Chapter 188
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Chapter 188: The Showdown, I Am [Pure White]
Time passed.
The 33 teams of "Dazzling Stage" took turns to go on stage and completed their performances, deciding the winners and losers.
Just like in previous competitions, this round also undoubtedly had a lot of luck involved.
Which group is on stage, the strength of the opponents, whether the selected dance music is suitable for the competition, the skill level of teammates, and how many fans are in the audience…
Details like these are often more important than strength itself.
For example, in the opening round, did the team competing against Chen Yining and Chu Yuanqing have weak strength?
One team consists of members 1B2C2D.
One team is 3C1D1E.
Among them, the Grade B team is in the top half of the 33 teams, but when they face a very strong opponent, they seem less impressive and lose much of their shine, ending up with less than a third of the prize money.
These two losing teams cannot advance to the next round and will not receive the victory group ticket. Now, the individual ticket represents their final result, and it is likely that eight out of ten players will be eliminated, which is the same as going home.
Similar cases are very common in the stage competitions during this period.
Most of the losers in this round cannot escape the fate of elimination. Many players, after leaving the stage, despite knowing the camera is just in front of them, can’t maintain their expressions and end up with tears in their eyes.
It is the pain of broken dreams, the unfairness of years of hard work wasted, the regret of never being able to step onto the stage as an idol, and even the feeling of relief when they fall after a long, difficult journey on a tightrope.
These mixed feelings arise painfully in the heart, perhaps that is the true essence of an idol competition.
—Something that cannot be reached, and therefore shines.
The so-called stage and the so-called idol are just like this.
"Dazzling Stage" has no blackout curtains and no hidden tricks; it is one of the rare shows in the entertainment industry that measures success purely based on performances. It reflects the purity of idols, willing to shine for everyone, encouraging everyone to chase their dreams, and it has consistently maintained this spirit throughout its run.
For many contestants, wanting to be an idol is mostly about using this show as a stepping stone to gain enough popularity and attention, so they can be noticed by the industry, act in dramas, and do commercials. Their main goal is simply to earn money and have a better life.
But people can change. The closed environment, the rules of the program group, the special atmosphere around, and the competition on stage have made many girls, who initially didn’t care about being idols, rediscover their broken dreams in just two months. They slowly begin to piece together the shining version of themselves on stage and see the grand light in the distance.
This is the true essence of being an idol; one cannot understand its charm without experiencing it personally.
So, even if they regret being eliminated, they will continue to watch this show, choosing to witness how far the contestants from the same group can go. Only when their former competitors fall along the way will the dreams in their hearts slowly fade away, just like lost youth.
Chu Wang Shu watched the scenes on the screen; the joy from the victory in the competition faded away, replaced by the tears of those girls, mixed with a slight confusion and a deep sadness.
If…
What would happen if she could never step on the stage again?
This is a very strange question. Two months ago, she was just a high school girl who had learned ethnic dance, never imagining she would stand on a stage watched by so many people.
Chu Wang Shu felt no worry about being eliminated in the competition; the only thing she hesitated about was whether to call her dad, acting like a carefree silly girl.
This thought didn’t change during the secondary rating; when she got off stage, she felt sad enough to run into Chu Yuanqing’s arms and cry, not because she was afraid of not becoming an idol, but because she felt she had missed the chance to improve her family’s life and lessen her father’s burden.
As for being an idol and the stage?
Those were just distant dreams, like toys in a fancy display case; since you never had them, you wouldn’t fear losing them and wouldn’t feel sad about it.
However, two months of intense training and countless stage competitions brought her a wonderful sense of achievement, making her unable to help but feel excited and long for that unreachable debut position.
Recently, after waking from a day of tired dreams, she occasionally found herself standing on the stage after a performance, enjoying the audience’s attention, breathing in the heat of the spotlight, and feeling her heart swell amidst the cheers.
—"I want to become a real idol."
