The performance had ended...

Yet the audience was reluctant to leave, each one pulling Gu Mingchao aside to ask when the next show would be.

In response, Gu Mingchao smiled and called over Chu Xinghe.

Regarding the inquiries from these big shots, Chu Xinghe's stance was that there wouldn't be any more performances in the future...

But the Great Elder was quick to speak...

"Everyone, please don't make things difficult for Xinghe. These past few days, Xinghe has put in a lot of effort for this performance. As for future shows, there might not be any for the time being. However, rest assured, the Southern Branch will host many such performances in the future. If you enjoy them, you're welcome to come and watch."

As the Great Elder spoke, he gave Lu Chengqing a meaningful look.

How could Lu Chengqing not understand the Great Elder's intentions? If they could spread the word about this performance through these big shots, wouldn't the Grand Sky Tower make a fortune in the future?

"Thank you all for your support of today's performance. Our Grand Sky Tower will not disappoint Senior Brother Xinghe's expectations. We will continue to refine the performance effects and strive to create even more perfect stories. Please look forward to it, and if you like it, please buy tickets to watch our performances at the Grand Sky Tower."

As Lu Chengqing finished speaking, Chu Xinghe jumped in, "Junior Brother, that's not right. Today's performance wasn't about selling tickets in the future. This is art, and art is priceless. How can we sell tickets?"

Chu Xinghe looked indignant.

Are you trying to make a fantasy blockbuster for me? Trying to max out the effects?

I'm going all out here!

This is art, and how can our highbrow art be compared to the vulgar stuff at the Star Moon Tower?

We emphasize that art is priceless, we...

No! Selling! Tickets!

Still want to make money?

Forget about it, not even a damn window is open.

You love performing, right? You want to create art, right?

Fine... from now on, our Grand Sky Tower will focus on art... Can we charge for such highbrow art?

We're offering free performances, focusing on artistic contribution.

We don't even sell tickets, so tell me, how do we make money?

Not even the Great Elder understood...

No tickets?

You know, just one performance requires a lot of resources, with the Feng City Formation's fierce ghost effects alone costing a lot, not to mention the musicians' fees.

What kind of operation is this, not selling tickets?

Lu Chengqing was dumbfounded, "Senior Brother Xinghe, what are you talking about? I don't understand at all. With such explosive performance effects, shouldn't we sell tickets and make a fortune?"

What does it mean not to sell tickets? If we don't sell tickets, aren't we losing money?

Gu Mingchao also remained silent because he couldn't understand what Chu Xinghe was doing by not selling tickets, choosing to watch and see what would happen.

Our Grand Sky Sect invested so much manpower and resources, even using the Feng City Formation, and with such explosive performance effects, we end up not selling tickets? Offering free viewing? Isn't this a bit too outrageous?

Just as the Great Elder was pondering what Xinghe was up to, Zheng Yu spoke up.

"Senior Brother Xinghe is right. Today's performance is truly fitting of the word 'art.' As Senior Brother Xinghe said, art is priceless. If it were priced, wouldn't it insult art? Using the Ghost Emperor for a performance, what value could measure that?"

With Zheng Yu's words, many big shots nodded in agreement.

No problem with that, the Grand Sky Sect's performances are so highbrow, how could they compare to the vulgar shows at the Star Moon Tower?

We often spend money to criticize the Star Moon Tower's performances, but that's mainly for criticism. Can highbrow art be measured by value?

Seeing everyone nodding, Chu Xinghe was secretly pleased. How could he lose with this "art is priceless" approach?

But before Chu Xinghe could be happy for more than five seconds, Zheng Yu pulled out a pile of spirit stones.

"Senior Brother Xinghe says art is priceless, so being able to witness such art today is a great honor for Zheng Yu. These three thousand spirit stones are just Zheng Yu's tribute to art."

With that, Zheng Yu handed the spirit stones to Ma Liang.

Seeing Zheng Yu's gesture, the other big shots nodded as well. Zheng Yu truly had the demeanor of his Senior Brother Xinghe.

Using the Feng City Formation and the Ghost Emperor for a performance, selling tickets for such a show would be a desecration of the Ghost Emperor. So if tickets were sold, it would be an insult, but offering tribute was entirely different.

Seeing Zheng Yu's move, a group of big shots naturally couldn't just watch for free. Suddenly, it was chaos with people offering three thousand as tribute, five thousand as gratitude, ten thousand as admiration.

Ma Liang was overwhelmed by the tributes coming from all sides.

Thanks to the support from all the sects!

Thanks to Senior Brother Xinghe for his priceless art.

Lu Chengqing was in tears at this moment. After the performance ended, Lu Chengqing knew it was a great success.

He even thought about using this opportunity to promote the performance worldwide, and by then, wouldn't the Grand Sky Tower make a fortune from live performances?

