All-rounder Artist

This result is too incredulous...

It was so incredulous that everyone started to suspect that the whole reason Chu Kuang accepted the Literary Duel was not to defeat David; instead, it was all designed to earn the Yan People’s endorsement!

Defeating David might have just been a side bonus.

How else could you explain Chu Kuang’s previous refusal to accept Bai Jie’s invitation for a Literary Duel?

"That’s bracing!"

"I finally understand why Chu Kuang did not accept Bai Jie’s invitation."

"Because Chu Kuang couldn’t bear to harm the Yan people again. He didn’t want to offend them completely!"

"Think about it; how much would the Yan People hate Chu Kuang if Bai Jie had been defeated by him?"

"If even the top-ranked figure of fairy tale genre in Yan Continent was beaten down by Chu Kuang, it would be equivalent to Chu Kuang single-handedly suppressing the fairy tales of Yan Continent. Wouldn’t the Yan People with any sense of collective honor feel resentful towards Chu Kuang?"

"Look at how much the Yan People despise David after he defeated Bai Jie!"

"Chu Kuang’s masterstroke lies in letting David defeat Bai Jie first to play the villain. Then, he emerged as the hero, defeating David and winning over the hearts of the Yan People!"

"Before this, the Yan People considered Chu Kuang as the big villain."

"Now, everything has been reversed."

"Even though the Yan People know this, they have to appreciate it, because it was them who pleaded for Chu Kuang’s help!"

"In this round, Chu Kuang is in the stratosphere, no, he should be in outer space!"

"David used Bai Jie, and Chu Kuang used David. Everything is linked; it’s the artwork of an emperor!"

"..."

It’s like a praying mantis catching a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!

After this analysis, everyone in the fairy tale industry from all the continents felt that it made a lot of sense.

Because these series of happenstances were too coincidental.

So much so, everyone refused to believe it was a coincidence.

The Yan People had been shouting "Chu Kuang of Qin Continent has the demeanor of a great emperor" for a long time. They hadn’t shouted in vain.

This round of calculation completely matches the demeanor of a great emperor!

...

What’s done is done.

No matter how people interpret it from the outside, it cannot change the fact that Chu Kuang’s new book had an explosive pre-sale.

And among this pre-sale frenzy,

it was the Yan People who showed the most fervor.

And then,

A scene that left everyone dumbfounded happened:

One news stated: "Legend of the Sea" sold more than 10 million copies!

Then another news stated: "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" had over 10 million pre-orders!

One news again claimed: "Legend of the Sea" sold more than 20 million copies!

And another news followed shortly: "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" had over 20 million pre-orders!

One is sales...

The other one is pre-sales...

Not mainly harmful, but greatly provocative.

The number of physical books that David had sold was only equivalent to the pre-orders of Chu Kuang’s book.

In other words,

Chu Kuang’s new book hadn’t officially been released, and it had already tied in sales with David’s!

Once "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" is officially released, how is David supposed to compete?

...

Several days later.

To be precise, it was the day before "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" was released.

At a villa in Han Continent.

In frustration, David burst out with obscenities: "Are these people who pre-order online without even seeing the book specially sending money to Chu Kuang?"

Chu Kuang’s book hadn’t even released a word, not even a damn preview, and he had managed to achieve sales of tens of millions?

Was that even reasonable?

Who plays like this?

The readers, who hadn’t even seen what Alice looked like, were so impatient that they would strip off their pants?

Aren’t they afraid of falling short of their expectations? Continue reading at NovelBin.Côm

Are they sure that Alice is as beautiful as a celestial being?

This situation was beyond David’s comprehension.

However, his friend by his side wore an odd expression, before quietly comforting him: "The criterion for winning or losing in a Literary Duel isn’t solely based on sales..."

"Hmm, sales are just one of the standards."

David nodded and rolled his eyes: "But when the sales are overwhelmingly crushing, do you think other standards are still important?"

The best outcome would be "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" having explosive pre-sales but the reputation nose-diving after its release.

However, David, in order to defeat Chu Kuang, had deeply studied this opponent.

The chances of Chu Kuang’s works receiving negative reviews were zero.

On the contrary, the reputation of Chu Kuang’s works typically exceeded market averages.

However...

David hadn’t given up hope.

Under the inevitable pressure of sales, reputation is his only counterattack.

If he makes a comeback by reputation, even if he is just a tiny bit better than his competitor, it can be considered a draw.

...

The next day.

David received a fresh copy of "Alice in Wonderland" from a friend.

He was thinking:

A few days ago, Chu Kuang must have been just as nervous and curious when he opened his "Legend from the Sea"!

Looking at his friend.

David expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, dear Lawrence, for going out of your way to buy me a book in this cold early morning."

"Bookstore?"

The friend laughed, "No need to trouble yourself like that. I pre-ordered it online. The delivery was very convenient, and someone delivered it at 7 in the morning!"

"..."

David suddenly stiffened, taking a long look at his friend.

Such great sadness.

But he still needs to cheer up.

David quietly opened "Alice in Wonderland" and began to read.

...

At the same time.

Many readers from Qin, Qi, Chu, Yan and Han Continents also received the novel and began reading.

Of course, this included individuals from the fairy tale circles in all continents.

Like Bai Jie.

...

Bai Jie also ordered his copy online.

However, nobody knew what kind of complex feelings this number one fairy tale author in Yan Continent held when he opened "Alice in Wonderland".

Bai Jie’s wife-

A beautiful married woman.

She seemed to want to see something from Bai Jie’s face, but she couldn’t make out anything.

Bai Jie was silent.

He just mechanically flipped through the book.

...

Perhaps it was the fervor of the pre-sale storm that pulled everyone’s expectations towards "Alice in Wonderland".

Even though it was a fairy tale, many adult readers couldn’t help but seize the chance to read it.

This process usually did not last long.

After all, Alice is just a little girl, and the entire story is barely two hundred thousand words.

This time, Chu Kuang’s brevity was striking.

The advantage of short length is that some people finished the novel by noon the same day. @@novelbin@@

Like David.

Like Bai Jie.

...

After David finished reading, he fell into a strange silence.

His friend beside him couldn’t help but ask, "How are you?"

David gave a faint smile, "I’m fine, thank you."

His friend was surprised, "Can you win?"

David’s smile stiffened slightly, "What’s for dinner tonight?"

"Why change the subject all of a sudden, the novel..."

David’s mouth twitched, "Let’s not talk about the novel, I’ve sworn off it."

"Are you really okay?"

"I’m okay."

His friend seemed to understand something.

...

On the other hand.

Bai Jie closed "Alice in Wonderland", and took a long sigh of relief.

"How is it?"

The beautiful woman beside him was curious.

Bai Jie pointed to the edge of the table.

There was a book propping it up, titled "Legend from the Sea", then pointed at himself.

"What do you mean?"

The beautiful wife was confused.

Bai Jie suddenly laughed, his laughter deranged, simultaneously making a throat-slitting gesture:

"We’re all doomed!"

What’s the point of winning?

Everyone is equal under Chu Kuang!