Chapter 1190: First Win!
“My teacher is a genius!”
Li Ziqi lifted her fair chin and felt extremely proud.
Si~
The little sunny egg’s words caused countless great teachers that were present to be stunned. They subconsciously glanced at the audience seats of the Great Tang.
Once again, Sun Mo had refreshed everyone’s understanding of himself.
After all, Sun Mo had never publicly come out and displayed his musical skills.
“Just this?”
Li Guinian felt that Li Ziqi was being perfunctory with him. Hence, his tone was filled with unhappiness. “I’ve started learning music since I was young and trained bitterly for 16 years before I became a grandmaster. After that, I trained for another 30 years to become a Music Sage. This speed is already considered very fast.”
Li Ziqi shrugged. (What can I do if you don’t believe me?)
Li Guinian still wanted to say something, but he was interrupted by the Qi Emperor.
“What are the titles of the music pieces that you played?”
The Qi Emperor was curious.
From the mentality of an emperor, the position of a Music Sage was truly insufficient.
Li Guinian fell silent and sat down.
He felt unwilling to accept this. After all, his achievements were something that he worked almost his whole life to obtain. Yet, Sun Mo didn’t care for them?
For the vast majority of people, if their zither skills were high enough, they would surely think of a way to display it.
“Despair!”
“The Exodus Song!”
“Despacito!”
“With an Orchid!”
“Summer!”
“Immortal Music Above Cloud Palace!”
“Flight of the Bumblebee!”
Li Ziqi reported the names of the music pieces.
“Eh? Why are there seven?”
The Qi Emperor didn’t understand. “You clearly only played six earlier, right?”
“Your majesty, the final music piece that was like the cries of bees might only last for a few tens of breaths, but it is also considered a music piece!”
The grand tutor interjected.
“Ah? It can be considered a music piece despite it being so short?”
The Qi Emperor was startled.
“Your majesty. The music piece isn’t short. Rather, I played it too fast!”
Li Ziqi smiled and explained to everyone. “Its name is the Flight of the Bumblebee. It is used to train one’s hand speed!”
Actually, it was simply to flaunt one’s skill!
If she didn’t have the reinforcement effect from Loudest Silence, she wouldn’t be able to play it so quickly.
“A very excellent music piece but it ‘exhausts’ the zither too quickly!”
The queen teased and stared at the burning guzheng. “It’s a pity for this famous zither!”
“Queen, you are wrong. On the contrary, that zither has become the ultimate zither of today and has entered the hallway of history. You must know that this is a joyous situation where someone comprehended ‘Loudest Silence’!”
The grand tutor chortled. “The Five Empires War Discussion has been held so many times, but most of them had been forgotten by everyone. However, for the war discussion this year, just that single round is enough to leave some marks in history. The name of our Qi Country will also gain light from this glory.”
Why?
Because music pieces would be passed down through generations. As long as someone in the future listened to them, they would know the origins of these seven music pieces, and they would eventually become classics.
“That’s right, even that broken zither has gained glory.”
Li Guinian sighed ruefully.
“Oh right, although these music pieces are nice to listen to, why do they sound so strange?”
The Qi Emperor’s lips curled. “Who created them?”
“My esteemed teacher!” Li Ziqi reported.
Everyone turned to look at Sun Mo again.
“As expected of God Hands, I didn’t expect his musical talent to be so high!”
The Qi Emperor praised.
“Your majesty, you are mistaken. I obtained these music pieces from the ruins of darkness!”
In this world, although no one would know if he proclaimed these musics as his, Sun Mo still felt uncomfortable to do such a thing.
(Sigh! My integrity value is, as expected, very high.)
“Great Teacher Sun, there’s no need to be so modest. Your brilliant disciple performed all these musical pieces so outstandingly. Most probably, you have also grasped their essence or you wouldn’t be able to nurture such a genius.”
The Qi Emperor praised. “Men, grant the rewards!”
“Your majesty, I still have something I want to say!”
Li Ziqi hesitated for a while but still decided to speak.
“Say it!”
The Qi Emperor was very kind.
