The Zerg Monarch’s Path to Godhood - Chapter 7

Wen Qi suppressed the peculiar sensation rising in his heart. Although he could vaguely sense that this feeling was triggered by the person standing before him, he was unwilling to delve deeper into it at this moment.

“After all, we probably will not meet again after today,” he thought.

“Hello.” He looked at the extended hand and suppressed his emotions. He cautiously avoided physical contact with the Zerg, offering only a reserved nod. “I am Lu Li.”

His words were concise, mirroring his current persona. He then asked politely, “Is there something you two need from me?”

He masked all emotion, his expression turning so cold it bordered on being unsympathetic. His guarded stance was unmistakable.

“Mr. Lu Li is certainly not a male,” the Zerg who identified himself as the Commander remarked. He did not seem bothered by Wen Qi’s refusal to shake hands as he withdrew his arm.

Wen Qi was not surprised to have his identity as a male exposed. Although psychic power is intangible, he had already used his mental strength as a weapon. If the person opposite him could not detect it, they would be unworthy of their SS-rank status. Once he had gauged the Commander’s level, he stopped trying to play clever tricks to hide his nature. Doing so would only make him look foolish.

Furthermore, he had stopped fully maintaining the Lu Li persona. Based on Lu Li’s original character, he would have deeply offended these two powerful individuals. Since his identity was already out in the open, there was no need to sustain the act. Wen Qi did not believe that an inhabitant of the human ivory tower could win a psychological war against Zerg who had survived countless battles. At this stage, it was better not to provoke them.

“Mr. Lu Li has been following us. I presume Yue Chuan has already informed you of our objective. I apologize for Yue Chuan’s offense. Might I ask what your plans are here?” the Commander asked, cutting straight to the point.

Wen Qi considered his response. He had been very careful, even “killing off” his former identity in front of a staff member. Even if this Zerg had encountered him before, they likely would not guess he was Wen Qi. Therefore, he did not need to hide his goal. Moreover, their previous exchange had already hinted at his purpose. These two likely knew he was here for Gu Nan.

“Naturally, I am here for the prospective Domain Lord, Gu Nan,” Wen Qi replied, having quickly formulated a story. “Is that not your purpose as well, Mr. Commander?”

He looked at the Commander with a calm expression. “Or does the Commander think a male like me would come here for any other reason?”

“However, Commander,” Wen Qi paused for two seconds, his gaze shifting subtly toward Yue Chuan. “Mr. Yue Chuan mentioned earlier that he and I would meet again in two days. I wonder what you both mean by that.” His tone carried a hint of interrogation.

The Commander wore a gentle smile, appearing thoroughly polite and refined. “Yue Chuan misspoke. It is only natural for you to have doubts, Mr. Lu Li. I apologize once more. You are correct; our goal is Mr. Gu Nan. Since we share the same objective, why don’t we cooperate?”

The Commander made a welcoming gesture. Wen Qi looked up and saw a modest restaurant nearby. The Commander’s voice followed: “Mr. Lu Li, shall we have a brief chat?”

Catching a glimpse of Yue Chuan staring intently at him from behind the Commander, Wen Qi hesitated. Realizing he had little choice, he shrugged. “I will follow your lead, Commander.”

He was currently outmatched, and there was no point in denying it. The possibility of escaping was slim since he could not defeat these two in a fight or outrun them. However, he knew that if they tried to harm him, he could make them pay a price. Although they were SS-rank, psychic power was historically the weakness of the female Zerg.

The Commander looked at Wen Qi with a faint smile in his eyes. Wen Qi cautiously followed him into the restaurant. Population numbers on Blue Star 6 were low, and while this restaurant was near the City Lord’s mansion, the menu only offered about a dozen dishes despite its flashy decor.

The Commander requested a private room. Once the group was seated and the food began to arrive, the Commander spoke again. “Mr. Lu Li, do you know how many Starcoins it will take to win the auction for Mr. Gu Nan?”

Wen Qi honestly did not know. Holding his drink, he replied cautiously, “Please, enlighten me.”

The Commander’s gaze darkened slightly. “Starting at one million.”

