Chapter 074 Dance Game: "Dancing Across the World"

On the way back, the crazed fans who had threatened to break Le Xiaotian’s left leg did not appear, so he managed to return to the hotel with a measure of relief. Entering the room, he tossed aside his car keys and laptop, and began to undress.

Chen Fang, who had closed the door behind them, gaped in astonishment. “What are you doing?”

Unbuckling his belt, Le Xiaotian replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world, “Time is tight. Let’s hurry and dance.”

Her cheeks flushed, Chen Fang grew flustered. “You don’t need to take your clothes off just to dance.”

Le Xiaotian, with an air of strategizing, declared, “The true master of dance needs no makeup, no costume, no props—pure, natural performance. Like martial artists who never rely on weapons, the best dancers never depend on dance tools. If you weren’t here, I’d strip down completely.”

Nonsense!

However natural the performance, image is of paramount importance—Le Xiaotian certainly understood this. He was simply teasing her.

He teased her, making her heart flutter, yet never followed up with real action. What a tease!

Thinking this, Chen Fang felt a little aggrieved. “You’re lying to me.”

Le Xiaotian put on a mischievous smile and stepped forward to comfort her. “I’m not lying. I’m about to dance at my limit, and any clothing is a hindrance. I want absolute freedom.”

Indeed, whatever one wears sends subtle messages to others. For instance, listening to a love song, nine times out of ten, people think of romance, not funerals.

If he truly intended to push his dancing to the extreme, being unclothed would certainly be more convenient—after all, it was a private space. Nothing to worry about.

Thinking this over, Chen Fang blushed and stammered, “Then wait a moment, I’ll go change.”

Le Xiaotian nodded, “Go ahead.”

As she went to change, he walked to the bedside, picked up the phone, and dialed the Empress’s private line.

Once connected, he laughed, “Empress, grant me a million elite personnel—I need to prepare for a performance.”

The Empress choked. “Are you using an attrition tactic on me? First you made me agree to let you take charge, now you demand more? Why don’t you just become my husband and take my throne while you’re at it?”

Le Xiaotian chuckled, “Husband? The Empress is truly amusing. But I must say, your study of Huaxia culture is impressive. I’m not pushing my luck—it’s just that today I finalized the main show, ‘Immortal.’ Are a million elites too much to ask? With the country in crisis, all two billion citizens of Fama share the duty. Empress, do you not wish to save Fama?”

After a pause, the Empress sighed, “I can’t tell if working with you is the key to our nation’s downfall.”

Le Xiaotian laughed, “No need to worry, Empress. I won’t promise victory at the Astrolabe Tower, but I guarantee this battle performance will be stunning. Not for victory or defeat, but for the thrill of the fight.”

Her tone softened, “I’m not as noble as you, but the fate of two billion people is now in your hands.”

Le Xiaotian outlined his requirements. “I need only elite personnel. I’ll soon tell you which project each will oversee. The total number of commanders must not exceed one hundred. Once you’ve found suitable candidates, establish a command group; I’ll take it from there.”

After discussing further details, they ended the call.

Once he hung up, Le Xiaotian fell deep into thought. The Iron-Blooded Empress seemed amiable, even flirting with him as if status meant nothing, but it was all smoke and mirrors.

When the cunning rabbit dies, the hound is boiled; when the birds are gone, the good bow is stowed away. Cross the river and break the bridge, grind the mill and slaughter the donkey—such betrayals have occurred countless times across Huaxia’s dynasties. The Empress was merely using him.

He needed not only to strengthen himself to defeat Zhang Hao and Win Denbo, but also to guard against the Empress. Otherwise, he’d have nowhere to cry when things went wrong.

As a child of Huaxia, Le Xiaotian remembered well the ancient maxim: caution preserves a thousand years. Preparing for the worst was wise.

Presently, he turned and saw Chen Fang, now changed.

A beauty, indeed, looked good in anything.

She wore a racerback tank, snug enough to accentuate her figure, with a hint of cleavage. Her light-colored fitted pants were slightly loose, avoiding any awkward exposure while allowing freedom of movement.

His gaze lingered, drifting downward; Le Xiaotian silently swallowed—a vision of loveliness.

Whenever she saw him swallow like that, Chen Fang’s heart melted.

Now, with a touch of coyness, she walked to the dance machine. “What are you staring at? Dance first, dance!”

