Corporate Endorsements

The Elite Class teacher from Martial Arts High School walked around the seats, trying to persuade them.

"This is an open martial arts competition for all members of the Provincial Youth Genius Group. Our principal, Provincial Key High School, pulled several strings to ensure that our school could send sixty Elite Student to watch the event, while the other schools sent forty students each."

"Everyone, calm down. The martial arts competition starts at nine o'clock. Soon you'll see the brilliance of East River Province's top martial arts geniuses."

A student raised their hand and asked, "Professor, I heard that Wang Dongting, the Provincial Martial Leader, Blood Qi Value close to 3,000 calories. Is that true?"

I don't know the specifics, but it should be roughly the same.

Wang Dongting has been the champion of East River Martial Champion Arts for two consecutive months. Martial Leader, he is naturally the strongest in the Genius Group. It's not surprising that his Blood Qi Value is close to 3,000 calories. Otherwise, how could he suppress all the other members of the Genius Group?

"Mentor, a sculpture of senior student Chen Lie has been erected in the square of our Elite Campus. According to the introduction, he is Grandmaster Seed member of the provincial Provincial Key High School 'Provincial Youth Genius Group."

"Will Senior Chen Lie also be on stage for the martial arts competition?"

"Of course, the school specially invited Ren Hongguang, Chen Lie's tutor in the Ordinary Class, and Hong Chengshuo, his tutor in the Elite Class."

After the All-Member Martial Competition the Genius Group concludes, these two instructors will ask Chen Lie to select two exceptionally talented individuals from among you to provide guidance.

"Really? That's amazing!"

The group of Elite Student from the Provincial Key High School cheered immediately.

The commotion attracted the attention of the Martial Artist Association's steward, who was in charge of maintaining order.

After the Martial Artist Association's deacon left, the instructor leading the team from the Provincial Key High School hurriedly instructed, "Everyone, please be quiet. The people attending are all important figures from East River Province. Don't make any more noise."

At eight o'clock, a beautiful woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six years old stepped onto the Duel Platform.

"Distinguished figures from the political and business worlds, as well as students from the Genius Training Camp and various Martial Arts Department academies, welcome to watch the public martial arts competition of all members of the Dongchuan Province Youth Talent Group."

I am Li Shumin, a reporter from the Provincial TV Station, and today's host.

As soon as the beautiful reporter stepped onto the stage, she greeted everyone present and introduced herself.

"As we all know, the monthly All-Member Martial Competition of the Provincial Youth Genius Group is conducted in a closed environment."

The reason for holding this open martial arts competition is that the highly anticipated Three-Province Martial Tournament is approaching, so the provincial government decided to hold an open competition to boost morale.

Let our Provincial Martial Leader lead the members of the Genius Group, carrying glory and the belief of more than 70 million people in East River Province, to meet the formidable enemies of West River Province and Cloud River Province.

This martial arts competition will be broadcast live across the entire province.

"First of all, I am honored to be the host of today's martial arts competition. Before the martial arts competition begins, let us first see the true faces of the top martial arts geniuses of East River Province."

Next, the members of the Provincial Youth Genius Group will walk onto the Duel Platform one by one, and Shumin will report their names and information.

"Now, please welcome our two-time Provincial Martial Leader, Wang Dongting, to the stage."

After Li Shumin finished speaking, Wang Dongting walked onto the Duel Platform from the side.

"Wang Dongting, 18 years old, is the first member of this year's cohort to be selected as Grandmaster Seed, and has been a member of the Provincial Youth Genius Group for ten months."

As Wang Dongting stepped onto the stage, a commotion erupted in the Duel Platform.

The opportunity to witness firsthand the strongest genius in East River Province, the Provincial Martial Leader, naturally elicited enthusiastic responses from many Elite Student and trainees in the Genius Training Camp.

Wang Dongting quickly stepped down from the stage, and the host, Li Shumin, continued, "Next up is Xu Yuanhao, one of the seven Grandmaster Seed in the Provincial Youth Genius Group."

As Li Shumin's voice faded, Xu Yuanhao, like Wang Dongting, stepped onto the Duel Platform from the side.

"Xu Yuanhao, 18 years old, has been a member of the Provincial Youth Genius Group for ten months."

As Li Shumin continued her introductions, she soon finished introducing all thirty members of the Genius Group.

Chen Lie, along with a deacon from the Martial Artist Association, arrived at a Council Hall next door, among many members of the Genius Group.

Seeing that all the members of the Genius Group had arrived, Gu Tian said in the middle of the Council Chamber, "Students, the reason why I let you come up on stage and introduce you with the help of the Provincial TV Station reporter is because of one thing."

