Chapter 17 - Empress Watches TV for the First Time
“Demon Sovereign, these sheep are talking. Could they be spirit pets?!”
Longyue pulled on Lin Fan, pointing at the few sheep on the television screen with a shocked expression, as if she had discovered something incredible.
Lin Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
“Empress, this is just a cartoon made with computer software. It’s not real.”
“Not real…?”
Longyue was half-believing, half-doubting. Unwilling to give up, she asked:
“But they are clearly talking.”
“That’s post-production dubbing. There are many cartoons like this that are dubbed later. For example, this one, these two bears can also talk.”
Lin Fan picked up the remote control and changed to an animation channel that was currently showing two bears and a bald man matching wits and courage.
Longyue stared at the television screen again and again, and she also discovered that whether it was the sheep or the bears on the screen, although they were indeed talking, the art style was not the same as before, and it didn't look that realistic.
“It’s really not real…?”
“Really.”
Lin Fan nodded his head.
Receiving a definite answer, Longyue lowered her head, her expression unable to hide her disappointment.
She had thought she had discovered the existence of spirit pets and might be able to find another way back, but it turned out to be just a moment of wasted excitement.
“Empress, the television has many interesting channels and programs. Maybe there’s something that will interest you.”
Seeing Longyue’s disappointed look, Lin Fan used the remote control again to change to a channel playing a costume drama.
Seeing the somewhat familiar clothing and background suddenly playing on the television, Longyue felt a sense of novelty.
“Demon Sovereign, was this also made with that what's-it-called computer?”
“This wasn't. This is a costume drama filmed by actors, with imitation ancient scenes, and then the plot is acted out by the actors.”
“Hmm… deliberately faking scenes to act them out, what’s the use of filming this kind of thing?”
Longyue’s fine brows furrowed slightly, her expression full of confusion.
Lin Fan chuckled and explained:
“Of course it’s for people to watch. This is considered one of people’s daily entertainment and pastime activities. Quite a lot of people like to watch it.”
“From future sci-fi themes above to the prehistoric era below, no matter the theme, it can be filmed. Even themes that don't exist in reality can be filmed.”
“Non-existent themes?” Longyue’s face showed her curiosity.
Lin Fan gave a mysterious smile and then clicked on the currently popular “A Mortal's Journey to Immortality”.
A year ago, when he transmigrated to the Immortal Demon Continent, this animated series was already a huge hit all over the country. He had been following it all along.
Now, returning after a year, the show had, as expected, become more and more popular. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the pinnacle of Chinese animation in the xianxia genre.
“Demon Sovereign! Th-This isn’t this a cultivator’s battle?!”
Watching the battle of techniques between several Nascent Soul cultivators on the screen, Longyue was once again deeply shocked, so excited that she walked directly to the front of the television screen.
This time, the shock was far greater than anything else she had seen in this world!
Because the scene on the screen was the battle of cultivator techniques that she was all too familiar with!
“Although the immortal arts they are casting are different from those in my Immortal Realm, they are largely the same with minor differences. There are similar immortal arts in the Immortal Realm!”
“Empress, don’t be so hasty. This is indeed a battle of cultivator techniques, but it is also a high-quality animation made with computers and motion capture.”
Seeing Longyue so excited she looked like she wanted to shove her head into the television screen, Lin Fan couldn't help but pour another basin of cold water on her.
“This is also fake…?”
The excitement that had just ignited in Longyue’s heart was once again ruthlessly extinguished. Her expression was both incredulous and greatly disappointed.
But soon, she discovered a blind spot.
“Demon Sovereign, this world clearly has no spiritual energy, and even fewer cultivators, so why can the mortals here create a ‘xianxia’ world similar to our Immortal Demon Continent?”
“Hmm…”
Lin Fan stroked his chin and thought seriously for a moment, then began to explain:
“This is probably because this world has always had similar myths and legends about immortals, which later slowly evolved into cultivating to attain the Dao, which led to the current xianxia genre.”
“Sigh, so that’s how it is…”
Longyue sighed in disappointment, a look of dejection on her face.
She had thought she had found another clue, but it turned out to be just another false hope.
“Here’s the remote. You can choose whatever program you like to watch. Watching more TV might help you understand this world better.”
Lin Fan handed the remote control to Longyue and then added:
“In a few days, some books about this world’s common knowledge that I bought online will arrive. They should help you understand this world as quickly as possible.”
“Thank you…”
Longyue took the remote control and thanked Lin Fan sincerely.
Just when she was worrying about how to understand this world, the Demon Sovereign had specially set up the television for her and also bought her books about this world’s knowledge. This was undoubtedly the greatest help to her at this stage.
She never thought that one day she would receive such grace and help from the Demon Sovereign…
He had even pulled her back when she was mired in despair and had once wanted to end it all...
After taking the remote, Longyue sat down on the floor right where she was and began to watch the television programs with great relish.
Seeing her so absorbed, Lin Fan returned to the bedroom, sat down at the computer desk, and opened his mobile banking app.
When he saw his bank card balance, he couldn't help but frown slightly and closed his eyes, unable to bear the sight.
He had just bought this apartment not long before he transmigrated to the Immortal Demon Continent. The life savings he had left in his bank card were already nearly depleted. Now, after buying two cell phones, setting up the internet, and purchasing a large pile of daily necessities, the remaining balance was less than four thousand yuan.
Four thousand yuan to support the expenses of two people would probably not last very long…
He had thought he had long since been freed from financial difficulties, no longer a beast of burden or corporate drone at the beck and call of others. He never thought that upon returning to Blue Star, he would have to face such a cruel reality again…
To think that he, the majestic Supreme Sovereign of the Demon Realm, would one day have to worry about money…
Could it be that he would have to start opening recruitment websites and looking for a job again…
No, no!
Working a job is impossible. I'll never work a job again in this lifetime!
Lin Fan shook his head repeatedly, unhesitatingly throwing the idea of working a job to the back of his mind.
It would have been one thing before, but now he was a man who had been the Supreme Sovereign of the Demon Realm. How could he possibly bring himself to lose face and be a beast of burden!
He was a man who had some face to maintain. To actually bow and scrape, to nod and bow obsequiously to others—where would that leave the dignity of him, the Demon Sovereign!
But in reality, one still has to eat, and money is indispensable.
In this world, money is not omnipotent, but without money, you can do absolutely nothing.
Just at that moment, Lin Fan suddenly noticed the novel app on his phone, and his heart was suddenly enlightened.
He used to be a veteran novel fan, staying up all night to chase after novels, able to read several hundred chapters a day.
Now, he has been to the Immortal Demon Continent, was a dominant figure there for several hundred years, and became a Demon Sovereign. Why not write down these real experiences!
One must know, xianxia novels are very popular with the masses nowadays. Not to mention soaring to the heavens, maintaining daily life should be no problem!
No sooner said than done. Lin Fan immediately opened his computer, his hands flew across the keyboard, playing out a movement unique to a novelist…