Auto Attack Flash went viral at a speed no one could have imagined.
Over the past few days, Factory Director's livestream had already been growing more popular by the day thanks to Xu Cheng's presence.
By today, it was no exaggeration to say viewers across the internet were following the livestream.
Xu Cheng himself had no idea that, through a twist of fate, he had now made a name for himself throughout the esports world and beyond.
The livestream had barely ended before clips of Xu Cheng's Fiora Auto Attack Flash were edited and posted to Tieba, Bilibili, and other major media platforms.
They sparked countless gasps of amazement and admiration.
[I can't believe it, that Auto Attack Flash has me absolutely soaked!]
[That was so damn cool! One Second Four Break is nothing in front of Auto Attack Flash!]
[Light Speed Four Break? The Grandmaster is seriously freaking amazing!]
[Does anyone know who the Grandmaster is? Is he going pro? I really feel like if he did, the LPL would still have a chance...]
[Waaah, Grandmaster, lead us all into battle one more time!]
[Ten thousand people petitioning for the Grandmaster to stream and teach us Auto Attack Flash!]
[...]
As soon as the Fiora Auto Attack Flash play came out, countless Fiora players began treating Xu Cheng as the Grandmaster. The nickname spread farther and farther, and before long, it had even made the Weibo trending list.
[Bro, I saw your match history. Do you know the Data Monster? Could you give me his contact info?]
[You don't know him? Then how did you run into him three games in a row? Don't worry, money's no problem!]
[You really don't know him? All right...]
"Hey, bro, I wanted to ask you something. Have you heard of the Data Monster? Yeah, the one who's been really popular lately... Well, our Club has already put out a mission..."
"I can't find him anywhere! Damn, is he really completely uninvolved with the Esports Circle? How come nobody in the scene knows anything about him?"
A youth development manager at some Club hung up the phone, his head spinning from the search for Xu Cheng.
He almost wanted to find a Buddha statue right then and there, kneel down, and wail, "Grandmaster, who are you? Where on earth are you?"
"Could you please stop tormenting us wage slaves and come out already?"
"..."
That's right.
Every Club had gone crazy that night.
The viewers and fans thought Xu Cheng's Auto Attack Flash was the most amazing thing about him, and it was certainly the hottest topic outside the scene.
But as insiders, they cared more about the potential and talent Xu Cheng had displayed that day.
Never mind the way he had developed a new move for a champion.
Damn it, tell me how someone who had never received any systematic training, whose basic knowledge was worse than that of an ordinary King Rank Player, and whose laning sense relied entirely on raw talent and sheer aggression—
could have made it work like that.
Just how outrageous was his talent?
Factory Director wasn't the only smart one. The various Clubs were full of sharp minds, and after what they had seen that day, they finally understood how badly they had underestimated the Data Monster.
This guy was definitely a prodigy on par with Ah Shui, if not even better.
Whoever managed to secure him might give their team another possible future...
But Xu Cheng had never had the slightest connection to the Esports Circle. The various Clubs had mobilized their networks and searched for ages, yet hadn't found a single lead.
After today, the competition had grown immensely, and all the Clubs were gradually losing their minds.
Word had it that Principal Wang had put out a "bounty" that very night. Anyone who could provide information about the Data Monster would receive a generous cash reward.
The move was so outrageous that it was truly unprecedented in the scene.
It also made countless people realize that—for S7, IG was really giving it everything they had.
[I heard the bounty's a hundred thousand! I want it so bad...]
Principal Wang was ridiculously rich, wasn't he? A hundred thousand yuan for a complete newcomer who'd never played professionally, just because he had talent... Looks like hosting S7 in China really has lit a fire under all the teams...
[Of course! The Bird's Nest! Can you imagine an Esports Competition being held at the National Stadium? It's hugely significant historically. S7 could be the biggest S Tournament ever.]
In the Female Bodhisattva group chat.
As young women still struggling at the bottom of the Esports Circle, they'd been bombarded with all kinds of news from inside and outside the scene that day. They were completely stunned, and the discussion was heating up.
The big news about Principal Wang throwing around money just to "make you smile" had especially excited a few of the girls, making their eyes shine as they sighed to themselves.
[When it comes down to it, the Data Monster's performance was just too outrageous. That whole "learn it and use it right away" thing, plus Auto Attack Flash—oh my god, even I thought his mechanics were insane!]
Xiao Yu didn't have to put on an act in the group. She could swear when she felt like it and make dirty jokes when she felt like it.
After all, no man would ever know she was like this.
[Right? Even a Silver scrub like me thinks he's amazing. How was he born with talent like that... and not even realize it?]
[Hahaha, Factory Director's show has been really hilarious lately. He's started reverse-PUAing the Data Monster...]
As the girls chatted, Xiao Yu saw the black profile picture of [Cheng Cheng] light up in her friends list, and her eyes brightened.
[Cheng Cheng, when are you coming to Magic City? Your big sister's all ready to welcome you!]
Huh?
Xu Cheng froze, then hurriedly typed: [Sister Xiao Yu, didn't I tell you? I found my great-uncle...]
[Don't give me that tired old excuse. Don't you want to see us?]
Xiao Yu was a little annoyed when she saw that message.
Didn't want to see them?
Damn, he was afraid he wouldn't make it out alive if he did!
Just imagining the kind big sisters in the group finding out he was a man made Xu Cheng wonder if they'd fly into a rage and kill him on the spot.
He couldn't bear to face the sheer humiliation!
Getting himself back under control, Xu Cheng began his usual nonsense: [Setting the facts aside, how can you think that? Sister Xiao Yu, we're good sisters~]
[Shouldn't good sisters want to meet in person?]
[Actually, I'm doing this for your own good. You're so short on money, and how much can a nail salon really earn? I can pull some strings for you. You could come interview for a director position at the LPL. If you pass, you'd make a lot more money.]
Xiao Yu was genuinely looking out for Xu Cheng.
She'd even called in a big favor to get him the connection.
As the LPL Region grew more and more popular, director positions had become highly coveted. It wasn't a job just anyone could get.
[That's right, that's right, Cheng Cheng. We all know your family's having a hard time. Just come to Magic City for a visit. Your big sisters aren't going to eat you~~]
At that moment, Tuozijie added her voice.
Seeing the other girls all chiming in with the same concern and affection, Xu Cheng could only quietly reply:
[Okay, I'll see when I have time and come visit...]
But in his heart, he sighed—
Looks like he couldn't stay in this group anymore.
Those sweet, silly girls had no idea that the moment they insisted on meeting Xu Cheng—
the beautiful, pure financial relationship between them had already fallen apart.
He'd find a time to leave the group.
Then they could go their separate ways and forget each other.
Before that, he had to think of a smooth, gentle way to leave without upsetting the girls who truly cared about him.
Fourth update today!
I've been updating a lot these past few days, but I'm a slow typist and don't have any chapters saved up, so I'm writing each one as I post it. The posting times might be a bit irregular, so please bear with me.
Also, keeping up with the latest chapters is really important. I'm begging you all to read each new chapter as it comes out instead of letting them pile up. Please~
There's one last update today, probably around midnight!
Before you continue