Chapter 345: Mingsha City Under Pressure

It felt as though Xu Hao’s gaze was fixed on him.

Luo Peng worked harder than ever, even putting on a show as he discussed some ‘technical difficulties’ with a nearby staff member.

“Boss, would you believe me if I said this was pure coincidence?”

Coming to his senses, Xu Hao responded with a helpless look.

To be honest, he never expected that one moment of inattention would trigger such a commotion at Wuzhuang Temple, all thanks to the dust storm.

Of course,

besides Luo Peng, he bore a significant share of the blame.

If he hadn’t allocated a plot to Wuzhuang Temple and promised to connect Blood Lake, Demon-Locking Tower, and Wuzhuang Temple into one zone, that so-called ‘forest’ wouldn’t have appeared.

“Coincidence? Do things in Mingsha City always just happen by chance? Fine! And let’s not even get started on where that egret came from—what about that purple aura?”

Apparently, the boss on the phone wasn’t even at the construction site.

Otherwise,

his spit would have easily reached Xu Hao’s face.

When the first wave of short-video streamers noticed the Demon-Locking Tower and Wuzhuang Temple obscured by thick foliage—and a mysterious purple aura hovering above—they rushed into the woods.

Once inside the forest,

after several twists and turns they finally laid eyes on the Demon-Locking Tower, Wuzhuang Temple, and Blood Lake.

With the ancient pine and other year-round trees, along with the unique earthy backdrop beneath the forest canopy, Blood Lake and the Demon-Locking Tower exuded a mysterious, otherworldly charm.

And that wasn’t all.

Behind Wuzhuang Temple, the streamers discovered a small pond connected to Blood Lake, adorned with floating lotuses. More impressively, a few egrets were seen playfully frolicking along its edge.

Meanwhile, white mist began to rise from the pond, gradually shifting into a purple hue as it ascended.

With such a spectacle,

the streamers and their online viewers were anything but calm.

Many viewers even recalled an old saying about ‘a string of failures’—a pun where egret and exam success, as well as lotus and progression, are linked. They believed that by offering incense here, their children could ace their exams and bask in the purple glow of a promising future.

After the topic gained momentum, it quickly trended.

“Boss, that purple aura was simply a misunderstanding by the viewers. To create a visual effect, purple spotlights near Blood Lake may have scattered light through the white mist. You must have seen the online videos showing the pond enveloped in white mist,”

Xu Hao explained with firm conviction—a rationale so resolved that even he struggled to believe it himself.

“It is like this,” he continued.

The voice on the other end fell silent for a moment.

Not long after, another voice finally spoke, “Xiao Xu, in about a month the Technology Expo begins. Although its schedule was moved up and the higher-ups relaxed some requirements, if other attractions in Mingsha City keep drawing attention, a mediocre Expo might be overhyped by some self-media. You know how it is!”

“Boss, we’ll be extra cautious from now on. We won’t let any other spots in Mingsha City cause similar incidents,”

Xu Hao assured immediately, relief evident in his tone.

“Also, I was expecting the dust storm might hit Mingsha City hard enough for us to request some funding. But now, it seems almost certain that the minor damages on Qing Brick Avenue leading into Xianxia Zone—plus the uproar at Wuzhuang Temple—will simply earn us more complaints when reported!”

After a brief pause, the boss spoke with a tone tinged with misplaced sympathy.

“Thanks for your concern, Boss. Mingsha City can handle this loss!”

“Ahem! You get on with your job! I still need to explain this further to the officials,”

the boss retorted.

“Understood, Boss!”

One minute later, Xu Hao hung up the phone.

Surveying the busy workers, he made his way directly to Luo Peng’s side.

“Little Luo,”

“Brother Hao, I really didn’t expect Daoist Cangshan to be so calculating. Had I known he would use that old pun about exam failures to grab the incense traffic at Mingsha Fudi, I—”

Before Xu Hao could reply, Luo Peng interjected.

By now, if anyone hadn’t grasped the situation, they truly had a problem.

Half a month ago,

Daoist Cangshan had approached him, saying that while Mingsha Fudi boasted egrets and deer, Wuzhuang Temple was rather plain—and he wanted him to bring in some egrets.

