Chapter 422: Chapter 293: "Wuye Dance Autumn Wind" VS "Vajra Pet"! [Vote for Monthly Tickets!]_2
Musical attack!
In fact, it tests more of one’s ’Concentration’, rather than ’Power’.
Huang Yaoshi tested Guo Jing and Ouyang Ke with the "Sea Waves Raising Song". Although Guo Jing’s Inner Strength wasn’t as strong as Huang Yaoshi’s, due to his strong Concentration, he remained unharmed.
Even with strong Inner Strength, if one’s Concentration is weak, upon hearing the "Sea Waves Raising Song", one’s mind is inevitably shaken, being drawn in, and might suffer injury at the least, or death at the worst.
Of course, if one’s Inner Strength surpasses that of the player, they can also remain unharmed.
But Yan Chuan’s group of five, including one who could rival the fourth-ranked Luo Qi in Inner Strength, was still far behind.
Inner Strength is lacking!
Only Concentration can make up for it!
"Consider it as Refining Heart!"
...
’Hai Character’ Arena, thick fog enveloped.
Luo Qi, holding the ’Ancient Sound of the Primordial World’, ascended the stage. Yan Chuan had just browsed the records, checking the zither’s origins, finding that it was made in the Dao Xuan era of the Cezhou Dynasty eight hundred years ago, three feet seven inches long, six inches wide at the top, four inches wide at the bottom, originally black lacquered, with great flowing fracture patterns. Above the Dragon Pool on the back was inscribed ’Ancient Sound of the Primordial World’ in running script, below the pool was the seal ’Qinghe’, and on the left side ’Repaired by Wu Jinglue in Mid-Autumn Year of Jiazi’ was inscribed.
This ’Ancient Sound of the Primordial World’ has survived for millennia, yet remains in excellent condition. The whole is patterned with fractures, colorful due to its accumulated history, intermingling dragon scales, turtle cracks, flowing water, and serpent’s luster, all beautifully interwoven, rarely matched in the world.
On both sides of the Dragon Pool are engraved with cursive script—
"Sword Rushing Gold stands for a while, the flowing zither must be played."
"What a fine zither!"
Yan Chuan praised enthusiastically.
He didn’t know much about zithers, nor did he understand what made this zither so good, but some things are like that, no need to understand, no need to master, yet at a glance you can tell it’s extraordinary.
The ’Ancient Sound of the Primordial World’ is just like that.
"Cultivate your balanced nature, restrain your anger and desire. The universe is silent, but it has rules, I alone delve into its depth with you!"
"This must be the charm of enduring ancient zithers!"
Yan Chuan couldn’t help becoming quite interested in ancient zithers and music theory.
But now is not the time.
A great battle is imminent!
Guarding the arena is the priority!
"Be careful!"
Luo Qi sat cross-legged on the stage, placing the ’Ancient Sound of the Primordial World’ horizontally on his lap, his fingers twirled, the tremor sound started, and the zither music resounded.
Playing upon ascending the stage instantly!
Instantly entering the state.
"Zither Sound!"
"Sound attack!"
Wang Zhengyi stood ready, he of course also remembered the scene when Yan Chuan countered his ’Mirage Pearl’ with the "Lion Roar" at the Jian Province Competition. Now, Luo Qi’s stance seemed even more formidable than Yan Chuan’s back then, how could Wang Zhengyi dare to slack off?
Immediately summoned ’Mirage Pearl’!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
The mirage suddenly rose, layer upon layer, the sound of waves remained, trying to drown out Luo Qi’s zither sound, just like it had previously drowned out Sun Gui Fen’s admission of defeat—
Cannot be heard!
The sound is chaotic!
Thus, it wouldn’t cause interference.
But!
No way!
The zither sound was sublime and melancholic, piercing through the thick fog, ignoring the interference, and could clearly reach Yan Chuan and the others’ ears.
"The autumn wind is desolate!"
"The parasol leaves are withering!"
"This is the famous piece ’Wuye Dance Autumn Wind’!"
Yan Chuan couldn’t distinguish it, Wang Zhengyi was a half-expert and failed to recognize the piece, but only Fu Yunzhan quickly identified: "This was created by Tianhong Zen Master, originally named Zhuang Zhenfeng, styled Die An. Later tired of worldly matters, he retired to the Buddhist sect. ’Wuye Dance Autumn Wind’ was composed by Tianhong Zen Master based on the ’Zither Study Xin Sheng’ score, and included in the ’Xingxin Zither Score’ authored by Tianhong Zen Master. The music expresses feeling about the world’s cold indifference through writing the desolate autumn wind and withering parasol leaves. The melody is intricate and winding, deftly echoing the autumn’s chill, quietly implying the falling of parasol leaves, leaving an endless aftertaste."
"Wuye Dance Autumn Wind"!
Such a good piece!
Not just Fu Yunzhan.
Someone outside also recognized it instantly—
"’Wuye Dance Autumn Wind’."
"The intent of this piece lies in the autumn sound of heaven and earth, quiet falling of the leaves before the stairs, clear passing of the sound under the moon, with a desolate aura, an ancient subtle wind. Its sound tone is pure and honest, clear and simple, the autumn coolness flows out from the fingers, a masterful piece."