After tasting the failures of others, Chu Wang Shu first understood her own heart; she stared blankly at the screen showing the stage competition for the second round, where the girls shone in the light, just as she envisioned in her dreams.
At that moment, the girl understood Kirimi Miyuki.
This elder, who bravely endured seven years of lost youth, must have had similar feelings in their mind many years ago.
"So, standing on stage really makes one shine."
Chu Wang Shu softly murmured to herself, revealing a smile of both regret and joy. Suddenly, she felt that she had not worked hard enough over the past few weeks, which left her without a solid sense of achievement.
But perhaps…
This way is not bad either.
When Chu Wang Shu used to go on stage, she always wondered how to make her father proud. She wanted to be a bright and shining moon to prove that man’s hard work over the years was not in vain.
But now, her reasons for being on stage were more than just that.
Chu Yuanqing didn’t notice her lovely daughter gradually awakening; her long lashes rested on her eyelids as she closed her eyes to rest. The new magic buff felt like a warm spring, soaking her completely, spreading warmth to her flesh and soul, along with the flowing magic that lulled her into sleep.
The backlash from "Echoes of the Past" was not as strong as the curse that regularly broke loose; it had completely calmed down just ten minutes after starting to regain magic.
So, after that, the scene was like Pure White Witch comforting the small idols who were scared by nightmares with her body.
Of course, there were also benefits.
This was the first four-person party, and even if it only stopped at a kiss, it mixed four types of magical powers, creating a high-purity compound magic. The joining of their four hearts sparked even more amazing reactions.
In short, the rates of soul repair, magic recovery, and the efficiency of the lantern transforming positive emotions all saw a significant increase, reaching up to 500%. It was somewhat like the [Broken Golden Cup], but more versatile and could combine with it.
Additionally, the lantern had a layer of mixed colors, cherry pink, emerald green, and pitch black, called "AT stance," which had the same effect as the golden retriever gave last time.
Chu Yuanqing calculated that this magic recovery buff could last about a week, but considering that the small idols would take turns snuggling in bed every day, extending it for a few more weeks was not a problem. Plus, with the follow-up to the second performance, they might fill up their current magic level before the effect ended.
—As long as the curse of the Sea of Truth doesn’t worsen.
"It seems that lifespan has not increased."
"Perhaps this is the limit of magic recovery before they truly become magical girls."
Chu Yuanqing was not surprised by this. The time she had left was the best outcome after many negotiations, so how could she easily fill the gaps?
Even if the speed of soul healing increased by ten times, a hundred times, or a thousand times, it still could not keep up with the speed of breaking.
So, even if Dream Weaver Rabbit did not plan to talk to Chu Yuanying, she would take this opportunity to connect with the official team using Magic Clone and formally understand the current situation of the world, looking for the best way to maximize her benefits.
On the other side,
Xie Qingxuan’s expression was indifferent, and her gaze was much more serious than usual, fully focused on her great enemy on the screen.
Yes, she was referring to her sharp-tongued, high-and-mighty sister—Xie Qing Yu, who also seemed a bit unpredictable.
"Why did my sister come to ‘Dazzling Stage’?"
"What is her purpose? Does she want to use this position to make me see the difference between us? Or does she want to prove that even if I succeed in debuting, I still can’t catch up to her achievements as an idol?"
"Or… as before, does she simply think I’m not worthy of being an idol, that I can’t produce a decent performance, and wants to sit as close as possible, hoping to see me make a fool of myself on stage?"
Xie Qingxuan thought carefully and considered many possibilities, but the more she thought, the worse she felt.
Hmm, she completely removed the chance that the other person simply wanted to see her.
The girl’s gaze was cold, her eyes sparkling with dark star-like shapes, and even her normally reserved presence began to awaken. She murmured to herself:
"Xie Qing Yu, this time, I will not lose to you again."
