Bronze Award!

In the end, "Magic Sword Academy" was decided to be the bronze award winner by the editorial department's vote.

Actually, most of the male editors believed that this work by Teacher Mo was at least a silver award winner, if not a gold award winner. However, the female editors were firm in their choice of other works during the vote and gave all the male editors a disdainful look.

Although "Magic Sword Academy" had a huge impact on otaku guys, its impact on girls was relatively small. Only two or three female editors, including Chen Yulan, thought that "Magic Sword Academy" was okay, while the others firmly believed that while the story was interesting, choosing it as the Gold Award work for our light novel competition was not a manly choice.

"Plus, it's not even guaranteed to be accepted by the market!"

"Yeah, who would like such a twisted novel?"

"I really don't like this work, it's annoying."

"…Yeah, I feel the same. Otaku guys are so disgusting!"

"I didn't expect Teacher Mo to be such a writer!"

"Yeah, I bet he's a big fat otaku!"

The group of female editors in the editorial department whispered to each other while drinking tea. Chen Yulan, who was sitting next to them, felt embarrassed. She was familiar with Li Xiaoci, having signed the contract and reviewed the work at his home. In other words, Teacher Mo himself had never appeared in the light novel company building. Additionally, unless they wanted to poach someone, a responsible editor would not be too concerned about other light novel authors under someone else's supervision. As a result, the other editors in the light novel editorial department were not aware of whether "Teacher Mo" was male or female, attractive or not, and mistook the author of such a work for a smelly pervert or a dead fat otaku.

However, Chen Yulan hesitated for a long time and did not tell them that "Teacher Mo" was actually a girl and was also very pretty.

Oh well!

Let them continue to misunderstand.

After all, it's not me who's being misunderstood, so what's the big deal?

Soon, the results of the Light Novel Grand Prize were announced on the official website of the Light Literature Publishing House. Although internet literature and light novels were developing on their own, since the war had ended only a year ago, entertainment was not yet a priority for the masses. Therefore, people were still more inclined towards classical physical book reading habits rather than the convenient phone reading habits.

Li Xiaoci, a traverser, believed that the future of internet literature was inevitable, but for now, she didn't have to worry too much. The lifespan of physical books still had some time left.

On the Light Novel Forum, as the "Light Novel Grand Prize" event came to a close, many people discussed the content on the recommendation board.

"The gold award-winning work is Teacher Liu Mu's new book? Teacher Liu Mu's previous work, 'Kyoto Love Story,' was really good. Looks like I have to buy this set of 'War of Sorrows!'"

"No, Liu's books are too heart-wrenching, all of them revolve around the theme of the Third World War. My brother died in the war, and every time I read his books, I want to cry. It's unbearable."

"Upstairs, please accept my condolences... but among the winners this time, the silver award-winning work 'Fox' was written by Mu Louguang. Mu Louguang's works are always funny, so let me recommend it first."

Among them, someone said:

"By the way... I haven't heard of the author of the bronze award-winning work this time. Is it a newcomer? Does 'Magic Sword Academy' sound interesting? Is it a fantasy work?"

Then someone replied:

"Mo Shao?... Is he not a newcomer? Why do I feel like I've read his book before? Let me search for it."

Soon after!

That person came back: "Damn, I've read this Mo Shao's previous work, 'Reverse Flow Legend'! It's poison! There's an NTR plot! What's with this bronze award? It's Mo Shao's new book, I strongly advise everyone not to try it, it might be lethal!"

"'Reverse Flow Legend'? I've read it too, the beginning was just okay, but the later part was terribly written, with green hat elements... It must be toxic. Several teachers that I like also participated in this grand prize, how did this person win the bronze award?"

"Yeah, I was dumbfounded when I saw the results. Why is that poisonous author's name on the list?"

"Damn, the author on my blacklist won the bronze award..."

"The quality of this grand prize is too low."

"Anyway, I'm not going to read it."

