Lu Chengqing had no idea what Senior Brother Xinghe was thinking, but he knew that if he really followed Senior Brother Xinghe's request to invite the best and most expensive musicians and actors from all over the world, the cost would be astronomical.
The number was so large that Lu Chengqing couldn't even calculate it himself.
But since it was arranged by Senior Brother Xinghe, Lu Chengqing naturally didn't dare to slack off.
So, without delay, Lu Chengqing immediately ordered all the most famous actors of the Grand Sky Tower to drop whatever they were doing and head to the Grand Sky Sect.
The actors of the Grand Sky Tower had no choice but to comply with Lu Chengqing's request, whether they were willing or not.
However, the performance for the Battle of Exorcism required so many actors that even the best actors and musicians from the Grand Sky Tower were just a drop in the bucket.
So Lu Chengqing gathered his subordinates and, after a day and night without rest, finally compiled a list of all the actors needed for the Battle of Exorcism performance.
Lu Chengqing was willing to call this list the strongest, as it included not only the most famous actors and musicians from the righteous path of the Blazing Sun Continent but also some musicians from the Demonic Sect.
Because Senior Brother Xinghe instructed that the Millennium Grand Festival was an event for the entire Blazing Sun Continent, regardless of the righteous path or the Demonic Sect, everyone had to be treated equally.
As soon as the list was confirmed, Lu Chengqing sent invitations to all these people.But a day after the invitations were sent, an awkward situation arose.
Some people were naturally willing to come, but more were unwilling.
After all, these actors and musicians didn't belong to the Grand Sky Tower, so they had their own work and performances and couldn't just drop everything like the musicians and singers of the Grand Sky Tower.
So, problems arose.
Almost seventy percent of the invitees expressed various reasons that might prevent them from going to the Grand Sky Sect.
Afraid of offending the Grand Sky Sect, they were very polite in their refusals, but what good is politeness?
Lu Chengqing had no choice but to go to Senior Brother Xinghe and explain the problem.
Senior Brother Xinghe's solution was simple and straightforward.
"Can't come? Pay them more!"
Goodness, Lu Chengqing almost spat blood after hearing this... Senior Brother Xinghe, do you know how much this would cost normally?
If we keep adding to the cost, how will we manage?
But faced with Senior Brother Xinghe's arrangement, Lu Chengqing had no choice but to agree to pay more.
With the promise of more money, some of the invitees who were motivated by money agreed.
However, many of these invitees were renowned musicians and performers who weren't short of money.
So even with the promise of more money, many continued to find various excuses to refuse Lu Chengqing.
Lu Chengqing was so frustrated he almost went back to Senior Brother Xinghe to complain, but after thinking it over, he decided against it.
Senior Brother Xinghe entrusted this task to him, which was a sign of trust. If he ran to Senior Brother Xinghe at the first sign of trouble, wouldn't that make him look incompetent?
So, after much thought, Lu Chengqing, the closest confidant of Senior Brother Ma Liang, went to his big brother Ma Liang.
"What nonsense? They won't come? Are they crazy?" Ma Liang was so angry he jumped up when he heard about Lu Chengqing's difficulties.
A bunch of minor musicians and singers, did they think they were being given face?
On normal days, they wouldn't even have the qualification to step into the Grand Sky Sect. Now that the Grand Sky Sect was inviting them to such an important performance, it was like their ancestors were smiling down on them, and they dared to refuse?
"Do they know what this is about? How dare they refuse the Millennium Grand Festival?"
Ma Liang looked at Lu Chengqing, almost unable to resist leaving the Sect to teach them a lesson.
The Millennium Grand Festival was the most important event of the time, and these musicians and singers dared to refuse?
In response to Ma Liang's questioning, Lu Chengqing explained that they were unaware because the plan to perform the Battle of Exorcism was kept confidential at Senior Brother Xinghe's request.
He hadn't told them when he invited them.
Ma Liang was filled with grief at Lu Chengqing's words.
Lu Chengqing, you're confused!
As the closest confidant of Senior Brother Xinghe and my closest confidant, you completely misunderstood Senior Brother Xinghe's intentions.
When has Senior Brother Xinghe ever not been profound and mysterious?
When has Senior Brother Xinghe ever made a move that wasn't profitable for the Sect?
So, do you think Senior Brother Xinghe would lose money by inviting musicians and singers from all over the world to perform?
You completely misunderstood Senior Brother Xinghe's intentions. Quickly, tell me everything Senior Brother Xinghe said to you.
Having learned from the last time when he didn't remember Senior Brother Xinghe's words, this time Lu Chengqing had meticulously recorded every word in a notebook.
He quickly showed Ma Liang the notes he had taken from Senior Brother Xinghe.
After reading them, Ma Liang's expression changed dramatically.
"Lu Chengqing, you're confused! Look at this line from Senior Brother Xinghe: 'You don't need to worry about the cost!'"
