To Keep Up Appearances, I Became the World's Greatest Celestial Master

Zhong Lingyu, a top acting student, wakes up inside a hugely popular novel about the supernatural.

It's a fantastical world where ghosts and gods coexist, supernatural arts flourish, and Taoist priests are regulated by the state.

The story begins when the heroine joins a globally popular reality show, The Battle for the Celestial Master.

Unlike the other contestants, who are the real deal, Zhong Lingyu has become a notorious fraud who makes money by scamming people and pretending to be a disciple of a reclusive mystical sect. In the novel, she appears only three times.

The first time: She joins The Battle for the Celestial Master and declares before the competition that every celestial master there is trash except her, instantly making enemies of them all.

The second time: She provokes the heroine and acts unbearably arrogant.

The third time: During a live broadcast watched by the entire internet, the heroine exposes her disguise. Her true nature is revealed, her reputation is ruined, and she gets a pair of silver bracelets for her trouble, helping the heroine build her own reputation.

When Zhong Lingyu arrives, the original character has already appeared twice.

Her first instinct is to apologize and withdraw from the competition. But impersonating someone from the mystical sects is a serious crime in this world. For what the original character did, she could get at least sixty years in prison!

Sixty years behind bars!!!

The original character was a fraud, so she deserved to go to prison. But Zhong Lingyu isn't a fraud!!!

On the verge of tears beneath the live camera, Zhong Lingyu has no idea how supernatural arts work. She stares in a daze at the competition challenge: exorcising an evil spirit.

Tens of thousands of viewers and everyone present watch her without blinking. They're all waiting for this self-proclaimed disciple of a prestigious sect, a mighty celestial master, to make her move and "blind" them with her brilliance.

Zhong Lingyu, trembling from head to toe: How should I kneel to make myself look more sincere?

Just as she's about to faint, the System makes a spectacular entrance.

[New users get one free draw!]

Zhong Lingyu taps the screen without much hope.

The System, with streamers flying and firecrackers popping: Congratulations, Host! You've won [A Five-Second Possession by Zhong Kui]!

Zhong Lingyu: !!!!!

Thanks! She's back on her feet and thinks she might be able to keep scraping by a little longer.

#An air of mastery on the outside, cramming supernatural arts for dear life behind the scenes#

#This act takes every ounce of her energy#

#To keep her cover from being blown, she is forced to become the ultimate show-off#

#Once she puts on a secret identity, she never takes it off#

#We thought she was just a braggart and a fraud, but it turns out she's the real deal!#

Reader's guide: The heroine's celestial-master persona will never be exposed.

Synopsis screenshot saved on January 17, 2023.

Theme: Our choices determine who we are.