Li Ling first looked at the two top-notch platforms: All Gods and Chosen One. Unfortunately, their offers were too harsh, one requiring a ten-year contract, the other an eight-year contract.
Signing a long-term contract means they see potential in Bai Pu and want to tie Bai Pu to their carriage.
But Bai Pu would never agree to such a restrictive contract.
Bai Pu directly skipped these two top-notch platforms. They stipulated that Bai Pu must stream for at least 4 hours daily, and Spirit Realm explorations must be reported in advance...
Too many restrictions, no wonder Li Ling was sure that Bai Pu would directly pass on these two.
Li Ling compiled the most lenient contract terms from three platforms, and the contract durations werenât very long.
It was clear that these three platforms were sincerely inviting Bai Pu to join, providing detailed training plans, including the recommended resources, all clearly listed.
Bai Pu ultimately chose "Hundred Battle Platform."
Hundred Battle Platform started as an "original video website," attracting original video creators. In recent years, it has ventured into the livestreaming world, relying on a large fan base accumulated through original videos to firmly snatch a piece of the pie.
Currently, the app download and installation volume of Hundred Battle Platform has exceeded one hundred million, with 30 million daily active users, making it a powerful force among top-tier platforms.
Of course, compared to All Gods and Chosen One, thereâs still a clear gap; these two top-tier platforms have app downloads exceeding a billion, with daily active users numbering in the billions.
Bai Puâs choice of "Hundred Battle Platform" wasnât due to its overwhelming strength, but mainly because this platform is more personable and even gifted Bai Pu with a set of livestreaming and gaming equipment.
The joy of freebies, those who understand, understand.
Of course, getting a free set of equipment isnât the main point; the main point is the Hundred Battle Platformâs contract duration was short. Li Ling helped Bai Pu reduce it to 18 months, effectively cutting the contract duration in half.
Bai Pu hopes that after a year and a half, he can grow to become a strong Awakened who can stand alone, no longer needing fame in the real world, and possessing the power to protect himself, standing proudly in front of Superstar Alliance.
After signing the contract, Bai Pu and Li Ling, under Instructor Xiang Yinghuaâs "escort," returned to the Xicheng branch of the Divine Strategy Army.
...
Throughout the journey, the Superstar Alliance did not make a move.
Perhaps they feared the escort by Advanced Awakened Xiang Yinghua, or perhaps there were other considerations.
"Hey, itâs raining."
Through the car window, Bai Pu saw one or two raindrops fall, followed by a rapid increase in rain intensity.
"This rain... seems a bit different," Xiang Yinghua frowned and said, "Do you smell a hint of blood?"
Li Ling shivered: "Indeed, thereâs a bloody smell. I thought there was something wrong with my sense of smell. Whereâs this bloody smell coming from? I canât find the source."
Bai Pu kept observing the raindrops, and he interjected: "The color of the raindrops is changing. Initially, they were colorless and transparent, but now thereâs a hint of red. Over the last three minutes, the red has been growing deeper. Itâs estimated that within ten minutes, the raindrops will become entirely red."
"Blood rain?!" Li Ling and Instructor Xiang Yinghua exchanged a glance, both looking out the Jeepâs window.
The rain poured heavily, with rain threads weaving a net.
The raindrops gradually turned red, as if the sky was bleeding!
"Could this be an Awakenedâs method?" Bai Pu asked, his first thought being experts from the Superpower Group.
"Impossible," Instructor Xiang Yinghua denied. "Awakened cannot possess such earth-changing power."
In the distance, a vast field, blood-red hues, stained the entire world ominously.
Fortunately, the blood rain ended as quickly as it started.
Before the Jeep arrived in Xicheng, the blood rain stopped.
When Bai Pu and the others stepped out of the vehicle to check, they found that the blood-red rainwater on the ground was receding at an unrealistic speed, seeping into any non-living material it touchedâground, rooftops, treetopsâgetting absorbed completely.
Ultimately, the red between heaven and earth vanished entirely, as if the rain never happened.
