I have a persona specifically for acting.

The oppressive force of various people in the hall was exerted upon Tong Zhao.

However, that white figure did not waver in the slightest.

Cold sweat the size of beans dripped down from Shao Xuanzheng’s forehead. He firmly believed that his senior brother would save him and not abandon him, so he held on and did not beg for mercy, quietly waiting for his ex-wife to be captured…

He stared at Tong Zhao, while the director backstage was also focused on the screen.

“Useless.”

Shi Qianqiu took a puff of his electronic cigarette and shook his head, saying, “If this were a real fantasy world, there would be some reasoning, but this is a movie; the protagonist must be the strongest. Those who oppose her will die.”

Other staff members glanced at each other: “What about the male lead?”

“I gave him a chance. His trait is being treacherous and malicious. If Shao Xuanzheng hadn’t been indulging in the pleasure of kicking his ex-wife in the past few days, and had done more planning or found a way to locate her as soon as he discovered Mu Yingchen had escaped from the water prison… In short, Tong Zhao’s subconscious is still far stronger than his. In this competitive film ‘Heartless Tribulation’, the winner is the protagonist.”

Shi Qianqiu pushed off with his toes while sitting in the boss’s chair, making the chair spin halfway around. He opened the editing backend of the official page for ‘Heartless Tribulation’ on his tablet and moved [Chen Zhuzhi] from the protagonist column to the supporting role.

Only two characters remained in the protagonist column—

Tong Zhao.

Shi Qianqiu pressed confirm to modify, “In the movie, the protagonist can obtain everything.”

…

This sword strike was not fast.

To cultivators, even the usual speed of a sword move appears slow in their eyes, and Tong Zhao’s sword strike could be described as leisurely, as if it gave the people from the Sword Sect ample time to stop her. However, when they attempted to stop her, every strike they launched to intercept her failed to even come close.

In the sword-refining furnace, Fairy Yingchen comprehended her Dao and broke through to the peak of the Golden Core stage.

Her master had probably long seen that Shao Xuanzheng was no good man. She suspected that her exceptionally gifted disciple might one day realize this and use Shao Xuanzheng as an offering to the furnace.

But everyone’s understanding of the Dao is different.

What Tong Zhao understood was another matter—

Lifelong love should be for oneself.

This concept is often expressed as a cliché, yet very few can truly achieve or comprehend it. Cherishing oneself does not mean being selfish—allowing a disciple to throw themselves into the furnace is also a self-serving act of self-preservation, but Tong Zhao despised doing so; she had her own Dao.

No sword cultivator is not proud.

Tong Zhao believed that the sword is the noblest of weapons, and therefore must also possess noble principles.

When a hundred kinds of weapons charged toward her, they were reduced to powder in an instant.

The slowness of this sword strike instead gave Shao Xuanzheng enough time to experience the fear and despair of impending death.

At this moment, she was the butcher, and he was the fish on the chopping block.

To resolve past entanglements and sever causality, the one who truly possessed a clear path to immortality was her.

“No… Yingchen, I was wrong…”

After realizing that no one could save him, Shao Xuanzheng’s true nature was revealed as he frantically pleaded for mercy.

He was even more horrified to discover that this sword not only cleaved through his physical body but also crushed his soul. The nascent Golden Core, which had just begun to take shape, could not withstand the sharpness, turning into nothingness as well. After the three souls and seven spirits were shattered, they would not enter reincarnation, nor would there be a next life.

This earth-shattering sword strike flattened the entire great hall.

Shao Xuanzheng completely disappeared.

Nothing remained.
Chen Zhuzhi woke up in the holographic chamber.

The Shao family was both shocked and enraged, some crushing their tokens to call for reinforcements for revenge. However, at that moment, Qingniang also arrived on the scene with members of the Beiqing Sect and intervened to prevent a bloody battle. The South China Sword Sect, seeing that a person had died completely and that Shao Xuanzheng had made the first mistake, refused to stand up for him, no matter how the Shao family incited them.

Mu Yingchen’s persona is that of a cold and reclusive cultivation fanatic, and she does not have a good reputation within the sect.

After her master ascended, she left the Extreme Cold Lands and became Dao companions with Shao Xuanzheng. Following his request, she almost cut off all ties with the sect.

However, her master had paved the way for her.

As long as she understands herself and strives for her own interests, separating from the bad people and comprehending the Dao of the sword, the sect will have a place for her.

