“As expected of the Moonlight Temple...”
Anyone visiting this place, revered worldwide as the supreme hall of art, couldn’t help but make such an exclamation. Joey was no exception.
Poetic, magnificent, dreamlike... all imaginable words could seamlessly describe this place.
The lighting floating around was softer and hazier than moonlight. Through the dome at the highest point, one could even see the starry sky outside, with starlight from billions of light years away falling on his head.
It made one feel as if they were in a dreamy cosmic space.
At this time, the grand ensemble of the music parade had been isolated outside. The moment one stepped into the Moonlight Temple, it was like leaving extreme noise and clamor to suddenly enter a quiet world.
People gradually broke away from the parade procession like Joey, entering the Moonlight Temple either before or after him. These people also fell into momentary silence upon entering, just like Joey, but for different reasons—
“...What just happened? What did I do?”
“...Was that eerie ‘Ode to Peace’ really played by me? I must have been possessed!”
“...Everything was normal before, when did it go wrong? Oh no, I can’t even remember how the normal ‘Ode to Peace’ should be played...”
“Eh? You too?”
Amidst the dejected and frustrated whispers, people quickly discovered others in similar bizarre states, and both familiar and unfamiliar individuals couldn’t help but discuss this topic.
Joey overheard two people walking in front of him exchanging words, discovering that neither could find their normal musical rhythm in the short term. After some bewildered muttering, these two spoke in extremely heavy tones.
“I really don’t know who that person was who first led the rhythm astray. Now even when I try to recall familiar tunes, the first version that plays in my mind is the ghostly rhythm version. This is maddening. We can only hope that after listening to this concert, we can find our normal aesthetic sense again through truly wonderful music!”
“—We definitely can, this is the Moonlight Temple after all! Anyone who can hold a concert here must possess extraordinary musical talent. They’ll surely help us rediscover our appreciation for beautiful music!”
Hearing this, Joey, walking behind the two, couldn’t help but interject. “Isn’t that going too far? Weren’t we all immersed in it just now? What do you mean by finding normal aesthetic sense? There’s no normal or abnormal when it comes to appreciating music. As long as it can immerse people, that proves music’s charm.”
The two people, suddenly interrupted, were initially displeased, but upon turning to see Joey clearly, their displeasure quickly dissipated.
The young man before them was at most 22 years old, carrying a classical artist’s air that matched perfectly with the Roland Kingdom, his quiet and beautiful features devoid of any aggression, instead appearing quite naive.
—Joey’s appearance, temperament, and his seemingly ever-emanating hidden spiritual waves always made people feel favorable towards him, unconsciously lowering their guard.
The two strangers, who thought they weren’t much older than him, showed a hint of affection in their eyes and shook their heads with a sigh. “Young man, you’re still under the influence, aren’t you! Otherwise, you wouldn’t say such things.”
Joey: “???”
His expression made the two misunderstand even more deeply, making them more worried for him. “Surely no one with normal aesthetic sense would appreciate that ghostly music from earlier? Young man, wake up! Don’t let your aesthetic sense be led astray! Quick, quick, let’s take our seats, the concert is about to begin, you can still be saved!”
Joey: “No, I don’t think I need saving...”
“No, you do. Word has it that the first performer at the concert is a newly famous musical prodigy from the Roland Kingdom, possessing unparalleled musical talent. Not even 30 years old and already having the opportunity to perform at the Moonlight Temple... And I have inside information – it’s an original piano piece. They say the masters who’ve heard this piece gave it extremely high praise. It will surely help correct your aesthetic sense, young man!”
“Yes, very soon, once you witness this musical prodigy’s performance, you’ll definitely rediscover your appreciation for music and understand what truly deserves to be appreciated!”
Joey: “...”
“Then I’ll make sure to appreciate it properly.” After a silence, amidst their enthusiastic recommendations, he showed an excessively gentle smile, drawing out his final words, “...I hope it won’t disappoint my expectations.”
“—It’s time to experience true art!”
Meanwhile, outside the Moonlight Temple.
The musical parade wandered through the royal city’s streets. Duzuo, who had tried hard but still couldn’t recover from the influence of the ghostly music, completely gave up.
Looking at others who seemed oblivious to this, listening to everyone’s ensemble of ghostly music, his face gradually lost all expression.
“...I’m tired, just destroy it all, hurry up.”
The next instant, moonlight vanished as black shadows enveloped the earth. Everyone looked up dumbfounded, horrified to see a strange cube descending from the sky above.
“...Don’t come over here!”
Just before completely losing consciousness, Duzuo let out a confused cry, “No, that’s really not what I meant!”
When he regained consciousness, he found himself in a small room with nine other people.
On the four walls of the room was a long, connected mural, like a dragon winding along the walls, giving off a sense of being “alive,” as if quietly observing them.
Simultaneously, a voice echoed in everyone’s ears.
[Welcome to the Art Paradise Trial Space.]
[Please prepare yourself for your first trial.]
[Those who pass twelve trials will qualify for Art Paradise; failures will be cast into Art Purgatory.]
“How is it?”
While everyone struggled in their trials, Joey’s voice suddenly appeared in the central square of the cube. He turned his gaze toward the ethereal, formless soul floating in mid-air.
“Based on their skills, I’ve placed them in trial spaces of different art categories,” the boy’s childish voice rang out. “Your design is ingenious, allowing these people who’ve never encountered Spirit Forging to learn through continuous trial failures. Once they grasp the basics of Spirit Forging, they can pass the first trial. Those who can’t either lack talent or wisdom, clearly unqualified. The most excellent ones should be qualified to join the Artists Association. This screening method is very convenient.”
“However...” he cast a curious glance at Joey, “this trial space gives me such a strong sense of déjà vu.”
Joey smiled slightly and spoke frankly.
“Compared to those Main Gods in infinite flow novels where you die if you don’t clear the levels, I’m giving them a path to true art. They just need to keep learning, keep taking tests, keep experiencing the process of their spirit being polluted and healed. Compared to the trial process, the final reward is already quite generous.”
“Oh right,” he seemed to suddenly remember something, raising his hand to draw in the air, and immediately incredibly realistic portraits appeared floating in mid-air. The first one on the left was Grant, and the following ones, if Duzuo were here, he would recognize them all as people who had criticized Joey’s art throughout the day. “Mark these people specifically, double their trial difficulty.”
“—No, make it triple,” he quickly overturned his own order. “Their aesthetic sense is too rigid; they probably need intensified learning to comprehend true art.”
As he said this, he showed an incredibly gentle smile.
“Especially the first one – give me the space number he’s in. Since I’m bored anyway, I’ll personally arrange it for him. I must make sure he walks on the truly correct path of art.”
—Let him understand what Art Paradise (Purgatory) is, and what it means to be a senior artist who doesn’t hold (extremely harbors) grudges while nurturing juniors ????
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