Chapter 265

Chapter 265: The Choice of Photos, the Moment of Salvation, the Reforged Material

Pei Xiaotong felt like she was living in a dream. She was just a girl who loved little dresses, was a bit of an otaku, and occasionally followed idols, but she didn’t know much about the entertainment world or idols.

Even so, the little girl understood the value of the grand prize in the "Dazzling Stage" event.

When "Dazzling Stage" first revealed the details of this grand prize, it caused quite a stir online and in fan clubs everywhere.

On the most basic level, the person who won could provide resources for their favorite idol and also receive the first numbered digital publication along with the first printed magazine, which was like getting the official support for their idol.

For any fan, this was a huge honor.

You should know that "Dazzling Stage" is different from regular talent shows. Until now, it hasn’t forced you to spend money on useless things just to vote for your favorite little idol.

This is certainly a good thing, but it also leaves many fans, who are used to spending money, feeling empty because they can’t support their idols more.

Well, this situation means they can only work hard on likes, follows, discussions, and fan creations.

Giving resources to little idols shows they exist and might help the idols remember them, making it very tempting in this environment.

If Pei Xiaotong remembers correctly, she saw in some fan support groups that rich fans have offered over a million just to get the chance to give resources to their favorite idols.

Unfortunately…

"The rules say there can’t be any exchanges. If any interests related to this are found, that privilege will go back to the prize pool."

"So, Honey Tong, don’t dream of becoming a millionaire. Just think carefully about which little idol to support."

When Xu Ling spoke, she felt like her mouth was full of lemons. She looked sourly at her cousin, feeling like the three performance tickets she just won weren’t worth much anymore.

Although winning concert tickets twice in a row makes her friends very jealous, compared to the grand prize Pei Xiaotong won, it feels small.

Plus, even setting aside the excitement of being a fan, the tickets cannot be exchanged. If the selected idol is popular, the early edition electronic magazine and the first printed magazine will surely be very valuable.

This is much more stable than stocks. If the chosen idol gets eliminated, the value will only increase, becoming a precious "legacy" like a memoir of a late wife. If they officially debut and become famous worldwide, there might even be top rich people wanting to collect it, willing to trade a villa for it.

Pei Xiaotong tried to get her thoughts together; it still felt a bit unreal, as if the sun had played tricks on her. She looked at her phone screen several times before blurting out:

"Honey Ling, do you think we will have an accident on the way home?"

"You got concert tickets, and I got the grand prize. It’s kind of frightening."

Xu Ling understood the doubt about luck. When she first won concert tickets, she was scared she might meet some monster on the subway. But nothing unexpected happened, and she had a great time, even seeing Honey Qing with white hair and golden eyes in person, all very perfect.

The girl tapped her sizable chest and, with the experience of someone who has been through it, tried to reassure her little cousin, saying:

"Don’t worry, just avoid drawing cards, buying scratch-offs, eating seafood and raw dishes, and going out at night for the next few months…"

Xu Ling listed several important points in one breath, then patted the little girl’s shoulder and said the final words of comfort:

"With this, you will surely be safe!"

Pei Xiaotong felt even more scared, but the excitement and happiness from winning the grand prize temporarily pushed away her worries. She quietly prayed to the Jade Emperor, Buddha, Confucius, and Guan Yu for protection before looking at her phone screen, murmuring like an emperor choosing a concubine:

"Great Devil has an amazing figure; there must be some perks in the magazine!"

"Ji Shuzhu has really long legs, and Ning Bao is such a beautiful girl; maybe there will be a surprise on the cover."

"Ruan Wutong’s name is a bit like mine; she’s also a bit of a silly purple-haired person, which really appeals to me."

"Wait, Little Sakura’s journey is so full of ups and downs, and the stage is really powerful. Would it be better to give it to her? But Chu Yuanqing is just too beautiful, oh no, why is this so hard to choose?!"

