Chapter 182
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Chapter 182: Shining Magic, the Source of the Plan, Unknown Enemies
Disaster beast.
This word seemed like a magical switch; as soon as it appeared in her mind, the brighter side of her personality was quickly engulfed by a fierce and hot killing intent, leaving behind a burning intensity.
Chu Yuanqing’s instincts were extremely sharp. Even though she had devoted 99% of her focus and all her blessings over 17 years to resist the curse, when it came to these "old friends," her unreasoning sensitivity activated like a prophetic blessing, stirring up a powerful killing intent in her consciousness.
This was a battle instinct built through millions of deaths, countless tragedies, relentless training, and endless battles.
The reason the[Calamity Seed]beneath the base of《Dazzling Stage》could avoid detection by her was that they were too low in level and buried a thousand meters underground, sealed by layers of special materials.
Secondly, she always believed that the world line correction plan was successful, and a new era had brought peace, so there would be no more disaster beasts. Therefore, to fit in with the life of this era, she actively blocked all instincts related to being a warrior.
But after discovering the truth of "Dazzling Stage," that part belonging to the old era slowly revived like tempered steel.
So in that moment, she instinctively surpassed the scouting magic of a captain-level witch and successfully uncovered traces of the disaster beast.
The golden light in the girl’s eyes dimmed as she paused in the hallway leading to the waiting room, whispering to herself:
"The scent of the disaster beast is very close. Has it already entered the venue?"
Chu Yuanqing’s killing intent quietly burned, and her thoughts were undistracted as she calmly analyzed the situation.
Earlier that morning, she sensed something was wrong. The importance of "Dazzling Stage" to the second performance was too high; the contestants’ vehicles had turned into disguised military units, and ten kilometers from the venue, the surroundings were a picture of eerie silence, with no signs of life.
In other words, the officials even evacuated the crowd in advance.
This meant that "Dazzling Stage" had guessed that a disaster beast would attack, which is why they made so many preparations.
Unfortunately, the disaster beast still bypassed the precautions of the "Dazzling Stage," successfully entering the venue and triggering her battle instincts, now just within reach.
Chu Yuanqing was not surprised by this. Though she did not fully understand the current state of the Disaster Wave, for the past 17 years, the world had mostly been at peace. Without experiencing true trials of blood and fire, humanity could not grasp the difficulties posed by the disaster beast; no matter how careful one is, there will always be oversights.
Therefore, what she must do is to fill in the gaps. Even if it means revealing her identity and secrets, she cannot allow the children here to be harmed by the disaster beast.
Now there is only one question.
That is, where will the disaster beast hide?
If the target is the competitors, the easiest places to strike would be the waiting room and…
Chu Yuanqing’s gaze seemed to pierce through the wall, looking towards the distant noisy stage. Her expression darkened, and her heart grew cold as she murmured,
"The audience seats."
This waiting room was larger than any multimedia classroom they had ever had, very spacious, enough for all 165 competitors to sit comfortably. In a certain sense, it also made it easier to provide unified protection.
The audience area was different; the thousands of people present were like natural hostages. The disaster beast mixed in, making it hard to target them, and could attack the contestants on stage at any time, creating a very tricky situation.
Chu Yuanqing had a plan in mind. She did not stay any longer and quickly walked into the waiting room, found her team’s spot, and soon saw Little Sakura waving at her from a distance, the green-eyed cat looking at her eagerly, the golden retriever adjusting its dress, and her daughter gazing at the screen.
The little idols were completely unaware of the crisis; all they felt was slight nervousness about the stage.
Seeing this, Chu Yuanqing felt relieved in her heart and quickly walked to her team’s area.
Tang Liuli was the first to come over. She had changed her clothes, and her bright green eyes sparkled. The tear mole at the corner of her eye was quite enchanting. With the slightly gloomy atmosphere of social anxiety, she appeared adorably contrasting and looked at Chu Yuanqing with anticipation, as if she was asking for compliments.
Chu Yuanqing’s heart softened, and her inner restlessness calmed down a bit. She smiled and gently fixed Tang Liuli’s hair with her delicate hands, praising her:
"Liuli, have you done your makeup? You look so cute."
