Chapter 159

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Chapter 159: Xie Qingxuan, the Forgotten Comrade?

The continuation of dreams is not lonely.

From the mythical end blade that materialized, arcing over the vast world, it swept across the continent covered by flowers. Its curve was sharp enough to cut through time, stirring sighs in the void, creating countless ripples that bloomed together, stirring the waves by the sea like a farewell.

In the end, the red to black flames engulfed the entire continent, the edges of the sea distorted by heat, the burning reduced the flatlands, releasing a thunderous mist like a dragon drinking water, resembling sulfur from the depths of hell, contrasting with the sun-red heavens.

The ashes of the petals scattered in the rippling mist and fire, like a torrential rain offering a baptism to the broken continent.

In that moment, the images in all the viewers’ eyes expanded as Xie Qingxuan’s vision lifted and grew distant; her body burned away, and her ethereal gaze, almost reverent, gazed upon the falling ash and fire rain, seeing the soft orange hidden beneath the deep darkness.

That is not the fire that brings destruction, but… the light that will eventually bring forth hope.

Splash, splash.

The sea breeze blows, the waves rise, and the sorrow of the sinking land makes a loud noise.

A melody, once heard long ago, played on the violin, gently fills Xie Qingxuan’s ears. In her vision, the ashes of petals mix with unquenchable sparks falling down, while in the distance is a soft, hazy scene, like a grand farewell.

At this moment, her vision enters darkness.

In the final moment, what comes to the minds of all the audience is a joy filled with sadness and regret, a blessing that celebrates hope, and even… that lingering love, as if it is immortal through time, carving pain and sweetness in the heart.

The stage is nearing its end.

The song and music of "Shut Down," and even the sensory experience conveyed through dance, are forgotten and disappear in just a few brief breaths. Even the lingering sound, as it reaches the ears, transforms into waves rising, flames burning, and the chaotic noise of the world.

Fan Qiuling has just regained her original heart, and even before she can savor the shining brightness that seems even more radiant, she is lost in this miraculous stage under the captain’s ultimate burst of "Heart Flow."

This little idol, who has recently become dark and whose XP is gradually fading away, feels a heavy blockage in her chest. In a mix of emotions and sorrow, tears flow like rain, and her eyes turn red from crying.

If it weren’t for Ji Shuzhu bestowing the buff of [Puppetry Melody], even the dance movements would have been unable to resist transforming under the impact of this emotion.

But on the other hand, the shining return of the soul, enhanced by the emotions on stage and Xie Qingxuan’s [Heart Flow] mark, grew even more warm and bright, rapidly weaving the cocoon, like a butterfly, forming the [Cocoon of the Heart] with a foundation of disaster aura and another shining darkness.

At that moment, a simple cross pattern appeared in Fan Qiuling’s eyes as she stepped into the [Heart Flow] realm just as the stage approached its conclusion.

Meanwhile, Chu Qiushuang, upon receiving the shining return, felt the initial emotions blooming within such a vibrant stage atmosphere, as if receiving interest from a bank loan, greatly benefiting her and bringing her closer to the [Heart Flow] realm, with a faint cross forming in her gaze before it scattered.

A similar phenomenon was occurring in various areas of the underground base.

These subtle details remain unknown to most.

The viewers in the live streaming room felt an overwhelming sense of magic, drifting hazily as they immersed themselves in this "gift" dedicated to someone, as if traveling through time and space, experiencing that person’s emotions and catching a glimpse of the hope burning in the heavenly fire, leaving them in a long state of astonishment.

There is no doubt that this has surpassed the normal specifications of a stage, resembling the world-class impact showcased by Chu Yuanqing during her second performance, enough to let the idol’s personal aura surpass everything, transcending the framework defined by the dance and displaying an extraordinary brilliance.

In the mentor’s seat in the audience, still in awe, they were left speechless.

To put it harshly, this is no longer a stage they are qualified to judge.

Chen Baijiu sighed in his heart.

Even if this stage might be difficult for Xie Qingxuan to replicate, the Stage Tyrant has undoubtedly evolved to an unbelievable level in a short time; in fact, she has surpassed the concept of a tyrant, simply because her stage presence is so dazzling, it’s as if one is standing under a great sun.

And in fact,

Xie Qingxuan truly finds it hard to recreate such a stage.

To extend her dream, she began planning and accumulating as soon as she returned to the C1 area, and she fought 14 stage battles in the B1 area, gathering sparkles for half a month to finally create 61 shining moments, using her dream as a model and memories from meditation to play a breathtaking tune.

If it weren’t for the mechanics of the teammate competition and Fan Qiuling’s exploitation of human weaknesses, these conditions couldn’t have been met at all. Moreover, after the "Dazzling Stage," the competition format will likely not feature such intense Stage Battles.

In simple terms, the big environment has changed; the killing book can no longer be stacked.

On stage, "Shut Down" has finished its performance.

