Contrary to Lu Zhaozhao's expectations, Bai Yuanshi's first move, "Admonitions on Ten Thoughts," did not display overwhelming power. Instead, he steadily erected a barrier, blocking all incoming attacks.
It was truly unexpected; she hadn't anticipated taking this risky approach.
The ink-black jade of the bamboo tube seemed to flow with light, shining brightly under the light of the attacks coming from all sides.
Jihe's seven-stringed zither exuded a chill, and frost formed on the strings as her jade-like fingers moved rapidly across them.
The clear, resonant notes of the zither, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, carried a chilling aura as they were gently plucked and strummed.
As someone approached her, countless eyes turned to her, and Lu Zhaozhao couldn't help but turn her head as well, drawn by their intense admiration.
Yao Tong, dressed in plain clothes, slowly walked to her side. When she saw her gaze, she nodded and smiled at her.
To be honest, this plain dress is really ordinary. Yao Tong probably didn't want to attract attention, which is why she wore it. It's a pity that she is so beautiful that even coarse linen clothes cannot hide her stunning beauty.
Seeing the gazes around her, she couldn't help but feel distressed and ashamed, and could only shake her head apologetically.
"The next one is Senior Sister. I thought you would be resting." Although Lu Zhaozhao was a little surprised, she thought that since she was also a disciple of Tianyin Sect on stage, it was reasonable for her to come.
"I am a close friend of Senior Sister Jihe, and I cannot miss her competition," Yaotong said softly, as if she were singing a melodious and pleasant song.
Upon hearing her words, Lu Zhaozhao realized that the rumors circulating in the cultivation world over the years about the discord between the two were a complete fabrication.
“There are very few cultivators who use the seven-stringed zither as a weapon, and even fewer within sects. Therefore, Senior Sister Jihe and I often exchange our experiences. Senior Sister looks cold, but she is indeed warm-hearted. Before coming to Wenyuan this time, Senior Sister and I had a sparring match, and Senior Sister’s strength was superior to mine.”
Yao Tong spoke slowly, seemingly about a trivial matter, but Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat surprised.
"You lost?"
Yao Tong shook her head and said, "It's a draw, I guess. I owe a debt to Qin."
"Nine Heavens Jade Pendant?" Lu Zhaozhao shifted her gaze to the instrument case she was carrying.
Yao Tong nodded, her gaze still fixed on the stage, and said, "The Nine Heavens Jade Ring was given to me by my master. This zither... is indeed extremely magnificent. The Pine Snow zither is not bad either, but it is ultimately an ordinary item. If it weren't for the difference in the quality of the zithers, it would be difficult for my senior sister and me to compete."
If others said this, others might think she was showing off her weapon, but when Yao Tong said it, she was genuinely sighing, after all, the regret in her words was too strong.
Looking at the stage, Lu Zhaozhao's eyes were filled with curiosity. She was very curious about how someone stronger than Yao Tong would perform. Moreover, this person had an excellent character. Despite being constantly pressured by rumors, she was still able to stay in the sect and cultivate peacefully. She only needed to show her strength to dispel many of these rumors. However, she just cultivated quietly, so few people outside knew about her strength. Even the Record of Notables did not mention her.
So, did Bai Yuanshi see through her strength, which is why he chose a steady and cautious approach?
After several rounds, neither of them gained the upper hand, and the situation remained deadlocked.
"Senior sister, who do you think is more likely to win?" she asked Yaotong.
Yao Tong frowned, tilted her head, and replied, "Logically speaking, I prefer Senior Sister. However, Fellow Daoist Bai's strength is indeed too great. I can only say that we can fight to the best of our ability, but the outcome is still uncertain."
That's a very fair assessment; Lu Zhaozhao's answer was pretty much the same as hers.
With a turn, Jihe landed in mid-air, sat cross-legged on the edge of the platform, placed the seven-stringed zither on her lap, and began to play the zither with one hand and the other, before dancing with both hands.
The situation is about to change.
Lu Zhaozhao saw that the eerie light emanating from the bamboo flute in Bai Yuanshi's hand was becoming stronger, and Ji He's plucking of the strings was getting faster and faster.
The storm was brewing, and everyone knew that the climax of the competition was approaching.
As they held their breath and concentrated, the dark green light spread outwards first.
The bamboo tube continued to expand, filling the field of vision with emerald green. It began to slowly wield its brush in the air, the ink characters both hurried and neat, and those close to Bai Yuanshi, such as Yue Cong, could recognize it as his handwriting at a glance.
"A ruler who can truly see what is desirable and then think of what is enough to restrain himself, and who is about to take action and then think of what is enough to bring peace to the people... If he can summarize these ten considerations, promote these nine virtues, select the capable and appoint them, and choose the good and follow them, then the wise will use their wisdom, the brave will exert their strength, the benevolent will spread their kindness, and the trustworthy will show their loyalty... Why bother to rack his brains, take over the duties of his subordinates, exhaust his intelligence and senses, and lose the great way of non-action!"
