Ancestors, Sages

Sindragosa Village, civilian district.

Inside an old stone house, several Pandaren were discussing "heading south." After much debate, however, they failed to reach any conclusion.

"Chief Kang, we've already stayed here for over half a month. Isn't it time to set out for the southern valley? Our people are still waiting for us...," a Pandaren warrior in the stone house said with a deep sigh.

"No... it's not time yet. The White Tiger Celestial hasn't given the order..."

In the center of the stone house, a burly Pandaren spoke. He wore a black robe, had striking features, and carried himself far more imposingly than the others. He was Ji Feng's third brother, the Pandaren Kang.

"Chief, you can't put it that way..." A Pandaren frowned and rose from his stone chair, speaking with restrained anger. "The sages now represent the voices of the Celestials. We all know the sages don't want us to rescue anyone. If we keep waiting for the Celestials' message, we may end up waiting for nothing. The age of the sages is over. This era should be decided by us..."

"That's right. The deputy chief is correct. I support the deputy chief. The sages' era should end. This era should be ruled by us warriors..." As soon as he spoke, voices opposing the sages rose one after another.

The Pandaren around them discussed heatedly, all clearly dissatisfied.

"Everyone, I too wish to head north as soon as possible. I too wish to establish a clan ruled by warriors. Unfortunately, we simply cannot contend against the sages' divine arts. The power of the Celestials' blessings is far too great." As the Pandaren around him grumbled indignantly, Kang sighed, pounded the table, and let out a loud lament.

"Haha... Who said we can't contend against the sages? Kang, I'm back..." Suddenly, a resounding voice rang out from outside the stone house, seemingly filled with boundless pride.

"Who is it?!"

Inside the stone house, several Pandaren warriors gripped their bamboo staffs tightly and went on guard.

Creak!

The stone house's wooden door slowly opened, and a figure appeared outside. At that moment, every Pandaren's gaze fell upon the visitor.

"Ji! It's actually Ji..."

"Ji, Li Luo, you actually came back? How is that possible? Could it be that The Wandering Isle has already been completed..."

"Big Brother."

Everyone was stunned.

"Haha... Everyone, it's not just me. Li Luo has returned too. The two of us escaped the Mogu's clutches and returned from The Wandering Isle..." Ji Feng laughed three times, then strode into the stone house.

"Third Brother..."

Behind Ji Feng, Li Luo's eyes reddened slightly as she stepped forward as well.

"Li Luo, Li Luo... You came back too! Is this real? Wonderful, this is truly wonderful..." With Ji Feng and Li Luo's return, Kang was so overwhelmed that he did not know what to do. His eyes were full of joy as he rushed forward and hugged them both.

With his burly frame and thick arms, Kang was remarkably strong. He hugged them so tightly that Ji Feng could not help but feel some pain.

"Cough, cough... Kang, we can talk later. There are so many people here—it's embarrassing for them to watch... Let go first. It's not like we're running away..." Being tightly hugged by a large man, even if that man was his brother, still made Ji Feng feel awkward. He was a straight man, after all.

"Big Brother, then we'll talk later. Eldest Brother, Second Sister, please sit down first." Kang released Ji Feng and Li Luo, laughed loudly, and gestured for them to sit.

"Alright..."

Ji Feng and Li Luo nodded and sat beside Kang.

"Ji, Li Luo, I never expected you to return to the clan. Welcome back. May the spirits of our ancestors protect you..."

"Ji, has the Mogu's Great Wall been completed? And how did you escape?"

After the two sat down, the Pandaren warriors around them began asking questions one after another.

"Haha... Thank you all for your concern. Li Luo and I didn't return because The Wandering Isle was finished. We returned because I received guidance from our ancestors. The ancestors commanded me to return and save the clan..." In this era, ancestors were the best excuse. This time, Ji Feng intended to unite the Pandaren under the "name of the ancestors."

Upon hearing Ji Feng's words, the Pandaren around him all changed expression. For the moment, they could not tell whether he was speaking the truth.

"Big Brother, the Four August Celestials have been imprisoned by the Thunder King, and they chose the 'sages' to temporarily govern the clan. The ancestors' guidance may have brought you back to the clan, but can the ancestors guide us to defeat the sages? Can they guide us to overthrow the Mogu?" Ji Feng's words were too shocking. The room fell silent, and only after a long while did Kang speak for everyone.

"Of course they can. All we need is..."

Just as Ji Feng began speaking, a voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.

24 Earth hours have passed since the previous livestream. The livestream room is about to open...

"Ji, all we need is what?" Seeing Ji Feng leave them in suspense, the Pandaren around him asked anxiously.

"Haha... All you need is to believe in the ancestors and hold sincere faith in them..." The system livestream was about to begin, and Ji Feng suddenly had an idea. He pressed his palms together and closed his eyes.

