Under the bolstering of the battle song, the situation was utterly one-sided. The disciples from the Sanqing Immortal Sect and Limitless City were as fierce as wolves and tigers. In short order, the demonic hordes were slaughtered into disarray, crying out for their parents.
Watching this scene, Ji Yan’s emotions were incredibly complex.
Why did this battle feel so... off? According to the script I had imagined, it was supposed to be Li Zuoyue and the others getting pummeled by the members of the Demonic Path, beaten black and blue. They could even have an arm broken or something, as long as they didn’t die! Only when they finally despaired would they unleash their ferocity, their minds set on a glorious end, taking the demons down with them! Preparing to self-destruct! At that moment, I would make a glorious entrance and save the day!
That would have been perfect! It would have tempered their strength, forced them to truly understand the terror of the Demon Race, and let them experience a crisis on the brink of life and death, all without any real mortal peril. Incidentally, I could also show off in front of everyone and flex a little.
But now, the situation was not going according to plan at all! These rascals had barely been under pressure when a Sword Sect disciple, disguised as a female disciple from the Hehuan Sect, appeared out of nowhere and stabbed right through the Ghost King Sect’s Seventh Elder’s kidney. She even effortlessly destroyed his Nascent Soul, directly eliminating a high-end fighter from the Demonic Path! This instantly reduced the pressure on Li Zuoyue and the others by more than half.
And just as I was thinking about making a move to make my presence known, that brat Qin Guangling suddenly popped up! Using his perfected Mountain and River Hundred Battles Song, he completely turned the tide. A group of Golden Core Realm disciples utterly crushed the teams led by several Venerables of the Demonic Path!
It even made my own existence seem superfluous! Without me, Li Zuoyue and his companions could still defeat the enemy. Now, it just made me, a magnificent Saint Manifestation stage master, look foolish and completely irrelevant. Where exactly did things go wrong?
On the rooftop, Qin Guangling played his instrument, completely engrossed. His fingers flew across the strings, his black hair billowing wildly. As he gazed at the scene below, he recalled the Tribulation-Passing Immortal Melody he had heard in the Phoenix Perch Building.
He remembered its expansive musical vistas and reminisced about its varied artistic concepts. He thought of that senior expert in the shadows who had silently played to assist him. For the past several days, he had been doing more than just comprehending the way of the Sonic Sect; he had been pondering a question.
Why did that senior help me? Was it merely for the sake of a bet? Although my loss would have impacted the reputation of the Sanqing Immortal Sect’s Sonic Sect, the impact wouldn’t have been that significant. After all, nobody knew my true identity as the Sonic Sect’s chief disciple. The most common rumor was simply that I was one of the sect’s four renowned ’Xiao Hua’.
Besides, would a senior who could master the Tribulation-Passing Immortal Melody to the point of perfection have such a narrow perspective? Would they care about such a trivial matter? The more I think about it, the more impossible it seems. I have a vague feeling that the senior wanted to use that melody to tell me something!
He scratched his head and agonized over it for days and nights until his head ached. Finally, he grasped a thread of inspiration. It was the musical vista that everyone in the Phoenix Perch Building had witnessed that day. The White-clothed Sword Immortal. The ancestor who defied tribulations, vanquished demons, and defended the righteous path. The senior who gave up his own Immortal Path to guard all living beings.
A person like that was a hero to the common people, destined to be remembered by the world forever. But... was the senior telling me that I should become someone like that? No! It can’t be that superficial!
Qin Guangling learned to think outside the box. Those images were undeniably spectacular, so captivating that one could lose themselves in them. The rightful source is novel⦿fire.net
But... what was the essence? It was the music of the zither! It was the Tribulation-Passing Immortal Melody! It was the background music! No matter how imposing the Sword Immortal was, his grandeur was expressed through the music. The Sword Immortal guarded the night sky over the mortal realm, but the night sky, in turn, served to accentuate his brilliance.
