At this moment, Lily, still in the midst of falling asleep, remains utterly unaware of the sensation she has caused on the Star Net.
Especially the subtle intentions she deliberately planted, which indeed captured the attention of the interstellar populace.
The novelty of anything has its limits for humans.
Within the Shan Hai Realm, if she only created the Wenyao Bird, Taotie, and Shèn Beast, it would only captivate the audience temporarily, right after the first match concludes.
For the Shan Hai Realm to continue expanding, her dreamforging realm would require a constant influx of star coins to sustain it.
She claimed the first-place reward in the first match, but it's uncertain for the future. Earning money requires both generating income and managing expenses, and for now, Lily is unable to control the latter.
She can only focus on increasing her income—one way is by striving for the prize in the Dreamforger livestream competition, and the other is by tapping into the wallets of the audience.
The reward from the Dreamforger livestream competition is indeed enticing, but ultimately limited. However, the Dreamforging realms themselves—each purchase costing thousands of star coins—hold far greater potential. Considering the vast number of interstellar viewers, this is the true vast ocean of wealth, where quantity alone can amass fortunes.
Thus, although the space for Dreamforging realms is limited, Lily has made tremendous efforts to captivate her audience.
The overall Shan Hai Realm has only been built with a basic framework, and the audience drifts through a haze of mist, only able to glimpse blurry shadows, making them believe they are moving too quickly, fleeting in an instant.
In reality, the mysterious beasts that the StarNet audience is fervently discussing, which they couldn't see clearly, are all illusions forged by Lily's psychic energy within the Shan Hai Realm
Apart from the dwellings of the Taotie Divine Beast and the Wenyao Bird, which were crafted with relative finesse, the rest of the areas were as rugged as they could be. Moreover, the psychic energy required to forge the Divine Beast was exceedingly vast. Within the span of two days, there was simply no way Lily could have created so many.
Therefore, she cut corners... oh no, she fully exerted her subjective initiative, presenting these peculiar entities intended to captivate the audience in the form of illusions.
After all, it was just for the audience's preview; a rough framework would suffice.
Amidst the swirling mists and ethereal airs of immortality, it is only natural that clarity eludes the eye.
With the precedent of the Divine Beast Taotie and the Wenyao Bird shining like pearls and jade, and then being immersed in the Shan Hai Realm, Lily was convinced that these interstellar viewers wouldn't be able to tear themselves away.
Having ridden upon the back of the Wenyao Bird and gazed upon the vast expanse of heaven and earth, with even more unknown wonders awaiting discovery and exploration, how could the audience not be itching with curiosity?
Each dream-forging master's realm of dreams holds its own mystical wonders, but whether they can captivate and retain the audience depends on their individual methods.
As the audience departed from the Shan Hai Realm, the Shan Hai scroll unfurled with serene grace.
immediately began to excitedly discuss with friends, fervently conversing on social platforms, describing the scenes they experienced.
Afterwards, they would be directed by kind-hearted netizens to the channel that compiles experiences of the Shan Hai Realm, to see what other netizens have encountered.
Barbara had been lingering in the [Shan Hai Realm Experience Exchange] channel for a long time, nearly entranced by what she saw, to the point where she almost didn't hear the StarNet system's prompt urging her to log off and return to reality.
Even after logging off and eating her meal absentmindedly, she continued to stare at the channel messages on her smart device's screen.
While chewing her food, she nearly choked upon seeing a particular message.
"Cough... cough."
It was a premium message highlighted by the channel administrator.
[Through the collective efforts of everyone's recollections, a simple map of the Shan Hai Realm has been created. Everyone is welcome to check for omissions and fill in the gaps, as well as point out any errors.]
The administrator has uploaded the [Shan Hai Realm Simulation Map], with the copyright belonging to the dream-forging master Lily. It is provided solely for viewing and discussion within the channel and is not available for download.
Barbara immediately clicked on it, oh, it turned out to be the scroll that appeared at the end of the Shan Hai Realm. However, what she saw in the dream-forged realm was dynamic, and now only a flat image had been created.
Since the map was created spontaneously and has not yet been authorized by contestant Lily, everyone can only take a look. Moreover, this channel is exclusively accessible to viewers who have purchased the Shan Hai Realm experience.
At the time, the glimpse of the Shan Hai scroll was brief, and none of the audience had the chance to examine it in detail. Even if they had looked, they wouldn't have been able to remember the specific locations.
This simulated map was the result of the channel's audience discussing animatedly and racking their brains to recall. Barbara noticed that the administrator had specifically marked three locations on the simulated map, which were the places where every audience member had left an impression: the Wenyao Bird, the Divine Beast, and the Taotie's locations.
