novellhall Chapter 223 Panel Upgrade [5000]
Chapter 223 Panel Upgrade [5000]
Chapter 223 Panel Upgrade [5000]
Chen Xun followed Director Gu En through a hidden hatch and entered the headquarters of the Nova Corps, which had a completely different style.
In an instant, the space transformed from a dimly lit, crowded museum filled with a sense of historical dust into a bright, open, and minimalist futuristic space.
The main colors here are pure white and light gray, with clean and crisp lines.
A huge circular control console is located in the center, covered with touch interfaces that emit soft light and holographic projection devices.
The most breathtaking thing is what's under your feet.
The entire control room floor is a huge lifting platform that can simulate various bumps and vibrations when a spaceship takes off, lands, or is attacked.
"When filming here, we will actually activate the vibration program."
Gunn explained, "So your standing, walking, and even falling reactions must be realistic, and we'll use green screen compositing of the spaceship's exterior scenery in post-production."
Dave cautiously stepped on the floor: "This thing won't suddenly fall down, will it?"
"Theoretically, no."
Gunn blinked: "Unless the special effects team pressed the wrong button."
Leaving the pristine white space of the futuristic world, the next stop is the interior of the raider ship, the Dark Star.
The entrance is a low, metal airlock that requires one to bend over to enter.
Once inside, the light dimmed again, and the air was filled with the smell of engine oil and stale sweat.
This place stands in stark contrast to the pristine headquarters of Nova Studios, a scene of heaven and hell.
Rusty metal pipes are exposed on the ceiling and walls.
The ground was a rough metal grid, which clanged as you walked on it.
The narrow passageway was lined with crates, broken tools, and leftover nutritional paste packaging.
The walls were covered with yellowed interstellar wanted posters and vulgar graffiti, and nails were used to hold crude souvenirs from different planets.
In one corner, there was even a makeshift toilet stall pieced together from discarded parts.
There's no need to make it so realistic!
The main actors all covered their noses with their hands.
"How did you make this taste?"
Chen Xun couldn't help but ask.
"Special spices, a touch of genuine old machine lubricant, and our prop master's exclusive formula."
Gunn grinned, quite pleased with himself: "What I want is the feeling of a bunch of rough, tough guys who've lived here for decades, thoroughly seasoned."
"Star-Lord grew up in this kind of environment, and his temperament must bear the imprint of this place."
Chen Xun reached out and touched the rough metal wall.
Staying here, Peter Quill's indelible marks of being a low-level hoodlum and prioritizing practicality become very easy to understand.
The last place we visited was the ruins of the planet Morag.
This set was created by modifying part of the structure of an abandoned factory.
Rusty industrial reaction vessels and broken pipes were preserved, painted with dark green and ochre alien moss and weathering marks.
The ground was covered with rough gravel and broken artificial rocks.
Looking up, the top of the tall studio is a vast green screen, which will expand into the sky and strange landscape of an alien wasteland in the future.
In some places, fragments of ancient alien statues, half-buried in the sand, have been laid out. Their carving style is completely different from any civilization on Earth, full of geometric shapes and traces of the erosion of time.
"Here, Star-Lord will dance his silly, adorable dance and find the Orb of Destiny."
Gunn pointed to a specially constructed circular area resembling an altar deep within the ruins: "We will use a rainmaking machine to simulate a torrential downpour. In the desolate ruins of an ancient civilization, a tiny human being will embolden himself with old songs from Earth."
In these worlds tailor-made for Star-Lord, the upgraded effects of [Character Credibility] are greatly activated.
He could almost hear Peter Quill's breathing, muttering, cursing, and occasional soliloquy in these scenes.
The emotions that I pondered while writing the character diaries now have a solid physical foundation.
[Environmental Immersion Resonance +15]
[Understanding of Character World Construction +12]
After absorbing the fallen attribute orbs, the progress bar for "Popularity" on Chen Xun's panel slowly jumped a little, reaching 100%.
Immediately afterwards, the light on the entire panel suddenly softened, and the original text quickly rearranged itself.
Several new lines of information slowly appeared:
[Breakthrough in Realm: Leading the Trend]
Your professional reputation and public influence have become a tangible trend. Your choices and success will no longer belong solely to you, but will begin to subtly influence industry perceptions and audience preferences.
