Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The concert’s fourth song “η” indeed made many people shiver. The evaluation committee needed a lot more time for discussion than previously.
Great-grandfather Fang was a little worried. He didn’t understand all these music technicalities. He hadn’t been able to determine with his listening ability and just felt strange from his rising goosebumps. However, this was all secondary. He was worried that the evaluation committee’s grading for this song wouldn’t be ideal.
The evaluation results would only be announced after the concert ended. It was impossible to know the detailed scoring for each song right now. Apparently, every song had a number of different evaluation criteria.
Others in the audience didn’t think highly of it either. Great-grandfather Fang was even more concerned upon hearing an older member of the audience seated behind saying that the copyrights of “η” weren’t very sellable. Great-grandfather Fang worried that Fang Zhao would be mentally affected by the relatively poorer reception of this song compared with the first three.
After a short while, evaluation for the fourth song concluded, and the fifth song commenced.
The fifth song “Star Sand” was a piece Fang Zhao had composed during his time on Planet Bu. Compared to the previous four, this song was much more soothing.
Instrumental tones simulated the tranquil muttering of the ring of stars within the vast cosmos. Grains of sand fluttered and shimmered in the night sky.
Above the clouds, the sky seemed boundless, distant and pristine.
The galaxy filled the entire view.
As the dust settled, everyone was bather in the warm cleansing glow of starlight.
Under such a macrocosm, life was like a puff of smoke, gently fading into oblivion.
But, even so, life struggled on, even out of despair.
Distant stars in the vast, boundless infinitum pulsed with vitality.
Again, a speck of dust floated through the endless starry sky.
Daytime gradually approached. A gust of wind carried the grains of sand into the distance…
In the audience, pop goddess Fei Ying sat quietly listening to these wondrous sounds that seemed to originate from the stars. Despite her iconic Lakalinazhou pride, she simply wasn’t able to put up any resistance! She was itching to quietly sing along and put in great effort to resist that urge. She clenched her fists tightly, not knowing how to express her cascading emotions.
“Sounds of nature!”
She shut her eyes and listened. Her soul felt like it was floating.
As the song ended, Fei Ying sighed.
“This melody, ‘Star Sand’, seems fated for me. It would immediately make anyone listening melt if it was matched with bel canto.”
While saying that, Fei Ying gracefully raised a high quality handkerchief and dabbed the corner of her eyes. However, what was covered behind this handkerchief?
It was a look of determination!
However, seated on the other side of Fei Ying was a certain popular Huangzhou singer whose eyes were lit up.
“Sis Fei, how about you don’t fight with me for it?” He then pointed to his own throat. “See this? My larynx is shaking! It wants to sing already!”
Lan Jing who overheard this exchange: “…”
A pity these singers didn’t delve into acting!
“I feel ‘Star Sand’ will be a great fit to my upcoming album with just some revisions.”
Fei Ying flashed an unyielding smile. “No, it should be matched with an angelic hymn.”
The two turned towards Lan Jing at the same time in the middle of their conversation.
Lan Jing: “…”
What are you all looking at me for? Go look for Fang Zhao to negotiate the copyrights! I’m really not that close to Fang Zhao!
However, Lan Jing still came to a decision that he would interact more with Fang Zhao in the future and deepen their bond. This junior brother was too impressive. No wonder Teacher Mo was willing lower himself and snatch Fang Zhao from his own disciple.
Elsewhere in the audience, Zaro was also discussing his thoughts with Chu Bo.
Chu Bo said, “Listening to this feels like something strange has entered my ears and is bouncing between my ear drums. Could this be the fabled brainwashing? Achievement unlocked!”
Zaro felt those things didn’t add up. “Is this song really about Planet Bu’s desert? Was Planet Bu’s desert that beautiful? I have also been to Planet Bu. Why does it seem like the desert I saw was different from the desert in Fang Zhao’s music?”
“It’s artistic processing, just like how certain places are described so wonderfully in classroom textbooks. I even specifically ditched school to see some of them and discovered that I was cheated. It’s simply textbook levels of deception!” Chu Bo exclaimed.
“Is that so?”
Zaro’s doubts persisted all the way until the sixth song, “Bu”.
Anyone could tell where the song got its name from instantly. This song had also been composed during Fang Zhao’s time on Planet Bu. However, its style was totally different from “Star Sand”‘s.
