By the time they came to their senses, the Gate of Heaven, along with the Secret Ceremony, had completely collapsed. In the distance, the elegant and peaceful sound of a piano began to play.
âItâs over... just like that?â
"Jiang Che, which Tier Five was that?" After a stunned moment, Zhou Chen quickly asked.
But the communication channel was completely silent.
The signal was lost.
"Anyone who can hear me, please respond," Ya Yi called out, but his call was met with nothing but silence.
âThatâs not right. We had a signal just a moment ago... Did someone block it?â Zhou Chen frowned and looked toward the auditorium. âIt couldnât have been that Tier Five, could it?â
âThat mysterious person destroyed the projection of the Gate of Heaven, so theyâre most likely allied with the Star Association. But why would they block the signal here?â
"...Should we go take a look?" Zhou Chen asked Ya Yi, wondering if they should leave or investigate.
After a moment of silence, Ya Yi shook his head. "We still have a mission. A Tier Five wonât necessarily care about small fries like us. Besides, that person probably has more important things to do."
"Letâs go then. We need to get over there and provide support as soon as possible." Zhou Chen nodded. After getting his bearings, he and Ya Yi walked toward the distant Barrier Bubble Wall.
Then, their bodies froze as if someone had pressed a pause button, unable to move an inch.
"..." Zhou Chenâs heart leaped in alarm. âCould it be that Tier Five isnât on our side? Are they going to silence us now?â
The next second, his body began to move on its own, striding toward the auditorium. Ya Yiâs body also started moving by itself, heading outside.
At the Barrier Bubble Wall, Ya Yiâs body suddenly relaxed. The unknown power controlling him had vanished. He turned his head to look at Zhou Chen, who was walking away into the distance, unsure what the Tier Five wanted. The only thing he could be sure of was that they didnât want him involved.
As he was weighing his options, Ya Yi stumbled, shoved forcefully out of the Barrier Bubble by the Mysterious Power and into the Cursed Black Sea. He decisively strode forwardâthe Tier Fiveâs intentions were now perfectly clear.
He tried hailing on the communication channel again and finally got a response.
"Ya Yi, whatâs the situation?" Jiang Che asked.
"Gentleman and Lover have been dealt with. As for the projection of the Gate of Heaven, it was shattered by a mysterious Tier Five. They used some kind of music-related Ability, turning melodies and notes into chains that crushed the Gate of Heaven," Ya Yi reported.
"What about Zhou Chen?" Jiang Che looked at the silent communication channel on her screen. If they had come out together, Zhou Chen would definitely have contacted her immediately, but his channel had been quiet this whole time.
"Heâs being controlled by that Tier Five and was taken to meet them," Ya Yi replied.
In the command room, Jiang Che raised an eyebrow. The King of Mirrors, who was beside her, thought for a moment and said, "Using musical notes as a means of attack... that should be the King of Musicâs Ability. Donât worry, she bears no ill will."
"The King of Music..." The corresponding information immediately surfaced in Jiang Cheâs mindâa Crowned King who controlled the Authority of the Music Realm, hailed as the Ascender with the greatest hope of achieving Demigod Status in the last century.
It was said she had already walked the final third of her Ascension Ladder.
She was an elusive, reclusive Tier Five who had not yet joined the Star Association, but maintained a good relationship with them.
âBut what could she want with Zhou Chen?â
Jiang Che didnât dwell on the question for too long. According to classified files, the King of Music was trustworthy. Perhaps this was a fortuitous opportunity for Zhou Chen... probably?
Meanwhile, Zhou Chen, still under the control of that inexplicable power, pushed open the doors to the auditorium.
Inside the solemn and stately hall, an expensive piano sat on the stage. Ten slender, pale fingers danced across the keys, playing a beautiful melody.
She was a woman in a magnificent black dress, her hair like a waterfall. It was hard to describe the first impression she gave. She was like a perfect sculpture carved by a master artisan from Ancient Greece, or a beautiful Goddess from the brush of a peerless painter... If he had to find the words, Zhou Chen could only say she embodied the pinnacle of beauty from all of human art history.
