As for Yin Zhixun, he was even less likely to offend Master Hongyuan for such a trivial position.

It should be noted that, currently, there are three judges from China on the judging panel, including Fusheng.

At this critical juncture, he must stick together with Master Hongyuan for mutual support.

Seeing through it but not pointing it out, Lü Jixiao didn't care and looked at Lin Rui: "Just casually giving pointers to those junior scholars?"

"Can."

Lin Rui smiled and agreed.

Cangquan Zoe's expression was not good.

He also had a decent understanding of the Chinese language. Although he only vaguely understood the phrase "late learner," judging from Lü Jixiao's expression, he could roughly guess that it was not a good adjective.

"I'd like to see what kind of weird stuff you can produce!"

When the staff placed the guqin in front of Lin Rui, Cangquan Zuoyi immediately began to complain inwardly.

Lin Rui gently stroked the strings and calmly said, "This piece is called 'High Mountains and Flowing Water,' which expresses the spirit of the friendship between gentlemen as pure as water. It is both a story and a reflection of life."

As soon as Lin Rui finished speaking, a clear, ethereal, and elegant sound instantly rang out.

Even those who had seen the simplified musical score, such as Lü Jixiao, looked surprised at this moment, but then closed their eyes slightly, as if to immerse themselves in it.

"This slow section seems to be marked as a high mountain."

"The opening uses sixteen bars as an introduction?"

"Hmm? Interesting. The repeated use of pressing and striking the strings has actually depicted the majestic mountains with their overlapping peaks!"

"Powerful and vigorous, yet elegant!"

Lu Jixiao and the others made their own judgments. As for the contestants offstage, apart from a few people like Cangquan Zuoyi, the others were all immersed in the grand and majestic slow section.

"The pace has quickened; this should be the second part, marked as 'flowing water'."

Lu Jixiao was very curious; he didn't know how Lin Rui would bring out the charm of flowing water in his playing.

But soon, his expression changed slightly, and then he suddenly opened his eyes!

Not only him, but many contestants or audience members who had been listening with their eyes closed, and even Jiang Qingyang and Yin Zhixun sitting on the judges' panel, opened their eyes, their gazes filled with strong disbelief.

Just now, they seemed to feel the trickling stream of the mountain stream flowing through their eardrums, as if it were flowing, and for a moment, they even had the feeling of being right in front of a waterfall!

The way it sometimes flows swiftly and sometimes gently is so lifelike!

At this moment, what they heard was the rushing water hitting the walls and the fierce rushing water as it passed through sharp bends. The water, in its myriad forms, was so powerful that it shook the world!

"Up and down glissando?"

"And add techniques such as vibrato and pressing the same string at the same pitch to the glissando melody."

Lu Jixiao and the others all looked at Lin Rui's ten fingers with unusually solemn expressions.

At this moment, only one person remained with his eyes closed; that was Master Hongyuan from the Floating Island Kingdom.

Clearly, this person who had entered the Buddhist order was not as calm as he appeared. Sweat was beading on his forehead, and his thumbs were moving the prayer beads faster and faster.

"Such strong control! The dynamics of the glissando are extremely well-controlled. Only with such delicacy can one depict the myriad forms of flowing water!"

Jiang Qingyang looked at Lin Rui with a hint of surprise in her eyes.

"This is the third part. It's not marked, but it perfectly blends the majestic grandeur of the mountains with the gentle beauty of the flowing water!"

Feeling the natural continuity of the glissando, the different timbres of the glissando, and the lingering resonance of the overtones, Lü Jixiao seemed to see the process of two people meeting, getting to know each other, and finally becoming close friends.

The melody in the lower register, accompanied by glissando, is like the fusion of mountains and water, making people feel refreshed and relaxed!

So this is what a high mountain looks like!

So this is what flowing water is!

Add to that the overtones, which are the finishing touch of the whole piece, and the rich emotions come together to form a whole, making the ethereal and clear melody linger for a long time!

What a beautiful piece of music!

What a wonderful saying: "The friendship between gentlemen is as pure as water!"

This transcendent, elegant, and refined realm, this expression of life through the scenery, truly makes one want to exclaim: "High mountains and flowing waters seek a kindred spirit!"

As the last notes faded into the distance, Lin Rui lightly raised his finger and calmly looked at Cang Quan Zoe, whose expression had already changed drastically: "Do you have any insights?"