Chapter 65: The Price is a Social Death Video

Watch Me Use It in Reverse!

65: The Price is a Social Death Video?

Watch Me Use It in Reverse!

Chapter 65: The Price is a Social Death Video?

Watch Me Use It in Reverse!

Choosing Tianshu University had essentially settled a major life event.

After Celeste and Selene had come to an agreement with Instructor Chen Jing, they finalized their plans: on July 13th, the two sisters would set off to report to the university early and get a feel for the new environment.

Just as Celeste hung up the phone, a new notification chimed in her mind.

[Ding!

Special Reminder: The Host is about to begin a wonderful university life!

System 2.0 version upgrade is now available!

Please confirm if the Host wishes to activate the brand-new function: “I Am Elation!”] Celeste’s eyelid twitched.

‘That name sounds… a little sketchy,’ she thought.

[“I Am Elation!”: Unique Passive] [Effect 1: From this day forward, the first time a specific character transformation is triggered, it will have a 100% chance to activate a “Gift of Charm,” granting you one of that character’s random abilities, which you will master permanently!] [Effect 2: From this day forward, any transformation will trigger “Elation, In My Name!”, generating a translucent screen above the Host’s head.

This screen will play videos related to the transformed character, including but not limited to official promotional videos, fan-made animations, etc.] Celeste stared at the system interface, her breath catching in her throat for a split second.

Mastering a skill permanently, with a one hundred percent success rate on the first try.

The temptation was no less than having a mountain of solid gold dropped right in front of her.

But the price… Playing fan-made videos above her head?

This wasn’t just social death; this was a goddamn cyber-parade, a touring public execution!

She could almost immediately picture the scene: she transforms into Zhongli, and a janky, fan-made MMD video of “Planet Befall” starts playing on a loop above her head.

Or she transforms into some idol singer, and the screen is filled with the most popular, cringiest dance videos from the web… Was this system trying to force an upgrade on her?

This felt like a predatory, non-negotiable sales tactic.

However, the thought of resisting only lingered in her mind for three seconds.

Three seconds later, the corner of Celeste’s mouth hooked into an extremely dangerous arc.

“No… why should I resist?” she whispered to herself, her tone vibrating with an uncontrollable excitement.

“This isn’t a debuff.

This is clearly a strategic-level causality weapon!” Her mind raced, connecting the dots with terrifying clarity.

“Imagine it.

I’m in a life-or-death duel with some top-tier expert, all eyes are on us, the atmosphere is so tense you could cut it with a knife.” “Then, suddenly, a ridiculously silly animation starts playing over my head.

Or some bizarre, brainwashing meme song.” “Will that expert’s brain just short-circuit on the spot?

Will they start questioning the very meaning of their existence?” “When masters fight, victory and defeat are decided in an instant.

The second their focus slips is the second I send them on their way to the next life!” ‘This isn’t social death,’ she concluded with manic glee.

‘This is ‘cognitive interference’!

It’s a ‘dimensional reduction strike’!

It’s pure ‘mental pollution’!’ “System, you think you’re playing 4D chess on the fifth floor, trying to restrain me with the fear of shame?” “In reality, I’m already in the stratosphere, ready to use this very shame to pollute the entire world!” “Confirm!

Open it for me immediately!” Having reached this epiphany, Celeste felt completely at ease, her thoughts clearer than ever before.

A quick calculation told her there were still two full weeks left until they had to leave.

Not a single second of that time could be wasted.

Following Yan Shuyu’s suggestion that “girls need some private training space,” they had used their connections to rent an independent training room at the “Rock Training Hall,” just two streets away from home, at an extremely favorable price.

The room wasn’t large, but the soundproofing was top-notch.

The walls and floor were reinforced with special materials, more than enough to handle whatever chaos the two sisters decided to unleash.

“Stance training is the root of ancient martial arts and the source of all power.” Inside the training room, Celeste, now changed into a sleek and practical training suit, wore a frighteningly serious expression.

It was a complete one-eighty from her usual lazy demeanor of ‘if I can lie down, I will never stand.’ Selene followed her sister’s lead, her feet planted shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent.

