412: Chapter 412 Sometimes I really want to just destroy everything.

Chen You retracted his hand, pointing at the mountain of monster corpses outside the city walls and the massive crater of scorched earth blasted by the Purple Firmament Divine Thunder.

"City Lord, look, I've even helped you take care of this Demon Lord."

"So, appearance fees, mental distress compensation, plus my ammunition costs... shouldn't we settle the bill?"

The smile on Very Good's face instantly froze.

He subconsciously clutched his withered coin purse at his waist, his Adam's apple bobbing twice. "My... My Lord, you must be joking."

"You are the salvation sent by the Source God. To speak of money, wouldn't that be a defilement of your sanctity?"

"Cut the crap," Chen You rolled his eyes. "Does my heavenly lightning come for free? Does maintaining my flying sword not cost money? Even brothers keep clear accounts, let alone us, who aren't even well-acquainted."

"Lord... Lord Chen You," Very Good rubbed his hands together, bowing even lower.

"You see, Qirui City has just suffered a catastrophe. The city walls need repair, pensions need to be paid, and rebuilding the Great Cathedral will cost an astronomical sum..."

"And?"

"And so, even a landlord's family has no surplus grain!" Very Good slapped his thigh hard, his eyes instantly turning red with a performance that was naturally flawless.

"As you can see, Qirui City is in a state of neglect, and we haven't even paid the pensions for the fallen soldiers yet!"

Chen You watched his performance quietly, his right hand still extended in mid-air, motionless.

Very Good gritted his teeth and pulled out a broken half of a scepter from his bosom, handing it over with a look of extreme pain.

"My Lord, this is a sacred object passed down through generations of Great High Priests in Qirui City. Although it was just broken, a trace of holy aura still remains within."

"It would be excellent if you took it to use as a flashlight."

Chen You glanced at the piece of junk wood that even the system prompt didn't deign to pop up for, and backhandedly planted the yuhuang sword into the bluestone floor tiles.

The blade easily sliced through the stone slab, making a piercing grinding sound.

"Do you think I look like a junk collector?"

"Please appease your anger, My Lord!" Very Good shuddered in fear and hurriedly stuffed the broken wood back into his bosom.

His eyes darted around, and he suddenly remembered something, shouting, "The seal! Yes, the seal! My Lord, aren't you collecting City Lord Seals?"

Chen You's movements paused.

Seeing a chance, Very Good hurried forward. "My Lord, I'll give you another stamp! A double blessing!"

Chen You stared at him for a full ten seconds.

This charlatan had likely lost his mind; continuing to waste time here was pointless.

"Fine." Chen You didn't bother looking at that old face any longer and turned to fly off on his sword.

A golden sword light streaked across the sky, leaving behind only words that drifted down with the wind: "Keep that piece of junk wood for yourself to use as firewood."

Very Good looked up as the sword light disappeared into the clouds, letting out a long sigh of relief and wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

"City Lord," a Temple Knight approached and whispered, "Don't we still have the autumn taxes we just collected in the treasury?"

"Shut up!" Very Good glared at him, adjusted his crooked crown, and regained his charlatan's dignity.

"Is that called tax? That's the Source God's reconstruction fund! Don't you know the rules?"

...

Cangxing City.

When Chen You stepped out of the teleportation array, he felt as if he had arrived in another world.

The exterior walls of the buildings on both sides of the street were covered with massive holographic projection screens.

On the screens, various strange-looking NPCs and players' campaign declarations were playing on a loop.

"Pick me, pick me! The Source Realm's number one fast blade, giving you a different cutting experience!"

"The once-in-a-century smoky voice of the Lark Tribe, singing a requiem of the dark night for you! Please vote for Number 69!"

On the main road, players and NPCs were mixed together, waving glow sticks and shouting their respective idols' names.

The roadside stalls no longer sold potions and equipment; they had all been replaced by support light boards, signed posters, and virtual bouquets for ranking.

Chen You took a deep breath.

This was all the trouble he had caused.

He bypassed the fanatical crowd and headed straight for the City Lord's Mansion.

The gates of the City Lord's Mansion were wide open, and deafening music drifted out from within.

Chen You stepped inside.

In the center of the hall, the over two-meter-tall Sander had her back to the door.

Black tank top, gray overalls, middle-parted hair.

With her back to the door, she faced a massive floor-to-ceiling mirror, twisting her waist frantically.

"One! Two! Three! Four! Watch the beat! Be full of emotion! Your eyes should be broken!"

While calling out the beat for herself, Sander suddenly turned around, performing an extremely exaggerated hip thrust.

Then she pointed her right finger to the sky, striking a pose she considered cool.

"Mentor!"

Sander saw Chen You in the floor-to-ceiling mirror.

She turned around abruptly, a fanatical light erupting in her eyes.

She rushed over like a gust of wind.

"Mentor! You're finally here!" Sander grabbed Chen You's hand, her voice trembling with excitement.

"Quick, help me see, was my gaze in that pose just now cold enough? Can it pierce through the souls of the fans in an instant?"

Chen You forcefully pulled his hand back and wiped it on his clothes for good measure.

"Let's put the guidance aside for now." Chen You pulled out the contract silk. "I'm in a hurry, stamp this first."

Sander glanced at the silk and shook her head decisively.

"No."

Chen You frowned. "Why?"

"Art allows for no distractions." Sander's expression was solemn, as if she were discussing some profound law.

"The auditions are tonight. Right now, my head is only filled with positioning, flow, and stage presence."

"Any mundane trifles will ruin my state of mind."

Chen You gritted his teeth. "Stamping it only takes a second."

"A second is enough to make me forget an eight-beat sequence." Sander said righteously.

Chen You took a deep breath.

He really wanted to pull out the yuhuang sword and cleave this obsessed simpleton in half.

But he held back.

This person was currently a fanatic, completely unreasonable.

"Fine." Chen You put away the silk. "After the auditions tonight, you stamp it."

"No problem." Sander grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth.

Then she changed the subject. "Since the Mentor is here, quickly help me look at my closing move."

"I always feel like it's missing something."

Chen You turned to leave.

"Mentor!" Sander took a step across, blocking the door.

Her two-meter-tall frame was like a wall.

"You taught me that the spirit of a trainee of two and a half years is to strive for excellence."

"You cannot abandon your student."

Looking at Sander's rugged face full of thirst for knowledge, Chen You sighed helplessly.

"Fine, practice it once."

Sander was overjoyed and immediately ran back to the center of the area.

The music started.

Sander began her performance.

Her dribbling movements were grand and powerful, each strike making the ground tremble.

Next was the signature shoulder shake, which, combined with her exaggerated muscles, created an extremely impactful visual.

"How was it?" Sander asked expectantly.

"Too stiff." Chen You rubbed his temples.

"What did I tell you?"

"The essence of an idol lies in contrast."

"Gap Moe, do you understand?"

Sander took out a small notebook and recorded it seriously.

"Gap Moe, specifically how do I do that?"

Chen You pointed at Sander's face. "Does your brain even remember anything?"

"How many times have I said it? Restrain your killing intent and lower your head slightly."

"Then, bite your lower lip, and your gaze should reveal three parts blurriness and seven parts fragility."

Chen You couldn't help but suspect that as soon as he left, certain memories of this NPC were being initialized.