One million at a minimum. Hearing this number, Wen Qi frowned. It was higher than he had anticipated. He had assumed that in such a remote place, the cost for a “traitor” like Gu Nan would not be so steep. Despite Gu Nan’s status, many still wanted him. He wondered if he should be impressed by Gu Nan’s lingering charm.

On second thought, Wen Qi felt it made sense for Gu Nan. Gu Nan was a favored child of heaven; it was only natural for him to be expensive. The problem was that Wen Qi only had about one million Starcoins total.

He had planned to earn more money upon arrival or find a way to intercept Gu Nan directly, though he knew that would be difficult. To be honest, he had never dealt with a situation like this before and felt a bit lost. The restrictions on males were too great. If his identity were discovered by the wrong people, he would be in grave danger. Since these two had approached him, he decided to listen to their plan.

“And your point is?” Wen Qi asked, curious about their intentions.

“We offer a loan service,” the Commander said.

Wen Qi looked at the Commander with shock. “What?”

The sound of someone sputtering water erupted. Both Wen Qi and the Commander turned to look at Yue Chuan, who was eating nearby. Under their gaze, Yue Chuan gave an embarrassed smile and his cheek twitched as he met the Commander’s eyes. “Please, continue.”

Wen Qi withdrew his gaze. At this moment, he was certain that the person in front of him was not Gu Nan. Gu Nan would never be unable to produce this amount of money, nor would he be so stingy. While Gu Nan might not be wealthy, he was known for being generous, not for engaging in such shady schemes to trap others.

Having been fixated on Gu Nan before, Wen Qi now considered other possibilities. If this was not Gu Nan, could it be someone close to him? He studied the two carefully. He had never seen the faces of Gu Nan’s subordinates, and these two were clearly using disguises to hide their true identities. He had no leads to confirm their affiliation.

Wen Qi stopped speculating and asked directly, “So, even with your resources, you cannot save Mr. Gu Nan?”

If they were part of Gu Nan’s faction, would they really be this short on cash? How could Gu Nan not have the money to redeem himself? Even if he were broke, he had many friends. It seemed unlikely he would seek a Male Lord just for a bit of money. If these were Gu Nan’s people, would he really be reduced to huddling in a corner eating steamed buns?

“No, I cannot think like that,” Wen Qi thought, feeling a sudden pang of guilt. It felt as though Gu Nan’s lack of funds was his fault as the author.

“We can save him,” the Commander stated. “However, it is unnecessary. I believe you know how awkward Mr. Gu Nan’s current status is within our race.”

Wen Qi, who was still lost in thought, fell silent. Charged with treason and colluding with the enemy, his status was indeed awkward. But unnecessary? What did that mean?

“Unnecessary?” Wen Qi frowned. If they were unwilling to spend money to save Gu Nan, it meant they were either living in poverty or they were not his people. Either way, it proved Gu Nan’s current situation was dire. His heart ached even more. “That cursed Tasker. I will beat him up sooner or later.”

He unclenched his fists beneath the table and forced himself to relax, keeping his tone steady. “The Commander says it is unnecessary yet wants to offer me a loan. Am I to assume you want to make a profit off me?”

This behavior sparked an instinctive disgust in Wen Qi. Did these Zerg think they could treat a male as a fool? Did they think he would agree, or that he was desperate to buy Gu Nan? He hated these types of calculations. He had dealt with people after his money in his original world; why was he facing it here too? It was too much!

The Commander noticed the disgust Wen Qi failed to hide. Acting as if he had not noticed, he continued warmly, “Mr. Lu Li misunderstands. This is an interest-free loan. However, we have a condition: you must restore your status as a male and make Mr. Gu Nan your female attendant.”

Hearing this, Yue Chuan’s eyes flashed with nervousness, and his gaze fixed on Wen Qi. Yue Chuan’s heart hammered in his chest. He knew his leader’s intention. Currently, the leader was being auctioned off as a female slave, a status lower than a prisoner of war. Not only would he be looked down upon, but he could also be treated as public property if his owner so desired. He knew his leader would never allow himself to reach that point; he would crush anyone who suggested it. But if that reputation stuck, his leader’s future would be ruined.

His career and his ability to seek help from other males would vanish. Even if the Domain Lord of Wantian had flaws, they could not be of that nature. No one would respect a Zerg who had been a common slave.