Some even directly asserted: "People who have read this author's book have added him to their blacklist. You know what I mean? Please avoid this book in an orderly manner, it will really kill people!"

All in all, Li Xiaoci's debut work was just too terrible, with NTR toxicity hidden within. Especially in one volume of "Reverse Legend," many readers saw the cuckold plot that left them dumbfounded and they went to the light novel forum just to criticize it.

As a result, the pen name "Mo Shao" was blacklisted by many people and written in their little notebooks.

Some even said, "Even if I starve to death or die of thirst without spiritual sustenance, I will never read any of Mo Shao's works!"

During the heated discussions in the forum, a light novel author with the pen name "Oracle" quietly opened a small account to help set the rhythm of the discussion.

Oracle is one of the submitting authors in this light novel competition and is at the same level as "Liu Mu," who won the gold prize, and "Mu Louguang," who won the silver prize. In fact, these three people have a good relationship privately and agreed to participate in the "Light Novel Competition" together.

From Oracle's point of view, the top three in this light novel competition were reserved for them, the three top-tier authors. After all, several authors with stronger skills than theirs still have ongoing works, and among the other light novel authors preparing to start a new book, who can compete with them?

As the strongest king makes his move, all those so-called extraordinary masters and diamond-ranked players obediently step aside.

And so, the Oracle thought to himself, even if he lost to Teacher Liu Mu or Teacher Mu Lou Guang in the Light Novel Award, at least there would be third place.

"Oh man, that's a relief!" said Huang Xudong, feeling like he could finally breathe again.

But then, just as he was about to see the results, he was left completely stunned - the last time he felt this confused was when he called home one night and his wife was panting on the phone, saying she was out for a jog.

The Gold Prize went to Liu Mu's latest work "War of Mourning", which made sense, considering Liu Mu's level was indeed higher than his own.

The Silver Prize went to Teacher Mu Lou Guang's "Fox", which was also understandable. The Oracle himself appreciated Mu Lou Guang's work, like Wu Dalang and Ximen Qing, two rivals who admired each other.

But who was this third place winner? Mo Shao? A third-rate light novel author who gained fame through NTR and poisoning plot twists? How could his work have squeezed his own out and earned him the Bronze Prize?

Thus, staring at his computer, the Oracle's emotions were in a terrible state - there was anger, shock, confusion, and resentment. His head was throbbing, as if he had a debuff that said "Intelligence -1-1-1-1" shining in bright blue.

It was a feeling similar to when some top-scoring students confidently believed they could score more than 80 points. However, they didn't even pass, let alone score 80...

As a top student, their first reaction would not be to blame themselves, but to doubt whether the examiners had made a mistake in grading. Yes, he needed to check the exam!

He was so outstanding, yet he failed. It had to be the examiners' fault!

Moreover...

As an industry insider who had been in the business for many years, the Oracle was aware of some of the hidden secrets in the industry. He even heard some chief editors and editors say that some publishing houses would favor new writers in their submissions. Because established authors already had enough fame, it was actually wasteful to allocate resources to train them, especially those who were declining in popularity (such as the Oracle). It was better to use them to cultivate new talent, who might be the next best-selling author.

Aside from that, different editors have their own little schemes when serving as judges. If it's an author under their own management, they'll definitely give some preferential treatment during evaluation. If it's not their own author, well tough luck, no matter how famous you are, it doesn't count towards my performance...

So...

The self-aware oracle realized that he was probably the one being suppressed.

Although he has indeed been a bit out of shape in the past two years... cough cough!

But he swears, that's really just a small problem... not a big deal!

So, do these judges and editors really not give face like this?

However!

Although the oracle is very angry, he still retains the most basic intelligence, and did not use his forum account to say anything about "the black box", only sneakily using a small account to vent under the post.

The worst part is that the rhythm can't be carried...

But! It doesn't matter!

As a wind-chasing young man in his thirties who firmly believes that justice will prevail over evil, the oracle believes that whether he has been treated unfairly or not, there will be an answer after the release.