The raspy sound of a zither with hints of echoes became a prosperous scene as more and more instruments were added into the mix. It was just like how Planet Bu developed from an endless desert into the unyielding and steel juggernaut it was today!
One could almost see the waves of yellow sand that were like millions of gold plated vehicles advancing at a steady place!
One could almost see figures sprouting from the unchecked wild!
The emotions were overwhelming!
Younger listeners instantly perked up.
It’s here!
Fang Zhao’s trademark ‘Wake you up from any sort of tiredness’!
What is potency?!
A hardcore bombardment!
There was even such a domineering vigor during the rests!
Industry music professionals in the audience found themselves drowning in melancholic sentiments.
“This arrangement technique is splendid,” an evaluator said.
“The classical symphony integrated with metal and the seemingly cosmic electric tones creates such an explosive infectiousness and a special charm.”
Another evaluator had a wide smile on his face. “It’s just like a coarse piece of rock becoming a charming diamond after going through artistic embellishments. Planet Bu definitely has to be visited if there is ever a chance.”
Quite a number of people had the same sort of idea, especially those who once had had the chance to go to Planet Bu but had never gone.
Planet Bu…
It was a pity that it was currently no longer opened up to externals.
The new military experimental base had already been constructed and had comprehensive coverage by the armed forces. Planet Bu’s new journey had already started.
It was no longer that poor and destitute place.
Even though it couldn’t be witnessed personally, there was an indescribable excitement and pride.
However, speaking of Planet Bu, many people remembered how Fang Zhao had donated those billions of yuan.
The Inter-planetary Fund’s reward for the discovery of the Alkaid was 100 billion. Fang Zhao had gotten a share of many billions and had completely donated all of it towards Planet Bu’s construction efforts.
Fang Zhao had indeed played an important role in Planet Bu’s rise from barren land to experimental military base. Without Fang Zhao, Planet Bu might never have been chosen to become the third strategic military location.
Back then, the military had still been deciding between Planet Bu and two other planets. The decision was only made after the Alkaid was unearthed.
It seems like Fang Zhao had rather lasting sentiments towards Planet Bu. Three out of the first six songs at this graduation concert involved Planet Bu! Or, perhaps, was there some unspeakable secret between Fang Zhao and the Planet Bu base?
Zaro wasn’t thinking about all this. He was very puzzled at this moment. Is Planet Bu really as staggering or mighty as the song put across?
Actually, it was because his impression of his experiences and sights when he first arrived on Planet Bu was too vivid. Even after the new experimental military base had been established, his image of planet Bu was just a dirt poor and tiny planet that had nothing but deserts and oceans.
Had Planet Bu become amazing when he wasn’t paying attention?
While many in the audience were still wondering about it, the final song of the graduation concert started.
The seventh song was “Limitless”.
Given the previous few songs, some evaluators originally guessed that with Fang Zhao would place emphasis on wind instruments to portray the cosmos. However, they never imagined that Fang Zhao would superimpose string music to match different periods of the tune.
The tempo alternated between fast and slow, igniting different moods. It reached an accumulated pinnacle in just an instant.
Thoughts were led to the far reaches of the universe. The Milky Way glittered splendidly.
Time was wonderful yet very cruel.
The cosmos evoked feelings of nostalgia and reverence.
Compared to outer space, even the vast oceans seemed cramped.
Humankind, from their conception on this little blue planet to their rapid emergence, was nothing more than a drop in the ocean with regards to the universe.
A person’s life was too brief; merely a fleeting dot in the cruel shadows of time.
In the past, anyone who dreamed of space travel could dedicate their entire life to it but would never make significant progress from their starting point in the universe.
However, humanity could go even further.
In the future, even more people would press forward into the ocean of stars. They would stand on the shoulders of predecessors, and afterwards, become the shoulders for future generations to come.
The ranks were long.
Time etched its mark on everything, from the most shocking calamities to the most wondrous of births.
Time would also be a witness for humanity as the future filled with limitless possibilities.
Fang Zhao gazed into the distance as if his eyes were able to transcend the void and see a faraway scene. The corner of his lips curled into a gentle smile.
500 years ago, he had led troops to seek out a path of survival in a warped world.
500 years later, he stood in the tranquil desert of Planet Bu, gazing at the resplendent night sky.
——
I came from the past, and I am extremely fortunate to see the future I had so earnestly hoped for.
