The Zerg Monarch’s Path to Godhood - Chapter 3

Once the star coins were transferred, Wen Qi realized he had a major problem.

His terminal used real-name authentication. This meant the other party could use the transaction record to track him down. He felt a wave of annoyance. He should have purchased a temporary terminal immediately upon entering the Black Market, but the sight of the Cuiming Stone had momentarily distracted him. He would have to be more careful in the future.

However, since he had only purchased a stone, the issue was not too severe. Aside from the bug currently acting with frantic urgency, no one else nearby seemed to know the true purpose of the stone. Furthermore, that bug was only an A-grade.

An A-grade is nothing. Even if trouble arises, I can handle it, Wen Qi thought, weighing the stone in his hand.

The Cuiming Stone was small, roughly the size of two thumbs, and glowed with a faint green light. It felt incredibly comfortable to the touch. Wen Qi tucked the stone into his sleeve. Seeing the female who had failed to buy the stone approaching him to speak, he stepped aside, making his refusal clear.

“Sir,” the blue-haired female tried to speak, but Wen Qi ignored him. He pulled down the brim of his hood and strode toward the innermost part of the Trade Zone. Wen Qi remembered there was a shop selling temporary terminals in the back. He needed one now.

“Damn it, how?” Watching Wen Qi walk away, the blue-haired female frowned deeply. “No one usually wants that thing, and it was not even obvious. I was just about to haggle. How did it suddenly get snatched away? And by a male, no less. Why would a male come to a place like this? Could they know something?”

The blue-haired female’s face grew solemn. He scanned the surroundings and, seeing no one watching, quickly slipped into a nearby soundproof booth. The booth was tiny, barely enough for four bugs to stand in. It contained nothing but a single stool.

The female frowned as he opened his terminal and placed a call. Soon, a projection appeared. It was a young female with emerald hair and eyes, looking no older than twenty-five. The young bug in the projection appeared to be in poor condition. His tight military combat uniform was bloodstained and tattered. Several scars marked the bone wings extending from his back. He seemed to be in a confined, pitch-black environment. Only the light from the terminal allowed his silhouette to be seen.

Despite being in such a state, the bug still projected an aura of calm authority.

“Something wrong?” A steady voice came from the projection. The young female’s gaze was deep. Though he looked to be in terrible condition, his eyes were remarkably calm. His unkempt emerald hair had grown to the bridge of his nose. Combined with his masculine, blood-stained face, he possessed a powerful, conflicting presence.

He should not be in this state.

This thought would occur to anyone seeing him. Even the female who had placed the call stared in a daze for a moment.

“Is there an issue?” the commander asked again. His voice was calm, lacking any hint of impatience.

“Boss.” The blue-haired female removed his mask, revealing a pale, masculine face. He pursed his lips and gave a sharp military salute to the emerald-haired bug. “Commander, I am sorry. The Cuiming Stone was bought by someone else.”

“Bought?” The person on the other end seemed surprised. A silence followed. After two seconds, he spoke again in the same tone. “Offer a higher price and see if you can buy it back. Within five hundred thousand.”

“Boss.” Yue Chuan, knowing his leader’s finances were tight, spoke in a low voice full of self-reproach. “A male bought it.”

A male.

Hearing this, the other side fell silent for a long time. Yue Chuan clenched his fists under his sleeves. He stared nervously at the emerald-haired female, fearing the commander would be triggered by the news.

A flash of resentment crossed Yue Chuan’s eyes before vanishing, replaced by undisguisable worry.

“A male,” the commander repeated the words, and for a moment, neither spoke. Yue Chuan felt a deep sense of apology. If only he had bought it sooner.

It was common knowledge that males were never short on star coins. Every male had countless females willing to offer vast sums of money just to earn a moment of their favor. A male living on the Main Star would naturally have a high grade and plenty of wealth. The probability of getting the Cuiming Stone back was slim, though not impossible, provided they could offer something that would tempt a male.

Unfortunately, they had nothing. Their entire net worth combined likely could not buy a single Cuiming Stone. While Yue Chuan did not understand why his boss insisted on this specific stone, he would find a way to follow orders. If it were just a matter of price, it would be fine, but since a male was involved, it became difficult. Everything depended on the male’s whim.

A male!