-

Over the years, before each Three-Province Martial Tournament, many pharmaceutical companies, martial arts equipment companies and other groups would seek out members of the Genius Group to endorse their products for a one-year term, paying a considerable endorsement fee.

The endorsement was specifically designated by the provincial government. The provincial government only acts as a go-between and does not take any profit from it. The purpose is to help members from ordinary families improve their family circumstances and to support some businesses in the province.

If the endorsement deal goes through, you'll receive a sum of Star Dollar, and the company's products will see increased sales due to the fame of the Genius Group members. It's a win-win situation for both the company and you.

"Wait a moment, I will arrange for a group of business representatives from the Chuanshan Eight Provinces to meet with you. Whether or not you can reach an agreement depends entirely on you. These businesses have all undergone strict review by the provincial government, and the products they endorse are absolutely qualified and will not tarnish your image. You can rest assured about that."

Anyone among you who is unwilling to accept the endorsement can now return to the War Hall and wait.

As soon as Gu Tian spoke, several members of the Genius Group, including Luo Zhixun, Xu Yuanhao, and Song Yixuan, left the Council Chamber.

Chen Lie then asked, "How much is the endorsement fee?"

Gu Tian replied, "The endorsement fee ranges from several hundred Star Dollar to tens of millions of Star Dollar. You can talk to the company representatives yourselves later. The Martial Artist Association will not interfere."

However, those receiving tens of millions of Star Dollar are definitely micro-enterprises, while those receiving hundreds of millions of Star Dollar are naturally behemoths from the Chuanshan Eight Provinces, like the Sunlight Group.

After explaining, Gu Tian answered a few more questions from the members, then said, "If you don't have any more questions, please follow me."

After leaving the Council Hall, we arrived at the small square behind the training ground.

Inside the small square, about forty tables were arranged in a semicircle, with a sign next to each table.

For example, Dongchuan Junfeng Group's endorsement fee starts at 100 million Star Dollar (negotiable); Dongchuan Hanlong Group's endorsement fee starts at 150 million Star Dollar; and Xichuan Quexiang Group's endorsement fee is 80 million Star Dollar.

As soon as Chen Lie arrived at the square, he saw the largest sign in the middle. "Shaan Province Longyue Group, endorsement fee 200 million Star Dollar (negotiable)".

After leading the members of the Genius Group into the small square, Gu Tian, accompanied by several people dressed in black, said, "These are staff members sent by the provincial government. You can ask them for specific information about the companies seeking endorsements."

After saying that, Gu Tian turned and left.

After looking around, Chen Lie found that among the forty companies, a few had endorsement fees of less than 100 million Star Dollar, but the lowest fee was still more than 70 million Star Dollar.

The highest endorsement fee was paid by the company with the largest signboard in the middle, Longyue Group, from Shaan Province.

Chen Lie found a provincial government official and asked, "What's the background of this Longyue Group? Why are they able to offer such a high endorsement fee?"

The provincial government official replied, "Longyue Group is a behemoth enterprise in Shaan Province responsible for the production of martial arts equipment. Its scale is comparable to that of Sunlight Group in East River Province, and it is a well-known enterprise in the Chuanshan Eight Provinces and Shaanxi."

Chen Lie let out an "oh," thinking that since his rebirth, he had never had the opportunity to improve his family's conditions and living standards. Today, it seemed, was the perfect opportunity.

200 million Star Dollar is an absolute fortune; if one didn't practice martial arts, it could support a family for ten lifetimes without worrying about food and drink.

"Chen Lie!"

Wei Ranran approached Chen Lie: "Are you also going to contact the companies seeking endorsements?"

"Hmm." Chen Lie nodded.

"You're Grandmaster Seed, you're sure to find an endorsement deal worth over 100 million Star Dollar."

As a new member, I can probably only get endorsements from small businesses within the province, earning a few tens of millions of Star Dollar in endorsement fees.

However, I've only just joined the Provincial Youth Genius Group, and I'm already earning money. I'm quite satisfied. Let's see if my dad still dares to say I'm a spendthrift, only spending and not earning.

"Then you go and take a look, I'll go ask too."

Wei Ranran hummed in agreement and walked over.

After seeing Wei Ranran leave, Chen Lie walked straight to the signboard of "Shaan Province Longyue Group".

Looking around, Chen Lie saw that many company representatives were actively seeking out members of the Genius Group to endorse their products, while very few were proactively contacting companies like he was.

"Your endorsement fee is 200 million Star Dollar?"

Chen Lie went to the table and asked the people from Longyue Group.

"Oh? Yes, may I ask who you are?"

"That's what the people from Longyue Group asked."

My Chen Lie.

"Chen Lie?"

The representative from Longyue Group quickly glanced at the information sheet of the Genius Group members, and immediately spotted Chen Lie's information.

