Livestream

The next day, Yue Wen and Zhao Xing'er arrived at the foot of a high-rise.

This was the main urban district of Jiangcheng City. Skyscrapers rose like a steel jungle, and torrents of traffic rushed to and fro. Such a sight was rare in the satellite cities.

Only a single barrier separated the satellite cities from the wasteland, and eerie incidents involving evil spirits still occurred from time to time. By comparison, public safety in the main urban district was far better. That was how this era worked: the farther inward you went, the safer you were, so resources and talent naturally gravitated toward the city center.

A huge sign hung atop the building: "Carefree Media."

After humanity recovered most of its former technology and returned to the internet age, internet celebrities had also made their comeback. But with immortal cultivation now flourishing, cultivators drew the most attention, giving rise to a new idea.

Internet celebrities plus immortal cultivation-could that work?

Of these companies, Carefree Media had the most cultivators under contract. This imposing building was merely the headquarters of one of their branches in Jiangcheng City.

Of these companies, Carefree Media had the most cultivators under contract. This imposing building was merely the headquarters of their Jiangcheng City branch.

"Nothing beats being a proper immortal sect disciple. He even has connections with Carefree Media." Yue Wen looked up at the top of the building and shook his head in admiration.

"But Qi Dian only said we could make a lot of money. He never said what we'd be doing. They aren't going to make us do suggestive dances, are they?" Reluctance was written all over Zhao Xing'er's face.

"All honest work deserves respect," Yue Wen declared firmly.

A man's clothes concealed a fortune. Now was the time to cash it out.

Yesterday, Qi Dian had told them about an opportunity. They had contacted him earlier, but he had turned them down because it conflicted with a mission from his sect. It offered a lot of money for just three days of work. Since he had signed a nondisclosure agreement, he couldn't reveal the details and had merely put in a recommendation for Yue Wen and Zhao Xing'er.

This morning, the two of them had been summoned here.

They were a little apprehensive.

Following the instructions given over the phone, they provided their names downstairs and went straight to the sixteenth floor. Every floor featured dark, reflective flooring and strips of lighting that were bright without being harsh. The elevators blended into rows of glass walls.

"Oh my, you must be the two from the Yue Family Cultivation Office! I'm an agent with Carefree Media. Just call me A Mei." Leading them down the hall, he continued in a feminine voice, "One look at you, and I knew your image was a perfect match for our company. Even if you don't get into this project, don't leave. I'll sign you as performers."

"Oh my, you must be the two from the Yue Family Cultivation Office! I'm an agent with Carefree. Just call me A Mei." Leading them down the hall, he continued in a feminine voice, "One look at you, and I knew your image was a perfect match for our company. Even if you don't get into this project, don't leave. I'll sign you as performers."

"Um, A Mei..." Yue Wen asked, "What exactly is this project?"

"Someone's impatient!" A Mei turned and smiled at him before continuing, "I can't tell you just yet. You'll have to sign a nondisclosure agreement first. Young Hero Qi from the Riverside Gate really is dependable. He actually recommended two such promising prospects."

Smiling, he led Yue Wen and Zhao Xing'er into an office and tossed out two contracts. "Here. We can only discuss the project once you've signed these."

Yue Wen skimmed the nondisclosure agreement. If they leaked even a little of what they heard about the project and got caught, practically the next eighteen generations of their families would have to work to repay Carefree Media. No wonder Qi Dian had kept his lips sealed.

"Trade secrets, darlings. Please understand," A Mei said beside them.

"Trade secrets, darlings. Please understand," A Mei said beside them.

Yue Wen and Zhao Xing'er hadn't intended to leak anything anyway, so they weren't worried about the penalties for breaching the agreement. They signed the contracts on the spot.

A Mei took the contracts back and put them aside, then clapped his hands. "All right! Allow me to introduce Carefree Media's newest project-the Wasteland Exploration Livestream!"

Those words brought puzzled looks to Yue Wen's and Zhao Xing'er's faces.

Those words brought puzzled looks to Yue Wen's and Zhao Xing'er's faces.

Livestreaming culture had largely recovered by now, covering all sorts of fields. People streamed exorcisms, pill refining, artifact crafting, cultivation techniques... but no one streamed from the wasteland.

The reason was simple: there was no signal in the wasteland.

The moment you step into the Wasteland Zone, you’re cut off from the civilized world of the cities. That’s common knowledge nowadays.

At most, some highly skilled cultivators would record a few exploration videos in the Wasteland Zone. Even those shaky, blurry shots were enough to satisfy the curiosity of viewers who had never set foot there, and draw in plenty of traffic.

At most, some highly accomplished cultivators recorded their explorations there. Even those shaky, blurry videos could satisfy the curiosity of viewers who had never set foot in the wasteland and draw enormous traffic.

They could actually livestream from somewhere that couldn't even support a phone call?

