I Became an All-round Artist

Click, click, click, click...
This editor was the fastest reader in the entire department, and he had already reached the crucial chapter of "Zhu Xian" where the Seven Veins Martial Arts Tournament at Qingyun Sect was about to begin. But no matter how much he clicked, there was no next chapter. Frustrated, he blurted out:
"Is that it for the first volume?"
Damn, Chu Kuang really loves cliffhangers!

But just because he had finished reading didn’t mean everyone else had. The others were still engrossed, and upon hearing his outburst, they all shot him irritated glares, eyes full of warning:
"Shut up!"
"I was just—"
"One spoiler and you're dead!"

The editor, now realizing he had angered the crowd, quickly shut his mouth. Still, his comment had served as a reminder to the rest.
As they continued reading, everyone silently prayed:
Please, progress bar, hold on!

As everyone knows, progress bars never hold.
Editors read faster than ordinary readers.
Even if they slowed down to savor the details, the legendary vanishing progress bar would still make its grand appearance.
So when they all finally reached the end of the first volume of "Zhu Xian," the entire editing department erupted:
"What?! It’s over?"
"What?! It’s over?"
"What?! It’s over?"

It was as if the room wasn’t filled with editors, but rather a bunch of talking parrots.
Maybe that’s what humans are at their core—parrots that repeat.

The editor who finished first finally spoke up, "Reading too fast is just an occupational hazard for us."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
But what frustrated them the most wasn’t their speed, it was the cliffhanger at the end of the first volume of "Zhu Xian." It was too unbearable:
"Why is Chu Kuang so short?"
"And he left us hanging at this moment?!"
"I wanted to see Zhang Xiaofan make a big move!"
"Ending right at the peak of excitement is just cruel!"
"Just when it was getting good, it stops!"

Chu Kuang wasn’t short at all.
A 200,000-word update is no small feat.
Most novels are published in volumes, and some barely hit 100,000 words per volume. By comparison, 200,000 words in one go is quite generous in this industry.
In the end, everyone’s frustration came down to that abrupt cliffhanger.
The Seven Veins Martial Arts Tournament at Qingyun Sect was clearly about to hit a major climax. Who wants to stop before the big showdown?

"So, what do you think?"
Yang Feng spoke with a calm smile, looking composed.
He had been more excited than anyone earlier, but seeing everyone’s reactions now gave him a strange sense of superiority.
"It’s awesome!"
"It’s amazing!"
"It’s mind-blowing!"

The editors’ vocabulary was surprisingly limited, resorting to generic phrases. It was as if they were betraying their profession.

A couple of minutes later, they regained some composure:
"This book is redefining the whole xianxia genre! Chu Kuang is breaking new ground!"
"So xianxia can be written like this?"
"Reading 'Zhu Xian,' I even caught a whiff of martial arts vibes, but the artistic depth is clearly higher than martial arts. This book might set a new trend in the market."

Martial arts novels were once all the rage.
In the Fantasy Department, 90% of the editors had, at some point, dreamed of being a sword-wielding hero roaming the land. Many were still nostalgic for that era.
But sadly, the age of martial arts novels had passed.
Just like in the past on Earth, martial arts was once a dominant genre in the book market.
Its popularity was even more explosive than the current trend of otherworldly adventures.
But now, hardly anyone reads martial arts novels anymore. That level of excitement just can’t satisfy today’s readers.

It’s the inevitable progression of time.
Trends come and go, and even if Jin Yong himself were to reappear, it wouldn’t change the fate of martial arts.
But after reading "Zhu Xian," everyone felt a wave of long-lost nostalgia for martial arts, though this novel clearly wasn’t martial arts—it was something far grander: xianxia.

"No wonder he didn’t want to keep writing sports competition novels."
"Turns out xianxia is the true romance for men!"
"Chu Kuang really gets it—this book slapped me in the face!"
"Who would have thought Chu Kuang’s take on xianxia would be this stunning?"
"Even though it's in the xianxia genre, its content and structure are completely different from 'The Battle of Immortals and Demons.' This is a brand-new approach to xianxia."

Back in the day, "The Battle of Immortals and Demons" was just a rehash of mythological tropes, telling the story of a conflict between righteous and demonic factions.
In reality, it was just a glorified martial arts story.
The author simply boosted the power levels of martial arts practitioners.
But Chu Kuang’s "Zhu Xian" had created a vivid, immersive world of cultivation!

While reading, everyone felt as though this world truly existed.
Even though it was deeply mystical, the world made complete sense. The characters' pursuit of the Dao was profound and intricate.
This world emphasized the importance of fate, the cycle of cause and effect, and the wonder of magical artifacts.
And the occasional mention of the "Zhu Xian Sword Array" added an unprecedented sense of anticipation!
Although Chu Kuang hadn’t elaborated on how terrifying the sword array was, just hearing the name "Zhu Xian" made everyone’s hearts race with excitement, evoking an epic, grand atmosphere!

Looking back, the opening line—"Heaven and Earth are unfeeling, treating all things as straw dogs"—was no ordinary phrase. It felt as if Laozi himself had crafted this line for this very story. The more they thought about it, the more it fired them up.

Just then, the department head, Old Bear, stormed in. Noticing the editors in hushed conversation, he bellowed:
"Why aren’t any of you working?! What’s going on here?"
Bear’s on the loose!

The editors froze, quickly quieting down and pretending to work.
Old Bear, the head of the Fantasy Department, still commanded a lot of respect.
Last time, when You Rong's magazine "Fun Read" made an unauthorized request to Chu Kuang for contributions, Old Bear caused a major scene in the magazine department. That incident left a lasting impression on everyone.

"It’s like this..."
Only Yang Feng dared to speak: "Chu Kuang sent me his new manuscript. I think the company should start promoting it early, and we can publish it next month."
"Chu Kuang’s new book?"
Old Bear’s tone softened: "Is he still writing about tennis? Or another sport?"
"This time, it’s xianxia," Yang Feng replied.

Old Bear’s expression froze for a moment: "Are you messing with me?"
Yang Feng wasn’t surprised by Old Bear’s reaction. He quickly added, "Why don’t you take a look for yourself? I’ve already sent the manuscript to your inbox."
"Hmm..."
With a puzzled look, Old Bear headed to his office, but before closing the door, he turned back and asked, "You’re really not messing with me?"
"Just take a look," Yang Feng said with a smile.

The other editors said nothing, but their expressions were amusingly odd. They stared at Old Bear, silently wondering how he would react after reading "Zhu Xian."
The answer came soon enough.

Just before the end of the workday, Old Bear suddenly charged out of his office, his 200-pound frame thundering down the hall with such force it shook the floor!
Bang!
Without saying a word, and in the blink of an eye, his bulky figure disappeared through the door, leaving only the sound of the door creaking from the force of being slammed open.
"I’ve never seen Old Bear move that fast," one editor muttered in amazement.
The others exchanged knowing glances. Now that was a real Bear on the loose.

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