Chapter 271: Mountain Streams, Echoing Music
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Yikes—
Yao Mengji and the others felt their skin crawl. They went cold all over.
However, although they were terrified, they did not want to beg for mercy.
Yao Mengji raised his hand and took out the Tianxin Zither. He played the zither with determination. He had a zither duet with Gu Xirou.
The Holy Emperor looked serious, too. He took out his Gold Alms Bowl and casted spells. Red hot flames rose from the alms bowl and transformed into a fiery dragon. The fire dragon circled and attacked the Xuanyin Immortal Water.
Sizzle—
The flames went out immediately when in contact with the Xuanyin Immortal Water. It was useless.
The Holy Emperor did not look happy at all. It was a fated and expected result but he still felt helpless.
Jang!
Yao Mengji and Gu Xirou played their zithers like the sounds crossed strands of strings. The sounds were expanding in waves, covering everyone like a shield.
Splash!
The Xuanyin Immortal Water acted up, cornering everyone into the center of the shield. Its huge waves were like the mouths of beasts, about to swallow everyone whole.
Yao Mengji and Gu Xirou were visibly exhausted. Their zithers were gradually defenseless.
“Haha, why the meaningless struggle?” the scrawny elder laughed cruelly. Then, he said, “As a cultivator, you should take opportunities and avoid trouble. Go with the flow. That’s the way to live long lives. It’s not too late to beg for mercy!”
“Beg for mercy? Nonsense!” the Holy Emperor said. He hated that he was useless.
He looked at his Gold Alms Bowl and suddenly had an idea!
“Longevous Qingfeng, stop being in a daze. Hurry up and help!”
After he said that, he groaned and crushed his Gold Alms Bowl. Then, the crushed pieces started to regroup as elements.
Longevous Qingfeng was startled. “Holy Emperor, what are you doing? You crushed your Livelihood Treasure?!”
“It’s already crushed, I don’t want it anymore! Did you forget what the expert said? A speaker. We have to make a speaker on the spot to amplify their zither sounds!”
The Holy Emperor was bleeding from the corner of his mouth. He endured it and said, “Snap out of it! Are you perhaps afraid to die?!”
“Me? Afraid to die? I’m left with only three hundred years. So what if I die?”
Longevous Qingfeng was immediately pissed off. “I’m proud to die by battling an Immortal! It’s also a battle for my people and the realm! I’d be honored to die!”
Then, he took out a green wind chime without saying another word. He tore it apart!
“Let’s combine our Livelihood Treasures! My Livelihood Treasure’s a wind-type. It can help enhance the zither!”
Longevous Qingfeng was slightly insane. “Come on! Merge!”
The two items quickly merged into a huge shiny speaker. It filtered the zither sounds and made it five times louder!
Jam!
The zither sounds seemed to be working. It gradually pushed the Xuanyin Immortal Water away!
“Haha, I’m still useful!” laughed the Holy Emperor.
Sigh!
Suddenly, the painting scroll that Nanan was holding automatically flew up into the sky with a long sigh. It shined like a halo that surrounded everyone.
The painting unscrolled itself and the writings transformed into the Immortal with the white hair again. The figure levitated.
Nanan looked at him and hurriedly said, “Grandpa Immortal!”
“Nanan, I have a consciousness that was gifted by the Master. It’s to protect you.”
The elder looked at Nanan lovingly. “The time has come. Let me help you out!”
He emitted Spiritual Qi. White light rained down like the zither sounds, covering the Xuanyin Immortal Water.
Power of Devour started to appear in waves. It started to devour the Xuanyin Immortal Water!
However, the Xuanyin Immortal Water was birthed in a land of despair. It existed in death for a long while so it had corrosive properties. Immortals would avoid it whenever they encountered it.
As he absorbed the Xuanyin Immortal Water, his figure was gradually weakened. He swayed as if the wind could blow him apart.
“Grandpa Immortal!” Nanan hurriedly grabbed the painting scroll but she realized the writings on it had vanished. It became a blank piece of paper.
The elder looked calm. “Since you’ve chosen the path of Devour, how’s it enough to just absorb powers? You should be able to devour anything. You should be able to devour the Xuanyin Immortal Water, Samadhi Real Fire, and the Flame of Golden Crow!”
He used his Devour experiences to help Nanan on her cultivation journey.
“A challenge?”
