Chapter 188
Xie Qingyu swallowed her anger and continued:
"Anyway, since [Pure White] descended, no B-Class calamities have appeared within the Great Xia territory. If I'm really that unlucky, then I'll just consider it my contribution to humanity."
By this time, the car had slowly driven into Zhelong Town. After reaching the core area, there were almost no people to be seen around, only rows of ancient buildings still standing.
This is one of the entrances to the base.
Xie Qingyu got out of the car. She put away the violets she liked to fly around, and without wearing sunglasses or a mask, she carried her suitcase and walked into a waterside pavilion like a tourist. The hidden door inside opened by itself, and she followed it through a corridor and took a transparent elevator.
Beyond the intricately carved transparent material lies a vast and magnificent underground engineering project. Like a mayfly, Light Band pulsates and floats, illuminating the deep darkness. The exquisitely designed and grand cavity, like a giant spiral, extends to the horizon, illustrating a microcosm of human civilization.
The scenery seen through this special passage is far more extensive than when the athletes enter the base, and naturally offers a more visually stunning experience.
Xie Qingyu lowered her eyes to look at the scene, her fingertips touching the wall, and murmured to herself:
"Zhelong, one of the refuge bases built by the Great Xia Dynasty."
"It's even more intricate and vast than I imagined. I truly hope... I never have to activate this place."
Then, a familiar voice reached my ears:
"That's why we need more sparks."
The Dream Weaver Rabbit had somehow appeared beside Xie Qingyu. It too was looking down into the hollow cavity inside the Hidden Dragon, and continued:
"This time, you will be a guest performer for Sea Capital's 'Flash Dance,' overseeing the second Public Performance and protecting these children, just like your predecessors."
Xie Qingyu was moved.
Before its official implementation, the <Flash Dance> project had many predecessors, one of which was the talent show held in Great Xia back then. The current group of [Witch] active in the world were all cultivated through similar selection methods.
The existence of <FlashDance> is precisely the product of taking the essence of those projects and discarding their dross.
Back then, [Witch] focused more on Magical Girl than idols, so in order to hone combat awareness and magical skills, facing trials of [Calamity Species] or even Calamity Beasts was essential.
Xie Qingyu has been a [Witch] for a short time, which is just right between the trial stage and the initial batch. She has encountered accidents, been protected by her seniors, and even witnessed the so-called [Great Full Bloom], so she naturally has complicated feelings at the moment.
"I will, Dream Weaver teacher."
The girl's tone was firm, but when she turned around and saw the mascot of <Flash Dance>, a somewhat subtle expression appeared on her face. Although she already knew its current form, Dream Weaver's current appearance was still hard for her to get used to.
The Dream Weaver Rabbit didn't seem to care; it smiled.
"Would you like to go see your sister?"
"As long as you don't violate the bureau's regulations, giving you temporary access to area A1 shouldn't be a problem."
Xie Qingyu's heart visibly fluttered for a moment, but after considering some possibilities, she suppressed her thoughts, shook her head under Little Butterfly's look of disbelief, and said:
"Forget it, let's wait until after the second Public Performance."
"Furthermore, since she is now an idol, perhaps watching her perform on stage would provide a more direct understanding of her growth over this period."
"There are always some things that cannot be conveyed through dialogue."
Upon hearing this, the Dream Weaver Rabbit smiled, patted the girl's head, and left the elevator without saying anything more.
Violet could no longer contain herself after Dream Weaver left. It angrily flapped its little wings and, like a wild bull, rammed Xie Qingyu's head back and forth, making her dizzy, all the while chattering incessantly with accusations:
"Xiaoyu is an idiot! A big idiot! You don't want to see Xuan Bao, but I do! What are you pretending to be so profound and cool for? You must have gone crazy from playing rock music in the past!"
Xie Qingyu was somewhat annoyed. How could a mere stupid butterfly insult the great rock and roll? She immediately started arguing with her lantern, and the argument continued even after they got off the elevator. It wasn't until they entered the area where the mentors were that she managed to calm down and started arguing in a spirit-to-spirit communication style.
On the other side, in area A1, is the practice room.
