Chapter 143: Formidable Foe, Descent of the Heavenly Queen!

To put it another way, just as Yue Xiaotian was practicing for the debut performance of his very first musician, the Star God of the Heavenly Yan, Ziwei, events once again spiraled out of his control.

Before the one-hundred-meter race, out of pure goodwill, he had helped seven teenage boys sharing the same bench to calm their nerves. However, what Yue Xiaotian did not know was that standing behind these seven youths were seven major powers.

After all, apart from Yue Xiaotian, there were very few competitors in this year's Martial Arts Tournament who entered completely alone.

The seven youths possessed a certain baseline of strength to begin with. Once their anxiety was eliminated and they performed at their normal levels, they all achieved impressive results. More importantly, they radiated this newfound confidence outward to their compatriots.

A virtuous cycle was formed. In no time at all, before the Grand Extremis Games had even truly begun, world records were being broken one after another in rapid succession.

Initially, such matters had nothing to do with Yue Xiaotian. However, it would not take long before they became deeply intertwined with him.

Let us turn to the reactions of the major media outlets and the audience.

Ever since Yue Xiaotian’s debut performance stunned the entire arena, people had temporarily developed a slight interest in the musical compositions of Blue Star, consequently funneling a considerable amount of revenue into Yue Xiaotian’s account. Even so, public sentiment toward him remained rather unfavorable.

As for the journalists from various media organizations who wanted to dig deeper into Yue Xiaotian’s background, they dared not approach him too closely.

After all, his temper was notoriously explosive; the memory of him delivering a slap during a global broadcast still felt vivid and chilling.

On the Sound Network and across various social communities, different theories circulated as to why Yue Xiaotian had remained absent from any competitions during this period.

Because many people had spent ten consecutive days cursing at him without receiving a single response, some began to reframe this beating-addicted madman as a young man undergoing a profound awakening and repentance. They even advocated giving him a second chance and collectively reforming him with love.

Nevertheless, the vast majority of people continued to fiercely denounce his behavior.

The countless musicians lured in by the promise of a ten-million-annual salary grew somewhat anxious, for they had caught wind of a piece of news: ever since recruiting the elf Ziwei, Yue Xiaotian had vanished entirely from public view, and no further notices had been issued.

As for Meng Qiu, she had been weeping her eyes out during this period. Having endured a rollercoaster of extreme emotional highs and devastating lows, she had grown utterly haggard.

Originally, ever since that night, Meng Qiu had felt supremely blissful, even picturing what their lives would be like a thousand years down the line. But when she woke up the next morning—good grief—Yue Xiaotian had completely disappeared!

When Meng Qiu eventually tracked Yue Xiaotian down, he dissolved into tears and paint-filled lamentations, vividly describing how perilous his current predicament was. It was not that he did not love Meng Qiu, but rather that he was suffering from a terminal illness and had less than two years to live.

To make matters worse, weighed down by colossal debts, one of his legs had been broken in a beating, and he lived in constant fear of being hunted down by his creditors.

When Meng Qiu later discovered the public recruitment notice offering a ten-million-annual salary for musicians, Yue Xiaotian choked back sobs as he explained his helplessness. Because he was dying and desperately wanted to fulfill a grand dream, he had been forced to resort to deception. In truth, he was simply desperately in need of money.

For a girl whose first time had been taken by Yue Xiaotian, Meng Qiu felt a tangled mixture of love and hatred. Yet, when faced with the prospect of staying by Yue Xiaotian’s side for two or three years—or even having to spend her own money to support him—her willingness evaporated.

And thus, Yue Xiaotian successfully eliminated a green tea b****, thereby making his own contribution to the grand objective of filling the world with love.

As for Lan Ruo, this was the most glorious period he had experienced in several centuries. After handing over the most comprehensive schedule of world records to Yue Xiaotian, he had returned to the headquarters of the Dars Alliance purely to show off and bask in the awe of others.

Naturally, Yue Xiaotian remained completely oblivious to all of this.

There was yet another thing Yue Xiaotian did not know: at this very moment, the Imperial Dragon City was welcoming the arrival of the Pop Diva, Red Plum!

