crime."

"Therefore, in order to show the Blue Star people our sincerity in accepting them, these individuals must be punished! Especially BlackRock!"

The government hesitated a bit because four out of the seven individuals belonged to their faction, including the initiator, BlackRock. Handling all of them at once according to the military's request made them somewhat reluctant.

"Some people already know about this among the Blue Star people!"

"Is it Lin Wenqing?"

"Yes, she is one of the seven chosen individuals. She has already gone to contact the other six. Instead of letting her handle it on her own, we should deal with it first."

"Well... alright."

...

In the end, the two sides reached a consensus and decided to establish a special investigation case against BlackRock and the others, determining their punishment.

After Wen Qing informed Ye Qiong about the survival game orchestrated by the Survival System, Ye Qiong fell into silence. After a long pause, he regained his senses and asked, "What are you planning to do?"

"If you're willing, I will help you remove the system," Wen Qing replied.

"Willing? Why wouldn't I be willing? I yearn to break free from its control," Ye Qiong said without hesitation.

"Alright then, I will help you remove it."

Wen Qing enveloped it with her spiritual energy and extracted the "Survival System" from Ye Qiong's head. There was no resistance, which surprised her. She thought BlackRock, the "system manager" behind Ye Qiong, would resist, considering it was he who proposed the game in the original and then firmly encouraged Ye Qiong and the others to fight each other.

Ye Qiong stared at the system resting in Wen Qing's palm, his expression somewhat dazed. "So, this is the system. I once dreamt of being suppressed by it, killing countless in the apocalypse until I was the last person left in this world..."

Wen Qing didn't expect that he had dreamt of his own fate. However, that fate had been shattered now, so she could only comfort him by saying, "Dreams are always the opposite."

"Perhaps. Thank you for helping me break free from its shackles," Ye Qiong expressed his gratitude earnestly.

Wen Qing waved her hand casually. "No need to thank me. As fellow humans, we should help and support each other, unite and build a better world..."

Ye Qiong: "..."

In the evening, to show his gratitude to Wen Qing, Ye Qiong specially prepared a sumptuous feast - a roasted whole lamb.

During their expedition to search for supplies, they encountered a group of mutant sheep. Thanks to Wen Qing's abilities, the knowledge that mutant beasts were edible had become widely known.

The entire lamb was coated with seasonings and honey, then placed on the fire to roast. The tender and juicy meat sizzled and dripped oil, which fell into the fire, creating sparks that carried the aroma to the extreme, filling the air...

[I can't control my salivation anymore. Host, love me once again!]

[It reminds me of the cumin mutton the host made last time. It was incredibly delicious!]

[So it's not just the host, but everyone on Blue Star can cook such amazing food!]

[Is this a racial talent?]

[I, I, I want to marry and move to Blue Star!]

[I want to marry a Blue Star girl who is gentle, beautiful, and cooks like the host!]

Chapter 159: Global Live Broadcasting [12]

When Wen Qing was about to find the other five people after resolving Ye Qiong's system, Albalo, who had been missing for a long time, suddenly appeared.

[No need to look for them. The matter of the system has already been resolved by the Alliance government. From now on, apart from me using it to contact you, no other systems exist. Also, regarding the live broadcasting, regardless of whether you know or not, I have been instructed to be honest with you.]

[But I believe you probably already know. Since you can see the invisible robots, it's unlikely that the invisible broadcaster could escape your eyes. The Alliance government has decided that the materials recorded by other broadcasters will only be used for scientific research by internal personnel and will no longer be open to the entire alliance. Only your broadcasting room will remain, whether you continue broadcasting or shut it down, it's up to you.]

Wen Qing listened calmly, showing no surprise in her expression or tone. She simply responded with an indifferent "Oh."

Albalo couldn't quite figure out her reaction. After hesitating for a while, he apologized, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry for my previous actions."

Wen Qing raised an eyebrow this time and asked, "Oh? You realize you were wrong?"

Albalo, who was in a faraway interstellar world, instantly felt ashamed. He had acted impulsively before his brain had time to think! If he put himself in her shoes, what would he feel if someone from a higher civilization disguised themselves as a system bound to him, making him do things according to their wishes, rewarding success and punishing failure, manipulating him like a puppet on a string? Anger? Humiliation? He didn't dare imagine such a scenario.

Wen Qing didn't say much. In fact, among the seven "systems," Albalo could still be considered conscientious. She knew that Lin Wenqing was the first one eliminated in the original novel because he couldn't bring himself to incite her to kill her own kind.

"What is your punishment?" Wen Qing asked.