"Don't you find this line strange?"
"Strange?"
Lu Chengqing was utterly confused... What's strange about it?
"Lu Chengqing, you know the cost of inviting so many actors is ridiculously high. Do you think Senior Brother Xinghe doesn't know? So, Senior Brother Xinghe never intended to pay. He meant for them to pay us!"
Lu Chengqing: "???"
Lu Chengqing was dumbfounded. What... Brother Ma Liang, do you hear yourself... You're saying something even more outrageous than Senior Brother Xinghe!
But soon, Ma Liang found evidence.
"Lu Chengqing, look at this line... 'Don't want any small musicians and actors, they can't afford that much... money?'"
Ma Liang pointed to a line in Lu Chengqing's notebook.
Initially, Lu Chengqing didn't think much of it, but now, with Ma Liang's guidance, he immediately realized something was off.
What does it mean they can't afford that much money?
Does it mean Senior Brother Xinghe thinks those small actors and musicians are too poor to pay the Grand Sky Sect?
So, from the beginning, Senior Brother Xinghe never intended for us to pay, but for the musicians and actors to pay us?
But does that even make sense?
Letting them perform and then making them pay? Are they idiots?
Under normal circumstances, Lu Chengqing would think these people were idiots and wouldn't do it, but this was the Millennium Grand Festival.
This was the epic Battle of Exorcism personally guided by Senior Brother Xinghe.
As Brother Ma Liang said, who else would have the qualification to participate in such an opportunity?
Pay them... Are you crazy? The Grand Sky Sect is giving them an opportunity.
For this Millennium Grand Festival, Senior Brother Xinghe would use the Grand Sky Mirror to broadcast it to the entire world, allowing everyone on the Blazing Sun Continent to witness everything that happened.
And what does it mean to perform at the Millennium Grand Festival?
It means that even if you only appear for one second, you can be seen by the entire Blazing Sun Continent!
You think you're a famous actor?
You're only famous in a certain area... Being known by the entire Blazing Sun Continent? Such an opportunity never existed before.
Only at this Millennium Grand Festival could you possibly achieve it!
So Lu Chengqing understood!
No wonder Senior Brother Xinghe smiled so brightly when talking about the cost, because from the beginning, Senior Brother Xinghe never intended for the Grand Sky Sect to spend a penny.
On the contrary... those actors and musicians who wanted to participate had to pay the Grand Sky Sect.
Because the Grand Sky Sect was providing them with an opportunity to be known by the entire Blazing Sun Continent and perform in front of everyone on the continent.
Is there a problem with asking them to pay for such an opportunity?
Lu Chengqing looked at the calm Ma Liang, and at that moment, he understood why Ma Liang was Senior Brother Xinghe's closest confidant.
He couldn't even compare himself to Senior Brother Xinghe, and even compared to Brother Ma Liang, there was a world of difference.
He had been worrying about the astronomical cost of inviting so many people.
But from the beginning, Senior Brother Xinghe's plan was not to spend money, but to make money.
Others organized performances by spending money to sell tickets, but Senior Brother Xinghe organized performances by having the actors pay to participate...
And you should thank Senior Brother Xinghe... because without him, you wouldn't even have this opportunity.
Lu Chengqing suddenly felt that he had spent half his life in entertainment, only to be entertained himself.
Senior Brother Xinghe was the real master of entertainment, effortlessly manipulating those high-and-mighty actors!
But then Lu Chengqing thought something was wrong... If he didn't offer to pay them and instead asked them to pay, wouldn't they be even less likely to come?
"Heh... Lu Chengqing, your mind is still too slow. Go and tell everyone again, ask them to pay, and that the Grand Sky Sect is giving them a great opportunity. If they refuse, the Grand Sky Sect will never accept any of their requests to come in the future. See if they still refuse."
Ma Liang instructed Lu Chengqing to do this with a wave of his hand.
Lu Chengqing immediately arranged for his subordinates to send out the message overnight. Not just Lu Chengqing, but even his subordinates were dumbfounded when they heard they had to send a message telling everyone that instead of being paid to perform, they had to pay to perform at the Grand Sky Sect.
What... Vice President... Isn't this message a bit too outrageous?
Wouldn't this message make even those who had agreed to come change their minds?
How could you expect people to willingly pay to come and perform for us? It just doesn't sound logical, does it?
But despite thinking it was illogical, the subordinates still sent the message across the world as Lu Chengqing instructed.
When the message was sent, musicians and actors from all over the world were stunned.
What? The Grand Sky Sect invited us to perform, and... not only are they not paying us, but they also want us to pay them the highest price?
Has the Grand Sky Sect gone mad?
Why not just send disciples to rob us? At least put in some effort!
Expecting us to bring money to your door, even if you're the Grand Sky Sect, isn't this a bit too much?