Chapter 167: The Finals Begin - The Sky of History

"Shall I make my choice now?"

Fang Xing asked quite directly, cutting straight to the point to ask if the selection was happening immediately.

"Wait a moment."

Zheng Tao raised a hand. It was obvious that the climax of this segment had not yet arrived, so it could not end just yet.

He looked toward the singers present and continued, "The choice rests with Fang Xing, but if any of you wish to challenge Fang Xing, you may also proactively propose it. Who knows, maybe Fang Xing will choose you?"

Xie Yuwen immediately waved his hands and complained, "Don't! Please don't! Fang Xing, have mercy on your older brother. If you're going to pick someone, pick someone else."

The female singers present remained rather composed. Generally speaking, in moments like this, male singers tried their best to appear gentlemanly in front of the cameras and rarely took the initiative to choose a female singer as a PK opponent.

The singers present had already been thoroughly intimidated by the dominant form Fang Xing had displayed throughout this season, so none of them were willing to face Fang Xing in the first round.

After all, if you lost the first round, there would be no second round.

Just when everyone thought no one would actively issue a challenge, Zhong Yuanxun raised his hand.

Zheng Tao asked with a smile, "Zhong Yuanxun has something to say. Staff, please pass him the microphone."

Zhong Yuanxun spoke at length in Korean, which was then translated and relayed: "I want to be Fang Xing's opponent in the first round. I believe our strengths are comparable, and a clash between titans is the ultimate goal of the strong.

"If Fang Xing dares to choose me, I believe this will be a phenomenal match.

"If Fang Xing doesn't dare to choose me, then it will be a great pity. Although we will ultimately meet in the second-round finals, it will lack a lot of the fun."

Zheng Tao continued to probe, "Zhong Yuanxun, have you thought this through? Do you truly hope Fang Xing chooses you? The loser will not be allowed to participate in the second-round competition; do you understand this rule?"

Zhong Yuanxun nodded and replied, "Of course, I understand. However, the one who won't be able to participate in the second round will not be me.

"If Fang Xing is afraid, choosing another singer would be the right move. That way, we could duel in the second round.

"It's just that by that time, it won't be a duel between two people, but four, and that would be very uninteresting..."

Before Zhong Yuanxun could finish, Fang Xing directly cut in, "Fine, it's you."

The remark was somewhat abrupt.

Even Zheng Tao was momentarily stunned, and he pressed on, "Wait a minute, Fang Xing, what did you just say?"

Fang Xing repeated, "I'll pick him. Happy now?"

Zheng Tao suppressed a laugh on his face.

He certainly wanted to see this outcome. Pitting Fang Xing against Zhong Yuanxun right in the first round would undoubtedly be the massive highlight of the show.

Zheng Tao then looked toward Zhong Yuanxun to confirm, "Zhong Yuanxun, Fang Xing has decided to choose you. Did you understand that?"

Zhong Yuanxun turned his head to listen to the interpreter's explanation, then raised a fist toward Fang Xing and said excitedly, "Then let us settle this on the stage."

As this segment was broadcast,

the appetites of the audience watching the live stream were thoroughly whetted.

The barrage of comments began to erupt:

[They're really going at it! The loser gets eliminated; is this meant to be the finals held in advance?]

[The production team's knack for stirring up trouble is impressive. This level of buzz, this atmosphere of gunpowder—it's just the flavor I like.]

[Fight! Fight!]

[Here it comes, here it comes. Who on earth is Zhong Yuanxun's guest performer? If it really is Park So-mi, things are going to get interesting.]

[If it's Park So-mi, I feel like Fang Xing might have kicked an iron plate this time. Park So-mi's strength is terrifying.]

Next,

continuing according to the total vote rankings, the singer with the highest votes would choose their opponent.

Ultimately,

Li Caiwei was paired against Xu Xinzhen. The two had already chatted backstage, and as fellow female singers, choosing each other as opponents was quite fitting.

The audience watching the live stream saw Li Caiwei and Xu Xinzhen become opponents, and all sorts of opinions flew about:

[Female singers tearing at each other, is that it? The show's arrangement is acceptable, love it, love it.]

[This is a goddess showdown. It's entertaining to watch, but if you two fight, one of you won't make it to the second round.]

[As the only two female singers present, it's indeed appropriate for them to become opponents. If they were paired against the other male singers, win or lose, fans would tear into them.]

[What a pity that only one person can enter the finals.]

Once the opponent selection for the first round concluded, it was time to officially enter the competition segment of the grand finals.

The live broadcast camera shifted to the live performance venue.

The stage lights rotated, and He Hao walked onto the stage with steady strides, speaking in a thrilling tone:

"Distinguished guests, singers, audience friends here at the venue, and friends watching the television screens at home, good evening.

"Welcome to the live broadcast of the grand finals of *Voice*. Tonight is the King of Singers battle of *Voice*.