As those words were spoken, a shadow of gloom quickly flashed in the commander’s eyes. It disappeared so fast it seemed like a trick of the light, but Yue Chuan knew better. He could not help but blame himself. But it was too late. Not only had he failed to get the stone, but he had also made his boss remember that incident. Yue Chuan lowered his head, feeling miserable.

“Return to the unit for now,” the commander spoke again, his tone unchanged. “I will make a trip to the Main Star myself.”

“Boss!” Yue Chuan looked up abruptly, unable to hide his shock. He said anxiously, “You cannot! You know very well that…”

Before he could finish, as if touching a taboo, Yue Chuan shut his mouth. The commander had already disconnected the call. Yue Chuan stared at the empty space where the projection had been, his mouth hanging open. A moment later, he slapped his own face in frustration. “You and your big mouth!”

Wen Qi maneuvered through the Black Market. He spent thirty thousand star coins on a temporary terminal. Afterward, he paid for a private, shielded room to browse the Star Net. Since it was a temporary terminal, it did not require any personal information. Wen Qi first checked his own data, then searched for Gu Nan. Information flooded in. After two minutes, one report caught his eye.

“Empire Main Star Marshal Zong Xiangxing Meets Gu Nan of Wantian Domain in Prison.”

On the surface, there was nothing wrong with this report. A Prospective Domain Lord had been arrested on charges of treason. The Empire’s Marshal naturally had the authority to intervene. It was not unusual for Zong Xiangxing to see Gu Nan during the trial on the Main Star.

However, remembering what the system had said, Wen Qi’s gaze lingered on the article. The system mentioned that his enemy—the Tasker who changed the story—was currently on the Main Star and was an SSS-grade. While Zong Xiangxing was not SSS-grade, he was an SS-grade.

For such a bug to meet Gu Nan was suspicious. The bug capable of changing the story had to be someone of high status who could influence the Emperor’s judgment. Few bugs fit this description. Marshal Zong Xiangxing was one of them.

The name and status were correct, but something felt off. According to the original plot, Zong Xiangxing hated evil and was incredibly upright. For him to visit a convicted traitor would be out of character unless he believed in Gu Nan’s innocence or truly valued his talent. Wen Qi pondered this. Based on the timeline, Zong Xiangxing should not even know Gu Nan at this stage. Gu Nan’s plotline should still be in Wantian Domain. Even if things had changed, a single battle would not be enough to make Zong Xiangxing act this way, especially since his every move was watched by the entire Zerg race.

In the original characterization, Zong Xiangxing would have petitioned to personally execute a traitor like Gu Nan rather than meet him in private.

Zong Xiangxing has a problem.

The moment Wen Qi reached this conclusion, he was startled. If it were true…

Wen Qi clicked on the report with a heavy heart. The article used flowery language to describe the meeting, summarizing it as the Marshal lamenting a lost talent. It claimed that while Zong Xiangxing felt pity, the law was heartless, and no leniency would be shown. Zong Xiangxing was portrayed as a noble, caring commander, but to Wen Qi—the author who knew every character’s true nature—this was extremely jarring. His suspicion grew.

If the report was accurate, he was 70 percent sure the bug who met Gu Nan was not the real Zong Xiangxing, but a Tasker from another world. The remaining 30 percent was the possibility that the real Zong Xiangxing had been manipulated by a Tasker.

If the real Zong Xiangxing had been led astray, Wen Qi could already imagine how difficult his future would be. He had no confidence in defeating the God of War of the Zerg Empire, even with Gu Nan’s help.

If only there were a photo.

Wen Qi looked further down. The report included a picture. In the image, a female with white hair and white eyes stood with a stoic expression. His eyes, however, held a hint of high-and-mighty pity. He was well-built and looked cold and distant. Despite the unsettling nature of the image, Wen Qi let out a long sigh of relief. He stared at the bug in the photo, certain of one thing.

This bug is not Zong Xiangxing.

He knew it the moment he saw the photo. Wen Qi lowered his eyes, recalling how he had designed the character. In his writing, Gu Nan was a natural leader, appearing gentle but acting with absolute seriousness. Zong Xiangxing was an upright, honest leader meant to be a target for Gu Nan to surpass. They represented the transition from an established leader to a new one.

The Zong Xiangxing he wrote would never show pity to a criminal. Crime was crime.

That must be the Tasker.

