"This is storytelling. Hamlet is better suited to theatrical performance, but Tides of Darkness can be performed through storytelling. I think those farmers, merchants, soldiers, rogues, and even nobles would all enjoy it."
Jiang Jie looked at Don Quixote and said, "My performing skills naturally can't compare with yours, Master Don Quixote. I think if you performed Tides of Darkness through storytelling, you would certainly attract a large audience."
Don Quixote was completely won over by Jiang Jie and hurriedly nodded. "Absolutely, absolutely! And we can first find somewhere like a public square and tell the story for free. Once everyone is hooked, we can start charging! While telling the story, we can arrange printing and publication. By the time the storytelling ends, the books will be printed, and we can put them on sale. Plenty of people will love them! Sales will definitely be excellent!"
Bards had to earn money to eat, too. Don Quixote had been in this line of work for more than twenty years and had plenty of experience.
Before he came, Princess Calia had already spoken with him. He would receive thirty percent of the net profit from the storytelling, and ten percent of the profits from printing and publication!
Of course he had to find ways to draw in the audience. There was real money at stake!
"We can use the square for the free performances, but we'll need a dedicated hall for the paid ones. We can't let people who haven't paid come in and listen. Also, after a few days, we can introduce a membership system. Deposit one silver coin for twenty percent off, ten silver coins for thirty percent off, or one gold coin for fifty percent off!" Jiang Jie also offered ideas. "Once the time is right, we can take bets on what happens next in the story! You know, that's something we can control..."
Don Quixote nodded. "Exactly! And we can hire professionals to improvise performances, acting alongside the storytelling, playing Lothar, Turalyon, and the others to attract an audience!"
The two sly foxes traded ideas, leaving Princess Calia and the young maid dumbfounded.
Both were thinking: These two foxes, one old and one young, are actually this good at fleecing people! So making money... is the true high art!
In the end, tempted by the magic of money, Jiang Jie and Don Quixote smiled away their grievances.
At Princess Calia's invitation, Jiang Jie and Don Quixote joined her for lunch. Their affection for one another grew rapidly, and they established a steady, lasting friendship.
They also reached an agreement:
All works Jiang Jie produced in the future would be jointly managed by Princess Calia and Don Quixote. As for the profit split, they would discuss that later.
After lunch, Jiang Jie took another medicinal bath. He felt that the internal energy in his body had reached a limit. His next medicinal bath would be the moment he advanced to the Houtian Second Layer.
Now, he had to seize every moment to write Tides of Darkness. He also had to practice rogue skills and Chinese martial arts, and visit the Trade District to buy herbs for his medicinal baths. Time was tight; he could not waste a single second.
Baron Soroson's manor.
Baron Soroson's expression was utterly cold and grim. He had dismissed everyone, and now he was the only person in the room, along with a completely invisible shadow: Corno, a watcher from the Cult of the Damned.
"Word just arrived that Arthas has purged the city. All of Stratholme has become a ghost town. Arthas is returning to Lordaeron and should arrive in two days at the latest." Corno's sinister voice rang out from an unknown location. "Archmage Jaina and Uther the Lightbringer have already parted ways with Arthas! What a fragile, ignorant man Arthas is. How delightful!"
Baron Soroson nodded and asked, "How are things going with Baron Rivendare?"
Corno said coldly, "That damned, stubborn fool! He simply refuses to budge! As you know, he was one of the Silver Hand's early paladins. His will is firm, and he's very difficult to persuade! Lord Ras Frostwhisper has conveyed the Lich King's orders: we needn't concern ourselves with this matter anymore. Someone will deal with Baron Rivendare. He is destined to become Stratholme's undead lord,
"and serve the Lich King!" Baron Soroson sneered. "Corno, so there are things even you can't accomplish!"
Corno gave a sinister laugh. "Soroson, there's no need for your mockery! What you should be thinking about now is when you'll send your son Dudley to Scholomance! This is the second day already. You don't have much time left! Defying Lord Ras Frostwhisper's orders carries severe consequences!"
Baron Soroson's expression grew uglier and uglier.
He knew that joining the Cult of the Damned would come at a price, but he had never expected even his own son to have to pay! That price was far too steep for him!
But he no longer had any way back.
The Cult of the Damned was too powerful, and the Lich King's will could not be defied. This world would eventually be ruled by the undead. He... had no choice.
"Tomorrow, Mage Nolan will be taking his mage apprentices to Tirisfal Monastery. Arrange an ambush outside Brill. Kill everyone and bring them all to Scholomance!" Baron Soroson said coldly.
"Heh, what a generous gift! I hear Mage Nolan is a mid-ranking mage with three mage apprentices under him? And your son Dudley is one of them? In other words, Scholomance will gain four more necromancers? Excellent! I'll make the arrangements right away!" The voice in the darkness vanished.
Corno had left.
Night hung heavy, and Jiang Jie finished writing another two chapters.
After dinner, he began another medicinal bath.
This time, he felt internal energy brimming throughout his body. Another portion of his acupoints had been forced open, and streams of internal energy poured into them.
The Houtian realm was a process of forcing open acupoints, opening meridians, and accumulating internal energy. Only once every meridian and acupoint was connected-what was known as "opening the conception and governing vessels and connecting the bridge between heaven and earth"-could one advance further, transforming internal energy into Chi and entering the Xiantian realm.
The human body had three hundred and sixty-five acupoints, twelve primary meridians, eight extraordinary meridians, and all manner of smaller channels, forming an intricate, complex network.
At the first layer of the acquired realm, he still could not work on the twelve primary meridians or the eight extraordinary meridians. For now, Jiang Jie could only force open the acupoints on the surface of his body and channel internal energy into those acupoints and smaller channels, accumulating internal energy.
When all the medicinal effects had been absorbed, a slight smile appeared on Jiang Jie's face.
He had succeeded!
Now, the internal energy in his body circulated endlessly, having more than doubled in quantity. He had entered the Houtian Second Layer.
The Black Tortoise Longevity Art also circulated twice as fast, and the rate at which his body generated internal energy had doubled. However, the amount of internal energy needed for his next advancement had increased a full fourfold.
"Even with four medicinal baths a day, I'll still need almost a week to advance to the Houtian Third Layer. It's getting... slower and slower, and costing more and more money. This is a bottomless pit!" Jiang Jie sighed and shook his head.
In the Houtian stage, every three layers formed a tier.
The only difference between the Houtian Second Layer and the first layer of the acquired realm was a greater quantity of internal energy. Nothing else had changed.
"Little monk, I'm here for revenge!" Jiang Jie immediately entered the gaming pod, arrived at the Child Hall of the Shaolin Auxiliary Temple, and began challenging the nine-person difficulty.