Le Xiaotian pulled himself together. “Xiao Fang, go change your top. Cover your chest and navel completely.”

She’d hoped to show off a little, but his restraint made her both happy and slightly disappointed. Did he not love her?

Taking a bold step forward, she challenged, “What’s wrong? Is our great Ziyang only brave enough to sneak a peek? Feeling guilty?”

Le Xiaotian’s lips curled into a smile. “Sneaking around isn’t my style. If I want to look, I’ll do it openly. Besides, this is too unnatural—I want to see pure, natural beauty.”

Chen Fang blushed. “You’re terrible.”

Seeing the doctoral scholar slipping into lovestruck mode again, Le Xiaotian grew serious. “Go change. I’m taking you to Dance the Cosmos. If anyone else sees you, I won’t be happy.”

“You’re taking me to Dance the Cosmos?” Chen Fang’s intellect returned, eyes wide with surprise.

Le Xiaotian explained, “I’ve already reviewed basic information on eighty-seven platform owners and discussed matters with the Empress. My body needs comprehensive adjustment, and my dance soul requires emotional preparation—because in fifteen days, I’ll perform the explosive ‘Immortal!’”

The conductor is always the focal point—the essence and will of the music, the life force and emotion, both for the orchestra and every possible audience.

The same would be true for the upcoming battle performance. To inspire the fighters, to ignite their passion, Le Xiaotian would have to burn brighter than anyone—an intensity beyond ordinary understanding, as mad as a lunatic.

Here, diligence cannot compensate for lack of talent. Without extraordinary charisma and presence, one cannot be a conductor. This is what people call talent.

Thinking this, Chen Fang nodded. “Alright, wait for me.”

As she went to change again, Le Xiaotian grew solemn.

Each of the eighty-seven platform owners had their own strengths: for example, the second platform’s ‘Spirit Monkey’ was astonishingly fast; the ninth platform’s ‘Cool Bear’ could take incredible punishment, once exhausting opponents to death.

Machetes, daggers, broadswords, twin blades, spears, iron rods—these platform owners were masters of their respective weapons.

To reach the Astrolabe Tower, he could no longer train alone or simply train to exhaustion.

He needed to challenge and surpass his limits, aiming for the highest expression of life, moving toward the essence of dance as martial art.

Every muscle, bone, blood vessel, drop of blood, inch of skin, strand of hair, mental state—everything had to be pushed beyond its limits. The dance soul and musical spirit—all must transcend!

And the game he was about to enter, “Dance the Cosmos,” was the best option at present.

Just then, Chen Fang emerged.

She spun before him. “Is this acceptable?”

He inhaled her fragrance. The snug, light-colored outfit covered her chest and navel entirely—he was quite satisfied.

Though Xiao Jiu still wouldn’t let him touch Chen Fang, only look but not taste, at least he wasn’t letting any other bastard have the chance.

Perhaps someday, his temper would flare, and even lightning wouldn’t stop him from claiming Chen Fang—then he’d have no regrets.

Preparedness is everything!

Even if he decided not to want her, no one else would get a chance. Why am I so bold? Because I am the great Dance Commander!

After affirming himself, Le Xiaotian nodded with a smile. “Excellent. I’m satisfied. Get ready.”

His possessiveness showed in his manner and expression, making Chen Fang feel sweet inside.

She blushed. “Xiaotian, can’t you wear a bit more? I don’t want other women looking at you either.”

Surprised by her boldness, Le Xiaotian was momentarily stunned before laughing. “Alright.”

With that, he fetched a pair of loose shorts and put them on. His earlier talk of going natural was just to tease Chen Fang—going out in just boxers would be indecent.

Once dressed, Le Xiaotian picked up the game helmet he had prepared days before.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Fang, a little excited, accepted the helmet and put it on. Before entering the game, she asked, “Aren’t you afraid people will recognize you?”

“Dance the Cosmos” was an internationally renowned game, a gathering place for top dancers. The avatars’ faces matched players with 99.99% accuracy.

Le Xiaotian laughed, “No worries. I’ll make a few anime tweaks. Anyway, if they recognize me, so be it. I’ve never feared any challenge—after all, I am the terrifying Dance Commander!”

Chen Fang rolled her eyes. “Alright, alright, stop boasting. Let’s go.”