The scrawny elder laughed. He raised his hand and out came a levitating bracelet. Then, a threatening aura exploded out from the bracelet!
The aura was very unfamiliar, but they could tell it was not from the Immortal Realm. It seemed to be coming from the Above Immortal Realm. The bracelet was an agent!
Gu Xirou looked horrified. She said in a trembling voice, “The Ultimate Spiritual Treasure doesn’t belong to you!”
“Of course not. My Master let me borrow the Xuan Water Bracelet.” The scrawny elder shook his head and mocked them in a pitiful voice, “Now my Master has to do it himself. You’ll all die for sure!”
Splash!
The Xuan Water Bracelet started to shake. The Xuanyin Immortal Water suddenly increased. The layer of silver liquid transformed into a huge silver water dragon that surrounded them. The dragon’s mouth was wide open and it was about to swallow everyone whole.
The person who was using the Xuan Water Bracelet was far away and it seemed like he only used a portion of his powers. However, it made the Xuanyin Immortal Water so powerful. Everyone was running out of chances to survive.
Spurt!
Yao Mengji was as pale as paper. He spat out a mouthful of blood. He was out of it and had cold sweat all over.
He did not stop casting spells. He said, “Don’t worry about me. Spitting blood’s my forte. I’m so used to spitting blood.”
At the Chuchen Town.
Li Nianfan slowly walked out of his room. He looked across the horizon and was surprised. “Who’s so passionate? Playing the zither in the middle of the night?”
Qin Manyun stood outside Li Nianfan’s yard. She was an anxious mess.
“It’s Master’s zither. The zither sounds are rushed so he must be battling someone. And…it’s a battle to the death!” She walked back and forth in the yard while biting her lip. Her fists were repeatedly clenched and loosened.
She wanted to help but she stopped herself.
The Master was with the ancestor. If they could not handle it, she would not be able to help. She might even become a burden.
What could she do?
She looked to the horizon where the zither played. Then, she looked at Li Nianfan’s door. She did not know whether she should disturb the expert.
She could not disturb the expert because if the expert was displeased, he would not save them.
However, the Lord Dog was at the yard. She could go beg the Lord Dog!
She listened to the zither and felt like the zither sounds grew quicker. They were in a state of desperation and were fighting with their lives. She looked like she had made up her mind. She was determined. She could not let her Master and her ancestor die!
She took a deep breath and was about to knock on the door. However, the door suddenly swung open with a creak.
Li Nianfan walked out from his yard. He was taken aback by Qin Manyun. Then, he smiled and said, “Lady Manyun, you haven’t slept, too?”
Qin Manyun felt her heart race. She hurriedly said, “Mr. Li, you haven’t slept, either.”
Li Nianfan nodded. “Yeah, I couldn’t sleep. I heard the zither and woke up. It must be the same for you, too, Lady Manyun.”
“Yeah.” Qin Manyun felt troubled and helpless.
She sneakily glanced at Blackie who was next to Li Nianfan. She was struggling and anxious.
She was sweating already. She opened her mouth but did not know what to say.
However, Li Nianfan suddenly asked, “Lady Manyun, did you bring your zither?”
Zither?
Qin Manyun jumped. She suddenly felt her skin crawl as her blood rushed because she thought of a possibility.
“Yes… I did.”
Her voice was trembling because she could not help it. It even sounded like a sob.
She hurriedly flicked her wrist and out came a refined antique zither. She nervously and excitedly asked, “Mr. Li, are you perhaps…thinking of…playing the zither?”
“Yeah. Couldn’t sleep. I coincidentally heard the zither and wanted to play, too. I wanted to join in on the duet.”
Li Nianfan laughed and asked, “Lady Manyun, may I borrow your zither?”
“Yes, of course!”
Qin Manyun quickly nodded and moved away. “Please, Mr. Li.”
“Thanks.” Li Nianfan nodded and sat in front of the zither. He observed it for a moment.
“Truly a woman’s zither. How refined and beautiful, unlike mine. I’m not sure what year my zither was produced but it’s old and rusty.”
Li Nianfan took a deep breath. His aura suddenly changed as he emitted a powerful elegance. Qin Manyun kept staring at Li Nianfan. She clenched her little fist.
She realized that Li Nianfan was like a character that walked out from a painting.
Even the endless night was dissociated from Li Nianfan. It was as if he was beyond it all, beyond the ties of the realm.
