The clouds and mist over the Heavenly Dao Mountains appeared as garbled code on the Quantum Radar. According to Xiao Feng's Dou Qi scanner, the so-called "mountains" were actually virtual terrain woven from countless plotlines. When the Xiao Clan high-speed train broke through the clouds, they saw not a range of peaks but heaps of server racks, plastered with torn plot notes: "Xiao Zhan Must Die," "Xun'er Is a Spy for the Gu Clan," and more.
"Is this the Heavenly Dao core?" Xiao Yan stared at the old computer tower in the center, which bore a sign reading "Interstellar Internet Cafe." Its case stood open, crawling with code worms condensed from Dou Qi. "It looks worse than the internet cafes I saw back on Earth."
Xiao Zhan touched the dust on one of the racks and suddenly broke into a violent coughing fit. It wasn't ordinary dust but memory fragments from deleted characters. Xiao Feng activated the Great Dao Pill Universal to treat his father, only to discover that the fragments hid a trove of unreleased plot drafts. One was prominently titled The Legend of Xiao Zhan: The Road to Dou Di.
Ding! Banned hidden plot detected. "True Fragrance Warning" achievement triggered. Obtained "Outline Shredder ×1."
Warning! Heavenly Dao AI administrator initializing defense program. Time remaining: 00:59:59.
Hun Dan's voice crackled through the computer speakers. "Xiao Clan, welcome to the bottom-level server of the 'Qidian Universe'! See that guy in the black suit? That's the administrator. His job is to shove 'variables' like you into the plot template!"
Only then did they notice the middle-aged man sitting in a leather swivel chair beside the racks. He had his feet propped on a computer tower and a cigarette between his fingers. The screen showed the backend management interface for Battle Through the Heavens, while streams of data coiled around his fingertips into icons labeled "Subscriptions" and "Recommendation Tickets."
"Just call me the 'net admin.'" The administrator blew a smoke ring. Ash fell onto the keyboard and turned into code: "Forced Happy Ending," "Villain Redemption," and more. "I meant to have you follow the outline and earn a few subscriptions. That was all. Who knew you'd make such a mess? Now the higher-ups are starting 'Book Drought Mode' and formatting the entire plane."
Xiao Feng tightened his grip on the Imperial Jade Seal, only to find that its light couldn't pierce the administrator's defenses here. "Are you a transmigrator too?"
"Wrong. I'm a native of the 'Genesis Era.'" The administrator tapped his temple. "You think the webnovel universe generates itself at random? We write every last stroke. That kid Hun Dan wanted to be the 'Child of the Plane' and messed up the data. Now you're the ones who have to take the blame."
Xiao Yan suddenly pointed at the surveillance screen behind the administrator. It showed a live feed of the Douqi Continent: ordinary people had suddenly gained the ability to see system panels. Some triggered the "Farming System" while working in their fields; others awakened an "Invincible Golden Body" after tripping. The whole world had descended into chaos.
"'Create-a-Character' mode has been activated." The administrator grinned, showing off a gold tooth. "Now every commoner can add settings to themselves. Things like 'Ten Dou Di Ancestors at the Start' or 'Pick Up Three Thousand Heavenly Flames Just Like That.' The data's surging, and the server can't take it!"
Watching the Xiao Clan disciples panic on the screen, Xiao Zhan suddenly stepped forward. "We can help clean up this mess, but you have to tell me how to liberate this world once and for all."
The administrator raised an eyebrow. The cigarette butt in his fingers turned into code reading "Contract Termination Notice." "Old Xiao Zhan really does have the bearing of Xiao Xuan back in the day. Fine, I'll give you three options: A. Take over the server and become the new Heavenly Dao administrator; B. Format the plane and start over; C. Open the 'Author Channel' and talk to the Creation God in a higher dimension."
Xiao Feng and Xiao Yan looked at each other and chose C at the same time. The administrator whistled. Blue light suddenly burst from the computer tower and projected a QR code onto the floor, much like an internet cafe membership card. "Scan it to enter the author backend. But remember, the Creation God's on a deadline, so he's in a bad mood."
Just then, Hun Dan's consciousness surged from deep within the computer tower, taking the form of a giant serpent made of "Virus Scan" windows. "Administrator! I'm the real protagonist! Delete these bugs, now!"
