Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 47 The Profound Meaning of the Qin Melody
into the night.

Lingni Hall.

Zen Master Yunhe was playing the zither for the golden lion when he suddenly heard footsteps. He turned around and saw his disciple carrying bedding, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Jin Ni sat up and tilted his head to look at him.

Zen Master Yunhe asked in bewilderment, "What's wrong with you? Weren't you in the princess's bedchamber?"

Lu Chenyuan placed the bedding on the Sumeru pedestal, sank into the fluffy fur of the golden lion, and let out a satisfied sigh: "Something went wrong, so let's just make do here tonight."

Zen Master Yunhe was even more puzzled: "What exactly happened? Did they have a falling out?"

Lu Chenyuan sighed: "I gave her a small gift in the evening, and she was very happy."

Zen Master Yunhe: "Isn't this good enough? And then?"

"Then she got so excited that she hugged me."

"Then?"

"And then I'm a normal man, and I'm practicing the Golden Palace Scripture..."

Lu Chenyuan felt embarrassed just thinking about it.

Upon hearing this, Zen Master Yunhe was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter, his deep laughter causing the curtains in the hall to rustle: "The Book of Rites says, 'Food and sex are the greatest desires of man.' If you, at your age, do not have any such desires, I would have to take your pulse. What is there to be ashamed of?"

Lu Chenyuan corrected, "I'm not ashamed, I'm trying to save my life! She's too easily embarrassed. The western half of the palace is still frozen, isn't it? You didn't see how red her face was. I was really afraid she wouldn't be able to control herself and would hit me. It's better not to provoke her in the bedroom. It's a good opportunity for her to come over and practice her zither."

"Hahaha……"

Zen Master Yunhe smiled and shook his head, then sensed something was amiss and raised an eyebrow: "What are you all doing...?"

"I couldn't help myself," Lu Chenyuan said. "I hope Master will forgive me."

Zen Master Yunhe waved his hand, his eyes revealing a knowing understanding of the world. He had guessed that things would turn out this way just by looking at their interactions. His smile was gentle and full of relief as he said, "These are all old stories. What do they have to do with you? Very well! Since you're here, it's a good opportunity to consolidate your understanding. I'll leave today's piece to you and take a break."

"no problem."

Lu Chenyuan's zither skills have improved by leaps and bounds recently. After reading "The Rhapsody on the Zither" and learning "The Dragon's Roar of the Vast Sea Score", he practiced diligently. With the guidance of a master and the help of a discerning eye, his proficiency has increased rapidly!

His [musical instrument] skill was already at the [proficient] stage, and now he's only a few dozen points away from becoming a Grandmaster with 10,000 points. If he puts his mind to it, he can break through today!
He was curious to know what it felt like to be a master of the qin (a seven-stringed zither).

The golden lion was even happier, its huge body surrounding him, gently resting its head on his legs, and listening with its eyes closed.

The air inside the hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Lu Chenyuan, dressed in a middle robe, sat cross-legged on the Sumeru pedestal, with his favorite Dongling zither in front of him.

With the left hand pressing the strings and the right hand gently plucking, the first notes of the zither flowed gently, like the cool waters of the Yi River.

—"Song of the Yi River".

This is an ancient piece that Zen Master Yunhe particularly liked. Since he accepted Lu Chenyuan as his disciple and passed on his skills, he has stopped acting and his playing of the zither is no longer solely Buddhist music. He has begun to gradually reveal his past preferences and true nature, such as in this piece, "Song of the Yi River." It depicts Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin, where even though it was like throwing an egg against a rock, he still went forward without hesitation.

He poured his past failures and helplessness into his music, which was full of violence and ruthlessness.

Lu Chenyuan learned from him and naturally acquired the same chilling killing intent.

[Successfully played a piece, proficiency +15.]

[Successfully played a piece, proficiency +15.]

[Successfully played a piece, proficiency +15.]

……

By the fourth time I played it, my proficiency was just one step away from reaching the Grandmaster level.

