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“Brother, I noticed everyone is in a hurry to go over there, is there a New Year’s performance that’s so captivating?”

Jiang Li saw many people, families in tow, heading towards the city center. He used his divine sense to find out that there was a New Year’s performance by the Ducheng Kingdom going on, so he stopped a passerby to ask about it.

The passerby didn’t seem annoyed and was happy to answer Jiang Li’s question.

“Judging by your accent and appearance, you’re not from here, are you?” the passerby said with pride, “The New Year’s performance in our Ducheng capital city is unmatched. All these people, they’re from other cities, specifically here to watch the performance.”

“My name is Zi Tongxin. It seems you’re on your own, why not join us?” Perhaps it was Zi Tongxin’s nature or maybe it was due to the New Year, but he was very enthusiastic and invited Jiang Li to join his family.

“Let’s go take a look.” Jiang Li nodded.

As there were too many people watching the performance, it was impossible to see clearly from afar. Hence, the officials set up eight large mirrors synchronized with the stage performance and used sound amplifying magic artifacts so that everyone could see and hear clearly.

The current performance was a song. It was neither a widely popular folk song, nor a festive song suitable for the holiday atmosphere, and it certainly wasn’t the latest work from a famous composer. ..Who can contend with the Human Emperor for five hundred years…”

“…The strongest throughout history…”

‘…A role model for cultivators…’

This was a song praising Jiang Li; some parts didn’t rhyme, as though it was hastily put together.

There was a lot of applause from the audience, perfectly timed, as if they had rehearsed it.

“Even at New Year, we can’t forget the Human Emperor.” Zi Tongxin explained awkwardly. Even he felt it was unconvincing, as if his words weren’t connecting.

After just praising his country’s performance, it dropped the ball.

This didn’t happen in previous years, did it?

“Well said, as citizens of the Nine Provinces and subjects of the Emperor, we must always remember the Human Emperor’s benevolence in battling the Heavenly Demons to save mankind!” A nearby spectator stated, thinking that the performance on the stage was excellent.

Jiang Li remained silent, continuing to watch the performance.

The next act was a skit purporting the call of the Imperial Palace that everyone should strive to increase the coverage of cultivators, aiming to let more ordinary people become cultivators.

The audience continued to clap thunderously and laugh heartily, as if they were genuinely amused.

Jiang Li didn’t find the skit funny, and neither did Zi Tongxin’s family.

They felt out of place with the world, as if they were the only ones not amused.

“It’s normal to have one or two mediocre performances sporadically.” Zi

Tongxin grumbled, insisting that tonight’s performance was entertaining.

“That’s where you’re wrong; this skit is not ordinary at all. It talks about the Imperial Palace’s requirements, demonstrating its allegiance to the palace. This stance alone makes the skit stand out.”

“Combined with the hilarious punchlines, it’s definitely worthy of being considered top-notch!” The same spectator disagreed with Zi Tongxin’s statement, rebutting his point of view.

“Top-notch? Are you joking?” Zi Tongxin doubted his own ears.

“No joke, I’m being serious.” The spectator replied decisively.

Zi Tongxin shook his head, thinking the man was beyond reason.

“Sir, what do you think of the skit?” The spectator turned to ask Jiang Li.

Jiang Li stayed silent.

After that skit, came another one.

The next one was about a couple arguing over their treatment towards a spiritually aware artifact due to responding to the Imperial Palace’s call. The wife insisted that artifacts were just objects and there was no need to treat them well, causing a series of hilariously embarrassing incidents. Finally, the son came home from the academy and explained to his mother, saying the spirit artifacts hugely helped humans and the palace encouraged everyone to treat spirit artifacts well according to the ‘Spiritual Treasure Law’ of the Great Zhou and the artifact contract of Dao Sect.

The mother saw the light and finally understood that an artifact’s life was also a life, starting to treat the spirit artifact kindly.

The son then dramatically said, “Mom——Dad—it’s New Year, let’s make—dumplings—together—

The parents echoed, “Yes, making—dumplings— together—

The script ended on a high note with the family’s bond being reaffirmed.

Again, the applause from the audience was thunderous.

Jiang Li didn’t want to watch any more of these performances. It felt like a waste of his time.

Zi Tongxin stopped defending ardently and instead squatted on the ground in embarrassment.

Jiang Li noticed that the same few people always clapped and laughed. It wasn’t a large group of people, but their noise level could easily be mistaken for that of a large crowd.

People like this were generally called shills.

“Brother, you have to believe me, the performances from previous years weren’t this embarrassing.” Zi Tongxin said, unaware that the nearby spectator was looking at him like he was a dead man.

“I believe you.”

Jiang Li indeed believed him. He could tell the performances seemed rushed, with a clear theme prioritized. If they could be artistic, that would be great, but if not and the performance was bland, it didn’t matter, as the atmosphere was being artificially induced.

“The atmosphere isn’t the same without an enjoyable performance. The performances of the other cities are better than the capital’s.” Zi Tongxin sighed, wanting to take his wife and child home.

“I think this year’s performance is the best one yet.” The spectator persisted with his opinion, “Not only does it promote the philosophy of the Imperial Palace and respond to the call but it’s also teaching people while entertaining them. It’s killing two birds with one stone.”

“What’s the use of other cities’ performances apart from a cheap laugh, given they lack a central theme?”

Zi Tongxin didn’t care to respond to the man anymore.

Educational content during the New Year’s celebration, what a joke.

“Don’t rush home, you’ve drawn attention to yourself. You might find that you’ve been stabbed seven times according to the coroner’s report tomorrow, with the cause of death being suicide.”

Zi Tongxin angrily replied, “Brother, even if I made you watch a boring performance, you shouldn’t curse me like that.”

“I’m not cursing you, you’ve really caught someone’s attention. Because you kept complaining about the dull performance while next to me, you’re now on someone’s radar.” Jiang Li explained, “Since the situation arose because of me, naturally, I’ll ensure your family’s safety.”

Jiang Li turned to the nearby man and said, “Isn’t that right, Ducheng King

Lupin?”

The man who had been insisting the performance was good froze, “Sir, I think you’ve recognized the wrong person.”

Jiang Li scoffed, “You seem to have a lot of confidence in your ability to mask your aura, think you’ve managed to deceive even me?”

Only then did Ducheng King Lupin have to admit his identity, “Your majesty’s sight is truly keen, I am Lupin. However, I’m not that type of person who would harbor murderous intentions.”

“Is that so? So the hint of murderous intent I sensed earlier was nothing but my imagination?”

Lupin remained silent.

Zi Tongxin’s family was stunned, hardly able to believe the content of the conversation between the two men.

Based on their conversation, one of them was supposed to be the Human Emperor and the other the king, and the king was planning to kill them simply because they thought the performance was boring? The New Year wasn’t an occasion for such jokes..