28 Idols

Chapter 27 — Idols

The moment my entire body was submerged, however, the necklace and cold force simultaneously reacted to the entire ocean.

A faint bluish glow appeared in the necklace, a same kind of bluish glow happening in my red pupils

Not knowing what would occur, I decided to swim far away from the shore. Once there were no other people, I quickly meditated underwater.

I felt the intensity of the reactions reaching the limit.

The necklace started to absorb water elements into my body. On the other hand, the cold force was pulsating energetically to the absorption force of the necklace.

The necklace normally helped by stabilizing my mind. It also allowed me to easily enter a deep meditative state.

However, the necklace now also acted as the trigger to start the final change of the cold force—serving as the catalyst for evolution.

"...!"

Soon.

Evolution Complete!

The cold force finally evolved in a new direction.

I realized this likely happened when I manifested a surging desire with things related to Na'er.

The evolved cold force quickly activated the life force absorption.

"It's now absorbing the true essence from the ocean…!?"

The ocean's true essence was different from the true essence of lifeforms. It possessed unique attributes or unique properties.

My cells were receiving baptisment from the ocean's true essence, allowing them to be reborn as a suitable vessel for water.

The transformation felt comfortable and relaxing to the whole body.

After getting baptized, my body received enhancements to areas related to water.

It was so refreshing that it felt like I was being soaked in a hot spring.

After the absorption of the ocean's true essence, my necklace also experienced evolution—now helping the cold force with the absorption of the ocean's true essence.

It even cleared my mind to process information with high concentration and efficiency.

The absorption speed has now reached a greater level.

After my cells were entirely attuned, the ocean's true essence started to drill into my kidney.

I slowly submerged deeply within the ocean, but I was still strangely able to breathe comfortably.

That was why I was able to completely focus on gradually absorbing the endless supply of the ocean's true essence into my kidney.

I started to lose track of time, but I was able to deepen my understanding of water while absorbing the ocean's true essence.

The ocean's true essence was able to significantly raise my comprehension when it comes to water.

That's why I now understand.

Water is the spring of life—it can act as nourishing, fluid, soft, warm, and yielding to other forces.

I was even able to truly understand the phrase I've read in the past:

Water can even wear away rock, which is rigid and unyielding.

This phrase allowed me to realize more about water.

Water which was fluid, soft, and yielding can eventually overcome whatever was rigid and hard.

It led me to think that water can also be the bringer of death.

Water can turn into ferocious tides, turn into chaotic whirlpools, turn into a merciless tsunami, and turn into overwhelming floods.

Water has two sides.

And these two sides always result in a creative or destructive cycle.

This same rule applied to other existing elements.

Like two sides of a coin.

I was enlightened about water.

As a result, I was finally able to feel my kidney finishing its transformation.

My other organs were even slightly nourished, improving my overall bodily functions and them gaining better resistance to injuries.

After being finished, I knew my kidney received significant changes.

I was able to see a blueish veil of light covering the whole kidney. It acted as a major protection for one of my most vital organs that people are prone to attack.

And inside it, there was a small blue spark that looked like a star's core.

This blue spark, the size of candle flame, was still very immature; far from transforming into a real blue star.

However, I was certain of a sure fact.

"My affinity with the water elements has greatly increased…"

A result from the formation of the small blue spark.

I now feel very close to the ocean, being able to see the water elements that filled most of the atmosphere.

If the blue spark continues to grow, I'm sure it would further increase my water affinity.

"And if I can absorb the true essence of the ocean… I wonder if I can…"

There were new possibilities brewing inside my mind.

However, it was my vacation right now.

Those were something I should think about later on.

Still, it was sure a surprise to discover that the evolved cold force was able to absorb true essence related to elements.

"I thought I could only absorb the true essence from humans and spirit beasts…"

The ocean itself was like a concept, not a real lifeform.

What even is the true essence?

So many questions, but no answers for them.

In the end, I just decided to call the ocean's true essence as the true water essence.

I hurriedly went to the surface of the ocean water.

Looking around, I saw not much time had passed.

The others were still here, so I swam towards them.

I was then surprised when my eyes saw a strange phenomena happening within Tang Wulin.

I could see the entire ocean injecting water elements to Tang Wulin, slowly nourishing his cellular bodies and cleansing his mind.

A strange divine aura from within his body was influencing the ocean.

It caused me to remember a certain figure in the legends.

"The Sea God…"

A God who reigns the seas.

Yet I was probably imagining it.

