Chapter 87 The Foundation (Seeking First Subscription)

The sudden shift of the Grandmaster to the world of xianxia caught its authors completely off guard. Some of the established veterans are still in a daze, unable to process what's happened. When the Grandmaster's first work, "Battle Through the Heavens," was tearing through the fantasy genre, the xianxia authors had merely sat on the sidelines, munching on seeds as they watched the spectacle unfold.

For as long as anyone could remember, authors of fantasy and xianxia have been at odds. There was a time when xianxia stories were the undisputed champions of online fiction, but now fantasy has claimed that throne. The bitterness of that dethronement runs deep—a rivalry that knows no reconciliation. On ordinary days, it was a constant back-and-forth: one side would step on the other, and they'd exchange barbs and insults without end.

Then, that man appeared.

The emergence of the Grandmaster didn't just reshape the order within the fantasy realm; it gave the xianxia authors a rush of satisfaction as well. Though his domain was fantasy, he had never engaged in the mudslinging between the two camps. By comparison, the Grandmaster felt almost like an ally. The comfort with which they once watched from the sidelines was matched only by the intensity of their present dismay.

Many xianxia authors couldn't understand why the Grandmaster would abandon his explosive popularity in fantasy to write tales in their withering, decrepit field. But after reading the serialized chapters of "The Immortal Executioner," they understood.

In a certain xianxia authors' chat group, after a brief silence following the initial release of "The Immortal Executioner," a veteran xianxia writer tagged another respected author in the group.

"Official, have you read the Grandmaster's new book, 'The Immortal Executioner'?"

After a moment's pause, the one called Official replied, "I have."

"And? What do you think?"

"The Grandmaster's move to xianxia has completely thrown our balance into chaos. Official, have you any strategies?"

"Exactly. Ever since 'The Immortal Executioner' started its serialization, my paid subscriptions have been plummeting. If this keeps up, I'll be out on the street."

"Yes, we were all writing xianxia in peace, and now with the Grandmaster's arrival, everything has been turned upside down."

The arrival of "The Immortal Executioner" has overturned readers' understanding of xianxia, redefining the genre in their eyes.

Readers are excited.

Those who love xianxia are positively ecstatic.

Xianxia once basked in glory, reigning supreme in the realm of online fiction. Years ago, xianxia was the king, the pillar of the online literary world. But as online fiction diversified and readers' tastes evolved, xianxia's dominance began to wane, the throne slipping away. Both readers and authors know full well: the fall of xianxia is the fault of the authors, not the readers or the environment.

Every other genre—fantasy, urban, sci-fi—continues to evolve, with authors constantly experimenting with new ideas and approaches. Only the xianxia writers remain stuck in their old ways, recycling the same tired formulas and thoughts. Such stagnation was bound to lead to decline. Yet, a loyal segment of readers persisted, steadfast in their support.

There are still a number of established xianxia authors left, though not many, and the remaining readers are just enough to go around. Not enough to thrive, but enough to survive. For some, xianxia has become a retirement home of sorts—a quiet place, untouched by outsiders, where the readers are truly devoted, and such support is enough.

For two years, these authors have lived like this.

But the Grandmaster’s arrival has shattered that peace.

"The Immortal Executioner" didn’t just redefine xianxia; the Grandmaster’s relentless updates left many xianxia writers spitting blood in frustration. The readers who had remained loyal to the genre began to migrate into the world of "The Immortal Executioner," while new readers, drawn by the Grandmaster’s fame, arrived in droves.

This left the xianxia authors ill at ease.

If this continued, they really would be left with nothing.

Old readers were leaving, and new ones weren’t joining.

It was a dead end.

Not a trace of vitality remained.

"Official, Taoist, you two hold the highest esteem in the xianxia circle. What do you make of all this? What do you think of the Grandmaster?"

"This affects us all. 'The Immortal Executioner' has smashed the xianxia market to pieces. How are we supposed to continue? There’s no way out."

"In my readers’ group, people have been leaving one by one these past few days. At first, a few, then a dozen at a time."

"Same here. My group is nearly empty."

"My novel’s comments are almost entirely about 'The Immortal Executioner.' Former loyal readers now criticize my work while singing its praises. Many even urge me to seek out the Grandmaster and learn how to write proper xianxia."

The author was nearly driven mad by this.

Seek the Grandmaster’s advice on how to write xianxia?

Please, do get your facts straight—who is the real, orthodox xianxia author here?

When I was crafting xianxia tales, the Grandmaster was still playing in the mud somewhere!

He was a veteran of the genre, a titan in the field when xianxia ruled online fiction, once adored by countless readers.

In fact, anyone still able to write xianxia today and earn paid subscriptions was most likely a big name a few years back. Only a heavyweight could have accumulated so many loyal readers, though many have since drifted away. As for new authors in xianxia, they simply cannot gain traction.

This author, in his fury, muted several long-time supporters. Yet nothing could conceal the exodus of readers and the rising chorus of praise for "The Immortal Executioner."

His words seemed to open Pandora’s box, igniting the hearts of many in the chat group.

"My comments section is the same. Lately, almost every post is a discussion of 'The Immortal Executioner,' constantly comparing it to my work. Each comparison takes more readers away."

"Xianxia readers were already few, and now with the Grandmaster's intervention, they’re all being drawn to him."

"If this keeps up, there’s truly no way to continue."

"At this rate, I’ll lose all my readers within a week."

The authors in the group were unified in their outrage, all denouncing the Grandmaster and ostracizing "The Immortal Executioner."

The arrival of "The Immortal Executioner" has upended the landscape and status of contemporary xianxia. It is different from "Battle Through the Heavens." While that work pioneered a new subgenre and even brought the 'useless protagonist' trope to rival the 'genius protagonist' trope, fantasy remained vast enough to contain both styles, and readers were plentiful.

But xianxia is different. It no longer dominates the online literary world; its territory has shrunk so much that the Grandmaster’s mere entry threatens to crowd everyone else out.

For veteran xianxia authors, the Grandmaster’s shift to their field is nothing short of fatal.

If the Grandmaster’s work had been ordinary, it might have been tolerable—but "The Immortal Executioner" is a sensation, lauded by countless readers. And mind you, it has only been a few days since its release, not even behind a paywall yet.

Once "The Immortal Executioner" opens for paid chapters, with the Grandmaster’s inhuman update rate, the xianxia category might as well be renamed after him.

There will be nothing left to play, nothing left to write.

The group’s discussion grew heated, but the two prominent figures, Official and Taoist, whom everyone had been tagging, remained silent, as if they hadn’t seen any of it.

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PS: Posting first, will revise later. Corrections appreciated.