Chapter 164
--A Shine Return.
On the most crucial stage, Xie Qingxuan returned the glitz that had been stolen from her.
But this is not the end.
The indifference that had been present in the girl's eyes, stemming from her bird's-eye view, faded away. She withdrew from [Meditation State] on her own, disassembled the loaded dream puzzle, and completely returned to her original self. The moment her slender fingers slid down naturally, it was as if a pianist was plucking the keys, cutting through all the threads one after another.
Pat, pat, pat, pat!!!
The remaining 60 threads, like marbles shattering in unison, created a deafening roar as countless marbles crashed through the glass, echoing in the ears of all the trainees whose brilliance had been stolen.
At this moment, 60 dazzling lights, each originating from different people, different ideas, different emotions, different reasons, different experiences, and different selves, seemed to surge against the current like a grand wave, filling the entire stage with vibrant colors.
Xie Qingxuan no longer needs the brilliance itself; all she needs is that moment when all the Shine Return, unleashing an incredible power that is enough to empower the stage and transcend the Shackles of the dance music itself!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, a fleeting midnight bloom, a firework that illuminates the world for a moment, and... a miracle created with rainbow-colored tail flames as ink, constructing the dream in one's heart.
The girl revealed a pure and devout smile. The black cross in her eyes was as soft as a star, and the Heart Tide stirred by the burning [Cocoon of the Heart] was so overwhelming, as if she had poured all the energy and spirit she had accumulated into this brief moment, forcibly holding back the shining afterglow and weaving an incomparably grand echo.
The dream continued.
The world seemed to stand still, and the heavens and earth trembled.
The stage in the Live Broadcast Room was the same as always, but the ultimate emotions infused into it were like the gentle caress of the greatest artist, splashing ink in the mind and creating the illusion that Chu Yuanqing had given to the world.
It was a celebration of Full Bloom, a sea of flowers as colorful as the stars reflected in the sky, a beautiful tide of light breathing with the wind, following the pulse of heaven and earth, active in the boundless sea of flowers, creating a scene that surpasses even the beauty of the human world.
Xie Qingxuan stood in the center, wearing a soft skirt, her fingertips gently caressing a bright red Rhodes rose, a relieved and joyful smile on her lips.
How strange, why am I so happy?
The recurrence of her dream stirred something within her, and she heard again that whisper that seemed to have lingered for millennia:
"Laevateinn."
And so, a dark ring of fire scorched the sky and burned the clouds.
In the silent tremor of profound stillness, the solitary giant blade of fire, accompanied by a sea of flowers, burned to ashes, dancing and surging into the sky, creating an epic and magnificent spectacle...
Volume 1: 159. Xie Qingxuan, the Forgotten Comrade-in-Arms? (5K2)
The continuation of dreams is not a solitary endeavor.
The final blade that materialized from the myth, with the vast sky and earth as its axis, swept across the continent submerged in the sea of flowers. The arc it drew was sharp enough to cut off the time, like a sigh that washed away the wandering, pulling out thousands of ripples in the void, causing them to bloom together, blowing the waves on the seaside, like a funeral.
Finally, the flames, reddish to inky black, engulfed the entire continent. The temperature of the air in the edge sea was distorted, and the continuously decreasing surface was burned, steaming out a waterspout of mist, like sulfur from the depths of hell, which stood in stark contrast to the red dome that resembled the setting sun.
The ashes of the petals fell amidst the swirling mist and fire, like a torrential downpour, cleansing the ravaged continent.
At this moment, the scene in the eyes of all the audience members, as Xie Qingxuan's vision rose and went further, showed her body burned away, her soul drifting away, gazing at the ashes and fire rain falling on the earth with almost piety and blessing, and seeing the soft orange-red hidden beneath the pitch-black color.
That was not a fire that brought destruction, but... a light that would eventually pave the way for hope.
Splash, splash.
The sea breeze blows, the waves surge, and the lament of the sinking continent echoes.
The melody she had heard long ago, played on a violin, resonated in Xie Qingxuan's ears. In her vision, the ashes of petals, mixed with undying sparks, fell, and in the distance, a hazy, indistinct scene unfolded, like a grand farewell.
At this point, all vision was plunged into darkness.
