Legend of Sword and Fairy Explodes in Popularity

Ruyi was currently sitting at her desk in the Chinese Web Novel Platform building, looking at the latest chapter.

Ruyi could feel Great God Xiaoyao's ill intentions towards his readers. This plot development, it felt like he was about to stab the readers in the back...

She hoped it was just her imagination.

Although there were still quite a few novels on the Chinese Web Novel Platform where the female lead or even the main protagonist died. But this kind of behavior...

It would generally earn a lot of criticism. Ruyi was a bit uncertain. Based on the tone of the novel so far, how bad could it get...

The next day, Ruyi could no longer smile. Li Xiaoyao had lost Lin Yueru, and she, Li Ruyi, had lost her smile.

Lin Yueru actually died!!

How could this happen? Lin Yueru was the second female lead, a chivalrous heroine like the wind. How could a character like that die?

After reading the newly updated chapter, Li Ruyi burst into tears right in the office.

Her colleagues, seeing Ruyi crying, thought she had been wronged and quickly came over to comfort her.

They kept asking Ruyi what had happened. Ruyi didn't speak, tears streaming down her face.

She had arrived at the office full of energy this morning. How long had she been at work? What kind of blow had she suffered?

"You scoundrel Li Xiaoyao, give me back my Yueru!"

From a position farther away from Ruyi, the chuunibyo boy who had previously shouted the "Riding the Wind and Clouds Art" let out an angry roar, standing up abruptly, radiating killing intent.

Ruyi stopped crying, only managing to sob, "Yueru actually died. How... how dare he..."

Everyone immediately understood. Oh, so it was the plot of Legend of Sword and Fairy...

What!!? Lin Yueru died?

Everyone opened their computers and quickly checked the novel's plot.

In the Demon Locking Tower, Lin Yueru died while being crushed by falling boulders as she saved Ling'er.

Not even her body was found. Li Xiaoyao dug out Yueru's Never Forget Bell from the ruins. At the same time, the Never Forget Bell on his person instantly fell...

The Never Forget Bells were a pair. If one holder died, the other would fall, meaning Lin Yueru was truly dead.

This author named Li Xiaoyao had truly stabbed the vast majority of his readers! How dare he!!

"This Li Xiaoyao is simply inhuman. Who has his address? I'll send him something..."

"Holy crap, how dare he."

"Who gave him the courage? Lin Yueru actually died."

"Yueru, my Yueru!"

Even the editors were like this. Not to mention the readers.

The comment section exploded.

"My Yueru is gone! You scoundrel author, how dare you!"

"Is this something a human would do?"

"This is the first time I've cried for a non-existent virtual character. Scoundrel author, you're something else. Give me your address, I'll send you a few pounds of razor blades to thank you..."

"Li Xiaoyao! Die for me!!"

"I read books to be happy, but you've done this to me. Scoundrel author, are you worthy of us?"

"Geneva, refund!"

"Refund!"

"There's no hope left. Scoundrel author, who else do you want to die?"

"My mentality has collapsed."

"Scoundrel Li Xiaoyao, give me back my Yueru!"

"Give me back my Yueru!"

Most of the readers in the book review section were expressing their true feelings, unreservedly sending their warm greetings to the author.

There were also those who were joking, but none of them strayed from the core sentiment: this author is inhuman!

He even stabs his readers. Is there any justice? Is there any law?

Li Changle naturally couldn't see any of this. Moreover, he probably knew how the readers would react, so he didn't dare to look.

He felt he owed the readers something. Perhaps he should release the remaining chapters gradually over the next few days to comfort them?

He hadn't expected to finish Legend of Sword and Fairy 1 in just over a month.

It was a bit fast, but Legend of Sword and Fairy wasn't that long, so it was normal to finish so quickly.

He made up his mind to release the remaining manuscripts in the next few days to help the heartbroken fans heal their wounded souls and express his apologies.

What Li Changle didn't know was that after he published the chapter where Lin Yueru died today, a trending topic on Weibo appeared: "Lin Yueru Died."

Many Legend of Sword and Fairy fans on Weibo were furiously complaining about the author named Li Xiaoyao, and frantically searching for information about him.

The enthusiastic readers, wanting to express their deep emotions about the plot, hoped to visit the author in person to thank him.

Netizens on Weibo who hadn't yet read Legend of Sword and Fairy were completely bewildered. Who was Lin Yueru? Why was she trending if she died? Driven by curiosity, they clicked on the topic.

Oh, Lin Yueru was just a fictional character in a novel.

This was outrageous. So what if a fictional character died? Why was it trending? Then, someone searched for the novel called Legend of Sword and Fairy.

Half a day later: "Damn you, you scoundrel author, give me back my Yueru!"

"This novel is so good, warm and healing, it's my best novel of the year, I highly recommend everyone read it..."

Li Changle never expected that the plot of Legend of Sword and Fairy would just be starting to get emotionally draining, and the book would already be trending. Initially, it was a huge hit within the Chinese Web Novel Platform, and now it was explosively popular across the entire internet!

The editor-in-chief of the Chinese Web Novel Platform looked at the backend data, his mouth splitting into a grin that reached his ears, his face beaming with joy.

