"TURN THAT OFF!" Feng Zhao shouted, his voice cracking.
[I CAN'T! It's automatic! Just finish the contest!]
[@ComparativeAnalyst: "Okay but objectively speaking, TrashPhoenix is winning in multiple categories here"]
[@MorningDewDisciple: "I should not be watching this. Why am I still watching this?"]
[@HuoLiang: "THIS IS CHEATING! DISQUALIFY HIM!"]
[@DefenderOfJustice: "@HuoLiang How is camera angle cheating? They're both being filmed the same way."]
Nine minutes... Feng Zhao was barely holding on, his form completely broken, hips sagging badly.
"I'm going to fucking kill you," Feng Zhao gasped.
"You're going to collapse first," Lin Wei said calmly and immediately regretted giving commentary that would definitely be clipped and shared.
[@OuterSectGossip: "THE CONFIDENCE"]
[@RandomFan: "He's not even struggling"]
Ten minutes... Feng Zhao's arms finally gave out.
He collapsed face first onto the ground with a groan of exhaustion and humiliation.
Lin Wei held his plank for another ten seconds, just to make the point clear—then smoothly lowered himself down.
The crowd had a mixed reactions. Some cheered, some looked shocked. Huo Liang's faction looked furious.
[VICTORY! Mission Complete! Unexpected bonus mission achieved!]
Lin Wei stood up, breathing hard but steady and addressed the camera. "For anyone tracking: ten minutes, fourteen seconds. Pure physical cultivation, no Qi enhancement. Alternative methods work."
He reached for the recording array to end the stream.
[@OuterSectGossip: "WAIT DON'T END IT"]
[@ThirstyDisciple: "I need a minute to process"]
[@SeriousCultivator: "His core strength is legitimately impressive for someone with damaged meridians. The training method must be effective."]
**[STREAM ENDED]**
[VIEWERS AT END: 512]
[ENGAGEMENT RATE: 97%]
[COMMENTS DURING STREAM: 687]
[CONGRATULATIONS! Multiple achievements unlocked!]
Lin Wei's legs felt like jelly. He had won but the victory felt pyrrhic given the camera angle situation.
Feng Zhao pushed himself up, face red with humiliation and rage. "This doesn't prove anything! The camera made it look... you cheated somehow.."
"The camera filmed us both equally," Lin Wei said. "You lost, and accept it."
Several disciples in the crowd nodded in agreement. Even some of Huo Liang's faction looked impressed despite themselves.
Feng Zhao opened his mouth to argue, but a sharp voice cut him off.
"Enough."
Everyone turned.
Huo Liang himself stepped through the crowd, his expression cold and controlled. He was taller than Lin Wei, broader, more obviously powerful. Foundation Establishment Peak, probably closer to breaking through to Core Formation. Golden boy of the outer sect, rich family, natural talent.
He was everything Lin Wei wasn't.
"Feng failed because he's weak," Huo Liang said dismissively. "But don't mistake this for actual strength, Trash Wei. Parlor tricks and camera angles don't make you a real cultivator."
[Oh, he's BIG MAD. His subordinate just lost publicly and now he has to save face. This is great!]
"I'm not interested in proving anything to you, Huo Liang," Lin Wei said, trying to sound braver than he felt.
"Good, because you couldn't." Huo Liang stepped closer, deliberately invading his space. "But since you're so fond of performances, how about this: Two weeks from now, the Outer Sect Rankings Competition. You and me—Public duel. Let's see if your 'alternative cultivation' holds up against real talent."
The crowd went silent.
This was serious, rankings Competition matches were official, sanctioned, and brutal. They determined sect resources, training access and social hierarchy.
[ACCEPT! This is PERFECT setup for character growth arc! Plus the content potential is INSANE!]
"You're Foundation Establishment," Lin Wei said. "I'm Qi Gathering Stage Four..."
"Stage Five, actually," Huo Liang interrupted with a cold smile. "I can sense your breakthrough coming, you'll hit it tonight or tomorrow. So in two weeks you'll be Stage Five or Six, I'll be Foundation Establishment Peak. Should be fair enough, right?"
It absolutely was not fair. The gap between Qi Gathering and Foundation Establishment was massive.
