Chapter 78: Book Signing Event, Third Young Master Falls Into the Trap

October 1st, National Day.

October 5th, Mid-Autumn Festival.

But Changjiang Literature & Art set the book signing date for October 10th. Cao Sheng didn't know what they were thinking, but after checking the electronic calendar online, he felt October 10th was fine, since it was a Saturday and fans wanting to attend his signing should have time.

When requesting leave, counselor Lu Xiangwei couldn't help but ask a few extra questions.

Because National Day brings a seven-day holiday.

Yet Cao Sheng wanted to start his leave after National Day; how many days did he intend to rest?

Once Cao Sheng mentioned attending the signing and that "I Wish to Become an Immortal" would hold several signings, Lu Xiangwei was both surprised and delighted, and readily approved a week's leave for Cao Sheng.

October 10th arrived in the blink of an eye.

Cao Sheng arrived in Wuhan a day early.

This was Changjiang Literature & Art's headquarters, so the first signing for "I Wish to Become an Immortal" was set in this city.

Compared to attending the signings for "Living with the Stewardess" during Summer vacation, coming to Wuhan this time felt much easier for him.

He felt no more nervousness in his heart.

Just as a woman, after experiencing the first time, no longer fears it and even feels a bit of anticipation.

He no longer worried whether his signing venue would be deserted, with hardly any fans showing up.

What was there to worry about?

Anyway, the publisher had a contingency plan; if there truly weren't many fans, they would arrange some fake fans to prop up the scene.

Besides, compared to the period of the previous book's signings, his fame had grown by an unknown amount.

"Living with the Stewardess" remains the best-selling pure love novel in the country to this day.

Zhongyuan Yidianhui's fame had long spread from online to offline.

Just as he expected, on the morning of the signing day, the venue was crowded; at least three or four hundred fans were queuing to wait for autographs.

When Cao Sheng stepped out of the business car, greeting the media's cameras while observing the fans on site, he noticed a detail.

—At the previous signings for "Living with the Stewardess," female fans had been the majority, but today, male fans clearly outnumbered female fans by far.

With so many male fans, the roar of voices shouting his name grew significantly louder.

Surrounded by several staff members, Cao Sheng walked into the venue, waving to respond to the fans' enthusiasm as he went, like a star, attracting many passersby to stop and watch.

Amidst this lively atmosphere, he began signing today.

After Wuhan came Jingcheng.

The signing in Jingcheng was larger in scale, with even more fans attending.

Then came Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, and Nanjing.

Yes, Changjiang Literature & Art had arranged six signings for Cao Sheng this time, exactly one more than the signings originally arranged by Huacheng Publishing House.

During these few days of signings, media outlets of all sizes across the country began reporting.

In an instant, the five characters "Zhongyuan Yidianhui" appeared again on media outlets of all sizes across the country.

Making people wonder if Zhongyuan Yidianhui's signings during Summer vacation had simply continued until now?

Shanghai.

When Han Er saw the report on Zhongyuan Yidianhui in the newspaper again, his first reaction was shock.

He couldn't believe that two or three months had passed and the newspaper was still reporting on Zhongyuan Yidianhui's signings?

Shouldn't newspapers report news?

Were newspapers now even recycling old news?

Confused in his heart, he picked up that newspaper and looked closely, only to be surprised to discover that this report was not about "Living with the Stewardess," but rather Zhongyuan Yidianhui's new work—"I Wish to Become an Immortal."

"This? He released a new book so quickly?"

Han Er was very surprised.

Thinking: Ran Jing's bones are not yet cold, and you are already releasing a new book?

But more than that, his heart felt envy.

That guy, only two years older than him, had published two new books consecutively this year, making him wonder if Zhongyuan Yidianhui's background was particularly formidable.

Could his family own a publishing house?

But he had read "Living with the Stewardess," and the quality was indeed undeniable.

Could it really be due to talent?

With complex feelings, Han Er went to a Sanwei Bookstore, found Zhongyuan Yidianhui's new work—"I Wish to Become an Immortal," and paid to buy a copy.

As a high school freshman, he hadn't yet formed the habit of going online, so he didn't know that "I Wish to Become an Immortal" was actually no longer a new book; that book had already been published up to the tenth volume in Taiwan.

That night, Han Er tried reading "I Wish to Become an Immortal."

The newspaper said this was a brand new genre pioneered by Zhongyuan Yidianhui, calling it something like immortal hero cultivation...

Xianxia is fine, but what does cultivation mean? Does that imply there's also "cultivating fakes"?

Carrying these questions, he plunged headfirst into the world of "I Wish to Become an Immortal."

By midnight, he had finished the book.

Upon finishing, he noticed a few small characters below the main text—(To be continued, please look forward to the second volume).

He stared blankly at that line of small text in the parentheses, a bad feeling forming in his heart—this book seemed to have just begun its plot at this point; how many volumes would it take? Would it make him pay a portion of his allowance every month?

He felt a bit reluctant.

After all, his monthly allowance wasn't much.

But…

Thinking of the flying swords, magical artifacts, unimaginable spells, and legendary Great Ascension cultivators in this book, he couldn't bring himself to stop reading the next plot.

At the same time, his feeling of indifference toward Zhongyuan Yidianhui had begun to take on an air of reverence.

He felt Zhongyuan Yidianhui had left him far behind on the path of writing; he had never once considered this genre, yet Zhongyuan Yidianhui had already written it—and written it so brilliantly. Could he ever catch up?

The teenager Han Er stared blankly at the ceiling, his spirits sinking with every thought.

…

Zigong, Sichuan.

Guo Xiaosi finished reading the first volume of *I Wish to Become an Immortal*, frowned deeply, and sat in silence for a long while before pulling out his latest manuscript from his desk drawer.

His expression was extremely complex.

Because his recent romance novel, imitating *Living with an Air Hostess*, was only halfway done—and his once vigorous creative passion had vanished completely after reading *I Wish to Become an Immortal*.

He had originally intended to chase after Zhongyuan Yidianhui in the pure romance novel genre.

He never expected that after just beginning to chase, Zhongyuan Yidianhui had switched genres entirely and written this… immortal hero cultivation novel?

What troubled him most—now he himself wanted to write xianxia cultivation, but what should he do with this romance novel, only half-finished? Should he just abandon it?

…

At the time, San Shao was working at the CCTV International website, and accidentally came across news online reporting on *I Wish to Become an Immortal* and Zhongyuan Yidianhui.

It stirred his curiosity.

He enjoyed reading novels, but previously had only read martial chivalry and *Gushihui*.

Today, however, he saw in the news a novel defined as "xianxia cultivation"—and from the praise in the article for *I Wish to Become an Immortal*, the book seemed truly captivating.

His income was currently high; after work that day, passing a bookstore, he stepped inside and bought a copy of *I Wish to Become an Immortal*, planning to take it home to read—just to pass the time during his boring evening.

He didn't yet know the book was serialized online.

That night, past 1 a. m., he finished the first volume of the book…

Seeing the note in parentheses beneath the text—(To be continued, stay tuned for Volume Two)—he only then realized he had stepped into a massive, deep pit.

The plot had barely begun; how long would it take him to catch up and read the entire novel?

Could he see the ending this year?

Probably not—there weren't many months left this year.

Could he see the ending next year?

He felt that was also uncertain.

"What kind of novel is this long? Jin Yong and Gu Long's novels aren't this long…"

He muttered to himself, his heart filled with complex emotions: frustrated that he might have to chase this book for a very long time, yet also delighted that such a brilliant work would keep him entertained for a very, very long time.