Magic: Reincarnate from high-voltage electricity at the start, level up independently.

Millions of eyes were fixed on the crystal ball floating in mid-air.

Everyone held their breath.

The buzzing of the live-streaming drone hovering high in the sky was exceptionally clear in the dead silence, reaching everyone's ears.

After a few breaths of waiting.

A warm purple halo slowly rippled from inside the clear crystal ball.

The light slowly spread, gradually filling the entire crystal sphere.

But that's where it ends.

The purple light remained stable, showing no further signs of rising.

There was no crimson, symbolizing top talent, nor gilded gold, representing unparalleled genius; from beginning to end, there was only pure purple.

The staff member responsible for registering and broadcasting next to the platform subconsciously leaned forward half a step.

He blinked hard, rubbing his eyes repeatedly, his face filled with disbelief. His gaze darted back and forth between the crystal ball and the white-haired girl on the stage, unable to believe the result before him.

Alice, who went viral online and whose song inspired divine blessings.

Almost everyone believes that her talent is at least red, and there is a high probability that she will directly unleash the first gold talent in this competition and top the entire field.

But the solid purple halo before him completely overturned all his expectations.

The staff member suppressed the shock surging within them and put away the expectation that had just quietly arisen. Their expression returned to normal and serious as they picked up the megaphone beside them.

A calm and clear voice rang out, resounding throughout the entire square.

"Contestant No. 12345, Alice. Talent rating: Purple. Passed the assessment and successfully advanced to the second round."

The moment those words were spoken, the deathly silent square erupted into chaos.

The deafening clamor, like a surging tide, instantly swept across every corner of the square.

"Purple? How could it only be purple!"

"Did I hear that right? Miss Alice, who can attract divine blessings, only has a talent level of excellent (purple)?"

Among the crowd, the musician who had previously criticized Chu Ge, saying that her playing technique was clumsy and her talent was at most purple to red, breathed a long sigh of relief.

He lowered his voice and sighed to his companion beside him.

"I said long ago that the emotional impact of a live performance is completely different from innate talent. Now the results prove my judgment right, don't they?"

Many of the surrounding audience members looked incredulous, shaking their heads and muttering to themselves.

"With her purple talent, how could she possibly compose a piece like 'Für Elise' that moves the gods? It just doesn't make sense!"

Countless fans who had followed Alice all along were now filled with disappointment and dejection. The anticipated scene of her becoming a goddess had completely failed, leaving only endless disappointment.

"I thought I was going to witness the birth of the first golden talent of this year, but I was excited for nothing."

Outside the crowd in the square.

Arya's clear, large eyes were filled with astonishment.

She immediately pushed through the crowd and rushed to the front, staring intently at Chu Ge, who stood calmly on the platform, her heart filled with incomprehension and confusion.

On Chu Ge's shoulder, Amber, who had been curled up and dozing, slowly opened her eyes.

It casually glanced at the purple light emanating from the crystal ball in mid-air, then lazily lowered its eyes, silently complaining to itself.

Purple is so nice.

It has a lot of charm.

Advance steadily and pass smoothly.

Why insist on vying for red and gold, making it so public and high-profile?

The safest choice is to honestly and quietly develop your strength and become stronger.

Thousands of miles away, in a villa in the violin city.

The live stream screen inside the room was simultaneously displaying footage from the match. The moment the result was announced, Aigu, sitting on the sofa, sighed softly, "I hope it doesn't discourage the kid."

The maid who was cleaning nearby also looked surprised and muttered to herself.

"Miss Alice's performance was so stunning, how come her talent test only showed purple..."

Doubao, sitting in the corner, tilted its head and stared at the screen.

It couldn't understand the differences in talent ratings, but it could keenly sense that the atmosphere in the room had suddenly become oppressive and quiet. So it obediently squatted in the corner, keeping quiet and not daring to make a sound.

At the Ke family manor.

Clara, lying on the sofa, had just opened a bag of cucumber-flavored potato chips, but before she could even eat them, the announcement came clearly from the television screen.

Her brows furrowed instantly.

