Chapter 505 - 411: Prize, Eight into Four

"Whoa! Whoa! If it isn’t our esteemed boss?" Rock Johnson’s voice rang out once again.

The online stream was instantly flooded with comments.

"Holy shit! Isn’t that Wu Yun? I heard he’s the one who funded and organized this Titan Game!"

"To the user above, let me correct you on something! It’s not ’I heard’! It’s a fact! Just a few days ago, Wu Yun posted on his Weibo telling everyone to follow the Titan Game."

"I just want to know who that girl next to my husband is!"

"What do you mean, *your* husband! He’s *my* husband!"

But these few comments didn’t make much of a splash, because Wu Yun stood up, took off his t-shirt, and revealed the tight-fitting tank top underneath. The words "Titan Game" were printed on it—he had clearly come prepared.

"Ah! That body, those arms! Those abs! I’m gonna die!"

...

Wu Yun had no idea what people were saying online. Today was his first time appearing in a public setting, so as soon as he stepped onto the stage, he was met with a warm welcome from the audience. After all, most of the spectators here knew who Wu Yun was.

He quickly walked to the competition area in the center, where most of the obstacle courses were being dismantled, leaving only two lanes in place.

Rock Johnson also came onto the field holding a microphone, laughing as he shook hands or hugged a few lucky audience members before finally arriving in front of Wu Yun.

"My esteemed boss! Before we watch your spectacular performance, I’m sure many in the audience have questions for you, so I’ll ask some on their behalf!"

Rock Johnson faced the camera, raised an eyebrow, and said with a smile, "Why spend so much money to host a competition like this?"

Wu Yun took the microphone, and his face instantly appeared on the screen. His features rivaled those of any male celebrity—especially his sharp, chiseled jawline. Paired with his muscular physique, it made many women involuntarily cover their mouths.

"Hello, everyone! I’m Wu Yun! I believe many of you have gotten to know me through various channels!"

"And for those who don’t, well, now we do!"

Wu Yun’s lame joke still managed to make quite a few people laugh.

"I’ve loved working out since I was a child, and I’ve kept up the habit to this day!"

"So, as for why I’m holding this competition, my hobby is one of the reasons."

Wu Yun looked at the camera with a serious expression and said, "The second reason is that as a young person from Huaxia, I spend a lot of time online. I’ve noticed that aesthetic standards, both in our country and in others, have changed!"

"Strength and beauty were once a timeless aesthetic. Whether in Western statues or Huaxian murals, a strong, powerful build was the ideal of the era."

"But now, that’s changed! Strength and beauty have become niche. At least in Huaxia, this aesthetic has been challenged at some point, and delicate, fair-featured men have become more popular with some women!"

At this point, Wu Yun no longer cared what some female netizens might think. "When did being muscular become a synonym for ’disgusting’!?"

"Of course, I think being ugly is probably the main reason for that!"

The online chat immediately erupted with laughter, though there were, of course, a few dissenting voices.

"Hahahaha! My husband is speaking the plain truth! If all muscular guys had his face, I’d be a huge fan!"

"This damn era of judging by looks!"

Just then, Wu Yun continued, "I believe that exercising more not only gives us a strong physique, but also more courage and mettle!"

"If we men ever get to the point where we’re crying over a small cut, then I’d say our mettle has been pretty much worn away!"

"It might be an exaggeration, but abroad, you might find a gym every hundred meters! But in our country, you’ll find a pharmacy every hundred meters! Sometimes you have to step outside to see the difference in mindset."

At this, Wu Yun smiled and said, "Of course, another reason for hosting this competition is to prove that even though aesthetic standards have been a bit distorted in recent years, strength and beauty are still the mainstream ideal."

As Wu Yun finished his speech, he was met with a wave of applause.

He handed the microphone back to Rock Johnson, who said with a laugh, "So that’s the reason! When you first approached me, I thought you just wanted to make money! Turns out, the show hasn’t made much, but we’ve sure given out a lot in prize money!"

"Alright! Our time is limited, so if any other friends have questions, please leave a message on our official website!"

"Now, let’s begin today’s challenge!"

Johnson scanned the line of lucky audience members and said with a smile, "Ladies first. Let’s welcome our lovely ladies!"

Two female audience members walked onto the course and stood next to the large iron balls.

The first woman chosen looked at the iron chain, which was nearly as thick as her forearm, and hesitated for a moment before picking up the hammer from the ground.

But the weight of the hammer, connected to the chain, was far beyond her imagination; she nearly lost her grip and dropped it.

The woman tried to pull the chain, but the iron ball didn’t budge an inch.

Just as she was about to try a second time, a gasp came from the side.

The other contestant, a "King Kong Barbie," was gripping the chain with both hands and pushing backward with her feet. The massive iron ball was actually being dragged by her, slowly inching forward.

However, about halfway through, the woman’s strength seemed to give out. Her chest heaved violently, but the iron ball’s movement slowed to a crawl and finally stopped.

Even so, she earned a round of applause from the live audience.

"That’s incredible!" Johnson’s eyes went wide with a look of disbelief.