With keen insight, Lu Chenyuan became increasingly immersed in the music, and before his eyes appeared the vast land of Yan, with snow falling everywhere, and Jing Ke carrying his sword alone, his back view resolute.

The sound of the zither gradually deepened, the force of the fingertips changed slightly, and the sound of the strings suddenly froze, as if a chill seeped into the bone marrow.

The golden lion's ears twitched slightly, and it suddenly opened its eyes to look at Lu Chenyuan.

"Ok?"

Zen Master Yunhe was resting with his eyes closed when he heard this sound. He looked up in surprise and stared intently at Lu Chenyuan.

A clear and lucid mind!

—The wind howls, the Yi River is cold, the hero departs, never to return!
Lu Chenyuan's fingers suddenly burned. He seemed to see his own shadow twisting and changing on the wall, transforming into a lone swordsman. The strings vibrated, emitting a series of metallic clanging sounds. The sensation under his fingers was no longer that of silk strings, but rather like holding a drawn sword.

"I see……"

He understood perfectly: the "Song of the Yi River" was never a lament, but a desperate melody concealing its sharp edge within sorrow!
Finger techniques change with each new understanding; sweeping the strings is like wielding a sword, and flicking the strings is like stabbing with a dagger.

All twenty-one strings resonated simultaneously, causing dust to swirl and fall like snow between the beams.

Zen Master Yunhe immediately stood up, filled with shock and joy. The golden lion, as if struck by lightning, also stood up, its golden eyes filled with unparalleled fervor. The man and the beast stared intently at Lu Chenyuan.

Lu Chenyuan's fingers never stopped, and the music became more and more exciting. The sound waves were like waves, layer upon layer, and the air in the hall trembled. There was even a faint sound of wind and thunder. All the candles moved on their own without wind, and their flames flickered as if they were being drawn by the music, and began to light up and dim.

"it is good!"

Zen Master Yunhe's eyes shone brightly as he murmured to himself, "Just a little bit more... just a little bit more..."

Suddenly, Lu Chenyuan's fingers paused for a moment, then his fingering changed again, and the sound of the zither suddenly rose, like a dragon roaring in the sky, shaking the palace!

"Zheng——"

An invisible sound wave rippled from the strings, extinguishing the candles, only to reignite them in the next instant, their flames turning blood red! The beams and pillars inside the hall trembled, dust fell in a flurry, and the wind and clouds outside the window changed drastically, with a flash of lightning appearing and disappearing!
The golden lion roared, its fur standing on end, and its eyes reflected the phantom image formed by the sound of the zither—on the banks of the Yi River, amidst a blizzard, Jing Ke stood holding a dagger, his gaze like lightning!
Zen Master Yunhe also fell into an illusion, and the prayer beads in his hand snapped with a "crack" and rolled to the ground.

He instantly broke free, bursting into laughter, even happier than Lu Chenyuan: "The music is profound, captivating and enchanting! A twenty-year-old 'hidden talent,' my disciple!!"

Is this what a grandmaster is like...?

Lu Chenyuan stared at his slightly trembling hands. After the mind was clear, the sound of the zither was profound.

It turns out that the intention is the string and the heart is the instrument... At this moment, he clearly felt that the falling leaves and the gathering and scattering of clouds within a radius of ten feet could be in sync with the sound of the zither. This feeling was completely different from simply being covered by divine sense.

This is the true "meaning beyond the words".

The end of the paper is so shallow that I know that this matter must be carried out.

Lu Chenyuan muttered to himself, "So this is what it feels like to understand the profound. There is a difference between comprehending it and truly achieving it."

"Those who are enlightened by the music can only slightly disturb the environment by controlling the music with their hearts; those who are enlightened by the music can control the heavens with the music and draw upon the primordial energy of heaven and earth. This is the true essence of sound wave power!"