"Purple? Alice is so amazing, yet she only has a purple talent?"

She had personally attended the Wei family's dinner party and witnessed Chu Ge's piano performance.

He knew Chu Ge's true strength all too well.

Although Chu Ge's playing skills were not top-notch, and even a little rusty.

But the music she played had an extreme power to move the audience, and the final result was in no way inferior to those musical geniuses who had been immersed in top-notch resources since childhood.

The live broadcast room at the stadium has been completely overrun.

The barrage of comments scrolled rapidly, filling the entire live stream screen at a speed so fast that it was difficult to see with the naked eye.

[Is this for real?! How could Alice show a purple color? Is the testing equipment broken?]

The music critic was right: strong emotional connection in songwriting doesn't necessarily equate to high innate musical talent.

I've already prepared screenshots, waiting to witness the legendary moment when the golden talent becomes legendary.

[While Purple can advance, her talent is completely mismatched with her top-tier online fame.]

[Could we test it again? The crystal ball's perception is definitely malfunctioning!]

On the high platform, the crowd erupted in uproar, and controversy arose.

Chu Ge remained calm and composed throughout, standing still in the same spot.

There was not a trace of disappointment, embarrassment, surprise, or resentment in his eyes.

She slowly withdrew her hand from the crystal ball, and gently stroked the amber resting peacefully on her shoulder. Then she turned and walked down the platform with composure.

As she passed by the registration staff, the staff member subconsciously looked up at her, his eyes filled with deep doubt and confusion.

Chu Ge nodded slightly in acknowledgment, said nothing more, and slowly walked with the flow of people toward Arya, who was waiting for her.

Arya quickly stepped forward, gently tugging at her sleeve, her tone full of surprise.

"Sister, why is it purple... I thought you would definitely be able to detect a gold talent."

"It's alright."

Chu Ge chuckled softly.

"Talent ratings are just stereotypical external judgments; they can't control my performance or affect my ability."

She has experienced the ups and downs of many lifetimes and witnessed all the vicissitudes of life.

I have long since become indifferent to all external definitions and labels.

A mere musical talent rating could not shake her unwavering resolve, which she had already tempered to the rock.

Moreover, discovering the purple talent was within her expectations.

This world is full of people who are obsessed with music, and there are professionals and geniuses who are dedicated to studying music everywhere.

In comparison, all she had ever done on Eternal Star was attend a few music classes when she was a child, nothing more.

Without professional and systematic learning, and without the gradual refinement of experience, there is no progress.

To be rated as an excellent purple by the divine testing crystal in this world where music reigns supreme is already a tremendous surprise.

Thanks to Arya's careful guidance and my own unremitting efforts these days.

Before going on stage for the test, Chu Ge was even prepared to come in last place.

The worst outcome would be that the test reveals green talent, resulting in elimination in the first round of the competition.

If that's the case, she will accept elimination calmly, quietly wait for the god of music to appear, and then seek another way to transcend this world.

The girl firmly believes that there are ways for those who fail the exam to succeed.

As for how to win, that's none of your business.

Achieving a purple rating and advancing smoothly is already the best possible outcome.

Moreover, this testing crystal ball never assesses a single talent.

It comprehensively assesses a person's innate talents, current abilities, and future growth potential.

Chu Ge pondered to himself that his ability to achieve a purple rating was most likely due to the effects of the musical magic and fragments of musical laws within him. Based solely on his original foundation, he could only achieve a green or blue rating at most; it was these additional elements that allowed the crystal ball to comprehensively assess and award him purple.

"Uh-huh!"

Arya nodded emphatically, no longer dwelling on these things.

"Those crystal ball tests are completely meaningless; in my heart, my sister is the best!"

On the high platform.

Even after Chu Ge left, the staff member was still unwilling to accept the result.

He leaned closer to the suspended crystal ball, staring intently at it and repeatedly checking the colors.

But no matter whether he looks at it horizontally or vertically, or even with a magnifying glass, it doesn't change the fact that it's purple.

The purple light on the surface of the sphere is slowly fading, and its clear, transparent crystalline texture is gradually being revealed.