But now that the leader was at auction, his reputation was already damaged. Only a male could help. If a male were willing to elevate his status to that of a female attendant, he could escape slavery. Of course, there were other ways to shed the status, but this was the simplest. Seeking help from a male would have the least severe consequences, provided the leader could eventually clear the charge of treason. More importantly, the leader needed a male to save his life.

Yue Chuan looked at Wen Qi with a flicker of hope he did not even realize he felt. He had set up psychic detectors at the city gate to find males. When this male appeared, he had gone to the auction house immediately to make contact. This male seemed gentle and respectful toward the leader, which was why Yue Chuan had initially exposed his intentions. When he realized they were being followed, he had called the leader out specifically so the leader could see him for himself. Now that the offer was on the table, he wondered if the male would accept. If this failed, the leader’s pride might prevent another attempt.

Wen Qi did not notice Yue Chuan’s internal struggle. When the Commander mentioned the status of “female attendant,” Wen Qi was stunned. He blurted out, “Impossible.”

Restoring his male status in a place like this would be nothing but trouble. He did not know if the Tasker would notice, and as a B-rank male, he could be devoured by the locals if exposed. As for making Gu Nan an attendant, the idea was laughable to him. His protagonist deserved to be a Female Monarch. No male was worthy of having Gu Nan as a mere attendant, himself included.

What were these two thinking? They claimed to want to save Gu Nan, yet they were willing to let him be belittled?

Although Wen Qi’s mind was racing, he controlled his expression. However, his tone betrayed his feelings. “I do not agree.”

The Commander looked surprised. “Why? Do you not want to save Mr. Gu Nan?”

“There is no why,” Wen Qi said firmly, suppressing his annoyance. “I will not restore my status as a male, nor will I give Mr. Gu Nan the status of a female attendant. If that is what you require, find someone else to help.”

He did not know their true goal, but from the moment they spoke, he suspected they were not Gu Nan’s people. Thinking of so many people eyeing Gu Nan like predators, Wen Qi felt heavy. But if he truly did not have enough Starcoins, the chance of successfully snatching Gu Nan away was slim. The guards for someone of Gu Nan’s rank would be at least A-rank.

Wen Qi felt a headache coming on. He needed to find a way to make money, and he needed a lot of it. But he would not join forces with those who sought to humiliate Gu Nan. If he did, how could he ever face him?

The Commander frowned, seemingly displeased by Wen Qi’s refusal. “Then let us take a step back. We can lend you the Starcoins. You do not have to restore your male status, but you must take Mr. Gu Nan in. Whether as an attendant or a slave, it is up to you. What do you think?”

Wen Qi remained silent for a moment, his expression darkening. “I do not think much of it, Commander. I refuse.”

Wen Qi’s eyes showed no emotion as he stared at the Commander, his expression cold and detached. “That is your own wishful thinking. I will do what I intend to do through my own efforts.”

He loathed this transaction. The Commander spoke of Gu Nan as if he were an object, a slave. How could he say such things? Wen Qi felt foolish for ever thinking this person was Gu Nan. When would his proud Domain Lord ever degrade himself like this? The character he wrote would point a finger at the SS-rank Emperor in front of everyone and declare that if he won the war, the Emperor would belong to him. Even the Zerg Emperor was his trophy; he would never settle for being a slave.

Wen Qi completely lost interest in talking to them. The Commander’s brow furrowed tightly.

“Since the Commander has nothing else to say, I will take my leave,” Wen Qi said. He remained alert to the Commander’s movements, waiting for a reaction.

This time, the female Zerg was not as aggressive and did not stop him. Wen Qi walked out without looking back. The Commander stared at Wen Qi’s back, his frown deepening. He did not pursue him.

Behind him, Yue Chuan whispered, “Leader, should I go after him?”

“No,” the Commander replied. “He is unwilling to expose his identity or accept me. Chasing him is useless. Besides, he might have been acting. He did not seem particularly eager to buy me. Perhaps he is just a curious male.”

Of course, there was the possibility he was from the other side. Thinking of that, a cold light flashed in the Commander’s eyes.