Xu Ling watched the twisted scene of the DD leader struggling and couldn’t help but chuckle. How can they complain that I am not romantic enough? Honey Tong, you must have a good idea of how many times you’ve D-ed yourself by now?!

Still, even though she said that, the reason she didn’t give her opinion was because it was hard to decide.

You said to give it to Little Sakura, but what about Honey Qing?

But as for Honey Qing, she has been a loyal supporter of Little Sakura for many years, how can she be unfair?

So, I will not interfere with Honey Tong’s choice; anyway, Little Sakura and Honey Qing don’t have any real rivals. If we have to say something, as long as it’s not one of the other favorites to win, it doesn’t really matter who gets it.

Pei Xiaotong struggled for a long time, and finally said:

"I’ve made my decision; I will give it to Honey Qing!"

This choice isn’t surprising; as long as they are not the loyal supporters of the other idols, most viewers who win big will almost always choose Chu Yuanqing.

The charm of Pure White Witch is something to behold; in terms of real topics, she is a top contender, almost guaranteed to debut in Sea City’s "Dazzling Stage" competition, and there’s even a chance she could debut as the main star.

Even if the first edition of her magazine is unlimited in purchase, the value of the first copy can be worth gold, making it a "high-quality stock" with a low minimum and a high maximum.

Although Xu Ling wasn’t surprised, she was still very delighted. If it hadn’t been so hot, causing them both to sweat, she would have cheered loudly and hugged the other tightly.

Unlike her cousin, she has seen many talent shows and has heard a lot about celebrities, so she understands some things in the entertainment world.

Fashion magazines in the entertainment world are the kind that don’t make money from regular announcements and are even based on a star’s status. Even without payment, celebrities will actively participate in shooting them.

The most direct benefit of these things for celebrities is to shine and increase their fame.

Well, it’s easy to understand that increasing fame is great. Shining means improving one’s qualifications, enhancing the public’s fashionable image, and raising one’s status, with the ultimate goal of getting high-end endorsements.

It is well known that the most money for celebrities comes from endorsement fees, and which brands offer the highest endorsement fees? Obviously, it is high-end brands, and these brands focus on style when choosing their endorsers.

The many fashion covers serve as proof of having style and are a stepping stone.

Taking magazines in the domestic entertainment industry as an example, they can be roughly categorized into first-tier, quasi-first-tier, second-tier, and third-tier, or simply by style categories (world-class but not well-known locally).

Within the industry, they are referred to as twelve major mainstream publications, five women’s magazines, five men’s magazines, and two smaller women’s magazines, and they keep track of how many covers celebrity stars have appeared on for many young master publications, calculating whether it’s a solo cover or a group cover (with multiple people on the cover), as well as the total number of issues.

In Xu Ling’s impression, a certain top-tier celebrity who endorses a luxury brand often appears on fashion magazine covers, earning tens of billions just in endorsement fees each year. This is a typical case of having full fashion resources and being favored by high-end brands.

In her eyes, the grand prize of the event "Dazzling Stage" could be a signal for taking action in the fashion magazine field.

The reason is simple, "Dazzling Stage" is the world’s first and most expensive epic talent show project.

For this project to recoup its costs, it must make the girl group it nurtures the most popular money-makers in the global entertainment circle.

And if they want to secure high-paying endorsements from luxury brands, to avoid being held back or to create stars more efficiently, they need to build recognized fashion resources themselves and achieve real internal circulation.

This issue’s magazine photoshoot could very well be a pilot project.

If it really goes global, Honey Qing’s popularity will surely skyrocket, and even when competing with other countries’ "Dazzling Stage" regions later, it will definitely stay on top in terms of popularity!

The more Xu Ling thought about it, the happier she became. She stood up and said:

"Since today is so lucky, let’s celebrate by going for hotpot! I’ll also buy Honey Tong a little dress that you like!"

Hearing this, Pei Xiaotong’s eyes sparkled. She was from the Sichuan region and loved hotpot; she replied happily:

"Really? Yay!"