Xie Qingxuan wore yoga clothes, and her curves looked exceptionally graceful in the sunlight of virtual reality. The sports vest with her beautiful back slightly restrained her overly developed and full breasts, and her lower abdomen remained flat after straightening her slender waist.
The girl's platinum eyelashes drooped, and she habitually held onto the handles. Her heels were together and her toes were slightly apart. She pushed off with her toes, lifting her beautiful insteps, then straightened her knees and squeezed her thighs together. She stood upright and squatted down vertically until her buttocks were sitting on her heels before stopping the movement.
Although her dance background from a young age has made her extremely flexible, flexibility exercises are still a daily routine for her.
Whether it was a misperception or something else, she recently felt that training was becoming easier and easier. Her physical fitness and overall physical qualities were slowly improving, making her feel energetic every day. With her mind free of thoughts, she couldn't help but think about some strange things.
For example, what is a more advanced way to Magic Replenishment than dancing the waltz?
For example, Qing Bao has no family and lives a very difficult life. How can you subtly tell her that you can support her without hurting her self-esteem?
Xie Qingxuan was somewhat troubled.
These questions were far too difficult; she felt that Master Liuli's knowledge base was insufficient, and at least she couldn't get the answers from him.
The Golden Haired Doggy was unaware that its most hated older sister had already arrived at the base. Her beautiful face was expressionless, and her usually imposing dark eyes showed a hint of unfocus, making her appear feigned seriousness and genuinely naive.
20 minutes later,
Chu Yuanqing poked the girl's soft waist with her slender finger, reminding her:
"Qingxuan, you've been holding that position for so long, are you spacing out?"
Xie Qingxuan snapped out of her daze, pointed her toes, and pulled herself up gracefully from the railing. Looking at the alluring face of the Pure White Witch, she said:
"Yes, I was thinking about my sister."
This is a lie.
Xie Qingxuan didn't think about Xie Qingyu at all. She just didn't want to tell Chu Yuanqing, and since she was also bad at talking, she could only use her sister to cover up the lie.
Upon hearing this, Tang Liuli curiously moved closer, her ears perked up, ready to eavesdrop.
Upon hearing this, Chu Wangshu put down her sheet music and blinked, looking in their direction.
Sister Xie's older sister? Isn't that the famous girl group leader? She often heard her classmates talk about her name when she was in the first year of high school, and at that moment she felt a magical sense of legend coming to life, and she was very curious about it.
Kiriwake Yayoi was also somewhat interested. She admired idols who had gained immense popularity but remained calm and composed, focusing on delivering excellent performances to the public. She also wanted to learn from their strengths, and Xie Qingyu happened to be one of those idols.
Chu Yuanqing thought for a moment and asked:
"Qingxuan's older sister? Are you two close?"
Xie Qingxuan thought for a moment and said frankly:
"No, we have a terrible relationship; we're enemies."
The room fell silent upon hearing this.
The Green Eyed Cat trembled. Since their relationship was so bad that they were enemies, why would she be so engrossed in thinking? Could she be imagining how to chop her own sister into eight pieces? What a terrifying and wicked woman!
Chu Wangshu felt conflicted. Xie Qingyu was so sunny and charming on stage, so why did she have such a bad relationship with Sister Xie? Was there some hidden reason behind it?
Among everyone present, Kiriwake Yayoi is one of only two who are not only children. However, unlike Xie Qingxuan who has an older sister, she has a younger sister who is five years younger than her.
Little Sakura had a subtle feeling after hearing this. She put herself in Xie Qingxuan's shoes and thought, if she were disliked by Yuki like that, she would definitely be so sad that she would cry, right?
Chu Yuanqing realized she had made a mistake. She patted the Golden Haired Doggy's head to comfort it, then changed the subject, looking at Little Sakura and asking:
"We only have two days left before the official performance. Shall we try using a virtual system to project a picture of the real Public Performance stage and perform both dance tracks?"
Kiriwake Yayoi immediately chimed in:
"Yes, that's about right. After we finish, let's go back and watch the video to check how well we did. If we're not satisfied, let's practice for a few extra hours in the last two days, shall we?"
