81: Swords unsheathed, tenderness on the battlefield

That heavy Tang blade, radiating an ancient aura, was like a silent vow, connecting Lin Da with the character An Si Yuan, a soul bond spanning thousands of years.

In the following days, Lin Da poured almost all his time into this “Blade of the Great Tang General.”

He didn't rush to practice any flashy blade techniques; instead, he started with the most basic actions: holding the blade, drawing it, chopping, slashing, and stabbing, repeating these tedious and monotonous movements over and over again.

His newly acquired [Character Exclusive Weapon Mastery (Elementary)] skill played a crucial role in this process.

Every time he gripped the hilt, he could clearly feel an indescribable sense of familiarity coming from the blade, as if this blade was inherently a part of his body. He could easily grasp the blade's center of gravity, feel its sharpness, and even… faintly hear the mournful cries it once made on the battlefields of war.

He locked himself in the hotel gym or in a deserted corner of the park in the early morning, swinging this Tang blade repeatedly. Sweat soaked his clothes, and blisters formed on his hands, but he felt no fatigue; instead, he became more excited and more… immersed with each practice.

He felt as if he had truly become that Great Tang General stationed on the western frontier, fighting bloody battles against enemies amidst the swirling yellow sand. Every swing of the blade carried the force of thunder, and every turn was filled with unyielding fighting spirit.

Emily and several other crew members were stunned when they accidentally witnessed Lin Da practicing with the blade.

They never expected that this seemingly gentle Eastern actor could erupt with such astonishing aura and… killing intent!

The sharp blade, the agile movements, the focused yet somewhat tragic gaze… it was as if a true ancient martial general had traveled through the long river of history!

“Oh my God! Lin is a real Kung Fu master!” Emily couldn't help but exclaim.

This news quickly reached Director Marcus Lee's ears.

He specifically took time out to personally observe one of Lin Da's “morning practices.”

When he saw Lin Da holding the Tang blade, moving and turning in the morning light, with the blade glinting and his aura soaring, this talented Hollywood director, accustomed to grand scenes, couldn't help but gasp, his eyes filled with unbelievable surprise.

“Lin! You… you are simply born for the role of An Si Yuan!” Marcus Lee excitedly grabbed Lin Da's arm, his voice trembling slightly, “I was worried before that you might not be able to handle those difficult action scenes. Now it seems my worries were completely unnecessary!”

He paused, his eyes gleaming with excitement: “I’ve decided! All of An Si Yuan’s action scenes will be performed by you personally! No stunt doubles! I want audiences worldwide to see a… true, iron-blooded tough guy belonging to the East!”

Upon hearing this, Lin Da's heart was also filled with pride. He knew this was Director Marcus Lee’s greatest trust in him and the highest recognition of his strength!

Soon, the “the last silk road echo” crew officially entered the filming stage for Lin Da's scenes as “An Si Yuan.”

The first scene was a thrilling cavalry battle.

An Si Yuan was ordered to lead a light cavalry unit to engage in a desperate struggle against a sudden enemy cavalry attack on the vast Gobi Desert.

On the set, yellow sand filled the air, and hoofbeats echoed.

Lin Da was dressed in a specially made, slightly worn but still exquisitely crafted Tang Dynasty armor, holding the “Blade of the Great Tang General,” mounted on a magnificent black warhorse. His face was smeared with camouflage paint, his eyes were as sharp as blades, and his entire body exuded a chilling aura of combat.

Under the dual blessings of [Character Essence (Intermediate)] and [Aura Control (Intermediate) — Deterrence], he was now completely integrated with the character An Si Yuan. He was that Great Tang General who struck fear into enemies on the battlefield and could still unleash astonishing combat power even in desperate situations!

“Action!”

With Director Marcus Lee’s command, filming officially began!

Lin Da squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs, and the black warhorse, like an arrow released from a bow, neighed and charged forward!

The Tang blade in his hand cut through the sunlight with dazzling cold flashes, each swing carrying the force of thunder, precise and deadly!

He would sometimes duck to avoid enemy slashes, and other times rapidly turn his horse to counterattack. His movements were fluid, full of power and beauty, as if every move had been refined through countless trials, already ingrained in his bones.

Even the professional action actors playing the enemy cavalry felt an involuntary pressure when acting opposite Lin Da. They could clearly sense the… real killing intent emanating from this young Eastern actor opposite them!

Behind the monitor, Director Marcus Lee watched intently, his palms slightly sweating.

He had originally prepared some backup shots in case Lin Da's action scenes didn't meet the standards. But now, those preparations seemed completely unnecessary!

Lin Da's performance far exceeded his expectations!

