He was in college, but his songs were at the Grammys.

"Here it comes! Here it comes! Here it comes!"

"Chen Ming has accepted the challenge!"

"This is exactly what I wanted to see!"

On the mentor's panel, Wang Weizhou shook his head with a smile and said to Xu Huaimin next to him, "These two lads are interesting."

Xu Huaimin nodded, his gaze falling on Chen Ming, a hint of anticipation in his eyes: "I also want to see just how much he has up his sleeve. This Ye Wenzhou is no pushover."

On stage, Chen Ming pushed the stage to the edge of the stage, handing it over to Ye Wenzhou, the challenger!

The lights went out.

A spotlight shone on Ye Wenzhou, who stood in the center of the stage, eyes closed, waiting for the music to begin.

The entire room fell silent.

Chen Ming stood in the waiting area at the edge of the stage, arms crossed, calmly looking at the young people on stage.

He could sense that Ye Wenzhou's condition had changed.

The tension disappeared, replaced by a sense of openness.

Like a martial artist's sudden realization before battle.

The prelude begins.

It's still an R&B song, but the arrangement is more complex than the previous one, with more frequent rhythmic changes, and it places higher demands on the singer.

Ye Wenzhou opened his eyes.

He picked up the microphone.

The moment the first sentence left his lips, Chen Ming's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Not the same.

Ye Wenzhou sang that song with ease, as if he were playing it.

But in this song, he sang it as if he were on fire.

The burning passion of a desperate battle!

On the mentor's seat, Xu Huaimin's posture of supporting his head with one hand remained unchanged, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Wang Weizhou leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on the young people on the stage.

Li Jinghua hissed softly and whispered to Zhou Guoping beside her, "This kid has exceeded expectations."

Zhou Guoping nodded without saying anything.

But his eyes were filled with the words "I didn't expect this."

The players' bench fell completely silent.

No one speaks.

No one moved.

Everyone is listening.

Fu Yun stared wide-eyed, then swallowed hard after a long pause: "Is this still the same person from before?"

Xia Die didn't speak, but her tense body revealed her astonishment!

She looked at Ye Wenzhou, who was burning himself on the stage, and then couldn't help but look at the figure leaning against the pillar at the edge of the stage.

Chen Ming remained in the same posture.

He crossed his arms, leaned against the pillar, and remained calm.

It's like the performance on stage has nothing to do with him.

But Xia Die knew it was related!

Next, Chen Ming will stand on that stage and face off against this person.

The strength this person is displaying at this moment can no longer be summarized as "the first tier of the program".

This is the level of the top tier nationwide.

Chen Ming did not pay attention to the changes in the expressions of the people below the stage.

His attention was focused on Ye Wenzhou, and his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

According to his judgment, Ye Wenzhou's singing skills at this moment were already very close to the standard he was very familiar with.

Grandmaster level.

They were just one step away.

This line could be the limit of talent, the accumulation of experience, or an opportunity for sudden enlightenment.

However, Ye Wenzhou's current level has far exceeded the scope of "excellent".

Chen Ming suddenly became curious.

He silently recited in his heart:

"System, how many master-level singers are there in China?"

In my mind, that familiar line of semi-transparent text slowly emerged.

[Searching...]

Currently, the number of master-level vocalists in the world and in China is nine (excluding the host).

[The full list includes: Wang Weizhou (King of Singers), Zhou Guoping (Artistic Director of the National Centre for the Performing Arts), Yuan Qinghe...]

Chen Ming's pupils contracted slightly.

Nine people.

Including himself, there were ten people.

In such a large country with over a billion people, only ten people stand at the very top of the singing talent pyramid.

At this moment, Ye Wenzhou, standing before him, was only a hair's breadth away from the very top of the pyramid.

"No wonder..."

Chen Ming muttered something to himself.

No wonder Ye Wenzhou dared to challenge himself.

It's not arrogance, nor is it ignorance.

Rather, it's because he truly deserves it.

Throughout the entire program, Ye Wenzhou's singing skills were indeed "second only to one person".

Chen Ming's gaze fell on his own hand as he looked at the "one person".

It was him.

He raised his head and looked at Ye Wenzhou on the stage again.

The admiration in his eyes deepened.

Nineteen years old? Twenty years old? At most, twenty-two years old.

At this age, relying on his own exploration, without top-tier resources or renowned teachers, he has painstakingly trained to the point where he is only one step away from becoming a master.

What does this mean?

This is a genius among geniuses.

If given time, opportunities, and proper guidance, five years? Ten years?