Probably.

"Oh, Nai An! Where have you been!? You were gone for many hours." Senior Brother Long asked.

"The ocean floor."

"..."

It was then—

"Hammer Splash!"

Meng Tian pounded his fist against the water, causing a large wave to charge at them.

"Nai An, this is also part of the training! So try to stop it!"

"..."

I let out a deep sigh before deciding to use the power of my comprehension. Of course, this included the small blue spark within my kidney.

The spark was immature, its power still evidently weak, but I wanted to test it out.

I pounded my fist downward, the water meekly following my will, resulting in the formation of a ferocious wave clashing against Meng Tian's wave.

Clearly, the wave I made resembled more like a real tidal wave.

BHAM!

The two waves clashed strongly, causing countless water drops to fly everywhere like rain.

"This is interesting." Meng Tian grinned while cracking his knuckles.

"I want to join!"

Tang Wulin joined the training, making several small waves by rapidly pounding both of his arms.

"That's the spirit! The spirit of the blacksmith must burn hotter no matter what environment! You must be tough and hot even when within the ocean!" Meng Tian passionately exclaimed to us.

He then madly pounded his fist against the water.

Swoooosh!

A great tidal wave surfaced above the water.

It was enough to crush them!

"Ah." Tang Wulin leaked out a surprise, knowing his small waves won't stop that great wave.

If their waves clashed, I would be the one to suffer.

That's why I slammed the water around me to create a great wall of water.

SPLAASHHH!

The water wall was yielding and fluid, redirecting the opposing waves to the sky instead.

After surging into the sky, they spread outwards and formed into a splendid raining shower.

"Not bad."

And we continued the pseudo water bending battle for a while.

Unknowingly,

I had fun.

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"I thought we came here to relax… not to have training…!" Senior Brother Long bitterly lamented.

He was continuously getting drenched by the non-stop rain shower.

The other three blankly nodded their heads behind him.

On the other hand, people around them were speechlessly watching the water battle, but some loved the intense battle and started to cheer for whoever they liked.

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Once night arrived, all of us gathered before a barbecue grill.

There was a cozy and warm atmosphere around the spot.

We've roasted and ate massive loads of barbecue sticks stuffed with vegetables.

After eating, it was time for some sparklers and wheel crackers.

"So pretty…" Na'er smiled while holding a long sparkler.

The resplendent lights from the sparklers were reflecting in her violet eyes.

Regretfully, the sparklers soon died out.

"Na'er, this firework spins!" Tang Wulin exclaimed to get our attention.

He then lit up a wheel cracker placed on the sand.

It soon emitted various beautiful lights as it started to spin crazily, the light becoming even more dazzling to the eyes.

"Wow, it's so beautiful while spinning around!"

Na'er started to clap her hand amazedly as the wheel cracker spun

The adults were also captivated by the wheel cracker's splendor.

"Where did you buy those fireworks from? Such excellent qualities." Meng Tian asked me.

"I made them." I shortly replied.

"Woah." He was slightly surprised, but soon nodded.

Not a big surprise from me.

Senior Brother Long then returned after going to the restroom.

"I heard that the live performance of the idols will soon start."

"Oh, really?" Meng Tian hurriedly asked to confirm.

"Yes, I even heard that the concert will be free. Also, there's a new idol debuting."

"Then let's go watch them! It will not cost money…"

"Right, it will be a shame to pass a free concert." Tang Ziran agreed as an employee of Red Rose.

I then suddenly heard my communicator ringing.

"I'll follow you guys later." I pointed at my communicator.

"Okay!"

They soon left.

I answered the call.

And the caller was Ning Shui.

"Vlad, you still have some of your fireworks left?"

"Yes."

"There was originally no plan for fireworks, but since someone special will debut, I want it to be memorable. Can we please buy some of your fireworks?"

"You don't need to pay. I'll hand the fireworks to the employees there."

The fireworks being a surprise would also make Meng Tian and the others feel happy.

"Thank you."

Ning Shui expressed her deepest gratitude.

"Un."

The call ended.

I first went to the concert and gave the fireworks to the employees.

After handing out the fireworks, I went to regroup with the others.

There was a large stage with various speakers and spotlights.

Since the concert had no seats, the audience were standing below the stage.

All of them were proudly dorning various merchandise from Red Rose.

I could even see almost everyone here holding light sticks.

"There are surely a lot of people."

We were amongst them while patiently waiting for the concert to start.

The concert soon started.