He not only perfectly executed all the action designs but also incorporated his own understanding and emotions of the character into them. Every swing of his blade was not just completing a movement but more like… venting the deep-seated grief and unyielding spirit within An Si Yuan!

“Cut! Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!”

When the last shot was finished, Director Marcus Lee could no longer suppress his excitement, jumping up from his seat and applauding vigorously.

The entire studio erupted in thunderous applause and cheers!

Everyone was completely captivated by Lin Da's thrilling and exhilarating cavalry battle performance!

Jack Reynolds, the Hollywood A-list star playing the protagonist, also walked over and patted Lin Da's shoulder hard, his eyes filled with admiration: “Lin! You, you’re a monster! I used to think your Chinese Kung Fu was all show, but now it seems I was too ignorant! Your skill is even better than our top Hollywood action directors!”

Lin Da wiped the sweat from his face, revealing a slightly tired yet accomplished smile.

He knew that today, once again, he had earned everyone's respect with his strength.

And his “actor emperor road” in Hollywood, thanks to this stunning “debut,” had become smoother and even more… anticipated!

Just then, the system's prompt sound echoed in his mind again:

“Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully challenging a high-difficulty cavalry action scene for the first time in a major Hollywood production, and for receiving high recognition from the director and core lead actors due to outstanding performance!”

“[golden supporting role system] Advancement Mission: ‘Hollywood Stepping Stone,’ mission completion greatly increased! Has reached 95%!”

“Ding! Host's prestige value increased! Current prestige value: 7500 points.”

“Ding! Due to the host's perfect application of the [Character Exclusive Weapon Mastery (Elementary)] skill in actual combat, the skill's proficiency has greatly increased! There is also a certain chance to comprehend higher-level weapon application techniques in subsequent filming!”

Mission completion reached 95%!

An indescribable joy surged in Lin Da's heart.

He knew that he was only… one last step away from completely conquering Hollywood!

And that step, perhaps, was hidden within… the upcoming, even more exciting and challenging… dramatic scenes!

That thrilling cavalry battle scene was like a bombshell dropped on the “the last silk road echo” crew, not only firmly establishing Lin Da's “hardcore” strength in action scenes but also making all his Hollywood colleagues look at this young actor from the East with new eyes.

Jack Reynolds, the A-list Hollywood superstar known for his tough-guy image, practically became Lin Da's "little fanboy" over the next few days. Not only did he pester Lin Da for tips on various "Huaguo Kung Fu" techniques during breaks, he even earnestly began learning Chinese, occasionally spouting a few clumsy "Nihao" and "Xiexie" that had the entire crew roaring with laughter.

Lin Da merely smiled faintly at this. He knew that respect was earned through strength.

And he didn't slack off in the slightest due to his outstanding performance in action scenes. He knew that a truly excellent actor could never rely solely on one type of performance to establish himself. Especially for a character like An Si Yuan, whose inner world was extremely complex, the challenge of dramatic scenes was no less than that of thrilling action scenes.

Soon, a major scene that would test Lin Da's dramatic acting skills quietly arrived.

In this scene, after a brutal border conflict, An Si Yuan was alone in his silent military tent, facing a yellowed map of his homeland, and… a secret imperial decree from Chang'an, filled with suspicion and probing between the lines.

There were no intense fights, no impassioned lines.

There was only the tumultuous surge of complex emotions deep within the character's heart, like crashing waves… loyalty and betrayal, longing and resolve, glory and sorrow.

The night before filming, Lin Da locked himself in his room, repeatedly studying the script and contemplating An Si Yuan's inner world at that moment.

He knew that this scene was a turning point in An Si Yuan's destiny, and it was also the key to whether he could truly move Western audiences and complete the final 5% of the system task.

"System, use Character Resonance Charm (Advanced)," Lin Da murmured to himself.

"Ding! Character Resonance Charm (Advanced) has been used. The host's emotional connection with the character 'An Si Yuan' has reached its peak! There is a high probability of triggering the advanced effect of 'Character Possession'!"

An indescribably wonderful feeling instantly surged through Lin Da's entire body. He felt as if he had truly become that famous Tang Dynasty general, living in a foreign land, his heart filled with contradictions and struggles. He could feel the patriotism in An Si Yuan's chest, and he could also experience his unwillingness and sorrow when facing suspicion.

The next day, when Lin Da, dressed in a slightly worn military uniform, walked into the studio set up in the style of a Tang Dynasty frontier military tent, everyone's eyes instinctively focused on him.

