Having cultivated myself into an immortal, all I want to do is raise female disciples.

Now it was Ye Yuchan's turn to ask a question, "Miss Qin, do you know that sheet music?"

Qin Shishi was taken aback, and looked at Ye Yuchan and Lin Yuan very seriously, "Yes, I know, and that sheet music... is quite special and also very obscure."

"Unpopular?"

"Hmm." Qin Shishi pursed her lips. "If I remember correctly, that musical score should be the only creation of the first person to be conferred a sainthood by the Martial Emperor's right-hand man in ancient times."

"This seems to be a piece composed on a whim by the person who was conferred the title of Moonlit Saint before he ascended to sainthood. This piece was completed with the help of the Martial Emperor. Its profound meaning and artistic conception need no further explanation, and its difficulty... can indeed be described as unparalleled in history."

Moonlit Saint?

The first saint in history?

Ye Yuchan and Lin Yuan exchanged a glance, both seeing deep confusion in each other's eyes.

They did indeed know about the person named Moonlit Saint, or rather, he was a saint who was also famous throughout history. It was said that his cultivation method was extremely strange and could be considered unique, but it seemed to have been lost later.

If these two knew that Zhang Ruoxue was currently practicing the "Silent Moon" technique, which Yueye Sheng had painstakingly created, they would probably be scared out of their wits.

Moreover, based on their common sense, this Moonlit Saint doesn't seem to know how to play music at all. Could it be that this ancient musical score was created by an amateur... a terrible piece?

Seemingly sensing their confusion, Qin Shishi smiled.

"It seems you don't know yet. As I said, this piece was completed with the help of Emperor Wu, Gu Tianren, and our Emperor Wu... is actually skilled in playing the zither."

……

"what??"

29. Monks, isn't life good enough?

Very few people know that Empress Wu was skilled in playing the zither.

Everyone knows that Emperor Wen Xuan Lei was a man of exceptional talent, able to compose a sentence in a single step or instant, and a poem in three steps or five breaths. His mastery of the four arts—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—was unparalleled in the world.

Even in the era of Tianjue, before Emperor Wen's Four Perfections became mainstream, there were countless masters of the zither. However, those hermits who devoted their lives to studying the zither could not even raise their heads in front of Emperor Wen.

Even more extreme, some people, after listening to Emperor Wen play a piece, simply gave up their lifelong practice of the zither.

In their own words, they had seen an untouchable realm, and knowing that they could never reach that height in their lifetimes, they became disheartened.

Therefore, people almost only remember Emperor Wen's astonishing and indescribable profound zither skills, but they are unaware that a million years ago, Emperor Wu, who also opened up the Great Dao and stood at the top of the three heavenly realms, was also proficient in zither skills.

Seeing the astonished looks on Ye Yuchan and the other person's faces, Qin Shishi smiled mysteriously.

"One of you is not involved in the field of qin music, and the other is focused on studying the mysteries of music. Neither of you is proficient in the history of qin music, so it is not surprising that you are unaware of Empress Wu's qin music achievements."

"The Martial Emperor's skill in playing the zither... is very high?" Ye Yuchan was a little confused. "Didn't the Martial Emperor establish the path of martial arts and prove his Dao through martial arts? He... knows how to play the zither?"

"You don't know this."

Qin Shishi sat quietly, her tone quite gentle, her usual violent image completely gone.

It must be admitted that the quiet Qin Shishi does indeed possess the dignified and elegant temperament of a lady from a prominent family.

"The ancient times are far too long ago, millions of years ago. Many things can no longer be verified. Even the Martial Emperor who pioneered martial arts, bestowed the name of a sage, and ascended to the status of a true immortal, is still someone we know very little about."

"In most people's eyes, the Martial Emperor is a rough man. Although he is great, he not only pioneered the martial arts path, but also single-handedly reversed the War of Slaughtering Heaven, liberated the Desolate Clan, and became the first Human Emperor. However, almost everyone's impression of him is still stuck here."

Qin Shishi was not wrong.

