The lights dimmed, adding a touch of solemnity.
Just then, a series of high-pitched guitar notes resounded throughout the entire stage. The almost virtuosic and difficult performance sent everyone's adrenaline soaring to its peak.
However, at the climax, the music suddenly stopped.
That feeling of being unable to vent turned into repression, which accumulated in my chest.
The stage lights suddenly came on, but there was only one beam, which fell directly on the center.
Ye Cang's body was half in the light and half in the darkness.
At this moment, the band began to play. The musical notes were like a sharp blade, piercing through the gloom in my chest. However, the suffocating feeling did not disappear. The dense drumbeats seemed to echo the rhythm of my heart, making everyone breathless.
Ye Cang's voice joined in at this moment.
The slightly rough voice pulled the listener straight into an abyss. The song seemed to possess some kind of magic, like a roller coaster. When it climbed to the highest peak, it was like being close to death, and the fear and despair were so clear.
What exactly is death? What is the world like after death?
There is probably no one in this world who understands him better than Ye Cang.
It was loneliness, and endless darkness.
It's like being thrown into the deep sea, your chest is squeezed so hard it feels like it's about to explode, but because you can't die, you can only endure this pain in vain.
Such a feeling is terrifying even to experience once, yet Lu Yang has endured it for over thirty years.
Looking at Ye Cang singing passionately on stage, Shen Huai suddenly felt a pang of heartache.
Since his resurrection, he seems to have never said what kind of life he lived in his old home. Day after day, he existed alone in a world where no one could see him. How strong must he have been to not break down?
Shen Huai had never thought about these questions before, but after hearing this song, he understood.
The man on stage was far more powerful than I had imagined.
When Ye Cang finished singing, the audience members all breathed a sigh of relief, and even viewers outside the screen could hear the clear sound of their exhalation.
The guests in the VIP seats also breathed a sigh of relief.
Lu Zhenzhen wiped the sweat from her forehead and said with a wry smile, "I'm afraid I'll have nightmares when I get home tonight."
Chang Min and Tang Ruoyi exchanged a glance. Both of them were singer-songwriters, and this song had a far greater impact on them than on others.
Death is an eternal theme in creative works, and the styles vary greatly, ranging from terrifying and eerie to respectful and humorous. Some songs can even lead people to suicide, but there has never been a song that makes people feel as if they have truly transcended death and seen the world after death.
Chang Min forced a smile: "I almost thought he had really died once and seen the afterlife to be able to write such a song."
The others remained silent. They had a vague understanding of what was happening online and knew that Ye Cang had previously experienced cyberbullying and even attempted suicide. Perhaps he really had died once, just as Xia Fei had said, that he had exchanged his soul with the devil in hell, which gave him his astonishing talent.
Actually, there are quite a few people in China who can sing, and it's not impossible to find someone who sings better than Ye Cang.
However, not everyone has the ability to create original works, let alone such excellent ones. It is no exaggeration to say that such original works are rare, perhaps only once in a decade.
Many famous songwriters may spend their entire lives pouring their hearts and souls into writing a song like this, but Ye Cang has already written it, and he is still so young.
The director had already switched the camera to the guest seats, and a staff member handed them a microphone. The host asked, "Teachers, what are your thoughts after seeing Ye Cang's performance?"
Bai Lin sighed deeply: "The younger generation is truly formidable."
Lu Zhenzhen took the microphone and said with a smile, "The reason I accepted the program's invitation is because Ji Qing highly praised you. When I get back, I will tell him that you are even more outstanding than he said."
Lu Zhenzhen's words caused many viewers to exclaim in surprise, saying that the praise was far too high.
Chang Min, however, gave even higher praise: "I have already forgotten the performances of the first two contestants. Of course, this is not to say that their performances were bad. In fact, they were already excellent enough. It's just that no matter how exquisite the performance, it inevitably pales in comparison to such a song. This is the incomparable vitality that only a good song can possess."
The microphone was finally handed to Fan Jing, a national treasure-level singer known for his amiable and approachable manner, but at this moment his expression was very serious.
"Indeed, you are very talented. I can see your keenness and purity towards music, which is your greatest treasure. I hope you can maintain this sincerity towards music. This song is just the beginning, and you will bring us more and better works in the future."
Ye Cang's gaze swept across these faces, and he vaguely saw something familiar in them.
He once thought that the music scene thirty years later had been corrupted by money and superficiality, but now he saw in these big shots their unwavering love and pursuit of music.
He smiled and said, "Don't worry, you'll see soon."
Fan Jing: "..."
The other bigwigs were also speechless. Young man, don't get cocky just because you brag a little. Do you think good songs are as common as cabbages?
Not to mention the big shots, even the comments section couldn't stand it anymore.
[Holy crap, you take these compliments literally just because they're casually praising you? Can't you be a little more humble?]
[If someone is capable, is it necessary for them to be humble? Excessive humility is just hypocrisy!]
[I don't deny Ye Cang's talent, but even Fang Jiqing can't easily come up with two songs of the same quality.]
I really wanted to mock Ye Cang, but when I thought about all the times he had humiliated me since the top ten competition, I didn't dare.
The person who just got slapped in the face is too scared to speak; they're so tired.
In short, Ye Cang won another victory without any doubt.
Li Zihang, with the advantage accumulated from the two matches, defeated Liu Ke and entered the final championship battle.
Chapter 34
The order of appearance in the championship match will be chosen by the two players with the highest current online support.