The Beiqing Sect has mixed feelings about this fellow disciple who has reached the peak of the Golden Core stage. There is anxiety, admiration, nostalgia, and suspicion that she might come to vie for power. Unfortunately, just like her proud and solitary demeanor in white clothing, Tong Zhao inherited only a snow-capped peak from her master and closed the door to solitary cultivation, accompanied by a mortal woman whose timing is too late for entering the cultivation world.

—

In the vast land of the Nine Provinces, there are various legends about Mu Yingchen.

It is said that this Fairy Mu only accepts female disciples.

No matter how talented or prestigious a male disciple might be, she refuses to meet with them.

Her direct disciple, like her, remained unmarried for life.

Before her ascension, Fairy Mu distributed all her treasures equally among the female disciples at the foot of the snow-capped peak. Her direct disciple, Qingniang, received an extra gift: a replica sword forged from extremely rare meteorite iron—the replica of the Snow Name Divine Sword that Fairy Mu carried with her.

—

When Tong Zhao opened her eyes in the holographic chamber, Master Lu immediately fled from the position of the host personality.

Tong Zhao: 【……】

She ran away too quickly.

Tong Zhao understood her, after all, someone who is used to the cultivation lifestyle does not enjoy dealing with trivial matters.

She moved her shoulders a bit and rubbed her buzzing temples.

Just then, a staff member came over to bring her a hot towel to wipe her face. After wiping her face, she felt much more refreshed.

Staff Member: “Sister Zhao, you can go rest now.”

“Okay.”

Tong Zhao nodded.

“Heartless Tribulation” was filmed continuously without any breaks, which placed an even greater mental burden on the actors.

While the other actors who woke up afterward were still in the chamber and had yet to come to their senses, she was already able to get up and leave. Seeing this, the staff members, who had a deep understanding of the instinctive nature of filming, couldn’t help but marvel at how her mind worked—it was truly impressive.

Tong Zhao stepped out into the corridor; the actor dormitory was one floor up.

Important roles did not need to share rooms with others and were provided with the best suites.

As Tong Zhao turned towards the elevator, the door of the holographic filming room, which had a temporary actor nameplate hanging on it, opened from the inside. A beautiful woman in her late twenties with an oval face walked out, locking eyes with her and showing surprise: “Tong Zhao, I’m your fan! Can I have your autograph?”

“I didn’t bring a pen, but can we take a photo together?”

The beautiful woman nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with excitement—she was a true fan.

This temporary actress, named Fu Xiaoheng, felt utterly satisfied after getting a photo with Tong Zhao. When she woke up, she discovered that she was the only one left in the entire extra actors’ room. She also received a text from the staff saying that she performed particularly well and, due to last-minute changes in the plot, her pay would be increased accordingly. She might even have her name listed in the supporting cast section.

Although she still didn’t know what exactly her role in the plot was, Fu Xiaoheng’s face was filled with joy: “Maybe I had a lot of scenes with you, Sister Zhao! Ah, I won’t take a break; I want to watch the footage right away—wait, but I’m just an extra, so I don’t have the right to watch the footage…”

Upon saying this, she felt a bit down.

Tong Zhao said, “If your name is on the supporting cast list, that shouldn’t count as just being an extra, right?”

Fu Xiaoheng explained that they had to wait for the approval process in the backend, and the footage wouldn’t be sent to her dorm room.

Tong Zhao pulled out her phone and asked Shi Qianqiu for his opinion. After receiving a response, she said, “Director Shi said I can go to my room to watch it, as long as I don’t take the footage out.”

Fu Xiaoheng: !!!

“Really? Won’t it cause you any trouble?” She hesitated a bit.

Tong Zhao shook her head.

Shi Qianqiu had agreed quite casually, so it probably wasn’t a serious issue.

Fu Xiaoheng was so excited that she wanted to hug her, but since they weren’t very familiar, she didn’t dare to do that. Instead, she followed closely beside her, her heart racing with thoughts of writing a lengthy post for social media—What a day! Not only was she promoted from an extra to a named supporting character, but she was also going to watch the footage with the goddess Zhao. Oh my gosh, she wanted to post about it right away!

Concubine Chen, covering her face with a feather fan, thought: [Can you stop bringing women into your room all the time? It’d be nice to bring a man back for once.]

Tong Zhao explained, “When I saw her, I felt a sense of familiarity; we probably had scenes together in the film.”

Tong Zhao guessed correctly.

The footage sent from ‘Heartless Tribulation’ was from the female lead’s perspective, and it hadn’t been edited yet, so she didn’t know what the final result would look like. In her mind, everyone gathered on small stools to watch together.

Although it was the same face, the aura was vastly different.