The green-eyed cat instinctively sensed the danger and, feeling scared, moved closer to Chu Yuanqing, resting its head on her soft and sweet-smelling lap.
The brilliant young star blinked cautiously with her bright green eyes. She hugged the Pure White Witch’s small waist, beginning to suspect that the witch could see through her secret, making her jealous of the amazing talent that allowed her to enjoy Honey Qing three times.
Hehe, this wicked woman simply doesn’t understand how many twisted trials she has endured for this joy! This is a pleasure only great enlightened beings can enjoy!
Kirimi Miyuki glanced at Tang Liuli’s actions, too tired to respond further. The shy little cat was like this, always imagining unnecessary things, then jumping in surprise—so silly and cute.
As for whether Little Qing was taken advantage of…
Since Little Sakura started sharing the bed, she has tried hard to stay calm about it, hoping to strengthen her ability to endure. Otherwise, one day, she would be overwhelmed by the increasingly chaotic relationships in the group.
At this moment, the second round of the competition is nearing its end.
Ten minutes later, the contestants return to the stage after a two-hour break.
Outside, the sky has turned to dusk, but the audience below shows no sign of tiredness.
Chu Yuanqing’s mental training is complete. She keeps her Magic Clone in its original position and immediately fulfills her promise to her daughter, then smiles down at the audience.
This action instantly garners strong positive feedback from the audience, a wave of chaotic cheers rises from below, with many eager requests to see the White-Haired Golden-Eyed performer again, causing her heart to flutter.
Fortunately, to prevent vote-buying, "Dazzling Stage" doesn’t give the contestants much time to interact with the audience. The virtual reality system unfolds, and the dance music begins to fill the entire venue, marking the start of the performance.
Below the stage.
Chu Yuanying looks at his daughter’s figure and the overwhelming "Scale Light Tide" that soon follows, feeling mixed emotions in his heart.
The Dream Weaver Rabbit appeared by my side, its body made of code, glowing with magical light. It was not just an ordinary virtual projection, but seemed to display a form that showed its true intentions.
This super AI used some kind of magic to block out the noise around us, weaving a space where we could easily talk. It softly said:
"Your daughter has a very special talent. According to predictions, she has the potential to become a witch with sea-level magical power after reaching her full potential."
"But even so, in the face of the Disaster Wave that is about to sweep the world, one witch cannot change the overall situation."
Chu Yuanqing was not surprised by the arrival of the Dream Weaver Rabbit.
In fact, it was the expected outcome. She had shown the power of the other systems with her magic, defeating the nightmares that the officials could do nothing about. With her daughter being a weakness in the Dazzling Stage, it made more sense to negotiate first rather than simply controlling things with force.
Compared to that, she was more surprised by the form of the Dream Weaver Rabbit’s existence.
The way this mascot appeared in front of her was somewhat similar to her own Magic Clone, but it contained materialized data code and was closer to its true form.
In other words, this so-called "Dream Weaving" was, even if just a super AI, a super AI that was, in a sense, alive.
Chu Yuanying said directly:
"You want to learn many things from me."
"Coincidentally, I do too. I want to know everything about the disaster beast, including its origin in this world and the progress of the Disaster Wave."
Dream Weaver Rabbit was silent for a moment; it was a very strange question.
After all, someone who can easily slay a Grade B disaster beast should not ask such ‘common knowledge’ questions.
Dream Weaver Rabbit asked:
"Who are you?"
Chu Yuanying’s expression did not change as he looked at his daughter on the stage and replied calmly:
"I am a forgotten spirit, someone who should not exist in this world."
"I once thought those disaster beasts were the same, so as you investigated, my 17 years of experience is no different from what is written; I am just a single father raising a daughter."
She is the savior of the old era.
She is the hero who defeated the thirteen Calamity Gods.
She corrected the world line and was cursed by the Sea of Truth as a sinner.
But what difference does it make if I say it all?