Luo Peng thought it made sense and got to work.

Later, as the dust storm loomed, Daoist Cangshan insisted that planting a large number of trees was the best countermeasure. Wuzhuang Temple had already procured the saplings; they just needed help from Mingsha Labor to plant them.

Luo Peng found no fault with this plan, and, recalling Brother Hao’s earlier mention, he promptly mobilized a large workforce.

Finally, Daoist Cangshan mentioned that Wuzhuang Temple was short on water, suggesting they divert a small stream from Blood Lake to create a pond—also to irrigate the new trees. He maintained it was totally reasonable.

And so, step by step, things unfolded as they are today.

“We’ve already explained to the boss that the thriving incense traffic at Wuzhuang Temple benefits Mingsha City by easing pressure on other attractions. In the future, more security will be dispatched here to prevent any mishaps! Just be sharper next time and don’t let those three Daoist Masters fool you again,”

“I actually called about another matter!”

Xu Hao waved dismissively.

No matter how Biyou Palace and Wuzhuang Temple compete for incense traffic, they’re all parts of Mingsha City. As long as we understand the situation, there’s no need to cast blame.

“Another matter?”

Luo Peng paused.

“The Technology Expo, although set for early July, must be completed by around June 20 so that exhibiting companies can set up their booths. We need to hire additional labor!

Also, a provincial inspector will be arriving soon, so make sure you and Qiangzi are ready to receive him,”

Luo Peng continued.

Xu Hao glanced back at the construction site.

The area had changed dramatically from a month ago—wooden structures had sprung up, yet the ground was still cluttered with various wooden gears and ropes, clearly not the work of a highly complex project.

“Alright, Brother Hao!”

Meanwhile, in Yan City,

within an office building on the Third Ring, popular internet influencer Gao Nan was in conversation with a young man in a suit sporting a center-part hairstyle.

“Lawyer Zhang, I’ve prepared all the materials you requested,”

Gao Nan said, handing over a thick stack of documents.

“By the way, Lawyer Zhang, I saw online reports today about Wuzhuang Temple in Mingsha City looking incredibly mystical and stirring up buzz. Should we capitalize on this? If played right, it might turn the tables,”

the young man responded, frowning as he received the documents.

“It’s simple—rumors online claim that Mingsha City is heavily influenced by filters and beautification effects. There’s material here you could use for your case!

“I think Mingsha City is guilty of false advertising!”

Gao Nan immediately added.

Truthfully, when he saw the online news, he nearly smashed his computer.

The dust storm had given him false hope—until he realized it was an opportunity to leverage as a bargaining chip.

“I—I simply can’t take this on!”

To Gao Nan’s surprise, the young man shook his head firmly.

“Why?”

“You once told me you hired me so you wouldn’t lose a penny. But adding this element might introduce unpredictable variables into the case!”

The young man looked earnestly at Gao Nan.

“Variables?”

“Exactly! That’s my rule for accepting cases. If there’s any variable, I simply won’t take it—even if you offer extra money.”

“Oh!”

Gao Nan hesitated, visibly disappointed.

“Mr. Gao, please explain more details about this case. The trial is fast approaching,”

he urged.

“Alright then!”

At 8 PM that evening,

the uproar over Wuzhuang Temple grew louder, shooting straight into the top three trending topics. Mingsha City now boasted another attraction steeped in mystery and high energy.

For Dino Park and Fengdu Scenic Area, this might not be welcome news. But for Su Province’s cultural tourism department, it was a definite boon.

At that moment, amidst fierce competition among tourist cities across the Long Kingdom—with some hosting village festivals, barbecue parties, or kite events—the boost to cultural tourism was undeniable.

Yet Dong Liping, in charge of Su Province’s cultural tourism, couldn’t seem to share in the excitement.

In the Government Office, Room 4,

his voice rose noticeably.

“What did you say? Mingsha City doesn’t meet the standards? That’s ridiculous! If Mingsha City can’t even achieve 5A status, what do the other 5A sites have to boast about?”