Zen Master Yunhe strode over, his face full of pride: "Only by reaching the Profound Realm can one emit the Heart-Stirring Qin Sound. Only the sonic power used at this moment can be considered true sonic power. I originally thought that even with your comprehension and talent, you would need to practice for another year. I never expected that you could make such rapid progress in just over ten days. It's incredible!"

"It's all thanks to my master's excellent teaching." Lu Chenyuan came back to his senses and smiled, "Without my master's generous teaching, how could I have improved so quickly?"

"You're the only one who can talk!"

Zen Master Yunhe glared at him, but was still very happy: "This is good news! A few jars of grape juice just arrived today, let's have a good drink together!"

Pu Tao Jiu is a vegetarian wine served by monks. Master Xuanzang enjoyed drinking this wine during his journey to the West, and many of the monks he brought with him also drank it.

Zen Master Yunhe didn't really like it; it was just that this was the only kind of vegetarian wine that still had some flavor.

Lu Chenyuan looked around and lowered his voice, "How about I get you some good wine..."

Plain wine is fruit wine, undistilled liquor, with a very low alcohol content and a bland taste. It is generally used to keep warm. Zen Master Yunhe had a strong craving for alcohol, but due to his status as a high-ranking monk, he could only drink this tasteless wine.

Zen Master Yunhe smacked his lips, somewhat tempted, but suppressed his desire and said, "Forget it, it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. Let it be as it is. It's been a few years, and I've gotten used to it."

"That's fine."

Lu Chenyuan didn't say much: "I'll go get the wine."

……

Silent all night.

Early the next morning, Lu Chenyuan removed the big cat's paw from his body, got up to wash, and was about to head straight to the Mechanized City to catch up on the progress. He planned to grab a bite along the way, but to his surprise, Li Lingyue suppressed her shyness and personally brought him a food box, which made him look at her with new respect.

Last night was really embarrassing.

Holding such a beautiful woman in his arms, his body naturally reacted, and he couldn't control himself...

I thought this useless princess would have to stay away for a day or two, but she recovered in just one night.

Progress!
When boyfriends and girlfriends eat together, they inevitably get a little too attached and unknowingly miss their mealtime, while on the other hand, they continue to study the Four Symbols Heart Chakra.

The underground palace, inside the mechanical city.

Yan Bingning and her group were already in place. Just like yesterday, in addition to her, there were seven other top experts who were proficient in Qimen Dunjia.

Gongshu Jie was unable to attend due to serious injuries, and a tall, thin man wearing a black cloak replaced him.

He was about thirty years old, with a face as pale as paper and a body so thin that he seemed as if he would fall over with a gust of wind. At this moment, he stood silently behind Song Zhenyue, his expression wooden, but his eyes were deep and unfathomable.

Song Zhenyue introduced to everyone: "This is Nuoga, a Miao expert recommended by Princess Qianjin."

Ying Wuqiu frowned, his tone revealing undisguised skepticism: "Miao people?"

Will this help?
He probably doesn't even know what Qimen Dunjia is!

Song Zhenyue said seriously, "Don't underestimate him, he has the 'Thought Gu' on him."

As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the audience was shocked.

Jiang Zhanqiu's pupils contracted sharply, and he said in a deep voice, "Is what you said, Steward Song, true? Have you verified it?"

Song Zhenyue nodded: "Absolutely true."

Mao Poluo gasped and muttered, "There are actually people who can refine this kind of Gu worm. The fortunes of Miao territory are truly at their peak!"

The Si Gu, also known as the Chi Sui Can in Chinese, is an extremely rare and vicious Gu worm.

—Take the skin of an unmarried woman who died young, peel it from between her eyebrows, wrap seven red beans of longing inside, and soak them in the tears of a departed lover for three days and nights. When the beans turn bloody, feed them with the ash of a poisonous plant, place them in a cold jade box, and bury it under a mimosa tree. Every new moon night, play the "Soul-Separating Melody" on a bone flute. After forty-nine days, the bloody threads in the box will transform into silkworms, spinning threads of love like smoke. Those who touch them will see their lifelong obsession, and those who swallow the cocoons will steal a unique skill from them, but for every skill gained, they will forget a past love.

