Chapter 147
"The variety of sparkling items I've accumulated is still too limited; I can't yet create a recipe that will truly move you."
"If we want to beat that team, we at least need to replicate Xiao Qing's performance on the Second Evaluation stage."
Ji Shuzhu's phoenix eyes were filled with anticipation. She revealed a smile unlike her usual world-weary demeanor and said softly:
"Good idea. I'm starting to wonder what the players in this area are like."
Xie Qingxuan said no more and went to sit down to the side.
The girl began [Meditation State], sinking into her subconscious. She ignored the dozens of complete dream puzzle pieces and glanced at the personality portrait that had not yet been completed, as if it were constantly covered by heavy snow, extending into the depths of her soul.
The cross-shaped mark at the base of Xie Qingxuan's pupils grew even darker, and her naturally ethereal face was tinged with longing. She gently stroked the figure in the portrait with her fingertips and whispered:
"Xiao Qing, I miss you so much, so very much."
Volume 1: 144. Laevateinn, where the sea of flowers has almost faded, a world of happiness for you. (5K)
Longing is poison.
A poison that seeps into the bone.
Xie Qingxuan once thought that by using "Flow State" to capture enough brilliance and by using "Meditation State" to unravel enough pieces of her dream puzzle, she would feel fulfilled and satisfied, and would be overjoyed to see the hope of crushing her sister's dream.
And that is indeed the case.
After plundering numerous dazzling lights and ravaging the C1 area, Xie Qingxuan experienced a distorted, morbid, and chaotic joy.
If she hadn't met Chu Yuanqing, hadn't met that girl who so easily captivated her, she probably would have wallowed in this joy, becoming a complete Stage Tyrant, embarking on a path to crush her sister's dreams.
But there are no "what ifs".
Xie Qingxuan tasted the delicacy called love ahead of time, and the joy that followed blended with heavy expectations and hopes. For the first time, she found the taste of life and the reason to give meaning to the stage.
That vengeful desire to trample on his sister's dreams seemed so empty and hollow in comparison that no matter how much [Flow State] plundered or evolved, it was utterly tasteless.
"Xiao Qing, I miss you so much, so very much."
"It's like... I've known you for a very, very long time."
Xie Qingxuan has always been exceptionally beautiful, often displaying an indifferent to disdainful expression. Combined with her dark and terrifying "Flow State," she is a beautiful yet dangerous stage emperor.
In the brief moment of murmuring to oneself,
The girl shed her hard shell, appearing so innocent and pure. Even the dark cross in her pupils softened, losing its sharpness and revealing a quiet beauty like autumn leaves. She withdrew from [Meditation State] and wearily closed her eyes.
Ever since she comforted herself with Chu Yuanqing's palm, that strange dream became more and more detailed. The hazy, indistinct scenes, like bubbles rising from the deep sea, revealed their true form.
And when you wake up,
Xie Qingxuan remembered the last scene.
It was a scene straight out of a myth, a chapter that should be recorded in an epic. A vibrant sea of flowers overwhelmed the continent, a mix of roses, chrysanthemums, dahlias, tulips, Iris, like a flower festival organized by the entire nation.
The girl stood alone in the center of the sea of flowers, her skirt seemingly stretching to the ends of the earth, resonating with the world with every breath, like a crowned monarch listening to the flowers' soft whispers, laughing joyfully, and growing wildly without a sound.
A sea of flowers stretches across the continent, weaving the pulse of a heartbeat, and giving birth to celebratory cheers for the end of the world.
Like the Aztec creation myth, someone wanted to melt all the gold, extinguish the sun high in the sky, and overthrow the fifth world inhabited by humankind with indelible sins.
Xie Qingxuan was in a first-person perspective, so he couldn't see her face clearly, but he could smell the fragrant, bloody scent. It was just like the Rhodes Rose in Greek mythology, grown from blood—so dazzling, yet so... sorrowful.
"Laevateinn."
In a daze, a distant murmur drifted into my ears.
The massive, crimson-black blade fell like a meteor, unleashing an endless ring of fire like a nuclear explosion.
In that instant, all the colorful, ominous flower fields softened and transformed into a pure pink.
Thus, the ring of fire burned away all things in nature, and the pink sea of flowers, like dandelions in a raging wind, wasted away bit by bit until they turned to ash. A heavy rain of petals and ashes fell from the sky, and a melodious tune slowly played amidst the roar, weaving a desolate and mournful melody.
I can't feel pain in my dreams.
