77: Desert smoke, sharpening swords on the battlefield

Director Marcus Lee's "Western Regions Immersion Experience" trip arranged for Lin Da was astonishingly efficient.

Just three days after their conversation that changed An Si Yuan's character fate, Lin Da, accompanied by Emily and escorted by a capable team of professional guides, translators, and security personnel, embarked on a journey to the mysterious land of China's northwest frontier, a place filled with ancient legends and exotic charm.

There was no script, no lines, not even a clear mission.

Lin Da's sole purpose for this trip was, as Marcus Lee hoped, to feel, to experience, to completely immerse himself in that unfamiliar environment, so different from modern cities, and to find... his own unique An Si Yuan.

The plane soared over the vast Gobi Desert; outside the window, there was endless yellow sand and continuous snow-capped mountains. That desolate, majestic, and isolated grand scenery made Lin Da's heart expand along with it.

He knew that this land had once been a crucial hub of the Silk Road and an ancient battlefield where countless heroes competed. An Si Yuan's story unfolded in such a land full of legendary and tragic colors.

Upon arriving at the destination—a small town near the border that still retained a strong nomadic flavor—Lin Da did not immediately begin the so-called "experience."

He first spent two days, led by the guide, exploring every corner of the town. He visited the local bazaar market, tasted the rugged and hearty roasted whole lamb and mare's milk wine, listened to the desolate ballads sung in ancient Hu language, and had simple exchanges with the dark-skinned, simple-eyed local residents.

He tried his best to see with his own eyes, listen with his own ears, and feel with his own heart... every vibrant life, every unique mark on this land.

The [Cross-Cultural Communication Handbook (Beginner)] played a huge role in this process. It allowed Lin Da to adapt more quickly to the unfamiliar language environment and cultural customs, and also made it easier for him to build trust and friendship with the locals.

And the "Affinity" mode in the Aura Control (Intermediate) skill made him like a natural "diplomat"; no matter where he went, he could quickly integrate into the local atmosphere and get along well with the straightforward and hospitable herders.

On the third day, the real "immersion experience" officially began.

Through the guide's introduction, Lin Da stayed with a Kazakh nomadic family who had been herding for generations.

This was a typical nomadic family, living in traditional yurts, eating simple naan bread and milk tea. Although their life was tough, it was full of primitive vitality and reverence for nature.

Lin Da ate and lived with them, herded together, milked together, and sang and danced around the bonfire together.

He learned to ride a horse; although he fell many times at first, with the guidance of experienced herders, he quickly became able to gallop across the vast grassland like a true prairie man, feeling the exhilarating freedom and boldness.

He learned archery; although his aim still needed improvement, every time he drew the bowstring and aimed at a distant target, he could feel a warrior's focus and decisiveness.

He even followed a respected old Aken (Kazakh folk singer) and learned a few lines of heroic epic sung in the ancient Hu language. The desolate and soaring melody, the powerful and tragic lyrics, made him feel as if he had truly traveled through time, back to that heroic era of war and swift revenge.

During this process, Lin Da did not deliberately "act" An Si Yuan, nor did he think about the plot and lines in the script.

He simply emptied himself, like a sponge, greedily absorbing all the nourishment this land gave him.

He felt the roughness of the Gobi wind and sand blowing across his cheeks, the icy coldness of the snowmelt, the scorching heat of the earth under the blazing sun, and the tranquility and vastness of the grassland under the starry sky.

He laughed and grieved with the simple and kind herders, and together, in a harsh environment, they showed the most instinctive love and resilience for life.

Gradually, he found that the character An Si Yuan was no longer cold words on a script, nor was he deliberate conceptions in his mind.

He seemed... to have truly come alive.

He could feel An Si Yuan's deep longing and reluctance for his homeland, and he could also understand his complex emotions of loyalty and estrangement towards the Tang Dynasty while being in a foreign land.

He could appreciate An Si Yuan's bravery and determination when fighting valiantly on the battlefield, and he could also feel his loneliness and confusion when facing his inner struggles alone in the dead of night.

This feeling was very wonderful, and very... profound.

Just as he was completely immersed in this wonderful experience of soul fusion with the character, a system prompt suddenly sounded in his mind:

"Ding! Detected that the host's understanding and emotional resonance with the character 'An Si Yuan' in the 'Western Regions Immersion Experience' have reached an unprecedented height!"

"[Character Resonance Talisman (Advanced)] effect triggered! The host's emotional connection with the character 'An Si Yuan' has reached a critical point!"

"Ding! Congratulations, host! Three [Golden Supporting Role Exclusive Skill Fragments] have been collected! Do you want to synthesize a brand new Golden Supporting Role Exclusive Skill immediately?"

A brand new exclusive skill!

Lin Da's heart suddenly pounded!

He knew that on this ancient and mysterious land, he had not only found his own An Si Yuan but also gained an... unexpected huge surprise!

He muttered silently in his heart: "Synthesize!"

"Synthesize!"

Following Lin Da's decisive command in his heart, the three [Golden Supporting Role Exclusive Skill Fragments] in his mind, emitting a faint golden light, instantly transformed into three streams of light, intertwining, merging, and finally condensing into a brand new skill rune, radiating brilliant light!

