Chapter 98: The Musical Duel of Tianqin Nü, a Scheme Against the Third Imperial Prince, Feng Qingling Arrives

Under Qin Xuan’s introduction, Jun Xiaoyao gained a basic understanding of the imperial capital.

“By the way, is there any place in the imperial capital where one can obtain source stones?” Jun Xiaoyao asked.

Qin Xuan glanced at Jun Xiaoyao.

The implication was clear.

Someone who could casually produce a supreme-grade divine source wouldn’t be short of source stones, would they?

“I mean immortal source stones,” Jun Xiaoyao said.

“Immortal source stones?” Qin Xuan was slightly startled.

For someone of her level, supreme-grade divine sources were already rare opportunities.

As for immortal source stones, she had never even dreamed of them.

“By the way, I remember—several days from now, Xianqiong Tower will host a musical duel hosted by Tianqin Nü, the heavenly prodigy of Xianwu Qin Sect.”

“Whoever outplays Tianqin Nü in qin art will be rewarded with three hundred immortal source stones,” Qin Xuan suddenly said.

Jun Xiaoyao reacted with mild surprise.

He knew of Xianwu Qin Sect—a renowned top-tier dao lineage that cultivated through the qin.

Once, the master of Xianwu Qin Sect subdued four Saint-King-level experts with nothing but qin melodies, catapulting the sect to great fame.

Tianqin Nü herself was a legendary beauty, widely celebrated, and the pinnacle prodigy of Xianwu Qin Sect.

“Xianwu Qin Sect is a top-tier dao lineage, but can they really afford three hundred immortal source stones?” Jun Xiaoyao harbored doubts.

“Young Master, you don’t understand—those immortal source stones were pooled together by Tianqin Nü’s followers, such as the young master of Wanbao Merchant Guild and the Third Imperial Prince of Panwu Divine Dynasty.”

“Wait—you’re saying the Third Imperial Prince of Panwu Divine Dynasty is one of Tianqin Nü’s admirers?” Jun Xiaoyao’s eyes flickered slightly.

“Yes, but Tianqin Nü is a cold beauty, arrogant in nature—even the Third Prince has pursued her relentlessly without success,” Qin Xuan said.

This wasn’t much of a secret; many knew it.

Jun Xiaoyao pondered, and a plan gradually took shape in his mind.

“My qin skills are mediocre, but handling this musical duel should be simple enough.”

“If everything unfolds as I envision, then Pan Wu Ling is mine,” Jun Xiaoyao smiled faintly, confident and composed.

Scheming against an immortal force was no simple matter.

But for Jun Xiaoyao, it was far from impossible.

“Wu Mingyue is the first pawn; the Third Imperial Prince of Panwu Divine Dynasty will be the second.” Jun Xiaoyao murmured inwardly.

As time passed,

the entire divine dynasty’s capital grew increasingly lively.

Every day, numerous young elites from top-tier dao lineages arrived.

And before Wu Mingyue’s selection of an imperial son-in-law and the Champion Marquis’s challenge,

another event stirred a minor sensation.

That was the musical duel hosted by Tianqin Nü, the heavenly prodigy of Xianwu Qin Sect, at Xianqiong Tower.

Tianqin Nü was also a famed beauty of Huangtian Immortal Realm.

Yet she was a cold beauty, showing no interest whatsoever in any young elite’s advances.

Only the art of the qin could stir Tianqin Nü’s interest.

But the qin was an obscure path—how many young elites in Huangtian Immortal Realm even mastered it?

Thus, no man had ever caught Tianqin Nü’s eye.

So much so that a joke had been coined.

If any man could conquer Tianqin Nü,

he must be the God of qin art.

Still, despite her demeanor, suitors flocked to her like fish crossing a river.

The three hundred immortal source stones for this duel were sponsored by her devoted admirers.

…

Xianqiong Tower was among the most luxurious and opulent pavilions in the divine dynasty’s capital.

Just stepping into Xianqiong Tower required ten lower-grade divine source stones as an entrance fee.

It was the most extravagant venue—only disciples of top-tier dao lineages, nobles of the divine dynasty, and prodigies of immortal forces could afford entry.

Today, on the top floor of Xianqiong Tower, flower petals rained down, and radiant auroras enveloped the space.

Young elites gathered in one hall.

Aside from the upcoming Princess’s selection of a consort, this musical duel was the most grandiose event.

Among the scattered prodigies, many astonishing auras emanated—top-tier elites from all factions.

At a VIP seat sat a young man clad in a splendid crimson-gold robe.

His face was handsome, his bearing composed, radiating the aura of a superior—he was the Third Imperial Prince of Panwu Divine Dynasty.

At this moment, his gaze, filled with infatuation and longing, fixed on the stage.

Above the stage, mist and clouds drifted faintly.

A woman in a crimson floral robe sat poised upon it, her beauty cold and regal.

Her skin was extremely pale, her features exquisitely beautiful, her fingers like sliced scallion roots, her lips like ruby beads.

A plain qin rested before her; as she lightly brushed its strings, she appeared from afar like a scene from a painted scroll.

This woman was none other than Tianqin Nü, the heavenly prodigy of Xianwu Qin Sect.

A woman who cultivated through the qin, pure and untainted.

Now, her slender, snow-white hands, like refined lard, gently plucked the strings; the melody flowed like a stream, drawing celestial birds to circle Xianqiong Tower.

“This tune belongs only to heaven—rarely heard on earth…” the Third Prince listened, entranced, praising endlessly.

Tianqin Nü’s allure lay not only in her beauty, but in the aura radiating from within.

“To hear the Immortal’s melody is to cleanse all worldly dust…” beside him, a handsome youth with noble bearing sighed.

He was the young master of Wanbao Merchant Guild.

Wanbao Merchant Guild was a well-known merchant association in Huangtian Immortal Realm, powerful and trading with many immortal dao lineages.

A large portion of the three hundred immortal source stones for this duel came from the young master of Wanbao Merchant Guild.

Though they suffered dearly to pay them, they did so merely to earn the lady’s smile.

Yet making Tianqin Nü smile was difficult.

Making her take notice was harder than climbing to heaven.

At that moment, a golden phoenix from afar pulled a carriage toward Xianqiong Tower.

Seeing the phoenix, many prodigies on the top floor were startled.

“That’s… the phoenix of Wanhuang Spirit Mountain—could a disciple of Wanhuang Spirit Mountain have emerged?”

As everyone was in shock,

the phoenix halted in midair, and a slender, graceful figure wrapped in crimson divine auroras stepped from the carriage.

Behind her fluttered a pair of phoenix wings; her exquisite face shimmered with divine radiance, making her hard to discern clearly.

It was Feng Qingling.

After arriving in the divine dynasty’s capital with Huang Xuan Yi, she heard of the musical duel.

Since she herself excelled in qin melodies, she felt a competitive spark and came alone to attend.

Tianqin Nü glanced at Feng Qingling but said nothing.

In raw power, she might not match this ancient imperial clan heir.

But in qin art, she was certain she could match any prodigy of an immortal dao lineage.

As time passed, all the young elites arrived, and the musical duel was about to begin.

And at that very moment, a figure in white robes, transcendent and serene, stepped into Xianqiong Tower…