"I finally understand why the king greedily wants more things after he unified the country," Song Shan remarked, gazing at the sales figures in the background.
That staggering million in sales!
In just one week, he experienced firsthand what it meant to start from scratch.
Thanks to the opportunities Ye Feng provided, he had achieved accomplishments that ordinary students could only dream of after years of effort.
He couldn't shake the feeling that he hadn't really done much; he'd simply executed Ye Feng's plans based on the information provided.
"These sales are incredible, Boss Ye! Should we splurge on a car? Maybe buy a house? Or how about a lavish trip?" Song Shan bubbled with excitement, joking alongside Ye Feng.
"What's next? Naturally, expanding the studio to create new games," Ye Feng replied without hesitation.
"The next game?" Song Shan was taken aback. He hadn't even considered the possibility of another game. In his mind, Ye Feng had already made more than enough money with this million in sales to last a lifetime.
Wouldn't a normal person be content with their success?
But the determination in Ye Feng's eyes told a different story: yes, there would be a next game.
That same day, Ye Feng took to his Weibo account to announce an expansion in hiring.
[I'm delighted that everyone has enjoyed Dead Cells. Germination Studio is now looking to grow its team to create more captivating experiences. Those interested in joining us can send their resumes to Germination Studio's email. Here's to a bright future for all.]
The response was immediate.
"I've sent in my resume! Can't wait to collaborate with you. (P.S. Definitely not a fan of solo offline gaming!)"
"Shady game dev, give me back my keyboard!"
"How's it feel to be in the spotlight?"
"Hey, shady dev, what's the true ending of Dead Cells? I can't seem to beat the final boss!"
"What? A new game? Count me in! Even though I got my butt handed to me in the fifth cell."
"Yogame's CEO, Fujifume (with a dark, twisted expression): Who puts the final boss in the fifth cell and then refuses to give away the ending if you can't beat it!"
"With all these skins, are they really free in-game rewards? You're not gonna charge us, are you? (Confused face)"
…
Brother Yin scrolled through the comments on Ye Feng's Weibo post, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. The response felt akin to being in a refreshing sauna after a sweaty workout.
"Today, I'm giving you an unscathed collector," he chuckled, reopening the game.
"Big thanks to Black Star for the rocket! Appreciate it, old buddy," he thanked his livestream viewers, as per his usual routine. But as he finished reading, he froze.
"Black Star? Who's Black Star?" he muttered, clicking on the message from the gift giver.
To his surprise, the sender was identified as "Black Star, Certified Chief Designer at Germination Studio."
Without hesitation, he initiated contact.
Ye Feng wasted no time in accepting the invitation.
"Shady dev, do you even have a conscience for making a game like this? You're a heartless fiend!" Brother Yin burst into tears, overcome with emotion.
Only he knew the torment he'd endured playing these games. At times, he'd wish he'd never heard of this designer or these games.
What set Dead Cells apart was its unique ability to enthrall players. While other challenging games drove players away, Dead Cells' immersive gameplay and rich customization kept them coming back for more.
Even in defeat, players remained determined to conquer the game with different weapons and gear.
Repeated failures and curses aside, players were driven by the thrill of overcoming challenges and achieving victory.
But unlocking the true ending meant enduring countless defeats, leaving many players frustrated and exhausted.
As Zeng Zi once said: "Examine your feet! Survey your hands! It's like walking along the edge of a cliff or treading on thin ice." From now on, I will tread cautiously, knowing the consequences."
"Inspect my feet! Examine my hands, ensuring they're unharmed! It's like standing at the edge of an abyss or walking on thin ice." From now on, I'll protect myself from harm," paraphrased from the Book of Songs.
"Emotions? Hahahahahahaha! (Laughing lazily)
"Emotions are the cruelest thing in this world!"
"Besides, isn't it as simple as you claimed?" Ye Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It was akin to a player accusing the game of cheating after being repeatedly beaten and delirious. Who would believe their system was so incompetent it couldn't even complete the first task?
Brother Yin was left speechless by Ye Feng's response.
Meanwhile, the number of viewers in Brother Yin's livestream room skyrocketed. The moment word got out that the game designer had joined the livestream, the Shark Broadcasting Platform sent out a notification to everyone's phones.
[The designer of Dead Cells is live with Brother Shark Yin! Come and vent your frustrations!]
Initially skeptical, players soon realized the news was legitimate as they tuned in to witness the exchange between Ye Feng and Brother Yin. As the latter's face flushed red, he weakly uttered:
"It's too simple!"
With that, he opened the game's review interface in front of the designer. He hadn't yet given Dead Cells a rating.
Before him, the third option still stood.
[Very Easy] [Average] [Extremely Difficult]
Infuriated, he moved the mouse cursor to [Very Easy] with a swift click.
The sound of the mouse click echoed through the livestream room.
—click
[Rating submitted successfully. Thank you for your valuable feedback.]
A prompt flashed across the screen.
The barrage erupted in laughter. In this game of wits between designers and players, it was impossible to predict who would emerge victorious.
Ye Feng remained silent.
Is completing these system tasks truly so difficult?
They said every traveler needed a golden touch. Now that he possessed it, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret at his inability to use it. It felt as though his soul was in torment.
"I hope you can maintain that sentiment for our next game," Ye Feng said, drawing a deep breath.
His words sent ripples of excitement through the barrage.
"Flesh is weak!"