Chapter 184
It is worth mentioning that the Lantern Pendant in the Magic Armor form has become an ornament inlaid on the chest of the Magic Armor. The border is carved with moonlight-like silver threads, and the gemstone inside is surrounded by a layer of black film, which reflects a dim and broken texture, occasionally shimmering with holy light like water ripples.
The girl lowered her eyes and touched the lantern with her fingertips. The magic of the lantern, which was usually not obvious but always colorful, was now flowing around her like water, presenting a soft, dim silver color like moonlight. It was as if rhythmic notes were flowing in the room with her breath, making it exceptionally beautiful.
This is a sign that the Flower Bloom.
Chu Yuanqing seemed to understand something, and murmured to himself:
"I see. The [Pool] level represents not only the quantity of magic power, but also the process of magic power's first sublimation. It is the stage in which the nature, quality, color, functionality, and many other factors of magic power develop a clear bias."
"As long as the colors of magic and soul are unified during this period, it can be used to nourish the [Cocoon of the Heart], causing a unique flower to bloom within, giving birth to what is known as one's Destined Magic."
"My magic was originally pure white, but due to the curse, it was forced to be downgraded, so now it has been neutralized into a slightly dim silver?"
Chu Yuanqing didn't know if his guess was correct.
The Pure White Witch is theoretically at max level from the start, so she doesn't need to further enhance her magic. Naturally, there isn't much specific information in her inherited knowledge; she just guessed it all herself.
If it weren't for the exceptionally strong feedback from the recent fourth episode, which kept the magic in a state of flux and transformation, she wouldn't have been able to guess the characteristics of the [Pool] level.
Chu Yuanqing took a deep breath.
Although her soul, like a sieve, didn't seem to possess much magic, things are different now. As the Pure White Witch, she doesn't have a [Cocoon of the Heart], so if she wants [Flower Bloom], she can only water the Lantern Gem.
In other words, these constantly gathering magical crystals are like automatically watering her budding growth, promoting her [Flower Bloom].
This phenomenon has lasted for three full days.
And now, it is the crucial moment when the lantern is about to be watered and filled, and the Soul Flower is about to bloom!
Volume 1: 177. Chu Yuanqing's Destined Magic, The Blooming Soul Flower.
Indoor.
The silvery magic, like moonlight, was continuously drawn from the soul, flowing around like water and creating a magnificent scene. After swirling for a while, it fell into the Lantern Gem like a dragon at its master's will, leaping out with brilliant light.
In a daze, Chu Yuanqing returned to two months ago, to the moment she first grasped the Lantern Pendant and transformed into Magical Girl. Once again, she heard the unique stirrings of life within her soul, a sound distinct from the cracking of glaciers, a hymn to new life.
Splash, splash.
The Heart Tide fluctuations then became intense.
Knock, knock.
The roar of a beating heart could be heard from the lantern.
The silver magic of that [pool] realm, like nourishment for life, poured onto the lantern of soul condensation. This process of replenishing the foundation, through the positive willpower that constantly surged from the outside world, did not require waiting for the magic to naturally recover; it was incredibly fast.
10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds.
1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes.
The lantern's efficiency in converting magic was like its engine speed being pushed to its limit, its power level dozens of times higher than normal, like a vehicle with its engine scorching hot in a furnace.
In those brief five minutes, the accumulated willpower transformed into magic enough to overflow dozens of times the capacity of a [pool], and the lantern had already been filled to the same extent.
The illusory sprout planted in the lantern formed a strange link with the spell [Pure White Aria] within it. It seemed to be observing the life of the Savior through this spell, sometimes full of vitality, sometimes withering and decaying, consuming an extraordinary amount of magical power, which delayed the blooming of the Soul Flower.
"Soon."
Chu Yuanqing gently stroked the lantern, her slender fingers touching the thin film formed by the swirling, dark Heart Tide within her, conveying a warm sensation.
