The Strongest Talent Tree

And just like that, thanks to Feng Hao’s smooth-talking, a bunch of the martial arts hall’s members were successfully won over.

When he returned to the performance hall, everything was ready. The once-resplendent hall was now suffused with a gorgeous, high-tech aesthetic. Combined with the dazzling lights overhead, the effect was stunning.

Feng Hao was very pleased with the stage design, but the vast performance hall was nearly empty. Even with the group of youngsters he’d just hustled over, it was impossible to fill all the seats.

"Brother Feng, the venue is pretty much set up. Is there anything else you need?" a few staff members asked as they approached.

"No, we’re good. Go tell Yao Ying and the others to warm up and get ready to perform," Feng Hao said with a faint smile.

Hearing this, the staff members ran backstage to notify Yao Ying and the other two.

The show was about to start, but Feng Hao couldn’t feel happy at all. It couldn’t be helped; the performance hall was simply too large. It would take several thousand people to even begin to fill it.

’If the audience isn’t even full, how am I supposed to create any hype?’

"This won’t do. I have to think of something. If all else fails, I’ll have Old Qian get a bunch of his guys to come over," Feng Hao muttered, his brow furrowed with worry.

Just as he was worrying, a message from Yao Girl came through his sea of consciousness. "You damn medicine peddler, where did you run off to? Have you forgotten all about me?"

"Haha, your timing is perfect," Feng Hao said, his eyes suddenly lighting up. "Yao Girl, hurry and bring your crew to the Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall."

"The Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall?" Xi Yueyao asked, perplexed. "What for? A fight?"

"No," Feng Hao chuckled. "I’m putting on a show here. I need you to bring a lot of people to help fill the seats and liven things up."

"Alright, I’m on my way," Xi Yueyao readily agreed. It couldn’t be helped; she loved nothing more than a lively scene.

After the call ended, Feng Hao couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Before long, a clamor of voices rose from outside the hall, followed by Yao Girl’s indignant shout. "Medicine peddler, where are you? We’re here!"

"Coming, coming!" Feng Hao shouted, rushing out to greet them.

But the moment he burst through the doors, he froze in stunned silence. Outside the hall was a veritable sea of people, a dense, dark mass of students from the Five Provinces Academy.

Upon seeing Feng Hao, the crowd immediately roared in unison, "Greetings, Boss—!"

"Holy crap, isn’t this a bit much?" Feng Hao stammered, completely dumbfounded.

"A bit much?" Xi Yueyao asked, blinking innocently while cuddling Xiaohai. "There are still plenty of my boys who couldn’t make it."

"..." Feng Hao was speechless.

’Good grief,’ Feng Hao thought. ’This girl really has a talent for the gangster life. How long has it been, and she’s already recruited such a huge crew?’

"Aren’t we here to see a show? Where is it?" Xi Yueyao asked, her lips pursed in a slight pout.

Feng Hao snapped back to his senses and hurriedly waved to the massive crew. "I almost forgot the important part. Ahem, before the show starts, I have a little mission for all of you."

"Just give the order, Boss! The brothers will listen to you," a couple of her cronies said with cheeky grins.

"Come on, let’s head inside first," Feng Hao said, his expression turning serious. He led the crew into the hall, had them spread out and take their seats, and then began his earnest explanation. "When the show starts, your only job is to cheer and scream. You have to make this place as lively as possible."

"The whole time?" a few of the followers in the front row asked doubtfully.

"Not the whole time," Feng Hao chuckled. "Mainly at the beginning and the end. Also, whenever the performers interact with the audience. Oh, and when the show reaches its climax, you guys have to go wild, too. Don’t be stingy with your applause—clap your hands raw if you have to."

"Don’t worry, Boss! Mission accepted!" the entire crew responded in unison.

"Excellent," Feng Hao said with a satisfied smile. "Pull this off, and there’ll be a reward in it for all of you."

Hearing this, the followers all grew visibly excited, poised and ready for action. Their eyes shone with anticipation.

After getting his crew situated, it was nearly time. Feng Hao sat with Yao Girl in the centermost seats, patiently waiting for the show to begin.

