Chapter 312: A Bewitching Melody

312. Chapter 312: A Bewitching Melody

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Protagonist:

Yu Zhangsheng

"Here it comes!"

"Finally here! I've waited this long!"

As the celestial music slowly rippled open, everyone's hearts trembled, their gazes all converging on the stage, filled with anticipation.

Amidst the swaying moonlight, eight graceful figures appeared on the stage, sitting cross-legged and floating; with a flash of brilliance, before the eight beautiful silhouettes with graceful figures, rows of spirit-light-shimmering magic treasures suddenly manifested — these treasures were not ordinary swords, but zithers, qins, flutes, pipas, and the like.

The bright moon like a wrist, white fat like jade; the beauty's wrist moved ever so slightly, and with a light flick, a sound like flowing water instantly emerged, rippling open along with the moonlight; in an instant the clouds dispersed and the rain cleared, the clouds and mist were pushed aside to reveal the bright moon, transforming into the sound of nature, continuously flowing over everyone's heart-fields.

In an instant, everyone closed their eyes in enjoyment, quietly listening, letting this beautiful music wash their souls; this music was not mundane, but carried an inexplicable Dao charm — not only resounding in everyone's ears, but also possessing Divine Sense power, rippling in the depths of everyone's hearts and minds.

Some wondrous effect: all clamor ceased at this moment, and Dao Hearts were also baptized beneath this celestial music, becoming even more clear and pure.

"Worthy of Wu Nian Sect disciples — each mastering the power of music and Divine Sense; in their playing, it's as if a spring breeze brushes the face; listening carefully, one's thoughts become even more transparent and clear."

Someone exclaimed in a murmur, enjoying it as if intoxicated, voicing what many felt.

Light shimmered, and boundless petals fell from the sky, reduced to mere embellishments setting off the graceful shadows within; everyone's gazes were drawn over, entranced and intoxicated.

And the position where Yu Zhangsheng and the others were naturally allowed a clear view of everything, even more clearly.

Among the eight graceful shadows, the one in the very center wore a veil covering half her face; her fingers gently rippled, and instantly strands of beautiful sound slowly flowed out — clearly not deliberately trying to stand out, yet she naturally became the crowd's focal point simply by being there; her hazy features added a few parts of mystery.

Even without trying, she was utterly natural; compared to the other stunning women beside her, she was the most gorgeous bloom — the bright moon, the rest mere stars; thus amid the stars arching around the moon, she shone even more brilliantly.

"So she is Jing Xueyi..."

Li Minghan quietly swallowed a mouthful of saliva, his eyes carrying a trace of obsession as he looked at Jing Xueyi, murmuring in a low voice.

Even without Li Minghan's reminder, Yu Zhangsheng also spotted Jing Xueyi in the crowd at a glance, and sensed something — no other reason, she simply stood there carrying an exceptional bearing that drew attention.

Tall and slender, graceful figure, a waist slender enough to encircle, a patch of revealed snow-white skin triggering infinite reverie. A pale green long robe, like a lotus emerging from water, beautiful yet not bewitching; slender hands moving lightly, zither strings faintly plucked.

When a piece finished, a pair of spirited eyes with autumn waves flowing, she rose leisurely, face bearing a faint smile, then gently lowered the veil on her face.

"Disciples of the Wu Nian Sect greet the various sects' Chosen."

Voice clear and melodious; along with her wrist's movement, everyone fixed their gaze, holding their breath; the veil fell, revealing a peerless, flawless beauty.

Features like the bright moon, pure and unblemished; figure like a willow, gentle and graceful; eyes bright as stars, nose bridge straight, lips red and moist; a head of black hair like a waterfall, floating captivatingly; cheeks faintly red, like early spring peach blossoms, beautiful and moving, evoking pity even in oneself.

Combined with a masterful qin technique, it was even more astonishing — beauty and talent complementing each other perfectly; roughly so. Even Yu Zhangsheng, who in his past and present lives had seen no small number of beauties, couldn't help but steal a few more glances at this moment.

As for Li Minghan, he wore a completely infatuated expression; Yu Zhangsheng turned back and gave him a contemptuous look, lightly patted his shoulder; the latter only then woke as if from a dream, and gave Yu Zhangsheng a hehe grin.

"Jing Xueyi — worthy of being the Wu Nian Sect's famous beauty; seeing her now, her reputation is truly undeserved."

Li Minghan exclaimed; regarding these words, Yu Zhangsheng and Zhang Tianwen and the others couldn't help but agree.

Feeling wave after wave of fervent gazes from below the stage, Jing Xueyi's expression didn't change; she smiled gently, ignored some invitation calls, finally swept her gaze around, and lastly — imperceptibly — paused on Yu Zhangsheng; clearly, the events just now, she had also been aware of them backstage, so she gave Yu Zhangsheng one more look, then leisurely withdrew from the stage.

"If only I could invite her to share dinner, how wonderful that would be."