He has every chance of overcoming that hurdle and becoming the eleventh master singer in the country.

pity……

On stage, Ye Wenzhou's singing continued, showcasing his best self with all his might.

Chen Ming looked at him and suddenly remembered a sentence.

Second only to the emperor, above all others.

Ye Wenzhou is a prime example of this on this stage today.

That sounds very honorable.

But only by truly standing in that "one person's" position can one realize that those below can never see the view from above.

Those above can see right through those below.

Unfortunately, Ye Wenzhou encountered himself today.

It's the person who's already at the top of the pyramid.

It's that "one person".

Chen Ming withdrew his gaze and leaned gently against the pillar.

He did not look at Ye Wenzhou again.

But in his heart, he silently memorized the name: Ye Wenzhou.

If this person is eliminated today, we might be able to help them out in the future if fate allows.

After all, geniuses shouldn't be buried.

There aren't many people he can "admire".

On stage, Ye Wenzhou's singing reached its climax.

The entire venue erupted in cheers.

Chen Ming stood there, his white shirt illuminated by the stage lights, his face as calm as a deep pool of water.

Nobody knows what he's thinking.

No one knew that in those few short seconds, he had seen through the young man on stage, from head to toe, inside and out.

The song ended.

The last note slowly dissipated into the air.

Thunderous applause erupted.

In the audience, some people stood up and applauded, some shouted "Awesome!", and some whistled.

Holy crap!!!

He Jun stood in the gold seating area, his whole body springing up like a spring, his face flushed red, his hands raised high:

"Awesome! Bro! That's awesome!!!"

He was so excited that he was incoherent, and his eyes were red.

No one understands Ye Wenzhou better than him.

He knew how strong his friend was, and he knew how much he had sacrificed for this day.

But that song just now was the best Ye Wenzhou has ever sung in his life.

He performed beyond his usual limits, burning himself out and emptying himself completely.

That level of skill goes beyond what can be described as "strong".

That is……

That's a level where you can beat anyone.

He Jun's gaze involuntarily turned to the figure leaning against the pillar at the edge of the stage.

He Jun clenched his fists.

"There's a chance..." he murmured, his voice trembling, "There's a chance, Wen Zhou can win... he can win!"

In Grade A areas, however, the scene is completely different.

Fu Yun's mouth was agape, and she couldn't close it for a long time.

He stared blankly at Ye Wenzhou on the stage, then at Chen Ming at the edge of the stage, as if something was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't say a word.

Xia Die, who was standing next to her, didn't say anything either.

But her hands were clenched into fists.

Several seconds later, Fu Yun swallowed hard, her voice dry, "Senior, that's too strong!"

Xia Die still didn't answer.

She just stared at the stage, at Ye Wenzhou who was receiving cheers from the audience, and at Chen Ming who was leaning against the pillar with a calm expression.

My heart is pounding.

She couldn't find the words to describe Ye Wenzhou's song just now.

That skill, that emotion, that state of burning oneself out and performing at an extraordinary level.

If it were her, she definitely wouldn't have been able to catch it.

absolute!

However, her gaze fell on Chen Ming.

That person remained the same, as calm as a deep pool of water.

Just like that amazing song that stunned the audience, it had nothing to do with him.

Fu Yun spoke up again, her voice tinged with barely concealed worry: "Senior, do you think Ming-ge can handle it?"

Xia Die was silent for a second.

Then, she said softly, "I don't know."

This is the truth.

She really doesn't know.

Ye Wenzhou's singing performance has exceeded her understanding of "excellence".

That level of skill would win them the championship on any talent show stage.

Chen Ming is also very strong. Can he be stronger than Ye Wenzhou in this state?

Unless Chen Ming releases another song called "Salvation"!

But where do all these "Salvation" books come from?!

All Xia Die knows now is that the upcoming match will be one of the most exciting matches since the show started!

The surrounding chatter gradually grew louder.

"Holy crap, Ye Wenzhou's skill level is terrifying!"

"That song you just sang, I felt, was even better than many top-tier singers!"

"It's not just a feeling, it's a fact! This level of skill is top-tier nationwide! You could even say it surpasses the original singer!"

"Chen Ming now has a rival..."

"More than just an opponent, I feel Ye Wenzhou has a chance to win!"

"Impossible! Chen Ming is Chen Ming!"

"What's impossible? Anyone would tremble at Ye Wenzhou's state just now! Unless Chen Ming has another song called 'Salvation'!"

"Yeah...this is going to be interesting."

The contestants whispered among themselves, their eyes shifting back and forth between Ye Wenzhou at the edge of the stage and Chen Ming in the center.