Yue Chuan became anxious. “But your mental sea cannot wait any longer. His level is at least B-rank, which would help you. In the Seven-Color Sequence, only Blue Star 2 has A-rank males. That male,” Yue Chuan closed his eyes. “Of all the Zerg entering the city, only Lu Li and the young master of the Lin family from the Capital meet the requirements. But if you fall into the hands of that Lin family boy.”

At that name, the Commander’s gaze turned sharp. “Not him.” He paused. “Try to keep him away from the auction house.”

It was clear who he was referring to. Yue Chuan wanted to argue, but Gu Nan interrupted him. “There is no need to keep track of the arriving males. It is useless. The Lin family has already spoken; no one will help me,” Gu Nan said.

“Leader, you,” Yue Chuan’s eyes widened. “No, Leader, you cannot be impulsive. If this continues, you will.”

“My mind is made up,” Gu Nan interrupted. His voice was heavy with disgust. “Even without those males, I will not die here just yet.” He saw the terror in Yue Chuan’s eyes and a flash of gloom crossed his own as if he were remembering something.

Yue Chuan saw that gloom and fell silent. As a female Zerg, how could one solve mental power issues without a male? Even if one hated them, one had to stay near them to survive. But after what happened, the leader deeply loathed males. Things were becoming increasingly difficult.

After confirming he was not being followed, Wen Qi rented a small house. Inside, he sat and pondered the “one million minimum” mentioned by the Commander.

“One million at a minimum.” The Starcoins he had obtained from the Wen family totaled only about one million. If the Commander was telling the truth, he did not have nearly enough. Making money was now his primary mission, but how? He had no specialized skills and could not use his male identity openly. He lacked physical strength; his only standout attribute was his psychic power.

As he searched for ideas on his terminal, he came across a live stream titled: “Listen to the Sounds of Nature.”

A voice stream? Similar to a sleep aid host?

Curious, Wen Qi clicked on it. The description read: “Beautiful sounds can help females temporarily escape psychic riots and soothe their mental power. Please prepare to listen to the sounds of nature.”

“Beautiful sounds?” Wen Qi caught the keyword. It seemed to be voice-related. The host was a Sub-female Zerg standing in a green field. He was singing, and the comments praised the voice for being helpful in soothing psychic distress.

Wen Qi considered this. He needed to earn Zerg Popularity points and Starcoins. Since he had no other way to make money on this planet, live streaming was the best option. Back in his world, people often told him he had a pleasant voice. He had been a host before with a small following. With the System’s bonuses, it might actually work. It was worth a try; if it failed, he could try something else. As a male, he could eventually exchange his psychic power for Starcoins if he was careful.

He opened his own stream with the title: “Reading Zerg.”

He picked up a Zerg children’s book and began reading in a calm voice. After finishing one story, he saw that his viewer count was still zero. He did not let it discourage him and kept reading. Gradually, he immersed himself in the story. After several tales, he felt a resonance with the world. He could almost see the ancient trees and fairy tale gates described in the book. Unconsciously, his voice took on a rhythmic quality that harmonized with the stories, creating a soothing effect.

At that moment, a realization dawned on him. The words he had once written formed a world that he, as the author, only partially understood. Now that the world had formed and changed, he was no longer an all-knowing god. He was a mortal who needed to witness the growth of his creation and resonate with it.

Wen Qi’s voice remained steady and cool. This unique rhythm reached the stream, and viewers began to trickle in. One hundred, one thousand…

The chat, once noisy, fell silent. Many female Zerg were shocked and involuntarily closed their eyes. As he read, they felt as if they could see the fairy tale world. Their mental power felt a sense of extreme relief, like a wanderer finding home. Their breathing slowed, and their bodies relaxed.

When the last word fell, the females opened their eyes, shock visible in their gazes. They began leaving comments.

“This is miraculous! It is better than big influencers with billions of fans. Please read more stories; we need this.”

“My hospital diagnosis said I would have a psychic riot in two days. Now, I feel I can last much longer.”

“This is incredible. Who is this host? A favorite of the Zerg God? Not only is the voice beautiful, but the soothing effect is amazing.”

“The effect is great. While it does not change the root cause, it helps me live a few more days.”