In the final moment, what lingered in the hearts of all the viewers was a joy that had exhausted all sorrow and regret, a blessing that sang of hope, and even more so... that tender and lingering love, seemingly immortal in the passage of time, carving out both agonizing pain and sweetness in their hearts.
The performance was nearing its end.
The vocals and music of <Shut Down>, and even the sensory experience conveyed through the dance, were all forgotten and vanished in a few short breaths. Even the lingering melody transformed into the mundane sounds of surging waves, burning flames, and the roar of heaven and earth as it reached our ears.
Fan Qiuling had just rediscovered her original aspirations, and before she could even savor the brilliance that seemed to have been polished to an even brighter shine, she was swept away by the captain's explosive [Flow State] state and immersed in this stage that could only be described as a miracle.
This Little Idol, who has recently become gloomy and whose XP has gradually become abstract, felt a tightness in her chest. Overwhelmed with emotion and sorrow, she wept uncontrollably, her eyes red and swollen.
If Ji Shuzhu hadn't provided the [Puppet Melody] buff, even the dance moves would probably have been distorted under the impact of this emotion.
But in contrast, the brilliance of returning to the soul, enhanced by the emotions evoked on stage and aided by Xie Qingxuan's [Flow State] imprint, grows ever more intense and radiant, accelerating the weaving of the cocoon, like a butterfly transforming into a [Cocoon of the Heart] with the aura of disaster and another kind of dark brilliance as its foundation.
At this moment, a simple cross pattern appeared in Fan Qiuling's eyes, and she stepped into the realm of [Flow State] as the stage came to an end.
On the other side, after being restored to her former glory, Chu Qiushuang felt a primal emotion amidst the intense Stage Aura, as if she had received interest from a bank. She felt it was greatly beneficial and that she was one step closer to the realm of "Flow State." A cross faintly formed in the depths of her pupils before dissipating.
Similar phenomena were occurring simultaneously in various areas of the underground base.
These subtle details remain unknown to most.
The viewers in the Live Broadcast Room felt it was all too surreal, their minds still drifting as they were immersed in this "gift" offered to someone, as if they had traveled through time and space, experiencing that person's emotions and glimpsing the hope burning in that heavenly fire. They remained stunned for a long time.
Undoubtedly, this has surpassed the normal standards of a stage performance. It is just like the world-class charisma that Chu Yuanqing displayed during the second Public Performance, enough to make the idol's personal aura overwhelm everything else, and thus transcend the framework of dance music, showcasing a level of brilliance that transcends Shackles.
The judges in the audience, still reeling from the shock, were speechless.
To put it bluntly, this is no longer a stage where they have the right to make judgments.
Chen Baijiu sighed inwardly.
Even though this stage performance might be difficult for Xie Qingxuan to replicate again, this Stage Tyrant has undoubtedly evolved to an absurd level in a short period of time, even... transcending the concept of a tyrant, simply because his stage presence was so dazzling, it was as if he were facing the sun.
In fact,
Xie Qingxuan will indeed find it difficult to replicate such a stage performance.
In order to continue the dream, she began to plan and accumulate after returning to the C1 area. She even fought 14 consecutive stages in the B1 area. It can be said that she accumulated for half a month to gather 61 shining lights. Using the dream as the prototype, she used [Meditation State] to recall and played a wonderful song.
If it weren't for the teammate competition mechanism and Fan Qiuling's manipulation of human weaknesses, these conditions simply couldn't be met. Moreover, the competition format after <Flash Dance> will most likely not feature such frequent Stage Battle again.
Simply put, due to changes in the overall environment, the "Merc with Blood" strategy is no longer viable.
On stage, the performance of "Shut Down" has ended.
Even the most devoted fans of the dance track forgot about "Shut Down" itself, their eyes glued to Xie Qingxuan on the live stream, unable to resist typing in the chat, creating a buzz of discussion:
"An incredible stage performance! I never expected to see a performance of this quality after Qing God's explosive performance. Xie Qingxuan truly deserves the title of 'Stage Tyrant'!"
"The final blow from the Great Demon King Plain is finally revealed! This is truly a showdown. How can Little Sakura's team possibly compete? Unless one of them can unleash another explosive attack, how can they possibly win?"
"To be honest, the style here in Sea Capital is a bit too abstract. I've followed seven or eight Flash Dance competition zones in the Donghuang Federation, and only this zone can create a supernatural stage aesthetic with [Flow State]. Is that reasonable?"