Over the course of a century, many historical sites have likely vanished. Even someone like Ye Yuchan, who isn't particularly knowledgeable about history, only knows a little about Emperor Wu's past. In Ye Yuchan's mind, Emperor Wu was a burly, rough man, the kind of strongman who could kill a bull with a single slap.

A person like that... could crush the entire guqin with a single finger strike, how could they possibly play it?

"Hmph, indeed, just as Miss Qin said, the Martial Emperor is not just a pure boor."

Just then, Zhuang Hai, the little monk who had been beaten into a pulp, slowly stood up. He casually brushed the dust off his body and sat cross-legged on the wooden chair next to him.

Ye Yuchan glared at the little monk with annoyance. To be honest, she didn't like this little monk at all. Not only was he rude, but he also didn't act like a monk at all, and he was quite rude.

The way this young monk is asking for a beating is different from the way the old rogue is asking for a beating. The old rogue's beating is a mix of roguishness and wickedness, while this young monk is just plain shameless.

Qin Shishi looked at Zhuang Hai with impatience, "What, judging from your words, you seem to know a lot about the Martial Emperor?"

"I wouldn't say I understand him; rather, I would say that my Buddhist sect has a rather deep connection with Gu Tianren."

Zhuang Hai paused for a moment, then continued, "As for the origins of that story, I will leave it at that for now."

"I didn't intend to ask."

"..."

Qin Shishi uttered a disdainful remark that left Zhuang Hai speechless.

Seeing the little monk's frustrated and helpless expression, Ye Yuchan smiled and then asked, "So, according to Miss Qin, the Martial Emperor is actually... a very sensitive person?"

"I suppose so. Our Qin Sect actually knows more about Emperor Wu than others because we often study ancient musical scores, so we have some different views on Gu Tianren."

"Take the sheet music that Yuan'er got, for example. It is called 'If Madness,' and it was composed by Emperor Wu Gu Tianren and Yueye Sheng Ye Sheng. It also contains Emperor Wu's profound understanding of the art of playing the zither. It is also the only sheet music that Yueye Sheng has ever left behind. Its value is absolutely immeasurable."

Upon hearing the words "incalculable value," Ye Yuchan's eyes suddenly shone with a golden light, a symbol of wealth.

This is just an intermittent flare-up of my little money-grubbing tendencies.

However, despite her illness, Ye Yuchan couldn't possibly snatch the sheet music and sell it, since it was an important tool for Senior Sister Yuan'er to advance her rank.

However, on the other hand, she hadn't had a chance to spend the coins she had taken from the Blackwater Abyss yet... It would be great if she could invest those coins again and make a profit.

Ye Yuchan was just thinking about how to make money work for her when the little girl Lin Yuan became restless.

"Well, in that case, Sister Shishi, you must know a lot about the Martial Emperor, right?"

"Yes, I do know a bit about the Empress Wu's musical skills." A blush crept onto Qin Shishi's cheeks. "Although I also admire Emperor Wen's style, Empress Wu's unwavering courage and determination are truly captivating..."

Judging from the girl's charming, almost seductive tone, she was clearly captivated by the art of playing the zither.

Moreover, he was poisoned by the Martial Emperor.

It's quite a strange thing, really. To be influenced by a few songs and indirectly become obsessed with the creator would be considered a typical fangirl in Ye Yuchan's time.

Wow! There are celebrity fans in this cultivation world too?!

However, Lin Yuan had no time to think about these questions. She hurriedly asked, "Since Sister Shishi knows so much about the Martial Emperor, she must have a good understanding of this poem, 'If I'm Mad,' right? Could you teach me?"

"Uh……"

The moment this topic was brought up, the blush on Qin Shishi's cheeks slowly faded, replaced by a hint of indescribable embarrassment.

She shifted her gaze slightly from Lin Yuan's pitiful, starry eyes, scratched her face, and said, "It's not that I don't want to teach you, Yuan'er. Although I do know something about His Majesty the Martial Emperor, this piece was composed on the spot based on the feelings of that Moonlit Saint—Ye Sheng—at the time. Although I can teach you many of the incantations and chords, if you want to play it to a higher level..."

