Guan Zhongming's announcement about paying to perform at the Grand Sky Sect spread like wildfire.
At first, musicians and actors from all over the world were puzzled, thinking Guan Zhongming had lost his mind.
But once they understood the situation, they were truly stunned.
As musicians or actors, who wouldn't want to perform on a bigger stage?
And what stage could be bigger than the Millennium Grand Festival at the Grand Sky Sect?
The Grand Sky Mirror would broadcast the entire event, meaning everyone in the world could watch this Millennium Grand Festival.
If you could perform at this festival, it would mean the whole world would recognize you.
If your performance was outstanding, becoming famous overnight wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Spending some money to get on such a stage—how could you possibly lose out?
Whether musicians or actors, how do they command high fees?Isn't it all about fame?
The bigger your fame, the more you naturally earn.
Which one of them isn't racking their brains daily on how to increase their visibility?
How to become known to more people?
And now, an opportunity to be recognized across the entire Blazing Sun Continent was right in front of them. Who would refuse it? Anyone who did must be out of their mind.
Musicians and actors who got the news almost immediately replied to the Grand Sky Sect. These well-known musicians and actors, usually seen as high-status by ordinary people, were incredibly humble...
Paying up, right... We are willing to cooperate with the Grand Sky Sect and pay whatever price they set, without bargaining, and pay in full, causing no trouble for the sect.
Moreover, whatever the Grand Sky Sect needs us to do, we will do... We will fully cooperate with any arrangements by the sect.
All they asked for was more opportunities to show their faces.
These people were fine, but the most unfortunate were the small group who couldn't resist rejecting the Grand Sky Sect upon receiving the third invitation.
These people were impulsive and rejected without even observing the situation.
They were even the ones who cursed the most and stood out to oppose it.
But now, they had nowhere to cry...
After learning the reasons behind everything, they almost immediately sent apology letters to Lu Chengqing.
Those letters, thousands of words long, were filled with humility... But no matter how humble, they only hoped Lu Chengqing could be magnanimous and give them a chance. They were even willing to pay double to make up for their previous mistakes.
To these people, Lu Chengqing had just one word... Scram!
Giving you a chance... When you had the chance, you didn't seize it, and now you want one? Are you out of your mind?
Then Lu Chengqing waved his hand and directly crossed off all those who had refused, selecting some from musicians and actors slightly less famous than them.
Those who were selected were so excited they were about to cry.
Originally, they had no chance at all.
Thank those fools... It was your arrogance that gave us this opportunity...
This was a chance to become famous across the world.
Countless musicians and actors gathered from all directions at the Grand Sky Sect, and Lu Chengqing arranged accommodations for them one by one, also informing them why they were invited.
As expected, just as Old Man Guan Zhongming had guessed, it was indeed because of the Millennium Grand Festival, and they were indeed to perform at the festival.
The musicians, upon receiving the confirmed news, were so excited they could hardly contain themselves.
But before they could get too excited, Lu Chengqing informed them that just because they were here didn't mean they were qualified to perform at the Millennium Grand Festival.
It depended on their performance; only those who performed well and passed the review would be qualified to perform.
If they didn't pass the review... then sorry, even if you paid, the Grand Sky Sect wouldn't bother with you.
Upon hearing this news, countless musicians and actors were instantly nervous.
It turned out we only passed the preliminary selection, only had the qualification for the preliminary selection, and whether we could finally perform depended on our performance.
But what exactly was this performance?
That night, many chose to showcase themselves.
Countless people privately approached Lu Chengqing, presenting their "performance" to him.
Faced with numerous Spirit Stones and even some young and beautiful musicians and actors' "performances," Lu Chengqing frowned on the spot.
What did these musicians and actors take Lu Chengqing for?
If it were any other time, if you wanted to play some unspoken rules with me, I might have accepted, but what time is it now?
This is the Millennium Grand Festival, this is something Senior Brother Xinghe entrusted to me, and do you think I, Lu Chengqing, have the guts to accept your kind of performance?
Am I tired of living?
So Lu Chengqing directly told all the musicians and actors who wanted to play some unspoken rules to get lost. This is Senior Brother Xinghe's plan, and none of you should try to mess it up. Everyone has to rely on their skills to earn their keep!
Hearing Lu Chengqing's words, the musicians and actors who wanted to showcase themselves suddenly realized.
Chu Xinghe!
So this plan was from Chu Xinghe.
No wonder it was so imaginative. Although they were extraordinary among ordinary people, the name Chu Xinghe was like a towering mountain to them.
