Honestly, it was freezing. The temperature had already dropped below zero.
But the audience did not mind at all. Most of them were even dressed rather lightly.
Their physical constitutions had been enhanced, growing stronger ever since the records began to spread.
After all, they were gradually adapting to Destruction, and Destruction energy had improved their bodies.
Thus, unfazed by heat or cold, they waited eagerly until the lights on the floating stage finally lit up after nightfall.
"OOOH~ Chang'an, Chang'an..."
"Chang'an, I love you..."
The audience cheered and urged him on, waving glow sticks that washed the darkness-shrouded earth in a dazzling river of light.
Wearing an outfit designed by Eden, Ye Chang'an descended from the sky, released the tether in his hand, and landed on the stage.
A massive holographic projection replicated his every movement, displaying his handsome face and distinctive aura before nearly a million spectators.
Even residents of the capital who had not come in person could see him from their homes.
"Oohhh~ It's Chang'an, it's Chang'an."
The audience shouted even more excitedly, only stopping when Ye Chang'an raised a finger in a shushing gesture.
These devoted fans were truly cooperative.
Ye Chang'an smiled and lowered his finger, offering a quiet greeting without a microphone.
"Good evening. I'm Chang'an."
His voice was not loud, yet it somehow reached everyone's ears.
This was not the power of technology, but the power of Destruction.
Ye Chang'an was using Destruction energy as a loudspeaker.
And honestly, it worked especially well.
The audience liked this feeling. That was why they had come from so far away to watch in person; otherwise, they could have just stayed home and watched the livestream.
This performance was being broadcast live across the globe, at Ye Chang'an's specific request.
K had granted his request, so people around the world witnessed this scene through the internet.
"(＃^.^＃)~ My husband is so handsome." Eden slacked off at work to watch the livestream, giggling as she posted a comment.
It caused no stir, because the comments were filled with similar messages saying, My husband is so handsome.
She was the woman with the most romantic rivals in the world.
Of course, Ye Chang'an was also the man with the most romantic rivals.
"This guy is still as dazzling as ever." Mobius was also slacking off while watching the livestream.
Ever since the records had been released, her research work had slowed down, because the combined effects of Chang'an Melody and Destruction energy had already brought about humanity's evolution.
It was as though her life's goal had been fulfilled. She had grown a little lax, occasionally checking in on Ye Chang'an's performances.
As for Eden's performances... she rarely watched them.
"Wow, Chang'an really is so handsome~" Blanca exclaimed like a fangirl from within a room plastered with posters.
Many, many others were also watching this livestream.
Hua, Kevin, Mei, Su, Aponia, Vill-V, Pardofelis, Cosmo, Sakura, and Ling... and naturally, Old K as well.
Under the attention of the entire world, Ye Chang'an smiled and exchanged a few opening pleasantries before removing the flute from his waist and beginning to play.
The audience at the venue needed Chang'an Melody to ease their symptoms of erosion, since they had come here to share a portion of the Destruction energy.
The several thousand victims of experimentation, isolated in a separate area, also needed Chang'an Melody to alleviate their erosion.
They were the ones who needed it most.
Whenever Ye Chang'an played Chang'an Melody, peaceful, serene expressions appeared on the audience's faces.
No one made a sound. They only wanted to listen quietly.
But this time, a disturbance arose among the several thousand victims of experimentation.
"Ah... urgh..."
The screams and retching did not affect the ordinary spectators immersed in the music, but they caught Ye Chang'an's attention.
He continued playing as he turned to look, discovering that these people were suffering varying degrees of convulsions and vomiting. Some clutched their heads and screamed wildly.
The Erosion Markings exposed on their bodies not only failed to fade, but showed signs of increasing.
What's going on? There isn't much Destruction energy around them.
Ye Chang'an did not understand. He transferred the Destruction energy around them elsewhere for others to absorb, yet the Erosion Markings continued to spread.
If he kept playing, these people would become Death Warriors.
He stopped playing, doing his best to maintain a calm smile, though his heart was anything but calm.
Mobius, watching the livestream, did not know what was happening at the venue, but she knew Ye Chang'an would not interrupt his performance for no reason. Recalling what she had heard about the purpose of this concert, she immediately picked up her phone and made a call.
The call connected instantly, and she spoke impatiently.
"Chang'an, did those test subjects have abnormal reactions?"
"Yeah."
"Tell me the details." Mobius asked urgently, afraid that the victims of experimentation would collectively mutate and cause a disaster.
"Mobius, people's joys and sorrows don't connect~"
Ye Chang'an sighed softly. The moment Mobius's call connected, he had understood the reason.
PS: The next chapter is three thousand words. That's right, I've already written it. I'll post it in a while, so let me save up some updates first ^_^
Chapter of Creation: Journey to a New World: What Is the End Point of "Evolution"?
"People's joys and sorrows don't connect" was something Mobius had said during one of her reports on the research results of Chang'an Melody.
It meant that something you liked might not necessarily be liked by others.
There were certainly people in the world who disliked Chang'an Melody, such as deaf patients who could not hear sound.