At this level, you are more likely to attract high-quality projects, your public statements and actions will carry extra weight, and you will have a demonstrative effect in specific fields.
[Panel Upgrade Reward: Unlocks the advanced feature [Immersive Sweep] in the [Dream Experience Space]]
Chen Xun held his breath and continued reading.
【Immersive Sweep】:
[Non-immersive acquisition: You can choose not to personally immerse yourself in the [Dream Experience Space] dungeon and directly obtain the attribute orbs dropped by the core of the dungeon]
[Side Effect Waiver: The entire sweeping process is handled by the system agent, so you will not experience the emotional impact or mental fatigue that an immersive experience might bring.]
[Charitable Conversion: All funds used for the panel will be donated in full to legitimate charitable organizations around the world in Chen Xun's name through channels that are not traceable by the system.]
The donation process complies with the laws of various countries and generates verifiable records.
[Donation Target: You can preset your donation preferences in the panel, and the system will prioritize donating the cleanup funds to your preferred charitable sectors or specific regions. You can check your donation history and fund destination at any time.]
[Historical Settlement: Upon inspection, the cumulative immersion costs incurred by your previous use of the panel functions have been automatically donated based on your unconscious preferences (focusing on children and education), and the relevant records are now available for viewing.]
[Note: The cost of [Immersive Sweep] is positively correlated with the dungeon difficulty and the value of the target attributes. The cost of the first sweep of a new dungeon is higher, and the cost of subsequent sweeps of the same dungeon decreases.]
Chen Xun sat on the crate, holding a water bottle in his hand, and didn't move for a long time.
The noise in the photography studio seemed to be pushed away all at once.
The description of the new realm's name, "Leading the Trend," ignited his passion.
The Immersive Sweep feature was of great help to him.
The main reason he hasn't entered the dream instance again recently is that every night when he falls asleep, he always feels like he's a different person, living a different life.
Moreover, he felt that his personality seemed to have changed slightly.
-
This change is more in line with the personality shift of the protagonists in the two previously experienced instances.
This is terrible.
Once you experience a lot, you may no longer be yourself, but become a completely new person.
It's hard to say whether this feeling is a case of being possessed or a sign of personal growth.
With the new [Immersive Sweep] feature, his efficiency in acquiring key skills and attributes will be greatly improved, especially those traits that require specific life experiences to hone.
Without having to endure the heart-wrenching emotional breakdown of father-daughter separation like in Homefront, can you obtain fragments of [Fatherly Protection] to enhance the charisma of similar characters?
This is undoubtedly a huge advantage.
Time is money, and in Hollywood, time is opportunity.
What struck him even more was the explanation of the transformation of public welfare.
You spend money to become stronger, and at the same time, the money actually goes where it should!
You can even choose your own direction!
He used to think that the panel had become the dregs of capitalism when it was being upgraded, but now it seems that he misunderstood it!
This panel is simply perfect in every way!
The panel should be awarded an prize!
Chen Xun focused his mind and tried to check his previous charitable donation records.
The panel quickly switched to a simple query interface.
Several donation records are listed above:
[Amount: US$120]
[Recipient: Starlight Children's Medical Foundation]
[Purpose: Medical support for critically ill children]
[Voucher Number: (Click to view blurred bank statements and foundation receipts)]
[Amount: US$85]
[Recipient: Asia Education Equality Initiative]
[Purpose: To support education for children in remote areas]
-
[Certificate Number: (Viewable)]
Each donation project was clearly listed.
Clicking on it will also show you the specific donation receipts and bank deduction statements.
Chen Xun stared blankly at the records.
Apart from the Shadow Search Project, he has not systematically planned any charitable donation projects.
Previously, I had only had vague thoughts about it.
Is this panel a way of concretizing and implementing some of his subconscious thoughts?
Children, education, environment —
These are indeed things he cares about deeply.
This feels very strange.
It's as if another version of himself has done something important and right without his knowledge.
There was no fanfare, no press releases, it was just completed quietly.
He tried the control panel and found the interface for preset donation preferences. It contained some rough categories:
Children and adolescents, educational equity, medical research, environmental protection, humanitarian aid, culture and arts —
He can select a priority, or choose to distribute equally or intelligently.
After some thought, he prioritized children and adolescents, educational equity, and medical research.
Then, in terms of regional preferences, he chose regions with a focus on Chinese communities within a global scope.