The senior was trying to tell me that being a hero is indeed glorious beyond compare. But being the person behind the hero—supporting them, propping them up—is the most difficult role, and one just as worthy of respect. Just like in the great war of the past. The Sword Sect, the Thunder Sect, the Formation Sect, the Physical Sect... countless prodigies charged into battle, slaying innumerable Evil Demons and making heroic sacrifices, leaving behind grand legends. But did the Sonic Sect not have such predecessors?
We did! And we had many. It was precisely because of their nourishing and encouraging music that their comrades could live longer and fight harder! They were simply less renowned because they rarely showed themselves. Who says only those standing in the spotlight are heroes?
The senior wanted to tell me that if I truly want to walk the path of music, I must maintain a steadfast mentality and not be so sensitive. A few vile provocations and taunts had nearly shattered my focus! My resolve almost collapsed completely. If that’s the case, how could I ever endure the loneliness and solitude of the eternal night in the future? My heart must be magnanimous! My character must be generous! My vision must be far-reaching! Only then can I delve deeper and further along the path of music!
We are all travelers on the same road, seeking a joyous outcome for everyone, striving to find a safe home for billions of souls. The world is a grand stage. If some are to be the dancers, shining with infinite light, then others must be the singers, contributing in silence!
That night, Qin Guangling had an epiphany! His heart swelled with an unprecedented, surging exhilaration.
At this moment, he looked out over the battlefield. Boosted by his music, his senior and junior brothers became as majestic and formidable as war gods, and his heart swelled with boundless pride! Two streams of clear tears slowly trickled down his cheeks. He was confident that what he was doing now was the same thing that the senior who had guided him from the shadows had done.
"Senior Brothers, fight on and pour out your sweat!" he cried. "This lady—ahem, I, Qin, am willing to be the one supporting you from behind!"
For a time, the music grew more urgent and somber, a desolate killing intent permeating the night. The battlefield descended further into chaos as everyone fought with rising fervor.
No one noticed a figure darting back and forth within the throng of Demon Cultivators. He looked, for all intents and purposes, like a purebred Demon Cultivator. However, every strike he delivered was a lethal, heart-piercing blow to a demon’s back.
Moreover, each attack was a one-hit kill. After the deed was done, a sweep of his sleeve collected all Communication Tokens and Space Rings, leaving nothing behind. Then, his figure would twist slightly and vanish on the spot. A moment later, he would reappear transformed into a completely new Demon Cultivator, charging toward a different battle. Then, he would repeat a new round of sneak attacks. His every move was a textbook example of clean and efficient skill.
Sneak attack! Sneak attack! Fiends, taste my sneak attack!
After a series of successful ambushes, Wang Xiu’s eyes squinted with joy as he watched his little treasury swell rapidly.
I’m striking it rich! This time, I’ve really hit the jackpot. As they say, a horse doesn’t get fat without grazing on wild grass.
He took a quick glance. The Spirit Stones alone from these Space Rings added up to over one hundred thousand, to say nothing of the miscellaneous ores, Elixirs, and Magic Artifacts, which were also worth a fortune.
Of course, the one thing that was never in short supply in the rings of Demonic Path renegades were human bones, blood, and souls. These were the most plentiful items of all. This was especially true for the Space Ring of that Seventh Elder from the Ghost King Sect. He had even kept numerous seductive and wanton female ghost slaves with him for use at any time. It was simply outrageous.
The bones and blood are useless to me. But the souls... I can guide them to deliverance! I’ve taken another great step forward on the path of boundless merit!
At the same time, he had quietly collected the remnant souls of many Golden Core Stage Demon Cultivators. When it came to the souls of these Demonic Path cultivators, Wang Xiu showed no leniency, stuffing them directly into his Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.
When I have time later, I’ll give them all a taste of the Ming Emperor’s Soul-Reading Technique. I’ll surely be able to dig up a lot of information and kick-start a new hunting season.