So, in the palace of memories, a banner was unfurled, discussing the topic of “who is more handsome, Brother Duan or Master Lu.”

Han Zhi: “Each has their strengths; the grand scenes in xianxia films are more impressive.”

Female Reporter: “I still prefer the scene where Brother Duan clips the bullets; it’s very tough-guy.”

Concubine Chen: “I particularly like the scene where he leaps into the sword furnace; I vote for Master Lu.”

Everyone looked at her in surprise.

Concubine Chen giggled, “Master Lu really wields a great sword!”

Female Reporter: “Pun jokes will cost you.”

—

On the other side, Chen Zhuzhi, who had woken up from the capsule much earlier, had already regained most of his memory.

Although he had been downgraded to a supporting role, the staff didn’t ask him to move out of the suite; he could still stay until the contract with the ‘Heartless Tribulation’ crew expired. He paced back and forth in his room, feeling anxious, while his manager took two hours to return his call. “Brother Chen, please stop calling me non-stop. I have other artists to manage. When things get busy, I can’t keep up with you. Didn’t you just wake up from the capsule not long ago? You should really be resting now.”

“Don’t brush me off!”

Chen Zhuzhi was annoyed. “Why was my name removed from the lead role section? Listen, the final cut hasn’t come out yet, so there’s still room for negotiation. You need to find a way to pull some strings…”

After being berated, the manager, feeling a bit displeased, retorted sarcastically, “If you can’t handle your own subconscious, how am I supposed to help you with connections? Why don’t you just ask Shi Qianqiu?”

Chen Zhuzhi’s expression darkened further.

What he wanted was for his manager to ask Shi Qianqiu.

Last time, because he didn’t want to share money with his ex-girlfriend, Shi Qianqiu had warned him that if he bothered him again, he would find someone to break his legs—he could shamelessly seek help from others, but he truly didn’t dare provoke Shi Qianqiu. This opportunistic manager wasn’t willing to waste any more time on him: “Since you’ve gone from rising to sinking, you might as well settle into being a supporting villain. By the way, if you’re going to be a supporting role in the future, you won’t need your current team; the company will cut down the budget for you, and I’ll assign your assistant to someone else. Just take a break and see if any opportunities come up later.”

Supporting role!

After the manager hung up on Chen Zhuzhi, he felt helpless and thought of contacting his ex-girlfriend through Shi Qianqiu.

He called her, appealing to her interests, explaining that he signed a contract, and if he dropped from a lead to a supporting role, his pay would be significantly reduced, which would also lower the compensation he needed to give her.

His ex-girlfriend laughed, “Director Shi told me that the part you owe me will be directly transferred to my account, no matter how you perform, it won’t affect my share. Did you change your phone number again? I didn’t block this one… Oh well, it doesn’t matter if I block it now. So, you’ve been downgraded from lead to supporting role? That means you didn’t compete with Tong Zhao. Good to know; I’ll buy a ticket to see ‘Heartless Tribulation’ when it comes out. Goodbye!”

Shi Qianqiu was certainly not doing charity.

To have someone with a wicked temperament perform in an instinctive film, he naturally had to bear the relevant risks. He had rich experience dealing with such matters and would never let unrelated issues affect others.

After all, he needed the subconscious of a villain; he didn’t really like mingling with them.

This was the second time today that Chen Zhuzhi had his call dropped.

He slumped on the sofa.

As long as it wasn’t a serious criminal case involving murder, arson, or strong-arming, instinctive films needed many roles that required a despicable subconscious. However, most of these were supporting roles, and only a very few had the opportunity to be leads. This was because mainstream audiences preferred to see positive, kind-hearted characters.

Opportunities for villainous leads were fiercely contested.

The news that he had lost the dual-lead role to Tong Zhao would spread quickly in the industry, effectively closing the door to any future leading roles for him. His subconscious wasn’t remarkable enough; even his villainy was bland and unremarkable. Evil could be charming, but his was not distinct or vivid enough to impress Shi Qianqiu with a compelling narrative. His evil was merely off-putting…

Chen Zhuzhi covered his face with his hands.

In his mind, he could hear his manager’s scornful mockery, along with his ex-girlfriend’s gleeful laughter.

Then he raised his head, reluctantly and anxiously surveying the exquisite suite.

The next time he came to the film studio, he would have to share a room with other supporting actors.

The program team of ‘Heartless Tribulation’ had moved Chen Zhuzhi from the lead role section to the supporting role section during the shooting, and keen-eyed fans noticed this and screenshot it, posting it on film forums, sparking a lively discussion.

