Chapter 578 - 273: Mount Everest Oxygen-Free Climb and High-Speed Ski Descent? I Don’t See What’s So Difficult About It_4

"The complete Westernization at that time was born under such a background... This situation even lasted for over a hundred years."

"And now, this extreme inferiority seems to be evolving into another extreme... Haha, I’m digressing, what I meant to say—"

"Especially when it comes to athletes, this extremism is brought to an extreme."

"Formerly Li Ning, then Liu Xiang, and later Yao Ming, each one of them endured the overwhelming criticism brought by this extremism of our national character."

"If they perform well, the public will exalt them to the heavens as world champions, unparalleled in history... But once they perform poorly, they will be harshly trampled down, as if ashamed to be Chinese."

"We have never been moderate."

"Li Younan?" Liu Li called softly.

"But this is a double-edged sword."

"I’m not trying to criticize anything, but since everyone loves victory... if we can win in this matter... then let’s bring them a victory!"

Li Younan didn’t turn back, speaking as if to himself, or perhaps to the land:

"Southern slope, twin-board, divided over two days... they call this rapid ski, and then stand at the summit receiving the worship of everyone."

He paused, turned around, his face devoid of expression.

"And our mountaineers, breaking a leg on the northern slope, in return for being called ’overestimating their abilities’."

Suddenly he smiled, turning his gaze towards Liu Li.

"But, as for the so-called Polish master... I didn’t feel anything difficult about it."

This sentence came out casually from his mouth, but carried immense weight.

...

On the night of Lian Feng’s team’s failed summit of Mount Everest, Li Younan released a video.

Li Younan calmly recited a declaration in front of the camera.

Li Younan solemnly said, "I do not intend to belittle a master climber who has summited Everest and completed a rapid ski, he is to be respected, as indeed it was a shocking first on Everest."

"But, first, he summited from the southern slope, then skied down the southern slope, furthermore, used twin-board, moreover, the whole descent took two days... are you sure this is rapid descent? Think about how long it would take you to ski a seven or eight-kilometer slope at a regular ski resort?"

"So honestly... I didn’t feel anything difficult about it."

"Since I’m already here anyway, I’ll further help the audience re-evaluate ski mountaineering from the points I just mentioned."

In the video, Li Younan spoke these words lightly, especially when he expressionlessly stated, "I didn’t feel anything difficult about it," no doubt causing an uproarious wave.

After all, not long ago, a young team claiming to challenge a rapid ski from the northern slope just failed in their endeavor, even breaking a leg.

So, Li Younan knew that after this video was released, a massive online discussion would ensue, quickly forming a hot topic.

Even that very day, the trend had already begun, as Li Younan is a super anchor with millions of followers, every video he releases draws enormous traffic, especially when posting such topical opinions and decisions amidst trending subjects.

Before this, Li Younan already had many labels; he was not only a master climber who reached the summit of Gongga Snow Mountain but also excelled in the show "Alone in the Wilderness," demonstrating to all his followers his strong survival skills in the wild, which also reflected his understanding and astonishing physical fitness in the outdoors.

Building on that, other identity labels such as Forbidden City relic restoration expert, accomplished parkour traveler, sharpshooter, electrician, mason, carpenter, and many more, made Li Younan’s decision seem even more incredible.

After all, having so many diverse capabilities in one person creates a strong sense of contrast, as if you can’t understand or accept, that Ji Ge, apart from shining in singing, dancing, and rap, can also participate in Olympic weightlifting and win a gold medal...

Yet, this is not a joke, Li Younan truly is such a person.

In some sense, Li Younan is like a contemporary Da Vinci, achieving astonishing feats in several fields.

Climbing Mount Everest is not something one can decide to do on a whim, it is a rather complex matter.

As described in Lian Feng’s video, Mount Everest is unlike any normal mountain, climbing it requires obtaining an official climbing permit.

Climbing without permission is illegal and would incur serious legal consequences.

According to China’s northern slope climbing regulations, to obtain climbing qualifications, one must provide proof of having summited a peak above 8,000 meters, or twice above 7,000 meters.

Additionally, a recent comprehensive medical examination report, high-altitude adaptation at the base camp, and payment for a climbing permit are required.

This fee is more expensive in China compared to Nepal, about 400,000 RMB.

As the saying goes, no poor person climbs Everest, the impoverished can’t even afford the qualification to climb.

Indeed, in Nepal it’s even more apparent, those climbing Everest from Nepal are all wealthy, and annually there are far more people summiting from the southern slope than the northern slope.

Not only because the southern slope is less challenging, but Nepal’s commercial services are more developed, with various entertainment services available at the climbing camps, unlike the northern slope which demands discipline, including strict waste disposal.

After Li Younan made this decision, his plan to head to the base camp of Mount Everest was postponed for a few days.

On one hand, this was to obtain the climbing permit, although he had not climbed a peak above 8,000 meters nor twice over 7,000 meters, Gongga Mountain, with its similar climbing conditions to Mount Everest, served as a training site for the national climbing team, thus qualifying as a prerequisite for the permit.

In addition, a border defense permit was required.

After paying the fees, Li Younan could legally climb Mount Everest.

Li Younan didn’t need a guide, so his expenses were lower than others’.

Climbing Everest certainly couldn’t include Liu Li, so once they reached the base camp, Liu Li would stay back.

In the meantime, besides handling related procedures, there was also the wait for the snowboard.

Together with the express shipped ski board, a panoramic camera was also sent, with features like selfie stick and stealth, allowing viewers to experience a thrilling third-person perspective.

Notably, Mount Everest, below 7,000 meters, has 5G signal coverage, and this time Li Younan planned to livestream his entire climbing journey!

When all preparations were ready, Li Younan prepared to set off.

At the same time, the video he previously posted began to ferment into an extremely exaggerated online discussion.