Chapter 16: Terror Unleashed (New Book—Votes Requested)

All the editors were startled by Wang Ke’s outburst, silently cursing him. The rookie’s rank had dropped, yet he was venting his anger at Liu Da, startling everyone in the process.

The chubby editor spoke up for his friend, “Wang Ke, the rookie didn’t make it—it has nothing to do with the veteran.”

Those words hung awkwardly in the air. It sounded as if the veteran was bullying the rookie. What a strange pair of names.

Wang Ke snorted coldly. “I’m not bullying him. This is just concern between colleagues. I’m asking if that so-called veteran is still in the top fifty.”

Last meeting, “Battle Through the Heavens” had been ranked exactly fiftieth. Now the rookie had dropped out, surely that “Heavens” would have fallen beyond the hundredth place.

Concern… None of the editors believed him. Wang Ke had always disliked Liu Da; the two never got along. Rumor had it that years ago, they competed for an author, and Wang Ke had lost to Liu Da. That was when their feud began.

Liu Da didn’t waste words. He took out his phone and opened the Official Literature app. Their data sheets only showed information for the top ten. Liu Da acted quickly, fueled by anger. Who did Wang Ke think he was looking down on?

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—Wang Ke, just you wait… Liu Da’s fingers moved swiftly.

He opened the fantasy group’s rookie ranking. Scrolling down twice, his finger stopped.

Damn! Was it really so fierce?

Looking at Wang Ke, Liu Da sneered, “It’s definitely not ranked fiftieth anymore.”

“Seventieth? Eightieth?” Wang Ke mocked. He wasn’t top three, but Liu Da hadn’t ever reached the top thirty.

“Eleventh,” the middle-aged editor spoke up in shock before Liu Da could respond.

“What?” No one could believe it. Everyone pulled out their phones and opened Official Literature.

When they saw the ranking for “Battle Through the Heavens,” Wang Ke’s phone clattered onto the meeting table. His face turned ashen.

How could this be? Eleventh place?

Wang Ke could not accept it. The veterans and rookies were all falling behind, only the veteran was advancing. It made no sense.

The female editor asked, “How’s the reputation?”

Yes, reputation.

Wang Ke grasped at this like a lifeline. He quickly opened the Hundred Reads Literature app, found “Battle Through the Heavens,” and glanced at the reviews.

Clatter. His phone dropped again.

His face darkened further.

Damn, why did I even look at the reviews, why look at the ratings?

Wang Ke slumped into his office chair.

Let it all end.

The chubby editor announced the result, “Five stars.”

Hiss! Everyone drew a sharp breath, including Liu Da.

It was terrifying.

The bespectacled male editor spoke softly, “Can I just say, truly worthy of being a veteran.”

A veteran author. Frightening indeed.

Just then, the chief editor of the fantasy group pushed open the door and entered, looking displeased.

After sitting down, the chief editor went straight to the point, “You’ve all seen the data. Any thoughts?”

All the editors lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

The chief editor continued, “I just came from the veteran section. This month’s top three on the reading leaderboard are all ours. You lot, though, not a single one in the top three.”

No one spoke up.

There was nothing to say. The numbers were right there; there was no ground for rebuttal.

The chief editor rubbed his temples, weary. “Wang Ke, have the rookie revise the outline. The subsequent plot must differ from what’s written over there.”

“Sun Yang, tell White Knight—if he can’t write a plot, let him read someone else’s book. The times have changed. If he doesn’t adapt, even a hundred alternate accounts won’t help.”

With a wave of his hand, the chief editor said tiredly, “Everyone out.”

So troublesome.

The editors rose and followed the chief editor’s instructions. Regardless of the authors’ willingness, the revisions were mandatory.

Liu Da left the meeting room, hesitated, and then returned.

The chief editor glanced at Liu Da, displeased. “What is it?”

“Chief editor, the author under my wing this month is quite talented,” Liu Da stepped closer. “Now ranked eleventh.”

“Oh?” The chief editor opened his eyes, still tired, but said perfunctorily, “Eleventh is good. Work hard to break into the top ten.”