Tang Liuli’s eyes brightened at the compliment, and her tear mole added to her charm. She held back the urge to kiss Chu Yuanqing and happily hugged her arm, saying:
"Little Qing is the cutest!"
Kirimi Miyuki cautiously glanced at the cat, and seeing it hadn’t done anything worse, she didn’t react further. She wasn’t in the mood to feel jealous before going on stage; instead, she said seriously:
"Little Qing, Dream Weaver Rabbit has finished explaining the rules. Ji Shuzhu and Chen Yining are officially on stage. Once their opponents finish performing, our team will be up next."
Xie Qingxuan looked at the big screen and seemed to see someone familiar. She whispered:
"Liang Xiaoxiao is in there too."
"I wonder if she has learned {Heart Flow}."
Chu Wang Shu watched very closely, her focus sharp like she was studying for a test.
Although they didn’t compete in the first round, given their opponent’s strength, it was certain they would advance. There was still a chance the two teams might meet in the second round, making it necessary to understand each other.
At that moment, the melody of the dance piece began to play on stage. Miss Choreographer’s {Puppetry Melody} started off, pulling the weaker members of the team up to a level closer to her own, directly fixing the team’s biggest flaw.
This was different from when Xie Qingxuan led, as the other teammates shone brightly instead of being overshadowed.
The young lady from Yunlan Entertainment, with the ability of [Heart Flow], seems to have a style that allows for flowers to bloom everywhere. She connects with the aura and emotions of her four teammates, making the stage atmosphere rise higher and higher, like a gathering tide of power, warming up the stage in just ten seconds.
Chu Yuanqing looked at Liang Xiaoxiao, who was becoming more and more unfamiliar on stage. She couldn’t see the light in the child’s eyes, but she still felt relieved and whispered to herself:
"With multiple waves of emotion, we can still use [Echoes of the Past] if something goes wrong."
Ever since the [Blooming Flower], she understood the core meaning of Patronus Magic. At that moment, she wove together a method that would bring everyone to a conclusion. If things went well, even if they couldn’t eliminate the disaster beast, they could still force it out and finish with the remaining magic.
…
…
At the same time, in the waiting room next door.
Xie Qing Yu looked at the screen, her expression filled with a smile, and praised:
"These two children must be reserve [witches]. They’ve already explored the beginnings of Patronus Magic after just the second performance. It seems that Teacher [Dream Weaver]’s new training method is indeed very effective."
"What a pity! If their Patronus Magic were fully formed, it could ensure there are no disaster beasts lurking around."
At that moment, a little butterfly far away complained:
"Little Yu has such high demands! If we’re talking like that, bringing everyone here to put on a show with the whole Butterfly of the Underworld would be much more realistic."
Xie Qing Yu pouted and replied:
"There’s no way, everyone has tasks to do, okay? Me coming over this time is like taking my vacation early. How can we gather a team to unleash a big Shining Magic?"
—Shining Magic.
This very special type of magic is the key reason why the project of "Dazzling Stage" can come to life.
As everyone knows, magical girls are products of the heart. They need love, wishes, emotions, and dedication to create the miracle called magic.
Shining Magic is an amplifier for miracles.
The magical girls can become a special "Wishing Bottle" through a certain medium, which allows them to draw on the love, wishes, emotions, and dedication from specific groups of people.
Based on this foundation, they can transform everything into a brilliant shine through a special ritual, enabling them to carry out large-scale disaster removals and even assist the "Pure White" in suppressing forbidden places.
In simple terms, the idol is the medium, the stage is the ritual, and the fans and audience are the specific groups of people.
As for the Shining Magic, it is a type of group magic created by the Patronus Magic of multiple witches.
Looking at the Heart Flow abilities, it is clear that Kirimi Miyuki’s Perfect Interpretation Method, Ji Shuzhu’s Puppetry Melody, Chu Yuanqing’s Pure White Ode, and Chu Wang Shu’s Phosphorescent Tide are all focused on the stage, aiming at the idol.
The so-called Butterfly of the Underworld is the gathering of this group of witches.
The meaning of a captain-level witch is almost the same as the concept of a leader in a girl group.