Some were nervous, some were expectant, some were gloating, and some were simply watching the spectacle.

But everyone realized one thing.

Chen Ming has finally met his match.

The real opponent.

On the mentors' panel, the five mentors exchanged glances, all seeing the same thing in each other's eyes: surprise.

Wang Weizhou picked up the microphone and his first words were: "I take back what I just said."

He said earnestly, "Ye Wenzhou, your vocal technique is either the strongest on this stage, or the absolute best! There's no one else like it!"

Those words carry a lot of weight.

The entire venue erupted in cheers once again.

Ye Wenzhou stood on the stage, slightly out of breath, his face showing a hint of fatigue, but his eyes were bright.

He bowed to the audience.

Then, he turned his head and looked at the figure at the edge of the stage.

Chen Ming.

He raised his hand and made a "please" gesture.

The movement was very light, but the meaning was clear: it's your turn.

Chen Ming nodded slightly, but there was regret in his eyes.

Wang Weizhou is wrong!

In fact, the other party's ability to alter the tone of voice should be "second only to one person and above ten thousand people".

And he is that "one person".

Ye Wenzhou passed him by and retreated to the waiting area.

Their eyes met for a moment.

Ye Wenzhou saw Chen Ming's eyes.

There was no tension, no seriousness, no superfluous emotion in those eyes.

It was just calm.

There's another kind...

appreciate.

Yes, I appreciate it.

Ye Wenzhou suddenly froze.

He knows how good his song was.

That was the best he ever sang.

He performed beyond his usual limits, burning himself out and emptying himself completely.

But the way Chen Ming looked at him wasn't wary or pressured, but rather admiring.

It's like a senior looking at a junior.

A person standing at the summit is looking at someone who is struggling to climb.

A strange feeling suddenly welled up in Ye Wenzhou's heart.

He couldn't explain what it was.

But he knew he might have really chosen the strongest opponent.

But that's exactly what he wanted!

On stage, the eyes of all five mentors were fixed on the figure in the white shirt.

Wang Weizhou tilted his head slightly, leaned closer to Xu Huaimin beside him, and lowered his voice: "Old Xu, do you think this kid can hold on?"

Xu Huaimin rested his chin on his hand, his gaze fixed on Chen Ming. Without turning around, he simply hummed softly.

"Ye Wenzhou's performance just now was already beyond his usual level. That level would be good enough to be watched on any stage in the country."

He said with a hint of amusement, "If Chen Ming can't handle this, he'll be in big trouble today."

Wang Weizhou laughed, leaned back in his chair, and crossed his arms: "A rollover? I'd like to see what a rollover looks like."

Hearing their conversation, Li Jinghua turned her head slightly and whispered, "Look at him, does he look like he's about to crash?"

The three of them looked at Chen Ming on the stage at the same time.

He was standing in the center of the stage, bowing slightly to the judges' seats, then turning around and nodding to the music teacher.

His movements were composed, and his expression was calm.

It's exactly the same as when I was sitting in the audience just now.

It was as if he wasn't there to face a formidable opponent who was performing exceptionally well, but rather to attend a class.

Xu Huaimin paused for a moment, then clicked his tongue softly: "This kid..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Wang Weizhou and Li Jinghua both understood.

This kid is incredibly steady.

Zhou Guoping adjusted his glasses and whispered to Zhao Yazhi beside him, "Have you noticed? From the moment Ye Wenzhou started singing until now, his expression hasn't changed at all."

Zhao Yazhi nodded, her gaze falling on Chen Ming with a hint of appreciation in her eyes: "He's not faking it, he's genuinely steady."

She added, "At this age, such composure is rare."

The five mentors exchanged glances, and they all saw the same thing in each other's eyes: appreciation.

There was still a faint glimmer of hope.

Ye Wenzhou is almost burned to the point of becoming a relic. How is Chen Ming going to receive it?

Can he catch it?

Will it still backfire?

.......

on the stage.

Chen Mingchao bowed slightly to the instructors' table, then turned around and nodded to the music teacher.

The entire room fell silent.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the music to start.

Then, an antique-style prelude began.

The pipa, guzheng, and xiao, several traditional Chinese musical instruments, are interwoven together to create a scene under the moonlight.

The large screen at the back of the stage lit up, and lines of text appeared:

"moonlight"

Singer: Chen Ming

Lyrics by Chen Ming

Composer: Chen Ming

Arrangement: Chen Ming

From songwriting to singing, it's all the same name.

The unique romance of original musicians is vividly displayed.