But refusing would make Lin Wei look weak, and being a weak cultivators got eaten alive.
"Two weeks," Lin Wei agreed. "I'll be there."
"Good." Huo Liang turned and walked away, his faction following. But he paused and looked back. "Oh, and Trash Wei? Keep making your little videos, they're entertaining. Like watching a street performer. Sad, but entertaining."
He left.
The crowd began to disperse, buzzing with gossip.
Lin Wei stood there, adrenaline still pumping realizing what he'd just agreed to.
[MANDATORY EVENT ACCEPTED: Outer Sect Rankings Competition]
[TIME UNTIL DUEL: 14 days]
[OPPONENT: Huo Liang - Foundation Establishment Peak]
[VICTORY CONDITIONS: Defeat him or survive 10 minutes (either counts as win)]
[FAILURE CONDITIONS: Knocked unconscious, yield, or unable to continue]
[CURRENT WIN PROBABILITY: 12%]
"Twelve percent?" Lin Wei whispered.
[Yeah... you're pretty fucked! But don't worry! We have TWO WEEKS to get you stronger! Plus, think of the CONTENT POTENTIAL! This is going to be amazing!]
"I'm going to die."
[Probably not! Maybe! 60% survival chance! Could be worse!]
Lin Wei's communication jade started buzzing insistently. He pulled it out.
[+287 new subscribers during stream]
[Current total: 617 subscribers]
[Video being shared: 43 times]
[New achievement: "Public Victory" - Won a public challenge while streaming]
[New achievement: "Unintentional Thirst Content" - Camera angle generated 400+ thirsty comments]
[New achievement: "David vs Goliath Setup" - Accepted duel against significantly stronger opponent]
The messages were pouring in:
[@MorningDewDisciple: "That was genuinely impressive, your core control is really good. Also, um, good luck with the duel? Please don't die."]
[@OuterSectGossip: "I'VE WATCHED THE CLIP 6 TIMES"]
[@ThirstyDisciple: "Marry me"]
[@SeriousCultivator: "I'm analyzing your form for my training. This is legitimate technique."]
[@DefenderOfJustice: "You actually won. I bet 20 spirit stones on you. Thank you."]
Lin Wei pocketed the jade and started walking back to his shack, legs still shaky from the plank hold.
[So! Good news: you won the challenge, gained almost 300 subscribers, and your viral clip is spreading like wildfire!]
"And the bad news?"
[You have to fight someone WAY stronger than you in two weeks, and if you lose publicly, your entire cultivation path collapses. But look on the bright side! This is AMAZING motivation for training!]
"I hate you."
[I know! Now get back to your shack. You're about to break through to Stage Five, and we need to plan your training montage. Oh, and you still need to meet Mei at the library. Don't forget!]
Lin Wei had completely forgotten about the library meeting.
[It's fine! You have time! Break through first, then go apologize and talk cultivation theory. She's definitely still interested—I can see her messages. She's worried about you dying in two weeks. Very cute!]
"Nothing about this situation is cute."
[Your perspective is skewed by panic. Trust me, from a narrative standpoint, this is EXCELLENT development!]
Lin Wei made it back to his shack and collapsed onto his sleeping mat.
Six hundred and seventeen subscribers.
A viral video of him doing planks with extremely unfortunate camera angles.
A duel scheduled in two weeks against someone who could probably kill him with one hand.
And a breakthrough to Qi Gathering Stage Five happening right now, judging by the way his meridians were starting to burn with accumulated energy.
"This is my life now," he said to the ceiling.
[Yep! Isn't it exciting? Now shut up and cultivate. Your breakthrough is starting. This is going to hurt a little!]
"How much is 'a little'?"
[On a scale of 1 to 10? About a 7, but you've had worse! You'll be fine! Probably!]
Lin Wei closed his eyes and focused.
His Lust Core was pulsing with accumulated energy—617 people's attention, converted into power. The energy swirled in his lower dantian, pressing against the walls of his cultivation base, demanding to expand.
The breakthrough began, and it hurt like a bitch.
But underneath the pain, Lin Wei felt alive.
He was getting stronger.
One embarrassing video at a time..