Albalo hurriedly replied, "After discussions within the Alliance, those with lighter offenses like Seinstein and others will be sent to Earth to clean up zombies and help the Earthlings rebuild their homes. BlackRock, as the mastermind with a severe offense, was stripped of all rights and exiled to the front lines to resist the Zerg until death. As for me, I am required to serve as your liaison officer and handle any doubts or questions you may have..."

"Oh," Wen Qing still responded with the same indifferent expression. Albalo instantly became nervous. "Are you... dissatisfied with this kind of punishment?"

Albalo informed her of the punishment results just to see her reaction. He was told from superior to make sure she was satisfied.

Wen Qing shook her head with a faint expression. If you consider the situation of this world, the punishment seemed appropriate, even somewhat severe. But in terms of the original novel's ending, this punishment was like scratching an itch through a boot. After all, their so-called game had nearly caused the extinction of the entire human population on Earth.

However, since those events didn't actually happen, Wen Qing couldn't impose blame on them. Moreover, compared to all that, Wen Qing would rather see Earth thriving with a continuous human race. So she welcomed their assistance in helping Earth.

"I don't know what the Alliance laws are like, so I can't judge your punishment. If you think it's appropriate, then so be it. However, since we're about to become allies, can I ask you for a favor?" she said.

"What favor? Tell me," Albalo immediately became spirited. His task was to try to be on good terms with Lin Wenqing as much as possible, as a way to make amends. Within the limits of what was allowed, he would satisfy all her conditions.

"Send us some genetic modification agents, as many as possible."

It would be best if everyone had one, ushering in an era of awakening abilities for all! Awakening abilities not only increased one's strength but also greatly enhanced immunity against the zombie virus. In this way, the chances of human survival would greatly increase.

Three months later, the final batch of modified agents arrived on Earth through interstellar express. The last group of survivors from the "Human Awakening Project" successfully awakened their abilities. With this, Earth entered a new era.

Alongside the final batch of modified agents, the advance troops sent by the interstellar also arrived. After three months of exploration in space, they finally reached Earth.

On the day the advance troops descended, countless interstellar viewers gathered in Wen Qing's live broadcasting room, joining the thousands of Earthlings to witness this historic moment together!

[Woo-hoo, it wasn't easy. We've finally connected with Blue Star!]

[Now that the advance troops have arrived, will it be long before the tourist route opens?]

[I can't explain why, but I feel so excited. I've never anticipated anything like this in all my years of living!]

[Remember this moment. It's a great turning point in interstellar history. Farewell to nutrient solutions and welcome Blue Star cuisine!]

[The grand empire of gastronomy! We're coming!]

The leader of the advance troops was General Castro. He wore a sky blue uniform, his deep blue eyes resembled a vast ocean of stars, and his neatly combed golden hair. Every button on his clothes was fastened, and he wore white gloves, exuding a charming and noble aura from head to toe.

Wen Qing saw someone in the barrage calling Castro a noble gentleman, which was indeed a fitting description.

"Beautiful lady, we finally met."

Castro said, taking off his gloves and extending his right hand to Wen Qing with a slight smile. "I hope I haven't made any mistakes in my Earthly etiquette?"

Wen Qing smiled and nodded. "No mistakes. Welcome to Earth, General Castro."

Castro's face revealed a charming smile. "I went to great lengths to seize this opportunity. Ah, did I say 'great lengths'? That's the right meaning, isn't it?"

"Yes," Wen Qing chuckled. After some small talk, Wen Qing led everyone to the banquet hall, where the welcoming feast was already prepared.

"As per our traditional etiquette, when guests come from afar, we must prepare a welcoming feast. Upon confirming your arrival today, we have already prepared a feast to celebrate your visit and wash away the dust of the journey."

Castro's eyes lit up as he saw the exquisite dishes on the table. "Thank you, thank you. Indeed, my choice to abandon my manners and seize this opportunity was correct!"

Wen Qing smiled faintly and introduced the dishes on the table to him. "In Greater China, we have eight major culinary styles and four major flavors. You won't be able to taste all the dishes from every culinary style in a year, so today I have selected representative dishes from various culinary styles for you. This is Braised Lion's Head, also known as Sixi Meatballs, a famous dish from the Huaiyang cuisine; this is Kung Pao Chicken, one of the representatives of Sichuan cuisine; this is Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, one of the representatives of Fujian cuisine; and this..."

"There's also Fish-flavored Shredded Pork, Mapo Tofu, Crispy Squab, Sweet and Sour Pork, Oyster Sauce Beef, West Lake Vinegar Fish, Braised Pork Elbow, Wenchang Chicken, Stir-fried Lamb with Scallions, Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish, Spicy Chicken with Chili, Salt-baked Duck..."

