The comic's successful launch completely relieved the two of them of their biggest worry.
As long as this path was working, what else could they, as content creators, do? Chu Ge didn't care about the subsequent operations and didn't know how to care. He trusted Xie Wenyuan's commitment to the project; the comic was just an initial trial, and he would handle the direction.
All he needed to do was continue contributing.
The initial excitement actually meant that the days ahead would return to a routine, a return to the ordinary daily grind.
While writing, Chu Ge continued to revise a few chapters of the script, and Qiu Wuji finished the original artwork and handed it over to the studio for detailing and coloring. Zhu Mengmeng was handling the studio's daily affairs; she seemed quite enthusiastic about this new project, coming to the company every day to watch the handsome young men and beautiful young women draw, even skipping her spa visits.
For Chu Ge and his companion, it seemed all that remained was to wait for the feedback after each chapter's release; nothing more.
During dinner, they exchanged glances, both seeing the unspoken meaning in each other's eyes.
"Once the studio here is running smoothly, we'll release the comic and see the feedback. If everything's normal, then we'll go play in the book. There's no snow in Nanjiang; let's go see the snow over there." Chu Ge's words from a few days ago still echoed in their ears.
The past few days had been filled with turmoil, making it difficult to settle down and leave. Now that everything is on track, it's time to go to the book.
"These past few days I've been cultivating through writing, and I feel my soul is more solid than before."
"You've been cultivating for quite some time now, and you're taking pills more frequently. With time and effort, it'll all pay off sooner or later… Besides, actually, traveling between books and the outside world is beneficial for tempering the soul; I've benefited greatly from it too. I expect you'll be able to stay for several days this time."
"If I go, there are still soul-strengthening pills available there, so I can indeed stay for quite a while. What are your plans?"
Qiu Wuji hesitated for a moment: "If it's for several days, I won't have my clone go in. The comics here are just starting out; leaving for several days feels uneasy, I can't do that… Besides, you're bad at multitasking; you can't take care of your body. You're like a typing machine sitting there for days without moving; you can't do that without someone looking after you."
Chu Ge smiled: "You continue your comics…" "Drawing is fine too, and you should be almost done with your driving test, right?"
"Yeah, it'll be in a few days."
"Last time we went back together, it was just to experience what it's like for a couple to return home together. There's no need to experience it every time. I'll be with you over there just the same way, it's no different."
"Who's no different? Be prepared, that wicked woman isn't as good as me. Don't say I didn't warn you."
"Why does your tone sound strange?"
"No!"
"It is." Qiu Wuji retorted, sticking out her neck, "Isn't it because I'm afraid you'll get bullied over there and then bully me when you come back? All you do is bully me. If you're so capable, get revenge right now!" Chu Ge found it amusing. These words sounded like they came from another person, but they were essentially saying, "If you dare bully me, you wait, I'll go change my number." It's amazing how Qiu Wuji can manage to keep her two accounts so separate. Even when Chu Ge switches accounts to flame people on the forum, he can't shake his habitual tone. It's truly baffling how Qiu Wuji manages to do it; she clearly doesn't have a split personality, her main soul and split soul share all perceptions…
This can only be attributed to the powerful control a Transcending Tribulation expert has over using both souls, and also reflects Qiu Wuji's own inner conflict.
That world was too lonely, causing the alt account to become increasingly infatuated and clingy.
However, her behavior in this world was too "shameful," leading her to refuse to act this way as the sect leader.
So, she used the excuse of creating an alt account to openly "split her personality."
But why bother? Just combine the two.
Like combining the two worlds.
He didn't say much, just kissed Qiu Wuji's lips: "Then I'll go write. It'll probably pass by while I'm writing, no need to fuss."
"Okay, go ahead." Qiu Wuji waved generously: "Have fun, darling."
Chu Ge almost stumbled.
...On the summit of Yunji Mountain, snow fell heavily.
Qiu Wuji sat cross-legged on the highest stone platform, letting the wind and frost temper her body, refining her sword intent with the bone-chilling cold—a practice she had maintained for a month.
From the perspective of a cultivator's pursuit, Qiu Wuji was one of those who had been tricked by her "Father God." She was already capable of transcending tribulations and ascending; remaining in this realm would only result in negligible and extremely slow progress. However, her Father God hadn't opened the Heavenly Realm map...
