"Demon Supreme, these sheep can talk. Could they be spirit pets?!"
Long Yue grabbed Lin Fan, pointing at the sheep on the television screen with a look of utter shock, as though she had discovered something extraordinary.
Lin Fan did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Empress, this is merely an animated show made with computer software. They do not actually exist."
"They do not actually exist...?"
Still unconvinced, Long Yue asked unwillingly:
"But they are clearly talking."
"That is dubbing added afterward. There are plenty of animated shows with voice dubbing like this. For example, these two bears can talk too."
Lin Fan picked up the remote and switched to another animation channel, where two bears were currently battling wits with a bald man.
Long Yue stared at the television screen again and again. She realized that whether the sheep or the bears, although they truly could speak, their art style was entirely different from hers. They did not look nearly as real.
"They really do not exist...?"
"They really do."
Lin Fan nodded.
After receiving his confirmation, Long Yue lowered her head, unable to hide her disappointment.
She had thought she had discovered the existence of spirit pets and might perhaps find another way to return home, but it turned out she had been excited for nothing.
"Empress, the television has plenty of interesting channels and programs. Maybe there is something you will find interesting."
Seeing Long Yue's disappointed expression, Lin Fan changed to a channel playing a historical drama.
When she saw somewhat familiar clothing and settings suddenly appear on the television, Long Yue immediately found it novel.
"Demon Supreme, was this made with that computer thing too?"
"Not this one. This is a historical drama filmed by actors. They recreate ancient settings, then have actors perform the story."
"Hmm... What is the point of deliberately creating fake settings and acting out something like this?"
Long Yue lightly furrowed her delicate brows, her expression full of confusion.
Lin Fan smiled and explained, "Of course, it is for people to watch. It is one of their usual forms of entertainment and recreation. Quite a few people enjoy it."
"From futuristic science fiction to the age of primitive humans, they film every kind of subject. They can even film subjects that do not exist in reality."
"Subjects that do not exist?" Long Yue looked curious.
Lin Fan gave a mysterious smile, then opened the currently popular Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality.
A year ago, when he had traveled to the Immortal-Demon Continent, this animation had already been wildly popular across the country. He had been following it all along.
Now, after returning a year later, it had unsurprisingly become even more popular. Calling it the pinnacle of current domestic xianxia animation would not be an exaggeration.
"Demon Supreme! Th-This is a cultivator battle!"
Watching several Nascent Soul cultivators fight on the screen, Long Yue was once again deeply shocked. In her excitement, she walked straight up to the television.
This was far more shocking than anything else she had seen in this world before!
Because what was shown on the screen was a battle between cultivators, something she knew better than anyone!
"Though the immortal arts they use differ from those of our immortal realm, they are largely similar. Our immortal realm has comparable immortal arts as well!"
"Empress, do not get too excited. This is indeed a cultivator battle, but it is also a finely made animation created with computers and motion capture."
Seeing Long Yue so excited that she seemed ready to shove her head into the television screen, Lin Fan could not help but dump another bucket of cold water over her.
"This is fake too...?"
The excitement that had just ignited in Long Yue's heart was ruthlessly extinguished again. She looked both incredulous and deeply disappointed.
But soon, she spotted a crucial point.
"Demon Supreme, this world clearly has no spiritual energy, much less cultivators. Why, then, can the mortals here create an immortal-heroic world similar to my Immortal-Demon Continent?"
"Hmm..."
Lin Fan stroked his chin and pondered seriously for a moment before explaining:
"This is probably because this world has always had similar myths and legends about immortals. They gradually evolved into the idea of cultivating immortality and attaining the Dao, which is likely how today's immortal-heroic genre came about."
"Ah, so that is how it is..."
Long Yue sighed in disappointment, looking thoroughly discouraged.
She had thought she had found another clue, but it was only another false hope.
"Here, take the remote. You can freely choose whatever programs you like. Watch more television; perhaps you will learn more about this world."
Lin Fan handed the remote to Long Yue, then added:
"In a few days, the books this Venerable ordered online about common knowledge in this world should arrive. They should help you understand this world as soon as possible."
"Thank you..."
Long Yue accepted the remote and sincerely thanked Lin Fan.
Just when she had been worrying about how to understand this world, the Demon Supreme had specially set up the television for her and bought books about this world's knowledge for her. It was undoubtedly the greatest help she could receive at this stage.
She had never expected that one day, she would receive such kindness and help from the Demon Supreme...
He had even pulled her back when she had been drowning in despair and once wanted to end her life...
After taking the remote, Long Yue sat down on the floor and began watching television with great interest.
Seeing how absorbed she was, Lin Fan returned to the bedroom, sat before the computer desk, and opened his mobile banking app.
When he saw the balance in his bank card, he could not help frowning slightly and closing his eyes in distress.
Not long before he had traveled to the Immortal-Demon Continent, he had just bought this apartment. The savings he had set aside for a wife were already nearly gone. Now, after buying two phones, setting up internet access, and purchasing a pile of daily necessities, he had less than four thousand yuan left.
Four thousand yuan would probably not support the expenses of two people for very long...
He had thought he had long escaped the hardship of financial struggle and was no longer a workhorse wage slave at others' beck and call. Yet the moment he returned to Blue Star, he had to face such brutal reality again...
Who would have thought that he, the mighty supreme ruler of the demon realm, would one day have to worry about money...
Could it be that he had to open recruitment websites again and start looking for work?
No, no!
Working for someone else was impossible. He could never work for someone else again in this lifetime!
Lin Fan shook his head repeatedly and decisively threw the idea of getting a job out of his mind.
It would have been one thing before, but now he was a man who had once been the supreme ruler of the demon realm. How could he possibly lower himself to become a workhorse?
He was still a man with some pride. If he had to bow and scrape, nod and smile before others, where would the dignity of the Demon Supreme be?
But reality demanded that he eat, and money was indispensable.
In this world, money was not everything, but without money, one could do nothing.
Just then, Lin Fan noticed the novel app on his phone, and his mind suddenly cleared.
He had once been a seasoned novel fan, staying up all night to follow stories and reading hundreds of chapters a day.
Now, he had even been to the Immortal-Demon Continent, where he had dominated the land for centuries and become a Demon Supreme. Why not write down those real experiences?
After all, immortal-heroic novels were hugely popular nowadays. He did not need to soar to great heights overnight; earning enough to maintain his daily life should not be a problem!
With that thought, Lin Fan immediately opened his computer. His hands flew across the keyboard, playing a melody that belonged solely to a novelist...
Before you continue