The ink marks were read aloud word by word by the people below the stage, and the more they listened, the more somber the expressions on their faces became.
The "Ten Thoughts on Admonition" is said to be a memorial submitted by a minister to the emperor, each word filled with heartfelt emotion and sincere sentiment. The principles of self-cultivation contained within it were understood by the ancestors of Wenyuan Academy. A lifetime of painstaking effort culminated in this masterpiece.
Those who cultivate immortality find it difficult to understand its true essence, stemming from differences in their environment and way of thinking. In addition, the cultivators have set extremely high barriers to entry for it. Therefore, although Wenyuan Academy is full of talented people, only a few can actually learn this technique.
"Truly, heroes have emerged from among the young since ancient times." Master Bu Lu stood on the viewing platform, his eyes filled with satisfaction and admiration.
The reason he broke the rules and accepted a disciple again after a century was because he valued Master Bai Yuan's character. Talented people are common, but those with exceptional character are rare.
Standing half a step behind him, Qing Songzi was also filled with emotion: "It's been so many years since we've seen someone like him. Only our master was able to cultivate the Ten Thoughts on Admonition to such a level at our junior brother's age. None of our other fellow disciples can compare to him."
Outsiders might not understand, but they were born in Wenyuan Academy and had cultivated for a hundred years, so they could see the difference in Master Bai Yuan at a glance. This difference was what all Wenyuan disciples had pursued for generations.
On the field, Ji He also sensed the unusual pressure and immediately stopped holding back. The probing phase between the two sides was over, and what followed was a real duel.
She slammed her hand down on the strings, the strings still carrying a lingering resonance, which she forcefully smoothed out. Then, she lifted her hand again, and the sound of the instrument changed.
In an instant, the somber mood of the autumn wind, the awe-inspiring power of the thunder and lightning, and the robust spirit of Guan Shanyue all seemed to be narrated from her hands.
Behind him, the leaves rustled. Even though it was not autumn, they had all turned yellow and fallen, as if blown by the wind, circling around the arena.
"Clang!"
With a change of tone, the atmosphere shifted abruptly.
Frost spread rapidly around Ji He, enveloping the entire platform in ice and snow. Bai Yuanshi lightly touched the ground with his toes, and ink smears swept around him. Then, a nearly finished article, carrying the fragrance of ink, surrounded him, hindering the onslaught of ice and snow.
Jihe's offensive continued, even extending to areas outside the field.
Yao Tong pulled Lu Zhaozhao back a step and explained in a low voice, "This piece was modified by Senior Sister based on Guangling San. On that day, Senior Sister combined the Eighteen Songs of Hu Jia with Guangling San and added her own ideas to create a new piece."
"No wonder it's so powerful." Lu Zhaozhao exclaimed. When she listened to the music earlier, she felt a vague sense of familiarity, but it was also different from the music in her memory. After Yaotong's explanation, she realized that the familiarity was based on the ancient music, while the unfamiliarity was the new idea after the modification.
The Guangling San is stirring and majestic, containing not only the restraint and killing intent of ten years of honing a sword, but also the exhilarating satisfaction of avenging a long-standing grudge. The Eighteen Songs of the Nomad Flute, on the other hand, is melancholic and poignant, though equally exciting, its melodies are gentle and lingering, making it more lyrical.
It is incredibly difficult to blend two pieces with completely different emotional tones and use one's own ingenuity to make them blend seamlessly.
"Fairy Jihe is truly a prodigy." She couldn't help but exclaim again, and Yaotong agreed from the side.
The sect leader, Xian Ji, who was also on the viewing platform, also showed surprise in her eyes. She did not know that besides Yao Tong, there was such a talented disciple hidden in the sect.
The melody was completed, and the attack followed.
But Bai Yuanshi wouldn't just stand there and take the beating; he also stopped playing his bamboo flute.
With hands forming a mudra, the ink began to move.
Invisible ink paper seemed to appear in the air, bearing the writing. In no time, they joined together, the ink shimmering with a silvery-white light, creating a striking contrast and a captivating dynamism.
Bai Yuanshi raised two fingers, closed his eyes, and chanted softly. The barrier formed by the ink marks became as solid as a physical object, blocking all of Ji He's attacks. It was indestructible. At the same time, the characters kept repeating, and the repeated characters turned into attacks, sweeping outwards at high speed.
In an instant, countless ink-like shapes appeared in the air, appearing in every unexpected place along extremely irregular paths.
The situation began to spiral out of control, with attacks so dense that they completely obscured the two players. From the sidelines, no one could tell which side was ultimately in control.
"With a dignified jade flute, I broke the golden bridle."
A faint voice drifted over, and Lu Zhaozhao subconsciously turned around, only to see Sang Pan's meaningful gaze.
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