"Whatâs going on? Instructor Xiang, you might know some insider details. Can you share?" Bai Pu asked.
He noticed that Xiang Yinghua had been frowning tightly since the blood rain appeared, seemingly recalling some tricky matter.
Xiang Yinghua hesitated for a moment and said, "Thereâs really nothing I canât share. I remember... during the Third Spiritual War, a similar situation occurred."
"Third Spiritual War?" Bai Pu and Li Ling exchanged looks. It was the first time theyâd heard this term.
"Thatâs classified information from the Spirit Realm Will. You became Awakened too late, so you donât know."
Xiang Yinghua said, "Have you heard of the Substrate Plane?"
The two shook their heads together. Bai Pu had only heard of the Source Plane and Illusion Plane, never the Substrate Plane.
"Forget it, this is classified information, I canât divulge it freely, lest it incites punishment from the Spirit Realm Will."
Xiang Yinghua sighed, "You must be careful... the Spirit Realm might undergo significant changes soon, like a sharp rise in world difficulty, or alterations in Spirit Realm rules! Itâs a danger, but also an opportunity; only the Awakened who quickly adapt can stand out."
...
Xicheng, Divine Strategy Army Branch, Bai Puâs room.
The blood rain undoubtedly shot to the top of trending searches.
Not just in the Jiangnan Region, but all across Huaxia, even globally, varying degrees of blood rain events occurred.
Environmental experts issued explanations for the blood rain event, citing climate change and increased acidity leading to it, advising everyone to protect the environment, and so on.
Many ordinary people could only accept this explanation. After all, although the blood rain was eerie, it was short-lived and didnât cause any long-term effects, making it merely material for elementary school essays on environmental issues.
The only impact on ordinary people was the halt of the Peak Awakened title battles, with the much-awaited Sword Saint and Power King battles postponed.
The hosts claimed that Awakened qualifying for these peak events were occupied.
Awakened circles buzzed with debate, with many asking if the Fourth Spiritual War was coming.
Yet, upon probing further about the Fourth Spiritual War, few could provide answers. Even the term "Spiritual War" seemed to be hearsay.
Bai Pu had his smart assistant, Xiao Bai, search for Spiritual War and blood rain-like keywords but couldnât find any meaningful information. Clearly, his current access level was still quite low.
Ultimately, Bai Pu decided not to focus on it, remaining in the Xicheng Divine Strategy Army Branch to practice his sword techniques. He planned to complete his Specialization in Two-Handed Swordsmanship and Shield Mastery, advance to Level 4, and then proceed to the Spirit Realm for his class transition task.
...
After signing the agreement with Hundred Battle Platform, the platform sent personnel to install the gaming equipment on-site and gifted Bai Pu an ultra-high-definition Spiritual Camera as the livestreaming device.
The platform issued a notification stating that today was Bai Puâs first day of entry, with a wave of traffic recommendation, urging Bai Pu to ensure quality livestreaming effects, aiming to convert as many fans as possible.
Bai Pu, per the contract, turned on the Spiritual Camera and began livestreaming.
Livestream title: 806 Year College Entrance Exam Topper: Gangxinâs Livestream Room.
The livestream content was...
A two-hour-long practice session of heavy sword piercing wooden boards.
Many viewers passed by Bai Puâs livestream room; upon entering, they were attracted by Bai Puâs looks, attempted to send comments, and interacted with Bai Pu.
Some praised Bai Puâs handsome appearance.
Some criticized Bai Puâs improper force exertion posture.
Some sharply commented on Bai Puâs physique.
Bai Pu remained unfazed, continuing to pierce the board steadily with the sword tip, leaving ink marks, hardly causing any vibrations.
Although Bai Pu agreed to start livestreaming, he wouldnât spend extra energy or attention interacting with the audience, as he didnât want to disrupt his practice rhythm.
Though diverting attention to responding to audiences might help retain more fans and earn more Spiritual Points.
However, Bai Pu couldnât adapt to such a livestreaming style; in reality, heâs still fond of quietly doing his own things alone. Perhaps itâs a habit from years spent in a wheelchair.