Meanwhile, other audience members who had heard the buzz began to file in. Most of them were the martial arts hall members Feng Hao had convinced to come.

Of course, many others were here simply because of the Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall’s prestigious reputation. As one of the top venues in Wolf Country, it was a popular spot for nobles and prominent families to appreciate the arts and cultivate their tastes.

Before they knew it, the entire hall had filled up, and a low buzz of conversation filled the air as people discussed the upcoming performance.

The most amusing of the lot were the martial arts hall members Feng Hao had roped in. They had completely bought into the rumors he’d spread and were now excitedly bragging to those sitting nearby. In no time, the entire venue was shrouded in an atmosphere of thick anticipation.

Beside Feng Hao, Yao Girl couldn’t sit still. She fidgeted, jostling Xiaohai in her arms, and complained, "Why hasn’t it started yet?"

"Soon. Just a little longer," Feng Hao said with a helpless smile.

"Oh." Xi Yueyao nodded with a pout, then asked curiously, "By the way, who’s performing? Are they any good?"

"Xu Zhenzhen, Li Ting, and Yao Ying," Feng Hao answered.

Xi Yueyao paused, her eyes shifting thoughtfully. "Aren’t they students? Why are they putting on a performance?"

"You don’t get it. It’s called ’striking while the iron is hot.’ Before long, they’ll be idols to all the youth of the Ancient Cang Realm, and then your dear husband here is going to make a fortune," Feng Hao said with a smirk.

"Tch. They’d be better off joining my crew," Xi Yueyao scoffed. In her eyes, making a name for yourself on the streets was the only true path; everything else was just misguided nonsense.

Feng Hao couldn’t be bothered to explain. He just turned his attention to the stage. "It’s starting!"

The next moment.

As a light, cheerful melody began to play, the stage lights started to sweep across the venue. Then, under the curious gazes of the audience, Yao Ying and the other two took the stage with upbeat dance moves.

"Hello everyone! We’re the Wind Love Dance Troupe, and welcome to our concert!"

"I’m the leader, Yao Ying, but you can all call me Little Demon." Yao Ying’s every move was captivating, her every expression enchanting.

"I’m Zhenzhen." Xu Zhenzhen seemed a little nervous, but she hid it well.

Li Ting, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease, waving excitedly to the crowd. "Hi everyone, I’m Ting’Er~!"

After the trio’s introduction, a murmur of doubt rippled through the audience. After all, in the Mage World, it was difficult for young Dancing Magic Masters to gain recognition.

However, just as the doubts began to spread, a sudden, explosive wave of cheers instantly drowned them out.

The followers, scattered all around the hall, began to play their part, waving their arms and shouting wildly.

"Little Demon, Little Demon, I love you, like a mouse loves its rice~!"

"Wooooo—! Zhenzhen, I’m your biggest fan!"

"Oh my god, I’m so excited! I’ve been a fan for so long, I can’t believe I’m finally seeing them live!"

Similar cheers erupted from all corners of the hall, instantly pushing the atmosphere of the show to a fever pitch.

The audience members who had been skeptical were now all dumbfounded. Seeing the excited people around them, they found themselves cheering along unconsciously. It couldn’t be helped. When everyone around you is cheering, not joining in would just be awkward.

The martial arts hall members Feng Hao had hustled over also quickly joined the cheering, secretly congratulating themselves for not missing out.

"Wow, so the Wind Love Dance Troupe really has this many fans?"

"That kid really wasn’t lying. All three of them are gorgeous, no wonder they’re so popular."

"Look, look, the performance is starting! Huh? Isn’t this supposed to be a Dancing Magic performance? Why are they singing and dancing?"

"I gotta say, this singing and dancing thing is awesome! I feel like my whole body is on fire!"

"What a beautiful performance! Ting’Er is so cute, I think I’m in love~!"

"Damn, those seductive dance moves... she’s practically daring me to commit a crime."

"Nope, can’t take it anymore. I gotta go jerk off in the bathroom!"

...