The staff member sighed helplessly, suppressed his surprise, picked up the broadcasting equipment again, and prepared to continue the competition.

"Contestant number 12346, please come up for the test."

As soon as he finished speaking, he casually glanced at the crystal ball next to him.

In that instant, his movements suddenly froze, and his pupils contracted sharply.

At the very center of the crystal ball, where the purple light had dissipated, a fine crack quietly appeared.

The faint lines are particularly noticeable on the clean and transparent crystal surface.

The staff member subconsciously rubbed his eyes.

He assumed that he had been evaluating tens of thousands of participants in a row, and that he was so tired from concentrating for so long that his eyes were blurry.

But when he looked at it more closely again...

The crack not only did not disappear, but instead started from the center of the sphere and spread wildly outwards.

Instantly, countless fine lines covered the entire crystal sphere, like a dense spider web.

The cracks widened, and the once intact crystal ball was completely cracked and on the verge of shattering.

A strong sense of unease instantly welled up in the staff's hearts.

He quickly bent down, wanting to remove the crystal ball to check for malfunctions.

Right now!

A deafening roar suddenly erupted!

Click—!

Bang!

The evaluation crystal ball, which had been passed down for thousands of years, shattered on the spot.

The crystal-clear sphere shattered instantly, turning into countless tiny crystal fragments that drifted lightly and gently through the air.

This sudden and bizarre scene was witnessed by millions of spectators.

It was also captured completely and clearly by the cameras of all the live-streaming drones in the sky and broadcast live across the entire network in real time.

The noisy square, which had been buzzing with discussion about Chu Ge's purple talent, fell into a deathly silence in an instant.

Then an even more earth-shattering uproar erupted, several times larger than before.

Contestant number 12346, who had just stepped onto the platform to prepare for the evaluation, was stunned.

He was stunned for two seconds before he suddenly realized what was happening and quickly took a big step back.

He raised his hands high, facing the live broadcast camera overhead, and frantically defended himself.

"I swear! I didn't break it! It has nothing to do with me!"

"You have to believe me!"

The live stream was flooded with comments, a dense and unstoppable barrage.

[What?! The crystal ball exploded?! What kind of bizarre situation is this?!]

[Just finished testing Alice's purple talent, and the crystal ball shattered on the spot?! This equipment is seriously malfunctioning!]

[The crystal used for testing in the competition, which had never malfunctioned in countless competitions, shattered right after she finished testing it. That's incredibly strange!]

Is it possible that her strength and talent are too extraordinary, with such a powerful causal relationship that a normal rating simply cannot bear the weight of her abilities?

[Is the purple color just a superficial rating? Was the crystal ball shattered by her hidden true power?]

The staff members standing by the platform were stunned.

He stared blankly at the shimmering powder drifting in the air, his mind a complete blank, unable to come to his senses for a long time.

These crystal balls have been passed down for tens of thousands of years, have gone through one music competition after another, and have been tested by countless top musical geniuses from ancient times to the present. Their performance has been stable and they have never made a single mistake.

Such a situation as shattering or breaking apart has never happened before.

Just as Alice's evaluation ended and the purple light faded, it suddenly shattered.

Is the crystal ball reaching the end of its lifespan and just about to become unusable?

Or did the girl accidentally touch the sphere with too much force?

But that takes so much strength!

Or perhaps, it hides some secret that no one knows and that cannot be explained by common sense?

Countless questions and speculations surged wildly in his mind.

However, the competition process must not be interrupted.

He forcibly suppressed all the shock and doubt in his heart and quickly regained his composure. He strode to the storage area behind the platform, took out a brand new and intact spare crystal ball, and repositioned it to its original floating position in the evaluation area.

Everything has been debugged.

He picked up the broadcasting device, suppressed the lingering trembling in his heart, and spoke in a deep voice.

"The instrument experienced a temporary malfunction and has now been replaced with a new testing crystal. Testing is continuing."

Outside the square, Chu Ge and Aria, who hadn't gone far, also witnessed this unbelievable scene.

Watching the crystal powder fluttering down from the sky, Chu Ge was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his crimson eyes.

