Chapter 125: New Persona · Shuimo 【Moon Ticket Bonus Chapter】

【Steam Capital, Upper City, a secluded villa】

"The sky doesn't feel right, Shuimo," Dannika said, her voice still trembling with unease as she stared at Tian Dao in his new guise.

After days of intense study, she now understood just how dangerous their destination truly was.

This was the Steam Capital branch of the New Federation’s most powerful enforcement agency—Stellar Envoy Association.

And Tian Dao’s wanted poster still hung on the task board here, ranked as an A-level bounty, second only to the infamous S-tier.

If his identity was exposed, his life in Steam Capital—and across the entire New Federation—would become unbearable.

But Tian Dao wasn’t fazed.

He knew the inner workings of this branch like the back of his hand. More importantly, he trusted the Hidden Star Society’s legendary identity-forging techniques completely.

His new persona—Shuimo, the genius calligrapher—was untouchable.

"Relax, Dannika. No one will see through it."

Tian Dao gently ruffled her hair, then turned to face the mirror, studying his reflection with careful precision.

No longer the flamboyant silver-haired, blue-eyed figure he’d been before.

Now, the man in the mirror was unrecognizable.

His silver hair had been dyed jet black using a Universal Hair Dye from the Popularity System.

His striking Star-Eclipse Eyes, once a piercing sapphire, were now a deep, shadowy black—achieved through custom special contact lenses.

But the most crucial element?

The black-rimmed glasses resting on his nose.

> Name: Mr. Ordinary's Glasses

> Effect: Drastically reduces personal presence, creating an instant impression of "unremarkable"

> Note: Even the brightest light, when worn, will eventually dim.

Just a few subtle changes—hair, eyes, clothing—combined with the power of these "Everyman Glasses" had transformed him entirely.

His demeanor, his aura, his entire appearance had shifted.

He was certain that even if he stood directly in front of the Stellar Prodigies who’d known him since childhood, they wouldn’t recognize him.

Satisfied with his disguise, Tian Dao grabbed the Universal Hair Dye and applied it forcefully to Dannika’s head.

Within moments, her once vibrant green hair had softened into a delicate, gentle pink.

Pleased with the result, he grinned. "Perfect. Just perfect."

"Alright, Dannika, time to go."

"Got it," she nodded, instantly falling into step beside him as they exited the temporary safehouse arranged by the Hidden Star Society.

As a temporarily offline character in Season 2 of The Stars, Tian Dao had been all but invisible.

But that was about to change.

From now on, he would appear in nearly every major scene—under a completely new identity.

A fake persona? Of course.

But he had no fear of losing popularity.

Because every move he made was calculated, based on the precise knowledge of his past life’s anime lore.

Take his custom Season 2 popularity strategy—Above the Heavens—a meticulously crafted plan blending the essence of a legendary "villain king" from a classic anime, fused with the core narrative of The Stars · Faint Light.

That particular villain—famous for his flashy lines and signature hair gel—had once dominated his series in popularity, leaving the protagonist’s team far behind.

So Tian Dao had no doubt he’d reclaim the top spot in Season 2.

After all, when it came to generating hype, he was a master.

And the identity he’d unveil before the Dimensional Audience?

> Name: Shuimo

> Title: Prodigy Calligrapher, Swordmaster, and Living Encyclopedia of Stellar Energy Spells

> Rank: Second-tier Mid

> Stellar Source: Controlled by Shuimo

> Personality: Elegant, easygoing, and… just a tiny bit scheming

> Quote: "No one starts on high. Not you, not me, not even the gods. But the reign of Kong is ending. For now, I rise to the top." — Shuimo

---

Early morning, Steam Capital, Upper City

Unlike the Lower City, which resembled a living hell, the Upper City in the morning was bustling with life and warmth.

Tian Dao, clad in a pale moon-white robe over black undergarments, strolled leisurely down the street with Dannika by his side, taking in the scenery with quiet fascination.

The iron forge down the alley spat sparks into the air, the bellows groaning in rhythm.

