Chapter 177
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Chapter 177: Chu Yuanqing’s Patronus Magic, the Blooming Flower of the Soul
Inside the room.
Silver magic like moonlight flowed continuously from the soul, swirling around and creating a beautiful scene. They spun for a moment and then, with the owner’s will, dove like a dancing dragon into the Lantern Gem, bursting forth with brilliant light.
Chu Yuanqing suddenly found herself back two months ago, at the moment she first held the lantern pendant and transformed into a magical girl. She heard once again the heartbeat of life from her own soul, a sound different from the cracking of glaciers, symbolizing a celebration of new life.
Splash, splash.
Her heart surged with intense waves of emotion.
Thump, thump.
The lantern echoed with the booming rhythm of a heartbeat.
The silver magic, like a nurturing source of life, poured into the lantern of her soul, enriching it further. This process was fueled by the constant flood of positive wishes from the outside world and did not require waiting for the natural recovery of magic; it was incredibly fast and amazing.
10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds.
1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes.
The lantern’s ability to transform magical energy is like the speed at its highest limit, with the engine as hot as a furnace, increased to dozens of times its usual power.
In these brief 5 minutes, the gathered wishes transformed into enough magical energy to fill a capacity dozens of times that of a "pool," and the lantern was already overflowing many times too.
The illusion sprout planted in the lantern, along with the spell of "Pure White Ode," created a strange connection. It seemed to be glimpsing the life of the savior—sometimes full of life, sometimes withering—using up a lot of magical power, which caused the Flower of the Soul to bloom slowly.
"Almost there."
Chu Yuanqing gently caressed the lantern, her delicate fingers touching the thin film created by the swirling dark energy, sending a warm feeling.
This is a buff given by Xie Qingxuan. It prevents the broken soul from losing too much magical energy, allowing all the power to be poured into the sprout without waste, speeding up the process.
It is worth mentioning that it was supposed to have broken a few days ago, but Chu Yuanqing unexpectedly discovered that by replenishing magical energy with Xie Qingxuan, she could "recharge" it like a renewal.
Chu Yuanqing’s magical power could quickly complete the transformation of nature, meeting the requirements to nurture her heart’s flower within just a few weeks, largely thanks to this soul shell that constantly protected her with its enhancing effects.
Time passed, and another 10 seconds went by.
The spell of [Pure White Ode] spread like the pattern of leaves, intertwining with the budding shoots that were growing, clearly representing the early form of Patronus Magic.
In the end, a moment of brilliance bloomed in the lantern.
New information filled Chu Yuanqing’s mind, and she was amazed to find that she could choose what kind of flowers to create: snow lotus, gladiolus, Persian daisy, roses, chamomile, and the forget-me-nots that symbolize eternal memories, along with golden tulips that signify despairing love, and pure white bellflowers that represent everlasting love.
Hundreds of flowers and their meanings lingered in her mind.
Chu Yuanqing instinctively understood that different Flowers of the Soul would have different potentials and magical leanings, as well as some traits and advantages that were either subtle or obvious.
Choosing the type of Flower of the Soul was a rare privilege that belonged only to the Pure White Witch; normal magical girls did not have the freedom to choose their flowers, as it was determined solely by compatibility and luck.
How should I choose?
Chu Yuanqing thought for a moment and chose the forget-me-not. She hoped that with the blessing of the flower’s meaning, she could hold onto her memories a little longer against the curse, preventing herself from forgetting her mission when humanity needed her.
So, the sprout continued to grow. Thin stems pushed out the flower buds, and five petals formed, shimmering in a soft, gentle blue. It looked delicate and fragile, just like a forget-me-not.
"Forget-me-not."
Chu Yuanqing made a wish.
This was the final ceremony of the Bloom, where the flower’s meaning stood for a wish to be made for oneself, turning that wish into a lasting blessing that would weave through the fate of the magical girl’s life.
The wish that Chu Yuanqing made was the name of the flower itself, which naturally formed the blessing.
A warm glow spread through her soul, coming from a whisper in an unknown place, as if reciting poetry that lingered by her ear. A quiet and harmonious feeling grew stronger in the blessing of the flower, as if healing past wounds.
But in the next moment, a loud cracking sound erupted as the glacier broke, and the protective barrier around her heart evaporated. The blooming forget-me-not was also torn apart by the pressure from the abyss, and the sound of blessings by her ear faded like the retreating tide.
Chu Yuanqing’s mind felt dazed. She frowned slightly, enduring a strong pain while trying to gather her scattered strength. She sighed inwardly, yet did not feel surprised.
"Blooming" is a natural event for a normal magical girl.
But clearly, she is not normal. The ability to use a lantern, control magic, create Magic Armor, and even cast spells while her soul is on the verge of breaking is only possible because of her status as a Pure White Witch.
The debuff from the Sea of Truth could be ignored before, but during the process of "blooming," which involves the soul, it became an obstacle that she had to overcome.
However…
Chu Yuanqing looked at the flower that had returned to its budding form, and it felt as if everything had returned to the stage of choosing to bloom. She whispered:
"The connection between me and my soul is not the strongest. Theoretically, among the flowers I can choose from, there must be one that fits me best."