Some netizens believed that the dual-lead competitive PK was merely a gimmick—

[It just increases the workload for post-editing, and is bound to waste one of the actor’s performances. Poor Chen Zhuzhi.]

[What a pity, what’s so tragic about a domestic abuser?]

[The notorious artist has roles to play thanks to the popularity of instinctive films. Shi Qianqiu’s hiring choices are really cold and merciless. Personally, I’m happy to see Tong Zhao kick him off the lead role; I heard he signed a contract with a betting clause? Dropping to the supporting role means he won’t get any profit shares? Great, I’ll buy a ticket to support!]

[Rest assured to buy a ticket in support! 1]

[Am I the only one eagerly looking forward to Tong Zhao’s portrayal of the Fairy Yingchen? And who is this new supporting character, Fu Xiaoheng? Could someone knowledgeable please introduce her?]

Aside from Tong Zhao, the biggest beneficiary from ‘Heartless Tribulation’ was Fu Xiaoheng.

The crew took new promotional photos of her, placing her fourth in the lineup, right after Ding Jiao.

Not only did the company improve her treatment, but she also received additional offers for supporting roles.

Being able to excel as a temporary actor and rise to a supporting role proved that her subconscious was quite expressive.

The dual-lead competitive filming style of ‘Heartless Tribulation’ was very novel, even among instinctive films, and it inherently had a gimmick. With the outcome of this PK, it was delightfully satisfying to see good triumph over evil, which further boosted audience expectations.

On the pre-sale ranking for viewing rights on online platforms, ‘Heartless Tribulation’ shot straight to first place.

Tong Zhao was also humorously dubbed the most profitable subconscious.

Chen Zhuzhi had stopped speaking in the group chat for the crew, and no one tagged him.

Ding Jiao privately told Tong Zhao that she suspected Chen Zhuzhi had muted the group.

And it was probably for the best.

After all, after the shooting, the ‘Heartless Tribulation’ crew group chat had instantly turned into Tong Zhao’s fan club branch.

But why was that?

Deputy Director Zeng: “There aren’t many subconscious minds that can handle Brother Shi’s scripts. For this point regarding Sister Zhao, I’m a fan!”

Modeling Team Guy: “Has Sister Zhao considered becoming a special forces soldier?”

Props Master: “Tong Zhao, I’m your fan!”

Ding Jiao: “What a coincidence, so am I.”

Fu Xiaoheng: “Me too, me too!”

Fu Xiaoheng was later brought into the group; she didn’t speak much but would always chime in to support Tong Zhao whenever there was a chance to praise her. Originally, Ding Jiao was supposed to have a significant role, but because of Chen Zhuzhi, she ended up becoming a complete supporting character. Fortunately, after Shao Xuanzheng was killed, Li Qiaoqiao stepped up to support Mu Yingchen, which helped her regain some presence.

Ding Jiao didn’t hold it against Tong Zhao and took this opportunity to build a good relationship with her, hoping for future collaboration opportunities.

Tong Zhao didn’t refuse her goodwill.

In the subsequent promotional efforts for the crew, the friendly interactions among the three female characters further relegated Chen Zhuzhi to the role of a background figure.

Chen Zhuzhi was furious about this.

He didn’t dare to cause trouble, nor did he have the ability to mess with Tong Zhao. What good would it do to make her miserable? If this had happened before filming started, he might have had the chance to scheme against her, but as adults focused on their interests, Chen Zhuzhi wouldn’t act impulsively out of momentary anger.

Chen Zhuzhi shifted his thinking.

He wanted to create a CP with Tong Zhao to ride her popularity, hoping to turn his luck around.

In a talk show promoting ‘Heartless Tribulation’, he frequently brought up Tong Zhao, shamelessly trying to win her over—

—“Ever since I saw Sister Zhao’s debut in ‘The Legend of Emperor Ming’, she has been my favorite actress. I was so happy to know I could work with her that I couldn’t sleep well for three days. I even worried I might actually fall asleep when lying in the holographic chamber.”

—“My ideal type is Tong Zhao.”

—“Honestly, it’s normal that I didn’t perform well in the role of Shao Xuanzheng… If it weren’t for the plot, there’s no way I’d break up with such a beautiful wife like Mu Yingchen. I’d hold onto Fairy Yingchen’s thigh and never let go!”

He looked quite presentable, which was very deceptive.

Unfortunately, Tong Zhao wasn’t falling for it.

—“I don’t use Weibo much and rarely watch entertainment news. The first time I heard about you, it was on the front page of a social news article.”