They could not adapt to Destruction by listening to Chang'an Melody, because they could not perceive the beauty of music and therefore could not awaken the human body's inherent pursuit of beauty.
The specific process through which Chang'an Melody took effect was: hear Chang'an Melody → crave Chang'an Melody → begin adapting to Destruction. The third stage would only occur if the first two were both fulfilled.
So Chang'an Melody had its limitations as well, though they were not as outrageous as those of the Sword Heart Art.
With just that one sentence, Mobius understood the situation. After thinking briefly, she immediately refuted him.
"Chang'an, don't jump to conclusions. If those people didn't like Chang'an Melody, they wouldn't have become test subjects."
Those who disliked Chang'an Melody could not adapt to Destruction. They were completely ordinary people.
Mad scientists had no interest in such people, because what they wanted to study were the changes that occurred after one continuously adapted to Destruction.
Therefore, the selected test subjects had to like Chang'an Melody.
As for the abnormal reactions just now, Mobius quickly offered an explanation.
"They were probably tortured by the experiments for too long. Their bodies may have developed some irrational neural response to Chang'an Melody."
Most human actions were based on commands from the brain, but some behaviors were not controlled by the brain.
For example, the knee-jerk reflex.
To put it more plainly, male physiological reactions.
You and your buddy saw a beautiful woman at the same time.
You: So what? disdainful expression
Your buddy: I'm hard.
That was the idea.
The body could act before the brain did. Applied to the victims of experimentation, it meant that their minds accepted it, but their bodies rejected it.
So even if the victims liked Chang'an Melody, it was useless. Their bodies had already rejected Chang'an Melody first.
"...Mobius, there's another situation. Help me analyze it." Ye Chang'an thought for a moment, then told her about the Erosion Markings increasing on the test subjects.
"What did you say? They're being eroded even without Destruction energy around them?"
Mobius cried out in alarm, then immediately thought of a possibility—the victims' bodies had not rejected Chang'an Melody. Rather, the process by which Chang'an Melody took effect had changed.
The original three-step process had become seven steps.
Hear → crave → adapt → get taken away for experimentation → pain, endless pain → Erosion Markings increase → experimentation stops
This process was a condensed depiction of what the victims experienced during the experiments. If they had undergone experimentation for too long, it might have formed a conditioned reflex in their bodies.
Upon hearing Chang'an Melody, they instinctively believed they would be taken away for experimentation and made to suffer pain. Only by increasing the Erosion Markings could they find relief.
Thus, their bodies reflexively craved the result of increased Erosion Markings.
Such a reflex was generally difficult to form, and once formed, equally difficult to dispel.
It required a long period of rehabilitation training to correct.
"Chang'an, stop the concert. Their condition can't be resolved with a single performance."
Mobius suggested retreating, because she felt the victims of experimentation were currently in a rather dangerous state.
But before she could explain the risks, Ye Chang'an had already thought of a solution.
"Mobius, the Chang'an Melody that caused their reaction was the version that has spread everywhere. If I play a Chang'an Melody that hasn't been released, it should work, right?"
"Uh... You have other Chang'an Melodies?" Mobius asked in surprise.
"Yeah, I have quite a few. I just haven't played them publicly before." Ye Chang'an nodded with a smile, feeling somewhat relieved.
Because he knew Mobius's reaction meant a different Chang'an Melody could work.
"...Then try it. If it doesn't work, withdraw immediately. Don't take risks."
"Don't worry, I know."
Ye Chang'an smiled and ended the call, then apologized to the audience, who had started whispering among themselves because the performance had stopped.
"Sorry, I suddenly remembered that today is a special performance. It would be somewhat inappropriate to keep using Chang'an Melody as the opening.
So let's switch to another piece. I'll play something you haven't heard before."
He put away the flute and switched to a guzheng, casually performing Chang'an Melody: Slaughter.
This was not something Ye Chang'an had created. He did not have that kind of ability.
Chang'an Melody: Slaughter had still been created by Eden. There were also many other versions.
After all, it had been nearly five years since the conquest. Even if they released just one version a month, there would be almost sixty different Chang'an Melodies.
And this was quite simple for Eden, who already had experience with success.
So he did not worry at all about repeating a performance. He switched instruments after every piece and played with great enjoyment.
The audience was happy as well, peacefully enjoying the heavenly music lingering around their ears amid the cold winter wind. They felt utterly comfortable.
The Erosion Markings on the victims of experimentation gradually faded away as well, prompting Old K, who was watching both the livestream and the observation data on Mu Continent, to let out a huge sigh of relief.
~
"Whew~ They've finally all recovered."
Looking at Ye Chang'an on the livestream, Old K's eyes were filled with admiration as he muttered softly.
"Good thing this child is here. Otherwise, I'm afraid I wouldn't have lived to see the world as it is now."
Old K thought highly of Ye Chang'an, but that regard did not stem solely from Ye Chang'an's talent.
It was also because Chang'an Melody had saved his life.
Even as the leader of a continent, Old K was still human. And humans could contract Destruction Sickness.
Before you continue