This was a buff bestowed by Xie Qingxuan. It prevented the shattered soul from losing too much magic power, and injected almost all of its magic power into the budding creature, continuously accelerating the process.
It's worth mentioning that it should have broken a few days ago, but Chu Yuanqing unexpectedly discovered that by performing normal Magic Replenishment with Xie Qingxuan, it could be recharged as if it were being renewed.
The reason Chu Yuanqing's magic was able to complete the nature transformation so quickly, meeting the requirements for watering the heart flower within a few weeks, can largely be attributed to this buff effect, which acts like a soul shell and has been protecting him.
Time passed, and another 10 seconds went by.
The spell of [Pure White Aria] spreads like the veins of a leaf on a sprouting bud, the two closely intertwined, seemingly representing the prototype of Destined Magic.
Finally, a fleeting brilliance shone forth in the lantern.
Chu Yuanqing's consciousness was flooded with a lot of information. She was surprised to find that she seemed to be able to choose what kind of flowers to bloom: snow lotus, gladiolus, cosmos, rose, chamomile, Forget-me-not symbolizing eternal memories, golden tulips symbolizing desperate love, and pure white lisianthus symbolizing eternal love.
These hundreds of flowers, and their associated Flower Language, linger in my mind.
Chu Yuanqing instinctively understood that different Soul Flower would possess different potentials and magical inclinations, as well as some traits and advantages, whether subtle or obvious.
The ability to actively choose the type of Soul Flower is a precious privilege reserved only for the Pure White Witch. Normal Magical Girl do not have the autonomy to choose when their Soul Flower blooms; it is determined solely by compatibility and luck.
How should I choose?
After a moment's thought, Chu Yuanqing tried choosing Forget-me-not. She hoped that with the blessing of this Flower Language, she could retain her memories a little longer under the erosion of the curse, so as to prevent herself from forgetting her mission when humanity needed her.
So the sprout continued to grow, and the slender rhizome produced a calyx, from which five petals were formed, painted with a light to gentle blue, making it look delicate and fragile, just like a forget-me-not.
Forget-me-not.
Chu Yuanqing made a wish.
This is the final ritual of [Flower Bloom]. Within the scope of the Flower Language symbolizing the Soul Flower, one makes a wish to oneself, and the wish will be transformed into a constant blessing that runs through the Magical Girl's entire life.
Chu Yuanqing's wish was the name of the flower itself, which naturally formed a blessing.
A warm glow spreads through the soul, a murmur from an unknown land, like poetry lingering in the ear. A tranquil and harmonious emotion grows stronger in the blessing of the Flower Language, as if healing the wounds of the past.
But in the next instant, the roar of the glacier cracking suddenly resounded, the barrier of Heart Tide encompassing the lantern evaporated directly, the blooming Forget-me-not was also blown to pieces under the crushing pressure of the abyss, and the blessings in my ears disappeared like the receding tide.
Chu Yuanqing's consciousness was hazy. She frowned slightly, endured the intense pain, and barely managed to gather her scattered mental strength. She sighed inwardly, but was not surprised.
[Flower Bloom] is a natural progression for a normal Magical Girl.
But she was clearly not normal. The fact that she could use a lantern, manipulate magic, construct Magic Armor, and even use magic while her soul was constantly shattered was already a testament to the strength of her status as Pure White Witch.
The debuffs from the Sea of Truth, which could previously be ignored, have become an obstacle that must be overcome in a process like [Flower Bloom] that involves the soul.
But...
Chu Yuanqing looked at the flowers that had returned to their budding state, and everything seemed to have returned to the initial stage of choosing to Flower Bloom. She murmured:
"The compatibility between Forget-me-not and my soul isn't the highest. Theoretically, among all the flower species I could choose from, there should be one that best suits me."
"Find it, then make the wish; there's a chance you can overcome the obstacle of a shattered soul and complete the blessing ritual."
My mind is settled.
