Five days later, the semi-finals officially began their live broadcast.

Many of the viewers tuning in for Jiang Qin immediately found her on screen the moment they entered the livestream.

Her outfit today was once again understated: a simple white women’s blouse paired with jeans, giving her a youthful look.

It was only then that everyone seemed to remember—she had just turned twenty!

Generally, males and females of this age were most likely still attending university—though that, of course, didn’t stop them from getting married.

Still, it was rare to find young people her age who were not in school.

[Why doesn’t Qin Bao go to university? It’s not like she couldn’t get in.]

[I’m more curious about who taught her everything she knows. Can a backwater place like the Barren Star really produce someone so talented?]

[I don’t get it either. How could someone who’s never attended a single day of school not want to go?]

[I heard several top-tier universities contacted her and offered her all sorts of perks to enroll, but she turned them all down.]

[This is one of the main things people attack Jiang Qin for, right? The fact that she’s never been to school.]

[So what if she hasn’t? It doesn’t change the fact that she’s incredibly skilled.]

...

Some didn’t care, but credentialism was still rampant, especially in an Interstellar society where virtually everyone could attend university.

Jiang Qin, however, was already used to such comments.

’It wasn’t that she was averse to studying; she just hadn’t been to a school in so long that she no longer wanted to go.’

’Besides, the Star Network had private study rooms.’

’Tutors were available for any subject, so she didn’t want to enroll in a school. She just wanted to learn on her own terms.’

The barrage comments scrolled by quickly, and the topic was soon forgotten.

Everyone began to discuss what songs would be performed today and who would make it into the top three.

The matchup order for this round was:

Xiong Yuanyuan vs. Tai Xingwen

Tang Wanqing vs. Qi Huaixuan

Ye Jing advanced directly to the third round, where he would perform alone. Afterward, his vote total would be ranked against the losers from the first two matchups. The one with the highest score would secure the final spot in the top three.

When the pairings were announced, the crowd gasped.

They marveled at Ye Jing’s good luck and lamented the unfortunate reality of teammates being pitted against each other.

First to take the stage was Xiong Yuanyuan.

Jiang Qin had prepared a dance track for her titled "Dancing Lady."

Accordingly, she was dressed in a bold, stylish outfit.

As the mysterious instrumental track began to play, Xiong Yuanyuan and her backup dancers launched into an energetic routine.

Despite the intense movement, her breath control was incredibly stable:

"The moonlight runs wild at the stained-glass window’s edge

In a flash, transforming all I see

One more cup of that ancient, mystic Ganges stream

...

I spin and leap with my eyes closed

The world’s clamor unseen, have you fallen under my spell..."

Her gaze was bewitching but not at all vulgar. Instead, it was filled with a sense of power, exuding a kind of wild beauty.

In the audience, a sea of light sticks waved for her, resembling a galaxy of stars.

After the song ended, it was time for the mentors’ critiques.

The host turned to Su San first.

After a few days to cool off, the mentors were much better at managing their emotions, so no one said anything too harsh.

The feedback was largely praise. Even when they pointed out minor flaws, their critiques were well-reasoned.

They were on a live broadcast, after all.

Contestants get eliminated, but the mentors would likely have their contracts renewed for many more seasons. Therefore, everyone did their best to appear respectable on camera.

"Xiong Yuanyuan’s voice has always been very distinctive, but what’s most commendable is her dedication.

The sheer amount of singing and dancing required for this song alone shows how hard she works in her daily practice.

All I can say is, this stage doesn’t fail those who work hard. Congratulations on making sure everyone sees you standing here today.

You are guaranteed to have a place in the future of the music industry."

Applause erupted, and an emotional Xiong Yuanyuan bowed in thanks.

Next up was Tai Xingwen.

He was Su San’s last remaining contestant, after all, so the song she composed for him this time was a perfect fit.

It was no less impressive than his song from the previous round.

Perhaps she had discovered his talent for an ethereal and melancholic style.

The song was titled "The Heartbeat of the Sea."

The accompaniment incorporated the sound of ocean waves. It began with the sound of a conch shell, and the chorus featured humming that evoked a raging storm. The piece concluded with another passage played on a conch.

It was, admittedly, breathtaking.

When it came time for critiques, the host tossed the question to Jiang Qin.

It was a bit of malicious fun, making the two rival mentors critique each other’s contestants.

Jiang Qin naturally offered plenty of praise, and it wasn’t just for show; she genuinely believed Su San was talented.

"The atmosphere and rhythm of this song are both excellent.

Tai Xingwen’s performance was also beautiful. His control over the emotional crescendo was superb. Personally, I don’t see any flaws."

Although Tai Xingwen seemed to have terrible luck, he was undeniably talented.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to fight his way back time and time again.

So Jiang Qin figured he would most likely debut after the show was over.

Next up was the jury vote.

Then came the votes from the live audience and the viewers at home.

Their two performances could be described as neck and neck; both were captivating.

Therefore, the vote count came down to a pure contest of fanbase size.

In this regard, Tai Xingwen was at a slight disadvantage compared to Xiong Yuanyuan, who had been accumulating fans for several rounds already.

Tai Xingwen, on the other hand, had only started attracting a larger number of casual fans in the last round and this one.

Finally, the host announced, "Let’s congratulate Xiong Yuanyuan on advancing to the grand finals!"

"And Tai Xingwen, don’t lose heart! You’ll have another chance later!"

Accustomed to this by now, Tai Xingwen gave a wry smile and took his designated seat.

Next on stage was Tang Wanqing.

Given the random nature of the matchups, they were already prepared for the possibility of facing one of their own teammates, so this wasn’t much of a surprise.

Tang Wanqing’s look today was once again in a traditional, historical style.

Jiang Qin had no intention of making her change styles. After all, it was rare to find someone so passionate about ancient history.

Waving a cattail-leaf fan, her long skirt billowing, she glided gracefully from the side of the stage to its center.

"They meander through misunderstandings

But I am yours to command

I ask the world, what could be more perfect

With an orchid finger, twisting this mortal world like water..."

When she reached the operatic part, she sang it effortlessly:

"Through the wind and snow, my hair turns white with autumn’s chill

The flourishing lamplight creases the brow above your eyes~~"

At this stage of the competition, contestants weren’t just competing on their own talent, but also on the audience appeal of the musical styles their mentors chose for them.

The final vote count relied entirely on the efforts of their fanbases.

Therefore, broad appeal was crucial.

This was not the time to be flashy and show off technique; it was better to stick to one’s signature style for a more stable performance.

Tang Wanqing’s traditional image had now become her signature brand.

A large portion of her fanbase consisted of people who loved this genre.

Especially since her performances had been dazzling from the very first auditions, her fanbase was second in size only to Xiong Yuanyuan’s.

If Xiong Yuanyuan’s recent performances hadn’t been so outstanding, Tang Wanqing’s fanbase might have even surpassed hers.

And although her final vote count didn’t surpass Xiong Yuanyuan’s, it wasn’t far behind, earning her the second-highest score of the night.