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Amid the chaos, the first audition episode finally aired.
Youthful and vibrant boys formed a long queue, appearing one after another, each so appealing that the audience couldn’t help but exclaim.
“This one is so A! He’s definitely born to be a top!!”
“I’ve spotted my favorite little wolf dog!! Ahhh, I just wanted to take a quick look and leave, but let me vote!!”
“Is that a brother wearing Hanfu?! I’m picking him—”
“What?? Isn’t that my classmate?? He took a long leave of absence to debut???”
Due to the large number of trainees, the production team focused on editing for ratings, introducing the four mentors grandly before cutting to the first and second segments.
[Assembly Grand Exam] and [Rescue Time].
As the name implies, the Grand Exam was a massive test involving one hundred and twenty people.
The production team was bold, setting up a venue similar to art college entrance exams, with sixty professional judges and multi-angle cameras for a transparent initial assessment.
“The voting channel for the one hundred and twenty trainees is now open, please make sure to check the code and name before casting your precious vote,” Mei Heng said with a smile, “Four rounds of assessments will determine their initial ratings. If their performance falters, there’s the rescue segment as a chance for redemption.”
Meanwhile, Huo Ren, dressed in a deep black mentor outfit, surveyed the entire venue.
This was his first appearance as a mentor.
Every junior instinctively looked towards him.
They could sense the aura of a dominant figure inspecting his territory.
Even though his expression was calm and he remained silent, there was no doubt about who controlled the scene.
Some showed reverence, while many others pretended to be busy with answers or dance preparations to avoid eye contact with Huo Ren.
Huo Ren had no intention of intimidating anyone.
He was simply nostalgic about the past related to this moment.
Back then, he too had climbed step by step, looking up at all the distant and shining figures, shedding his awkwardness and fatigue to be reborn.
In a flash… he had also become a senior figure.
The director, understanding the moment, gave him a long shot. Even without special lighting, the lone figure walking against the direction of over a hundred trainees stood out.
Standing tall, with a lean figure, he was like a cold blade ready to be unsheathed.
The audience was even more supportive in the live comments.
[My Ren is still my Ren… A mentor is indeed different #teary-eyed#teary-eyed]
[I’m picking you, brother!! I’ve been picking you for eight years now—]
His silhouette alone conveyed a sense of solitude. Fans of mine have adored my brother to the point of on-the-spot demise, clutching their hearts.
The examination consisted of choosing three out of four options: original composition, music theory and instrumentation, advertising photography, and stage performance.
All personal direct-capture videos were simultaneously uploaded to the official website platform, allowing fans to view specific performances and results based on their preferences and decide whether to vote.
Once this arrangement was set, the grades were also published in sync.
Even the group variety show streamed on mobile phones, a simple tap on the floating logo revealed the stunning preliminary rankings.
From the 1st to the 30th (Heaven), 30th to 60th (Upper), 60th to 90th (Middle), 90th to 120th (Low), the rankings of the four groups were listed just like high school exams, showcasing the average scores—a brutal reality.
The disparity in scores was vast, a difference as stark as heaven and earth.
To stand out as an idol, only the victors could ascend to the skies.
This program attracted trainees from numerous companies, leading to biases and complications, so the rules were set in stone from the start.
—To win, speak with your talent and sweat, not through deceit.
Audiences never expected a talent development show to be so detailed, seizing the ad breaks to quickly choose their favorites from the lineup.
“Is nurturing this exhilarating? As an old mother, I get to receive my child’s report card every episode??”
“This is like a battle of the gods… Some of them could debut solo by now, why are they forming a group?!”
“Must choose the first! The starting votes for the top five are so much higher than for the others!”
“I’ll choose someone ranked lower; my little brother is definitely going to make a comeback—”
The test results were announced on the spot, leaving the trainees in a daze.
Wait, it’s this intense from the start?
I became a trainee and still can’t escape exams and rankings…
“The second phase is called ‘Rescue Time,'” Feng Jin stated coldly. “Anyone dissatisfied with their current scores can choose to enter the mentor’s assessment room to showcase their abilities again.”
“Note that if the performance is not up to par, rankings may decrease instead of increase.”
“Only fifty slots are available for the rescue; it ends once filled.”
The mentor’s assessment room, situated near the large public examination rooms, was marked by a conspicuous poster and light sign.
Hundreds of trainees, still in shock and confusion about their rankings, hesitated to rush for extra points.
—They had registered their talent performance props before participating in the recording, never anticipating the program’s extreme measures.
A survival game from the start, how would they continue?
Before Feng Jin could finish the introduction, a tall and handsome trainee boldly walked towards the assessment room.
The camera zoomed in on him, displaying his full appearance.
The young man, appearing to be nineteen, had his hair dyed a rebellious silver-red smoke color, and his platinum earring shone brightly in his right ear.
His appearance was aggressive, dressed in trendy brands and a spotted jacket, his colors bold and flamboyant, resembling the proud spirit of a snow leopard.
Many trainees, lacking composure, were already exclaiming in surprise, unsure if they were struck by his handsomeness or shocked.
“Hello, mentors.” The youth stood firm, bowed crisply, and handed over his personal file with both hands.
Huo Ren glanced at him briefly and said indifferently, “Please introduce yourself.”
“My name is Zhu Xizhi, I am nineteen years old and have been training for four years,” the young man said with slightly narrowed eyes. “Currently, I am ranked first in the Heavenly group with a score of 273.”