But even though they are fans of this dance song, they have forgotten about "Shut Down" itself, and are staring excitedly at the live stream of Xie Qingxuan. They can’t help but type comments, discussing:

"What an amazing stage! I can’t believe that after Godly Qing’s performance, we can see a show of this quality. Xie Qingxuan truly deserves the title of Stage Tyrant!"

"From the wild grasslands, I finally understand what the Great Devil is holding back. This is a real challenge for the stage. Is Little Sakura’s team going to use their heads to fight? Unless someone on their team can burst out again, how can they win?"

"To be honest, Sea City feels a bit too abstract. I’ve followed seven or eight regions in the Donghong Federation’s ‘Dazzling Stage,’ and only this one can create a supernatural beauty with ‘Heart Flow.’ Is that reasonable?"

"That’s very reasonable. If every region had this kind of purple star, it would be a true battle of the gods! It’s hard to imagine a terrifying scene where each team transcends the dance song itself, shining with their individual presence and competing with each other."

"I can’t say for sure. Ever since Dream Weaver Rabbit moved out of the ‘Heart Flow’ development room, I knew that the idea of training idols in this show was not fake. We are only at the second round of the competition. Who knows how these little idols will evolve later?"

"I’m getting more and more excited. This talent show can really produce something amazing. By the time it reaches the national battle, who knows what outrageous things might happen."

On the other hand, while Xie Qingxuan’s fans celebrate, they also feel a bit worried.

There’s no way around it; the atmosphere of the stage, engraved deep in their souls, conveys the love in that person’s heart clearly. Even outsiders can easily feel the pain and sweetness, making it hard to stop thinking about Xie Qingxuan, who creates such emotions.

At this moment, many fans felt that their girl was hopelessly enchanted, and they couldn’t help but feel sad and melancholic.

"How should I put it? I guess it’s surprising to see someone like Xie Bao show emotions like this. She has always treated fans with respect and politeness. She works very hard, just like other idols do. However, there was a lack of warmth."

Meanwhile, the girl, who was the source of this feeling, looked at the dazzling stage, as if waiting for praise. For a moment, she was lost in thought, with her mind going blank. A strong wave of emotions washed over her like a tsunami.

Chu Yuanqing tried to remember something, but there were too many forgotten memories, peeling away like old wallpaper. In the past, she chose to ignore these feelings because dwelling on them seemed pointless.

But this time was different. Xie Qingxuan’s brilliance on stage stirred up emotions that forced memories to awaken like a jigsaw puzzle. Feelings of deep sadness, regret, loneliness, guilt, and despair surged up, pulling her as if they were ripping her apart.

Chu Yuanqing wanted to remember. She couldn’t help but feel anxious and restless. The golden light in her eyes felt enormous, as if her soul was angry at the blankness deep within. It was sharp like a drawn sword, but gradually, as exhaustion and confusion filled her chest, it became soft and weak, returning to silence.

It’s useless; if I can’t remember, I can’t remember.

Memories eroded by the Sea of Truth are like an existential loss. Being able to feel emotions or a sense of familiarity is already a miraculous echo of the Savior’s will.

Chu Yuanqing tiredly closed her eyes. She didn’t know what that dream meant, and she forgot the beautiful sea of flowers, but she understood that it was not just a simple dream. The apocalyptic scene that burned everything could only come from her own unleashed Levatin.

Who is Qingxuan? A comrade from a past life who was forgotten? Or an innocent person affected by her fight against Disaster? Or is it simply a coincidence?

After all, just like the Wall of Sighs stretches across the world, serving as proof of a time long gone, information about the hunt for the Calamity God—an epic tale—might randomly reach people of the new era. This is indeed a possibility.

No matter what, her feelings towards Xie Qingxuan have subtly changed, making it hard to see her simply as a younger person or a child.

Because… no matter how many possibilities there are, the first one listed is still the most significant.

The reason is simple; even without considering the strange familiarity she feels, just calculating the time can provide clues.

Chu Yuanying corrected the world’s nature, banished the idea of disaster beasts, and reversed time and history, arriving in this era at the age of 20, when many of his comrades were likely just a few years old.

Now, after 17 years, his former comrades of the same age as him are on par with the new era’s Charlotte, which is about the same age as Xie Qingxuan, the suitable age to participate in the Dazzling Stage.

To be honest, this news is quite frightening.

Because those who could become her comrades are all exceptionally talented individuals, almost all blessed with top-tier gifts. Even Levatin and the Wall of Sighs, regarded as the ultimate spear and shield, were entrusted to her, highlighting the gathering of great heroes.

The souls of these people are of the highest quality, fully capable of being transformed into the qualifications of magical girls. Once they join the "Dazzling Stage," they can easily step into the realm of "Heart Flow," quickly becoming talented idols who stand out.

In other words, by continuing on the "Dazzling Stage," she might see not only Charlotte but also… those old friends who sacrificed themselves in the past and were even forgotten by her.

Chu Yuanqing felt mixed emotions; she wanted to catch up with her old friends.