In the Si Character Arena, Zhang Qin, whose name contains the character for zither, also had an interest in zither music and had delved into it. Hearing it now, he was surprised: "Luo Qi was thought to be a rough person due to his large feet, but unexpectedly he could play such a delicate zither piece."
Situ Fei also understood the zither. Listening to Luo Qi play, her brow sometimes relaxed and sometimes furrowed: "The brilliance of this piece, withering paulownia giving birth to cuckoos, is the autumn sound of heaven and earth. Its aura is desolate, increasing one’s sense of sigh. Yet, its inner meaning is ancient, plain, and holds a clear wonder. But under Luo Qi’s playing, it contains hidden killing intent—"
Situ Fei was just about to say that the zither piece was full of lurking threats, not as simple as it appeared, when she suddenly heard a ’zheng~’, the zither sound actually broke off.
"What’s going on?"
Ding Xiang was puzzled.
Luo Qi wasn’t on stage alone. Beside him, there were four teammates, their strength at the tail of "Hidden Dragon" and "Chufeng" rankings, supporting him. With these four as guardians, combined with his zither musical attack, even if Yan Chuan, Wang Zhengyi, and others all attacked together, they would hardly break through in a short time. They might interfere to some extent but would find it difficult to interrupt Luo Qi’s playing.
But now!
The zither sound was interrupted!
...
"Zhan Lan!"
"Are you okay?"
Luo Qi dodged with the zither in his arms, looking at his teammate Zhan Lan.
Zhan Lan touched his head, feeling a burst of fear, but after calming down, he stood up, realizing: "I’m fine!"
Not injured at all!
Just knocked down!
"Scared me to death!"
Zhan Lan breathed a long sigh of relief.
Just now, during Luo Qi’s playing, a golden light shot from the mist, coincidentally hitting his brow, that golden light was the Vajra Pet. Zhan Lan initially thought it was his end, his head shattering, brains splattered, but it only knocked him down.
Later, a giant palm descended from the sky, but he was snatched to safety by his teammates, another close call.
A narrow escape!
Survived the calamity!
Zhan Lan was both frightened and delighted!
Beside him.
Shi Yue speculated: "That ’Vajra Pet’ is probably similar to Cai Ru’an’s ’Five-Colored Stone’, Chen Pu’s ’Fire Dragon Flag’, Gongyang Yu’s ’Binding Rope’ and Ding Xiang’s ’Eight Diagrams Dragon Whisker Handkerchief’, always hitting its target upon throwing, but the lethality is negligible, even hitting the forehead won’t cause injury, far inferior to the ’Five-Colored Stone’ and other treasures!"
Lian Jie suddenly realized: "I understand now! Previously, when Dai Xiangfeng and Hu Fenglan attacked the Hai Character Arena and were instantly defeated, it must have been the ’Vajra Pet’ sneak attacking first, followed by the giant palm in the mist. In combination, even highly ranked ’two lists’ masters couldn’t break through easily, entering upright and exiting horizontally!"
This can be solved!
Understanding Yan Chuan and Wang Zhengyi’s concealed means under the Mirage Pearl gives an easier path.
But Ke Ying frowned: "But this ’Vajra Pet’ comes and goes without a trace, how to defend against it? Senior Brother Luo wants to play ’Wuye Dance Autumn Wind’, but it’s difficult to not be interrupted."
The zither sound attack could originally break through the Mirage Pearl’s mist, but the appearance of the Vajra Pet adds a variable.
"No need to worry about it!"
Luo Qi waved it off: "I have the ’Ancient Sound of the Primordial World’, the Mirage Pearl’s mist can’t block my zither sound. Surround me, if the ’Vajra Pet’ is intercepted, it won’t hit my body. Let me play again, let’s see how long Yan Chuan and the others can hold on!"
Luo Qi was fearless—
Continue the music and the dance!
...
"Playing again!"
"There’s still hope!"
The crowd outside suddenly heard the zither sound again, knowing that Luo Qi was safe in the mist. This time he’s playing "Wuye Dance Autumn Wind" again, but under his fingers, it was light and lively, sweeping away the usual somber or melancholic emotions associated with the autumn wind, creatively revealing the optimistic content of the piece. Using the concept of a ’dance’, it played out a scene of high autumn skies and a refreshing and joyful atmosphere.
Recognize the man through the music!
From this piece, one could also hear Luo Qi’s optimistic mindset about capturing the Hai Character Arena.
The replay of the piece seemed more fluid, and shortly after, listeners suddenly heard two zither tones, the moment the tones entered their ears, everyone’s hearts skipped twice intensely.
"Hiss!"
"Uncomfortable!"
Offstage, Su Ye was stunned, only to hear the zither sound tingling twice again. The sound was closer this time, making everyone’s hearts pound even harder, Su Ye, Zhong Hui felt a wave of discomfort in their hearts—
Plop!
The music score they held unknowingly fell to the ground.
Zither Sound!
Sound attack!
The initial impact of its power!
...