But seeing the tributes coming from all sides now, Lu Chengqing realized he was shallow... too shallow!

If we really held various performances, no matter how high-end and classy the effects were, it would ultimately be just a commercial performance.

Making money is making money, but how is it different from the vulgar performances at the Star Moon Tower?

But now, with Senior Brother Xinghe's "art is priceless," our performance is worlds apart from the vulgar shows at the Star Moon Tower.

This isn't a performance; this is art!

Our art isn't something just anyone can see. Look at the tributes from these big shots, and you'll know that ordinary people can't afford it.

We're focusing on a high-end route. Although we didn't sell a single ticket, we received tributes from all sides.

Our art is above all else.

Senior Brother Xinghe truly has a long-term vision.

The Great Elder, watching the tributes from all sides, also smiled.

When Xinghe said no tickets, the Great Elder was puzzled too. How do we make money without selling tickets?

But now the Great Elder truly understood Xinghe's intentions.

First, our Grand Sky Sect doesn't lack a few bucks. If we really held performances and sold tickets, if the ticket prices were low, it wouldn't be meaningful. If they were high, some people might jump out and say the Grand Sky Sect is crazy for money, right?

But now, with Xinghe's approach, there's no such concern.

Our Grand Sky Sect's performances focus on being free, no tickets, our art is priceless.

But if you come to see our art, shouldn't you voluntarily offer your tribute to our art?

Look, the big shots have all offered their tributes, wouldn't you feel embarrassed not to?

So while our art doesn't charge, we do accept tributes.

No matter how popular the performances get, who can say our Grand Sky Sect is crazy for money? Xinghe's approach directly blocks any potential negative effects in the future.

With "art is priceless, only tributes matter," the Grand Sky Sect's performances have been elevated to a whole new level.

From now on, the Grand Sky Tower will follow this model, with all performances highlighting that art is priceless!

Chu Xinghe didn't understand what "art is priceless" meant; he just wanted to stab Zheng Yu.

Did I mean "art is priceless" like this?

Was I asking for rewards?

I just wanted to give you a chance to watch for free, okay?

Zheng Yu, are you naturally here to mess with me? Did you consider my thoughts, Chu Xinghe, when you jumped out and offered rewards?

Today, although Ma Liang messed with me, my "art is priceless, no tickets" move was meant to cut the problem at its root, okay?

But before I could cut it at the root, you stuffed a volcano in there, Zheng Yu, are you crazy?

What happened to "art is priceless"? Was I asking for rewards here?

But how do I refuse the rewards now?

Chu Xinghe could only maintain a calm expression and say, "Lu Chengqing, remember to thank everyone for their tributes..."

The big shots, without hesitation, expressed that the Grand Sky Sect's art is priceless, so they offered their tributes... This suddenly elevated the transaction to an artistic level, how do you deal with that?

The big shots from all sides now expressed one after another that such art should be held more often by the Grand Sky Sect... As long as the Grand Sky Tower holds it, they will definitely bring their tributes to watch.

Lu Chengqing thanked each big shot who offered tributes, and at this moment, Lu Chengqing felt he had transcended.

Previously, although the Grand Sky Tower was very highbrow, there were still many people secretly criticizing that the Grand Sky Tower's highbrow nature was bullshit, just a boast.

But today, Lu Chengqing declared that if anyone dared to say that again, he would personally refute them.

See... from now on, the Grand Sky Tower will focus on "art is priceless," we won't charge any fees, but we will accept tributes from others.

Didn't Senior Brother Xinghe say to thank the big shots for their tributes?

Lu Chengqing thought for a moment, how to thank them?

Soon, Lu Chengqing had an idea!

To thank the big shots for their tributes, Lu Chengqing decided to create a Tribute Board, engraving the tributes of the big shots on it to thank them, and also to let future big shots see how much tribute the top big shots had.

And this Tribute Board would be a testament to support the Grand Sky Tower's continued efforts.

Lu Chengqing expressed his idea on the spot and thanked the big shots again, stating that the Grand Sky Tower's Tribute Board would never forget them!

After hearing Lu Chengqing's words, the big shots on the Tribute Board all nodded in agreement.

Chu Xinghe was in tears...

Damn... Lu Chengqing, you're the one who knows how to play with art... you just casually created a leaderboard, are you trying to defy the heavens?

At this moment, Chu Xinghe wanted to slap himself.

What did I do today... couldn't I just sell tickets... why did I bring up "art is priceless"? Is that what I meant?

And Lu Chengqing, when I asked you to thank people, is this what I meant? With this Tribute Board, how can the big shots who watched for free face themselves in the future?

How can big shots who didn't make it to the Tribute Board live?

Are those ranked lower because they're poor?

Lu Chengqing, you call this gratitude? This is moral coercion, you know...