What's going on?

She carefully recalled the entire process of going on stage for the evaluation.

From raising his hand to touch the crystal ball, to the appearance of the aura of his talent, and finally to withdrawing his palm.

Every step was unremarkable, without any unusual occurrences.

She used gentle force throughout, without touching or bumping the crystal ball at all.

How could you break this?

Fortunately, the event staff did not pursue the matter further or make her pay compensation.

Otherwise, if a crystal ball used in a major competition were to shatter out of thin air, she really wouldn't know how to compensate for it.

Arya, standing beside him, was also completely bewildered.

But she was sensible enough not to ask any more questions and stood quietly beside Chu Ge.

After a brief moment of surprise, Chu Ge withdrew his gaze and spoke softly.

"Let's go to the hotel."

She glanced at the still long line of participants and spoke slowly.

"There are hundreds of thousands of participants in total, and only 10,000 have been tested so far. At this rate, it will take until at least tomorrow to finish testing everyone. There is no need for us to waste time waiting here."

"it is good."

Arya nodded obediently, offering no objection.

The two turned around side by side and slowly left the noisy and crowded test square with the flow of people.

Since the opening of the Music God Grand Ceremony competition, millions of contestants and tourists have flocked to this city of music.

The massive influx of people directly revitalized the city's tourism and catering industries, leading to a surge in the local economy.

But as a result, this already densely populated capital city instantly became a chaotic mix of people and extremely crowded.

Long queues for meals and a shortage of accommodation have become problems that everyone has to face.

Almost all hotels and guesthouses in the city were booked in advance.

Arya had long anticipated this grand occasion.

She started booking accommodations in advance as early as six months ago.

Even so, it was still too late.

Hotels in the city center with good surroundings were booked out in advance by the contestants.

What remains are only a batch of small hotels with extremely low ratings and countless negative reviews.

Even more outrageous is that, thanks to the popularity of the competition, local accommodation prices have skyrocketed.

A regular double room that usually costs a couple hundred yuan a night has been inflated to a couple thousand yuan a night.

Even if the price increases tenfold, it is still difficult to find a room; there is a market but no buyers.

Arya comes from a wealthy family and is never short of money.

However, she was sensible and frugal from a young age, and had no tendency to be extravagant or wasteful.

She witnessed firsthand how hard her father worked to build his business, and she also remembered all the hardships her mother endured to support the family when she was a child.

Therefore, she was unwilling to waste money like that, and even less willing to be ripped off by merchants.

After much deliberation, she finally gave up on the prime real estate in the city center and booked a budget hotel in the suburbs in advance.

On a moving taxi.

Arya gazed at the rapidly receding street scene outside the window, feeling a sense of unease.

Online images are ultimately edited and beautified, and often differ greatly from the real scene.

Small hotels in the suburbs lack proper quality assurance.

Dirt, disorder, and poor sanitation are the most common problems in these small accommodations.

Arya had suffered hardship since childhood.

She had lived a life of hardship and displacement with her mother since she was young, enduring all kinds of dilapidated and dirty environments.

But now she is not alone; Chu Ge is by her side.

She was afraid that the poor and shabby accommodations would make her gentle sister feel wronged and uncomfortable.

A few days ago, she even tried to rebook the hotel, even if it meant doubling the price, just to get a clean and comfortable room.

However, the city's accommodations were completely full, and there were no vacancies, so they had to give up in the end.

She silently made her plans in her mind.

If the hotel environment becomes too bad, she will contact Clara for help.

Clara's family has businesses all over the music world and extensive connections, so they'll definitely be able to find suitable accommodation.

As for asking her father for help, she would never choose that option unless absolutely necessary.

Chu Ge, sitting beside him, kept his eyes closed and meditated, focusing on cultivating his own magic power, completely unaware of the delicate and conflicted thoughts of the girl beside him.

If she knew, she would just smile calmly.

She has already experienced all the hardships in the world.

She has lived through several lifetimes, witnessed the darkest of times, and endured the most desperate situations.

In her second life as a mercenary, she once lay alone in the freezing snow for ten days and ten nights to complete an ambush mission.