Wen Qing listed the dishes on the table as if she were singing their names. Her voice seemed to possess a magical power that made anyone who heard it involuntarily salivate. While listening to her recitation, they had to endure the torment of colors, aromas, and flavors. Castro expressed how difficult it was for him to resist.

To those who claimed to have an iron will, he wanted to say, "You just haven't encountered Chinese cuisine."

[Aww! I want to eat so badly! Please have mercy on us, host!]

[Watching the livestream while drooling, I'm about to drown in my own saliva!]

[Host, you're heartless! It hurts so much to only be able to watch but not eat!]

[Doesn't your conscience hurt, host? You describe the dishes so clearly and yet deny us the pleasure of tasting them. It's heartbreaking!]

[Let me tell you all, Castro is my brother, and he's right there at the scene. I'll ask him to send me some. Brother, dear brother, please just look at me!]

[I never expected the general to be like this! Do you not even chew your food? General, please show some mercy to our appetites!]

Chapter 160: The Dimensional Trader of the Cross-Dressing Expert [1]

The arrival of the Interstellar Expeditionary Force (advance troops) signified Earth's official connection with the interstellar realm. Long before receiving the first batch of modification agents, Wen Qing had already informed the people of Earth about the existence of the interstellar beings. Therefore, the arrival of Castro and his team did not cause panic among them. On the contrary, they held a favorable view of the interstellar beings. After all, the other party had extended a helping hand to Earth during the apocalypse, gifting them with modification agents that helped them survive the crisis.

Wen Qing didn't feel the need to explain this further. She didn't care about fake names or titles. The fact remained that the interstellar beings had indeed offered their assistance, and the people of Earth had benefited from it. Regardless of her role in it, this outcome couldn't be changed. So why should she bother being a villain for no reason?

Both sides were satisfied, and it was a happy ending. That was good enough.

With the involvement of the interstellar beings, the zombie crisis failed to make any significant impact. Even the post-disaster reconstruction became easier.

According to experts' analysis, Earth's doomsday crisis was not only related to an unknown substance but also to severe ecological destruction on Earth. As a result, after experiencing the apocalypse, the people of Earth had come to realize the consequences of environmental damage and developed a deeper understanding of environmental conservation. During the process of rebuilding Earth, they placed more emphasis on maintaining ecological balance.

Moreover, the heavy industry*, electronic, and technological sectors from before the apocalypse had lost their relevance. No matter how much research they conducted, they couldn't catch up to the current technological level of the interstellar beings. It was better to study interstellar technology and start from a higher starting point.

*collective term for mining, iron industry and steel industry

Consequently, Earth had transformed into a tourist planet that combined food, leisure, and entertainment. It had become a culinary paradise revered by the interstellar foodies. Each year, Earth received billions of interstellar tourists, to the extent that Earth had to implement policies to restrict the number of visitors. As a result, it became extremely difficult to obtain tickets to Earth.

In the 57,698th year of the Interstellar Calendar, in the month of August, Ke En had been monitoring the Star Network for three consecutive months and finally managed to snatch two tickets to Blue Star. Just as he was engulfed in joy, he received a video call from his girlfriend. Ke En was excited to share this happiness with her because he knew she had always wanted to travel to Blue Star. He hadn't told her about his ticket-grabbing efforts, intending to surprise her.

However, before he could say anything, she spoke first, "Let's break up. I don't want to be with a repairman anymore. You don't have money to buy me gifts, and you don't have time to spend with me. You have no taste in fashion, and my friends are all mocking me for being with a country bumpkin..."

Caught off guard, Ke En's face froze in disbelief, and without thinking, he blurted out the words he had been contemplating in his heart, "I have two tickets to Blue Star..."

The girl on the screen went from an expression of arrogance to disbelief, then to a smiling face filled with reproach, "I was just joking earlier. I wanted to test how deeply you felt for me, and you have passed my test now."

Ke En was dumbfounded by the lightning-fast change of events. He had thought that online jokes were all just kidding around, but now he had encountered a real-life version!

In the end, Ke En broke up with his girlfriend. Someone who only stayed with him for the sake of his Blue Star ticket couldn't possibly truly love him.

Heartbroken, Ke En decided to travel to Blue Star alone. As he was leaving, he ran into his goddess from his school days. The goddess was being pursued by two men. One said, "I own seven mines, three private planets, and countless properties..."

