Chapter 6
Outdoor Stream
[Title: On the Emergence of Guns and the Decline of Martial Arts, Araboja]
Hello, hello! It’s your nosy Speedwagon!
Today, let’s talk about the rise of guns and the decline of martial artists and their martial arts.
What? How are the two related?
Very much so! Listen up!
After the Great Cataclysm, the standard for being a “good fighter” became whether you could handle a gun or not.
Why? Because no matter how much you train, one bullet can end it all.
This is where the decline of martial arts began.
To reach a level where you can counter a gun, you need to be at least a first-rate martial artist, but there’s no shortcut to mastering martial arts.
They say it takes at least ten years of consistent training to defeat someone with a gun.
Even then, there’s no guarantee you’ll reach that level.
In this turbulent era, who would bother learning such a tedious skill?
Why not just get a gun or become a knight instead, right?
Naturally, martial arts lost popularity.
Young people are turning their backs on it. It’s totally out of favor.
Even martial arts sects are struggling to recruit disciples.
Ironically, the sects that survived the Great Cataclysm are now worrying about extinction after the war.
Here’s the problem: guns don’t work well against beasts.
To be precise, unless it’s a special weapon like an armored bullet designed for great beasts, guns are largely ineffective.
So, guns are only overpowered against other humans.
This means we need to train people who can fight beasts, but everyone’s just busy shooting guns.
How can we produce talents like the Nine Heroes in this situation?
It’s a serious issue, and it’s not just limited to martial artists.
The number of aspiring mages, knights (though knights are slightly better off), and hunters is decreasing every year.
Ironically, humanity’s greatest invention is making us weaker.
The Nine Heroes are taking this issue very seriously.
They say if this continues, the next generation might lead humanity to extinction.
As a countermeasure, the Martial Alliance Leader, the only martial artist among the Nine Heroes, held the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, where guns are banned.
The goal was to discover promising young talents to lead the next generation.
Those who stand out get to become disciples of the Nine Heroes, so it’s wildly popular.
There’s some controversy about whether banning implants discriminates against punks or if it’s just a festival for purists, but…
Anyway, I think it’s great!
- Info upvote.
- There’s a reason it’s unpopular. Martial arts have a low floor and a mediocre ceiling.
└ You can tell just by the fact that only one of the Nine Heroes is a martial artist.
- It’s serious. Came back from a mission, and even my kid was practicing with a gun…
- An era where martial arts are a cheap joke…
- I’d rather learn magic than martial arts.
└ Lol, is magic easy?
└ Whether it’s martial arts or magic, don’t they both require talent?
└ True.
- Yo, I’m getting implants lol.
└ Why bother training? Just swap parts and you’re done lol.
└ For real lol.
- Awakened are the true celestial dragons. Roll around, awaken an ability, and you’re set.
└ Hell yeah.
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└ Nah, I’m good.
————-
He was dumbfounded.
His mind refused to process it.
How could that tiny girl catch a flying bullet with her bare hands? It was incomprehensible.
“….”
She was merely gazing at him with a serene look.
Her mysterious purple eyes were as calm as a lake.
This little kid has an aura like…
He gulped hard.
“Now it’s my turn.”
With those words, Chi Yulang took a single step forward.
It was a small step, but its impact was far from minor.
Boom—
Like a droplet falling into a lake, a quiet but deep tremor rippled outward.
It’s like the ground is shaking.
That was Grandma’sCartThief’s last memory.
Thud!
He collapsed like a marionette with its strings cut.
“Huh?”
Chi Yulang blinked at the sight.
He had gone extremely easy on him, yet the opponent had collapsed.
Sure, his senses weren’t fully adjusted, making it hard to control his strength, but the opponent was just too weak.
How can someone be this frail?
Chi Yulang was bewildered.
Even new recruits to the Heavenly Demon Cult wouldn’t be this weak.
To collapse from that meant this guy was a total punk with not a shred of inner power.
A punk who swaggered around with a gun without a hint of training.
Chi Yulang’s gaze turned cold as he looked at the unconscious Grandma’sCartThief.
“Truly pathetic.”
“….”
The unconscious opponent gave no response.
But the chat window floating beside him was scrolling at a terrifying speed.