âAs if she were the personification of art itself.
"Maâam, is there something you needed to see me about?"
Zhou Chen found he could move again. He took a deep breath, placed a hand over his chest in a salute, and asked politely.
The music stopped abruptly. In the silence, the King of Music looked over at him, her voice like the music of the heavens. "Your fate is blurry and chaotic, filled with many unknown possibilities. You could become a killer who commits every evil imaginable, you could become a perfectly ordinary slacker, or you could become a hero revered by the masses... But as you are now, frankly, youâre a disappointment. Youâre too average. Even among slackers, youâd be the most average one."
"..." Steeling himself, Zhou Chen asked, "Youâre a Tier Five. Why are you paying attention to me?"
"A certain annoying fellow prophesied that something major would happen in Jinzhu today. That chaotic fates would intertwine here. It might bring about a new birth, or an eternal fall into Hell. It might bring hope to the world, or it might create a Demon."
The King of Music sighed with a hint of irritation. "I locked onto a few targets. For example, Daun, you, and Erin Elizabeth..."
"Erinâs still alive?" Zhou Chen asked urgently. "Where is she?"
SNAP! The King of Music snapped her fingers crisply. Zhou Chenâs flawed perception was instantly corrected. As he came to his senses, he remembered that Erin was not his daughter. The desperate urgency to save his daughter began to fade rapidly, and he calmed down.
"Sheâs still alive. But if you want to save her, you might have to pay with your life. Will you go save her?" the King of Music asked.
Zhou Chen fell silent, then asked tentatively, "Could you show some mercy and save her? For you, it would be a simple matter..."
"Do you think I came here just to go shopping?"
The King of Music pointed upward. "Besides Eternal Fire and Fallen Paradise, several other organizations have sent their Tier Fives here to fish in troubled waters. Who do you think is keeping them in check?
I can point you to where Erin is, but you need to be the one to save her.
How about this? Consider it repayment for the huge favor I did you by sealing the Gate of Heaven. In return, let me see a thrilling scene of a hero saving the damsel. How about it?
I can even provide the background music, you know. Thatâs a privilege many Crowned Kings donât even get."
Zhou Chen couldnât quite figure out this mysterious Tier Five. The more he looked at her, the more he felt she was here to... watch the show?
He agonized over it for a long while before sighing. "To be honest, Erin and I arenât that close. Iâve seen plenty of people get swept up in the heat of the moment and play the hero, but when itâs my turn, I... get scared."
He stared at the King of Music and said bluntly, "Iâm afraid of dying."
The King of Music smiled faintly, seemingly pleased by his frankness. "Fearing death is only human. Itâs understandable. Very few people are born heroes or born saints. For a friend youâve only known for a few days, youâve already gone into the tigerâs den. To have done that much is already quite impressive."
With a flick of her two fingers, she suddenly produced a snow-white letter, holding it between them. "Want to see this? I stole it from Erinâs room. She wrote it to you in advance."
Zhou Chen didnât need to be a genius to guess what was inside. He fell into a silent, conflicted state. On one hand, he was afraid of dying and wanted to back down, to play it safe. On the other hand, something was stirring within him, making his blood boil and burn, compelling him to open the envelope and play the hero.
The dream of being a hero...
But Zhou Chen knew very well that being a hero was never a "good thing." Behind their glorious facades, there was always a bloody, painful pastâanyone who bore the title of hero never had it easy.
Even when he was online finding torrents and links for people online, he would sometimes run into difficulties like getting his account banned or finding dead links. He would even get reported, and then the resources heâd painstakingly found would be taken by the reporter and sold for a price.
Every ordinary person has a heroâs dream, but when the critical moment comes, how many actually dare to step forward?
"You donât have much time to hesitate and analyze, Zhou Chen. Your time is running out," the King of Music said in a calm tone. "Thereâs really only one question you need to consider. If you give up now, in the days to come, will youâ
âtruly have no regrets?"