That's too difficult.

If it were an ordinary piece of music, or a piece composed by a master musician from another era, Qin Shishi would be very confident that she could get Yuan'er to play it to a high level. But if it were from ancient times, even Qin Shishi, no... even if those ninth-level musicians came, they might not be able to do it.

Because the ancient era was a turbulent and mad age, while they enjoy a peaceful and happy life in this spiritual era, rather than that terrifying era where death could be faced at any time, where the world was dark and all things were in despair.

Living in a world where basic needs are met, it is difficult for them to understand the artistic products of that era.

If one cannot understand it, then one cannot play with the required level. In the process of a seventh-level musician advancing to the eighth-level musician, if the musician cannot play with even the slightest level of skill, then it is impossible to pass the test.

Even if Qin Shishi tried her best to give Lin Yuan special treatment, it wouldn't work.

Lin Yuan wasn't stupid; she understood Qin Shishi's words and immediately lowered her head, staring dejectedly at the teacup in front of her that was almost cold.

"Alright then, if even Sister Shishi can't do it, then there's nothing we can do."

Seeing her senior sister looking so dejected and downcast, Ye Yuchan quickly went over to comfort her, "No, Senior Sister Yuan'er, cheer up! Anyway, you can ask that old rogue when he gets back~"

Ye Yuchan really didn't believe that Emperor Wen couldn't handle the ancient musical scores.

Lin Yuan puffed out her cheeks, "But that means I can't give the teacher a surprise..."

Seeing Lin Yuan, who was comforted but still somewhat dejected, Qin Shishi finally came to her senses.

It turns out that Yuan'er came to see him not long after receiving the sheet music, not mainly for a promotion, but to give her teacher, whose painting skills were extraordinary, a surprise...

However—didn't Miss Ye just say that the teacher could solve the problem of ancient musical scores?

That's unlikely, isn't it?

If a person's painting skills are exceptional, they must be exceptionally talented. To reach that level, they must be an extraordinary person, even a prodigy. Even so, it would take them a very long time to achieve anything.

And what does Miss Ye mean? It's one thing for him to be an exceptional painter, but could he also be able to completely decipher ancient musical scores and be a master of the zither?

That's way too exaggerated. It's impossible for your teacher to be Emperor Wen, right?

Of course, Qin Shishi only said these words in her heart; she was quite sensible.

However, this is not the case for some people.

“Miss, if you really want to give your teacher a surprise, I have a place I can recommend you to go.”

As soon as Zhuang Hai said this, Qin Shishi's sharp gaze immediately shot over.

It was like a sharp sword, trying to pierce Zhuang Hai's soul.

However, the little monk didn't even look at Qin Shishi. Instead, he said to Lin Yuan, "That place, although it's in a rather remote location, is very lively. There, there is a musician who is very knowledgeable about ancient musical scores."

"Zhuang Hai!" Qin Shishi shouted the little monk's name angrily, signaling him to stop talking.

But the indifferent expression on the little monk's face showed that he didn't want to pay any attention to Qin Shishi.

"Moreover, she is a ninth-level musician."

Upon hearing the name of a ninth-level musician, Lin Yuan's small body trembled slightly.

If she were a level nine musician, she might actually be able to help her achieve a breakthrough in this piece, "If I'm Mad," within three days. In that case, it would indeed be a big surprise for Yunping.

Moreover, the little girl, who was already very passionate about playing the piano, could hardly sit still upon hearing this news.

Ye Yuchan, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes, her gaze shifting back and forth between Qin Shishi and Zhuang Hai.

Looking at Qin Shishi's indifferent yet somewhat annoyed expression, it seems that the place the little monk mentioned is not as simple as it appears.

She grabbed Senior Sister Lin Yuan, who was about to run away, and asked in a cold voice.

"Little monk, where is that place you mentioned?"

"Right here in Maple Leaf City."

"Be specific."

Zhuang Hai smiled slightly and pointed.

However, he was pointing to the ground beneath his feet.