The other said, "My father is the Minister of Finance, my uncle is an Admiral in the Alliance, and my mother is a diplomat..."

Seeing the goddess looking troubled, as Ke En walked by, he blurted out unconsciously, "I have a ticket to Blue Star. Care to join me?"

The goddess's eyes brightened when she saw him and nodded in agreement, saying, "Sure!"

As they boarded the spacecraft headed for Blue Star, Ke En felt like he was in a dream, unable to believe his luck as he gazed at the goddess beside him.

The goddess turned her head and smiled gently at him. "What's the matter?"

Ke En's heart fluttered, feeling like he was floating on cloud nine. "Nothing, really."

Meanwhile, the video of the three men pursuing the goddess and her rejecting the wealthy handsome men in favor of the person with a ticket to Blue Star went viral online. This once again fueled the discussion about the scarcity of Blue Star tickets. Creative netizens even compiled various jokes based on this.

Having arrived on Earth, Ke En and the goddess were exploring this mysterious sanctuary in awe. The clean and orderly streets, vibrant crowds, and beautiful houses exuding a distinct Blue Star vibe overwhelmed their senses. But most importantly, there was a wide variety of food here! It was real, not just pictures!

Delicious food could be found everywhere, and the air itself carried a captivating aroma. Merchants dressed in traditional Blue Star attire warmly welcomed their guests. Kind-hearted locals informed them that the nearby street was a food paradise, and purchasing a ticket allowed unlimited indulgence.

Ke En joyfully bought two tickets and pulled the goddess into the embrace of culinary delights.

The first shop they encountered at the entrance was selling grilled lamb skewers. The owner immediately exclaimed, "Young man, is this your first time here? Let me tell you, the grilled meat here has been personally taught by the Food Queen. One bite, and you won't be able to forget it!"

Ke En knew who they were referring to as the Food Queen. She was even more famous in the interstellar community and could be said to be known throughout the entire galaxy. She was the first person to introduce Blue Star cuisine to the interstellar realm. Yes, it was none other than their former host!

When Blue Star's culinary industry was just getting started, the host traveled around, imparting cooking techniques to many people. But as the culinary scene on Earth flourished, she gradually disappeared, seldom appearing in public. Nevertheless, even if she didn't show herself now, she was still widely recognized as the number one culinary master in the interstellar and Blue Star realms!

So when the shop owner mentioned that his grilled meat had been guided by the Food Queen, both Ke En and his companion immediately became interested and ordered a skewer each.

The owner grinned and said, "You can tell you've done your homework. Unlike some people who just eat recklessly because they think my food is good, only to get stuffed and miss out on other things. Even when something is delicious, it's better to savor it lightly and leave room in your stomach to try more... Here you go, young man, you're so lucky. Your girlfriend is really beautiful!"

"Huh? She's not..." Ke En blushed and awkwardly looked at the person next to him. Seeing that the goddess wasn't angry, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The two continued walking, tasting whatever they came across—sugar-coated chestnuts, grilled squid, pan-fried buns, marshmallows, grilled scallops, stinky tofu... They hadn't even covered a quarter of the distance when they were already too full to eat.

Determined to share the pain of seeing, smelling, and touching but not being able to taste, they started taking selfies with various foods and posted them on their social media, creating a frenzy of stomach-churning envy! They naturally received a wave of envy, jealousy, and hatred in response.

"What's that? It looks beautiful," Xueya pointed to a spot and said.

Following her gaze, Ke En saw a small inconspicuous shop. The counter was filled with transparent objects skewered on bamboo sticks, each with a unique and beautiful shape. They walked in, and there was only a young woman working, her head lowered.

She had a pair of beautiful hands, fair and slender. With her ten fingers dancing, she quickly crafted a lovely and naive sculpture of a little boy. Immediately after, she drew a little girl next to the boy. The boy was dressed in a suit, and the girl wore a wedding gown. They were holding hands, leaning against each other, exuding a sweet and affectionate vibe.

"For you," she said as she finished, picking it up and handing it to Xueya.

Xueya exclaimed in surprise, "For me?"

"Yeah."

Xueya carefully took it, afraid of breaking it because it looked fragile. Ke En also leaned over, "Hey? These two dolls really look like us!"

Xueya took a closer look. "You're right!" The two cartoonish figures looked just like the two of them.

After the surprise settled, the two suddenly thought of something and simultaneously blushed, lowering their heads.

"This is called Tangren*, a traditional Chinese handicraft." A voice suddenly broke the ambiguity between the two. They both raised their heads to look at her, and with just one glance, they were both pleasantly surprised.