"Ji..."

"This is... Everyone, stop talking. Brother said this is the gesture the ancestors use to guide us. The ancestors are about to issue their decree. Be quiet..." Seeing Ji Feng make that gesture, Li Luo immediately put a hand to her lips and whispered a reminder.

A few days ago, Ji Feng had found Li Luo too noisy, so he sat in meditation and told her it was guidance from the ancestors. Now, Li Luo had actually believed him.

"King of Bragging is online! Viewers, hurry up and watch..."

"Brother Feng said he'd stream at this time yesterday, and today he really wasn't even a second late. What's he streaming today? Why can't I understand any of this? Why are there Pandaren everywhere..."

"Brother Feng, where are the beautiful elf girls you promised? I've already got tissues ready. I can go anytime..."

"He's finally here. Cola, sunflower seeds, watermelon, and a little stool are all ready. Brother Feng, hurry up and begin your bragging journey!"

"Ah, this smidda only came online at this hour..."

As soon as the livestream opened, the comments exploded. Viewers who had watched yesterday's stream had been waiting for a long time, and plenty of new viewers joined in today. The moment the stream began, Ji Feng's livestream popularity reached a major milestone.

"Viewers, see the Pandaren beside me? What's most important for a protagonist? Of course, underlings. When you're showing off, if no one nearby says you're insanely awesome, then what the hell are you even doing? Once I recruit a whole bunch of underlings, I'll stream my daily life with elf girls..."

Ji Feng directly activated five minutes of communication, and his voice instantly reached every viewer through the livestream.

"Fuck... yeah... bitch... elf girl..."

"Qi no xx, recruiting no underlings... Saotome no breathing exercise..."

Viewers from different countries naturally heard different voices, and they could all understand what Ji Feng was saying. Americans heard "sex," while the Japanese heard "breathing exercise." The livestream room immediately filled with howls.

"Very good..."

"Yoshi!"

"As expected of Brother Feng. He even used a phrase like 'insanely awesome.' That's a stock phrase for potato-flavored side characters, hahaha..."

"Can someone explain what the hell he meant?"

"It's some kind of inappropriate term..."

"I originally wanted to watch the streamer tease elf girls, but for some reason, after seeing the Japanese comments, I suddenly want to watch him recruit underlings instead. Compared to something unspeakable, a whole group of unspeakable things sounds more interesting..."

"The commenter above is so dirty. Definitely another veteran driver, but I like it. Popularity wilderness restraint, twenty people tied up—I've already imagined the upcoming stream..."

"That came out of nowhere. I'm caught completely off guard. These past few days, even nutritional drinks haven't been enough. Veteran driver, are you starting the ride?"

"I'm already on board and ready to download. Internet speed: 400 kb/s, a dedicated network for construction sites on Beijing's Fifth Ring Road..."

The livestream room had already gone wildly off track, but Ji Feng, the veteran driver, remained completely calm.

"Viewers, I forgot to remind you just now. This is a livestream from another world, not some unspeakable livestream room. If your comments are too explicit, you'll get muted. You'll probably crash..." With the system in hand, Ji Feng warned them.

The moment his words fell, a large group of viewers who had just commented were banned from speaking. A huge message reading "Muted for 30 Days" appeared on each of their panels.

"You young people are too simple, too naive. You can't just pretend to be a veteran driver. A real veteran driver doesn't crash. You young people need to learn more from the streamer..."

"I'm guessing it definitely won't be as simple as recruiting underlings. Look at Brother Feng's silent, trace-free smile. I only put on that expression when I'm showing off in front of a goddess. Today's stream is definitely going to be interesting..."

There were experts among the viewers as well. Someone had already noticed that Ji Feng was different today.

"Viewers, my livestream isn't just for entertainment. It's also for broadening your knowledge. You should still recognize a goddess even when she has clothes on! Now, the bragging begins..." As Ji Feng spoke, the five minutes ended. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

He swept his gaze around the room, a smile slowly forming on his lips. This was the standard smile for showing off. If he wore a white robe and had several beauties following behind him, that would be the deluxe version.

"Ji is awake."

Seeing Ji Feng open his eyes, all the Pandaren around him looked toward him.

"Everyone, I have just received a revelation from the ancestors. From today onward, I will become your master..." With a sweep of his sleeve, Ji Feng slammed his fist onto the table and shouted.

What was most important in a livestream? Entertainment value!

If you were Diamond-ranked and fought Bronze players, winning every match, viewers would not find it entertaining. But if you fought a King-ranked player evenly, and even with four useless teammates could still go fifty-fifty with a King-ranked opponent, then there would be entertainment value. If you turned things around and won after that, the entertainment value would explode.

To make a livestream popular, you needed more than a good face—you needed brains too. Ji Feng would not mindlessly show off today. He was going to create an "explosive entertainment moment"...