It turned out that immediately after the International Magic Competition ended,

Dong Liping had submitted Mingsha City’s application for the fourth batch of the Long Kingdom’s 5A Tourist Attractions. He had envisioned Mingsha City as a top attraction in Lanstarr, but first it had to obtain 5A status.

Next, he planned to boost its international influence and eventually transform it into a top seven-star destination in Lanstarr.

By then, Mingsha City would serve as a showcase for Su Province and the Long Kingdom, competing with the best attractions while promoting the Long Kingdom’s traditional culture!

Buoyed by Mingsha City’s surge in popularity, Dong Liping was convinced this was a done deal.

But today, he received a call from higher-ups stating that Mingsha City didn’t meet the standards, so its application was withdrawn! More importantly, Dino Park in Haishi and Fengdu Scenic Area in Chongshi—already rated as 4A—were now in line to upgrade to 5A.

With that news,

Dong Liping couldn’t accept it and immediately dialed the relevant department.

“Calm down! I understand your frustration, but Mingsha City truly doesn’t meet the standards,”

he was told over the phone.

In the next moment, a calm voice responded,

“Alright, then tell me exactly where Mingsha City falls short.”

Dong Liping furrowed his brow and asked immediately.

“First, although Mingsha City boasts many popular man-made attractions—like Mingsha Fudi, Wuzhuang Temple, and Zhaixing Pavilion—they are essentially artificial. Even disputed spots like Tengwang Pavilion can’t be counted. According to national standards, man-made attractions can only be rated up to 4A!

Yet, on this basis alone, Mingsha City can’t qualify for 5A.”

After a pause, the voice on the phone continued,

“Fine, you say these are all artificial. But what about the Protectorate of West Liang? It’s a historical relic rebuilt on its original site and certified by experts! Otherwise, the famed Yeguang Cup wouldn’t be displayed in Mingsha City.”

Dong Liping’s tone turned cold.

“Protectorate of West Liang? Even a reconstructed relic isn’t considered a genuine ancient structure—it only qualifies as 4A by the standards!”

A moment later, the voice resumed,

“Moreover, Mingsha City still falls short in many areas—take transportation, for example. The city doesn’t even have its own dedicated bus station! Although a high-speed rail station is under construction, its completion remains uncertain.

And most crucially, in terms of service personnel!

A 5A attraction requires tour guides to hold a college degree or higher, with at least 30% holding a bachelor’s degree, and their narration must be articulate. Yet in Mingsha City there are only a few guides at the Visitor Service Center, forcing tourists to fend for themselves.

Furthermore, management is a significant flaw. A 5A site demands that senior managers have at least a college degree—yet the president of Mingsha Labor, Luo Peng, appears to have only a high school diploma. This is another failing of Mingsha City.

Of course, Mingsha City has one glaring flaw—the city wall! As long as it hasn’t formed an enclosed loop, Mingsha City continues to suffer from management issues and safety risks!

Just think about it:

What if someone bypasses the current wall and ventures deep into the desert, leading to an accident?

The line went on for several minutes before finally falling silent.

In short, the verdict was clear—compared to 5A requirements, Mingsha City still lagged behind and could barely be rated as a 4A site.

“What you’re saying is trivial!”

Hearing this, Dong Liping’s face darkened even further.

To him, it was a deliberate hassle imposed on Mingsha City.

Qualifications for personnel? What matters is providing excellent service that leaves tourists satisfied.

And the city wall?

Pure nonsense!

Mingsha City’s existing wall already outshines all similar attractions in the Long Kingdom—must it be completely enclosed to qualify as an ancient city?

“I understand your frustration! I know Mingsha City has earned accolades by hosting events like the Cultural Expo and International Magic Competition, but regardless of its achievements, not meeting the standards is still a failure. Those are two separate matters.

So please, don’t put me in a difficult position.”

In the next moment, another voice interjected,

“Alright, I get it—by your logic, Mingsha City is doomed to remain a 4A attraction?”

At that,

Dong Liping’s voice rose even higher.

“Theoretically, yes! After all, man-made attractions will always pale in comparison to historic sites rich in true cultural heritage.”