Ying Wuqiu's sharp eyes scanned Nuoga up and down: "Then what did he swallow..."

Song Zhenyue said slowly and deliberately, “The madman of the art of escape, Wu Jiuhuan.”

In an instant, the entire room erupted in uproar.

Even the proud Gao Jian was so startled by this name that he coughed repeatedly.

Wu Jiuhuan was a peerless genius in the art of Qimen Dunjia. His unique skill, the "Eight Formations of Dunjia," was famous throughout the martial arts world. He could set up formations at will, using the terrain, vegetation, and bricks to create a maze. Those who entered the formation would experience a loss of senses, as if they were in a labyrinth.

His most sensational feat was that he once trapped Liu Wuchen, the "fastest swordsman in Jiangnan," for three days with nine blue bricks, causing him to circle around for hundreds of miles before finally succumbing to exhaustion and admitting defeat.

This is a legendary figure in the martial arts world who has mastered the art of Qimen Dunjia to an extraordinary degree!
Gao Jian took a deep breath and said, "Senior Wu actually perished in Miao territory and became food for the Si Gu..."

He shook his head and sighed after saying that.

Yan Bingning said calmly, "Everyone has weaknesses. After all, he was the one who said, 'No wonders in the world are as good as a beautiful woman's smile.' He was tricked by the Miao love potion and died in the Five Immortals Cave. Although it is regrettable, it is also reasonable."

She turned her gaze to Nuoga, "Now that he has acquired Wu Jiuhuan's unique skills, it's as if the real Wu Jiuhuan is here. With the combined efforts of Lord Lu and everyone else, he might be able to break the 'White Tiger Carrying Corpse' technique."

Everyone present was not stupid; they knew very well that the phrase "pooling wisdom and effort" was just a polite way of putting it.

The key to breaking the deadlock still lies with Lu Chenyuan and this "Master of Escape Techniques".

A shadow crossed Gao Jian's eyes, but even though he was unwilling, he had to admit that he was indeed inferior in skill.

Ying Wuqiu looked around: "Lord Lu hasn't arrived yet?"

Yan Bingning raised the communication ring in her hand: "Manager Yuan just sent a message that he will be a little late."

Jiang Zhanqiu said coldly, "The situation is dire. Experts from all directions are swarming in. If we delay any longer..."

"No matter how big the matter, it is not as big as Her Highness the Princess!"

Song Zhenyue had long seen through Jiang Zhanqiu's veiled targeting of Lu Chenyuan. She had a very good impression of Lu Chenyuan, and besides, this man was certainly extraordinary to be valued by the princess and Shangguan Daizhao. Others might fear the commander of the Imperial Guards, but she was not: "He is currently dining with the princess, so he has to postpone any important matters!"

Hearing this, everyone had different expressions.

He's dining with the princess at this hour... so he must not have left last night...

Some people envy it, and some people are jealous of it.

Gao Jian has the most complex emotions among them.

Ever since his secret conversation with Wu Chengsi revealed that Princess Taiping, Li Lingyue, had a particular fondness for men of exceptional talent, he, as the successor of Yun Zhejun, felt certain that he was destined to win her over. Hearing these words now, he couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions. It was as if he were watching his beloved woman fall into the arms of another man, and he felt a surge of bitterness rising in his throat, which then transformed into a burning flame of jealousy in his chest.

"Besides."

Song Zhenyue continued, "Now that we have a new strategy, the situation is not the same as yesterday, so there is no need to rush."

Everyone was startled.

Yan Bingning then suggested the strategy of "prevention is worse than cure," and took out a brocade bag, pouring out seven scrambled Rubik's Cubes, which she distributed to everyone: "These are the [Universal Rubik's Cubes]. Since Lord Lu still needs some time, you might as well try to solve them first... This is also His Majesty's intention, to see if this item can really stop those people..."

(End of this chapter)