Xie Qing Yu is the most suitable "Wishing Bottle" to become the center of the Butterfly of the Underworld, and her Shining Magic effect when she acts as the Carry Center is the best, making her the undeniable core of the team.
It is worth mentioning that each time Shining Magic is activated, the witch as the "Wishing Bottle" can passively receive some benefits, which helps speed up her growth.
This point applies to both the little idols in the reserve for witches and the reserve for fuel; the only difference is the level of benefit.
Therefore, a performance is like a military drill, or even an arms race.
The live audience is one of the essential elements; otherwise, with the technology of "Dazzling Stage," it could completely achieve the goal of a risk-free performance by projecting the audience onto the stage in real time and the idols onto the audience.
When Xie Qing Yu thought of this, she felt a bit sentimental.
"Dazzling Stage" is definitely the gentlest Fire Seed Program, with no conspiracy theories and no dirtiness.
The countries came together only to cultivate enough witches, gather enough Shining Magic, and while the Pure White has not yet collapsed, to push forward and eliminate all thirteen forbidden areas and all high-level Calamity Seeds.
As long as they succeed, they can save the world without bloodshed.
Even if they fail, the witches they cultivate will still be strong enough to serve as humanity’s sharp blade against Disaster.
As for why they don’t use nuclear weapons to wipe them out?
Because the life form of the Calamity Seed is very special, hot weapons can only cause limited harm to them.
Moreover, in places like forbidden areas, using a nuclear bomb is unlikely to kill a Disaster, but it could break the suppression of the Pure White and open the door to doom earlier.
Therefore, the officials are currently waiting, waiting for the moment when the Pure White collapses, to throw all the chips they have accumulated for 17 years into the thirteen forbidden areas and all marked high-risk zones, aiming to achieve the greatest results with the smallest risk.
Xie Qing Yu thought for a moment, set aside those distant thoughts, and continued:
"Teacher Dreamweaver said that this performance is very likely to have surprises, and perhaps there are excellent juniors hidden within."
The girl raised her chin and said with conviction:
"I guess the surprise she mentioned must be Chu Yuanqing, that beautiful sister who has a good relationship with Honey Xuan. She might help us check if there are any disaster beasts in the venue."
Little Butterfly heard this and fell silent for a moment before saying:
"But Little Yu, didn’t you say last time that you were very jealous and that Chu Yuanqing is definitely the kind of bad woman who loves to trick young girls? Isn’t it too much that Honey Xuan is so close to her that they hug in public?"
Xie Qing Yu’s worries about the future of humanity were suddenly drowned by shame and annoyance. She slammed the table and said:
"A deal is a deal! That was for my sister’s dignity, but now it’s about being responsible for the younger generation!"
"In any case, we must wait and hold onto hope."
Xie Qing Yu and Violet were bickering, while focusing all their attention on the delicate operation of the spell.
It was also her first time carrying such an important responsibility, and she feared that in the waiting room, the audience area, or other places in the venue, a few disaster beasts might suddenly appear and eat her lovely juniors. She was extremely nervous and couldn’t allow herself to relax for even a moment.
Time passed second by second, and the team on stage had finished their performance.
This team was classic, their battle power exceeded their level evaluations. Aside from Lin Baor, each member was a participant who had stepped into the realm of [Heart Flow]. The four-fold [Heart Flow] explosion created a shock that was even comparable to the stage atmosphere created by Xie Qingxuan’s last dazzling return.
The most surprising among them was Liang Xiaoxiao.
After all, Ruan Wutong, who was also Grade D, had four battles and four victories, which had already let the audience know her strength in advance. But Liang Xiaoxiao, before this, had a record of losing repeatedly in Stage Battles and had hardly ever won, making her practically invisible to everyone.
The sudden burst of [Heart Flow] was truly surprising and caught all the audience off guard.
In the waiting room,
Kirimi Miyuki watched the beautiful girl on stage with a sunny smile and felt something was strange. She murmured in confusion,
"Why do I feel like Liang Xiaoxiao’s [Heart Flow] has a bit of Little Qing’s flavor?"