There wasn't much makeup on his face, but there was a weariness in his brows that didn't match his age, and… a faint, almost imperceptible fatigue. His eyes were deep and calm, as if they carried the slaughter and glory of a thousand armies, yet also hid unknown loneliness and struggle.

"Action!"

With Director Marcus Lee's command, filming officially began.

An Si Yuan, played by Lin Da, slowly walked to the large map of his homeland. He reached out, his fingertips gently tracing the familiar mountains and rivers on the map, his eyes filled with endless longing and… a hint of an inseparable attachment.

He didn't speak, but his slightly trembling fingertips, his tightly pressed lips, and those eyes that appeared exceptionally deep in the candlelight, perfectly conveyed the character's profound feelings for his homeland.

Behind the monitor, Director Marcus Lee watched intently, his eyes filled with approval. He knew that Lin Da had completely entered the zone.

An Si Yuan slowly turned and picked up the secret imperial decree from Chang'an on the desk. His movements were slow, as if those few thin pages carried the weight of a thousand jin.

He unfolded the decree and read it word by word.

As his gaze moved, the expression on his face also began to change subtly.

From initial calmness, to doubt, to shock, and then to… a hint of incredible anger and… heartbreak.

He had no exaggerated expressions, no violent movements. But the slightly twitching corners of his mouth, the eyes slightly reddened with anger, and those eyes that gradually lost their luster due to disappointment, vividly portrayed the character's inner pain and struggle of being suspected, misunderstood, and betrayed.

"Heh…"

A cold laugh, full of self-mockery and sorrow, spilled from his throat.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze directed into the void, as if questioning the heavens, and also as if interrogating his own heart.

"Loyalty… hehe, loyalty…"

His voice was hoarse and low, carrying a heartbreaking hint of despair.

At that moment, he was no longer the renowned Tang Dynasty general who dominated battlefields and struck fear into his enemies. He was merely… a pitiable soul, struggling between loyalty and blood, cruelly toyed with by fate.

The entire studio was dead silent.

Everyone was deeply captivated by Lin Da's performance, as if they were truly witnessing that tragic Eastern hero from the long river of history.

Even Jack Reynolds, who always presented himself as a tough guy, couldn't help but feel his eyes welling up slightly. He could clearly feel that Lin Da's performance had transcended the level of skill, reaching a realm of… resonance with the character's soul!

"Cut! Perfect! Absolutely perfect!" (Stop! 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 his hands vigorously.

This time, his praise was more sincere and more… impactful than any previous time!

The entire studio erupted in thunderous applause and cheers!

Everyone knew that Lin Da, with his "god-tier" dramatic performance, had once again conquered everyone!

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

He knew that today, he had not only perfectly portrayed the inner world of An Si Yuan, but more importantly… he had completed the final step of the system task!

Just then, the system's exciting prompt sounded in his mind again:

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for perfectly portraying the core supporting role 'An Si Yuan' in the Hollywood epic production 'the last silk road echo', deeply embedding the character in people's hearts, and receiving unanimous high praise from the director, core lead actors, and all crew members!"

"The golden supporting role system advanced mission: 'Hollywood's Stepping Stone', mission completion rate has reached 100%!"

"Mission final evaluation: SSS-level (The host, with his excellent acting skills, wisdom, courage, and powerful personal charisma, successfully conquered Hollywood, setting a new benchmark for Huaguo actors on the international stage)!"

"Mission rewards issued: Acting Points +1000 (500 points for over-completion), Golden Supporting Role Exclusive Skill - Essence of the Role (Advanced) proficiency greatly increased! Successfully advanced to Character Essence (Advanced)! International Top Film and Television Resource Priority Selection Right (one-time) x1! Mysterious Gift Pack (Legendary) x1!"

"Character Essence (Advanced): The host can instantly perceive and perfectly integrate the core characteristics and soul essence of any supporting role, allowing the character image to reach the supreme realm of 'actor-character unity', and has a high probability of triggering the 'Soul Imprint' effect (leaving an indelible deep impression in the audience's hearts, becoming the best interpreter of the character, and even… defining the character)."

"Ding! Due to the host's outstanding performance in Hollywood, he has successfully attracted widespread attention from the international film industry! Several internationally renowned directors and producers have sent cooperation intentions to the host!"

"Ding! The golden supporting role system is about to undergo a major upgrade! During the upgrade, some functions will be temporarily closed. After the upgrade is complete, a brand new… 'actor emperor road' will be opened for the host!"

actor emperor road!

Lin Da's heart exploded like a nuclear bomb had been dropped into it!

He knew that his life was about to embark on a brand new, even more magnificent, and even more… brilliant journey!

Hollywood was just his starting point!

And his goal was the vast and boundless… sea of stars!