It was first started by a female idol that looked beautiful while wearing her pink swimsuit that revealed her bare smooth skin and slender curves.

A pop music started to play from the speakers.

The music was created by the music composers of the Music Guild.

The composers were able to shine under the Red Rose. Other companies haven't taken much notice of them in the past, so they faithfully swore to make popular and revolutionary music.

The female idol sang and danced skilfully before the crowd, sometimes even extending her microphone to the fans to let them sing the lines.

The fans excitedly sang and rhythmically waved their light sticks.

It felt like there was a choreographer for them.

The idol sang several songs that were her album before exiting the stage. After her, there were other male and female idols that took the stage to sing and dance.

Meng Tian was visibly trembling with joy as he watched them perform.

Unfortunately, the concert was now close to end.

It was now time for the debuting idol to appear.

This male idol was special.

He was mute.

And was even a spirit master.

However, the man was always treated with insults and contempt because of his trash talent and disability.

Despite his situation, Red Rose took him in, now even giving him the chance to share his music and feelings to other people.

He was someone that always received various insult,

In the past,

And even the present.

Now he was given the stage,

To play his flute,

And express his defiant voice as a mute.

On the large stage, an elegant man wearing casual beach clothes, took his confident strides under the spotlight,

The man approached a chair and sat straightly on it, facing the awestruck audience with a graceful smile.

His slim and petite figure made him resemble a girl. And with his long green hair, it was hard to see if she was truly a man or not.

The crowds were silently gazing at him, seemingly in a deep daze of wonders.

The man slowly raised both of his slender fingers along with a flute, ready to play it at anytime

As a yellow soul ring quietly hovered behind, the man started to play with the flute.

With a pair of soft, gentle eyes, a series of elegant, pure and precious tones slowly flowed out from that exquisite flute.

In a mere instant, the crowds were strongly pulled from their deep daze, now starting to keenly listen for the meek melodious sounds.

The entire place was drowned by rapidly emerging pleasant tones, the audience closed their eyes unconsciously and moved along the beautiful sounds of the flute that calmed and captured their intoxicated heart.

The joyful sounds were hooking at their hearts, plunging their senses into a world of happiness.

Those marvelous and mesmerizing sounds echoed continuously, filling the air with a joyful atmosphere.

I was also affected by the sound of the flute.

The negativities suppressed within me were being pushed away by warm sensations.

I slowly closed my eyes, scattered fragments of memories appearing in my mind.

A memory about my sister.

As the flute played, however, the warm sounds of hope gradually transformed into frigid sounds of sorrow.

The crowds felt their hearts freezing from the coldness. The sounds made their mind grow heavy like they were slowly accumulating snows of sorrows.

The youth played his flute brightly at the start, but it now carried a distinct sorrow — sorrows that carried the pain and discrimination he endured as a mute.

However, as the sounds reached the climax, the cold emotions started to melt away — replaced by a mellowed sprouting of positivity and then blooming into gratitude for the kindness of people; signifying the end of frigid winter and the welcome of a new beautiful spring.

The crowds felt themselves blooming into dancing sunflowers—always full of positivity and happiness despite the cruel world.

As the play came to end, the man gracefully placed down his flute with tears trickling down his smooth cheeks — a bright smile blossoming across his rosy complexion.

The crowds went silent for a very long time.

Then,

One by one,

Like a ripple in the ocean,

Everyone started to clap their hands with all their might, afraid it wouldn't be enough for such a magnificent play.

That's the reason,

There were many thunderous cheers and claps resounding everywhere.

Woooosh!

Woooosh!

Woooosh!

Woooosh!

Fireworks suddenly rocketed towards the dazzling night sky—exploding into countless colors of brilliant lights that intertwined to form a beautiful cosmos of brilliant sea of stars.

"Wow…!"

"So beautiful…"

"Wonderful!"

And we watched this beautiful scene while also clapping our hands.

A moment that would forever etched in our memory.

A single streak of a tear fell down from my left eye.

I remembered now.

A memory I've forgotten.

When I died.

[Volume 3: A Step To A New world, ends. ]

[ Volume 4: Spirit Pagoda, begins. ]

…

Be warned, weak mortals! The future volumes will be very dark, full of twist and turns, so don't get angry If you read them! I've warned you, so don't spam me with low reviews.

Hehe, might somehow even be darker than this. At least, according to the chaotic, convoluted mess of drafts I made.

Spirit Pagoda: A short volume, I think?

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