The sky gradually dimmed, three shining stars fell, and the starry sky revealed its true appearance.

Xu Xiaoyou noticed that Tang Xin had been feeling a bit down ever since the news reported that explosion. She sat by the window, staring blankly into the night.

"What's wrong?"

"Mr. Diesel, he's been my mentor at the academy. He used to look after me quite a bit; whenever I had academic questions, I would go to him..." Tang Xin said.

Her words were tinged with sadness.

Xu Xiaoyou detected a hint of something else; that Mr. Diesel was also a member of the Lindong family.

"I've heard about the Ascetic Sect from many people. What kind of organization is it exactly?"

Xu Xiaoyou recalled the man.

She inwardly sighed at the fact that someone who appeared proper and courteous was actually a complete lunatic.

Turning himself into a human bomb, talking about art, and then performing an on-street self-explosion.

Such people lurk in society, possibly even brushing past you.

"Do you know the factions of art?" Tang Xin asked.

"Such as Romanticism, Impressionism, Symbolism, Nationalism, and so on. It's not important; don't need to take notes."

"Got it, Teacher Tang." Xu Xiaoyou nodded.

Tang Xin smiled helplessly, feeling a bit relieved internally, then continued:

"Factions arise from different artistic styles, inclinations, and methods of creation. Take the Ascetic Sect, for example; initially, it was known for its actions in body art."

"One could understand it as artists using action and the body as their focus to convey ideas to the outside world."

"Like pushing a half-human-height block of ice around a warm indoor space until it completely melts. That's the performance art piece 'Futile Effort'."

"Or painting on the body, tattooing, drawing a door on the chest in the direction of the heart. That's the body art piece 'Freedom'."

"All have significant meanings, they're very powerful works, aren't they?" Tang Xin blinked.

Xu Xiaoyou nodded in collaboration.

"Initially, such creations expressed beauty and deep meaning, but as people's spirits changed, things went awry," Tang Xin continued.

"People began to pursue crazier, irrational modes of expression. First, someone lay in a bathtub, cut themselves all over, and took some anticoagulant until blood filled the tub, dying from blood loss. Created a piece named 'Wilt'."

"Wait, why suddenly go in such a bizarre direction?" Xu Xiaoyou was taken aback.

"The result is that more and more started imitating this way of artistic creation, like hanging themselves gutted on a spinning fan or turning into human phonographs... A few years ago, there were often reports of similar incidents."

Xu Xiaoyou was deeply shocked.

Her impression of the Star of Art changed immediately; she thought it was a romantic land, but now it seems it's even more extreme than Corrupt Nest City.

Artists really are a different breed, huh.

She shouldn't have held too many beautiful fantasies about this world.

"They call it the Ascetic Sect."

"Afterward, the academy completely banned any types of art creation like this; all forms of performance and body art were prohibited."

"The Ascetic Sect disappeared for a time, but a few years ago, suddenly returned to the public eye."

"Yet by then, it had developed into a terrorist organization. Nobody knows exactly how large it is."

"Members have private contacts, occasionally transmitting their ideas through the creation of suffering."

"Perhaps familiar individuals around you are members too."

"There are so many ways to express artistic methods; why use this one? Does it not hurt?" Xu Xiaoyou was completely unable to understand.

Tang Xin's face was complex.

"Initially, they were only seeking novelty, wanting to attract public attention."

"On the beach, there are sand everywhere; gems are certainly eye-catching, but a shard of sharp-edged glass is just as noticeable."

Xu Xiaoyou was enlightened.

"Maybe, in the process, they've become enchanted, caught up in this pathological pursuit."

At this moment, Xu Xiaoyou noticed a familiar figure returning, the shadow of an old man appeared outside the door.

"Where did you go this time?"

Daphne looked like he'd been beaten, his face swollen and bruised, covering his swollen face, appearing in agony.

His hunched figure looked even more desolate, walking limping.

Xu Xiaoyou opened the door and let him into the room.

"It hurts so much, the punches were so harsh, luckily I ran back, hiss—"

Daphne placed one hand on his waist, and as soon as he came in, he lamented and found a chair to sit down. When he looked up, he coincidentally saw Tang Xin in the corner.

He paused in surprise, suddenly falling silent:

"Where did this young girl come from?"

"A friend, she has nowhere to go, she'll be staying here for a few days."

"She's your friend?" Daphne's expression was odd.

"Yes." Xu Xiaoyou was puzzled, "Why?"

"Nothing."

"Go fetch me the ointment, it really hurts. It's in the cabinet on the second shelf to the left."

"I'll go."

Tang Xin offered, quickly walked to the shelf, stood on tiptoe, opened the cabinet, and took out several tubes of pain relief ointment, and then walked to Daphne.

Daphne subconsciously reached for the ointment in the girl's hand, but found himself unable to move, looking up to discover Tang Xin was watching him.

She was conveniently facing away from the blonde girl.

The cold wind swiftly blew into the room, causing the candle flames to flicker unsteadily.

Tang Xin made a gesture for silence.

Daphne's expression shifted several times, finally sighed, saying nothing.

After taking the ointment, the old man didn't linger, heading toward the security booth outside.

"You haven't answered what you were doing," Xu Xiaoyou asked.

"Nothing, just tripped outside."

"If someone comes asking about me later, just say I was never here."

"Alright," Xu Xiaoyou agreed.

Shortly after the old man left, the room fell silent, the atmosphere somewhat delicate.

"Uhm..."

"I..."

The two young women spoke simultaneously.

"You go first," Xu Xiaoyou shrugged.

"Actually, I don't know what to say either, you go," Tang Xin turned her face away.

"I plan to let you participate in the qualifier in half a month," Xu Xiaoyou flipped through the curtain.

"Starry Art Competition?"

"Mhm-hmm, if you can become the champion in the final, naturally you'll gain fame, right?"

"Champion?" Tang Xin was stunned.

"Yes, become the champion, take the stage at the academy, garner all the spotlight."

"I've checked, this competition has many tracks, painting, sculpture, singing, etc., rankings are calculated based on total points across different tracks, the one with the highest total points can take the podium."

"I've briefly checked the past records, generally the champion became a Cosmos celebrity, like Marlene."

"I'm professional in cultivating artists," Xu Xiaoyou said blandly, "I can definitely make you champion."

"I can see your search engine records," Tang Xin deadpanned.

[How to cultivate artists?]

Xu Xiaoyou cleared her throat, silently drew the curtain against prying eyes, "That's not important; what's important is you need self-confidence and belief in me."

Tang Xin didn't want to argue with Xu Xiaoyou, raising her hand to stop her.

"It's not as simple as you think, not to mention those naturally talented individuals and big company artists."

"This competition has requirements even for qualifying in the preliminaries."

"If someone lacks standout works and wants to register, they need a certain number of fans."

"At least one thousand..."

"Don't worry, if I push you up with a company spot, five hundred will be enough," Xu Xiaoyou said.

"Gaining five hundred fans in half a month isn't easy either," Tang Xin blinked.

"Every curtain account is bound to individuals, buying followers will definitely be caught and banned, don't have any sly thoughts."

"You don't need to worry about this."

Xu Xiaoyou gave a mysterious smile:

"In three days, I'll organize a concert for you."

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