Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 190 - 161: Government Jobs—Either Deadly Busy or Deadly Idle

December 24, 2017

While the audience waited anxiously outside, everything inside the Aozora Martial Arts Arena was progressing in an orderly manner.

Of course, the term "orderly manner" is somewhat understated, and anyone present would likely disagree.

——

"Has the secondary confirmation for the Illusion Array been completed yet?! Can the people from the Celestial Craft Institute get it done or not? If not, replace them immediately! There are plenty of others willing to take on the job. Tell Dean Liu that if I don't get a response within ten minutes, I'll replace them directly, regardless. The Sect Leader of the Ruo Shui Sect has already offered a life guarantee that even if they take over now, they can set up the Grand Competition Illusion Array and have it inspected within an hour!"

"How is the security check procedure going? No, there's no need for you to rush ahead of time. Follow every step of the procedure to the letter! For today's Grand Competition, there are over fifty thousand entrants, and there are tens of thousands more in the outside plaza. If any issues arise, I'll wait for your head! Also, tell the security at the entrance that they are not to let anyone in before the scheduled time, even if people outside end up packed like canned fish, or even if they turn into soup. No one is to enter before it's time! Yes, no one! Except for staff, those holding audience tickets must wait outside patiently, yes, even my father cannot enter! If anything goes wrong, they can confront me later. Anyone causing trouble on site gets taken down by security directly! If they resist, beat them brutally, yes, that's what I said!"

"What's the situation with the contestants? Are there any absentees? What? I'm just asking; there's no need for excess concern. They've already been informed; it's their problem if they don't arrive. We're not obligated to cater to their every need. Yes, this goes for every contestant, even the Li Family's seeded contestants receive self-service throughout, and no one should act spoiled!"

In front of the main stage at the Aozora Martial Arts Arena, a woman, petite yet dressed in luxurious attire, handled over a dozen tasks simultaneously with impressive presence.

Surrounding her, five people were reporting work progress and awaiting instructions. Three Communication Spirit Stones, emitting constant sound, were on her desk, along with two sheets of instant communication paper showing words from afar.

For a moment, the woman had no choice but to multitask like a primordial beast with ten heads and twenty arms, working frantically.

Honestly, Lu Xin felt she was on the verge of exploding.

However, as the person responsible for this final stage of the Cyan Cloud Grand Competition, these tasks fell squarely on her shoulders.

The once-in-a-decade Grand Competition not only was a grand event for young cultivators but also for over a million people in QingCyan Cloud City and several million in surrounding areas. Hosting the event was Li Family's duty as QingCyan Cloud City's owner, an inescapable obligation.

The effort required to organize such an unprecedented spectacle is unimaginable. Even though it has been held 73 times in QingCyan Cloud City, with predecessors establishing a set of mature processes and having collaborated many times with major contractors, practical work still faced various obstacles, making organizers exhaustively wary, even to the point of burnout.

In fact, since the 53rd Cyan Cloud Grand Competition Organizing Committee's chairman suffered heart failure due to overexertion, the standard process included a section on rescuing overworked staff…

Lu Xin just hoped she wouldn't need that contingency plan…

After an unknown period of time, Lu Xin suddenly felt the pressure around her lighten, suddenly realizing, in a daze, that her tasks had finally been completed, those surrounding her for reports had all been dismissed like ravenous wolves after a feast, the Communication Spirit Stones at hand had all been shut off, and she had unconsciously finished writing the final piece of instant communication, explaining clearly the issues with the arena setup.

Wow, I'm really capable, clearing all the accumulated tasks in just half a day's time!

With a hint of emotion, Lu Xin sat down wearily, feeling a bit parched.

At that moment, she noticed a teacup had appeared beside her filled with clear, fragrant tea.

"Celestial Immortal Tea, it helps recover fatigue."

The voice was neither male nor female, neither old nor young, as if countless voices speaking in unison, cooling the listener.

Lu Xin was taken aback and turned her head, only to see a man wearing an ivory mask standing quietly beside her.

The next moment, Lu Xin recalled this person's identity and quickly stood up and said, "Greetings, Immortal Envoy…"

The man waved his hand: "No need for formalities, I'm just here to take a casual look."

Lu Xin paused, nodded, picked up the tea cup, and took a sip, instantly feeling a refreshing sensation spread throughout her body, her previous fatigue dissipating significantly.

She placed the teacup down, but noticed the ivory-masked man had vanished without a trace.

"Ah, Holy Sect Immortal Envoy…"

Lu Xin shook her head, sighing meaninglessly.

This Immortal Envoy from Heaven-Reaching City had always been so elusive. Half a month ago, he appeared like a specter at the gate of the Li Family Mansion early in the morning, politely knocking and sending a letter signed by the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect.