The green-eyed cat was a bit cautious; she wrinkled her nose, thought for a moment, and was suddenly shocked. Could it be that Xiaoxiao slipped away at that time? How many times would she have to meet Honey Qing for her heart to be filled with the taste of the other person?!
Something is not right; this is definitely not right!
Xie Qingxuan pressed her lips together, feeling envious.
She also wanted her heart to be filled with the taste of Honey Qing.
No, she should work hard to fill Honey Qing’s heart with her own flavor instead.
Tang Liuli did not know that her apprentice had already applied what she learned and even surpassed her; she was still at the simple stage of just figuring out how to return.
The lovely daughter was much simpler; she thought this was proof of friendship and wanted to add a touch of Honey Qing to the "Phosphorescent Tide," feeling very envious of that.
Chu Yuanqing was quite confused about this; she could certainly see that Xiaoxiao used her own aura to replace the disaster aura to create the "Cocoon of the Heart," which is why her feelings had their own scent.
But it turns out…
Is this also possible?
Why does she not even know herself?
But this should be a good thing; after Xiaoxiao’s "Heart Flow," there will be a little buff to suppress the disaster beast, so it does not matter if they ignore it.
On the screen, the next team stepped forward.
Chu Yuanqing was in the next group to go on stage; since the performance on stage was only five minutes long, the voting session afterward was also limited to five minutes. They left the waiting room first and walked toward the back of the stage.
During this time, the voices from the audience grew louder without the soundproofing materials, making the young idols feel a long-lost sense of nervousness.
Chu Yuanqing’s eyelashes hung low, her heart calm like a quiet well.
In the past, she would have cared about the 5,000 people in the audience and felt their intense gazes. But now, the mission to defeat the disaster beast and protect the children felt like a tall mountain that pushed away any extra thoughts.
At this moment, even the loud cheers from outside faded into soft colors, gradually disappearing from her senses.
But in the next moment, a few strange sounds came from afar.
Chu Yuanqing suddenly looked up, her golden eyes shining. Under the young idols’ curious gazes, she glanced toward the back of the stage, where the sky showed through in small pieces, sensing something ominous as if she were a prophet.
At the same time, a purple shooting star streaked across the high sky.
"Little Yu, there are multiple Grade D and Grade E disaster beasts at the side wings, the main entrance, and the north entrance. They are trying to break through the front line; most are of the mental and non-physical types, targeting firearms and soldiers. We need to act quickly."
Xie Qing Yu, using violet as her marker, instantly moved to the sky. The umbrella in her hand lightly touched the air, sending ripples beneath her feet. She glanced at the area in chaos, as her purple magical powers spread like smoke, using the phosphorescent dust in the distance to leap through.
At this moment, the flowers in the soul bloomed, and a wave of magical power surged like the tide.
The girl’s delicate fingers spread open, as if pulling on invisible threads, causing the glowing powder floating within several kilometers to spin around. In an instant, countless glimmers filled the air above the venue, brighter than the sun shining down.
"Violet!"
The little butterfly assistant spell replied:
"Anchoring complete."
Then, the fine glowing powder fell like a rain of petals, engulfing all the incoming disaster beasts. When they touched the enemy, they gently adhered, as if planting spores to invade, swelling like they were soaking up water, and began to explode quickly, igniting a ghostly fire as if from Hades.
Strangely, this attack seemed to have the ability to identify friend from foe. Except for disaster beasts, anything that got touched by the glowing powder vanished in an instant.
Xie Qing Yu felt a great danger; she cautiously used the spell to observe the disaster beasts, which were becoming weaker as they were touched by the fire from Hades, even starting to revert back to their egg forms. She murmured in confusion:
"Is it over?"
The little butterfly flew around cautiously and said,
"Silly Little Yu, don’t plant a flag at this time."
After saying this, Violet seemed to notice something and exclaimed,
"Wait, oh no!"
Xie Qing Yu suddenly felt dizzy; her Flower of the Soul kept swaying. Following her instinct for danger, she turned her gaze, but under some force, she was compelled to turn her head and looked at the stage she was protecting.
At that moment, the five thousand audience members sitting below resembled puppets controlled by strings, all lifting their heads to look at the witch, their thousands of eyes reflecting moving shadows, facing her gaze from afar!!!