As the lead vocalist, Tang Liuli didn't have many parts in the two dance tracks, and since she's been feeling increasingly fit lately, she doesn't feel tired even after dancing several times, so she has no objections.
Needless to say, Chu Wangshu had been secretly practicing every night recently. If it weren't for a certain Pure White Witch arresting her at 10 o'clock every day, she probably would have been practicing until the early hours of the morning. She nodded eagerly in agreement.
Thus, Xie Qingxuan's little incident was easily glossed over, and everyone threw themselves back into training for the dance, heading towards the stage for the second Public Performance.
Meanwhile, the Demons and Monsters within the Sea Capital remained inactive, seemingly also eyeing the second Public Performance, making the atmosphere of impending storm even more intense.
Volume 1: 181. Echoes of the Past, the Lonely Shadow of the Savior. (5K)
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
The 165 contestants in the underground base made a final sprint in the last few minutes to prepare for the decisive moment on stage.
After experiencing the [Flower Bloom], Chu Yuanqing spent most of his time outside of training and Magic Replenishment practicing the Destined Magic brought about by the blooming of the Soul Flower.
Although the Flower Language of Sharon and the blessing she made led [Pure White Aria] down an extreme path with no chance of training, the magical system that evolved from it was a completely different matter.
Why is the "Flower Bloom" moment considered a decisive moment in the fate of Magical Girl?
Beyond the blessings conveyed by the Flower Language's language, the most crucial aspect lies in the fact that after awakening one's Destined Magic, the Soul Flower will gradually extend and construct a complete set of magical formulas based on the nature of the magic, the Destined Magic, the characteristics of the soul, and the desires in one's heart.
These spells are unique, like buds and leaves growing on different branches; they cannot be learned, and their potential and effects are entirely unknown.
The magic Chu Yuanqing learned was very strange; in fact, it was rather unusual.
[Echoes of the Past]: Creates a solitary shadow originating from the past, which can descend separately or empower oneself. Its duration and specific abilities are determined by magical power.
[Shattered Golden Cup]: Whenever a soul is shattered, the rate of magic recovery increases by 500%; whenever flesh and blood are damaged, the rate of bodily self-healing increases by 500%.
These two spells are clearly related to her past, and considering that when [Pure White Aria] was formed, it incorporated the salvation journey deep within her soul, so it's not surprising that it evolved in this way.
Besides these two, the Soul Flower also harbors two other spells, whose names are currently only known: [Killing Karma of Annihilation] and [The One Forgotten by the World].
I could guess roughly what the effect of the former would be, but the latter was completely incomprehensible.
A pool-level magic power can only give birth to four spells. It is estimated that only after her magic power level undergoes another transformation, crossing the boundaries of rivers and seas, and truly achieving [Full Bloom], will she be able to construct a complete system.
Chu Yuanqing was quite satisfied with this. Compared to the initial stage effect of [Pure White Aria], she clearly preferred this kind of magic that could be applied to the battlefield.
Unfortunately, the magical power required for [Echoes of the Past] is too outrageous. Even if she exhausts her current Magic Power Limit, the summoned Lone Shadow cannot restore even a fraction of its former glory.
On the contrary, [Shattered Golden Cup] is very useful. As a noble passive skill, it slightly makes up for the current awkward situation of constantly losing magic power, and also adds some survival guarantee, giving himself a certain amount of health after temporarily losing the blessing of [Immortality].
While Chu Yuanqing was calmly familiarizing herself with magic for two days, Xie Qingyu, who was dispatched to be stationed at the second Public Performance site, was extremely busy. Under the arrangement of the Dream Weaver Rabbit, she and a certain Little Butterfly used magic to scout the entire Sea Capital and check for potential dangers in advance.
As for the results, they wiped out more than a dozen unhatched "Calamity Species," found a tunnel dug out in the subway, along with a pile of corpses and bombs, arrested several members of the Cult of Disaster Gods in the desolate countryside, and also caught a madman who had committed several murders.
These advances are remarkably efficient over two days; sometimes, irrational magic is indeed more convenient for tracking and reconnaissance than technology.
However, no tangible results were achieved.
Although some of the Calamity Species have been eradicated, when you see a cockroach indoors, you should never naively assume that killing it will solve everything.