But the problem was that her memories were fragmented, and she could no longer tell who was who. Her current appearance was also not suitable for meeting anyone. Moreover, the comrades from the new era also couldn’t remember who they were, so reminiscing under such circumstances was a foolish idea.

"Forget it, since we won’t recognize each other, there’s no need to think too much. What I need to do now is to eliminate the seeds of Disaster for my past friends, so everyone can no longer suffer that kind of pain."

Chu Yuanqing made up her mind, having sorted out her emotions. She smiled gently at the golden-haired puppy on stage, choosing not to speak.

Meanwhile, the green-eyed cat, Little Sakura, and Chu Wang Shu were all stunned, unsure if they were shocked by the scene or simply defeated by the enemy’s stage, their state was quite delicate.

After a while, Tang Liuli ignored her subtle feelings and said confidently:

"She’s powered up."

Chu Wang Shu came back to herself and agreed:

"I think so too."

Kirimi Miyuki took a deep breath, her eyes filled with a soft pink glow, and a smile appeared at the corners of her lips.

For an idol, the stage is the best answer.

Now, she had to admit that she might have misunderstood Xie Qingxuan; she was not the arrogant and cold extreme egoist that she had thought.

Because such a person could never perform on a stage like this.

"That’s not a stage I can win."

"At least, the current me… does not have the confidence to win against her."

The girl spoke with a defeated tone, yet her expression was bright and joyful, like an excited athlete with heightened focus, completely ignoring the strength of her opponent.

No, rather than being ignored, it is more about feeling excited by the strength of the opponent.

Kirimi Miyuki’s heart was racing; the moment she had long awaited, pursued, and desired was finally here.

Though she had previously avoided battles with logic, wanting to bring her teammates to the secondary stage with the least risk, if we look at it emotionally, she would prefer to have Stage Battles with outstanding idols every time.

Because only in this way could she see a higher and broader sky, learn from her opponents’ strengths and power, and explore more limits of the Perfect Interpretation Method.

The idol that Kirimi Miyuki chases is perfect.

And if the definition of perfection is so easily reachable, doesn’t that make the goal seem too shallow, the path of dreams too narrow?

The deeper the field of idols, the further the limits that can be reached.

The broader the definition of perfection, the more meaningful her passion on stage becomes.

Xie Qingxuan is strong, even surprisingly strong.

This is the worst yet the best news ever.

Kirimi Miyuki felt no sense of defeat at all.

Even if she couldn’t figure out how to use the Perfect Interpretation Method to create a stage with the same powerful feelings, just trying to catch up and surpass it made her heart leap with joy, making the Cocoon of the Heart shine even brighter.

Chu Yuanqing felt a bit moved; she thought Little Sakura was the most devoted fan she had ever seen.

Even for Charlotte, this Last Diva wants to be the world’s number one idol for sincere and adorable reasons, like the desire to be liked by many, and the wish to share emotions and happiness with the world, unlike Miyuki, who is obsessed with the idol herself.

This can be seen as two different kinds of purity.

Tang Liuli only felt very scared. How could anyone still be this excited after seeing that kind of stage? Are you and the Great Devil all monsters?

But on the surface, the shy cat still didn’t want to give up. She stubbornly said:

"Don’t be afraid, I will C this, and soon I’ll make that bad woman cry with my singing."

Chu Yuanqing gently patted the cat’s head and smiled, saying:

"In any case, just give it your all."

"Now we should get ready to go to the back of the stage."

After saying this, the four of them walked down from the audience seats and took a path toward the stage.

Meanwhile, on the stage.

Ji Shuzhu was also unable to think clearly for a long time; she had known from the beginning that Xie Qingxuan would do something great, but she never expected it to be so vibrant and so delicious.

If she hadn’t just experienced delightful pleasure at the hands of a certain young lady yesterday, this choreographer might have already been too weak and dazed to maintain her [Heart Flow], lost in the explosion of flavors and falling into a deep bliss.

Even if she had reconciled with an old friend, and their feelings had deepened to a nearly overwhelming level, Ji Shuzhu still couldn’t help but enjoy the ultimate deliciousness with her eyes closed, thinking thoughts that were not appropriate.

—This moment is definitely worth it.

Well, she does not regret joining Chu Yuanqing’s team anymore.

This group of shining idols looks way too delicious, right?!

Maybe because of this, Miss Choreographer did not notice the dramatic change that happened next to her after the two teammates received their shine back.

Xie Qingxuan also did not realize what she had done; her mind was filled with the image of Chu Yuanqing in the audience, looking towards her with a nod and a smile, making her very happy. She just wanted the competition to end quickly so she could hug and cuddle.

So, this Stage Tyrant took the dazed choreographer by the hand, along with the two teammates still lost in thought, and reluctantly returned to the waiting room, despite the bullet comments in the livestream.

Since the Stage Battle in the A1 area is scored after watching both teams’ performances, the judges had no intention of interrupting.

One minute later, a brand-new virtual reality appeared on stage.

Chu Yuanqing’s team, which also attracted a lot of attention, officially took the stage!