In the final moment before Xie Qingxuan's pupils melted, her retina reflected the majestic Lingering Fire. She felt as if she had witnessed a magnificent and beautiful fireworks display, and the corners of her lips couldn't help but curl upwards, revealing a smile.
Finally, the cool water droplets spread across my cheeks, the murmurs in my ears became indistinct, and everything moved towards the nothingness of annihilation.
Upon waking, the images gradually peel away, and memories seem to be continuously demagnetized.
Xie Qingxuan has basically forgotten everything.
Only the breathtaking view of the sun's corona and the sea of flowers blooming in the sky is etched deep in my soul, indelible.
Xie Qingxuan had a thought: if she could recreate that powerful emotional impact on stage, could she... surpass the performance during Xiao Qing's Second Evaluation?
This idea was fine at first.
But as she repeatedly pieced together her dream, and personally experienced the visions and desires of others, she seemed to be inspired, making the idea more profound and carving it into a sincere wish.
Therefore, just like a painter who collects different pigments, she must also collect more brilliance in order to combine and build the tower she yearns for in her heart.
"I've had enough rest."
"Fan Qiuling, Ji Shuzhu, take me to the area with the most players in Zone B1."
Xie Qingxuan's eyelashes trembled slightly. She opened her eyes, finished her meditation, stood up, and after speaking, walked out without even glancing at the two assistants beside her.
Fan Qiuling was like a mind enslaved, subjected to brutal manipulation. Like a moth drawn to a flame, her body acted before her mind, and she followed suit almost without thinking.
Ji Shuzhu didn't care at all. She grabbed a box of biscuits and followed the other person. She knew what Xie Qingxuan was going to do. Since she could eat good food again, she naturally had to bring "rice".
The choreographer kindly suggested:
"It's afternoon now, the cafeteria isn't crowded. We can check out the entertainment area first; if you go there around this time, it'll be easier to grab something from Shining."
Xie Qingxuan didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly in agreement.
Fan Qiuling didn't dare to speak, silently following behind like a little follower.
The entertainment area is very large, and many places are set as private areas with access restrictions, so it is not possible to enter them without permission. There are very few people in the public areas.
After all, there are only 12 days left until the end of the month. The teams currently in the B1 area will have to relearn dance and singing in the A1 area after finishing one Stage Battle, and then compete in another Stage Battle. The time is very tight.
Half an hour later,
Xie Qingxuan looked down at the trainees kneeling at the bottom, their smiles gone. Her pupils reflected a tangible scene: a dark, surging mist that planted anchor points deep within their consciousness, drawing away and swallowing the light rooted within them.
The cross-shaped mark at the bottom of the girl's eyes was chaotic and colorful, and in the brief moment of shimmering light, it displayed a dazzling luster. She let out a soft breath and whispered regretfully:
"That's not enough. A brilliance that can be stolen at a glance isn't what I want."
This level of brilliance alone is insufficient to evoke the profound emotions that resonate with an epic epic.
After Xie Qingxuan finished speaking, she turned and walked towards the practice room, saying softly:
"Let's go back and prepare for the Stage Battle."
"We aim to challenge all the teams in Area B1 within a week, to seize their beliefs, dreams, talents, reasons for standing on stage, and their very brilliance, and use them as the foundation for the stage I want to create."
Ji Shuzhu's eyes narrowed slightly as she savored the delicious flavors dancing on her taste buds. She chewed the cookie in her mouth with lingering relish and whispered:
"Yeah, I'm pretty tired of this level of sparkle too."
"You're right. Only the brilliance that can only be captured on stage deserves to be our target."
"In addition, I have already choreographed the newly drawn dance. As long as Fan Qiuling can keep up, we can officially launch the challenge."
"But before officially launching the challenge, we should select the most capable teammate and put her last."
Xie Qingxuan paused slightly, and said softly:
"No need. Among the teams that still have the courage to take on challenges after our winning Stage Battle, there will naturally be qualified teammates."
Ji Shuzhu seemed lost in thought and remained silent.
Throughout the entire process, neither of them considered Fan Qiuling's opinion.
This clearly embodies the spirit of "Flash Dance," and even if Fan Qiuling hadn't been robbed of her brilliance, the PUA spirit wouldn't have objected to it.
The strong rule.
In this team with two A-level players, the remaining B-Class player naturally has no say.
On the same day, in the evening.
Chu Yuanqing lay back on the bed. She didn't pay much attention to Little Liuli tonight, nor did she chat with Yayoi was sitting in the Living room. After taking a shower in the private bathroom in her room, she changed into her pajamas and decided to go straight to sleep.
There's no way around it, these past two days have been just too exciting.