Whether Dream Weaver Rabbit and the person behind it will believe or not, those epic pasts and mournful tales from hell cannot present the same grand spectacle anymore.
For Chu Yuanqing, that is a ruin that should be buried deep underground.
When it sees the sunlight, the rising and falling dust will only sting her eyes, as if she can no longer hold the spirit that once wanted to burn the whole world.
When one is young, it is always like this, full of spirit and never admitting defeat; they can break mountains and fill seas, and even with much pain, can still move forward bravely.
But if you think carefully, that kind of Chu Yuanying feels too strange after such a long time.
The current me only wants to finish the things I must do before I die.
Dream Weaver Rabbit wisely did not ask any more questions; it gathered some information from the conversation.
Chu Yuanying’s change happened because he found traces of the disaster beast in Sea City recently.
Before that, he even believed that the disaster beast did not exist anymore.
This suggests that from the other person’s perspective, the disaster beast appeared a long time ago and, for some reason, should have completely disappeared. So for 17 years, he lived like an ordinary worker, as if he were just a drop of water blending into the crowd, willingly raising his daughter in a simple life.
But why?
There are too many illogical parts to this.
If Chu Yuanying is not lying, then he is likely hiding some incredible truth.
Dream Weaver Rabbit did not dwell on these matters any further. It understood the art of socializing well. Without mentioning any conditions, it began to recite the information about "Pure White," the disaster beast, the human alliance, and the project "Dazzling Stage" from the official records.
When the performance on stage came to an end, a rough yet clear line had formed in the mind, connecting a lot of information and providing answers to many questions.
Chu Yuanqing appeared unharmed as she left with the group. Along the way, she remembered to greet her daughter with Magic Clone, showing that she was paying attention, yet her focus was already entirely on what Dream Weaver Rabbit was saying, lost in thought.
— "Pure White."
This is the official name for The Wall of Sighs. According to Dream Weaver Rabbit, 17 years ago, the Disaster Wave first erupted when "Pure White" suddenly appeared, suppressing all disasters to their dormant state and maintaining peace until now.
During this time, humans cautiously researched disaster beasts, trying to learn from them to create their own technology and developed various advanced technologies. The birth of "witches" is subtly related to this.
In summary, the government found a mineral called Light Stone, which looks like amber and contains shadows resembling flower buds. It is in a semi-transparent, hazy state and can only be captured using Etheric Substance. Inside, it holds a special material different from disaster aura and serves as the raw material for Artificial Lanterns.
The origin of Light Stone is always located at the edges outside the forbidden area.
Yes, the forbidden area.
Chu Yuanqing knew very well what was hidden inside; the thirteen forbidden places could only be home to the thirteen Calamity Gods she had once fought against.
This information was too overwhelming.
Chu Yuanqing fell silent for a moment; she had an idea of what the officials wanted to know.
First of all, the plan to correct the timeline failed, possibly due to a mistake along the way, interference from the Sea of Truth’s rules, or the concept of the disaster beast that could not be erased.
In short, the result was stuck in a middle ground.
Chu Yuanqing could not erase the concept of the disaster beast, but she forcibly sealed everything that was tainted by this concept, putting them into a state close to death.
As for the grand wall known as the Pure White, which spanned the entire world, it was essentially just a faded projection, a mark of her existence in the world.
And why did this mark appear in such a form?
The answer was simple: because the Wall of Sighs was the only blessing of hers that had conceptual defense capabilities, perfectly matching her mindset while correcting the timeline.
After sorting her thoughts, Chu Yuanqing glanced at the Wall of Sighs standing in the twilight, her palm wanting to catch the clouds at the edge of the sky, gently brushing through the air.
In an instant, all the miraculous creations above Sea City vanished like a mirage, and after her hand was pulled back, they returned like ink spilling back into place.
Here, she sighed softly and, using Magic Clone, revealed the truth to Dream Weaver Rabbit:
"I am the Pure White."