"If I find it and make my wish, I should have a chance to overcome the obstacle of my shattered soul and complete the blessing ceremony."
With her thoughts set,
Chu Yuanqing chose another bouquet of flowers.
– Hyacinth.
– Flower language: joy, love, happiness, passion, affection, stubbornness, life, eternal remembrance.
– Wish: Please carve my most important feelings into your heart.
The ending is still a failure; the flower withers at the moment it blooms.
After that, cornflowers, pure white bellflowers, dandelions, night-blooming cereus, gypsophila, cordyceps, yellow roses, sunflowers…
Chu Yuanqing tried over a dozen types of flowers, and the cornflower withered the fastest.
The cornflower is Germany’s national flower, seen as a symbol of happiness; its flower language is meeting and happiness, but perhaps because the life of the Savior is almost the opposite of its meaning, the blessings it builds almost vanish in an instant.
Chu Yuanqing herself does not agree with this speculation.
In her life, she met many wonderful people and had enough exciting and happy moments. She has been loved and has loved others. She has redeemed many people and has been redeemed by many. Now she has a continuation of life, how can she say she is not happy?
This version of myself should match well with the cornflower.
However, among the many flowers, the one that fits her best is the night-blooming cereus; its meaning is fleeting beauty, a moment that becomes eternal. This outcome seems to silently tell why the cornflower will wither in her soul.
Besides the night-blooming cereus, the one that fits her best is a flower she hasn’t heard much about, called cordyceps. She doesn’t know why it fits so well.
Chu Yuanqing sighed sadly. When it comes to favorites, she actually loves sunflowers the most, because this flower is like an anchor rooted in her memories, reminding her of her lovely daughter’s happy smile when she was little.
The sunflower’s meaning is belief, brilliance, pride, loyalty, and admiration, symbolizing silent love, which, in a way, suits her as a father.
But after making a wish, it still withered.
This cycle of blooming and wilting seems like a destined fate.
Chu Yuanqing understands that it is nearly impossible for her to receive the blessings of the flower’s meaning under that curse.
"Let’s try it a different way."
Chu Yuanqing made a decision and smiled gently, looking down.
Inside the lantern, a sprout grew with wishes, its branches hanging like green ribbons, adorned with sharp thorns. The green buds, just born, released a wild and warm fragrance, dotted with pure white petals, surrounded by bright branches and green leaves.
This dreamlike and blurry flower, with its moment of vibrant beauty and loneliness, covered the entire brightness of late spring, revealing the flower signal of late spring rain—Tuzhu.
When the Chrysanthemum blooms, the flower event is Tuzhu. In Buddhist legend, it only blooms on the other side of forgetting one’s past life, and its flower language corresponds to the beauty at the end of the road, just like Chu Yuanqing’s current situation.
Chu Yuanqing’s white fingertips touched the Tuzhu petals; she closed her eyes, her lips moved, and she made her wish sincerely:
"I wish for my end to be passionate, grand, and filled with laughter."
This wish matched the flower’s meaning and also resembled a cursed blessing.
As soon as the words left her lips.
The rumble of cracking glaciers echoed like a roaring tsunami, pure white light blossomed in her soul, as she for the first time overlooked negative effects, leaping over the mottled cracks to spread to every corner.
The more a soul is broken, the more beautiful the blooming flowers become.
The lonely scent of flowers fills the air, and the blessing ceremony smoothly overcomes the curse and comes to completion.
Inside the room, the silver magic of moonlight no longer spills out, but is gathered into the body of the Pure White Witch. She extends her palm, and the Flower of the Soul comes to life in reality, with the Chrysanthemum quietly floating, magic flowing into it, and the petals sparkling with the design of the Pure White Ode.
Chu Yuanqing sensed something and felt at ease. Just as she expected, the Pure White Ode was the beginning of Patronus Magic.
Since it was created in advance, all that was left to do after the flower bloomed was to merge it with the Flower of the Soul.
The specific changes that occur after the merging would depend on the blessings of the flower’s language, the nature of the Chrysanthemum, and the wishes of the magical girl herself.
Chu Yuanqing’s golden eyes shimmered, her soft pink lips curled into a gentle smile as she held this pure white Chrysanthemum, her eyelashes fluttering down as she whispered softly:
"Full Power Mode, do you still have Scatterflowers?"
"This truly is… the best Patronus Magic ever."
…
…
The next day.
The trainees in the underground base were training as usual.
With less than a week until the second performance, and since "Dazzling Stage" intentionally designed its competition to include an element of luck, even the weakest contestant may not be eliminated, so no one is willing to easily give up hope or slack off.
However, because of this, "Dazzling Stage" demands a lot from contestants in terms of their ability to handle pressure.
This week, many contestants, under the intense pressure, trained blindly without restraint, leading to fainting or injuries, and were taken to the medical room in the base.
Chu Yuanqing’s team, however, remained calm. Two weeks of practicing two dance songs may sound extreme, but they were already accustomed to it. Their training was systematic, patient, and by yesterday, they had successfully finished their practice of "Wannabe."