Realizing this, Wen Qi felt a bit overwhelmed. The Tasker who changed the plot was the high-ranking Grand Marshal of the Main Star, while his protagonist was a prisoner about to be auctioned. While a Tasker was not as inherently difficult to face as the real Zong Xiangxing, given the Marshal’s current status, the difficulty was roughly the same. Furthermore, he still had to pull the protagonist out of the auction and clear his name. Wen Qi felt a headache coming on.

Is there anything more absurd than this?

This was a hell-level difficulty with no actual reward other than returning to the modern world.

“System,” Wen Qi called out in his mind. He was met with silence.

“Fine. I was just looking to haggle for a better deal, not give up on the mission.” After getting no response, Wen Qi’s frustration deflated. “I am here now, so I might as well make the best of it.” He tapped the terminal.

“First, go to the Blue Sequence to save Gu Nan. Then, help him clear his name. Afterward, I need to develop my own followers. To gain the Power of Faith, I might need to join the military. Military merit is the primary way to gain Bug Popularity points. To expel the Tasker, I must reach SSS-grade myself.”

Each task seemed impossible on its own, but he had to do them one by one. Wen Qi took a deep breath. “The system is not here, so I can only rely on myself. Now, the priority is to save up money and rescue…”

Ding-ling, ding-ling.

The doorbell rang, followed by a disguised mechanical voice. “Is the bug inside finished?”

“Yes.” Wen Qi retracted his thoughts and slipped the temporary terminal onto his left wrist. He weighed the Cuiming Stone in his sleeve, scanned the room to ensure he had left nothing behind, and adjusted his hood. “Coming.”

He opened the door to find a female bug also wearing a cloak. Wen Qi stepped aside. The female looked at him with an indifferent gaze, sidestepped him, and walked inside. Wen Qi left the Black Market with his terminal and stone. He returned the black robe to the guard and headed back to the Wen estate.

Upon entering, he was invited to a luxurious courtyard. After a quick check-up by several females and sub-females in white, he was politely shown into the yard. About twenty bugs were sitting there, engaged in a heated discussion. However, the moment they saw Wen Qi, they fell silent with strange expressions.

Wen Qi noticed many sympathetic looks. Ignoring them, he looked toward the head seat. Sitting there was his nominal brother, Wen Ze. The black-haired male sat with downcast eyes, appearing deep in thought. He commanded respect simply by sitting there.

“Brother.” The moment Wen Qi spoke, Wen Ze’s gaze landed on him. Facing the stares of so many bugs, Wen Qi did not falter. He immediately slipped into his role. He stared at Wen Ze and said displeasurably, “Brother, what do you intend to do by bringing me here?”

He pointed at the surrounding bugs and said naturally, “Their gazes have offended me. Brother, hand them over to me to deal with.”

The elders of the Wen family were speechless. Wen Qi remained unfazed, maintaining his entitled demeanor.

“We are deciding whether you stay or leave,” Wen Ze said coldly. His black eyes swept over Wen Qi with an unreadable glint. “Given your attitude toward me just now, we have decided to inform you of your situation early. After all, the Wen family does not support trash. If your strength does not recover, today’s discussion will determine your future destination.”

These words were harsh, effectively telling Wen Qi he would be expelled. The bugs in the room watched Wen Qi, eager to see the reaction of the young master who had been pampered for ten years. Wen Qi gave them exactly what they wanted: instant rage.

“You decide? What right do you have to decide for me?” He then shifted to a mocking tone. “Who do you think you are? Do I need you to make decisions for me?”

While he spoke this way, Wen Qi felt a certain intuition. With his current attitude, Wen Ze would likely understand that his goal was to leave. Though he had not been in this world long, he had researched his identity and personality in the Black Market. In the persona the system created, his resources were provided by the Male Protection Association. During the years he was stupid, his good brother Wen Ze had even sent bugs to steal those resources. Now that he was in trouble, Wen Ze was throwing him out.

Is he not afraid of gossip? Wen Qi scanned the room and saw the expressions of those around him. It seemed his fake brother was indeed powerful. Not a single bug showed disappointment. However, having power was one thing, and being gossiped about was another.

Since he needed Wen Ze to help him, he would play the role of the bad bug. To fit the persona, he had to act in a way that invited hatred. Otherwise, it would not match his selfish and irritable nature. As for the things he took from the Wen family, he would have to pay them back later. The system said the head of the Wen family was trustworthy, but he wondered to what extent he would help. Wen Qi put on an angry face. He took a deep breath and stared at Wen Ze.

