CHAPTER 1491: CHAPTER 19: THE FORMER ’BLUE PEACOCK MASK

As night fell, the traffic was endless.

If daytime is for necessary work to survive, then only at night can one be true to oneself. This is the common ailment of modern urbanites.

In the quiet hover car, the lights turned off, only the colorful billboards passing by outside shone into the car, reflecting the tired, closed eyes, a kaleidoscope of changes.

A small block of floating projection lit up in the hand-held personal terminal, a line of small text slowly moved, displaying the song name and other information.

The hazy melody, like soda pop, sounded in the headphones, neither exciting nor dull, like a perfectly measured massage, easing the listener’s stress, gradually detaching them from a day of high-intensity work status, entering a relatively soft and relaxed environment.

The lyrics of the lime song, with a rhythm like the beat of softly opening fingertips, gradually drew one into that distant and virtual world, as if sinking into the sea depths where the water light sways, entirely isolated from external disturbances.

...

The neon lights outside the car window remained, the figure inside had leaned against the seat back and entered a light slumber, with the personal terminal in hand gradually slipping, revealing the name of the song’s performer.

[’Azure Jasmine’ Xiang Ke’er]

...

After Tilan graduated and left the Central Star Domain, Radiant Star Alanna restarted her life. She received much help, and friends around her gradually returned. The flamboyant times of the past seemed forgotten until one day, a well-dressed man came to her.

"I’ve been entrusted by Songstress ’Azure Jasmine’ Xiang Ke’er to discuss some cooperation matters with Ms. Alanna."

Alanna was quite surprised by the unexpected visitor, but she was no longer the naive and impulsive girl of the past. After meeting and knowing Songstresses like Hexia and Ailu Kelu, she gradually understood the special identity and powerful influence of such figures.

"What brings you to me?" she had a faint guess.

"Do you remember the ’Z’ group from the past?" the other person mentioned a name that Alanna felt nostalgic about.

"That...," Alanna hesitated a bit, after all, she was no longer organizing any special groups now.

"I know you have doubts and reservations, but I’m here on behalf of Lady ’Azure Jasmine’ Xiang Ke’er, not to accuse or threaten you, but with great goodwill, hoping to reach a collaboration with you."

"But..." Alanna knew that the events of the past had come under the scrutiny of the Court of Judgment, and if not for the guarantee of the two Songstresses, she would have long been detained.

"We have already applied for a lift on the Court of Judgment’s ban for you, please look." Saying this, the man showed an electronic notice, with the Court of Judgment’s exclusive key imprint for verification online.

During this time, Lord Ailu Kelu was far away in the Northern Star Region, and Hexia had not responded to her messages online for a long time, reportedly in seclusion practicing. Since this was the case, she truly had no better reason to refuse.

"I understand." Alanna realized she couldn’t escape, and probably her friends around her couldn’t either.

Sure enough, not long after, those people from the past reunited, even with some new unfamiliar faces. Later ’Azure Jasmine’ Xiang Ke’er warmly received her, just as the man had said, Xiang Ke’er was very friendly and warm, without deliberately making things difficult, nor excessively probing her privacy. Perhaps to those influential figures, everything about her was no longer a secret, making such petty actions unnecessary.

In the years to come, Xiang Ke’er continuously contacted various Transcendent Factions and large enterprises, with the collective efforts of a group of master figures and research technicians, the once immature ’Connector’ technology rapidly improved, allowing those without ’Connector’ qualification to also obtain similar abilities through newly developed devices.

With the support of this technology and product, ’Azure Jasmine’ Xiang Ke’er stood out among the many Songstresses in the Central Star Domain, continually defeating numerous seniors and juniors, becoming one of the top five most popular figures, currently ranked in the top tier under ’Bai Mei Vertical Harp’ Evelyn.

.

"Have you used the device recommended by Lady Xiang Ke’er? It’s reportedly similar to the Aijieka Immersion Cabin, but a simplified version, only able to perceive partners of the same frequency, also allowing for friendship, truly remarkable." Occasionally, someone discussed this new product online.

"I’ve used it, it’s truly a fresh and different experience, perhaps this is how people will communicate in the future, it’s almost revolutionary."

"A completely different new technology, just currently newly released, not many people know about it yet."

"Is it really as amazing as they say?"

"Probably just another advertisement, right."

"With the official endorsement of the Songstresses, it shouldn’t go that far."

Some people were half-believing and half-skeptical, but some wealthy individuals or those on the internet who enjoy new things had already started buying to experience it.

.

In the Aijieka Network Space, a square blue box floated in the unknown void, its shape continuously contracting and transforming, eventually reverting to a cube.

Inside, by a black round table, there were seven seats, but now only six of those seats were occupied.

A grey-white square rock, ancient and plain, like a roadside stone stained with mud, this large square rock sat in the central seat, with a faint human face appearing on its surface.

"It has been a long time since seeing everyone." His heavy virtual figure rotated in the special space, his gaze sweeping around, finally resting on the vacant seat.