Chapter 107: I’m a Professional
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The other three Elders joined in, rapidly plucking at their strings. The music contained sadness, friendliness, arrogance, and many other emotions. At one point, the music was like a downward stream, flowing directly at Qin Manyun who was positioned in the center!
This was known as the Interrogation of Tone! Although it did not interrogate one’s Insights, to a cultivator of instruments, this was just as deadly!
The combination of so many tones was able to destroy one’s cultivation!
Qin Manyun sat cross-legged. She raised her hand and started plucking on her strings.
Dong!
As the string vibrated, an invisible wave rippled out from her in all directions. When the five different tones collided with hers, they all jumped to a stop and were transfixed in their spot!
It felt like a courtier meeting an emperor. Although the emperor only made one sound, the courtier would not dare make another move!
The faces of the five Elders changed instantly. On their faces were looks of disbelief. Although they continued playing, awe and respect aroused from the deep ends of their hearts!
Their looks were equivalent to that of the greatest swordsman who happened across the greatest sword—an inevitable look of awe plastered their faces in anticipation.
Dong! Dong!
Qin Manyun’s hands did not stop moving. Instead, she picked up her speed which in turn, changed the tune of the music, making it quicker and more urgent.
Instantly, a gust of wind blew!
The towering mountain cloud above the Big Elder’s head trembled and then collapsed into waves of remnant clouds, rushing toward Qin Manyun.
Blow!
The wind was getting stronger and it was getting harder to keep one’s eyes open.
Each of the disciples of the Linxian Palace took a deep breath as they looked up at the secluded Saintess with the deepest awe and admiration.
Meanwhile, their brains started humming along with the vibration of the strings. Although Qin Manyun was not challenging them, they were dragged into the rendition of the song, overwhelmed with emotions.
Mid-air.
The frantic surging of clouds tumbled above Qin Manyun, layer after layer, forming a vast bottomless swirling whirlpool of Qi. It was as if Qin Manyun was playing solo. The tones of the five Elders had been neglected.
After all, how could a firefly compete with the moon?
The Big Elder muted his instrument. He really wanted to continue playing, but he realized that he was incapable of doing so.
The other four Elders did the same, too.
They all felt insignificant in the presence of her music as if they had no right to make music alongside her. In fact, they almost felt as if they could never play music again!
They did not want to interrupt Qin Manyun’s music. The tone was too beautiful, like the preaching of Wisdom. It was soothing their hearts.
At this moment, Qin Manyun had won!
Yet…she did not stop. She played even faster than before, entering a wild state. She closed her eyes and let the music flow like the wind, circulating her.
Wait!
This did not feel right!
‘This wasn’t how Mr. Li played it.’
In her mind, she kept recalling the familiar scene of Mr. Li playing the song. She could almost hear it in her dream every night.
Hmmm…
Meanwhile, the five instruments in front of the elders started vibrating gently. Their strings vibrated in the air, releasing tones that harmonized with the melody Qin Manyun was playing.
The harmonization of tones!
Woosh!
The winds blew on the trees, causing the leaves to fly into the air like a wave. In the air, the passing birds flew in circles and chirped in response.
Even the sound of the wind was in sync with the rhythm!
This song became an orchestra of nature!
“Manyun’s having a breakthrough!”
The five Elders looked at Qin Manyun with complicated looks, emotional and joyful. They watched her grow up ever since she was young. They never thought that the little girl they once knew would have such a special encounter—an encounter that would make her stronger than the five of them altogether!
The Second Elder sighed. “We were mistaken. The Sect Master and Saintess are no ordinary people. If they say the man’s an expert, he must be an expert!”
The Big Elder nodded. “Let’s just hope the expert doesn’t blame us for doubting him earlier. I’d rather die than offend an expert!”
Vroom!
Suddenly, wild winds swept up all the Spiritual Qi and condensed it above Qin Manyun. They merged with the clouds, forming a big funnel. It was a spectacular sight!
After a moment, the condensed Spiritual Qi fell from above, washing enlightenment all over Qin Manyun. As her momentum grew stronger, the Spiritual Qi in the air weakened. By then, her momentum had already reached its peak!
Yuan Ying…late period!
The music stopped abruptly.
Everyone’s ears were suddenly ringing, feeling empty due to the unresolved music.
Qin Manyuna gradually opened her eyes in awe. Though she gained a new understanding through playing the song, it was nothing compared to what the expert did. As expected, the expert’s level was not something she could ever reach.
“Congratulations for breaking through.”
The Big Elder went to her with the other four Elders. He asked sincerely, “Is this the tone of the expert? We were frogs in a well for doubting this Immortal tone! How embarrassing!”
With that, the five of them bowed at the invisible notes in the air sincerely, as if apologizing to the expert.
Qin Manyun shook her head. “The expert’s tone is way beyond this! What I played was not even a tenth of his tone. You aren’t frogs in a well. The expert’s realm is just way beyond our imagination!”
Gasp!
This…this…
The five Elders were in awe. Qin Manyun was already doing so well, yet she claimed that was not even a tenth of the expert? How would it be like when the expert played?
Imagining it made one’s scalp itchy!
The Big Elder looked at Qin Manyun with a nervous look. He asked with a trembling voice, “The expert really gave the music sheet to us?”
Qin Manyun nodded.
“Excellent! Excellent!” The five Elders cried out excitedly with their faces flushed red, almost fainting from delight. “This is the biggest opportunity for our Linxian Palace! This is the music sheet of Immortals! This will bring glory to us forever!”
“Oh right, I forgot to mention…” Qin Manyun paused before she continued, “…my teacher’s Tianxin Zither was mended with Enlightenment Bamboo given by the expert—Enlightenment Bamboos that the expert treated as rubbish.”
What!
The five Elders’ brains exploded! They could not believe their ears and started to feel lightheaded.
Enlightenment Bamboo?
Rubbish?
What…how…
Unbelievable! Scary!
They finally understood why the Saintess and Sect Master treated the words of the expert like an edict, doing anything just to please him!
If they had the chance, they would lick his boots, too—and more professionally!
The Second Elder asked with a trembling voice, “What you said was all true?”
Qin Manyun smiled and asked him rhetorically, “What do you think?”
“Expert! A true expert!”
The Big Elder cried out without hesitation, his face redder than before. He said with a determined tone, “We have to please him!”
Qin Mnayun sighed. “We kept this a secret because we wanted to maintain his privacy.”
“Of course! Of course!” The five Elders said in unison. “This is a big deal! We’ll make an oath to never speak a word of it!”
“That’s for the best!” Qin Manyun nodded.
The Big Elder asked, “Didn’t you say you were going to help the expert out?”
The Holy Emperor nodded, “That’s right. The expert wants to eat the fish demon in the Clear Moon Lake. We’re about to kill it.”
The Big Elder said hastily, “What’re you waiting for? Count me in, hurry up!”
The Second Elder said, “It’d be my pleasure to serve the expert. I doubted the expert earlier. I need to make up for that!”
The other three had already transformed into lights. “Let’s go! Let’s go!”