————
[Broadcast Statistics]
- Peak Viewers: 152
- Average Viewers: 103
- Followers: 58 (+47)
————
At the RealFight99 Gallery, where anyone can anonymously discuss RealFight99, a post went up.
[Title: Yo, anyone see this?]
It’s a total newbie RealFight stream, and some troll challenged her before she even did the tutorial and got absolutely wrecked lol.
(Video of a cute twin-tailed maiden schooling a troll)
- ?
- What’s this?
- Is this staged?
- ??? Catching a bullet barehanded?
- Why did that guy pass out foaming at the mouth after one step?
- That trickle coming out… is that piss?
└ Yup lol, he pissed himself.
└ Gross.
└ Lol, too much vitamin intake?
└ How’s that guy gonna show his face now lol?
- Damn, that’s wild.
- Wild my ass lol, it’s 100% staged lol. If you’re gonna fake it, at least make it believable. How do you catch a bullet barehanded? Makes sense? Lol. And what’s with that guy’s weak legs? Collapsing after one step? What, is she using Heavenly Demon Reign Step or something? Streamers must be raking in cash, every Tom, Dick, and Harry’s streaming now smh.
└ For real, going all out to go viral.
└ She looks young but learned all the bad tricks.
└ That’s on her parents.
└ 100% they put her up to it.
└ Probably had the bullet in her hand from the start.
└ Shot the gun to miss on purpose.
- Man, Grandma’sCartThief could be an actor.
└ For real, his acting’s too good. How much did they pay him?
└ Gotta pay a lot for that lol, he even pissed himself.
- Doesn’t even make sense. She seems like a martial artist, but at her age, she’s already at the peak level?
- Lol, hold up, I’ll analyze it in slow motion.
Just as it seemed the consensus was leaning toward it being staged, another post went up.
[Title: She actually caught the bullet?]
(Slow-motion video of HeavenlyMaiden catching the bullet)
I also slowed down the part where he collapses.
(Video of Grandma’sCartThief’s eyes rolling back as he collapses)
- ?????
- She really caught it?
- If that’s acting, she deserves an award.
- Yo, those who said it was staged, come argue.
- They all deleted their posts and ran lol.
- No idea how she did it, but it’s definitely staged. No way that’s possible.
└ Can’t argue lol.
└ It’s staged, I swear lol.
- But seriously, that’s crazy. How can someone her age do that?
- No clue how she did it.
- I’m a martial artist, and even I can’t do that.
- Is that the legendary Heavenly Martial Body…?
- Maybe a master who underwent rejuvenation?
└ Lol. Rejuvenation, lol.
└ Isn’t that just from legends?
└ Lots of martial artist comrades here lol, nice to meet you.
- If she’s a once-in-a-century genius, maybe it’s possible.
- A talent’s emerged. Shouldn’t we tell the Alliance Leader?
- HeavenlyDemonForever: Ho… What a remarkable young lady. It’s like seeing the Cult Leader in his youth.
└ Yo, can you do that too?
└ HeavenlyDemonForever: Piece of cake lol.
└ Lol, someone’s triggered.
└ HeavenlyDemonForever: What a fine disciple of someone. What’s her nickname? I should visit her stream sometime.
└ It’s HeavenlyMaiden.
└ HeavenlyDemonForever: What did you say?
└ No, her nickname is literally ‘HeavenlyMaiden.’
└ HeavenlyDemonForever: How dare that young thing usurp the heavens? $@#%$@#$&
└ Oh, his trigger button got pressed.
└ Why’s he like that?
└ Famous old-timer. Seems to have a mental issue.
└ HeavenlyDemonForever: The Cult Leader is alive. The Cult Leader is alive. The Cult Leader is alive. The Cult Leader is alive. The Cult Leader is alive. The Cult Leader is alive
————
“Truly perfect.”
Chi Yulang smiled with satisfaction as he turned on the fully charged outdoor streaming camera.
The previous day, after easily defeating the troll, completing the tutorial, and playing a few matches through matchmaking, he ended the stream.
By the end, the viewer count had surpassed his goal of 150, setting a new record, but he wasn’t particularly thrilled.
Why? Because his opponents were all pathetic.
Like Grandma’sCartThief, they just swaggered around with guns, collapsing in one hit before he could even fight properly. Not to mention the fact that he was holding back significantly.
Guns.
