Lin Wei woke to a new mission notification blazing across his vision.
[MANDATORY COLLAB MISSION UNLOCKED!]
[Time since last content post: 36 hours]
[Your audience is getting RESTLESS, Host! They want more partnership content! Give the people what they want!]
He groaned and sat up. "It's barely dawn."
[Content creation waits for no one! Plus, this mission has EXCELLENT rewards, and terrible failure penalties. So get up!]
Lin Wei pulled up the mission details:
[MISSION: Partner Synchronization - Dual Content (Advanced)]
Objective: Create collaborative cultivation content with Partner #1 (Mei Ling). Demonstrate advanced synchronization techniques to your audience.
Requirements:
- Minimum 8 minutes of joint content
- Must show clear Qi synchronization
- Must demonstrate progression from previous video
- Both partners must actively participate
- Content must be educational BUT engaging
Suggested Content: Joint cultivation tutorial, synchronized meditation, dual technique demonstration
Rewards:
- +20 Qi Purity (both participants)
- +10% Synchronization Rate
- Unlock "Resonance Technique" (allows Qi sharing during combat)
- +100 Subscribers (estimated)
- Partner bond strengthened
Failure Penalty:
- Qi Dissonance (cannot be within 10 meters of each other for 1 week)
- Both participants lose -15 Qi Purity
- -50 Subscribers
- Partnership destabilization
Time Limit: 24 hours
Note: System will provide "optimization suggestions" during recording. These are MANDATORY for maximum effectiveness.
"Mandatory optimization suggestions?" Lin Wei read aloud. "That sounds ominous."
[They're helpful! I'm just going to suggest poses and techniques that maximize your Qi synchronization on camera. Very professional!]
"The last time you 'helped' with a video, it turned into an accidental thirst trap."
[And it got you 150 subscribers! You're welcome! Now get dressed and find Mei, you two have content to create!]
Lin Wei found Mei in the library, which wasn't surprising. What was surprising was that she already knew about the mission.
"I got the notification too," she said, closing the book she'd been reading. "The system woke me up at dawn with urgent messages."
"Same."
They sat at a study table in the back corner, away from other disciples but not "The" suspiciously private away.
"So," Mei said quietly. "Advanced synchronization techniques, on camera."
"The system says it'll provide optimization suggestions."
Mei's eyes narrowed behind her glasses. "That sounds like it's going to make us do embarrassing things."
"Almost certainly."
"Should we... plan ahead? Try to maintain some control over the content?"
"Good idea, what if we structure it as a tutorial? You explain the theory, I demonstrate the techniques, we show synchronized cultivation at the end."
"Educational content," Mei said, nodding. "That gives us a framework, harder for the system to derail."
[I can hear you plotting, you know. I'm literally inside both your heads.]
"We know," they said in unison.
[And I APPRECIATE the strategic thinking! It shows growth! But fair warning: my "suggestions" are based on actual Qi optimization. If I tell you to adjust your position, it's because that position will improve your cultivation effectiveness. The fact that it ALSO looks appealing to viewers is just bonus efficiency!]
"That's what concerns us," Mei muttered.
[Ye of little faith! Now go set up in the cultivation cave, we're filming in three hours. That gives you time to plan, practice and panic appropriately.]
Few hours later, they stood in the alchemycave with a recording array set up and a rough script prepared.
"Ready?" Lin Wei asked.
Mei took a deep breath. "As ready as I'll ever be."
They activated the array.
"Hello," Mei said to the camera, voice steadier than Lin Wei expected. "I'm Mei Ling, this is Lin Wei, and today we're demonstrating advanced partner synchronization techniques for dual cultivation."
"These techniques are designed for practitioners with compatible Qi signatures," Lin Wei added. "They won't work for everyone, but for those with natural resonance, they can significantly amplify cultivation speed."
[Good start! Now Mei, explain the theoretical foundation while Host demonstrates basic poses.]
Mei launched into an explanation of Qi resonance theory—how compatible energy signatures could harmonize and amplify each other, her academic background showed; she was clear, detailed and genuinely informative.
Lin Wei demonstrated basic meditation poses while she talked.
[Excellent! Now move to synchronized breathing demonstration. You'll need to sit facing each other closer. CLOSER, within arm's reach.]
They shifted positions as instructed.
"Synchronized breathing is the foundation of partner cultivation," Mei explained. "When two practitioners align their breath patterns, their Qi naturally begins to resonate."
[Perfect! Now demonstrate. Inhale together, exhale together. Make sure the camera can see both of you.]
They began breathing in sync.
Immediately, their Qi responded—that familiar pull, like magnets aligning.
[Good! Now, place your hands in the standard meditation mudra—no wait. Actually, try THIS position instead. Much better Qi flow.]
A diagram appeared in their visions showing a hand position that required their palms to press together, fingers intertwined.
"Uh," Lin Wei said. "Lú Tǐ is suggesting a different hand position."
"For Qi flow optimization?" Mei asked.
[Exactly! This position creates multiple contact points, which enhances energy conductivity by 43%. Very scientific!]
They slowly moved their hands into the suggested position.
The moment their palms pressed together and fingers interlaced, the Qi connection intensified dramatically.
Both of them gasped.
"Oh," Mei breathed. "That's... that's much stronger."
Their hands were clasped together between them, fingers intertwined, and the Qi spiraling between their palms was visible now—faint golden light mixed with reddish fire.
[See? OPTIMIZATION. Now hold this for thirty seconds while Mei explains what's happening.]
Mei's voice was slightly breathless as she continued: "When... when multiple contact points are established, the Qi exchange becomes more efficient. You can feel the energy circulating between—"
[Great! Now for the next optimization you need to align your spinal meridians, that means sitting closer, much closer. Knees touching at minimum.]
"How close?" Lin Wei asked.
[I'll show you.]
A diagram appeared showing them sitting so close their knees were pressed together, upper bodies slightly leaned forward, hands still clasped.
They adjusted position.
Now they were close enough that Lin Wei could count Mei's eyelashes, could even see the faint gold piece in her brown eyes, even felt her breath against his face.
"This is very close," Mei said quietly.
"Yeah."
Their Qi was going absolutely wild now—synchronization rate climbing rapidly as their meridians aligned.
[Perfect! Now just hold this position and breathe, let the resonance build naturally.]
They breathed together. In. Out. In. Out.
The Qi between them intensified, even the air around was warm with heat.
Lin Wei could feel Mei's emotions through the connection—nervousness, excitement, and something warmer. Affection, maybe or maybe just her breath.
"The synchronization rate is increasing," Mei said, still trying to maintain her educational commentary. "When practitioners maintain close proximity and multiple contact points, their Qi signatures begin to merge at the edges. This creates—"
[Excellent! Now for the advanced demonstration. I need you to try a spinal alignment technique. Host, place your free hand on her lower back. Mei, place yours on his shoulder. This will complete the energy circuit.]