“Elder Sister Yuzhen’s music is full of killing intent and decisiveness, advancing forward courageously, possessing the heroism of men. Elder Brother Xiang Zhao has reached the grandmaster level. If it wasn’t for me lending the effect of Lingering Sound, Loudest Silence, and these famous melodies, I would be inferior to them.”
Li Ziqi smiled in a sweet-tempered manner.
“Younger sister Ziqi, there’s no need for you to be so modest.”
Xiang Zhao rubbed his nose. It actually felt pretty awesome to be praised by a beautiful female great teacher.
“For his highness Wei Wu`an, he used some tricks for the sake of obtaining victory. However, he didn’t do anything against reason and nature, so it was understandable. But as for Xia Taikang, your methods are simply too shameless and despicable.”
In the end, Li Ziqi rebuked Xia Taikang with a stern tone.
Everyone’s gossipy hearts instantly stirred.
(What? There’s an accident?)
One must know that Li Ziqi’s current tone was relatively impolite.
“Ziqi, enough!”
Li Xiu hurriedly stopped her. They had won, so there was no need for any extra trouble. After all, the Xia Country was the strongest country in the Nine Provinces, and Xia Taikang was destined to become its next emperor. It was best not to offend him.
“Aunt, I’m a great teacher and my teacher often taught me that one must be upright as a human. When encountering unjust manners, we have to stand and question them. If not, how can we act as model teachers to our students and others?”
Li Ziqi pursed her lips.
“What is she doing?”
Some great teachers asked. They didn’t mind things being more chaotic since they were just spectators.
“Xia Taikang, you used an ancient blood sacrifice forbidden technique and refined the soul of a grandmaster musician into the ancient zither. Isn’t this a little too inhumane of you?”
After Li Ziqi finished speaking, a huge commotion rang out.
Many people felt their fine hairs standing. They stared at ‘Phoenix’ and once they thought of how a human had been forcibly refined into it, they felt their scalps turning numb. In this festering hot summer, they actually felt their bodies turning cold.
(Isn’t this a little too cruel?)
“No wonder I felt that there was something wrong with the zither!”
Li Guinian was enlightened.
The Qi Emperor frowned. “Taikang, do you have anything to say?”
“When someone gave me this ancient zither, the soul of a Music Sage was already branded in it. What has this got to do with me?”
Xia Taikang explained.
Si~
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.
Indeed, there was a soul. And it was the soul of a Music Sage?
However, suspicions on Xia Taikang were also washed clean.
The audience asked themselves honestly. If they had such a treasure, they would also choose to use it.
“Wait a minute, doesn’t that mean that Ziqi won against a Music Sage?”
The queen was dumbstruck.
“You can’t see things like that. The music produced by the soul of a Music Sage after being refined into a zither would be somewhat inferior compared to when the Music Sage was still alive!”
The grand tutor analyzed. He was a secondary saint and naturally had enough experience to determine this.
“That’s still impressive!”
The queen praised.
—
“Your words can only swindle those ignorant people!”
Li Ziqi spoke in contempt. The Phoenix Zither was something very famous. How could nobody know that there was the soul of a Music Sage within it?
“Ziqi, enough. Return!”
Sun Mo spoke.
Such a thing couldn’t be made clear easily. Moreover, there was no one administering justice because nobody wanted to offend the future emperor of a country.
“Yes, teacher!”
Li Ziqi obeyed the order. After taking a few steps, she glanced at Xia Taikang again. “I will say some final words. Music is something that makes this world more beautiful, allowing this world to be filled with warmth. This is something my teacher said. So, please savor it carefully and don’t walk down the wrong path.”
Bzz~
Priceless Advice activated.
Golden light flowed forth from Li Ziqi, forming motes of light that danced in the air, causing her to look like a celestial maiden.
Xia Taikang’s fists suddenly clenched tightly as a pair of eyes glared ferociously at Li Ziqi.
(She actually dares to lecture me? I want her to die no matter what!)
“Tyrannical, she not only has won, but she’s also providing guidance to her opponent. She’s truly one of the most outstanding royals here!”
Xiang Zhao felt envious. He suddenly wanted to become a great teacher.
