Too many people wanted to push Ye Chang'an down, and Eden was definitely one of them.
"If we can't get out, then we won't. I'm not afraid, anyway. Are you?"
Ye Chang'an replied with an undiminished smile, showing no intention of reining himself in.
He wasn't an idiot. Of course he knew what might happen if they couldn't get out of this room.
He would be more than happy for something to happen between him and Eden, and Eden felt the same way.
But they couldn't.
"I'm afraid."
Eden rolled her eyes, looking somewhat helpless and regretful.
It was true that their relationship had progressed smoothly. Eden's parents were open-minded and would not interfere with their daughter's love life.
But as parents, the two of them still had certain principles that could not be crossed.
Before they turned eighteen, they were not allowed to cross the line. Otherwise, they would not be permitted to live together.
So they had yet to taste the forbidden fruit, even though they both wanted to. Their relationship had remained at the stage of verbal sparring.
Whenever one of them got bold, the other would chicken out. This time, Eden was the one who chickened out.
"Then I won't smile anymore."
Ye Chang'an suppressed his smile and calmed himself. He sat in a chair, then pulled Eden over to sit on his lap, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Eden, tell me how you modified the Sword Heart Art."
He was genuinely curious and wanted to hear about it.
"I just modified it like that. I felt those syllables were a kind of hypnosis, so I asked a friend who knew about hypnosis..."
Eden explained lightly, but the actual process had not been so simple.
She studied music and did not know much about hypnosis. To modify an established hypnotherapy method, she had needed to thoroughly understand hypnosis.
So she had seriously studied it, only to discover that hypnosis and music actually had quite a few connections.
Hypnosis used the subconscious to suggest and guide the brain. Since it operated on a mental level, physical interference was difficult, so it generally worked through the senses.
Among the five commonly used senses, hearing was the one most often employed in hypnosis.
In other words, sound was used to achieve hypnosis.
The Sword Heart Art belonged to this category.
Once she had confirmed that the Sword Heart Art used sound to achieve hypnosis, Eden's modification process became very smooth.
She identified the hypnotic effect of the Sword Heart Art, then took that effect as the endpoint and rearranged the path leading to it.
The final product was the melody Ye Chang'an had just heard.
Simply put, she borrowed the result.
She took the Sword Heart Art's result but discarded its process, because Eden could create her own process to achieve that result.
"Ah, this..." Ye Chang'an was dumbfounded after hearing how she had modified it.
According to Eden, this melody only had a result similar to the Sword Heart Art. Everything else was completely different.
Even their blood types were different.
"Eden, I don't think this thing you made can still be called the Sword Heart Art."
The focus of the Sword Heart Art was the sword heart, but the new piece could mobilize Destruction energy without one.
How could that still be called the Sword Heart Art?
"Then let's give it a new name? How about Chang'an Melody?"
Eden blinked as she asked. Seeing Ye Chang'an's speechless expression, she swayed against him coquettishly. "Let's call it that. I want to name it after you. A melody born because of you—it fits perfectly, doesn't it?"
"No, that's way too embarrassing."
Ye Chang'an shook his head repeatedly. He truly could not accept using his own name to name a melody.
But Eden was adamant and refused to back down.
This was something Eden had adapted entirely on her own. She had the right to decide, and Ye Chang'an had no way to stop her.
When it came to music, they both respected each other's opinions and would not force the other.
Thus, the name Chang'an Melody was settled. Eden smiled until her eyes narrowed, then asked curiously,
"By the way, Chang'an, what do you think of Chang'an Melody's effect? Is it better or worse than the Sword Heart Art?"
She had begun trying to modify the Sword Heart Art not long after obtaining it, so she did not know its actual effects very well. Only Ye Chang'an could give her feedback.
"How should I put it? I haven't been using it for long, so it's hard to judge. But instinctively, I think it should be more effective than the Sword Heart Art."
Ye Chang'an gave his feedback seriously, without any exaggeration.
Just the fact that it could mobilize Destruction energy without requiring a sword heart meant Chang'an Melody had already surpassed the Sword Heart Art.
That sword heart, which forced people to stay calm and not get carried away, was like an overly demanding commanding officer. If you did not follow its orders, it confiscated your weapon and kicked you out of the unit. It was like cultivating a damn tyrant.
Chang'an Melody, on the other hand, did not cut off your ability to mobilize Destruction energy no matter how recklessly you acted. How comfortable was that?
Moreover, Chang'an Melody sounded better and was easier to remember than the Sword Heart Art. It also seemed easier to cultivate.
Ye Chang'an had originally started the simulation and used amnesia as a stand-in because he could not cultivate a sword heart. If he had tried cultivating the Sword Heart Art himself, he probably would not have formed a sword heart even in a lifetime.
The difficulty was absurdly high.
What about Chang'an Melody? After hearing it only twice, it was as though he had cultivated a sword heart.
Which was stronger and which was weaker was obvious at a glance.
"Hehe, then I'm relieved. I was worried it wouldn't compare to the Sword Heart Art."
Eden's smile was sweet. Clearly, receiving positive feedback made her very happy.