"That makes sense. If every region had such a Ziwei Star, wouldn't it become a true battle of the gods? It's hard to imagine the terrifying scene where each team transcends the music itself, shining with their individual aura as they compete against each other."
"I can't say for sure. Ever since Dream Weaver Rabbit moved out of the [Flow State] development room, I knew that the show's idea of cultivating idols was no joke. It's only the second round of the competition so far, who knows how these Little Idol will evolve later?"
"I'm getting more and more excited. This talent show is really something. Who knows what outrageous things they'll come up with when it advances to the national war?"
On the other hand, while Xie Qingxuan's fans were celebrating, they were also feeling a bit anxious.
There's no way around it; the Stage Aura etched deep into her soul clearly conveyed the love in that person's heart. Even outsiders could easily feel the pain and sweetness. It's impossible not to think more about Xie Qingxuan, who created such emotions.
At this moment, many fans felt that their idols had been bewitched beyond redemption, and couldn't help but feel sentimental and melancholic.
"Waaaaah! It's wonderful that she performed so well on stage, but why do I still feel this uncomfortable feeling that my daughter has been seduced by that blond guy???"
"Well, I guess it's because I was surprised that someone like Xie Bao could be so emotionally expressive. She's always been very polite and respectful to her fans, and she takes her work very seriously. Other idols do the same for their fans, and she tries her best to do the same, but there's a lack of warmth or approachability."
"So, the emotions conveyed on this stage don't seem to be directed at the fans, but rather at someone else???"
"I'm crying so hard, you're not a silent sea, you just don't surge for me???"
"I'm furious! Who is the blond guy?!"
"Don't worry, to avoid any appearance of impropriety, there are no male staff members at <FlashDance>, and the mentors don't live at the base or have access to the contestants' area, so... Xie Bao can only like girls???"
"Could it be Qing Bao from next door? Then I'll have no choice but to take the blame???"
"That's right. Neodymium copper is fine, but heterosexuality is not. I can accept my daughter being intimate with pretty girls, but I can't accept my daughter dating a man???"
At this moment, the girl who was the culprit was looking at the person on the stage who was shining brightly and praising her. She was so stunned that her mind went blank. The strong sense of déjà vu almost pierced her soul, and her emotions, as strong as a tsunami, continued to surge.
Chu Yuanqing wanted to remember something, but her mind was filled with too many forgotten memories, like peeling paint on an old wall. She used to choose to ignore them because dwelling on them was pointless.
But this time was different. Xie Qingxuan's dazzling stage presence conveyed emotions that were like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, forcibly awakening memories. Intense sorrow, regret, loneliness, self-blame, guilt, pain, and even despair were all like being pulled out by a force that whipped her, skin and flesh.
Chu Yuanqing tried to remember, but she couldn't help feeling anxious and irritable. The gilded light in her pupils was as grand as a dragon opening its eyes, as if it were raging from the void deep within its soul, fierce as a blade being drawn, yet... gradually softened and returned to silence amidst the powerlessness and bewilderment overflowing her chest.
It's useless; if you can't remember, you just can't remember.
The memories eroded by the Sea of Truth, like the conceptual deprivation, can evoke corresponding emotions and a sense of déjà vu in the heart. These are all miraculous echoes produced by the will of the Savior.
Chu Yuanqing closed her eyes wearily. She didn't know what the dream represented, and she had forgotten the prosperous sea of flowers, but she understood that it was not just a dream. The world-destroying scene of burning everything could only have originated from the Laevateinn she had wielded.
Who is Qingxuan? A comrade-in-arms forgotten in a past life? Or an innocent victim caught in the crossfire of the calamity he fought against? Or is it simply a coincidence?
After all, just as the Wall of Sighs spans the edge of the world as proof of the existence of the old era, it is indeed possible that epic information such as the defeat of the Disaster God could be randomly received by people in the New Era.
Regardless, her feelings towards Xie Qingxuan underwent a subtle change, making it difficult for her to see him as a simple junior or child anymore.
Because... no matter how many possibilities there are, the first one listed is still the most likely.
The reason is simple: even setting aside any sense of déjà vu, clues can be gleaned simply by calculating the timeline.