Sadly, this occupation depended on talent. One had to comprehend the self-taught halo, or they wouldn’t have a chance to become a great teacher forever.
“The first round of the War Discussion, the zither battle, has ended. The second round will start tomorrow morning!”
After the ceremonial officer announced the ending, the audience began to disperse.
…
“Your highness!”
An old slave immediately stepped forward in welcome upon seeing Xiang Zhao returning.
“Luckily, I didn’t cheat or I would have lost the round as well as my character!”
Xiang Zhao sighed. He had prepared a trump card that was a type of illusion incense. By using that in addition to his zither skill, he would be able to cause the listeners to unknowingly immerse themselves in his music.
“Yeah, that Sun Mo’s vision is truly too strong!”
The old slave was sighing as well. He didn’t believe Li Ziqi could have such a perception. It must be because Sun Mo had told her.
Why wasn’t it Han Cangshui?
If it was him, he definitely wouldn’t let Li Ziqi become the center of all attention. If not, how would Li Xuan still have any face left?
…
“Teacher, I’ve won!”
Li Ziqi returned to the audience stand and immediately ran toward Sun Mo like a little student waiting to be praised.
“Well done!”
Sun Mo rubbed her head.
“Jiang Yuzhen’s music piece is actually a type of cultivation technique. Luckily, she took the initiative to give up or she would be very hard to deal with.”
Han Cangshui evaluated, not wanting others to feel that he was useless.
“My eldest martial sister knows Loudest Silence. No matter what cultivation technique Jiang Yuzhen is using, my eldest martial sister can crush them all!”
Lu Zhiruo bragged.
“That’s right!”
Xianyu Wei spoke in agreement as she nodded.
“We only won one round. Everyone, don’t be careless!”
Li Xiu reminded them. “We should try and win the chess battle tomorrow!”
Everyone was preparing to return to the hotel, but the Qi Emperor took the initiative to come over.
“Teacher Sun, this emperor has prepared a lunch banquet. Please give me some face and attend it.”
The Qi Emperor issued an invitation.
Han Cangshui’s lips convulsed.
In theory, his star rank was higher, but the Qi Emperor actually spoke to Sun Mo first. Didn’t that mean that his clout and prestige weren’t high enough?
“Many thanks for your Majesty’s doting care!”
Sun Mo actually didn’t want to go. But he truly wasn’t able to push aside invitations from such a major character.
“Princess Li Xiu, Great Teacher Han, Prince Consort Qi. If you guys are not busy, why don’t you come along as well?”
The Qi Emperor invited them.
“I won’t be going as I have to prepare for the chess battle tomorrow!”
Han Cangshui merely thought about replying like that in his heart. In the end, he smiled and agreed to the Qi Emperor.
Everyone in the Great Tang’s diplomatic group followed Sun Mo and enjoyed a good and sumptuous lunch.
But after lunch, the Qi Emperor and queen immediately left with Sun Mo.
“Is something the matter?”
Xianyu Wei was worried.
“Heh. Isn’t this clear? The Qi Emperor wants our teacher to use his God Hands to help him!”
Qin Yaoguang’s lips curled.
…
In the Yangning Palace, the Qi Emperor had already stripped himself bare and was lying on a bed.
“Great Teacher Sun, how are things?”
The Qi Emperor felt trepidation in his heart.
“There are no major illnesses but plenty of minor ones. This is especially so for sexual-nourishing medicine, you should eat less of them!”
Sun Mo advised.
When the Qi Emperor heard this, he immediately turned red.
“This Emperor is the sovereign of this land. If I can’t even do something like that, would there still be any meaning to my life?”
The Qi Emperor was unhappy. After he finished speaking, he felt that his tone was incorrect. Hence, he hurriedly explained, “Great Teacher Sun, this Emperor isn’t targeting you deliberately. It’s just that I’m angry my body isn’t up to the task. Do you have any solution that can resolve it? This Emperor will surely reward you heavily if you succeed!”
“It’s curable!”
How could Sun Mo give up the chance of gaining favorable impression points? In any case, there was nothing one round of his massage couldn’t solve. If there was, he would just give the target a second round of massage!
The Ancient Massaging Technique was simply so impressive!