Still, Chang'an Melody's actual effects required further exploration. It was a new thing, after all, and its merits and flaws had yet to be verified.
Ye Chang'an wanted to learn it and study it slowly, and Eden was naturally happy to teach him.
After spending an hour memorizing it, Ye Chang'an tried playing it himself. Another new spring appeared within the sea of his consciousness.
His ability to mobilize Destruction energy increased, and his resistance to Destruction energy also seemed to have improved somewhat.
"It really is miraculous. The effects are kicking in way too fast."
Ye Chang'an had never experienced the process of developing a sword heart from nothing until reaching Taixu. Even though those memories existed, his experience of them remained blurry.
He did not know whether the process had produced effects this quickly. In any case, he had never experienced it, having begun cultivating from the Taixu realm.
This should be another newly discovered advantage of Chang'an Melody.
Another advantage was that Ye Chang'an could continue increasing his resistance to Destruction energy.
After his sword heart shattered, his resistance had stopped improving. Now, it could finally increase again.
My resistance was already very high. If it keeps rising, I probably won't have to worry about corrosion even if I grapple with a Herrscher.
It's secure. Absolutely secure. If this can still go wrong, I'll pronounce my name backward.
Ye Chang'an was brimming with confidence.
"Eden, let's play this every day."
Eden's resistance probably was not very high yet. She needed to keep raising it alongside him.
"Okay. You have to play it for me every day, though. Hehe, Chang'an playing Chang'an Melody, hahaha~"
Eden agreed, then finally could not hold back her laughter.
It seemed she was not unaware of how strange the name Chang'an Melody sounded when paired with Ye Chang'an.
Ye Chang'an: ヽ(ー_ー)ノ
What could he say? She was his girlfriend, so he could only accept whatever she said.
P.S. Cocoon of the End: A perfect host discovered. Preparing...
Chapter of Creation: Journey to a New World: 11. The Day He Turned Eighteen
The appearance of Chang'an Melody did not bring many changes to their lives. At most, it added another melody to their daily practice sessions.
Ye Chang'an had no intention of finding someone to test Chang'an Melody's exact effects.
He was a performer, not a researcher. He did not possess much of a research spirit.
Besides, he did not want Chang'an Melody to disrupt this world's original course.
His current goal was to stay with Eden until the end, prevent Eden from perishing, and awaken with her after sleeping together for fifty thousand years.
He did not want to take any possible risks.
So when Eden asked him about his plans for the future, this was how he answered.
"My future is staying with you forever."
"Mmm~ That future really does make me look forward to it." Eden happily hugged him and took a bite before continuing, "But that isn't the plan I meant. I meant your career plans for the future."
"Chang'an, have you decided what industry you want to work in?"
September 9 was Ye Chang'an's birthday, as well as the day he turned eighteen.
Mu Continent's laws stipulated that eighteen was the age of adulthood. Only adults could sign contracts and become official employees. For example, signing with an agency as an artist had to wait until after turning eighteen.
"What industry..." Ye Chang'an thought for a moment, then asked, "What industry do you want to work in? Do you want to become a singer?"
"Yes, I want to become a pop star."
Having resumed her vocal training, Eden's old dream of becoming a singer had been rekindled. She still chose this path, and it was also the path Ye Chang'an hoped she would choose.
"Then I'll be your accompanist. I'm good at that."
As her accompanist, he could follow Eden around. No matter where Eden went to hold concerts, he would have a suitable excuse to go with her.
Although he could follow Eden around, eat well, and live well even if he did nothing, having no proper job would make it hard to get past her parents.
You could come from an ordinary family, and you could be completely average, but if you wanted to marry my daughter, you had to have a respectable job.
Being a band accompanist was perfect.
"(⊙_⊙)?" Rather than being happy as he had expected, Eden froze.
Looking at Ye Chang'an, who did not seem to be joking, she asked in confusion, "Chang'an, why would you want to do that? Don't you want to become a musician? You clearly love music so much."
This choice truly exceeded her expectations.
They had known each other since childhood. How could Eden not know how much Ye Chang'an loved music? She had always thought that after becoming an adult, Ye Chang'an would become a musician and continue his studies.
Yet he wanted to become her accompanist instead.
That was far too wasteful of his talent.
"Loving music doesn't mean I have to become a musician. Being an accompanist still means working with music.
Besides, you'll definitely become a superstar. The whole world will be your fans.
If some crazed fan rushes at you, wouldn't it be better if I were by your side to stop them in time?"
His explanation failed to win her agreement. Eden still felt this was not right.
"Chang'an, you don't need to worry about me. Just go do what you like."
After they started dating, Eden felt that Ye Chang'an had changed.
He had gone from focusing only on music to focusing on both music and her, and her priority was even higher than music's.
She truly found that sweet. Every woman in love hoped to occupy the most important place in her partner's heart.
But when it came to choosing his future, she still hoped Ye Chang'an would put her aside just a little.
It was not because she felt constrained. She simply wanted Ye Chang'an to be happy.
So she tried to persuade Ye Chang'an, leaving him somewhat torn between laughter and tears.
Before you continue