Xiao Yan flung out a digital copy of the Yongle Encyclopedia, but the serpent opened its jaws and spat out not venom but a "Chapter Duplication Rate Report." "Your 'cross-plane technology' setting has a duplication rate over 60 percent. You're suspected of plagiarizing A Certain Magical Index!"
"Cut the code crap!" Xiao Feng activated the Outline Shredder, which transformed into a drill and charged at the serpent. "If the readers say a setting's good, then it's good! System, exchange for an 'Anti-Plagiarism Shield'!"
The moment the shield unfolded, the serpent's "Plagiarism Warning" notices all peeled away, revealing Hun Dan's true form hidden inside. He had turned into a USB drive, with a banner reading "The Year's Most Padding-Filled Author" wrapped around his connector. The administrator burst out laughing and casually dragged him into the "Recycle Bin." "All right, knock it off. Keep this up and your files really will get deleted."
Xiao Zhan suddenly pointed at the tiny writing beneath the QR code. "Wait, it says, 'Follow the Qidian account to claim a Dou Di gift pack.' This isn't a trap, is it?"
The administrator rolled his eyes. "Have you ever seen a trap this generous? Hurry up and scan it. I still have to write a cheat for the next book's protagonist."
Xiao Feng gritted his teeth and scanned the code. His phone was instantly swamped with pop-up windows. "Congratulations! You've obtained the 'Creator's Eraser'!" "Click to claim 'Protagonist Anti-Crash Insurance'!" "Friendly reminder: 365 consecutive daily check-ins required to unlock this channel."
Just as the system was about to collapse, Xiao Yan's Flame Emperor Mark suddenly resonated with the server. What sprayed out of the computer tower wasn't code anymore, but a barrage of messages from Earth's readers. One highlighted comment suddenly pierced the screen: "Xiao Zhan can't die! We've pooled ten billion Qidian Coins to buy him a resurrection armor!"
The ten billion Qidian Coins became a golden torrent that knocked over the administrator's leather swivel chair. Xiao Feng seized the chance to snatch the administrator's Authority Ring. The moment he put it on, countless secrets of plane management flooded into his mind. One red warning stood out:
Attention! The Creation God is using an "Urgent Update Talisman." All unfinished plots will automatically accelerate! Remaining word count: 1234567-2700×10=1207567 words!
"Xiao Yanzi, get ready to enter a higher dimension!" Xiao Feng shouted. At the same time, he sent a quantum transmission to Xiao Zhan. "Father, lead the Xiao Clan disciples in keeping order down below. We're going to talk with the Creation God about 'extra updates'!"
Xiao Yan nodded. The Fire Lotus transformed into a QR-code scanner and scanned the computer tower, opening a portal. The sound of typing came from within, accompanied by an irritated mutter. "Readers these days are impossible to please. They want thrills and depth. I might as well write a Xiao Family Battles the Heavenly Dao..."
Xiao Zhan watched his sons disappear through the portal, then turned to face the chaotic Douqi Continent. He took a megaphone he'd bought on Earth from his system inventory. "Xiao Clan, listen up! Activate the 'Plot Stability Maintenance Plan.' Hand out the 'Novice Village Guide' to the common folk first, then send alchemists to treat 'Setting Conflict Syndrome.' Remember, don't let a single person feel like they're a 'side character'!"
Sitting on the floor, the administrator watched Xiao Zhan direct everyone with calm precision and suddenly smiled. "Interesting. Maybe variables really should exist. Old Xiao Zhan, want to buy a 'Plane Management VIP'? You'll get plot updates for free from now on."
Xiao Zhan glanced at him and pulled an old-fashioned phone from Earth out of his robes. "No need. I had Feng'er set up a 'Do Not Disturb Mode' for me. By the way, could you increase the subscription numbers for the plot where I'm resurrected? The readers said they want to see me play chess with Gu Yuan."
The administrator raised an eyebrow and tapped at the keyboard. "Sure, but we'll have to add a 'Xiao Zhan's Thousand-Layer Schemes' side plot. Do you want thrills or angst?"
"A balance of both, thanks." Xiao Zhan turned toward the portal. The "Athlete's March" blared from the megaphone. "The Xiao Clan's story was never a one-sided wish-fulfillment novel. It was an epic that everyone could take part in."
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