"Then I want to eat spicy beef hot pot, enjoying the air conditioning while eating fatty meat. It would be best to order a few extra plates of tripe and have a big bottle of cold soda."

Xu Ling waved her hand and said she would treat everyone. She spoke to the little girl and pulled her to return the power bank, then they took a taxi from the shade, ready to go home, take a shower, and then go out again to eat hot pot feeling fresh.

During this time, she naturally did not forget to record a video.

Although her previous account only had edits, commentary on little idols’ pasts, and analysis of gossip in the circle, it was definitely worth sharing that Honey Tong won the grand prize in an event with millions of participants… No, it was definitely full of views!

In short, she could not be the only one feeling sour and eating lemons!

At the same time, Pei Xiaotong also felt excited. In front of the camera, she logged into the official website of "Dazzling Stage," connected with Dream Weaver Rabbit’s character, and selected a specific little idol.

—Chu Yuanqing.

…

…

Austria, Salzburg.

The moonlight painted the clouds like tilted mercury, draping the outline of the castle and casting a mysterious color over the carpet in the main hall.

Chu Yuanqing was crouching in front of an ancient fireplace that looked like it had been there for a long time. Her eyelashes fluttered softly like feathers, as white as fresh snow, and her golden eyes sparkled with magical rainbows. Through the old firewood that had been there for who knows how long, she caught a hint of magic.

The girl thought for a moment and extended her fingertips, shining with a light purer than moonlight, illuminating the fireplace.

In an instant, the firewood clattered together, and illusory flames burst forth. A large pile of firewood transformed in the blink of an eye into a pure silver suitcase, quietly resting in the fireplace, its surface printed with the half-blooming, half-withering silhouette of the World Tree, set against a larger background of a sun shining over the world.

This is the "anti-fraud trademark" of the Counter-Magic Bureau.

Chu Yuanqing knew its origin; just like the trajectory of the first playthrough, it was from the original arriving Calamity God. It came to New Game Plus with the World Tree, which had not yet sunk into the core of the planet, but was forcefully suppressed by the Pure White before it could take root, thus "squeezing" it out.

This caused the World Tree to be forced to appear at the dome of the planet, descending in a terrifying manner that blocked out the sky and sun.

Just as it was about to fall back into the empty sea and return to the ocean’s plate, the high wall that had not yet crossed the globe began to shine brightly, filling the world with light. The remaining fire of Levatin spilled from it, turning it into a mix of life and decay, creating a forbidden zone over the waters.

The pure white force that turned the tide, burning the World Tree in a shocking scene, was brought up by Esther when the Counter-Magic Bureau was formed. She suggested using it as a model for a spiritual medal to strengthen their belief in saving the world, which successfully created a symbol deemed blasphemous by the Church of the Gods.

"No wonder Dreamweaver asked for a strand of magical power; it turns out it’s needed for ‘fingerprint unlocking.’ This should be a type of magic that doesn’t require a witch to use?"

Chu Yuanqing said this as she lifted the suitcase. She weighed it for a moment, estimating it to be about fifty kilograms. It must have taken a lot of effort for the staff disguised as cleaners to bring it here.

Inside the suitcase were the least valuable and least dangerous pieces of Disaster Debris. They could be transported normally, but it took a week due to negotiations with the Research Department, the need to ship goods from around the world, and the recent increased activity of disaster beasts and cultists.

As for the remaining Disaster Debris, Esther said Little Xuan’s sister would deliver it personally.

Well, a captain-level witch is willing to take on this delivery task; it must be to see her sister, right?

But…

"It seems Little Xuan really dislikes her sister. Will they actually get along later?"

Chu Yuanqing thought for a while and then gave up on worrying about this problem.

A wise judge finds it hard to settle family matters.

The relationship between Little Xuan and her sister is best left for them to handle.

Chu Yuanqing lifted the box, the wind swirling around her, and her figure blended into the moonlight. She softly walked upstairs, returned to her room first, and sat at the table, placing the box on it.