After doing all this, he exited the query interface and returned to the main panel.
The newly unlocked [Immersive Sweep] feature is shining brightly next to the entrance of [Dream Experience Space].
After visiting those breathtaking set studios.
We returned to the accommodations arranged by the film crew.
Wash away the dust and strange smells that you picked up at the film studio.
Chen Xun sat on the living room sofa and opened the control panel.
Looking at the newly unlocked "Immersive Sweep" button, I'm itching to try it out.
"Give it a try—"
Chen Xun focused his mind and opened the dungeon list of the [Dream Experience Space].
The list is more comprehensive than before.
In addition to the "Homefront" father-daughter bond instance that he had already experienced, there were several gray (unlocked) or light blue (sweepable) icons, which seemed to indicate that as he got involved with the "Guardians of the Galaxy" project, the system automatically matched or generated relevant possible instances.
He carefully browsed the pale blue, sweepable copies:
[Case Study: Guardians of the Galaxy]
[Related Traits: Survival Rules of Alien Thugs, Initial Team Building of a Mob, Core Mindset of Using Jokes to Mask Loneliness]
[Estimated Core Output from Sweep: [Interstellar Adventurer Base] Attribute Fragments, [Unreliable Leadership] Skill Fragments]
[Numerous imprints of 80s pop culture]
Initial raid cost: $120 million
[Note: This is a condensed version of the core experience, focusing on the characters' core traits and the initial team chemistry. It does not include the complete movie plot.]
[Instance: Tomorrow's War]
[Related traits: A sense of responsibility and motivation to fight for loved ones, estrangement and potential reconciliation with parents, and growing up under immense pressure]
[Sweep Estimated Core Output: Guardian's Will Attribute Points, Understanding of Parental Responsibility Emotional Trait]
Initial raid cost: $85 million
[Note: The story focuses on the emotional entanglements and choices between the protagonist Dan and his father and daughter across three generations.]
[Instance: Interstellar]
Chen Xun's eyelids twitched as he looked at the items and their prices.
That's really expensive!
Sweeping through three instances cost a whopping $355 million in total on the first try!
This is almost half of his after-tax salary for filming "Guardians of the Galaxy".
-
But when he thought about the explanation of the charity conversion and the real donation records he saw that afternoon, he calmed down.
This money simply exists in a different form.
It transforms into tangible help, reaching those who need it.
"Consider it a donation!"
Chen Xun muttered something to himself, and the pang of heartache in his heart immediately dissipated by more than half.
He still has more than ten million dollars in his account.
Skip Interstellar, which I've already experienced, and go straight for Guardians of the Galaxy and Tomorrow's War.
The total cost will be US$205 million.
Absolutely acceptable!
Consider it an initial investment for starring in "Guardians of the Galaxy".
Without hesitation, he used his mind to select "Sweep Now" for both instances.
A confirmation prompt popped up on the panel, reiterating that the charitable use of the funds would be allocated according to the preferences he had previously set.
"confirm!"
The numbers on the panel flickered, and $205 million was deducted.
Immediately afterwards, a gentle warmth began to surge in the depths of Chen Xun's consciousness.
Unlike the intense, emotionally charged experience of immersive dungeons in the past, this is different.
There are no specific images, no dialogue, no heart-wrenching farewells or suffocating choices.
Only a large number of attribute orbs, each shimmering with a different luster, seemed to be guided by an invisible hand and merged into his body.
First, there are the attribute orbs dropped in the Guardians of the Galaxy dungeons:
[Interstellar Adventurer Base Color +12]
[Unreliable leadership +10]
[Imprints of 80s Popular Culture +25]
After absorbing the information, Chen Xun felt he had gained a deeper understanding of the underlying aspects of the cosmic environment.
There is also empathic leadership.
He inexplicably had some unorthodox ideas on how to handle internal conflicts within the team, and how to use self-deprecation or changing the subject to defuse tense moments.
This explains why Peter Quill was able to bring this group of freaks together.
There are also attribute balls related to 80s pop culture.
Chen Xun originally didn't know much about the culture of this era.
Even if you've studied specific knowledge and dance techniques, it's difficult to say that this kind of imprint is ingrained in your very being.
The attribute ball gave Chen Xun a kind of imprint that leaned more towards physical experience.