Chu Yuanqing chose another bouquet of flowers.
--hyacinth.
--Flower Language: joy, love, happiness, deep affection, admiration, stubbornness, life, eternal remembrance.
--Wish: Please remember my most important feelings.
The outcome was still failure; the flower withered the moment it bloomed.
After that, cornflower, pure white lisianthus, dandelion, epiphyllum, baby's breath, pine cordyceps, yellow rose, sunflower...
Chu Yuanqing tried more than a dozen kinds of flowers, among which the cornflower withered the fastest.
The cornflower is the national flower of Germany and is regarded as a symbol of happiness. Its Flower Language is encounter and happiness. However, perhaps because of the life of the Savior, it almost completely contradicts its Flower Language, and the blessing it created almost instantly shattered.
Chu Yuanqing himself did not agree with this speculation.
She met many worthwhile people in her life and experienced a period of extraordinary happiness. She was loved and loved others; she redeemed many and was redeemed by many. Now, she has the continuation of her life. How can one say she wasn't happy?
Someone like me should be a perfect match for cornflowers.
But unfortunately, among the dozen or so flowers, the one that best suited her was the epiphyllum, whose Flower Language is fleeting beauty, an instant that is eternal. This result seemed to silently tell the reason why the cornflower would wither in her soul.
Aside from the epiphyllum, the flower that best suits me is one I've hardly ever heard of, called pine caterpillar fungus. I don't know why it suits me so well.
Chu Yuanqing sighed melancholy. If she had to choose her favorite flower, it would be sunflowers. This bouquet was like an anchor in her memory, reminding her of her Little Cotton-padded Jacket's happy smile when she was young.
The sunflower Flower Language faith, brilliance, pride, loyalty, and admiration, representing silent love, which in some ways is quite fitting for a father like myself.
But even after I made my wish, it still withered away.
This cycle of Flower Bloom and withering seems like a destiny ordained by fate.
Chu Yuanqing understood that it was almost impossible for her to receive the blessing of the Flower Language under that curse.
"Let's try a different approach."
Chu Yuanqing made her decision, and she smiled as she lowered her eyes.
Inside the lantern, the buds were growing in the hope of fulfilling a wish. The branches that emerged resembled hanging blue ribbons, with thorns of the Rosaceae family on them. As soon as the blue flower buds were born, they released a wild and passionate fragrance, with pure white petals like necklaces adorning them, surrounded by branches and green leaves in a radiant display.
This ethereal and hazy bouquet, with its fleeting bustling activity and solitude, overshadowed the splendor of late spring; it was the harbinger of late spring's Grain Rain—the Tu Mi flower.
The Flower Bloom the rose of Sharon signifies the passing of all flowers. In Buddhist legend, it only blooms on the other side of the river of forgetting one's past life, and its Flower Language corresponds to the beauty of the end, which perfectly matches Chu Yuanqing's current situation.
Chu Yuanqing's slender white fingertips touched the petals of the rose, she closed her eyes, her lips parted, and she made a sincere wish:
"I wish that my end would be passionate, grand, and filled with laughter."
This is a wish that aligns with the language of Flower Language, yet it is also a blessing that borders on a curse.
The words had barely left his mouth.
The roar of the glacier cracking was like a surging tsunami, and a pure white light bloomed in the soul, ignoring the negative effects for the first time, leaping over the mottled and undulating cracks, wanting to spread to every corner.
The more violently the soul shatters, the more brilliantly the rose blooms.
The lonely fragrance of flowers filled the nostrils, and the blessing ceremony successfully overcame the curse and was completed.
Inside, the silver magic, as radiant as moonlight, ceased to overflow and instead converged into the body of the Pure White Witch. She extended her palm, and the Soul Flower descended into reality. The rose of Sharon floated serenely, magic flowing into it, and the spell patterns of [Pure White Aria] shimmered on its petals.
Chu Yuanqing sensed it for a while and felt relieved. Just as he had initially expected, [Pure White Aria] was the prototype of his Destined Magic.