Today, under Kirimi Miyuki’s leadership and with Xie Qingxuan’s guidance, they began learning another dance together, aiming to understand the framework in one day, remember the moves in two days, master the dance in three days, strengthen muscle memory in four days, polish the details in five days, and use the remaining time to practice "Wannabe" again.
Well, you could say that despite some of the dramas between the girls, the little idols are living positively. They wake up early, sleep well, exercise properly, and have a healthy routine. They are relaxed in both body and mind, making them the most comfortable team in the Sea City region.
Of course, one certain girl who plays with her childhood friend every day before trying to flirt and enjoy some tasty treats is probably much happier than the rest.
The green-eyed cat is troubled because her empathy is leading her toward a strange and twisted obsession.
The golden retriever feels very sad that he got so easily filled up, preventing him from continuing to waltz with Honey Qing.
Recently, Kirimi Miyuki has been having strange dreams.
In her dreams, she is lost and far from her hometown in Hokkaido, gazing day and night at the black snow that covers the daylight in a strange and grand shrine, feeling lonely and isolated.
She can’t remember the rest clearly, only that the snow is getting heavier and there are more and more strangers talking annoyingly.
"The snow disaster is getting worse. Can’t we use weapons?"
"This is the realm of the gods; Dongliu has gone straight back to the samurai era. It’s ridiculous!"
"What great power this child holds; they are the hope of Dongliu."
"You are the only shrine maiden who can communicate with the supreme deity; you should carry the fate of Dongliu."
"Saiō King, please grant us some divine weapons."
The voices of those people were chaotic and disordered; the following moments were especially jumpy. At times, there was the clanging sound of forging a sword, at other times the soft whispers of sacred bells swaying in the snow, along with… lifting the dark snow, slicing through monsters, holding her hand tightly, ending the warmth of loneliness and pain.
Each time she woke from a dream, her memories faded here and there, as if settling deep within her soul, leaving only the sound of bells and the clear ringing of a forged sword, making her sleep surprisingly peaceful.
Kirimi Miyuki found it strange but didn’t think too much about it. She was still folding paper cranes, but after that dream, her speed was remarkably quick, and the finished cranes seemed to hold a special charm, easily distinguishable from the ones she had made before, which was quite wonderful.
Little Sakura thought for several days, believing that either the deity had heard her prayers, or it was the power of intention that her mother spoke of, which made the paper cranes look a little different than usual.
But it was still a good thing.
Although she didn’t expect the paper cranes to have any real effect, if they could carry her intentions a little further, that would be enough.
…
…
That afternoon, in the practice room.
Five young idols gathered together; they had gone through "antifragile" once, and the afternoon was mainly for practice and, more importantly, the Carry Center selection segment.
It is well-known that this segment can make contestants turn against each other, and many highlights of the competition happen here. The cameras usually focus closely on everyone’s faces, capturing the subtle expressions that can be analyzed. After the show airs, some guiding effects might even be added to create drama.
Especially after the rules for the second performance were revealed, the competition for the Carry Center in the second dance song would become even fiercer.
Dream Weaver Rabbit clearly enjoys watching this kind of content, and recently set up keywords in the practice room. Whenever related words are heard, the monitoring system activates, either highlighting points or live streaming to share with the audience.
Just after Chu Yuanqing mentioned Carry Center, Dream Weaver Rabbit started a live stream.
The outside audience had clearly grown accustomed to the abstract live streaming style of "Dazzling Stage." Many loyal fans had already set live stream notifications on the official site and quickly clicked in when they saw it was live.
"Quick, quick, quick! Who can tell me how the live stream suddenly started?"
Chu Yuanqing looked down in wonder, her heart lantern trembling, as she suddenly received a lot of magic power. After thinking for a moment, she guessed it must be that another clip or highlight about her had gone viral. She raised her eyes to the others and continued speaking:
"‘Antifragile’ is quite difficult; I don’t have much confidence in practicing well in a week. Let’s choose the Carry Center from your side instead?"
Kirimi Miyuki said sincerely:
"I am already the Carry Center for ‘Wannabe’, so I will step back this time."
"Besides, I don’t believe Little Qing can’t be the Carry Center. You have improved so much compared to the beginning; you can definitely take on the challenge."
Chu Yuanqing shook her head in refusal; all she needed was magic power. Since she had opened [Pure White Ode], she could share the positive feelings created by the whole team, so there was no need to compete with the others.
Kirimi Miyuki hesitated a bit. She was willing to give up competing for Carry Center because the competition rules in the second performance favored the Carry Center too much. If the Carry Center stood out too much, the individual tickets for the other teammates would surely decrease, leading to a risk of elimination.
In such a case, it would be unfair for one person to be the Carry Center for two dance songs.
Therefore, the best person to share the shining glory is Chu Yuanqing.
And if we give the Carry Center to Xie Qingxuan…
This Stage Tyrant will swallow all the teammates’ shining glory, with a terrifying performance like a black hole, which would be too deadly in the rules of the second performance.