Who was Chu Xinghe?
Although Chu Xinghe claimed to be just a disciple of the Grand Sky Sect, anyone with a bit of sense knew that Chu Xinghe was the future master of the Grand Sky Sect.
Whether musicians or actors, although they were praised by ordinary people and even some prominent families, they were still just ordinary people. Those prominent families were nothing compared to Lu Chengqing.
Old Man Guan Zhongming was known as the world's number one musician, but even he had to bow and scrape in front of Lu Chengqing. If Lu Chengqing didn't tell him to sit, he had to keep standing.
This large-scale invitation was the only reason people refused; if it were a normal day and Lu Chengqing invited someone individually, it would be considered a blessing, and whoever received Lu Chengqing's invitation would be overjoyed.
There's a saying in the circle: if you can be subjected to Lu Chengqing's unspoken rules, it's your destiny.
But Lu Chengqing, with such a high status, was merely Ma Liang's confidant.
Who was Ma Liang?
He was Chu Xinghe's top confidant, and someone like Lu Chengqing didn't even qualify to be Chu Xinghe's confidant, only the confidant of Chu Xinghe's confidant.
So in a sense, Chu Xinghe and these musicians and actors were not even in the same world.
It's said that some people can decide life and death with a word, and Lu Chengqing was one of those who could decide their life and death with a word.
And Chu Xinghe was someone who could decide Lu Chengqing's life and death with a word.
The people Chu Xinghe interacted with were legends to them.
Most of those big shots they could only hear about from storytellers.
Yet even with those people, Chu Xinghe could converse and laugh freely.
So when they heard this plan was from Chu Xinghe, who would dare to try to impress Chu Xinghe?
Do you even have the qualification?
Not to mention well-known musicians and actors, even big shots like Guan Zhongming didn't have the qualification to meet Chu Xinghe.
In other words, they didn't even have the qualification to be subjected to Chu Xinghe's unspoken rules.
Musicians and actors across the world were anxious, and finally, someone approached Lu Chengqing again.
Without further ado, they handed over their performance fees for this event.
Can't let Lu Chengqing subject us to unspoken rules, right... Can't give Lu Chengqing a performance, right...
Then there's no harm in paying up first, right?
If Lu Chengqing accepted the money, did it mean our performance was at least passable, and we wouldn't be kicked out for now?
For many musicians and actors who voluntarily handed over their performance fees for this event, this time, Lu Chengqing indeed did not refuse.
But what left Lu Chengqing speechless was, what did it mean when you handed over your highest performance fee to the Grand Sky Sect without further ado?
Actually, we didn't intend to ask for that much...
Paying the highest fee was still reasonable, but soon, something even more outrageous happened...
Someone started offering double...
Lu Chengqing looked at the musicians who offered double their performance fees, utterly bewildered, yet these musicians insisted it was their highest fee—how could you not be frustrated?
Lu Chengqing could only choose to accept, but the more he accepted, the more uncomfortable he felt...
Even on a normal day, if Lu Chengqing invited these musicians, he would have to pay them... Trying to deduct money from these musicians was harder than climbing to the heavens.
But look at Senior Brother Xinghe's tactics. Not only did he get them for free, but he also made these musicians pay... And they even offered more without a word...
They were all shouting that if their higher price wasn't accepted, they would be upset...
One day, Chu Xinghe accompanied the Great Elder to check on the musicians and actors, as this performance for the Battle of Exorcism was of great importance, and the Great Elder was very concerned about it.
Chu Xinghe, while discussing his ideas with the Great Elder, led him to the outer sect where the musicians were temporarily staying.
From a distance, Chu Xinghe saw countless musicians and actors lined up.
Seeing this, Chu Xinghe was momentarily stunned... He casually found a musician in line and asked what was going on.
This young musician didn't recognize Chu Xinghe, but seeing his identity as a disciple of the Grand Sky Sect, he naturally answered every question.
He immediately said they were paying their performance fees.
Hearing this, Chu Xinghe was moved to tears... Lu Chengqing was indeed impressive, and the practice of paying performance fees first was very much to the liking of your Senior Brother Xinghe.
I was just discussing the idea of paying first with the Great Elder... I didn't expect Lu Chengqing to act first and report later?
Lu Chengqing! Well done!
Don't worry, Lu Chengqing, although you acted without the sect's consent by accepting performance fees first, which might be inappropriate, just do your job, and Senior Brother Xinghe will take full responsibility for you...