When thirsty, grab a handful of ice and snow to eat; when hungry, take a bite of cold compressed biscuit.

The extreme cold, exhaustion, and hunger eroded her body day and night, but they also caused her body to undergo a constant transformation.

After ten days of patient waiting, they finally caught up with the isolated enemy infantry company.

That battle was extremely dangerous; the enemy was fierce and skilled in combat, and their firepower was formidable.

She fought desperately, sustaining three gunshot wounds but never retreating, managing to wipe out the entire company and narrowly escaping death.

They survived those life-or-death situations.

What does the shabby environment of a mere ordinary hotel matter?

All the hardships she endured were nourishment for tempering her Daoist heart.

The two-hour drive passed in the blink of an eye.

The taxi gradually slowed down and finally came to a steady stop in front of a detached building on the outskirts of the city.

The two got out of the car.

The hotel in front of us is not large, with three floors, and the decoration is brand new and clean.

The courtyard is surrounded by a small vegetable garden, creating a quiet and peaceful environment.

The moment Arya saw the actual scene, her anxiety subsided considerably.

At least from the perspective of the external environment, this place is much better than she expected.

The hotel owner was an elderly man with gray hair.

I opened this small inn to pass the time since I'm young and have nothing much to do.

The old man was warm and kind, and led the two towards the guest room, striking up conversations with them along the way.

"You're here to participate in a music competition, right?"

"Yes, Grandpa," Arya nodded gently in response.

The old man chuckled and continued.

"My hotel has ten rooms, and these past few days all the guests have been young people like you who are participating in the competition. You all share the same goals, so you can exchange ideas more often when you have time. You might even meet a kindred spirit."

"Okay, thank you, Grandpa."

Soon, the three of them arrived at the door of room number 10, which was located at the deepest part of the third floor.

The old man handed the room key to Arya, gave her a few simple instructions, and then turned to leave.

The two pushed open the door and entered the room.

The interior is spacious and bright, and spotlessly clean. The overall environment is even cleaner and more comfortable than the pictures shown online.

Although it was a double room, the bed was large enough that two girls could stay together without feeling cramped.

What surprised everyone the most was that there was an upright piano in the room, along with a number of basic musical instruments, which made it convenient for them to practice and hone their skills before the competition.

The only minor drawback is that the hotel's soundproofing isn't very good.

As I walked down the corridor, I could faintly hear the sounds of piano practice coming from other guest rooms.

As for Arya's own piano, it had already been stored at a music store in the city when she arrived. It will be delivered directly to the competition venue closer to the event, so she won't need to carry it herself.

After quickly packing my luggage.

The two then sat down at the piano in the room and practiced playing quietly, refining the details of the piece.

They practiced until nightfall, and when they felt a little hungry, they stopped and went downstairs to find something to eat.

This small hotel has its own restaurant, located on the first floor.

The room was lit by incandescent bulbs, providing clean and soft light.

Chu Ge and Ailiya found an empty seat by the window, ordered their food, and waited quietly for it to be served.

At this moment, in addition to the two of them, there were five other young contestants sitting in the dining area.

Three men and two women, including two couples, sat together, each snuggling close to the other.

The five people sat around a large round table, leisurely eating and chatting about the music competition.

A single man with light blond hair spoke first, breaking the silence.

Did you guys watch the live broadcast of the game this afternoon?

A couple opposite them, dressed in matching blue outfits, shook their heads in unison.

The boy replied.

"We didn't look. We practiced the piano in our room all afternoon and didn't pay any attention to the news online."

Another couple, dressed in matching red outfits, exchanged a glance, and their cheeks inexplicably flushed slightly.

The boy seemed a little hesitant and stammered as he spoke.

"We...we've been practicing music and preparing for the competition, so we haven't watched the live stream."

Seeing the two of them looking shy and evasive, the blond-haired boy instantly understood what was going on and chuckled wickedly.

"I understand, you're focusing on practicing your flute, right?"

"I just passed by your place, and it sounded really nice."

