Chapter 101: The 101st Point of Divine Refining [Media Publicity]

Fourteen days remain until the combat performance of "Immortal" and "Victory." It is 7:00 AM, and the lobby of the Blue Moon Hotel is bustling.

Chen Fang has returned to her serious and professional demeanor; she is once again the weapon expert. Thanks to the announcement made at yesterday’s press conference, no one is blocking the entrance to the lobby. Soon, Le Xiaotian and Chen Fang drive toward the Northern Eighty-Eight Pearl String Grand Staircase.

Before long, Blue Moon Island is in an uproar. A sea of figures surges forward—journalists from major media outlets and spectators eager to witness the spectacle. Amidst the continuous flash of cameras and deafening screams, the car driven by Le Xiaotian proceeds unimpeded, with military police deployed everywhere to maintain order.

They arrive at the venue, and the atmosphere is instantly ignited. Le Xiaotian sits at a rectangular table, accompanied only by Chen Fang. Before them sit over 300 media outlets, totaling nearly two thousand people, all of whom have passed a preliminary screening.

Le Xiaotian taps the microphone to test the sound system and says, "Everyone, please quiet down." The crowd falls silent immediately, though their faces are filled with excitement.

Once the room settles, Le Xiaotian delivers his statement: "I believe you all know that behind me lies the famous Northern Sea Eighty-Eight Pearl String Grand Staircase. This is also the gathering point for Zhang Hao and Ying Dengbo. To ensure victory in this battle, I have been granted full authority by the Empress to oversee this combat performance. Now, you may ask your questions."

As soon as he finishes, over 300 reporters raise their hands simultaneously. Le Xiaotian points to Huang Qiang from Lotus Television first. "You go ahead."

Suppressing his excitement, Huang Qiang stands up and asks, "Mr. Le, have the musical program and the time for this combat performance been finalized?"

The surrounding reporters feel a pang of dissatisfaction at the selection, but they dare not complain. After all, Le Xiaotian once worked at Lotus, so favoring them is understandable. Facing hundreds of cameras, Le Xiaotian’s image is broadcast to audiences across the Fama continent. While it may not reach the 2 billion viewers of a national broadcast, at least 100 million are tuning in.

Le Xiaotian nods into the microphone. "In 14 days, I and the soldiers training so hard to my left will perform a piece called 'Victory.' I have already released this music; you can search for it and listen." At that very moment, tens of millions of people across Fama scramble to find equipment to listen to this masterpiece.

Huang Qiang sits down, and Le Xiaotian gestures for a beautiful woman to ask the next question. "Teacher Xiaotian, why did you choose this particular piece? Is there any special reason?"

Le Xiaotian explains, "It is a form of emotional sustenance for me. The piece is titled 'Victory,' named after the legendary goddess of victory. I hope every participating soldier can ignite their indomitable will and secure victory."

A handsome man asks, "Teacher Xiaotian, I’ve done some research, and the scale you’ve set seems grand indeed. Could you tell us the number of participants and the ticket prices?"

Le Xiaotian takes a sip of water and replies, "There are 1,501 participants in total. Beyond the combatants, there are 5,000 seats for the live audience and 300 spots for the media. Specific ticket information will be released shortly."

A beautiful woman asks, "Teacher Xiaotian, rumors circulated yesterday that you and Dr. Chen were operating a Silver Dragon fighter jet. Is this true? If so, given that both sides have ceased the use of heavy weaponry, what is your intention?"

Le Xiaotian chuckles. "That was for the combat performance—more precisely, to prepare for the grand finale, 'Immortal.' This piece will be broadcast nationwide via holographic projection, and it will also be an epic 3D film. Over a million people are participating in the performance. You can purchase headphones and 3D glasses at designated local spots. For those who want to watch for free, the Empress has installed speakers across the country. As for the holographic technology, it will be visible to the naked eye, though the effect may be slightly less immersive."

Silence falls—the venue is stunned, and everyone watching the news is struck speechless. A million performers? How could that be possible? Holographic technology exists, but broadcasting it simultaneously across the entire nation? The scale is unimaginable. It is far beyond the scope of any giant-screen theater; they are in completely different leagues.

But with such a massive scale, could it spiral out of control? Backed by the Empress, this is a combat performance supported by the entire nation. Can "Immortal" and "Victory" really boost morale? Even if they can, to what extent?

Recovering from the shock, the woman asks, "Teacher Xiaotian, a performance of this magnitude is unprecedented. Can such a scene truly be controlled?"

Le Xiaotian smiles. "I have had the technical team simulate and verify the sound quality and volume. While not perfect, it will be absolutely breathtaking. Just think of the five major dance halls in the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon Kingdom; they host audiences in the millions. The logic is the same."

The room falls silent again. Those who have visited the five major dance halls recall the sheer intensity of those performances—a feeling so overwhelming it leaves one trembling with excitement. But this involves a million performers, with an audience of 2 billion across Fama.

While global and national broadcasting are not new technologies—they were perfected a thousand years ago—this is not simply a matter of capturing a signal and relaying it to a million screens.

Le Xiaotian reflects that this performance is a culmination of multiple coincidences: his own abilities, the presence of the heaven-defying "Little Nine" system, the reckless provocation by Zhang Hao and Ying Dengbo, and the Empress’s iron-fisted resolve and delegation of power. Without these three critical factors, such a performance would have been impossible for a millennium; it is simply too resource-intensive. No one else has the audacity to attempt it.

Seeing the quiet settle over the crowd, Le Xiaotian stands up. "Today's press conference ends here. Please look forward to the performance. I hope that in these special times, every person in Fama can contribute their share."

As the press conference concludes, one more item on the pre-performance checklist is crossed off. Meanwhile, print media, television, and mobile platforms erupt with overwhelming coverage. Once again, Le Xiaotian, whose public attention had slightly waned, becomes the hottest focal point in Fama. Every channel, and even word-of-mouth, has been accounted for. After all, that day will reveal "Immortal," an epic masterpiece of the Huaxia civilization.