She tried her best to find the mysterious feeling her sister had described, something about “sinking the shoulders and dropping the elbows, with a virtual spirit lifting the crown.” “Wrong.

Sit down a bit more.” Celeste circled behind her sister, her palm pressing gently but firmly on Selene’s shoulder as a steady, grounding force flowed through.

“Imagine you’re sitting on an invisible high stool.” “Your center of gravity must be stable, but your muscles can’t be stiff.” “Your defensive stance as a Paladin emphasizes the concept of an ‘Immovable Mountain,’ but a mountain isn’t a dead thing.

A mountain has roots, anchoring it to the earth, allowing it to withstand wind, rain, and thunder.

Stance training in ancient martial arts is about practicing this very ‘root’.” Selene gritted her teeth, desperately trying to adjust her posture.

In just a few minutes, fine beads of sweat had already formed on her forehead, and her body began to shake uncontrollably.

This seemingly simple standing posture, trying to maintain a specific feeling of force, was far more exhausting than holding a shield and charging into battle.

“Sister… my legs… my legs are shaking…” Selene felt as if her limbs were filled with lead, both sore and numb.

Even her voice began to tremble.

“Shaking is good.” Celeste stood to the side with her arms crossed.

At some point, a long, thin bamboo pole had appeared in her hand, making her look every bit the part of a strict little coach.

“It means your dormant muscles are being activated.

The power deep within your body is awakening.” “Straighten your waist!

Lower your center of gravity by another three inches!” The bamboo pole accurately tapped Selene’s waist.

“The core of a Paladin’s power is in the waist, abdomen, and lower body.

Once you’ve mastered your stance, the next time you use Immovable Mountain, you’ll be able to withstand that Death Knight for at least five more seconds!” Selene wanted to cry but had no tears.

She felt like she wasn’t preparing for some ancient martial arts training camp, but rather experiencing the eighteenth layer of hell in advance.

“Alright, rest for ten minutes.” Celeste glanced at the time, the bamboo pole tapping lightly on the ground.

“Go drink some water and replenish your electrolytes.” Feeling as if she’d been granted a presidential pardon, Selene collapsed onto the floor, grabbed her water bottle, and gulped down more than half of it in one go.

Celeste walked to the other side of the training room, her thoughts turning inward.

With a slight flicker of intent, the gorgeous pink staff materialized out of thin air, its handle fitting snugly in her hand.

The moment she gripped the long shaft, a heavy, ancient artistic conception, carrying the weight of mountains and valleys, naturally permeated the air around her.

She closed her eyes.

In her mind, the “Spear Intent” she had obtained from her transformation into the female version of Zhongli emerged with crystal clarity.

It wasn’t a specific set of moves, but a kind of “Reason”—a deep understanding of the unyielding thickness of “Geo” and the unbreakable permanence of a “contract.” This understanding had already been completely integrated into her mastery of long-handled weapons.

This was the method by which a mortal body could invoke the power of solid rock.

Hum— The staff seemed to move without any wind.

The tip began to vibrate violently at a high frequency, emitting a low hum like the chant of a dragon.

The next moment, Celeste flicked her wrist, and the spear thrust out like a striking serpent!

There were no fancy flourishes, only the simplest, most direct stabs, picks, sweeps, and smashes.

But every single strike carried an indescribable sense of crushing heaviness.

Wherever the spear tip passed, the very air seemed to be squeezed and then detonated, producing a series of dull, explosive pops!

The specially reinforced floor of the training room was actually scraped with shallow white marks just from the aftermath of the spear’s wind.

“Hiss…” Selene stared, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“Sister, your staff technique… it’s completely different from how it was in the Domain!” “Hmm.” Celeste stood with the staff held at her side, her breathing steady and deep.

“What I used in the Domain was battlefield spear technique, focused purely on slaughter.

What I’m practicing now is more inclined towards the realization of ‘Intent’.” She looked down at the staff in her hand, her eyes shining.

This wisp of spear intent was far more precious than she had ever imagined.

It not only caused the power of her spear techniques to skyrocket but also subtly tempered her will.

It allowed her to naturally project a calm, mountain-like, immovable master’s demeanor whenever she made a move.

‘The Geo Archon really is the God of Martial Arts,’ she thought with reverence.

