Superstars of Tomorrow

Music was a medium for emotion and ideas. Through music, even if one couldn’t completely guess the composer’s full intent, they would still understand parts of it.

The audience had no way of knowing what exactly Fang Zhao was thinking about. However, they could seemingly comprehend why Fang Zhao would completely donate away the many billions he had received for discovering the Alkaid.

But, understanding was only one part. Not everyone would be able to do the same.

Not everyone in the concert hall had come for Fang Zhao. There were some who also wanted to personally witness exactly what kind of people could get into this god-leveled “HuangArt Twelve Tones advanced course”. This unconcealable radiance that shone through wasn’t something that marketing ploys could compare with.

The graduation concert entered the evaluation grading phrase, so there was a longer break. The evaluation committee needed to give a comprehensive evaluation for these seven songs which would also be the final overall grades for Fang Zhao’s graduation concert. This too pertained to his overall graduation results.

Lan Jing heard some discussions in the row behind him.

“A piece worthy of being created by a Galaxy Award winner. I thought I saw a little kid crying while listening to it. Actually, I also nearly teared up. I felt as if some ineffable feeling washed over me, as if the music was talking about me.”

“…When people are pretentious, everything sounds like it’s about themself,” someone else retorted.

“It’s not being ‘pretentious’. It’s called a narrative.”

Lan Jing then heard an electronic music producer in the row ahead express, “Just look at his electronic music. We all produce electronic music, but look at him! He is able to make it both penetrative and elegant. He can also bring out such dynamics as well as such tease such lavish momentum. It’s so freely interchanging yet enigmatic. There’s no choice but to respect him! Fortunately, Fang Zhao isn’t the same as us. Otherwise, our own careers would be under threat.”

All the people around had very high opinions of Fang Zhao’s graduation concert. Meanwhile, Lan Jing was quite confident that the evaluation committee would settle on an A+.

Just as Lan Jing had expected, the evaluation committee gave an overall “A+” grade.

An evaluation committee member lamented as he watched the display grade, “Fang Zhao’s learning ability is too impressive. From these graduation concert pieces, we are able to see the elegance of classical music as well as the unconstrained flexibility of present day contemporary music. It might not be at the pinnacle, but these works are really brimming with talent. The graduation pieces have different melodies, rich layerings and magnificent scenes. The creative concept is distant, yet doesn’t lack the connection of a story or picture. Every single note seems to contain a sort of emotion that tugs at the senses ever so slightly.”

“There were a few portions that didn’t have a heavy rhythm yet could still make listeners all fired up. It was truly a majestic atmosphere, and the music seemed to brew with power.”

“These are the works of someone from Yanzhou, but characteristics of other continents can also be found. This isn’t easy.”

Suddenly, an evaluation committee member said, “Actually, these seven songs can entirely be made into an examination question for this year’s Year One freshmen’s initiation examinations.”

This resulted in a unanimous approval by the few other evaluation committee members.

There were two sentences HuangArt welcomed new students with——

The first sentence was: “Welcome new students!”

The second sentence was: “Exam time.”

HuangArt was adept at pouring cold water on their new students.

They would first display the works of outstanding students to the newly enrolled freshmen. This would let the freshmen experience the ability of their outstanding schoolmates as a reminder.

Don’t assume you are awesome just because you made it through the entrance exams. Forget about being big-headed. Take a look at your seniors. Do you have time to waste in university?!

In the past, they rarely used the works from the Twelve Tones Advanced Course to set initiation examination questions since the age gap between advanced students and freshmen was considerable. However, things were different this year. Fang Zhao wasn’t that much older than the freshmen.

Having decided to turn Fang Zhao’s graduation works into a set of examination questions, the evaluation committee members all flashed the “devilish grins” that only veterans in HuangArt could see through.

Thus, in the same year, Fang Zhao singlehandedly dealt a massive blow to a whole cohort of HuangArt freshmen.

HuangArt’s cold water bath was really discouraging.

Of course, all of this came later on.

After announcing the final evaluation, the graduation concert ended. In a sense, Fang Zhao had already graduated smoothly. The only thing that remained was a ceremony. However, that would have to wait until the others in the advanced course completed their graduation evaluations. A formal graduation ceremony would be held for them to receive their graduation certificates.

When Fang Zhao thanked the evaluation committee, the old professors of the committee all had gratified smiles.

A professor patted Fang Zhao on his shoulder. “Well done, well done. Continue to maintain your passion for music and learn more techniques and skills. Oh, right, we have an important performance activity some time later. Perhaps we might also invite you then.”

