As Lu Chengqian began to speak, his votes started to increase rapidly. After all, as a top-tier singer king, not far from being a singing god, Lu Chengqian still had many fans who supported him.
"I originally thought Fanzi Xia was just an ordinary singer king, but I didn't expect him to be a hidden master!"
"Seeing him say in an earlier interview that he hoped not to be shaved bald, I almost believed him. Singer King Lu is too humble!"
"Hiss… his voice carries the weight of history!"
"Singer King Lu is an absolute killer when it comes to this type of song!"
"Vote!!"
"Haha, my youth is back! As soon as Singer King Lu opens his mouth, I'm reminded of those epic historical dramas. I have to vote for him no matter what."
One million!
Five million!
Ten million!
As Fanzi Xia's votes rapidly increased, he surpassed Dolphin Baby. He was also closing in on Bai Zhou Tu. However, looking at the growth rate, it was still too slow. After all, he was performing now, which was when votes grew the fastest. This rate of votes would be overtaken by other singers performing later.
Finally, Fanzi Xia finished singing. He ripped off the fan mask from his face, revealing the appearance of a middle-aged man. He glanced back at the big screen. He had already surpassed Bai Zhou Tu, but he was still a long way from An Ye Tu. He had a faint smile on his face, shaking his head slightly, giving off an air of cultured elegance and freedom. It was indeed top-tier singer king Lu Chengqian, as the audience had guessed!
"Fortunately, there are so many audience members supporting me. I don't think I need to canvass for votes. I'm already very happy to be standing on this stage, as I haven't sung on stage for several years. Thank you to the production team for giving me this opportunity." After speaking, he bowed slightly to the audience.
After each singer finished, they had two minutes for vote canvassing. However, Lu Chengqian felt that instead of canvassing for votes, it was better to enjoy the stage, because he knew that the protagonist of today was not him! With that, amidst the cheers of the audience, Lu Chengqian bowed again and walked backstage.
The four judges on the judging panel were very relaxed today. They treated themselves as audience members of the competition, and the ones with the best seats in the house.
"Singer King Lu has also had a difficult time. He's wanted to break through for so many years, but unfortunately, his vocal timbre has limited him," Han Qi said with some regret.
Liu Huan couldn't help but smile. "Do you think everyone is like the freak An Ye Tu? While his vocal timbre limits Singer King Lu, it has also made him who he is."
Mo Yan nodded. "Indeed, Lu Chengqian's achievements are already very high. They are even the lifelong dream of many singers." While Singer King might not be the pinnacle in the Chinese music scene, it was still the lifelong dream of ordinary singers. And Lu Chengqian was among the top-tier Singer Kings, so he was already very fortunate.
After Fanzi Xia exited the stage, the venue suddenly fell silent. This was because they knew that Bai Zhou Tu was next. This rabbit was also a singer from Ting Yu, and she would likely sing a new song from Ting Yu.
"What should I do? I'm so conflicted. Who should I vote for between the two rabbits?"
"Is there even a need to be conflicted? Of course, it's An Ye Tu. Although Bai Zhou Tu's singing is very good, she's not as monstrous as An Ye Tu."
"But I really like Bai Zhou Tu! I have decision paralysis; both are dear to me."
"Then let's wait for Bai Zhou Tu to unmask. If it's a beautiful woman, I'll vote for her. If not, I'll vote for An Ye Tu."
"666, perverts never have decision paralysis."
If Bai Zhou Tu hadn't appeared, Ting Yu's fans might have chosen to vote for An Ye Tu, but now it was indeed a difficult choice. The main reason was that Bai Zhou Tu's strength was still very strong, and she was a girl, which made it even harder for them to choose.
In the audience, Lin Chaoyang's phone buzzed.
"Those people overseas are starting to get restless." It was a message from Assistant Liu.
Lin Chaoyang raised his eyebrows but smiled dismissively. "They still underestimate the power of the name 'Ting Yu' in the Chinese music scene. Let's lend a hand. After things are over, thank them for the buzz they've generated." After sending the message, Lin Chaoyang turned off his phone. It was his daughter's performance next, and he wanted to enjoy it without any distractions. Listening to his wife sing opera and his daughter sing was when Lin Chaoyang was most focused, even more so than when he was working. Because in his opinion, this was an enjoyment of life.
...
The stage lights gradually dimmed. When Bai Zhou Tu took the stage, her vote-increasing speed instantly accelerated. Looking at the speed, it wouldn't take long for her to surpass Fanzi Xia. This was even before Bai Zhou Tu started singing or unmasked.