By now, the skies above the Imperial Dragon City were bathed in the lingering rays of the setting sun, with crimson clouds spreading across the heavens.

Within the Five Great Dance Pavilions, representing the foundational elements of the cosmos, waves of sound drowned out one another as the audience burned with intense enthusiasm.

Because the competitions across various events were fiercely contested and exceptionally thrilling, they were further complemented by the main attraction: grand song and dance performances.

Just then, a deafening roar suddenly erupted along the Imperial Dragon Avenue in the Imperial Dragon City, easily overpowering even the clamor within the Five Great Dance Pavilions. It carried an immensely overwhelming momentum.

Journalists with razor-sharp instincts instantly sprinted toward the source of the sound. Moments later, a remarkably synchronized chant of ten thousand voices echoed through the skies: "The Diva descends, the Phoenix Nest resonates; Red Plum steps forth, her voice shakes the realm!"

The roar grew increasingly imposing and tyrannical, surging frantically through the air. As wave after wave of sound rippled outward, crowds swarmed in from all directions like a flocking multitude, driven by an irresistible frenzy!

Along the Imperial Dragon Avenue, both sides of the street were packed with throngs of people holding up placards, the thunderous roars erupting directly from their lips.

At the very center of the avenue walked a strikingly alluring woman, draped in a cascading red dress that radiated an extraordinary aura.

She descended like a goddess, possessing mesmerizing eyes and a brow that exuded an overwhelmingly regal, queen-like majesty.

Trailing behind her was a retinue of musicians bearing various exquisite instruments. Every single one of them appeared wildly flamboyant, their expressions bearing a trace of pride that defied all attempts at concealment.

Amidst the adoring crowd, the Diva Red Plum gazed straight ahead, taking measured, lotus-like steps as though a reigning queen were inspecting her domain.

Finally, hundreds, if not thousands, of reporters broke through the heavy human walls and intercepted the Diva.

"Greetings, Diva. What are your plans for the Grand Games this time?"

"May I ask you a question, Diva? What are your thoughts on this year's tournament?"

"Big Sister Red Plum, will you be performing any of your new songs during this event?"

Faced with the blinding flashes of cameras and a barrage of countless questions, Red Plum answered with practiced ease, "The competitors in this Grand Games surpass those of all previous editions. To celebrate this joyous occasion, I will be bringing many wonderful musical dance performances to everyone."

At that moment, a female reporter stepped forward and asked, "Big Sister Red Plum, I wonder if you have paid attention to a mortal named Yue Xiaotian?"

A flash of evident confusion crossed Red Plum’s eyes, and she shook her head. "I have no idea. Never heard of him. Is he a newcomer who just debuted?"

"He's that cripple who sang the immortal sacred anthem *Somadeya* and physically assaulted someone during a global broadcast."

Only then did realization dawn upon Red Plum. "Ah, so it's that mortal. I know of him now."

"Then what are the Diva's thoughts on him? Do you believe he poses any threat to you?"

Red Plum lightly raised her right hand, covering her crimson lips to prevent herself from laughing aloud on the global broadcast.

After blinking a few times, she asked, "This newcomer is indeed not entirely lacking. However, haven't you noticed that the very essence of the music he performs somewhat conflicts with our era? Or is it possible that you actually prefer this kind of minor musical system?"

In response to the Diva’s call to further amplify the wild, tyrannical, and dazzling momentum, a million-strong fan club of Red Plum supporters raised their heads and roared, "The Diva descends, the Phoenix Nest resonates; Red Plum steps forth, her voice shakes the realm!"

Listening to the ear-splitting roar, the reporters finally smiled.

Facts spoke louder than words; this was the true strength of the Diva, who had instantly laid bare Yue Xiaotian's shortcomings.

Not to mention, Red Plum was a Seven-Star Dancer!

At the mere thought of having asked such a foolish question, the thick-skinned reporters were suddenly consumed by a wave of crushing shame and embarrassment.

Meanwhile, amidst the grand and roaring procession of her million fans, Red Plum continued gracefully toward her designated hotel.