Chapter 50: Surging Together Toward the Great Realm

At the very beginning of Jiang Qianqian's strange transformation, a robust figure sprang away from the school gate, rocketing across the distance between the entrance and the art building. Skipping the stairs, he dashed straight up the wall, using the drainpipes and air conditioning outdoor units as stepping stones to take the shortest shortcut and reach Jiang Qianqian's side with utmost speed.

At that moment, the girl was floating in the middle of a sudden spiritual energy vortex, about to lose her balance unawares. Fortunately, Li Xingming caught her just in time.

It was the classic, reassuring princess carry that Jiang Qianqian was so familiar with.

While a princess carry is quite practical for taking care of small children or short girls, from an outsider's perspective, it looked like an affectionate and pampering gesture.

"Open your eyes wide and look into my pupils."

Li Xingming commanded in a deep voice, then locked eyes with Jiang Qianqian.

By now, her eyes had turned a gemstone-like, dazzling pink, with complex patterns resembling a tiny universe shifting within them—symbolizing the emotions of myriad living beings and the breaching of the barrier between mortals and the transcendent.

In Li Xingming's expectation, Jiang Qianqian should not have undergone an in-situ awakening during the exam. For a human to step into transcendence through random daily routines is a very difficult feat; it was never easy even back in the Sixth Epoch, and nowadays, with spiritual energy concentrations lower than before, it was even harder.

Precisely for this reason, the State devised a meticulous education and examination system to screen quasi-transcendents who were talented enough yet lacked that final push to break through, distributing awakening potions that had been in use for nearly a century.

It was a formulaic process, but safe, reliable, and effortless.

Could it be that her singing had been so immersive that Jiang Qianqian's emotional fluctuations reached a certain threshold?

Li Xingming guessed as much. As for why this particular performance had touched Jiang Qianqian's heartstrings, it was probably due to her exceptional impromptu performance during the exam. Who would have thought that their little Qianqian was actually a clutch player who shined brightest in major competitions?

Absolute win!

Thinking thus, Li Xingming used their eye contact to guide Jiang Qianqian's soul, helping her adapt to the subtle changes during the awakening process of the "Living Singer."

The primary change was the formation of the Sea of Consciousness. The presence or absence of a "Sea of Consciousness" is the clinical boundary between mortals and transcendents—akin to adding an extra organ between flesh and spirit. At first, one would find it extremely disorienting; if the dissonance during the awakening process became too severe, it could trigger a stress response and cause irreversible damage.

The state-developed awakening potion contained ingredients to suppress this stress response. Since Jiang Qianqian was awakening naturally, Li Xingming needed to step in to ensure she did not suffer from shock.

In fact, from the initial panic of floating to landing safely in Ah Ming's arms, Jiang Qianqian's mindset had instantly steadied like an immovable rock. In her worldview, as long as she was being held by her beloved childhood sweetheart, every difficulty in the world seemed effortlessly surmountable.

She forgot the reasons behind her previous excessive sorrow and total immersion in the song, and obediently listened to Li Xingming, fixing her attention on his obsidian-black, handsome eyes. Their souls seemed to connect, resonating and intertwining as they surged toward a majestic realm.

"Congratulations, congratulations, classmate Jiang Qianqian! What a magnificent performance, and what a magnificent awakening!"

It wasn't until the examiner's enthusiastic congratulations and the professors rising to give a collective standing ovation that Jiang Qianqian snapped out of her dream-like state. Wiggling her calves, she realized she was still being held in Li Xingming's arms.

With tacit understanding, Li Xingming set her down. Jiang Qianqian straightened her school uniform, bowed to the teachers, and blushed fiercely.

"Thank you, everyone!"

The examiner announced the conclusion of Jiang Qianqian's test procedure, signifying that her entire awakening examination had officially ended. All she needed to do now was go home and quietly await her results... but obviously, scores no longer held much significance for Jiang Qianqian. After all, she was a badass who had achieved natural awakening and had no need for the state's awakening potion.

The professors exchanged unanimous glances, swarmed forward in a flock, and tightly surrounded Li Xingming and Jiang Qianqian, initiating a bidding war to poach talent.

This unexpected turn of events dispelled their final doubts.

How bad could the quality of a naturally awakened person's Sea of Consciousness possibly be?

There was no longer any hesitation; recruiting this student was guaranteed to be a profitable investment!

"Hello, Jiang, I'm from the Central Conservatory of Music..."

"Beijing is too far, and the competition is too fierce. In truth, our local Dongjiang Conservatory of Music is also a top-tier choice."

"Come to Qinglan! We will directly assign you a court musician from the Sixth Epoch for one-on-one instruction, waive all miscellaneous fees, and grant you a full scholarship."

"..."

Jiang Qianqian felt a bit overwhelmed. Happiness had arrived too suddenly... Of course, this didn't mean she was swayed by material benefits. In truth, she didn't care much about worldly fame and glory; what mattered most was whatever Li Xingming arranged for her to study, since she had to align with the team's expectations. After all, little Qianqian was utterly loyal to Dawn North.

Thus, she looked toward Li Xingming.

"Respected teachers, please calm yourselves... Regarding Qianqian's future choices, she still needs to discuss them with her family. Since she has just completed her awakening, she needs rest. How about the teachers leave me your contact information, and tomorrow we can schedule a suitable time and place to talk in detail?"

The teachers agreed, eagerly pulling out their phones to add Li Xingming on WeChat.

Someone asked out of curiosity, "Are you Classmate Jiang's... manager?"

Such a guess was not entirely unreasonable. Many immensely talented art students sought managers at a very early stage. In the current mature commercial society, expecting to quietly craft masterpieces in a remote countryside cabin like modern-era painters was far inferior to serious, lifelong professional management.

"Incorrect, I am the captain of Dawn North. She should have mentioned it to you earlier; she belongs to an affiliated squad."

"Ah, yes, I remember..."

"Then farewell, teachers. I'll take Qianqian back to rest first."

"Have a safe trip." "Watch your step on the way."

Clearly, these professors' team-building trip to Mount Maka would have to be postponed. Recruiting a formidable student was far more entertaining than sightseeing.

It wasn't until they were walking across the campus that Jiang Qianqian realized her awakening had caused quite a commotion, attracting the gaze of many examining students and accompanying parents. As luck would have it, while Li Xingming was dealing with the teachers on her behalf earlier, perhaps to give her peace of mind, he had taken her hand—and then simply never let go.

It felt completely natural.

Some people noticed Jiang Qianqian being led away by the hand by Li Xingming, whispering to their companions and playfully egging them on.

"Such boring fellows, they only know how to rubberneck," Jiang Qianqian muttered reproachfully, though the flush blooming across her cheeks betrayed her secretly smug heart.

"It's been many years since anyone awakened at our art exam venue, so it's no surprise that everyone finds it rare."

"Oh, I wasn't talking about that..."

"Huh?"

"Hehe, nothing."

Jiang Qianqian tightened her grip on Li Xingming's large hand. His hands were big with slender fingers, and holding just two of his fingers fit her perfectly. She blissfully pressed her cheek against Li Xingming's arm, skipping and hopping as they walked.

She only reined in her lawless, swaggering pace when she spotted Ye Sheng waiting at the school gate.