As the entire stage turned dark, shimmering streams of light appeared, as beautiful and magnificent as a flowing river of stars. Bai Zhou Tu stood in the center of the stage, a spotlight shining down, bathing her in a halo of radiance. Just then, on the big screen, a full moon slowly appeared.
"Left Finger Pointing at the Moon"
Performed by: Bai Zhou Tu
Lyrics by: Ting Yu
Music by: Ting Yu
As the song title appeared, the audience erupted in cheers. As expected! It was a new song from Ting Yu! The prelude was deep with an intangible weight, lending an epic quality to the song. The singing, hidden and appearing intermittently within the prelude, also gave it a subtle Zen-like quality.
"All the dharma spoken by the Buddha when he was in the world is a finger pointing at the moon. This song has a new style." Mo Yan suddenly raised his eyebrows. His only pleasure on the show was analyzing Ting Yu's songs. After so many episodes, he realized that his lyrics and composition skills had actually improved significantly. So, when he saw the song title, he was contemplating what type of song it would be. After listening to the prelude, he suddenly remembered that "pointing at the moon" seemed to be a Buddhist term.
"Left hand holds the earth, right hand holds the sky,
The lines on my palm split into lightning from all directions,
Exchanging fleeting time for years,
Three thousand lifetimes, as if unseen..."
An instant hit! Bai Zhou Tu's clear and slightly melancholic vocal timbre, like a cool autumn breeze, swept over the audience's hearts. The verse part of this song was very short, and the emotional progression was very rapid. The first few lines of lyrics were full of imagery, as if describing a colossal ancient god standing between heaven and earth. Although the lyrics appeared overbearing and world-conquering, the singing was more towards gentleness. However, this was only a short section. The next moment.
"Left hand plucks a flower, right hand wields a sword,
A million years of snow falls between my brows,
A single tear, ah ah ah…
That is me, ah ah ah…"
As the chorus arrived! The entire venue exploded! Not only the audience but even the judges did not expect that the verse of this song was only one section, and after entering the chorus, it would start to unleash soaring high notes without restraint. Moreover, Bai Zhou Tu's high notes were incredibly stable.
"Although I had a premonition that Bai Zhou Tu would explode in the finals, I didn't expect her to explode so decisively."
"This isn't Ting Yu's style. Most of his songs have a build-up at the beginning and only explode at the end."
"The moment the high notes came out, I was stunned. This Bai Zhou Tu is too strong! She can still enunciate at such a high pitch?"
"Protect my celestial cap!" Whether it was pronunciation or timbre, Bai Zhou Tu's performance was incomparable. Coupled with the unexpected rhythm of the song, the surprise element made the audience's heartbeats involuntarily accelerate. Indeed, the shock came so quickly that they were not prepared. Furthermore, the epic feel of the interlude made the entire song full of a sense of faith.
Just then, the accompaniment suddenly became lighter.
"Left hand flicks a finger, right hand strums a string,
The boat ferries across the waters of the River of Oblivion,
When worries can bloom into a red lotus,
Don't stop, give me my distracting thoughts…"
The originally intense emotions calmed down again. The melody of this song was simple, and the melody repeatedly looped, yet it exceptionally fit the song's theme of reincarnation. It was as if one were in the waters of the River of Oblivion, and that wandering and confusion, searching for that person in one's heart through reincarnation, that bitterness made people unable to help but shed tears. Coupled with the many Buddhist terms used within the song, it brought a Zen-like quality to the song.
"Left finger points at the moon, right hand takes the red thread,
Granting you and me a wish-fulfilling fate,
In the moonlight, ah ah ah,
You and I, ah ah ah!!"
The high notes, as if soaring straight into the sky, still had clear pronunciation! Coupled with the shocking vocal pressure! It caused the venue to erupt like a monstrous wave!
"Left hand transforms into feathers, right hand into scales,
…
'I pick you up with my left hand! I let you go with my right hand!
When I clasp my hands, you are all gathered in my heart!
A stick of incense, ah ah ah…
You are me, no two are different!!!'"
Boom! The galaxies revolving around Bai Zhou Tu seemed to collapse and scatter onto the ground! Then, like a tide, they set off waves of dreamlike ripples! Coupled with the high notes that could break through the clouds, it was an audio-visual feast spanning three octaves and integrating the vocal techniques of operatic coloratura sopranos! It was also a hell-level song that would make cover singers hesitate! The audience's ears buzzed, their teeth clenched, and their expressions contorted! On stage, the four judges were frozen like puppets.