A bakery nearby released waves of golden, buttery heat from freshly baked loaves.

Above, the cable cars of Kong hummed past, their copper bells chiming, while the clanking gears of steam locomotives added to the city’s unique symphony.

But the sight that held Tian Dao’s gaze the longest was the Gear Tower—the city’s iconic landmark.

Its walls embedded with massive, interlocking gears.

The colossal bronze clock tower struck the hour with a deep, resonant clang.

It was a marvel of modern engineering, yet carried the weight of old-world grandeur—ancient, weathered, and steeped in history.

Yet Tian Dao knew the truth:

Steam Capital had long since stopped evolving.

It needed a revolution.

And the destined meeting between Vivian and Chen Kong?

That was the spark.

The flutter of two butterfly wings would soon shatter the fragile balance between the Upper and Lower Cities, unleashing a storm of change.

This storm wouldn’t just consume Steam Capital.

It would ripple through the highest levels of the Stellar Envoy Association itself.

And Tian Dao?

He would ride that storm—openly and boldly—to step into the light.

Because getting the Stellar Envoy Association to drop his bounty wasn’t easy.

But there was always an exception.

Like when Central Council’s Ainet personally demanded it.

No one doubted that old man had the power.

And his heart?

Far more expansive than anyone imagined.

A true results-driven pragmatist.

If the outcome was good, he’d ignore the moral cost—no matter how dark the process.

He’d even shield you from the backlash.

But if you stood in the way of human progress?

Even if your actions were noble, your methods pure—

He’d crush you without hesitation.

That was Ainet.

A man who looked kind, but whose methods were merciless.

To those he protected, he was the mountain—shielding them from storms.

To those he eradicated?

He was the ultimate nightmare.

The bodies of fallen Stellar Envoys and ordinary citizens piled high enough to form a small mountain.

Because "strongest" wasn’t a title earned through words.

It was carved from blood and bone.

And Tian Dao knew this.

Which was why he had absolute confidence in his rehabilitation.

All he had to do was prove that his future self could single-handedly match the power of the entire Stellar Envoy system—while remaining firmly on humanity’s side.

Then, even if the world turned against him, Ainet would push through the opposition and place him at the peak.

Because some seats were meant for certain people.

The rest?

They didn’t even deserve to look up at them.

So how to get Ainet’s attention—so far away, yet so powerful?

Simple.

Rise by destroying the entire Steam Branch.

A lone figure, clearing the city’s corruption—a true scourge of filth—was exactly the kind of man Ainet would admire.

After all, the old man had never found a worthy successor.

Which was why he remained trapped in the Star Track Corridor, unable to step down.

Otherwise, he’d have already shown some of those arrogant fools what real "butchery" looked like.

And Tian Dao?

He’d use Steam Capital as his stage.

To prove to the aging, powerful Ainet that a new era had arrived.

That the time of old legends was over.

And the true heir had come.

So, you old relic—

Come down from your throne.

Before you’re left behind, with your legacy tarnished.

---

"Shuimo, this place… smells strange," Dannika whispered, wrinkling her nose as they arrived at the Gear Tower, the heart of the Steam Branch.

The thick, acrid scent of coal smoke and machine oil—so familiar to the city—was overwhelming after her time in the quiet, sacred Prayer Room of the church.

Tian Dao tilted his head up, gazing at the towering structure that pierced the sky.

"Because this is Steam Capital’s scent," he smiled. "The embers of the old industrial age, mixed with the spark of new Stellar Energy. A unique blend."

He adjusted the collar of his robe, his eyes sharpening behind the lenses.

To others, the sky here might seem vast.

But to Tian Dao?

It was still too low.

He needed to rise higher.

Because only from the highest peak could he finally see…

The farthest horizon.

After all—

If Tian Dao couldn’t stand among the stars…

Then what was the point of being him at all?

---

PS: Today’s update is done. I’m wiped. But since you’ve been so kind, here’s an extra chapter—your monthly votes are deeply appreciated.

【Previous Bonus Chapters Owed: 37】

【Repaid: 9】

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end