“Our mental power is like tangled threads. The more we fight, the tighter they get, making us irritable and causing headaches. The host’s voice does not untangle the mess, but it makes us feel comfortable and stops the threads from controlling our emotions. I have never encountered such a powerful voice on a stream.”

“I am on the Capital Star, and I have never heard such a beautiful voice. Host, do you want to debut? I can arrange for you to sign with a company here.”

“Get lost! You Capital Star people have so many males already; stop trying to take ours.”

“Exactly. Go deal with your laughingstock first. Oh, I forgot, he was already dealt with. He scolded you all and made you look like fools. Stop showing your faces here.”

“Host, look at me! I am from the Lin Domain. If you come here, we will welcome you with open arms.”

“Move aside! Host, please read another story. I will donate 50,000 Starcoins immediately.”

“Me too! I will donate as well. Please, I beg you.”

“Chen Buchen donated 10,000 Starcoins. Host, one more time.”

“Tu Butu donated 5,000 Starcoins. Host, one more time.”

Wen Qi waited nearly two minutes after finishing before looking at the stream. He was surprised to see over 10,000 viewers. He had expected some interest, but not this much. However, given the total Zerg population, the number seemed reasonable. Seeing the requests for more stories and the constant stream of gifts, he knew he had succeeded.

As the creator, he could resonate with this world. The System had mentioned the world had a high opinion of him, and combined with the protagonist’s luck, he had successfully gained the favor of the Zerg through his voice. He now had a path to both money and popularity.

Wen Qi did not refuse the requests. He did not turn to a new page but stayed on the same one. “Very well, I will read it again.” He felt that a second reading would reveal something new. He closed his eyes, found that resonance, and began again.

“Once upon a time, there was a fairy tale town, and in that town was a fairy tale gate.”

The stream fell silent again. Newcomers found the quiet strange, but after listening for thirty seconds, they too closed their eyes. Wen Qi stayed immersed in the stories, reading five of them until his throat felt dry. In just an hour, the viewer count had grown by another 20,000. While 30,000 was a small fraction of the total population, it was enough for his first attempt.

A rain of gifts followed the end of his reading. Wen Qi checked his earnings and was stunned. He ended up with 150,000 Starcoins after the platform’s cut. His first stream was a resounding success.

“Female Zerg money is indeed easy to earn,” Wen Qi remarked. With a population of nearly 100 billion, 30,000 viewers had brought him a significant sum. Once word spread, he could easily reach a million. He just needed to wait for the momentum to build.

Wen Qi withdrew the 150,000 from the platform using his temporary terminal. After taxes, he received 140,000, which he transferred to his main account. In the Seven-Color Sequence, many platforms did not require real-name authentication. The Zerg were a warlike race, and with various domains acting independently, the Emperor only had direct control over the Capital Star’s Central Domain. It was difficult to enforce uniform regulations. Furthermore, many high-status individuals preferred to stay anonymous when conducting certain business.

After withdrawing the money, Wen Qi went out to eat and bought two more storybooks. He spent the rest of the day preparing for the next stream.

The following day, over 50,000 people waited for him. By the end of five stories, the count reached 150,000, and his net income was 500,000. On the third day, 150,000 people were waiting, and the count grew to 350,000, bringing his income to a million.

The fourth day was the day of Gu Nan’s auction. Wen Qi opened his stream early in the morning. Many Zerg were still asleep, but they jumped up when the notification sounded.

“Why is the host streaming so early?”

“What happened? I thought the stream was at 11:00 AM.”

“The host is on Blue Star; he probably wants to go to the auction to see that traitor.”

The word “traitor” appeared frequently in the chat. Wen Qi had developed a thick skin over the last few days and did not get angry. “I have something to do today, so I started the stream early.”

“Chen Buchen donated 10,000 Starcoins. Host, I am going to the auction too. Show your face so I don’t accidentally outbid you for something you want.”

“Hua Buhua donated 1,000 Starcoins. Show your face! You have been streaming for so long without showing yourself.”

“Aooo donated 10,000 Starcoins. Show your face.”

Wen Qi shook his head. “I am not going to the auction; I am just meeting a friend. I can show my face, but if I do, I will not read any stories today.”

Immediately, the requests to show his face vanished. Wen Qi opened his book, and his cool voice filled the stream once more.

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