Chapter 125: The Best Way to Respond (Fourth Update)

Indeed, when it comes to the art of levitation performances, David Copperfield had already showcased it on stage thirty years ago, and Chris managed to perform a skywalk in broad daylight. Their works emerged during a golden era when there were far fewer exposés; people’s understanding of technology was limited, so the spectacle felt akin to witnessing superpowers.

Now, after so many years, audiences have become more discerning and critical. They see the form and immediately spot the flaws. In an age where Hollywood special effects can convincingly blur the line between real and fake, half-informed skeptics abound. These critics relish voicing dissenting or disparaging opinions. Trolls don’t need reasons to exist; sometimes they want to appear enlightened while others are deluded, sometimes they just enjoy being provocative. Yet their voices inevitably disrupt the rhythm surrounding Li Lekang’s magic.

Li Lekang stands so far above others that people have deified him, attributing supernatural powers to his performances, which only raises the bar higher. If another magician attempted the same, it would be considered a fine show, but for him, it’s merely average. Human nature is such that a few harsh critiques often stir more emotion than pages of praise. Li Lekang fixated on the negative reviews and grew quite upset.

He was originally proud of how exquisitely he had rendered the flying act—a scene that should have drawn widespread admiration. Instead, a few pests crawled into his view, nauseating him. He wanted to retort, “What do you know? Go ahead and criticize all you want!” But then he calmed himself, realizing that such childish quarrels with a tiny minority were pointless.

Perhaps it was because he cared so deeply about the outcome that he was so easily ruffled. After regaining composure, he chose to focus on the positive—the countless fans who continued to appreciate and praise his artistry.

This was a splendid opportunity to showcase the fusion of Chinese art and magic. Li Lekang ignored the trolls, but he also refused to let them steal the spotlight. Only those truly familiar with him, like Daniel Cooper, refrained from chiming in with baseless commentary. Cooper possessed a sixth sense; he knew Li Lekang’s old rival would not be so easily unmasked.

Given Li Lekang’s history of overturning conventions and his penchant for directly confronting doubters, there was no way he would resort to such a clichéd trick, especially not after investing so heavily in production costs. The artistic imagery, the exquisite costumes and props—all bore witness to his craftsmanship. Years ago, on the “Got Talent” stage, Li Lekang had performed a levitation trick with just a single coat that Cooper still can’t fully explain. And now you tell me this high-budget production relied on a two-decade-old gimmick? Cooper was the first to disbelieve it.

The ones who know you best are often your fiercest rivals. Cooper was living proof of this truth. Sure enough, not long after, Li Lekang’s official channel announced a performance.

The main message was: “We’re delighted to see everyone’s love for the flying act. In our upcoming show in Yanjing, we will perform this breathtaking levitation live on stage. Stay tuned!”

The moment this announcement dropped, the outside world’s criticisms lost much of their venom.

This was undoubtedly the best possible response to the doubters—no quarrels, no condescending lectures about how amateurs don’t understand, no PR spin or lawyer’s statements. Just pure confidence delivered through a live performance.

“I’m going to perform live!”

Video magic cannot be replicated live unless the entire audience is in on it. But Li Lekang’s upcoming show in Yanjing could hold nearly twenty thousand spectators.

Clearly, he was warning anyone tempted to provoke him: don’t even try.

This announcement also invigorated his loyal fans.

When those troll comments appeared, their rebuttals felt inadequate because no one knew if this magical spectacle could truly be recreated in reality. Some began to suspect that the video relied heavily on special effects rather than pure magic, casting doubt on the feasibility of a live performance.

But no one expected Li Lekang to deliver a surprise so soon.

He was going to perform it live.

Now his diehard fans could respond with fierce pride.

The counter-comments under the negative reviews nearly flooded the critics’ private messages.

Li Lekang expertly stirred a fan frenzy.

Thanks to this massive wave of momentum and exposure, anticipation for his show in China soared.

Previously, most tickets were snapped up by Chinese fans, but with this video and announcement out, foreign fans could not sit still—they flocked to ticket platforms, hoping for last-minute releases.

Some who had to cancel due to scheduling conflicts had refunded tickets, and others hoped to snag these lucky chances.

Yet, they were clearly naive; tickets had long been sold out.

Even before the flying act video appeared, tickets were scarce. Now, after such a bombshell, resale prices had skyrocketed tenfold.

Those who hadn’t returned their tickets considered themselves fortunate, as the few remaining seats were beyond the financial reach of ordinary people. If you wanted to be among the first to witness the spectacle, scalpers were mercilessly hiking prices.

Although the official team cracked down on these practices, honestly, how could scalpers ever be completely eradicated? They always have connections and unexpected channels.

Thus, fervent fans continued to pay up. Many were willing to cross oceans to witness this grand event. The fever spread rapidly, spilling over into the entertainment industry’s elite circles.

When Li Lekang last performed in New York, the scene was star-studded. This time in Yanjing, Judy and CNA arranged the lineup, inviting numerous celebrities.

After the video went viral, more stars showed up uninvited, eager to network and willing to pay for entry. Insider sources revealed alternative routes through the female dancers.

Tang Siyi and others had signed contracts to serve as lead actresses in the flying show and naturally held some VIP tickets. This attracted attention, and prices soared.

The national team’s dancers had seen many big stages, but compared to the frenzied fandom, they still fell short.

Rarely did anyone go through such trouble just to get a few tickets from them, which left them feeling a little disappointed—were they not worthy of being treated like goddesses?

They marveled at Li Lekang’s immense charm, yet found it amusing that people placed them on such a pedestal since they only had a handful of tickets to offer, mostly for family or close friends.

The allure of Li Lekang’s show tickets truly surpassed most outsiders’ imaginations.

A magician’s solo show sparked the entertainment industry’s bustling start to the year?

It was like a long-retired pop king suddenly announcing a concert, and everyone erupted in celebration.

Many who previously knew little about him now recognized Li Lekang’s name. After watching the videos and learning more, many were likely to become fans.

At least from the perspective of promoting Chinese art and culture, few could reject him, and many felt a strong affinity, making it easy to win over new followers.

Judy, ever sharp, was quick to capitalize on this moment.

She had been orchestrating the marketing campaign for some time. A performance that so many stars longed to see—if Li Lekang isn’t a deity, then who is?

She also arranged a grand entrance—VIP lanes for celebrities and socialites, a red carpet fashion show, and a host of media photographers—to elevate the event’s prestige.

Thus, this delayed March performance only gained more heat, propelled by the flying act that took the entire internet by storm. Audience anticipation reached a fever pitch, making it the first major entertainment extravaganza of the year.

P.S.: Fourth update delivered. If you have monthly tickets or recommendation votes, please consider casting them.