94: Chapter 94: Su Ciyao's "Official Live Stream Proposal"

The air in the Sect meeting hall felt as if it had solidified into lead.

Ever since the announcement for The Grand Exam was released, this place had become a massive pressure cooker. Elders were arguing until their faces were red and spit was flying, fighting over resource allocation and assessment weighting.

"Absolutely not! This is shameful!"

Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai slammed the table and stood up, his beard quivering with rage. "The Grand Exam is a review of our Sect's internal strength; it is our own family business! What is this 'external presentation' nonsense? You want to invite people from other Sects to watch? Or even let Loose Cultivators gawk at us?"

"What if Tianjian Peak suffers heavy casualties, or Artifact Refining Peak blows up a furnace? Wouldn't that make the entire world laugh at Qingheng Sect?"

"Exactly! Don't air our dirty laundry in public!"

A chorus of agreement followed.

"It should be done discreetly, behind closed doors. Even if we lose, no one will know."

Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou sat in the main seat, rubbing his throbbing temples, remaining silent.

He knew clearly that these Elders were afraid. They were afraid of transparency. Because under the transparent sunlight, the "waste" and "incompetence" that could have been covered up by "battle records" would have nowhere to hide.

Just as the argument was about to escalate into a magical duel, the side door of the hall was gently pushed open.

A woman wearing a pale pink flowing cloud dress, holding a scroll in her hand, walked in like a breath of spring breeze.

The noisy meeting hall became eerily quiet for a moment because of her appearance.

It was Su Ciyao.

Qingheng Sect's Senior Sister, a famous "social butterfly" in the cultivation world, and also the Sect Head's Personal Disciple.

She wasn't carrying a sword today; the scroll in her hand looked more like some kind of musical instrument.

"Elders, please calm down."

Su Ciyao walked to the center of the hall, bowed to Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou, and then turned to face the Elders with an impeccable smile on her face.

"Arguing back and forth is not a solution. The Grand Exam is approaching. What we need is not a fig leaf, but... a beautiful comeback."

She flicked her wrist, and the scroll in her hand slid open. It wasn't a landscape painting, but a dense proposal plan.

"My proposal is—"

Su Ciyao's voice was crisp and melodious, carrying a power that could bewitch people.

"Establish the 'Qingheng Sect Annual Grand Exam Public Livestream Formation'."

[Proposal: Feasibility Analysis on the Publicization of the Qingheng Sect Grand Exam]

[Core Purpose:]

Showcase strength and transparency to the outside world: Even if we lose, we must lose with dignity and win in a way that convinces others.

Stabilize the confidence of Loose Cultivators and allies: Our Sect's credit rating has dropped quite a bit recently; we need to show our external investors that we are still alive.

Use public opinion to buffer internal conflict: With the whole Central Continent watching, the Elders surely won't be embarrassed to engage in open cronyism under the lens, right?

[Technical Means:]

Deploy the "Heavenly Eye Retrospective Formation" above the Sect.

Open Qi subscription channels to the entire Central Continent.

"Livestream?!"

Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai laughed in anger. "Girl Su, have you gone foolish from cultivating, or have you read too many storybooks? Resorting to such commoner tactics?"

Su Ciyao blinked: "Elder, what's wrong with commoner tactics? In this world, fame is a resource."

"Besides, the laughingstock already exists. Everyone outside is saying that our Qingheng Sect is on the decline and is a waste recycling station."

"Instead of letting them make things up behind our backs, it's better to set up the lens."

"We film it ourselves, and we choose what the outside world sees."

She pointed to the sky, "This is called—controlling the narrative."

Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou looked at the proposal, his eyes flickering.

He understood the subtext of Su Ciyao's words.

If they only looked at internal assessments, Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai and the others could manipulate things, magnify the black marks of Hengchuan Peak, and praise the achievements of Tianjian Peak.

But if it were a livestream?

With tens of thousands of eyes watching, and perhaps even observers from the Central Continent, the cost of such blatant "black-box operations" would skyrocket infinitely.

"Senior Brother Sect Head."

Su Ciyao walked to Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou's side and lowered her voice. "Hengchuan Peak is currently like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. If we keep the doors closed, they can chop it up however they want."

"But if the doors are open..."

"Someone will have to feel sorry for this lamb, right?"

Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou was silent for a long time.

He raised his head, looked at the Elders who still wanted to object, and for the first time, made a decision with an unquestionable tone.

"Approved."

"Establish the main livestream Formation."

"Each Peak can apply for 'sub-channels'. What they want to showcase is up to them."

"However—"

His gaze turned cold, "The main control remains in the hands of the Sect. Whoever dares to play tricks will have their signal cut off immediately."

...

Once the meeting dispersed.

Su Ciyao didn't even have time to remove her "PR Master" disguise before she grabbed a sound transmission talisman and hurried towards Hengchuan Peak.

At this moment, Shen Xingzhou was worrying over a pile of reports, his eyes full of bloodshot veins.

"Senior Sister? Why are you here?"

Su Ciyao didn't say a word; she slapped a Formation disk emitting pink fluorescence onto the table with a "slap".

"Peak Master, stop worrying."

"I've brought you something good."

Shen Xingzhou picked up the Formation disk. It was engraved with complex patterns, and in the very center, a line of small characters was written:

[Qingheng Sect Grand Exam · Hengchuan Peak Independent Livestream Channel]

"Independent channel?"