This year, Legend of Sword and Fairy alone had exceeded the entire annual user acquisition target!

Besides the rapid growth phase of the Chinese Web Novel Platform, there were rarely such phenomena. After the Chinese Web Novel Platform became the largest novel reading website, attracting massive external traffic with a single novel was practically unheard of!

Legend of Sword and Fairy 1, at most, had only been serialized for a little over a month. Judging by the current situation, it would likely conclude this month.

It was a shame it was ending so quickly. If the novel were longer, the Chinese Web Novel Platform might have continuously gained new members. Web novel development had reached a point where acquiring any user was incredibly difficult.

But it wasn't a big problem! He was very satisfied with Legend of Sword and Fairy's performance, and more importantly, they needed to retain the great author Li Xiaoyao!

With Li Xiaoyao around, he believed the Chinese Web Novel Platform could reach new heights!

He's a walking advertisement. We can't let him go. His contract is still just a regular author contract.

The editor-in-chief, Qinghe, pondered whether he should pay Li Xiaoyao a visit and directly upgrade his contract to a "Great Author" level on the spot.

Qinghe felt this was absolutely necessary! Most importantly, it would put his mind at ease. Having made up his mind, he called Ruyi over.

"Ruyi, ask Li Xiaoyao if he's interested in signing with our Chinese Web Novel Platform. For his level, we'll offer him a Great Author contract... no, a Platinum contract. Ask for his home address, and we'll visit in a couple of days..."

"Ah...? A Platinum contract directly?"

Ruyi looked at the editor-in-chief in surprise. Typically, Platinum contracts were only offered to Great Authors who had at least two massively popular books.

Giving Li Xiaoyao, who was just a newcomer with his first book, and a relatively short one at that, only a little over a million characters, a Platinum contract... wouldn't that be too hasty?

But then again, Legend of Sword and Fairy deserved it! Even though it was emotionally draining, it was good...

People couldn't help but curse the author while still reading. Moreover, Legend of Sword and Fairy had become quite popular online these past few days.

It had brought considerable traffic and new users to the Chinese Web Novel Platform. If these new users could be retained, the platform's scale would grow significantly.

"Just for his one book, Legend of Sword and Fairy, he deserves this Platinum contract. The most important thing is to keep him..."

"Okay! I'll go ask!"

Li Changle looked curiously at the message from Ruyi, saying they wanted to re-sign with the Chinese Web Novel Platform?

Offering him a Platinum contract... Wow, the Chinese Web Novel Platform was being quite generous. But this was obviously no disadvantage to Li Changle.

He directly gave them his address and arranged for them to visit in a few days. Li Changle indifferently closed QQ.

Legend of Sword and Fairy was finished. Updates would also be concluding soon, as long as he sped things up.

Li Changle wasn't interested in stringing readers along. He wanted to finish updating as quickly as possible so he could get paid faster.

Also, with a Platinum contract, it seemed he would receive more royalties, and his future earnings from adaptations would also increase.

Li Changle really hoped Legend of Sword and Fairy could be adapted into a TV series in this world, but it had to be done well.

Legend of Sword and Fairy was a classic. Similarly, the classic Xianxia IP Zhu Xian was...

A complete disaster. Back then, Li Changle couldn't even finish the first episode before turning off the TV.

And the soundtrack, insert songs, and theme song for the Legend of Sword and Fairy TV series were all classics. These could all be arranged.

It's just that the film and television adaptation rights for Legend of Sword and Fairy were not in his hands now. As an author for the Chinese Web Novel Platform, they naturally belonged to the platform.

He hoped the Chinese Web Novel Platform would be decent and choose a good director?

If possible, Li Changle still wanted to fight for it. If Legend of Sword and Fairy were to be adapted into a TV series, he could offer some suggestions...

They were visiting in a few days anyway, so he could discuss it then. Li Changle didn't want such a classic IP to be ruined on his watch.

He was already "borrowing" entertainment works from Earth, though he found a way to justify it to himself.

But if a work he brought into existence here was turned into trash, his conscience wouldn't allow it.

Feeling guilty towards his readers, Li Changle decided to update a bit more today.

And what followed was not the readers' gratitude and forgiveness...

But their even deeper love.

"Scoundrel! Killing off Yueru wasn't enough, now you've had Anu injure Tang Yu, my little treasure! Are you planning to kill them all in the end?!"

"This is a sin! Why did I even start reading this novel? I'm crying my eyes out, scoundrel author, prepare to die!"

"Where does this guy even live? I'm going to his place to have a chat about life and ideals..."

"I'm so angry I'm shaking! Why is there an author like this? Life is already cruel enough, and this guy is still using his novel to cut my heart to pieces, one knife at a time. Most importantly, I can't stop reading this damn novel..."

There had been novels with dead female or male leads before, but none of them were very popular.

They were far from being comparable to phenomenon-level works like Chinese Paladin, so the tragedy in Chinese Paladin sparked unprecedented discussions.

Li Changle unconsciously increased his update speed, and the plot of the novel began to unfold before everyone's eyes, scene by scene.

Even though everyone knew it was a tragedy, they couldn't help but read it.

Seeking recommendations, seeking favorites.