"You must be wondering about this, right?" A Mei said with a smile. "There’s no consensus within the group about whether to roll out this project on a large scale, so they’re planning to try it out here in Jiangcheng City first and see how it goes. He Caihua will lead the Wasteland Exploration Livestream in Jiangcheng City, with a few young prodigies appearing alongside her as they explore the mysterious and perilous Wasteland Zone together..."

"I'm sure you're both very confused, aren't you?" A Mei said with a smile. "The group hasn't reached a consensus on whether to roll this project out on a large scale, so we're doing a trial run here in Jiangcheng City first to see how it performs. Our Jiangcheng City Wasteland Exploration Livestream will feature He Caihua as the lead, with several young talents appearing alongside her. Together, the cultivators will explore the dangerous, mysterious wasteland..."

"Every participating cultivator will receive a starting fee of one hundred thousand. You'll also each receive a five-percent share of the tips earned during the livestream. For tips given specifically to your individual viewpoint, your share will be fifty percent. Add it all up, and you could earn several hundred thousand or even a million over the three-day stream!"

"If we're going to the wasteland, wouldn't our strength be insufficient?" Yue Wen wasn't blinded by the money. Instead, he asked cautiously.

He didn't doubt this livestream's earning potential, because he knew He Caihua's name. She was arguably Jiangcheng City's hottest celebrity cultivator, and the content she regularly posted consisted of videos of herself fighting various monsters.

Plenty of people made those kinds of videos, but she had a sizzling figure, gorgeous looks, and consistently skimpy outfits. Every move she made in battle offered an alluring glimpse, instantly setting her apart from others in the same field.

But her cultivation was only in the third realm, too.

Again, earning money meant nothing if you didn't live to spend it. If Yue Wen had to risk a one-way trip into the wasteland, he'd rather do suggestive dances.

"You little silly." A Mei flashed a playful smile. "Your strength is supposed to be insufficient. If an expert from the upper three realms swept through the wasteland, what would there be to watch? We want handsome boys and pretty girls like you struggling forward, with danger at every step. The viewers need to feel nervous just watching!"

Zhao Xing'er's eyes lit up. "That sounds so exciting!"

Zhao Xing'er's eyes lit up. "That sounds so exciting!"

"What are you getting excited about?" Yue Wen said with a wry smile. "We're not the audience. We're the ones risking our lives in there."

"You two little sillies." A Mei brought his gaze back to them. "The danger is fake, of course. We certainly wouldn't send you into the real wasteland. Even if the group didn't care about you, how could it possibly risk He Caihua's life?"

It stung a little to hear, but that was the plain truth.

"What you'll be exploring is a simulated Wasteland Zone. It'll only look real," A Mei explained. "You can rest assured about your safety. But you haven't been confirmed for the project yet. You'll still have to pass a selection round."

"What you'll be exploring is a simulated wasteland. It'll only look real," A Mei explained. "You can rest assured about your safety. But you haven't been confirmed for the project yet. You'll still have to pass a selection round."

"A simulated wasteland. No wonder we had to sign nondisclosure agreements." Yue Wen mulled it over. "Isn't that just outright deception?"

"Just what you'd expect from heartless capitalists. They can dream up any filthy scheme to make money," Zhao Xing'er said.

"And we still have to pass a selection round." Yue Wen exchanged a look with Zhao Xing'er. "I thought the money was already in my pocket, and it was just a question of whether I wanted it."

"Figures," Zhao Xing'er said with a sigh. "Even the chance to be a heartless capitalist's dog is something you have to fight for."

"..."

A Mei stared at them, speechless. "You two, I'm still right here."

After their conversation, A Mei took them to another floor, this time the twentieth.

This floor was an exceptionally spacious training ground. On the other side of a glass partition stood an observation room, currently occupied by more than a dozen people.

At the head of the conference table sat a woman with wavy hair. Her features were bold and striking, with almond-shaped eyes, red lips, and a dazzling face. She wore a short red top that hugged her full bust and exposed a strip of pale waist. Below it were black denim shorts, and she sat with her long, snowy-white legs crossed. Her beauty made an immediate impact.

This was He Caihua herself, Jiangcheng City's major internet celebrity. Many people said that if they could marry her, they would be willing to spend their entire lives driving luxury cars and living in mansions.

Her looks held up just as well in person.

Seated along both sides of the conference table were eight young people of varying appearances. All seemed to be cultivators with bright, spirited eyes. Presumably, they were the others taking part in the project.

The looks these young people gave Yue Wen and Zhao Xing'er carried a faint hostility.

"Sister Hua." A Mei hurried over and reported quietly, "The two independent cultivators we recommended are here. Their looks and cultivation realms both meet our requirements, so I brought them up. You can include them in the selection."

He Caihua looked at Yue Wen and Zhao Xing'er and nodded in satisfaction, then addressed the group.

"All ten of you are outstanding young talents from Jiangcheng City, but we only need six people for this project. Liu Yuanjun and our little sister Flying Rosy Clouds already have confirmed spots. The remaining four will be selected from the other eight of you."

"Since we're all cultivators, I say we settle this with a direct contest of magical skills."