The Real Second World

Back in the contestants' corridor, Yi Xiaofeng was still somewhat dazed.

Everything had felt like a dream.

Thinking back on everything that had happened over the past seven days, then listening to the cheers from inside the stadium, he felt his blood surge.

That was the world where he belonged!

"Yi Xiaofeng, you did pretty well. I'll remember you. Maybe we can work together again next season."

A voice came from behind him. Before Yi Xiaofeng could turn around, Yang Yu had already walked up.

Yang Yu had originally been a minor idol. He had once been popular, and after this show, he was very likely to make a comeback.

Yi Xiaofeng did not hold a grudge against him. From Yang Yu's perspective, it had been normal for him to target Yi Xiaofeng.

Still, he had to admit that the guy was a little stupid. Tang Yiqian had led him by the nose.

"Sure."

Yi Xiaofeng nodded with a smile.

The other contestants came over one after another to greet Yi Xiaofeng.

Although Yi Xiaofeng had ranked seventh, judging from the host's and audience's reactions, he was the real big shot.

Moreover, they had learned from the staff that Yi Xiaofeng had already obtained a Demonic Divine Art. His gains far surpassed those of the other contestants.

Setting aside the Show Team's prize money, points were really useless.

"Brother, you really had me fooled," Zeng Shu said resentfully.

Yi Xiaofeng shrugged. "You fooled me too."

Just then, the director ahead called out, "The seven contestants participating in the next season, come with me."

Yi Xiaofeng and the others immediately quickened their pace.

A few minutes later, they arrived in a sealed conference room.

The staff shut the door, and the director sat at the head of the table, motioning for Yi Xiaofeng and the others to take their seats.

"The Second Season will begin in a week. During that time, you cannot leave the filming location, but the Show Team will not restrict your contact with the outside world. Your phones will all be returned to you."

The director spoke.

The contestants had no objections to that.

They had been wanting to cultivate properly, and from the Show Team's perspective, it would also be a loss if they went out and got themselves lost.

"Also, the contestants of the Second Season have watched the entire First Season, so they know about you, while you know nothing about them. You should really get familiar with one another. The newcomers will definitely target the veterans first in the next Script," the director said with a smile.

He was in a very good mood. The show's viewership and influence had both broken records, and his superiors had praised him highly.

Qin Qinxue asked, "I want to know more about the game itself. We're joining through Scripted Tasks right now, but what about after the Public Beta? Will it be like an online game, with a high degree of freedom and no quests?"

The other contestants also looked at the director.

They wanted to know as well.

If it was a traditional online game, why use Scripts and role-playing to introduce it to the public?

The director shook his head. "I don't know about that either. It's all classified. But we've known each other for some time now, so there's one thing I can reveal to you."

"That is, the Heavenly Dao Immortal Hero Game is very likely another world that truly exists."

"Besides educating the public, the purpose of the Show Team is also to gradually integrate into that world. Treat the game as the Real World, and secure a foothold and connections for yourselves there."

"Perhaps one day, the two worlds will merge."

Merge?

Yi Xiaofeng and the others were stunned.

Was it really that sci-fi?

"Also, other continents will gradually launch shows like ours. The global Public Beta will begin at the same time," the director said with a smile.

Zeng Shu asked curiously, "Can white people and black people perfectly integrate into an immortal hero world?"

The director rolled his eyes. "The immortal hero world won't be populated entirely by Asians. There are even demons there, so naturally there will be other races as well."

The contestants asked questions one after another, trying to learn as much as possible about the Heavenly Dao Immortal Hero Game.

Yi Xiaofeng learned that the manuals in the game were not designed by the game's officials, nor would the Earth Alliance forcibly take the contestants' manuals. Everyone had their own opportunities.

Yi Xiaofeng found that somewhat surprising.

But after thinking it over, this was no longer the early twenty-first century of his previous life. The pursuit of freedom among global citizens was indeed much stronger.

If everyone had to hand over the opportunities they had risked their lives to obtain, then the game would definitely collapse.

The Heavenly Dao Immortal Hero Game was no ordinary game. Pain was felt at one hundred percent, and if one's mental fortitude was lacking, they might even suddenly die in the Real World.

After the director held the meeting for over an hour, he had the staff lead the contestants back to their respective rooms.

They were staying at a nearby hotel, and each of them had a luxurious suite.

After Yi Xiaofeng returned to his room, the first thing he did was sit cross-legged on the bed.

He breathed according to the Qi Gathering method of the Nine Nether Prajna Skill.

Having practiced for three days in the game, he had already grasped the basics of the first level of the Nine Nether Prajna Skill. Before leaving the game, he had even sensed a trace of Spiritual Qi.

The cultivation of any technique required one to sense the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth.

This process could be called the qi-sensing process.

With his prior experience, Yi Xiaofeng was already familiar with the process.

He only discovered that Earth's Spiritual Qi was far inferior to that of the game world.

That was normal. Otherwise, cultivators would have appeared on Earth long ago.

The conclusion of the First Season of the Heavenly Dao Immortal Hero Game Script competition show sent the entire internet into a frenzy.

Netizens frantically discussed the various events and figures from the show, while the trending lists of every news outlet were dominated by it.

The contestants' popularity also rose steadily. Yang Yu's social media followers rapidly climbed from eight million to forty million.

In just a few days, the terrifying popularity of the Heavenly Dao Immortal Hero Game was clear for all to see.

Yang Yu himself was a washed-up celebrity with looks that still held up, so it was only natural that he would become popular again.

But one person's popularity was especially outrageous.

That person was Yi Xiaofeng.

After the Show Team revealed Yi Xiaofeng's social media account, his follower count soared from double digits all the way to seventy million!

To hype up a couple pairing, the Show Team even specifically created a social media account for Wang Yanran, frequently tagging Yi Xiaofeng and sending fans into a frenzy.

For now, however, Yi Xiaofeng knew nothing about any of this.

He was focused on the Nine Nether Prajna Skill.

Until noon the next day.

Only after Yi Xiaofeng woke from his sleep did he remember to look for his phone.

The staff had placed his belongings on the desk.

He got up, found his phone, then lay back down on the bed and unlocked the screen.

When he opened his messaging app, the screen was filled with "99+" notifications.

Relatives, coworkers, friends, and more—it made Yi Xiaofeng's scalp tingle.

He could only choose the important people in his life to reply to.

He replied to his parents first, telling them he was safe.

Then he replied to the friends he was closest to.

Some of his female friends had actually confessed to him. In response, he merely gave a faint laugh.

"A bunch of commoners, coveting my handsome face."

Yi Xiaofeng smiled disdainfully, then sent those young ladies some cute cat pictures as a polite response, too lazy even to type a word.

Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Yi Xiaofeng got up and went to answer the door.

Qin Qinxue stood outside.

"Can I come in and talk to you?" Qin Qinxue brushed back her hair and smiled.

Yi Xiaofeng became wary.

Could this woman be like the temptresses in his phone?

Still, out of politeness, Yi Xiaofeng stepped aside.

If she really tries anything, I'll call the police!

After entering the living room, Qin Qinxue turned back to look at Yi Xiaofeng and said seriously, "Let's work together. Let's both choose the unorthodox faction next season."