[Thanks to the administrator! The technical engineers are truly formidable! Finally, we can see the map of the Shan Hai Realm again, albeit only a static version.]
["Will this place become the stronghold for us fans of the Classic of Mountains and Seas from now on? My sister just came out of the Shan Hai Realm, can I invite her?"]
Barbara also left a message thanking the administrator. Compiling all the information and then converging it into a map was no simple task. Even though the administrator was an engineer skilled in architecture, they had voluntarily done so much—opening up the channel and creating the map. They had gone through a lot of trouble and effort, and she, having enjoyed the fruits of their labor for free, felt compelled to express her gratitude.
Barbara watched as the channel branched out into sub-channel interfaces: a water-cooler chat section, a dedicated research and discussion section for the Shan Hai Realm, and a section for leaving comments about the Shan Hai Realm experience.
The water-cooler chat was flooded with too many messages, so Barbara entered the research section, where the messages were fewer but more refined.
From Lily's Dream Forging Exhibition, we learn that the Shan Hai Jing records everything within the Shan Hai Realm.
The Taotie resides on Mount Gouwu, the second mountain in the northern range, while the Wenyao Bird inhabits the Mountain of Taiqi in the western range. This is also marked in the Shan Hai Tu Juan.
The West and North are indeed directions. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that the mountains of the East and South in the Shan Hai Realm are similarly named after their respective cardinal directions.
I agree with this hypothesis, but the naming of the seas remains uncertain. I speculate that each mountain, like Mount Gouwu, is home to unique exotic beasts and resources. Much like our own starry sea, we could view these mountains as planets, each with its own distinctive features, while the mountain ranges could represent a unified star system.
The Taotie possesses the ability to consume endlessly, while the Shèn Beast can inhale and exhale mist. Other exotic beasts, as suggested by fellow enthusiasts, likely have their own unique abilities as well, each contributing to the diverse and intricate ecosystem of the Shan Hai Realm.
According to reports from fellow enthusiasts, the being with green snakes on its ears and beneath its feet is capable of summoning wind, suggesting its control over the element of air. Other reports indicate that this being might also possess the power of water, hinting at a dual mastery of both wind and water. This adds another layer of complexity to the abilities within the Shan Hai Realm.
Barbara gazed at the fervent discussions in the channel, where fellow netizens eagerly analyzed even the simplest of Lily's brief introductions in the Dream Forging Exhibition, hoping to uncover more details about the Shan Hai Jing. She couldn't help but feel awe-struck by their passion and the depth of their curiosity.
The messages in this channel kept flooding in, with a fervent frenzy of textual analysis surrounding the Shan Hai Jing, while over on the StarNet social homepage, the topic of the Shan Hai Jing remained a consistently trending hot topic. Every time one glanced at the trending discussions, there were countless conversations about Lily's Dream Forging Realm, each offering a new perspective or insight.
No matter the tribe, the populace always has a tendency to follow the crowd. Even those who originally had no intention of delving into the topic find themselves stirred by a spark of interest, drawn into the wave of collective curiosity.
When everyone agrees that something is worthy of attention, it's clear that Lily's Dream Forging Realm must possess some unique qualities that set it apart.
Especially considering this is the first place in the inaugural match of the official competition, currently holding the top spot in the Dream Forging Master live tournament! It only adds to the intrigue surrounding Lily's realm.
Then I too shall join in and see what all the excitement is about.
At this moment, the official competition has only just begun, and most of the audience are still in the stage of simply watching the spectacle. It takes time to truly become a fan of a contestant.
Many of the spectators who are merely joining in on the excitement are simply going with the crowd, supporting local star system contestants. They're not yet at the point of willing to spend money on their favorites.
The viewers from different star systems, regions, and planets have varying economic levels. Those with one hundred or two hundred star coins to spare might still make an effort, but many spectators in the early stages of the competition are simply saving up. They plan to purchase the Dream Forging Realm experience later, once they've accumulated enough.
When it comes to purchasing the Dream Forging Realm Immersive Sensory Experience service, netizens on StarNet are always divided into a few distinct factions.
Some netizens believe in buying early to enjoy the experience sooner, especially those who focus on one or a few specific contestants. These individuals may choose to support lesser-known contestants from remote star systems and regions, purchasing the experience from the very beginning of the competition. As the match progresses, they trust that each Dream Forging Master will gradually improve, making their early investment worthwhile.