The Chosen One—he was truly the Chosen One.
Qin Manyun was mesmerized. Li Nianfan had his hands on the zither, his fingers gently plucking on the zither strings.
Ding!
His zither music flowed like the river. It was hypnotic. The first note alone was enough to make listeners visualize streams of a curvy creek.
Ding, ding, dong, dong—
Li Nianfan plucked the zither strings with ease. His fingers were not rushing. They were dancing like fairies on the zither. He made it look like it was easy.
The night was cool and quiet. It started to move with the zither music.
Even the moon in the sky seemed to be brighter.
Everything quieted down for the zither sounds.
Soon, Qin Manyun was completely engrossed. She was drunk on the zither music, she could not control herself.
She felt like she was on top of a huge mountain where continuous streams were flowing. She felt as if she was lying amidst the forest, feeling her spirituality being cleansed.
The zither started to change slowly. It was slightly lively, changed into a more upbeat tone.
It was as if he added the sounds of the birds and insects to the mountain streams. It was smooth and a nice touch.
Then, the tempo started to change again. It was low, quick, and constant. It sounded like they were ascending to hug the clouds but the clouds suddenly sped up. There were sparks in the air. It was breathtaking.
Ding, ding, dong, dong—
The power of music was unstoppable. The lively musical notes spread across the mountains and the rivers. It was like sunlight shining across the dark night.
“Longevous Qingfeng, do you hear the zither music?” The Holy Emperor was on the ground.
He was no longer able to fight. He could barely breathe. He was out of power. He calmly waited for death as he watched the huge waves of the Xuanyin Immortal Water.
Longevous Qingfeng was the same. He shook his head in a daze. “Zither music? Of course, I heard it. We’re playing it.”
The Holy Emperor shook his head. “Not ours, another’s.”
Splash!
The Xuanyin Immortal Water splashed again. The Water Dragon stared at everyone mercilessly. It attacked with its mouth wide open!
It was about to devour everyone!
“My Master, he’s playing the zither.”
That Immortal was vanishing into white smoke. He said his final sentence in a relieved tone, “I can finally rest in peace.”
The white smoke vanished when he touched Nanan on the head.
“Grandpa Immortal…” Nanan was a sobbing mess.
Ding, ding, dong, dong—
The zither sounds were soft, it seemed to be coming from the other side of the realm. However, it somehow sounded louder than what Gu Xirou and Yao Mengji were producing on their zithers. It overpowered the sounds of splashes and the sounds of space and time. Everyone heard it clearly.
The Water Dragon instantly stopped. The Xuanyin Immortal Water retreated like an angry ocean wave. It started to boil like it was struggling.
The Xuanyin Immortal Water became calm and peaceful in mere seconds. It seemed to be transformed into an elegant flowing stream along with the zither sounds.
“Where is the zither music come from?”
The scrawny elder panicked. His hair stood on end and he felt his skin crawl. It was like the zither music was extremely dangerous and life-threatening!
“What’s going on? How could this be?!”
He was annoyed. He was filled with fear and anxiety. He tried his best to control the Xuan Water Bracelet but soon realized it had no effect on the Xuanyin Immortal Water.
The Xuan Water Bracelet suddenly shined. The aura of his Master reappeared again. He seemed to be accompanied by a sneer. However, the Xuan Water Bracelet quickly dimmed and fell to the ground. All signs of usefulness were wiped from the bracelet.
“This…”
The scrawny elder’s mouth was wide open. He was too terrified to speak. He begged in a trembling voice of despair, “Me…Mercy.”
The Xuanyin Immortal Water quietly surrounded him. It slowly drowned him like a normal river.
Gu Xirou and Yao Mengji stopped.
They were extremely pale and they were bleeding from their mouths. However, they were smiling.
Gu Xirou mumbled, “Is that the expert playing the zither? The music…is so lovely.”
Ding ding dong dong.
The zither was still playing gracefully. It was smooth like velvet and fresh like spring rain.
Everyone closed their eyes and enjoyed it. They were one with the music.
The final song was over but it echoed for a long while as it faded away.
Everyone slowly opened their eyes. They were shocked but they enjoyed it. Even their injuries got better. They somehow felt light and joyous.
The endless Xuanyin Immortal Water disappeared without a trace. They would have thought it was all just a big dream if it was not for the Xuan Water Bracelet that was on the ground.