"After two rounds of competition, this year's King of Singers will be decided.

"I believe the audience friends in front of their televisions have been waiting anxiously.

"Then let us enter the first round of competition.

"The first round is a themed competition, and the theme is 'Dust of History'."

"Eight singers will bring eight songs, and they are not fighting alone.

"Tonight, they have brought their guest performers.

"Wow! Let me share a secret with you all: the lineup of guest performers tonight is simply incredible.

"I saw many extraordinary singers backstage—some who have performed on the Spring Festival Gala, some from overseas, and vocal artists you normally never get to see on variety shows.

"Audience friends, you are in for a treat for your ears.

"Alright, let us dive straight into the first round of competition.

"Who are the two singers for the first round?

"They are the most brilliant and exquisite flowers on the stage of *Voice*.

"They chose each other and became the first-round opponents for tonight.

"Now, let us invite our first competing singer to the stage.

"Who is she? And who is the guest performer she has invited?

"Speaking of this, it is truly amazing. This guest performer is an old friend of mine, yet even our *Laughing Weekend* could never manage to invite her.

"Let us welcome our first competing singer and her guest performer. Please come up!"

Backlight shone from the rear of the stage.

Two figures appeared silhouettes against the backlight, and judging by their graceful postures, they were clearly two female singers.

Wearing evening gowns, the two female singers held each other's arms and walked onto the stage with elegant steps.

The audience at the venue craned their necks to look, eager to see clearly who they were.

The identity of the competing singer could probably be guessed by everyone present.

Because the only female singers who had broken through into the grand finals were Li Caiwei and Xu Xinzhen.

Therefore, the first competing singer had to be one of those two.

The audience could roughly guess the competing singer, but the guest performer remained a mystery.

Moreover, He Hao had been keeping everyone in suspense, hooking the curiosity of the entire audience.

"Who is it? It's a female singer, and judging by the height, it's about the same as Li Caiwei. Who on earth is this female singer that even *Laughing Weekend* couldn't invite?"

"It must be Yao Liying, right? The first singer to compete should definitely be Li Caiwei. She's an artist under Pine Stone Records, so inviting Pine Stone's top diva to assist makes a lot of sense."

It wasn't just the live audience.

Viewers in the live stream channel also began guessing the identity of the guest performer:

[The competing singer is definitely Li Caiwei. I could recognize this figure with my eyes closed.]

[The guest performer must be Yao Liying. After all, she's Pine Stone's top diva; inviting her as a guest performer should be quite simple, and it probably didn't cost any money.]

[Li Caiwei × Yao Liying, this CP is locked for good!]

On the live broadcast screen,

the two female singers strolled gracefully to the center of the stage as spotlights rained down, illuminating their faces.

The audience finally saw the appearance of the guest performer.

In an instant, a synchronized gasp echoed through the venue.

At the same time, the comment barrage on the live stream channel exploded:

[What the heck! What happened to Yao Liying?]

[I actually guessed wrong. Pine Stone didn't even send Yao Liying to assist.]

[What the hell! It's actually Zhang Huiying, it's actually Zhang Huiying!]

[It's actually the Heavenly Diva! How did they manage to invite the Heavenly Diva here?]

[Wait a minute! Something's wrong! Zhang Huiying came alright, but she's not here to assist Fang Xing. What on earth is going on here?]

[Holy crap! Now that you mention it, I noticed it too. The Heavenly Diva is here, but she's not Fang Xing's guest performer.]

[It's over, it's over. I originally thought the Heavenly Diva would assist Fang Xing, which would give him a better winning odd against Zhong Yuanxun. Now that the Heavenly Diva is assisting Li Caiwei, isn't Fang Xing doomed?]

[It's over, it's over. Zhong Yuanxun's guest performer is South Korea's national-treasure-level female singer Park So-mi! If the Heavenly Diva isn't coming to assist Fang Xing, how is he supposed to fight this round? Is he going to get knocked out in a single round of the finals?]

The audience watching the live stream were astonished by Zhang Huiying's appearance, while simultaneously puzzled as to why she wasn't Fang Xing's guest performer.

[I shouldn't be remembering this wrong, right? Back on *Tomorrow's Star*, Zhang Huiying requested a song from Fang Xing, and the two seemed to have a pretty good relationship.]

[A good relationship my foot. When the Heavenly Diva requested a song, Fang Xing dragged his feet for half a year without writing one for her. He was practically leading the Heavenly Diva on; if it were me, I'd be angry too.]

[That's not right either. Then isn't the song Li Caiwei is singing tonight prepared by Fang Xing?]

Some trolls, being more optimistic, proposed a brand-new idea:

[Have any of you ever thought that even with Zhang Huiying showing up, she's merely acting as a guest performer for Li Caiwei? Doesn't that mean the singer assisting Fang Xing will be even more terrifying?]