If one can bet on the right contender, accompanying the Dream Forging Master from the very beginning to the top 1,000 in the starry sea, watching them improve step by step, the sense of fulfillment is overwhelming! To have an eye for talent and instantly pick out a true gem—it's an unparalleled satisfaction.
Other netizens, however, feel that there's no need to purchase right at the start of the live competition. The experience lies in quality, not quantity. They either wait for the Dream Forging Realms of top-tier contestants or hold off until the later stages, when only the strongest remain. They believe star coins should be spent wisely, focusing on where it truly matters.
Then there are those who follow the approach of casting a wide net and catching as many as possible. After all, the purpose of experiencing the Immersive Sensory Service is to enjoy the diverse Dream Forgings, isn't it? They want to sample as many realms as they can, savoring the unique qualities of each one.
The starry sea is so vast, with countless unheard-of minor races. The top-tier Dream Forging Realms are a must-try, but the novelty of the lesser-known ones is equally tempting. If they don't experience these, they might miss out—once a contestant is eliminated, the chance to enjoy such affordable Dream Forging Realms would be lost, which would be a tremendous loss!
These prominent netizens from different experience factions have garnered considerable attention on StarNet, establishing themselves as opinion leaders in the realm of Dream Forging experiences.
New viewers, either financially constrained or unsure of how to choose a Dream Forging experience, often turn to these experience-oriented influencers for guidance. They follow the "recommended strategies" to study and make their choices. Right now, many netizens, curious yet hesitant about Lily's Dream Forging Realm, are seeking out tips and advice.
"A Comprehensive Review of the First Match Contestants' Dream Forging Realms: Which One Is Worth Spending On?"
"Must-Experience Dream Forging Realms: Explore the Shan Hai and Lily's Unique Dream Forging!"
"The Top 100 Contestants' Dream Forging Realms in This Live Tournament"
"A Step-by-Step Guide to Choosing the Best Value Dream Forging Realms: Spend the Least Star Coins, Enjoy the Most Experience!"
After browsing through several guides, the overwhelmed netizens found that almost all of them enthusiastically recommended Lily's Dream Forging Realm. The reviews were as extravagant as they could be, with some being succinct and straight to the point, giving the highest possible praise: "Regret it if you don't experience it!"
Although the first-place finish in the live tournament is a prestigious title, there will always be some whose minds are filled with doubt, questioning the validity and worth of such an achievement.
When someone else praises it, they immediately feel skeptical, as if the approval only serves to fuel their doubts.
At that moment, a guide that openly contradicted the popular opinion surfaced, immediately capturing the attention of those skeptical viewers.
"Lily's Dream Forging is Derived from the Demon Clan's Sacred Text—No Need to Experience It! Don't Waste Your Money and Be Deceived!"
What made this even more striking was that the author of this scathing critique was none other than Momo, a well-known expert in Demon Clan Dream Forging experience guides on StarNet.
This expert, Momo, posted several messages in quick succession on StarNet, igniting a firestorm as they launched a full-scale attack on Lily.
"Absolute nonsense about the Taotie! That's a demon god from our Demon Clan's sacred text! And the Shèn Beast? It's the sea god from our sacred text!" Momo fired back, clearly outraged, dismissing the connections made in Lily's Dream Forging Realm as completely misguided.
[The shameless human race stole our sacred text and now claims it's from the Shan Hai Jing! Creating Dream Forgings in front of so many viewers in the starry sea, do they really think we, the Demon Clan, can't see through it?" Momo continued, their anger growing as they called out the apparent misappropriation of their clan's heritage]
[You are truly pitiful! Played by a human like puppets, and you don't even think for a second—why are all the exotic beasts in her so-called Dream Forging from the Demon Clan? This vile, despicable human stole our demon gods and disguised them with a human facade! It's infuriating! Infuriating! How utterly base and shameless!" Momo's fury was palpable as they lashed out, denouncing the theft of their clan's divine beings]
[That belongs to us, the Demon Clan! It belongs to us! The vile human contestant dared to change the names! Our demon gods were forged into dreams, yet their essence was altered. StarNet never even gave proper certification! Because the Demon Clan's sacred text is in the highest-tier civilization database!" Momo's outrage was unrestrained as they emphasized the sanctity of their clan's knowledge and the disrespect shown by the alteration]
[The shameful human who took first place didn't earn it—she stole it! Don't give money to humans! She doesn't deserve to be the leader! Go look at our Demon Clan contestants! They are the true representatives of our Demon Clan!" Momo's words rang with fierce conviction, urging viewers to support their own kind and denouncing the human contestant's place at the top]