She directly poked at his history with his abusive ex-girlfriend.

—“Really? I’m considering a transformation starting today.”

When he said the last line, the program’s cameras immediately zoomed in on Tong Zhao, who wore a slightly aloof but strikingly beautiful face, clearly showing her disdain. This delighted the director of the talk show, who saw a perfect explosive moment right in front of him—who wouldn’t be happy?

In the entertainment industry, where everything is usually glossed over, it’s rare for faces to be openly torn apart.

There were instances in the past, but they have become quite scarce recently.

Disagreements usually exist between fan groups, while stars greet each other with smiles, leaving no room for leaks.

There’s only a fine line between being genuine and lacking emotional intelligence.

Seeing that Tong Zhao showed no intention of picking up the conversation, Chen Zhuzhi felt anxious but also thought that one shouldn’t hit those who smile. He hadn’t offended Tong Zhao, and there was no need for her to deal with him, so he wanted to be extra attentive to her in any encounters they might have—

However, there were no opportunities at all.

Tong Zhao’s agent was much more capable than his.

What about bribing paparazzi to capture suggestive angles?

Sister Chu instructed Tong Zhao’s two female assistants to guard her closely, not giving him any chance to approach.

Afterward, for that episode of the talk show, Sister Chu used her connections and influence to eliminate any possibility of editing it to make it seem like there was mutual interest.

Sister Chu comforted her: “Don’t worry; Chen Zhuzhi is just a cornered dog. He won’t have many opportunities to appear in front of you again. The only chance he might have to gain some popularity is by creating a CP with you, but he knows he doesn’t deserve it… unless you go crazy and fall in love with him.”

That possibility was extremely slim; Sister Chu knew her artist was completely focused on her career.

Tong Zhao replied with an “mm.”

It was impossible for her to go crazy and fall in love with Chen Zhuzhi.

However, while filming the show, Lu Xianchang really wanted to split him in half with a sword.

And the effect of the show’s airing was that Chen Zhuzhi kept awkwardly calling out to Tong Zhao as if he were acting strangely.

Chen Zhuzhi did have some fans.

Those who knew he had an abusive ex-girlfriend yet still remained loyal to him were, one can imagine, a particular type. Not only were they not deterred by his desperate behavior, but they also targeted Tong Zhao in the comments and bullet screens.

[Chen Zhuzhi is still a senior; does Tong Zhao really need to be this rude?]

[Brother Zhu didn’t really confess to her; he just expressed admiration for a talented junior. Her reaction was too ugly.]

[Not a fan of anyone, but because of this attitude toward Tong Zhao in the promotion, I’m turning against her.]

However, the eyes of the crowd were sharp.

Just as they had begun to forget Chen Zhuzhi’s past misdeeds, Tong Zhao’s comment about the social news reminded them again.

Right, he’s a legal-themed celebrity!

Netizens helped to mock him back, while Tong Zhao’s fans had always been more laid-back…

Up until “The Sea King’s Kill.”

After “The Sea King’s Kill” aired, a special group emerged among Tong Zhao’s fans, not large in number but strong in combat power: the girlfriend fans of Han Zhi.

Chen Zhuzhi’s fans were irrational and unreasonable, and Tong Zhao’s fans initially didn’t plan to pay them any attention. However, after several days of not seeing normal content and being bothered, some of the more sensitive fans even considered unfollowing her.

The so-called only magic can defeat magic came into play at that moment, as Han Zhi’s girlfriend fans rallied to protect their idol—

[Stop pretending to be bystanders; who besides the little punching bags would speak for the legal celebrity?]

[So heartbroken for her, being forced to promote alongside a scumbag.]

[Ew, could the legal-themed celebrity keep their distance from our sister? Be careful, or she might send your brother to the afterlife with a punch.]

Not only did they fight back, but they also provided various well-organized pieces of evidence against Chen Zhuzhi, proving his past wrongdoings.

Chen Zhuzhi’s fans were left dumbfounded.

This wasn’t right. In the past, whenever they targeted female celebrities’ fans, besides the occasional ridicule from bystanders, they never encountered any real opponents. Why did they hit a wall this time? The arguments sounded so familiar, almost like those from other male celebrities’ fan wars.

Han Zhi’s girlfriend fans didn’t waste time arguing with them; they chased after Chen Zhuzhi for two days, and once they confirmed that his fans wouldn’t dare to fight back, they returned victorious.

Only confused Chen fans and onlookers were left behind.

[“Chronicles of the Fan Circle Battlefield: Click to see the complete record of a powerful girlfriend fan defending her female star.”]