Of course, it wasn't without its advantages. According to the conventional setting, one would be forced to ascend at a certain point; it was impossible to remain invincible in the lower realm forever. Since the Heavenly Realm map hadn't been opened yet, and this setting hadn't been developed, she could do whatever she wanted.
Regardless of the advantages or disadvantages, she was in love with that damned, troublesome Father God, and he was so kind to her—what could she do...? Considering the plot's progress, he wouldn't have been writing about the Heavenly Realm map for long; she could just wait.
As for cultivation... Qiu Wuji was, after all, Qiu Wuji. Chu Ge hadn't written about this; she knew for herself how to cultivate in a way that suited her best.
The realm cannot be improved, and the power grows slowly, but that's alright.
One can seek out various sword intents, absorbing their breadth to enrich what was previously lacking.
Even when one reaches the Heavenly Realm, one will still possess abilities beyond what the Father God set for them. As for whether these abilities beyond the set are useful, who cares? One's own abilities are one's own to decide. I haven't mentioned breaking free from the Heavenly Dao for a long time; this is one aspect of it.
What Sect Master Qiu Wuji is doing is indeed from a different world, a different mindset, than that of the little woman Qiu Qiu.
While Qiu Qiu is having a lively time over there, Qiu Wuji is here, standing tall and proud in the snow.
"Clang!" Qiu Shui Ning Bi suddenly drew its sword, its aura condensing into frost.
Originally, the sword intent of Qiu Shui Lian Tian was boundless and vast, but now, it subtly carries a chilling aura within the water's ripples. The sword aura strikes, and even the soul can feel the bone-chilling cold.
"Hiss... No, no, I'm out!" Chu Ge's helpless voice echoed from the void. Ripples spread, revealing Chu Ge's figure, his entire body covered in a layer of frost, truly a wilted eggplant, standing listlessly to the side.
"Is it really necessary? You knew I came in. I wasn't spying on you; I just saw you were cultivating and didn't want to disturb you." Chu Ge muttered, "This sword intent... it's becoming more and more like a cold woman."
Qiu Wuji said calmly, "You clearly intended to test me, to see if your current invisibility was enough to evade my senses."
"Huh... How did you know?" Chu Ge was quite surprised.
Qiu Wuji's lips curled into a smile: "Your little schemes..."
You might even be planning to ambush me, to prove you can beat me.
"With your rookie status, who can you beat without using your Heavenly Dao authority...?" Qiu Wuji didn't appear, but instead praised, "Your spatial invisibility technique is indeed quite good... The reason I sensed your presence wasn't because I perceived your existence, but because I sensed the folding of space. In this world, no more than five people can sense this." Chu Ge grinned, "Are you praising me or yourself?"
"I'm merely stating a fact." Qiu Wuji's smile faded. "Invisibility is a life-saving measure your mother gave you, not for peeping at women."
Chu Ge: "...I didn't intend to peep at you..."
Qiu Wuji almost blurted out, "Fine, you don't want to see me now, huh?" He remembered that wasn't the right thing to say, and after a long pause, changed his words: "Don't you feel that the colors of the world are more vibrant this time you've entered?"
Chu Ge did indeed feel it.
This feeling is actually quite elusive. There have been several instances throughout history where the world has seemingly become more realistic, but 99.99% of people in the world are oblivious to it. Chu Tiange was even laughed at by his companions when they noticed the flowers and plants were more vibrant.
This is because there's no real, tangible visual difference in resolution or color intensity. It's merely an intuition, something that can be felt but not explained.
If one had to find a concrete example, it would be:
"That outer disciple, Wang Ming, you've portrayed him as a hot-tempered, warlike, and reckless person. Given his cultivation level, he should have never been able to escape this fixed puppet show. But yesterday, he had a profound awakening, left the sect, and became a monk." A pre-defined supporting character's personality will never change; they will only cycle through their predetermined fate day after day. But people can change.
That is reality.
For a moment, it felt like a robot had developed human intelligence… though not quite the same, the essence was similar.
Chu Ge stared at Qiu Wuji, somewhat lost in thought. Qiu Wuji was also looking at him.
Both of them knew the reason.
The comic's popularity meant that more and more people knew about this world… and in yesterday's updated chapter, Wang Ming appeared.
Indeed, the realism of a world is closely related to the public's acceptance of it; this time, it was proven so clearly.