"Ding! Congratulations, host! Successfully synthesized a brand new Golden Supporting Role Exclusive Skill—Character Essence (Beginner Level)!"

"Character Essence (Beginner Level): When the host portrays any supporting role, they can more quickly and accurately capture and display the core qualities and soul essence of the character, making the character image more vivid and three-dimensional, and significantly improving the character's fit with the plot and their appeal. At the beginner level, it can slightly increase the final evaluation of all supporting role performances and has a certain chance to trigger the 'Finishing Touch' effect (at critical moments, through a gaze, a line of dialogue, or an action, instantly elevate the character, leaving an unforgettable deep impression on the audience)."

Character Essence!

Lin Da's heart suddenly pounded!

This skill was simply... heaven-defying!

If the previous Aura Control and Speech Manipulation (Intermediate) skills mostly improved his acting skills at the level of "technique," then this Character Essence directly touched the "Dao" of acting!

It could help Lin Da grasp the character's soul faster and more accurately, which was undoubtedly the most valuable ability for an actor!

Lin Da could clearly feel that with the activation of this new skill, his understanding of the character "An Si Yuan" had ascended to a whole new level. He seemed to be able to touch the most hidden emotions deep within this character, and feel every pulsation and struggle of his soul.

This feeling was mysterious yet incredibly real.

Just as Lin Da was immersed in this wonderful epiphany, the week-long "Western Regions Immersion Experience" trip gradually came to an end.

During these seven days, Lin Da ate and lived with the simple and kind herders, rode horses, drew bows and shot arrows, and freely poured out his sweat and passion on the boundless grasslands and Gobi. He seemed to have truly become a weathered border wanderer, feeling the desolation and grandeur belonging to the lonely smoke in the desert, and experiencing the sorrow and exhilaration belonging to the Hujia and Qiangdi flutes.

When he bid farewell to the reluctant herders and re-boarded the plane back to Los Angeles, his eyes were completely different from when he arrived.

No longer the initial inquiry and curiosity, but an added... profoundness, introversion, and a hint of chilling sharpness honed by the wind and sand, belonging to An Si Yuan.

When Director Marcus Lee met Lin Da at the airport, he could hardly believe his eyes.

The young man in front of him, though still gentle and humble, had an indescribable sense of vicissitude and... killing intent in his brows!

That feeling was like a treasured sword that had seen much battle; though hidden in its sheath, its sharp, cold gleam could not be concealed.

"Lin... you..." Marcus Lee looked at Lin Da, momentarily speechless.

"Director Li," Lin Da smiled slightly, his eyes as calm as water, "I'm back."

"Good! What a 'back'!" Marcus Lee's eyes burst with unprecedented excitement and admiration, "Lin, the surprise you've given me is simply too great! I can feel that you... you have found An Si Yuan's soul!"

"Perhaps." Lin Da smiled noncommittally.

He knew the real test was yet to come.

The filming of the last silk road echo was even harder and... more exciting than Lin Da had imagined.

Hollywood's production system is highly professional, but it also means extremely high intensity and pressure. Every shot, every detail, is required to be perfect, without the slightest flaw.

Although An Si Yuan, played by Lin Da, was only a supporting role, his scenes were quite demanding, with many high-difficulty action and equestrian scenes.

Fortunately, Lin Da's "immersion experience" in the Western Regions laid a solid foundation for him. Whether it was riding a horse and shooting arrows, or close combat, he could perform them convincingly, even better than some professional stunt doubles.

This made the crew's martial arts director and action director look at him with new eyes and praise him endlessly.

And in terms of dramatic scenes, Lin Da showed astonishing strength.

His newly acquired Character Essence (Beginner Level) skill made him feel completely at ease and effortless when portraying the character An Si Yuan.

He could precisely capture An Si Yuan's subtle emotional changes in different situations, using a gaze, a micro-expression, or even the rhythm of a breath, to vividly display the character's inner contradictions, struggles, and that deeply hidden tragedy, to the fullest extent.

During the filming of a major scene where An Si Yuan and the protagonist—a Western Regions envoy with a mission—drank under the moonlight and talked about ideals and destiny, Lin Da's performance reached an unprecedented height.

He portrayed An Si Yuan's complex state of mind—yearning for light yet deeply mired in darkness; longing for loyalty yet having to face betrayal—with heartbreaking depth.

His English lines, under the double blessing of [Language Talent (Intermediate)] and Speech Manipulation (Intermediate), were even more infectious and convincing. Every word seemed to carry the character's emotions and power, deeply moving everyone present.

Even the Hollywood A-list superstar playing the protagonist, when acting opposite Lin Da, was involuntarily drawn into that tragic and helpless atmosphere, and his eyes even became a little moist.

"Cut! Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"

When the last shot was finished, Director Marcus Lee could no longer suppress his excitement. He suddenly stood up from behind the monitor and clapped vigorously.

The entire studio erupted in thunderous applause.

Everyone was completely conquered by Lin Da's "textbook-level" performance just now!

Lin Da stood in the center of the set, breathing slightly, with a relieved smile on his face.

He knew that he had won another beautiful tough battle on this "battlefield" of Hollywood!

And his path to becoming a diamond lead actor became clearer and more... anticipated because of this victory!