Li Minghan sighed, shaking his head, his eyes carrying a trace of regret and melancholy.

"It's alright." Yu Zhangsheng thought for a moment, laughed lightly, and said so.

To him, Jing Xueyi was beautiful, but merely so — ultimately just a skeleton beneath rouge.

"Cultivate hard; in the future, whatever you want, you'll have."

Thinking a moment, glancing at Li Minghan's seemingly endless-aftertaste expression, Yu Zhangsheng added another sentence.

"That's true too." Li Minghan heard this, nodded in approval, raised his cup to clink with Yu Zhangsheng, hehe grinned, "But I feel, if you were willing, with your methods, making that little woman fall for you would still have a good chance."

Speaking, Li Minghan raised his eyebrows and made eyes at Yu Zhangsheng, hehe laughing.

"You overthink." Yu Zhangsheng was helpless; hearing this he merely gave Li Minghan a light glare.

"How so? In the Wanxiang Sect aren't you exactly like this?" Li Minghan shrugged, looked at Zhang Tianwen and Shen Xingchen; the latter two's wine cups paused, they thought carefully, then nodded with agreement on their faces.

Looking at Yu Zhangsheng, they pondered and said: "I feel Li Minghan's words are indeed not bad; you yourself are good-looking, and an alchemist to boot; just now, didn't you see Jing Xueyi paying you special attention?"

Shen Xingchen watched this scene, eyes containing a smile, nodded along.

"Alright alright, stop teasing me." Yu Zhangsheng heard this, helplessly waved his hand, "She only looked at me a few more times because of my move just now; where is there what you say? With this wretched look of mine, who would think highly of me."

"Is that so? Then you're too modest." Shen Xingchen at this moment also chimed in with a laugh.

Facing everyone's teasing, Yu Zhangsheng didn't mind, continued eating and drinking.

And with Jing Xueyi's exit, the scene grew lively again; only the topic center shifted from the previous Yu Zhangsheng to Jing Xueyi's stunning debut.

After this, Wu Nian Sect disciples performed again, but without Jing Xueyi, though all were quite splendid, they lacked a few parts of that stunning flavor; a group of people all felt somewhat listless.

Before long, Yu Zhangsheng ate his fill and drank his fill, and returned to his room fully satisfied.

An Earth Grade room — within, spirit qi abundant, artificial mountains and flowing water, pavilions and courtyards all available; even if there were needs, one could add some spirit stones and ask the shop to provide some attendant pets; it could be said, truly worth the price.

And for these surroundings, Yu Zhangsheng didn't have excessive demands; returning to the bedroom, Yu Zhangsheng took a deep breath, suppressed other thoughts, waved his sleeve, and released the Fu Lu Eagle corpse.

"Fu Lu Eagle, a Third Rank lightning-wind attribute Spirit Beast; just right, can serve as material for my Golden-Winged Great Eagle's evolution." Yu Zhangsheng murmured, placing his finger on the Fu Lu Eagle's huge corpse, lightly tapping; a thought moved, and next moment a speck of faint light blossomed from his fingertip, a mysterious force enveloping the Fu Lu Eagle corpse.

【Refine Demon Extract】

【Consume 100000 Essence Points, successfully extracted one share of Third Rank Spirit Beast Fu Lu Eagle bloodline!】

A burst of brilliant light flashed, and the Fu Lu Eagle corpse, beneath this brilliance, continuously decomposed, finally all condensing into a single drop of blood emitting a thick Fu Lu Eagle aura, floating in the void, with specks of electric arcs scattering from it.

Yu Zhangsheng's gaze concentrated, he waved his hand to grasp this blood, summoned the Golden-Winged Great Eagle, and gently stroked the Golden-Winged Great Eagle's head.

"Chirp chirp chirp!"

The Golden-Winged Great Eagle cried excitedly, intimately rubbing against Yu Zhangsheng's palm; looking at the blood in his hand, its eyes revealed a look of longing.

Yu Zhangsheng smiled lightly, slowly placed the blood in his hand at the Golden-Winged Great Eagle's mouth; as it swallowed, thick blood light emanated from the Golden-Winged Great Eagle's body, wind and thunder sounds resounding continuously.

【Spirit Beast Transformation】

【Consume one portion of Fu Lu Eagle bloodline, consume 200,000 Essence Points; Golden-Winged Great Peng gains improvement, cultivation base improves, bloodline potential improves! Speed greatly improves, flesh body strength improves, lightning element immunity improves!】

【Gain innate divine ability: Wind-Thunder Thousand Moon Slash! Wind Rolls Remnant Thunder! Second form gains Water-Lightning Skill, comes with paralysis effect!】

………

Looking at the strings of jumping numbers before him, Yu Zhangsheng stroked his chin and smiled with satisfaction.