Shen Xingzhou was stunned. "What can this thing do? I don't have time to perform talents."

"No talent needed."

Su Ciyao smiled like a cunning fox. She sat down opposite Shen Xingzhou and cupped her chin. "I've already thought it through."

"Since the entire Central Continent treats us like a dump, a waste recycling station."

"Then we'll go along with what they say."

She pointed to the Formation disk and read out the channel name that almost made Shen Xingzhou spit out a mouthful of old blood:

"Daily Life of Working at Bankruptcy Peak."

Shen Xingzhou's mouth twitched: "...Huh?"

"Isn't this too... too shameless?"

"What's the use of having face?"

Su Ciyao retorted, "Can face be exchanged for Spirit Stones? Can it be exchanged for Karma?"

"In the current cultivation world, experts are as common as clouds, and the audience is already suffering from aesthetic fatigue. They are tired of watching gods fight; they want to see something fresh."

"Something... down-to-earth."

"For example, how a group of bankrupt losers struggle to survive in desperate situations, and how they turn waste into treasure in the trash heap."

She snapped her fingers, "This is called—differentiated competition."

"Think about it, all the other Peaks are fighting and killing; how boring that is. We will film 'A Day in the Life of Assembly Line Workers', film 'The Anger of Corporate Slaves'."

"Focusing on one thing: being real, and finding joy in misery."

Shen Xingzhou looked at Su Ciyao's sparkling eyes.

Although the name sounded ridiculous.

But he had to admit, this might be the only way out for Hengchuan Peak.

Because when it came to combat strength, they really couldn't compare.

But when it came to being "miserable" and having "stories", Hengchuan Peak had thousands of bloody stories to tell.

"Fine."

Shen Xingzhou gritted his teeth and said, "We'll do as you say."

"The name is already ugly enough, might as well make it uglier."

Just then, the System interface chimed.

As if in response to Su Ciyao's proposal, or an automatic adaptation by the Heavenly Dao rules to this kind of "introducing external variables" behavior.

[System New Module: External Public Opinion Monitoring (Trial Version)]

[Function List:]

Real-time tracking: Livestream channel subscriptions, online viewers, bullet comment density.

Sentiment Analysis: Automatically capture and convert audience emotions (Favorability / Jealousy / Hostility / Curiosity).

PR Earnings: Convert "Public Opinion Heat" into potential "Reputation Value" and "Karma Correction Coefficient".

[Warning:]

Public opinion fluctuations will be recorded by the Heavenly Dao as "Public Sentiment Variables".

If the people's hearts are directed towards it, the Heavenly Dao rules may be slightly adjusted (i.e., "Public Opinion Changing Fate").

Conversely, if it provokes public anger, it may attract an accelerated Heavenly Tribulation liquidation.

Shen Xingzhou looked at the newly appeared panel, his heartbeat accelerating slightly.

He clicked on the [Livestream Channel Preview].

It was still a black screen, with only a line of bleak data:

[Channel Status: Daily Life of Working at Bankruptcy Peak]

[Subscriptions: 0]

[Initial Tags: #Bankruptcy #Weird #DangerousPilot #MustWatchJoke]

[System Comment:]

The current state is like a circus troupe that hasn't opened for business yet.

But as long as there is the first audience member, the story begins.

"This name..."

A lazy comment came from the side.

Peak Master Luo Qingyi appeared at the entrance of the main hall at some point, still holding that wine gourd in her hand.

She tilted her head, looking at the words "Daily Life of Working at Bankruptcy Peak" on the Formation disk.

"Quite honest."

She said randomly.

"Instead of pretending and getting exposed, it's better to stick your face out yourself."

She walked to Shen Xingzhou's side and patted his shoulder.

"Since you've decided to be a monkey for everyone to watch, then act the part."

"However..."

Peak Master Luo Qingyi narrowed her eyes and looked towards the direction of the Sect's main peak.

"Before getting beaten up, remember to prepare protective gear."

"When the monkey is doing somersaults on stage, not everyone in the audience is throwing bananas."

"There are plenty throwing stones."

Shen Xingzhou looked at the dusty interface, then at Su Ciyao's expectant face, and finally at Peak Master Luo Qingyi's eyes that saw through the world.

He took a deep breath.

"Got it."

"I'll remember everyone who throws stones in the future."

It was late at night.

Su Ciyao left, taking her crazy proposal back to the Sect to debug the main Formation.

Shen Xingzhou sat at the table, staring at the bleak [0 Subscriptions] interface.

This was the beginning.

A PR war without smoke, but one that concerned life and death.

Just as he was about to close the System to rest for a moment.

A flashing task box suddenly popped up at the bottom of the interface.

It wasn't a main quest, but it was equally urgent.

[Side Quest Initiated: The First Wave of Traffic]

[Quest Title:]

Before The Grand Exam officially begins, get the Daily Life of Working at Bankruptcy Peak channel subscriptions ≥ 500.

[Quest Reward:]

Public Opinion Monitoring Accuracy +10% (Can see more detailed audience psychological profiles).

Unlock "Bullet Comment Interaction" function (i.e., tricking... oh no, obtaining Karma through livestreaming).

[Special Note:]

The more viewers, the higher the attention.

Of course, the more you will be targeted.

Good luck, the number one streamer of the whole network.

Shen Xingzhou looked at the small goal of "500".

He looked at the pitch-black night outside the window again.

"Five hundred viewers..."

"For these five hundred people looking for excitement."

"We have to make this show... a blast."