"Chen Lie, Grandmaster Seed member— Grandmaster Seed?"

The Longyue Group looked surprised and turned to Chen Lie, asking solemnly, "Hello, Chen Lie, you're probably looking to collaborate with our Longyue Group on a brand ambassadorship, right?"

"Of course, isn't that why you're here—to find a spokesperson?"

"Longyue Group is currently aggressively expanding its martial arts equipment market in East River Province, and we are naturally here to seek a spokesperson. However, our East River Province branch's representative, Mr. Yang, who is truly in charge of making decisions, just went there—"

Chen Liedao, "It's alright. Let me confirm a few things with you first. Your sign says the endorsement fee is 200 million Star Dollar, and it also says it's negotiable. Does that mean it starts at 200 million Star Dollar?"

"That's right," the person from Longyue Group nodded in response.

"Then where is the person who can actually take charge?" Chen Lie asked.

"Please wait a moment, I'll go call them over there."

After the person from Longyue Group finished speaking, he immediately walked over.

A short while later, a very beautiful woman, about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, walked over, accompanied by the man from Longyue Group.

"Representative Yang, I just checked, and this student named Chen Lie is a Grandmaster Seed member."

"Grandmaster Seed? Okay, I understand."

The exceptionally beautiful woman nodded slightly, and soon she came to Chen Lie Chen Lie extended her hand to him.

"Hello, Chen Lie, I am Yang Ningbing, the representative of Longyue Group seeking a spokesperson. I am currently the interim president of Longyue Group's East River Province branch."

"Hello."

Chen Lie shook hands with Yang Ningbing.

"Is Chen Lie here to discuss becoming the brand ambassador for Longyue Group?" Yang Ningbing asked.

"Yes." Chen Lie nodded.

"Chen Lie is a member of the Grandmaster Seed. It is an honor for Longyue Group to have you as our Longyue Group spokesperson in East River Province. I personally very much hope to reach this endorsement cooperation with you, Chen Lie, but--"

Yang Ningbing paused, then smiled sweetly and said, "However—I'm truly sorry, the Shaan Province Provincial Headquarters has given us a strict order: our representative this time can only be the Provincial Martial Leader East River Province—"

99

Upon hearing this, Chen Lie knew it was hopeless.

Although he will undoubtedly become the new Provincial Martial Leader after today's competition, he will also surely win the championship in the upcoming Three-Province Martial Tournament and become the Three-Province Martial Champion.

He was even confident that he could become the number one Blue Star artist on Earth within a year.

If the Longyue Group can reach a cooperation agreement with him now, he will surely become famous throughout the Blue Star, make a fortune, and make his martial arts equipment a bestseller throughout the entire Blue Star.

Offering hundreds of millions of Star Dollar to have the number one Blue Star as a spokesperson is a pipe dream.

Even if we don't consider him the best on Blue Star, or even the best in the Three Provinces of Chuanzhong, it would be impossible to hire him for hundreds of millions of Star Dollar.

Now that Longyue Group had rejected him, Chen Lie was too lazy to say anything more, simply stating, "Fine, forget it then."

"Chen Lie, I'm truly sorry. Although we cannot reach an agreement this time, there will certainly be opportunities for cooperation in the future."

Yang Ningbing said with an apologetic expression.

Chen Lie stopped talking and went directly to the bidding offices of the other companies.

Seeing Chen Lie walk away, the other members of the Longyue Group asked, "Representative Yang, why didn't I hear that headquarters gave us the instruction to only seek the Provincial Martial Leader as our spokesperson?"

"Because headquarters never issued this order."

Yang Ningbing stopped smiling and glanced at the man indifferently.

"Then why—"

"There's no particular reason. Although using Grandmaster Seed member as a spokesperson isn't bad, my purpose here is to do my best, so that the family knows I'm not inferior to the one sitting in the CEO's chair at headquarters—"

Yang Ningbing reprimanded the Longyue Group employees who had come with her, and then asked the provincial government staff which one of them was Martial Leader.

After the provincial government official pointed it out to Yang Ningbing, she immediately went over.

Chen Lie left the bidding office of Longyue Group and began looking for other companies seeking his endorsement.

The endorsement fee offered by Longyue Group was indeed the highest. Apart from Longyue Group, the highest endorsement fee was offered by a company in Guannei Province, at 160 million Star Dollar.

Just then, a voice rang out behind Chen Lie.

"Excuse me, are you Chen Lie?"

Chen Lie turned around and saw a man who looked to be over forty years old.

"I am Chen Lie."

"Hello Chen Lie, I am Jiang Minghua, the owner of Changsheng Pharmaceutical Company in East River Province. This is my business card."

As he spoke, Jiang Minghua handed Chen Lie his business card.