404: Rational discussion

Ling Qi curled her lips, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

The decision to invite A Ning to observe the audition scene was currently swirling in her mind, leaving a complicated taste.

The girl who slayed the dragon had eventually grown scales herself.

She could almost foresee that once Her Majesty's skilled 'revenue generation' process was fully implemented, the communication jade slips of the Secretariat Office and the Logistics Department would likely be flooded with complaints.

Forget it, she still needed to guide Her Majesty's thoughts back to the business of the Ativi Continent. With the 'Sunken Firing Range' as a trump card, those old fogies in the Source Realm were nothing to worry about.

In fact, Ling Qi's fingers curled slightly.

Based on a certain intuition, she felt that if the Sunken Firing Range were truly activated, Her Majesty might even be pleased to see it happen.

After all, the Empress had been eyeing certain special building materials deep within Mount Fuji in Country R for a long time.

"Your Majesty," she shifted the topic imperceptibly, "regarding the Goddess of Light, is the timing approaching?"

Shang Wan Ning didn't notice her Secretary-General was secretly criticizing her business mind, taking it as a regular business inquiry.

"Mhm, I'll return to Jiaotai Palace now and have Little Four keep an eye on the spatial nodes."

"Understood."

Ling Qi lowered her eyes and accepted the order.

Shang Wan Ning's figure disappeared into the shimmering light of the teleportation array, leaving the private room in silence once more, save for a faint scent of oranges.

Ling Qi stood quietly on the spot for a while before finally letting out a resigned sigh.

She took out her phone from her storage ring and opened the Underworld APP. As expected, she saw that the discussion thread about 'Underworld 101' on the internal forum had been pushed to the front page.

Furthermore, it was followed by a bright red 'HOT' tag, indicating that the topic had attracted widespread attention and discussion.

She clicked on the thread with the highest popularity.

[Hot Thread]

[Rational Discussion]

The second public performance of 'Underworld Song and Dance Troupe 101' has concluded. Does this planning level treat our incense points as hell money to burn?

OP [Wangchuan Slacking Soul Messenger]: As per the title, just got back from the scene, feeling conflicted. The contestants are truly beautiful, Mentor Leah is ethereal, Princess Ilena broke through her limits and was so cool it hit me right in the face, and the two Underworld Marshals, Black and White Impermanence... well, they have very distinct personalities.

But this process, this competition format, this script... the planning team needs to come out and take a beating. (This is only directed at the planning team, no offense intended to any superiors.)

1L [Finished Marking Files Today]: First! OP is bold. But I agree, that forced emotional farewell speech from the contestant was so cringe my toes dug out a three-bedroom apartment inside my boots.

2L [book of life and death Administrator]: Agreed with the above, and those lights, flickering randomly all the time. I felt dizzy just watching through the light screen; are the ghost brothers at the scene doing okay?

3L [Other Shore Flower Field Waterer]: When the contestants were performing, weren't the background special effects a bit too flamboyant? That 'Wangchuan River Water Flowing Backward' effect last time almost scared my pet vengeful spirit into pieces.

4L [New Soul Messenger Asking if Not Knowing]: Asking quietly, why do we have to buy designated products every time we vote? It's not easy for me to save up incense points... 5L [Senior Audition Enthusiast]: Replying to 4L: Brother, you still don't get it? Revenue generation! The Underworld has to work on its GDP too, long live understanding.

Anyway, I'm doing it for love. I've already bought twenty cases of herbal tea just to cast a few more votes for Ariel.

59L [Succubus Bar Regular]: Can Lord Bai Xuan say anything else besides 'tasty enough' and 'boring'?

Even though he's handsome and everything he says is right, can the mentor's comments please have some substance?

60L [Lord Bai Xuan Fan Club President]: What does the person above know! Our Lord Bai Xuan is just being true to himself, he disdains empty and flowery comments. Being casual and unrestrained is where his charm lies.

61L [Rational Analysis Emperor]: Actually, Lord Bai Xuan represents a pure 'audience perspective.' Data proves that his preferences reflect the tastes of the general audience to a certain extent... (Starts a long-winded lecture...)

64L [Bridge of Helplessness Pile Driver]: Lord Hei Jing, on the other hand, is full of substance. He can even tell if a contestant's fingertip is off by a fraction of a degree. But this is for a girl group, not a military honor guard selection, hey! The girls are almost being lectured to tears.

65L [Lord Hei Jing's Leg Pendant]: A strict teacher produces brilliant students; Lord Hei Jing is being responsible for the art. Look at the contestants after his coaching, aren't their movements much more standardized?

This is called professional!

66L [Once Served in the Army]: Don't say it, Lord Hei Jing's training method feels quite familiar to me, like being back in the barracks... 98L [Netherworld Kitchen Head Chef]: The most incredible one is Mentor Ming Xuan. She looks at the contestants like walking incense point calculators. Every word is about business and value. I can already imagine her holding an abacus and planning the next five hundred years of cash flow for the contestants.

99L [Financial Department Nobody]: Lord Ming Xuan is being pragmatic. If you make a show and don't make money, are you supposed to do it for love?

Support Lord Ming Xuan, the Underworld's finances need such elites.

100L [Just Want to See Beauties]: You guys can argue all you want, but don't stop me from looking at the girls, okay?

Can Mentor Ming Xuan do less business analysis and give more screen time to the girls' faces?

156L [CP Shipper Leader]: Asking quietly, does no one think the scripts the mentors are given are also ridiculous?

Cold-faced dance instructor x casual audience representative? Data Queen x Ancient Charm Fairy? This setup... has the planning team been watching too many melodramas from the Human Realm lately?

157L [Screenwriting Enthusiast]: Same feeling, and the interactions between contestants are also forced. That 'deep sisterly bond' drama was less vivid than the stone lion at my front door.

158L [Underworld Melon King]: I dug up some internal news. I heard the original script was even more ridiculous, with things like 'Mentors Fighting for Contestants' and 'Contestants Turning Against Each Other,' but it was vetoed by a certain Lord... 241L [Underworld Honest Person]: The script is indeed stiff. But who dares to complain? The first name on the planning list is clearly written as... (automatically muted here).

Brothers, the prerequisite for speaking freely is that your soul still wants to stay in the Netherworld.

242L [Witty Melon]: Watch your words, person above. We are discussing the execution capabilities of the planning team.

We absolutely support all decisions from the higher-ups.

(Life-saving talisman posted)

243L [Passing Junior Judge]: Ahem, reminding everyone that the internet is not a lawless place; the Netherworld also has laws... speak with caution.

289L [Long Live Visuals]: What's the fuss? For these looks alone, I'm definitely following this show.

The looks of the Elf Race are the Heavenly Dao, and the waists of the Succubus ladies are the truth. Regardless of the script or competition format, as long as the camera is on their faces, I'll tip like crazy.

In an Underworld show, looks are justice.

290L [Elf Race is the Best]: Exactly, just seeing little sister Ariel standing there quietly, I could renew my VIP for a hundred years. No matter how bad the planning is, I can endure it.