His statement caused an uproar among the onlookers.
First in the Heavenly group and still fighting for points? Not satisfied with first place, aiming for the skies?
Your ambition is not ordinary at all!
The comments were buzzing non-stop.
[I’m starting to be a fan—this young man is both A and handsome, obviously a team leader material!!]
[He’s so confident, I’m healed, I can love again!]
[This is too arrogant, not a fan…]
Pei Ruye made some notes and, following routine, asked for more details.
“Why do you want to undergo a second assessment?”
“Because I’m unsure of the gap between the second place and myself,” the young man said, raising his eyebrows. “I prefer to create a significant gap; I want to win securely.”
“You came prepared.” Mei Heng laughed. “Very charismatic.”
He chose a popular song from the BILLBOARD charts for his performance, delivering authentic LOG dance moves.
His explosive power, precise control, and excellent facial expressions were flawless throughout the performance, leaving no room for criticism.
Even the typically critical Feng Jin nodded slightly.
“Add another twenty points.”
Zhu Xizhi smiled and nodded in thanks: “Thank you, teachers.”
After Huo Ren scored and signed, he returned the file and casually asked a question.
“Which mentor do you plan to choose in the future?”
Feng Jin asked, almost without needing to think, the latter immediately named his choice.
“I choose Pei God.”
Pei Ruye slowly blinked his eyes.
The man naturally possessed a restrained sexiness, which became even more pronounced with that expression.
“Why?” Huo Ren laughed. “Am I not professional enough?”
“Not at all,” Zhu Xizhi laughed, easing the atmosphere. “Dwight is very famous internationally.”
“Those who like street dance, or rather, are interested in URBAN, mostly prefer Pei God as their first choice.”
Huo Ren slightly raised an eyebrow: “Alright, next.”
During the gap in Zhu Xizhi’s performance, outside, forty-nine slots were successively filled, leaving those still hesitating with no chance to lower their scores, only able to wait in frustration.
When the door was pushed open again, a familiar face appeared.
“Hello, teachers, I am Fu Mingnian, ranked second in the Heavenly group, with a total score of 270.”
The audience: …???
Contestants outside: ???
Hey, you two—did you coordinate this??
How can the top students fight for extra points, leaving no chance for the underdogs to live!! If this continues, there’s no way to write a comeback story!!!
Huo Ren smiled and glanced outside: “Are all those lining up from the Heavenly and Upper groups?”
The crowd quickly shook their heads.
Pei Ruye glanced at the score table, noticing that this kid’s performance in advertising was three points lower than Zhu Xizhi.
Not much difference.
“Why do you want to undergo a second assessment?”
“Because the one currently in first place is worried I might overtake him,” Fu Mingnian said calmly. “I’m here to accompany him.”
Laughter erupted from outside.
“The assessment includes a potential gain or loss of up to fifty points,” Feng Jin twirled his pen, examining the student’s confidence: “How many do you think you can get?”
“Thirty positive points,” the young man said gently. “Not too greedy.”
He nodded towards the sound booth, and American electronic music immediately burst forth.
The mentors familiar with the song instinctively sat up straight.
It was “RAP GOD” by Eminem, a track that cemented his legendary status.
The reason this white rapper stood out among many black rappers was his unparalleled creativity and incredible speed of delivery.
“RAP GOD” peaks at a segment where a hundred and one words are spit out in fifteen seconds, averaging about six words per second, all while maintaining flawless breath control and rhyming.
—Most people dare not cover this song.
The moment Fu Mingnian began, his control and stability radiated from his seemingly gentle exterior, with every word and emotion delivered stunningly.
The song, with its boastful lyrics self-proclaiming divinity, was interpreted by the young man with just the right amount of vigor, toning down the aggressiveness with his calm and composed manner.
As if to say, look, I don’t even need to compete.
Because I am undoubtedly better than you.
Huo Ren, resting his chin in his hand, listened for a few seconds, then suddenly looked towards the sound booth.
“Skip to 4 minutes and 19 seconds.”
The staff looked at Fu Mingnian in surprise, but the young man quickly nodded in agreement.
He took three or four seconds to adjust his breathing, then, with an incredible speed, matched the BEAT’s tempo, accelerating to its utmost limit—
“Uh, summa-lumma, dooma-lumma, you assumin’ I’m a humanWhat I gotta do to get it through to you? I’m superhumanI’m innovative and I’m made of rubber so that anythin’You say is ricochetin’ off of me, and it’ll glue to you—”
The live performance, full of presence, blew the audience away in just fifteen seconds!
“Can this guy really rap that fast??”
“Whooooooooh!!!”
Dozens of hip-hop enthusiast trainees outside were visibly shocked, loudly cheering and clapping in approval, with many more joining in to create a roaring wave of noise.
“Awesome!!”
“Strong, big brother—I’m kneeling; time to pack up and go home—”
Several even whistled long and loud in celebration, instantly making almost everyone remember his name.
Zhu Xizhi sat in his original place, watching the person who had just added thirty points to his score approach leisurely.
“Make some room.” The young man reverted to his harmless, gentle persona, smiling like a crispy shark: “Now I am in first place.”
The author has something to say:
New chapter = focusing on Yehuo + second group + Han Qu
Each chapter will focus on different aspects without specific labeling.
———-
The second group will feature ten characters with distinct personalities vying for selection. The debut list is already set.
Four will be eliminated; stock purchases are at your own risk.
No responsibility for losses x