The content was ordinary, wishing success for this Cyan Cloud Grand Competition, prosperity for QingCyan Cloud City's immortal cultivation endeavors. Moreover, the letter stated the Holy Sect Immortal Envoy would only be judging the competition results, with all other arrangements left to QingCyan Cloud City. The Envoy needed no food or lodging from others, just a seat in the audience once the event began.

This kind of letter was cliché; practically every Cyan Cloud Grand Competition received an almost identical one from the Holy Sect's envoy, with little variation even in handwriting.

Compared to the envoys from the past, this time the immortal envoy seemed even more elusive. Almost half a month had gone by without making another appearance, only occasionally communicating briefly with members of the competition organizing committee about the event matters. Moreover, even the great elders of the three major families could not ascertain his whereabouts.

Because of this, people couldn't help but speculate. The Holy Sect envoys in the past, although they strictly maintained neutrality, did not shy away from establishing contacts with the leaders of the three major families and some large sects, if not for themselves, it was considered to contribute to strengthening the Holy Sect's rule.

Generally speaking, a Holy Sect envoy arrives in QingCyan Cloud City half a month to a month in advance, then participates in organizing the entire competition, offering guidance on issues such as the schedule and participants. Those who are enthusiastic even use their own immortal techniques to assist in venue construction and the like.

But this immortal envoy seems indifferent to everything, even the three major families couldn't find him to invite him to banquets...

"Probably this is the difference in standards between an immortal envoy and a sect envoy."

People have many thoughts about this, but Lu Xin doesn't mind really. If he doesn't show up, it just means fewer things to bother her, and with her workload already piled up like a mountain, less trouble means more peace.

After all, with so many things, she couldn't guarantee that she could contain her temper.

That person who was supposed to be responsible for everything and yet acted as a shopkeeper at the critical moment... he will get an earful when the grand competition is over!

Thinking of that person, Lu Xin felt both annoyed and sweet, tangled for a moment, then suddenly remembered something, she couldn't help but gently pat her forehead.

Darn it, how could I forget such a big event.

She took a deep breath, activated her divine sense, and directly contacted her husband.

"Fengyun, have you prepared your opening speech?"

"..."

"Li Fengyun, don't pretend to be absent-minded with me!"

"Ah Xin'Er, hello, just now I was pondering over the problem of the three-style True Essence transformation under an infinite spiritual power field, do you think..."

"I don't know! All I know is if you haven't finished your opening speech, you'll be dead!" Lu Xin was simply too exasperated here, "It's such a simple thing, if you really can't write it, just copy the previous ones! I've even prepared sample texts for you!"

"...Actually, my opening speech was long ready, it's just you all kept asking me to revise it repeatedly."

"Nonsense! Who told you to discourse on the Wind and Cloud Divinity Transformation Technique during the opening ceremony!?"

"I believe using academic topics as an opening could enhance the academic atmosphere of the Cyan Cloud Grand Competition."

"No quibbling!" Lu Xin was so infuriated that she clenched her teeth, wishing she could drag Li Fengyun out and hammer him, but with less than an hour until the opening ceremony, there was simply no time to waste. "Quickly bring over what you've finished for me to check!"

"Alright."

After a while, Lu Xin's brow slightly relaxed: "Though it's still lacking in some respects, missing mention of some sects, and a bit deficient in literary technique, it'll probably do. The next step will be on-the-spot presentation; I don't expect you to be as eloquent as the Qian Family, able to make a speech sound emotionally charged or even make you cry. Just honestly finish reading the script without zoning out. Understand, you absolutely must not suddenly lose focus halfway through, that would be disrespectful to all the audience, and seriously damage both your and the family's reputation!"

Li Fengyun hesitated: "You want me not to zone out? This, this feels too sudden, at least give me some time to adjust..."

"All your adjustment time has been spent modifying the manuscript!" Lu Xin was furious, jumping with anger, she grabbed the Celestial Immortal Tea and drank it down, barely suppressing her temper, "If you dare to lose focus at the event again, for the next month, you won't have any meals."

"What!? Please no!"

"I'm not kidding! At that time, you dare to zone out and see what happens!"

With these words, Lu Xin cut off the communication and crushed the teacup in her hand.

After that, Lu Xin was startled, quickly looking around, fortunately, there were no others around, relieving her.

The opening ceremony was about to begin, not only would Li Fengyun give a speech under the attention of the audience, as a primary guest she would also receive the audience's gaze on the podium, she must maintain her best condition...

Thinking of this, Lu Xin began circulating cultivation technique, purifying her divine sense with the Golden Crow True Essence. And in a transcendent moment, she suddenly thought.

Back then, that Shen Yue'e person was vigorously promoting her marriage with Li Fengyun before her death... Was it a form of revenge?!