Popularity is everything; I play a super genius

"Three episodes in a row?!"

"Production team, I'm your own father!!!"

"Awesome!!!"

……

……

Chapter Twenty-Three: This man is terrifyingly strong!

As the first episode successfully concluded, a pleasant system notification sounded in Qi Ji's mind:

【Ding! 】

[Episode 1 of "Echoes" (full episode) has finished airing!]

[Based on your overall contribution to the series...]

[You have earned a total of +91,919 popularity points!]

"Oh?" Qi Ji raised an eyebrow slightly.

The popularity points generated by an anime series are not "instantly settled" like live streaming.

Instead, the distribution will be based on the overall feedback after each episode airs, according to the character's contribution in that episode, and distributed according to their work.

Of course, the "labor" here refers to "merit" or "achievement".

This mainly refers to the character's overall contribution to the plot, the generation of topics, and the attraction of the audience.

Most importantly, this profit is not a one-off deal.

As long as the anime continues to air, as long as new viewers join the fandom and old viewers rewatch, the related views, discussions, and fan creations can bring him a continuous and steady stream of popularity revenue!

"Twenty-three thousand for just one episode..."

And it was on the day of the premiere.

He didn't even dare to imagine how much profit a single episode could bring him after some time had passed and the anime series had gained popularity!

Qi Ji suddenly felt that the five million he owed didn't seem like much anymore, like a drop in the ocean.

I even feel that lending him another ten million would be a piece of cake.

……

Echoes, Episode 2.

It's still a quiet and brilliant episode.

In the second episode, he contributed several "unique phrases" that quickly went viral and were talked about by the audience, as well as several "famous scenes" that were screenshotted and spread like wildfire.

"Beneath the handsome mask lies an even more handsome face."

"The safest place is right beside me."

There are also those favorites of teenagers, paraphrased by the judges:

"Testing is definition, and definition is limitation. And I am a genius who is neither defined nor limited!"

Of course, the real surprise of the second episode was that it truly showed the audience what top-notch fight production looks like!

The team battles in this episode feature sharp and realistic action design, and the camera work is truly stunning.

The violent aesthetics of Saki's battle against the Scorpion King.

The critical moment when Huo and Mu fought back against adversity.

The speed and determination during a fleeting moment of hesitation and delay...

Every battle is thrilling to watch.

In this episode, the protagonist, Hōki, finally reveals his unique character charm and growth arc under the guidance of Saki and his own perseverance.

Despite having the worst aptitude in the entire class, he single-handedly defeated a second-tier void beast!

The interspersed childhood flashbacks also allowed the audience to finally begin to understand Huomu a little.

I now understand the true roots of his initially perceived "people-pleasing personality," which initially seemed pathetic.

Just because—

Huo Mu knew better than anyone what an unforgivable crime his father had committed.

As that man's son, he didn't want to run away.

Feeling guilty towards everyone in the City of Fire, he wanted to atone for his father's sins.

I want to repay, and I also want to prove myself—

A father is a father, and he is himself.

Even if my father is a heinous criminal, he is not the "born evil devil" that people talk about!

One day, he will become a hero of the City of Fire.

As the son of the fire thief!

That's why he wanted to fit in more than anyone else.

More than anyone else, they crave acceptance and recognition.

Correspondingly, he worked harder than anyone else!

While others were cultivating, he was cultivating even more diligently!

While others were resting, playing, and enjoying life, he was still cultivating himself.

In the empty training field, they repeated the utterly monotonous routine of punching, shooting, and running.

Occasionally, seeing everyone having fun and laughing, he would feel envious.

But he also knew that he was not qualified to have fun.

Because, isn't it something that you can only truly feel happy about when you're with family and friends?

He had no relatives, no friends...

So he simply stopped himself from stopping.

Because once you stop, you'll feel lonely.

He could only devote all his time to cultivation.

The gun in his hand was his only companion for so many years.

When he finally got into Echo Academy through his own efforts, he thought he could gain even the slightest bit of recognition.

However, all that reached my ears were dissenting voices—

"He is the son of a sinner, what right does he have to enroll in school?"

"We're raising the next criminal!"

He had heard that sound countless times.

Finally, the dean overruled all objections and guaranteed his admission.

and so--

I must perform even better!

"If I don't do well, then people like me, who come from a similar background, may never be eligible to attend school again!"

"My efforts are not only for myself, but also for all those who may be in the same situation as me!"

"So, I don't want to lose..."

"I can't lose!"

"My background is not something I can choose; I can only use my own efforts to show them—"

I did nothing wrong!

"It wasn't my fault!"

"Are the children of sinners born sinners?"

"This world shouldn't be like this!"

The emotions from the flashback reached their peak at this moment, then abruptly receded like a receding tide—

The scene shifts back to reality.

Smoke and dust filled the air.

Firewood emptied the magazine of the second-tier Rock Armored Scorpion.

A deafening roar!

The smoke and dust cleared.

He was standing.

The rock-armored scorpion fell.

At the same time, Saki's voice, tinged with slight approval, drifted lightly from the side of the screen:

"Aren't you quite capable?"

……

With the end of the second episode, the character of Huomu, who was once criticized as "incompetent," has finally become more established.

The audience gradually came to understand his pain, his perseverance, and his burdens.

Many people sympathized with him, while many others saw something admirable in him.

"Next episode!"

Then, the viewers, in a panic, clicked on the third episode, which was also the last episode of the night.

—After the team battle against the Rock Armored Scorpion, the following plot can be said to be almost entirely Saki's personal highlight episode.

Ruri disappears, and Shindai Seigen appears.

Accompanied by several low-angle, wide-angle, and slowly advancing close-up shots, Seigen Kamishiro's appearance was deliberately crafted to exude an extraordinary level of "power."

To highlight this power, the production team specially arranged for him to encounter a riotous horde of Void Beasts at the very beginning of his appearance.

His response was simply to lightly push with his right hand, which was holding the sword, and his thumb.

The longsword was drawn half an inch from its sheath.

There was a loud clang—

The group of illusory beasts, which had pounced into the air with terrifying momentum, froze in unison.

next second.

All the virtual beasts were neatly split into two symmetrical halves!

The incision was as smooth as a mirror, and fresh blood gushed out like a waterfall.

The sky looked as if a blood-red rain was falling.

But when the rain reached within three feet of Shindai Seigen, it was repelled by an invisible, sharp aura, leaving not a single drop touching him.

That cold, stern face, that effortless, swift kill, combined with the anime's top-notch visual presentation, instantly created a shared understanding among the viewers—

This man is terrifyingly strong!

……

……

Chapter Twenty-Four: Will We Win?

"Holy crap! This is going to be a pre-existing boss!"

"His performance against the Void Beasts is even more impressive than Qi Ji's, isn't it?"

"No, it's much more powerful!!"