Upon hearing a certain melody fragment, the body will produce a subtle rhythmic response before the mind.
Chen Xun felt that he had gained a more accurate understanding of the context and subtle emotions conveyed by some of the slang used at the time.
Next are the attribute orbs dropped in the "Tomorrow's War" dungeon:
[Guardian's Will +8]
[Understanding of Parental Responsibility (Emotional Traits) +1]
Chen Xun continued to absorb the information.
Another wave of warmth surged into my body.
He experienced the sacrifice of giving up his life for the one he loved and the resolute determination to do something even when he knew it was impossible.
Chen Xun sat on the sofa and slowly opened his eyes.
The living room is still the same living room.
But he sensed that something was different.
My body feels more relaxed.
It's not muscle relaxation in the traditional sense, but rather an enhanced mental adaptability.
The cultural symbols of the 80s in my mind are no longer something to be recalled or imitated, but more like the background noise of my own youth.
And he has developed an almost intuitive understanding of the two states of leading a group of troublesome people and bearing heavy responsibilities.
And it has absolutely no side effects!
I didn't experience Dan Foster's panic and sacrifice during the time jump, nor did I feel Peter Quill's loneliness and struggle on the Yondu.
Those emotional wounds that could have distorted one's character were cleanly and efficiently filtered out, leaving only the pure experience attribute orbs.
"This money was well spent!"
Chen Xun muttered to himself, a smile involuntarily creeping onto his lips.
Guardians of the Galaxy has officially started filming.
The very first shot is the highlight.
The ruins of Morag, heavy rain, Star-Lord's entrance and solo dance.
Early in the morning, many staff members stood and watched in the huge soundstage of Sherburton Studios.
The rainmaking system is in place, with several thick water pipes coiled like giant pythons on the green screen roof, and indicator lights on the water valve control panel.
The meticulously arranged alien ruins on the ground were muddy from being sprayed with water beforehand, and the broken rocks and rusty pipes gleamed with a damp, eerie light under the deliberately illuminated cold light.
The ancient altar area was cleared out, and in the center of the ground was an inconspicuous marker, which was the device to trigger the rise of the cosmic orb.
Director Gunn, with his hair even messier than usual, paced back and forth in front of the monitor, clutching storyboard sketches in his hand and muttering to himself.
He insisted on using handheld camerawork combined with Steadicam long shots to film this scene, rejecting traditional multi-camera editing.
"I want a complete, uninterrupted shot, following Peter Quill from the moment he sneaks in, puts on his headphones, the music starts, and then the silly, beautiful dance begins."
Gunn emphasized to the director of photography: "The shot should be low, shaky, and have an imperfect sense of immediacy."
"He doesn't make a traditional hero entrance; he's a thief entertaining himself on a broken planet where it rains. The camera work can't be too flashy; it needs to be down-to-earth."
The director of photography, an experienced Englishman, nodded to show he understood, but there was a hint of worry in his eyes.
Long takes, especially those that combine complex movement, prop triggers, and emotional shifts, demand extremely high levels of rhythm and precision from the actors; any mistake in any part requires starting over.
Moreover, the heavy rain environment presents challenges for both the equipment and the actors' condition.
Chen Xun had already made preparations in the dressing room.
The brown leather jacket was distressed just right, and the boots were deliberately stained with mud.
The hairstylist styled his hair to look slightly greasy, as if it hadn't been properly groomed in a long time.
The most important prop.
The old Sony Walkman and headphones have been checked several times to make sure the play button makes a sound as soon as it's pressed.
He sat in the chair with his eyes closed.
Instead of consciously thinking about the actions, I let the [80s pop culture imprint] and [interstellar adventurer background] acquired through [immersive sweep] take effect in my consciousness.
He could almost smell the damp dust of the ruins in the rain, feel the loneliness of being alone in a strange place, and the excitement of finding his treasure.
As for dance—
Those melodies and rhythms seem to have been etched into muscle memory.
Director Gunn gave each department a final check, then picked up the walkie-talkie: "All departments, prepare. Chen, are you ready?"
Chen Xun opened his eyes and picked up the portable music player.
The cold air in the photography studio invigorated him.
He walked to the starting point of the filming.
"Okay, let's get ready to film."
7
Gunn's voice came through the walkie-talkie, "Prepare for rainmaking—"
Action!
"6