Then, she activated her long-lost "Annihilated Massacre," temporarily changing the nature of her magic with her heart’s fire, allowing her to use concept-type magic and releasing a barrier that encompassed the entire room.

—Advanced spell: The Ten Directions Prison Realm.

There was no choice; since she wanted to surprise Charlotte, it was better to delay letting her know about the use of Disaster Debris. Otherwise, she might accidentally reveal what gift she wanted to give.

So, she had to use advanced concept-type magic to guard against a certain elusive Miss Saintess who liked to sneak through walls.

Although the magic consumption was high, with recent magical recovery upgrades and the airing of the sixth episode of "Dazzling Stage," supporting it for a few hours was still fine.

Chu Yuanqing opened the box.

Even the lowest grade of Disaster Debris is hard to shape with technology, so the first layer is made up of gray crystals that vary in size and are irregular in shape. They are contained in clear glass containers and tremble as if they are alive when the box is opened.

The girl picked up one with her fingertips and looked down at it for a moment. Its size was similar to a 100-carat diamond, but it weighed ten times more. The surface of the crystal was clear, while the inside was cloudy, with strands of black mist swirling inside, representing the leftover disaster aura.

Chu Yuanqing was somewhat surprised; this crystal was very clean. Aside from some stubborn disaster aura, there was not even a trace of information like genetic chains left.

To be honest, she didn’t think the officials could provide a strong enough cleaning of Disaster Debris.

So, this batch of Disaster Debris was most likely sent by the Dream Weaver Rabbit after the Research Department took many emergency measures to clean it up to prevent her from getting hurt.

"I think I know why it took so long to deliver."

The Pure White Witch felt a little guilty; it was the first time someone had worked so hard for her personal matters, and she felt a bit uncomfortable.

But soon, the Savior Miss threw herself into the inspection work.

This batch of Disaster Debris is a gift for Little Sakura to practice with. The "Tempering of the Heart" only needs the crystal itself as a vessel for blessings, so it’s best to completely remove the disaster aura.

As for the method of cleaning…

Although she can’t use the leftover fire from Levatin, she can use "Echoes of the Past" combined with "Annihilated Massacre" to recreate some flames that are touched by the concept of fate. Rounded up, it also feels like a youthful version of leftover fire.

Additionally, after "Echoes of the Past" multiplies her magical power several times, she can borrow even more strength, making it easy to clear the disaster aura.

Chu Yuanqing was not in a hurry to use her big move; the golden heat in her eyes was like waking magma, with a chilling killing intent rising and burning from her soul, strong enough to eliminate the waves of the Disaster phenomenon, creating a wonderful force field that interfered with reality.

The next moment, loud cracking sounds erupted at the same time.

Those gray crystals seemed to meet their natural enemy, as the disaster aura within them trembled under the scorching flames like it had real emotions, eventually bursting out like wandering black snakes, causing the containers to explode in an attempt to escape to other places.

To the naked eye, it looked like thousands of black lines suddenly burst from the table; unfortunately, when they tried to escape to the edges of the room, they collided with the barrier that had just been created, triggering a counterattack from the spell and burning away in the black-red magic.

Chu Yuanqing waved her hand, pulling all the shattered glass into the air and tossing it into the nearby trash can. She patiently picked up the low-level Disaster Debris, which turned dark gray and quite transparent after losing the disaster aura, making the crystals look particularly beautiful.

The Pure White Witch placed them into a wooden box and murmured in surprise:

"My feelings are indeed special; I didn’t expect it to be so easy."

After saying that.

Chu Yuanqing opened the next layer; it was the last piece of Disaster Debris in the box.

But unlike the gray crystals of E-class, this one had a blade-like shape, floating between solid and mist, like a wisp of a shadow. Its tail was adorned with a swirling crimson eyeball, moving like a snake in a water jar, looking quite terrifying.

This is Grade C Disaster Debris · Crimson Shadowblade, a high-quality material given to Miyuki to reforge Ame no Habakiri.