156: Chapter 156 would be considered textbook material in ancient times!

As soon as the words fell, a burst of enthusiastic applause rang out from the audience.

However, the bullet comments in the livestream room instantly split into two factions.

[hair like snow? This name actually has quite a bit of national style flavor to it.]

[Why do they have to mention Lu Li every single time?]

[No matter what you all say, I am still looking forward to it! Because Lu Li has never let me down!]

[Hehe, Lu Li? I feel the songs he writes are just so-so, they are overhyped.]

[Is there something wrong with your ears, upstairs?]

[To be honest, the national style theme has already been played to death by the previous contestants, and I do not think Shen Qingxue can pull off any new tricks.]

[Exactly, what kind of name is hair like snow, it sounds so pretentious just hearing it.]

[You guys are shouting so happily now, do not end up listening on your knees later.]

The bullet comments instantly turned into a chaotic mess.

On-site.

The lights dimmed, the spotlight narrowed, leaving only a small circle of halo enveloping Shen Qingxue.

She stood there, her ink-wash painting style long dress faintly discernible in the light and shadow, looking extremely beautiful.

Lu Li leaned against the back of the chair in the waiting area, crossing his arms and staring closely at the television screen.

Before long, a fluorescent white spotlight fell from above once more, enveloping all of Shen Qingxue in a cold and detached atmosphere.

The prelude began to play.

To the surprise of everyone, the instrument was not the common guzheng or pipa, but rather the piano.

Yet this choice was not abrupt at all; instead, it carried a clean, detached feeling, resembling moonlight spilling down.

The bullet comments in the livestream room fell momentarily silent.

[This prelude... is so beautiful.]

[A piano? Using a piano for a national style song? Can this work?]

[But you have to admit, it really has a strong vibe.]

[This instrument setup is so novel, I am already starting to look forward to it.]

Shen Qingxue closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

As the prelude reached the right moment, she slowly began to sing.

"Wolf-fang moon, the beauty grows haggard."

"I raise my cup, drinking down the wind and snow."

Her voice was not as cold and aloof as before, but instead carried a hint of unprecedented gentleness and desolate beauty.

The bullet comments in the livestream room instantly exploded.

[Kneeling right from the start!]

[Wolf-fang moon, the beauty grows haggard... These lyrics are simply too peerless!]

[My goosebumps popped up instantly, they really came up!]

[Drinking down the wind and snow, how on earth did they think of such imagery!]

[When Lu Li writes songs, what kind of fairy is he on earth?!]

Shen Qingxue on stage continued to sing, her voice becoming steadier and her emotions growing fuller.

"Who knocked over the cabinet of past lives, stirring up the right and wrong of dust."

"The formula of fate, how many cycles of reincarnation."

"You knit your brows, weeping as the beauty cannot be called back."

"Even if history has turned to ashes, my love is undying."

When singing the three words "my love is undying", her emotions subconsciously grew much heavier.

Some audience members below the stage had already begun to prick up their ears to listen, and the attention of everyone was completely captured.

The same was even more true for the bullet comments in the livestream room.

[Even if history has turned to ashes, my love is undying... I can remember this lyric for a lifetime.]

[Where is this a lyric? This is clearly poetry!]

[What kind of monster is Lu Li anyway? He can even write such lyrics?!]

[Who was it earlier that said the national style theme has been played to death? Step out and take a beating!]

[Where are those people from before? Shouting?!]

[Sorry brothers, I was wrong, both my eyes and ears have problems, Lu Li is forever the god!]

[Goodness gracious, if this song were placed in ancient times, it would be at the level of getting into textbooks.]

In the waiting area, the contestants who had not left yet all fell silent.

They stared at the television screen with complex expressions.

The Flowered-Shirt Man who had been taught a lesson by Lu Li earlier was no longer there, but even if he were, he probably would not be able to say anything at this moment.

Because the gap was simply too huge.

So huge that even jealousy felt ridiculous.

On the stage, the performance of Shen Qingxue was still continuing.

"Prosperity is like three thousand waters flowing east."

"I take only a single ladle of love to comprehend."

"Loving only the butterfly you transformed into."

As soon as these two lines of lyrics came out, the bullet comments in the livestream room exploded in another wave.

[Take only a single ladle of love to comprehend... Goodness, this kind of romance is simply about to overflow.]

[The songwriting of Lu Li is truly at the ceiling level.]

[Why do I feel like this song is not being sung to others, but rather to a certain someone...]

[Upstairs, are you talking about Lu Li?]

[Holy crap, now that you put it that way, it really seems to have that kind of meaning.]

[Do not guess blindly, big brothers, the Goddess would not be like this, wuwuwu.]

On the stage, the voice of Shen Qingxue gradually pushed towards the climax.

"Your hair like snow made the parting desolate and beautiful."

"I burned incense to move whom."

"Inviting the bright moon, letting memories shine bright."

"Love is perfect under the moonlight."

"Your hair like snow, tears flew about in a flurry."

"Whom did my waiting age."

"Drunk on the mortal world, tipsy years."

"I use no regrets to carve the monument of loving you for all eternity."

When singing this line, the emotions of Shen Qingxue reached their peak, and her rendition was even more heart-stirring.

The audience below the stage fell completely silent.

Everyone was immersed in that line of lyrics, immersed in the image of "carving the monument of loving you for all eternity with no regrets".

The bullet comments in the livestream room stalled for a brief instant.

Then, they poured out at a speed that was close to madness.

[Oh mommy, I cried, I really cried, it is just too good to listen to...]

[The monument of loving you for all eternity... What kind of deep affection is needed to write such lyrics.]

[Lu Li, you are truly awesome at writing songs.]

[I take back all my skeptical words from before, Lu Li is simply a god.]

On the stage, the song also gradually entered its conclusion.

"The bronze mirror reflects innocence, tying a ponytail."

"If you run wild, I will accompany you with wine in this lifetime."

The voice of Shen Qingxue slowly faded, and the entire venue remained silent for at least a full five seconds.

Looking back at the livestream room, the scrolling speed of the bullet comments was so fast that the content could not be seen clearly at all; one could only see exclamation marks filling the screen and the two words "canonized as a god".

At the judges table, the five judges exchanged glances.

One of the older female judges picked up the microphone.

"Shen Qingxue... No, Teacher Shen, for this song, I can only say... I have not heard such a work in many years."

She took a deep breath and continued speaking.

"From lyrics to tune, from arrangement to performance, every single link can be called perfect, especially the lyrics..."

She paused for a moment, as if deliberating her wording.

"The combination of lyrical imagery has already transcended the scope of popular music, reaching the height of literature."

Another male judge took over the conversation, his tone equally serious.

"I agree, this song "hair like snow" is not just a song, it is a work of art."

He paused for a moment and looked at Shen Qingxue.

"Teacher Shen, please convey my respects to Teacher Lu Li on my behalf."

Shen Qingxue bowed slightly, the corners of her mouth curving up slightly.

"Thank you, I will convey it."

The host walked onto the stage with a beaming smile.

"Thank you to all the judge teachers for your comments, then... please, all judge teachers, reveal your scores!"