Fang Zhao gave his thanks and remembered these words.

Important performance activity?

How important?

It was so important that it couldn’t be explicitly said. That meant it would definitely be held at a special location. Perhaps it would be a high level performance.

The audiences at the venue continued to leave in succession.

Master Yan Ye, one of the specially invited epic music composers had already left skillfully and evaded the blockade of some stars in the audience.

However, there was still someone at Yan Ye’s side. This was a very popular veteran Huangzhou singer who had collaborated many times with Yan Ye in the past.

In the car leaving HuangArt.

“So, not eyeing any of those seven songs today?” Yan Ye asked the person seated beside him.

“I can’t say I don’t. I do wish to re-adapt two songs, but the competitors are just too strong. I don’t know if I can beat them,” the singer chuckled.

Fang Zhao’s older works were very good indeed. However, there weren’t that many that could be rearranged to fit a song. The lyrical aspect was only so-so, and even the epic flavor wouldn’t sustain it.

However, Fang Zhao had gained greater mastery over surrounding aspects after entering advanced studies. These seven songs contained even more elements, and many others in the industry were already circling like hawks. Naturally, this singer too had his own ideas.

Yan Ye smirked. “You need to go about it the right way if you want to buy the adaptation rights! Don’t bully him!” Because the old Yan Ye had such experienced such things in his younger days, he especially loathed those that used power to pressure people for lower prices on the music rights.

He had accepted the invitation and come over this time because he was very interested in this youngster. He treated Fang Zhao as a very hard-to-come-by genius junior.

One person alone couldn’t do much, but when many combined, great things could be achieved. Machine intelligence had superseded many things, but the arts and other such intellectual ways would forever be difficult to replace. Only by pouring in fresh blood would this circle forever be filled with vitality.

Little seedlings had to be protected.

Therefore, if anyone wanted to employ unsavory means to adapt Fang Zhao’s songs, this old man would flip out!

Under the stern gaze of Yan Yu, this veteran Huangzhou singer felt like crying, but no tears came out.

“You think too much now that you are old. Who can even bully Fang Zhao? Could you have some misunderstanding to the name ‘Fang Zhao’?”

On the singing stage, this singer had decades of experience, fans across the world, and the charisma to rally supporters. He could indeed be considered someone with “power and influence” in the industry, but this was all temporary. There was no questioning Fang Zhao’s innate talent. Perhaps in the future, he would even have to go implore Fang Zhao personally for songs. He had experienced what it was like trying to get songs from other renowned composers. The standards for this one were even higher.

And, once he entered the music industry, Fang Zhao might not have any less influence than he did. Furthermore, Fang Zhao’s cross-industry impact was even more impressive. Just the sheer numbers of his gaming fans was frightening.

And this was only within the entertainment circles. There wasn’t any need to mention those outside the circles nor his friendly relations with the military. Fang Zhao was still on military reserve duty and could even legally carry arms!

Who would even poke Fang Zhao for nothing?

Just as he thought, those wanting to buy adaptation rights really didn’t dare try any underhanded methods because of Fang Zhao and academic big shots behind him. Look at Great Master Mo Lang. The concert had already concluded, but he still pulled Fang Zhao to the side to talk to him.

Mo Lang didn’t leave right away after the concert ended. Instead, he stayed with Fang Zhao to continue lecturing him.

There’s no longer any need to write anymore theses now that you have graduated?

No such chance!

In the academic world, theses were extremely important. Just relying on words and concerts wasn’t enough to earn the recognition of academics globally.

“I’m still watching you. Don’t slack off,” Mo Lang said.

Mo Lang only let Fang Zhao off after droning on for some time.

Mo Lang left with his assistant. After Fang Zhao sent Mo Lang off, he headed over to Great-grandfather Fang and the others who were waiting outside.

Great-grandfather Fang Zhao had been surveying his surroundings carefully when he came out. He exhaled in relief when he didn’t see that terrifying figure buried deep in his memory. Upon seeing Fang Zhao, he smiled until his eyes were nothing more than slits.

Great-grandfather Fang Zhao decided to stay in Huangzhou for a few more days until Fang Zhao officially graduated. He still wanted to take photos together with Fang Zhao! How could he miss such an important occasion?!

But, Great-grandfather Fang wouldn’t be staying with Fang Zhao the whole time before the graduation ceremony. He called to Great-grandmother Fang, “Let’s go! Time to catch up with our old comrades.”