Starship Adventure: A Cross-Dimensional Collision Between Earth's Internet Celebrities and Dou Qi Recipes

The Free Verse Universe's starship, the Xiao Family Ship, jolted along the interstellar route. Xiao Yan leaned against the observation window, watching the "Chinese Character Nebula" sweep past outside—the projection of the energy generated by stories from Earth's civilization across the universe. Gu Ling's voice came over the speakers: "Attention, everyone! The entrance to 'Earth: Parallel Universe' is ahead. The gravity system is about to switch to 'Mortal Mode'!"

"Mortal Mode?" God Emperor Long Aotian clutched the barbecue grill. "Then my Dou Qi..."

"It'll be temporarily sealed and turned into an Earthling's 'special ability.'" Xiao Feng smiled as he explained. "For example, you can be a barbecue-stall owner and use your 'flame control' skill to grill skewers. They'll never burn."

Medusa's mechanical snake tail tapped out an impatient rhythm on the floor. "Brother Xiao, can Earth's 'internet' really spread free stories?"

"Of course." Xiao Yan held up the smartphone he'd found in the System Graveyard. "I've read Code Girl's files. Earthlings create stories in forms like 'novels' and 'videos,' and they reach an even wider audience than the Douqi Continent!"

The starship landed in a coastal city on Earth, transforming into a barbecue stall called "Xiao Family Bistro." Wearing an apron, Xiao Feng handed skewers to customers, the Emperor Scale patterns disguised as a tattoo beneath his sleeve. Medusa changed into a leather jacket, her mechanical snake tail turned into a prosthetic limb, and she mixed "Snake Venom Special" at the counter. Xun'er's mutated plants were disguised as potted plants, while Yun Yun, dressed in a police uniform, patrolled the neighborhood—on a secret mission, of course, to "keep the peace for free stories."

"Boss, ten skewers of barbecue!" A bespectacled young man from Earth sat down. "I hear your skewers have 'mysterious powers'?"

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and quickly grilled the skewers with his "Flame of Roast." "Eat them and you'll be able to write a novel that subverts the usual tropes. Believe it or not?"

The young man was about to argue, but the aroma of the barbecue instantly made his mouth water. The moment he took his first bite, a glint flashed in his eyes. "Holy crap! This flavor reminds me of the god-tier barbecue the protagonist found after falling off a cliff!"

Ding! An Earth reader has triggered the "Law of True Fragrance." Free story energy +500!

Meanwhile, Xiao Feng was teaching Gu Ling how to use Earth's "short-video app" in the kitchen. She pointed her phone at Medusa, who was demonstrating how to "chop vegetables one-handed." The livestream's audience instantly topped a hundred thousand. "Who else gets it, guys? This big sister's knife skills are smoother than a system-novel male lead's!"

Medusa glared at the camera. "Film me again and I'll throw you into the mechanical furnace."

The comments instantly flooded with "The queen is so badass" and "Is this what they call gap moe?" Watching her follower count skyrocket, Gu Ling's eyes lit up. "Brother Xiao, we can use this to spread the anti-template philosophy!"

After they closed up for the night, a group of men in black suits suddenly barged in. Their leader showed his ID. "Someone reported you for spreading illegal supernatural abilities!"

Yun Yun immediately presented a forged Earth ID. "We're a legitimate 'special-effects barbecue stall.' All these 'supernatural abilities' are just stage tricks."

The agents were skeptical, until Xiao Yan handed them some "Mortal Chips" specially made in the System Graveyard. The moment they bit into them, their memories were altered to make them believe "it was an incredible magic show."

"Phew, all taken care of." Xiao Yan wiped away his sweat. "Earth's rules are even more complicated than the Template Universe's."

Xiao Feng gazed at the city's neon lights, then suddenly took his hand. "Little Yan, have you ever thought... that our story might have been written by people on Earth, too?"

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. "Then we'll have to make it even more exciting, so they won't want it to end?"

The two exchanged a smile, unaware of the mysterious figure in the corner—a young Earthling in a hoodie, rapidly taking notes in a notebook. "The Xiao brothers' adventure on Earth—what an amazing premise! I'll post it on Qidian tomorrow..."

The system chimed with a mischievous laugh:

Ding! Earth Parallel Universe side quest unlocked. Title acquired: "Cross-Dimensional Internet Celebrity"!

Rewards: "Human Observation Diary," "True Fragrance BBQ Recipe"!

At three in the morning, the starship's alarm suddenly blared. Gu Ling rushed into the control room. "Brother Xiao! Earth's 'feel-good web novel site' is under attack from a Template Virus. All anti-trope works have been marked 'in violation'!"

Xiao Feng frowned. "Is this another remnant of the Creation God's second personality?"

"No," Code Girl's projection suddenly appeared. "It's a local Earth 'Trope Monster.' They're afraid free stories will take over the market!"

Xiao Yan gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler, now shaped like a barbecue spatula. "They dare cause trouble on my turf? Third Brother, let's give them a good old-fashioned beatdown!"

In the basement of the barbecue stall, the Xiao Clan members changed into their battle gear. Medusa's mechanical prosthetic unfolded into a laser cannon, Xun'er's potted plants transformed into battle plants, Yun Yun's police baton fired the Chain of Justice, and Gu Ling's phone turned into a hacker terminal. Looking at them, Xiao Feng chuckled. "Who says we can't fight in Mortal Mode? Our weapons are freedom and sincerity."

When they charged into the Trope Monsters' headquarters, they found the walls plastered with "feel-good novel outlines," including Ten Goddesses at the Start and I Have Billions and Billions of Systems. Xiao Yan raised his barbecue spatula, still smeared with "True Fragrance Seasoning." "Your tropes are due for a change!"

Ding! "Earth's Anti-Trope Battle" triggered. Smash the "mindless power fantasy" outline with the barbecue spatula!

Medusa unleashed "Special Drink Critical Hit," Xun'er released "Plant Awakening," Yun Yun performed "Justice Barbecue," and Gu Ling activated "Bullet Comment Barrage"!

The Trope Monsters fled clutching their heads. Under the "True Fragrance Seasoning," their outlines turned into comedy skits, and the "goddess posters" on the walls automatically changed into individual posters of Medusa and the others. Code Girl seized the chance to plant the seeds of free stories in the website's servers. When the first rays of morning sunlight rose, anti-trope works like Universe Guardians of the BBQ Stall and Daily Life of the Mechanical Queen had climbed to the top of Earth's web-novel rankings.

At the victory banquet, the young Earthling suddenly burst in and pulled out a contract. "Mr. Xiao! I'm an editor at Qidian. Your story is incredible—let's sign a contract!"

Xiao Feng raised an eyebrow. "I'll sign, but on one condition: every character gets an independent ending. No cookie-cutter romance."

The young man nodded vigorously. "No problem! We've just launched a 'Free Creation' section specifically to support anti-trope works!"

Watching the signing, Xiao Yan quietly sent a message to Yao Lao. "Old man, do you think Earth's readers will like our story?"

Yao Lao's laughter came from the Storage Ring. "You silly boy, they're already following it—and it's already broken a hundred million clicks."