[You're overthinking it, aren't you? In the current music industry, find me a guest performer with a higher status than Zhang Huiying and show me.]

On the live stream screen,

Zhang Huiying and Li Caiwei waved at the live audience with poised and charming manners.

He Hao invigorated himself and began the pre-performance interview: "Huiying, long time no see."

Zhang Huiying hastily responded with modesty, "Hello, Teacher He."

"We can be considered old friends. You were willing to come assist Caiwei, yet you've never recorded *Laughing Weekend*—that makes me rather heartbroken," He Hao joked.

"*Laughing Weekend* didn't send me any casting schedules this year. The last time they sent one was two years ago, and that time the schedule genuinely didn't fit," Zhang Huiying hurriedly explained.

"Then come record the show next time," He Hao immediately solicited a guest spot for his own program.

"Definitely, definitely. Even if I have to push away other work, I must record an episode of *Laughing Weekend*," Zhang Huiying readily agreed.

"It's a deal then."

After saying that, He Hao looked at Li Caiwei and remarked, "Look at us, leaving the protagonist of tonight completely sidelined. How impolite."

Li Caiwei joked, "It's fine, you guys chat, I'm not important."

"Important, how could you possibly not be important?"

He Hao smoothed things over and began his questions: "Tonight's theme is 'Dust of History'. What kind of song is Caiwei bringing tonight?

"Is this song connected to another specific singer once again?

"Also, how on earth did you manage to invite Huiying? I am terribly curious about this."

Zhang Huiying glanced at Li Caiwei and took the initiative to answer: "Shall I answer this question? Actually, the song we are performing tonight is a piece produced by Fang Xing and sung by me.

"My coming to assist Caiwei has another purpose as well: to promote a major opening drama for next year.

"Since the competition theme is 'Dust of History', this major opening drama happens to be a historical drama.

"Therefore, this song serves as the ending theme for this historical drama, which fits the competition theme perfectly.

"So, Fang Xing suggested that I and Caiwei perform this song on the stage of *Voice*."

After listening, He Hao chimed in with flattery: "So that's how it is. Suddenly, I've become very interested in this historical drama. A song chosen as an ending theme must undoubtedly carry a profound sense of history.

"Huiying, I remember on a previous show you requested a song from another singer. So can this historical drama's ending theme be considered a successful song request?"

Zhang Huiying replied with a full face of smiles and a nod, "Yes, I love this song immensely. It is practically tailor-made for me and Caiwei."

"Wow! Even Huiying says she loves this song. It makes one look forward to it even more..."

He Hao sighed in admiration and delivered his final linking line: "Since we've already talked this far, why don't the two of you tell the audience together: what is the title of the song you are going to perform?"

Li Caiwei and Zhang Huiying exchanged glances, and then spoke the song's title in unison: "The song is called *The Sky of History*."

"*The Sky of History*" was a song with lyrics by Wang Jian, composition by Gu Jianfen, and originally sung by Mao Amin. It served as the ending theme for the 1994 television series *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*.

The composer of this song was legendary—a composer for the National Central Song and Dance Ensemble who had created nearly a thousand works and provided scores for numerous television series produced by CCTV.

"Let us listen to this *The Sky of History*, and let us hand the stage over to Huiying and Caiwei." Finishing his final linking line, He Hao turned and walked off the stage.

The stage lights converged on Li Caiwei and Zhang Huiying.

The two exchanged a look and walked toward opposite sides of the stage.

As they got into position, the prelude of the song drifted over.

A melody formed by the xun (a Chinese clay flute) and string instruments washed out, conveying a sense of historical vicissitudes amidst its lingering echoes.

Just the prelude alone instantly pulled the audience into the dust of history, as if they were watching ancient scrolls slowly unfurl before their eyes.

As the prelude ended, Li Caiwei picked up her microphone and began to sing:

"The flashes of swords and blades have faded into obscurity,

"The rolling drums and horns of battle have grown distant,

"Before my eyes, one after another,

"Vivid faces continue to flutter..."

Her clear and melodious voice delivered the first verse, and a strong sense of narrative storytelling regarding history rushed forth.

The audience at the venue unconsciously held their breath to listen attentively.

Immediately afterward, Zhang Huiying began singing the second verse:

"The ancient dusty roads have been buried and erased,

"The beacon-lit border cities have fallen to ruin,

"Yet the passing years, oh, cannot wash away

"Those familiar names, one after another..."

With the two taking turns on the verses, both of their vocal timbres possessed distinct recognition value, allowing listeners to immediately distinguish their unique stylistic traits.

Though their timbres differed, the mood and artistic conception conveyed by the song remained entirely consistent.

The narrative-heavy verses felt as though two women who had witnessed countless fires of war were recounting stories from a bygone era.

Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival; I wish everyone a happy holiday and a joyful reunion with your families!