*Tángrén (or Sugar figurine) is a traditional Chinese form of folk art using hot, liquid sugar to create three-dimensional figures.

"You're the host, right?"

Being recognized, Wen Qing didn't mind and smiled as she admitted, "Yes, it's me. Nice to meet you."

"Oh my god! You're really the host! I'm so happy! I've been following your livestreams since the beginning, never missing a single one! Oh my god, I actually met you in person!" Xueya's excitement made her words incoherent. Ke En was slightly better but equally overwhelmed, barely stopping himself from kissing Wen Qing.

After a while, the two calmed down and marveled at Wen Qing's craftsmanship. "Host, this Tangren you made is so beautiful. I don't even want to eat it. But I also really want to know how it tastes because you made it with your own hands!"

Wen Qing laughed and said, "Then enjoy looking at it a bit longer before eating."

"That's true, haha."

When the two reluctantly left, Wen Qing said to them, "Do not waste both food and love. I wish you all the best."

Wen Qing could tell that the two had feelings for each other, but the boy had an ordinary appearance and seemed to have some insecurities, hesitating to make a move. So she gave them a helping hand.

After all, she had nothing better to do. Earth was bustling, and the mortal realm was peaceful. She enjoyed this moment of bliss. Traveling around, relaxing, occasionally opening a small shop and making things she liked. This kind of life was probably what everyone dreamed of.

In the year 57699 of the Star Calendar, Ke En and Xueya got married. The story of how they fell in love on Blue Star through food also resonated with many people. The phrase "Do not waste both food and love" added a touch of romance to the mystery of Blue Star.

It was a romantic place with both delicious food and stories.

After returning to the endless space, Wen Qing bid farewell to Lin Wenqing and welcomed her next client. She glanced at the Stone of Rebirth with her spiritual sense and couldn't help but smile. This world seemed quite interesting.

When Wen Qing opened her eyes again, she found herself sitting in a car, feeling slightly dizzy. Beside her was a well-dressed and elegant lady, who was speaking to her.

"... handsome and capable. I heard that when he was studying in the United States, he started several companies on his own without relying on his family's influence. Now that he's back in the country, he was supposed to be the next successor firmly in line for the family business. But he insisted that he still lacked experience and needed further training, and even Mr. Gu agreed. Now, as you can see, he casually establishes a company like a game, and it becomes one of the leading renowned enterprises in the country..."

"Although he may appear a bit aloof, he's a decent person, very principled. I haven't heard of him having any entanglements with women. Your mother* was attracted to his identity and his clean reputation. Among the other eligible suitors, they either keep mistresses or have messy personal lives. Even if you were willing, I wouldn't let you marry them! You're my biological daughter, could a mother push you into a pit of fire?"

*The mother's use of referring to herself in the third person suggests that she either has a personal preference for such a manner of speaking or she is intentionally emphasizing her role as the daughter's mother, aiming to establish authority or provide guidance in the conversation.

Within such a short period of time, Wen Qing had already sorted out her thoughts and understood what the woman next to her was talking about. Gu Qingcheng was certainly good, after all, he was the male lead. But not just anyone could handle the male lead.

If someone who wasn't the designated partner provoked the male lead, they would only end up as cannon fodder. And this time, the client, Su Wenqing, was that cannon fodder.

The Su family and the Gu family were of similar backgrounds, considered a suitable match. Su Wenqing was also around the same age as Gu Qingcheng, so their families had arranged their engagement. Therefore, Su Wenqing was the so-called cannon fodder fiancée in all those wealthy romance novels.

When the male lead encountered his destined love interest, this cannon fodder became a nuisance and even went out of their way to contribute to the male lead's love story, ultimately leading them to love each other more deeply.

That's how the original story went. The only difference was that the other protagonist was not a woman.

Yes, this was a danmei* novel, with Jiang Xiaoman as the main character and Gu Qingcheng as the so-called Gong*. And Jiang Xiaoman was a cross-dressing* expert who obtained a dimensional trading device*!

*Danmei - romantic/erotic genre between boys in China

*In the context of danmei novels, Gong refers to a character who takes on the dominant or active role in a romantic or sexual relationship. It is often used in the context of same-sex relationships, particularly in the genre of boys' love or BL. Gong in danmei is like the "seme" character in yaoi.

*Cross-Dressing refers to the act of wearing clothing typically associated with a gender different from one's own. It means that Jiang Xiaoman, who is assigned male at birth, dresses and presents himself as a female.

*A Dimensional Trading Device enables users to engage in trades with individuals from various dimensions. The author provides an explanation of this concept in the 4th chapter of this arc.