Eleventh was good, but Hundred Reads needed the top three—needed a rookie king.

In that context, eleventh wasn’t impressive enough.

Liu Da wouldn’t give up; he’d come to recommend resources. “Chief editor, three days ago, this book was ranked fiftieth.”

“What?” The chief editor was incredulous. “Fiftieth on the rookie list three days ago, up to eleventh now?”

Liu Da nodded.

Exactly—fierce indeed.

“What’s the book’s title?” The chief editor asked as he opened the Hundred Reads Literature app.

“‘Battle Through the Heavens,’ author: Veteran,” Liu Da replied.

The chief editor was stunned. “Veteran? Which veteran—is this an old-timer opening a new account?”

If an old-timer opened a new account, such a rapid rise in ranking wasn’t impossible. Drawing traffic from their original account, plus chapter recommendations from friends in the circle, could spike the ranking in a short time.

But if quality faltered, the ranking would eventually drop.

Take White Knight’s “Sword Knight,” for example.

“No, the author is a complete newcomer. His pen name is Veteran,” Liu Da explained hurriedly.

The chief editor said nothing more, already deep into reading “Battle Through the Heavens.”

Half an hour later.

He closed his phone.

His eyes sparkled, his expression was excited, his right arm trembled as if he wanted to wave it.

“Excellent, this book is excellent.” After a moment’s thought, he smiled, “Here’s the deal: as long as this book enters the top ten, next month—no, this month—all rookie resources will go to him.”

Liu Da was thrilled, “Thank you, chief editor.”

Then, Liu Da hesitated, “Chief editor, the rookie resources for this month seem to be for Wang Ke’s contracted author ‘Watermelon Three Knives.’”

Hundred Reads Literature’s rookie recommendation system cycled monthly. Whoever ranked first among rookies in a month would receive all rookie recommendation resources the following month. The next month’s first place would get the resources in the month after that.

But the chief editor meant that if “Battle Through the Heavens” entered the top ten, not only would next month’s resources go to it, but even the resources meant for this month—originally given to last month’s first place—would all go to “Battle Through the Heavens.”

The chief editor spoke solemnly, “The theme of ‘Battle Through the Heavens’ is fresh. If it can reach the top ten by its own merit, plus all of Hundred Reads’ resources, I believe it can win this month’s rookie king.”

He sighed, “We at Hundred Reads have been suppressed in rookie rankings for so long. How many months has it been since we last got rookie king? Far too long.”

Liu Da nodded.

Indeed—too long.

Hundred Reads desperately needed a rookie king.

In that moment, Liu Da understood the chief editor, understood Hundred Reads’ intentions.

As long as a rookie king emerged, resources would be abundant.

But resources alone didn’t guarantee a rookie king. Even if all resources went to the rookie’s “Invincible Emperor,” it might only reach the top three at best. Without quality, more recommendations were meaningless.

The chief editor smiled, “You must serve Veteran well. Don’t treat him like a rookie. If he’s poached by another site, you’ll be in trouble.”

“Chief editor, I’ve always been respectful,” Liu Da replied with a wry smile.

He had no choice. His roster never had high-level authors; if his attitude was poor, even the low-tier ones would leave.

Besides, Veteran was now his only hope, his ray of light.

Without the chief editor’s reminder, he’d already planned to treat Veteran with utmost care.

Because the explosive success of “Battle Through the Heavens,” a story of the downtrodden rising after a broken engagement, would be contagious.

This was a beginning.

The dawn of a new era.

There might soon be a flood of “downtrodden” web novels on the market, but the originator, Veteran, would be at Hundred Reads.

Readers who loved this genre would flock to Hundred Reads.

After leaving, Liu Da immediately sent a text to Li He, sharing the exciting news with his benefactor.

Li He wasn’t surprised by the popularity of “Battle Through the Heavens,” only by its speed. He had thought it would take a dozen days at least, but after only six days since publication, it was nearly in the top ten.

“It’s time to prepare some cliffhangers,” Li He murmured.

He hadn’t expected it to be this fast.

——

(Post first, revise later)