Chu Yuanqing corrected the concept of the world and banished the Calamity Beasts, reversing time and history, and arrived in this era at the age of 20. At that time, many of his comrades of the same generation were probably only a few years old.
Now, 17 years have passed, and her former comrades-in-arms are now of the same generation as Charlotte in the New Era, roughly the same age as Xie Qingxuan, making them suitable to participate in "Flash Dance".
To be honest, this news is quite frightening.
Because those who can become my comrades are all outstanding in every aspect, and almost all of them possess the best blessings. Even the blessings of Laevateinn and the Wall of Sighs, which can be described as the ultimate spear and the ultimate shield, were entrusted to me by them, which shows that they are a gathering of heroes.
The Soul Quality of these individuals are all of the highest quality, perfectly capable of being converted into Magical Girl aptitude. Once they join <Flash Dance>, each of them can easily enter the [Flow State] realm and quickly become a rising star idol.
In other words, if she continues to be drawn into <Flashdance>, she may encounter not only Charlotte, but also... those comrades who sacrificed themselves in the old era, or even those she herself has forgotten.
Chu Yuanqing had mixed feelings; she wanted to catch up with her old friend.
The problem is that my memory is fragmented, and I can no longer distinguish who is who. My current appearance and condition are also unsuitable for meeting people. Besides, my comrades in the New Era also cannot remember who I am. Under such circumstances, reminiscing about the past is simply absurd.
"Forget it, since we won't recognize each other even if we meet, there's no need to think about it anymore. What I need to do now is to nip the seeds of disaster in the bud for my friends from the past, so that no one will have to suffer like that again."
Having made up her mind and composed herself, Chu Yuanqing returned the Golden Haired Doggy on stage with a comforting smile, without saying a word.
On the other side, Green Eyed Cat, Little Sakura, and Chu Wangshu were all stunned, unsure whether they were shocked by the scene or simply defeated by the enemy's stage; their states were quite subtle.
After a long while, Tang Liuli ignored the subtle misperception in her heart and said confidently:
"She's cheating!"
Chu Wangshu, regaining his composure, seconded the motion:
I think so too.
Kiriwake Yayoi a deep breath, her eyes flushed with cherry blossom pink, and a smile appeared on her lips.
For idols, the stage is the best answer.
Now, she has to admit that she may have misunderstood Xie Qingxuan. He is not the arrogant and cold-hearted extreme egoist she thought he was.
Because someone like that could never perform on such a stage.
"That's not a stage I can win on."
"At least, right now... I don't have the confidence to beat my opponent."
The girl spoke discouraging words, yet her expression was so bright and joyful, like an athlete in a state of high excitement, with her focus extremely heightened, completely ignoring the strength of her opponent.
No, it's less about ignoring it and more about being excited by the strength of the opponent.
Kiriwake Yayoi's Heart Tide was surging with emotion; this was precisely the moment of destiny she had been anticipating, pursuing, and yearning for.
Although she had been rationally avoiding battles and trying to use the least risky plan to help her teammates advance to the second Public Performance stage, if she were to speak purely emotionally, she would prefer to have Stage Battle with extremely outstanding idols every time.
Only in this way can she see a higher and farther sky, learn from the strengths and advantages of her opponents, and explore more limits of the [Perfect Performance Method].
The idol that Kiriwake Yayoi pursues is perfect.
If the definition of perfection is easily attainable, wouldn't that make the goal seem too short-sighted, and the path for the dream to continue too narrow?
The more profound the realm of idols, the farther the limits they can reach.
The broader the definition of perfection, the more meaningful her passion for the stage becomes.
Xie Qingxuan is very strong, even unexpectedly strong.
This is both the worst and the best news imaginable.
Kiriwake Yayoi felt no sense of defeat whatsoever.
Even though she couldn't think of any way to use the "Perfect Performance Method" to create a stage that could rival that level of charisma, the very process of trying to catch up and surpass it made her heart pound with joy, and made the "Cocoon of the Heart" shine even brighter.
Chu Yuanqing was somewhat moved; she felt that Little Sakura was the most dedicated idol she had ever met.
Even Charlotte, the Doomsday Diva, only wanted to become the world's number one idol because she was sincere and cute, had a vanity of wanting to be liked by many people, and wanted to convey emotions and happiness to the world, unlike Yayoi, who was obsessed with being an idol herself.