Because it was conceived in advance, once the Flower Bloom, all that's needed is to let it merge with the Soul Flower.
As for the specific changes that will occur after the fusion, they will depend on the blessings of the Flower Language, the nature of the rose, and the Magical Girl's own wishes.
Chu Yuanqing's golden eyes shimmered with tears, her pink lips curved into a gentle smile as she cradled the pure white rosebud in her hands. Her eyelashes drooped, and she whispered softly:
"[Great Full Bloom], is there still [Sange]?"
"This is truly... the perfect Destined Magic."
The next day.
The trainees at the underground base were training as usual.
With less than a week until the second Public Performance, and because Flash Dance deliberately designed the competition format to include an element of luck, even the weakest contestant may not be eliminated, so no one will easily give up hope or slack off.
But precisely because of this, Flash Dance places great demands on the contestants' ability to withstand pressure.
This week, many athletes, under intense pressure, engaged in reckless and unrestrained training, resulting in fainting or injuries, and were sent to the medical room at the training base.
Chu Yuanqing's team, on the other hand, was doing well. Practicing two dance tracks in two weeks seemed like a stretch, but they were already used to it. Their training was methodical and unhurried, and they had already completed the <Wannabe> phase yesterday.
Today, under the guidance of Yayoi Kiriwake Yayoi and with the corrections and assistance of Xie Qingxuan, we started learning another dance together. We aim to familiarize ourselves with the framework in one day, memorize the movements in two days, master the dance in three days, strengthen muscle memory in four days, refine the details in five days, and use the remaining time to pick up and practice the <Wannabe> dance we learned before.
Well, it can be said that, putting aside the infighting among the female idols, the Little Idol are living a very positive and healthy life. They not only get up early and go to bed early, exercise appropriately, but also maintain a regular and healthy lifestyle, feeling relaxed and comfortable. They can be considered the most comfortable team in the Sea Capital competition area.
Of course, someone who manipulates their childhood sweetheart to their heart's content, constantly indulging in romantic escapades, figuring out how to have sex, and also getting a good meal while indulging in the dazzling choreographer's charm, probably has a much higher happiness level than them.
The Green Eyed Cat is distressed because its empathy is causing it to gradually develop a strange and distorted sexual fetish.
The Golden Haired Doggy was quite disappointed that it was so easily stuffed, preventing it from continuing to waltz with Qing Bao.
Kiriwake Yayoi has been having strange dreams lately.
In her dream, she wandered far from her hometown in Hokkaido, in a strange and magnificent shrine, watching the black snow that obscured the daytime, feeling lonely and desolate.
I can't remember the rest, only that the snow was getting heavier and heavier, and there were more and more strangers talking annoying things.
"The snowstorm is getting worse, is it still impossible to use the weapons?"
"This is the realm of gods! Dongliu has gone straight back to the samurai era, it's utterly absurd!"
"What a magnificent power! This child is the hope for Dongliu."
"You are the only Witch who can communicate with the supreme deity, and you should bear the fate of the eastward flow."
"Saio, please bestow upon us more divine weapons."
The voices of those people were chaotic and disjointed, with subsequent fragments jumping around. One moment it was the clanging sound of forging a sword, the next it was the soft murmur of the sacred bell swaying in the snow, and then... the warm silhouette that swept away the black snow, shattered the Demons and Monsters, tightly grasped her hand, and ended the loneliness and pain.
Each time I wake up, the memories are mostly gone, as if they have settled deep in my soul, leaving only the sound of bells and the crisp sound of forging knives, which makes my sleep quality exceptionally good.
Kiriwake Yayoi found it strange, but didn't pursue it too much. She continued folding origami cranes, but after having that dream, her speed in folding origami cranes became unusually fast. Even the finished products seemed to be infused with a divine charm, and could always be easily distinguished from those she had folded before, which was quite amazing.