「Although still at Second Rank Peak cultivation base, it has advanced a step further. Before entering this Tian Sha Secret Realm, having this improvement is not bad. It counts as adding a bit of self-preservation power. 」

Yu Zhangsheng pondered, looking at the Golden-Winged Great Peng as the radiance dispersed. In outward appearance, there was not much change, only a pair of beast pupils became several points more fierce, the double wings carried crackling electric arcs, purple lightning flickered, and with a swing of the great wings, the sound of wind and thunder howled.

After playing with the Golden-Winged Great Peng for a while, Yu Zhangsheng once again summoned it back into his Inner Landscape. While his mind and spirit pondered, he took out the Jade Tube Chen Yang had given him.

「There is also this so-called Tian Sha Secret Realm; it can be properly understood in advance. 」

Regarding the Tian Sha Secret Realm, although the sect had introduced it, it was only some shallow knowledge; the specifics were unclear.

Yu Zhangsheng thought, and his Divine Sense slowly sank into the Jade Tube. Instantly, a large amount of information surged into his mind.

「Tian Sha Secret Realm, long in origin. 」

「Earliest, it can be traced back to the Ancient Period. It was some Ancient Battlefield. Finally, due to a heaven-piercing and earth-shaking battle, the battlefield shattered, turning into countless fragments. Among them, some had already turned to dust and vanished; a small portion remained intact, becoming Secret Realms……」

「Tian Sha Secret Realm is one of them. It was once picked up by the first sect master of Xuan Yin Gate. He broke open the Secret Realm and obtained countless treasures and secret manuals, eventually rising powerfully, and thereby established Xuan Yin Gate. 」

………

After one incense stick's time, once the information in the Jade Tube was fully digested, Yu Zhangsheng slowly opened his eyes, thoughtful.

「So that's how it is. Looking at it this way, the opportunities in this Tian Sha Secret Realm are still not bad for me. 」

「Although so many years have passed, the truly good things inside have already been plundered clean by a group of Daoneng. But there are always some things they look down on. For us Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators, they are also ultimate treasures. 」

「Even occasionally, disciples of Xuan Yin Gate obtain top-grade Spirit Treasures, extreme-grade Spirit Treasures, and even the blood of some high-rank Spirit Beasts from this Tian Sha Secret Realm. It has happened before. 」

Yu Zhangsheng thought about this information in his heart. A flash of light appeared in his eyes, and he subconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

「What I need to pay attention to is the strange creatures called Sha Ghosts contained within. They are life forms formed from the combination of ancient remnant evil souls and Sha Qi. Ferocious and bloodthirsty, without reason, like wild beasts, they pose no small threat to cultivators. 」

Besides these, the information in the Jade Tube also contained a fixed map of the Tian Sha Secret Realm. However, it only covered partial areas of the First Layer, though it marked points that needed attention. Although incomplete, it was still rare and precious.

After copying this information and sending a copy to Li Minghan, Zhang Tianwen, and Shen Xingchen, Yu Zhangsheng paid no more attention to it. He closed his eyes and continued cultivating.

As time passed, one week flew by. When three vast bell sounds echoed throughout Tian Sha Cheng in Tian Sha Cheng Zhong, all disciples of the Three Gates and Six Sects, as well as other loose cultivators and people from small and medium forces, had already arrived at Guang Chang in the center of Tian Sha Cheng.

For a time, the scene could be said to be quite lively. Nearly a thousand people were inside, including the Elders leading teams from various sects. It could be said that the power gathered here at this moment could easily destroy any sect in Wu Zhou.

「Tsk tsk, the scene is truly magnificent. 」

At the place where Wanxiang Sect was located, Li Minghan looked at the people before him divided into several camps, clicked his tongue in praise, and his gaze was full of emotion.

「The young talents of the entire Wu Zhou can be said to be all here. This Secret Realm trip should be very lively. 」

「Yes. Such a grand gathering is indeed a rare opportunity, but there are also many dangers. Once inside, safety comes first. As for opportunities and such, they cannot be forced. 」

Zhang Tianwen nodded and turned to give a few reminders.

「Mm. 」Yu Zhangsheng and the others nodded in agreement. Above the High Platform of Guang Chang, radiance surged, and a group of disciples and Elders of Xuan Yin Gate appeared. They were all uniformly dressed in Blood-colored Robes, carrying faintly visible Sha Qi on their bodies. Their expressions showed an undisguised arrogance as they looked at the group of sect disciples below the stage.

For a time, there was actually an air of looking down from above.

「Quiet. 」

Accompanied by a light word that spread to everyone's ears, everyone's mind and spirit trembled. The originally noisy scene instantly became quiet, and strings of gazes fell upon Zhu Zhengping on the stage.

Zhu Zhengping's gaze swept around Guang Chang. He coughed lightly, a smile appeared on his face, and his vast voice sounded again:

「Welcome all the heaven's pride of the various sects to gather in Tian Sha Cheng. If my Xuan Yin Gate has any shortcomings in hospitality, please forgive us all. 」(Chapter End)