Unlimited Top-ups, the Most Lavish Pay-to-win Live Streams Ever

30: Chapter 30 Fu Hao’s First TeamWorried that his viewers might say nasty things about random players, Fu Hao added a prominent caption in a conspicuous spot on his stream:

[ No Harassing Random Players | Permanent Ban for Violators ]

Although the stream didn’t show other players’ nicknames by default, avoiding criticism or disparagement of random players was still a safe bet.

After all, there had been instances where players accidentally appeared in other streamers’ broadcasts, only to find themselves being verbally abused by viewers afterward. In their anger, they would post complaints about the streamer on community forums. That turmoil eventually escalated into a large-scale flame war between fans and anti-streaming groups. It was a cautionary tale, and prevention was better than cure.

— ”Don’t worry.”

— ”The speedrun title is earned through skill; who would talk trash?”

— ”Everyone will understand.”

Seeing the good atmosphere in the chat, with no attacks or sarcasm, Fu Hao quietly breathed a sigh of relief and refocused on finding a team. However, reality was far crueler than his ideals:

”Hello, do you have any open spots in your team...?”

”Sorry, our team will be full shortly.”

Most teams were already full before he reached the dungeon entrance, and the few that weren’t rejected him due to level requirements:

”Level 100? ... Regardless, level 100 is just too...”

”I was too naive.” Fu Hao had to admit that his recent string of smooth experiences had caused him to underestimate the current difficulties.

— ”It’s normal for newbies to be shunned.”

”I’ll ask one last team. If that doesn’t work... I’ll just go to the main city and forcibly drag some newbies into a team.”

— ”Heh heh heh, aren’t you a newbie yourself?”

— ”Time to solo the Trial of the Troll.”

— ”Carrying a speedrun challenge solo? ㄷ.ㄷ”

Just as Fu Hao approached a group of players gathered at the dungeon entrance, a heated conversation caught his attention:

”What? The grinding area we went to last time? It takes over an hour to get here from there! Didn’t I tell you to camp out here in advance?!”

A female player carrying a longbow was raging at the air, clearly communicating via private voice chat with someone.

— ”Looks like the agreed-upon teammate is late.”

— ”This is interesting; looks like things are about to blow up.”

The viewers in the chat instantly got excited, as if they smelled a good show about to unfold.

”Anyway, run here at full speed, or you’re dead.”

After ending the call, she turned to complain to her two companions nearby. Those two were a female wearing priest robes and a burly warrior carrying dual blades.

”Late again?” the woman in priest robes said, her tone full of helplessness.

”I told you we should have confirmed the camping spot in advance.” The warrior frowned.

The bow-wielding woman sighed, as if she were already used to this tardy teammate’s style: ”No choice. Since we have to wait an hour and a half for her... we might as well play a board game to kill time.”

The three of them pulled a full set of board game props from their backpacks. Just as they were about to set it up, Fu Hao hurried over:

”Hello.”

”Hello, can I help you?” The three of them looked at him with vigilance.

”I accidentally overheard that you’re waiting for a teammate... Before she arrives, could I temporarily fill in for her? Other teams are either full or have requirements that are too high... I went through a lot of trouble to get here, and I really want to challenge the Trial of the Troll once. Please...”

As he spoke, he put on his most helpless and pitiful expression—his handsome face combined with those pleading eyes was extremely lethal.

— ”Good looks crush successful.”

— ”Throw money at them.”

— ”Feels like it’s in the bag.”

Rebecca hesitated, not saying a word, but the woman in priest robes—Mister—spoke up first:

”Rebecca, just let him join. Claude won’t mind.”

”I actually don’t care either...” Claude shrugged.

”The Trial of the Troll is meant for newbies to challenge anyway. It’s not anyone else’s fault that she’s late, and it’s much better than playing board games anyway.” Mister laughed softly.

Under Mister’s persuasion, Rebecca and Claude finally nodded.

”Alright, that’s decided then.”

”Since we’re teamed up, let’s hurry and get ready to enter the dungeon.” Claude’s tone was straightforward.

— ”Oh oh! Finally got a team!”

— ”The priestess sister is such a good person!”

— ”Looks like Fu Hao is quite likable?”

After the three put away the board game, Fu Hao introduced himself: ”Hello, my name is Fu Hao.”

He had originally been worried that revealing his nickname would lead to his identity being recognized. But in otherworld, information is automatically made public after joining a team, so it would be exposed sooner or later. Rather than hiding it, it was better to take a gamble—that they happened to be the type of players who didn’t watch streams and focused only on the game. Although this demographic wasn’t small, it still couldn’t put him completely at ease.

”I’m Mister.”

”Claude.”

The three of them showed no unusual reaction after hearing his name. Fu Hao breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

However, the next moment, Mister suddenly asked: ”Are you streaming?”

”Yes, sorry I didn’t mention it beforehand.”

”It’s fine. There are cameras floating around here; it’s hard not to know.”

In otherworld, floating cameras appear around players who are in streaming mode to alert others. Most streamers usually turn off the camera before forming a team so as not to disturb others—Mister was clearly an experienced player who understood streaming rules quite well.

”I used to stream too. How long have you been streaming?”