“Alright, the warm-up is over.” Celeste looked at the staff in her hand again, a tragic expression, like a martyr marching to the execution ground, appearing on her face.

“Selene, brace yourself.

I’m going to start… um, practicing some ‘artistic cultivation’.” A bad premonition suddenly bloomed in Selene’s heart.

“W-what kind of training?” “Thick-skinned reinforcement training,” Celeste explained with a dead-serious face.

“I need to fully adapt to that unstable Heroic Spirit transformation.” Selene’s mouth twitched wildly.

“Sister, you call those social death scenes ‘training’?” “Of course!” Celeste declared sonorously, as if she were explaining some deep martial arts truth.

“A true powerhouse must be able to wear strange clothes, recite shameful lines, and simultaneously pierce their enemy through the heart with a completely expressionless face.

A strong psychological fortitude is also a part of one’s strength!” If one could ignore the faint blush creeping up her ears, the statement might have been more convincing.

“Come on, let’s start by spamming a basic Healing Spell.” Celeste raised her staff again, aiming at a humanoid target in the corner—a low-level healing puppet provided by the training hall, perfect for grinding out skill triggers.

A warm, soft pink light bloomed at the tip of the staff.

“Healing Spell!” A cluster of light spots flew out and merged into the puppet’s chest.

Nothing happened.

“Again.” “Healing Spell!” “Healing Spell!” “Hea… Ugh!” As she raised her hand for the fourth time, a crisp “ding” rang in her mind, and an invisible switch was instantly flipped.

Immediately after, an ethereal and misty melody, suffused with a sense of immortal detachment, rang out in the training room without any warning.

The music of zither and flute played in harmony, painting a picture of clouds and mist flowing through mountains, of pine trees rustling under the moonlight.

[“Overtones” triggered!

BGM: “A Crystalline Chill” (Genshin – Jueyun Karst).

Transformed character: Shenhe.] ‘It’s here!’ Celeste’s spirits lifted as her body was enveloped in the familiar pink halo.

The light dissipated, and the Pink-Haired Priest was gone.

In her place stood a peerless beauty with a tall, slender figure and a chillingly cold temperament.

She wore a slim-fitting black and blue long dress, with elegant crane-feather pauldrons draped over her shoulders.

A red rope was tied around her waist, and her cloud-patterned short boots were spotless.

The most wonderful part was that her iconic pink hair had been swept up high, styled into Shenhe’s signature high ponytail, creating a strange yet stunning mix-and-match aesthetic.

What she held in her hand was no longer the gorgeous pink staff, but a long spear that was an icy blue from tip to tail, entwined with mysterious talismans—the Calamity Queller!

[Extra Gain: Can use Shenhe’s talisman arts, spear techniques, and immortal movement techniques.

During the duration, Cryo element affinity is greatly increased.] [First time triggering Shenhe transformation.

Extra reward is being drawn…] [Congratulations to the Host!

You have permanently mastered: Shenhe’s Spear Essence (Fusion Level)!] A cold and razor-sharp understanding of spear techniques surged into her mind like a glacial torrent, forming a stark contrast with Zhongli’s mountain-like, heavy spear intent.

Shenhe’s spear was aloof.

It was extraordinary.

It carried the determination to sever worldly ties and freeze all things in their tracks.

While it wasn’t as heavy and magnificent as Zhongli’s spear intent, it had reached the absolute peak of perfection in terms of “Technique”—precise, swift, and designed for a one-hit kill.

“Nice!” Celeste was overjoyed.

A fantastic start!

She had directly pulled the most practical combat ability imaginable.

She subconsciously raised her hand, and phantoms of ice-blue talismans flowed between her fingertips, a chilling coldness permeating the air.

“Sister… you look so cool like this.” Selene held her face in her hands, her eyes shining like stars.

“Pink hair with that outfit… it actually matches really well?” Celeste coughed lightly, suppressing the pride swelling in her heart.

She maintained Shenhe’s cold expression and spoke in a light, detached tone, “This body as a medium, this spear as proof…” “Wait!” Selene suddenly interrupted, her voice jumping an octave in alarm.

“Sister, your head!” [Elysian’s Note: Having a good time with the story?

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