After a few seconds of silence, the audience in the venue suddenly snapped back to reality, stood up, and cheered and screamed wildly! It was deafening! It couldn't be quelled for a long time! On the big screen, Bai Zhou Tu's votes increased rapidly. Thirty million! Forty million! Fifty million! The numbers flickered dizzyingly! Finally! As Bai Zhou Tu bowed slightly to the audience and the camera, her votes surpassed the first-place An Ye Tu, temporarily ranking first!
"Heehee, I've surpassed Susu." She tilted her head slightly and looked at the votes on the big screen. Although she knew that as long as Su Yu sang, her ranking would be surpassed, the feeling of being on top felt really good. Thinking of this, Lin Yanyu's pretty face under the mask couldn't help but blush. How was it that after spending so much time with Susu, her thoughts were becoming less pure?
"Teacher Bai Zhou Tu, aren't you going to unmask?" Amidst the cheers of the entire venue, host Lin Han stepped onto the stage. The rapidly rising votes had clearly slowed down. If she unmasked now, Bai Zhou Tu's votes would surely increase significantly.
"Huh?" Lin Yanyu heard this and waved her hand. "No rush, I'll unmask later." She was thoughtful and knew that if she unmasked now, Su Yu's identity would definitely be guessed, and the program's effect would be lost. She still wanted to see the audience's reaction when Su Yu unmasked. Therefore, with the votes already so high, she felt there was no need to unmask too early.
"She's not unmasking even now?"
"Now is the best time to unmask. After all, everyone has been moved by the singing. Later, the effect will be greatly reduced."
"Indeed, I can't understand why Bai Zhou Tu isn't unmasking."
"Could it be with An Ye Tu?"
"If it's together, then Bai Zhou Tu will definitely not win the championship, as An Ye Tu's popularity alone is already so high, and his votes will definitely be terrifying after he sings!" Many audience members were bewildered by Bai Zhou Tu not unmasking after her performance.
Lin Chaoyang shook his head with a hint of sourness. "This girl, why does she always think about that Su Yu?"
Chen Rong wiped away a tear, her voice filled with deep comfort. "For my daughter, this result is already very good. Even I would find it difficult to sing that song just now, and the protagonist of tonight was always meant to be Su Yu." Su Yu's parents, standing beside them, didn't know what to say, but their eyes were filled with emotion. They just felt that their son was fortunate to marry such a good wife as Lin Yanyu, and to have such good in-laws as Lin Chaoyang and Chen Rong. Their future life would surely be wonderful, which put them at ease. They looked towards the stage with anticipation. After one more singer performs, it would be Su Yu's turn!
...
The third performer was Dolphin Baby. Upon taking the stage, he unmasked without a word! His handsome face, high nose bridge, and facial features had Eastern characteristics, while his eyebrows and eyes carried a Western feel. Viktor, of Chinese-Russian descent. Among the younger generation in Russia, he was known as the Siren Singer. However, in the previous round, he was completely defeated by An Ye Tu and Bai Zhou Tu.
"It really is Viktor."
"Nonsense, he never intended to hide his identity from the start. Once his singing style came out, everyone knew who he was."
"To be honest, if An Ye Tu wasn't here, he might have had a real chance at the championship."
"Heh, are you looking down on Bai Zhou Tu?"
"Bai Zhou Tu and Viktor are not too far apart in skill; at least it's not a crushing difference. The reason for the complete shutout of Viktor last time was because of An Ye Tu."
"Damn it, there's always some contrarian arguing everywhere. You can boast about Viktor all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that he was shut out!" It was unclear if someone was deliberately hyping him up, but after Viktor unmasked, a group of people rushed to defend him. Then, his votes also started to increase. The stage lights flickered. Viktor held the microphone, a solemn expression on his handsome face. He nodded to the band teachers beside him. The prelude began.
"Eternity"
As the song title appeared, a collective gasp of cold air swept through the venue. This was not a Russian song, but an English song. Furthermore, it was a song known for its hellish high notes. The original singer was the strongest American singer, Brown. Seeing Viktor sing this song, many people couldn't help but sigh, thinking that Viktor was really going all out. His emotional expression was his weakness, so he decided to abandon the song's emotion and focus purely on vocal technique! Viktor was in a desperate situation; he had to give it his all. Even if the probability was very low, he had to go all out. At least this way, he would have an easier time when he returned home. However, even Viktor himself did not expect that after he started singing, the votes on the big screen began to increase crazily! He had only sung half the song, and his votes had already surpassed the second-place An Ye Tu, then headed straight for Bai Zhou Tu, who was temporarily in first place!!
...
PS: "Left Finger Pointing at the Moon" Original Singer: Sa Dingding, Lyrics: Yu Jiang, Music: Sa Dingding (Two-in-one chapter)