“No one in the entire race has ever had their grade drop permanently. How do you know I will not return to B-grade, Brother? Or are you afraid that if I recover, I will take your position?”

The silence in the room grew even heavier. Everyone knew why Wen Ze was doing this. In a family, there could only be one highest-ranking male. Currently, that was Wen Ze. If Wen Qi recovered, he might covet the position of family head. This was why they were willing to be there. Wen Qi was not fit to be their leader. They had given up on him long ago, and his behavior today only solidified that.

“Heh, it seems you have made your choice.” Wen Qi sneered and pushed all the blame onto the females. “Since you trash have made your choice, do not come begging me later. I am also a B-grade, a genuine B-grade male. Do not think that just because my grade dropped…”

He paused and changed his tone. “Actually, our race has no concept of a grade drop. I see now. You did this on purpose! My condition is your doing! No one else would do such a thing but you.” He narrowed his eyes and hissed, “You damned bugs.”

Wen Qi acted as if he were consumed by rage. He pointed at the females and gritted his teeth. “Fine. Very well. I knew it was you.” He pointed at them like a madman. “Is this the only method you have? Laughable. I would never look at any of you. Who do you think you are? Since you have joined Wen Ze to force me out, fine. I am leaving. I will let everyone judge this. I will tell everyone what you have done. I will ruin your reputations.”

Wen Qi’s words were loud and firm, leaving the cold-eyed females stunned for a moment. He turned and walked quickly toward the exit. When they snapped out of their confusion, many bugs looked angry or disgusted. A few even looked fearful. They never expected the malicious young master, who had been stupid for five years, to become so repulsive. Several bugs moved to stop him, but a cold voice rang out.

“What do you want?” The refined male’s cold gaze landed on Wen Qi. It was a look that seemed to see through his soul, devoid of any warmth. Wen Qi, still acting, was blocked by a bug in front of him. He turned angrily and met Wen Ze’s gaze, feeling his heart skip a beat.

Is this the pressure of a male in this world?

He acted as if he did not know when to stop. He stared at Wen Ze with resentment. “I can stay quiet, but I want your position as family head. Otherwise, I will let everyone know what kind of bugs you are. I will tell them how you coerced a male.”

The females looked at him with disdain. Who did this male think he was? Coercion? Was it even necessary?

Wen Ze stared at Wen Qi for three seconds before speaking. “I will return the resources I took from you and give you an additional one million star coins.” His voice was steady. “You will take this money and leave the Main Star in seven days.”

“Impossible!” Wen Qi immediately began to act unreasonably. He stared at Wen Ze with undisguised fury. “Wen Ze, I am telling you, I want your position. I do not want anything else. If you give me the position, I will not talk. If you do not, I cannot say what I might do.”

After staring at Wen Qi for a full minute, a hint of disgust finally colored Wen Ze’s cold voice. “Your grade is too low. You are not fit to stay on the Main Star. It is only logical that the Wen family has abandoned you. Wen Qi, enough is enough. Regardless of whether you recover, the family has made its decision. You cannot stay here. Do not force me to act against you.”

Wen Qi’s expression shifted rapidly, perfectly mimicking someone who was dissatisfied but intimidated by Wen Ze’s coldness. Though he was not an actor, he could handle basic emotional control. Combined with his status as a male, he could pass as long as there were no major blunders.

Wen Qi quieted down. Wen Ze looked away and resumed his cold tone. “If you have the ability to return, I will welcome you to seek your revenge. However, you must pay a price. The Wen family has raised you for many years. Since you are taking our star coins, it is only reasonable that the family sends you to develop our influence on another planet.”

Wen Qi’s eyes flickered. He heard Wen Ze continue, “If your grade has not recovered in seven days, you will go to…”

Wen Ze’s gaze moved to Wen Qi. The surrounding bugs, sensing the tension between the brothers, lowered their heads. Wen Qi’s eyes moved as he met Wen Ze’s gaze. His white eyes locked onto Wen Ze’s black ones. The white eyes were cold, and the black eyes were deep. At that moment, their gazes clashed.

Sensing Wen Ze’s pause, Wen Qi’s lips moved slightly as he mouthed four words.

At the same time, Wen Ze spoke, “The Blue Sequence.”

As those words were uttered, the room fell into a dead silence.

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