"High Priest!" Wang Ye greeted with a tired nod.
The High Priest, Marcus Thorne, turned around at the sound of the voice, his long white beard swaying in the mountain breeze.
"Wudang's Wang Ye... pays his respects to the High Priest!"
Leo Vance, in character as Wang Ye, performed a traditional fist-and-palm salute. He delivered the classic line with an incredibly lazy, East Coast drawl, a cadence that suggested he'd much rather be napping than participating in a supernatural tournament.
The audience watching at home felt a collective jolt of electricity. There was something undeniably magnetic about that specific blend of ancient etiquette and modern apathy. The "lazy vibe" wasn't just acting; it felt like it was woven into Leo's very soul.
As soon as the line was uttered.
The live chat on Global Stream was instantly buried under a synchronized avalanche:
["Wudang's Wang Ye pays his respects to the High Priest!"]
["Wudang's Wang Ye pays his respects to the High Priest!"]
["Wudang's Wang Ye pays his respects to the High Priest!"]
Blue Ridge Mountains.The Living Room of "Mountain Retreat".
Since there were no "Naked Hero" or "Social Death" scenes in this specific segment, Asher Reed (Asher) had finally stopped hiding in his hoodie and began to regain his usual active personality.
When he heard Leo Vance deliver that famous greeting on screen, Asher couldn't resist. He stood up in the middle of the cabin, striking the same pose. "Wudang's Wang... Ye... pays his respects to the High Priest!"
Watching Asher's overly dramatic posture, Zane also stood up to join the fun. He laughed and pointed at Asher: "Mountain Retreat's Zane... pays his respects to Asher Reed!"
Seeing the boys having such a good time, Dakota Fanning also stood up with a giggle. "Mountain Retreat's Dakota... pays her respects to Asher Reed!"
Gordon Ramsey and Ryan sat on the sofa, smiling as they watched the young stars play around. They even found themselves silently reciting the line. It was strangely catchy, a bit of "cultural magic" that Leo had imported from his memories.
The live-stream audience for the variety show was loving the interaction:
[Wait, did Asher just say he was 'Wudang Wang'? Like, a King? He's so arrogant!]
[Leo's Wang Ye is just too cool. He makes being lazy look like a superpower.]
[High Priest: "So you're the kid they call Wudang Wang? This old man is going to teach you some humility today!"]
Raten Taishou Competition Venue.
Amidst the audience's peak anticipation, Asher Reed's character, Asher Reed, finally made his tournament debut!
He walked onto the stone arena wearing a heavy, dramatic black cloak that fluttered in the wind. He had a faint, incredibly pretentious smirk on his face, the look of a man who held the secrets of the universe in his pocket.
His three opponents, minor Outcasts from smaller sects were momentarily intimidated by his sheer aura. They stepped back nervously.
"Asher Reed... everyone is talking about your 'Origin Qi' technique," one of them said, his voice shaking. "We want to see it for ourselves!"
"Three against one," another added, trying to sound tough. "Don't blame us for bullying you!"
"Bully me?" Asher burst into a fit of laughter, as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the history of the world.
The audience watching on their phones was equally confused. Asher was facing three opponents at once, yet he was calm, even mocking. They began to wonder: Did Leo Vance give him a secret power-up? Is he about to unleash a 'Domain' level move?!
"Just you three?" Asher's eyes flared with a scripted arrogance. "You think you're worthy of witnessing the Origin Qi? Boastful! You're barely surviving by clinging to each other's weak energy. I didn't expect my first opponents to be mere ants like you!"
"Ants?!" The three opponents were shocked and enraged.
"That's right!" Asher pointed a single, dominant finger toward the sky. "The only ones worthy of my full power are the Chairman of the Atlas Corp, the High Priest, and the Ten Elders! What I want to take down... is this firmament!!"
As soon as those words left his lips, the domineering aura emanating from Asher Reed seemed to shock the entire stadium.
Mountain Retreat.
The live chat was boiling over with newfound respect for Asher:
[ASHER! HE FINALLY STOOD UP!]
[So domineering! I'm sorry for mocking him earlier! He's a true protagonist!]
["What I want to take down is this firmament!" That is the hardest line of the year!]
[He's a true man! He finally achieved success in his training!]
Zane was pumping his fist in the air. "Asher! That was awesome! You really are the King!"
Gordon Ramsey nodded, genuinely impressed. "He finally stood firm. It wasn't easy for him, but he did it."
"I knew it," Ryan added. "A male lead can't be a coward forever. Leo Vance knows how to write a redemption arc."
Dakota Fanning's eyes were brimming with admiration. Asher Reed, meanwhile, felt a cold sweat breaking out across his entire body. His heart was filled with a thousand "Grass Mud Horses" galloping past his sanity. He was regretting every life choice that led to this moment.
Stop praising me! Asher screamed internally. Please, just stop!
"Uh... don't praise me too much," Asher forced out a smile that was uglier than a sob. "Just... just keep watching. Asher Reed is indeed... extraordinarily awesome."
Leo Vance had told him during filming to act this part with absolute, 100% conviction. He had told him to be as "Alpha" as possible, specifically to maximize the "Contrast" for what came next.
The plot on screen continued.
One of the opponents, a young man named Silas (Zhuge Qing/Shokatsu Sei), stopped his companions from rushing forward. His face was solemn. "He's right. It's not fair for us to win three-on-one. It goes against our dignity as challengers!"
Silas looked at Asher with newfound respect. "Asher Reed, thank you. You've woken me up! I'm not here just to win; I'm here to confirm the gap between myself and a true master. I want to challenge you to a one-on-one duel!"
"One-on-one?" Asher, still sitting on the ground with his legs crossed, let out a sneer. "On what grounds? Don't insult the Origin Qi. If you want to challenge me, prove you're the strongest of the three first!"
"You! You! And you!" Asher shouted, his voice echoing. "Which one of you is qualified to receive the baptism of my technique? Fight! And let the winner face me!"
Under the spell of Asher's impassioned, "Boss-tier" speech, the three opponents immediately turned on each other. A fierce, high-speed battle erupted between them while Asher watched from his seated position like a king on a throne.
Eventually, Silas emerged victorious, having exhaustedly defeated his two companions. He stood before Asher, panting, his face full of a warrior's resolve. "Asher Reed! I've earned the right! Give me your best shot!"
Asher, however, remained calm. "Sit down. Calm your turbulent aura. Adjust your Qi to its peak state. In your current condition, I refuse to attack you. It would be beneath me."
"Thank you, Asher!" Silas was visibly moved, tears of respect forming in his eyes. "It is an honor to face an opponent with such integrity!"
Silas sat on the ground, closed his eyes, and began to circulate his energy to recover.
The audience was completely moved. They had totally changed their minds about Asher Reed. He wasn't a loser; he was a noble, high-level master.
Then, the style changed.
Asher Reed suddenly stood up. He looked calmly at the referee. "Referee... if I hit him now, it's not a foul, right?"
The referee's face went dark. "Technically no foul... but I really want to hit you myself right now."
Silas's eyes snapped open in horror. "WHAT?! What happened to the dignity of a strong cultivator?!"
"Dignity?" Asher Reed said with a bright, scoundrel-like smile. "How much is that worth per pound?"
Without another word, Asher ripped off his majestic cloak, rushed forward, and began to mercilessly beat the meditating, defenseless Silas.
"AHHHHH!!! DAMN YOU, ASHER REED!!!"
The screams of the betrayed Silas echoed throughout the stadium, marking the official birth of the most "Shameless" protagonist in the history of national television.