Rather, this only proves that Sea Capital truly in danger right now, while neighboring Capital is peaceful and tranquil, seemingly without any hidden crisis.
As for the arrested believers, when Xie Qingyu encountered them, they were already mentally impaired, with signs of physical damage to their brains, making it impossible to extract any information from them. The trail went cold there, while the second Public Performance was just around the corner.
In other words, the plan to eliminate the crisis in advance has failed, and the only remaining countermeasures are to deal with it as it comes.
The authorities implemented a series of preventative measures at the venue and cleared out the area within a 10-kilometer radius a day in advance. A large number of cordons were set up, and special forces disguised as security personnel formed a long line leading to the Public Performance venue.
The attendees will have their tickets checked 10 kilometers away. The necessary security checks will be completed seamlessly using technological equipment before they board special vehicles and drive along a planned route to enter the venue.
<Flash Dance> had clearly prepared for the worst. As long as there were no passersby nearby, even if five thousand spectators saw the Calamity Beasts, the organizers could use some means to make them forget the memory, thus achieving the effect of concealment.
Therefore, the live streaming feature will be temporarily shelved and will not be featured in the second Public Performance.
The news of Xie Qingyu appearing as a guest performer was also announced on the official website of "Flash Dance," which fueled online discussions about the second Public Performance. The lucky winners of the second Public Performance tickets were overjoyed, feeling like they had hit the jackpot, and couldn't help but continue to show off their tickets on various platforms, arousing the envy of many.
One of the earliest fans of the Pure White Witch was a top-tier lucky fan who was attacked by the crowd.
At this moment, in an apartment in Sea Capital, the girl ignored the numerous messages in various fan groups that kept tagging her, expressing jealousy, requesting real-time photos, and asking for autographs. She hummed a song happily, radiating a blissful atmosphere.
Xu Ling's eyes crinkled into crescents, her expression smiling. She carefully picked out her outfit from the closet, hesitating for a moment, displaying a kind of innocent and nervous trepidation reminiscent of first love.
Pei Xiaotong sat to one side, hugging a small dinosaur doll that had been abandoned just like her. She looked at her cousin's behavior with a mixture of resentment and envy, and couldn't help but mutter:
"Ling Bao, it's a promise, if you ever have the chance to see Chu Yuanqing, you must remember to get me an autograph!"
Xu Ling's eyes sparkled as she looked in the mirror at her newly bought dress. Ignoring her younger cousin, whom she had treated like a slave for days, she said irritably:
"Tong Bao, you can't be so fickle! Just a few days ago you said that Flash Dance wasn't good, and that idols weren't as good as your anime waifus! How did you get so swayed by Qing Bao in just two days? Now you're even trying to steal my autographed photo!"
Although Chu Yuanqing is already very popular, and she hopes that the other party's popularity will continue to rise, seeing her cousin like Qing Bao so much, she still has a subtle feeling in her heart that her treasure has been shared.
Upon hearing this, Pei Xiaotong's almond-shaped eyes widened in disbelief, and she looked somewhat annoyed.
I'm furious! You're the one who got me hooked! Shouldn't you be happy that I accepted your recommendation? Besides, Qing Bao's looks are stunning every day, and her stage presence is so captivating. Isn't it only natural to fall for her?
Damn it, blame it on Qing Bao's irresistible charm!
Xu Ling placed the dress on the bed, and seeing the little girl sulking, she went over and pinched her soft cheek, saying with a smile:
"Don't worry, if I have the chance, I'll definitely ask for a few more autographs."
"It seems quite difficult, though. All 33 teams have to perform on stage once, and half of them will get to perform again in the second round. It'll take at least three hours to watch them. There probably won't be any chance to hold other events."
Pei Xiaotong felt even more envious, as if she had three lemons stuffed in her mouth.
Three hours? That's equivalent to going to a concert! You can watch performances from 33 teams of high quality, some even exceeding the limits of previous talent shows. It's a steal!
Damn, Ling Bao's luck is too good! She won tickets for both Public Performance first and second Public Performance! It's just unbelievable! Is it because she prays to Qing Bao every day and her sincerity has reached the point of being able to get divine intervention?