The couple in red were instantly embarrassed, their faces turning even redder, and they were completely speechless.

Huang Mao stopped joking and changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat mysterious.

"I have some big news for you guys. This afternoon's competition evaluation revealed a gold-tier talent."

"Golden talent?"

Upon hearing these four words, the other four people at the table all looked up, each with a different expression.

The man in the red couple's outfit was the first to speak.

"The only ones who can detect gold are probably those two."

He didn't name names, but everyone present knew the truth.

Of the entire younger generation, only William and Amber have the best chance of unleashing their golden talent.

As for the missing Princess Doria, she remains missing to this day and is no longer on the topic of discussion.

The blond-haired man shook his head, looking smug.

"If you guess William and Amber, you're sorely mistaken."

"Huh? Not them?" The boy in the red couple's outfit looked completely bewildered. "Could it be that Princess Doria, who has been missing, has returned?"

"No, not exactly." The blond-haired man shook his head again.

This completely piqued the curiosity of the other four people.

Everyone put down their bowls and chopsticks, their eyes all focused on the blond-haired man, eagerly awaiting an answer.

Their entry numbers were all after 20,000.

I wasn't scheduled to be evaluated in the morning, so I just watched the whole thing from the sidelines, observing all the other participants' testing process.

They also watched the entire review of Chu Ge.

Everyone had been eagerly anticipating it.

We look forward to this dark horse, who has drawn divine blessings, winning the first golden talent of the entire competition and achieving legendary status in one battle.

But the final result surprised everyone.

It's just an average purple talent.

The elimination rate in the first round of this competition was as high as 90%.

Although the purple talent barely reached the passing grade and barely advanced, it is by no means weak.

But when applied to Alice, whose fame resounds across the internet and who is hailed as a rising music star by countless people, it seems too ordinary and out of place.

After all, four out of the five people present possessed purple-level talents.

The blond-haired boy in front of us has even been found to have a red talent, which is even rarer than purple.

The news spread after Chu Ge's purple talent was discovered.

There has been a constant stream of criticism and slander against her online.

Countless people questioned how someone with only purple talent could possibly play a piece that could move even the gods.

More and more people are speculating that Alice is not a rising star at all.

It is merely a product of the joint efforts of various noble families to package and deliberately create a myth.

The world's top musical resources—precious sheet music, guidance from renowned teachers, and prestigious universities—are all monopolized by the upper class.

Musicians from ordinary, low-income backgrounds, no matter how talented, will ultimately lose at the starting line without the support of resources.

Their talents were wasted, and they could never compare to the children of noble families who grew up surrounded by top-tier resources.

Over time, class stratification in the music world has become increasingly severe.

For ordinary people at the bottom of society, trying to change their fate through music is as difficult as climbing to heaven.

Fortunately, this world is at peace year-round.

With the protection of the god of music, the common people had no worries about food and clothing, were docile, and never harbored any rebellious thoughts.

The aristocratic family deliberately created the illusion of "Alice" as a girl who rose from the bottom to achieve success.

It was all just to offer a pie in the sky to the common people and appease them.

This makes everyone believe that ordinary people can truly reach the pinnacle of success and achieve godhood solely through talent and hard work, without relying on family background.

The reason I am mediocre and unproductive is simply due to a lack of talent and insufficient effort, not to class injustice or resource monopoly.

This speculation immediately went viral online, gaining widespread approval and likes from countless netizens.

A large number of fans who once idolized Alice have turned away from her, feeling disappointed.

Of course, amidst the widespread skepticism online, a small group of people who had personally heard Chu Ge perform live remained steadfast in their stance.

They had clearly heard the song "Für Elise" and experienced its profound impact.

He knew perfectly well that Chu Ge's strength was genuine and not a product of capital investment or deliberate packaging to create a god.

At the dining table.

Looking at everyone's faces full of curiosity and eagerly awaiting the answer.

The blond-haired man deliberately kept everyone in suspense, his tone becoming increasingly mysterious.

"You'd never guess who this dark horse will be, revealing unparalleled golden talent and dominating the entire field..."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the curious crowd, and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"It is a...human being."