”Today is exactly the tenth day.”

”Oh, so you’re a newbie. I streamed for about five months before. If you don’t mind, I can teach you some tips for gaining followers.”

[ ”Jin Hao” tipped 50 yuan — (Truly a newbie... um... a newbie...) ]

[ ”Souvenir” tipped 50 yuan — (Actually a pure newbie who just started ten days ago) ]

[ ”Pantheon” tipped 50 yuan — (Pretending to be a newbie in front of over 200,000 people ㄷ.ㄷ) ]

”Tips? That would be much appreciated.” Fu Hao looked at the hilarious chat comments and couldn’t help but laugh as he responded.

— ”Fu Hao’s acting skills are 10/10.”

— ”This content is absolutely explosive.”

Just as he was chatting happily with Mister, Rebecca sent a party invite:

[ ”Rebecca” requests to form a party ]

”Accept.”

[ Party request accepted ]

Immediately, the party information interface popped up:

[ Party Information ]

[ Level ] [ Name ] [ Class ]

Lv.127 Rebecca | Wind Archer (Leader)

Lv.123 Mister | High Priest

Lv.125 Claude | Berserker

Lv.100 Fu Hao | Enhancement Master

— ”Let’s rush the dungeon directly!”

— ”Please don’t look too closely...”

— ”Everyone pretend you didn’t see it~”

”Huh? Only level 100?” Seeing that Fu Hao’s level was significantly lower, the three couldn’t help but look puzzled.

”Although I’m only level 100, my hidden class is very strong. My damage output is roughly around that of a level 130. Do you want to test it?” Fu Hao once again put on a pitiful look.

”I only have about an hour and a half online this time, so level 100 doesn’t really matter.” Mister was indifferent.

”Testing would take another half hour; might as well just go for it.” Claude agreed.

”A hidden class? This is my first time seeing someone who has one...” A hint of curiosity flashed in Rebecca’s eyes.

Although their doubts weren’t completely gone, they didn’t dig any deeper—perhaps because Fu Hao was just a temporary substitute.

— ”Survived!”

— ”Nice!”

— ”Charge!!!”

— ”This team has speedrun potential!”

— ”Speedrun team, let’s go~”

The shadow of being rejected over a dozen times finally dissipated. Even though he was just a substitute, it made Fu Hao feel a warmth he hadn’t felt in a long time. He secretly vowed to himself that he would definitely repay this kindness with the Trial of the Troll hidden title.

He suddenly bowed deeply, catching the three off guard:

”It’s just joining a team, no need to be so serious.”

”We’re just ordinary newbies, nothing special.”

”Others must have rejected you pretty harshly...”

— ”They’re really so kind!”

— ”Undoubtedly angel teammates.”

— ”Doesn’t this mean they accidentally ’conquered’ Fu Hao?”

— ”One must still be kind!”

After Rebecca confirmed the equipment, potions, and skill configurations, she asked:

”Fu Hao, are you ready?”

”Ready.”

”Have you read the guide?”

”I have.”

”You’re a Protection Paladin class, you might need to take the front line, can you handle it?”

The level gap didn’t just mean different stat points; it also affected skill cooldowns, equipment bonuses, and actual damage output. While carrying low-level players wasn’t rare, having them take the front line was quite unusual.

Rebecca reminded him with some concern: ”If you can’t, we’ll let Claude tank...”

”I’ll tank the front line,” Fu Hao said firmly.

”Are you really sure?” She raised an eyebrow slightly.

”No problem.”

Seeing his firm and confident expression, Rebecca finally compromised: ”If it doesn’t work, retreat immediately. If you die, you can’t log in for 24 hours, which isn’t worth it.”

”That won’t happen. If I die, you’ll be in even more danger.”

”Even if we take a hit, we won’t die. My class is really fast at running away,” Rebecca laughed lightly, quite carefree.

— ”Save me, big sister!”

— ”These teammates are so warm!”

— ”Care level MAX!”

”Understood, I will do my best,” Fu Hao responded earnestly.

Rebecca clicked the dungeon entrance button: ”Mister, Claude, are you ready?”

”Yeah.”

”OK.”

Just as Fu Hao was about to click confirm as well, Mister suddenly asked:

”Fu Hao, how many viewers are watching right now?”

Rebecca and Claude also turned to look—after all, their actions were being broadcast, and anyone would care about that.

”Right now... 25... no, 26...” Fu Hao replied vaguely.

”26 people? Wow, to have that after only streaming for 10 days, you’re really talented.”

”Claude, don’t talk nonsense, the viewers will laugh at you.”

”Mind your own business.”

[ ”Class” tipped 50 yuan — (Spilled the beans) ]

[ ”Leon Fu Hao” tipped 50 yuan — (It’s 260,000 people watching!) ]

[ ”Jin Hao” tipped 50 yuan — (Fun fact: Fu Hao’s debut had 50,000 viewers!) ]

Facing the flooded chat, Fu Hao just smiled and didn’t correct them. Then, he pressed the enter button.

[ Entering ”Trial of the Troll” dungeon ]

The system prompt sounded, the screen went black, and Fu Hao and Rebecca’s party officially stepped into the unknown challenge.