Last night, I was intimate with Liuli in the bathtub, and then at midnight, next to my daughter, I stole Yayoi's first kiss.
This afternoon, due to a phantom, Liuli was forcibly kissed, and forced by circumstances, her virginity was taken from her breasts. Immediately afterwards, she went to see a movie with Yayoi, and afterwards they kissed for twenty minutes.
To be honest, setting aside the underlying reasons, just looking at the timeline of events, she's very much like a seasoned aquaman who's a master of time management.
Chu Yuanqing had mixed feelings, but in fact, she didn't feel much psychological burden about being a playboy.
If it's for the sake of saving the world, bearing more sins and bloodshed, or even temporarily violating the morality defined by the world, are necessary and helpless choices. Compared to these, tricking a young girl into kissing seems like child's play.
Chu Yuanqing closed his eyes and chuckled softly, then sighed helplessly in a low voice:
"I... am becoming more like my original self."
The Life Form of Magical Girl is based on a transformation of the soul. Her past self has indeed maintained her true self, remaining sincere and gentle from beginning to end.
But these initial aspirations were all encased in layers of cold, hard ice. In order to save the happiness of more people, she was willing to sacrifice her own desires and do her best to carry them out.
Calamity will not become gentle because of your gentleness; its cruelty and brutality are based on objective facts. If you want to fight against those unreasonable despairs and tragedies, the first thing to do is to discard the Burdens called "naivety."
Therefore, gentleness and sincerity have lost their meaning.
Only the purest power and strength can avert tragedy and combat calamity.
Chu Yuanqing is Savior, but he never considers himself particularly virtuous or righteous, much less a so-called hero.
He purged all followers of the Disaster God, even those who had been misled and were ignorant among his own ranks.
He slaughtered all politicians who dragged people down, tripped them up, and tried to use refugees as bargaining chips, even though they had families and their own difficulties.
He fought against the Disaster God with a mortal body, and even though the aftershocks of the epic battlefield would inevitably harm innocent civilians.
He stood on a desolate, burnt-out land, deciding the fate of this planet based on his own selfish desires. Even if Charlotte's plan had the slightest error, the entire planet would face the punishment of the Sea of Truth, crumbling and shattering.
None of these choices could be gentle or sincere; he had to be firm, cold, just, correct, and even cruel. Otherwise, he could never have carved out the Peaceful Era we have today from that desperate hell.
Therefore, if she were still herself, she would naturally be able to suppress her most primal personality and carry out the most correct decisions without any hesitation.
Seventeen years of peace, seventeen years of living with his daughter, gradually changed Chu Yuanqing.
But the most decisive factor is the Life Form based on a transformation of the soul.
It's like removing calluses from your hands, and feeling a pang of pain when you play the guitar again; or like spring returning to the earth, melting the frozen soil and excavating the hard shell to reveal all the softness inside.
Therefore, Lantern always manages to easily display her inner personality and aura, making everyone who gets close to her aware of a charm that transcends her perfect appearance.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
"At least from the idol's perspective, it's a good thing, right?"
Chu Yuanqing had mixed feelings. She preferred herself as she was now, but if it was to recreate the victory of the old era, she was still willing to rebuild her hard shell.
Only...
"It's not time yet, we can wait."
Chu Yuanqing muttered to himself, turned off the nightlight, and prepared to go to sleep.
Just then, there was a loud knocking on the door.
Chu Yuanqing threw off the covers, sat up, and walked to the door with a serious expression in her slippers. She thought to herself that if it were a certain cat, she would definitely refuse any request from it as punishment!
But when the door opened, there was the Little Cotton-padded Jacket looking at him expectantly, making him want to pat her head.
After Chu Yuanqing finished touching her daughter, she pinched her cheek, her eyes crinkling with a smile, and asked:
"Xiao Shu, what brings you here? Do you want to hear a story?"
Chu Wangshu felt a little embarrassed upon hearing this and couldn't help but retort in her heart. She was not as childish as Liuli. If it weren't for Xiao Qing telling the story, she, as an adult who was about to mature, would definitely not like a child and enjoy listening to bedtime stories every day!
But outwardly, she still whispered:
"I'd like to hear the story, but I just came here to chat with Xiao Qing. You seem very busy all day, so I wanted to talk to you more while you're still awake."
Chu Yuanqing felt extremely guilty upon hearing this. After thinking about it carefully, she realized that she hadn't been paying much attention to her Little Cotton-padded Jacket today. One reason was that she was busy exchanging kisses with Liuli and Yayoi, and the other was that her daughter was so well-behaved and obedient, making her very easy to take care of.