Facing them firsthand made it clear.
This weapon could easily kill people, naturally leading to reliance on it.
Thus, it weakened people, mocked the efforts of those who trained to grow stronger, and ultimately killed martial arts.
Chi Yulang quickly grasped the core of the issue.
This world was forgetting not only the name of the Heavenly Demon but also martial arts itself.
At this rate, martial arts would soon become an obsolete skill.
He sighed at the chaotic state of the world, but being stuck on this cursed island, there was nothing he could do.
Perhaps take a disciple?
“Kids these days…”
Clicking his tongue, Chi Yulang entered the streaming room.
Starting the stream instantly lifted his mood.
Why? Because today was outdoor stream day!
[HeavenlyMaiden’s Kwitch Conquest Day 3: It’s Outdoor Stream Time!]
- Good morning, HeavenlyMaiden!
- Hiii!
- Martial arts genius, hi!
“Welcome, everyone.”
As soon as he started, the viewer count rose rapidly, hitting 100 in no time.
Feeling a thrilling surge, Chi Yulang quietly trembled with excitement.
Yesterday was better than the day before, and today would be better than yesterday.
The joy of gradual growth was truly addictive.
But the viewer count didn’t stop there—it soared past 200.
“?”
The previous day’s peak was 150, and now, before even starting the outdoor stream he’d prepared so diligently, it hit 200?
Scanning the rapidly scrolling chat, Chi Yulang soon realized why.
Another clip must’ve gone up.
Regardless, more people to talk to was something to be happy about.
Then, a strange chat caught his eye.
- HeavenlyDemonForever: You punk!!!!
- HeavenlyDemonForever: How dare you, in a place like this!!!!
- HeavenlyDemonForever: You think words are enough!!!
Chi Yulang blinked and firmly pressed on the chat.
- (Chat restricted for 60 seconds)
- Lol, troll got yeeted.
- Ruthless, HeavenlyMaiden.
As a stream grows, weirdos tend to trickle in.
Trolls were the fate of any famous streamer.
“It seems many of you came after watching yesterday’s stream. Welcome, all.”
- She always talks like this?
- Yup, get used to it.
- Her concept is intense.
- That’s how you do streaming, huh.
Once enough viewers had gathered, Chi Yulang held up the outdoor streaming camera and said, “As promised yesterday, today is an outdoor stream.”
- Oh, finally!
- No RealFight?
- Mukbang? Mukbang? Mukbang? Mukbang? Mukbang?
“I’ll do a mukbang as part 2 after the outdoor stream, and RealFight will be tomorrow, so wait for it.”
- Aww.
“This place I live in is a bit unique, so the outdoor stream should be just as entertaining. Don’t go anywhere and keep watching.”
- Where do you live?
- Outside the residential zones?
- No way.
“Come, follow me.”
Click—
Chi Yulang picked up the outdoor streaming camera and left the streaming room.
He panned the camera over his sparse dwelling, explaining,
“This is where I live.”
- ?
- Why’s it a forest when you open the door?
- Is this real?
- You live here?
“It’s more livable than you’d think. I sleep here, on this soft pile of straw.”
Demonstrating, he flopped onto the straw, and the chat fell silent.
- Oh…
- Wow…
- This is…
- HeavenlyMaiden, you really live alone in a place like this?
“Yes. For about ten years.”
- T_T T_T T_T
- The heavens are cruel.
- That’s too much…
[ProSquirrel has donated 10,000 cookies!]
Sorry, adults failed you…
“Heavenly Nyan~ Thank you, nyan!”
[SongSand has donated 10,000 cookies!]
No need for a reaction…
[Mayfly has donated 10,000 cookies!]
First time seeing someone more pitiful than me.
[ImASnake has donated 10,000 cookies!]
Take this and stay strong.
For some reason, donations poured in.
[FireInMyHeartFireman has donated 10,000 cookies!]
Where’s your location? If you report it, the nearest country will send help.
As a pro streamer, Chi Yulang reacted to each donation.
“Heavenly Nyan~ Thank you, nyan! I don’t know my location.”
- You don’t know?
“Yes. One reason I started this outdoor stream is to find out where this place is.”
Saying this, Chi Yulang floated the camera in the air.
Using his inner power, he manipulated it freely from a distance, akin to sword-control techniques.
If I had to name it, maybe ‘camera-control technique’.
- ?
- What’s that?
- How’s she filming?
“Trade secret.”
Chi Yulang walked into the forest.
Thanks to practicing until the battery died the past two days, the camera stably captured his side profile.
It was as steady as a movie shoot.
After walking a bit, Chi Yulang pointed the camera at a spot.
“Look. Do you still think I’m lying?”
- ?
- Holy crap.
- What’s all that?
The chat was stunned at the sight of various elixirs literally scattered along the path.
- Aren’t those all ginseng?
- Ginseng, Harsuo, and…
- That red thing looks like a Blood Chrysanthemum.
- No way, why’s a mandrake just lying on the roadside?
“Do you still think I’m lying?”
- Sorry.
- My apologies.
- I bow my head.
- Where the heck is this…
- Most revered and esteemed HeavenlyMaiden, could you possibly send me just one ginseng?
- Me too.
- Me too…
- HeavenlyDemonForever: Yo, me too, just one.
- ?
- HeavenlyDemonForever: You think I’ll let you off for being pitiful?!
- HeavenlyDemonForever: The crime of usurping the heavens is grave! How dare you use the name Heavenly Demon!
- HeavenlyDemonForever: Change your nickname right now, or else—
- (Chat restricted for 60 seconds)
The troll caused a ruckus every 60 seconds when the restriction lifted.
Banning them outright wasn’t an option, as they’d just keep coming back with new IDs, which was a hassle.
Restricting them every 60 seconds was the best approach for now…
What a nuisance.
“HakoDigger13, are you there?”
- Yo, HeavenlyMaiden, you called?
“I’ll make you a daily manager. Take care of that guy.”
- Hai! Leave it to me!
- HeavenlyDemonForever: You punk! You can’t cover the sky with your palm—
- Yap!
- (Chat restricted for 60 seconds)
- Lol, manager’s doing work.
As Chi Yulang walked through the forest, he said, “By the way, any martial artists here? Raise your hand.”
- Yo.
- Hand.
- Hand.
- Foot.
“Do you remember the Heavenly Demon?”
- Of course.
- How could we not?
- The fearsome leader of the Demonic Cult who dominated the world.
- The greatest in the world.
- My balls are trembling.
- Everyone our age knows…
“Not the Demonic Cult, the Heavenly Demon Cult…”
- Didn’t he kill the previous Alliance Leader in one strike?
- They say he had horns like a demon.
- Drinks blood instead of water!
“…No horns on my head. I don’t drink blood either.”
- Who’d win in a fight with the Knight King?
- No clue.
- Martial artists claim the Heavenly Demon could beat all Nine Heroes lol.
- If he was that great, why wasn’t he around during the Rift Wars?
- ‘Cause he died, duh.
- Yeah, they say he died during the Great Cataclysm.
Chi Yulang stopped in his tracks and looked at the screen.
“I didn’t die.”
- How would you know?
“Because I am the Heavenly Demon, Chi Yulang, leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult.”
A resolute glint shone in his serene purple eyes.
- Lololol
- Sure, sure lol.
- Right, that’s why you’re HeavenlyMaiden.
- Do whatever you want, HeavenlyMaiden.
- If I call you Cult Leader, will you give me an elixir?
“Sigh.”
He let out a sigh.
Who would believe a cute maiden like this was the fearsome Heavenly Demon?
It was an expected outcome.
He hadn’t expected them to believe him, but it still stung.
“Anything about the Heavenly Demon Cult? Like survivors?”
- No clue, didn’t they all die?
- I heard the Demonic Cult landed in a bad spot during the Great Cataclysm and got wiped out.
- Where’d they land?
- Death Valley, I think.
- Oh, that place crawling with beasts?
- Yeah, that makes sense…
“…I see.”
Chi Yulang muttered bitterly.
He’d suspected as much after scouring forums and finding no mention of the once-mighty Heavenly Demon Cult.
But hearing it directly still hurt.
- HeavenlyDemonForever: The Cult Leader didn’t die. The Cult Leader didn’t die. The Cult Leader didn’t die. The Cult Leader didn’t die. The Cult Leader is alive. The Cult Leader is alive. The Cult Leader is alive. The Cult Leader is alive.
- (Chat restricted for 60 seconds)
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